thisavrou | [Video] March 9th (oops)

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[Video] March 9th (oops)

[It's taken Kaworu over a week to get around to making this public post, which says something about his level of personal investment in this job thing.

Nonetheless, here he is: all 5'1" of white hair and intent red eyes, looking incredibly discontented about something. Which he's going to complain about for your edification, like... right now.]

I'm supposed to be the music teacher.

[Never mind that he's never taught anyone anything before in his life. Or the life before it. Or any time. But that's not really the issue.]

There are no instruments on the ship, though.

Am I supposed to make them? Or find them?

[Because the first one is something of a problem.]

Either way... it's a little strange to assign someone to do something you're not equipped for, isn't it? It makes you wonder.

[Kaworu, no.]

Anyway, if you have any information about that, I'd appreciate it.

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Clearly, you're meant to overturn a few bins and play the bongos.

[Actually, he might like to see that.]

That does seem to be a massive oversight, though. Unless it's supposed to mean singing or something. Have you considered forming an a capella group?

[What's a bongo?]

I love singing. Singing is great. It is the purest and most spontaneous form of musical expression.

But how can I teach something that cannot be done incorrectly?

[Kaworu, why.]

Perhaps you could look at it a bit differently. Emphasize... creativity, or something.

[He's no teacher, but he always hated any classes he had to take, so he's sort of just going by what he might like to do..]

Or, hell, just make something up and say that's the class. If they haven't even got anything for you to teach with, how can they even regulate you?

[There is no graceful way for Kaworu to admit he's never taught anything in his life, nor has he ever attended a class that was not specifically designed for him. So maybe it's better this way.

But as always, he has to say the obvious:]

In that case, why even have class at all?

[Actually, while he's at it:]

What would happen if I didn't?

[He snorts.]

Something to do? I mean, there's bound to be painting classes or something where the instructor goes "you're all very good at this" or something along those lines. Treat it like that, perhaps.

I'm not sure, but if you show up to your post at the very least, I doubt they can fault you for much. I've been trying to get a handle on how things work here, but my work has been interesting enough for me to actually want to do it.

[Beyond his father being involved, of course.]

So there is no consequence to doing nothing at all, as long as the pretence of activity is maintained.

[He sounds... disappointed.

But if it's disappointing, it's also... freeing. If there is no requirement, then what he does with his time is his choice. No... more than that; how he lives, here, on the Moira is his choice. That he lives to begin with seems to be the requirement at all. He has mixed feelings on that, too--disappointment and liberation seem to go hand in hand here. Is this how the Lilim feel? To live?

To have the freedom of choice but in exchange, they must suffer the pain of living as only themselves... if he had to describe it, the sensation... it's a little disgusting.

Freed from the obligation of his own assignment, though, a certain light brightens his eyes.

The light of curiosity.]

What do you do?

I don't claim to understand everything about how they police working, but I'd guess showing up would be a start. I doubt there are massive consequences if your position isn't something revolving around medical, or repair, or along those lines. And without some sort of... standards, how can they decide how you teach?

[Liquid has gleaned that much from what he's seen, anyway. It's interesting to see the other's disappointment change into something else onscreen. Maybe he'll enjoy a bit of freedom in the lesson plan.]

I'm in counterintelligence. Not to brag, but I've got a bit of experience in spy work. [He won't mention being sold out and caught.] And I do enjoy the work itself, although I could do without a coworker of mine.

[Kaworu blinks--then looks bemused, his brow creasing together just a touch in the middle.]

Counterintelligence? Is this a military ship?

[No one told him about that. Why would a military vessel have a music teacher?]

I'm... not certain. Its main purpose seems to be exploratory, but perhaps with the motley crew it's been amassing, they're worried a threat is imminent. Or it's just busywork, tailored to things I'm good at.

[He's hoping figuring out what's what ends up being part of the job. Whether he's learning it through legitimate means or otherwise.]

It is a mystery.

There wasn't any cafe here when I arrived, I had to set it up myself.

We get supplies it sometimes, so you can request music stuff then, I guess.

Just be warned that some of the stuff you get might be a bit more alien than you expected.

[Kaworu looks extremely pensive for a moment. And by 'a moment,' I mean 'an entire minute of intense silence while he thinks about this. Then, finally:]

...well, I don't know how to teach anything to begin with, but...

...I suppose that if I get something I don't know how to play, my student and I can learn together.

[...that almost sounds kind of fun, actually. Maybe.]

[Allison is seriously starting to feel awkward near the end of the 60 seconds of silent staring at nothing.

It's kind of a relief when he talks again.]

Wait, they gave you a job you've never done? Suddenly I feel luckier about my job selection.

[Her barista gig has actually turned out pretty cozy.]

[Sorry, Allison. Kaworu sometimes runs more on dialup than is socially convenient.]

I do play the piano and violin, but teaching someone to perform an art, like music... the trust between teacher and student... that's such an intimate relationship.

It seems very irresponsible to assign it to someone so casually.

[Speaking of 'socially inconvenient': Kaworu Nagisa.]

[Well that's kind of setting off her creep-o-meter. Time to abort conversation?]

It sure does. But, uh, good luck with that!

[C'mon, he's fifteen. What's he gonna do?

'Fifteen.' Whatever. Close enough.

Of course, he immediately responds with a completely guileless, gracious smile.]

Thank you. I'll try not to let anyone down.

My guess would be some of our job assignments are related to testing our ability to adapt. I'm blind, and was assigned to piloting transports. [There is a sort of grim humor to how Light relays this.]

That being said, I have a knowledge of piano and play the harp competently. Should you need assistance in the future with a music program, I would be glad to assist.

--oh.

[...that... that explanation actually makes a lot of sense.

Of course.

Now he gets it.]

Well, I can already play the piano... and the violin.

[Ironically, Kaworu's ability to play the piano originates from a very similar kind of programme, designed to test and improve his ability to learn and adapt.]

I'm not actually sure what a harp is, though. Describe it to me.

[Bossy.]

[Light doesn't mind that kind of bossiness, considering he also requires people to describe and explain things to him quite often. And he also loves sharing his voluminous knowledge of just about everything with others.]

Do you know what the inside of a piano looks like? A harp is the strings and an outer structure with tuning pins and often pedals to assist. It is, in essence, a similar function to what a piano does, without the box and keys. Instead, it is struck by hand, or one might say it's strummed. A concert harp is tall enough that is close to the size of an inside of a baby grand piano, though there are many variations. A concert harp is held upright and the musician sits astride it to pluck its strings and manipulate its pedals.

If you have any passing familiarity with human history or culture, you may know it as an instrument used by almost every early civilization. A stringed instrument, often held in the lap, that is entirely open. It's also present in religious iconography as the instruments played by the deceased in Christian heaven, or angels.

[Kaworu closes his eyes to picture this as Light describes it; a piano, stripped of its framing and keys, played by plucking strings with the fingers?

It isn't until the last bit, the Biblical reference--angels and heaven--that his eyes open again.

Ah--]

...I see.

It must have a very beautiful sound.

[That weird dreamy tone in Kaworu's voice is completely normal. Don't pay it any mind.]

I think so, which is why I chose to study it. Back home I would play at night at a cafe, many people came to listen.

[If Light thinks the young man's tone is odd, he makes no note of it.]

The nice thing about a piano is that it can act as accompaniment to many instruments, like the harp, and others. I'm sure we're not the only people here here who can play music.

when I asked about teaching supplies they recommended talking to the people in the cargo bay. i think they handle incoming ingress merch, and stuff we trade for off-planet. niko bellic is involved in that — he's a good guy to ask

we could probably rig you up some rubber band guitars or something in the mean time though. do you know how to play?

I can play the piano and violin. 

You can make a guitar out of rubber bands?

sure. we could do it simple and just stretch them over a shoebox, or probably rig up something nicer with frets if you can find longer bands

it might not be piano or violin, but someone might like it. let me know if you need any help putting it all together. the classroom has an empty space you can use if you want — bad acoustics, but it's something

OH OH OH OH OH OHH H
i have sooooo many instruments!!
i've been asking for them every time we get supplies!!!
i'm the performance arts chief :D :D

nice to meet you i'm steven :D

Performing arts chief? What does that mean?

But thank you, it's very lucky that I met you.

My name is Kaworu Nagisa. Just Kaworu is fine, though.

it means i'm supposed to put on shows and stuff for the crew to make them happy!!
it's pretty cool

yeah i have so many instruments right now i don't even know where to keep them all...i'd been thinking about asking for a room to keep them like...a band room!!!

if we have a teacher now though we DEFINITELY need one
we should ask together!

Together? How would we ask that? 

Who do you ask for something like that?

the captains!
you just kind of ask them for a room to use for our jobs
i've never done it before but it doesn't seem hard

Ah. I haven't heard much about the captains. 
That's strange, isn't it? 
Despite having such a central role on this ship, they seem to be very mysterious.
But if it's as easy as you say, we can do it now.

I was assigned to be a technician on a system I've never touched before that presumably worked fine without my supervision. [ he sounds, and looks, extremely bored by it all. ]

It's likely just to keep us busy.

[Oh. Is that all?]

If that's the case, it implies there is something else they do not want us busy with, doesn't it?

Isn't that a safe assumption?

There's too much they haven't told us. [ Fushimi knows for a fact that he isn't the only one who's noticed how much information they seem to be sitting on. ]

i'd help you find some ivories to tickle, but that might be a little unpleasant for both of us.

have you tried checking around the cargo bay? there is some weird stuff down there, pal.

Unpleasant? Why would it be unpleasant?

I didn't actually know we were allowed down there. There is much of the ship I have yet to explore.

bone joke, don't worry about it. ;)

but yeah, the cargo bay is pretty chill. there might be a few palms you have to grease to get unrestricted access, but it's mostly robots down there. they could probably do with a good oiling.

I have an electric guitar. It's a gift I received while here.

[He has an acoustic too, but it's a little too personal to loan.]

But it wouldn't be right for me to borrow a gift of yours. You should treasure something given to you in that spirit. After all, a gift is a special token of the heart.

Sure. But if you can't find anything else, I don't think he would mind.

Admittedly, it's been a while since I've gotten a lot of gifts. [And he's gotten a few since being here.]

[music? now that piques Bel's interest, not as a performer but as a listener. if the clean-cut face and cheerful alto in the video reply seem inordinately amused for the situation, well, it's not the first time someone's felt their job assignment was strange.]

You'll do fine. People get real creative on this ship.

Going to have a concert when you get enough students?

gonna teach people how to play ? dont need instruments when you got the soul for it. sound always finds a way to get heard

I guess we're members of the same department, then. We pretty much just have to make do with whatever's around for materials.

Oh? And what department is that?

I didn't realise there were so many of us.

Education. Me and Alice Quinn are the general education teachers.

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[Video] March 9th (oops)

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Sorry! MY work got me. Pretend this isn't stupidly introspective.

hahaha don't worry about it

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audio, i of course could not resist the last little reference

(Thank you for your patience, work ate me)

i know the feeling!

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anon; text

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Video? Audio? Something!

Sorry, I usually match media to post unless I say otherwise so I didn't think to.

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