Alcina was in a state of utter perhaps that wasn’t quite the right word; bemusement seems more fitting. Nonetheless

Alcina was in a state of utter shock… perhaps that wasn’t quite the right word; bemusement seems more fitting. Nonetheless she was speechless.

She had always allowed some form of music to play throughout the castle. Whether that be herself playing the piano, a gramophone left unattended, or the maids gently humming a soft melody as the worked.

With the progression of the world, music became so much more… varied. If Alcina was honest, most of it was oh so gauche. She preferred the classics, or jazz… a genre she has an especially soft spot for. On an odd occasions, Lady Dimitrescu can be seen enjoying more contemporary music. She had found she was rather found of this Lil Nas X person’s newest release. She noted how it caused an impressive ripple in the media.

Music and dancing go hand in hand. And Alcina was used to seeing maids nod their heads or move in time with the music. In her more tender moments she’d give a smile as she breezed through a room; catching a maid mid dance.

She could not find it in herself to fault one for letting themselves fall in like with music. It would be hypocritical given her profession before receiving the Cadou.

Her darling lover was accompanying her on a walk. They were passing through a corridor with a handful of maids milling around. The modern day speaker system set up was disguised amongst the ornate decor. To the point where it was undetectable.

The starting notes of Daniel Boone’s ‘Beautiful Sunday’ followed after a brief moment of silence as the previous song ended. And it was as if all humans present in the hall suddenly shared one mind. They all followed the same series of moves. Side steps with a flourish of the leg. Only to move back they way they came; slapping their knees, then hitting the heel of their feet from behind.

Alcina’s brows tensed and knitted together. Her mouth open ever so slightly as she tried to comprehend the scene unfolding in front of her eyes. Even her own little human had left her side and was partaking in this… absurd dance.

The Countess’ gaze laid upon the maids and then back down to her lover.

“My love…? What is thi- ”

“Mama- Look! They’re doing it again. Come, let’s join!” Daniela had appeared from the end of the hallway. Utter glee over all her features.

Soon her two sisters appeared behind her. Both seemingly unphased by the… spectacle.

“Join me! Please you promised to last time!”

The two oldest daughters all acquiesced their youngest and fell into sync with the rest of the humans. A ghost of a smile on their lips, they’d never let on to sweet Daniela that they actually enjoyed this as well.

~

Days later ‘Beautiful Sunday’ started playing from Alcina’s lover’s phone. That sat on the coffee table. Both were engrossed in books.

“That’s that song again…” Alcina commented when her human began nodding their head to the beat.

“Hmm? What song?” Their attention divided between the music, the book, and the Countess.

“The one that seemingly possessed the castle staff, my daughters, and you, iubrea mea” Alcina elaborated, “I feared I needed to get an exorcist…”

“What do you mean? Oh…”

Silence.

Then nothing but a fit of giggles, “You’ve never heard of the slosh?!”