Sixteenth PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

[For most of the summer, torturous sounds have been coming from the music room of the school during the late afternoons.  After deciding the recorder was a bust, Lucas had moved on to the violin, the trumpet, and the flute, passing through each one and deciding in short order that he had better stop for the good of humanity.  It was only about about three weeks ago that he had decided to try his hand at the piano sitting dusty and forgotten in the corner.

He had seen something like it before, with the DCMC.  Duster had taught him a little about instruments while they'd been traveling -- He'd even been allowed to pluck a little at Duster's bass.  And, of course, there'd been that whole business with feeling the beat of the enemy's life force.  This didn't mean that he knew anything about playing instruments.  The futility of the summer had proved that.  Yet . . . when he'd begun to plonk away at the keys . . . something just clicked.  Sure, the torturous sounds continued.  But after a little while . . . they at least began to resolve themselves into something vaguely resembling a song.

It was a song he wouldn't forget soon.  The song that had played in that room . . . The song that meant . . .   And with his last meeting with Vince still fresh in his mind, Lucas somehow thought he knew what the song was trying to say.]

Do you hear me call to you?  Can you even hear my heart's cry?
Still I call out to the wind . . . Even as it flows on by, for
I believe our dreams can still come true.  I'll always keep my faith and trust in you

Even if I'm a fool, I'll always feel the same about you.  I believe in friends and laughter and the wonders love can do; I believe in second chances and that's why I still believe in you.

 . . . . . . i . . . believe in second chances . . . . . . .

[Later that night, he returns to the park and sings his song quietly with a good sense of pitch.  He is wearing his school clothes from last year.  They are too small for him.
Time moves on.]

((Feel free to comment while Lucas is practicing on the piano as well. He will sound pretty awful unless he's playing this song.))

Comments

[resurrectinto.livejournal.com]

[Margot is passing through the park; it's usually quiet and a good place to think, especially recently.

She hears the singing and follows the voice curiously to Lucas. Quietly she watches him before coming to sit down next to him, wherever he is, and puts an arm around him in a hug.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . . flies away, and all we'll have to do is fol --

H-Huh . . . ? Oh, hi. I guess I should've been quieter.

[resurrectinto.livejournal.com]

You're fine, Lucas. It's a really pretty song.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Do you think so? . . . It's nice, but the words are pretty silly. I had to make it up.

((At least until his player realized he wasn't meant to be a songwriter and switched to the official ones.))

[resurrectinto.livejournal.com]

Hey, it's better than anything I could do. Got a bit bored, though?

[kimitoaruiteku.livejournal.com]

That's beautiful.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Something like that. I thought it'd be nice if I could manage to learn a song before school started . . .

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas is more embarrassed to have the stranger hear him than he is for Margot to.]

O-Oh! Thanks . . . I'm, um. Only so-so at singing, though.

[kurasuprincessu.livejournal.com]

[Mugi will be in the room, clapping once Lucas finishes with the piano.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Eep. Someone was listening. The boy turns around slowly and laughs a little nervously as Mugi claps. He even dips his head in an embarrassed bow of sorts.]

Ehehe. You don't have to do that . . .

[kimitoaruiteku.livejournal.com]

It's a pretty song. Is it one that you learned or did you come up with it yourself?

[an-zero.livejournal.com]

[Zero spends a lot of time in the park with the trees and animals, which may seem weird for someone who is naturally a machine. Regardless, he's there when Lucas is. He's playing with a clover in his fingers.]

Looks like you need some new clothes.

[dodo-master.livejournal.com]

[The sound of singing - pretty decent singing! - has led Cynric to you. He claps enthusiastically when it sounds like you're done.]

Ah, excellent! See, you have some musical promise after all! Very good!

[resurrectinto.livejournal.com]

I keep forgetting that's starting up again. The school system here is so weird. You nervous at all?

...And you should probably get something that fits better, I'm just saying.

[Kind of... being fussy. Since Netherlands pointed out their little family unit, Margot can't unsee it.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas silently thanks Zero for not commenting on his mediocre-passable singing.]

Is it really obvious? . . . I'm not sure why; it's only been three months.

[an-zero.livejournal.com]

Humans tend to grow fast from what I know.

[kurasuprincessu.livejournal.com]

But it was good. Has anyone ever taught you to play piano?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . .

A lot, actually. That's the other reason. This song makes me feel a little better. But Crowe and Kay say high school isn't so bad, so . . .

[Lucas glances down.]

But I was just wearing this last school year.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I . . . heard it somewhere. I might have it a little wrong, but it's one of those things you just remember.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

It wasn't really very . . . And sort of. Not really. I've watched people play before, anyway.

[wolf-wolves.livejournal.com]

Not bad.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[pause]

You mean I outgrew them? But it's never been like this before . . . The pants barely reach my ankles.

[resurrectinto.livejournal.com]

You're going to the... high school? The bigger one?

I think you're just getting bigger. It happens.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Oh! Hi, Mr. Cynric.

[For some reason, he was half-expecting this strange person to pop up.]

I can sing OK . . . I just have to get it into an instrument.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Oh . . . ! Mr. Free.

[They hadn't talked much since their encounter with the monster thing. Probably they should've.]

Thanks . . . I like this song a lot.