Përshëndetje!
Today's is pretty light-hearted, unlike yesterday's post. However, it's kind of like how Farina reacts to the whole thing that happened to night before. Eh.
Ninian and Farina are an interesting duo to write. I think Farina's personality might have rubbed off on Ninian's while I was writing this, or maybe Farina just brings out the best in Ninian. Or worst, depending on your point of view.
Of course, Eliwood has a brief cameo in this. Can't have Ninian without Eliwood. Unthinkable!
I do not own Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead. I have yet to even learn guitar, and don't even ask about my singing voice.
Enjoy!
…
Hypothetically
"Um…Ninian?"
Ninian glanced up from her book, slightly startled by the soft tone Farina was talking in. Usually, if she wanted something from you, she would grab whatever you were doing out of your hands and demand that you listened to her. Today however, she was scuffing one foot back and forth, avoiding looking her in the eyes.
"Yes, Farina?" she asked politely, twisting her head in order to better see the other girl's face. Farina only turned away more, clearing her throat.
"Uh…If I were to…that is…" Farina stumbled over her words and Ninian's eyebrows rose high on her forehead. Farina, not knowing how to tell you something? It was nearly unheard of. The only times she was ever a bit flustered was after her boyfriends broke up with her, and even then it was only a bit of inattention. Ninian closed her book now, very curious of what Farina had to say.
"If I were to…" Farina began again. "And keep in mind, this is strictly hypothetic."
Ninian nodded eagerly.
"If I were to…join chorus," she choked out the last to words like they were stuck in her throat. "How…how would I go about that?"
Ninian's eyebrows rose even higher. Chorus here was an after-school thing, so if you just liked to sing on the side, you could join without filling a slot in your schedule. Still though, she had never even heard Farina mention an even passing interest in singing. She didn't even sing along to the radio for goodness sake!
"W-well," Ninian began, trying to mask her surprise. "Hypothetically, if you wanted to join, you'd have to talk to Mrs. Reglay, the chorus teacher. If she thinks that you will commit, she'll make you audition."
"Audition?" Farina squeaked. Ninian nodded, amused now.
"Of course, it's only to estimate your skill level, you get in no matter what. But since this is a…hypothetic case, I didn't think you needed to know," Ninian responded, starting to open her book again. Farina made a strangled sound and Ninian looked up to make sure she wasn't suffocating.
"Let's say…hypothetically…that this isn't a hypothetic case, and I really want to join," Farina furrowed her brow, like she was confusing herself. "Is there anything else I'd need to know?"
"That's a lot of assuming you're asking me to do," Ninian teased. "Would you just like to take that out of your question?"
There was a short silence, in which Farina appeared to be struggling with herself. Finally, she hung her head and clasped her hands together. "Please Ninian! I want…I want to join chorus."
Ninian, although she was expecting this, was still confused. "But why? It's a large commitment, and even if you hypothetically liked to sing, you still probably wouldn't make it to all the concerts and practices."
Farina raised her head to glare at her. "Who's using 'hypothetically' now?"
Ninian winced. "Sorry, sorry! But are you really serious about this? Or is it a 'hypothetical' whim?"
"I'm serious," Farina stated, staring straight into her eyes this time. Convinced now, Ninian gave her a gentle smile.
"Would you like me to come with you then?" she asked sweetly. "I mean, if you hypothetically going to do this."
Farina clutched her head in agitation. "Enough! I get it, it was stupid! You don't have to make fun of me more than you already have. Seriously, I'm good with just encouragement."
"Go Farina go," Ninian half-heartedly cheered, only to earn another nasty look from her companion. "Alright, alright. Let's go on then, shall we?"
She began walking briskly down the hall, with Farina trudging grumpily after her. Ninian desperately wanted to ask what had brought this sudden interest about, but she withheld her questions. It wasn't any of her business.
She turned a sharp corner without looking, ending up colliding with a blurred figure. She fell back, hitting Farina on her way, who let out an indignant squawk as she was suddenly knocked to the ground and sat upon by a relatively light, but still annoying to have on your chest, girl. She immediately pushed her off and into the figure that she hadn't bothered to identify.
"Oof," Ninian grunted as she was unceremoniously pushed off her friend and into something else. "I'm sorry whoever you are, I wasn't looking where-"
She cut herself off as she recognized the concerned face of Eliwood. She let out a squawk almost as loud as Farina's, launching herself back and into her. Luckily, Farina was ready this time ad managed to catch her and set her back up.
"I'msorryforrunningintoyou," Ninian apologized, words running from her mouth too fast to understand. "I'dlovetostayandchatbutI'mhelpingFarinaandwereallymustgo! Goodbye!"
And grabbing Farina's hand, she sprinted around the next corner, leaving Eliwood with one hand outstretched after her.
As soon as they were far enough away, Ninian allowed herself to lean against the wall and take several deep breaths. However, she could feel Farina's inner devil growing with each one. Maybe teasing her hadn't been such a great idea… Although even then, Farina probably wouldn't have left it alone without asking a few questions. It seemed to just be her nature.
"Well, that was interesting," Farina mused to herself. "It looks like someone's got a crush…"
Ninian's eyes flew open. "How could you-" she cut herself off and started again. "I mean, if, hypothetically, I liked him, how could you tell?"
"We're back to those again!" Farina exclaimed. "But, 'hypothetically' it was obvious! Either that or you periodically get a flush in your cheeks and are extremely terrified of him!"
"But, but!" Ninian protested. "Let's say hypothetically, I'm not allowed to have a crush on him, but I do-keep in mind we are assuming things here-and it makes me feel terrible all the time!"
"Ah, forbidden love," Farina sighed longingly. "The absolute best kind!"
Ninian's eyes shot daggers. "Am I to assume then, that that is why you can't keep boyfriend more than a month?"
Farina pointed a finger in her face. "That's taking it too far!"
"Let's just get to the chorus room," Ninian huffed, grabbing her wrist and pulling her along to her many protests.
…
They got to Mrs. Reglay's office two minutes later. Ninian knocked softly on the door, calling quietly, "Mrs. Reglay?"
A muffled, "Come in!" was heard, and Ninian turned the handle to see her English and chorus teacher scribbling something in a notebook. She looked up with a warm grin.
"Ninian! And Farina too! What is it that you wish to discuss with me?"
Ninian gestured to Farina, who was looking uncomfortable again. Ninian leaned over to whisper in her ear.
"Just keep the conversation on real occurrences."
Farina glared at her to which she smiled back. Farina turned back to her patient teacher.
"I…I want to join chorus!" she burst out, after a few beats of awkward silence. Mrs. Reglay closed her notebook and scanned her over. Her face was earnest and her hands were in nervous fists. Without even asking her, Louise Reglay knew that she was indeed being truthful.
"Let's hear a song then!" she cried, clapping her hands together. "Without accompaniment, but you may sing any that you wish!"
"J-just like that?" Farina stuttered, having expected some rigorous questionnaire on her schedule, how much she had sang in the past, and other such things. She hadn't thought that Mrs. Reglay would just let her sing. However, Mrs. Reglay just nodded encouragingly. Ninian held her breath as Farina closed her eyes.
Her green plastic watering can
For her fake Chinese rubber plant
In the fake plastic earth.
That she bought from a rubber man
In a town full of rubber plans
To get rid of itself.
It wears her out, it wears her out
It wears her out, it wears her out.
From the first note, Ninian found herself entranced by Farina's beautiful voice. A glance over at her teacher showed that she agreed. Her eyes were closed and she rocked side to side to some music it seemed only she could hear. Ninian turned her gaze back to the girl who was singing.
She lives with a broken man
A cracked polystyrene man
Who just crumbles and burns.
He used to do surgery
For girls in the eighties
But gravity always wins.
And it wears him out, it wears him out.
It wears him out, it wears . . .
Mrs. Reglay raised a hand and Farina immediately stopped singing, cheeks turning bright red. The chorus teacher was beaming brightly, and Ninian couldn't help but burst into applause. Farina, if possible, turned even redder.
"Amazing!" Mrs. Reglay exclaimed, smile not leaving her face. "First rehearsal is tomorrow after school, and you will be there!"
…
When they left the office, Farina glanced at Ninian
"Thanks for helping me," she mumbled, before scampering off, leaving Ninian staring after her in shock. Had Farina just…thanked her? Nonsense. Farina didn't thank anyone.
But, hypothetically, if she had…Ninian smiled. Maybe she was finally growing up a little. She followed after her, humming the tune she had sung.
…
I love that song. Not as much as I love Seven Nation Army, but I wanted something relatively down-beat, not to mention something without long breaks in between lyrics.
I'm going to have a lot of fun with Farina in this story…Heh heh heh…
Of course, I have to incorporate my main plot line. Otherwise all that writing was for nothing! Nothing! I like my writing to have some sort of point.
Review please!
Lamtumirë!
