Teagan’s Windermere Student Concert
Date: 2025-09-02 23:03
(Teagan’s Windermere Student Concert)
[Tue Sep 2 2025]
Inside a Faded Baroque Theater/span>/spanThe theater’s rows of worn velvet seats descend in gentle tiers toward a
raised wooden stage, their burgundy fabric faded in patches where countless
students have settled over the decades. Heavy crimson curtains frame the
proscenium arch, their gold tassels catching what little light filters
through the high windows along the western wall. The ornate plaster moldings
that decorate the ceiling show signs of water damage in the corners, creating
dark stains that spread like ink across the once-white surface. Carved wooden
panels line the walls between tall columns, their baroque details difficult
to discern in the perpetual dimness that seems to linger even when the house
lights are raised. The floorboards creak beneath the center aisle’s
threadbare runner, and the air carries the persistent scent of old wood
polish mixed with something mustier, as if the space holds onto every
performance that has ever graced its stage. Exit doors on either side lead to
narrow corridors, while the main entrance opens to the north and a passage to
the east provides access to the backstage area./span>/spanIt is about 60F(15C) degrees. The mist is heaviest At Mayflower and Darkwater/span>/spanMatias turns his attention up towards the stage as the first performer goes striding out some lingering chatter amongst the crowd still happening. There is a look up towards some of the other seating locations squinting in the dim lighting judging the size of the attending audience this evening.
Dovie catches sight of Arachne and waves before turning her attention towards the stage and that piano with the singular spotlight. “Hm…. no harps,” she murmurs quietly to herself, watching the young man move to the piano.
Sarah ceases her (over?) eager fidgeting and goes very still and blissfully quiet as the lights dim, wide eyes turned to the stage to watch. She even puts her -phone- away!
Lorelei hushes a little as things seem to kick off vibes-wise “I almost bought a pair of opera gloves.” She admits, with a giggle, then to Matias, “Did you not see the program, the intwerkative dance is the finale.” She crosses her arms under her breasts as she lets that land with full seriousness.
Enfolding herself into a seat as the lights flicker on, signaling the start of the concert, Arachne delicately threads her enringed fingers in a steeple beneath her chin, the theater’s lights glistening against the rose-tinted sheen of her lipgloss with a subtle curve of her mouth’s corners in subtle thrill of anticipation. Her head tips the slightest fraction in affectionate regard of Dovie, Gabriel, and Lorelei when she spots the familiar faces, then a separate incline of her head to Matias and Eloa, no less amiable, before surrendering the full of her attention to the theater.
Mirabel traipses into the theater and side-shuffles into a row of seats, muttering apologies each time she sidles past an audience member to get to a vacant place. “Good evening,” she whispers to those next to her. “Isn’t it just lovely to see a student with such talent on the stage?”
Matias lets out a long and pained sigh with a slow shake of his head at Lorelei but maybe there is a smile in the darkness however fleeting.
Leaning into Matias with words that heavily feature the word ‘forgot’ Eloa is all but tugging Matias’s arm into her lap as the lights dim. She gives a soft gasp as she looks around, eyes darting to Arachne and looking confused for a moment as if Arachne’s presence caused the light to dim but in the end looks like she realizes it’s just that. The light dimming. She turns to look at the stage, shoulders lifted a bit as if expecting a ghost to pop out right then and there.
The opening salvo is, perhaps, a cliche one: Clair de Lune. And maybe a familiar one to any who happened to pass by the music room last night, when Teagan stayed after the seminar and played the piece herself. However, she did not play even half so well as the lithe, long-fingered man in the spotlight now. There is a reason he is, perhaps, the star musical student at Windermere and one said to be primed to be recruited by top orchestras worldwide.
Kai pads over to the seats and plops down on the nearest seat he can find, he slouches down and folds his arms behind his head as he looks toward the concert, a little grin on his face.
Nemi moves, going through the crowd to sit somewhere near Mirabel as she smiles softly.
Eloa waves at Mirabel, Kai and Nemi as they come in late, trying not to be too disruptive.
So Eloa does tiny little wriggles of her fingers.
Kai turns in his seat and grins at Eloa, Mirabel and Nemi before settling back into his seat.
While listening to the ending song from Ocean’s Eleven which is possibly the most recent popular use of Clair De Lune Matias is distracted a little by Eloa’s agitated state and murmurs something reassuring before motioning to the young man. “He will be graduating next year, perhaps we will see him in the Boston Philharmonic Symphony or the Trans Siberian Russian Orchestra.”
Mirabel wiggles her fingers at Eloa in turn and pulls her knees in a bit to make more room for Nemi to get by. “Remember to put your phone on silent,” she whispers to the student. “If I hear it beeping, you’ll be *very* sorry.”
Amber slinks into a seat near the back, keeping head down.
Despite never having her phone off silent, Eloa takes her phone out to check aways, tapping through the buttons before she once again reaches silent mode before putting it away. “He plays piano.. isn’t there usually only one piano player?” She whispers to Matias as she listens to this reindition. To those who know Eloa, she looks rather fidgety and anxious, even more so compared to her usual.
Arachne lets herself sink into the music with a luxuriant surrender as the opening notes of Clair de Lune wash over her, each note a glimmering thread that lulls her to a half-lidded melt into her chair. Her freshly manicured nails tick ever-so-slightly against the curve of her jaw, in synchrony to the rise and swell of the song. “We should consider extending a special invitation to her,” she murmurs in hushed aside to Gabriel and Dovie.
Eloa screams at the thunder, clinging to Matias next to her, “What if the theatre collapses!” She bemoans as she tries to wrap her body around Matias.
Matias casually moves his hand to cover Eloa’s mouth at the thunderstrike and scream, nothing to see here.
Dovie seems deflated, for whatever reason, and simply watches the performance until the boom of thunder and Eloa’s scream. The Fairchild glances over, then looks back to the stage.
Lorelei basks in the drama, recrossing her legs in a slinky slow way as she leans back and sighs.
Matias covers Eloa’s mouth for a moment or two and says, “If Windermere buildings collapsed during hurricanes or storms the entire city would have sunk into a pit by now. Everything is fine.” his tone reassuring apparently not to upset even that Eloa is panicking, hm.
After the first soloist has finished, there are more. Piano is always a big feature. In part because so much has been written for it. But perhaps more practically because it is a bitch to move. The next piece is Chopin’s Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2 (one of Teagan’s favorites, in fact and any with eyes backstage can see her gesturing along to it where she waits with the others in her section).
Following this is a young woman who has opted not for the traditional black, but for a long, shimmering silver gown that is fitting her piece. And one not, in fact, on the piano. Another curtain has fallen as she sits at the very front of the stage (allowing stage hands to begin the work of preparing for the orchestra). Alone, under a spotlight, her gown glimmering and casting motes of light throughout the old theatre, the blonde makes love to her cello over Camille Saint-Sans’ The Swan.
Mirabel applauds dutifully between each piece, wearing a cheerful smile. And a dress.
Seraphina looks relieved to have finally found the Theatre, stepping in alongside of Obadiah. She tries to wiggle her way through the growing crowd to find a seat near some familiar faces. There is a whisper, “Sorry… sorry…” as she goes. She crosses her legs, jeans stretching their limit with the action.
As the various performers come out and do their stints and performances Matias likewise applauds politely at the right time. When the celloist comes out there is a perk of his brow and he actually sits up a bit more.
Obadiah joins the rows of seating moving to sit down near Arachne, Dovie, and Gabriel, with a stray Seraphina in tow. Appropriate nods and smiles are given as he crawls over laps disrupting the show before plopping down between Dovie and Arachne.
“I actually heard Yo-Yo Ma play this once in person.” Matias says mostly to Eloa but he can only pitch his voice so quietly.
Lorelei mouths something like ‘don’t you work here??’ to Seraphina and gives her a teasing look.
Sarah’s eyes widen at the celloist, and she watches with great interest, greater than she showed for the pianos, though she certainly enjoyed them, a smile fixed on her face for the whole event. She peeks at the backstage almost guiltily a few times, even as she watches the cello, the instrument, more than the person, with great fascination.
Amber lingers silently in the back, listening with a distant and pensive expression.
Looking a bit chastized when Matias puts his hand over her mouth, Eloa blinks up at the man sheepily and nods her head. She stops trying to climb onto his seat but resumes trying to tug him into hers but thankfully there isn’t quite as loud as thunder as before to accompany the cello. Instead of using two hands to clap given one of her hands is clinging to Matias’s, Eloa claps on her armrest instead with her free hand.
Those heavy curtains fall on the cellist, seeming to envelop her like a great beast might within its maw. The theatre goes dark, the only lights from the high set windows and what little comes in from New Haven beyond, for the Windermere campus itself still sits mysteriously dark.
But everything lies swathed in this preternatural darkness for only the space it takes to look upward and wonder for the curtain draws back with the groan of age to reveal Windermere’s full orchestra, spotlights sparking to life. It is not the students that dazzle save a glimmer off a woodwind or the sparkle off an eyelid carefully done. Everyone is in black. Those who stand out are those with the honor of ‘first chair,’ of which Teagan is one.
Before the curtain is even fully raised, a song even the most uncultured should recognize begins: Eine kleine Nachtmusik.
Matias in an aside to Eloa, “A famous celloist, he was very popular in the mid 2000s and 2010s. Considered the world’s best.” he explains in a brazilian accented english. “He toured all over the world, very talented man. One wonders how much is natural talent , his parents, or a bargain or five.”
Kai unfolds his arms and sits up, he looks around and fixes his gaze on Matias and Eloa, then Lorelei and Jakem and puts his finger to his lips to give the more Karen-esque SHHHHH he can. Satisfied, he turns to face forward again, gaze landing on the stage once more.
Freaking out again when the room goes dark, Eloa/span>/spanAs the very famous mozart piece that anyone who has ever been forced to sit through a classical performance has heard comes on Matias chuckles quietly and leans back in his seat , one hand still holding the fidgeting Eloa’s own while the other has a finger mimicing a conducters motion.
Arachne’s lips curve into a slow and indulgent smile as the curtain stirs and the first bright strokes of Mozart spill through the air. She straightens a little in her seat, shoulders rolling back, as though this familiar swell deserves her full attention. She drinks the performance in unabashedly, her gaze sliding toward someone in the first chair, savoring the sight briefly, before she stretches out a hand to gently squeeze at Dovie’s hand discreetly, her excitement subdued.
Arachne’s lips curve into a slow and indulgent smile as the curtain stirs and the first bright strokes of Mozart spill through the air. She straightens a little in her seat, shoulders rolling back, as though this familiar swell deserves her full attention. She drinks the performance in unabashedly, her gaze sliding toward Teagan in the first chair, savoring the sight briefly, before she stretches out a hand to gently squeeze at Dovie’s hand discreetly, her excitement subdued.
Sarah perks up in her seat as she spies that, this time, it’s not a solo, and her eyes immediately start flicking between people until they alight on Teagan. She somehow manages to express all the bodily motions of a squeal of excitement and delight without making the actual sound. Or perhaps she simply passed right out of human hearing in an instant. Either way, she avoids being disruptive with her fawning delight, her attention rarely straying from Teagan as she watches and listens.
Nemi softly and silently taps the arm rest of the chair, the music already in her head as she follows silently along with the piece. A soft smile rests on her face, a deep breath in and out. All of her movements and functions utterly silent as she listens to the musical performance at hand. Mozart was indeed an amazing piece. This would be quite the good show.
“We really should find a music professor… Just imagine if some of our problem students gained some culture from an instrument.” Matias says loud enough for a few row back to hear his recognizeable baritone of a voice just as the song gets into the middle swell , all those bows moving in unison for the melody.
“If you know any candidates, by all means, let me know and I’ll help coerce them,” Mirabel tells Matias evenly, keeping her voice low enough to only just reach her colleague.
Nemi looks over towards Matias. “I could try teaching Kai how to play an organ….”
Matias nods silently to Mirabel but snerks when Nemi chimes in and mouths to her ‘please’ before checking on his fidgety companion with a lean over to point out a few nursing students in the orchestra she might recognize.
But it is not all cliches here at Windermere. As Mozart is given his due and fades to quiet, the spotlight shifts and one student stands: Teagan . It is perhaps not immediately recognizable except to fans: an orchestral arrangement of Miley Cyrus’ Flowers, with a solo for violin as the lead in to the song. Teagan remains on her feet for the duration of the song, only settling once the final notes fade away. She has a focus on her features throughout: like nothing else exists in the world except for the music. Not the rest of the orchestra. Not the theatre. Not the audience.
That focus persists into an orchestral version of Billie Eilish’s Ocean Eyes and from there into a string-focused rendition of Taylor Swift’s Wildest Dreams.
Then, to something a touch more energetic, a touch more… cinematic with a Lord of the Rings medley that takes listeners from the Shire, to the restorative Rivendell upon the river Bruinen in the foothills of the Misty Mountains and up Mount Doom to the end of Sauron… and the denoument of a return to the Shire, but the end of the Third Age.
It is on this epic, adventurous note — with a final, stirring of strings — that the concert ends. It is not the heaviest of curtains that drop, but it is a curtain that drops to signal to the audience that it has completed… and to give the musicians behind the cloth a chance to fucking relax and breath for a few beats.
Kai rolls his eyes as the chatter continues and lolls his head back against his chair, staring at the stage while he slips his hands into his hoodie pocket.
Nemi does turn her head forwards, paying close attention to the stage, smiling once more.
As the more modern pieces make their appearance Matias applauds here and there but by the end the latino professor stands up for a standing ovation of the students efforts this evening.
Sophie perks up a little too excitedly at the Lord of the Rings music, possibly heard singing along to the Misty Mountains..
After the Lord of the Rings Medley, Buck stands up after Matias and applauds loudly, “Good job!” he cheers, “Way to go Teagan!” he yells as he puts his fingers in the edges of his mouth and whistles loudly.
“Bravo! Exquisite!” Mirabel decrees and joins in the applause, beaming proudly at the stage. “She’s really going places, isn’t she?”
Arachne rises with the sweep of the closing curtain, her palms meeting in languid, deliberate applause, the faintest smile curving her lips as the last strains of music dissolve into the air. “Brava, brava!” She turns with a pivot of her heel, gray eyes scanning the rows before curling her finger in soft beckoning for Matias to lean forward toward her for a quiet word.
Sarah looks like she might -burst- for a moment as Teagan stands, but slowly, sloooowly it relaxes into quietly enjoying the music, wide eyes fixed on the violinist adoringly. She beams at the Lord of the Rings music, definitely recognizing that more than anything else. As the curtain closes, she brushes at one eye, the dork, before bounding to her feet with a very loud, very proper, “WOOOOO! Go Teagan!” fit more for a sporting event, followed by -aggressive- applause.
Sophie stands with the others, applauding excitedly.
Lorelei goes for the standing O, clapping her hands softly and vocalizing a few sorority-girl level “WooooooOOoooo!”s
Amber applauds, though she remains seated. Maybe even sinking even deeper into her chair.
Shame Seraphina had arrived so late. It seems that she has only gotten there and there are people standing for a well-deserved ovation. She calls out, selfishly for sure, “Encore!” She claps above her head, eyes glimmering with her enjoyment and awe.
In the midst of the standing ovation Matias leans down and murmurs, “I will be right back.” to Eloa and gives her his rosary to hold before moving through the crowd continuing to applaud and encourage others to join the ovation en route to Arachne
Jakem applauds loudly, giving a relatively forum-inappropriate “Wooo!” and even flashing the horns up to stage, a rather significant clash given his form wear.
Obadiah drops anchor and rises with the tide, clapping loudly and enthusiastically, seemingly just as disappointed as Seraphina at having missed so much.
Dovie claps for the performer(s) a heartbeat behind the rest of the crowd.
As is only appropriate, the curtains rise again. And not only the curtains, but the orchestra and the house lights (by a small measure). It is the final act of the performance and one the audience gets to play a part in. When the rounds of applause (ending with the conductor) are complete and the house lights have risen entirely, the musicians descend and filter off in various directions. The audience is left to mingle or depart as they please as well.
Were this a professional theater, there may be a reception hall with drinks to be had. And certainly venues around New Haven would be happy to host any who wish to have an after party. But Plymouth House is an active hall of study and so immediate mingling must be done in the rows which is where Teagan descends, violin case in hand, looking pleased but weary as she simply stops in place and stares off into the broad space looking a little dazed.
Nemi starts cheering with the others, standing as she smiles warmly, hands colliding in a soft clap as she smiles and whistles something obviously showing happiness, content, and enthusiasm for the show in a shrill manner you’d give at ball games or soccer matches.
With the house lights on and the mingling beginning Matias dips himself into a bow to Arachne and speaks, “Good evening, did something catch your eye?”
Arachne’s gray eyes drift after Matias’s path toward her, the corners of her mouth upturning in a demure smile before she tilts her chin up to share a quiet word with the professor while the curtains lift again and guests prepare to mill about and mingle. A single finger uncurls to point toward Teagan, head tilted back with an expectant glimmer in her gaze at the gentleman beside her.
Kai doesn’t stand up nor does he clap but he does stick his fingers into his mouth and lets out a shrill whistle of approval for Teagan and the other performers.
With the performance over, Amber finally rises and slinks back out again. Looking pensive and downcast.
Sarah releases a “Wooooo!” with renewed vigor when Teagan reappears, “You did so -good-!” she cheers, and the orchestra is surely welcome to take it as general praise, but it’s most definitely aimed at Teagan in particular.
Eloa gets up to applaude when Matias does, taking a seat afterwards as she clutches his rosary
Lorelei smiles and bounces a little as she resetles her gait on her towering heels, swaying forward a few steps and turning to scan the crowd again, lingering on Dovie, Arachne, Eloa and a few others who might presume themselves so lucky. “What a lovely night.” She says, warmly. “Any violin concert where the moon does not come crashing down is a rousing success.” She adds, to no one in particular.
“Soon,” Arachne supposes toward Matias after a moment’s pause, only to turn and arrange her mouth into a vivacious smile toward Gabriel and Obadiah. “The pair of you are simply lethal when you choose to dress up well, gentlemen. Be still the beating hearts of your suitors, hm?” A hand lifts to offer a fluttering wave toward Nemi, Mirabel, and Seraphina respectively when she spots them, seeming in preparation to depart, rather than mingle.
Mirabel gets up and sidles back out of the row, taking care not to step on anybody’s feet. Once out in the middle aisle, she smiles radiantly at Teagan and says, “That was simply wonderful, Miss Lawson. Such talent. On behalf of our esteemed school, I’d like to thank you for that magnificent performance.”
Nemi smiles warmly, giving Arachne a soft wave in return once one is provided to her, and a tiny bow of respect of course.
“I will see to it.” Matias comments to Arachne and then nods to Dovie and Gabriel beside the Summer Monarch. “Good evening, I hope you enjoyed the concert.” and with pleasantries performed he begins to head back towards Eloa, walking down the less packed rows to hold out a hand to her.
In another time, another place, another yearning storyteller’s dream… the moon would, indeed, have come down. Teagan is startled out of her reverie by her phone, looking down and responding to a text. She lifts her gaze as Mirabel speaks to her, giving a faint smile that could certainly be attributed to weariness. “Thank you.”
Gabriel turns and isn’t even remotely subtle about checking Obadiah out at Arachne’s words, offering an approving nod, “Looking good as always.”
“Enjoy your evening, Arachne.” Seraphina offers sincerely to Arachne, and to Dovie near her side, also. The latter gets a longer look, and a small smile of hope and desire to see the woman perhaps smile, too.
Obadiah looks over at Gabriel and then at himself, “Yeah. I like the green smoking jacket. I haven’t worn it in a while.” But then he turns back to Arachne and smiles politely, dipping his head. “Dovie as well. All of your retainers really dressed to impress this evening, my lady.”
Kai stands up and stretches, he heads over to Nemi and Eloa in particular and asks the pair, “How’s it going?” now that the concert seems to be finished.
“It was a lovely concert. Very enjoyable,” Dovie says, to no one in particular, perhaps those around her within earshot. She stands, a hand smoothing down her dress as she does so. As unobtrusively as she can, she slips through the crowd to approach Teagan. “That was a really beautiful performance. Thank you.” There’s a smile, finally. But here one moment, and gone the next.
“Miss Fairchild-Montrose, how are you tonight? Good to see you,” Mirabel tells Arachne after primly handing Teagan a bouquet. “You look radiant.”
Nemi shrugs softly as she nods. “I think it’s going well, this nights been quite swell.” She says with a soft smile. “I should have worn my dress but I don’t have anything more casual and fancy….”
“I look forward to seeing more concerts in the future, Teagan.” Buck says with a big smile to her, “This was very good. There was a lot of hard work put in for this concert by everyone, and we all appreciate experiencing this art.”
Lorelei fishes her flip phone out of the neckline of her gown, powering it back on now that the show is over. She seems to have settled into a state of observation, as if she somehow thought she could blend in to the background.
“As you all should be,” Arachne replies to Obadiah as though the standard is anything but within her court. “You’re all extensions and representations of your liege. Anything less is simply unacceptable,” she teases in light regard to him and Gabriel, gray eyes trailing after a redhead within the crowd before she’s gracefully maneuvering to bless Lorelei with a kiss ghosted in the air toward her cheek and a light touch of the fingers toward the inner elbow. “You look exquisite, darling. Try not to break any hearts. I simply can’t keep paying the liability invoices that are billed to the theater.” To Mirabel, in passing, as she drifts closer and closer toward the door, “Quite well, Professor Kane! We’ll have to pencil in a luncheon in soon.”
With a small rub of a finger along the flower shaped gold that softly caresses her wrist, there is a slight shimmer, and then with a outward expanse of her hands, an array of flowers shower before Teagan’s feet. Seraphina bends down to pick one up.
Sarah only has the good grace to consider that her particular brand of cheering might not have been entirely appropriate once others begin to offer much more formal and eloquent accolades, scratching at her cheek a little, but still looking obscenely, grotesquely pleased on Teagan’s behalf as they come in. She fiddles with her phone a little as the musician is swarmed, sending out a few texts and turning to survey the crowd. She wiggles her fingers in a wave to Kai, Nemi and Eloa in particularly, studying the others with idle people-watchy curiosity.
Jakem lets out a soft whistle as the flowers spring from the ether about Teagan’s feet. “Summon the very buds of spring with song, now that’s somethin’.” he comments.
“Goodness! Look at that,” Mirabel remarks and chortles lightheartedly. Looking around, she catches sight of Seraphina, eyes crinkling with approval.
Kai notices Sarah and gives a wave to her, followed by a grin and a beckon with his hand as he stands over near Nemi and Eloa.
After collecting Eloa Matias begins to make the rounds approaching Seraphina as she bends to pick up a flower, “Miss Hawke, I see you have settled into autumn wear. I approve of the sweater, you look nice.” he remarks in a resonating baritone of a voice and then slate-grey eyes sweep onto Teagan. “Well done Miss Lawson. I hope that no other school attempts to poach our scholarship first chair from us. Do let us know if you get any competing offers.”
Dovie smiles faintly at the appearance of the flowers.
No motions to move. Not like a group of students who gather up with their friends and head out speaking of heading to the pizza parlor. Teagan has a more stunned look than she did in the spotlight. Giving a sort of small nod to Dovie. “Thank… you?” A furrow of brow, almost confused, as she? is the one thanked? Another nod to Mirabel, accepting the bouquet. “Oh, ah-” a blink at Buck, “Thank you… sir? And… yes, we did. It… went well.” And then there are more flowers and she looks a little wavery on her feet. “No, Professor Alejandro,” she manages after a moment. “I… don’t think so.”
Nemi makes her way down a few rows of seats as she smiles softly to Teagan. “The performance was amazing, I’d say you blew the audience away- You and all the others.” She says with a soft smile.
Leaning down to pick up some lilies in the area, Buck lifts them up to give them a deep smell, “Wow, that is quite the magic.”
Seraphina brings the white roses to her nose to breath in the mellow aroma of the roses, before she lightly steps, perhaps one could even say, dancing, in a soft sway to some music in her own head. She offers the bouquet to Dovie. “Lovely things deserve lovely things.”
Sophie gives Buck and Peri a little smile, “Sorry. I need some air.”
Giving Sarah a smile, Eloa is easily collected by Matias, clinging to his side as she follows him around on the rounds. She flashes Kai a grin though as they walk past, “Nice to see you stay for a whole thing Kai. Teagan must be a lucky girl for you to give that much attention.” She giggles a little.
Lorelei sighs softly to herself and glances around thoughtfully. “I need to go powder my nose. But if there’s any sort of after party or something perhaps text me the location?” She says, ghosting past Dovie she trails a hand down Dovie’s arm and gives Dovie a meaningful look and a flirty little smile packaged as one. She sets her hips a swaying and long legs striding as her dress and high heels makes art of the whole affair, slipping away with a sense of melodrama.
Dovie smiles as Teagan is showered with attention post-performance. She waits for the right moment to chime in towards Teagan to add, “I would love to discuss possible other performances, if you are open to work for hire,” she murmurs. “Please feel free to match me on MyHaven someone. The Fairchild turns towards Seraphina at the pro-offered bouquet, the tension in her loosening a touch as she takes the roses, unable to resists. “You’re too kind. If only I had something beautiful to offer you in return.”
Sarah finally retreats from her seat to make her way more toward Kai at the beckon, though she looks over her shoulder, “Wait…you’re supposed to do the flower thing -after-?” she wonders of no one in particular, then frowns a little as she watches Teagan’s face. She slows, considers, pauses, and holds up a finger to Kai before retreating back over to Teagan, closing the distance this time to whisper.
Kai peers at Eloa and shrugs at her, “Yeah I guess?” he turns and looks over to Sarah and Teagan, he hmms and checks his phone and turns back to Eloa, “I’m not dating her though you know?” he asks.
Seraphina says to Matias, “Yes, I am starting to pull out the autumn clothes. But it isn’t quite sweater weather just yet.” She laughs at the thought of something, putting a single rose into her hair behind her ear. “I would have come dressed up in a dress but I completely forgot about this until it buzzed on my calendar.”
“Sweaters and concerts are like marshmellows and chocolate. Besides this is Windermere not the MET.” Matias observes in a blazer and button down and nothing especially special himself. There is a look aside to Eloa, “Did you want to stay and mingle or still feeling anxious?”
Buck gives a tip of his hat as he starts to head out, “Have a pleasant evening, all.”
“We’ll find it in us to forgive you,” Mirabel assures Sarah, lips quirking upwards at the corners. “What’s your name, young lady?”
Grinning at Kai’s words Eloa nods her head and then rubs her cheek against Matias’s shoulder as they turn towards Seraphina, “You look lovely Sera.” She mentions to the woman infront of her with the rose and then looks over at Matias, “Are you sure is okay for the front door to not be locked?” She asks anxiously, gazing around a little.
Kai texts away while he looks between Eloa and Matias, “Thanks for talking through the whole thing,” he tells Matias, “I hope you don’t ever come down on Teagan for interrupting one of your classes,” he rolls his eyes at the man.
“Other?” Teagan shakes herself a little out of it, staring at the magically conjured flowers as if she can’t quite comprehend their existence. “I- yes. My… MyHaven is CodeConcerto.” Because of course it is. She leans a shoulder into Sarah when the woman arrives. “I think…” she takes a moment to consider. “can we go to the Inkwell? I’d like something to drink. To sit down.” Another look around and she takes out her phone to clutch it. Maybe stare at it. Because like all of her generation, it is her escape route.
“As if texting the entire time isn’t interrupting?” Seraphina asks Kai.
“I am sure that locked or not the house will survive.” Matias assures Eloa and then looks out over the crowd giving Seraphina a dip of his head while approaching Mirabel with Eloa in tow. “Professor Kane, quite the show. I have to say I am pleased with all the participating students. Did you have a favorite piece?” and then looks towards Kai and makes a *hmmm* sound before deciding, “Mister Ashford, I know you were busy googling every song to have a point of reference for them, but some of us have attended a recital before and enjoy the commentary. Perhaps you can find box seating sometime so you do not have to sit with the rabble?”
“I wasn’t texting the whole time,” Kai replies to Seraphina, lying breezily at her with a sidelong glance directed at her.
Nemi looks outside and winces. “And I don’t have an umbrella….”
Sarah blinks at Mirabel like she’s forgotten that she can be addressed by people, actually. She stares for a second, then smiles, “Sarah!” she greets, “It’s good to meet you.” she decides with exactly zero evidence, a liiiittle bit of a twang in her voice. She smiles at Teagan after, tucking a socially appropriate arm about Teagan’s waist, “We can!” she assures, “Uh…right after I google where it is…”
Dovie nods to Teagan, “Congratulations again,” she murmurs, clutching those roses close as she offers a parting smile to Seraphina before following Gabriel and Obadiah.
Kai pops his monocle into his eye and nods in agreement with Matias, “Perhaps I shall!” he retorts to the man, pushing his chest out. He sighs and drops the monocle out and asks Seraphina, “How’s it going? With Obie now huh?” he asks, waggling his brows at her.
Looking extra pale as if imaging the very thing Eloa seems anxious about, Eloa gives Sarah a small wave given she just spotted her in the crowd and not earlier as Eloa and Matias make their way over to Mirabel. “Ola Miss Mirabel.” She greets softly, looking a bit anxious compared to her usual self.
Seraphina rolls her eyes at Kai. “You are aware that men and women can be friends yes?”
Jakem calls out to Seraphina interjectingly “And enemies!” he supplies.
“Of course I do, we’re friends afterall. I just meant you CAME here with him?” Kai asks, tilting his head a bit at Seraphina. His phone buzzes and he glances down at it, sending off a quick response.
Obadiah looks up from his phone and looks at Kai, “I should be so lucky. Sera is, however, one of my dearest friends.” He looks to her more fully and winks, “We really do need to hang out. Soon.”
“Good evening, dear colleague. More than pleased; positively amazed,” Mirabel answers Matias and takes a moment to consider his question. “That Tolkien piece was beautiful,” she ventures. Turning her head, she grins knowingly at Sarah and Teagan. “Ah, so *you’re* Sarah. Nice to meet you, too. I’m Mirabel.”
“Maybe she was the one that gave him directions in.” Eloa turns her head towards Kai, “Women have better navigational skills!”
Seraphina gives Obadiah a side glance and another upward roll of her eyes. “Yes, that too,” she agrees with Jakem with an upnod. She points at Obadiah, and wags her finger. “I hear that so often, and it never happens, you know.
Teagan nods after sunkissed sylph as she departs, just allowing Sarah to guide her at this point, her sole responsibility her violin case. It was easy up on stage. Easier than this! And then a blink between Mirabel and Sarah and Teagan comes to for a moment, giving a small clearing of her throat. “I may have mentioned you to Miss Kane here, in passing.”
Seraphina peeks at her own phone and the buzz and there comes a mirthful laugh. “Oh, that would be a sight!” Her gaze lands on Kai with that mirth still dancing in her eyes.
“Oh and last weekend wasn’t fun?” Obadiah teases with a sparkle in his eye. “I mean aside from the coughing, sneezing, bodily fluids everywhere, and us all on the verge of death I got to spend it with two beautiful women. You know… When they aren’t dying.”
Kai nods to both Jakem and Annabelle after the former’s commentary, “Truuue…” he glances back Seraphina’s way after her laugh, “What would?” he asks, lifting his brows and leans toward her, trying to peek at her screen.
“What if the house is on fire?” Eloa asks Matias, seeming to be imaging catastrophe for some reason or rather, “What if the lightning hit it? Oh my god…” She reaches up to hold her cross with her free hand, “Please god not Eloa’s plushies..”
“Oh, Jakem…” Seraphina calls out to Jakem, “Helen contacted me a little while ago about hanging out… if you are still interested in that with Mister Hale?”
“Miss Fernandez. Have you had a difficult day?” Mirabel asks earnestly and puts a hand on Eloa’s shoulder. “Not to worry. Beautiful music can pluck the strings of emotion, can’t it?”
“You know me…?” Sarah wonders, then grins at Teagan, “Oooooh.” she makes a sound that definitely spells teasing in Teagan’s future, but she doesn’t do it -yet-. She smiles anew at Mirabel isntead, “Well, it’s good to meet you!” she repeats, “Buuut…I think I need to get Teagan to somewhere quiet before she introverts to death.” she reveals solemnly, giving the violinist only a gentle verbal ribbing.
Jakem nods to Seraphina “Oh, fantastic! I was worried he’d gotten busy on me. We’re actually having a hangout session on Friday if you two wanted to attend. Little bit of a picnic thing. If not, we can find another time as well.”
“Eloa is just worried about… everything for some reason.” Eloa admits to Mirabel looking a little distraught as she clings to Matias’s arm but she’s distracted by Teagan coming over and nods to the woman, “Wonderful playing! Sorry for screaming! Was very surprising..”
“Good idea. I’m sure I’ll see her in the morning,” Mirabel says and nods amiably to Sarah.
“Seeing you as a newt.” Seraphina says to Kai, southern draw full of teasing.
“I think the Inkwell may be an appropriate afterparty gathering. It even has a stage for encores.” Matias says helpfully and then looks aside to Eloa and makes a soothing *shhh* sound and gives her hand a squeeze until she begins chatting with Teagan
Obadiah walks closer to Seraphina and squeezes her forearm, “Seriously, just give me a day and time. I need to go though hmm? Let’s text.” And with that he slips out of the hall.
Kai nods to Seraphina thoughtfully and gives a wave to someone, “Later Obie.”
Kai nods to Seraphina thoughtfully and gives a wave after the guy, “Later Obie.”
“I’m not really a student or anything…?” Sarah admits to Mirabel, “But we should chat sometime!” she adds, truly ominous words, for those that know.
“She’s VERY interested in women,” Kai calls to Sarah between texts, he looks back to Seraphina, “You’d probably be interesting looking as a man, too.”
Robert shifts to the back of the seats, dropping down into it with a huff and looking distinctly exhausted as a hand reaches up to massage his forehead with the back of his palm. “Ah.” He murmurs, more to himself as he looks around.
Jakem calls over to Seraphina “If you become a man, I’ve got a job for you.”
“Hm? Yes, yes. Right,” Mirabel says a bit distractedly to Sarah and turns to squint at Kai. “Young man, that’s quite enough of that.”
Nemi hums softly, tilting her head and nodding a tiny bit.
“Interesting looking.” Annabelle quotes with wry eyes.
Seeming soothed a little by Matias, Eloa’s doe like eyes dart around a bit before she sends off a few texts. Kai gets a thankful look from her after she reads her phone.
A flush appropriately colors Teagan’s cheeks at Sarah’s teasing, but she allows herself drawn along with the rest. “You screamed?” She blinks at Eloa, utterly confused. “I’m sorry it was surprising.” No, she was utterly focused on the music and only the music. No screams heard. Or the chatter she keeps being told about. Then: “Yes, please, can we go? I need to sit and sit for…. several minutes once I do.”
Annabelle chokes on Jakem’s comment and taps a knee on his.