It's become a habit of yours to feed crows. While their dark feathers are far from beautiful compared to doves, most people underestimate the intelligence crows possess. Not only do they remember someone by their faces, but they also display a sort...
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A/N: I got Sylus's Lost Oasis memory on my 90th pull and gosh I'm not even into the spicy stuff, I just love it cuz it's giving so much insight on Sylus's personality.
btw on the pic is the radio, but imagine a smaller, more portable version
—
The ride back home went in a blur. It was very unlike me to not pay attention, so maybe it was Sylus who hypnotized me or something. I didn't even remember what the front of his mansion-like home looked like.
Sitting on the high bar stool, I fiddled with the radio in my hands. I've had the batteries inserted and I definitely switched the power button, so why was it not working? Was the batteries fake?
Huffing a defeated sigh, I rested my head on the marbled bar counter, examining the radio for the hundredth time with my dwindling interest in it. My expectations were a bit high, I guess, to have such an antique object working in the year of 2048 would be a miracle by itself. But, I'm convinced that the old man wouldn't just sell a broken radio, especially to the pawn shop's loyal customer.
"Why the long face?" Sylus, who had been standing behind the counter with a glass of cold water, finally asked. The moment we got home, he was busy inspecting the box he got from the pawn shop, which looked like it had some vinyl records inside.
I didn't bother answer. Instead, I gently pushed the radio for it to slide against the counter, stopping right in front of him. "I give up on trying."
Sylus arched his eyebrow, taking the radio in his hands, which seemed small compared to when I had it in mine. "I believe there's no radio transmission in 2048," he toyed with the antenna, then with the rotating thing to find a working channel.
"There's a few in Linkon, which I've tried pairing it to, but it still won't work," resting my chin on the counter, watching as Sylus opened the battery compartment.
Breathing a long sigh, the man shifted his attention to the vinyl box with the radio still in hand. "N109 Zone has plenty of transmission blockers," he took out a rectangular object, I think it was a cassette, opened the compartment in the front of the radio and inserted it. "But, all roads lead to Rome," he closed the compartment, pressing on one of its buttons.
A soft thrum of harps started the music, followed by the sound of a harmonious trumpet. Sylus turned the volume up as the music drowned the entire room in a perfect flow to the tune. Although the music was accompanied with some rustles due to the radio's age, it was still coherent and enjoyable. A man's voice started to sing a song I didn't know of, which Sylus hummed along with. Granted, the radio's on its maximum volume, otherwise Sylus's flat hums would be unbearable to listen to.
"And when you speak, angels sing from above," Sylus sang, in the flattest tone that would shame the surface of any man-made table, and continued to hum the rest of the song, which ended a bit too quickly than I expected — thank God.
"Wow, I didn't think I'd ever have the privilege to see Onychinus's leader singing," I quipped, raising my head to sit upright.
Sylus chuckled as he retrieved the cassette out of the radio. "It's more of a hidden talent of mine."
'Which best stays hidden,' I thought to myself, but wouldn't have the guts to say aloud. Maybe later in the future, if I got to know him better. "Do you have more of those cassettes?"
For a millisecond, I caught a glimpse of his expression softened, which quickly turned into his usual nonchalant one as quickly as it appeared. "I do, actually," Sylus beckoned for the box in front of him.
Without wasting another second, I jumped off the bar stool and walked round the counter. Standing by Sylus's side, I began rummaging inside the vinyl box, only to realize that there were only few vinyls and more cassettes. "I thought you were just buying vinyls?"
"I was, but I saw you holding the radio and thought I'd expand my collections," he responded, standing idly by my side.
"You collect things?" I was mildly surprised as I read some of the cassettes's titles. Most of them were from unfamiliar bands and singers I didn't recognize.
"When a man has too much money, the first thing they'd do is indulge in their hobbies," Sylus grabs the few vinyls from the box and stacks it on the table, making room for me to rummage through the cassettes. "Mine just so happens to be collecting treasures from the past."
"Expensive hobby," I remarked, taking a cassette. There were several artists that I knew of, but most of the cassettes in the box were of music dating back to the 1970s.
"Anything that catches your interest?" Sylus peered in, staring as my hand finished rummaging through the boxes.
"I know The Beatles, Queen, a little Frank Sinatra and Paul Anka, but the rest, I'm not very familiar with," I glanced over. The corner of his lips curled to form a lopsided smile.
"I'm impressed," the nonchalant expression he had softened the slightest. Extending his arms, he began to stack the cassettes neatly. "Next time, we should shop for artists of your interests."
It was the first time I saw him in such a laid back mood. It's as if I'd managed to break the barrier between us, and honestly, it was almost satisfactory for me. At least now I know that he's not forced into 'becoming allies' with me.
"Um, sure?" it's not like I was interested in buying more cassettes. In fact, I just thought that the radio would make a good decoration for my desk.
Sylus grabbed both the box and the vinyls off the counter. "Since you'll be staying for a while, you can stay in the guest room earlier," he began to walk towards the glossy black-painted mahogany door. "And, don't snoop around too much," and with that, he left me on my own in the kitchen.
