Participants:
| Scene Title | Apartment 607 |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Professional Violinist meets a new client. And her father. |
| Date | September 2, 2020 |
Mateo and Reine's Apartment
The apartment is nice. It wasn't Park Central West, but it was classy and clean, a luxury apartment complex that catered to the needs of many families. A blinking security camera moves to scan the hallway as Lynette Rowan reaches the door of her next appointment. A first appointment, for this particular family.
Apartment 607.
She can hear people talking on the other side, but she can tell it isn't English. The tone tells her it's probably Spanish, but it's both too fast and too muffled to be understood. A moment after she knocks, though, it cuts off and the door opens.
One of the voices had been young, probably a girl, and the other must have belonged to the man who opened the door. Dark hair with a hint of gray among the dark waves, dark eyes, a hint of a beard that's more than an afternoon shadow. And not tall. Not much taller than Lynette herself. Whatever he was saying trails off as he sees her.
There's a moment of silence, that then gets interrupted, "Dad, are you going to invite her in or just stand there?" The young girl slips by her father, and pushes him aside, trusting a hand out in greeting, "Thank you for coming, Ms Rowan!" The girls accent has a hint of the south in it, and a hint of the Spanish she was speaking, but the rest showed a girl who spent many of her young years in Manhattan. "I'm Reinette, but everyone calls me Reine."
She looks up at her dad and then gives a small sigh like oh dad and adds in a not-whisper, "My violin teacher. The one you told Rosalita to get me. She's in the philharmonic." That last statement has a hint of proud child tone in it, like she knows something her dad doesn't. "I was trying to tell you it was today."
The father gives almost a sheepish glance toward his daughter, then looks back at Lynette, "Sorry. Come on in. I'm Mateo, Reinette's father." He too has a hint of the south in his voice.
Lynette is mid-apology when she sees Mateo's confusion, and she looks at her phone to make sure she has the right apartment. But, luckily, Reinette steps in to clear everything up before her apologies get too far. She smiles and returns the handshake. "Lovely to meet you, Reine. You can call me Lynette," she says with a chuckle, one 'Nette to another. "And nice to meet you, too, Mateo. Sorry for the surprise." She picks up her violin case and steps inside once she's invited, turning back to the pair as she passes by. "Is there a place you'd prefer we set up?"
That question is asked in equal parts to Mateo and Reinette. Someone who is obviously in charge around here. It isn't unfamiliar, a young girl coming into self-reliance under her father's nose.
"And maybe we can talk a little about your experience with music, Reine? Rosalita mentioned you play the piano."
"In the study, probably," Mateo says with a small smile, looking a little sheepish even as he checks to see if that's what his daughter, "Is that right, mi reina?"
The girl beams and nods, keeping a hold of Lynette's hand and pulling her along through the kitchen and past her father into another room, which must be what the study is. It's a normal looking living room, except that instead of a television, it has a standing piano. Fairly nice one, too. Dark wood.
"I'm not as good as dad, but I'm pretty good. He started teaching me when I was… how old was I?"
"You were three," he responds as he follows behind them, having closed the door behind them. "And you're already better than I was at your age." He's dressed in normal day-clothes, nothing that gives away his work, but there is one picture on a bookshelf that shows him in a police uniform. Younger than now, with an older grizzled looking man with a firm jawline putting a hand on his shoulder in pride.
A few more pictures sit about. Most of them have Reine in some form or another in various ages.
Lynette can't help but chuckle lightly as she's dragged along toward the study. She looks over her shoulder at Mateo, amused but also making sure this is all alright. But seeing as he doesn't look alarmed, she follows along with a warm smile. There is an appreciative glance to the piano, which she doesn't mind them seeing. Her look over the pictures is a little more circumspect, her reactions to them kept to a gentle smile.
"Sounds like you have a solid base, that's good." Easier than starting from nothing. She sets her violin case down, then looks back at the pair of them. "And support, that's also good. Helpful." Much easier than trying to teach a child with a parent who doesn't really approve. "What sort of music is your preference? To play, to listen to, either one. Both. We'll pick a song to aim for." The first few lessons might be simple instruction to get Reine familiar with the instrument, but she obviously has plans beyond that.
With a small smile, Mateo leans against a window seat, opting to watch in silence for the moment with a small smile tugging on the corner of his lips. He is a proud father, that is definite, and besides the piano in the living room, there's also a guitar case. No violin case, though— but the lessons hadn't required one immediately.
Very likely it looks as if he would be willing to purchase one, however. If the amount of music-y things sitting around gave any clues.
"I really like the Fur Elise one on the piano— I don't know if there's a violin version, but I do like songs like that. But I like modern stuff too! Dad taught me Piano Woman."
Mateo clears his throat a little, as if covering a laugh. Cause it wasn't Piano Woman— but for her? For her it was.
A small, crooked smile plays across Lynette's face and she casts a crooked glance at Mateo. She manages not to laugh, but it's clear in the way she looks at him that she would like to. Instead, he gets a warm sort of appreciation before she looks back to Reine. "I love that song," she says, although she gives Mateo a more teasing look as she adds, "Not sure I'd call it modern." That's a joke. Because they're old, see?
She takes a moment to get the violin ready as well as pulling out a tablet to bring up some beginning sheet music. Fur Elise will have to come later. "Let's get you started, see how you like the violin. We'll start with the basics…"
The lesson takes up most of an hour, with Lynette and Reine sharing the violin she brought with her. As an instructor, Lynette is clear and kind, encouraging often and correcting gently. It's obvious that she has a passion for music and her chosen instrument, but also that she has real joy for teaching. And when they're wrapping up, she gives Reine a firm nod. Approval. "I think you have a real gift for music, Reine," she says, although she does seem to fold Mateo into that compliment, since it's obvious that he has fostered that in his daughter.
"It's really fun! I've listened to your recordings from the Philharmonic. They're really good." Reine says as if that's not a given, that they might not be really good, but they really really were. All the while, her father continues to smile down at her, in that proud supportive way he had looked at her the whole time she was trying to learn. She had a definite handle on reading music sheets, but it would take her some time to perfect the grips and the right ways to hold it. "Oh wait will you sign one? I'll be right back." Without even waiting for a yes, the youngster scurries off toward what is no doubt her bedroom, leaving the two adults alone for the first time.
With a small laugh and a shake of his head, Mateo looks as if he wants to apologize for his daughters' presumption, before he looks back at the woman with that same gentleness to his smile that he had given his daughter. "You're a good teacher. She's not always that good a student. I tried to get her to learn the guitar, but she said she can do that anytime, since I know how."
She wanted to learn something he didn't know how to do it would seem. "Any kind of violin do you recommend I buy for her?"
Lynette takes the compliment with a warm smile, putting her hand to her chest as she addresses the girl. "Thank you. I'm glad you enjoy them." She would have said yes to her request, but as it seems she doesn't need to, Lynette just chuckles as Reine runs off toward her room. No apology needed, obviously.
"She has a lot of talent," she says to his compliment, deflecting this one to give credit to the girl instead of herself. "She just wants to prove she can do it without her dad being the one guiding her along. You have to say nice things," she says with a crooked smile. Of course, he doesn't have to, exactly, and plenty of parents don't, but she knows that he wouldn't handle it any other way. "I'll email some recommendations. But the important part will be her comfort and, of course, if she likes the look of something. She'll need to try some out and find the one that's right for her. Especially if she decides to stick with it long term. There are some you could rent if she wakes up tomorrow and isn't sure. I'll send you some good places." Small businesses, no doubt. Other people who are in it for their passion.
Lynette looks around the room, taking a more obvious look at the photos this time around. "You two seem to be a very happy family," she notes before she looks back at him. "She's a great kid. And lucky."
"I don't even remember buying her those," Mateo muses quietly as he watches his daughter scurry away to get her recordings. He imagines the sitter must have gotten them for her, or perhaps one of the neighbors. She's good at talking people into getting her what she wants, and they know he'll say yes to most things that involve music and books and anything educational.
She's not really the type to ask for things he would say no to, anyway.
"Best part of my life, right there," he admits after a moment, looking toward one of the many pictures of her. This one is quite young, he looks much younger in it too. "Don't know where I would be without her."
It sounded honest, too. The girl was taking her time, it would seem, maybe she had to look for them. Maybe she was trying to pick exactly which recording she wanted signed. But Mateo doesn't seem to find the wait awkward, as he goes to a desk and pulls out a small wooden lockbox, likely that has some cash in it.
It sounds honest, and it's easy to believe. Lynette chuckles lightly, a warm sound as she pauses at the picture he was looking at. "More bored, certainly," she says as for what he would be without his daughter, but it's a tease. The playful tone comes easily, despite being a newcomer here. She doesn't think anyone would have to be here very long to work out how much the pair mean to each other, though.
While he moves to the desk, she takes a moment to put her violin away. She handles it with care, even a practice instrument that she shares with her students. Maybe more so for that. But it doesn't take more than a few moments before she settles herself on the piano bench. "It's a good life, to grow up around music," she says, her finger reaching out to gently press one of the keys.
"Oh, definitely. And this is coming from someone who works on police helicopters for a living," Mateo says with a laugh, because really his job isn't at all boring. Sometimes he's even on scene cause who knew when some maintenance would be needed, or some technical experience.
And he was technically a cop too.
In many ways, though, a father first, though. A father, a friend and even, yes, someone who loved music. "I definitely life is better when you have music as a part of it. I never learned the violin. Just guitar and piano mostly. A little ukelele," he jokes.
Okay, he's probably not joking.
Finally the queen returns, carrying with her an album cover. Apparently her recording was even a professional release, in vinyl. "When did you get that?"
"Shaw got it for me. For my birthday. He's the one who recommended Ms. Rowan as a teacher!" she says, as she holds out the album cover.
"Well, soon, she'll be able to teach you," Lynette teases. He certainly doesn't need to add the violin to his repertoire, but it isn't hard for Lynette to see Reine deciding for him.
When the girl comes back, Lynette turns to smile at her, taking the cover to give it a look. She remembers it, but the amusement in her face comes from Reine revealing the source of the album. "Shahid. He's lovely. What a thoughtful gift." She'll have to thank him, too, for the recommendation. She brings out a marker and takes a few moments to think of what to write— likely to make it mean more to the girl, instead of a quick, rehearsed scrawl.
Keep chasing your passions — L. Rowan is what she ends up with before passing it back over.
"Reine, I have to say it was a joy meeting you and getting to hear you play. I hope we'll get to do it again. You have my number, if you decide to let me be your teacher," she says, addressing the girl rather than her father, as she might do in most cases. This girl didn't need to be handled, just treated as an equal.
"Oh, I already decided, and I'm stubborn." Reine says with a smile that lights up a room.
To which her father says with a grin, "I like to call it 'steadfast'." But Mateo doesn't protest the decision, certainly, and he seems to approve the fact that the teacher left it up to her. Because it really had been, in the end. If he had really disapproved, perhaps he could have put his foot down, but— no, why would he? In this case, there was no reason to.
It's possible that he wouldn't have even been here for this meeting, though, with how busy his work schedule could be, but he was glad he was, really.
"It was nice to meet you, Ms. Rowan."