xp_logs | Log: Rahne and Scott - Saxophones and Foreign Tongues

Rahne happens across Scott's saxophone hobby, and sort of acquires a new job. And music. The music is good.

Rahne circled through the forest at an easy lope, not really chasing
anything but quiet out of habit. Just moving. It was a pleasant night,
though the warmth in it was trapped under a sagging cloud, and she
kept thinking she smelled rain. Ms. Munroe was no happier than Nathan,
and she thought it showed.

She paused, one foot lifted and ears pricked up, as the slow air
carried a set of damp notes toward her. Horn. Saxophone probably? She
was no expert on instruments, but she did like the sound. She let it
fill up her ears and followed it back to its home.

If it was possible for a saxophone to sound ironic, Scott's was making
a noble attempt at it right now. 'What A Wonderful World' was
precisely the wrong song for this particular evening, but it had
popped into mind, and as usual during these post-midnight sessions, he
didn't resist the impulse.

Rahne sniffed around outside the door to the stable and then shifted
back to human and slipped in. The horses were somewhat used to having
a wolf around, but some of them weren't altogether happy about it.

Scott paused, hearing footsteps. He let the saxophone rest against his
shoulder for a moment as he listened. "Hello?" he finally ventured,
wondering just who it was who'd caught him at this. Not Jean; she
would have let him know on the link that she was coming, even if he
hadn't sensed her.

"I didna mean to make you stop," Rahne said, coming around into view.

Well, not someone who would mock him, thankfully. Scott offered her a
lopsided smile. "That's okay. I don't really play in the stables out
of fear that I suck anymore. It's just... a good way to depressurize."
He sighed, fingers moving restlessly on the keys of the sax. "I think
we could all do to find ways to depressurize this week. How are you?"

"Well enough." She sat down, watching the low light slide over the
curve of metal. It looked a lot like the sound. "I liked the music."

Scott's smile was more pleased this time, nothing self-conscious about
it. "Thank you." He paused, playing a few lines of 'It's Only A Paper
Moon' before stopping again. "Are you sure you're all right? I knwo
you do tend to wander around late..."

"Roaming the forest and terrorizing the local wildlife is one of the
ways I depressurize," she admitted. "I'm very grateful they're back
and angry they were taken and angry at Rory an extra time because when
I met him I liked him. But very glad they're back." She sighed.
"I was going to look for you in the morning...."

Moira or Nathan must have told her about Rory. "Well, I'm here now,"
Scott offered, lightly. "What did you need to talk to me about?"

"I was going to offer to stand in for Nathan's introductory Russian
course tomorrow," she said, "and some of the marking. I realize I've
no official qualifications, but... I thought I would ask."

Scott was quiet for a moment. That would be one less class that needed
to be cancelled... "Russian's one of the languages you've been
learning for your work with Elpis?" he asked, already knowing the
answer. Rahne hadn't taken Russian while she was a student here.

"Aye. No classwork, but I'm well past what I've glimpsed of the
written homework and I canna think they're so much further in speaking
as to be more of a problem."

"Have you asked Nathan about this?"

Rahne hesitated slightly. "Yes," she said, "and he sort of answered,
but I'm not altogether sure he was listening."

"Ah." Scott thought about it for a moment. Only a moment, though.
"Well, why don't we try this tomorrow, see how it goes? I presume
you've focused on conversational and reading skills, given what you
need it for - I'd be surprised if you couldn't fill up the classroom
time one way or the other." He smiled a bit wistfully. "Students
around here are used to supply teachers and cancelled classes."

"This happens when half your teachers are also emergency personnel,"
Rahne murmured. "I'm glad to be able to help."

"We'd insist on paying you at the supply teacher rate," Scott said
more lightly. "Have to keep the books in order, and you're doing this
on very short notice." He paused again. "I really appreciate it," he
said finally. "I can let you into Nathan's office in the morning if
you want, to see if he's left a lesson plan. I'd already told him and
the others involved yesterday that they were taking at least tomorrow
off, so you won't have to worry about beating him there."

"Oh--" She blinked. She had really intended the offer to be on a
volunteer basis, but she didn't see much reason to argue, especially
as it would probably be futile. "I'd appreciate that," she said. "I
canna guarantee being able to follow it, sight unseen, but it would be
better to try."

"Next thing you know, you'll be teaching your own classes," Scott
said, not teasing despite his slight smile. "It's where the cliche
comes from, you know. I'd say it's inevitable."

"I'm not sure I should go adding an extra schedule that's meant to be
rigid," Rahne said, a little amused but just as serious, "even if
that's only in theory. Many of you handle it but I'm thinking it may
not be for me. And I canna think of any courses I could teach that
need adding!" She stilled suddenly and then tilted her head, a motion
that had something of her wolf form about it. "Although," she said
slowly, "I can think of more than just Russian that I could maybe help
with on troublesome days."

"Oh, really? Because we could use teaching assistants in a number of
different classes," Scott said, more thoughtfuly. "Someone to pick up
the slack on the troublesome days, and prevent the burden from being
too onerous the rest of the time." He chuckled softly. "Not a
glamorous job. But a very helpful one."

"Hmm. That, I think I could do. At least for some."

"We'll talk about it more," Scott promised. "Tomorrow, though." He
raised the saxophone again. "Any requests?"

Rahne smiled and shook her head. "Anything."

As the notes swelled out again, she turned back to a wolf and lay down on the floor, eyes blinking slowly and settling at half shut. The music was low and mellow, and loud to her wolf's sensitive hearing; she wanted that, and let it slide into her ears and fill them up like going underwater, until every other sound and thought was drowning.