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Post by Vespyr on Apr 27, 2013 1:14:21 GMT -8
Ari didn't even notice when his fingers began to bruise at the tips, too engrossed to be wincing every time he pressed down the strings. They just got numb after awhile anyway. It wasn't until the bar chords that he really struggled, quite unable to keep all of the strings pressed to the neck of the guitar. His hands hadn't acquired those muscles yet, apparently. He laughed a little as he struggled to keep his fingers flat, mostly failing to do so. Eventually he admitted defeat.
The young man took a moment to wring out his strained hands, upturning his left to inspect the raw, bruised fingertips where the repetitive indents of the strings still stood out rather sorely. He smiled at that. Though, it was probably enough for today.
"thanks," he grinned. |
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Apr 29, 2013 0:50:14 GMT -8
Delilah sat on the stool behind him, transcribing the notes and the strumming pattern he would need to play for 'Accuracy' on a piece of receipt paper with her thumb nail. As the young man spoke, the mechanic lifted her head and gave him a winning smile.
"Don't mention it. You have a knack for rhythm and the subtleties of the notes. You have a perfectionist streak in you; you'll get the hang of it in no time.
"Here," she handed him the paper and leaned backwards on the stool, cracking her back. Christ, she was old for twenty-three... "That should tide you over; I bet there are plenty of tab books in old music shops just waiting to be discovered, if you get bored of this one."
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Post by Vespyr on Apr 29, 2013 15:17:21 GMT -8
Ari carefully lowered the instrument from his lap and took the paper, holding it as if he'd just been handed a precious scroll. He folded up the paper and tucked it into his back pocket as he rose from the stool.
"Yeah there are a bunch of those.. i think there might be some at my old house, too. My mom played classical guitar."
And she was pretty good at it, too. Ari had never bothered asking her to teach him, knowing she--like his father--would have been hesitant to enable any more hobbies that would have him cooped up in his room, introverted as he already was. They frequently tried to interest him in sports and other outside activities to no avail. He spent his evenings cooped up in his room anyhow, listening to music, wishing he knew how to play. |
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Post by Delilah A. Black on May 1, 2013 0:39:11 GMT -8
Her smile widened, "Good! Then you have a decent foundation to go off of," Delilah slipped off the stool and hauled it back around to sit in front of Ari before retaking her seat across from him. She arched a brow, suddenly curious.
"So what brings you so far outside Rogues territory. This part of town isn't exactly 'safe', you know."
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Post by Vespyr on May 1, 2013 1:09:48 GMT -8
Ari's fingers tapped pensively on the neck of the guitar as he sat down again, glancing to the door to check the time by daylight. He shrugged.
"uh, nothing really... i ride my bike around off territory usually because there's not much to do on... territory."
...and this part of town was probably safer than on territory at times, if he managed to stay clear of Barker patrols. |
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Post by Delilah A. Black on May 2, 2013 12:08:53 GMT -8
"I could tell," she raised an amused eyebrow, the left corner of her mouth twisting wryly. She leaned forward, bracing her elbows against her knees as she looked at him. "It hardly screams 'have fun, shred all the guitars you want and eat free pizza'. Ah, but that's all relative.
"I can't imagine Vespyr or her brother are all that much fun,"
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Post by Vespyr on May 2, 2013 12:26:58 GMT -8
Ari found himself mostly in agreement. The less-skittish-than-usual-but-still-rather-skittish young man took a breath and rolled his eyes in an 'oh, you know..' sort of way, possibly also an excuse to avoid looking at the woman directly.
"Yeah uhm... they're not really around that much honestly. Which is a good thing i guess, 'cause usually when she's around it means it's not really your lucky day. Her idea of fun is... kinda weird..." he mumbled, trailing off a bit uncomfortably. The corner of his mouth pulled weakly outward in an uneasy grin, as if he meant to chuckle, but failed to find anything actually funny. |
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Post by Delilah A. Black on May 4, 2013 22:08:15 GMT -8
Her eyes widened slightly as she nodded her head in agreement; in her few short encounters with the woman, that was one thing that had come across quite clearly.
"I can imagine. But there must be something that keeps you coming back," she mentioned, gently prompting.
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Post by Vespyr on May 5, 2013 15:10:49 GMT -8
The young man let his gaze wander as a more candid pensive look came across his face. He could have shrugged it off but it was too late, he'd already got to thinking about it. There wasn't one reason so much as several for why he stuck around, the most obvious being his ties to people like Cain or Saul, people he could spend time with in one way or another. And then there was Serj, though Ari was beginning to rethink his stance on staying with the man; being needed around almost wasn't enough anymore, but being slow to change, the teen hadn't come to any decisive action yet.
As for almost everyone and everything else except for Vespyr, there was no reason for Ari to stick around. But the commander's apparent acceptance of him was enough to make him feel like he belonged there even if he still feared her. He had a vague feeling that while most of the others were merely tolerated at best, Vespyr wanted him to be there, somehow, if only just because the cats had deemed him an individual worthy of their affection.
"I dunno, i have friends there... and i don't really feel any need to leave, i guess." he vaguely replied, the easiest truthful answer. |
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Post by Delilah A. Black on May 17, 2013 22:02:03 GMT -8
Calm blue eyes studied the meek boy for a moment, genuinely interested. He seemed timid, but there was a small light in him. The fire might not be bright, but it was steady and shone. All it needed was appropriate timber and this boy would become a good man. He just needed the right tinder to build the flame.
Hmm.
Delilah's chin dipped slightly to indicate her understanding. "That's as good a reason as any. If the ties that bind you are strong...then they should be enough to hold you up when you stumble."
Coming from experience of course.
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Post by Vespyr on May 24, 2013 20:09:44 GMT -8
A far-off look occupied Ari's face and a hesitant twinge pulled at the edge of what could have been a smile, albeit a dubious one. He couldn't say with confidence that the ties he had with anyone, except Saul, were as strong as what Delilah might have been supposing. They just needed some work, which Ari was seeing to... gradually, but with hope.
"Actually," he started, but immediately cut himself off upon realizing his thoughts had recklessly leapt a step ahead of him. The young man shook his head with a self-spiting, neverminding grin, intending to retract that he'd said anything at all. He cleared his throat and glanced out the door.
"I should go, probably." |
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Jun 14, 2013 22:37:58 GMT -8
Delilah tilted her head at the young man as he started to say something...but didn't.
"Of course...if you're sure"
He didn't seem sure.
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