Video| In all my dreams, it's never quite as it seems

[ushahin]

[When the video opens up, Ushahin is lying once again inside his bathtub. It's about five o' clock in the morning, so at least he's only waking up the resident of Hadriel up at the crack of dawn instead of the middle of the night this time. He's considerate that way.]

Does anyone else hear it? The music? It's so lovely.

[There is, of course, no music. What he's hearing is the tune he's caught from passing through someone's mind while they sleep. It's had quite the effect on him.]

Music makes everything quiet inside.

[He starts humming to himself, tapping his fingers to keep rhythm. If that tune sounds somewhat familiar, well, it might have been your mind he was tapping into.]

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[whichend]

Music doesn't make anything quiet. [ Arya retorts hotly, ever the stubborn child. ] It's noise. It makes everything louder.

[ushahin]

Yes, it does. It helps when it drowns out all the other voices around.

[whichend]

But that's not quiet, just a different kind of noise.

[ushahin]

Sometimes, that's all one can hope for. True silence is very rare.

[His head tilts and his good eye focuses on the girl as if seeing her for the first time.]

I don't believe we have met before. What is your name?

[whichend]

[ The man isn't wrong, but there's still something unnerving about the things he's saying. Arya doesn't think she wants to experience true silence. ]

We haven't. [ Arya says cooly, her guard up. ] I am called Arya. Who are you?

[ushahin]

I am called Ushahin Dreamspinner. I know things others don't.

[An odd introduction, but then, he's an odd sort of man. He squints with his left eye as if even the bare bit of light in the room is hurting it.]

[whichend]

Everyone knows something someone else doesn't.

[ Arya isn't particularly impressed. She's met a lot of strange people claiming to be special. ]

What do you know that others don't?

[ushahin]

I know your name. [He pauses, the pupil of his good eye expanding outward.] Or in your case, it might be more accurate to say your names.

[He cocks his head to the side as he stares at Arya over the device.] My my. You seem to change it the way other people change their shirts.

[whichend]

You think it that easy?

[ She changes her name as often as a shirt, perhaps. But this man speaks of it like one who's never tried, who's never needed to. ]

I take it your name has always been safe.

[ushahin]

Hardly. No one cared enough to give me a name at first. Being nameless is no good. You simply exist.

[He'd gotten a name eventually, even if he couldn't remember it. That was lost in the fog of time, divided before the pain had begun and after.]

To finally get one was important. And when the time came, I gave myself another, to let everyone know who and what I was.

[whichend]

Being nameless is better than you know.

[ The lie burns on her tongue, but it's a familiar feeling. She's told this lie before. Who are you, child?

No one, she would reply. Sometimes, she still feels like no one. Especially now. ]

The names you give yourself are always the best ones.

[ushahin]

[He cocks his head, the pupil of his good eye expanding outward. She knows quite a bit for one so young]

And what name do you call yourself, child?

[whichend]

I call myself Arya. It's an old one.

[ But not entirely her birth one. She's not ready for that yet. ]

[ushahin]

[He watches her with bright eyes. No last name. Very curious.]

Well, then, Arya, I am pleased to meet you. You have more sense than many here.