farawayplace | Piano Solo

On his way through the market, Bashou is drawn by the faint sound of piano music. He plays, too. Not as much as he used to, but the sound makes him realise that he hasn't even seen a piano since arriving in Ultern. It suddenly seems important.

Bashou doesn't spend much time around the market, so the music store had escaped his attention until now. As he gets closer, he sees a familiar figure through the window. The girl from the library...? Now he wonders if he genuinely heard music, and not just a kid messing around, but anyway...it's a piano, in a public place. He has to go and take a closer look.

Once he walks in, it becomes clear that Lillie really is playing the music that drew him here. Bashou's initial irritation at the piano not being free quickly fades away, because she can play. He approaches slowly and stands beside the piano, but at a distance. He's within Lillie's sight, but not close enough to be imposing, he hopes. If she looks at him, he'll say nothing yet, but nod at her to finish playing.

Lillie is fully focused on the piece and does not notice Bashou's approach, her head tilted down, bending slightly over the keys, her blonde hair cascading as she swayed slightly to the sound. If by chance her gaze turned in his direction, she might have looked past him, so focused on her performance.

She finishes the piece and only then, does she notice the man, as she turns with green eyes blinking as though rewakening to the world around her.

"Oh...!"

She recognizes him in that instant!

"It has been a while..." she greets him, slightly embarrassed not to have recognized him earlier. It seems her playing has drawn a small, appreciative audience, but Bashou is the one she recognizes now.

The corner of Bashou's mouth lifts in a half-smile. He doesn't often watch other people playing, but he knows how it feels to lose yourself in what you're playing, whether you're lost in emotion and meaning, or just the mechanics and technicality. Either way, the world disappears for a while.

Lillie's polite greeting seems to go ignored as Bashou skips straight to what he wanted to say.

"You're quite good. You must have been playing for a while, yes? Lessons? Self-taught?"

"Thank you very much. Oh, I've had lessons, yes, although they were quite a while ago, as I'd been busy with... a journey," Lillie says, pausing for a moment, realizing she shouldn't give the details of her family situation to someone she only knew passingly.

It would be rude to both! Besides that, the topic was her playing.

"I try to play whenever I can, even then."

Having a piano on your family's private ship certainly helps!

"Are you interested in the piano as well, Bashou-san? Or are you here to look at another instrument?"
Lillie stepped away from the piano, wondering if Bashou came to make a purchase.

Bashou nodded, simply assuming that the 'journey' she was referring to might be similar to the one that many young trainers took. He had no reason to think anything else.

"Well, I'm glad that you're still playing. It can be difficult when circumstances change, or if you have to stop lessons. Then you get rusty..."

That could have been a Steel-type pun, but he didn't intend it to be. He stared silently at the now-vacant seat, his mind suddenly racing in response to Lillie's question about why he was here. He hadn't considered that he might be able to have a piano, once he got settled in Ultern. But he couldn't afford this one right now, and he wasn't sure where it would go. Though it seemed silly and sentimental, he also didn't like the thought of taking it away from Lillie, if she had no other place to practice, and if she liked this one...

After a lengthy pause, he finally answered. "Oh. Yes, I play the piano, too. Or I used to."

She watched him go silent and worried briefly, but didn't know what to make of his silence. Did it bring back bad memories? Had he gotten too rusty? Had he had to sell his piano, was that what he meant by circumstances, some change in fortune? Perhaps she was embarrassing him, with half a crowd still lingering, hopeful for another performance.

She turned sorry eyes up to meet Bashou's gaze.

"I see... I'm sorry, but I'm sure y... that someone who's simply fallen out of practice can pick it up again, here... perhaps... the shopkeepers are kind and I'm sure they'd allow it, if they're very careful."

Perhaps she should change the subject? Was her attempt at redirecting the conversation away from him too transparent? She didn't know what to do and nervously clutched at her own hands, while pretending to tidy her skirt and fold one hand over the other.

Lillie's nervous fidgeting caught Bashou's eye, and he cleared his throat in an attempt to break the tension.

"I was surprised to see a piano in Ultern. But I don't know why that would be a surprise." He returned to his previous train of thought, but this time placed a hand to his chin, as though that might make it more obvious. "I was also thinking that it might be nice to have one, but...they're expensive, they take up space, moving and tuning them is also expensive, and difficult..."

He was aware, too, that some people were hovering around. They didn't seem to be looking to buy anything, so they must have been here to listen. But Bashou had never really enjoyed performing. He wanted to play, but the thought of attracting people's attention made him wince. He stepped back and nodded at the seat again.

"You should play some more, I think. The piece you were playing earlier...I didn't recognise it. Did you compose it?"

“That’s true… without my mother and father here, what I can buy is limited… reading to children is not like running a research facility or a wildlife reserve,” Lillie laughed lightly, starting to relax.

“Oh, no, I only play, I’ve never composed any music… but it means a lot to me, this piece. It’s called Mother and Daughter. It’s always… made me feel less lonely. I’ve had my fill for today, I think.”

Edited 2023-11-22 03:03 (UTC)

"Oh, that's what your parents did...?" Bashou asked absentmindedly, his hand reaching out to trail silently over the piano's highest keys, as though it had a will of its own. "Sounds interesting..."

It did genuinely sound intriguing - if only because Rocket might have been interested in a place like that. But Rocket was no longer at the forefront of Bashou's mind, and the thought flitted away quickly.

"I've never composed either. Wouldn't know where to start. I doubt I can even remember anything."

Even though he'd told himself he wouldn't, Bashou sat down at the piano. He reached into his pocket and took out some hand sanitising gel, which he tried to be discreet about applying; it was nothing personal, just a habit of his. His hands seemed to roam the keys, as if waiting for his muscle memory to kick in, then a sad prelude began to flow.

A hush fell over the shop as the crowd, already gathered, listened to Bashou play.

A few more came to listen and Lillie did not speak again, watching him play, silently and intently, as if studying his technique (he certainly hasn't forgotten, or it's all muscle memory now!), but she's soon more focused on the music itself and, without noticing, tears filled her eyes until they clung to her lashes.

The concept of recorded music is new to Volo, and so far, he hasn't become attached to anything that he's heard. It's just not the same, he thinks, as friends playing meaningful songs together over a campfire and drinks. Since he hasn't encountered anyone playing live music in Ultern, he assumes it must have died out, until he hears Lillie playing.

At first, though, he's not sure what she's doing. He only comes in to say hello to a familiar face, but she seems to be busy, sitting in front of a large cabinet with black and white buttons that she presses, and...somehow it makes a beautiful, delicate melody.

With his height and his over-sized rucksack, Volo isn't exactly made for stealth. But he tries to sneak around the back of the piano without interrupting Lillie, keen to figure out where the sound is coming from. Well, clearly, it's coming from this instrument...but how does it work? Volo has only ever seen and heard instruments with obvious workings. Drums that can be hit. Strings that can be bowed or plucked. How do you even move this instrument? Does it have wheels?

When Lillie has stopped playing, Volo will awkwardly look up and wave.

"Ah, Miss Lillie...? Hello! What...what is this that you're playing, please? It makes a lovely sound!"

"Oh, hello, Volo!" Lillie greets him warmly back, with a polite bow after rising to meet him.

She smiles at his enthusiasm.

"Why, this is a piano! It's a string instrument, although it might not look like one."

"A string instrument? With no strings?"

Volo laughs, and the sound seems to come from his heart, like Lillie has just told a good, uplifting joke. He looks around at what else is on display. Many of these instruments are unfamiliar to him, but some look like they could be the descendants of things that he knows. He points to an acoustic guitar hanging on the wall.

"Oh, look at that giant lute! I assume you must pluck its strings...? But you weren't plucking any strings just now!"

"That's a guitar, but it isn't far from a lute!"

Lillie smiles and lifts the lid of the piano. She hadn't needed to, with the acoustics of the music shop, but it would offer a learning opportunity for Volo. After seeking permission...

"Look. Don't touch, but these are the strings. When I press a key... a hammer strikes the string."

She waits for Volo to draw near before demonstrating.

Guitar...

Volo is sure he's never heard that word before, but something about it seems warmly familiar. Evocative, even. Hmm, maybe he has heard it, somewhere, but he just forgot...

But back to the piano! That's much more interesting for now, since he can figure out how a guitar works, but this is more of a mystery.

Volo's jaw drops as Lillie lifts the piano lid. He wasn't sure what he was expecting to see in there, other than a hollow space, but now the piano's workings are laid bare. It doesn't make it any less beautiful.

"It's marvellous to behold, but...a hammer striking a string...? That sounds so forceful! And yet, you made it sing with such a subtle voice..."

Edited ([Typo!]) 2023-11-21 21:57 (UTC)

Lillie demonstrates, once more, playing the some note very softly, then again, with increasing volume and intensity, from pianissimo to fortissimo.

[She immediately attracts Evie, who sits and listens to the whole piece.]

That's so pretty! It sounds sad, though.... Is it a sad song?

((OOC: The link isn't going to a specific piece, so I'm not sure if that was intentional or not?))

((Oops, it should be Lillie playing Mother abd Daughter on piano:
https://youtu.be/2gWkRYu6q5k?si=yYbGv616gREqUMgo ))

[When the song is finished and Lillie opens her eyes again to see around her, she spots Evie abd smiles gently, if shyly.]

Yes… you could say that. But it’s always made me feel less sad after, like it’s taken away some sadness…

((OOC: Ahh, okay! I will listen to it in a bit.))

That's nice! I'm glad it can do that! Everyone should have something like that.

Do you have something like that too?

[Snowy bounded over too, to greet Evie as well. She was resting a little way away, listening quietly, before this conversation unfolded.]

[Evie beams.]

Hi, Snowy!

Yeah, I think about Radley! And help people!

‘Hello, Evie! How have you been?’

What a kind spirit… helping yourself by helping others…

[Lillie reaches a hand towards Evie, then pauses.]

May I pet you?

I'm good! How are you?

[Evie looks up at Lillie.]

Yeah! Helping feels really good! Pets do too!

[She loves to be petted.]

{We’re doing well! It was nice to visit Alola again. Lillie got to spend time with her father… it must be nice to find your family.}

[While Snowy spoke with Evie, Lillie gently pet Evie’s head and ears, then mane and tail.]

Your fur is so soft! And different lengths..:

((OOC: That is a pretty song!))

“Oh, how wonderful! I hope I can see Radley again soon.”

She looks up happily at Lillie. “Thank you! Radley said it was like petting kitties with all three fur lengths at once!”

“That is a good description… I hope you get to see him again,” Lillie said gently, tenderly.

‘Maybe you’ll see him soon! Lillie and I went back to Alola after a long time… she was very happy to see her family again. She even had her birthday again! She says it’s very unusual to have the same birthday twice.’

taken from him again to come back, so I'm not sure....))

"Thank you! I hope so too!" Evie says.

She looks to Snowy. "Really? That sounds so fun! Did she tell all about being here?"

Piano Solo

[ can Bashou come off as quietly appreciative instead of intimidating..? we'll see... ]

[he certainly can, but Lillie was in her own world...]

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[... that's so oddly sweet]

[ he doesn't want to be perceived but he will play if Lillie doesn't want to or if she asks him to ]

[aaand Lillie’s done!]

[this is too easy for Bashou buuut it's so angsty...bringing down the mood in the music shop...]

[couldn't we have just done Chopsticks...]

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[All their interactions are so cute and wholesome... ♡]

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[a family member used to play the 'oud, ancestor to both! ... I hid snacks inside it]

[ obscure nod to Celestican culture being Ancient Greek inspired, and the κιθάρα / kithara...

[oh, lovely!]

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[Would you ever have Evie visit home or find him again? ;3;]

I have several fics about it! :) I've considered "canon" updating Evie here, but then she'd still be