Days Like Today (Finished)

[titania]

Titania breathed deeply as more information started to become clear. So he just was an ass. It made sense. Didn't make him any less attractive. And a drink? That would certainly help.

"Well then, Zaph, I say we go and get ourselves something to drink. The name is Titania, and I am, unlike you, not a horrible person." This seemed to be going along more smoothly now that air had been cleared. She knew some of the bars in Hyrule, and began to walk towards the closest one that she knew, beckoning for him to follow.

[zaph]

"Hah," Zaph commented as he turned with his new accompaniment, looking at her butt quickly as he did so. "I am indeed a very horrible person." He stuck his hands in his pockets and followed her, walking to the tavern she was leading him to. He did wonder, as he was sure she did, where the day would take them, especially with drinks in their systems. Though Zaph, being a very alert drunk, knew that even when drunk he retained most of his conscious effort.

When the two reached the bar, Zaph immediately walked in and took a seat, quickly ordering the local ale. A common variety drink was within his budget as well as his taste for the soon-to-be evening, and he motioned Titania to join him at a barstool.

[titania]

Titania gladly sat down next to Zaph, and ordered herself an ale as well. She had fruity drinks back home in the grove, and a solid ale was a nice compliment to her trips out. Besides, too many fruity drinks and she might start to miss home, and that just wouldn't do.

Taking a bold swig of her ale, she turned to the singer/songwriter by her side and smiled. "You haven't really be too horrible. This whole time you haven't assaulted a guard, kicked a puppy, or anything like that. Maybe you're just an ass, instead of some demonic malevolence." She laughed a little at the idea of him being a demon. Sometimes demons were this attractive, but it would certainly be a surprise to Titania.

[zaph]

Zaph chuckled and took a drink of his own ale, then set the glass down and looked around the bar. It seemed to be full of idiot drunkards, as it usually was. People who didn't know how much they could drink or how much the could handle, and some had even engaged in bar fights. Zaph thought it was immature and always drunk with the intent of keeping his composure.

"Hah!" He said with another soft laugh, and he took another drink, looking to his companion. "I'm an asshole, but I'm sure as hell not stupid." He said matter-of-factly, making sure she knew that he was no idiot. He did know his place among the people. He wouldn't be so thick as to pick fights; and in addition to it not being wise, Zaph found that it really wasn't worth his time.

"Trust me," he said as he tapped his glass for more ale, "I'm an awful guy."

[titania]

Titania finished her own glass and sighed. "I will take you at your word then." Perhaps she wasn't supposed to trust the guy who is trying to convince her that he was an awful person, but she did appreciate his honesty. She made a note never to take him to the grove.

As she turned around to watch one of the tussles break out, she couldn't help but laugh. Even she was awful enough to laugh at drunks fighting, even if one didn't consider that awful. "I guess we came at a good time. The show is starting" she said amusingly, referencing the drunken fights as she sat at the bar and enjoyed her ale.

[zaph]

Zaph just laughed. He turned around in his chair and leaned against the bar to watch the fight. Two drunken men fighting looked like a bunch of small children with non-prehensile fingers that were fighting over the nearest rattle. The young pianist found it rather hilarious that people in a bar were going to fight. In Zaph's mind, such things should at least occur outside, where they could be done in private. When done in here, humiliation occurred and could not be repaired.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind the bar. "Y-You're Zaph, aren't you? Yes, it's you! Won't you play us a tune?" The bartender was the asker, and he pointed to the piano on the small stage in the corner of the room with an earnest gesture.

"Ugh," Zaph said, realizing he had to turn away from the fight to face another fan. He really didn't like his fans. Truthfully, the man enjoyed his music, and he enjoyed playing it, but he nearly hated the fame it brought him. He hated people. With fame, people approached him. He didn't like it at all, but figured he would please the crowd. "Fine." He said bluntly, standing from his stool and finishing the last few drops of his ale. Two glasses wouldn't impair his playing ability, after all.

He nodded to Titania as he walked over to the stage and mounted, all the while, the drunkards still having their fight. He sat down at the piano stool and cracked all of his fingers, and immediately smoothed into a song that was probably his favorite. Soon his eyes were closed, having lost himself in the music, and he played wonderfully for the crowd. As there weren't any lyrics, he was spared having to sing for the crowd, but his fingers glided excellently across the keys, striking each note and producing a beautiful sound that filled the bar.

[titania]

Titania laughed at the bar fight. She thought about maybe helping them out after, but decided not to get involved. Maybe if one got badly hurt she would, but some scars people simply deserved.

She perked up, intrigued at the idea of Zaph playing a song. She could tell he was not particularly excited about playing for a fan. She wondered why he did it at all if the fans bothered him so much. However, his talent couldn't be understated. He did a good job, moving smoothly through the song like a warrior smoothly slices through his enemies. She was considering heckling him but decided to just let him play. He did good work, she didn't want to get in the way of that. She just finished up her ale and asked the bartender for a refill.

[zaph]

Playing through his song, Zaph became more connected to his music. His fingers took mins of their own, breaking away from Zaph's mental state as he played brilliantly, at speeds and coordination unheard of around Hyrule. His face became an index of his mind and his connection to the music itself, and when his first tune was over, he switched to another one. When the applause subsided, he immediately submersed himself in another beautiful piece.

Another one of his favorites, Zaph entered quietly into his next piece, his fingers becoming a soft mother over the keys. With each stroke of his hand he executed a perfect musical blow, and shut his eyes again in an effortless daze, becoming lost to the notes. Music was and always had been his passion. He loved it like a father surely loved his child.

The bar grew silent as Zaph played away, not missing a beat, never striking an incorrect key. He tapped his feet along with the beat, and subtly nodded his head to the rhythm as he played. Growing in dynamic, the song filled the entire bar, with notes of perfection reverberating around the walls of the room. Even the drunkards had stopped at this point, and were looking around to watch Zaph play.

Eventually, his song came to an end, and the applause from the crowd grew back into existence, almost as if it had been waiting to do so throughout the entire song. Zaph hated this, and didn't bow to his audience or anything of the like. As they cheered, the young, bright musician returned to his barstool and downed another glass of ale, seemingly more unhappy after his performance. He looked to Titania, then back to his drink, and when the applause died, Zaph was silent.

[titania]

Titania listened through his second song, impressed by his playing skill. He certainly earned his fans. But something was still wrong with the piece. He loved it, the audience loved it, but he didn't love his audience. While it didn't hinder his ability, it made everything so much emptier. Maybe he was just too horrible to notice it, but it almost did affect the performance.

She was the only one in the room who didn't clap. Some people shot her weird looks but she didn't care. He didn't want to be applauded, so she didn't applaud.

She did however, chime in as he sat back down. "Why do you do it? Why do you play for them if you don't like to? It wasn't like you had to accept the request, and you get nothing out of it." She chugged down her drink and asked for another. 2 drinks and she was starting to feel an effect, but not enough yet.

[zaph]

Before he answered, Zaph raised a finger, signaling that he wanted another drink. It was brought to him, and he drank of it quickly, earning four on his total for the night. He wasn't quite there yet, but he could feel that it was coming, and the sudden depression that loomed over him told him to get more and more until he was out enough to take this woman back with him for a one night stand, if that's what was to come of it. A gentleman, Zaph was not, but a brilliant mind and talented musician with a knack for holding his drinks, he was indeed.

He laughed a bit, taking a last sip, and turned to Titania. "I hate people." He said very plainly, in almost a comical way. "I've slept with so many women it's high ridiculous. They all comment on how attractive they think I am, but guess what? No one comments on my musical talent. Sure, they like it, because I'm near famous for it." He slammed his glass down angrily on the bar, and the bartender filled it up. Happily, almost, Zaph drank from it again. "I'm the damn best pianist Hyrule has, but for what? I write my own music, I play for people, for one simple reason: music is my passion. I love it, and I practically don't love anything else. Music drives my every move, every step I take towards furthering myself. People don't care anyone. The arts go unappreciated, and they trade the respect for a night out with Mr. Piano Man."

Now he was near furious, though Zaph was never one to raise his voice because of it. His face was going a bit red from his drinking, and he could begin to fell the effects more potently now, but he continued. "I assume people must like my music, or they wouldn't ask me to play. But when people pass me on the streets, when people come and talk to me, I'm no human. I'm no monster, either. I'm some damn god that they have put on a pedestal that, for some reason, has become some great idol by which to live by."

He stood, and looked around the bar. At this point he could still control himself with dexterity. He looked coldly around the bar, using a hand to steady himself. He looked back down to Titania, and shared no more words. He looked at her for a good moment, the coldness in his gaze easing just a bit. Then, as if reality hit him in the face, it returned, and he walked out of the bar and sat down at the nearest bench.

The sun had gone down, and rain began to pour in the castle town.

[titania]

Titania had felt the rage in his voice. It was sad that a great musical talent was wasted on such a jerk. However, it still didn't all add up.

beginning her consumption of beverage 3, she began her retort. "You don't have to play for people, you know. Plenty of great talents locked themselves away in some buried hovel so they could play to their heart's content. And as for the women, you're attractive. It's not surprising they would desire you. What does musical talent have to do with desire. Women would desire you even if you weren't a pianist. If they want comments on your piano skills, listen to the crowd after the song you played. There's your compliment. Just consider the women a welcome side effect of that." He probably knew about her desires by now. Of course, by now the rain had also started. He was in the same boat as her, just on the other side. Of course, she was different from him, being a people person and not a romantic. Still, the points needed to be made. They were probably spending the night together here at this point. No point in going back out with the rain coming down that hard.

[zaph]

As his companion remained inside, Zaph sat on the bench and sighed. He lightened his posture, leaning back on the bench, and looked up to the sky, letting the rain fall on his face. He breathed heavily, taking in the words of his partner for the evening, who still hadn't joined him on the bench. Though, Zaph definitely did not plan on returning to the bar. He'd had enough to drink to remain semi-sober, and he was done with alcohol for the night, though he didn't want to be done with Titania. He knew that much.

Zaph let himself drift off in thought. Since he was good enough, he'd played recitals. Perhaps he was only fooling himself. He enjoyed the attention that his playing well earned him, but he honestly did hate being lifted up. He earnestly wished that people would regard him as a human being rather than some deity, and only wondered if the day would come that he could have that. He dwelt on Titania's words. If he wasn't playing to please people, why was he playing? He could play in solitude, but he wanted people to appreciate music.

"Ugh, dammit!" He shouted at the sky as the rain continued to soak his face and clothes. He needed an inn for the night. He needed a room, and he needed a woman to take his mind off the depression he'd been refusing to deal with for a long time. And, just like he normally did, he attempted to ignore it now, though it was difficult. He couldn't push it back any longer. What would he do?

Then he realized that he'd missed his recital. He had one more that evening, and he'd missed it. Maybe that's why there was no crowd outside. Maybe they were all waiting to here him play... And it was too late. Or was it?

Zaph needed to know the time, but the sun was hidden. Perhaps it hadn't gone down; maybe it was hidden behind clouds. The only way to know for sure would be to head to the recital hall, and it was all the way on the other side of Hyrule... But if he could by some chance make it, and people hadn't left, he could give them what they wanted to hear, perhaps with a slightly different attitude. Part of him hoped that it wouldn't happen. Zaph didn't particularly want to change.

However, it was decidedly necessarily that he attempt his last performance for the night. He quickly ran, soaked, back into the bar and found Titania. "I have a recital." He said plainly, still with no other emotion in his voice. "I don't know if I've missed it yet or not, but if I haven't, I need to play. So, um, come with me." It was an awkward invitation, but he did hope that she would come.

Before waiting for her reply, he shot out the door and ran towards the recital hall, in hopes that it wasn't too late.

[titania]

Titania wasn't exactly talking to air. She was just outside the tavern, not wanting to get wet but still wanting to talk to him. As he entered and explained his predicament, she nodded, uncertain if that was a request or a demand to see him perform. Seeing him play a full show might be worth getting a bit waterlogged. Besides, in the right light, she could shimmer gracefully.

"Lead on Zaph." She barely got it out by the time he was halfway down the street. She threw a purple rupee at the bartender and followed him out of the tavern and into the rain.

[zaph]

Faster than his feet could carry him was how fast Zaph wanted to run. If he'd missed it, it wouldn't be the end of the world, but it could be the end of his shows for a while, which wasn't exactly a good thing, because those shows lined his pockets. He got paid to do what he was best at, but if he couldn't show, he wouldn't be paid. It wasn't a good sign at all. Plus, he was due for another show in Kakariko later that week, which would surely be canceled if he didn't show.

Then Zaph saw the building. It was large and massive, looking a bit like a church, though it was really a recital hall. Inside, he knew there was a stage with a grand piano on the right hand side, and seats for the audience all around. Completely ignoring his traveling buddy, Zaph threw the doors open, drenched with water, and ran inside. The crowd was all seated and looked at him quizzically, but fortunately, it looked as though he was still on time. Zaph ran up to the stage and hopped onto it, then faced his audience with wide arms and panting breath.

"S-Sorry!" He called out to them with a fake apologetic tone in his voice. He really wasn't sorry, but he had to make them think he was. Deciding it would be awkward to continue, Zaph took a seat at the piano stool, lifted the cover over the keys, and cracked his fingers and knuckles.

Where to start? He asked himself. He knew he was allotted three pieces for the night. The audience was silent, and he finally decided what to play. A song suited for a rainy day, Zaph began to play something that reflected the commonly misinterpreted sadness that a rainy day brought. His fingers, as usual, glided effortlessly across each key, and he struck each accent with force, and each soft note with what seemed like a bare touch.

The walls of the recital hall reverberated with the mixing of minor and major notes, and Zaph played away, once again lost in his music, his body swaying to the beat.

[titania]

Titania allowed Zaph to get ahead. Rather than run, she extended her wings and took to the sky. She could fly faster than she could run, and though she hadn't told Zaph of her race, she didn't care if he found out. Instead of taking a seat like all the others in the hall, She made her way in through the roof and sat in the rafters, watching him perform. Once again, he showed himself to be a talent with a piano, though she had already figured that out.

It wouldn't be long. She lost herself in the imagining of what they were to do when his performance had ended. She simply sat there and waited. She thought to possibly impede his performance with a prank, but that would put her in the wide open, which would do more than just worry the courts of her being exposed.

[zaph]

His song ended soon enough, and Zaph looked over to his audience as they applauded. It was only the first song, but many stood, and continued to clap a bit longer than expected. Though they couldn't see it, Zaph simply rolled his eyes and then turned to the ceiling. What he thought he saw almost blew his mind, but he didn't let the surprise show on his face. Was Titania... up in the rafters?

Disregarding whatever the hell was going on with her, Zaph turned back to his piano. He stretched his arms out as the applause died, and went through another song. His playing filled the halls once again, and he went through another song or two before he was finished for the night....

Time passed quickly enough, and his playing was finished. The entire audience had stood at this point, and not a hand wasn't moving. Zaph did not stand, was bored with the audience, and simply waved to them. He knew that once he left he'd be bombarded with autographs and children and adults alike that wanted to speak with him about how much of a genius he was.

He finally stood, as the crowd cleared the recital hall, and walked to the edge of the stage, looking up into the rafters.

[titania]

Titania laughed softly to herself when Zaph saw her up in the rafters. She waved to him. He didn't show any surprise, which kind of bummed Titania out. She had hoped he'd fall off the seat or something, but he remained stoic as ever.

She continued to watch him perform, wondering how much of her he had figured out from finding her in the rafters. Once again, as the song finished she was the only not clapping for him, as he showed his apathy for their displays.

When the last person had cleared the hall, she stayed up in the rafters, looking at him. "I thought I'd catch a better view. No need to stay with all of your fans right?" She thought about coming down, displaying her full majesty, but she decided to stay up there for now, amused at the prospect of him guessing how she made it up here.

[zaph]

"Hmph." Zaph shoved his hands in his pockets and looked up at her. His immediate question, of course, was how she got up there, but he wasn't about to let Titania have the satisfaction of knowing that he was surprised, so Zaph remained emotionless. She remained sitting on the rafters, apparently deciding it wasn't best to come down yet. Perhaps because she really did know that Zaph was already pretty curious about how she got up there. She was playing a tough game, this woman.

The young man laughed, still looking right at her. "No. They have their own lives to attend to, and me my own." Hoping that she would follow, he hopped off the stage and walked, hands still in his pockets, not looking at Titania, towards the door of the recital hall.

[titania]

Titania was conflicted. On one hand, she wanted to keep the mystery of how she got up here just that. But he appeared to be leaving, and she didn't want to take any chances with him leaving without giving her a proper goodbye. His hidden emotions weren't entirely known by Titania, and she didn't want to take any chances with him leaving without her. She cursed his emotional mind games.

Her wings flared out and she jumped, her wings flicking off some of the water they accumulated outside, giving them a bit of a shimmer. She used them to sail to the ground instead of landing with a nice thud. When she landed she moved right up next to Abe, smiling. One of her secrets was out, and she wondered how he felt about it. Probably the same as everything else today: stoic apathy.

[zaph]

Zaph turned slowly as he approached the door, and just in time to watch Titania fly down from the rafters. His facial expression didn't change, except for a very, very slight smile that appeared on one half of his face. So she was a fairy, that much was certain. As Titania smiled at him, Zaph's smile faded, returning to his stoic gaze. He looked her up and down, and then at her wings, before he spoke. "I see." It was all he said before he turned back to the door. "I need an inn for the night." He said suggestively, "would you care to join me?"

Not waiting for a response, Zaph turned and walked out the door. The rain had stopped and the clouds had cleared, and the sky was full of bright stars and a full moon. Making his way towards the nearest inn, Zaph smiled again and began to laugh quietly.