Chapter 7.5: Unlikely Bonding
"It is true, Simon... is dead." Elias said.
"This is getting out of hand!" Ruth said.
"But, why would the Spell-Breaker kill them? What did they ever do?" Chise asked.
"Well, maybe this is the kind of suffering that the Spell-Breaker wants you to endure." Joseph said.
"Enough talk, Chise, Ruth, come, we must go to Lindel." Elias said as he began to head for the front door.
Chise helped Ruth stand up and they both followed Elias to the front. Once everyone was ready, Elias transported them to the Dragon's Aerie.
As the trio left, Joseph was wondering who could have so much hatred for Chise, and have so much knowledge of her.
"Whoever this 'Spell-Breaker' is, we will crush him! We will pay for the things he has done." Joseph said to himself.
"Hopefully sooner, rather than later." Silky said as she walked back into the living room.
"Gah! You scared me! Don't sneak up on people like that." Joseph said.
"My apologies. Do you need anything?" Silky asked.
"Um, no, I think I'm good. Do you need me to work on something else?" Joseph asked.
"Not at the moment." Silky said.
"Okay, hey can I ask you something?" Joseph asked.
"Go ahead." Silky said.
"Why are you being so nice to me all of a sudden? I thought you said it would take you a month before you would warm up to me." Joseph said.
"(Sigh) I judged you too soon. I hope you can forgive me." Silky said.
"I-It's okay, you have nothing to be sorry for. I totally get why you guys wouldn't like having me around. I mean, while Cartaphilus was with me, I did some terrible things to all of you." Joseph said.
"Okay." Silky said as they just sat there quietly. "You are a good person, Joseph." Silky said as she sat next to Joseph.
"Eh?" Joseph asked.
"You are a better person now that Cartaphilus is no longer within you. You are kind, helpful, and you have great concern and care for those around you." Silky said.
"Thanks, Silky. You're very kind yourself. You're such a nice lady." Joseph said.
"Thank you." Silky said as she smiled.
"No problem. Can I ask, have you known Elias long?" Joseph asked.
"Yes, I've known him for a long time." Silky said.
"Did you two buy this house together?" Joseph asked.
"(Shakes her head) I was here before Ainsworth." Silky said.
"I see, you two are the best of friends?" Joseph asked.
"I wouldn't say we are the best of friends, but we are indeed friends." Silky said.
"That's nice. So, this is a bit random but, I take it that the record player is actually yours and not Elias's?" Joseph asked.
"That is correct. Yes, I technically own it but, Elias uses it more than I do." Silky said.
"You always work so hard everyday, don't you? Don't you get tired of it?" Joseph asked.
"I do not see it as a drag. I am not Ainsworth's slave. I am happy with my daily duties." Silky responded.
"How was it like to live with Elias, before Chise came around?" Joseph asked.
"It was fine. We don't speak much too often but we get along well. Often the same thing would happen everyday. Ainsworth hardly left the house. He practiced his magic and I tended to the house and cooked him meals." Silky said
"Does he ever cook?" Joseph asked.
"No." Silky said.
"He doesn't ever feel like cooking?" Joseph asked.
"He can't cook." Silky said.
"What do you mean?" Joseph asked.
"Let's say that the first time he ever cooked a meal, it tasted so awful, we both puked up the food." Silky said as she laughed to herself, remembering how awful Elias's meal was.
"Wow, it was that bad, huh?" Joseph asked.
"It was horrendously awful. I do not mean to be so insulting but I wouldn't eat any of his meals even if I was dying of starvation." Silky said as she laughed.
"Harsh." Joseph said as he laughed with Silky. "Do you ever have fights with Elias?" Joseph asked.
"(Smiles) You seem to have a lot of questions." Silky observed.
"Yeah, I guess I do, sorry." Joseph said.
"There is no need to apologize. It is nice to have someone to talk to. To answer your questions, we occasionally argue. Nothing serious. If he gets out of hand, I just whack him on the head with a spoon and he behaves." Silky said.
"A spoon? So, you're telling me Elias Ainsworth's weakness is a spoon?" Joseph asked.
"Correct." Silky said.
Joseph and Silky laughed and laughed at this
For the next 20 minutes, Silky and Joseph talked with each other and learned so much about each other. Joseph had never felt such happiness with anyone before. Aside from Chise, no one had ever treated him with such kindness. Joseph didn't want anything bad to happen to Silky. Joseph felt very drawn to Silky. He was such a kind and wonderful person. Joseph wondered to himself about what he felt for her.
Silky is so amazing! I've never felt this way about anyone. What is this I feel? Could it be love? N-NO! That's crazy! But, is it really, though? Joseph thought to himself.
"So, uh, Silky, do you like music?" Joseph asked.
"I do." Silky said.
"Then, would it bother you if I played some music from the record player?" Joseph asked.
"Go right ahead. I will make us some tea." Silky said as she got up and made her way to the kitchen.
"Sounds good." Joseph said as he went to the closet and dug through Elias's records to find a song to play.
After a few minutes of digging around, Joseph picked out a few songs to play that sounded interesting to him. Joseph had selected, 'I want you back', 'Take on me', 'This time for Africa', and 'All of me'. Joseph placed the first song in the record player and let the song play. Joseph had never heard this song before but he enjoyed how it was sounding. As the song played out, Joseph could hear the sound of Silky singing. Joseph got up from the couch and headed to the kitchen entrance and listened closely.
She's got such a beautiful voice. Joseph thought to himself.
As Silky was singing the song, she had finished making the tea, and Joseph quickly ran back to the couch and pretended like nothing happened. The moment Silky had began to make her way to the living room, she stopped singing as she didn't want Joseph to know about her singing.
"Here is your tea." Silky said as she set the tray down on the table and handed Joseph his tea cup.
"Thank you very much." Joseph said as he took the tea and Silky began drinking her own. "So, Silky, do you know this song?" Joseph asked.
"I know all of Ainsworth's songs." Silky said.
"Really? How? He's got so many of them!" Joseph said.
"Well, I've lived with Ainsworth for a long time, therefore I've had time to listen to all of his songs." Silky said.
"I guess that would make sense. Do you have a favorite?" Joseph asked.
"I don't think I would say I have an absolute favorite. They all have their own charm. Well, MOST of them do anyway." Silky said.
"I guess there are some that drive you nuts?" Joseph asked.
"There is a song about a baby shark. It drives me insane. Ainsworth only listens to that song if he is drunk and picks it by accident." Silky said.
"I see. Ah, It looks like the first song is finished, I'll put in the next one." Joseph said as he went to change the record.
Silky nodded as Joseph put his second song choice in the record player and let it play. As the song began, Silky was pleased that Joseph had picked such amazing songs.
"You seem to have a good taste for music. How do you know these songs?" Silky asked.
"To be honest, I don't know any of these songs. I just picked the ones that had an interesting title." Joseph said.
"Well, you have chosen well." Silky said.
"Thanks." Joseph said.
After a listening to the second song, Joseph put in the third song he chose and immediately noticed the song was very catchy and energetic. If there was a song he would dance, it would probably be this one. (This time for Africa). Joseph wondered if Silky danced at all and decided to ask.
"Um, Silky do you like to dance?" Joseph asked.
"I suppose, why do you ask?" Silky asked.
"Oh, well I was wondering if you wanted to dance with me to this song? I mean it sounds like a very happy and energetic song. Of course, y-you don't have to! I-If you don't want to!" Joseph said as he felt instantly embarrassed.
Joseph had no clue that he was blushing, but Silky knew as she could see his face was red. Silky giggled at this as she had never expected to see this from Joseph. Silky wondered, why was this man so nervous about asking her a very simple question. Silky wondered, did Joseph have feeling for her. It was a bizarre thought, but it could be completely possible. No one had ever been so interested in her life before. She had to admit, ever since Cartaphilus had left him, Joseph was a very kind person. It was clear he wanted to help everyone and he just wanted to be happy. She also sensed he was very lonely. Silky smiled as she gave her reply to Joseph.
"Yes, I would love to." Silky said as she stood up and walked up to Joseph.
"R-Really? O-Okay! Awesome!" Joseph said as he was still blushing.
Silky smiled as she and Joseph began to dance to the song. Silky was no professional dancer but she knew some basic dances. However, she just let herself move to the catchiness of the song. She could tell that Joseph, while not knowing how to dance, could still at least appear to be happy while he 'danced' to the music. Silky had never seen Joseph so happy and it was very lovely to see him smile so much. For the next 3-ish minutes, Silky and Joseph happily danced to the song and enjoyed it fully.
"That was awesome!" Joseph said as the song ended.
"Yes, it was rather fun. Shall we move on to the next song?" Silky asked.
"Sure thing! Give me a moment." Joseph said as he picked up his last song (All of me) and put it in the record player and let it play.
Immediately, Joseph and Silky noticed that the song was much slower and more of a love song. Joseph just stood there awkwardly as he had no idea he would end up picking up a love song.
"Shall we?" Silky asked as she extended her arms to Joseph.
"Shall we what?" Joseph asked.
"(Giggle) Dance of course." Silky said.
"Well, I'd love to you see, but I don't think we can dance the way we did to the last song, this is a rather slow song." Joseph said.
"Would you like to slow dance?" Silky asked.
"What do you mean by slow dance?" Joseph asked.
Silky smiled to herself at hearing this.
"Slow dancing is a type of partner dance in which a couple dance slowly, swaying to the music." Silky explained.
"That does sound kind of nice, but I don't think you'd want to do that with me." Joseph said as he nervously looked away from Silky.
"I have no problems with it." Silky said.
"R-Really?" Joseph asked excitedly. "Um, o-okay. So, what do I do?" Joseph asked.
Silky said nothing as she took Joseph's right hand and put it on her waist. She then made sure Joseph extended his left arm up. Silky then put her left hand on Joseph's right shoulder. Silky then held her hand with Joseph's left hand.
"Uh, uh, um, um, Silky? I-Is this how it is supposed to work?" Joseph asked as he was sweating and very embarrassed.
"Yes, now move back and forth with me." Silky said as they slowly swayed to the music.
"H-Hey, this is nice." Joseph said as he smiled at Silky.
"If you tell Ainsworth about this, you will regret it." Silky said as she gave him a death glare, only to giggle and smile warmly to him.
"Don't worry, I won't tell Elias. I wouldn't disrespect you. You've shown me such kindness, how could I betray you?" Joseph asked.
Silky said nothing as she continued to dance with Joseph. Joseph had to admit, he was really loving this. Never had he felt so happy with anyone in his life. For the next few minutes, the two juts danced to the song. When the song ended eventually, Joseph replayed the song so they could continue their slow dancing. This went on for a while before something happened.
A little bit later...
As Silky and Joseph were still dancing together, they were so immersed in the song and each other's company that they failed to hear or notice Elias walk into the living room.
"That is good. Now, let us prepare to take a little trip to the-." Elias stopped talking as he entered the living room.
"Elias? What wro-? Oh, my." Chise said as she saw what Elias was seeing.
In the middle of the living room, was a sight no one could have predicted seeing. Silky and Joseph were actually slow-dancing to a classical love song. Chise, Elias, and Ruth's mouths were agape as they watched the two slow-dance. This went on for about 15 seconds before Joseph finally looked away from Silky and gasped out of embarrassment. Silky also was shocked too see the trio watching them with surprise.
"Uh, uh, um, um, E-Elias! Ch-Chise! R-Ruth! I-It's not what it looks like! I-I can explain! Huh? Silky?" Joseph asked as Silky suddenly walked right up to the trio.
Silky stared at them for about 5 seconds before she suddenly pushed them all outside and then locked the front door. After she locked the outside she looked to Joseph.
"Silky, I-I'm so sorry! Please forgive me! I've been a fool!" Joseph cried as he fell to his knees and almost began to cry.
"I am not mad at you. I am mad that our moment was bothered." Silky said as she kneeled down and hugged Joseph.
Joseph wa so happy to hear this. He hugged Silky back and cried in happiness. Maybe he had found someone to be happy with after all.