Private Eastern Brisshal Searching for a harp-maker

[Chako]

It had been a few days since Chako joined Terrasphere, and she currently had a single goal in mind... Well, other than learning how to walk properly, dance, find pretty sights, explore in general, make friends and... Yeah, a single goal.

Get an autograph from Ruby.

To get an autograph, she needed something worth autographing in the first place. She thought about it for a while, but in the end, the first thing that came to her mind was just the right choice.

A harp.

What else would she even want autographed anyways? It's not like she'd use something like an autographed dress, and she didn't use weapons in the first place, so... It had to be a harp.

Therefore, the first step was to get a harp done... Which was kinda hard when considering Chako had no money, but she figured she could always try exchanging services for it?

Except... She got into a stump. Nobody in Honeyhome seemed to know how to craft a harp. Or at least nobody she talked to.

So, Chako had two options now... Either she traveled to a city to ask around and see if she had better luck... Or she asked anybody that she didn't recognize and that she came across. Hoping that it was a starcalled who might have already traveled to other places and that could give her a clue.

Because like... Chako didn't feel like she was done with Honeyhome at all. She loved this small town, and there were a lot of people to meet here, and a lot of nice places to explore in its surroundings. Chako wanted to get to know the Landers better and to make friends, so... She'd rather avoid leaving if she could help it.

And well, here was today's target! A blue-haired miss that Chako never saw before! Chako really hoped this one would go better than the last attempts.

"Excuse me, blue-haired miss! Can you spare me a bit of your time?" Can I tell you about the word of our lord and savior Lightning McQueen?

Chako almost giggled while remembering the old Vtuber meme, but she figured this was not the right moment to bring it up, "I'm looking for someone that may craft a harp for me. Do you know anyone?"

@Alice

 

[Alice]

Honeyhome was beautiful.

Or at least, as Alice understood, people thought it beautiful. For the magia, though, it was just another diverse ecosystem. Which you might think would make the blue-haired woman think something along the lines of 'interesting!' or 'intriguing!', which would make you wrong. It was just another observation. More data. Another piece of information filed away in case it became relevant later.

Not that anything Alice had known was relevant when the MIT was attacked. By her own kind, no less.

At least having little to no capacity for emotion meant that Alice was not bothered by the glares of others, Starcalled and Lander alike.

"Excuse me, blue-haired miss! Can you spare me a bit of your time?" Except for that girl. That girl wasn't glaring. In fact, she seemed like she might burst out laughing at any moment.

Alice turned to look at the speaker, blank-faced as ever, and said, "Yes. How may I assist you?" with only the slightest of intonation.

A harp?

"I am capable of constructing a harp, if you so desire," Alice said, eyes suddenly sweeping over the girl's form with exacting precision. "You are one-hundred forty-nine point eight-six centimeters in height. A twenty-six string harp may be an ideal height and weight for you to comfortably handle in a stationary setting." Alice then paused, as if considering something. Her eyes, the lens whirring faintly as they zoomed in, and then back out. "If I may make a suggestion, you appear to be a Starcalled. It may be more beneficial for you to obtain a lyre. They are smaller, and more portable."

@Chako

 

[Chako]

Chako blinked a few times as she heard the woman speak. She didn't expect to find someone who was able to make a harp for her just like that.

But more importantly than that, she didn't expect someone to suddenly blurt out her exact height in more detail than she herself knew, and then talk about details of what kind of harp would be ideal for her and the like.

Chako didn't know how to react at first, "Uhn..." But she figured she should say something, so she tried her best, "I thank you for the... Detailed analysis?

"I never played a lyre before though, so I want a harp." Chako also wondered if it was that obvious that she was Starcalled... She had no idea what gave it away, but she didn't deny it as there was no point in doing so.

"And uhn..." Chako started fidgeting. Her tails moving back and forth as she struggled to find her next words... Like, she knew she was going to need to talk about that, but she didn't have the time to mentally prepare herself... Still, there was no way around it, so Chako took a deep breath, "I have no money at all... Do you uhn... Need something? I can try doing something for you? Helping you out with something you need or... I-I dunno! I just really want a harp and I have no money at all for it! Please help me!" Chako bowed down as if she was an anime character. She had no idea if that was a good idea or not, but acting like that was the best idea she could come up with.

@Alice

 

[Alice]

Alice had never understood the strangeness with which others seemed to view her. Or their semi-uncomfortable responses, this Starcalled being no exception. "You are welcome," Alice recited, before those mechanical eyes whirred and fixed them upon the girl again. "Very well. I will construct a harp for you."

Without a word, a cube-like object appeared in the air between the two girls, before it's corners began to turn, and an eye opened in its center. "CUBE. Scan our surroundings for materials to construct a harp."
"What's the magic word?"
Alice didn't respond. And so CUBE didn't move.
"Please."
"Sure thing, Alice," CUBE responded, his voice quite chipper as he floated off into the nearby forest, bright blue eyes scanning through the woods. Ironic that the literal robot had more emotion than the player.

Additional stuttering had Alice's full attention once more, and..."Payment?" For the first time, Alice seemed to display some amount of emotion. Namely, uncertainty. Payment was something she'd always worried about in the real world. In keeping her company, her father's legacy alive. The topic had never come up before in Arcia but...the idea of helping someone costing something made Alice distinctly uncomfortable. "What...what are you able to offer?" Alice asked haltingly, as if reciting what she was expected to say.

@Chako

 

[Chako]

Chako was extremely excited to hear that the blue-haired miss was willing to make the harp for her, "Thank you!" so Chako hugged her, "Ah, I'm Chako, by the way!"

Then... Chako heard the woman start... Talking to a cube? And the cube talked back and... And it's scanning the surroundings!? L-like what!? What's with this sudden sci-fi in the middle of Honeyhome!?

Took Chako a moment to process what was happening... "Oh, are you a Magia?" She had seen a handful of those before, but they were all new Starcalled. She had asked the people in Honeyhome about why was that, and apparently the people in Falderen didn't like Magias much, so that was why Chako didn't see them often, "It's my first time talking to one! I guess that's why you can make that detailed analysis thingy!" It was a bit immersion breaking to be honest, but Chako decided to not mind it. Especially as the miss had already said she'd help Chako out with getting a harp done.

Only... Why did she suddenly get confused when Chako brought up payment? Like, it's normal to pay someone when you commission an instrument, isn't it?

... And what's up with her throwing the question back at Chako!? Hadn't Chako just said she didn't know what she could do!? "Uhn... I can play a song for you! Or many! I-I'm no good at singing, but I'm confident in my harp skills!

"I also know how to dance to some extent and and... Uhn..." Chako was struggling to think of anything that actually sounded significant, "I guess I can... Help with gathering materials or something?" Or so she hoped. She honestly didn't know what materials they'd need, but as long as she didn't need to fell a tree or something, she'd be able to handle it... Probably.

"Oh! And I know healing magic too! Though you don't look hurt, so that's not very useful..." Chako muttered.

@Alice

 

[Alice]

"A pleasure to meet you, Chako," the blue-haired girl replied cordially, before bowing in a formal, Japanese manner. "My name is Alice," she said, as she rose straightened her back. "And yes, I am a Magia. You should refrain with associating with Magia for the time being," the woman advised as she turned to watch CUBE as he scanned around the area.

"Recent events have rendered many people, Lander and Starcalled alike, exceedingly cautious towards Magia. Their suspicions are well founded, however." Alice understood that part better than most. Even for someone who prefered to operate solely off of logic and reason, uneasiness still lingered. Perhaps the fact that Alice felt uneasy at all was the greatest indicator that things had gone terribly wrong. "There was an invasion, recently, by Magia. Many Magia living in Astorea were...infected, perhaps, with something akin to a real world computer virus."

CUBE began to turn back towards Alice and Chako.

"It gave full control of their minds and bodies to the invading Magia, turning them into sleeper agents. Including myself."

Alice looked over towards Chako. "Knowing this, does my presence worry you?"

@Chako

@Chako

 

[Chako]

Alice started giving Chako some detailed explanation about what happened with Magias, which was... Kinda nice in a way, because Chako didn't really know much about it in the first place.

On the other hand, it wasn't like Chako was that interested in it in the first place, so it was a bit boring to hear the explanation.

Not to mention she didn't like the thing of it being compared to a computer virus... Just more immersion breaking stuff. Kinda like Trinity.

She blinked a bit when hearing that even Alice had been controlled by it though. It took Chako a few seconds to process that.

But eventually, she just tilted her head, "So... You're asking me if I'm fine being next to you because you were afflicted by brainwashing magic before? Uhn... Why wouldn't I be?" Who'd get worried about something like that? It's not like they could control themselves while under brainwashing anyways.

So, Chako just shrugged, held Alice's hand and pointed towards the cube thingy, "So, did it find the stuff we need? Do you need help gathering it? What kind of songs do you like, by the way!? I'm more fond of classic songs myself, but I can play some other genres too! I even learned the choreography of a K-pop dance recently, in fact!

"Well, that one I dunno how to play in the harp though. Dunno if it's even possible to play it on the harp, in fact, but I know how to dance it at least!" Since Alice seemed to be struggling with figuring out what she wanted as payment, Chako figured she'd just take the initiative and start rambling on. Whatever Alice showed any interest on would have to work for a payment!

And if that wasn't enough... Then Alice better voice it out! Chako can't pay for the harp if Alice doesn't say what she wants for it, after all!

@Alice

 

[Alice]

This girl was...completely naive. Or perhaps she did not understand the weight of her decision every time she set foot in Arcia. Then again, maybe Alice didn't either. She was an intrinsically logical creature, but there was no logic involved in her decision to player Terrasphere.

Alice quirked her head curiously at Chako and her question. "There are many reasons. But my apologies, I've strayed from the task at hand and done you a disservice." Alice bowed deeply to Chako.

"Yeah, there should be enough stuff in there to make a harp," CUBE announced as he returned. His singular rotating, glowing eye found Alice, still bowing. "Uh...Alice? What are you doing?"
"Displaying the sincerity of my apology," she answered, still bent over at the waist.
"Apology for?"
"I strayed from my duties, and have done a disservice to our customer."
"Okay...?"
CUBE looked towards Chako. "Anyways. I brought back what I could, but I couldn't grab everything," it said, answering one of Chako's many questions. "Namely the deer guts. You guys'll have to go in there and kill them yourselves." CUBE clicked as his eye opened and shut for a moment. "Also, I'm a devoted fan of classical and operatic compositions, thank you for asking. I will be happy to listen to you play some time, Ms. Chako." He then floated down to hover next to Alice's ear. "What's 'k-pop'?'" he whispered.
"I...don't know."

CUBE floated back up to his standard eye level. "Well, Chako, seeing Alice is still demonstrating her sincerity to you or whatever, you can help me kill and gut the deer! I don't have hands, so..." He jiggled back and forth in the air for a moment.
"No need," Alice straightened up with frightening speed. "We should not trouble our patrons with our own duties, CUBE." She turned to Chako. "As apology for the poor behavior we have both exhibited, you need not worry about payment today. Your harp will come free of charge."
"What?!"

@Chako

 

[Chako]

Chako was at a loss. Why was Alice bowing to her? Why was she apologizing? Why is she talking as if she had done a disservice to Chako?

The cube thingy, on the other hand, seemed to be much more reasonable than Alice. Alice was just weird... And just as Chako thought that, the Cube tried to exchange a whisper with Alice, like... Hello? Have you seen my ears? Did you really think I wouldn't hear that?

But well, the more important issue though, was that they had to actually kill and dismember a deer for some reason, which... Sounded horrifying. Chako had never done this kind of thing, and just imagining doing it sent shivers down her spine.

However... The words that came out of Alice's mouth completely flabbergasted Chako, like... What? Not getting paid because... You talked a bit about Magia's circumstances or something? Like... Hello? Chako was aware that she should appreciate getting stuff for free when she was completely broke, but this was beyond ridiculous.

So, she tried finding a way out of this dumb situation, "Okaaaaaay, so... You're making me the harp as a favor, then?

"Alright, then! To return your favor, I'll be sure to play plenty of songs that you and your cube want to hear! And I can show you what k-pop is like too! Seeing just me dancing it out with my bad singing won't be the same as seeing an idol group with all its members that sing really well, and the instruments on the background too, but it should give you a notion of what it's like anyways!

"It's decided! So let's get going!" Chako held onto Alice's hand tightly and started moving in the direction the cube came from, "Lead the way, flying cube!"

Well, Chako hoped it was decided at least. She didn't know what she'd do if Alice argued with her logic.

... And she hoped the deer wouldn't be too gruesome... Maybe she could turn her head away once it's incapacitated and let Alice handle the rest at that point? She hoped she could at least...

@Alice

 

[Alice]

Alice and CUBE both looked at Chako, mirroring each other in their stillness. They were both debating the same things in their heads. What were the chances of dissuading Chako from procuring payment by way of pseudo-K-Pop performance. For Alice, it was because, as she said, she intended to make Chako's harp free of any kind of charge. CUBE, on the other hand, wasn't sure if he wanted to see Chako perform if it was as bad as her own description seemed to indicate.

It was a moment two before the pair, inunison replied, "Alright then." Both doubted Chako would take 'no' as an answer. At Chako's behest, CUBE took the lead, humming quietly to himself as he floated into the forest. ALICE started to follow behind him silently, trusting he had a particular deer in mind already. ALICE made an effort to keep Chako in sight as well, not allowing CUBE to wander off to far without their client.

@Chako

 

[Chako]

Chako was not happy in the slightest with Alice and the cube's silence... Like, did they know how to communicate telepathically or something? But they were speaking out loud a moment ago... Chako wasn't sure, but she knew she did not like what she was seeing.

Until the accepted eventually, so... Chako's smile immediately got much brighter, and to the forest they went!

Chako kept on holding Alice's hand as they walked, and the path was mostly peaceful. Chako knew that area well-enough by now, so she felt at ease walking there... She didn't think they'd find any wolves in that side of Honeyhome at least.

The thought alone was enough to send shivers down Chako's spine though, so she held onto Alice's hand more tightly to try calming herself.

Either way... She eventually started hearing some sounds that she had already learned how to recognize by now, so she pointed in the appropriate direction and whispered, "I hear the steps of a medium-sized animal over there. And the flow of a river as well... Might be our target going for a drink."

@Alice

 

[Alice]

The way Chako's face lit up with happiness at ALICE and CUBE's acceptance of her offer could make just about anyone's chest swell with that warm, happy feeling. ALICE, instead, wondered what that feeling might be like, should she ever be fortunate to experience it.

As they walked, ALICE glanced down at her hand, the other girl's fingers still wrapped around it. Up ahead, while CUBE seemed to be humming some tune or other (Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major), he didn't miss ALICE's glance at her entwined hand. The floating construct paused his humming as he looked back, noting the way ALICE stared at the physical contact, and then looked away, making as little fuss as possible.

CUBE made a pleased humming sound, before turning back ahead and continuing on.

Soon, ALICE felt the girl squeeze her hand, and when ALICE turned this time, it was to look directly at Chako as she pointed in the direction of the would-be river, and reported what she could hear. "Are you okay, Ms. Chako?" ALICE asked, as CUBE swiveled in indicated direction. "Oh, perhaps!" he said, before flying off in that direction without pause.

@Chako

 

[Chako]

Chako started humming along as the cube thingy started playing one of her favorite songs... Playing? Humming? Chako wasn't sure of what the cube thingy was doing, but she hummed along anyways, "You have pretty good taste!" She mentioned before she continued humming.

At least until the song stopped... Chako tilted her head, wondering what happened... "Did it break?" She asked Alice, though it's not like it stopped floating, so it probably didn't break.

Either way, Alice seemed to notice Chako's shiver... Chako considered saying it was nothing, but that would probably lead to Alice getting suspicious, so... She decided to just answer honestly, "Ah, I just remembered something scary... Don't worry too much about it though. It's probably not gonna matter." And if it did matter... Well, then that was a problem for future Chako.

For now though, she just looked as the cube thingy rushed ahead... "Will it be okay moving by itself...?" Not like Chako wanted to see an animal being killed, but they did need it to get the harp done, so... Better make sure things were done properly?

@Alice

 

[Alice]

"Thank you!" CUBE said in response to Chako's compliment. "I find Bach's polyphony, complex harmonies and his intricate, complex musical structure to be...beautiful, almost mathematical, even! Truly a work of art." CUBE slowed down, his voice becoming wistful as he seemingly became lost in the joys of mathematical musical constructs.
"I prefer Tchaikovsky." ALICE said, a little quieter than usual as CUBE resumed his song.

When CUBE paused his humming, ALICE looked at the construct at Chako's comment. Her eyes lit up briefly with a cool blue light. Diagnostics readouts flashed across her vision, and then the light died out. "Negative. CUBE is fully functional," the magia answered.

Chako passed over ALICE's question, a small memory, but apparently significant enough for her to have a physical reaction. ALICE took a moment to consider whether or not it was a appropriate to ask her for more information but..."Very well," she said instead. If Chako did not wish to elaborate, and it had no impact on their current objective as she claimed, ALICE reasoned it was better to let the subject lie. And yet..."There is no need to be afraid," the magia said. "As our client, it is CUBE and I's duty to ensure your safety, as well as a satisfactory product."

"CUBE is outfitted with sufficient defensive and offensive capabilities. And it is capable of achieving speeds in the excess of sixty miles per hour in under three seconds." Translation, CUBE could move master than a supercar.

As if having heard ALICE, CUBE zipped back to the pair, a blur of white and blue, stopping before them as if he hadn't just moved like a formula 1 car. Flecks of red were splattered across his chassis as he shook back and forth with what one could only assume was pride. "I am pleased to announce we have our deer guts!" the floating Rubik's cube said. "But, someone else is gonna have to go pick them up." He wiggled back and forth. "Still no hands."

@Chako

 

[Chako]

"Yes, it's definitely very beautiful! Dunno about mathematical, but what matters is that it makes you happy!" Chako replied to the cube thingy.

"Oh, that's not a name I hear often!" Or well, at least not often outside of the times when she was searching for new songs to play, "I personally prefer Beethoven myself, but I have found the compositions of Tchaikovsky to quite pleasant to the ear! I tried playing Swan Lake by myself before, but it's the kind of song that just doesn't feel right without an accompanying orchestra, so I was disappointed at the result." Chako replied to Alice's comment.

And unsurprisingly, the cube hadn't broken, but Chako really wasn't sure what happened there, then... Oh well. Chako decided to stop thinking about it, since she didn't actually care enough about it anyways.

Then, she blinked a few times in surprise as Alice told her to not be afraid... She was happy about the worry, but... "Well, fear isn't exactly a reaction that I can control." She replied honestly, "Sometimes I just can't really do anything other than cower in fear..." Saying that reminded her not only of that crazy experience in the forest, but also of some memories from her childhood that she preferred to avoid... So Chako did just that, and tried thinking of the matters at hand instead of about those old old memories.

"And uhn... That's fast?" Chako didn't really know... Not like it mattered though, since the cube thingy was already gone... At least for a short while before it came back with some good news..

"Right... We should.... Dismantle it next, right?! Uhn..." Chako wasn't looking forward to that in the slightest, "Is that... Hard?" She asked.

@Alice