Well before WWIII, what started it all, I didn’t seek out music very often. I heard classical pieces at the lavish parties I was strung along to, and I experienced a few orchestras with the women who invited me. I can’t say I was very interested in it, not at that time.
After the war, or more accurately after AM imprisoned the five of us, I felt a semi-appreciation for music. We didn’t have access to it in the way we had before, but occasionally Ellen would hum or sing under her breath. The other men never appreciated the small gesture, but I did. I yearned for music, something to remind me of what life had been like. Something familiar.
Long, horrible years passed and eventually turned to decades.. how many, I’m not sure. But oh, once AM had begun to run out of adrenaline-fueled fury he realized that he enjoyed the intricacies, the finer methods of torture he could construct.
For a long while, the complex alternated between music blaring so loudly it would knock you off your feet, to quiet rustling snaps of distorted classical piano. After decades of near silence, I welcomed the times quiet music lazily drifted through his hollow caverns.
We had no concept of day or night in there, but when we all settled down to sleep I could hear it again. That slow, distorted melody. Piano notes, quiet and artificial in nature, buzzes of electricity interjecting rudely.
I theorized that it was less for us, and more for himself. He allowed us to sleep at times, knowing it was imperative to our function. With seemingly no one awake to hear it, why would he play it? For himself. I found it sickeningly endearing, and a lump of sympathy settled heavily in my chest.
Nowadays, I’m interested in music again. All sorts of genres, I don’t harbor a strict preference.
Also, thank you to the kind person who reblogged my lament and said my writing is interesting. I appreciate it.