Chapter X. Reversion
"It's the same piece as I performed last time-well, not really. Last time it was 'Reversion 2015', which is in B minor; This time I will perform 'Reversion', which is in D minor."
In the parlour, Hades leaned onto the piano across from Frollo, while Frollo took a seat, delving into music theory that seemed like a foreign language to Hades.
"Can you speak English to me since it's the only language I understand?" Hades joked. Though he intended to prompt Frollo to play the piano piece immediately.
"D minor and B minor share the same root notes, but B minor has one more flattened note," Frollo gestured his hand, "So...today's version would sound not that sorrowful as last time."
Hades blinked, impatiently awaiting Frollo's performance. After all, Frollo's unexpected presence had taken him by surprise.
A few days after Jafar blocked him on Discord (Jafar had unblocked him later that same night, but that's a story for another day), Frollo called Hades in the morning.
"Jafar wanted to do a marathon charity livestream, and he's ordered some takeout. I figure he could take care of himself. Would you mind if I come to your place?"
Hades just wanted an excuse to avoid answering calls from his brother Zeus and the lawyer, so he said YES without a second thought. Then after an hour, Frollo with a multi-pocket zipped jacket arrived at Hades' doorstep-there were an obscure amount of pockets on Frollo's jacket, it was impossible to find a focus in terms of fashion. Maybe one day he could teach Frollo how to dress like a more attractive man, Hades thought to himself.
Now, Hades found himself in the perfect spot to fully appreciate the artistry on display-being able to see the faces of the performers. What better position could there be than one that allowed him to listen to emotionally charged music while witnessing the expressions of the artists?
Previously, Hades forgot to move his steps to the other side of the piano, all he could see was Frollo's distorted reflections on the surface of the piano. This time, he would not make the same mistake-He had taken the best position, fully prepared to immerse himself in the melody and experience it to its utmost extent.
Just at that moment, Hades found Frollo staring back.
It brought to mind the performance art by Marina Abramović titled "The Artist Is Present," where Abramović sat motionless in a museum while visitors were encouraged to take turns sitting across from her.
Hades had never personally witnessed this particular "art" before. He couldn't fathom the appeal of staring into the eyes of another human being—where was the enjoyment in that? It was his initial thought upon hearing about "The Artist Is Present."
However, he quickly realized how mistaken he had been. Frollo's piercing gaze sent shivers down his spine, reminiscent of a vacuum in space with its unwavering eye contact. There was neither joy, hatred, nor sorrow—just emptiness within Frollo's eyes, yet Hades knew that Frollo was looking deep into his own eyes.
Then, as Frollo began his performance, his intense eye contact with Hades remained unbroken. Hades recognized the familiar melody—Frollo had just mentioned that today he would perform another version of the previous piece. Hades could discern a slight increase in tempo, creating an image of a march of a troop.
The previous piece intertwined two battling melodies, displaying the conflicting forces that reside within the human hearts—soaring to great heights or plunging into the abyss. However, the rendition performed by Frollo today took a different path. Hades pictured a figure emerging from the darkness, advancing steadily.
Perhaps the figure was in pursuit of prey. Hades had read some fun facts in a book—during prehistoric times when humans would track their prey relying on their endurance. The prey would sprint and leap, expending their energy until eventually succumbing...
"Isn't that fascinating, Hades?"
Frollo's voice abruptly penetrated Hades' stream of thoughts, causing him to almost gasp in horror. Within the menacing composition, Hades could almost envision Frollo crossing his legs and laughing with a twisted sense of pride.
But the fact was-Frollo in front of him remained silent, continuing to play the piece, his gaze locked onto Hades' eyes. The scenery that Frollo proudly questioned Hades existed solely within Hades' own mind.
It was merely a figment of his imagination.
Right after Hades acknowledged that the terror within his mind was nothing but an illusion, Frollo suddenly ceased, letting a prolonged keystroke reverberate throughout the entire parlour.
"...Now what?" Hades' eyelids flickered. He found himself panting.
"It's the end of the piece." Frollo withdrew his arms from the keyboard, "Don't worry, it's not like I misplayed any note like last time."
"No...the ending sounds so abrupt? I am...sorry, I am just a bit confused." Hades put his hand on his forehead, moved away from the piano and walked to Frollo's side.
Rising from the chair, Frollo gently ran his hand along the piano's front top, as if meticulously examining the construction of the instrument. The sight called forth a reminiscent of that stream when Frollo analyzed a Nerf gun Hades had brought like he was considering murdering with a toy gun.
And Hades wanted to avoid recalling that scene.
"Would you still want to stay here?" Frollo raised his eyesight from the piano and asked, "You look like you need some hydration."
"...Sure, we can go to the natatoriums. I have some drinks there."
"Is that the nearest room where you have some water?" Frollo followed Hades to the doorstep, turning off the lights before he left the parlour.
"Yeah, when I bought the place, I didn't think I would ever enter the parlour since I can't play the thing. So I didn't install any faucet there." Hades explained and led Frollo down the corridor.
"I understand," Frollo nodded, his face covered by the shadow of the unlit place, "So which one do you prefer? 'Reversion 2015' or today's one?"
"Umm...Honestly, I prefer the one you performed last time," Hades decided to be honest for something for once, "You know, today's music is a bit...something you would hear in a horror game."
"Well, the composer of both pieces did make lots of horror music," Frollo walked away from the shadow, Hades could now see the fondness on Frollo's face, "but the previous piece is less terrifying to you, isn't it?"
As Frollo and Hades talked and stepped into the natatoriums, warmth embraced them, accompanied by a subtle scent of chlorine. The vast space shimmered under gentle lights, resonating with the echoes of splashing water.
"...Mr Hades, how many distractions do you need in your life?" Frollo frowned at the swimming pool, "This is an over-kill for retirement life."
"Hey, don't underestimate a good ol' swimming pool, ok?" Hades rolled his eyes and waved his gestures like a theatre clown-it's the only façade and the best façade he knew, "Let me count-you can 'social', relax, swim, and make some private phone calls if no one's around you. Frollo, do you happen to be an artistic swimmer? If we invite a dozen of artistic swimmers to my house, this natatorium could be qualified as a ballroom!"
"...Not interested. Thanks." Frollo poured Hades a glass of water and handed it to Hades-When Hades took the glass, he realized that glass was almost full, the surface of the water swaying around the edge of the rim.
Hades drank the whole glass of water. Terrified by the horror in his own mind did make him dehydrated.
Frollo took off his multi-pocket jacket (which was probably the ugliest jacket Hades has seen recently), revealing a dark scarlet shirt hidden beneath his jacket and cautiously folding it into a makeshift cloth parcel. He placed the cloth parcel in the corner closest to him on the top of the long cabinet.
"You are always welcome here," Hades gestured to the swimming pool with one hand and placed another on Frollo's shoulder, "Even you think this is overkill-it's for retirement, no doubt. Think about this: we are both men trying to live our BEST lives possible on Earth, and my mansion is the sanctuary for the retired."
"It's too huge for just one man, I would die of loneliness if I lived here."
"I didn't say I want you to LIVE here; I meant you are welcome here," Hades widened his arms, "I have a piano, a swimming pool, a home cinema, and a recreation room. Have you ever seen a recreation room with arcade cabinets before? Sega Rambo series? You can blast every single soul in the world beyond recognition but hey, it's legal down there!"
Then all Hadse got was Frollo's cold and quiet dead stare, only then Hades realized that he went too far with this one.
"...Or just playing darts. It will still be as enjoyable." Hades tried to ease the tension.
"I would tell Jafar that you need some companions in your retirement and that your mansion is always open." Frollo picked up a bag of instant coffee and a glass for himself, walking toward the kettle, "It sounds fun from your description."
"Jafar? Hehe...that man is occupied by his career, so I think not," Hades giggled, but his nervousness almost caused his voice to crack, "You see, a Youtuber has to film, edit, stream, and interact with the fanbase. He can squeeze some time to relax, for sure. But he is not like totally in retirement like you. Besides, I don't like a celebrity to appear here too much. Keeping a low profile, laying low...blah blah blah, you know the deal."
"Then why did you agree to do the stream with him together a while ago?" Frollo stirred the instant coffee in his hands, turning his sight to Hades, "It's not like you need to keep a low profile, hmm?"
"Or else that man would whine about me all day, ok?" Hades rolled his eyes, he found his voice louder than he intended, "That was a totally different situation. You're a smart man, HOW CAN YOU NOT UNDERSTAND ME?"
Hades realized he might just yell at Frollo. He then took a deep breath, telling himself to calm down, but Frollo was unmoved at all-he just sipped his coffee in silence and looked at Hades.
"...Sorry, I didn't mean to. You know, I am a passionate man, sometimes it happens."
It looked like Frollo cared little about Hades' apology. He just reached to the tiny carton for all the instant drink, and tilted its inside towards Hades a bit-it was empty, Frollo seemed to take away the last bag for his drink.
"Wait for me here, I'll fill the instant drink."
Not until Frollo said a word or moved his line of sight, Hades found an excuse to leave the room just for now. Before he turned to the doorstep, Frollo's stoic expression still overprinted his view.
The smell of chlorine faded as Hades entered the corridor, yet his thoughts continued to churn relentlessly, growing increasingly distinct and resounding within.
He didn't know the history between Jafar and Frollo. As far as he knew, the two became roommates for about four months-is that even long enough to forge a solid bond between two men?
Hades just wanted to feel less pain in this cursed life-during the peek of his career, his brother was suddenly charged with several sexual assaults. Hades used every power at his disposal to shut the press' mouthpiece before anyone would realize that Zeus was his blood brother. But out of fear, he had to quit-fear for Zeus, fear for Jafar, and fear for himself.
He did not count on Jafar to understand-he didn't even plan to tell anyone who ain't one of his blood family or his lawyer. As it seemed to be the cross for him to bear.
Then Frollo came in. Hades intended to let the man just be his messenger between him and Jafar since he did not have enough courage to face Jafar alone, and Frollo looked a bit...dumb at first sight?
Oh, how wrong was I. Hades thought to himself as he paused by a painting in the corridor-it was a copy of "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus".
The cerulean ocean extended boundlessly in sight. On the shoreline, a shepherd cast his gaze upwards, oblivious to the ship nearby. Meanwhile, a farmer diligently continued his ploughing, oblivious to the fate of Icarus in a distant corner of the vast ocean.
-How oblivious they are to my own suffering. All of them. Hades thought.
Then he shook his head as he continued in the endless corridor.