What's this? I'm posting a sneak peek on the day the fic is coming out? Wow. I haven't done that in a while. Give credit to me rereading The Selection which gave me the inspiration I needed. More on the fic will be at the end, as usual.

Disclaimer - I don't know how to play the violin. I know music through years of piano and have basic knowledge of the strings from a semester of taking guitar.


Photo #122: Symphony No. 122 "America's Rest"

When Eadlyn would get stressed with her responsibilities, there wasn't much she could do. She didn't have that many hobbies to use as relaxing. She didn't take photos like her father or write letters like Ahren. The most she would do is take a walk, get some fresh air, and eventually come back to the task at hand. Her mind couldn't truly be at rest without knowing she was done for the day.

Sometimes, it was better to power through than put something off.

The next photo Eadlyn sees is an example of something her mother would do when she was stressed. It didn't matter if she was burnt out by royal duties, her kids, or her husband - or sometimes all three at once. When her mother couldn't handle things, she turned to music. Any type: an instrument or her voice. They all worked and, as a bonus, put ease at anyone who could hear.

But then music itself could be a chore…unless it was made to be fun.

And the violin always gave her a lot to work with…

-o-

After staring at her paperwork all day, America needed a break. She wasn't sure what to do except she didn't want to look at words (which was confusing since she was in one of the ladies' room which was full of books). But this room had a grand piano and a row of her violins on the wall. America walks over, taking a violin down and tuning it, plucking each string as she twists the pegs. She'd sing the note aloud, pluck, and repeats this process until the sounds matched.

Once that was finished, she tightened her bow. America rests the instrument on top of the grand piano as she looks through a binder for sheet music. Each song looks less interesting the more pages she turns. They're pieces she knows and that she can play from memory.

Today, she wanted more. She could create more. Before The Selection, she was almost flawless on the violin. All she needed was more practice and how better to practice than play from a stream of consciousness?

She picks up her violin again and puts her chin on the rest. America lets the bow hover above the strings for a moment, closes her eyes, and lets the music come. She starts off with a small scale-like melody near the top end of the violin. A stream of high notes weaves together through the air, knitting a song as America walks around the room, looking for inspiration.

America arches her bow lower, deepening and flattening the tone as she looks out the window. She views some upper officers training recruits which makes America smile. They're practising like her. She does her best to mimic her movements with her bow and strings and even craning her body back and forth to match theirs. As the guards get paired off, she attempts to harmonize herself (a skill she does need to work on). Her notes are lower, trying to make the mood for the buildup before the expected round.

She's happy they were practising with swords. This will make her song more interesting.

America stays in sync with the guards below, slicing her bow in the air when swords collide. She spins on her toes, staying in the higher range but dipping down low in an attempt to mimic the fight and have her bow pointing in the same direction as their swords.

It's really putting a strain on her body and testing her violin skills, but the song sounds epic.

As she continues, her eyes drift from the fight and towards the gardeners along the edges of the gate. Without knowing it, her bow moves on its own. It starts bouncing along the strings, copying their cutting motions towards the edge. America feels the need to bounce on her toes to match the music but she'll run out of breath.

She wasn't built for this.

America turns around, slicing her bow for an unexpected final note upon seeing Maxon standing at the doorway. She isn't sure how long he was standing there but based on the camera pointed at her, it was likely a while. America imagines that he was looking for her and followed the music. When he saw her playing a song off the top of her head by the window, he ran back to his room to get the camera and snap a photo, and then stayed there to listen.

Maxon lowers his camera and America sees the same handsome smile she saw when he first heard her play the violin.

"What have you been up to?" Maxon asks.

America playfully shrugs. "Just practising."

"Seems like it's more of a workout today?"

America smiles while catching her breath and lightly dabbing her glistening forehead.


I can't wait to reread the rest of the series. Who knows what ideas will come out?

Now for the fic, for those of you who have watched Umbrella Academy:

Symphony No. 7 "Vanya's Routine" - While the rest of Hargreeves children are training, Vanya is ordered to remain indoors and practice the violin. Today, she'll train herself by mimicking their moves with her violin. (OS)