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Post by Lauren Kitteh on Jul 7, 2009 0:23:38 GMT -5
 Kyarah walked down the street, two plastic buckets and a glass jar under her arm. She meandered along until she found a nice busy corner, but also one not too hectic. Sitting down on the curb, she placed the buckets and jar out in a semicircle in front of her. She pulled two sticks out of her bag and began beating out a very basic rhythm. As the many pedestrians passed her by, she began to play a little more show-offy beat. Her drumsticks danced back and forth from one side to the other of her make shift drums. Slowly, the hat she had sat by her side began to accumulate various pocket change. She continued on, playing for what felt like hours. Though she was getting sort of tired, she was still enjoying herself very much. Playing drums had always been soothing to her, no matter how erratic the tempo. Perhaps part of the reason she was getting so many tips was due to her method of holding the drum sticks. Her paws were large due to the canine in her genes, allowing her to slide her drumsticks in between her paw segments and clutch her paw tightly. In doing this, the sticks were held into place and she was revered for creativity sparked by a genetic flaw. Nonetheless, her paws were getting sore. |
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Post by Lucca on Jul 8, 2009 21:16:53 GMT -5
 Another day, another trip to the Capital. That was beginning to be the rhythm of Colin's life. Being at home was just getting harder and harder. He adored the Villa, the cliffs, the music, everything...but his family was stifling. And he'd been wondering, lately, what it would be like to live somewhere else. He knew that even non-Villas appreciated music, so he was sure he could put his talents to use...speaking of music... The Eight of Spades paused as he heard what was unmistakably a beat. Clipping his wings, he landed and walked towards it, perking up as he noticed that the player was indeed a Villa. She was a strange mix of Breeds, but he admired her ability to get around the limitations of her animal form; something the Cardinal also had to cope with. He tossed a coin into the hat near the dog-cat's side and then stayed around to listen to the conclusion. It was always a pleasure to meet new residents from his home Realm, and even more so when they looked so unfamiliar and likely did NOT know anyone related to him. " Hello, Miss," he greeted when there was a pause in the rhythm. " You play very well. Did you learn formally or teach yourself?" |
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Post by Lauren Kitteh on Jul 8, 2009 21:41:52 GMT -5
Kyarah looked up to the Villa standing in front of her. She had been so focused she didn't even notice him until a coin fell into her hat. Receiving compliments on her music was always lovely, but it meant much more from a fellow Villa.
"Well thank you! I taught myself from years of practice. I can't remember a time in my life when i didn't play. I grew up in a musical family. Not that that would come as a surprise." she said and laughed.
Kyarah set down her sticks and rubbed her sore paws together. She reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of water. After taking a drink, she put it back in her bag. Then, she pulled out a small drawstring pouch. She dumped her earnings from the hat into the bag then put the bag away and set the hat back out. Looking back up to the bird, she asked
"What are you up to here in the big city? If you don't mind me asking..."
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Post by Lucca on Jul 9, 2009 6:18:59 GMT -5
Colin smiled at his fellow Villa pleasantly as she finally seemed to 'wake up' from her music trance...it wasn't so rare a thing. He knew plenty of others that were just so focused while playing they became unaware of much else. Heck, for all he knew, it happened to him, too.
"Self-taught, hm? That's pretty impressive. Myself, I had years of schooling back in the Villa," Colin commented, shrugging slightly. He laughed a bit. "Yeah, that can be said of most of us. But it's one of the great things about being a Villa, I think. A common ground we all share."
It was so nice to meet someone from his own Realm, Colin decided, and sat on a nearby bench, watching as the girl collected her coins. She'd earned quite a bit that day...well, not that Colin knew what was normal for street musicians. He didn't think he could ever really live that life, even if he did enjoy listening to them.
"Oh, you know, this and that," Colin replied, shrugging. Which was really a pretty way of saying 'nothing whatsoever.' "I'm Colin, by the way," he added, extending a wing.
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Post by Lauren Kitteh on Jul 17, 2009 2:11:05 GMT -5
"I'm Kyarah. It's a pleasure to meet you Colin."
Kyarah contemplated whether or not she wanted to keep playing. She looked up to the sun and saw that there were only a few more hours of sunlight. She lived nearby enough that she chose to stay a while longer. She thought for a moment, and remembered a spiffy new beat she had been playing with a few days ago. Something no one but a Villa would really be able to appriciate. After pausing to recall how the music went, Kyarah looked back up to Colin.
"Colin, would you by chance be interested in hearing a wonderful new bit I've been toying with?"
She watched him eagerly for a response. Kyarah wanted to just play, she knew he would like it.
manners...
In tradition with manners, she waited impatiently for his answer.
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Post by Lucca on Jul 19, 2009 20:43:13 GMT -5
Smoothly, Colin moved his extended wing to his chest and made a small bow before leaning back on the bench. Of course, he chastised himself, he was too far away from her to actually let them shake...appendages. He really wanted his biped form, but he'd just recently managed to Rank up, and from what he found gaining other forms was even more difficult for most people. It would certainly make shaking hands a whole lot easier though.
He perked up a bit again at the mention of a new piece of music. Apparently he was going to be treated to a wonderful concert of a new original work of music, and what Villa could ever say no to that? The look that Kyarah was giving him, along with her stance, told Colin just how much she wanted him to say yes.
"I would be delighted, Miss Kyarah," he responded, a grin on his beak. Too bad there was no piano around, or he could give her some accompaniment. It had really been a long time since he'd been able to just...create music with another person. It was one of the things he missed about his childhood, when the whole family would gather together in their large music room and all play together.
But a whole piano was hard to carry around in a bag. Hence another reason Colin would never be a street musician.
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Post by Lauren Kitteh on Jul 23, 2009 21:17:54 GMT -5
Before Colin could answer Kyarah's question, she tightened her grip on the drumsticks and began to play again. The music flowed as a series of beats. It was like one, but many at the same time. The glass jar made a light enough sound to balance out the thick noise created by her pounding on the buckets. Kyarah began playing faster and faster. When she could play no faster, she held the tempo for as long as she could. Through her musical focus, she heard the jingle of change. Apparently she was giving an impressive performance. She then alternated between the fast pace at which she had been playing and one about half the speed. After continuing this for a few minutes, she slowed her beats. They slowed and slowed and slowed until a quick passerby may have not even heard her play a single beat. But just because the beat was slow did not make it boring. Each was deliberate and deep. The sounds could not be ignored by those who had already begun to watch. She was building anticipation for her audience. She had done enough performances to know a few tricks. Finally she beat out her final notes and set down her sticks. She then bowed her head, and immediately heard a loud round of applause.
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Post by Lucca on Jul 24, 2009 9:02:11 GMT -5
Colin was silent as he watched the performance, lightly tapping a talon against the cobblestones to the beat after a little while, though not enough to actually distract from the cat-dog's playing. His eyes were bright in appreciation, watching the masterful swiftness with which she balanced the drumsticks. He cocked his head, noting just how many people stopped to toss coins in to the little jar. About halfway through, he decided to add a few of his own. After all, it was only polite after enjoying her performance. He'd never really appreciated percussion for its own sake before, only having heard drums as part of an orchestra or smaller band, but this was very...soothing somehow. It was amazing the many different ways to create music.
When she had finished, Colin added on to the applause as best he could, wishing once again that he had hands, which would make clapping so much easier. He stood up afterwards, grinning at her. "Wonderful performance, Miss Kyarah! I enjoyed it very much," he said grandly, wondering how long she'd been out here playing before he happened by. Did she have any place to stay, he wondered? She seemed skilled enough to earn a real living with her music, and not just the pittance needed to feed her daily.
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Post by Lauren Kitteh on Jul 24, 2009 18:06:25 GMT -5
"Thank you! Thank you!" she said to her generous audience. She loved performing on street corners for this. The applause of average people who couldn't afford to go to a fancy show. This was a way that she was able to earn money while practicing. She was often told that she was good enough to play professionally, but she never really cared to. She was doing just fine as she was. The fact that it didn't make the best money wasn't important. She made people happy, and she had enough money saved that the cash didn't matter. "Thank you as well Colin. " she said, addressing him personally. Upon looking to the sky and noting that there were only two or so hours of sunlight left, she decided to pack up. After putting away her sticks and stacking her buckets with the jar inside, she sorted through her earnings for the whole day. She made an amount that was nothing to be scoffed at. Kyarah looked up to Colin cheerfully and asked "Do you have any other real plans for the day...er.....afternoon? If you don't have anything planned, I would love to take you out for a meal. You kept me company for a while. It gets REALLY boring sitting there all day. My treat?"
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Post by Lucca on Jul 24, 2009 23:56:03 GMT -5
Colin remained silent, though he made a small, elegant bow in response to her gratitude. He started forward as if to help her put her stuff away, but decided against it, straightening up with a self-conscious ruffling of his feathers. He was just about to take his leave and fly off, when she addressed him again, and he blinked, surprised but flattered.
"Oh, that's simply lovely of you," he said, another wide smile gracing his beak. "I don't recall any specific plans so..." He shrugged a bit, adjusting his messanger bag slightly on his shoulder. "It's not necessary for you to pay, though, don't worry. After all, I got a free concert, so keeping you company was a pleasure, really." Though of course if she insisted, he would accept. It seemed she really was making a decent living if she could afford to offer to take them out to restaurants. "Did you have anywhere specific in mind?" He knew of a few good places around the Capital, though most were a bit of a walk. And of course, it would be rude to fly instead when his company had no such ability. Right Suit, but too low a Rank yet.
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