Cassies Palace 20

<[GM]Mary> Cut to the game room, where the master and her fairy currently await the other's arrival. Cassandra's playing something on the piano, but it's a slow piece, and she often starts over from mistakes.
* [huh]Isabella is performing what seems like a solo-waltz to the tune.
* %Cassandra hits a very sour note, and winces.
* [huh]Isabella trips, and topples off the piano.
<%Cassandra> hah... I think I stink at this, Izzy.
* [Pyg]Victoria knocks on the doorway announcing her arrival.
<%Cassandra> Come on in.
<[huh]Isabella> These things take practice, Cassie. If your goal wasn't difficult, it wouldn't be satisfying to achieve it, right?
<[Pyg]Victoria> "You called, Mistress?"
<%Cassandra> Yeah. Just relax a little bit, I'm waiting on everyone else. It's about that time...
* %Cassandra thinks to Izzy:/Yeah, yeah, I know. Can't I complain anyway?/
* %Cassandra starts again, playing something more simple.
* [huh]Isabella /You'll do it whether I let you or not, right? You want to use my eyes for a bit?/
* %Cassandra /Nah. I learned without looking, sight would just make me disoriented./
* [huh]Isabella /Suit yourself./
* [huh]Isabella goes back to her waltz, this time airborne.
<[huh]Isabella> Evening, Vickie~
<[Pyg]Victoria> Good evening, Miss Isabella.
* [Pyg]Victoria walks over to her mistress at the piano, observing her play.
* %Cassandra isn't showing any signs of improvement.
* %Cassandra sighs, and makes a loud THUUUNNN by sitting her elbow on a set of keys.
* [huh]Isabella tumbles from the air once more.
<%Cassandra> Hey, Victoria. Do you do anything creative?
* Tabitha listens to the hustle and bustle from the game room from the other side of the door, before knocking out of respect.
<Tabitha> "Can I assume that you are all decent in there?"
* Tabitha says, voice muffled by the door.
<[Pyg]Victoria> Only when the mood strikes me.
<[Pyg]Victoria> Oh, I should get the door.
* %Cassandra rolls her blind eyes, and continues attempting piano
<[huh]Isabella> I'll do it~
* [huh]Isabella darts past Vickie and opens the door.
<[Pyg]Victoria> "Well, all right."
* Tabitha is met by that knife-stealing fairy.  Her expression is unreadable.
<Tabitha> "Good evening...Miss Isabella."
* [huh]Isabella beams at Tabitha before again continuing her waltz.
<[huh]Isabella> Good evening, Tabby~
* Tabitha leans into the room, hearing mediocre piano sounds from time to time.
<Tabitha> "Ballroom dancing, are we?"
<[huh]Isabella> Though this isn't a ballroom~
<%Cassandra> Ah, hello Tabitha. I hope you're better at this than I am.
* Tabitha shrugs as she glides into the room, carrying THAT GLASS with her.
<[Pyg]Victoria> "Where are the other girls?"
<Tabitha> "I wouldn't mind reviving an old pastime.  Judging from what I've heard, I...do believe I am better, yes."
* %Cassandra scoots over.
<Tabitha> "And I'm sorry, Miss Victoria, but I cannot say."
<[Pyg]Victoria> "Ah well, they'll come 'round."
* [Pyg]Victoria takes a seat on a sofa and takes a book out of her pocket to read.
* Tabitha sets her glass atop the piano and takes a seat next to her sister.
<Tabitha> "Would there be a particular song you'd like played?  I'm sure with the right sheet music on hand it will be most enjoyable."
<%Cassandra> Ah... um, Izzy, do you know where the sheet music is?
<[huh]Isabella> Sheet music...
* [huh]Isabella searches various parts of the room before producing a sheaf of paper.
<[huh]Isabella> Found it~
<%Cassandra> Hmm...
<%Cassandra> Do you know "Shine A Light"?
* Tabitha screws up her eyebrows.
<Tabitha> "Mmnn...Not, that I can recall..."
<%Cassandra> Well, just do whatever you like. A lot of the ones I was taught by... him, are very foreign songs.
* Tabitha nods, and after flexing her pitiful-looking fingers warms up with a few scales and arpeggios, mentally going through the songs she's memorized.
* Tabitha keeps going on one particular arpeggio for quite a while until she develops a beat, then makes up her mind and begins a very light-hearted, bouncy kind of song that manages to remain quite elegant.
* %Cassandra just smiles and sits back. . o ( Well, at least I got a good reason to get another piano. )
* Valea sits on the bed in her room, remaining as still and focused as she can to achieve her goal...
* %Cassandra thinks to Valea: /Hey. What're you up to? Has Enrica spoken to you yet?/
* UBOA ([email protected]) Quit
* Valea is startled, both mind and body, by the sudden contact. Her focus wavers as she responds.
* Valea / ahh! ah, no... /
* %Cassandra /Jeez. Go get her and come down here, I got something pretty gosh-darned important to talk about./
* Valea / ... sorry, but could you please um, leave me be, right now? T-this is something I have to do... / Her nervousness is almost tangible, even with the distance separating them.
<[GM]Mary> Valea: There's a long pause, then a reply.
* %Cassandra /...You better not be doing anything we talked about. Be ready in ten minutes, okay? Or I'm starting without you two./
<%Cassandra> Well, shoot, Tabitha. Just show me up, why don't you.
<%Cassandra> Hmm...
* %Cassandra turns around.
* Valea frowns as she repositions herself, sitting stably once more. / I-i'm not... but i'll try... /
* Tabitha focuses on the keys, but answers in a deadpan anyways.
<Tabitha> "I believe that is what you told me to do...Cassie."
* Valea 's mind echoes nigh ethereal repeated statements of "no" as her mental message ends.
<%Cassandra> I guess you're right, Tabbie.
* %Cassandra pokes Tabitha in the side at her name.
* Tabitha falters at the keys as she is poked, squeaking a little, but manages to get back into rhythm before too long.
* Tabitha quickly switches into a very heavy-handed rendition of "Chopsticks", as if to soothe Cassie's ego.
<Tabitha> "...Better, or worse?"
* %Cassandra smiles, and bobs her head at the bouncy beat.
<%Cassandra> Hey, Victoria, can you dance?
* Valea resituates herself on the bed, deepening her meditation and hoping that it will help her keep the promise. ( I don't want to see her like that again... I'm sorry, but no, no, no, no... )
<[Pyg]Victoria> "Ah, no. I'm afraid I have two left feet."
<[Pyg]Victoria> "And, err, a little embarrassing."
<%Cassandra> ah, phooey. I'm sure you're good enough to fool the blind girl.
* Enrica ambles through the halls with no particular purpose in mind.
* %Cassandra beams to Enrica: /Hey. What're you up to? We're waiting on you two./
* Enrica /Ah, right away. Any idea where Valea is?/
* %Cassandra /She's in her room, pissing me off again. Collect her for me, if you would please./
* Enrica /Right, right./
* Enrica jogs over to Valea's room. Something to do!
<[GM]Mary> Within a few minutes, everyone in the house is assembled in the game room.
* [huh]Isabella sits in Cassie's lap.
* Enrica takes a look around the room for the records she set aside, listening in case someone says something.
<%Cassandra> Right, then.
<%Cassandra> As I've mentioned before, we'll all be moving away from here soon.
* %Cassandra frowns.
<%Cassandra> Sorry, Vickie, it seems I can't give you a break.
<[Pyg]Victoria> "Oh, don't worry about it."
<[GM]Mary> [zzt.]