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Date & Time: Backdated to the entirety of last week, feel free to pick a date.
Location: Around the Hold.
Characters: Jacquese and YOU!
Summary: A certain monk is looking around for a piano, perhaps you can be of help. Or not.
Warnings: None.

Vanadi's masquerade was the perfect excuse to go looking for a piano, he'd been wanting to see if there was one to play for whenever he needed to vent his emotions out on something besides fighting anyway. It would probably be a lot easier and quicker if he just used the device to ask on the network, but with the monsters gone there wasn't much else to do plus he preferred asking people face-to-face. It was an opportunity to meet new faces as well and Jacquese wasn't going to pass on that.

Thus he finds himself wandering around the Hold, gently tugging on people's sleeves or tapping their shoulders to grab attention. For those who take notice, they will be greeted with a smile, a friendly wave and a miniature blackboard that reads:

Excuse me, might you know where I can find a piano?

Comments

[onemoredeath]

"I am reluctant to move it but a look is fine," he replied.

No, Takegami didn't like the idea of moving it - it took him a while to find the piano and even he knew that if it broke, there would be little he could do to fix it. He hoped to find someone that could repair it, but for now, he had to just deal.

Besides, he did not like something that was his end up in another's person's hands. Transport or not.

[combats]

Jacquese smiled and nodded understandingly. The reluctance was reasonable, instruments were obviously a rarity here and if something happened to what might be the only piano around here... Yeah, Jacquese wouldn't want that either.

Thank you, perhaps I can do something for it.

[onemoredeath]

"Perhaps."

A stiff nod and Takegami turned on his heel and headed for the building he had claimed. He took it slow not too sure if the other was following okay or not, but not concerned enough to actually make sure he was doing okay. He knew he had a long stride just did not care enough to shorten it for someone just met on the streets.

The building they finally came to was large and probably had been a hotel or a small apartment building at one time. There were signs of someone - maybe several people - having cleared things out and setting it up for something. The piano was in the main cleared area, the varnish old and peeling, the keys dulled by time, the frame dull and dry looking from neglect. Takegami took a seat on the stool he had found and ran a simple scale before he played a simple piece.

[combats]

Jacquese pocketed his blackboard and wasted no time following the man. He had no trouble keeping up, being as tall as he was, and the long stride didn't bother him in the slightest. In fact, he didn't even really notice.

Moving out of the Units and getting a place for oneself wasn't a thought that had occurred to him before and so the building he was led to was given some curious looks. Once the piano was in sight though, it grabbed all of his attention, doubly so when Takegami started playing. He closed his eyes as he listened, obviously enjoying it, and once it was finished he applauded appreciatively. It was good to hear some music again.

[onemoredeath]

Takegami smiled and dipped his head in a bow. Music was one of the few things he lost himself in and it always took him a moment to remember and pull back on the mask of normalcy before facing the other person with a casual smile.

"She still has her voice, but I hesitate to move her. You said you can take a look and see what can be done, yes? I think if she was more stable she can be brought to the party."

[combats]

The smile was returned quite happily, the music and the fact that there was actually a piano around having cheered him up considerably. He nodded and moved closer so he could crouch and get a good look at said piano. He took a moment to really inspect it, gently running his hand over the worn wood, before he straightened and got out his blackboard again.

If the necessary tools can be found, I could definitely help her.

[onemoredeath]

"I would appreciate it, more than anything. I want to play her more, but afraid that my playing will break something beyond repair."

He thought about where to find the tools. Maybe one of the other Transports can make them or the Initiative might have some stored in their Hold. In either case, they would need to find someone to help them.

"There were a couple people talking about making things for people. Maybe some tools can be made that way. Or there is the Hold. Perhaps something is still there."

[combats]

He was looking back at the piano as he considered what the man was saying, nodding thoughtfully. He was confident he could patch it up. He'd fixed the Church's old organ a number of times and he was quite familiar with the inner workings of a piano too. Granted, the organ had never gotten as damaged as the poor piano was, but he was sure he would manage.

His gaze returned to Takegami, smile back in place.

Yes, I'm certain tools should not be so difficult to obtain. At least not as difficult as another piano.

[onemoredeath]

"Ah, I am glad then. Please do your best to repair her and I think she can be played at the dance."

He could be generous. If the man can fix the piano, then he can take her. If not, well then Takegami would have to do something else to get a piano to play. Maybe he could work something out with the Initiative - even if it meant he would have to take some solo mission of a delicate nature or two.

[combats]

I will do my very best, I promise.

Jacquese meant it too, it would be too much of a waste to let such a lovely piano go whether it was for the masquerade or not. He would try his hardest to make it as good as new. He paused, suddenly realizing something and hastily writing it down.

Forgive my manners, my name is Jacquese Foran.

[onemoredeath]

"Thank you."

He peered at the name for a moment, puzzling it out though French was not his strongest language.

"Well met. I am Teijirou Takegami in the Western order."

[combats]

You're welcome.

Jacquese wasn't quite sure what he meant by Western order which showed through a mildly puzzled tilt of the head, but he nodded all the same. More importantly was not messing it up in writing.

How do you write that?

[onemoredeath]

"In romaji? Takegami would be the easiest to remember, so T A K E G A M I."

He careful pronounced the letters, wanting to make sure that Jacquese wouldn't have too much trouble with it.

[combats]

He has no idea what is meant by Romaji either, but he's more focused on writing down the letters as Takegami says them. Once it's written down, he smiled and nodded before writing more and flipping the board, holding out his other hand along with it.

It's nice to meet you too, Takegami.

[onemoredeath]

"Well met."

It was a good thing that he knew what a handshake was otherwise he would have blinked at Jacquese hand until the concept became clear to him. As it was, he bows ever so slightly when shaking his hand.

[combats]

Seeing that the other was bowing, Jacquese bowed too as he shook Takegami's hand, figuring it was only the polite thing to do. He kept the handshake brief so he could return to writing.

Have you been here long?

[onemoredeath]

Nothing was better then someone who understood that handshakes weren't meant to last too long. It had always irritate him to have a Westerner to hang onto his hand long after it was comfortable for him. Takegami smiled a little at the writing and then nodded.

"I am among the first people brought here. There may be a couple more who were here longer, but yes, I would say almost nine months now."

[combats]

The answer startled him and that much was obvious on Jacquese's face. Nine months? He found it hard to imagine being stuck here with the Initiative for that long. Granted, it wasn't like he was expecting to be going home any time soon or anything, but nine months was a very long time.

That is very unfortunate, I'm sorry.

[onemoredeath]

"It's fine. I was near death so this is a pleasent interlue."

He honestly has no qualms about the time spent here. Back home, he was sitting idly in a cell in between being dragged out for doctors to probe him or lawyers to point at him. The freedom of this place, combined with the Initiative's own blind eye towards his actions was a nice thing indeed.

Of course, he was not going to say all that to anyone.

[combats]

That does earn a somewhat concerned look, but he doesn't pry and pose any questions about it. It's not his place to, he always figured. Instead, he nodded. At least a good thing came of being brought here then. That's what mattered.

It is always better to look on the bright side of things.

[onemoredeath]

"That is what I feel."

He nodded to himself, patting the scuffed up surface of his piano.

"I wish you luck with her."

[combats]

He bowed his head to show his gratitude once again, before smiling reassuringly.

I shall take very good care of her and I'll do my best to fix her.