it's like forgetting the words to your favorite song ( open )

[schnapp]

Who | beth greene / open
What | what are you supposed to do with an unlimited credit card? buy a piano. and try to lug it up an elevator in a comedy of errors.
Where | some music store in the capitol / the tribute center
When | a bit after the mini arena
Warnings/Notes| naw.



She's never had a credit card before. She was 16 when the apocalypse hit, living in the middle of nowhere with an allowance for doing chores around the farm. Which promptly went into an old piggy bank that she's pretty sure is still sitting there among the ruins of their home, probably crawling with walkers by now. With all the photo albums and childhood movies and her mom's favorite china. Everything she's ever owned was worn-down, well used. Still loved, despite all that.

Needless to say, the Capitol is kind of a culture shock to her. And it would be, even by pre-apocalypse standards. They give her a credit card and tell her that it's unlimited, but she doesn't want anything they have - with one exception.

MUSIC STORE

The place is a wonder. It's everything she's ever wanted in a music store, all laid out in a way that's slightly intimidating. She knows how to play the piano - some simple songs, some basic chords, pretty and quiet, but she's not some kind of musical virtuoso. And there are so many things here that make her head spin.

She settles on the smallest piano she can find that doesn't look like a toy. There are some fancier ones, but this one sort of reminds her of the one they had at home, and nostalgia's a powerful motivator. She sits down and plays a fragment of the first song she can think off off the top of her head, singing quietly to herself.

and we'll buy a beer to shotgun
and we'll lay in our lawns
and we'll be good.

TRIBUTE CENTER

...but just because it's smaller doesn't mean it's any easier to drag down the street on a rolling board. They tell her that the avoxes can do it, but Beth's stubborn and the avoxes make her uncomfortable because she's aware of how much they've probably suffered. She doesn't want to make them do anything she can't do herself, and she actually makes it down to the tribute center, albeit exhausted and panting.

But the elevator has a slight raise to it. Enough that a person stepping over it wouldn't be bothered at all, but a girl with a ridiculously heavy piano? That's a whole other story.

Comments

[carnagecarnival]

He shakes his head, confirming her suspicions. "Wouldn't up and know," He says, but then he gives a glance around the shop. "ACTUALLY, THERE WAS THIS MOTHERFUCKER WHAT AS THEY WAS ABLE TO GET ON. Got told he's a human classic. SINATRA SOMETHING. Maybe they'll have at for your waits somemotherfuckingwhere."

That had been at a crowning. Two, actually. Clara had made all such clear to him.

Though truth told, he wouldn't all know if there was some troll incarnation of Waits or Sinatra. Singing was the only access what all he'd had too, until he laid ruin on his speaking. Then after that, it was just the music of the Carnival.

"MAYBE YOU CAN PLAY SOMETHING OF HIS," He suggests.

[schnapp]

"Oh, Sinatra? Everyone's heard of him," well, he was kind of famous way before Beth's time, but she's always had a penchant for older music, mostly because it's what her dad used to play around the house. She grew up listening to old man tunes and has zero regrets about it, to be honest.

But picking just one song to play for him would be a tough one. Beth pauses for a moment, really thinks it over before choosing one of her favorites. Clearing her throat, she starts to play.

"Well I hope that I don't fall in love with you
'Cause falling in love just makes me blue,
Well the music plays and you display your heart for me to see,
I had a beer and now I hear you calling out for me
And I hope that I don't fall in love with you."

[carnagecarnival]

"Everyone what's human, you mean," He says, unable to resist a little teasing. "MAKES SENSE THOUGH, DON'T IT? If all everyone knows him, gets explanation. GETS AS WHY CAPITOL UP AND WOULD TOO."

But he goes quiet as she begins to play, his face going softer for it.

Well if you sit down with this old clown
Take that frown and break it...

Listening to her play and sing is nice. The song wraps on around him. It brings a temptation, one he's resisted a long as time. He can feel as what his fluctuations might allow. He can follow the rhyme and rhythm of the song. Maybe just one line...

And I hope that... "...You don't fall in love with me."

He looks sheepish for that quick addition, letting her continue. When it concludes, he says, "'FRAID I STILL AIN'T SURE I GOT KNOW FOR HIM ENOUGH AS TO PICK HIM OUT. But maybe Capitol will figure on getting his melodies. USE HIS SONG UP ON FOR LISTENING." He adds, "You got a talent, sister."

[schnapp]

Despite everything, it's one of his mushier songs. He's got others, stuff like Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis, for one. She likes the way this one sounds on the piano, though. Even if it is a completely mushy love song that she's singing to an ( almost ) stranger.

When he sings, she beams at him. It's only one line, but it's nice when people enjoy a song so much that they join in. And it's not a hard song to follow, with the same simple melody repeating over and over again. She almost wishes he'd sing along a little more.

"Thanks," she tells him, and it's been a while since she's had a piano to play regularly so the compliment is seriously appreciated. "Y'know, if you wanted I could maybe pick out a couple of his records for you. I figured, since they're givin' us this fancy credit card and all. I'm really tempted to buy this piano and take it home with me."

[carnagecarnival]

Oh but if he could. He remembers the old days. He sing everywhere. Constantly moving through the world with a song on his tongue, some manner of rhyme and rythm. He still takes to the latter, all through poetry.

He grins at her. "SHOULD DO IT. Be all making miraculous melody all on for the assisting ascent of the motherfucking soul. GET THE KEYS UP AND UNLOCKING, YO."

He fishes around his ownself for his card. He doesn't tend to forget it, when it lets him just take what all ever. He wonders if he's into debt now, with not having killed these last few times, or if he's still all of plenty when his hands were being far more dirty. Either way puts him at unease so he doesn't seek to find out.

"I'd like that though. GETTING HEAR ON FOR WHAT RECOMENDATIONALS SHE'S BEING AT TO OFFER."

[schnapp]

She doesn't mean to laugh at the way he talks. It's not that it's really all that funny, but it's kind of unexpected in a way that takes her off guard for a moment. Enough to make her giggle for a second before she catches herself because that's kind of rude. Actually, it's really rude and if her mama were still alive, she'd probably get a stern lecture or two about manners.

Beth looks chastened for a moment before she stands up and leads him to the section of records: W, for WAITS.

"I really like this one. I guess because it's softer than his other records," she tells him, picking up a copy of Mule Variations. "Unless...maybe you like music that's a bit rougher? He's got some ones that sound more like rock albums."

[carnagecarnival]

Usually he might be unhappy. But from her, it doesn't seem unkind. It's certainly not what she wants it to be, if her expression after is any indication. He tilts his head at her, giving a thoughtful look. Then he smiles again, soft and sudden.

He follows on after, as ever and always taller than who he gets talk on at, but it's not so bad. Not where motherfuckers don't mind-- or where the ones he doesn't like do mind. She's not one of them latter kinds.

"Soft is nice," He says at the same time the softer of his fluctuations get to working, bringing a little sense of rightness with it. "ROUGH AIN'T SO MOTHERFUCKING BAD NEITHER. Like both, I up and do. CALLED 'ROCK' THEN? That's motherfucking legit. YOU GOT FOR ANY SLAM POETRY? It's the one thing what as this motherfucker can still do."

[schnapp]

Well, at least he's not picky. She can work with that. She hands him the album she'd already picked up, and another one just for good measure, gently placing them in his arms. It's always sort of nice to introduce someone else to something you love, and there's probably no musical artist that Beth loves more than Tom Waits. Maybe it's just the nostalgia factor speaking to her at the moment, the remembrance of old records playing on a scratchy machine.

"Slam poetry? I'm not sure what that is," because she comes from the tiniest town in the middle of nowhere. The kind of town that you'd need to drive ages to find the next one over. They barely even had television or internet either. "But y'know...maybe you should show me? I'm sure it's great."

[carnagecarnival]

Aw shit, sister wants a motherfucking performance of the clown. Well, leaving her on without just won't do. Not by Messiahs could he be deny the righteous enchantertainment.

He takes a step back, smiling, and clears his throat. Then...

"SISTER WANT A KNOWING FOR MY MOTHERFUCKIN FLOWING
Throw in toeings of lines as i'm being at forgoing
COULD BE MOWING DOWN THE MOTHERFUCKS WHAT AIN'T AS CHURCHGOING
But i'm stowing up that owing for the holiest of throwings
SUBLIME DESIGNED IS THE MOTHERFUCKING CARNIVAL
And for picking out righteous I be crafting out an arsenal
SEE TIME DECIDES IN ITS TESTS MOST TRUE
Ancient art is the rhymes what I'm throwing at you
THIS THING WHAT IT IS THAT IS DEAR TO THE HEART
is a battle of the wits as to take a bitch apart."

That smile is now a proper full blown grin. He says, excited, "IT'S LIKE A GAME! Got all proper antagonizational at your opponent. SEE AS IF YOU GOT THE SKILLS WHAT TO BACK IT UP."

[schnapp]

It's...there's actually something really nice about the rhythm to the words. It's not melodic or anything, but it's steady. And his wide smile makes it obvious that this is something he really enjoys. He feels the same way she does whenever her fingers touch the piano keys.

She claps when he's finished, laughing a little bit.

"Is it always a battle? Can you pick something else to talk about?"

[carnagecarnival]

She claps, and what can he do but grin wider? Grin all motherfucking wide and be giving flourished wave as before a bow. Ever careful with the horns of course.

He shakes his head, "Naw, it ain't got at to be. CAN BE ALL HASHING RHYME AS ALL JUST FOR THE POETRY. Strife be but the roots. ROOTS GET AS TO GROW, DON'T YOU KNOW?"

Songs of church or training. Of seas and wounds sore.

He gets a though and hums. "In a way, it kinda makes being opposite all too. SLINGING HARSH VERBIAGE AND ALL. Ain't hardly swinging no weapon. THOUGH, SHIT, THAT'D BE FUCKING COOL TO SEE AT TOO."

[schnapp]

He bows and she smiles even more brightly, because it's surprisingly adorable? He's this super tall, horned troll, and he's bowing with a flourish after reciting poetry in a music store. It's great, actually.

"You could do that? If you had, like...a sword or something and you did somethin' like baton twirling. I guess that would be really impressive."

Or really dangerous. On second thought, maybe not.

"Maybe you could teach me how to do slam poetry, and I could teach you some tunes on the piano?"

[carnagecarnival]

"Fuck yeah, I can," He says. "SUBJUGGLATOR OF THE CARNIVAL YO. Versed in weapons of all sorts and how at to make performance by them. JUGGLING BLADE IS A THING AS I'M ALL ABOUT. Even if clubs is better."

Dangerous ain't a thing he's so soon to blink at. Though offer of melody lights him up far more.

"WAIT, YOU MOTHERFUCKING PREACHING TRUTH AT ME? You'd teach me? SHIT, SISTER, I'D BE WAY MOTHERFUCKING DOWN FOR THAT!"

Maybe music wasn't so far off from being a thing he could do afterall.

[schnapp]

"Yeah, I'd be happy to. I've never taught anyone before, so as long as you're okay with me figuring out stuff as we go along," and her knowledge might require a little tweaking given the ratio of the size between them, and how small the piano keys are. She takes a dip behind one of the stands in store, peering around for a specific book. They're lined up in front of her in an array of glossy colours, but she plucks one out with a title that says PIANO FOR BEGINNERS, LEVEL 1. Beth flips it open to try and figure out what they're dealing with here, humming under her breath.

"We could start with something like this? Start simple."

[carnagecarnival]

"Sure thing," He says. He's a fast learner. He doesn't figure it'll be a much a problem. It'll make up for what things don't flow good and proper as what was of them, all motherfucking legit.

The book is flipped open and shown, and he stares at it blankly. Then squints, one hand reaching out to trace the characters there. Dots and dashes upon lines parallel. He has to frown, for he's never seen anything like it, and he's not lately seen anything he couldn't immediately read, not with the translators working always. It's fascinating on it's own almost for the lack of meaning to him alone.

It's a code, obviously, but one that must read into song. "AIGHT," He says, eyes still scanning the page. "What's it being to...?"