Music to my Ears (EternalWanderer & FLN826)
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Daeva on 29-11-2010, 20:26:07</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Music to my Ears (EternalWanderer &amp; FLN826)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Daeva</strong> on <strong>29-11-2010, 20:26:07</strong>
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				Raised in wealth and privilege, promised to one of the finest men in the city, Emily Carlisle should have been the happiest young woman in England. Her life had been carefully planned out by her family, the lessons she had, the tutors who she studied with, what she wore and who she would marry. Emily had other ideas, and they didn't include being the trinket on some man's arm for the rest of her life while she smiled and curtsied and played the role of the quiet dutiful wife, it simply was not who she was. Emily had places to go and things to do, she had a mind of her own and she wouldn't be content to be in the background for her life.<br><br>The first time she'd heard the beautiful but sad music on the street was the night her father announced her engagement. The music touched her, it spoke to her, and it fit her mood. She cried listening to it, never seeing the man playing.&nbsp; The next time she heard the music was the night she'd met the man she was to marry, an arrogant and spoiled mockery of a man, again she felt something stir inside of her listening to it. It was almost as if the musician was playing just for her.<br><br>Tonight she stood on the street and watched the man play, she studied him as he lost himself in his own world, in his own pain which was written on his face.&nbsp; She wondered what brought him so low to be sitting in the street with his sad melodies night after night. He was a stranger, and already more interesting to her than her betrothed.<br><br>The air was growing much colder as the night wore on, and she noticed his attire wasn't suitable at all for it. She could offer him a ride home, her carriage was only just at the end of the street waiting for her. How her father would love that, the people on the street didn't exist in his world unless they were covered with the finest fabrics and donned the most expensive jewels.<br><br>"You there, don't you know any better than to come out of the cold? Whats that melody you're playing?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: Music to my Ears (EternalWanderer &amp; FLN826)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>EternalWanderer</strong> on <strong>18-12-2010, 20:31:00</strong>
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				The sky darkened as the moon defeated the sun in their battle to light the night. The cold air began biting the noses of the men and women who were returning from a long day's work, hopefully to a home where they could find warm shelter. The pale gray moonlight shown upon a row of elms lining the street.<br><br>The leaves of one such tree hovered above a man whose face was darkened in the shadow of his cap. His burlap coat and pants did little to comfort him against the chill in the air. Yet, still, the man had his violin tucked under his chin, its bow gliding across the instrument's strings, releasing long, melancholy notes into the sky. The man spilled his heart into the instrument, letting it translate his emotions, his thoughts, his soul into the language of music. It sang of strength, of weakness, of unrequited love, and of life's unending cycle between hope and dejection. <br><br>Darin Normand struggled to make a living off of the small amounts of change he received each day from passersby who actually stopped to listen to him. People were attracted to his talent, but never stayed long enough to understand that the talent they heard was him in the guise of music notes. Those who had stayed with him would leave shortly after, not interested in spending a lifetime with a poor musician. Darin was generally a confident, caring, hopeful man who had a tendency to let himself believe his occasional delusions that his name would eventually become known across England, and he'd be the richest royal musician ever to have lived. Now, however, no one could identify who "Darin" was, if ever his name was mentioned. Needless to say, Darin lived a lonely life, hoping that one day, he might meet just one person among the hundreds he always saw every day, who would stay with him long enough to become a part of his life. He wanted to find someone who would want to know him as more than just a strange, poor man who played the violin.<br><br>This evening began as any other evening. Darin walked down the street to the fullest elm tree, his favorite, where he sought peace and understanding. He sat there amidst the hustle of people walking along the street to get from one place to the next. He closed his eyes to think. Just to think. He thought of people, of relationships, of his desire to have a family. He analyzed social behavior, interests, and politics. People generally ignored him as they walked by, but he wasn't immune from the occasional concerned or uncomfortable glance in his direction. After he let his thoughts flow through his mind, he took his instrument out of its case, stood up, and began to play. He played for hours, when to his surprise, a beautiful voice took his attention away from his playing. His bow stopped moving, but he kept his violin against his chin as he turned around, seeing a woman of beauty surpassing the sound of her voice.<br><br>"Good evening, m'lady," he said with a slight bow. "The cold does nothing to stop my playing. Playing the violin is a part of my life, and just as people still wander the streets to and fro, my bow still glides across the strings." He paused for a moment, never having titled any song that he had played. He thought of his life, his music guiding him, leading up to this day where he caught the attention of a beautiful young lady. "The song you heard is called... Shelter From the Rain. May I ask what has brought you outside on a cold night?" He smiled, noticing, by her dress and the way that she carried herself, that she was no ordinary lower class woman. "I am sure that a man of my status did not bring you out here."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Music to my Ears (EternalWanderer &amp; FLN826)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Daeva</strong> on <strong>29-12-2010, 18:09:14</strong>
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				As she listened to him resume his music, she realized if nothing else, if he agreed to her proposal she would at least have the pleasure of hearing this whenever she pleased. Emily turned her back to the street, it wouldn't do to have anyone recognize her speaking to some street urchin. If wind of her plans got back to her parents before the deal was done, there would be no second chance, she could only hope she'd chosen wisely with this man she'd seen playing on the street so many nights.<br><br>"No, it was not just some man of your status that brought me out tonight, it was you specifically that I came to speak with. I've seen you out here many times, I enjoy your music"<br><br>What was the best way to broach this subject? How did you propose marriage to a completely stranger, and one who was barely surviving on the streets at that? She knew the answer and had to throw away the carefully scripted speech she had planned out. She needed to go about this like a business arrangement, for that's all it would be. A ring on her finger binding her to him would get her out of her current predicament, and he certainly had nothing to lose in the bargain, he would have a house of luxury to live in rather than the streets, and she knew a few things to add to sweeten the pot if need be.<br><br>"I have a proposition for you that I'd like to discuss, however its cold outside and I don't wish to discuss it in quite so public a place. My carriage is just at the end of the block. Will you join me?"<br><br>The thought that he could say no never even crossed her mind until she'd asked the question. No, it was ridiculous to think that he'd refuse an offer to get out of the cold, if for no other reason than sheer curiosity.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Music to my Ears (EternalWanderer &amp; FLN826)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>EternalWanderer</strong> on <strong>01-01-2011, 17:54:43</strong>
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				"...It was you specifically that I came to speak with. I've seen you out here many times, I enjoy your music." Darin had seen a lot during his life alongside the streets; not much caught him by surprise. But the idea that an upper class, attractive stranger took the time this evening to speak to him definitely caused him to question whether or not he was awake. Perhaps his dream of becoming a renowned musician was coming true. Fame would bring him popularity and money and, he dared to think, increase his chances of catching the attention of a beautiful young lady, with whom he could eventually marry and raise a family.<br><br>Darin lowered his violin to his left side, holding the bow in the same hand. He studied the face of the woman standing in front of him while she spoke, trying to read her expressions and see her thoughts beneath her words. He found that he admired her smooth, soft skin that shown pale in the moonlight, not having been ruined by long hours of outside labor as most people of their age. Her eyes were large and attentive, and he sensed a slight urgency in the tone of her voice and her resolute expression, though he knew her manner may simply reflect her handling of business. That would explain her invitation to her carriage, right?<br><br>"I'm flattered by your compliment, miss. You are a 'miss,' correct? For your beauty reveals your youth, and I see no ring on your finger," he smiled charmingly. He kneeled down to put his violin in its traveling case. "I thank you for your invitation, and I accept. Though I wonder," he stood back up and faced her, "if it is proper that a wealthy, unmarried, young woman beckons a starving musician to her carriage, whom she does not know." He knew that most young men would take advantage of such a lady, had they been given the same opportunity. Fortunately for her, Darin had morals. Then again, he fancied, maybe that was what she wanted. He briefly allowed himself to be entertained by the thought before he pushed it out of his mind.<br><br>"May I ask the name of said fair woman?"
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Music to my Ears (EternalWanderer &amp; FLN826)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Daeva</strong> on <strong>05-01-2011, 01:22:42</strong>
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				"Emily, Emily Carlisle and proper or not, what I wish to speak with you about can't wait for a more proper time or setting, though I suppose someplace we sit down and have a drink might be more suitable"<br><br>Indicating that he should follow her, Emily walked through the streets with a brisk pace. She wanted to get back in her carriage for the warmth, and while he had a point about propriety, she also knew she&nbsp; couldn't risk the driver going back to her parents with who she had brought with her, not until it was too late for them to do anything about it. Dressed as he was, she couldn't take him anywhere respectable so settled on a small tavern that had its entrance in the side of an alley.<br><br>Once inside she felt her skin crawl slightly. The men and women in there were not her sort of people and she imagined she stood out quite a bit. When it became obvious that no one would be seating them, she walked over to a table and sat down, after wiping the seat off with her handkerchief.<br><br>"I'm sure you're wondering why I've asked to speak with you. I have a job offer, of a sort, but before I can go into the details, I'll need to know a bit about you. Do you have any family to speak of? Do you have a wife? And, how badly would you like to better your position?"
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