He laughed softly at that. Even without being able to see that expression he knew that Henry was so interested. "Often you'll find performers on these platforms. They dance or sing or play instruments or any number of things for a little money. It's always an amazing sight to behold because they are always so talented. Enough so that you wonder how they're not on a stage before hundreds somewhere."
He sighed as he remembered them. "When I lived in New York I always loved to stop to watch them. It didn't matter what they were doing. I just wanted to watch and give any money that I could."
He hung on Gaura's every word, mind conjuring up images of buskers on some underground train platform. He's sure his mental image wasn't accurate at all, but still, he was trying to imagine it.
"The day I ran away, I was going to take the subway to get somewhere fast. While I was waiting I saw someone come down and set up. They were playing the violin and the music was the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard. Wandering over, I listened for so long they finally waved me close."
Gaura smiled at the fond memory. It might have been born from something painful but it was one of those most precious memories he had in his life.
Henry's listening attentively. There must be a reason Gaura is sharing this memory with him. It must be something fond, he hopes. Yes, it must be! He can tell from Gaura's smile.
"It was magical really. They taught me how to play. For hours they showed me how to play and encouraged me to keep trying, cheering me when they realized how quickly I pick up instruments and songs. I got play and forget about all of my worries for a time. People crowded around us to listen and gave the musician so much money."
He sighed happily, smiling to himself at the memory. It had definitely given him so much hope. "When we finished I was wandering away to figure out what to do now. They stopped me and handed me all the money they had from that performance. They told me that I was lost right now but I'd find my way so I should take the money and find my path. And then they left."
Gaura smiled over at Henry. "New York is expensive so the money didn't last long. But it gave me the chance to believe I could survive in the world on my own."
Henry exhaled, the sound clearly awed. (Note to self: get Gaura a violin to play). "That sounds amazing," he mused. Gaura mentioned being able to play instruments before, but Henry hadn't realized he was some sort of prodigy with them. To be able to play the violin well in a matter of hours? Amazing!
And seeing Gaura so happy at the memory? It made Henry's heart swell. Happiness suited him. And Henry was once again reminded how lucky he'd been to be able to be a party of Gaura's present happiness.
"Sometimes when I get the chance I like to collect instruments to learn to play them. I have a flute that I got early on here. Music is always comforting to me and I think of that memory whenever I play or sing."
Gaura laughed softly and looked over at Henry. He knew it wasn't anything like from a fairy tale but it had felt like it for him at the time. "I wish I could remember who they were sometimes but I've accepted I never will. But they gave me the hope I needed when I lost it."
"Let's collect them," he suggested. It wasn't like they had much outside the necessities to spend on. And their house certainly had enough room. Why not fill it with the things that make them happiest: music, plants, and books!
"Yes." But then he burst out laughing. He knew that wasn't the best answer to the question but it also was accurate at the same time. Gaura smiled so fondly at Henry as he clarified. "Truly anything we can get our hands on will make me happy. I already love that we have a guitar, for example. Having music here with everything else will just be wonderful."
Henry echoed that laugh. What a perfect answer, so fitting of his beloved fiance. "Alright, alright! We'll start with piano and go from there." No need to make any decisions right then and there. Besides, there were plenty of instruments here with which Henry wasn't familiar. Maybe they could get some of those more traditionally Eastern instruments for Gaura to learn, too!
"I'll make sure we have space for everything we'll get in the months to come." And then they could play them and learn to play them together. Or he could learn to play them to play them for Henry. It didn't matter really so long as they got to do it as a couple.
"Would you? Please, I would love that." He was a fast learner, of course, someone naturally attuned to music for some reason. But that didn't mean he wouldn't love to learn from the love of his life rather than teach himself.
"It will be my pleasure!" Henry valued learning. And, as such, he valued teaching, too. He seldom had the opportunity to teach someone something one-on-one. So it would be a first, but haven't they already had many firsts together?
"Maybe there can be something I can teach you too. Like the violin." He didn't even know if they could find one here. It didn't matter really. He was just delighted at the idea of them teaching other things that they loved.
"I'll be an eager student." Whether or not he'll be any good at whatever instrument Gaura chooses, that's to be determined. But he'll be incredibly happy to try!
"You always are." He leaned over so he could press a soft kiss to his lips. "I love that about you. It makes me excited to see the world through your eyes because of it."
Henry felt his cheeks warm at the compliment. Gaura really did bring out the best in him, never letting him fall too deeply into himself and his obsessions.
"There's so much to know... I just want to learn as much as I can."
"I know. I want you to as well since it makes your voice so excited when you share it with me." He was sure it made him smile too but he would never know that. He just had to rely on the changes in his voice. Which he loved to do anyway so he didn't mind.
"So you should keep learning. Then I keep hearing that wonderful sound in your voice."
Henry never thought of it much, but both Gaura and Tobias mentioned how expressive his voice was. Wasn't that precisely what voices were for? Well, he wasn't self-conscious since Gaura enjoyed it.
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He sighed as he remembered them. "When I lived in New York I always loved to stop to watch them. It didn't matter what they were doing. I just wanted to watch and give any money that I could."
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"Mmhmm."
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Gaura smiled at the fond memory. It might have been born from something painful but it was one of those most precious memories he had in his life.
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"And then?"
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He sighed happily, smiling to himself at the memory. It had definitely given him so much hope. "When we finished I was wandering away to figure out what to do now. They stopped me and handed me all the money they had from that performance. They told me that I was lost right now but I'd find my way so I should take the money and find my path. And then they left."
Gaura smiled over at Henry. "New York is expensive so the money didn't last long. But it gave me the chance to believe I could survive in the world on my own."
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And seeing Gaura so happy at the memory? It made Henry's heart swell. Happiness suited him. And Henry was once again reminded how lucky he'd been to be able to be a party of Gaura's present happiness.
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Gaura laughed softly and looked over at Henry. He knew it wasn't anything like from a fairy tale but it had felt like it for him at the time. "I wish I could remember who they were sometimes but I've accepted I never will. But they gave me the hope I needed when I lost it."
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And then he could play them when he wasn't busy doing other things. Provide music for the man that he loved with more than just his voice.
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"I've been thinking we need a piano."
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"I would love a piano. We can put it in one of the bigger rooms that gets a lot of sunlight in it. I think it would be beautiful there."
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How blissful their life together is.
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"I'm excited for this. Thank you."
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"There's so much to know... I just want to learn as much as I can."
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"So you should keep learning. Then I keep hearing that wonderful sound in your voice."
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"I'd like to learn more about your world, Jisu."
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