The Magic of Switching

[saving_sound]

[Action]

[Those watching a certain piano performance at Draupnir are treated to an odd sight. In the midst of a beautiful piece, the pianist suddenly stops with a look of mixed pain and surprise. That expression quickly changes to one of horror when "he" notices the stage and the audience. After a very awkward pause, "he" mumbles a small apology and stumbles offstage.

Other actors or folks who may just happen to be at the Draupnir, particularly backstage, are free to pester the guy. Particularly since he appears to be in tears at his own reflection. Um.]

[Video]

[And for those who aren't at the Draupnir, have a terrified to tears guy on the network! Or is it really...?]

I-I think I've b-become Rutherford-san... s-somehow...

Wh-what's going on?

Comments

private text;

[instant_tea]

Yes, it might be better for you. [And his reputation, but that's only part of it...]

And try to stay calm.

private text;

[off_tune]

Ill try where should i hide though??

private text;

[instant_tea]

You can't find anywhere?

private text;

[off_tune]

I dont know this place at all....

private text;

[instant_tea]

[... It's a theater.]

Very well, I will be on my way shortly. [He hopes.] Try to remain calm meanwhile.

private text;

[off_tune]

[She's never really gone to one before...]

Okay.
Im sorry.

private text;

[instant_tea]

What are you apologizing for?

private text;

[off_tune]

Making you come all the way over here

private text;

[instant_tea]

I am doing so because I want to. Don't apologize again, it's not necessary. [It was safer for both of them.]

private text;

[off_tune]

Okay

[She almost apologized for that, but she wisely deletes the text before she sends it. Time to play the waiting game!]

action;

[instant_tea]

[IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME. And a lot of interceptions by people who recognized Hibiki as well as running from said people, but eventually Eyes makes his way to the theater. Hopefully Hibiki (and his body) are still there as he wanders about searching for her.]

action;

[off_tune]

[Hibiki, meanwhile, is standing off to the side in the backstage area looking awkward as she tries to stay out of the way. When she sees herself walking around, it takes her a moment to actually call out. This is so weird.]

R-Rutherford-san!

action;

[instant_tea]

[Oh good, there she is –

... He had experienced various strange things in his life, but he's fairly certain that seeing himself in such a way topped them all for now.] Are you all right?

action;

[off_tune]

[There is a small, unconvincing nod. But at least she doesn't look quite like she's about to cry anymore.]

I'm okay. Did you have a hard time getting here?

[Fretting!]

action;

[instant_tea]

No, it wasn't any trouble. [Except it was in a way, because being in the body of someone who was ten years old made the usual means of travel difficult.]

What happened?

action;

[off_tune]

I'm not sure... I was in the hospital as usual when suddenly I was on the stage at the piano.

[...She winces at the thought, and that movement just aggravates the rib cage pain. Putting a hand over it, she continues with a worried voice.]

I... ran offstage right away. I was so confused, I didn't know what to do.

action;

[instant_tea]

[His eyes widen fractionally when he notices that wince, and realizes exactly what was causing it. While the pain of his missing rib over the years made it so that he could at least pretend there was nothing wrong, to someone who had never experienced before... She was holding up well, at least.]

I expect many would not take into account the possibility of waking up in another person's body...

action;

[off_tune]

[She shakes her head glumly.]

I got used to things like the hugs and the singing, but I never would have expected everybody switching bodies...

action;

[instant_tea]

... It would be better to not become accustomed to any of it at all. [No matter how much one may want to.]

How are you feeling?

action;

[off_tune]

Umm... My side hurts, but...

[Wait.]

Er- Were you hurt before, or did I...?

[She would accidentally get hurt in somebody else's body.]

action;

[instant_tea]

... In a matter of speaking, yes. Any pain you feel on the right side of your chest was not your doing.

[Though if it were possible, his expression and tone become even more serious with the following:] Tell no one of it.

action;

[off_tune]

[Part of her is relieved she didn't get him hurt, but the other is worried because why is he injured aah.

But his tone for the last bit is enough to get her attention. With a scary voice like that, there isn't even an option.]

...Okay. I won't tell. But... is it something bad? Something that can't be healed...?

action;

[instant_tea]

No, it can't be healed. It's a very old injury. [And he wasn't sure if attempting to treat it would help to fix the problem, but he wouldn't rule out that meddling with it would likely make it worse.]

action;

[off_tune]

Oh... Th-that's terrible. I'm so sorry.

[She's back on the verge of tears at the thought. Having to deal with a pain like this all the time...? She can't even imagine how strong Eyes must be to put up with it.]

action;

[instant_tea]

There's no need to apologize for that, and it's not called for either. [Something about it felt very wrong, and he just didn't want to hear it when he had never wanted anyone to know about it to begin with.]