Inktober 2024 - 30 - Violin

Stella had never seen such a happy bunch of musicians. She had been in marching bands and orchestras, but no matter how joyful or enthusiastic the people in those groups had been, they could never have matched the energy her eyes were beholding now. This gave the word show a whole new dimension.

The three boys in the middle of the pub looked alike enough to be brothers. Maybe cousins? In any case, even though they each had a different eye colour, they all had that same wild mane of wavy auburn hair on their head and freckles on their pale cheeks.

One of them, front and centre, was playing his violin like Stella didn't know a violin could be played. He kept jumping all over the place, tapping his feet, shaking his head as much as he could without his chin ever leaving its resting place at the base of his instrument. His fingers moved so fast and dexterously on the neck that she had trouble keeping up with them. But somehow, he never missed a note. Not that she could tell for sure, since he wasn't using sheet music, nor playing any tune she'd ever heard, but it all felt intentional, purposeful; he was passionate. His other hands wielded the bow with such intensity that specks of dust and rosin could be seen floating around in the dimmed light of the tavern, like little sparks flying off of him and his instrument, granting him a fairy-like aura. Every now and then, he flipped the accessory around to come pinch the strings instead of rubbing against them, before picking up where he'd left off, the whole process completely seamless. He looked and sounded possessed by some benevolent musical spirit.

Around him, his two acolytes had another use for their own violins. They were flinging them around by the pegbox, like makeshift hammers, preventing anyone in the crowd from reaching the one playing. Although it came close a few times, they never touched anyone, however. And whenever they got a moment of respite from those of the patrons most eager to have them quit their little number, they joined in with their companion for a little bit, not as skilfully but definitely as delightfully. The few notes they brought to the melody gave it an eerie sort of aftertaste, like something you enjoyed without being really sure you'd heard it, and for some reason you would be incapable of reproducing in any way no matter how hard you tried.

Because she had arrived smack right in the middle of it, Stella did not know how this thing started. The boys barely looked old enough to be allowed in such an establishment, and based on the mixed reactions in the assistance, music was not part of the agenda for the evening. They weren't asking for money either, and they were more likely to incite a riot than to make a profit if they received any. Whatever was their reason for doing this was, Stella did not want them to stop.