tornheart | [ OPEN + CLOSED PROMPTS ] I COULD LIFT YOU UP.

[ Bach: one player, one instrument, and such a sound produced by the tremble of strings (a flutter of sparrow's wings) first in a slow lyric of introduction, then a pervasive fugue, followed by a contrapuntal mediation and brisk finale of passagework brought to life by a musician nuanced in their craft but so too--... isolated, a feeling of loneliness so pervasive and so profound seeping into every note of the sonata that it seems an impossible weight for the heart to bear until...!

There is a resounding snap! of an string—the E string, as it so often is—and a soft hiss of pain which might very well catch the attention of anyone lingering outside of the practice room's doorway if they'd not already been drawn in by the playing.

And then, a murmur of self-reprimand followed by a staccato click of footsteps; the sound of both instrument and bow being returned to their case: ] Ah, what a nuisance I've been today.

You need to be more careful with those strings, Sol. [Adrian Fairheights, advanced cycle history student, poked his head into the practice room. He hefted a guitar case over his shoulder and shut the door behind him.]

Not to mention your fingers.

You're late. [ —Solange greets just as the door closes, his formerly distant expression warming over with fondness for his friend; for Adrian, who he'd met under similar circumstances: an open door and a practice session gone awry, the elder student stepping in with his guitar to save the day by keeping tempo as Solange continued to play.

What a happy accident, that had been. ]

So much so that I decided to warm up in your absence. [ And then, well...

He'd gotten carried away, his thoughts drifting elsewhere while he'd gone through the technical motions of the piece. ]

If my fingers have suffered, it is only you who is to blame.

[ But that, of course, is a tease—Solange knows it is no one's fault but his own, and that is why he'll go about tending to the matter on his own as well. Handkerchief? Deftly drawn from his pocket to clot the bleeding from the minor cut he'd sustained by way of snapping string, and in the meantime...!: ]

Though I wonder... did you decide on what we're playing today? I'm certain I'll be able to find a replacement 'e' string.

[It had been a while since that first meeting. Adrian normally wasn't very forward with people but Solange made it easy. It helped that the man was so friendly and approachable that Adrian could not help but warm up to him. Their shared appreciation in music also helped.]

I'm still working on a new piece. You'll like it because it's a lot of violin but I think it can alternate with my guitar. it really needs either a piano or drums. Or both, really, but we can make do. [One of the more fortunate benefits of being trusted with the room and its equipment? Being able to use amplifiers. Alucard's guitar is electric, loving decorated with a scene out of a Gothic novel, with a castle at night under a full moon.]

Unless you have something else in mind?

How could I possibly have anything else in mind after you've said the words 'new piece'? [ —Solange's answer arrives on the bridge of a laugh, airy and bright, as his golden eyes take in the sight of a guitar unpacked, amplifiers fetched from storage, and the simple presence of his friend: something he'd needed all this while without wholly realizing, for he'd been undeniably on edge in the hours and days after discovering the existence of AppleNET.

Adrian, with his steadfast aura of calm, has never once failed to ground him, and the here and now is no exception.

Deeming the cut on his finger to no longer be in danger of causing a mess, Solange pockets the handkerchief he'd used to staunch the bleeding with, and foregoes the search of a bandaid, setting his sights upon locating a replacement string instead. ]

Do you have the notations with you? Composing is equal parts performance and theory, I think.

[ New string? Located! With practiced ease and the grace intrinsic to him, he sets to removing the snapped 'e' string, turning the peg and and loosening it from the violin's tailpiece. ]

Though I'll not deny that I am thrilled to hear it features violin.

I do try to make sure our pieces equally represent our strengths. But I could use your input to definitely improve this. You'll see what I mean.

[This is so regular and welcome after the unnerving nature of the application. Music helps him focus and put the matter aside. He pulls out a few scribbled notations, just so Solange can get an idea. Adrian plays a little bit from his end and it is a fairly ambitious piece for multiple instruments. Once again, it has no words as he's claimed to not be good at them, but it should be good to listen to.]

It's— [ Stalling, in brief, in the replacement of the string, Sol allows for his eyes to fall closed as he listens to the piece—a strong melody evocative of some dark hero's hymn, metered in beats of four—and finds himself energized in a way he hasn't been for quite some time. This, right here right now, is something to look forward to, an opportunity to compose and to build, actualizing the ambitions of someone close and dear into something beautiful. ] —powerful.

[ And that is a word which Solange does not use lightly, to say the least. ]

Captivating, too, in a way which could certainly stand on its own, but would be even more moving if supported by a chord progression.

[ Opening his eyes, Sol makes quick work of removing the replacement string's slack and checking the violin's bridge before returning the instrument to its proper place: his chin neatly atop the rest, a bow in hand as he plays—frowns, gives pause, if only to tune 'E' to perfect clarity—and plays again, toying with varied supporting rhythms which might be best suited to percussion. ]

...and also by drums, as you said. [ Smiling, Solange shifts closer to Adrian, peering at the notations set upon the nearby stand. ] May I ask what your inspiration was, when you wrote this?

History again. Reading some of those Gothic tales for my thesis. [Although Adrian quite enjoys playing music with Sol, his focus of study is history. Eastern European, to be precise. Oh, he'll certainly end up teaching European history classes for the school, but he has affinity for those old oral tales. He's always had a fascination for them that he cannot entirely explain.

At least Sol enjoys what he's written and that makes Adrian smile a little response. Sol can always manage that from him, even if he's having the worst of days. Not only that, Sol has much more of a music background and is teaching him proper form and terminology. Really, Adrian just started playing electric guitar because it made some powerful sounds and not out of any desire to become a musical genius.]

It needs more work, to be sure. Also, as much as I enjoy playing with you, I wonder if there's a way we could get those drums and piano.

[ Were he able (and had he the freedom to), Sol would have liked to pursue music as his collegiate major rather than minor, but with his father's shoes to fill, a strong political science and humanities background is a necessity. First and foremost, he must mind his academic disciplines, and where there is time ...music. And so, he can only be thankful that he's a friend to share his passion with—a friend with an impressive knowledge of history to pull from thematically. To Solange, blending the old with new (a haunting melody played on electric strings) is a perfect representation of what Green Valley, and beyond that, the city of Eddan is: a bridge between all people and things, connected to its historic roots but so too paving way for the future.

But then, Solange has always been a bit of a romantic, a dreamer through and through. ]

I wonder... [ —violin lowered, and bow held in the very same hand, Sol reaches out to touch the notations, his fingertips skimming over the handwritten music with no small measure of reverence, as he seems to consider something !! ] ...could we not hold auditions?

I can advertise our need for a pianist and drummer both in the dormitories, and with professor permission, perhaps an announcement could also be made in class.

[ Strange and wonderful, how their two-man project has suddenly grown, blossoming into something else for others to partake in. ]

Though selfishly, I reserve the right to duet with only you, regardless of however many other players we take on.

Edited 2017-05-21 18:29 (UTC)

I suppose we could at that. We only met by sheer chance, so I doubt we'll just randomly run into someone who can play the piano or the drums while we're in this room. We should probably decide on a name for our little enterprise since, "Join this instrumental group with two long haired gentlemen" seems a bit cumbersome.

[His request to only want to duet with Adrian actually makes his cheeks flush a little. Really, Sol could be so very direct with his requests. Adrian isn't used to being considered so prized in someone else's life, even if all they do is play music and occasionally meet outside of that. It is something rare to be treasured.]

Indeed. You may always reserve that right with me.

You indulge me, and I cannot say that I mind. [ Endearing to him, the elder student's blush; that hint of color remaining long enough for Solange to wholly appreciate it. If Solange is bold (and he is), it is only because he is earnest—it would be a shame, wouldn't it, to refrain from letting others know how he felt in the present when something like tomorrow remains an uncertainty.

(Uncertain and foreboding both, with the recent rash of murders; the strange occurrences surrounding the app.) ]

You'll not regret allowing me to monopolize your playing, this I promise you.

[ A gentle smile curving his lips, Sol catches Adrian's eyes with his own, amused by this recent development and by the notion that their group very well might be called 'two long haired gentleman and company' if they neglected to decide upon a proper name. ]

But as for names... perhaps argentiques? [ And here, Sol's accent becomes more pronounced. ] For taking new-age composition and washing it with something 'old', like a silver filter.

[ ...also it matches their hair???... ]

[Adrian rubs the bridge of his nose to fight the onrush of another flush across his pale skin. Really, Sol could be confusing and confounding at times. He is rather grateful with the change in subject and the idea of a name for their little enterprise.]

Argentiques? It is unusual and I feel befitting for our group. I like it so that is who we are.

Unusual enough for people to remember it, I hope.

[ Hmm... Sol doesn't think he's ever before glimpsed precisely this: Adrian, touching a hand to the bridge of his nose in order to stave off the beginnings of another flush. Usually rather reserved and stoic, any sign of fluster in Adrian is something of significance, and in a way, it is rather fitting—after all, aren't they about to embark upon a new venture together? ]

And should the 'new blood' have anything to say about it, I will defer to your good judgement.

[ 'I like it so that is who we are'... In his own way, Adrian is quite bold when he sets his mind upon something, as well, or so Solange thinks. ]

After we finish with practicing for the day, I'll put together a few signs to advertise the auditions.

I'm--... [ Giving pause, Sol cants his head up to greet the elder student with a smile: ] ...really looking forward to this, Adrian.

I am as well. [So stop ruining his perfectly stoic nature with unrelenting friendship and good cheer and get to playing. He has an amplifier in his own room, but he has to be very careful when to play so as not to disturb other people. The one provided by the school is way better, giving more of a richness to his playing.

With a few scales played and his guitar tuned, he is ready to start picking the piece apart. Possibly rewriting it where it needs to.]

Once we're done with the technical parts, we can go over anything else we've already memorized.

Mm.

[ Falling into a brief lapse of quiet, Sol listens to the familiar sounds of a guitar undergoing tuning at the hands of its master, and finds himself eased, settled by the patterns. And where he is able, he assists with the task at hand, gliding his violin's bow over its strings until both classical instrument and new-age electric sound meld together in harmony. ]

Shall I take the part of playing the melody, then? [ The subtle quirk of Solange's lips is indication enough that he's excited to try his hand at the piece, perhaps taken by Adrian's initial reveal of the work. ] On the guitar, I would love to hear what you've envisioned for the accompaniments to sound like.

[ What isn't written on paper is oftentimes the most interesting, is it not? ]

At this rate, you'll be lucky if I do not convince you to pursue music professionally.

It's...difficult for me play on guitar what I hear in my mind, but I will do my best to live up to your expectations. So do play the melody.

[He has an ear for music, to be sure, even if he still doesn't know what half the terms are. Sol taught him what each note that he hummed meant and what writing down notes actually meant when played. Still, varied skill levels meant nothing when their instruments managed to find just that sweet spot of intertwining perfectly. It's quite a bit of practice later before he answers Sol's other comment.]

If I can fit it around teaching, of course. Provided I do get succeed in the Advanced Cycle.

[ OPEN + CLOSED PROMPTS ] I COULD LIFT YOU UP.

CLOSED | Alucard

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