Glass Skin

21

Not many people paid Fleurette any mind as she flitted to and fro from what she now dubbed the music room, to the surrounding space. Hank did manage to question her as to the whereabouts of his tuning equipment. To this she just innocently smiled at him and frankly told him that Erik was using them. Hank just muttered something under his breath and shuffled off waving a hand at her as he went.

Blinking slowly, Fleurette turned back to her task. There was very little light in the music room. There was a window which, as Erik quickly pointed out, was logically idiotic. It measured from Fleurette's middle finger tip to just under her wrist, that was its width, its height wasn't much better. Because of the lack of light, Fleurette had got given the task of hunting out any available lights, be them candles or lamps, electric or oil.

"Such illumination, you must have a huge void to light." A voice said from above.

Fleurette lowered her arms, which had numerous light related things in them. "What are you doing up there?"

"Would you believe," Gangle said while looking around his current position. "Hanging around?"

"That's not even funny."

"Ah," he held a hand out and wagged a finger at her. "I saw you smirk." Fleurette just shook her head and looked to the floor to indeed hide her smile. Gangle just grinned down at her, his words were awfully right. He was just hanging around, suspended by ropes he seemed to be doing something, though what that something was she didn't know. Jumping down, he leaned down to look at her face. Fleurette slowly lifted her face back up. "Where are you off to with so many..." His eyes glanced at the items in her arms. "Things?"

"Why do you want to know?" She rocked on her heels. "I can't tell you anyway."

Gangle rubbed his chin in thought. "On a need to know basis? Perhaps a secret? Or even a private plan?"

"I'd say two of three there." Fleurette said while walking around him and trotting off down the corridor. It wasn't that the music room was being kept a secret from everyone else. It was more the fact that the room wasn't of any use to anyone while covered in dust sheets and without sufficient lighting.

The lone oil lamp which was already in the room burned to its maximum. And really that wasn't very bright. A small halo of light filled the room and fought back the shadows in that area. So far the lamp was carefully placed near the piano so Erik could see the inner workings of the instrument.

When she came shuffling through the door with arms full of objects which could project light, Erik stopped what he was doing and walked briskly over.

He took some of the load from her and turned to rigging some of the things up. Eventually the room was lit by numerous candles and oil lamps. It quickly became apparent that the room had no sockets for electric lamps. The few spare electric lamps Fleurette did find now stood neglected against a wall.

Slowly pulling a sheet away, she frowned. She was still confused as to why these instruments were stuffed away in a far forgotten room. "You know," she said while casting a quick sidewards look to Erik, he looked up at her quickly.

"What is it?"

"I have to admit I thought I'd spend my last week here moping around." She paused to wave dust out of her face. She briefly looked to the harp she had rediscovered and smiled happily. Who knew when this was last looked upon?

Erik leaned his arms against the piano and waved a hand in her direction. "There's still time for that." He stated so obviously.

Fleurette shot him a look which he countered with a look of his own and a shrug. "You're right, of course." She gave a nod and folded the sheet up before placing it gently on the floor near the neglected lamps. Tilting her head to the side, she reached out and picked up a small case which had a familiar shape. Sweeping her skirt underneath her, she sat down on a sheeted stool. Clicking the case open she was briefly aware to Erik quietly tuning the piano in the background.