phantasmalrift | it's been a while, but I still feel the same

Who: Aiden and you
What: Just some worrying while people are all up in his headspace right now.
When: 22nd (OOCly) and onward
Where: library
Warnings: None, for now! Will warn in subjects, to the best of my memory.

various places

[ He's been trying. But, with how there are people currently lurking in his Palace, of all places, it's a little difficult to calm down. All he can currently think about is that...

Which is how he winds up wandering...

Aiden can be found in the library the most often, primarily reading up on all things scientific (for all you science nerds). As usual, there's a pretty tall stack of books next to him, and he's moving through each one at a pace that could almost give the impression he's just skimming the pages.

Other times, he can be found in the medbay, doing what he can to help people who need to be healed.

He can also be spotted struggling with cooking in one of the kitchens... at multiple times. Although "failing at cooking" might just be the better way to put it, in these cases. He's not only getting repeatedly distracted, he's adding too much salt in some places, while just generally overcooking in other areas.

Lastly, he is occasionally visiting the audio/visual center, where he's going to be sitting at the piano. His acoustic guitar is propped against the wall nearby as he practices... And doesn't totally screw up at it? He's not doing great at all with timing, and there's definitely a lot of tension in his wrists and hands... but... ]

[ closed ] those staying behind

[ During most of the next week, he will be actually asking people to help him learn a few things. One person will be getting dragged to the garden area to help him learn more about the plants (though he apparently already knows a suspiciously large amount about them by now). Another will be getting tugged over to help him learn console video games (with which he will struggle like hell, so enjoy). Yet another will be challenged to DDR (or pinball, though he's actually ridiculously skilled at this game, apparently), with the excuse that competition might help him improve at this game... since he's only above-average, at this point. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Margulis doesn't particularly care for video games, he's spent far too long cultivating habits of keeping his entertainment to things he can drop at a moment's notice (and besides, they typically only make him want real excitement more). He does, however, enjoy music, and he just happens to be down on the lower level of the annex in time to watch Aiden walk in and start practicing on the piano.

His boots click against the floor as he walks up, taking note of missed timing and inconsistencies in volume. He just watches for a minute or so, before deciding to speak up.]

You'll need to relax your wrists. With that much tension, your hands won't be able to move as smoothly as a keyboard requires.

[ He blinks softly at the words, as though he'd been bracing himself for something much worse... ]

... All right.

[ With that, he's going to attempt to relax his wrists. Though he succeeds in relaxing them some, there's still a tension lurking. There's a sigh as he quickly stops, and he's just frowning down at the keys for now. ]

[He tilts his head, noting the continued tension. If he can't even relax his muscles with deliberate focus, then...]

There's something on your mind.

...

[ There's a wry smirk, and then he glances up at the older man. ]

More like... there are several somethings on my mind. [ deep breath ] There's something that- some of my friends are trying to do to help me, but it...

[ Aiden's hands curl into tight fists, and then relax a little. ]

It's life-threateningly dangerous for them to do what they're doing... right this very second. [ and himself, but that's far beside the point ] And...

[ Well, now his hands are... trembling a bit? He has no idea why he's struggling so much to keep it together, suddenly... ... Until it hits him. His voice is quiet as he admits: ]

... Meanwhile, I'm left to sit here and wait and- hope they'll all return, each day...

That's a feeling I'm well familiar with.

[His expression doesn't change visibly, but there's a sympathy that shows in his voice...along with the pain that comes when those people don't come back.]

I was a military commander, back in my own world. Sending people close to you out on missions without a guarantee of their safety isn't an easy task. But worrying only serves a purpose if you're in a position to turn it into tangible action. Otherwise, it merely insults those acting on your behalf, as an implication that you weren't confident in their abilities.

[It's on his way back from delving into the Palace that he messages Aiden to find out where he is. They'd only just started to enter into the Palace, and already it was... telling. But Shido hadn't expected anything less. He'd started forming suspicions even before the Have You Ever night, when Aiden's loose lips had unveiled the dark thoughts haunting him.

He wonders if— they'd helped at all. If he'd been able to help. If the people who genuinely cared for Aiden helped break down that Palace... even if it was just a single brick. Recalling when Aiden had given him that genuine smile and told him he'd done more for Aiden than most anyone had for most of his life... he really hopes so.

The A/V room isn't one he spends a terrible lot of time in, but Aiden isn't difficult to find, sitting at the piano and playing a song.

... or trying to.

Shido comes over, but doesn't interrupt. The strokes are hesitant, slightly faltering, uncertain of themselves, and some of the notes are a bit discordant, but he at least recognizes that it's not reminiscent of any piece he'd heard before.]

Edited 2018-09-29 20:22 (UTC)

[ He's been trying to improve, but it hasn't been going all that well. Masayoshi is catching him right as he's giving up on this attempt. With a grumble, he closes the lid... ]

... Ah.

[ Ohai there... There's the hint of a blush as he glances away... ]

[Shido only gives a soft smile in return.]

May I?

[Take a seat next to him.]

[ He blinks softly... but gives a small, somewhat shy nod. With that, he's sliding over to give him room. ]

... So... How are you feeling?

[Well, if Aiden wanted to learn DDR, he sure picked a good person to learn from. Akira's leaning back against the handle bar as pulls her hair up into a ponytail.]

So, hey, do you want to go ahead and pick out a song or should I?

[ He gives her a small smile. ]

You pick this one, and I pick the next?

Works for me!

[She stretches briefly before scrolling through the songs, considering each one carefully. Eventually she settles on one.]

Ready to start?

[ He nods, and there's a tiny bit of a widen to his smile at the song choice. Good one! ]

Ready.

[ Now she's getting a small grin~ Let's do this! ]

[She fistpumps as she selects the song and the stage begins.

She's not entirely on top of her game with this song, but that might be attributed to this being a warm-up. Still, not on top of her game is still other people's "pretty well"...]

[ He's definitely far from being experienced in this, but he's been practicing a lot. And his reaction time is probably helping him a lot here...

So, Aiden will be coming close to making this into a tie! ]

[Once the music comes to an end, Akira can't help but grin at the scores a bit.]

I think you were definitely right about competition helping out with this. Nice job! You may dethrone me from the top spot yet.

[Bastila walks into the Medical Bay. She is sporting a lovely bruise and walking with a limp.]

Hello? Is anyone here? I could use a little help.

it's been a while, but I still feel the same

A/V center

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Piano~

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DDR

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Medbay