03: † audio

[salvagedsoul]

[An audio post begins, and for a few seconds it's just the sound of the rain. Then, a piano begins to play. Those familiar with classical music would recognize it as French Suite No. 4, a well-known work by German composer J.S. Bach.

The music goes on for about fifteen minutes. It's a piece with a sense of introversion to it - even as the music turns complicated and speedy in some areas, it maintains a restrained elegance. Emotional, without being passionate.

When it finally ends, there are another few seconds of rainfall before Kaworu speaks.]

The demands of human relationships are overwhelming when you consider just how much love a heart needs to survive.

But, conversely, a heart can give an infinite amount of love in turn. The world is less scary if you simply remember this.

Comments

audio;

[sonofabyte]

Less scary.

audio;

[salvagedsoul]

[ah. this man.]

Naturally. The darkness can never be driven away entirely.

audio;

[drowns]

Ah...you play beautifully.

...Do you really believe that, though? That a person can love infinitely?

audio

[firstroar]

[no i'm not following whatever conversation you're having up there at all. no. no sir. i don't spy on people i have invested interest in ever at all.]

Any heart, perhaps.

text

[eyecontact]

You're really really good! Is that the piano you wanted to fix?

audio;

[salvagedsoul]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

And, yes. Do you disagree?

audio

[salvagedsoul]

[it's okay it's not like kaworu didn't totally do the same thing a little while ago..]

Certainly, any heart, if its caretaker allows it.

text

[salvagedsoul]

Yes, it is. I was able to get some work done on it, thanks to your advice. As you can tell, it has a long way to go, though.

audio

[tried]

Mm, I agree. Ah-- that was beautiful, by the way. You're really talented.

[eyecontact]

It already sounds pretty amazing...

[firstroar]

[pause.]

If its caretaker knows it can. If they know they can. [IF THEY AREN'T SPOONFED BY UNFEELING MACHINES KEITH.]

audio;

[drowns]

I don't know. [...] I think hearts get worn out, sometimes.

audio;

[sonofabyte]

What a strange proposition.

After all, the human heart is the source of the darkness in the first place.

[salvagedsoul]

Of course. When loneliness wounds people the way it does, it's convenient to use the heart's defenses to one's advantage.

[salvagedsoul]

They're very sensitive, yes. But people are much stronger than they give themselves credit for.

[salvagedsoul]

[shhhhhh grandad forget about him.]

Fear holds back the love of many. It's tragic.

[salvagedsoul]

You really think so? I'm sort of just guessing with repairing it.

audio;

[salvagedsoul]

Thank you very much. I thought some of my fellow transports might enjoy it.

[sonofabyte]

What defenses?

[firstroar]

[a soft sound.

a beat.]

What did that song mean to you?

[eyecontact]

Coulda fooled me :)
But I guess I'm not an expert either so I'm not the best person to ask...

[salvagedsoul]

The walls of the heart. If you guard yourself, you'll never be hurt by others. But, you'll also never connect with others. Over a lifetime, a person can become so starved of warmth.

[salvagedsoul]

Bach composed during a certain political era that required more subtlety in expression. He wrote for the harpsichord, but I think the piano brings out his true intention.

[sonofabyte]

[It takes him several long moments to respond to this, but the faint sound of his breathing betrays that he's still on the line.]

You speak in the abstract of "connection" and "warmth." Do you know nothing of what the human heart is truly capable of?

I believe you can be disregarded as an authority.

[salvagedsoul]

All that really matters is if it can make a sound pleasant to the ears of others.