17th Beat: AUDIO FOREVER

[audiens]

[NOT WATER SLOSHING /SUCH A REBEL!!!! ... no, okay, there is absolutely the sound of water in the backdrop. Also that of: the boat creaking, claws or nails scratching along a surface, skittering...]Hello? Right. It seems like we're not the only ones in this situatiuon, but I thought I should let the others know

Comments

action forever; ~~ !

[101st_job]

[Is actually squished a bit right next to him, but that doesn't matter at all, since. It's dark. And she actually prefers to have him near.

Going to pretend that her nails are not digging into her legs -- brave Exorcist, ohhhh yeah, totally brave!]

Mm? Oh-- it's nothing to apologize for!

action forever; ~~ !

[audiens]

[ At least they have since overcome the initial embarrassment of waking with his arm around her!

He tried to make more room for her, but is now pressed as much as possible against the side.]

No, but I can't help it.

Re: action forever; ~~ !

[101st_job]

...[Aren't those words so familiar.]

Are you...Are you comfortable? You're probably not comfortable, I'm sorry, I can try to move a bit...

[Budges a bit but--] Ah. No, sorry...

action forever; ~~!

[audiens]

[ Deja vu, perhaps, but with a different context.]

No, I'm fine, that's--

[She moves anyway, not that there's any place to go.]

Er, I could-- move to a seat in the back...

[101st_job]

Oh...uhm. I...I don't mind...

[Even if her shoulders are tense, there's a completely different reason to that.]

It's dark... It's...[And it's babbling time!] Well, I mean, it's probably mean to say this, but I'm not used to...not seeing, and...ahah, it's not as scary when you're--when someone is near me. Especially with the noises and the...uhm, the visions.

[audiens]

[It makes it worse, nearly; the way she babbles, all nerves. He can feel how tense she is beside him, so clearly he almost believes that he can hear the strum of her muscles held so tightly. But, he can hardly tell her to relax when he, too, sits stiffly, hands clamped firmly around his knees.]

That isn't mean, [kindly, quietly] it's logical. ... What can you see now?

[101st_job]

Now...[Visions of all sort, all the more disturbing.]

Oh, nothing...haha...nothing important.

[audiens]

[ Ah - maybe not the best plan of action. What he can hear isn't much better. But-- ]

Try closing your eyes.

[101st_job]

...uhm...okay...[She does that, trusting him blindly, pun unintended, because trusting him has only brought her good things.]

They're closed.

[audiens]

[ Noise can hear the water as it moves sluggishly down the tunnel, the groaning of the wood of their craft as it dips and sways. There are whistles, piercing and unnatural; scratching and skittering and warbling. No, that wouldn't help, but - he invocates Noel Organon, and begins to pluck out a tune.

It isn't as lovely as a proper instrument would have made it; poison to the akuma isn't necessarily art to people. It echoes oddly, both quiet and far-reaching.]

[101st_job]

[But it's wonderful to her, and it shows in the way she relaxes gradually, lets out a sigh and leans, unconsciously, against him]

[audiens]

[It's all right like this: no blood flooding his cheeks, no fluster. Even his tension eases as he focuses on the sound. It isn't a melody that demands much attention; simple, a handful of notes in rotation.]

[101st_job]

[A boat ride like this is wonderful. It's not the first time she's been on a boat, but it is the first time she's been on a boat with just one other person. Her left foot starts to move together with the music, however simple it is.]

[audiens]

[The melody cannot go on forever, unfortunately. It could for hours, his fingers well accustomed to playing at great lengths (if limited by their less-than-five count), it could span considerable time, but not forever. Still - it continues, at least for this little while]

[101st_job]

This is lovely...[She pulls away just as unconsciously, sitting up straight.] The song.

[audiens]

[a smile, small and not at all self-conscious; he plays on] It isn't much.