Who: Daryn and Finn What: Welcome Back When: 19th June 2019, afternoon Where: The Library Rating: Low Status: Complete
While most people didn’t think that libraries were all that interesting there would always be a need for books, especially here on the island where people couldn’t just jump on the internet and find the information they wanted many returned to the good old books. The library here was a decent size with a wide variety of titles for entertainment, knowledge and even some technical textbooks for the staff to help with their jobs.
Today wasn’t exactly that busy, it seemed like most people were out and about enjoying the sun and warmer days. Not that Finn really seemed to mind, there was always a few people who liked to come in and read even though they could take the books home with them they seemed to enjoy the atmosphere.
That might also be because most days like this Finn would get out his violin and play some classical pieces (and the occasional request) to help pass the time and as of yet no one had complained about the added live music. Leaning back in the chair with his feet up on the desk playing a nice Bach sonata that was one of his favorite pieces to play in the library, something he knew by heart and could play with his eyes closed, which is exactly what he was doing.
--
Daryn was kicked out of the hospital once she’d worked a few hours. She was almost getting used to it, the problem was that she had no idea what to do with herself now. Today, she’d wandered to the library. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been here, or why. Stepping inside slowly, the sound of music caught her attention. She moved out of the threshold, but stayed near the door just listening for now.
She looked like a ghost of herself, thin and pale as a skeleton, the light in her eyes almost gone. But if he could look past that, maybe he’d recognize her. Maybe.
--
Although he was focused on the piece that he was playing Finn was still aware of what was going on around him, it was never really safe to let your guard down in public places, even though he tried to make the library a haven all it took was for one guard who wanted to flaunt the rules to ruin that. He had heard the door open and cracked open an eye, turning his head towards the entrance to see if it was someone coming or going and did they need any assistance.
There was something familiar about the woman who stood watching him, he had lived here a long time and people came and went so it took a moment for him to put a face to a name. But it couldn't be Daryn, she had all but disappeared off the face of the earth! He had heard rumors that she was back but he never believed rumors, they just built up hope and were often dashed.
He stopped playing, put the violin and bow down on the desk and walked over to where she was standing. "Oh my God. Daryn!"
--
Daryn’s expression only changed subtly, from a blank stare to a vague, faint smile. She nodded a bit at his recognition, but remained lingering in the doorway. Reluctantly, her lips parted to speak, the first time he would have heard her voice. “Hello.”
--
Finn’s eyebrows quirked as Daryn spoke, actually spoke to him. He was used to her talking either telepathically or via her speech app but never, never had he heard her actual voice, he thought that she had an injury or something to her throat that prevented her from doing so but hearing her speaking was so strange, even though it was only one word.
“God… missed you so much!” He said, drawing her into a firm hug which he didn’t loosen even though he pulled back a bit to look down at her. “Come in. Sit. Talk, if you want to. Can I get you a drink or something?”
--
She smiled faintly at his expression and his words. It felt nice to be welcomed back in such a way. Most people were shocked and afraid to get too close. When he hugged her, she winced. She was so thin and fragile if felt like she might break beneath the slightest touch. She shook her head no to the offer of a drink, but slowly moved to sit down as invited. “How have you been?”
--
It was obvious to Finn that Daryn had lost quite a bit of weight, she felt so skinny as he hugged her. He walked behind her, almost protectively as they walked towards two of the chairs that were near the front of the library but out of the way out of the doorway. As Daryn sat down on one Finn brought the other closer and sat down on it, opposite. “Okay. Still here most of the time, got engaged… and I’m keeping up the good work.” He said, although he had thought the last bit, knowing that she’d hear him anyway, well he hoped that she hadn’t lost her telepathy in her time away, she had gained a voice but had she lost one? He wasn’t sure.
--
Sitting, she watched Finn curiously as he spoke. She quirked a brow at his casual mention of being engaged. “Really? When? Congratulations.” She heard the telepathic message, but she only nodded in response. Daryn wasn’t sure what the good work was anymore, or if it was really worth it. But she kept it to herself for now.
--
“About a week ago, it was the anniversary of our first meeting and I decided it was about time I made an honest man out of Riley.” Finn smirked a bit, they had been in a committed relationship for years that it shouldn’t come as any kind of surprise to anyone who knew either Finn or Riley. “We haven’t decided on a date as yet but I will let you know when it is. It isn’t like we can just go and elope somewhere, might as well have a big wedding for all our friends on the island.” At least that was some good news to share with Daryn, life was just going on day by day on the island.
--
Daryn had been away for a long time, and if felt like there was so much she had missed and even more she was struggling to remember. She gave him a smile and nodded. She was happy for him, but it was a reminder that things went on while her life had stayed still for too long. “That’s wonderful.”
--
Leaning closer he put a gentle hand onto Daryn’s knee, wanting to be comforting more than anything. He just hoped that his touch was, so long had passed that he was unsure about any touch now. “We missed you so much Daryn, you were here one day and gone the next.” Finn knew that on the island that people disappeared for no reason and honestly he thought that Daryn was dead, seeing as no one had heard anything from her in so long and having her here again was a miracle. “I know better than to ask, but it’s good to have you back.”
--
No one asked. No one ever asked. A part of her wanted someone to, so she could let it out, and maybe find a way to move on. But everyone was afraid, she could feel it. No one wanted to know the truth, it was easier for everyone to focus on the positives. Daryn couldn’t see those positives, not for herself anyway. She jumped slightly at the touch but tried to play it off. She studied his face and then looked down as she responded. “Thanks.”
--
He was one of the many who had looked for Daryn since her disappearance, although he wasn't officially part of the faction he still did work for them and kept in regular contact with other members, passing on messages and information when he received it. Even before that he had considered Daryn to be one of his friends and friendships were something that Finn held dear, everyone else - no matter how well he knew them were still just acquaintances. A frown crossed his brow as she jumped slightly, what had they done to her? "Is there anything I can do for you? Do you want me to play you some music or something?" It was worth a shot.
--
Daryn looked away, a bit ashamed of how different she was now compared to the woman he had once known her as. She bit her bottom lip, but nodded in response to his offer. Music had been profoundly healing to her in the past, maybe it could help with things now. Even if she wasn’t the one playing it.
--
A small smile spread across his lips as she nodded. "I'll be right back." He said as he stood, dashing over to the front desk where he had left his violin, grabbing both it and the bow before returning and taking his seat again. "Any requests?" He asked, checking the bow for broken threads before tucking the instrument under his chin. "I've been learning some new songs lately… well not really new, but they're new to me."
--
Daryn shook her head to his question. “I’m not picky, play anything you like. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.” She sat back and tried to relax, but her muscles felt eternally tensed. Maybe if she could just focus on the music it would help.
—
Finn knew a lot of pieces, both classical and modern but getting the sheet music for both wasn’t all that easy and he had spent a lot of time learning pieces by ear rather than going from a sheet. But still he smiled over at Daryn as he started playing Boccherini’s ‘Minuet’, a nice classical piece that had a slightly upbeat tone to it. His eyes closed as he got into the piece, anyone who had seen him play before would know that if he was doing a piece by heart he’d close his eyes as he played.
--
Daryn sat quietly watching Finn as he played. As the music went on, she closed her eyes as well. She tried hard to just focus on the music and forget everything else. But just went she felt herself falling into the sound and her body begin to relax, something would pull her back. Opening her eyes, she shifted uncomfortably in the chair but continued to listen in silence, appreciating his playing.
--
It wasn’t an overly long piece - well when it came to classical music at least - and Finn played it beautifully, but then again he had been playing for well over thirty years and this violin was the one that his parents had gotten him as a graduation gift when he finished high school so it had a lot of sentimental value, as well as being one of the few items from his ‘old life’ that he was able to bring with him to the island. When he finished he opened his eyes and looked across at Daryn. “If I remember right you used to play too, want a go?” He asked, holding the violin and bow out towards her, maybe music would help settle the unease he could feel around her.
--
Daryn used to love playing, but she hadn’t done it very much at all since arriving on the island. She too had brought her violin for sentimental reasons, but in her time away, it along with most of her personal belongings were stolen or destroyed. She looked at his offering but then shook her head no. Something felt wrong about using his instrument, about playing her own after everything. She offered him a faint smile. “No, thank you.”
--
“Are you sure? Not even one ‘Mary had a little lamb’ or ‘Twinkle, twinkle little star’?” It was getting clear to Finn that whatever had happened to her during her ‘captivity’ (or whatever it was) had really changed her, it had crushed the spirit of a lovely woman and had left this instead. He was determined to try and at least make her smile, a real one and not some plastered on fake one, he knew those all too well. “For me?”
--
Daryn just stared at him blankly for a moment. The appeal to her only seemed to make her close up even more, but she took the instrument and the bow carefully. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d played, but it had definitely been long before she’d disappeared, for several reasons. Taking a deep breath, she stood to play and took the position. She hesitated for a moment, calling the music to mind, and then began to play. She was out of practice, her fingering not as nimble as it had once been, but she still had the ability to play quite well. She stared at nothing as she played, any emotion in the song did not reflect on her face. When she was through, she sat once more, exhausted, and gently handed the violin and bow back to Finn, silent.
--
He sat and listened as Daryn started to play, it wasn’t a long piece but he could still feel the emotion in it even if her face kept the same stoic expression she had had since she first came into the library. So long had passed since he had heard her play, probably a few years by now, but despite being out of practice she still didn’t make a mistake or anything and Finn was silently impressed, he really did have to get her back into playing.
Taking the violin and bow back he put them down on the floor next to his seat. “Not long after you disappeared I had one of the guards, the nice ones...” Of which he only knew of two - the ones who did the food deliveries. “bring me in a violin. He said that the other guards had found it cleaning out a place and they were playing around with it, disrespecting it. He had seen me playing before and thought that I was the one who’d know what to do with it.” Finn had recognized it instantly and was grateful that this guard had brought it to him instead of letting his coworkers mess around and probably break it. “I’ve had it at my place since. She’s had regular care but I think she’d like to be reunited with her rightful owner. Sadly the bow was nowhere to be seen, but I do have a spare.”
--
Daryn’s eyes flickered to his face as he spoke, a brief spark of hope in her eyes. It died out as quickly as it appeared. She would like to have her violin back, but she didn’t feel right taking his spare bow. Things like that were hard to come by around here, and if something happened to it, it would be near impossible to replace. Getting a gun was one thing, but getting something like a bow wasn’t likely to be as easy as she’d hope. “I… I don’t know. Maybe you should keep in. In case something happens again.”
--
Finn was sure that if he needed another bow that Dani in the Marigold Arts Center would be able to procure him one, she had connections and it would probably be easier to get a bow if it was said it was needed for the center rather than for an individual. “Well… if you’re sure. But we’re still at 110 Liberty if you ever want to come around and play it. I’ve even kept it polished but I’ll probably have to give a fine tune.” Which wasn’t all that difficult, if Daryn wanted to come over and play her violin then it would only take minutes, if that, to tighten the strings and roslin up the bow.
-- Daryn nodded, taking the offer into consideration. “Thank you. I appreciate that. And I’m glad to hear that things have been going well for you. It’s good to see you again.” She wasn’t sure what else to say, and she worried that she was taking him away from something more important. Even though the library was quiet and peaceful, she was sure there was still work to be done. So hesitantly, she stood, giving him a weak smile.
--
There was nothing really going on in the library, he had checked back in the books that had been placed in the return box since the afternoon before when he had closed up and had put most of them back into their rightful place but there was always something that could be done in the library. “It’s good to see you too Daryn. Drop by anytime, I mean it.” Finn said, words sincere as he stood up as well, seeing that she wanted to leave. “You’re always welcome here.”
--
“Thanks. I may take you up on that.” Daryn needed something constructive to do with her time. She knew she didn’t have the focus for reading, not yet anyway, but maybe just being around a friendly familiar face in a safe(r) place would help her re-adjust to life on the island. She nodded slightly to him in departure and headed for the door before security came to escort her out of the building.