Welcome to Gaia! ::

His summons with his music had been a bit sparse, lately, but perhaps Abzu shouldn't have been surprised. The storms above had a way of driving people away from ... enjoying the spring. April Showers brought May Flowers, etc., but according to the database updates this was a different beast than that.

It hadn't stopped Abzu from going outside, anyway.

There were specific places he chose at the moment, though. The grotto, for one. Pavilions which allowed him to stay under shelter. It had worked to a degree; he had already drawn in a new to Earth alien, after all, even on top of everything else happening. Today was much the same.

Abzu had located a quieter place with a piano -- currently unattended, of course -- and sat himself down. Perhaps someone would come by and he could ease them. If someone was of Order, what they were reading would likely terrify them.

He knew his parent had just been exasperated ("Great," said Eridu, "I enter this bullshit war and I find out the world is ending times two.") but fear was a different animal. He had ways of working with that.

Or maybe someone else had some different thoughts.

Abzu had been expecting guests. Perhaps, he was even hoping for guests. That was why he sat and played music the way he did.

The setting they sat in at the moment would be a difficult one to justify his saxophone music at the moment. He could. He knew plenty of more solemn ballads. There was something, though, to the mystique of a piano when there was gloom and lightning above.

And, as a bonus, it did draw someone in.

Someone he hadn't been expecting to see at this particular time of year, but then, these were not particular times.

"Almadel!" Abzu's response was surprisingly bright for how preoccupied Almadel seemed. What had he been holding before? "It's a pleasure to see you, honestly, especially considering the circumstances." His timbre had dropped as he shifted his attention away from the piano. The notes he played were still steady, but not complex, peaceful against the background. "Brings a smile to my face to see you against the backdrop here--"

Abzu's gaze shifted back to the keys.

"Unfortunately, I don't think I'm any closer to an answer than I was before. I believe others are closer than me." Abzu's smile was as charming as always. "But I've always tried to make myself available for calming conversations, or even something to just listen to. What are you thinking about?"

"I try to be," rumbled Abzu, watching Almadel over his shoulder as he approached more fully. Was he responding to being rather calming, or being lovely himself? It was hard to say, though it didn't stop his response either way of, "Easy to be when my audience is so charming."

He winked as he returned to the keys in front of him, quieting himself to listen to Almadel talk beyond the music he played. It did sound like he had a lot on his mind -- perhaps an unusually high amount even for him. That probably reflected in how stressed he sounded from the onset and how much he hoped Abzu's calmness was a reflection of things getting better.

With a small, playful attempt to bring a smile, Abzu started with, "Maybe no one has attempted to introduce the world-eater to some proper art yet. It sounds like the ones that got trapped in the prison saw some murals of some sort," that was what it read like in the database--, "maybe it just wants to see a beautiful tapestry that doesn't involve its capture."

It was a joke, for the most part, though if it somehow worked-

"I have been exploring my wonder more as of late. I could offer you some things to take in trade for decor for my wonder, but I fear it would be more aesthetic things to add to your collection instead of helpful if that's what you're looking for" His laughter was warm in spite of it all. "Though... I wonder if there could be something in working with the aesthetic. It's serpentine, right?"

Snake-charming was a thing for a reason.