The following is an eight piece series based on Jitterbug (Jazz) and Viola from Trusty Bell/Eternal Sonata, loosely inspired by The Hearts of Lonely People EP by American post-hardcore band Isles & Glaciers. You can find a link in my profile to the music if you'd like to listen along.

Note that these chapters don't necessarily follow the same storyline or relate to each other, but you can read them that way, as they will be going "in order." Also note that this series rating will change to M, due to upcoming adult situations - so please bookmark or subscribe now so you don't miss updates.

Comments, questions, criticism, praise, etc. are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!

the hearts of lonely people
piece 01 - kings and chandeliers

"There was a monster here?"

"A big one."

The voices of two people echoed in the wide, empty room inside the entrance of Fort Fermata. A tall man bearing a sword and a slim, blonde-haired archer were climbing down the ladder into the room, carrying on a conversation. Behind them came the faint sounds of conversation from a small group of travelers who had set up camp inside the abandoned fort for the evening, choosing to rest before continuing their journey the next day. Among these travelers were the swordsman and leader of Andantino, Jitterbug, and a skilled archer, Viola. These two had broken away from the group at Jitterbug's request, and now entered the quiet, empty room, one after the other.

"Did you dispose of it?"

"Mm." Viola stepped onto the ground first, carefully placing her feet away from the cracks that crisscrossed the aged tile. "Completely. It wasn't too difficult to take care of, honestly. Those kids are surprisingly helpful."

"Are they?" Jitterbug landed on the ground behind her, his boots sounding hard against the floor as he found his footing. "I'd heard it said that there was a creature standing guard inside Fermata, but I would hardly expect it to be defeated by a group of teenagers."

She smiled up at him. "Don't forget, they had my help, too."

He chuckled lightly, his eyes moving around the room. "Of course."

"So..." The archer watched him curiously, crossing her arms. "You said there was something you wanted to see in here, right? Aside from the spot where the monster was, anyway..."

"Yes... but it's already gone." He had turned to one of the walls and was inspecting it closely, running his fingers across the surface. "Supposedly there was a message hidden here... something about the location of a special weapon. I thought it may have been of use to us. But one of Waltz's minions probably snatched it up when they passed through last." His brows drew together in a frown. "And judging by what you've told me already, Viola... that may have been the very weapon Tuba drew against you."

"How annoying." She sighed, rolling her eyes in an exaggerated fashion. "Well, if there's nothing else here for you to see, I'm going back to camp - "

"Hold on."

"What?" She blinked a few times, watching him turn abruptly away from the wall. "All you asked was for someone to show you where the monster was. If there's something else you need..."

"It isn't that. I've been meaning to ask you something else since this afternoon began." His voice was low, but serious. "I hope you'll answer me honestly."

"Of course..." There was confusion in her expression. "What is it?

"We've met before." He stepped forward, his head tilted slightly to the side, his eyes narrowed. "Haven't we?"

Her eyes widened, then relaxed, and her lips creased into a smile. "I didn't think you'd remember."

"It's..." He slowly shook his head, looking down at the crackled and crumbling floor. "I don't. But I recognize your voice. For some reason, I remember meeting you. Whether it was recent I couldn't say, but - "

"It was three years ago." She walked past him suddenly, toward the door of the fort, which had been propped open by Falsetto a few hours earlier. The setting sun crept in through the opening, painting the floor of the fort orange-red to match the glow of the torches behind them. "Just after Count Waltz established the tax on everything but mineral powder. The taxes made it harder for me to buy food or supplies, or to make any money selling the milk my goats produced. I was just starting out on my own, then, so it made things really difficult." She stopped, facing away from him, linking her arms together loosely behind her back. "Someone passing through told me there was a revolutionary group forming to oppose Waltz and Forte. So, I thought I'd join."

Jitterbug's jaw dropped, slowly, his eyes growing wide in realization. "You applied to - to Andantino."

"Do you remember now?" She looked over her shoulder at him, smiling. "I was still pretty young, back then. I didn't have much experience fighting battles or opposing the government. I was a scrawny goat herder with no sense of self." She shrugged her shoulders, her gaze shifting back to the door of the fort. "You took one look at me and told me I wasn't right for Andantino. Looking back on it, it was the right decision for you to make."

The swordsman seemed to be remembering, now, his focus somewhere in the distance. "I had to send away many people... even those who were the most enthusiastic about our cause."

"At first, I took it pretty hard." She laughed. "You said I was too young. I remember looking at Falsetto sitting there in the corner, and thinking to myself that she couldn't have been a day over fifteen. Of course, appearances are deceiving... but after you sent me away, I think I called her every bad name in the book."

Jitterbug began to grin. "And me?"

"I made up some new words, I think." She laughed again. "But... if anything, that decision was motivation for me. It makes sense that you wouldn't recognize me, now." She turned, the fading sunlight from outside the fort falling on her figure and casting a shadow around her. "I was a completely different person. Because of the hardship the taxes placed on us, people began stealing my goats for food, or to use for milk. And a few months after that is when those weird creatures started to show up and attack us. I went to a merchant in Agogo Forest and asked him for a weapon. He told me I'd never be able to handle a sword, and handed me an old bow and some arrows instead." She glanced at the weapon strapped to her back. "I thought he was mocking me, but it turned out to be the best choice anyone had ever made for me." She winked. "Well, aside from your choice, anyway."

He laughed, shaking his head. "It seems as if it turned out for the best, then."

"You've seen how I handle my bow. I practiced every day, first on targets behind my home and then on the ... things ... that attacked my goats. I got better and better, to the point that I could hit a moving target from several hundred feet away." She began to make her way back to him, pacing slowly on the floor. "For the past few years, I never thought once about lifting my bow in anything but self-defense. But when those kids showed up, and I heard them talk about going to Forte to confront Waltz... it was like that old fire ignited inside of me. I decided right away to go along..." She motioned to herself. "... and so here I am."

"I barely remember how you presented yourself to Andantino, three years ago." He shifted his weight, placing a hand on the hip where his sword was sheathed. "But I can safely say that if you applied now... we'd have no choice to accept you immediately."

"That's flattering." She smiled, stepping in front of him. "But I think I'm more of a free spirit, these days. And besides... all that political stuff is too complicated for me." She idly waved a hand in the air, rolling her eyes. "It's gone beyond taxes and mineral powder now... it'd be best if those of you who really know what you stand for figure it all out."

He chuckled. "Well, even so... if Andantino remains intact after our journey is through, I hope you'd consider joining us. We could certainly use someone of your skill, and I would always enjoy your company."

"We'll see." Her cheeks had colored slightly at these words, and she glanced away momentarily, seeming almost uncomfortable. After a few seconds she straightened up, looking up into his face and extending one hand. "For now, I'd be happy enough to be considered an honorary member of Andantino. We are working together after all, ne?"

"Ah." He nodded, returning her smile, and reached out to take her hand within his own, shaking it firmly. "This time... I have no objections."

She laughed. "I've been waiting three years to hear you say that, you know."

"It meant that much to you?"

"If you'd turned me down a second time, I don't know what I would have done." Her expression changed as she looked at their hands clasped together. "To tell you the truth - "

"Jiruba?" A soft, feminine voice sounded behind them, and both turned to see Claves standing at the foot of the ladder, her eyes wide. "Is everything alright?"

"Just fine." He smiled at the violet-haired woman, carefully releasing Viola's hand. "Catching up with an old friend."

"Eh?" She blinked several times, looking from Viola to Jitterbug, lifting one hand to her mouth. "You two... know each other... ?"

"In a way." He walked to the ladder, lifting one hand to lightly touch her shoulder. "I'll tell you some other time. Is dinner ready?"

The young woman seemed unsure, but she still smiled, her lips turning up carefully at the corners. "Sometimes, Jiruba... you only think with your stomach, don't you?"

"So you tell me." He gave her shoulder an affectionate squeeze, then looked back to Viola. "Falsetto's an excellent cook. Will you join us for a meal?"

"Ah..." The blonde smiled weakly, nodding once. "Sure. I'll be right there."

"Good."

Jitterbug nodded at her, then both members of Andantino turned and proceeded up the ladder into the fort. The archer watched their vanishing figures, something in her gaze softening in a way that was almost sad. She stood alone in the room for a long time, looking after them, until she could stay no longer. After a few minutes she knew someone would come looking for her, and the last thing she wanted was for any one of her companions to see her like this.

Viola reluctantly began walking to the ladder, and it was only then that she spoke again, vocalizing the thoughts that had been swimming inside her head. "To tell you the truth," she murmured to herself, taking the bottom rung gently in her hands, "I cared about what you said, Jiruba... more than you ever realized."

next chapter: hills like white elephants