"I can't wait to hear what Danny Boy sounds like. Or, I'm sure I can improvise over any other piece you pick." She's gotten quite good at it now. No longer fearful of it like she had been before... "I hope so too." I'd love to play it for John and Gerrit some day. Perhaps even simply at the symphony.
A ping starts to hit her again, feeling bad for disliking her so much before now. It is like it is impossible to dislike her when you are really talking to her. The sincerity in her words is so hard to trace back to being false. It just isn't. She's authentic, which she's never actually seen in a person before. "It's nice for once for sure." She hasn't been happy in so long. October through February were tough months. The Winter Coronation was so exhausting to put together on top of worrying about the nagging emotions building up inside of her, ones she just couldn't suppress. Like music, trying to get out.
She continues to listen and she smiles as Sera goes deeper into it. It is interesting hearing her talk about not using her voice to hurt others, given she is a Nix. It's what her Keeper made her, not what she chose to be. She's railing against it, which is admirable. Cassandra can't sympathize, but she can certainly empathize.
"Oh, it wasn't too much to share. It helps me understand you better. And, I'm really appreciative that you are comfortable enough to share." But could she share in return? "I can understand having to relearn how to play for others. Kind of. When I got out, I couldn't play. Every time I did, I just felt..." Could she even say it? "I felt dirty, like hands everywhere they weren't supposed to be. His voice in my ear, but I couldn't understand the words. I had to relearn how to play for myself, play because I loved it, not just out of obligation of having a gift." Instead of playing because it would make it stop if I just played better.
Never enough.
"All the facets of Love are the most inspiring thing I think you can think about when you play or sing. I'm so happy that that has become your inspiration, your musical guide. The Others tried to take it away from us and mold it to their liking, but we've overcome that, playing and singing despite or even in spite of them. I think it's the biggest proverbial middle finger we can give."