Hacking #08: Memories

[technologic]

Characters: April and anyone else!
Setting: Floor 28, Floor 100 and Dorm Room 2-04 (Locked to Aleph).
Format: Brackets to start with, but I can match you!
Summary: In which April practices music and then later gets hit with a bad cause of homesickness.

[Floor 28]
[April has recently started to teach herself how to play the piano, and today she can be found in the music room practising. She... isn't really that good though, and judging by how she winces everytime she messes up, she seems very aware of this fact. But hey, at least she's trying!

And at least she's using a book to help her, even if she does keep messing up often.]

[Floor 100]
[April tended to avoid this floor. The moment she saw the scenery, she walked right through this floor. But today she had stopped, now looking at the sight of a big, old, decaying building within a ruined city. She didn't really know why... Maybe she missed home, and just wanted to see it, even if it was only a hologram.

… She didn't realize she missed home this much, and she can't help the wince when her hand goes through the wall of the fake building.]

[Dorm Room 2-04. Locked to Aleph.]
[Aleph had said that she could talk to him anytime, right? So why was she so nervous about knocking on his room door? Every time she tried to knock, she would pull back before moving to leave and then convincing herself that she should talk to him, even if she's nervous about it. It takes a few repeats of this cycle before she gathers up the nerve to shakily knock on his door.]

Comments

2-04

[alephbet]

[Aleph is quick to open the door, before she can decide it was a bad idea.]

Hi, April.

[technologic]

[April almost jumps in surprise when he opens the door, and she looks... well, very anxious about something.]

Um, h-hi... Is... Would it be o-okay if I talked to you for a w-while?

[alephbet]

Of course. Come in, my roommates are away at the moment.

[technologic]

[She shakily nods and walks into the room, glancing around for a second.] Um, w-where should I sit?

[alephbet]

Anywhere. Pick a bed, any bed.

[technologic]

[Just gonna sit on a random bed then, and she fidgets with her hands before glancing up at him.] Ah... S-sorry, for, um, bothering you like this, but, u-um...

[Ugh feelings are hard.]

[alephbet]

You're not bothering me at all.

[Waiting patiently.]

[technologic]

I... I went to floor 100 earlier and it... it got me thinking about stuff. And, um... We c-can be honest with each other, right?

[alephbet]

Of course we can.

[He assumes this topic is full of sad feelings.]

floor 28

[fuhgeddaboudit]

[There is a robot girl not so much spying on you as she is watching in fascination.]

[Intently.]

[So intently as to almost be creepy.]

[technologic]

[Welp.

April continues with the crappy piano playing for a few more moments, before she slowly turns to blink at the robot girl.]

Um... I-is there something wrong?

[fuhgeddaboudit]

Oh--no, sorry.

[Labrys shook her head quickly, trying not to stare more than she already had been.]

I didn't mean t' freak ya out or nothin'.

[technologic]

Ah, it's all right, you didn't. [April shakes her head with a quick, reassuring smile.]

Did you want to go on the piano next?

[fuhgeddaboudit]

Nah, don't rush yourself 'cause a' me or nothin'. Would ya mind if I looked at that book, though?

[technologic]

The book? Nah, I don't mind at all, here. [Just gonna offer the book to her.]

[fuhgeddaboudit]

Thanks a lot. [She took it and sat down on a chair nearby, carefully scanning through it.]

[technologic]

[She blinks at Labrys, and tilts her head.] ... Did you want to learn how to play it?

28

[oforder]

[ Liking the piano sort of came with the territory of being as well-cultured as Wilhelm is. Naturally, someone who enjoys opera and orchestral music enjoys the piano, as well, and since it's April who is playing, he was only too happy to come listen to her. He was in the far corner of the room, and has yet to even announce his presence. Who knows how long he'd been there.

He couldn't recognize the song she was playing - or, well, trying to play - but listening to her try was amusing enough as it is. But after she messed up yet again, he finally decided to speak up. ]

Perhaps you should find a mentor.

[technologic]

[There's a very inelegant 'CLANG' sound when he speaks up, and April turns to look at him in surprise. Looks like she hadn't even noticed he was there, and she huffs in faint embarrassment.]

... I don't know anyone here who plays the piano. And I would feel silly asking over the network.

[oforder]

It would not be difficult to find one.

[ Wilhelm might have played eons ago, and he hadn't forgotten. But he lacks the luxury of the time to dedicate to teaching her how to play the piano, otherwise he might consider it.

Tracking and archiving the events of the Tower is a very demanding job, after all. ]

If, of course, you were willing to look.

[technologic]

[April turns in her seat so that she can face him properly, still frowning a bit.]

Of course I would be willing to look. I just... Don't know how to go about it.

[oforder]

Simply inquire about music. Be vague.

[ You know, like how he does. ]

[technologic]

[Stares at him for a moment.] I'm not you, Wilhelm. I've never been too good at the whole 'being vague' thing.

[oforder]

[ He stares back for a few seconds. It's... not that hard. ]

Very well. [ Does he need to give chessmaster lessons? ] Though finding someone to teach you would not be difficult.

[technologic]

[The day April manages to pull off being vague will be an odd day indeed.]

... Guess that's true. Heck, i'll probably be able to find a mentor just by hanging around here, though I should ask around.