video;

[herbmixing]

[ The camera turns on to reveal a young face, currently in transit. It's Rebecca, walking down one of the broad, bright streets of upper Lunatia. She's a little unused to mobile videos, so occasionally she bobs out of frame. You can see her short hair, the pink choker she perpetually keeps wrapped around her neck, and the top of a green baseball tee. It is the nineties, after all.

More of relevance is probably the flushed cheek, the slightly heavier breathing. Iris is in full effect, and it's not giving her a second of mercy. She gathers herself before starting, eyes flicking over the display to make sure everything is set up and working correctly. ]

...you guys really weren't kidding about the effects of these moons. The physical and physiological changes already didn't make any sense, but this is just-- [ She puffs out a breath, shaking her head. ] Maybe there really is some merit to the lunar effect. We have all sorts of old wives' tales back home about how the full moon makes people go crazy, and we've only got one of them.

[ She pauses, glancing up to cross a street. Once across, she flashes an embarrassed smile at the camera. ]

Anyway. That's not what I wanted to talk about. Now that I'm settled in and things seem...peaceful... [ Her expression creases briefly, a nonverbal "for now". ] I was wondering, how do you all fill up your day?

I'll start! I'm Rebecca. [ She gives the camera a little wave. ] I haven't settled on a job yet, so mostly I'm going to the gym or at the cafe if I'm not in my apartment. I love sweet drinks, so it's nice to just relax in the sunshine with a book. I like playing basketball, and piano too, but those sort of fell by the wayside. All that keeps me busy, but when the moon's full, I'm still kinda lacking strategies to...distract myself.

[ It's about the most polite way she can conjure of saying, "Jesus Christ, nobody told me the moon effects were this bad, I'm going out of my mind here." ]

I figure we should all be trying to help each other out, even if it's just with sharing coping mechanisms. I'm always here to help if you need a medic, or even just a sympathetic ear. So...let me know!

weiss;

[ And then, as if by divine providence, a familiar, stylish ponytail of white hair exits a building. Rebecca lowers her phone and squints after her. She's much more put together now, but...yes, it is the girl she'd had that talk with!

Rebecca's wandering route has taken her near to the theatre. Was that where she was going? She's briefly caught in internal debate, not wanting to bother the girl, before managing to push. She breaks into a light half-job and quickly catches up. ]

Weiss?

Comments

[herbmixing]

Got it.

[ She kinds of wants to give her a once-over, just to confirm, but that would definitely be too nosy. Instead, Rebecca gives a short nod and follows Weiss' lead towards the practice rooms. ]

[schmisse]

[ The practice rooms for music are small, a little bit smaller than a studio apartment. There's a piano, a drumset, and a guitar to be used for anyone who wishes to use it. Weiss prefers to use the piano, though, and she sets down her bag and takes out some booklets from it. ]

You said you could play?

[herbmixing]

A little.

[ More than a little, but - modesty. Rebecca sets her bags down too and settles in front of the piano. ]

It's been a few months. Oh, I should ask - what sort of play are you putting on? A musical?

[schmisse]

I've only participated in musicals here in Lunatia. I don't think I'm that experienced of an actor to do one without singing.

[ She is learning though, and has even made guest appearances in certain television shows! (The Lunatian version of Downton Abbey, for one.) ]

Here, [ One booklet has scales and arpeggios for practice! Should Rebecca need it, anyway. ] I'd like to start with drills.

[herbmixing]

I'm sure you're fine, Weiss.

[ She takes the booklet and sets it up, scanning the pages for a little bit. Once she feels she gets the general idea, she leans back in her seat, stretching her arms above her head, then sets her fingers on the keys. ]

Okay. Ready when you are.

[ Rebecca keeps it on the down-low, but she's kind of a prodigy. Out of school at fifteen, graduated from university at 18, scouted into elite police units right away...and then finding time to learn the piano and field medicine in the margins. Picking things up quickly is easy for her, so it's only a couple of minutes of drilling before she's fluently running her fingers over the keys, giving Weiss what she needs. ]

[schmisse]

[ Scales and arpeggios are easy on the piano, and Weiss seems to have an easy time vocalising, repeating "mi-i-i-ah-ah"s until they reach the highest scale and then go back down to C. People describe Weiss' voice as angelic, and it certainly sounds like she's been honing her talent ever since she was young. While she may not be a professional in Remnant, she doesn't disappoint as a professional here in Lunatia.

Once they're done with drills, Weiss lets out a deep breath. ]

Alright, I think I'm ready.

[herbmixing]

You've got such a pretty voice, Weiss.

[ Pretty, assertive, a great singer, a strong member of the knights...Rebecca isn't the jealous type, but her admiration of Weiss grows every time they talk. She runs her fingers over the keys once more, stretching a little, and then nods. ]

Right. Which song do you want to work on first?

[schmisse]

Thank you.

[ Weiss won't say more beyond a thank you! She likes to talk about her skills at times, but not her singing. It's not like she needs to boost her ego for a talent she's proud of, and she doesn't need to lay it on thick with Rebecca. ]

Oh, then— [ She grabs another booklet and flips through one of the songs she performed in a past musical. It's a moderately paced song, something similar to this song! ] How's this?

I don't really have any new songs to practice at the moment. I just want to.... well, practice, make sure I don't fall behind, you know?

[herbmixing]

Hm...this isn't too hard. I can do this one.

[ She scans the lines, running along the general pace of it. While she tests it out by playing a few bars, she nods. ]

Yeah, I know what you mean. You can't let these skills get rusty, even if you don't need them right now.

[schmisse]

Maybe you should get a piano of your own, too.

[ A piano is expensive, but a good investment if she wants to keep playing! ]

[herbmixing]

I don't know where I'd fit it in my apartment. I took a pretty small one.

[ The thought is nice...she hums, thinking on it. ]

Maybe a keyboard for a start. Just to make sure I don't fall behind.

[schmisse]

Yeah, a keyboard is just as fine. So long as you don't lose your skills, you know?

[ Regardless of what your craft is, it's important to practice 'til you're (almost) perfect! ]

The new things I want to learn are being neglected, though. I've been focusing so much on singing and the piano lately.

[herbmixing]

Mm. Someone smart I know told me that.

[ ...about five seconds ago. She flashes a grin. Boy, it's nice doing normal things like this.

Looking at the sheets again, Rebecca scans a few times, then tries playing a few more bars. It's a light, easy tune - something familiar that she's sure she'd heard before - and not too hard to get into the swing of. She speaks while she plays, throwing Weiss a glance. ]

What sort of new things?

[schmisse]

Oh! I've always wanted to try gardening... [ She likes flowers! They're very pretty. ] Learning about it isn't something I've actually started doing, though.

Maybe when I get more free time.

[herbmixing]

Mm, gardening's really relaxing. My only experience is harvesting and mixing herbs for medicine.

[ Yes, she does that too. Stop being such a nerd, Rebecca. ]

I'd like to get back into basketball myself. There hasn't really been time for any games lately.

[schmisse]

Oh, I've heard that that's a thing. I don't think we have anything like that in Remnant.

[ At least, that she's aware of, anyway... She's certainly never had to heal any wounds thanks to leaves, or she's never had to take any leafy-flavoured medicine before. ]

One of my boyfriends plays basketball. I'm afraid I'm not into that kind of sport, though.

[herbmixing]

'One of' your boyfriends?

[ She grins up at her. Weiss, you saucy minx. ]

[schmisse]

What? It's not weird, is it?

[ They're in this weird technicolour sex crystal place!!!! ]

[herbmixing]

No, not really. It's impressive.

I don't think I could even deal with one.

[schmisse]

What makes you say that?

[ She grabs a seat so she can sit close to Rebecca now. Tell her????? ]

[herbmixing]

Well, obviously, I'm not as pretty as you. Even getting more than one guy interested would be a job. Then there's...everything else.

I've led a pretty busy life up to now. Haven't really had any time for relationships, though I've had a few dates. So I don't exactly have a lot of experience.

[schmisse]

What are you talking about? You're pretty in your own right.

[ Were it Cordis right now, she'd be talking a lot more about those cute eyes of hers. ]

I didn't really have time for dating either, but it's... it's different here, you know? I'm... actually able to enjoy things a little differently here. Who knows, it might help you to lighten up if you go out on a few dates here, too.

[herbmixing]

Thanks, but really. You're practically a Disney princess.

[ If she only knew... ]

Maybe it is...after talking it over with some people, I'm thinking things might be different for me here too. Maybe I can.

[ Tell her about all the cute boys please. ]

[schmisse]

A what?

[ Does she resemble a princess from one of the kingdoms where she's from? That's how she certainly understands what was just told her. ]

Well, you won't get anywhere if you're not sure of your decision... I think. Oh, I'm excited! What's your ideal date like?

[herbmixing]

You don't have those? They're these kid's movies, mostly adapted from old fairy tales. There's usually a princess with gorgeous hair and a great singing voice, so--

[ She gestures to Weiss. Obviously. ]

Anyway, my ideal date...something simple, I guess? I kinda like the idea of doing something active. Going for a forest walk, or playing some basketball, then going to a cafe and talking for hours.

[ And after that...a lot more comes to mind, thanks to the Iris heat on her, but she leaves it at that. ]