Piano Solo

[timidlyblooming]

[If you're in Turnbloom Market, you might hear music drifting in from the music store, where Lillie has politely requested to play the piano. It's not the first time she's been here to look and play, but fortunately, she's always careful and considerate and there's no rule against it, so she's permitted to play.

Expertly, she begins to play a soft and scintillating, yet solemn tune.]

Comments

[unchcsen]

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!"

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

[timidlyblooming]

"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."

[unchcsen]

"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!"

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

[timidlyblooming]

"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.

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

[unchcsen]

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..."

[oh, lovely!]

[timidlyblooming]

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