Note: please be as cryptic as possible regarding any specific actions your character takes when discussing them in the game channel to avoid influencing everyone else!
[The guest room isn't too far away! Nothing is too far away. She leads him down a dark corridor, just like every corridor in this building, and helpfully explains-- this is the worship room, that's the children's play room, everyone wakes up at 5:30AM for worship so please join them tomorrow or the children will complain. And then they reach the stairs.
Unless he's extremely distracted by now, Shu will probably see... a light blue glow coming from what seems to be the basement.
[ he definitely sees that. As they're heading up the stairs: ]
Do you mind if I check on the children later? Is there an hour at which I should leave them and the rest of you be? I awoke late today and do not wish to keep the rest of you up unduly.
You'd do that? The children always want to play, so it might be hard for you to get away if you do. They go to bed at 8, and lights are turned off at 9. You can turn yours off yourself, but don't let them see you're still awake if you stay up late.
[She opens a door. It's a very small room inside, but it has a window, a bed and a lamp.]
[ hm. he wants to investigate the blue light, but it might be better to do that when no one is likely to go fetch him for dinner. Checking the sky outside, about what time does it seem to be? ]
[4:30? 5? 5:30? Are you sure you can tell by the light when you're not familiar with this world? Facts are: it's not dark yet, the sun isn't as bright as when you first got here, and Selka is still not done preparing dinner.
However, since you're looking out the window, you can catch a glimpse of a group of people who, unlike everyone else, are wearing Imeeji clothes. You can't see clearly from here, but you have the feeling that you know them...]
[That's going to be tricky! When he comes out of the Church, they're gone and he won't find them. But at least there's other things to see, since he's looking for them.
The main square already has a stage set up with a group of musicians who are tuning their instruments and talking to each other. Tables are also set up, and people are bringing trays with meat skewers and leaving them there. Others are starting to gather and talk, sit on the chairs in the food area, and otherwise mingle. A big man seems to be overseeing everything, with arms crossed and looking satisfied with everything.
While Shu is looking at this, he'll catch a glimpse of someone in ☆zrael clothing passing by! But if/when he turns to look, the person is already gone, disappearing out of sight between the villagers.]
[ *go up to a musician, sorry about the bizarre typo. ]
Rather, I have a different sort of request. Would you mind vocal accompaniment? There's someone I'm looking for in the crowd, and this might be the best way to get attention. I promise you, I have talent.
Ah— I was called a Lost Child of Vecta. The majority of my memories have deserted me, but not my skills. I can read sheet music, I am certain, and if you play it once I may remember, and if I do not know it yet that one play-through will be enough that I will not forget.
[ He sounds really confident for someone who basically confessed he doesn't know if he'll know the music here at all. He's confident in his power as an idol ]
Wow, I'd never met a Lost Child of Vecta before. You can read sheet music? Maybe you used to be a musician! Wait, let me tell the others.
[She turns her back on him, quickly says something to the other musicians, and comes back with sheet music! but when you look at it, it's... well, this looks like it could be a melody, with figured bass, but that's not how accidentals are written! why are there six lines on this staff! the clef is on the wrong line!
The woman sees nothing wrong with it, though.]
We're starting with this one, people love it. It always gets everyone dancing.
[ nods and well, he might panic after this, but he certainly isn't going to declare his confusion now, even if this is not correct— not treble clef, nor alto nor tenor. If it is nothing he can read, he will entrust himself to his ears and his mind.
Furthermore, it's a point of pride he has in himself as a performer, as an idol— it would be unseemly to declare his defeat now, after having conveyed himself as competent to these people. They had allowed him and only him to join their ensemble, and he would not be so cruel as to dash their hopes. Surely, when he hears their melody, these notes will arrange to what he hears and somehow, he will be able to make sense of this world and the music presented before him. He may not be here much longer, but he will remain in their memories— he may pardon a private failure, but he has no intention of doing so if he will remain in their minds as one. Failure is not allowed upon this stage, or any other. He will manage this, on his own power. ]
Thank you for having faith in me. I will, rest assured, not let you down!
[As soon as he says that, a flash of light that comes from the sheet music engulfs everything in sight-- when it recedes, Shu finds himself watching a different scene. It's night-time at the square--
“And now, outside of the original plan, we have a duel between Zink, our head man-at-arms, and the carver…er, the swordsman Eugeo! You are not to lower your opponent’s life through direct strikes. Is that understood?!”
Zink, a young man about Sol's age loudly draws his sword from his waist, and, a bit later, Sol reluctantly draws his. His sword is blue and beautiful, and it's easy to tell it's not a normal weapon. In fact, the villagers gasp.
Zink seems to be overwhelmed by the aura of the sword. His head tilts back briefly before he regains his posture. With an even more hateful glare than before, the young guard jabs a finger at Sol and says “Does that sword really belong to you, Eugeo?! If it’s borrowed, I have the right to force you to use a different—”
Sol interrupts with righteous fury. “I got this sword in the northern cave, so it belongs to me now!”
The crowd murmurs, and Zink seems to be at a loss for words. But he doesn't push the issue any further. He spits into his palms and holds his sword up high. Sol, meanwhile, holds his blade perfectly still at eye level, draws his left side back, and crouches.
The villagers watch in silence as the big man Shu saw overseeing the preparations raises his hand high, then brings it down as he commands, “Begin!”
“Raaaah!!”
Zink is the first to charge. He bellows and races forward to deliver a vertical slice from overhead.
But then, his sword changes directions in midair, and he goes from an overhead swing down to a sideways swipe from the right.
“Y-yaaaah!!”
The shout is rather inferior to Zink’s, but Sol expertly sets his sword at the right shoulder. The blade glows deep blue. He makes one earth-shaking stomp and slices at a sharp forty-five-degree arc. Sol’s attack, which comes out a single pulse later, shoots forward with lightning speed, striking Zink’s sideways swing from above. The guard's steel blade shatters miserably.
The villagers marvel and applaud the flashy and unexpected conclusion. Zink and a man who seems to be his father retreat in stunned disbelief, and the music starts up again.
There is another flash of light-- and now Shu will find himself back in the main square, where he was. Except now, the light of day is gone! The main square is extremely crowded, and everyone is chanting something-- it seems to be a prayer.
The fiddler is gesturing wildly at Shu to get up onstage, even as she prays.]
Imagination: When he looks down at the sheet music again, Shu will find that everything arranges itself in front of his eyes so that it makes sense for him, and he can hear the music in his head, as well as the lyrics, when he looks at the paper! It's an uptempo folk song about the Stacia, the Goddess of Life, with witty references to the Taboo Index. Every repetition ends with the same lyrics, something about the greatest blessing being that of rest days because then people can drink and dance all night "and that is Life for me!" It's that sort of song, it might belong in a tavern but even the witty parts are absolutely innocent in their intent.
Shu will be able to sing this song perfectly and even if he changes the words, everyone will love it (as long as he doesn't contradict the Taboo Index), because I once again botched the roll to make things hard for people. Nadeko is bad.
[ Hopefully those flowers aren't anything important, because Shu is utterly decimating them.
He doesn't shake his head to clear his mind of the vision, lest the fiddler think he is refusing the request to go on stage. He strides out to go to sing with a rush of nervous energy— despite his bravado— that he doesn't show. It spring-boards his determination that he should not fail, that he is able to shove aside his nerves and prove they are wrong and for nothing, and have no business existing here in his head. No matter how long it has been since he has stepped on stage.
It is not his sort of song, but he believes the fiddler that the people love it. Living constrained lives, how could they not value the only time not scripted out for them— though their rest is scripted too. Still, he will not trample their joy.
He does make one small alteration to the lyrics though— what a Life it can be! is substituted in. He can't bring himself to profess that it is life for him, even if he is only singing. But even so, because he is an idol and a performer, not just a singer, he does dance along. ]
[Couples had already started dancing when they heard the first few measures and recognized the song, but now even those who usually ignore the music to speak loudly over it are clapping to it. All eyes are on Shu, and watching him with enthusiasm and awe.
Has this become... a concert?! The audience is going wild, cheering and singing along after the first two verses. What a Life it can be! This is clearly the better version! The children who are there are even trying to copy Shu's steps! He's halfway through the song by now, and he can feel the weight of everyone's expectations...
Imagination: You can't make your nerves go away, but hopefully the enthusiastic reaction of his audience will help you get through this...
You feel extremely tired. Your reflexes are down. Your pitch is harder to control.
[ He will not fail here, regardless of the abuse his body suffers through. He is an idol— Tenshouin could not break him of that, and he will not allow a temporary lapse in activities to hold him down. Fear if fuel to propel him past his past— the thudding of his heart in his chest if excited, if afraid, is the same speeding of his heart. It is the same adrenaline, his voice is the same exalted voice it has always been— to walk on stage and to feel no stirring in his breast would be the true death of the artist.
The audience, after all, loves it. It's different than the awed silence of the audience he recalls with Valkyrie, intimidated and hushed until they broke out raucous at the end. They are responding to him now, children grinning and dancing while people cheer. It has been too long, "lives" and "games" paltry performances that impart only pain— this is a performance to drain venom from wounds, to instill them with energy. If he is tired, so be it. Afterwards, he can rest, pass out if need be, but he would not inflict this upon souls who love music and are yearning to be free— in this moment, he will use his voice to carry them what he can of heaven. If his steps falter near the end, if he must stop and hold a pose, he will accept necessity so long as his voice can ring out, solid and true. Sacrificing his own vitality is a small price to pay. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ He gets up and follows her ]
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Unless he's extremely distracted by now, Shu will probably see... a light blue glow coming from what seems to be the basement.
She's leading him upstairs, though.]
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Do you mind if I check on the children later? Is there an hour at which I should leave them and the rest of you be? I awoke late today and do not wish to keep the rest of you up unduly.
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[She opens a door. It's a very small room inside, but it has a window, a bed and a lamp.]
This is the guest room.
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[ Entering the guest room, and nodding his thanks to her. ]
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I'll leave you to rest. If you need something else, I'll be in the kitchen.
[she closes the door softly, and leaves]
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However, since you're looking out the window, you can catch a glimpse of a group of people who, unlike everyone else, are wearing Imeeji clothes. You can't see clearly from here, but you have the feeling that you know them...]
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Imeeji clothes, hm? Can he tell the color from here? ]
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Exits the guest room to the children's playroom ]
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The playroom is empty right now! The children are elsewhere. Does he go in?]
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The main square already has a stage set up with a group of musicians who are tuning their instruments and talking to each other. Tables are also set up, and people are bringing trays with meat skewers and leaving them there. Others are starting to gather and talk, sit on the chairs in the food area, and otherwise mingle. A big man seems to be overseeing everything, with arms crossed and looking satisfied with everything.
While Shu is looking at this, he'll catch a glimpse of someone in ☆zrael clothing passing by! But if/when he turns to look, the person is already gone, disappearing out of sight between the villagers.]
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Hey. We're not taking requests until later!
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Rather, I have a different sort of request. Would you mind vocal accompaniment? There's someone I'm looking for in the crowd, and this might be the best way to get attention. I promise you, I have talent.
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Sure, sure! But just one, okay? Otherwise we'll get flooded with drunken "singers" later! What songs do you know?
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[ He sounds really confident for someone who basically confessed he doesn't know if he'll know the music here at all. He's confident in his power as an idol ]
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[She turns her back on him, quickly says something to the other musicians, and comes back with sheet music! but when you look at it, it's... well, this looks like it could be a melody, with figured bass, but that's not how accidentals are written! why are there six lines on this staff! the clef is on the wrong line!
The woman sees nothing wrong with it, though.]
We're starting with this one, people love it. It always gets everyone dancing.
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Furthermore, it's a point of pride he has in himself as a performer, as an idol— it would be unseemly to declare his defeat now, after having conveyed himself as competent to these people. They had allowed him and only him to join their ensemble, and he would not be so cruel as to dash their hopes. Surely, when he hears their melody, these notes will arrange to what he hears and somehow, he will be able to make sense of this world and the music presented before him. He may not be here much longer, but he will remain in their memories— he may pardon a private failure, but he has no intention of doing so if he will remain in their minds as one. Failure is not allowed upon this stage, or any other. He will manage this, on his own power. ]
Thank you for having faith in me. I will, rest assured, not let you down!
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“And now, outside of the original plan, we have a duel between Zink, our head man-at-arms, and the carver…er, the swordsman Eugeo! You are not to lower your opponent’s life through direct strikes. Is that understood?!”
Zink, a young man about Sol's age loudly draws his sword from his waist, and, a bit later, Sol reluctantly draws his. His sword is blue and beautiful, and it's easy to tell it's not a normal weapon. In fact, the villagers gasp.
Zink seems to be overwhelmed by the aura of the sword. His head tilts back briefly before he regains his posture. With an even more hateful glare than before, the young guard jabs a finger at Sol and says “Does that sword really belong to you, Eugeo?! If it’s borrowed, I have the right to force you to use a different—”
Sol interrupts with righteous fury. “I got this sword in the northern cave, so it belongs to me now!”
The crowd murmurs, and Zink seems to be at a loss for words. But he doesn't push the issue any further. He spits into his palms and holds his sword up high. Sol, meanwhile, holds his blade perfectly still at eye level, draws his left side back, and crouches.
The villagers watch in silence as the big man Shu saw overseeing the preparations raises his hand high, then brings it down as he commands, “Begin!”
“Raaaah!!”
Zink is the first to charge. He bellows and races forward to deliver a vertical slice from overhead.
But then, his sword changes directions in midair, and he goes from an overhead swing down to a sideways swipe from the right.
“Y-yaaaah!!”
The shout is rather inferior to Zink’s, but Sol expertly sets his sword at the right shoulder. The blade glows deep blue. He makes one earth-shaking stomp and slices at a sharp forty-five-degree arc. Sol’s attack, which comes out a single pulse later, shoots forward with lightning speed, striking Zink’s sideways swing from above. The guard's steel blade shatters miserably.
The villagers marvel and applaud the flashy and unexpected conclusion. Zink and a man who seems to be his father retreat in stunned disbelief, and the music starts up again.
There is another flash of light-- and now Shu will find himself back in the main square, where he was. Except now, the light of day is gone! The main square is extremely crowded, and everyone is chanting something-- it seems to be a prayer.
The fiddler is gesturing wildly at Shu to get up onstage, even as she prays.]
Shu will be able to sing this song perfectly and even if he changes the words, everyone will love it (as long as he doesn't contradict the Taboo Index), because I once again botched the roll to make things hard for people. Nadeko is bad.
Every flower in the village disappears.
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Hopefully those flowers aren't anything important, because Shu is utterly decimating them.He doesn't shake his head to clear his mind of the vision, lest the fiddler think he is refusing the request to go on stage. He strides out to go to sing with a rush of nervous energy— despite his bravado— that he doesn't show. It spring-boards his determination that he should not fail, that he is able to shove aside his nerves and prove they are wrong and for nothing, and have no business existing here in his head. No matter how long it has been since he has stepped on stage.
It is not his sort of song, but he believes the fiddler that the people love it. Living constrained lives, how could they not value the only time not scripted out for them— though their rest is scripted too. Still, he will not trample their joy.
He does make one small alteration to the lyrics though— what a Life it can be! is substituted in. He can't bring himself to profess that it is life for him, even if he is only singing. But even so, because he is an idol and a performer, not just a singer, he does dance along. ]
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Has this become... a concert?! The audience is going wild, cheering and singing along after the first two verses. What a Life it can be! This is clearly the better version! The children who are there are even trying to copy Shu's steps! He's halfway through the song by now, and he can feel the weight of everyone's expectations...
You feel extremely tired.
Your reflexes are down.
Your pitch is harder to control.
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The audience, after all, loves it. It's different than the awed silence of the audience he recalls with Valkyrie, intimidated and hushed until they broke out raucous at the end. They are responding to him now, children grinning and dancing while people cheer. It has been too long, "lives" and "games" paltry performances that impart only pain— this is a performance to drain venom from wounds, to instill them with energy. If he is tired, so be it. Afterwards, he can rest, pass out if need be, but he would not inflict this upon souls who love music and are yearning to be free— in this moment, he will use his voice to carry them what he can of heaven. If his steps falter near the end, if he must stop and hold a pose, he will accept necessity so long as his voice can ring out, solid and true. Sacrificing his own vitality is a small price to pay. ]
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