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Starter Call | @melodyofapiano

Despite how curious the White Cloak was, it still kept a fair distance from all the humans walking about— or at least, it tried to. There were so many of them, it was difficult to keep your distance from every one of them at all times. It kept its long scarf coiled around it most of the time, lest it be trampled or torn while they walked about, eavesdropping. Learning.

But for the most part, it didn’t gleam a single bit of useful information…though it could understand what people were saying, it could not understand what they were talking about. But they did catch a peculiar voice, one that stood out from the rest, a more musical one. Different from theirs, but it was still a step in the right direction.

The White Cloak hunted down the source of that voice easily, gliding through the air and landing directly in front of the owner of the musical voice. Their expression, though hard to read sometimes, was clearly filled with something akin to excitement. They let out a chirp: You sound like me. But you are not like me.

To say the Spirit was started was a bit of an understatement as some notes came from her. She hadn’t exactly felt like staying home that day and decided it was best to wonder about and keep her mind off a few things when suddenly a person, if that is what they were, in a gold and white cloak dropped down before her.

When they let out a chirp similar to a musical instrument, the Spirit’s eyes widen a fraction before a smile grew on her face. It wasn’t any she could place a finger on right off the top of her head, but is was similar, or as they said, ‘like’ them. Since she could understand them, maybe, they could understand her?

 ♪ ♩ ♫ ♬ - You are correct I am not, I am a piano. Who might you be?

Perhaps he could see the sorrow in her eyes, one of regret for letting himself to get involved in some sort of personal matter. Or maybe there was something more. Still, with a gentle grasp, the assassin slowly began to lead the young woman, keeping her safe under his umbrella.

“Please, you don’t have to worry… I’ve got you now, Miss Piano…”

His words were confident, though held a hint of apprehension. Not for himself, but for this young woman. Something had clearly made her upset. Something that he was hoping could easily be dealt with. But his inability to understand what she was saying would only make things more of an issue for him.

All she could do was give him a small nod that she heard him as she followed alongside Shalem. Believing the words where another story though. How could she not worry? She was the only one like her here, or least the only ‘living’ piano. If one could call it living. It just made more questions spin around her head that she actively avoided. 

It was a saddening scene, one enough to tug at the heart string’s of the otherwise stone cold assassin. She looked so pitiful in such a state, the happiness that seemed to fill her face when he had last seen her seemingly gone.

Without a word, the assassin slowly extended a hand out for the young woman, hovering his umbrella over her to protect her from the harsh rain. Though he knew it would mean his own suit would become soiled by the falling droplets, it mattered little in his desire to help out.

“… Come… we should head inside. My penthouse is nearby, you can stay there until this rain goes away.”

It took her a moment to gain the courage to look at Shalem as he gently spoke to her. She hated how she couldn’t stop the falling tears, or the odd noises coming from her, or the factor she couldn’t stop the shaking. The sight of him getting rained one was enough to bring her back to her sense for a moment though.

♫ ♬

@melodyofapiano

It had been a rather long day, having spent some time fitting himself for a new suit. Knowing that his clothes had started to show its age, Shalem was certain he’d make sure he have a collection for the next season.

Yet as he had noticed it starting to rain, Shalem decided it would have been best to return back to his penthouse for the time being. With an umbrella to keep him safe, the assassin began his trip home… only to suddenly stumble into a familiar face.

“… Miss Piano? What are you doing here? Don’t you have an umbrella?”

At some point, the Spirit had lost all the things she had bought, just walking around aimlessly as  she kept walking about the Sector. Any care she had for anything was gone at the moment, for all she knew was she felt alone. She was the only one like her here. The other pianos didn’t have a voice, nothing. She couldn’t understand it, not one bit. She was about to move passed the person before her when they called out to her suddenly.

Oh…oh, that’s right. He lightly slaps at his own forehead, shaking his head.

“Ah, you’ve got me there. Staring at strangers, then. Oh, if you worked at a bar then that answers my question.”

The Spirit let out another ‘chuckle’ before nodding her head a bit.

“Lot of downtime at certain hours. So found various ways to kill time.”

Shyarly let out a low hum of approval once she caught on to what the Piano was doing with all the random objects. As they were laid out in front of her, Shyarly would straighten them into a line. “How inventive. This should work nicely.” She pulled herself up onto her chest to get into a better position for practice.

“Hehe, my little teacher.” The Piano was being so cute and dilligent with this whole setup, making it feel much more professional then tapping sticks and rocks on the ground. “Can I get a preview of the song I’ll be learning, Miss Piano?”

The Spirit sat there for a moment tapping a finger to her chin. Just what did she wish to teach her. Without an actually piano before her it was a bit harder to gauge her skill with it since the Spirit herself would be filling the tunes, but she didn’t want to start out too easy if she had some knowledge with it beforehand.

They walk in silence. Once at the cafe, he asks one of the workers there for a towel. The towel is handed to him and then he hands it to the Piano, “here. they’re not supposed to get wet, right? I heard about that somewhere.” Being a child who read a lot, he wasn’t sure if it was a true thing about piano getting wet being a bad thing or not. There’s a lot of information on books but some are not entirely true. Huh.

The Spirit took the towel from his hand while placing the handkerchief in its place. She blinked at the question before letting out a small ‘chuckle’ before giving him a small nod. It was true that water was bad for them, but she isn’t exactly in that form now was she? Taking the bows out of her hair, she slowly began to dry off her hair before drying off some parts of her clothes before getting some paper and a pencil from the workers.

@melodyofapiano

“Picking your nose is so cool, right?” Pearl asks, finger jammed up her nostril. She can’t make eye contact.

Maybe death really is a better fate than this.

The sudden question made her turn her head towards the person before blinking at them in a bit of surprise and letting out a small startled note. Not at the question though, the color of the person. She was used to such actions from the kids but in all her time being here, never had she seen someone with such hue.

“I see,” Shirou muttered, eyes following the curls of her writing. He wondered if others had the same problem - the ever distant stranger, living in the bedroom across the hall but never seen. How uncomfortable. “Then, I hope I’m more constant than your last roommates, at least.” If his sentiments weren’t clear, he hoped his smile was.

“You may be unable to speak, but your voice is lovely, regardless. It may be presumptuous of me, but are you a spirit, Miss Piano? I am somewhat curious, admittedly.” Gently, he wiggled his hands, noncommittal. “You need not answer, if you don’t want. It’s interest, nothing more.” Well, just a little more than interest. Not that he’d say it aloud, of course.

She smiled at the first half of his words. It was a touching idea, to actually get the know least one of the people she had to share a living space together, but  she didn’t place too much on it, due to the place feeling off to her, she usually found herself out of the apartment, but maybe he’d make it better? There was no way to know for sure.

“Thank you.”

 She stopped short on how to reply to his question as she tilted her head. It wasn’t really something she’s questioned before being here.

 “I believe? I have not given it thought. I have just been there?” 

ppl keep telling me we started something and i’m ?!WHAT DID I DO…))

“Yes, trains are perfectly fine with me. Although it’s been a while since I took one.”

Well, he was more the type for carriages himself, but trains could be relaxing in their own way. Little does he know, these aren’t the steam trains he’s used to.

“Do lead the way, miss.” 

The usual, charming smile was given as he spoke, before he allowed himself to walk closer to the female in front of him.

She tried to see if she could judge based on his looks if he was from an older time period like her, but she knew better then to use that as a for sure way to tell. Maybe he would be used to the ones they had here. With a small and a nod, she turned and led the way. It wasn’t too far of a walk to the station but with a quick look at the time, had a few minutes before it arrived.

“It takes 30 minutes to get to each Sector, and we’re in Sector 5 now, so it can take up to two hours. If you have any question about the city, I can see what I can answer or help figure out for you.”

 Being raised in a place where he had to keep moving from one place to another, Klause never did get the chance to play any instruments. He doesn’t have talent for music. Just sword. However, he knows an instrument when he sees one. The thing she just played was a piano. He smiles and nods, “Piano. nice to meet you.” She stands and he stands. “Ah….I’m okay. I don’t catch colds.” He hasn’t caught one in awhile at least. Before she can get any more wet, he’s moving so now she’s also underneath the umbrella. Sharing is caring, that’s what he learned, “Piano…There’s a cafe nearby. Let’s go there and get you dried up.” 

There was a small bit of her that was relieved he understood what she meant, but it made her mind go back to the whole reason for this ordeal to being with. The Spirit wrapped her arms around herself a bit, back slightly hunched over as she tried to look as small as she could without having to sit again. Weather he was saying that so she wouldn’t worry, or was being truthful, she wasn’t sure if she could get one either, but she wasn’t in the mood to try and figure out. With a small glance his way, she gave him a small nod she was willing to go, making sure to stay close to him so he didn’t get too wet as well.

Was that… A music note that left her lips just now? That’s weird, he had to admit but he has seen far stranger. Although none of it was this human like.

“The living quarters of Sector 2 would be the place I am hoping to reach. I’m apparently assigned to live there." 

He spoke as he read what the girl wrote in her notebook. Was she incapable of speech? Well, that was kind of interesting actually. He’ll really try to take note of that.

She tried not to scrunch her nose too much at the mention of Sector 2. It was a Sector she didn’t like to visit too much due to its foggy skies, constant noise and smell.

“Certainly, I can help guide you there. The best way is by a train, if you are okay with that?”

It was clear to her he was new here, now if they had trains in his world or if he’s ever been on one was another story.

“If so follow me please.”

That was a peculiar looking girl, if he didn’t know better, Vincent would have called her a Chain, but he refrained from doing so. He figured by now that there were many people and creatures in the city so the odds were less than unlikely.

He still took a few moments to look at the monochrome young lady, but that was when he noticed her eyes meet his. Oh boy this was gonna be awkward.

Quick, think of an excuse for staring! He can do that much.

“Uhm.. Excuse me, I was wondering if you could help me with directions?”

@melodyofapiano

The Spirit tried not to giggle at the man before her as she could only guess he was staring at her due to her appearance. That was okay, it was something she was growing used to her, and it seemed to help start conversation for her on her end.

She tilted her head a bit as he quickly blurted out a question towards her, letting a soft smile appear on her face as she let out a note to say yes before pulling out her notebook.