Hear Nothing [action]

[mother_of_god]

[OH GOD OH GOD SCARY SKELETONS EVERYWHERE

[Alessa (in projection mode) has fled the terrifying and noisy dress-up corpse parade by hiding in the Concert Hall. Having calmed down slightly, she's been exploring and encountered one of the numerous pianos in a practice room.

[She plinks a note experimentally, then spends a moment trying to recall her (sadly brief) lessons.]

plink plinkety plink plink

[A very simple melody echoes faintly down the hall. It's inexpert, but the player has a little smile on her face.]

Comments

[exbride]

[Commotion isn't Anthy's favorite thing, either. In fact, she's so quiet in approaching the room that it's possible you won't notice her until she takes a seat right next to Alessa on the piano bench.

She lifts her fingers to the keys. It's a simple gesture; a similar but different set of notes emerges from her playing, one that acknowledges without words by adding onto the melody. Only a few short seconds and a few more plinks.

Anthy pauses to look up and assess the stranger with an inscrutable smile, to see how this will be received.]

[mother_of_god]

[She jumps, hands pulled back like the keys were a hot stove. Her face pale, she clutches the collar of her dress and stares in contrite terror at Anthy.]

i'm sorry! i- There wasn't anyone here, and...

[She flinches, bracing herself for punishment.]

[exbride]

[Anthy sits straight and places her hands in her lap. Her face and her body language are neutral, but her eyes are locked on Alessa nonetheless.]

Don't be afraid. I understand. You wanted to find a place to escape to.

[mother_of_god]

[She stays frozen for a moment. As the attack doesn't come, she relaxes gradually, nodding.]

i... haven't been able to play for a long time.

[exbride]

You can play as much as you like. Don't mind me. [Just going to sit here and watch you, kay.]

[mother_of_god]

[She plinks out a little more, hesitantly. Definitely out of practice.]

i'm not very good.

[exbride]

[Anthy smiles again, and there's even a hint of real warmth in it.]

May I try playing you a song?

[mother_of_god]

[Big, shiny eyes. You are currently the awesomest person, Anthy. She nods, the little smile returning to her wan face.]

[exbride]

[She scoots in closer on the piano bench, careful in her movements in order not to startle her current companion. Something about her makes Anthy want to play that soothing song she knows by heart, so she lifts her hands back up to the keys and runs through the entire melody.

It's a full one minute and fifty seconds of Sunlit Garden for you, Alessa. Enjoy.]

[mother_of_god]

[She watches Anthy's hands, entranced and perfectly silent, taking in the song. It's not until the last note fades to silence that she speaks.]

You're so good!

[exbride]

It's the only song I know this well. [Her hands go back to her lap and she turns to look at Alessa again, her entire demeanor brighter than it was before.]

Maybe we could practice together sometime. We could learn new songs to play, for when things outside are strange and sort of frightening.

[mother_of_god]

Really?

[She's not used to feeling this giddy. She turns her face to the keyboard, stroking it with shaking fingers. Her mouth spreads in a big smile.]

[exbride]

I don't mind if you don't mind. [and Anthy thinks she might truly be cheered up by the smile she managed to produce in the stranger. Honestly, she's not used to the feeling either.

She watches Alessa's unsteady hands return to the keys with a peaceful expression. Something about the other girl is rather unsteady as a whole, but she's rather unaffected in turn.]

What's your name?

[tosaveyou]

[Kariya isn't one for loud noises and crowds, and the parade hits too close to home. It wasn't long ago that she died, herself, and she knows she's going to die again. She moves away from the festivities rather than toward.

While out walking around, she can hear someone playing piano, and she wonders where the music is coming from. Oh, the Concert Hall. Logically. She makes her way there, listening to the soft plink plink.]

Hello? Who's here?

[mother_of_god]

[Instant silence. A few moments later, the uninjured Alessa appears, shaking.]

i'm sorry...

[tosaveyou]

[Kariya's eyes widen. Her own injuries are less extensive, after she died and was brought back. ]

Alessa? What happened? You don't have to be sorry.

[mother_of_god]

[She relaxes a bit after seeing it's Kariya.]

i... wanted to get away from the skeletons. and... there were pianos. It's been a long time since i could play.

[tosaveyou]

I didn't like the skeletons much either. I don't blame you.

I didn't know you played piano. [Kariya: believes in encouraging young people. She smiles.] That sounded good. You should play more often.

[mother_of_god]

i can only do it like this. When I'm asleep.

[She frowns at her hands.]

It's been a really long time. i'm not very good.

[tosaveyou]

Oh--you're asleep now? But you're here?

[Alessa must be a powerful magus, by her world's standards.]

I wondered why you looked different. That's an amazing ability.

[She shakes her head.]

It sounded nice. What matters is that you have a good time playing.

[mother_of_god]

i... can leave my real body behind. Like when i made Cheryl. Part of my soul.

[Her lips quirk in a tiny, shy smile at the compliment to her playing.]

i like it. i like... how it sounds.

[tosaveyou]

I've heard of things like that before. There are people where I'm from who can that, but I can't.

[Her family was once a great Magus family, and her uncle--or at least that's what she calls him--is capable of feats like that.]

Then you should play. Would you play for me some more?

[mother_of_god]

[A nod.] It's rare. Mommy wanted me to use it for God.

[She nods again, smiling shyly, and shuffles back onto the bench.]

i only know a few songs...

[The tune is basic, played with careful movements and a slow tempo as she tries to hit each note precisely.]

[tosaveyou]

Now you can use it for yourself.

[Kariya listens to the song patiently, smiling as Alessa plays.]

What's that one called?

[mother_of_god]

"Wind in the Willows." It's pretty hard, so i practiced it a lot.