GODLY AUDIENCES: NONON JAKUZURE

[divus]

Comments

[divus]

Why wouldn't I? [Given the fact he sounds very confused the answer is he definitely says it with a straight face, god.] It's true.

[His posture straightens though and his tone's light again.] An expert then! [Chill.] ...I learned as a child as well. It's been something I've held onto for my entire life. You can understand why I requested a piano be added to this room when the temple was created.

[symphonise]

[ oh my god is the only way Nonon's expression can be described, and she struggles not to say something that's rude.

So instead she'll take advantage of this. ]

How beautiful do you think I am?

[ She doesn't need her ego stroked, and YET.... ]

I'm grateful for it. [ Her voice is soft but sincere. ] Thank you for asking for the piano. I don't... [ Want to think about how much harder it'd be to be here without it. ]

[divus]

[Give it a moment.] Your hair is vibrant like your personality. I can only imagine your heart is just as bright and bold.

[But the act disappears again when the sincere note arrives.] ...Lady Love and I both believe music is a gift for the world and an important form of expression and happiness. I only hope it serves you and others well here.

[symphonise]

[ Oh, she expected something that she could accept easily with a grin, which is what he started with, but Beauty had to bring music into it. It takes away the edge of her usual smile into something more tender.

And then she realizes whom she's with and ruins it with a huff. ]

Yeah, well, not everyone appreciates music here quite like that, and they're uncultured swines.

[divus]

[THANKS NONON.]

So I've noticed, though I wouldn't necessarily call them uncultured. [Beauty sounds like he's hiding a laugh.] Rather, I see this as a chance to educate them myself. Isn't that better?

[symphonise]

[ WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM HER

Nonon frowns and grumbles. ]

I guess, but it's not like we have all the time in the world for that.

[divus]

Perhaps not, but I still think that setting aside some time each day is more helpful than wasting hours not knowing what to do.

[FORCE CULTURE ON THE PEOPLE, NONON!!]

[symphonise]

[ BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.

She opens her mouth to say something but shuts it. ]

Do any of us here actually know what we're doing at any time?

[divus]

I very much highly doubt it, but that's the beauty of it. It means that we have a bit more leeway to change how we want things to go.

[symphonise]

[ She squints at Beauty for using the word beauty. That's too close to a pun for her liking. ]

I don't know about that. That's a really optimistic look on things.

[divus]

And what's wrong with being a little optimistic?

[symphonise]

Nothing's wrong about being a little optimistic, but being a lot optimistic can lead to being let down.

[divus]

Though this seems entirely optimistic and a bit unrealistic, I still believe it's something that can be obtained. Being pessimistic has never served me well anyway.

[symphonise]

I prefer to be confident and realistic.

[ Confidence isn't optimism, but arrogance is folly and that's where Nonon fails. ]

[divus]

And what about scenarios in which you can't be both? How do you handle those? [Look, he can be realistic too.]

[symphonise]

I play music.

[ It's a foregone conclusion. The answer is immediate.

She nods towards the piano. ]

You were going to play with me, weren't you?

[divus]

Ah. I was. [Easily distracted, Beauty turns to the piano again.] Are you ready to start then?

[symphonise]

[ She chuckles. ]

Don't be silly. I'm always ready.

[ Nonon takes a seat at the piano and smiles up at Beauty, the picture of grace and charisma bundled into something tiny, terrible, and pink. ]

The better question is if you are?

[divus]

[What if Beauty doesn't even reply but instead nods, fingers poised on the keys and beginning to play? That's what happens, a note resonating through the room as they begin and hands shifted just enough to allow Nonon room to join him. He's always ready for this sort of thing.]

[symphonise]

[ Her hands move when his does, and she'll match his tempo almost instantly. They're going to make beautiful music, and Nonon will be thrilled by it. She hasn't looked this happy that often at the temple, and for all that she criticizes the system the gods creating for choosing their leader, it's with some of the gods that she's had the most fun.

She shines just like how Beauty described. ]

[divus]

[He's actually very pleased because nobody's really played with him before. The song's easy to follow and he wasn't lying when he said he's played forever. It's easy to match her and harmonize on both ends of the keys, and it's...sweet, actually.

He doesn't speak until the song's well and over, the last note ringing out and he lets his hands rest on the keys.]

Thank you...it's not often I get to share with people like this.

[symphonise]

[ Her eyes are bright with her passion for music. Good music will never let her down. That's an inalienable truth universally acknowledged.

Her hands slip from he keys to her lap, and she grins at him. ]

That's a shame. I don't know if gods can summon people to visit them, but if you ever want someone to play with you again, I'd be happy to.

[divus]

[And this is when Nonon is at her best. Beauty's pleased with this, and even if the mask is in the way it's clear there's a smile given how he sounds.]

We can sometimes, yes. I would like that a lot, actually. I wouldn't want to pull you away from anything important but if that's true, I'll happily consider it.

[symphonise]

Music is important.

[ Said as if it's a fact, not an opinion. ]

Who knows? Maybe you'll pull me away from something stupid instead.

[divus]

In that case I couldn't feel the slightest bit guilty. If I call, I'll leave you to answer whenever you'd like then.