Ω → seven

[oforder]

Characters: Wilhelm and Shiro... possibly Wretched Egg?
Setting: Libary.
Format: Prose.
Summary: Wilhelm makes good on a promise.
Warnings: Should be relatively innocent... unless Wretched Egg comes out.

White Day. Wilhelm almost never even paid the tradition dating back to Japan on Jerusalem any mind until now, until Valentine's Day came one month prior. Shiro gave him a present, and asked for one in return. Wilhelm may not be the nicest guy ever - depending on who you asked, anyway - but how could he say no to something that harmless? Besides... Shiro interested him. So did the Wretched Egg, for that matter, but for entirely different reasons.

He didn't need to remind Shiro where he'd be. As childish as she seemed on the surface, there was no way she'd forget something like being promised a present. If anything, she's smarter than she lets on.

He slowly reached into his desk, and withdraws a small, white hair-ribbon. Where he did he get it? He actually made it; it was made up of ripped fabric found in the infirmary - hey, they throw that stuff out all the time - and sewn into a hair tie. It wasn't big, or particularly fancy, but it was the best he could do given the materials. And Wilhelm wasn't much of a fashion designer.

She'd be here any minute. And he'd be more than happy to give her what he promised.

Comments

[oforder]

He'd have smiled were it possible for him to do so. But, well, it's Wilhelm. It was hard not to like Shiro. As she takes a seat next to him, Wilhelm notes her hesitation, but her question seemed innocent enough.

"I do."

[taintedwhite]

Maybe she'd earn a smile from him, one day. Even if it was Wilhelm. Because it was Shiro and she'd been close to achieving it more than once.

She looked up at him hopefully.

"Sing it to me?"

[oforder]

"I am afraid that I do not sing." Seriously, Shiro, you don't want to hear him even try. "But I can do this, for you."

He pivots in his seat, and reaches for his small phonograph. He turns the crank a few times, and places one of his records on it. This would begin playing.

"This is one of my favorite musical pieces. It was composed by a German man by the name of Richard Wagner. Have you heard of him?"

[taintedwhite]

Shiro looks disappointed at his first answer. Until he reaches for that small machine. She's seen him use it before. To play music. There's nothing like that where Shiro comes from. It looks a bit funny. But she likes it. She pays great attention to every move Wilhelm makes, so that she would be able to do it alone some time, if need be. When the music starts playing, she closes her eyes and after a bit, starts humming along. And she shakes her head 'no' at his question.

[oforder]

She seems to be enjoying herself, at least. He was impressed that she'd like the same kind of music he does; but then again, she was hardly a typical girl. "Do you like this?" he asks.

He rather enjoyed her company. She wasn't like the Wretched Egg, who only seemed to want to figure out his weakness.

[taintedwhite]

Shiro opens her eyes and nods at Wilhelm. "Shiro likes it. It's like so many voices singing together." She smiles. "And Shiro is happy Wilhelm is sharing his favorite music with Shiro."

He was right about Wretched Egg. And right about Shiro too. She was different for any girl he might have met before. And she enjoyed his company very much.

[oforder]

"It is called 'opera.' It's a very old style of music, even by my standards. It is as much a play as it is a concert." He takes a sip of his wine. "I would be happy to play it for you whenever you like."

[taintedwhite]

"O-pe-ra..." The way she pronounces it it sounds more like 'Opella' since the 'r' sound doesn't really exist in Japanese. She lets the foreign word roll onto her tongue a couple of times.

"Shiro would like that a lot. And Shiro can sing for Wilhelm too!"

[oforder]

Wilhelm seemed amused, in his own deadpan, unreadable way, at her trying to pronounce the word 'opera.' "Then we will. You may find me here at any time during the day."

At night, he's usually in his room. Wilhelm doesn't enjoy fighting - even if he is MORE than capable of dealing with most of the monsters here - and thus leaves the library during the night.

"What can you sing?"

[taintedwhite]

"Wilhelm spends all his days here? Wilhelm should go explore a bit. Shiro already knows a lot of floors in the Tower. Shiro could guide Wilhelm!"

Shiro ponders this for a moment. "Shiro knows lullabies. ...And TV theme songs."

[oforder]

"I would enjoy whatever it is you wish to perform for me, Shiro."

In other words, he has no preference. "I usually stay here."

[taintedwhite]

"...Wilhelm doesn't want to go explore, then?" Shiro looks a bit disappointed but she shrugs. She has other friends to go explore the Tower with. Even if she enjoys spending time with Wilhelm.

Shiro sits down on Wilhelm's desk next to the phonograph. And she starts singing this lullaby.

[oforder]

"I have seen more than enough of this Tower. I have work that requires me to stay here, though that does not mean I am opposed to spending time around you."

As she begins singing, Wilhelm turns the record off. He wanted to hear it. ... that was somewhat morbid, for a child's lullaby. And he couldn't help noticing that it was about a Woodpecker. Wretched Egg had mentioned a 'woodpecker' before. This lullaby had a double-meaning of some kind, though he doesn't quite know what it is.

"You have a natural talent."

[taintedwhite]

"Great!" This answer is enough to make Shiro happy.

When Shiro's done singing she beams at the compliment. "Wilhelm likes Shiro's voice? Shiro will sing for Wilhelm more often, then!"

[oforder]

"I do. And I am certain that I am not the only one who would."

She seems very happy. Good... very good. It's amazing how different Shiro and this 'Wretched Egg' are. Near polar opposites.

[taintedwhite]

"Other people would like to hear Shiro sing? What people?"

She is happy. She's not trying to hide it. Maybe it has to do with the fact that Shiro craves happiness the very same way Wretched Egg craves pain.

[oforder]

"I imagine anyone who would hear you sing." In other words... she should do it more often. And around more people than just him. He can see how happy she is, and, well... at least now Wretched Egg can't say he isn't keeping his promise to her.

[taintedwhite]

Shiro seems to hesitate. And eventually she stands up. "Shiro doesn't think she would like to sing for just anyone. Wilhelm thinks Shiro would make more friends if she did record a song for the people in the Tower to hear?"

No, Wretched Egg would agree he's been keeping his promise. So far.

[oforder]

"I don't see why not. Many people here like you. And you have a natural talent for singing." He tilts his head to the side. "And the ribbon looks very nice on you. Wouldn't you like others to see it?"

After all, all she seemed to want are friends. She could make several more very easily.

[taintedwhite]

Shiro grins as he mentions the ribbon again, and her fingers reach out for the little braid she's made in her hair. "Shiro would! When people see it, they'll know Wilhelm is Shiro's friend."

Yes, that was what she wanted. True friends that wouldn't leave her alone or forget about her.

[oforder]

"Yes. I am." Poor Shiro... if it wasn't for that dangerous split personality she appears to have, she'd almost certainly have everyone in the Tower fawning over how adorable she is. He didn't know everything about her, obviously, and it was doubtful that her power would be particularly useful in saving his own world, unlike Haruhi's clearly was. But that didn't mean he still couldn't be interested in her for other reasons.

"Have you told the others where you are? I don't want them to get worried."

[taintedwhite]

That confirmation earns him yet another hug. "Shiro is so happy!" But this one is shorter, though. And she doesn't even wait for him to return it.

"Wilhelm doesn't have to worry about that. No one ever worries about Shiro." But she doesn't sound sad about it at all. She's smiling and just saying this matter-of-factly.

[oforder]

The hug again somewhat takes him by surprise, but she pulls back before he has an opportunity to return it. "Nobody?" he asks, his tone only slightly curious. This is still Wilhelm; he's still painfully deadpan.

"What about 'Toto?' Or Tohko? Or 'Aceman?'"

[taintedwhite]

Shiro ponders this a moment. "Aceman always knows where Shiro is." As for Toto and Tohko... "Toto is never far. And Tohko is very busy." She shrugs. "But that's okay. Shiro is strong. Shiro can take care of herself."

[oforder]

So, Wretched Egg does remain conscious, even while Shiro is the personality that is manifesting itself. Good. He was curious about that. He kind of figured that about Toto, and as for Tohko... busy with what? Now he's curious.

"That is little comfort to those who care about you, and worry that you could get hurt." Of course he knows she's strong; and even if she did get hurt, it would take a lot to do anything permanent, or it would require her being on a floor where her powers didn't work. And even then, Wretched Egg would likely take over to protect Shiro. But... there's a bit of an ulterior motive at work, here.