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]

[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?

[mother_of_god]

Alessa.

Who are you?

[exbride]

[Alessa. She wonders what's inside -- wonders what made her flinch at the start. With just her index finger, she plinks once at a key at the end of the piano. A low note sounds out with the soft way she says her name.]

Anthy.

[mother_of_god]

[She blinks.]

i've never heard that name before.

[exbride]

We're probably from very different places.

[mother_of_god]

[Yes and no, Anthy. :V]

Where are you from?

[exbride]

I wanted to leave it behind. [It's not quite an answer, but talking to Alessa does feel natural, for some reason.] Ending up here, though...

This isn't exactly what I was seeking.

[mother_of_god]

[She nods in agreement.]

It's a lot nicer here. It doesn't hurt as much.

[It always hurts.]

[exbride]

[It's true that it doesn't hurt as much here. It can get uncomfortable sometimes, but the comparison doesn't hold. Anthy gives Alessa a weary smile; somewhat inappropriate of a response to an expression of pain.]

You must be used to hurt to say that about the Gardens.

[mother_of_god]

i'm healing now. God is dead.

[That's good news!]

[exbride]

God's death healed you?

[Not disbelieving. Tell me more.]

[mother_of_god]

[She hesitates.]

i was the sacrifice. But i didn't want God to come. Mommy used a spell so i couldn't heal, so i'd have to birth God.

But Daddy- Cheryl's Daddy... He was there when God came, and he killed Her.

So now...

[After a moment of pondering, she adds:]

i think i died... But my body's the same here.

[exbride]

[Although the answer doesn't make a lot of objective sense, it couldn't be clearer. To Anthy, it makes Alessa's behavior and the odd intensity about her fall into place.]

That's why you were frightened at first. That's why you expect to be hurt.

[Anthy taps that low note again and focuses on it, her features contemplative.]

I hope you can be happier here.

[mother_of_god]

I'm happy now.

[Granted, her standards are pretty low.]

It's a place where people can be happy... just like Paradise, but for everyone.

[exbride]

Do you think it's selfish to still be unhappy?