one of them will be me, watching you run

[huszar]

( to her slight- okay, great- surprise, when hungary peers into the music room, austria isn't there. it's not that she was looking for him, just wandering around the house, but considering that she was mostly convinced he slept in there too…

she crossed the room slowly, feeling like she was trespassing. which was dumb. after all, they were… sort of… unified now, so shouldn't it technically be her conservatory too? her piano too?

yeah, didn't feel like it at all. not even slightly.

hungary cautiously pressed down on one of the piano keys, then another, then a third, dah-deh-do, not really playing anything since she didn't really know how. )

Comments

[gesangvoll]

[see, in other situations, he would ask before doing that, but when it comes to pianoing, he sees nothing wrong with it. He's making sure she's doing things correctly! Besides, saying "place your finger on the key for middle C" or something won't exactly work if she doesn't know what key that is.]

Is there a problem?

[huszar]

N- no! ( argh hungary stop being a dumbass, she thinks angrily. she tries to make a joke of it- ) It's just pretty forward of you to grab me like that, don't you think?

[gesangvoll]

[now it's his turn to be embarrassed, because as mentioned before: piano trumps other things. Truthfully, he didn't realize or think that Hungary would say something like that (not that... he would have without the added element of the piano, but he would have asked if it weren't involved).]

Ah, well--I... was simply demonstrating where your hands need to be in order to perform this next piece.

[huszar]

( the part of her that used to beat him up feels better, seeing him embarrassed too. this may make her a jerk but whatever. ) It's okay. I don't mind.

[gesangvoll]

[Wow, jerkgary. But continuing the lesson now!]

...Very well. To continue, I suppose I can teach you a simplified version of the melody to Beethoven's Für Elise. If that's acceptable, of course. You do know of it, yes?

[huszar]

I've heard it. ( with a smile because she's not that musically illiterate! and she sort of debates asking for something by liszt just to see if he'd do it but… national pride later! ) It doesn't seem too difficult!

[gesangvoll]

[if she asked, he would find something and try and teach her. Liszt was a pretty cool guy, Austria didn't mind him.]

No, its melody is relatively simple enough on its own. However, to begin with, we should play it at a slower tempo than intended, so you can grow accustomed to playing the proper notes for the correct amount of time.

[huszar]

Then please lead the way, Austria úr. ( not trying to be especially polite in calling him sir; in fact, she sounds pretty playful. )

[gesangvoll]

[well, after having Hungary around for how many years actually calling him 'sir' to be polite (and probably out of obligation, as well), even Austria can tell the difference in her tone. He also rather likes it, since well, happy, playful Hungary sounds more like herself than Hungary pretending to be polite.]

Very well. I'll play it slowly, and then you can try after I've finished. Be sure to pay attention to the keys I'm pressing. [and yep, Beethoven goes here]

[huszar]

( she listens and enjoys listening- even if she can't play anything herself, she is still a mild music lover, after all. but while she knows the tune- at least the first, easy bit- it's totally different to remember what keys austria is hitting and when and where and all the rest. so when the song finishes…

she just looks blank. ) That was great!

[gesangvoll]

[he sees that look, Hungary... He'll have to show her which keys to press in which order for how long again, won't he.]

Now, it's your turn. Do you remember which keys to use?

[huszar]

( with a serious expression: ) Dah na na na na na naaah. ( aka the first line. and no she doesn't remember the keys just the tune. )

[gesangvoll]

[oh hungary never change]

...Yes, that's... not quite what I meant. Having the tune down is important, but knowing which notes to play is equally vital.

[huszar]

I was distracted listening.

[gesangvoll]

[he can forgive that, it's understandable.]

Either way, it's your turn to play now. Place your hands where mine are, and I will guide you.