there's beauty in the breakdown

[burningbrighter]

Who: Sunset and OPEN
Where: Out in a common space.
When: Some Friday night. It's raining.
What: Sunset plays some tunes. It doesn't go like she planned.
Warnings: Bad music, rain

It's been a bit of a rough month for Sunset. Sure, she's been doing great with her classes, her friends are doing fine, and it's all good. She even has her guitar back! But her dreams of immediately starting a band are waylaid when she actually plays a chord.

It sounds rough. She tunes it and tries again. Still rough. No matter what she does, it just won't go right. She sighs, angrily plucking a string as she takes a seat on a sheltered stump. One quick bubble charm to ward the rain away from her guitar and she tries again.

"Is there beauty in those gray clouds..."

Is there? She looks at the offending guitar and sighs. "Rule number one: never trust the genie, or anything like that."

Comments

[burningbrighter]

Sunset spared a small smile for Cliff subconsciously scooting a little closer than she should. It was warm.

"Probably a little of both," she admitted. "But mostly it's the messenger. There's always a price with this school. I've never played this badly before."

[nomoremistergneissguy]

If Sunset thought he'd be offended, far from! He just tried to not foul her playing any more than he has to. Not that he really thinks he's the problem.

"Are you sure it's you?" Cliff had to ask. He leaned in, trying to look more at the strings. He'd never seen metal strings on an instrument before, but it seemed like a novel innovation, to him--certainly something that Kat might like to try, if he ever got to tell her about it.

"Although that is a point, you have to work for what you want. Nothing's free. But would it mean as much to you if it were free?" He's mostly musing to himself and thinking about it, but it's a valid question. "Still, I could always try to make you a new set of strings in Forging class, see if that helps?"

[burningbrighter]

"...no, I guess not. I just wish I knew what work I needed to put in for it."

She ran her hand over the instrument with a deep sigh. "I don't think new strings will help. I think it's a different kind of price I have to pay. Something inside me that I have to fix. Maybe it had something to do with my wish? To play the crowd?"

[nomoremistergneissguy]

"Could be. You afraid of crowds?" Cliff knew for a fact that he'd be pretty damn intimidated, himself, were he asked to stand up before one and orate--even if he'd been taught how to do just that. Not that as a younger son, it was likely, but his parents liked him to be prepared for anything--after all, neither Athros nor Narancelia ever thought they'd end up ruling kingdoms in their respective youths, and yet that very selfsame thing had happened. They'd learned by a lot of trial and error!

"And it's not 'fix', Sunset. There's nothing inherently wrong with you, y'know. There's just something you need to get stronger in, maybe. You're not broken, either." He gave her a little nudge with his elbow, again. "I can't snap my fingers and make it right, but you know I've got your back. I'll be here if you need me."

[burningbrighter]

"No, it's not nerves. I'm pretty sure it's not, anyway. I used to worry about that kind of thing, but I haven't felt like an outcast in a while..."

She shakes her head, giving him a little smile. "You'll be there for me even if I hurt your ears a little?"

[nomoremistergneissguy]

"What's a little ear pain between friends?" Or more, but Cliff wasn't about to push that issue. Not now.

"You're not an outcast here, you've got friends. I've got your back, I've said that before. Recently, even. And I'm absolutely sure I'm not the only one!"

He patted her head gently--only because she was seated--and Rounder, who'd been there silently spinning this whole time? Even he reached up to pat her leg, reassuringly.