Old dog, new tricks

[bluesrat]

Who: Balthazar and Rat, unless somebody else wants to wander in.
When: Day 115
What: Rat needs some new songs, and Balthazar has some.
Where: Big garden near House 11

After checking on the irrigation system and making a new friend, Rat settles at the edge of the garden with his guitar, waiting for Balthazar to show up and teach him some new songs. He could be waiting a while, of course, since he came out there first thing in the morning. His sleeping patterns remain very irregular, partly from habits born of years sleeping on the streets, and partly because he's still jumpier than he cares to admit since his abduction. He's started having nightmares. He doesn't talk about it.

The sun is warm in the garden, though, and he's surrounded by plants and buzzing bees and for this particular moment in time, the world isn't crashing down around everybody's ears. When Balthazar finds him, he's asleep sitting up, leaning back against a low wall with his guitar in his lap. He's a light sleeper, but he looks peaceful while he's out.

Comments

[bluesrat]

"Oh!" He offers it over, a little sheepishly, because he wasn't aware of being so possessive of it. The guitar is the most constant thing in his life, though, and the only tie he's got left to better days and lost friends.

Once it's in Balthazar's hands, he leans forward attentively to listen.

[tryingitall]

When his fingers start to move, it becomes clear that Balthazar just barely knows how to operate a guitar. He plays a scale and a couple chords, concentrating intensely, then picks out a tune. The rhythm and key make it sound blues-y, and after going over it a few times, Balthazar manages to sing along. He wasn't lying; his voice is mediocre, at best, but he seems to be able to get the tune across, and his pitch isn't bad.

I can't believe in what I've seen;
I've been forsaken. I've been deceived.
Cast aside and left behind
I can't believe my own eyes.

I been waiting for the glory
Of the coming of the Lord.
I heard a lot of stories
But all my prayers have been ignored.
I been waiting in the wings
Between the ocean and the shore,
But this time I'm leaving to stay.
I'm walking away.

[bluesrat]

Rat's fingers twitch, as if he's working out the tune and chords without even noticing what his hands are up to. Poor playing doesn't bother him, though. It's not destructive to the instrument, and he's coached plenty of kids worse at it than Balthazar is.

The tune is basic enough, so he's committing that to memory now, but he may need the lyrics written down to learn them. Once he's caught on, one foot begins to tap, setting rhythm to match Balthazar's singing.

[tryingitall]

Balthazar finishes out the song, simply and without flourish, then smiles at Rat, just a bit wanly. "You can do better, I'm sure. I could write the lyrics down for you."

[bluesrat]

"I'd appreciate that, it's beautiful! Can you run over the tune one more time, and then let me give it a try?" He's excited about learning a new song, very much awake, now.

[tryingitall]

His enthusiasm is endearing. Balthazar smiles, encouraged, and picks out the tune once more, this time without sullying it with his poor singing. He manages a few chords of harmony, as well, but it's still highly amateurish. If he didn't have people all over Kore teaching him things already, he might be begging Rat for music lessons next.

For now, though, the important thing is that they're sharing a song. Once he's done, he offers the guitar back carefully.

[bluesrat]

"Didn't realize how much I've missed hearing new tunes..." He settles the guitar his his own lap again, plucking out the same chords Balthazar used, and embellishing on them. He'd never slight the angel's singing, but it's clear he'll be able to improve on the rendition. "Do you know much music? I should go around begging everybody to teach me what they know."

[tryingitall]

"I'm hardly an expert, but everything I hear, I remember. I could come up with a few more for you, I think." He pats Rat's shoulder companionably.

"You should ask around, though. Might give people something cheerful to think about."

[bluesrat]

"Everything...?" One eyebrow rises, and he glances up from the guitar. "You've... been around a while, right? That's a lot of music."

[tryingitall]

"I'm like an ipod with wings!" He says cheerfully--almost boyishly--and then he remembers Rat's from a time period where that sort of technology is unheard of. Damn.

"Yes. Quite a lot. I'll teach you some of the ones I like."

[bluesrat]

"Uhh, sure!" He gives a confused little smile, but it's impossible not to be charmed by Balthazar's enthusiasm, even if the reference is lost on him. "I'll take any new music I can get. I probably should have asked around for that, before now."

[tryingitall]

It's kind of him to tolerate Balthazar being silly. He appreciates that.

"But no campfire songs. I think Loki really did mean that." He laughs and holds out his hands for the guitar again.

[bluesrat]

So many people here have turns of phrase that are lost on Rat, but he's always willing to just roll with it. Gently he passes back the guitar again.

"Got it. Even if this does all feel like some kind of crazy camp, sometimes."

[tryingitall]

Balthazar laughs again and nods. "I tend to agree. With absent, creepy counselors that throw wild animals our way now and again."

[bluesrat]

"Hmm... I don't know, you'd make a good friendly camp counselor..." He grins a little, teasing. Balthazar's been so protective and helpful, though.