>>28628742
> Run diversion. Go and ask them for something.

Man, where is everybody?

>>28628742
> Maybe use another staircase?
how well do we know the layout of this building, might be time to explore

>>28628742
>> Maybe use another staircase?

> Just go downstairs past them. It'll be fine.

>>28628742
>Thread started 55 minutes ago.
Weird, how did I miss seeing this?

File: 1386050967690.gif-(478 KB, 270x263, 1384957223884.gif)

478 KB GIF

>>28628742
>It's back!

> Okay, okay, I'm here. Give me a second!
> For a moment I thought this was abandoned ;_;

>>28629315
>>28629328
>>28629358
>>28629386

To be honest, you're not very clear about the layout of the extracurricular block, mostly because... well, because you don't really have a club. That was one of the many ways in which you somehow slipped through the gaps; everyone in Mackelmore was supposed to have a club, but since you joined school slightly late, no one thought to ask you. And since you didn't have a club, you never really had a circle of friends.

So, like an isolated moose with a bad leg, the wolves closed in on you. Sure, you got involved in the library, but that's not really the same...

Still. The block is a big L shape, and even if the orchestra is playing on one side, surely there must be a staircase on the other. It's some sort of fire safety thing, right? Can't possibly be just one way up or down. Well, it's not like trying is any harm. You grip Elina's hand, feeling its boniness, a slight chill in the skin. She looks down at it curiously, and you think of dropping it for a moment. 'Hmm?'

'There must be another way which is quieter. I think the sports people are all gone by now. Let's go.'

'Oh, okay.' She follows you out obediently.

> cont'd.

>>28629547

In the gathering darkness, you walk down the dusty walkway, your footsteps grinding on the dust no matter how carefully you put them down. Elina, on the other hand, walks in perfect silence; if you weren't holding her hand, feeling her slight weight tugging lightly on you, you would have no idea she was there at all.

The thought makes you grip her hand a little tighter. Glancing on either side of you, all you see are abandoned rooms - some of them furnished, some not; some of them looking surprisingly clean, others with cobwebs and dust caked on every surface. The windows are open here, closed there, their joints and hinges all rusted; on one side is the glare of the setting sun, on the other, the darkening blue sky. As you move on towards the central lobby it's possible to imagine for a few moments you're the only two people left in the world.

... well, that wouldn't be good news for Elina then, seeing what her diet is. Or for you. You chuckle, but then stop when Elina hisses. 'Eh?'

'Oh, nothing.' She's raised her other hand to cover her face from the west. 'Why're you chuckling?'

You look on. The rest of the floor does seem to be empty.

> Make a little joke about her diet.
> Oh, it's nothing.
> Other.

>>28629665
>> Oh, it's nothing.

Don't need to make her feel self conscious

>>28629665
>> Oh, it's nothing.
make small talk

>>28629750
>>28629690

'Hmm? Oh, it's nothing.' You try to think of a reason, and end up just waving your finger around. 'Just... it's a bit strange isn't it, this place?'

'How so?'

'Like... I don't know. I just think it's funny that you decided to live here.'

'Is it really strange?'

'No one *lives* in a school, Elina... well, unless it's a boarding school. But then you'd have like, a proper room, with a proper bed and closet and maybe even a toilet. Mackelmore's too poor to have this kind of stuff, though. They spent all the money on the clubs and sports.'

'I do have a proper room now.' By now you're both at the central lobby, looking at the elevator door - closed, and sealed with tape and wooden boards nailed into the walls. How do you manage to put iron nails into concrete anyway? You can see that the other corridor is also an expanse of these rooms, abandoned, and even darker since they don't face the sun.

Yeah, she does have a proper room, but no bed... no closet... nothing. Damn, how long has she been living without these things? Just with the basement flat? Or since a long time back, before Kel- before Lars and all that? You gesture forward and she follows, and you walk carefully.

'Careful. Nails.'

Oh damn she's right. You move around them to reach the stairs. Wait, even you can hear talking at the landing below you... it doesn't sound like anyone you know. That's actually a good thing probably.

> Go down with Elina, make up an excuse.
> Go down alone, try to divert them.
> Other.

>>28629904
>> Go down with Elina, make up an excuse.

Mumble about having to do something and shuffle off.

>>28629904
>> Go down with Elina, make up an excuse.
if we get questioned, maybe we were asked to show her around, like she's a new student...

>>28630022
She's a friend and she wanted to see the school. It's the truth, too.

>>28629933
>>28630022

You shrug and move on, but Elina grips your hand and you turn around. 'Hmm?'

'They're down there.'

You glance down. 'Yeah I know, but it's fine. We'll just say you're a friend and you want to see the school, right?' That isn't even an excuse, after all. Well, you say friend...

'I can smell them though, they've sweated. I think they... were running around?' Now that makes you hesitate a little, yourself. But then even sportspeople have had little to do with you. What they're doing in the evening here, no one knows.

'It's fine. I've got no problems with them.' You smile and tug her a little. 'Come on.'

As you go downstairs, you can't help glancing up to check if she's there - of course she is, unless she's even weirder than you thought and her hand can detach. Oh wait a minute, you probably ought not to be holding her hand... letting go, you stand aside so she walks beside you. Elina looks down at the steps, almost hanging her head, as you go, as if she's really uncomfortable about this.

At the landing it's evident they're not about to pay attention to you. It's a cluster of the basketball people again, and you jump as they hammer one of the doors. 'Oi, Hugh! We know you're passed out in there from fucking! Wake up and come out!'

'Bring that Lisa girl with you as well!'

'Rissa. Rissa.'

'Whatever. Oi HUGH!'

Elina reaches for your hand and grips it. 'Let's go,' she mutters, but just then you hear an 'Oi there!' from the group. Damn! 'Where're you guys going? Have you seen Hugh?'

> What do/say, Stan?

>>28630190
"Who?"

>>28630190
"I'm sorry who? Hugh.... can't say I have"

>>28630190
>Do what Elina suggests.

>>28630190
"Sorry haven't seen anyone, we're a little preoccupied ourselves. Good Luck"

>>28630243
>>28630213

You glance at Elina, who is still staring at the floor hard. Shit, now *she* is holding your hand, and you can't shake it too obviously... 'what, who?'

'Hugh. Hugh. You know, the forwar-'

'Danny, he doesn't know the basketball people. Look at him.' The guy who stopped Danny steps forward a little. 'Did you see a pretty tall, strong-looking guy, wearing kit like ours, maybe... probably pulling along a girl with a ponytail? Also quite tall, the girl.'

'I can't... say I have, no.' You're not about to ask Elina, of course, but unfortunately Danny turns to her and repeats the question. 'No, she couldn't have seen him either. We were.. I mean she was, uh...' oh shit, shit Stan you fucking idiot, why did you let slip-

'She was with you all day?' the other guy looks upstairs, and you barely resist the urge to run head first into a wall. 'What, up in the ghost floor?'

'Um...' but your hesitation is met with raucous laughter.

'Well, if they were there then Hugh's not, I'm guessing...!'

Seizing the chance, Elina drags you down the staircase, which only makes them laugh louder. As you turn a corner, you hear one of them say, 'wait, who the hell was that little girl...'

'I'm sorry, Elina,' you mutter. 'Damn, I fucked it up aga-'

'Stop. Shh.' You're on the ground floor now. 'Where's the piano?'

You open the door of the student lounge just a crack, and thankfully there's no one inside. Elina enters after you and then, as you switch on the lights, she stands there staring at the piano, entranced. Her free hand was holding the sheaf of sheet music against her chest all this while; standing there, feet close together and head held a little low, she somehow looks... forlorn.

But you don't think that's what she's feeling now. 'Wow,' Elina mutters, still rooted there. You wait a few moments for her to continue. It's nice... it's beautiful... it's... awful? But she just stands there silently, almost as if afraid to approach it.

> What do, Stan?

>>28630421
>Lead her to the piano.

>>28630421
"Sorry about all the trouble getting down here, I'd still love to hear you play.."

>>28630421
>ask if somethings wrong
>take her hand, lead to the piano
"It's not gonna bite, go on try it out. You were so excited before it'd be a shame to waste to effort getting here, besides I was looking forward to it"

>>28630480
>>28630463

It doesn't seem like you should... talk, so instead you just smile and go up to her from behind, nudging her a little. Elina steps forward a bit, but then stops again...

... well, that leaves you no choice then, does it? You chuckle, trying to think of something to say while scratching your head. 'Are you... is it... is there a problem? Does it smell wrong or something?'

'No, no, it smells nice!' Elina then blinks, a little confused at what she said. 'No, it's just that... it's been about ten years, I think, since I last had a piano to play. I don't know if I can still-'

'Then there's only one way to know, isn't there?' You grin while opening the piano cover. Elina sucks in her breath, looking at the keys, and again when you pull out the seat. 'Come on.'

'Do you want to choose what you want to hear? Just-'

You take the sheaf of papers from her. Wait a minute... many of these papers feel rather brittle in your hands, almost as if they're going to fall apart if you tug on them a bit too hard, so you cradle them in both hands and look at the titles. Some are in English, many are in French or German... is that a signature with the date '1872' on it? 'Just... what?'

'Just don't pick something too hard,' she murmurs.

Man, you don't even know if something might be too hard. You don't know shit about this!

> Pick one at random. (Roll d100)
> Look for a familiar name. (Write-in)
> Look for a familiar piece. (Write-in)
> Other.

Rolled 55

>>28630680
>> Pick one at random. (Roll d100)

Rolled 18

>>28630680
>Pick one at random. (Roll d100)

I would suggest something but I can't think of anything suitable.

Rolled 61

>>28630731

Something by Chopin would be nice.

If not, random.

>>28630698
>>28630731
>>28630801

You try your best to flip through the papers with the utmost care, seeing how anxious Elina was about them, the light in her face when she heard that you had the suitcase with you. Come think of it, if some of these really were from the 19th century, how much might they be worth in an auction?

Also, Elina's suitcase - was that all she carried with her on her travels? A large sheaf of piano sheet music... why bother? Maybe, again, it's just an attempt to be, or to at least look, more human. But the thought makes you feel a little guilty again. Come on, Stan. She *is* still human. Look at her. She's sitting very still, her hands raised to the row of white and black keys and touching them just lightly. There seems something creepy, almost, about the arch of her wrist and fingers, almost like those disembodied hands they sell as Halloween sweets.

'So...?'

Oh, damn! Um... you vaguely know about Chopin, and how he was a genius at the piano and something about how he was a patriot for... France, was it? Hungary? Poland or something. You have no idea what kind of a last name Chopin was in particular. Flipping through until you find several Chopin scores, you draw one out gingerly, and then hold it out to her.

... the first page doesn't look *too* dense with notes. It's not hard, right? Elina blinks and turns around, then looks at the score and smiles. 'Is this okay?'

'This is fine.' She doesn't take the score from you.

> cont'd.

>>28630919

'Don't you want the music?'

'No, it's fine. You picked a nice one.' She gestures for you to sit, and you pull a chair next to the piano so you can watch her play while listening at the same time. The first note holds for a moment, and then those bony hands slide into motion - gentle, slow motion.

It's a pretty doleful tune, actually, the right hand playing a short, repeated and slightly sad melody. But even as you feel a little brought down by your own choice - typical of course, Stan, the one to ruin the atmosphere - Elina seems just glad that she's playing something. Her eyes are half closed, in the same way they are when she sleeps, and a little smile plays on her face as the music rises, falls, slows every now and then to pick up again.

She's muttering something, you notice - her lips moving as she plays - and even the stiffness in her slim form is easing as she sways back and forth, feet lifting and pressing on the pedals.

> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NONg06Pf0v8

The song ends with a little, wavelike motion both of her hands and in your ears. The silence seems a lot deeper now, following the music, but Elina punctuates it, turning to you with an excitement you haven't seen since she was playing the Funstation.

'That's a relief, that is,' she says, shaking her wrists a little as if the piece was really difficult. 'Just really happy I can still remember that.'

Well, you'd be happy too if you can remember an entire song on the piano and play it with your eyes closed!

> What do/say, Stan? That was really nice! Well, to your untrained ears anyway. Elina looks almost radiant.

>>28631041
Ask her if she wants to play some more.

>>28631041

When and where did she learn to play like this?

Also find a more challenging piece.

>>28631041
> Take her hand.
"That was beautiful."
Then one or both of these
>>28631120
>>28631140

>>28631120
>>28631140
>>28631258

> Last post before dinner. I might come back later but it might take some time.
> Thanks for playing, people!

'Well, you *look* happy, Elina! That was really nice. Thanks for playing for me.'

Her eyes widen, gleaming gold in the fluorescent lighting, and you giggle as she blushes visibly and looks back towards the piano. Her hands flop around on the keys a little, soft and limp, which for some reason is also really funny. 'I... well, thanks.'

'No, no, I meant it. It-' ahem, serious now- 'it really was lovely. So... if you don't mind me asking, where or when did you, uh, learn the piano?'

Once Elina hears that, her hands seem to snap back into a playing position, which makes you wonder if that was the wrong question to ask. But she pre-empts your attempted cancellation, smiling softly towards the keys, not looking up at you. 'I... well, I learned when I was still a girl.'

'... ah.' Shit. When she was still a girl... so she means, when she was still... a human? The image of her angry, hurt expression when she walks out of the hotel flashes into your mind again and stops you from asking more, so a soft 'I see' is all you've got. But to your surprise, she then clears her throat.

> cont'd.

>>28631317

'Y-yes. When I was still a girl, 5 or 6, I started learning. With Czerny.' No idea who that is... 'so it was about ten or twelve years? And then, well. I became... like this.'

That she's willing to be this open to you means you have to do something in return. Getting up, you stand behind her and hold her shoulders, and Elina heaves a deep sigh before leaning back against you. You rub her shoulders a little, not sure if you're getting across any sort of message to her. It's okay what you've become, Elina. That's not... well, not a major problem. Her hands are still on the keyboard, extended but at rest, and she gives a little 'mmm' of satisfaction.

'Do you want to play some more?' You risk.

'Sure. I'll choose this time.' You make to let her go but she reaches behind your back, stopping you from leaving - indeed pulling you a little forward, so she can lean back at you but not be too far from the piano. 'What kind of song do you want? Slow or fast?'

> Slow and gentle, please.
> Let's work those fingers properly, Elina!
> Any specific request. (Write-in)

>>28631334
>> Let's work those fingers properly, Elina!

>>28631334
>> Let's work those fingers properly, Elina!

Damn right.

>>28631334
Uptempo, but I like the softer notes.

>>28631347
>>28631369
>>28631405

'Hmmm.' Seeing as her worries about rustiness were unfounded, it would make sense to push her a little more, so you pull a wicked grin. Okay, actually, tone down the wickedness a bit. Just a mischievous grin will do, Stan.

... man, even your own voice seems to be less insulting of you now. You look down on Elina's hair, notice a slight tremble in her shoulders as if she's cold; but it's only a momentary shudder, nothing more. Maybe it's best not to ask about everything that happens to her; Elina *is* right in that she can take care of herself...

'Staaan,' she says, throwing her head back so it hits the pit of your stomach unexpectedly. Oof! But you continue holding her up and she doesn't seem to know. 'Come on, just give an idea of what to play.'

'Well, I was thinking something fast. But a little softer than how hard you hit me.'

'What? Was that hard?'

'Nah,' you chuckle. 'Come on, Elina. Something fast.'

> cont'd.

>>28632437


'Okay, okay...' jeez, after rushing you... you nudge her forward, but then move back a little, feeling your own body react to Elina's proximity and touch. Best not to be poking the back of her neck with your appendage while she's playing, that sounds really uncouth. 'Here goes.'

She does start slow, with a tune you're sure you've heard before from somewhere - a dancing, warbling and smooth tune. The shoulders in your light grasp flex and twitch subtly as her hands flit around the keyboard in what looks like rather complicated manoeuvres. Man, it looks strange to actually look at the hands move and hear the music come out; watching the magic happen only makes it even more magical and confusing.

> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvAiQ9H56a4

Finally, her whole body jerks as she taps out the last few chords and notes, and you clap as she slumps back against you. 'Nice?'

'Beautiful.'

'I have a copy of this music signed by the composer himself,' she says, gesturing there. 'But, man, if I had some more music...' just as you were about to say something, though, her head snaps up. 'Someone's coming.'

Eh? You turn around while feeling Elina slip out from your grasp. And then you hear it too, a voice just outside the door. 'Hey, is someone inside? Why's the light on?'

... it sounds like Tessa!

> What do/say?

>>28632445
Are there any alternate exits, or just the door?
Say quietly to Elina, "It's Tessa. She's alright, but fairly normal. You want to meet her, or get out of here?"

>>28632445
"Uh, hey. You don't mind that we're using this piano do you?"

>>28632533
Seconding, let's hear her opinion first. If she wants to bail we leave.

>>28632533

> There's a back door; it's where you went through to find Elina in the back garden. But it's on the other side of the room, though...

>>28632603
Face Tessa. I doubt she'll mind we're in here.

>>28632533
>>28632561
>>28632601

Tessa! Well, all said, it could be a lot worse. At least you've seen each other before, and what with the little family entanglement you're now in, you could consider each other friends... a little... right?

Thankfully, she doesn't open the door immediately; instead there is another voice talking to her, and you take the opportunity to turn back to Elin-

... she's gone. What the- where's she gone!? But then the door opens, and you turn back, standing right there alone at the piano with what you hope is an erection your garments can sufficiently hide. The heavy wooden door swings open, and as light pours out from inside the room you see three people standing in the doorway - Tessa, and two people whom you recognise are from your year. One of them widens her eyes, and the other blinks.

'Uh...'

'Uh...'

You really ought to be a little worried about how they're seeing you, but the only question in your mind, really, is where the hell Elina managed to- I mean- WHAT? She was there just a moment ago. Tessa steps into the room.

'Stan? You... uh... what're you doing here?'

You gesture, slowly, towards the seat which you pulled out for your pianist friend, and Tessa glances at it and back to you. You're making even Tessa look a bit silly. Damn. If Elina was here you could say you were teaching... a rather weird friend... who isn't from school... actually, you know what, that doesn't really work either, does it...

> Uh... I was just relaxing here! Destressing!
> How's the search for Mel? Are you people all right?
> Other.

>>28632694
>> Other.
Uh, I was just about to see if I remembered anything from that piano class I took five years ago.

>>28632694
>Other.
"Just picking up the sheet music. And what brings you here?"
Reverse the focus, get her and her friends talking.

>>28632792
i can support this

>>28632912
>>28632792
>>28632710

'Eh...' your finger moves over the chair, and by good fortune you spot and immediately fixate on a piece of sheet music that must have fallen off the sheaf. 'Oh, I was just picking up the sheet music. Well, here's another one, eh?' You take it up and look at it - Debussy's 'Girl with the Flaxen Hair'. 'Well, this is quite apt for you I suppose, Tessa. Girl with the Flaxen Hair...'

'I might have heard that before, actually,' Tessa smiles and comes forward. The two people in your year look a little - actually quite a bit - more hostile to you than she does, but with her around they're not really about to say anything. 'So you brought this here? Man, if you want to practice the piano, just say so! This is the student lounge. Just a lounge no one uses, is all...'

You laugh and nod and completely will not say that you have no idea how to play the piano. 'So, uh... what are you here for? You all right with the search and all?'

'Tessa was taking us round the neighbourhood putting up posters,' the boy says, still frowning at you as he raises a poster. 'We're just wondering now if it's someone inside the school who was-'

'Harry, please.'

'Well, it *could* be. If Mel made any enemies - doubtful, but who knows - it's probably here right?'

Tessa shakes her head and turns to you, her look slightly worried. Is that a warning look? Are Harry's words a warning? You think about that, when suddenly you smell a little whiff of rosewater. It's... it's not Tessa.

No, Elina isn't gone. She's still in this room. You wonder if you should leave, or maybe try to get Tessa and the rest to go... they don't seem to have any business being here, themselves, right now.

> Excuse yourself.
> Prod them into leaving somehow.
> Other.

>>28632952
>> Prod them into leaving somehow.
"Well, give me a couple of those posters, I'll set them up around my complex. But, wasn't there a thing on the news; some guy confessed to the attacks, right? I rather doubt he'd be in the school."

>>28633075
backing this

>>28633075
If Elina really isn't gone we better try and get them out of the room, seconding this.