melody's cabin (sfw)

[enchanting_melody]

*after kurapika falls asleep in his own cabin, melody takes her leave to give him some privacy. she intends to return to the music room to vent some of her feelings into the piano, but freezes in place when the next door she passes has her own name on it. she opens it up and finds herself in an elegant bedroom open to a balcony overlooking a peaceful spring field, not unlike the one she conjures with her flute. gasping in delight, she runs to the balcony and clings to the railing, breathing in the fresh spring air with a peaceful smile.*

what a wonderful place!

ooc: feel free to come visit melody here any time!

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[enchanting_melody]

*melody nods as the woman confirms what she already knows.*

so none of you are human, then.

*still playing, she looks over at her curiously. she can hardly imagine what kind of creature she is if the members of her species vary so much in humanoid and animal features.*

may i ask what species you are? i’ve never spoken to a non-human before.

[galacticgroovin]

Well..to say I’m not human isn’t entirely correct. I am partially.

My people are called Chimera Ants. Our features being widely different between generations.

She strolls closer to the piano. Put simply, we are humans but more naturally advantaged. Be it in Nen or physical ability.

[enchanting_melody]

*for once, melody almost falters her playing in her surprise at what she hears. this woman, who looks so nearly human, is not a mammal at all, but an insect!*

then, you're a kind of hybrid! how interesting...

*she's a little put off by the mention of nen, guard raising just a tiny bit. she could sense that the woman had a strong aura from the moment she met her, but with no ill intent behind it, it didn't worry her. now, hearing the claim that her powers are stronger than a human's, she reminds herself to be cautious.*

[galacticgroovin]

I suppose you could say that. We don’t reproduce as most other creatures do.

She grazes her hand lightly against the side of the piano. Feeling the slight vibrations. She decides to tell the woman the same story she told Gon.

Our mothers don’t mate in the conventional sense. At least most of them. We gain our traits according to what our mother eats most of the time.

So we technically have two ways of reproducing.

[enchanting_melody]

*a cold chill trickles down melody's spine as she comes to the realization that the mother of this ant must have eaten a lot of humans for her offspring to turn out so humanoid. a frown tugs at her lips as she carefully responds.*

...i see.

*as the ant-woman circles the piano, melody's heart begins to pump faster as if trying to catch up to the rapid clatter in her hybrid breast, but her playing keeps her from panicking. after all, her dancing fingers are her weapon. if she is attacked, all she needs to do is play her special tune and her enemy will be mentally launched out onto the field beyond the balcony so she can make her escape.*

[galacticgroovin]

Pitou notices the slight change in melody. The hesitation in the way she spoke. The slight way she seemed to tense up. “Is she scared?”

You seem..nervous. Is my presence uncomfortable? You have no need to be afraid. Had I wanted it so, you would be in danger.

I don’t wish any danger upon you. I’m sure you know Gon? Me and him are..close. He’s treated me well since my arrival. Much kinder than that other boy, Killua.

[enchanting_melody]

no, i was just... surprised. this is still all very new to me.

*she's still a bit hesitant, but hearing that she means no harm to herself or the children reassures her.*

i have met gon, though i've spent more time with killua here. i've been giving him guitar lessons. he's a nice boy, once you get to know him.

[galacticgroovin]

So you say. Like you he’s always on edge near me. Same with the blonde guy…Kurapika I think his name is.

She sits down with her back against the wall. I was simply trying to help the boy who had arrived.

[enchanting_melody]

*melody giggles at that, lightness returning to her tone.*

kurapika is also a tough nut to crack.

*she glances at the ant-woman as she slides to the ground, winking.*

i don’t have much trouble with those types… i’m able to see right through even the thickest shells.

[galacticgroovin]

How do you do that? People are rather difficult for me to understand. Each one so different.

She looks up at the ceiling. Gon is a very curious and energetic boy. Killua is rather cold and dark. Kurapika…he seems just mean.

[enchanting_melody]

*melody smiles as she taps at the keys, amused by just how much their interpretations of the same people can differ based on their knowledge of their inner workings.*

i guess i should say that i can hear through them, rather than see. their heartbeats tell me all i need to know.

*as she speaks, she alters her song in an approximation of each of her friend's unique rhythms. a lively, rousing song for gon, a timid waltz for killua.*

gon wears his heart on his sleeve, so you already know him well. his youthful energy is inspiring. killua has been forced to suppress himself to a whisper for most of his life, and is just now letting his innocence shine through in his interactions with the other children here. his light is still guarded, but it glows so brightly in the presence of those who believe in him. and kurapika...

*her song wavers for a moment as she debates which side of him to play for her; she decides on a combination of both, underlying his beauty with his sorrow.*

kurapika is one of the most complex people i've ever met. he's a calm running stream on the surface, with a powerful undercurrent of sorrow and rage underneath. he carries a heavy burden, and it sometimes drives him to act irrationally. so please, be patient with him.

[galacticgroovin]

Pitou listens to each song she plays. Intently listening to each word and note of the piano. Amazed by the different Melodies that capture the moods of those named.

How do you do that? She asks curiously. Watching the woman’s fingers dance over the keys so fluidly and easily.

How can you know about a person through their heartbeat? It just sounds like a heartbeat to me…and to be able to do play that song…

Pitou was genuinely impressed. She wanted to know.

[enchanting_melody]

*melody smiles, welcoming the ant-woman’s curiosity. she loves to share her gift with others when she can.*

a heart can tell all sorts of things about a person that they hide inside. once i started hearing them all around me, i started to learn their language.

*she glances sidelong at her as she returns to the upbeat tempo that matches her heartbeat.*

yours, for example, was an enigma.

[galacticgroovin]

An enigma? Did it really seem that bizarre compared to others?

She places her hand to her chest curiously, feeling for her heartbeat. What she feels doesn’t seem still that strange. It’s the same heartbeat she had always known. Felt kind of like Gons when they were together. Her cheeks flushed slightly at the thought.

[enchanting_melody]

well, it beats so fast that i knew you weren’t fully human immediately, because if you were, you would have to be in some kind of extremely agitated state, and you were quite calm.

but once i realized that was just your resting rate, i could start to translate it using that knowledge. like when you went to the balcony and it quickened because you were excited by the sight.

*her fingers tickle the keys to mimic the sound, then do a little jump, skipping ahead.*

or just now, when it fluttered because you thought of something — or maybe someone that makes you happy.

[galacticgroovin]

Her cheeks brighten more. She could tell this from just her heartbeat?

You remind me of my fellow guard. He’s able to tell what people are thinking.

Some kind of mind reading. I’m not sure how I feel about another person being able to tell..

[enchanting_melody]

i believe you can get a better read from a heart than a mind. a mind can tell itself all kinds of lies. but hearts are always truthful.

*she smiles reassuringly back at her.*

don’t worry, i won’t reveal your secret to anyone else.

[galacticgroovin]

I appreciate that. It’s much more fun when they figure it out~ She purrs.

Gon didn’t seem all too…perturbed by it. In fact he seemed fascinated. Killua doesn’t know. But he might suspect something is strange.

Last I saw him was that hot topic place. All kinds of interesting things in there.

[enchanting_melody]

*melody’s glad that they’re getting along, but she does wonder about the nature of their relationship. that was a flutter that only love could bring about… does gon really understand the full extent of her feelings?*

take caution not to overwhelm him. he’s only a child, after all… killua, too. they may be quite capable, but they’re both still discovering who they are.

[galacticgroovin]

She casually waves it off. I’m not sure what you might be implying.

She answers cheerily. He’s a strong young boy. Wouldn’t want to break him would we? He has much potential to grow!

As she says this she nearly forgets that her heart clearly reveals her emotions to this woman. But she remains unbothered.

[enchanting_melody]

*a little concerned by how flippantly she’s treating this, melody slows her song down to something simpler, promoting a calm, rational atmosphere.*

i just mean that he may not yet be capable of the feelings we adults are. or at least not able to understand them…

*her protruding incisors dig into her bottom lip with worry for the young boy’s naïve heart.*

…so it would be best to take things slowly so no one gets hurt.

[galacticgroovin]

As pitou resizes what the woman is implying she smiles. Not to worry. I assure you Gon is a smart boy. He knows what he’s doing.

She prowls around the room slowly. He’s in good hands. I won’t hurt him after all. Besides…

I know something you do not. She says sing song.

[enchanting_melody]

*that singsong voice and mischievous skip to her heartbeat only worries melody even more, but she realizes that she’s said all she can say and it’s time to back away.*

i don’t mean to meddle in your affairs. i just wanted to offer a word of advice.

*she concerns herself with the piano again, eyes on the keys.*

we don’t know how long we’ll be stuck on this airship, and i just want it to remain a peaceful place while we’re here.

[galacticgroovin]

She hums playful. I agree! I’ve been enjoying my time here. Always seems to be something new around the corner.

Have you found anything of particular interest? Any rooms of interest you like most?

She returns next to melody, leaning against the piano.

[enchanting_melody]

*melody smiles at the welcome change of subject.*

my favorite — aside from this one! — has to be the music room… it was the first room i found here and it contains every kind of instrument you can think of!

*her smiles fades quickly, though, when she remembers the room she just came from.*

but, i have to warn you… some rooms aren’t nearly as enjoyable. kurapika and i just stumbled into one that displays your worst memory on a projector screen. you have to go through a glass chamber when you enter, so if you see a room that looks like that, i advise you do not proceed.