[ action + written - backdated to shortly after the end of the EH plot]

[peacockherald]

[ Vanyel knew he should have told the others, should have said something - but he was sure they knew when they took the count of the bodies in the clinic. But he couldn't make himself do it. It wasn't in him to announce that sort of thing, he had faced it enough times in years prior. Facing it again...

Well, it wasn't up to it. Especially not with Clow. It hurt and he wasn't up for it. He could have staid in his room, but he was afraid he would dream there, and he never had good experiences with dealing with sorrow locked in a room. So he needed to be outside, away from his room, and definitely away from the clinic. His happiest times had always been with the Tayledras, in their trees, in their forests, so maybe he should go there. He wished this place had the Tayledras baths with their cascading falls and heats, but he would have to make due with height. 

So out he went into the gardens, seeking out a tree, any tree. He found one swiftly enough, scrambling up and embarrassed for how much scrambling he actually did and sincerely hoped that no one saw it. His brothers would have been shamed - even his niece would have found it shameful. He worked himself up to the branch and sat back, sighing as he leaned back against the trunk, legs dangling on either side of the branch.

After a moment he took out the journal, began to scratch at it - ]

It might be selfish right now, but if anyone could... I would appreciate music of some sort. I would play some myself, but I can't. So I have to ask a favor, which I promise to repay. Just a song, that's all. Please. 

Comments

[kid_apocalypse]

[A few moments after Vanyel's request, the sound of an acoustic guitar being plucked can be heard, before the person on the other end launches into a song.]

[peacockherald]

_{[ He listens for awhile, the sound so like his favored lute, a thing he could not even touch now. It made his heart ache, but at the same time he was so glad to hear music, glad that the Castle had not taken that away from him at least. His fingers twitched, wanting to make the motions on the strings, but they couldn't. Still, it was enough. ]}

Thank you... that was lovely.

[kid_apocalypse]

You're welcome. After what we all went through, every little bit helps, right?

[Though Evan liked music, he hadn't really thought about his skills as being all that useful outside of making himself happy, so he's happy that someone else can appreciate his skills.]

[peacockherald]

Indeed, it does. I wish I could repay you with a song of my own, but it is not within my power, so I shall have to return the favor another way.

[kid_apocalypse]

Is it your loss or something? Don't even worry about it. I like to play, so it's a bonus for me to have an actual reason to, heh.

[peacockherald]

Yes, that is my loss. I cannot sing, I cannot compose, I cannot play an instrument, touch them, or even pretend to pluck their strings. I can listen though, and I suppose I should be grateful for that mercy.

[kid_apocalypse]

Oh, that sucks! I mean...my loss is bad enough, but I can't even imagine not being able to play. I mean...I only just learned how to do it before I came here, but I don't know what I'd do without it.

You know...you really oughtta ask more often. I bet all sorts of people'd play. I've got a gut feeling there's a lot of people in the castle who can play, they're just too shy to come out and do it, heh.

[peacockherald]

I suppose I could, but I did not want to seem a burden on people. I am happy enough to listen when they offer to play, take my pleasure from that. But, I would enjoy the chance to encourage more people to play.

[kid_apocalypse]

Eh, anything to break up the monotony, you know? Not that life ever has a chance to get boring around here or anything, but...y'know, boring for this place, anyway.

[peacockherald]

I would welcome boring right now, though inspired musical pieces are always welcome. I could think of a few I could teach you - well, if I could teach you. Your instrument sounds similar to my lute.

[kid_apocalypse]

Heh, yeah.

Oh yeah? I'd like that. I only learned how to really play before I came here, but I've been doing a lot of practicing on my own. It'd be nice to have others to share it with.

[peacockherald]

Perhaps I could try and teach you. I can... talk about music, but not play it. Correcting and guiding I do not think would be a problem so long as it was only verbal and I did not attempt to sing notes.

[whistles_the_blues]

[Here you go Vanyel, have a little tune whistled over the journal.]

[peacockherald]

_{[He bobbed his head to the tune, closing his eyes as he did so to better appreciate it, mentally ticking off the notes bene if he couldn't ever vocalize them again. ]}

That was quite nice, thank you.

[madetosin]

[Healing was a slow thing and he would always hate it. Even the accumulated skill of castle clinic wouldn't make his recovery immediate, moreso because a certain amount of appearances was needed. It would take time to replace his eye, once he could escape to the town clinic or his lab in town.

In the meantime, he was far most mobile than most. Stealing away for some air and a cigarette was quite needed.

The shape in the trees was not hard to miss, even with only one good eye, and he paused as he fished in his pockets to move closer, his moments slightly stiff from the bandages under his clothes.]

The birds in this garden are bigger than I remembered.

[peacockherald]

_{[ Vanyel looked down to see Muraki, startled to see the state he was in. He must have been on the EH, the one where everyone went insane. He supposed he could have gotten in the injuries from the crash, but he didn't think so.}

His mouth quirked, the tiniest bit, but he didn't have it in him to fully smile. ]

Every now and then a peacock likes to get up high, I suppose.

[madetosin]

[Muraki put his back against the tree and looked upward]

It's difficult to appreciate your feathers from down here.

[peacockherald]

_{[ Vanyel did him a favor and looked down. ]}

Is that your way of trying to coax me down then?

[madetosin]

Would it be better if I asked directly? Come down here and talk.

[peacockherald]

_{[ He shifted on the branch, looking down at him, but not coming down - mostly because it would be a arduous chore at the moment, and he did not want to seem totally ungraceful just yet. ]}

Talk of what? The weather? I can tell you more about it if I am up here.

[madetosin]

I am not interested in the weather, unless you mean the thundercloud you seem to be carrying with you. What's wrong?

[peacockherald]

_{[ He sighed, not really wanting to speak of it, but knowing he should. Wallowing in his own despair had never served him well. ]}

Clow... died on the ship.

_{[ He was close to Clow, and that... hurt, knowing he had passed. He had lost so many, and the pain did not lessen for knowing that the other would return. ]}

[madetosin]

[The name doesn't ring a bell to him, but he's wondering if it should] Someone you were close to?

[peacockherald]

_{[ He nodded. ]}

I know, in my head, that he will return, but it is hard all the same.

[madetosin]

[Muraki lifted his chin and stared upwards in the dappled pattern of the leaves]

Death is never easy, but it's always the same for all of us.