005 * Music Room

[servessithis]

Characters: Vicente and You
Setting: Music Room
Format: Prose (but will follow you)
Summary: Vicente takes up a new hobby.
Warnings: None so far. Subject to change.


Vicente sat at the piano, eyes darting from the sheet music to the keys. The vampire knew how to read music, but hadn't touched an instrument in many decades. Learning to play this instrument was just one more thing to keep him busy. In his lap was a book on piano playing, borrowed from the library. He played a simple tune, getting the basics down.

The vampire had recovered from his encounter with the monster, having since fed. He still had some bandages on under his clothes, but his wounds were healing. He was also planning another nightly trip so he could acquire a weapon. Even a letter opener would do.

Comments

[thelordsage]

Someone was watching and listening to the piano playing, humming softly to himself.

"You're not off to a bad start," Sephiran said.

[servessithis]

Vicente didn't look up from his playing. "This instrument does not exist in my world," He said. The lute and flute in particular were popular instruments in his world, especially up in Skyrim, the last time he ventured up there.

[thelordsage]

"Is that so?" Sephiran said. "For someone who's had no experience with the piano, you're off to a good start. I haven't really played it myself, but I know what good playing sounds like."

[servessithis]

"Reading the notes and learning the keys are simple enough," The vampire said, tapping the book and sheet music.

[thelordsage]

"I see," Sephiran said. "I am more of a singer myself, so I know how to read music. It's lining it up with the keys that's a little more difficult."

[servessithis]

"I am nothing if not patient and willing to learn," Vicente said. One had to learn patience when he was ageless and needed to find ways to keep from getting bored.

[thelordsage]

"Patience is indeed a virtue, especially when you have time on your hands," Sephiran said. "Though sometimes, events in the tower like to cut in on this time."

[mineralgirl]

Jasmine, after practicing a bit with her Pokemon on the meadow floor, had decided to explore a bit further, even though she was always a bit wary when it came to the Tower environment. As usual, Magnemite followed her, floating around her head and peeking into any rooms they came across. However, when she wandered into the music room and saw someone playing a piano. She enjoyed the music and politely stayed a few feet away, not trying to bother the other person or draw too much attention to herself. It could be so awkward bothering busy people sometimes..but, sadly, Magnemite didn't feel the same way, and the tiny Pokemon floated near Vicente, curious about the music and the musician, even though Jasmine quietly motioned for the Pokemon to come back before the man was bothered.

Oh..hopefully he wouldn't notice Magnemite or be bothered by them!

[servessithis]

Vicente paused in his playing when he heard a faint humming noise nearby. The vampire turned and his eyes briefly widened when he saw the thing. It was creature of metal, and completely unlike any of the sentient machines he'd met in the tower. This looked more like a cobbled-together thing with one large eye.

"Very peculiar," He mused.

[mineralgirl]

Oh..so he had turned around..and noticed. She had..better explain herself and Magnemite, or something bad might happen.

"Ah..um..he's..not harmful though. Magnemite..he's a good friend of mine, you see! I'm..sorry..we both bothered you though.."

[servessithis]

Vicente continued to observe the creature, until the girl approached and he turned his attention to her. "Did you construct this?" He asked, pointing to it.

[mineralgirl]

While Jasmine was still nervous and flustered about this whole ordeal, she tried to keep it together and just shook her head as she replied.

"Um..no..I didn't. Magnemite is a Pokemon..they're natural creatures..where I come from.."

[servessithis]

"I do not know what a 'pokemon' is, but are you telling me that this thing was simply born?" Vicente asked. He didn't see how that was possible. Even the machines guarding dwemer ruins were built.

[mineralgirl]

"I..know it sounds a bit odd..but yes, that's..that's what I'm saying. And Pokemon are..um..creatures with special and unique powers in my world. They..probably don't exist in yours..so..that's why you don't know of them."

As Jasmine spoke, Magnemite, feeling bored, circled around the new person, trying to size him up.

[servessithis]

"How strange," Vicente said, watching the creature. "And fascinating. Are all Pokemon like this one? Creatures made of metal and magnets?"

[mineralgirl]

"No..Skarmory is..a bird made of metal..and I can't show you Steelix here..but he's a large, snake-like Pokemon made of steel and..Amphy isn't here, but..she's an electric Pokemon that's yellow and black..and about as tall as me. I..have a lot of Steel Pokemon since that's my type. They are strong, you know."

[servessithis]

"Creatures made of steel that were not man-made," Vicente mused. Most interesting. As far as he knew, the library contained no books on these Pokemon creatures. "How many other 'types' are there?"

[mineralgirl]

"Other than Steel..there's Normal, Fire, Water, Bug, Dark, Electric, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Psychic, Poison, Ground, Flying, Rock, Ghost, and Dragon..Steel is a recently discovered type, and..Pokemon can also be a mixture of..two types."

[servessithis]

"I see," Vicente replied. "And how did you obtain this creature?" He pointed at Magnemite.

[mineralgirl]

"Oh..I caught him..when I was out adventuring, when..I was a bit younger. He's..my friend."

[servessithis]

"You tamed it, you mean?" Vicente asked. "You must be quite skilled to have done that."

[mineralgirl]

"I..did that too..but I also caught him. Wild Pokemon..have to be caught with Pokeballs..but it did take me awhile to..catch and tame him.."

[servessithis]

"Pokeball?" Vicente asked. "Ahem, it takes dedication to train a wild creature of any kind." He remembered when the Sanctuary pet, Schemer, had finally been broken in. The vampire had yet to meet anyone able to tame anything bigger than giant rat.

[mineralgirl]

If that was the case, then Vicente would be really surprised if he ever saw Steelix, since he was about the size of a two-story house. But..Jasmine smiled a little and nodded at that. Magnemite, meanwhile, grew bored and sat on the piano, watching them.

"Ah..the object that you store..a Pokemon in after..you catch them. But it does take a lot of dedication..and love to train them."

[blackestomen]

Perhaps by now she should have known better, to let the sounds of music draw her further in to this room. It didn't always mean that someone was there and playing. The instruments simply started by themselves, which was eerie and unsettling. But this music was... barely music at all. It seemed uncertain. Unpracticed. That was interesting.

Her footfalls are soft as she approaches Vicente at his piano. And she lingers nearby and simply listens, until the music ceases for a few moments.

"I suppose learning to play an instrument is one way to pass the time in this prison."

[servessithis]

Vicente looks up at the newcomer. "Indeed," The vampire says, and goes back to practicing. "I have not touched an instrument since I was much younger." Which could have meant anything, since Vicente had not been young in a very, very long time.

[blackestomen]

"Things learned in our youth are often quickly returned to us, when practiced." She reached a hand out for the keyboard, a finger resting lightly upon one of the keys, but not hard enough to strike the hammer and make a sound. "Do you think you'll continue?"

[servessithis]

"Perhaps," Vicente replied. "It is something to do, and keep me busy during the daylight hours." And having something to do helped him think.

[blackestomen]

"Hm..." Daylight hours. And in the evenings? A thought came to her. "I wonder if instruments could be removed from here? I suspect they'd eventually vanish, but... well."

She laughs softly and gives her head a shake. "This place never ceases to provoke questions."

[servessithis]

"I have not tried," Vicente replied. "Nor would I have any reason to remove one from this room." Though he supposed that in the right hands, a flute could make for an impromptu weapon. He could think of at least ten ways to kill a man or beast with the drumming sticks.

[blackestomen]

"Removing one of these from this room would require far more effort than it would be worth, yes." She runs her hand back along the edge of the piano, then withdraws it, laughing.