Marked [EverlyxSterling]

Kassi curled her arms around Mikel, taking a few steadying breaths as she held him. Though she had been relaxed while she played, she had quickly gone back to tense and with a racing pulse when they had stopped to the applause from the crowd. Holding Mikel brought her back to a peaceful calm and she smiled up at him appreciatively. What would she do without him? She likely would have never come here, she knew.

"I never knew that playing an instrument could be so much fun," she commented as they walked together through the Emporium. "Now I understand why so many people do it and why everybody here looks so happy," she added, glancing around. She saw once more how varied the groups were - boys with girls, Marked with Unmarked, street punks with classy people still wearing their business attire from their day jobs. It was a melting pot of culture brought together by a simple art - music. She felt like she had finally found a home.
 
Mikel could not help but revise his earlier self-analogy. He thought himself less a showman than an profession closer to his base of knowledge: a curator of life. Though he knew nothing about music, his intuition informed him that the Emporium, both the individual stations of oratory delight, as well as the electrifying total experience, would do wonders for Kassi. It may even convince her to explore innate, untapped aspects of her creative self. It struck Mikel that this prized, young woman was on the verge of despair to the point of exodus just two days prior. How long ago that seems, Mikel thought. His cobalt eyes scanned the area for more enticing morsels of music treasure.

Mikel then led Kassi toward the other side of the Emporium, weaving around a large group of young hippies. They hopped lightly to bongo duet beating from a designated percussion section filled with drums of all sizes, xylophones and granite blocks - the ensemble created an upbeat tempo that matched an excited human heart. They became an undulating wall of joyous movement that was all the more pronounced by the collective bouncing of their dreadlocks. A malodorous scent wafted from the group, and Mikel tried to stifle the smell as he passed by.

Eventually, the couple were near the entrance again, having taken a rather wide U-shaped route through the Emporium. Off to the right was a semi-circle of singers, who belted a song whose words wove about an inherent funky chorus. Mikel paused, hoping for Kassi to enjoy a last stop before heading out. He still felt that Kassi possessed (or could possess) a lovely singing voice, but she was cagey about the topic in the car and he didn't want to press her. Instead, he simply stood by her, for her, with her and listened to the chorus work their magic.


 
Kassi walked along with Mikel, glancing at the group who were dancing around a set of drums that included things she wasn't even familiar with. Still, she found that it sounded nice. She was confused about what the particular scent was and why so many of them were giggling, but she suspected it had something to do with whatever they were inhaling from the rolled papers they were passing around without a care in the world. Hm. Interesting. She was almost tempted to stop and ask what it was or what it did, but luckily Mikel steered her past before she got the chance and she soon forgot her curiosity since there was so much more to see.

She looked up as they stopped in front of a group that was singing. It was not a style of music she could immediately place, but the cadence of the voices reminded her of the gospel songs that she had heard once as a child. They were outlawed now. Something about going against the holiness of the Markings. She wasn't sure what that had to do with music, but a lot of people had been angry about it. This was different, but nice. She tilted her head slightly, watching them. Singing was a form of music that she doubted she would ever dare attempt again. At least, not in front of anybody except for herself.

"I like this song," she murmured absently, giving Mikel a smile.
 
"Well, I won't ask you to participate like last time," he laughed. Mikel was pleased with the new mood that seemed to wash over Kassi. She seemed pleasantly relaxed and excited when around the creative energy of the Emporium's musical culture. Mikel sincerely wondered how to either re-create this atmosphere for Kassi, or, at least provide the means to allow her to return here. Reality still lurked beyond the sparkling street just a few hundred yards away, and knowing the Emporium invigorates Kassi gave him heart. Mikel's thoughts turned dark for a moment as he considered what he had to do, what he must do, next for Kassi. She would be happy here, find new friends and join a larger community that would afford a degree of support and protection. Perhaps, Kassi might find someone else to ...

Mikel turned from his thoughts and approached the middle of the Emporium space where stacks upon stacks of crates held innumerable records and CDs. Kassi had tried to describe a special type of music she enjoyed last night, and Mikel did not have it in his collection. He was very interested in knowing what this mystery music was, since I would indelibly offer clues to Kassi's preferences and nature. Though Mikel felt impossibly attracted and connected to Kassi, he had to admit that he still knew very little about her inner workings, her memories, and her trauma. Any stimuli that would put Kassi at ease would hopefully help transition Kassi from the world of an isolated refugee to a happy, healed woman.

Mikel lifted stacks of records and placed them on the concrete floor in an arrayed, fan-shape. "Kassi, I was hoping we could find that music you spoke so fondly of last night. Let's look for it ... I'm sure it must be here, or at least a close approximation."
 
"Okay," Kassi agreed with a smile, beginning to hunt through the music. There were artists she had never even heard of and records that looked decades old. Several times she stopped just to admire the artwork on the covers. She rummaged and sorted, her eyes flicking from one to the next as she scanned for a familiar name. There were a few different ones that she could think of that would suit what she had been trying to describe, so she looked for any of them. It took her nearly ten minutes, but her hunting was finally victorious.

"Here," she said, tugging out a pair of discs that had thankfully been wedged in next to each other. She went over to Mikel's side and held them out to him. One had a picture of a violin on it that looked like it was designed from spray paint. The other had a photograph of a group of people dancing like the blind girl they had watched earlier, the picture tinted to greyscale and surrounded by a swirling red border. Both of these would be perfect to show him what she had meant, though she knew he would not be able to hear them properly in the Emporium since it was a madhouse of sound. She glanced around, wondering if there were headphones anywhere.
 
Mikel takes the jewel cases and observes the cover art. He blinks in study, curious he'd never seen either the music, nor the cover art before. The unfamiliarity of what he held intrigued Mikel, it made him want to learn everything he could about the music Kassi clamored so fervently.

"If that's what you like, then let's just buy them." Mikel scans the central depository of crates and records. There were a number of stereo and recording devices align one side of the area, and a half-height partition wall served as a backdrop to the speakers and players. They all looked unpowered, and power cords sat coiled on top or around them.

"We can listen to them in the car while driving back. Remember, we're taking the scenic route. Are there any other records or types of music you're interested in finding?"
 
Kassi nodded with a smile and took his free hand in hers as he suggested that they simply buy them. After declining the invitation for more, she allowed him to lead the way to the cash registers in the front of the building. As they wove their way back through a few small groups of people, she looked around one last time to give a mental goodbye. She knew she would come back here soon. It was already drawing her in. There was a feeling here, a closeness. A togetherness. It was difficult to explain even to herself, but it gave her a warm feeling that she could only assume most people got when they went home after being gone for a long, long time. She smiled to herself, her attention returning to Mikel as they stopped and paid for the discs she had selected.

Then it was back outside.

Back into the chaos and the overwhelming joy. It was more hectic out here than it was inside the Emporium, but Kassi still loved every moment of it. Booths, vendors, teachers, students. Music was everywhere. It was almost too much, nearly enough to become irritating noise that created headaches and general unpleasant feelings. Though it lingered on that border, it never took the plunge, instead giving a dizzying array of sound that flooded the mind and left one feeling mentally exhausted but pleased. She held Mikel's hand tight, unwilling to lose him in the throngs of people despite her desire to stay with them for days. It wasn't too long before they were finally out in the open again and walking peacefully back toward the car.

"We'll come back, right?"
 
"Absolutely," Mikel replied. He smiled at the perk in Kassi's spirit, and the hope in her voice. Mikel reflected how different the woman next to him was from the dejected creature in the bus station, one poised to flee to Aurendale and surrender joy for survival. It encouraged Mikel that his efforts were doing more than merely entertaining Kassi; he was exorcizing hardened layers of despair, inculcated by a lifetime of harassment.

"We can return whenever you wish," Mikel said. He was intrigued by Kassi's newfound interest in music, and smiled along the bright, inspired future this new avenue held for his love.

The walk back to the car was disturbingly quiet. For one, the very nature of sound returned to normal levels, and the forced equilibrium, buzzed Mikel with a slight disorientation. Moreover, the urban soundtrack of passing cars and distant car horns paled in comparison to the majestic flurry from where they had just emerged. Mikel looked down at Kassi, wondering if the psychological effect of separation would begin to weigh on her. If he were honest, he felt a shallow melancholy with every step from the Emporium - a world that embodied the very notions he deeply believed the larger world needed to embrace: fairness, acceptance, open love, and tolerance.

These were the hallmarks of true human potential, and the summit of a culture's collective personality.

Mikel opened the car door for Kassi. He rather enjoyed being of service to her, and felt it gave him a chance to demonstrate a side of him not many others noticed. When Mikel closed his own car door, he ejected the disk already loaded in his player in preparation for Kassi's music. He was very excited to finally learn what music has been inside Kassi's mind all this time.
 
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Kassi nodded, relieved by Mikel's assurance that they would return to the Emporium. It was such a magnificent place. She had a feeling that they could visit every day for a week and there would still be things that she had not seen. Her thoughts centered around that for a minute, then she became more aware of her surroundings. It was terribly quiet in comparison to the ruckus they had left behind. They were back to what was considered normal. The music of the Emporium could barely be heard, though there was still glitter on the streets in some places. She glanced back, but they could no longer see the laughing crowds. Gone for now. She turned back to face forward, giving Mikel a slight smile as he opened her door for her.

She slid into the car and buckled her belt, pondering. It felt as though she was leaving behind something important. A piece of herself. She frowned a little, though she soon soothed herself with the mental reminder that it was not goodbye forever. By the time Mikel got into his seat, she was relaxed once more and watched him with a smile as he ejected the disc they had been listening to before. She carefully opened up one of the ones they had purchased, sliding the shining silver circle into the slot. It took a few moments to load, but soon the sound of violins filled the confined space of the car. She couldn't help but smile. It was only a moment before a male voice interrupted the violins, but they kept going. A firm clapping beat wove in, mixing the hip-hop influence with the flowing classical music in the background. She glanced at Mikel, wondering if he would approve.

 
The dull hum of the coup's engine was pushed aside by the hip-hop intro. The low stringed thrumming set a powerful base line for the rapping. Then, the clapping, the audio cadence around which the other element wove themselves. Mikel sat in stillness, his face not moving an inch. The music was vibrating the windows, and he turned a dial to increase the volume up. He remained motionless for a full minute, then - he started to twitch. His shoulders jerked up and down to the beat, then twisted back and forth. Mikel's face was hard, like a rock face, scowling.

Suddenly, his eyebrows popped up and he started lip-syncing in the most terrible fashion not having the faintest idea of the lyrics. Mikel reached out and grabbed Kassi's hand, then the other, and started moving her arms with his. He watched Kassi laugh, and found himself breathless, even now, whenever he saw her bright and loving smile. He knew then that what he felt was true love - the pure euphoria that drugged him did not lie. She summoned a different side of Mikel, one that was less concerned about the past and worries of the present, and more on how wonderful a future could be. If this wasn't the very definition of being with a soul mate, he did not know what was.

Not that different than Mr. Walken dancing to Weapon of Choice, sans hotel lobby.


As the song neared the end, Mikel reclined back in his seat and put the car into first gear. He was still mouthing the lyrics terribly in silence, but didn't seem to care. He was with the one person he could reveal the pallid shades of his silliness, and he loved her for it. The coup darted across the outer reaches of this part of the city. Corridors of long row buildings stood out, adorned with the products of fine industrial craftsmanship sitting prettily in windows of wide, clear glass. After passing a massive farmer's market, the coup entered a twisted on-ramp and merged onto a road headed toward foothills in the distance. The song had ended, and a quiet filled the car. It was a silence much like the one felt after leaving the Emporium. Mikel turned to Kassi with a grin.

"Can we listen to it again?!"
 
Kassi watched Mikel closely, wondering how he was going to react. It was not music that she thought he might guess she liked judging by her appearance, though she wasn't sure what her appearance would say about her preferences. She hoped he enjoyed it, but at first, he seemed quite passive. There was no smile, but also no frown as he listened. She tilted her head a fraction, about to ask him what he thought when he started twitching. The movement caught her so off-guard that she squeaked. She stared at him, finally starting to laugh as he attempted to lip sync to a song he didn't even know. He was adorable! His enthusiasm was catching and she was soon dancing around in her seat too, though she didn't sing.. or even pretend to, like he was.

"We can if you want," she giggled as he begged to hear it again. "Or, we can just wait a moment and listen to the next one."

Right on cue, the next track started up. This one began with the hip-hop beat instead of the violins. It wasn't long before the violins joined in, as well as several other instruments from a small orchestra group. Kassi smiled to herself, her fingers tapping on her thighs to the beat. This was one of her favorites too. Come to think of it, almost every song that they had purchased was one of her favorites. The song slowed down soon after beginning, changing to something that was more romantic with no vocals. After a while, that faded as well, becoming a much more energetic tune.