Music Lessons
An Invader Zim Fanfiction by KidKourage
Part 3—Solfeggietto
Would you believe that there have been nearly four months of intervening time between the last chapter and this one? Well…there have been. Now I can finally get back to my most favorite activity! Hurrah! I read a book called Finding Flow for a class this semester, and it said that the best times for a person to experience are those in which she's doing something she loves and, preferably, is good at—those times are called 'flow.' Hopefully, I can be in flow today! ^_^ A 'solfeggietto' is a fast and dynamic piece that almost seems out of control, incidentally. Now that you know that, you can be prepared for the impending madness.
The scene is Miz Bitters' classroom! A couple days have passed, and the time is drawing near for…well, you'll see! Zim is mysteriously missing from the scene…don't worry, he'll be there soon!
Miz Bitters: …and that's how the all the dentists on Earth came to realize that they couldn't possibly destroy all the candy manufacturers, and that it was better just to make an under-the-table alliance in the name of ruining the lives of children and filling them with sweet, sweet chocolate misery.
Dib (furiously taking notes): So root canal is all a conspiracy…that'd account for the high cost of dental work…must be kickbacks to the candy corporations…but that still doesn't explain…(he puts his hand up and waves it wildly) Miz Bitters, where do union dental plans and high insurance costs fit into this?
Miz Bitters (seeming quite annoyed by this interruption): They don't. The unions and the insurance companies are in league against the candy-dentist conglomerate. Now stop being interested in the lesson and sink into the proper attitude of despair.
Dib: But this is really good stuff—it explains Halloween and the lollipops dentists give to kids and—O.O
Miz Bitters (rising before Dib's desk): You're calling out! And the new stricter skool codes decree that that means…(very dire voice) parakeets.
Dib: ……what?
Rob (leaning forward to taunt Dib): You mean you don't know about the parakeets?
Sara: Ffff…not only is he a freak, he's a stupid freak.
Dib: No, really, what's going—
Miz Bitters: Grrrr…all you children talking…now you all face the parakeets!
All Children (except Dib, who still doesn't get it): Noooooooo!
Miz Bitters snakes her way over to her desk, opens a drawer, and pulls out a birdcage covered with a cloth—how, I don't know. She surveys the class slowly, building up suspense, and the grits her teeth and pulls the cloth off the cage. Inside are three dazed-looking parakeets, one green, one blue, and one white. All of them blink a few times and then proceed to start making loud, happy parakeet chirp sounds.
Mathew P. Mathers III: Aaaaaaaaaah! (he is a squealy fool. u.u)
Carl (falling out of his seat): What's up with those birds? They're like bird…demons!
Aki (clutching her head): My ears! I can't hear my ears anymore! Why?!
Dib (just sitting there): Okaaaay…
Miz Bitters: Weak children…this is nothing compared to the great Parakeet Outbreak of 1467!
Dib: Did parakeets exist in 1467?
Miz Bitters (ignoring this): Good! (she throws the cloth back over the cage and shoves it back in her desk drawer) Maybe now you'll adhere to the rules like the unthinking drones we're trying to mold you int—
She is interrupted by Zim, who throws open the door and dashes to his seat. Once there, he sits bolt upright with his hands folded on the desk in front of him—the model student. 9.9
Miz Bitters: Zim! Do you have a late pass?
Zim (grinning endearingly): Of course, Miz Bitters. Here you are. (he hands her a scrap of paper)
Miz Bitters: 'Please 'scuse me Master from skool he was busy?' Well, okay. But there's no 'z' in 'busy.'
Zim (in his best 'pity me' voice): Sadly, my parents were raised by wild pigs and never went to skool. They mean well.
Dib (pointing accusingly): That note was written by his horrible alien robot minion!
Miz Bitters: …well, it looks like you need another even stronger dose of the parakeets, Dib.
She gets out the cage, puts it on Dib's desk, and unveils it, then opens it and allows one of the parakeets to escape and land on Dib's head.
Blue Parakeet: Coo? (it snuggles down into Dib's hair) ^.^
Dib: ¬.¬*…*sigh*
Just then, the phone on Miz Bitters' desk starts ringing. She swoops over to it and picks it up. You can hear duck quacking sounds from the other end (well, on Valentine's Day it was a pig…).
Miz Bitters: What?! Again?! Grrrrr…I thought I threatened your life last time! ….oh, you're his replacement? Well, in that case, you will suffer! (she slams the phone down, causing it to catch fire inexplicably, and glares at her students) Children! It seems that it's time once more to prepare for the Year-End Concert. I keep telling the administration that allowing you to sing and play instruments will only give you hope and a sense of misplaced accomplishment, but they are a pack of barnyard animals and thus can't comprehend the pointlessness of trying to enrich your monochrome lives. So, to that end, I'm forced to ask you—though I know what the answer will be—are any of you who aren't in the band or chorus going to sign up to participate?
Zim raises his hand calmly, a smug look on his face.
Miz Bitters (surveying the class—no hands are up but Zim's): No? As it should be—what do you want now, Zim?
Zim (who had started panicking and waving violently): Miz Bitters! You asked if any of us would like to perform. I would.
Miz Bitters: Fine! (she procures a form from her desk and then snakes over to Zim's desk to place it in front of him) Fill this out so we know what horrible ear-splitting noise to expect from you on the night of the concert.
Zim (patiently filling out the form): Ear-splitting? I think not.
Dib (incredulous): What instrument do you play, Zim? Don't tell me you plan on singing—people's ears would start bleeding from that.
Brian: How would you know what Zim's singing sounds like, Dib? Do you hang out with him or something?
Zim: I do not 'hang out' with inferiors. u.u And, no, I will not be singing…though that would surely dazzle you as well. The amazing talent I will share with you at the Concert will be to play the piano.
Dib (scoffing): You can't play the piano.
Zim: Of course I can. I am the greatest virtuoso this planet has ever seen.
Dib: Since when?
Zim: Since…almost two weeks now!
Dib: …huh? You think that's…(he starts laughing uproariously, nearly dislodging his parakeet) Wahahahahaha!
Blue Parakeet: O.O…¬.¬…(it takes a clump of Dib's hair in its beak and tugs)
Dib: Ow! (he swats at the bird) Cut that out!
Blue Parakeet (reproachfully): *Chirp!*
Zim: Ha! You'll soon see, bird-monster Dib. The crowds will fall at my feet and worship my musical might! (he finishes the form and hands it to Miz Bitters, who appears to have shut down for the moment) Completed, sir!
Miz Bitters (jerking back to life): What? Oh, yes. (she takes the form) I'm sure we'll all look forward to your performance, which couldn't possibly be worse that what the skool band has prepared for us…unless you too manage to make your instrument sound like a dying buffalo.
Zim (looking quite cutely diabolical): Yes…you must all look forward to it…you'll all love my music…heheheheheh…
Dib (raising an eyebrow): Hmmm…
Mary (skipping into the classroom): Sorry I'm late, Miz Bitters! (she smiles happily and holds out a piece of paper) I've got a pass, though.
Miz Bitters (scrutinizing the pass): A doctor's note?! Unacceptable! (in a flash, she swoops over to her desk and returns to Mary…that familiar cage in hand) *scary locust noises*
Mary: O.O*…
Later, it is lunchtime! I like lunchtime—so much childhood horror. To write about such things makes me happy because I no longer have to experience them. One time in fifth grade the semi-retarded bully girl threw her salad cup at me. It was salad-y. O.ô Okay, story. It's about halfway into the lunch period, and Zim has already finished not eating. Heh. After looking around distastefully at the his schoolmates, he procures a music headset from his backpod and puts it on (Irkens are, of course, very sensitive to sound and vibration—so it doesn't matter that the 'phones are meant to be placed over ears that Zim doesn't have ^_^). He closes his eyes and listens to whatever music it is, and after a few moments spreads his hands out on the table in front of him and begins to 'play' along. This would likely seem odd to anyone who doesn't play the piano. 9.9 Dib doesn't play the piano.
Dib (stalking up to Zim's table): So, what's your evil plan this time, Zim? Think you're going to become some kind of music star? Or maybe you're going to hide explosives in your piano? Whatever it is, it won't—hey, are you listening? I'm belittling you, here!
Blue Parakeet: Chirrup?
Dib: Shut up. I'll make him listen.
Blue Parakeet: 9.9…*whistle*
Zim (under his breath): No…that won't work…I need this finger here…there…now, the next phrase…
Dib yanks the headphones off Zim, quite rudely. Zim continues to tap the melody into the table for a few more seconds, oblivious, but then snaps out of it…and into anger-mode.
Zim: Hey! That's mine—and now I'll have to disinfect it! (he makes a grab for the headset)
Dib (holding it out of reach): Oh, no you don't. Not until you confess that you can't really play the piano and that it's all a front for one of your stupid world-domination schemes.
Zim: I'd be lying if I said I couldn't play. I can. Very well, in fact. u.u
Dib (sarcastically): Yeah? According to who? The Grand High Master of the Keyboard?
Zim: No. He has nothing to do with this. I was taught by a greater master by far.
Dib: …………okaaay…who, then?
Zim: KidK, of course.
Dib: KidK plays the piano?
Zim: Yes. And she is even more amazing that I.
Dib: Huh. I did not know that. (he resumes his antagonistic attitude) But even if you can play, that doesn't mean you're not using the piano for some evil purpose.
Zim (grinning evilly): Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. If I am, however, you'll never know what hit you until it's too late.
Dib: Okay, you are so not getting these headphones back.
Zim: They're not even mine, really. They're KidK's.
Dib: Well, then, I'll give them back to her. When I come to your house after skool and see if you've got anything going on down in your lab—anything…music-related, if you catch my meaning.
Zim (scoffing at this notion): You can't get into my lab. It's protected by even heavier security than ever now that my recording stu—now that I hate you even more. (he points at Dib's head, in an effort to distract him) There's a wing-beast on your head, you know.
Blue Parakeet: ¬.O (it flutters its wings at this name-calling and clicks its beak in annoyance)
Dib: Leave the parakeet out of this. There is something you don't want me to know about at your base! (the bell rings, and Dib starts to walk away, calling back threateningly) I'll find out what you're hiding and put a stop to it! And don't worry—I'll return KidK's Walkman…this afternoon!
Zim (glaring): She won't want it back after your disgusting hands have been on it! (grumbling to himself) I was just getting that fingering perfected…and matched to the—O.O………don't even think about listening to that tape, Dib-monkey!
He leaps up from the table and runs off after Dib, and thus the scene comes to an end. What's on the tape that Zim doesn't want Dib to hear? Well…heheh…I like that parakeet, don't you? ^.^ I am not telling you important things. The suspense is killing you, no? It's killing me too—I can't wait to reveal the secret! But I will…and now the next scene shall begin! At KidK's house, after the skool day is ovah…
KidK (sitting at the piano and humming along with her playing): -.-…..(there is a sudden knock at the door and her hands come crashing down on completely wrong notes) O.o*…….door? Hmmm…(she abandons the piano to go for the door) Hallo? Oh, hi Dib! ^_^
Dib: Hi. I just came by to return this to you. (he holds out the headset)
KidK (taking it, slightly confused): Oh…hey, how come you've got it? I gave it to Zim…something to do with practicing without a piano.
Dib: Huh. He told you he could play the piano too?
KidK: Well, sure! He can! I'm the one who taught him to read music.
Dib: Really? Well, have you ever actually heard him play?
KidK: Um…actually…not since the first day I actually let him touch a keyboard. He was fouling up scales but he eventually got them all down…in a couple hours…9.9…
Dib (suspiciously): Why haven't you heard him since?
KidK: Because now he has his own piano down in the lab so we could both practice simultaneously without getting in each other's way. And because he's got the piano locked up in this other room down there. And because he tells me I'm not to come down there when he's practicing. Um…are you going to come in? We're letting all the air conditioning out of the house, as Mom would say.
Dib (in thought): ………..oh! Right. Sorry, I was just planning the next ste—(he catches himself)…….nography class I'm gonna take!
KidK (stepping aside to let him in): Okaaaaay…well, anyway, you still haven't told me why you were in possession of my Walkman instead of Zim. (she starts up the stairs)
Dib (following): Oh, um….he was really careless and left it in the cafeteria after lunch, so I…wanted to return it?
KidK: I wonder…I'm also wondering what's up with that bird on your head. 6.6 Is that a parakeet? I didn't want to say anything, but…well, that's a little odd, don't you think?
Dib: 9.9 Yeah. Miz Bitters is using parakeets as a punishment—I have no idea why—and this one just decided that my head is its new home.
Blue Parakeet: *happy trill* ^.^
KidK: Aw, that's cute! I used to have parakeets…a blue one and a white one. The white one was evil and I think it may have murdered the blue one while I was sleeping one night. I was pretty little.
Dib: O.o…..9.9*…are these things dangerous?
KidK: I don't think so, usually. This one looks sweet, at least. Snowy was just the violent exception to the rule. It later escaped its cage and used its freedom to fly straight into a wall and brain itself. And the world is now a happier place without it. So…is this bird your pet now? Are you planning on keeping it?
Dib: I'm not sure.
Blue Parakeet: 6.6 Chirp?
Dib: It really seems to like it up there, but I can't just go around with a parakeet on my head forever.
KidK: Heh…no, I guess not. But you could still have it at your house. Or you could train it to sit on your shoulder instead of your head.
Dib: Maybe…well, why not?
KidK: ^.^ Let me know when you name it, okay? Now…um…I don't mean to be a bad hostess, but do you mind if I keep practicing? (she gestures toward the piano, looking kind of nervous)
Dib: Oh, do you need me to leave?
KidK: No, no! You don't have to—it's just that I need to work on this song if I'm going to have it perfect in time.
Dib: In time for what?
KidK: For the Year-End Concert. Zim's playing in it, and we had a deal that he would stop holding me up as his model of pianistic perfection and I would play a song in front of a crowd. It's kind of a phobia of mine. 6.6*
Dib: Oh, well, good luck then. Zim's not holding up his end of the bargain, by the way. At lunch today he said that you were amazing.
KidK: Why that little…^_^* Well, he didn't say I was the most amazing, I guess, so that's okay. Blah…wish he'd stop that…well, anyway, time to get back to work! (she goes over to the piano and sits down at the bench)
Dib: Yeah, play away! I'll just…sit here and do some homework. (he sits down on the floor and starts going through his backpack like he's looking for something to do, but actually casting furtive glances over at KidK to see if she's watching) ¬.¬…..
KidK: Okay. Gotta get this variation right.
She raises her hands above the keyboard and begins to play. I'm not telling you what song it is. Ha! More suspense! She keeps playing the same phrases again and again, attempting to attain mastery over them. Her repetitions, however, are not as…repetitious…as all that. On the contrary, she plays the section with several different rhythms, at different tempos, with hands separately and together.
KidK (smiling sheepishly): Sorry about doing the same thing so many times—this is the section that really gives me trouble, and playing things in all these weird ways somehow helps me to keep my fingers straight when I want to play it the right way.
Blue Parakeet: Chirp!
KidK: Heh…you like it, at least, eh Blue? …that's not a good name. (she goes back to playing for a bit. Now having gained some skill at remembering the notes with her fingers, she slips into that semi-trance state) -.-…………..
Blue Parakeet: *whistle* Chirp chirp!
KidK (snapping out of it): O.ô…oh, right. 'm not alone. Hey, I'm not ignoring you, Dib, I'm just—(she turns her head slightly to regard her audience) o.o*
Blue Parakeet (perched on Dib's abandoned backpack): Coo?
KidK: Where did he………….uh oh. Dib!
She gets up and takes off like a shot down the stairs, not pausing at all as she throws herself onto the elevator platform and taps the button with her foot.
KidK (impatient): Hurry, thing! Oh, I hope I'm not too late. If Zim freaks when Mom hears him play, imagine what he'll do if Dib—(the elevator arrives and she jumps out) Dib! Hey!
Dib (lurking over by a new set of huge double doors): Eh? o.o…shh, KidK!
KidK (striding over): What do you mean, 'shh?' What're you doing?
Dib: Saving the world. u.u
KidK: 9.9 Yeah, right. Come on, leave him alone.
Dib: But…hey, you can tell me—you always know. Is Zim planning something evil for the Concert?
KidK: My lips are sealed.
Dib: Well, that settles it. (he reaches for the handle of one of the doors) I'm going in there to put a stop to—O.O Hey!
KidK (who has grabbed Dib by the arm): Don't.
Dib: Why not?
KidK: ……..*sigh* (not really a question) You're not a musician, are you.
Dib: No. Why?
KidK: Because if you were, you'd know 'why not.' At the moment, Zim's not doing anything bad. He's just trying to become a master pianist is all. Well…that's a pretty big 'all.' But the point is that he's not hurting anyone—he's just being a standoffish, secretive musical genius down here. 9.9 Let him alone.
Dib: 'Genius?!' I know! He's using the piano to hypnotize people and you were his first victim!
KidK: I told you—I've never heard him play real music!
Dib: ………..(sneaky grin) Well…don't you want to? Come on, we'll just open it a little…
KidK: Well…(she catches herself) No! When he wants me to hear, I'll hear. u.u
Dib: Okay…I guess you're right…I don't like people bothering me when I'm working on a project, so…
KidK (releasing him): Good. Now let's go upstairs and see if Mom's made any cook—Dib! What are you—O.O
Dib (taking the first chance to throw open the doors): Ha! ………O.O
As you can see, both are shocked speechless. And why shouldn't they be? The room has clearly been soundproofed, since where there had been nearly perfect silence before there is now a swell of music. It's beautiful, but even for those who aren't musically inspired the room itself would be enough to induce awe. It's relatively small, but the ceiling is as soaring as any in Zim's amazing laboratory, and monstrous black speakers have been set up to take advantage of the acoustics. Off to one side, shrouded in shadow, is an extremely complicated-looking recording system. But the real spectacle lies in the center of the room, which is occupied by a slightly raised platform on which stands a sleek, black and silver grand piano, gleaming in the glow of spotlights. Heh…I picture it as looking like the black 'Pegasus' grand made by Schimmel. You can see it here (http://www.pianisten.de/musikhaus-oberlinger/e-home.html), under the 'Designer Instruments' heading. It looks…so…Zim! Our resident virtuoso, seated before the keyboard, takes no notice of the intruders as he continues to fill the air with his music. Eyes closed, he lets his fingers dance across the keys—playing in a way different from any that a human musician would ever contemplate trying. My bestest friend Lynne-chan drew a pic of this scene! Check it out and be sure to leave her a good review. ^.^ http://www.side7.com/cgi-bin/S7SDB/DisplayImg.pl?INO=234993
Zim (absolutely absorbed): -.-………
KidK (absolutely enthralled ^.^): o.o…..-.-……..
Dib (absolutely clueless): How come the low part's being played by a recording? …hey! (he points) He's only playing the high part!
Zim: O.O!!
There is a crash of keys as Zim's performance at the piano comes to an unexpected halt. However, some of the music does indeed go on, as the recorder continues to play the bass part of the song. A panicked Zim leaps from his seat at the piano and sprints over to turn it off. There is silence—very tense silence. Then, Zim, having gotten over his initial fear reaction, slowly turns from the recording station and fixes the most hateful glare imaginable on his visitors.
Zim: YOU! Filthy Dib—what do you think you're doing here?!
Dib: I think I'm exposing you for what you are. A huge fraud!
Zim: 'Fraud?!' I should hang you for that! (he stalks over, continuing to glare evilly) In fact, I may do just that!
Dib: But you are! It's like I said before—you can't play the piano at all! And you think you're going to fool everyone at the Concert and become famous or something so you can take over the world? (he scoffs) Not likely, if you need to play with a recording!
Zim (scarily calm): That's it. Today is the day you die, Dib-monkey.
KidK (finally snapping out of it): Wait, wait, what? Nobody's going to die.
Zim (turning to regard her now): But he has violated my studio and now knows the secret of my phenomenal talent! (Watch out! Classic Mike-the-Brother quote!) There must be retribution! And…(suspiciously)…why was the human stinkbeast even able to get down here in the first place? You didn't invite him, did you KidK?
KidK: No, of course not. Dib came over to return my Walkman—
Dib: Just like I told you I was going to, Zim. u.u
KidK: …and then I was playing the piano and he was supposedly doing homework, and I didn't think anything was wrong because I heard the bird chirping on and off, but the next thing I knew I turned around and he was gone.
Zim: Right, and you followed the sneaking Dib to try to stop him from disturbing my work. Of course. (he turns back to Dib, eyes glittering with new malice) So you've committed a double offense! Spying on me and deceiving my ally! This will require a severe punishment indeed!
Dib (wryly): Worse than parakeets?
Zim (nodding): Oh, yes, much much worse.
KidK: Now, hold on just a second. (she gets down on her knees between the guys) There's no need for violence. (looking rather disappointedly at Dib) Man, Dib, you could've shown a little more respect…
Zim: Yes! (he points a finger skyward) For this disrespect he must pay with his life!
KidK: No, no…think, Zim. If Dib dies, he won't have learned his lesson. He won't even have a chance to feel regret. (for this next line she flashes Zim an evil grin) And you want him to be sorry for what he's done to you, right?
Zim (veeeery evil o.o*): Of course…so how shall we torture him?
Dib: O.o…I don't like how this is going…
KidK (airily): Oh, Zim, don't you even worry about it. You have to work your hardest to get your songs ready. You don't have time to be fooling around with the likes of Dib.
Zim: Hmmm…true…well, then, why don't you take my revenge for me, KidK? u.u As my loyal ally, you should be glad to do so.
KidK: 9.9 Right as always, Zim. I'll just take Dib upstairs and out of your way and deal with him there. (she takes Dib by the arm and gets to her feet) C'mon, prisoner.
Dib: O.O Wait, but—(he is dragged out of the room)
Zim (shutting the door behind them): Stupid human…she'll give him what's coming to him for daring to—ergh! 'Fraud?' I will show that lying monkey…and all the rest of them…
He strides over to his recording apparatus and restarts the music, then takes up his place at his keyboard. Soon, he is once again lost in the music. KidK should be so lucky. Upstairs…
KidK (releasing Dib's arm): Get your stuff and go, okay?
Dib: What? But I thought—
KidK: You really think I was serious? Heh…no…he may have had me a bit under his spell with that music of his, but I'm not that far gone. You're lucky, though. If I hadn't been there to intervene, he probably would have killed you for that.
Dib (shoving his books back into his backpack): He couldn't have. I'm too smart for him. u.u Though…I can see why he should be mad—I do know his secret now! And I'm gonna tell everyone at skool, too, so no one else will be taken in by his ruse like you were! (he picks up his pack and heads for the stairs)
KidK (getting in his way): Oh, no you don't. You're not going to say anything, Dib. (Wow, has she been taking glaring lessons from Zim?!) I don't want anything to ruin this Concert. It's my performance too, and I'm working hard for it. In this case, you mess with Zim, you mess with me. You don't want to mess with me, do you?
Dib: O.o*……..no…….
KidK: ^_^ Good! Okay, you can go now. Wait…where's your bird?
Sammi (off in the back of the house): *bark bark bark bark bark!!*
KidK: 9.9 Well, that solves that. Sam?
Sammi: *yip!* (she comes running out of the hall, looking spooked) o.o *whine* (she sees Dib, and her entire mood changes) *bark!* ^.^ (she runs over and tackles him to the floor)
Dib: o.o…-.-…hello, Sammi. (he reaches up to pet her) Did you eat Cobalt?
Sammi (licking his face): ^.^ *purr purr* (yes, she does make cat sounds when she's very happy 9.9*)
KidK: 'Cobalt?' You've named it?
Dib: It just came to me. (he gently pushes Sammi off him and gets to his feet) But where—
Cobalt (hooray for names! ^-^): *Chirp?* (it comes hopping into the room, looking a bit ruffled) *Chirp!*
Dib: Oh, there you are. We're going home now, Cobalt.
Cobalt: ^.^ *whistle* (it flutters up to its perch on Dib's head)
Sammi (looking up at the bird suspiciously): *whine?*
Dib (bending to pat her): Yes, she's my pet now. (he shrugs) What else am I gonna do with her?
KidK: Heh…so you've even decided it's a girl, eh? (birds…eh…it's not easy to tell o.o*) Well…I guess it acts like a girl.
Sammi: ¬.¬……..hfffff…
Cobalt (looking down at Sammi as smugly as a bird can look): *twitter* u.u
Dib: Yeah, she acts like a girl, all right. (he heads down the stairs) Um…er…sorry, KidK.
KidK: Eh…it's not a problem for me, really. Just remember what I said—if Zim is met with ridicule before he even has a chance to play, and as a result I don't get to play, I'll be holding you personally responsible.
Dib: O…kay…
KidK: Oh, and when you see Zim at skool next, remember too—I really harmed you good.
Dib: Right. See you later. And…good luck with your song! (he exits the house)
KidK (to herself): Yeah…I need all the good luck I can get…gotta get back to work, right Sammi? (she goes over and sits at the piano again)
Sammi (taking up her spot under the piano bench): Hrmm…
KidK: Oh, no need to be jealous of Cobalt. You're still Dib's number one fan. ^_^
Sammi (resting her head on her paws): Ffff…-.-
KidK (starting to play again, but thinking about something else): Sorry to be so threatening, Dib, but it's true—I don't want this night to go wrong. (she tries the same variation again, in a folk-sounding rhythm) But…not so much for me as for him…he's worked so hard…and that sound…one thing's for sure—I've got nothing on him! He may not play like humans play, but in the end it's all him, recording and live together. And…just to see him there…and to hear the music…………..(this version trails off, and she begins anew, with a new rendition that sounds like a haunting requiem) Dib, how could you not get it? Ah…it's probably a 'musician thing.' But in that case…he might not be able to succeed with his plan if he can only hypnotize musicians…can't tell him that, though. Can't even think it. I've just got to believe in him…and in the song…
She bows her head, closes her eyes, and starts the piece from the beginning, putting her heart into the piano. Downstairs, unbeknownst to her, Zim is sitting in much the same attitude of complete absorption, playing the very same song, the dual quality of his performance rising in beautiful harmony. On the face of things, this may just be coincidence. Or, perhaps, it is an unexpected duet.
Keep You in Suspense? Me? Never! ^_________^