Sim_Spiration 01/09/11
Sep. 1st, 2011 07:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dicreasy2Another long drabble for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
simspiration.
A crowded bus
First off I wanted to explain that on reading this prompt, the very first thing I thought of, was the painting Omnibus Life by W M Egley
(Picture courtesy of the Tate)
and just how would passengers react to someone doing something annoying in such a crowded space. What if the person with the annoying tick, was someone we knew and cared about? That was the idea behind this little drabble, and it also gives a bit of an insight to where I'm going to be taking Emmi and the difficulties she's going to face.
***
Stuart shifted uncomfortably on his seat and stifled a groan as the passenger next to him relaxed into the small space his movement had created. He was starting to think that taking an omnibus to Simford, rather than asking his father to find them a cab or cadging a lift off one of the local farmers on the way to the market was a mistake. It was far more crowded than he had been expecting.
He looked down at his sister and was concerned to note that while she was staring straight ahead, her fingers were moving as if playing an invisible piano. "Are you comfortable Emmi?" he asked.
She looked blankly at him, her fingers never slowing. Eventually she nodded at him, before going back to staring into space.
He wasn't the only one to notice Emmi's hands and demeanour. The woman sitting opposite her, suddenly jabbed at her with her walking stick. "What's wrong with you then? Stop it."
"Do not poke my sister with your walking stick!" exclaimed Stuart, outraged.
"What is wrong with her? Why can she not keep still? Is she queer in the head?"
"What?! No! There is nothing wrong with her! If anything, she is unaccustomed to being in such a small space with so many people," Stuart spluttered, appalled at the woman's questioning.
"But what is she doing? Make her stop."
"Practising." It was the first time Emmi had spoken since boarding, and the woman had to strain to hear her.
"Practising? Practising what? What could you possibly be practising?"
"Mr Brahms’ Piano Concerto," answered Emmi.
The woman gave a guffaw of laughter. "As if a child of your age could be capable of playing a piece such as that. Did your parents not tell you that you should not tell lies? No you are capable of only the simplest of tunes I guarantee it."
"I am not! I am a very good pianist!" retorted Emmi, her pale cheeks flushing with anger.
"Do not talk back to your betters child!" chided the woman as the rest of the passengers looked on in interest at the little drama taking place in their midst.
"She speaks the truth. Emina is a very, very talented musician," said Stuart. "Papa says that she is at least as talented as most members of the Simdon Symphony Orchestra, maybe more so."
The woman snorted. "A doting father will of course say that. I doubt that she can manage more than a scale without making a mistake. He will hardly be an authority on musical standards."
Stuart looked down at his sister, and noticed that there were big fat tears rolling down her face. Whether of anger or upset, he couldn't tell, and he didn't care. Emmi was his sister, and she was crying, and he was going to do something about it.
"Actually our father is an authority on musical standards," he said putting his arm around his sister’s shoulders and meeting the woman’s eyes. "He would not have kept his position as first violin with the Simdon Symphony Orchestra if he was not a proficient player.”
“A likely story. Really I have never met such ill-mannered children, intent on telling lies” said the woman with a sneer. “I will speak to you no more.”
“Master Legacy speaks the truth,” said a tall woman sitting in the corner nearest the front of the bus. “Edward Legacy is a concert violinist, and one of the most honest men I have ever met. If he is impressed with his daughter’s talent, then it is because she is a good pianist, and not because she is his daughter.
“Now I suggest you cease bothering these good people and disturbing the rest of the passengers and enjoy the rest ov your journey in silence.”
“Well I never,” the woman blustered for a bit before huffily descending into silence as she realised the rest of the passengers were not going to be sympathetic to her. Stuart looked over at the tall woman and nodded at her. “Thank you,” he said quietly. A strange look crossed her face before she gave a sharp nod. “You are welcome Stuart.”
Stuart smiled at her. It was only later that he wondered how she knew his father and his name.
simspiration.A crowded bus
First off I wanted to explain that on reading this prompt, the very first thing I thought of, was the painting Omnibus Life by W M Egley
(Picture courtesy of the Tate)
and just how would passengers react to someone doing something annoying in such a crowded space. What if the person with the annoying tick, was someone we knew and cared about? That was the idea behind this little drabble, and it also gives a bit of an insight to where I'm going to be taking Emmi and the difficulties she's going to face.
***
Stuart shifted uncomfortably on his seat and stifled a groan as the passenger next to him relaxed into the small space his movement had created. He was starting to think that taking an omnibus to Simford, rather than asking his father to find them a cab or cadging a lift off one of the local farmers on the way to the market was a mistake. It was far more crowded than he had been expecting.
He looked down at his sister and was concerned to note that while she was staring straight ahead, her fingers were moving as if playing an invisible piano. "Are you comfortable Emmi?" he asked.
She looked blankly at him, her fingers never slowing. Eventually she nodded at him, before going back to staring into space.
He wasn't the only one to notice Emmi's hands and demeanour. The woman sitting opposite her, suddenly jabbed at her with her walking stick. "What's wrong with you then? Stop it."
"Do not poke my sister with your walking stick!" exclaimed Stuart, outraged.
"What is wrong with her? Why can she not keep still? Is she queer in the head?"
"What?! No! There is nothing wrong with her! If anything, she is unaccustomed to being in such a small space with so many people," Stuart spluttered, appalled at the woman's questioning.
"But what is she doing? Make her stop."
"Practising." It was the first time Emmi had spoken since boarding, and the woman had to strain to hear her.
"Practising? Practising what? What could you possibly be practising?"
"Mr Brahms’ Piano Concerto," answered Emmi.
The woman gave a guffaw of laughter. "As if a child of your age could be capable of playing a piece such as that. Did your parents not tell you that you should not tell lies? No you are capable of only the simplest of tunes I guarantee it."
"I am not! I am a very good pianist!" retorted Emmi, her pale cheeks flushing with anger.
"Do not talk back to your betters child!" chided the woman as the rest of the passengers looked on in interest at the little drama taking place in their midst.
"She speaks the truth. Emina is a very, very talented musician," said Stuart. "Papa says that she is at least as talented as most members of the Simdon Symphony Orchestra, maybe more so."
The woman snorted. "A doting father will of course say that. I doubt that she can manage more than a scale without making a mistake. He will hardly be an authority on musical standards."
Stuart looked down at his sister, and noticed that there were big fat tears rolling down her face. Whether of anger or upset, he couldn't tell, and he didn't care. Emmi was his sister, and she was crying, and he was going to do something about it.
"Actually our father is an authority on musical standards," he said putting his arm around his sister’s shoulders and meeting the woman’s eyes. "He would not have kept his position as first violin with the Simdon Symphony Orchestra if he was not a proficient player.”
“A likely story. Really I have never met such ill-mannered children, intent on telling lies” said the woman with a sneer. “I will speak to you no more.”
“Master Legacy speaks the truth,” said a tall woman sitting in the corner nearest the front of the bus. “Edward Legacy is a concert violinist, and one of the most honest men I have ever met. If he is impressed with his daughter’s talent, then it is because she is a good pianist, and not because she is his daughter.
“Now I suggest you cease bothering these good people and disturbing the rest of the passengers and enjoy the rest ov your journey in silence.”
“Well I never,” the woman blustered for a bit before huffily descending into silence as she realised the rest of the passengers were not going to be sympathetic to her. Stuart looked over at the tall woman and nodded at her. “Thank you,” he said quietly. A strange look crossed her face before she gave a sharp nod. “You are welcome Stuart.”
Stuart smiled at her. It was only later that he wondered how she knew his father and his name.
