Reiko's pupils dilated visibly in her already dark eyes at the mention of playing music here in the hall. [i]Would... would that be alright? It would be alright wouldn't it?[/i] No... Such a disruptive power would ruin the rest of the evening. [i]We don't have to use the power. Just play the song.[/i] Obviously that wouldn't work. She wasn't adept enough to prevent or control it so reliably. [i]It doesn't matter. Play the song. You have to play the song. Play the goddamned song. You have to play it.[/i] "I... I'm not sure that's the best idea-"

Her thoughts were interrupted by Aura, who had already unsheated her crystal microphone. "Hell yeah!" she grinned, "This band sucks. Let's make a show of it! We've already got dancers, just match the tone. Give them something to dance to. If you can't do that, you can't call yourself a musician!"

"I... don't think-"

"Just try and stop me, Rei! [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rwtuu1Zt68]Je chanterais![/url]"

The sound of the violin and vocals resounded throughout the ballroom, and everyone present would feel something strange within their mind, as though their ears were ringing, but instead of sound, there was emptiness. A sound that was not there. It was not a disturbing feeling, but it would be noticeable. This was the feeling of Aura's communication technique. It was possible to shut the feeling off if you were familiar with it, but otherwise, anyone could use it to send thoughts to each other.

Reiko was familiar with this effect from having seen it once, and took it as an opportunity to make a point. She reached out to Karnage's mind as he was playing. [i]"Do you feel it? The power of a fragment? Is this what you wanted to see?"[/i]

Karnage's wicked smile grew as Aura took the initative, starting the band. Grabbing his violin he joined her on the stage and led the other violinist in her song. Normally he'd have a hard time simply starting a song he's never heard before, and yet... It came naturally to him, at least once Aura started to sing. [i]"Syncronity."[/i]

Karnage kept playing as other musicians joined in the lively song, like Karnage initally uncertain but eventually able to play in harmony. It wasn't until he started hearing thoughts that he noticed something was admiss. He heard Reiko, which was strange because currently the sound of his violin made him deaf to all but song. He quickly came to the realization that this must be some sort of telepathy spell, brought upon by Aura's Fragment. At least that's what he guessed from what little Reiko told him. [i]"Impressive. I have felt something similar before... A long time ago. Join us Reiko. Let us hear your melodies."[/i]

[i]It's unavoidable. Play the song. Enjoy the melody, embrace the harmony.[/i]

Seeing Karnage's embracing of this phenomenon, rather than being afraid or wary, broke the last of Reiko's mental walls. It was time to play her flute. "Fine, I'll show you, if you're so insistent. It's nothing that impressive anyhow." The instrument was in her hands without her even realizing it, and she lifted it up to her lips, filling it with her breath. Almost mechanically, crystalline mist began wafting out of the end of the flute, coalescing along the floor in their immediate surroundings, and eventually filling the room. It was not too thick, which Reiko considered a blessing (truth told she would rather have not produced any mist at all) but it was enchanting all the same.

The effect was not lost on Aura, who began singing louder and with more passion. Apparently it was just a stage effect as far as she was concerned. Though signs of strain began invading her face, she seemed to be enjoying herself. Reiko couldn't understand that girl. As the song peaked and drew closer to its end, the mist from her flute began thickening and soon it was difficult to see her own feet. But she could not stop playing. She was already too far gone. In her mind there was no longer a crowd, she was simply playing for herself.

The sound of Karnage's violin and the other musicans echoed over the thick mist. Despite it however, Karnage was not lost. Or at least, he knew where he was going. He was following the sound of the flute. Something about it drew him towards Reiko, and with any luck, he wouldn't be alone. Also at some point Karnage had managed to get a hold of a banjo like intrstument, using that instead of his violin. When the flute started to get louder Karnage started a [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx76YPgZviE]new song[/url]. It was a song made for trouble, but specfically for Reiko. He was pratically challenging the girl to musical combat now, to have her show the full abilities of her Fragment. While Karnage goaded Reiko into unleashing her Fragment, he also sought after Lucaris. [i]"Do not hide. Follow the music and learn the power of Fragments."[/i]

Reiko barely noticed the change in tune, shifting her song slightly to keep up with Karnage, but otherwise her energy did not shift. The mist was thick, to the point where she could not see anyone around her anymore, and somewhere along the way, the vocals had stopped, and with it, the buzzing in her head. [i]Good, it was a distraction anyway.[/i]

Aura had stopped singing. The bad feeling that Reiko had previously held had made its way over to her, and she no longer liked where this was leading. She had tried to call out to the floutist in her mind, but it was futile. Reiko was so stuck in her head that she was beyond hearing. That had to be dangerous... right?

Right. Karnage seemed intent on keeping them playing, but he didn't know anything about these fragments. They were dangerous. Aura didn't think that he had any malicious intent, but this had to stop. The sound of the music led her to Reiko. From her position, she could see Karnage a few feet away. [i]Geez, he was awfully close,[/i] it seemed like he had the same idea as she did, though for different reasons.

"Hey! Sonata, arrête! Stop this, Reiko!" She wasn't listening, even when Aura reached out and shook her by the shoulder. Her glassy stare continued to face forward. "Zut alors, je suis fatigue. Sorry about this, girl, you'll thank me later." Grabbing the flute in one hand, she tried pulling it away, but the dark-haired girl's grasp was firm, like rigor mortis. Using this for leverage, Aura delivered a strong knee to Reiko's gut, knocking the wind out of her, and slammed both of her arms outward against Reiko's arms, knocking the flute out of her hands as she tumbled to the floor. The music stopped abruptly, though the mist would linger until it dispelled naturally.

Aura turned to Karnage, who was the closest person to the two of them. "We're departing. I no longer like this place, and I should see Reiko to the infirmary. I may have cracked a rib or two just now. If anyone wants to see us, I will be there with her until the night falls or someone else attends. You want a last piece of information about these fragments, I hope this display did not go to waste. They have a certain... influence. And it is quite strong. For those with a weak spirit, it could mean death. Perhaps I am the last person who should be saying this, but... they are not simply toys to be played with."

Hoisting the unconscious girl over her shoulders like a sack of potatoes, Aura picked the flute up off of the floor and made her way outside, hopefully before anyone else questioned what was going on.