Case File 2017.11.13
It'd been some time since Alex touched a piano...before or after Delilah's death. Memories stung a bit as he continued staring at the instrument, but eventually he walked over and ran his fingers over the keys to begin picking out a melody. Rhea had been on her way to the kitchen for some tea when she'd heard the piano being played, peeking in to watch quietly until Alex had finished his song. Her voiced question about where he'd learned to play startled Alex for a moment, wrapped up in the moment of emotions that he'd not sensed her lingering by the door watching him. It took him a moment to recover, but outside of the hesitation in giving an answer at first...it did bring back some fond memories. She hadn't sung in what felt like ages-- she'd asked if he was one that could pick up from listening over reading sheet music...engaging him in a more lighthearted conversation. His answer was to pick out another melody she'd recognized as he added that he'd once thought to be a musician. Then he turned to poke at Rhea, asking about her singing. Her polite way of dismissing that she probably wasn't able to carry a melody properly with being so out of practice was basically ignored as he picked out another song on the piano. It was one she recognized, a curious melody she'd hear at the oddest of times-- seeing he wasn't going to stop, Rhea quietly picked up the song...a familiarity at the act once she let herself sing.
Alex stated the instrument had been tied to loss and even though he's tried to stay away from it...he just couldn't do it, and those that knew him wouldn't want him to either. Though it made him curious as to why Rhea didn't sing. For her...singing was always an extension of her mood or feelings and she'd not wanted to really broadcast that around other people. Her mind has been stuck mostly in the shadows of the past. Since the return from the long road trip, some of that weight wasn't as heavy as it used to be, but she hadn't felt like she'd been clear in mind from it all to really enjoy singing right now. Though it reminded her of her previous talk with Elena-- there was more to this life and Rhea had continued to play catch-up for so long that she'd neglected to take a moment and stop to consider what she wanted in life anymore. She admits that mindset is still a work in progress.
Eventually he poked at asking her for assistance in a 'little magical endeavor' and that gave Rhea pause for thought. It didn't sound like this would lead to a good idea. Alex came out and stated that he wanted to summon something, a ghost more specifically, he needed to talk to her and get closure. Rhea had a good idea who this 'her' was and it still didn't sound like a good idea. He had guts asking a Warden on something that was a rather sketchy concept of toeing the lines with the Laws of Magic, but he stated that was why he was asking first. She declined and advised him to have a talk with his teacher Liam on the matter. Though she had the feeling she'd be having a private conversation herself regarding this...seeing as little would deter Alex when he got something stuck in his mind. He seemed to take her refusal to help a little better than she'd expected, no outburst, but acceptance that she wasn't going to help and didn't figure asking would hurt. Though he'd excuse himself for the night and told Rhea he'd be in the library if she needed to find him. Alex reminded her to pick up her singing before leaving. She had not liked the way the end of this conversation had gone-- leaving a note with Liam that they'd need to have a talk about Alex soon before finally trying to call it a night herself.
