Fascinating Rhythm by wabbitseason (song and dance challenge)

[wabbitseason.livejournal.com]

Title: Fascinating Rhythm
Author: Wabbitseason
Challenge: Song & dance challenge
Disclaimer: I don't own Atlantis.
Spoilers: Through "Michael" in season 2
Words: 2042 words
Rating: G
Characters: Laura Cadman & Rodney McKay
Summary: A discovery of an Ancient musical instrument takes McKay and Cadman down memory lane.
Author’s Note: Blame canon squarely for this story idea... mostly. Thanks to daisycm83 for betaing and technical advice.


A large console stood in the center of a raised dais within an equally large room. A bench sat in front of the console. The size and layout of the control crystals completely stood in contrast to the ones in the gateroom. Most of the DHDs and consoles were meant to be stood over, much to the annoyance of hard working scientists with lower back problems. So why was the bench there?

The whole arrangement left Dr. Rodney McKay completely stymied. One of his science teams had found this room in their latest batch of explorations. Nothing in Atlantis database indicated what this room was for. They couldn't make heads or tails of its use, even with an ATA gene person present. After a whole team combed the room for ideas, they brought in their boss, knowing he'd see what they missed immediately. Except he was just as confused as they were.

"Heard I'd find you here, Rodney." Lt. Laura Cadman stood in the doorway.

Rodney sighed, "Don't you have something to blow up today, Cadman?"

"Very funny," Laura said. "I came because Carson was looking for you. Some experiment you're supposed to be interested in the results of. I tried to get more specifics, but he clammed up on me. I gather it's some super secret thing only the command staff knows about?"

"I didn't realize he had started already," Rodney reflected. He hadn't agreed with the experiment, but he had been outvoted. Still he should find out how it was progressing. "I'll catch up with him later. As you can see, I'm in the middle of something." Standing on the dais, he went over to the console and passed his hand over the control mechanism. Obligingly the console lit up and crystals alternated between two shades of white.

"What is this place?" Laura looked around. "Another scientific gadget left behind for your boys in blue to puzzle over?"

"When they couldn't figure it out, they handed it over to me," Rodney complained. "You'd think they were clueless grad students not the largest group of PhDs clustered in one area." But something struck Rodney as familiar about this Ancient artifact, something he hadn’t seen in years. He sat down on the bench in front of the console. The old memories flooded back -- the hours of practice, the demands of his teacher, and the impatience of his parents. "I wonder..." He reached out to touch one of the keys.

"Are you sure you should be doing that?" Laura asked. "You don’t even know what it does. Touching strange Ancient artifacts might not be the wisest idea."

Rodney turned towards her, "I appreciate your otherwise touching display of concern, Cadman, but I don’t think there’s anything to worry about this time." Before Laura could offer a response, he pressed down on one of the keys. Tinkling bells came out of the console, filling the room with musical notes. The sound brought a smile to his lips. He had forgotten how music could make him feel. Running his fingers up and down the keys, Rodney thought he had found the Ancient musical scale. He played a simple chord. The room vibrated with more music.

"It’s a piano," Laura was stunned.

"Closer to our synthesizer than a real piano," Rodney corrected her, "but pretty serviceable nonetheless." He tried playing "Chopsticks" on the Ancient musical instrument. The tune sounded a little different but the principle remained the same. The room must have been picked because of its acoustics. The sound was warm and resonant. A Brahms sonata would sound exquisite in these surroundings.

"I didn't know you played," Laura stepped up onto the dais. Rodney hadn't even realized he was still playing. How long had she just stood there listening?

"Until I was twelve." Playing the opening bars of "Für Elise", Rodney winced at a missed note, but his fingers gained confidence with each sequence of notes. He used to be able to play this piece by heart. "I thought I was going to be the next great child prodigy, like Mozart or Glenn Gould."

"Then why'd you stop?" Laura sat down on the bench beside him.

Rodney uttered a harsh and bitter laugh. "Long ugly story, Cadman, one you'd appreciate." He began. "I had this teacher..."

"Let me guess," Laura offered, "they said you'd never make it." She shrugged. "Heard it, Rodney, hell, I lived it."

"This one was different," Rodney said. "See, I could play the notes perfectly. He said I would always be a great technician. But I couldn't play with any feeling or emotion. I could probably have made a decent living in a piano bar or as an accompanist, but I didn't have the soul of a great artiste and I never would. Rather than fight against insurmountable odds, I quit."

Laura was surprised. "You didn't even try to find a different teacher? I must have gone through every dance teacher in my hometown by the time I was done dancing."

"Why bother?" Rodney said. "They would have told me the same thing."

"But you were twelve years old," Laura retorted. "No one expects that level of artistry from someone that young. Even the prodigies have had to grow into their art over time."

Rodney shook his head, "Not me. Either you have it or you don't."

"That's ironic," Laura laughed, "seeing as you're nothing but emotion now. You do everything with fire and gusto. You would have been one of those fiery impresarios pounding on the keys like a wild man. That was intended as a compliment, in case you couldn’t recognize one."

"I don't get many from you to notice," Rodney countered. "Why did you stop dancing?"

"Oh that," Laura shrugged, "I wasn’t that good really. My mother thought dance lessons would instill some discipline in me. I switched to tap classes when it was clear I wasn’t cut out for tutus and Nutcrackers."

"And you never dreamed of dancing on Broadway?" Rodney asked.

"All the time," Laura said, "I stopped when I was in junior high. Dancing wasn't fun anymore."

"It became a drag, didn't it? Always having to practice and practice?"

"But the teachers would still think you hadn't practiced hard or long enough?" Laura could still hear her last teacher criticizing her sloppy technique. She had drill sergeants that hadn't pushed her nearly as hard. "Oh yeah, I'm right with you."

"Elizabeth will want a demonstration of how this beauty works," Rodney pictured her reaction. "Knowing her, that will spiral into an expedition wide talent show."

"We could put a show on right here?" Laura grinned.

Rodney said, "Good God, I feel like I’m in an old movie."

"If that makes me Mickey Rooney, I’m leaving," Laura retorted. "A talent show sounds like fun actually," Laura admitted. At his scowl, she added. "It'd be good for morale. We could all use a break from the monotony and the tension around here. Worrying when the next Wraith attack will come or worrying who we're going to piss off next. I’m sure everyone has special talents they’re hiding. I might even have my old tap shoes with me." He didn't like the looks of this. Whenever she had that mischievous smile on her face, it meant trouble for him. He could see where this was headed. "You could even accompany me."

Rodney held up his hands, "Oh no, count me out. I haven’t played in years."

"And I haven’t danced in years either," Laura continued smiling. "What do you say, Rodney? Or would it wound your classical soul to play something popular? It might actually be fun. I’m game if you are!"

Rodney relented. "Oh all right, you'd probably sweet talk Carson into convincing me anyway." Carson knew far too much about Rodney for Laura not to exploit that opportunity. "We should find something snazzy, something that shows off your personality. I know Miko has one of those karaoke fake book things. I'd rather have real sheet music, but sometimes you have to make do." If he was lucky, Elizabeth would too busy with the secret project to even consider the talent show idea.

***

Once she'd heard about the music room, Dr. Weir thought the talent show was an inspired idea. She immediately drafted Miko to help organize the whole thing. The entire city was talking about who had signed up and what their talents might be. Bets were even made on who would make the bigger fool of themselves.

Rehearsals were hard to arrange with the usual crazy schedules. Rodney had pleaded with Elizabeth to give him just a few more hours, so he could practice, but she couldn't spare him from his other projects. He was surprised and relieved to discover most of his technique hadn't disappeared. Cadman practiced in her room and tried hard not to annoy her neighbors.

Finally the first annual Lost City of Atlantis Talent Show was in full swing. The room with the synthesizer turned out to be large enough for most of the expedition to fit inside comfortably, if everyone sat on cushions.

Carson impressed no one with his ventriloquism act with the skeleton from the infirmary. Lorne borrowed Sheppard's guitar to play a few old country songs, earning many sighs from the ladies. Teyla sang an Athosian hymn that brought tears to the eyes of all present. Parrish turned out to be quite the musical theater buff, singing a medley of show tunes, surprising no one. One of the Asian scientists played a violin solo.

The bosses politely declined to participate. Elizabeth stated that she didn't want to wake the Wraith with her singing.

Then Rodney came out in his best suit jacket and pants. Not quite a black tux and tails, but this wasn't quite Carnegie Hall either. Sitting on the bench, Rodney waited for Laura's entrance. Laura took her place standing next to the synthesizer, dressed in a black tummy shirt and matching pants over her old tap shoes. She gave him a playful wink. "Think you can keep up?"

"With you? Watch me!" Rodney scoffed, liking his odds with that challenge.

Rodney played the opening notes of Gershwin's "Fascinating Rhythm". Laura rattled off a set of taps in response to the music. Back and forth they went in an intricate tennis match, not unlike how Rodney and Laura interacted themselves. Laura challenged him and Rodney matched that challenge. He threw out a phrase and she answered it with a mesmerizing array of taps that left everyone breathless. Sounds of the taps filled the room. Finally she ended with a series of turns stopping right on cue. When Laura took her bows, the audience hooted and hollered their approval, led by her fellow Marines.

"That was fun!" Laura admitted. "We should do this more often."

Rodney was too distracted thinking about his solo, "Yes, yes, it went well, all things considered."

Laura asked, "Are you nervous? You shouldn't be. You play wonderfully."

"For a grade three student maybe," Rodney scowled. "I might as well be playing 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' out there for all they care. You were a real hard act to follow."

Laura seemed pleased with the compliment, "Only because I had your help."

"Not inspiring words right now. I'm not sure I can do this."

Laura smiled, "Rodney, relax, you'll do fine. How many times have you practiced this piece? You know it, now own it. Try to imagine yourself in this room alone, like you're playing for yourself. Let them see how you really feel inside. The notes will take care of themselves." Impulsively she kissed him on the cheek. When he drew back in surprise, she explained with a wink. "For luck! Not that you'll need it."

To utter silence, Rodney played Beethoven's "Für Elise" again. This time every note was right and every sound reverberated throughout the room. He remembered all he'd experienced in his few years on Atlantis, all the highs and lows. Laura was right about his emotions. He did wear his heart on his sleeve. Tonight he let other people see past the bluster. The room resonated with the last note. A stunned audience cheered and applauded loudly.

For once, Rodney wore the broadest smile in the room.

Comments

[reginabellatrix.livejournal.com]

Please put this behind a cut tag.

[wabbitseason.livejournal.com]

I caught it right after I posted. Sorry.

[jic]

Awww! Sweet.

[beadattitude.livejournal.com]

Aw, very adorable!

Also? Duck season!

[scififreak.livejournal.com]

Aww, very sweet. And I long to see an Atlantis talent show on the show! *waits*

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

neat image of Rodney playing & Laura tapdancing... and I thought the little references to "Michael" were well done...

[danian.livejournal.com]

That was very nice. I liked the Cadman/Rodney interaction and love the idea of her doing tap - seems very her some how :)
Like Weir's reason for not singing, and how was Carson blackmailed into doing an act?
I love big action/adventure tales but I also love little slice of life snippets too - it's the only way they'll stay semi-sane after all.
Thank you.

[skeddy-kat.livejournal.com]

I really liked the way you have Rodney and Cadman interact. This was delightful. Thank you.

[11nine73.livejournal.com]

"It became a drag, didn't it? Always having to practice and practice?"

Yes, actually *sigh*

Beautiful, sweet, funny and brilliant.

[empressvesica.livejournal.com]

I loved their bonding over having a passion and not quite being able to make a career out of it. Not something I would have thought of right off with these two, but with what we know of Rodney - that sort of obsession/dedication and exceptionally pragmatic assessment of where it could go is wonderfully in character. Really enjoyed this!!

[sulien.livejournal.com]

Yay! I have a real weakness for Rodney playing the piano and absolutely loved this. Thank you for sharing it!