The Centrality (6-21-17)

Elli thought about the options for a moment. It didn't seem like a bad idea, helping other people out to get to know them and to learn the layout of the place. She decided to start with the 'jam session' - she vaguely recalled that that referred to music, but on the off-chance that it didn't, she was also a fan of jam.

She bid farewell to Nisi, who waved and said "I'm sure we'll run into each other again soon!"



As soon as Elli had figured out what task she wanted to take on, she noticed that the locations tab on her device had a new entry - the Music Hall. She selected it and eyeballed the map, then set out.

The route took her through the lobby, and she ran into someone there - not someone she'd met before. "Oh, uh, hi," Elli said, offering a small wave.



But the person took off without acknowledging her. Elli watched them leave, then shrugged and continued on.



The music hall was, appropriately, filled with every instrument Elli could think of, with a wide stage at the front of the room. She looked over the instruments, wondering if any of them spoke to her.

Something tugged at her memory, and she sat down at the drum set.

One sick drum solo later, Elli heard someone applauding.



"Hey!" they said. "That was wild! You're a natural! Yo, we need to get in on a jam sesh together!"

Elli could feel herself blushing slightly. "Oh, er, thanks... You're Ithria, then?"

"Yup! Got it in one! Ithria, one and only, goddess of weather and music!"

"Elli... goddess of fear and food." It was going to take Elli some time to get used to introducing herself like that.

Ithria grinned, and her smile lit up the room. Elli wasn't entirely certain that was metaphorical, either. "Elli! The Elster. Elgirl. Els! I like it! How's about let's you and me lay it down!"

"What do you play?"

"You have to ask?" Ithria said as she vaulted over a few chairs. "I play everything! But this time, I'ma have at my baby over here!" She landed at the electric guitar.

Elli looked at the speakers the guitar was hooked up to. They were taller than she was. She smiled. "Then, uh, let's start?"

"Don't gotta tell me twice!"



"Man alive, you can jam with the best of them!" Ithria said, wiping the sweat from her brow. "I got some major thanks for ya! Nobody around here ever wants to join in, and it suuuuucks. But now I know who I'm gonna call next time I need a partner!"

Elli exhaled. She hadn't worked herself like that for a while - at least, not as far as she could remember. "Yeah, that was pretty great," she said, leaning back and stretching out her back.

Ithria slapped her on the back. "Now go on, get outta here," she said, beaming. "You look like you're gonna keel over. Oh! By the way, my username's CrashingDynamo, in case you wanna message me or something. And if you ever need a favor or anything like that, give me a yell. Just lemme know next time you're down to rock out!"

Elli left the music hall, feeling like she'd made pretty good friends with Ithria. Plus, it seemed like she could ask Ithria for favors, just in case it ever came up.



Elli returned to the Solarium. Nisi was nowhere to be seen, but that didn't bother Elli. She erased Ithria's trouble from the board. With that done, Elli felt like she could maybe help with one more thing before she would want to call it a night.