Enjoy!
Belldandy smiled reassuringly at me, then turned her attentionback to the cake batter. She wasn't ignoring me -- the moment Isaid something the conversation would be up and running again asif there hadn't been a pause -- it was just a natural,comfortable break in the flow. And in that break, she began tosing again.It was, I believe, the first time I'd ever heard her soft singing from close enough to make out the words, and I wasn't too surprised to discover that they were entirely improvised. It was little more than a recap of the recipe turned into a song, almost as though she were reminding herself of every step, but done so in a way that didn't sound trite or childish.You hear something like that done on a television show or in a movie, and sometimes you want to cringe, because they try to make it "real", but all they succeed at is "bad". Well, this was real, but it was a delight to hear, as if somehow she were channelling all the pleasure she got from cooking for her siblings and Keiichi into the song. It felt like there was a faint trace of magic in her song as well, and it made me think of all the myths around the world which blended music and creation. I briefly wondered what it might do for my metatalent if someone were to accompany her on some instrument.As she finished beating and began to pour the batter into thepans, I said, "You have a lovely voice.""Thank you," she replied as she used a rubber spatula to scrapeevery last bit of the rich brown batter out of the bowl. "I geta lot of practice -- many of the major magics my sisters and Iwork are focused through music." She shot me a crinkle-eyedsmile. "Not quite like yours are, of course." Satisfied thebowl was now perfectly empty, she set it down, then handed me thespatula and the whisk."Huh. I'd like to see that someday," I said as I accepted theutensils and began licking chocolatey goodness off them.Gently shaking the cake pans to level their contents, Belldandy shrugged. "You're certainly welcome to observe. We don't do that kind of casting very often, but perhaps something will come up soon."I nodded. "Thanks." I pursued a particularly recalcitrantdrop of batter around the wires of the whisk for a few momentsbefore I added, "So, do you know anything, well, pop, rock, thatkind of thing?"Belldandy turned toward me with a mischievous glint in her eyesand smiled. "" she sangin English without preamble. ""I burst out in delighted laughter, and I would have clapped if Ihadn't had a chocolate-coated kitchen implement in each hand atthe time. "I would *never* have figured you for a Ramones fan."As she turned back to the cake pans and carried them over to theoven, she said, "Oh, I enjoy quite a lot of different kinds ofmusic."Huh. "Do you know any Metallica?" I asked, not sure if I weregenuinely curious or just making trouble.Bell closed the oven, set the timer, and then laid a forefingerto her chin as she thought about it. "I don't think so."I grinned. "I know a few songs of theirs you might like which Icould teach you."She smiled at me. "I think I'd like that."So I did.
-- Bob
---------
The Internet Is For Norns.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
Belldandy smiled reassuringly at me, then turned her attentionback to the cake batter. She wasn't ignoring me -- the moment Isaid something the conversation would be up and running again asif there hadn't been a pause -- it was just a natural,comfortable break in the flow. And in that break, she began tosing again.It was, I believe, the first time I'd ever heard her soft singing from close enough to make out the words, and I wasn't too surprised to discover that they were entirely improvised. It was little more than a recap of the recipe turned into a song, almost as though she were reminding herself of every step, but done so in a way that didn't sound trite or childish.You hear something like that done on a television show or in a movie, and sometimes you want to cringe, because they try to make it "real", but all they succeed at is "bad". Well, this was real, but it was a delight to hear, as if somehow she were channelling all the pleasure she got from cooking for her siblings and Keiichi into the song. It felt like there was a faint trace of magic in her song as well, and it made me think of all the myths around the world which blended music and creation. I briefly wondered what it might do for my metatalent if someone were to accompany her on some instrument.As she finished beating and began to pour the batter into thepans, I said, "You have a lovely voice.""Thank you," she replied as she used a rubber spatula to scrapeevery last bit of the rich brown batter out of the bowl. "I geta lot of practice -- many of the major magics my sisters and Iwork are focused through music." She shot me a crinkle-eyedsmile. "Not quite like yours are, of course." Satisfied thebowl was now perfectly empty, she set it down, then handed me thespatula and the whisk."Huh. I'd like to see that someday," I said as I accepted theutensils and began licking chocolatey goodness off them.Gently shaking the cake pans to level their contents, Belldandy shrugged. "You're certainly welcome to observe. We don't do that kind of casting very often, but perhaps something will come up soon."I nodded. "Thanks." I pursued a particularly recalcitrantdrop of batter around the wires of the whisk for a few momentsbefore I added, "So, do you know anything, well, pop, rock, thatkind of thing?"Belldandy turned toward me with a mischievous glint in her eyesand smiled. "" she sangin English without preamble. ""I burst out in delighted laughter, and I would have clapped if Ihadn't had a chocolate-coated kitchen implement in each hand atthe time. "I would *never* have figured you for a Ramones fan."As she turned back to the cake pans and carried them over to theoven, she said, "Oh, I enjoy quite a lot of different kinds ofmusic."Huh. "Do you know any Metallica?" I asked, not sure if I weregenuinely curious or just making trouble.Bell closed the oven, set the timer, and then laid a forefingerto her chin as she thought about it. "I don't think so."I grinned. "I know a few songs of theirs you might like which Icould teach you."She smiled at me. "I think I'd like that."So I did.
-- Bob
---------
The Internet Is For Norns.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.