a soul's song

He tapped the side of his head. Of course she wouldn’t know who Mittens is. Still, he would try to hold off explaining Mittens until after everything else was responded to. He knew how easy it was for him to rant about her, even if it was through signing.

<That’s very flattering, but you have no idea how well I fare in playing. Thankfully, I know there’s always an unoccupied piano in one of the lounges of Chateau Gateau, so I know we could set up there.> And here it came. <Mittens is my adorable cat. She…> it took him all it could to show restraint, <is adorable.>

「 Perfect! 」 She honestly didn’t think she’d ever find herself in Chateau Gateau. It was a beautiful building, a dream compared to her tiny, one bedroom with it’s cheap furniture and sometimes less than stellar housemates. She was sure that, were she ever to venture in, she would be seen as an immediate fraud and removed from the premises but now, she had a way in. And pianos in one of the lounges? That was just the cherry on top.  

♢ @celliist.

the library is a nice retreat for kakyoin. there’s always some who don’t obey the unspoken rule of silence, but the library here has proven to be relatively peaceful. it’s calming, for the most part; reading an interesting book puts kakyoin into a different world like nothing else can, and there was a vast collection here. certainly nothing like 1989 ― everything has changed so much, from people’s behaviours to… the technology.

the technology, most definitely.

the library here provides a self-service checkout. he doesn’t remember anything like that in any part of the world he visited. a computer trying to help him take care of himself… definitely innovative and impressive, if nothing else. well ― he’d be much more impressed if he could actually use it. it doesn’t seem like it’s necessarily the machine itself, as much as it is… the touchscreen that he’s supposed to use. at first, it didn’t particularly fancy responding to his presses, but would reluctantly work nonetheless. now… it’s just not working at all.

he doesn’t want to just take the books, but… he’s been standing there for five minutes trying to get it to work. god, he must look stupid.

Beep. Beep. Beep. 

Methodically swiping each book, Cerise carefully placed them into her bag, before turning her attention back to the screen and removed her library card. She was just about to swing her bag over her shoulder and head to the cafe when something (or the lack of something) caught her attention. 

The man standing next to her seemed to be frustrated, tapping rather hard on teh touch screen and receiving no results. Maybe he would figure it out...? As she watched from the corner of her eye, it quickly became evident that a solution was far off. 

So, bag slung over her shoulders, the sheep pattern distorted from the amount of books she’d fit in, Cerise made her way towards him. A friendly smile in place, she peered around him and saw that the screen had completely frozen. The systems were easy to use once you knew how but after so many harder presses, it was no wonder the check out was on the fritz. 

      This was quite unexpected! Here she was, expecting to have a nice, cheery day, not filled with punks who don’t know how to navigate their way around a tween! What, is it really that hard? Maybe Peacock should be watching where she’s going too, but that ain’t her problem! Getting up from the ground, she frowns, miffed with the entire situation.

      “Hey! Watch where yer goin’!” Even though the other seems to be waving her hands around (for… some reason?), Peacock only crosses her arms, looking annoyed. Maybe she shouldn’t be this angry about bumping into someone, but she was having a bad day as it is! Poor Cerise. “What, cat got yer tongue or somethin’? What’s yer deal!?”

      Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to register with the young girl that the other, in fact, can’t speak. That’s going to cause some awkward tension.

Cerise shrunk back at the confrontational tone (she didn’t care how old she was - teenagers were terrifying) but the altercation was her fault and she didn’t want to be on bad terms with the neighbours if she could help it. 

Patting her pockets, a familiar panicked feelings began to creep into her thoughts until her fingers brushed the cool plastic of her phone case. Thank goodness she’d thought to bring it with her. Calloused fingers tapped out a quick message and added a few smileys, just in case her contrition wasn’t plain on her face. 

@celliist

      “Isn’t that heavy? It’s an instrument, right?”

      there’s a little voice in the back of her head that says push her, but she’s trying to be good. even though it would be fun, there are more pressing matters at hand and that’s…being civil.

                                 after all, she’s not a monster. 

      “The case, I mean.”

Warm and sweaty, Cerise was shifting her cello to a more comfortable position when she heard the question. With a groan, she gave up on repositioning the instrument and carefully lowered it to the ground and stretched, relishing the small reprieve from her typical hunchback position. 

What this girl doesn’t understand is the tenacity of a madman who hears voices in his head. Plus Deadpool is somehow convinced that this girl has a thing for him. I mean, look at the way she keeps responding to him! Total doki doki town right there. He even glanced over and saw her editing photos—obviously so she could show them off and make him swoon. Well it’s working.

That’s when she slides the phone over, and that’s when he sees the message. Something about this message seemed to imply that she wanted him to leave. But something else about the indirectness spurred him on. After all, American romantic comedies have taught him that continuing to pursue a girl after multiple rejections eventually led to an acceptance and true love. Even when the girl obviously hates the lead male actor from the very beginning.

“Hollywood taught me that continually asking the female protagonist out on dates eventually wears down her spirit and leads to true love.”

At that she began to shake with silent laughter. She had seen enough romantic comedies to know exactly what he was talking about. While she wasn’t opposed to watching them every once and a while (usually with a pan of freshly baked brownies and a hot water bottle) most of the time they were just too ridiculous for her. The maid who lied and stole from guests at her work - married. Sleeping with your best friend’s fiance - oh yes, everything ends with sunshine and rainbows. The mute Chinese girl in the background - maybe a running joke or, at best, a charity case. True love only happened to pretty, normal, white girls. That’s what Hollywood had taught her. 

Lips twisted into a mocking smile (she had a sudden urge to grab her cello and play until her fingers bled) as she focused on typing, maybe typing a little harder than was necessary. 

✪ : critique they have about others

f It is so frustrating to me when I see people with a passion for something slowly becoming disillusioned over time. Shouldn’t they be encouraged, no matter how unrealistic their dream might be?? It shouldn’t only be something special if they are instinctively good at it - the only way to true success is through hard work, so as long as you put your mind to it, you can achieve it. People need to be kinder to themselves and their dreams and stop settling for a life they hate. 

✰ : weird thing they want to try or have tried

 Her fingers hesitated over the screen as she wracked her brains, trying to think of something weird before grimacing. 

Mercutio laughed. The enthused nodding endeared him rather easily. It was simply remembrance of his darling cat Mittens having a similar excited bounce in her actions when she knew he was going to serve her the salmon she loved. His smile faltered once he realized the reach for her phone was for direct communication. Yet he didn’t falter.

<Do you have time this afternoon?> he started to sign, <It’s nothing short of a miracle that this encounter happened today. I’ve been so bogged down with orientation regarding my work and getting Mittens accustomed to her knew surroundings and I am just now free. I hope you can forgive any mess up in my playing.>

Her smile grew even larger as he began to sign. It had been a long time since anyone had been able to communicate this way and she had never been the most fluent at signing so she concentrated very hard on his hands. She began to respond once she was fairly certain of what he had said, her hands only hesitating over a couple words.  

“Well then...” Deadpool taps the bar, assessing the situation at hand. She turned her back to him. What were the universal signs of flirting again? Pointing feet, pressing boobs together, laughing a lot. He’s pretty sure Cosmo never said girls should turn their backs to make men fall hard. Unless she’s playing hard to get. No, come on, she’s not interested. No no hear me out. Deadpool, I’m not gonna let you take this over. Watch me.

Deadpool and his rippling muscles and his deep, baritone voice struts calmly around the hot deuteragonist’s chair. He masculinely and smoothly tips a fedora he was totally wearing the whole time. The girl swoons dramatically at his masculinity, the force of which shatters the friend zone and destroys half of Pittsburg. “M’lady.” You aren’t allowed to godmod. Come on, guy.

Scrolling mindlessly through her phone, Cerise did her best to ignore the man, who was still sat next to her?! Once rejected, weren’t people supposed to leave? Move on to the next available target? Shifting, she moved just enough to see him from the corner of her eye while still managing to keep most of her body angled away. 

She glanced back down at her phone, opening up the first app she saw - which happened to be a photo editing app - and pretended to edit her most recent pictures, all the while glancing up to see he was still sitting there. With a soft sigh and a quick check of her mental faculties, Cerise opened up her usual notepad app and tapped out a few short words before sliding her phone down the counter towards him. 

“The constant stream of words did not hit her like a truck. As someone who has been hit by a truck, multiple times??? at most they hit her like a moped. But listen, I’m trying to impress her so I can bow her G string and get into her f hole, so I decided not to comment on that part.”

“And I just said that all out loud. Wonderful.” Deadpool turns his attention back to the hot OC and squints to read the text on the phone. “That’s cool! You’re like Celty in that one anime! Durarara rarara rara rararara. I can dig it. And yes, the lyrics are pretty damn messed up. It sounds like the perfect party jam, but the only party that song is appropriate is a Swingers’ Club.”

Cerise peered at him over her phone, suddenly feeling very unsure about the entire situation. He was quickly hurtling down the spectrum from a little creepy to complete mental case - a ride she wanted no part in. She had lived in New York - the uncomfortable feeling wasn’t from being near a person she was beginning to believe was entirely mad. 

No, she had dealt with crazies before, normally a quick look at the bartender was all that was needed but in this town....really, how reliable were sheep as bouncers? Especially considering the size of the man next to her. Time to take this into her own hands. 

Bow her G string and get into her f hole? Classy. 

celliist

“You know..Festivals like these always make the world seem like such a special place. Another special thing of course seems to be all the food they offer. A plethora of street and gourmet meals to satiate any palette. Which of course includes my favorite. Hot dogs.”

Raising an eyebrow, Cerise looked up at Edward smiling at a hot dog as if it was his long lost love. As she took a sip of her eight dollar lemonade ( which she was pretty sure was just mainly ice and water ) she pulled out her phone with her other hand and tapped out a quick message.  

There was a brief flash of confusion as the woman typed on her phone and showed her the message–but Kaede quickly understood. Though part of her was also reminded of a series she’d watched once with a character that communicated in a similar way. 

She smiled sheepishly and nodded. “Yeah, it smells weird,” she stated, then a small giggle left her lips. “I’m also waayy to young, so better to just avoid it.” Her parents may not have been present, but she wasn’t about to do anything that would get her in trouble just for that reason. 

“To be honest, I’ve only read about stuff like this happening. I didn’t think anyone actually spiked punch.” She was just glad she’d realized it before she’d taken a sip, honestly. 

Cerise gave the young girl an understanding nod. She had never been one for underage drinking either although, that was probably more to do with the fact that she had no friends outside of the music sphere and they were all too busy practicing for their next recital to go out to late night parties. 

It really isn’t fair to the minors who are attending if I’m being honest. I feel like the people that do things like spiking drinks aren’t really that considerate. It’s one thing to have it at a party where there’s an unspoken rule that everyone is drinking but at a nice party like this? Nah, it’s not cool. 

the cool night air brushed against his sun-kissed skin. yet the chill of the winds did little to effect the shimada as he stood quietly just outside the concert hall. it was but another luxury night that was left for him to do as he pleased. thus music be the fruit of his entertainment. the melodic sounds that echo within the cotton hall were heavenly ; mind reeling back the music as he hummed in satisfactory.

he smiled lightly to himself, a rare sight especially seen among the outer walls of his living quarters. however, he could not hide the dripping emotions of happiness that flourish within his heart. music was divinity at its highest & for moral to bath in it was a blessing.

@celliist ❱❱ sc.

It was getting late, something in the back of her mind whispered, but her movements did not still. If anything she began to put even more of herself as she transitioned into her next piece, letting the memories wash over her, seeping into every crack and crevice of her armour. 

Warm holiday nights filtered through closed eyelids, memories of fireplaces and hot cocoa followed by drives to see the winter lights. The bow dragged across the strings, as faint images of children attempting to skate on a frozen pond began to appear - they’re bodies never hurt from the falls as they were so bundled up in padded winter coats and pants. 

The music trailed off, the song finished, but Cerise did not move on to her final piece. Instead she remained still, eyes closed, drinking in the fading image of her family, a warm smile affixed to her face. 

@celliist

“Oh! Is that a cello?” Brown hair bobbed as he pointed to the instrument case slung across the girl’s back. Considering the state of the thing, it appeared to have had its days of use. Meaning she was well practiced in playing the instrument within. His smile widened after a moment of pensive thinking.

“You know, I once worked as a pianist at this bar. Classy joint. Mostly played Debussy. And though that was quite a while ago and I am a bit rusty, I was thinking maybe a good session would help stretch out the fingers. A piece for the cello and piano… Maybe Beau soir?”

Blinking in bemused shock, Cerise was doing a rather accurate impression of a startled owl, minus of course the wings and the talons and the deep desire to consume mice. She nodded slowly to his first question until her mind finally caught up with the rest of his words. Her eyes lit up and suddenly her nodding became much more enthusiastic. Fingers flew over her ever present phone and it wasn’t even a minute before she was holding it out for him to read. 

« @celliist​​

“Stars!” the android exclaimed, her eyes wide as she scanned an array string instruments and accessories shelved before her. Despite intentionally entering a music shop, she wasn’t expecting physical means of music to sit on display. The string family particularly intrigued her and so she stepped closer to a double bass, her hand reaching forward to stroke the wooden edges with reverence.  “What is this? I haven’t seen anything like it!”

“Actually, I’ve never seen an instrument that’s not digital… How do people play these?” she asked with furrowed brows after turning to the nearest patron, a woman she hardly noticed beforehand.

Fingers brushed over sun-warmed wood and she breathed deep, the smell unique to every music shop filling her senses. Cerise only needed new strings for her cello but she couldn’t help but admire the new cellos on the stands and if her fingers lingered a little longer over the violins, well it wasn’t like anyone would judge her. A deep longing swept over her for the simplicity of her early years, where all she had to worry about was learning the newest scale on her tiny violin.

“Oh..!” He read the message from her phone and looked embarrassed. “I’m really sorry about this but it’s my first time as a duel idol and in this city.” Yugi rambled slightly. The boy was still embarrassed. “I didn’t know if I can be qualified as a legit duel idol really.”

To run into a cellist was cool, Yugi can appreciate fine music. Clearly recognizing the girl can’t speak, he decided not to be rude about this. His friend, Shizuka has eye sight problems but was healed by Jonouchi with the prize money. He can understand people like them. He didn’t use his fame to flaunt people and doesn’t use it for public uses.

Yugi still shied away from public even now.

“But, a cellist? You must be gifted. Do you know a music piece you can play by heart?” Yugi’s curiosity has gotten the better of him. “I’d love to hear it someday if you’re not busy.”

As the blond rambled, Cerise gave him an encouraging smile - most people were taken aback the first time she presented them with her phone but they always adjusted in the end. It just takes them a couple minutes. She cocked her head slightly, confusion dusted across her features as she tried to figure out what exactly a duel idol was. 

The idol part was easy, especially considering what she’d stumbled upon him doing - it was the duel part that had thrown her. Perhaps it was more of a performing role, using swords and shields? Or maybe they started out back to back, walked ten paces and then shot each other with blanks all while singing? Honestly, it all sounded like an elaborate broadway show but minus the crazy expensive tickets and annoying foreigners. Fingers flew over her phone screen as she tapped out what was hopefully a comprehensible response. 

Okay but first, what exactly is a duel idol? Because all I’m imagining right now is sword fighting while you sing really dramatically and somehow I feel I’ve gotten the wrong idea here. 

I’ve gotten all my pieces memorised - I can’t stand having to flip through pages while I’m in the middle of performing. So unnecessary. Ugh. But my favourite piece to play has to be Bach’s Cello Suite 1. It’s so much fun and such a fun lilting melody and I just really like it so much!!!