concert venue (sfw)

[enchanting_melody]

*after hearing about the concert room from kalluto, melody goes out to find it, her keen ears leading her to the subtle buzzing of speakers and amps emanating from behind the newly-unlocked door. when she opens it, she finds the venue vacant, apparently between shows. the house lights are on low, illuminating the great, empty pit yawning out before the stage up ahead. she wanders over to it, climbing the steps and peeking around the eaves to find that all the instruments are still there, just waiting to be picked up and played when the lights fade.

she reaches out to give an acoustic guitar a strum, closing her eyes to revel in the lovely sound of it reverberating through the venue.*

Comments

[enchanting_melody]

*melody gives a sympathetic chuckle, holding onto the cello bow with both hands as she wanders over to the next set of instruments, a rack of electric guitars.*

it will take more courage than you've ever mustered. but i've never met a heart braver than yours...

[scarlet_chains]

You haven't changed my mind yet, you know. I'm still not planning on telling him.

*He hesitates, once again running a finger over the strings of the guitar as Melody approaches. He's not sure if he should tell his friend about the more recent development in his and Pairo's relationship, but it's something that's been on his mind a lot. It might help to vent some of his feelings to his friend, no matter how private it feels.*

I did tell him something else, though...

[enchanting_melody]

*melody runs the bow across her opposite palm, smiling softly at kurapika's stubbornness.*

i just know you'll do the right thing. whatever that may be...

*she stands there considering the electric guitars until she hears a nervous little flutter from kurapika's heart, turning to him in surprise.*

not one secret, but another...?

[scarlet_chains]

*Kurapika nods slowly, gulping as his nerves pick his heartbeat up, the veins in his tense neck pulsing.*

It started when I went to the coffee shop room with Pairo. I don't know if you've been there, but it's a room that everyone the same age. Suddenly, Pairo was my age, and I could see what he would have looked like if... you know. And... it made me feel... certain things, I'd never felt before.

*He keeps strumming as he speaks, looking for something to do with his hands. Melancholy tones filled the air between them, as an accompaniment to his confession.*

[enchanting_melody]

*the bow in melody's hands slowly drags to a halt, her face going slack with shock.*

kurapika, don't tell me...

*she trails off, but she hardly needs to finish her question. she'd know that lilting, lovesick rhythm anywhere. he's got a crush.*

[scarlet_chains]

Er... yes. It's just as embarrassing as it sounds.

*He bows his head, a flush coming to his cheeks. Unknowingly, he starts to ramble, unloading all his thoughts unceremoniously onto his friend.*

But I don't know how to feel about him in his child body. I know he's still the same, but the age gap between us is so large now... and I don't even know how he feels about all this. I ended up blurting it out to him to avoid having to tell him anything worse, and he didn't seem too bothered by it, but he didn't give me a concrete answer either. It might have all just been a huge mistake...

[enchanting_melody]

*the situation is so absurd, so impossible that melody can't help but laugh, a sad-happy hopeless-hopeful little rush of breath that leaves her shaking her head in dismay.*

that... is quite the pickle.

*it's not hard to imagine him failling for his childhood best friend. if they had actually grown up together, then there'd be nothing to it. if only things could be that simple.*

[scarlet_chains]

*Kurapika catches himself rambling and stops abruptly, reeling himself in. He flushes brighter as Melody's face runs through a series of emotions and a little huff of laughter escapes her. He coughs into his hand.*

My apologies. I shouldn't have laid all that on you.

*He can't help but feel a bit lighter for it, though - no matter if the issue is still unresolved.*

[enchanting_melody]

*she shakes her head, hoping her bewildered reaction hadn't embarrassed him too badly.*

you know i don't mind. matters of the heart are my specialty.

*she giggles, but just like her laugh, it's bittersweet.*

you shouldn't be ashamed to love him in any form. after all, you thought he was long lost...

*her thoughts drift toward what she'd seen in the worst memory room, the heart-wrenching image of young kurapika cradling his best friend's decapitated body. clutching the bow tighter, she murmurs,*

to have him here, and whole again... well, no one could blame you for your feelings. not even him, it seems...

[scarlet_chains]

*Kurapika freezes in place as Melody speaks, her comment about loving Pairo setting his heart aflame with the stunning realisation that he truly does love him. All the fond memories from back then - the determined declaration that it has to be Pairo, and all the grief that came after - mixes with the shock and disbelief and joy of seeing him again, and the pleasure of getting reacquainted with him and getting to experience every freckle on his skin and every crinkle in the corner of his eyes instead of just remembering them. If this is the form his love is going to take, he's going to cherish every second of it. It's all he can do to choke out a few words in response, eyes burning with the scarlet shade of love.*

I... yes. Thank you.

[enchanting_melody]

*kurapika's heart explodes in a flurry of impassioned throbs that tell her that it's made up its mind faster than he, sending him falling head over heels for his best friend. she's never heard anything other than rage get his heart pounding so hard, and yet this sound couldn't be more different. to disguise her amusement, she nods down at his frozen hands, still clutching the guitar he's been strumming at.*

it seems this room has given you some new skills. in that case, i'd like to accompany you.

*she picks up the electric guitar she's been eyeing and loops it over her shoulders, then readies the cello bow over the strings. winking at her friend, she asks,*

would you like to hear something interesting?

[scarlet_chains]

*Kurapika's eyes still throb and pulsate with blazing colour. It doesn't feel the same as when he's angry at all - he feels full of warmth and positive emotion. It keeps radiating in waves from his heart, filling his entire body. He's still reeling over the intensity of it as he looks down at the guitar and loosens his grip slightly, without letting go. Could it really be more than just a fluke, what this room has done to his knowledge of instruments? He turns back to Melody, curious as to what she means.*

Sure.

[enchanting_melody]

*melody giggles at the way kurapika's heart won't stop shooting off sparks of passion, making his eyes flicker like a flame. she's so delighted to see him experiencing such a strong, positive emotion that she momentarily forgets the dilemma they'd first spoken of.*

if you use a bow on a guitar, it makes quite an otherworldly sound...

*she pulls her arm back, dragging the cello bow along the strings of the electric guitar to produce a powerful, drawn out drone that reverberates throughout the venue. not a moment after its warbling song fades out does she hear shuffling feet in the distance, making her brow crinkle in confusion.*

...kurapika, do you hear that?

[scarlet_chains]

*Still caught up in his emotions, the sound the cello bow makes on the guitar fills Kurapika with a wistful longing, its sobering cry calming the palpitations of his heart. He comes back down to earth, the colours of his eyes fading together with the sound of the guitar as Melody alerts him to a potential threat.

At first he hears nothing, even as Melody looks around in surprise, clearly able to hear something he can't. It takes a while before he does hear it - steps from dozens of shoes and the chattering drone of several dozen voices, moving slowly but surely towards the door.

His chain rattles defensively, readying itself for whatever is coming towards them.*

[enchanting_melody]

*melody swings out her hand to block kurapika's, holding back his chains of wrath. there's something odd about the oncoming crowd, something that paradoxically chills her spine and lowers her defenses.*

they don't have heartbeats.

*as the figures spill in, filling the pit beneath the stage, melody looks on in wonder at the non-people, indistinguishable from each other by sight or sound. these must be the crowds kalluto had mentioned -- fake people, created by the airship to fill the space.*

[scarlet_chains]

What...?

*Kurapika's fists clench as a hoard of - apparently - non-people stream into the room, deepening his stance even as Melody holds him back. But instead of attacking, the figures wander into the room to stand expectantly in front of the stage, blank faces staring up at them. Evidently they aren't enemies, so then...*

What do they want? Are they here for... a concert?

[enchanting_melody]

*though it's unnerving to hear figures moving around with no heartbeats to drive them, melody doesn't need to hear a rhythm to know they mean them know harm. she scans the crowd of empty faces, chuckling,*

i guess they want to hear us play.

*eyes sparkling with their own flame of mischief, she readies the bow against her guitar and smiles slyly at kurapika.*

let's give them a show, shall we?

[scarlet_chains]

*Having spent several months on this ship seeing no other people than their little band of strays, it is extremely jarring to suddenly see so many of them at once - and what’s more, these people all look vaguely the same, carrying the same vacant expressions that suggests there isn’t much going on up top. Are they really here just to listen to music? Can they even enjoy it? And more importantly- what did Melody just say?*

Us? I couldn’t possibly-!

*He fumbles away from the instruments, embarrassed. He’s not about to make a fool of himself with this many people watching- no matter if they’re actually real or not.*

[enchanting_melody]

*melody laughs at his hesitance, prodding him with the length of bow she's holding.* you were doing just fine a moment ago! you may not have even realized it, but your feelings were pouring into your fingers. just give it a strum and see what happens!

[scarlet_chains]

You're the musician here, not me...

*Kurapika grumbles, feeling trapped up there on stage. He cautiously moves closer to the guitar again, picking it up and holding it awkwardly in his arms, unused to the bulkiness of it. He looks down at the crowd of faces, waiting with anticipation in their eyes. Waiting for him - to do what? He glances at Melody, who seems to be waiting for him as well. He narrows his eyes at her in frustration.

This won't do. He's just going to have to pretend that he can play, and maybe this crowd of dimwits will be satisfied. He closes his eyes, adjusts his grip, hopes for the best, and strums.

The sound that comes out sends a gasp of appreciation through the crowd that makes his hairs stand on end. The fingers on his left hand move of their own accord as they change chords, his right hand catches the strings just so to create a catchy, rhythmical riff. His eyes fly open again in shock, looking down at his fingers strumming and playing as if it's all they've ever done.*

What the...

[enchanting_melody]

*melody nods encouragingly as kurapika retrieves the guitar and gives it a try, just as awed as he is to hear the fluent rhythm his fingers produce. she winks over at him, her chiming laughter rising above the clamor of the crowd.*

see? you're a natural!

*she slides the bow over her guitar's strings again, trembling her fingers at the neck to make a raw, warbling sound that serves as the background to kurapika's melody. it vibrates through the instrument and into her very bones, drawing out a gasp of delight.*

doesn't it feel good to play?

[scarlet_chains]

*Kurapika’s heartbeat speeds up in tandem with the music produced by his fingers on the guitar, spurred on by the crowd’s delighted sounds and his own curiosity about how much he can do. He speeds through some chord progressions, then slows down again to match the melancholy mood of Melody’s guitar.*

You’re right… this feels…

*He feels unstoppable up here, bathed in stage light and a sea of eager eyes, following his every move.*

[enchanting_melody]

*melody can hear the soaring elation in kurapika's blood and her own leaps in her chest, infected by the rhythm in his chest and all around them. he's pouring his all into the music, the joy of his newly-discovered love and the dread of the secret he's keeping, none of his feelings are held back by his strumming fingers. as melody backs him, she closes her eyes to experience it all, freeing her own hands to play as they please.*

truth be told, i've never played guitar with a bow before.

*she opens her eyes again, grinning at kurapika.*

thanks to this room, i didn't have to learn!

[scarlet_chains]

I see... I figured you were just that good, but that means...

*Kurapika plays a last resounding riff on the guitar before putting it neatly back down. He then launches himself into the air and lands further back on stage, on the seat behind the drum set. He's never considered himself particularly rhythmical, but right now he feels inhabited by some strange power that's taken control of his body. He grabs hold of the drumsticks and starts tapping out a rhythm that gradually gets faster and louder, then simmers down again to give Melody's guitar the spotlight back. Perhaps it's his own feelings that are streaming out through his fingers, like a cork in him has been unstopped, triggering a tremendous release.*

[enchanting_melody]

*melody laughs as kurapika vaults himself over to the drumset and begins venting his frustration into a furious rhythm, his emotions indeed pouring into every strike. once again melody is thrilled that he can finally experience firsthand the catharsis of making music. she plucks at her guitar with the bow, building up her own rhythm to accompany kurapika's, ebbing and flowing in and out of each other like sand and sea.*

[scarlet_chains]

*Kurapika follows suit, slipping deftly into the cracks between Melody's notes. It's an active learning experience, in not just taking the spotlight for himself, but also in harmonising with Melody so they sound like they're actually playing together rather than separately. Somehow he intrinsically understands how to do it, how to match Melody's tone and speed, meet her in the middle. It's unlike anything he's experienced before - the closest comparison he can find is the feeling of using his chains, of slinging them around a room with complete control, catching bullets and capturing enemies. The movements happen too fast to think - they just happen, steered by an intuition beyond conscious thought. This is just another form of communication, one that happens almost telepathically. Kurapika suddenly feels like he understands his friend a little better, how she's so in tune with the world around her - and it's not just because of her superhuman hearing.

The crowd oohs and aahs appreciatively as their duet moves through various stages. He can't believe how satisfying it is. He's sweating inside his suit, but he doesn't want to stop now.*

It sounds like they're enjoying it.

[enchanting_melody]

*as their melodies mix, their heartbeats do the same, weaving around each other until they're soaring in sync, another level to the song that only she can hear. she catches kurapika's eye with a beaming grin, exclaiming,*

let's give them a grand finale!

*she runs her bow back and forth over the strings, building up to a swelling crescendo.*

[scarlet_chains]

*Kurapika finds himself grinning, elated and electrified by their harmonious duet. He slams out a last sequence on the drums before ditching them and jumping over to the keyboard, his magical fingers finding the keys and playing a vigorous tune to match the building energy of Melody's bow. He can't believe it's this easy, this freeing, even in front of such a large crowd - real people or not, their reactions seem genuine enough as they cheer and applaud.*

[enchanting_melody]

*melody laughs in delight as they finish out their concert with a final riff on the keys, finally dropping her bow to her side and basking in the cheers coming from the faceless crowd. it's been a long time since she's really gotten to perform, and even longer since she did so with a friend. there's joyful tears in her eyes when she turns to smile at kurapika behind her.*

cathartic, isn't it?

[scarlet_chains]

*Kurapika laughs along with her, the elation in his chest making his soul fly up to the ceiling to survey the room with its cheering crowd from above. His fingers are buzzing as he takes them off the keyboard. He takes in the emotion in Melody's face and echoes it with his chest - touched that she feels it as well, whatever this feeling is.*

That's... the most I've felt in... a while. I had no idea playing music could feel so good. I feel like I understand your passion for it a little more, now.

[enchanting_melody]

and i feel like i understand your predicament more.

*she flows over to kurapika and grabs his hands while the crowd continues to cheer, her soft voice heard by only him.*

whatever you end up doing, be sure to follow your heart. i know it'll lead you to the right thing.

[scarlet_chains]

*He smiles at his friend, only faltering a little at the reminder of his situation with Pairo. He knows she's right, as always. He gives her a nod. Behind them, the crowd disperses back out of the room, satisfied with the performance.*

I suppose I'd better go find Pairo again. Thank you, Melody.

*Though he's reluctant to lose the strange powers the room has lent him, Kurapika reckons that some of that power is still flowing through him, feeding him strength and resolve as he waves to his friend and moves to the door.*