It takes two to Duet [arden]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=style, width: 350px; height: auto, btable] Lucas entered the music room, score sheets in hand. Despite the time, the fifth year was still in his school robes. Not too big an issue, considering the prefect's bathroom was just a short walk down the corridor. He had always liked this floor. A genuine smile found its way onto his normally passive lips as his eyes caught sight of the centrepiece in the classroom: an antique grand piano, finished in matte-white. Just seeing it lifted some of his frustrations from his mind. Music had always been his reprieve; the piano, his medium for connecting to his passion. But if there was one thing he loved more than playing music, it was playing music with Arden. Lucas made his way towards the instrument. He had Athena deliver his invitation: a rose tied with a black bow. A short note attached informed that the time to meet would be eight in the evening. It had been their standard communication since before the two enrolled at Hogwarts. Previously, the flower would have been sourced from his own garden, much to the gardener's disdain. The bloom would always be red. Since their schooling began, the Hogwarts greenhouses became his usual source. On those days where a rose could not be found, an ordinary blade of grass and a bit of magic made for just as good a substitute. Lucas always preferred the real thing though. At some point, he'd begun turning the blooms a deep blue; a color which Lucas felt complimented her eyes well. By coincidence, it was the color of her house. He set the score on the beautifully finished wood and sat himself down. There would be a few minutes before Arden was due to meet him. Lucas had arrived early so that he might warm up a little. He had, admittedly, been neglecting his practice in recent weeks in favour of... research. He felt just a little guilty about it. After all, he knew Arden loved their duet sessions as much as he did. Lucas' fingers hovered for a moment above the smooth ivory. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and begun to work through the drills. The notes cascaded like waterfalls upon his ears, moving him, stirring his spirit. Playing made him felt as though he'd finally awoken from the doldrums. He slowed, softening the weight of his fingers as he moved up the scales and then pressing more heavily as he descended the octaves. He winced involuntarily when his index finger slipped, jamming itself into the wrong key. Lifting his hands, Lucas flexed his fingers and began anew. He could feel the stiffness of his fingers falling away. Hopefully, Arden would arrive soon. He'd prepared her favourite piece.

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 320px; background: #E9E9E9; -moz-border-radius: 22px 22px 22px 22px; -o-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; -webkit-border-radius: 22px 22px 22px 22px; border-radius: 22px 22px 22px 22px; border-bottom: #1A1A1A solid 6px; border-right: #1A1A1A solid 6px; border-left: #1A1A1A solid 6px; border-top: #1A1A1A solid 6px; text-align: justify; color: black; padding: 5px;] Arden grinned as she took the last couple of steps that led her to the fifth floor. In her right hand was the rose Lucas had sent her earlier. It was quite lovely, just like all the other ones he had sent her. It was also one of the things that drove her absolutely nuts. It always kept her guessing. Well it didn't always, not until her dormitory mates got to her. Now she couldn't help but wonder if he sent them to her as a customary thing, or because of something more. She blushed a light pink and shook her head. She was thinking way too into this. They were best friends, and he was just the sweetest. Deeper meaning or not, it was fine with her. Partially. Arden quickened her footsteps as she heard the familiar sound of Lucas doing warm ups. It just made her more excited to be able to spend this time with him. They didn't have much contact over the week, and she really missed him. Her fingers clasped onto the slightly opened door and pulled it open. There he was, practically in the middle of the classroom. She was almost hesitant to walk over to him. She was fine with just standing by the door and admiring him from afar. But then she remembered it was her privilege to be up close. To be playing along side with him. "Lucas!" Arden called out as she strolled closer. She stopped right next to his bench and twirled the rose with her fingers. "It's lovely as usual," she chirped before placing it down on the piano. It was like a signature. She always brought the flowers he sent her to the music room. She always placed it on the piano before they did their duet. She always brought it back to her dormitory after they were done. It was almost as if it signified the beginning and the ending of their session. Sometimes she wondered if she could just leave them there forever, but life went on. If only he had a time-turner too. She left his side to retrieve her violin. It was such a hassle to bring it back and forth that the professor allowed her to store it here. She held it by the waist as she returned to Lucas's side. Her index finger rubbed the varnishing as she walked. She placed her chin on the chin rest and relocated her left hand to the neck. Arden played a few notes before she lowered it once more. "What piece are we doing today?" [/style]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=style, width: 350px; height: auto, btable] "Arden," Lucas smiled, immediately going into pianissimo as soon as the door to the music room opened to admit a familiar blonde. The blue of his visible eye softened at the sight of his fiancée. "You're looking as radiant as ever," he commented. It was something he often said, but he meant it in all earnest. As it always did, his normally-reserved smile widened when he watched her place his flower upon the piano. That too, was like a ritual for them. Although one could argue that it was Arden's own ritual, for it was her who saw the need to lay the flower on his instrument when they played. Lucas wondered if she kept the flowers he sent, but immediately shook himself from the thought. It wouldn't have been logical for her to keep them. Fresh flowers, whether magically transfigured or not, would eventually wilt and loose its beauty. "Thank you," he replied softly at her comment. It wasn't, of course (lovely, that was). But Lucas had learned that it made Arden happier whenever he simply accepted the compliment as it was. He brought his warm-up to a close and subconsciously flexed his fingers once more while his traced after Arden's retreating form. "We'll start with 'Sous le dôme épais'," he replied, still smiling. It would be a wonder if his mouth didn't ache from all that stretching. "It's a little early, but I'd like us to start rehearsing for Christmas. How does 'Carol of the Bells' sound?" He handed Arden her set of sheets. "There is also another piece. It was recommended by my-" he paused momentarily. "My cousin, Gwyneth," he finished. It was originally an orchestral piece written by a Japanese composer. Lucas had taken the liberty of condensing it into a duet for Arden and himself. 'Path of the Wind' by Joe Hisaishi had apparently been something written for some kind of muggle children's play but Lucas found the tune to be quite tasteful. It was encouraging to know that the little Hufflepuff had, at least, a decent judge of music. "Whenever you're ready, Arden." He hovered his hands over the keys.

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 320px; background: #E9E9E9; -moz-border-radius: 22px 22px 22px 22px; -o-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; -webkit-border-radius: 22px 22px 22px 22px; border-radius: 22px 22px 22px 22px; border-bottom: #1A1A1A solid 6px; border-right: #1A1A1A solid 6px; border-left: #1A1A1A solid 6px; border-top: #1A1A1A solid 6px; text-align: justify; color: black; padding: 5px;] "You're looking as radiant as ever," Arden blushed at the compliment even though she was so used to hearing it from him. She just couldn't help it. She hid her blush by looking away and hurrying off to get her instrument. It was right where she left it. "We'll start with 'Sous le dôme épais'" Arden grinned eagerly. It was definitely one of her favorite pieces. Leave it to Lucas to start of the session with something she loved. It was very thoughtful of him, really. She continued her warm up as Lucas told her the rest of the agenda. She rose an eyebrow when he said he wanted to start early on their Christmas performance. It was quite awhile away, but Arden didn't protest. It didn't really matter much to her what they did, as long as she got to spend this time with him. She stopped her warm up to take the sheets from him. She scanned over them, visualizing the music playing in her head as her eyes looked over the sheet. Arden only looked up when Lucas paused his sentence. She had an idea of how he felt about his cousin. Although she didn't talk to Gwyn much, she could understand why Lucas felt the way he did. It was just how he was. Arden personally didn't have anything against the younger witch, but it wasn't like they were all buddy-buddy. Arden was older and of a different house. Any interaction was purely from passing by each other in the halls, seeing each other in the library or Great Hall. Outside of school it was whenever Gwyn was at the Irving household when she came to visit. Arden made a note to herself to talk to the girl more often. They would after all be related in the distant future. This thought made Arden blush again and she looked back down at her sheets, almost as if she was pretending to be interested. However, that didn't account for why she was glowing a bright pink. "Whenever you're ready, Arden." Lucas's voice broke her train of thought. She nodded and placed her sheets on her stand, organizing them. "Give me a moment," Arden replied as she positioned herself once more. She angled herself so she could see Lucas from the corner of her eye, but at the same time had a full view of the window. She loved gazing outside as she played. Especially since they were high up on the fifth floor, it gave her a sense of peace to watch the scenery as she played. "Alright, I'm ready." [/style]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=style, width: 350px; height: auto, btable] She was blushing more than usual, he noted silently. It made him just a little uncomfortable to think that she - Arden, his best friend since he was capable of stringing more than three words in a sentence - felt shy around him. The weeks following the start of the school term had been busy, what with his newly-found prefect duties and O.W.L.s to plan for. Lucas would not have hesitated to admit that he might have neglected Arden just a little since school started and really, he did feel guilty. After all, Arden too, was a prefect. And she too was sitting for her O.W.L.s as well. He could argue that he was also preparing for Animagi lessons and keeping himself abreast with Aega's development. But then, those weren't things that Lucas wanted to tell her just yet. He had never been one to spin excuses for himself. Lucas waited patiently while Arden readied herself and her instrument. Fingers touching lightly but eagerly onto the smooth ivory, he allowed but the smallest scowl to taint his features when she turned herself towards the window. Arden always did like looking at the scenery as she played, even when the looming darkness outside deprived her of all but her faint reflection upon the tinted glass. Truth be told, Lucas would have preferred her to face him when playing. Not that he would force or demand it of her, of course. Lucas held his peace. But as the two began to play, Lucas felt his misgivings and frustrations fall away. His heart lightened and, so did his countenance. For two-thirds of the song, he played passionately with his fingers moving fluidly across the keys, finding each note with such ease, that Lucas truly felt that the music was playing itself. And then he stopped. "Arden," he said after a moment of hesitation. "Is there something on your mind?" He hadn't known why he had stopped so suddenly to ask this question, only that he had felt compelled to do so. His dichrome eyes gazed inquiringly at his partner.

** Sry for the wait~

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 320px; background: #E9E9E9; -moz-border-radius: 22px 22px 22px 22px; -o-border-radius: 20px 20px 20px 20px; -webkit-border-radius: 22px 22px 22px 22px; border-radius: 22px 22px 22px 22px; border-bottom: #1A1A1A solid 6px; border-right: #1A1A1A solid 6px; border-left: #1A1A1A solid 6px; border-top: #1A1A1A solid 6px; text-align: justify; color: black; padding: 5px;] Arden felt her heart beat faster and faster. It felt like she was having an adrenaline rush. Nothing could have described how much she missed this, how she missed playing with him. It had been way too long. Just being able to play with him right now filled her with satisfaction. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and smiled. Although she didn't watch him directly, she always sneaked glances at him when she was sure he wouldn't be looking. Not that she would never tell him this, but she always found him adorable whenever they played together. It was definitely a different sight to see. It was a sight that she got to see. Now as a seer, Arden was almost immune to surprises. She always knew when her parents were throwing her a surprise party. She always knew what she was getting for Christmas. Anything that had surprises, she would know. But this was different. She was surprised to only hear the sound of her violin for a few seconds before she stopped playing. Why did Lucas stop? Did she do something wrong? Then he said her name. She tilted her head to look at him. A look of confusion invaded her features. "Is there something on your mind?" And the confusion remained. Why was Lucas asking her this? She bit her lip, putting her arm down. But then she suddenly walked over to where he was sitting and sat down next to him. Arden was a Ravenclaw, but at this moment she felt a little lost. "Of course there are a lot of things running through my mind," Arden started, but almost immediately regretted saying that. She didn't want to act like a smart ass, but she couldn't help voicing her thoughts. She knew it was one of her lesser traits and that she didn't have as much tact as Lucas did, but it was just in her nature. "Like as we were playing, I was making sure I knew what notes were next," Arden continued. She knew she was going to start rambling, but she also knew that it would eventually get to the point. Sort of. "But I was also thinking about how happy I was just to be here." It was probably going to get cheesier from here, but Arden knew that it didn't matter with Lucas. He knew her, and she felt safe voicing her thoughts around him. "It's been awhile since we've played together and even though I know we're both busy, I miss our time together." She didn't look at him, it was slightly embarrassing for her to say this despite how comfortable she was with him. [/style]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=style, width: 350px; height: auto, btable] Lucas held his gaze, his countenance calm although there was something in the look he gave her that suggested that he wasn't going to continue playing until he got answers. When Arden did give him his answer - all bare and unwrapped, unlike the words he was accustomed to hearing from his housemates - Lucas... couldn't help but feel his heart sink. Ah~ so she was bothered by his absence. But that was a good thing, right? That she had actually missed him? Lucas didn't like hurting Arden but that certainly was proof that she thought of him as being more than just a friend, right? Well, not really, he supposed. A little voice in his mind told him that he was getting too far ahead of himself. He felt his pride deflate a little, and with it, a little bit of his happiness. Whether or not Arden would think of him as a lover was entirely up to her and Lucas felt that in her own time, his fiancee would come to see past the fraternal bond that Lucas did, in fact, hold dear. Even if he did notice the subtle yet awkward glances Arden had given to the couples of their peerage, Lucas could not help but wish that there was something more in their relationship. Rather, that there was something more romantic about their relationship. Not that he wasn't trying. Ah, but perhaps that was the problem. He'd come on much too strongly, hadn't he? It was only natural that the balance in their relationship had appeared to become shaky. He'd been advocating for too much change much too quickly. In retrospect, one could call turning their invitational rose blue was cliche, even unoriginal. Much too cheesy. And Arden's answer confirmed that she simply wanted to play music. He had neglected that one simple desire. A gentleman respected his lady. The solution was simple enough. He would simply distance himself from her, proceed as things always had been for them and approach her romantically gradually, when she was ready. Lucas trusted himself to be a good judge of when that would be. He had always been a good judge of character. "Forgive me, Arden," he said. "I've neglected our sessions even though I am aware of how much you enjoy them. I will endeavor to make more time for music." He smiled winningly at her. That was his promise.