paradisalost | [thread] Lana brings Kadaj a gift

Kadaj sat with his new book on his lap, one he borrowed from the library that he intended to give to Lana. He felt a light smile on his face looking at the cover. This time he had actually managed to succeed at doing something, and he felt very confident that Lana would like this book. He tilted his head to one side hearing the tap noise. Lana, perhaps? He got up and opened the door.

"Lana!" He looked pleased, but then worried. She had so many gifts for him. Maybe helping her get in the door would make up for not having as many gifts for her? Kadaj thought so, and kindly reached to take the tray from her hand. "Please come inside."

His room was how he liked it, but to outsiders it would look sterile and boring. There were no pictures, and the walls were a dull gray color. No carpet either. Kadaj set the tray down on his table. He had a chair that he pulled out for her use.

Lana smiled brightly at Kadaj. It was always really nice to see him. Loz was good to see too but he was more stressful to visit than Kadaj was and not even a fraction as chatty. It was like a vacation on her nerves to visit the other brother. She didn't understand how the two had never had friends before. They were both so sweet and had their own sort of ...strange innocence. She found it terribly endearing.

Lana gave him the tray willingly and set the cake down next to it. She took her guitar off of her back and leaned it against the table as well before gratefully accepting the chair, "Thanks, Kadaj," she said cheerfully.
She then went about putting her iPod on the table as well before glancing up, "So you've been enjoying the Library, have you?"

Kadaj watched her thoughtfully. She brought food as well, and... he didn't know what the thing on her back was. He shifted back to his bed and picked up the book. "I have enjoyed it so far," he responded. "The ghosts helped me find good stories. This book has lots of different stories. I thought you might like it." Saying this, he presented the book to her.

The title classified the book as a collection of fairy tales. The picture on the front was of a blonde woman in a beautiful dress with a pointed hat on her head. There were some pictures inside the book as well but Kadaj liked the stories themselves better. He watched her, hoping his gift was a good one.

Lana looked at it and ran her hand over the cover. She loved Fairy Tales but Nell had always discouraged her reading them when she was young. She didn't really think that fanciful notions were a way to bring up a child. She smiled a little at the book before looking up and smiling brilliantly at Kadaj, "Thank you Kadaj, I love it! I always have loved fairy tales."
She felt one of those extra waves of fondness that one gets when receiving a gift or feeling very touched and felt the intense urge to give him a hug but she wasn't certain he'd know what to do with it at this point so she chose instead to shift her attention to what she'd brought him, "This morning I decided since you were being so sweet with trying to do something nice for me that I should make you and Loz cakes...so I did." She pointed at the root beer float, "And that's called a root beer float. You liked ice cream a lot so I thought I should see if you would like them."

She had kind of forgotten about her guitar and iPod for the time being. Food tended to excite her more than music. Her stomach was more demanding than her brain. That was part of the reason she'd made seven cakes. Seven. They'd just looked so good...and she wanted them to be perfect. So she went a little nuts.

She had a nice smile, and his lips felt inclined to copy her. Smiles were apparently contagious like that. Anyway, it was an appropriate expression since she liked his gift. Feeling happy that he finally got something right, Kadaj turned his attention to her other gifts. Lana was full of surprises. She had remembered he liked ice cream and she had made that cake for him.

Kadaj had nothing else to give her to express his gratitude for her generosity. A soft "thank you" would have to do for now. "Lana, you are a kind person," he continued. "I would like to share these gifts with you." He couldn't very well eat that whole cake by himself, and she did bring two of the floats. He pulled a chair out for himself so they could sit together. He waited for her to take one of the floats before helping himself to the other one.

He still wasn't entirely sure what to do with the other gifts she brought, but he was certain Lana would tell him. She was smart.

Lana had another fondness wave. Kadaj was cute. It was the only way to describe him. She found his innocence addicting. He had a sort of...newness about him. Everything was interesting. He was like a child without the sticky fingers, messes, and volume. ...and with a whole lot more muscle...and black leather...and prettiness.

Lana grinned and took her float, "Why thank you." She said in response to his wish to share with her. "We managed to down an entire tub of ice cream in one sitting. I would be willing to bet that we could polish off this entire cake..but" she held up a finger. "If you're ever feeling unhappy again I'll be happy to make you another one."

She grinned. She hadn't brought any plates but she HAD brought two forks. Despite their extreme ice cream eating abilities she doubted that Kadaj would be able to inhale food like Loz did on a regular basis. Lana found plates silly when a couple of friends were going to be eating the same thing...she wondered if that was teaching him bad habits...Next time she would bring plates.

She produced her forks and gave him one. She wanted to let him take the first bite though and see how he liked it. If he liked sweets half even as much as his brother did she imagined that he would find the cake divine.

"Oh! I brought some things to teach you about music too!" she said gesturing to her guitar and iPod.

Kadaj took the fork she offered. So they were to eat this cake? It seemed such a pity to destroy something Lana made for him, but then again he didn't want her to think he didn't appreciate it. So he cut off a small forkful of the cake and inserted it in his mouth. It was very sweet and he found he liked it better than the kitchen food.

"I do not think I will be unhappy anymore," he told Lana. "You are good at so many things, Lana." He tried the float next and liked that as well. He probably could've kept eating but he wanted to pay close attention while Lana taught him about music.

Lana smiled brightly at him, "good. If you were unhappy I think it would make me sad."

She thought for a moment. What should she start him out first with music. She decided something ochestrated or something should be first before she showed him anything with Lyrics. She thought Loz would probably like metal or something but she wasn't sure what Kadaj would like.

She picked up her iPod and put one earbud into her ear then handed Kadaj the other one, "Here, put this in your ear and I'll have you listen to something." She was already scrolling through her classical songs trying to think of something he would like.

He nodded in agreement, taking another forkful of cake. He would not like to see Lana unhappy either. Though in his case, Kadaj would probably be angry at whatever had made Lana unhappy. Anyway, she wasn't unhappy now. When give the earbud, Kadaj wasn't quite sure what to do with it. He looked to her for guidance and mimicked what she was doing.

Lana scrolled around through her music then quite suddenly realized that they had had cell phones. Loz told her so. She could explain an iPod to Kadaj without really confusing him. She scooted her chair so it was right next to his so that he could see the screen. "This is called an iPod. It's a portable music player. You press this button to select what you want...and when you find a song you want you use the same button to play it." She selected Bach's cello suite. It was a very sweet, soothing song. She decided it'd be best to start him out on something gentle so it didn't assault his ears.
"To change the volume you move your finger around this round part."
The cello suite began to play through its first sweet, almost sorrowful notes. The cello was a beautiful instrument.

Ah, so that was what this was. He gave a nod of understanding. Kadaj listened carefully to the gentle song. It was the type of song that could lull a person to sleep. He was playing close attention but his eyes did feel comfortable enough to fall half closed. He decided he liked the softness, and the sound of the bow on strings. The thing on Lana's back had strings. He wondered if it would sound similar. When the piece came to a close he took the earplug out.

"Music is good," he concluded. "Can you make music on that?" Kadaj questioned, pointing to the object Lana had on her back.

Lana looked at her guitar and smiled. "Yes I can," she said in answer to his question. She picked it up and strummed a chord, trying to think of what to play him. "It sounds a lot different than a cello, though."

She began to play the intro to a song by The Wreckers back in her world. (Stand Still Look Pretty) She kept playing past where the lyrics would have started. She was feeling startlingly good about playing for Kadaj. She didn't usually like playing for anyone else.
"You can also sing to music. Do you know how to sing?"Lana looked at her guitar and smiled. "Yes I can," she said in answer to his question. She picked it up and strummed a chord, trying to think of what to play him. "It sounds a lot different than a cello, though."

She began to play the intro to a song by The Wreckers back in her world. (Stand Still Look Pretty) She kept playing past where the lyrics would have started. She was feeling startlingly good about playing for Kadaj. She didn't usually like playing for anyone else.
"You can also sing to music. Do you know how to sing?"

Kadaj sipped his root beer, listening politely to Lana's song. It was a different sound from the one he just listened to, but it still sounded nice. He was especially interested in watching how Lana's fingers moved over the strings to create sound. He wondered how she knew which strings would make the pretty music.

"Sing?" he echoed thoughtfully. He searched his memory for a connection. "No, I do not know how."

Lana switched tunes to one with more chords, "Well...it's kind of like talking..but you stretch the words out longer and open your throat more to try and make your voice sound almost like an instrument." She thought for a second then decided to demonstrate.

"I never had all the answers. I never had enough time. But I sure had all the reasons why you weren't what I wanted to find. I never laid all my cards out and you just wanted to play. The king he waited on my doorsteps while the joker and me went on our way.

maybe i was much too selfish but baby you're still on my mind. Now I'm grown and alone and wishing I was with you tonight. Cuz I guarentee things are sweeter in Tennessee..."

She stopped singing and just played the guitar quietly then looked at him with a small smile, "That's singing. Want to try?"

His eyes widened a little in surprise. Pretty sounds were coming from the instrument on her lap and from Lana herself. Why weren't he and his brothers taught these things before? Of course it wasn't necessary things but he enjoyed it, and their travels might have been more pleasant if they knew about singing. Kadaj wondered if Mother knew about singing.

"I... I try?" He felt embarrassed at the very thought, but... it was just Lana. She wouldn't laugh, and she wouldn't tell anyone. So he tried, his voice first trying to match what Lana sang, but her range was higher than his so he wavered down to a wavery and off-pitch tenor. Kadaj looked delighted, though, at this newly-discovered ability.

"I did music!" he said proudly.

Lana smiled so brilliantly that it may have lit up the room a little bit. She couldn't remember once being this pleased since she'd come to Paradisa. Kadaj was by no means good but it was his very first time trying to sing. And he'd tried. It tickled her to no end.
She stopped playing she was so pleased. "Good! Very good!" she exclaimed, elated.
She wiggled her fingers on her guitar strings thoughtfully then played a note in the lower part of her range that would be easier for him to hit. "Try this one." She plucked the note again and sang it on an 'ah'. Maybe he'd find his pitch yet.

He was happy that she was happy, and rewarded himself with more cake. Getting her approval was the best part. He swallowed his piece. Oh, she wanted him to sing more. Was he really that good? Kadaj felt he should try, to please his friend.

Kadaj repeated the 'ah' sound as best he could, wavering above and below until he finally settled on the right pitch. "Is that all right, Lana?" He would have to try getting better if his singing pleased her this much. Then maybe he could sing for her, as she just did for him.

If it was even possible Lana's face brightened even more when he hit the right pitch. She actually squirmed as she nodded. "Yes, that was perfect!"

She thought again then plucked three notes in a row in the more alto/tenor range. "Try three in a row. It helps to picture the sound you're going to sing in your head right before you sing it."

She plucked them again and sang them for his benefit.

He drank in her praise greedily. It was so nice to be acknowledged. He sat up and paid close attention to the lesson this had turned into. It was difficult for him to decide if he wanted to please her because her reactions made him feel happy, or just because she was so pleased by what he did. Probably a little of both. So Kadaj echoed the notes, still making a few bad starts but much more confident this time.

"I like this," Kadaj decided. "I like sitting with you and listening to your music. I will learn so I can sing for you."

If Lana could look more delighted she probably would but it wasn't really possible for her expression to get more pleased. She just smiled at him and nodded her approval.

She stilled her guitar. "I like this too. You're a very special kind of person, Kadaj. I enjoy being around you." She put her hand on his briefly and gave him a smile then sat up, looking cheerful. "I think I'll leave you my iPod for a while so that you can listen to some songs and learn some if you'd like."

He smiled pleasantly. Lana was such a kind person to him, and to Loz. It was good for them to have someone like her around. "Oh... thank you, Lana," he said, bowing his head in gratitude. "I will take good care of it and learn the songs to the best of my ability." He understood that she was only giving it to him temporarily, and it meant she trusted him.

"Thank you," he went on, "for the cake and the floats, and the music... and... just being a friend."

Lana suddenly felt the very intense urge to hug Kadaj. She couldn't believe that no one had ever befriended this sweet person. She resisted the urge due to the fact that he'd probably never been hugged. Unless his mother had hugged him. She didn't find that likely because of the way Loz thought of physical interaction. She didn't think he'd know what she was doing. Maybe once he learned more about expressing affection between friends she would be so bold but for now she just gave him her warmest possible smile. "You don't need to thank me Kadaj. I enjoy being your friend. I'm very glad I met you."

She looked out his window at the light and sighed, "I suppose I should go feed the horses.."

She stood and put her guitar back onto her back. She stopped just next to and behind him and put her hand on his shoulder that was farthest from her. It almost served as a half hug as her arm was resting on his back. "If you ever want me to sing to you all you have to do is ask. It doesn't matter when, okay?"

She squeezed his shoulder softly before moving away from him. She smiled and winked at him, "Enjoy your music, Kadaj." she said before waving and sliding out the door, closing it quietly behind her.

[thread] Lana brings Kadaj a gift

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