TLV: IC Contact

[sixfeetofdirt]

Careful; I bite.

Comments

[greatoldjohn]

I wanted to write a duet to another piece of music. And violin seemed like the best option.

[sixfeetofdirt]

Hm. And were you able to? The duet, I mean.

[greatoldjohn]

Yes.

I could play it for you if you like. I won't say I'm the best or anything but... I think it expressed what I needed it to.

[sixfeetofdirt]

And what was that?

[greatoldjohn]

...it's kind of hard to express in other ways.

But it was a duet with a piece of music Arthur wrote. He gave me a recording of it for the winter holiday last year.

[sixfeetofdirt]

It sounds rather personal to the two of you.

[greatoldjohn]

...isn't most music personal?

[sixfeetofdirt]

...All the music I've ever heard or played was written for public consumption, ultimately, so perhaps I'm biased.

[greatoldjohn]

No, I would guess that, but... it's still personal.

Even if it was for public consumption, someone still had to write it. They had to find the notes somewhere in their mind or their dreams, feel the urge to etch it onto a tablet or write it out on a page or perform it, needed to share it with people. It was theirs, something no one else had made before, something that could only be made by them.

And the people who perform it, even if they didn't make it, they probably found something they liked in it. Something that spoke to them or something that made them happy or made them sad in a way that felt good and fulfilling. Something they wanted to share too, and no two performances are exactly alike.

Even if it's stupid or silly or shitty...

[sixfeetofdirt]

In my experience, I'd guess that what most people feel when they play is 'I need to pay my rent and I'll get a few coins for this'.

But, I appreciate that it's not the only thing they feel. Or that everyone is so...mercenary.

[greatoldjohn]

From what I've learned, there's a lot of ways to make money and music definitely isn't the quickest or easiest or most reliable, [ Guess who took the eyes of a former composer? This eldritch god. ] so I'd guess there's usually more to it.

But it's probably somewhere between you and I, the ways we think about it.

[sixfeetofdirt]

Probably.

Regardless. If you'd like to play this composition of yours, then I would like to hear it.

[He has absolutely no strong feelings either way, but he's already learned that 'I don't care' just prolongs the subject.]

[greatoldjohn]

I'll make sure I have my violin and a recording of the piece with me when you visit.

[sixfeetofdirt]

Thank you. In a couple of days, perhaps? After the dust has settled.

[greatoldjohn]

Oh. Yes.

[ A pause. ]

Also, apparently a guy named the Butcher showed up just after everything stopped being crazy.

He's got a weird fixation on Arthur so... just giving you a head's up. He doesn't even know about me yet but I'm sure he'll find out soon enough.

[sixfeetofdirt]

'The Butcher'? No points for originality.

Pleasant accent, rather dead eyes?

[greatoldjohn]

Haven't really seen him. Just heard him. But I think that's the guy.

...agreed on Mr. Boring, though.

[sixfeetofdirt]

Not even as evocative as he'd like. By the time an animal gets to a butcher it's already dead.

Anyway, I've met him. He likes music too, as it happens.

[greatoldjohn]

Heh. Good point.

[ Never think your warden can't be petty.]

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

...oh, I do have your dagger, though.

[sixfeetofdirt]

So soon?

I - thank you.

[greatoldjohn]

Want me to come drop it off? Or would you prefer to come get it on your own time?

[sixfeetofdirt]

You can drop it off. I have the first cabin on the top level.

[greatoldjohn]

I can come by now, if that's all right.

[sixfeetofdirt]

That's fine. I'll see you shortly.

[greatoldjohn]

[ There's a short five or ten minutes before there's a knock on his door. It's just John, a bag in hand. ]