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“So, Sordward. You have found yourself in Sinnoh.”
The tuxedo-wearing man bit his lower lip as he found himself inside of Celestic Town’s musical hall. It was a place mostly for the townsfolk to recreate old Hisuian rhythms, but there was a grand piano on stage. Sordward had mostly wandered here, being dragged along by his wife to a town to meet up with some co-workers. He normally felt like a fish out of water outside of Galar, but normally his confident attitude would prevent him from feeling too bad about it. Not today. His wife had a way of changing his personality, he felt. Mostly for the better, but he did miss his old arrogance at points. He needed something to distract him, and he saw the piano on-stage. His usual smirk came across his face.
“Well, if nobody’s using it, what’s the harm anyhow?”
Making his way on-stage, stomped up the steps. He bowed to an empty audience, his blade-like hair swaying as he did so, then began to take a seat at the piano chair. His fingers took position.
“I don’t normally play without gloves… and it has been a while… But, here goes.”
C. C-Sharp. C, C-Sharp, D, D-Sharp. A-flat. Then his fingers began to dance. He felt his old muscle memory course through his arms, and he closed his eyes, losing himself to the music.
“Chorus of the Sun Beautifly? I haven’t heard that track in a while.”
Sordward yelped out, his hands slamming all the keys in shock as he turned around to see a blonde woman in black.
“C-Cynthia?! I-I’m so sorry madame, I-I was just-”
“Playing the piano. You don’t have to worry. That bow you did earlier was cute.” Cynthia giggled as she held a hand to her face, a crack in Sordward’s steely resolve showing on his face.
“W-well, I admire a woman who can appreciate a good piano ditty. You play some yourself, don’t you?” Out of respect, Sordward stood up, and bowed. Cynthia stepped back with a confused look on her face; both because she was taken aback by such manners, and also because she didn’t want Sordward’s hair hitting her with a Slash attack.
“Y-yeah! You’re one of the twins from Galar, aren’t you? Leon must’ve told you all about me.”
“On the contrary madame, it wouldn’t be Leon’s lips that told me about yourself; it was my wife.”
Cynthia nodded, then looked… oddly concerned. “Wait. Wife? When did you get married?”
“Ah, not long ago. Sonia had to come here so I accompanied her to-”
“SONIA IS YOUR WIFE?!” Cynthia now looked shocked beyond pale.
“...I get that a lot. But alas, here’s my ring.” Sordward posed, holding up his backhand as if though he was holding a traditional Hoenn fan. Indeed, in the scant lighting of the stage, his ring twinkled.
Cynthia was regaining her composure outwardly, but internally she was screaming. Sonia had come over, alongside Bugsy, for the three to have an academic discussion. She could totally see how Bugsy and Whitney came together, but Sonia and Sordward?! She coughed into her hand.
“U-uh, sorry, had some Farfetch’d soup for dinner. Acid reflux.” She shook her head, only to see Sordward give her a bit of a scornful look. Did her lie backfire?
“Wasn’t aware you partook in such delicacies, Cynthia. You know I have a Sirfetch’d, correct?”
Cynthia felt like she fell off a cliff.
“Good thing it was just a Kantonian Farfetch’d you ate!” Sordward then began to belt out some laughs, which made Cynthia feel less embarrassed and ashamed and moreso sour. But it was a better emotion than before. Somewhat.
“A-anyhow, uhm, Sordward,” Cynthia crossed her arms and dipped her head to the left. “Going back to our first topic; yes. I do play the piano. And I gotta say, you’re quite good at it. Are you classically trained?”
“Well, you could say that.” Sordward’s toothy smirk returned to his face. Cynthia already hated it. “My mother practically beat it into me, and at the time I loathed her for it, but ever since her passing I’ve always felt like I should’ve thanked her instead. So now I try to keep my skills sharp with it. Wish I could’ve played more, however. Curse my early on-set arthritis.” He rubbed his hand, inspecting it like it was fine glassware.
This man was just emotional left and right hooks back and forth, Cynthia thought. “Oh. My, that’s actually quite noble of you. Well, I’m sure she’d be happy to hear you play.” Cynthia smiled, maybe now understanding a little bit of what Sonia saw in him.
“Mm. Thank you, madame. Oh, I must ask; have you seen my wife? Part of the reason I’m even here to begin with was because I wandered in here, like a lost little Litten, and just sort of stumbled into here!”
“Oh, Sonia? She’s currently taking a stroll with Bugsy. I stayed behind because I wanted to check the library for a bit, but then I heard piano playing, so I came inside. They should be getting back anytime soon.” Cynthia checked her Poketch. “Yeah, it’s about 10 past 3.”
Sordward smiled. “Well, then if you don’t mind; continue to admire my piano playing until they arrive?”
Cynthia snickered softly, this time with earnest admiration for the guy. “Please. Be my guest.”
Sordward turned around and took a seat again, and resumed playing Chorus of the Sun Beautifly. Having an audience this time, Sordward got very into it, and Cynthia couldn’t help but smile and listen to the tune that was being played.
The doors of the hall began to open wider. Neither of them could hear it because of the piano playing going on. A certain guy with violet hair and a labcoat began to walk in, and behind him was a woman with hearts in her hair. Sonia heard the piano being played, and couldn’t help but chuckle to herself.
“Oh, poor Sordward. You let him near those ivory keys and he goes crazy.”
Bugsy turned around and did a double take. “Wait. You know him?” He was transfixed back on Sordward’s hair.
“Oh, he’s my husband, Bugsy.” Sonia raised her hand to show her ring.
“THAT MAN IS YOUR HUSBAND?!” He shouted, his voice ringing across the studio halls, once again causing Sordward to keyslam the piano in his shock. Cynthia couldn’t help but begin to laugh, feeling vindicated for her outburst earlier.
“I wonder if people will ever stop doing that…” Sordward grumbled.