fifthbeatle: (Default)
[personal profile] fifthbeatle
It's finally happened.

Vanya's been walking by this second-hand store for weeks. It's on the way to the grocery she likes. As long as she can remember, she's liked consignment and antique shops. Maybe it's the part of her that spent so much time wishing she could have what her siblings did. That wasn't just about powers or love. The rest of the Hargreeves' bedrooms were rich with things. Posters, trinkets, jewelry, gifts from adoring fans. Whereas Vanya's room was bare walls, a few pairs of shoes and one gorgeous (second-hand) violin. Even without knowing what the thing meant to her dad, it was the nicest thing she owned. It was hers. Without it, she feels like she is missing a limb.

So, she walks by this shop as often as she can, gazing in the window to admire, occasionally broaching the doorway to have a quick look around. She has seen instruments there before: pieces of a drum set (never at the same time), the occasional tambourine, a maraca or two, always set out against a backdrop of fine china that with tragically depreciated value and family heirlooms of unknown origin. Being in a place with such delicate things makes her feel deeply anxious - an energy bull in an actual china shop, but today, she doesn't even have to go inside.

There, on display in the window, is a truly gorgeous violin. It's a little beat up and the strings have seen better days, but it's hers the moment she lays eyes on it. This feeling was the closest thing she had to powerful before she knew the truth about herself. Her fingertips rub together at her side nervously, like she's judging that the callouses there have gone too soft to justify this purchase. She doesn't even know how much it is or if she has enough. As she stands there staring into the window, all she knows is that - in a life devoid if stuff - she has never wanted anything more. All she has to do is talk herself into going inside.

Date: 2021-01-30 06:57 am (UTC)
speakordie: (daytime rock star)
From: [personal profile] speakordie
Sometimes I have to kill time in the city between my classes and my performance time at Keynote, so I've figured out ways to do it. Sometimes I grab coffee and a book. Sometimes I grab coffee and work on classwork. Sometimes, when my brain would rather be offline, I go to the secondhand store up the street.

Today, I pick up a pair of silver cufflinks. They're simple silver rings that will look good with my black blazer, and they aren't even expensive, so I consider it a good trip. After paying, I slip the box into the pocket of my jeans, since today I'm wearing said black blazer over a pink v-neck tee, and I don't need the cufflinks.

I check my watch as I exit the shop, and roll my eyes in exasperation when I realize just how much longer I have until showtime. The club isn't even open yet. I should have just gone home. Or hung out in Oliver's office. Now I have to kill even more time.

There's a woman staring at the window display intensely enough that it catches my attention, and I have to see what has captured her attention. It's a violin, and at first glance, I don't see anything that special about it, but now with this added context, I think I recognize the hunger in her gaze.

"That's a nice one," I say casually, tilting my head to the side as I inspect it. "You play?"

Date: 2021-02-01 02:10 am (UTC)
speakordie: (puppy)
From: [personal profile] speakordie
"Ah, I know that particular itch," I tell her with an amused smile. "I sought out a piano on my first day here."

Those first few months without a piano or guitar of my own were absolute hell at times. I had never gone that long without access to one or the other, and I felt like I was slowly going insane. Oliver giving me my guitar for my birthday had felt a little like salvation.

"Elio Perlman," I reply, smiling over at her and jerking my chin toward the violin. "Are you going to get it?"

Date: 2021-02-09 08:17 am (UTC)
speakordie: (smile01)
From: [personal profile] speakordie
"Well, to be fair, pianos are easier to find than violins," I tell her with a smile. "I had just shown up in Darrow and had my heart broken in the span of a few hours, so I did a lot of wandering. Found a little café with a piano, and they let me play it. Probably because I looked like a kicked puppy."

There's obvious longing on Vanya's face, one that I understand well, and it's that reason that I decide to help her as best I can. That, and I'm still bored, and a quick glance at my watch reveals that I still have some time to kill.

"I'm friends with the owner! Well, he tolerates me. Come on." I open the door to usher Vanya inside, and then step into the shop after her. "Frankie! I'm back!"

"I haven't got any new stock in the past five minutes," Frankie says as he comes out from the back, looking annoyed to have been pulled away from his takeout pasta. Again.

"My friend here would like to try out that violin," I tell him, pointing towards the window. "And you know that you're gonna have to knock at least fifteen percent off of that price. It needs new varnish." Frankie gives me a flat look and I throw my hands in the air. "It needs new varnish!"

Date: 2021-02-20 11:32 am (UTC)
speakordie: (buttoned up)
From: [personal profile] speakordie
Vanya looks so happy to be holding the instrument, and I nod encouragingly when she looks up at me. She obviously knows what she's doing, and I have no doubt that me and Frankie are about to hear something pretty decent, at the very least. Even then, she surprises me. Quite a bit, actually.

I've been in Darrow long enough that what appears to be some sort of magic doesn't really scare me. It actually feels kind of thrilling in how it infuses with the music, and I feel my hair ruffle as if it were a breezy sort of day. I look over at Frankie, who stares at Vanya with wide eyes. Her playing is fantastic, magic or not, and when it's over, I can't help but to applaud her, letting out a whistle.

A brief look around shows a few disheveled displays, but the place wasn't exactly super neat and tidy to begin with. Frankie still looks a little stunned, and I reach out to nudge him with her elbow. "Does she have a deal?"

"Uh, yeah," Frankie says, letting out an astonished sort of laugh. "She has a deal."

Date: 2021-02-25 09:06 pm (UTC)
speakordie: (upward)
From: [personal profile] speakordie
While Vanya and Frankie go over the particulars, I flit around behind them and straighten a few things that had been fluttered or tipped over by whatever it was she just did. Before I came to Darrow, such a thing might have been terrifying. Now it's just Darrow.

"You're the best, Frankie!" I call out once they're done, waving before following Vanya out onto the sidewalk. The invitation makes me smile, and I glance down at my wrist to check the time. "A little late for lunch, but I never say no to coffee."

No need for her to shell out for a whole meal, especially not after buying a whole instrument. Especially when she's still obviously new here, which gives me another idea. "You should come to my set after. I can introduce you to all my weirdo musician friends."

Date: 2021-03-07 01:49 am (UTC)
speakordie: (Default)
From: [personal profile] speakordie
"I'm Italian. It's never too late for coffee," I assure her with a wink, leading the way towards a café I like just a few doors down from Keynote. "Plus I have to take song requests by drunk people for three hours. It's always easier when I'm properly caffeinated."

After opening the door to usher her inside, I step into line and glance at the menu, though I have it practically memorized by now. I glance down at my watch again, and then over at the case that she's clutching to her chest. "After this, we can head over to Keynote. It's early enough that we could probably get a jam session going, if you want to play together."

It isn't unusual to find a motley crew hanging around the bar before opening, all of us drinking and fiddling with our instruments. "I've got the piano, and Natalie plays the violin. She'll probably be around."

Date: 2021-03-15 11:17 pm (UTC)
speakordie: (brat)
From: [personal profile] speakordie
"Why would she be upset?" I reply, truly baffled by the question. "The more, the merrier!"

The house band at Keynote has really become like family to me. When I was brought in as a featured performer, they could have banded against me, or been angry that some kid had been brought in to hog the spotlight, but they never once treated me like that, and I never treat them as just a house band. They're all talented in their own right.

"It'll be a blast," I assure her, pointing towards the club as we approach. "And I think my husband's coming tonight. I'll introduce you to him before, so you can have a seat buddy." My smile widens, and I let out a happy laugh. "Plus I just want to see you next to him. He's very tall."

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Viktor Hargreeves

October 2024

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