2022-07-23: Feelings Without Words
- Log: 2022-07-23: Feelings Without Words
- Cast: Ranka Lee, Kaworu Nagisa, Lucine Azul, Emilia Eschonbach
- Where: Nouvelle Tokyo, Free Japan
- OOC - IC Date: 23 July 0096
- Summary: An innocent question about expressing feelings leads to two separate answers.
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
Ranka has thankfully recovered from being trapped in Tsutsujidai for a few days. She let Elmo know she was taking a few more days off unless something major came up, mostly to sleep, and process. However, a text message came her way, and she peeked out of bed, to squish her Osanshoo-san phone to check the message. When she saw it...
... an idea suddenly bloomed, like a flower, and she immediately got out of bed. Forwarding the text to Kaworu... and sharing in her idea.
Now she's arranged this meet up in Nouvelle Tokyo between the four of them. It took some coordinating, and hitching a ride on a Nergal company shuttle down to Earth. She decided to go to Tokyo-03 to meet up with Kaworu, because she knows he's not fully recovered. Plus she just feels grateful that he helped look after her during that time in Tsutsujidai.
She's stayed near Kaworu the whole time, just in case he actually needs to lean on her shoulder, and when they got on the train, she cleared out space and made sure he had a place to sit, even if she needed to stand.
Eventually though the two pull into the station, as Ranka checks her text exchanges to double check on Emilia (After that day at the border she feels anxious about keeping her updated)
>pulling in soon!!!<3
Then Lucine...
we're almost there!!! how far away?
Not because she was pushing her, but just wanted to check on her status.
Eventually though they leave the train. Ranka's wearing red shortalls with a light blue blouse whose straps encircle her neck and join at a ring underneath it. A pair of floppy blue boots, and an orange ribbon at the back of her puppylike hair.
"Let's see she should be on the platform... somewhere around - ah! There she is!" From a distance Ranka hops up on her toes and waves at her, though she doesn't rush over to her as she's staying near Kaworu. Once in range, she says, "It's good to see you again Emilia! This is Kaworu." Her red eyes sparkle, "He's a very good friend, andddddd... a genius musician."
A beat.
"Lucine should be here soon, she's coming another way." Ranka would have at least told Emilia she was a friend from the Nadesico, and also a genius Gardener.
(She really can't stop talking up the talents of her friends.)
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Is it possible to have your feelings heard through song without singing?
Why, of course. That's Kaworu's immediate reaction.
After a night in the hospital, a moment of certain orders, and a morning of packing his things, Kaworu wasn't expecting to go out to another town. However, it's convenient that way in a lot of ways for a lot of people. After packing his things--which take up a grand total of three boxes--he can leave certain NERV agents to handle the move while he remains out of the way, even well out of town. He's likely still getting watched from afar, but when isn't he? And the plan that Ranka had sent to him appealed in a truly wonderful way.
He does need to lean on Ranka a couple of times, but his injured right arm is in a sling, and he carries a walking stick in his left to compensate for his injured left leg. He accepted her attempts to make him comfortable with grace and gratitude, and soon they arrive in Nouvelle Tokyo without incident.
Kaworu, for his part, isn't wearing his school outfit for once; school is out, after all. He wears a V-necked white T-shirt underneath a light jacket striped in navy blue and white, solid navy at the top and solid white at the bottom with stripes growing thicker and thinner for each as they interchange. The front buttons up where it has its own low dip, and the sleeves and lining both have a single red stripe. Simple blue jeans cover his legs, and his sneakers pop up at his ankles in that strange way he tends to wear them. Normally he keeps his hands tucked in his pockets, but both his hands are preoccupied, so that isn't true this time.
Once they walk off the train and onto the station, Kaworu follows Ranka with his eyes as she waves to a certain person down the platform. He's smiling already, a faint and crooked thing, but it broadens with a breath of a laugh as she introduces him to Emilia as a genius musician. "I'd hardly describe myself that way, but Ranka has a very high opinion of me," he says. Then he nods to Emilia. "Still, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I hope I can be of some help to you."
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Can someone's feelings be heard through a song, if it's not sung?
Can well wishes be heard through flowers, if they are not spoken?
After the ongoing nesting doll of scares that were unleashed when Tsutsujidai entered into their dimension, it was a nice change of pace to focus on things like flowers and bright bouquets. A few times the 'Genius Gardener' had to remind herself, as she fell into page after page of dazzling colors and tidy arrangements, that it's a get well gift for Kaworu, not an elaborate display for a goumet resturant. Something simple and classic would do. A few photos were sent back and forth, with questions about how Ranka was doing, until finally, it all clicked.
Which led to today.
Lucine: 'the flowers are ready for pick up, when's a good time to do this'
Ranka then makes the perfect setup- a surprise gift, as well as a meeting with a friend. Being with Nergal has its advantages in this case, as she leaves the Dianthus behind for a shuttle, going in a slightly different direction than Ranka. If it all goes well-- actually, of course it will work out. Ranka planned it, and all Lucine has to do is not mess it up.
Lucine: 'There was a line at the florist's, really sorry!!;; coming your way now, they look so pretty'
That shouldn't count as messing up, right? Besides, she was early, and just managed to make it to the train, almost wondering if her giddiness at everything going right was visible to everyone in the car.
(It wasn't, from what her senses picked up, but it certainly *felt* like it was visible.)
Her blue teal hair's done back in a short french braid with magenta drop earrings with an airy light pink blouse, khaki shorts, and white sandals, which, coupled with the bouquet, makes her feel consciously color-matched. Stepping out of her train, Lucine protectively holds the wrapped bouquet in front of her like it was another top-secret Nergal to NERV delivery of what just might be some episodes of Gekiganger.
Pausing, she looks around the corner and spots the three meeting up. Smuggling her phone up, Lucine types: 'I see you! Coming over now.'
"Ah, Ranka! And Kaworu... I see you're healing well. And... you are Miss Eschonbach?" She greetings each as she walks up, the stargazing lilies swaying with her step.
<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.
When she sees Ranka waves, Emilia is the one who rushes over instead, a soft smile on her face. She's recovered a bit from the anouncement of the Dinosaur Empire attack, but it definitely messed her up for a few days. "Ranka!"
She slows down a little when reaching the two of them, but she nods, and then recognition washes over her face. "Ah! Y-you're the pianist who p-played with Ranka at... at the Cherry Blossom v-viewing." She gives a small curtsey- Britannian upbringing burned in. "Your p-p-playing was wonderful, Mr Kaworu." Emmy he's younger than you and you're all teenagers.
Up close, her makeup is more obvious to a knowledgeable eye. Applied delicately, controlled, taking advantage of her good complexion, eyeshadow that makes her green eyes pop without being obvious. It's an extremely put together 'casual' look.
"W-w-well, if it h-helps... I r-really liked your playing. It was the f-f-f-first time I-I'd heard that song. S-so thank you. For y-y-your help." She sees Lucine arriving with a wrapped package, being surprised at the woman's arrival.
The use of Emmy's last name does get a twinge of sadness and anger, but she masks it well with her face- not so much with her feelings. "Um, E-Emilia is f-fine, Miss. N-N-Nice to meet you." Another curtsey, a little more self conscous. Lucine's a little older, and a mystery. But she's Ranka's friend so.
"S-s-so, um, wh-where did you. Want to go?" She pauses. "I-I-I've never b-been to... to Nouvelle Tokyo before."
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
>its okay!!! ure worth any wait
Ranka Lee doesn't seem fazed by Kaworu's humility, like she's used to it. "And so modest too." She adds. Before she beams at Emilia, "You remembered! He was so good - his accompaniment was just, flawless. Then his song after, breathtaking." And then she can sense Lucine growing near, as suddenly she leans off to the side, and waves at her even BEFORE Lucine's text message comes in. It might be that her talks with Lucine have finally started to get her to... acknowledge certain things about herself.
Emilia is nervous, and in the fact that she's nervous she's extremely formal in how she greets them. Ranka just lets that be, and hopes that Kaworu and Lucine's dual presences will put her at ease before long.
Lucine however gets a quickly squished text message: >first name only with her pls sry should have said (apology emoji apology emoji apology emoji)
Emilia asks where they want to go... "Well, I was thinking we could go sit down at a cafe in a bit. Maybe some light sight seeing later. But first, I was thinking we could swing by a second hand store near here." Emilia may puzzle over that because 'Second hand store???' However she eyes Emilia and smiles, "Me and Kaworu think we'll be able to find something there that will help answer your question."
Raising a fingertip though, "But first..." She turns to Kaworu again,"...Lucine and me have something for you Kaworu."
As if she were to say 'take it away Lucine.'
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
The timing is quite serendipitous. A moment after Ranka and Kaworu disembark their train, Lucine disembarks from her own, a wrapped bouquet in her arms. Kaworu looks over at her as she turns a corner and approaches. "Yes, I'm coming along, thank you," he says. It'll be a few weeks yet before he's fully healed... especially since he got punched in the head yesterday... but you certainly wouldn't be able to tell that just by looking at him, and he's not about to tell.
When he focuses back on Emilia, he nods, smile growing. "Yes, that was me. I'm glad you enjoyed it." His focus shifts as she stands up out of her bow to admire her make-up; it's clearly been applied by a skilled hand that knows her charm points. Her eyes in particular are breathtaking. At the same time, it's not too overpowering--just enough to brighten her face and bring out her charms for a casual day out with friends.
He laughs a little as Ranka insists on complimenting him more. Still, he's happy about it. Music is something he's always loved, and having his playing in particular bring joy to others brings joy to him too. He's looking forward to sharing his new song with Ranka--though he won't just yet; he wants to run it past someone else first. There's a bit of tension from Emilia when Lucine calls her by her last name, and he glances at the two, but doesn't comment.
"I'm fine with wherever you three want to go," he says. "A cafe sounds nice to start, and there are several lovely stores in this area." He smiles over at Ranka--but blinks as she turns to him. At her statement, he looks over at Lucine, and in particular, that wrapped package she's carrying. "Oh...?"
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Whether it's simply the sense of one friend to another, the expectation set by the stopped train, or something a Newtype can sense, Lucine catches Ranka's wave after the text is sent, and tilts her head with a small smile.
"Ah, you were there too? Kaworu is an excellent pianist..." Come to think of it, there had to have been a time she and Emilia traded words before. Was it her that Lucine tried to give encouragement to, once at a banquet? "Ah, the city is overwhelming at first, but..." She gives Emilia a gentle smile. "... it has some lovely neighborhoods, and you'll be with us. I hear Ranka has some ideas, so it will be a fun day for all of us."
A quick glance to her phone and there's only a small dip in Lucine's quiet smile, a slight stiffness that betrays the inner spike of panic. Oh god, did she mess up, she knows some people prefer first names and some perfer last names, but in Japan it's last names, but Eschonbach sounds not Japanese, maybe European? So why did she default to that ahhhh
".... A-ah, yes, I do have something." Lucine steps forward, holding what couldn't be anything but a bouquet, judging by the care she cradles it with, the brown paper wrapped around its shape, and the way she holds it out to Kaworu, gripping it by the thin bottom. "I can unwrap it for you, the paper was just to make sure it didn't get squished on the way over..."
The spray of brilliant flowers almost seems to pop out when the lightly taped brown paper is undone, along with a faint fragrance. "... They're called stargazer lilies... we thought they'd be appropriate as a get well gift."
Lilium, lilim, lily. That was how she described the word play to Ranka, when they had talked. "I can hold these for you while we walk around, Kaworu, if you'd like. I wouldn't mind."
<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.
"O-oh?" Emilia isn't... that confused. She visits thrift stores and second hand stores a lot. Maybe Ranka just knows a good place, and she's been open about her budget- and frequent lack thereof, but the new job is making it a little easier.
She notices Kaworu looking at her face, and smiles. She can't read everyone that well- she's mostly good at little signs of threat. But it's not a dangerous look and Kaworu seems nice enough.
She steps back to make sure Lucine can hand over the gift and... She blinks at the flowers. They're gorgeous, and Emilia looks transfixed by them momentarily. She also looks to see how Kaworu receives them.
She thinks about prying and asking why... but Ranka probably would have told her if it were something good.
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
Emilia looks confused. Ranka actually feels that confusion, stares back and her and abruptly just winks. As if to say 'Trust me.' Lucine presents the bouquet, and Ranka beams at her as she does. "It was really mostly her idea." As she immediately gives her all of the credit, "However, it was an incredible one, so I signed onto it right away."
Ranka quietly touches the back of one of Kaworu's hands with her fingertips, "We're so relieved that you're back. When we heard the news..."
There's a pause, and it's like she's momentarily overwhelmed. Because it was an overwhelming experience, one that Lucine helped her through.
"... we're happy you're still with us." She says gently. She still hasn't asked about why Kaworu is with NERV at all. It doesn't matter though, in comparison to the fact that he's still there, with them.
She'll wait certainly for Kaworu's reaction, to see how he takes to all of this - to give him plenty of time for it, but afterwards she'd start directing them to a second hand store nearby the station.
-=-=-
In Nouvelle Tokyo, the second hand store is filled wall to wall with clothes, memorabilia, souvenirs - many of them relating to GaoGaiGar and other defenders that have left a mark on the city.
It might be hard for Emilia to discern what exactly they're looking for, but Ranka is going down each aisle with a careful eye, until she spies a small section that's a dumping ground for plenty of instruments. That she starts to rummage through herself, as she's hardly going to make Kaworu do it while he's injured.
"Maybe... maybe... there!"
It's hard to say what she spotted at first, until she moves an old amplifier and a haphazard pile of woodwinds out of the way. And then she lifts up an acoustic guitar, a pick hanging loosely off of it, tied to it by string.
She promptly holds it up like she's found a treasure in one of those video games, as she bounds over to present the prize to Kaworu for inspection, beaming at Emilia, "Here's our answer."
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
"If you could, please?" Kaworu asks Lucine when she offers to unwrap it for him. He wouldn't mind doing it himself, but if she's offering... Given how Yuta reacted when he brought him a present, it seems like it makes others feel better to do that much for him. His relaxed expression brightens when she does unwrap them to reveal a bouquet of stargazer lilies.
"Thank you," he says warmly. "They're beautiful." He laughs a little, both at Ranka immediately jumping to give the credit to someone else and to the general concept. "Everyone has been giving me presents lately!" He tucks his walking cane into the crook of his elbow and dips a hand into his pocket to retrieve his smartphone; he holds it out long enough to show everyone the musical note charm hanging from it, specifically of two notes fused together. It glitters chrome in the sunlight as it gently sways. "A friend of mine gave me this 'phone charm' just a week ago. Isn't it lovely?" His eyes squint shut as he turns that broad smile of his at Lucine and Ranka. To Emilia, there's no threat whatsoever, any more than there was when he was admiring her make-up--only a genuine pleasure at the gift. "I'm truly happy the two of you thought of me."
Carefully, he tucks his phone back in his pocket. Lucine's offer to keep holding them for him earn her another warm smile. "Thank you. I'd appreciate that, too." The 'why' of the present is at least obvious on its face; Kaworu's right arm is in a sling, and he's carrying a walking stick in his left, which he sets down now that his phone is put away. How he got those injuries are another matter, though, and it's understandable that Emilia might be reluctant to push for details. All considered, it's for the best that she doesn't.
Still, Ranka steps around it carefully as she caresses his left hand. His eyes soften as his eyebrows lift a few hairs. "...I'm happy I can still be with you, too."
It's truly grounding--anchoring, even--to know that there are people who care enough about him to grieve when he's wounded. Maybe they wouldn't if they knew his true nature, but for now... it's enough to keep him here, even if it's selfish of him to stay. He can't go back, anyway, and he won't simply let himself be removed from the stage of life. As much as he's been questioning himself lately, he can hold onto that much. That's the best thing he can do to honor those who've sacrificed themselves for his sake.
"Shall we be off, then?" he continues, looking around at his companions.
~*~
Once they all reach the second-hand store, it takes a bit of time before they find what they're searching for. Ranka finds it first, and sorts through the instruments until she finds, procures, and displays an acoustic guitar. He looks it over--it's battered, but hardly beyond use--and he nods once to Ranka.
"A guitar is a fine instrument," he adds, looking over at Emilia. "Basara Nekki of Fire Bomber uses it to great effect to convey the contents of his heart, with or without his voice to go with it."
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
'Everyone has been giving me presents lately!'
'. When we heard the news...'
"..." Lucine tries not to look towards Ranka with that worry bleeding through on her face, even as she stiffens at that pause. She bows her head subtly, angling it just enough to obscure that moment of fear that Ranka may lose her current spark if reminded of why the bouquet was picked in the first place. She then presses her faith in Ranka against it, pushing that fear back in one direct push.
The music charm catches Lucine's attention as Kaworu holds it up, and her smile widens into an open, quiet chuckle of delight. "Ah, it is a clever gift..."
"... You are a unique soul, Kaworu. Im glad you're here." Lucine means it in a good way, if her smile is any clue. "But, ah, yes, Ranka was the one to set this all up... so I will not allow her to pass this all on me." It seems all of them have problems with being a little too humble. But maybe, that's a good thing, as it's not humility that's on the list of sins.
~*~
It may be a matter of Emilia's nervousness that leads Lucine to look back towards her from time to time, as they move to a second hand store.
It's a mysterious sense that has nothing to do with being a Newtype. It's that universal, more intrinsic feeling that allows one to realize that they, though the whims of fate... are the _oldest person in the group_. And, by that ascension, they are automatically responsible for everyone here, *even if and especially if they have no clue what they're doing*. This goes doubly for Lucine, who spent her years being 'the baby' in a colony full of people who have their days of parenting long gone, or simply weren't interested.
Unfortunately, Ranka's plans for Emilia are as much a mystery to Lucine as they are to Emilia. As Ranka goes through the pile of second-hand instruments, Lucine looks to Emilia. "... Ah, would you... like to smell the flowers?" oh god that sounded so creepy she needs to be better at this!!
Ah, a guitar! Lucine tilts her head, owl-like, as Ranka holds up her prize. "A guitar?" Kaworu mentions Basara Nekki, and Lucine's eyes light up. "Oh! Ah, is this the reason, Ranka?"
<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.
Well that pretty much sums it up. Something bad happened to Kaworu- hence the flowers and the walking stick- and not asking was the right call. She doesn't know him well and doesn't want to bring up trauma by asking careless questions. So she focuses on the phone charm and flowers instead. "Th-they're such th-thoughtful gifts." She doesn't dare touch them, but her hand does move to the bracelet Shari gave her. Those gifts do matter.
And so does that kindness, and Ranka has so much kindness to spare. It seems like Kaworu and Lucine do too.
In this store, Emilia is in her element. She's looking around- outfits she could buy, things she could use for her room- indeed her eyes stop at the frames section momentarily. But Ranka brought her for a reason. Lucine asks if she wants to smell the flowers and she blinks a bit. "I-I-Is... that okay?" They're Kaworu's flowers after all.
And she's never been allowed to stop and smell the flowers before.
When Ranka dives in after a guitar, though, Emmy blinks. "Y-y-your answer?" Her eyes flick between Ranka and Kaworu and then Lucine, then the guitar again. Kaworu makes it more explicit, and tentatively she walks over to investigate it herself. "You... th-think I could?" Self doubt has always plagued Emmy, but it seems to be less right now. Ranka's believed in her many times and Kaworu understands music and how to play... So if they think she can.
Her eyes instinctually flick toward to the pricetag- with the conversion to gilla she should be able to afford it. Especially if she can haggle a bit with the store... But being Britannian might work against her here too...
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
Ranka spends some time admiring the flowers even before Kaworu shows the phone charm of the two notes fused together as she makes a sound of delight, "Waahh-! It's so cute." Ranka knows most boys wouldn't want a belonging of theirs to be called cute, but Kaworu isn't like most boys either. She feels like she can be free to say such things around him.
"How could we not? Think of you."
As he says how happy he is that he can still be here with her, her smile blooms as wide as one of the lilies that Lucine just offered her.
Lucine though passes back some of the credit, "I mean-" As she looks between her and Kaworu and back and realizing that it's unlikely that either will let her punt it back to Lucine, "-I guess that's... fair." She says as she finally swallows the idea that yes indeed she contributed to this.
-=-=-
At the store, Ranka is on a mission, and the mission completes itself. As she just keeps smiling so wide as she nods quickly to Lucine, quickly speaking to Emilia in a way that she feels will explain to Lucine too. "Kaworu's right. There's so much more to music than just singing. It's all about communicating those feelings - and they don't need to be with words."
Her smile softens, easing along the edges, as she gives Emilia a more serious look, "You deserve the opportunity to let your feelings out, Emilia, without feeling ashamed or embarrassed about it."
She notes Emilia looking at the price tag and quickly juts in, "Don't worry about that. This one's on me. I've made some money recently with my first commercial jingle." And after a pause, "There's no trail that way."
She doesn't invoke Joseph, save saying that. She knows Emilia works so hard to make money on the side just so he can't track her spending. Thus she's offering her another gift. A way for her to convey her feelings without the fear of him finding out so quickly that she never gets the chance.
"And-" The look in her bright red eyes, and that smile is just one of complete faith in her, "-of course I do."
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
It's quite likely that if something disastrous did happen, it'd be Kaworu who'd become the responsible one for the group. He is, after all, an administrator in NERV, so he has the experience. When it comes to age, though... it's true that Lucine has the raw advantage. And it's not like Kaworu is one to flaunt his status, either. For now, he's content to follow someone else's lead.
Likewise, he isn't at all bothered by having something of his called cute--he's quite pleased by her assessment, as well as her sentiment--and he only smiles knowingly when Lucine insists on making sure Ranka gets to take some credit for the flowers too. It looks as though Emilia has her own treasured gift, judging by the way she touches that bracelet of hers.
But for now, they're in the secondhand shop, and Emilia has taken that guitar in hand. He doesn't mind if she smells those flowers, though it doesn't occur to him that she might be asking him if it's okay.
"If you have the will to learn and a passon to convey, then you certainly can," he tells her with confidence. It doesn't matter that he barely knows her; that's how much he believes in the power of music. It is, after all, the crowning achievement of Lilim culture.
"Or is there a different instrument you'd rather learn to play?" he adds, watching her in curiousity. He'd trusted Ranka on her call on this, but he's learned over and over again lately that anyone can misread another... even if it's someone one knows very well. Ranka certainly knows Emilmia judging by what she's told him, but that's why it's best to double-check.
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
"... I'm sure he would be alright with it." Lucine nods, and smiles, tilting her head downwards. "Flowers come and go, so I like to appreciate that they're here, in this moment..."
Emilia's doubt is palatable-- even Lucine can sense it, regardless of which 'sense' she chooses to use. With no idea of Emilia's aptitudes but plenty of faith in Ranka and Kaworu's reasoning, Lucine nods slowly, adding quiet encouragement on top of their approval.
There's more hints as to why, too. Ranka mentioning 'No trail that way', as well as earlier mention of not speaking Emilia's last name. So... Emilia's shyness may not as simple as her feeling awkward around people, or not wanting to be addresed so formally.
Ranka's ability to take situations and bring a new understanding to them draws a silent look of awe from Lucine.
"... this is a world where flowers bloom. That is to say, ah..." She looks down towards the tiles of the floor. "... it is one where everything being in order and holding back to stay safe may not always be the right answer, since seeds cannot bloom in a vaccum." She would have gone into the analogy of the trees and flowers that bloom after fire and snow, but... would it accidentally imply something in regards to Emilia's past? "... To express your feelings... is like setting down seeds. Even if they never germinate, you will have still gained than if you had not planted them at all. That is, this is what I think, anyway."
<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.
Emmy takes a moment to smell those flowers. She's never smelled their like, but she's still shy. Still... they're nice flowers. Ashford has lots but not these- maybe she could take the time to smell those too now. "Th-thank you."
Emilia is caught off guard for a moment. But Ranka has the right approach- a friend stating that she deserves good things, and not letting her argue the price point, and invoking the practicalities. Ranka Lee is a dangerous negotiator. Gently, she takes the guitar from Ranka's hands. "I've.. n-never played an... an instrument b-before."
She knows, roughly how to hold it. It's a decent fit for her hands, and her fingers are long enough to reach across the frets. She'd obviously need practice, but... "I... I'd like to t-try it." She says, in response to Kaworu. "Th-thank you. For ch-ch-checking." She smiles small, but genuinely. The will to learn and a passion to convey... She has those now. Lucine talks in a flower analogy. It does hit a chord, as it were.
"S-s-so if y-you all think I c-can. I want t-to try it. E-e-even if I c-can never play like you, or R-Ranka. I'd like to... to e-experience wh-what m-making music is like." She takes a deep breath. This means a lot to her. More than she expected this little surprise would.
She looks to the group. "Um. W-we sh-should. Go to the c-cafe, after th-this." She pauses. "I'd... l-like to get to kn-know you all b-better." They're all taking steps to help her be heard without her mouth getting in the way. She's already trying to help Ranka's dream. Now she wants to know more about Kaworu and Lucine. Maybe she can help their dreams too.