Sound descending, not falling

Apollo smiled brightly. Leave it to him to make contact with an angel that had a love for music as great as his own. “It’s funny that you mention that: I’ve got a strong love for music myself. It’s my passion. I’ve loved it my entire life…it’s actually what I intend to study here, as well.”

To learn how to sing like an angel… He’d wanted to reply Of course, that'd be amazing- but he hesitated, thinking back to the last time he really used his voice. The consequences that followed. Screaming.

“Th-Thank you, b-but I…I-I…” He didn’t want to flat out refuse, but he didn’t know quite how to address his concern…

“M-My voice does have some enhanced capabilities, like my hearing,” he eventually confessed. “However, I discovered those capabilities accidentally…and not in the best of ways. It’s not really something I want to explore any further, as a result…” He hoped Echo would understand.

“I do play piano, though,” he said, trying to find a way around the issue. “And I would give my right leg to be able to play something as complex as you sing.” He thought to himself a moment.

“You may not be able to teach me to work my voice like you do…but I’d be honored to learn the tune you were singing earlier on the piano. With my ear and your knowledge, I think it could work.” He was beaming now, really and truly excited for the musical possibilities that collaborating with the angel could bring. “You and I could exchange collections of music, too,” he added. “While I’ve got nothing divine in my books, I’m sure I’ve got some pieces that you’d enjoy.”

Apollo was over the moon as Echo’s excitement matched his own. “Brilliant. That’ll be great!” He had a feeling that the two of them would continue to get along just fine.

“Duties?” He hadn’t meant to say that out loud; while he was, indeed, rather curious, he hadn’t originally wanted to pry into Echo’s personal business. Still, he did wonder what tasks an angel could possibly have to fulfill here on Earth.

Shaking his head, he diverted his focus to Echo’s statement about the island. “Is it really wonderful there? I have no idea what to expect.” He chuckled. “Truth be told, I’m actually rather anxious about arriving! I suppose that's true of any new student, but especially coming to a place like this.”

He considered Echo’s previous comment: The Academy has instructors for training many types of powers… It was very possible that there would be someone there who could help him control his ability, over time- someone who knew more about his particular power than he did. And if someone knew enough to specialize in that power, then there had to be other students who were like him, who could do the same thing, or at least something similar. No matter how one presented it, he wouldn’t have to face this alone. The prospect was certainly appealing, if only slightly out of his comfort zone at the moment.

It was, indeed, overwhelming, to hear about all of the different kinds of beings that inhabited Manta Carlos- in the best way possible. Apollo could only listen in rapt fascination as Echo described the diversity of creatures to be found at the school. Vampires, spirits, demons, werewolves, deities- even aliens?! He couldn’t believe it. His level of excitement quadrupled.

Indeed, now the opportunities for Apollo seemed virtually endless- there would be so much for him to do, inside and outside the school. So many people to meet. So many stories to hear. Of course, he couldn’t allow himself to get too in over his head; he’d have to be mindful of himself and of others as he always was. But he couldn’t imagine Starlight being like any other school, with bullies and fights and petty drama; in the same way, he couldn’t imagine Manta Carlos having the dangers of every large city. This place felt different. For Apollo, the entire island was shrouded in a dreamlike veil. This was the isle of superheroes, people that were picked out for their incredible talents. It was inconceivable to imagine that there might be villains lurking about as well.

“I doubt,” he said at last, “that Manta Carlos could ever really be thought of as any other city.” But his smile, if at all possible, grew even wider. “It’s alright! It’s…amazing. I think I’m gonna like this place.”

Apollo was intrigued by the angel’s occupation. “Do you enjoy it? Studying humans, I mean? Are we really that interesting to someone like you?” It was hard to fathom- humanity, in the face of all Heaven’s glory, probably looked like a speck of dust on the floor.

He was slightly taken by surprise when Echo decided to extend its help to him. “I…are you sure? You don’t have to, I mean I’m sure you’re really busy already not to mention you’ve only just met me and I don’t want to put you out of your way, I think I can get by, I mean- oh goodness, look at me I’m rambling I’m standing in front of a real live angel and rambling I’m-”

He took a moment to breathe.

“Thank you,” he finally said, with a smile. Having not even set foot on the island yet, Apollo felt he had already made a friend.

”Huh.” Apollo supposed Echo did have a point. He had never really thought of people like that before. It was interesting to hear that, from an outside view, humans really were as individual and diverse as they strived to be- at least on a moral standpoint. He would have loved to hear more about angels and demons in that way, about how they behaved, what they were typically like- but, perhaps, he thought, that would be a story for another time. On the other hand, he considered, perhaps he, like Echo, could do his own research, except on the non-human inhabitants of Manta Carlos. He might not have enough time in the day for that, though, he realized…

Apollo nodded slowly, understanding what the angel meant. At least at the Academy, it would not have to hide itself as much as it would around normal people. “Well, alright, then,” he said with a grin. “I’d be honored to have you by my side.

"And,” he added, “being in a place like this, surrounded by so many particularly unusual humans- that’ll be a great addition to your records for your assignment, won’t it?” After all, there had to be a place in human history for people like him- people like everyone on the boat with him. While they might be hidden away from the rest of humanity, at least they wouldn't be hidden from the eyes of Heaven.

Apollo then extended his hand, hoping to God it was at least somewhat in front of the angel. “So, Echo." He nodded towards his hand, offering for them to shake. "Friends, then?”

It was amazing for Apollo to hear the enthusiasm with which the angel spoke. It more than loved its job: it lived it. He greatly admired Echo for that; he knew full well the importance of pursuing something one enjoys himself.

Re-creation….riiiight. The angel’s rambling appeared to make perfect sense to itself- but for someone with no understanding of the ability to erase one’s identity to start completely anew, it was hard to follow. Apollo was, naturally, very confused- but from what he could gather…he was its first friend. The notion made him feel sorry for it, of course- but also, strangely, moved.

He shook his head. “You don’t have to call me by my full name- just Apollo.” He then shook the angel’s hand once, firmly, before letting it fall.

Apollo laughed. “I suppose there’s no definite way to ‘proceed’ from here…we just, I don’t know.”How do you explain friendship to someone who’s never had friends before?

“Perhaps we could get to know each other a little better,” he finally suggested. “We certainly have time before we arrive...right?” Usually that was one of the first things friends did with each other, he reasoned. It also set up a prime opportunity to address Apollo’s earlier confusion on this whole re-creation matter, killing two birds with one stone.

“So, Echo. Tell me about yourself.”