The Sound Of Music [OPEN]

[petrifying]

Who: Emil & YOU!
When: Before & during the event/quests
Where: The Coven & an instrument shop for the strings quest!
What: Questing and piano time at the Coven.
Warnings: None!



A SOLEMN SONG

<sub>[It'd be hard to say exactly how long Emil's found himself here at the Coven. He's never exactly been good with keeping track of time, especially when months blurred into years and years blurred into centuries...what's one day when you've been alive for so long? That's not to say Emil doesn't make the best of each day that he has. He's found attending classes fun, even if he can't do much other than sit and listen quietly at the back. Most of his time has been spent creating a mental map of the area and where everything is to get his bearings. So far he's mostly gotten the hang of things; he knows where things are placed in his room, knows how to get to and from the mess hall, and knows how to get to most of his classes. A few of the other students had taken it upon themselves to escort him when he needed it and help him with things he couldn't manage on his own (laundry, for example) but Emil had been doing his best to be as independent as he could be.

It's after a little while of being at the Coven that he learns of a room that's usually free and has a piano in it and so Emil's found himself haunting the instrument more often than not. It's in this room that he can be found late into the evening one day, playing by himself. The current song he's playing it's a solemn but beautiful one, a composition of an original theme he's grown fond of over the years. If you're lured in by his playing he won't say anything until he's finished, but when he's done he'll peek around the piano even if he can't see with a small smile.]</sub>

Oh...hello! You didn't want to play, did you? I don't mean to hog the piano...

TUNING TIME (QUEST)

<sub>[It's not often that an offer to do something Emil can actually do comes up, and so when the chance to help test out tuned instruments is known to him he jumps on the opportunity. The Coven had been so kind as to give him an escort to bring him to the shop and once the owner had shown him where the pianos that needed playing were Emil got straight to work. He's been at it for a few hours now, having gotten carried away, and it's now on a freshly tuned piano that he plays a melody similar to one he's played many times before. This time though the arrangement has three voices and is far more hectic, if not desperate sounding as his dainty fingers gracefully tap the keys. He makes it seem almost effortless.

It's clear that he has a talent but it's not one that came naturally. Practice is perfect, after all, and Emil is a prime example of it. Having been forced to rely on his ears and touch to get around for centuries along with having not much else to do other than play with his piano, his ability to pluck out a melody and identify pitch is second to none. Right from the get go the shop owner seems to be fond of him and Emil can't be happier for that fact. Maybe, just maybe, he could be useful in some regard.

Of course he's not alone in the shop. There are others too that have been hired to test out instruments. Not all of them are pianos either. Emil will happily listen to other people's performances or even try to shyly talk to those around him. No matter what he'll always be positive and clap enthusiastically if given the chance.]</sub>

Oh wow! That sounded really good!

_{[Did it? It might not have...but Emil's easily impressed.]}


WILDCARD

_{[Want to do something with Emil? I'm totally down! I've no problem writing up a starter so let me know! Otherwise feel free to throw something in here and I'll run with it :) Hit me up on Discord @ Cia#4470 or plurk at thirdimpact!}

Comments

a solemn song

[silentsavant]

[For a time, the only sounds that reverberated off the corridors were his own footsteps, accompanied by the occasional rustle of voices from rooms he passed, or birdsong floating in from the open windows. In truth, he paid only half attention to those noises, more focused on the constant march of his thoughts than his passage through the real world.

But then, his footsteps slow and soften as his ears make way for something startlingly beautiful. Soren is pulled out of his thoughts; he'd been nearing a lull in them, anyway. It sounds like it's coming from the piano in that wide-open room he never really ventures into. He doesn't care much for instruments or compositions, or for much of anything, really, but that doesn't make music any less euphonious or worth a passive appreciation from him.

He continues on. As he passes that room, he stops to tilt his head in to see whose fingers give rise to the bright but poignant notes. What he sees surprises him. The boy is playing with such expert command over his keys blindfolded.

For a minute or so longer, he watches and listens. Then, he feels possessed to delve into the room. It isn't long before he finishes, and Emil humbly offers to give up his piano.]

No worries. I can't play. I was merely listening to your performance. It was... well, quite captivating. And you did it all blindfolded?

[petrifying]

<sub>[He's not used to having an audience.

Well, okay, one person isn't exactly an audience, but it's something. Sometimes Sebastian, his butler, would listen to him play, but for the most part he'd leave him to himself. His listener seems to be pretty respectful too, waiting until the end of the piece and when Emil speaks up to answer him. Is Emil shy? Absolutely, but the desire to reach out and chat with someone else helps push him past that initial awkwardness.]</sub>

Ah, thank you very much. _{[Compliments should always be acknowledged, after all!]} Mm...my eyes are cursed so...I've to keep them covered like this.

_{[Might as well just come out with it, right? Sure, the curse might be gone, but he's too afraid to test that theory out still.]}

[silentsavant]

[It just keeps getting more interesting... Emil cannot tell by looking, but Soren is rapt with attention. The rising inquisitiveness in his smooth, even voice conveys the hitch in his eyebrows well enough.]

A curse?

wildcard

[morbide]

[He prefers to move on foot rather than bike and without a needless disguise, but this Witch is on a shimmering mission. Toting around a fragile parcel, Henry speeds down the road with a mischievous grin on his face: but for all of his careless feet, he somehow manages to move with nary a sound to his step. Whether it's enchantment or nature, it's hard to say.

Emil is not his target. But when Henry approaches, he expects Emil to see him and step out of his way.

But Henry's moving too fast. The next thing he knows, he's collided with the other boy. Henry cries out, and his delicate parcel pops open... upending its golden contents all over Emil.]

Ah! [Henry rebounds, wavering on his step and trying to collect whatever remains of the package... but nearly all of that glitter is now stuck to Emil. It's a lost cause.] Whoopsie... I made a complete mess of that one. My mistake! If you're mad at me, I totally understand: that's probably never gonna come out, nya ha! Woooo, I'm in trouble...

[Not just for ruining the job (he'll certainly have to go back and explain why his box of glitter didn't make it to its intended recipient), but now this person's probably going to be mad at him... Henry laughs sheepishly.]

[petrifying]

<sub>[Henry no...why...Emil's life is already hard enough why are you making it even more difficult?! He was just trying to make his way back to where he needed to be - a task already made hard due to his bandaged eyes. When he's nearly knocked over and something spilled on him he can't help but cry out, not so much out of anger but out of fear.

Just what had happened?!

The guy who bumped into him doesn't sound too old, 'older' than him in a physical sense and he sounds apologetic enough despite his awkward laughter. Of course, not knowing what's just found its way onto him and his clothes, Emil has no way to tell what he looks like or what the damage is.]</sub>

I-I'm not mad but...what happened? What's on me?

_{[He's starting to panic...understandably.]}

[morbide]

Only the WORST stuff to spill, on person and on possession. There's a reason they were paying me to hand deliver it to an unassuming recipient! ...That wasn't supposed to be for you, by the way.

[Only now does it strike Henry that the reason Emil asks about what's on him is because he cannot see it. This doesn't make Henry any more inclined toward being helpful and describing glitter to him, however. He thinks this makes it more amusing, and he smiles.

He raises a finger to "better" "explain" the dire situation to Emil, even though all he's doing is playing with him now.]

Honestly, it's WAY worse than a bloodstain... Even when you think you've washed it out, it'll keep coming back with a vengeance! And it's makes everything it touches into a gaudy eyesore. ...You know what I mean?

[Thanks, Henry. Very helpful...]

Tuning Time

[selfishwish]

[Normally, Momiji can barely bring himself to stop playing during his shifts at the Snapped String. If he's not helping one of the store's attendants with a specific instrument, there are always plenty to keep himself occupied with--either ones he already knows how to use or ones interesting enough to fool around with despite not knowing.

So, it's pretty high praise, all things considered, that he stops what he's doing completely to listen to Emil. And while he doesn't make any effort to sneak over, he doesn't dare interrupt to make himself known as he migrates across the shop to watch.

When Emil's song draws to a close, he'll get an enthusiastic round of applause, this time.]

Wow, what's that piece called? You were perfect--you had such great energy!

[petrifying]

<sub>[It's hard to stop playing when you've got an instrument in front of you, that's something Emil can relate to. It's why he's so stuck to the benches of the pianos in the shops, spending a bit more time than he should on each. He's just being thorough, he tells himself, but really it's just him enjoying himself at the end of the day.

He's not expecting the enthusiastic applause, the sound of rapid clapping startling him enough to jump a bit on the bench he's sitting on. Sure, he knows he's not alone in the shop, but he's kept mostly to himself as to not bother the others working there trying to do their jobs. His cheeks feel warm at the praise as his fingers slip away from the keys, his body shifting on the bench as he turns to face Momiji, even if his eyes are covered.]</sub>

Oh, um...thank you very much! It doesn't really have a name, actually...I never bothered to give it one.

[selfishwish]

Wait, so...you wrote it, too?

[Momiji was already impressed, but that's legitimately surprising. Composing, at least like that, isn't something you can just get down purely by rote training and repetition.]

That's so neat! [Excuse him, he's just going to forget entirely about work (and good manners) for a moment and hop over to seat himself as the far end of the piano bench Emil's occupying.] You're mirrorbound, too, right? Do you go to a conservatory, back home?

[Or maybe he's from a world where that's not even really a thing, and he's just a professional! But he is going to remember himself at least slightly, before he can blurt that alternative out:]

Oh, right! I'm Momiji, I just started here!

A solemn song

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot had come here to get his own practice time in. With the intent of heading to Dorchacht in a couple days, he had a feeling he wouldn't get much time to play as he normally likes. So, it was good to get it out of his system while he could.

Except when he comes to the room, he finds it's already being taken. Elliot however, isn't one to interrupt a musician. Whoever this was, they had a lot of talent. It was nice just listening to them. So when the person finally peeks their head over the piano he shakes his head]

Oh no, don't worry you're fine! I didn't realize anyone else was in here.

That piece was beautiful.

[petrifying]

Oh...thanks! I wrote it myself!

_{[When you've got an obscene amount of free time on your hands, you tend to come up with your own pieces if you've nothing else to do. It isn't as if Emil can read sheet music, what with the way his eyes are, so he's had to rely on doing and learning everything by ear.]}

I'm glad you like it...I've never really had anyone listen to anything I've played other than my butler so...it's nice to have some feedback!

[fiddlestick]

You did? Well it was really nice composition!

[Emil is clearly blind, but that doesn't seem to faze Elliot too much. Sure. It'd cause some definite challenges. But music was more about hearing]

Hehe, well I'm glad to have been an extra set of ears. Have you been composing long?

Oh, I'm Elliot by the way.

tuning time

[textsfromhotland]

[Musical experience not needed. That's what the pamphlet said, anyway. Alphys has been here for ten minutes and she's already feeling completely outclassed. She had been plinking awkwardly on another piano, but stopped to stare at Emil instead.]

W-wow, that was... really good!

[plink.]

[petrifying]

_{[It's okay Alphys, Emil won't judge your musical ability! At the praise he lifts his fingers away from the keys, a smile on his lips as he turns to face her, even if he can't see her.]}

Oh...thank you very much!

_{[He's a polite kid and praise always deserves thanks.]}

Do you play any instruments at all?

[textsfromhotland]

W-who, me? N-not at all... I have a friend back in my world that plays piano, though.

[That totally counts, right?]

The ad said you didn't need any experience, so I thought I'd be okay signing up...

TUNING TIME

[clothes]

[ akutagawa... was playing with a tambourine. can tambourines be out of tune? well, he intended to find out.

...no, they can't, but that didn't stop him from giving it a few shakes and whacks. when he looks to emil, it's with a dry expression. obviously this little fuckass is making fun of him. akutagawa......does not appreciate being made fun of. ]

We have no time for your poor attempt at sarcasm. We have every instrument in this store to tune and test.Cease your gawking and get back to work.

[ awful bold words for a part-timer... ]

[petrifying]

I wasn't gawking though...or being sarcastic.

_{[Not to mention he can't exactly 'gawk' either, what with the bandages around his eyes. Akutagawa please, be more mindful. The vitriol thrown his way though is unexpected and Emil finds himself genuinely disheartened by it...but hey, it is what it is. Turning back to the piano he's sitting at with hunched shoulders, Emil begins to play an improvised melody. It's clear from the way that he plays that he's got talent and knows what he's doing, despite the fact he clearly can't look at his fingers. Is he getting a little carried away? Maybe...but he's going to enjoy himself, even if Akutagawa doesn't seem to want to.]}

[clothes]

[ oops... now akutagawa feels awkward-gawa. now he stays quiet and resumes his job because he feels like a weirdo and kind of embarrassed he told the fucking blind kid to stop staring at him. good going akutagawa!!!

that, and he's the type who prides himself on a job well done, so he resumes tuning a trombone, a glass harmonica, and even a miniature giant contrabass flute. it's a very serious symphony of no fun whatsoever!! at least, he thinks it is, until emil starts playing and it's...heavenly. obviously there's no sheet music, so either the song is memorized or being improvised on the spot. either way, akutagawa is amazed.

once emil finishes that beautiful song, akutagawa one-ups him by... playing twinkle twinkle little star on the kazoo. hah!!! take that!!! ...everything is a competition with akutagawa, it seems. ]

pesky potatoes..

[sing_for_me]

[ Alex was preparing to head out for Dorchacht, well, mostly wanting to prepare some meals in advance for Worrick before she headed out. At least that way he'd be set for the next two weeks (or so she would think dun dun). Out she was to get some provisions, passing by some of the stores and peeking through the windows as she did so. Distracted as she was, she misses the little accident that occurs ahead of her as a cart of vegetables breaks down, releasing an onslaught of potatoes right towards her and any anyone else near by.

One potato in particular makes its way right under the foot of someone in front of her, and the poor fellow slips and falls backwards. Hopefully they don't take their companion of a young man down with them. ]

Careful!

[ Alex reaches out to try and catch them, though one or two people can be difficult to hold up with a bunch of potatoes in the way, but she can at least break their fall as they all go down. ]

[petrifying]

Ah-!

_{[It's only a matter of time before Emil finds himself tripping again, but he wasn't expecting it to be over potatoes. Knocked over by the man by his side Emil finds himself floundering, hands out to brace himself as he's pushed forward. It's not the first time he's fallen and it certainly won't be the last, but he isn't expecting to be tugged at all of a sudden, the fall ending up a little less terrible than it could've.]}

Nngh...oh boy...

_{[Oh boy indeed, Emil. To his credit he does his best to push himself back up on his feet and dust his hands off. There's not much else he can do.]}

A solemn song

[hisui]

[Ever since Nessie and Mhairi announced, a few days ago, that the mirrorbound would be allowed to investigate the supposedly risky device they briefly spoke of, Nagare has been coming to the Coven's library on a daily basis. Without his abilities to fully control any kind of electronic device, he has no other option but to turn to researching for any available information on the technology of this world.

The path to exit the library involves walking through wide corridors, that gradually grow noisier the farther from the library one goes. Somewhere along the way, the soothing sound of a melody begins to overlap with the muffled sounds from outside.

Halting at the door and sparing a quick glance into the room from which the sound is coming from, he spots a young boy. He can't help but stare in silent awe as those small and nimble fingers dance upon the piano keys fluidly. But the most surprising fact is that the boy is somehow able to play the piano blindfolded. Immediately, Nagare is reminded of a certain blind boy's introduction to the network a while back. It's not hard to make that connection between the two, considering the unusual coincidence.

Unsure if the boy would appreciate the intrusion, he just keeps watching quietly from the entrance. As soon as the small hands halt their movement over the keys, he takes a step back to leave. But promptly halts when Emil turns to speak with a smile at his direction. Instead, he steps into the room, slowly walking up to the boy.]

Negative, I was content with merely listening. You play very beautifully.

[petrifying]

_{[Negative...what a strange way to say no. Okay it's not that strange (not compared to the stuff he heard come out of Weiss' mouth sometimes) but it does have the edges of his lips quirking upward. The compliment, regardless, is sweet to receive and he appreciates it.]}

Thank you very much! I'm glad you think so.

_{[And now comes the awkward bit. Now what? Now what is he supposed to say...going for an introduction's always a safe bet.]}

Um...I'm Emil. It's nice to meet you! I haven't been here for that long...have you?

A Solemn Song

[overworker]

[Before she left, Towa wanted to do a last bit of studying and preparation. While it feels a little bit like she's running around hectically, it's better than being unprepared. But even in her rush, she's pulled to a stop by the beautiful sound of a piano. Her eyes soften and she steps in to listen.

This is Emil though, so she's not surprised he's noticed her, even if she was trying to be quiet.]

Oh no, I can't play anything nearly as lovely as that. Do you mind if I listen a little longer?

Solemn Song

[eyesees]

[ After the recent full moon, Fuuka has found herself more and more drawn to the sound of music. Like it stirred something deep inside that she didn't quite understand, but desperately wished to be acknowledged. It isn't that she didn't enjoy music beforehand, but every time she hears a melody floating through the air, she feels compelled to hum along with.

Seeing the (seemingly) blind pianist at his instrument piques her interest. Where Fuuka might normally observe from a distance, she wants to get a better look. Watch his fingers dance over the keys.

She's taken aback, however, when he finally stops, turning to look at her despite the blindfold. Fuuka draws her hands up to her chest. ]

O-oh, no, I'm all right. I don't know how to play anyway. [ A beat. ] You don't mind if I listen, do you?

[ This seems like kind of a private affair. ]

I'm so sorry this is so late I was waiting for dw to let me buy icons again cry

[petrifying]

_{[Her question is met with a small smile from the blindfolded boy, petite fingers smoothing over the keys as he listens to her speak. When she's done he's nodding, smiling even brighter her way. If someone wants to listen to him play the last thing he's going to do is turn them away.]}

Oh! Not at all. I don't mind. I never really get to play for anyone else other than myself so...I don't mind having an audience!