Overture: Beautiful Day (open)

[george]

It was a gorgeous day to be out in the park; a cloudless blue sky, sunny day, lush green grass, and marvelously beautiful trees. Either, there weren't many people out enjoying the perfect day, or George was too heavily wrapped up in it to notice anyone else. He lay in the comfortable grass and stared up into the seemingly infinite sky, his acoustic guitar staring up beside him too. The environment seemed to be composing its own wondrous symphony: birds chirping their woodwind section, the proud brass section provided by the occasional barking of dogs or laughter of children playing with them, the gorgeous percussion of wind through leaves.

All of these sounds and feelings made within George, a deep emotional state of bliss. Back at his old home in the Appalachian Mountains, he never thought a city could provide someone with... such an aesthetic experience. But upon living in San Francisco for a few years, his biased eyes were starting to see another side of the world he had never thought possible. He thought it silly that he would believe at one point in time, that cities were corrupt places... completely void of the virtues he adored. Oh well, he wouldn't beat himself up over it. After all, he was learning and frankly enjoying the new culture, wasn't that what really mattered?

"Wait a minute..." he thought quietly to himself, "This perfect symphony of the park is missing something... but what could it be? The birds are providing an excellent woodwind section. The people and dogs are brass... the wind and leaves percussion. What could be missing?" He sat up and smirked, saying softly to himself, "Of course... the strings!"

He picked up his, almost depressingly, closest friend and ran his right hand down its smooth and reflective body. His left hand trailed up its neck and his fingers came to rest on its hair-like strings. He inhaled deeply and began to play a tune, a happy tune in honor of the beauty that surrounded him.

His eyelids fell closed and he began to lose himself in his music. He tried to, work the tune to be in perfect harmony with the sounds of the park. Most people, probably wouldn't even think to add in the rest of the park's sounds, so the full beauty would be lost. As his lids fell close, his lips fell open and his beautiful voice became the choral section of this symphony.

Now, there was a full orchestra and chorus in the park. His heart beat faster with the experience and he was completely oblivious to the people who would drop a few dollars by him as they passed by. He was always in the background at Hircine, but perhaps now, if but only a small moment, the spotlight shone upon him.

[armond]

Armond was walking had just gotten away from the bullies he had met some minutes before and had taken his escape to the park, naturally often looking around as he didn't know if the guys had finished trying to get up on the roof where he had been last or if they were walking around looking for him so he took no risks at all considering how he had insulted them.

As he was walking around there was something that didn't fit quite in into the background Armond was used to hear around there. Somewhere there were someone playing music, not a perfect song or anything. But not that bad either, it just seemed to have small bits missing every now and then, as if it was meant to be played in an orchestra or a band that was meant to fill in at those points.

"Hey, that's not bad. I wonder if it's someone new that I haven't seen or just someone I haven't seen or heard before. I gotta get out here in daylight more often."

Armond looked around and rather soon spotted the guy that was the source of it. As he seemed so deeply into it Armond decided not to disturb him, and snuck up beside him and quietly sat down while doing his best not to disturb while he listened and tried to figure out which song it was. Naturally, he couldn't avoid quickly glancing over the musician to see if he had anything nice to nick, but he managed to keep it to a quick glance that probably wouldn't be noticed if he looked up.

"Let's see... I think I've seen him sometime before, if I could just place his face it would probably all come to me..."

After a moment Armond shone up as he finally remembered where he had seen the musician before. It had been at the school's chorus practise that he had snuck in on and watched once. Until the teacher noticed him and chased him out that is.
Armond patiently watched and listened to the end without really being able to place the song among anything he had heard before.

[george]

After a minute or two, his orchestra with the park ended. He breathed deeply and then slowly opened his eyes to the world around him. It was just as beautiful as he would remember it. Only now, there was a family a few yards away and a small pile of money on the ground in front of him. He looked it over, and from what he could see, about ten dollars. Not that bad at all...

He chuckled to himself, "George, you've really gotta work on the improv! Those birds have probably flown off to kill themselves!" He laughed and picked up the money people left. Under most circumstances, he would've returned it to the person who left it... he doesn't play for money. Well, that was a lie... he does play music in a cafe' as his job... but when outside of that place or a gig, totally free.

He was completely oblivious as to the stranger sitting behind him, that is... until he went to stand up. He caught a glance of the person's knee, and with a very strange motion, sat back down again, this time... facing them.

"Hello there stranger! My name is George, George Rollins... did you enjoy my little show?"

[armond]

Armond sat and listened at the music and found it rather enjoyable. When there came a family and sat down for a picnick a bit away he watched them for a while but decided to remain where he were as it was more intresting to run into the random musician in the park than the everyday family.

As the solo (as Armond heard it) ended the musician finally noticed him and turned around and introduced himself as George.
Armond smiled at George. He hadn't noticed the money until George got up, but he wouldn't have taken it anyway as money wasn't really intresting at all. He scratched his nose and said:

"It's a pleasure to meet you George, I'm Armond Ridgewell. And about your solo it's like you said about the birds. They left, but not to kill themselves. Only to find a new job as someone had beat them greatly at their old one. And I mean that as a compliment."

Armond got up and stretched his limbs for a moment before sitting down again. If the bullies found him by chance he would want to be able to run. As he suddenly remembered them he quickly looked around to make sure they weren't trying to sneak up on him while he had been distracted by George's music. Luckily, they weren't.

"But I couldn't tell what song that was. One of your own, perhaps? I won't pretend to know much about music though."

[george]

He smiled wide as this pleasant seeming "Armond" fellow complimented his improvisation. George, being a pretty humble person, chuckled and rubbed the back of his head, "Heh heh... thank you sir... you're far too kind!"

He just realized two things... the first one was that he just messed up his hair by pulling a good portion out of his ponytail when he rubbed his head. So, he let his hair free of the holder and then retied it back in his typical low ponytail.

The second thing he realized is that Armond had said his, "solo" performance. Apparently not too many people incorporated the environment into his song. Oh well, he'd keep it to himself for his own pleasure. Besides, most people would probably just think him weird or something to use... random noises in the environment to make music.

"To answer your question, yes, that is my own work. I was simply, laying here and admiring the beautiful sky when the mood to play hit me! Knowing no appropriate tune, I thought I'd make something up," as he said that, he looked up into the blue beauty that encompasses the entire world. All nationalities, all creeds... the sky embraces all creatures as equals. He chuckled to himself at that thought...

[scarecrow117]

Corey scanned over the heads of the small gathering, looking for the man he saw running from the three toughs who were attempting to beat the crap out of him. having seen they're prey get away, one of the three bullies who was chasing him decided to take it upon himself to try and Recruit Corey to find him. He was met with a swift punch to the face. He was nobodies lap dog, and he didn't care if he did get the crap beat out of him, Corey wasn't about to take that from some punk who thought himself better than everyone else. luckily for him, the kids friends were some distance away, and they hadn't noticed that they're fellow had been swiftly knocked unconscious.

Corey shrugged, and walked off into the park. he wasn't afraid of them, but he also wasn't interested in getting into a street brawl with so many people around. he liked to keep a low profile, and didn't like his name floating around to the higher ups in the school hierarchy. By the time the unconscious mans friends found him sprawled out on the ground, Corey would be long gone.

Still he was interested in what That first fellow had done to deserve these guys trying to run him down. maybe he deserved it, and he had just inadvertently knocked out a righteous executioner of justice. Finally spotting the man he saw take off earlier, Corey made his way through the crowd, rarely being met with a "hello scarecrow" from the very few friends he'd made since he was here.

closing in on his destination, Corey wondered briefly why everyone was even here. he'd been too lost in his thoughts to find out, and now wasn't exactly a right time to ask, since, looking behind him about 300 yards away, he saw the other two kids, and the one he'd knocked out (now sporting a black eye) coming towards them at an alarming rate.

[armond]

((Sorry for the long wait, I haven't had an accesible computer for a while. ))

"Aha, if it was improvised I must compliment you further as in my experience it's much harder to do that than to play something prepared. Or at least if you want it to sound good."

Armond said, still smiling as he had honestly enjoyed it and was suprised that it had been something that George had just "come up with" because he got in the mood as he was lying there in the grass. Armond had played organ himself for a while, and though he had never become any good at it really he had learned that good music isn't that easily aquired. Or at least, that's what he thought when he finally gave up the lessons after a year.
Cautios as he is he couldn't help but to keep looking around him in case some of the bullies would have finally found him, though he tried to look casual as he did so. And just as Armond was about to ask George about how long he had been playing music he saw one of them, not the leader and the rest of them thankfully, but the one that had tried climbing the tree to get him. Armond cursed a couple of times in his mind, though he was thankfull that the idiot had tried to sneak in the open, and decided to excuse himself and take the guy for a running session while trying to think of some panda jokes or something for the black eye he had somehow gained. Probably in a blamegame with his boss.

"So, George was it? How long have... Oh dear, something seems to have come up. I'm sorry, we'll have to continue later if you don't mind."

Armond said while he got up. This motion apparently hinted the big moron that Armond had noticed him and with a roar he rushed against him, chanceless as Armond was faster and within a minute they were both running around in the park like crazy. Armond, laughing and throwing insults over his shoulder, had decided to tire "pandaboy" out first, then bring him back to school and then escape. Armond noticed that a guy was paying more attention to them than most others for some reason when he passed him at a couple of meters away.

Now what the feckles does he want? Couldn't he like read a paper or something like everybody else that doesn't want to get involved? Armond thought as he hated more attention than necessary, a habbit he had earned through the years.

[scarecrow117]

Watching with some measure of amusement, Corey looked on as the kid in front of him outran, with some ease, the larger kid who had been chasing him. Continuing to wonder why this fellow had earned being runndown, Corey watched until the guy passed him by.

He grew bored at that moment, and walking over, delivering a masterful right-heel kick to side of the fat mans head, sending him flying a good 10 feet.

Turning to the one who had been running, he waited until he would stop and look back at him.

The question he would then ask would be, "what you do to deserve that anyway? and why run? why not kick mr. one-eyes ass?" and hed include a small smile at the end, just to add character

[armond]

It took a moment for Armond to notice that the pandaboy had been knocked out behind him and once he finally stopped he was as far away from the new guy as the pandaboy. He forced the act of violence he had just barely managed not to see, turned around and walked back.
He gave the new guy one of his normal quick scans and hid it as a quick look over as if to see if he knew the guy.
When the questions arrived Armond couldn't resist scratching the back of his head and be a bit embarrased.

"You know, you've got more questions than a six years old. But I'll answer, ridding me of pandaboy was nice, though a bit savage."

He said, well aware that his rescuer could take offence from it, but Armond thought that it didn't matter much if he did, he was honest at least and people shouldn't be so easily annoyed as many are in his opinion. More often than not it can ruin a good joke.
Armond finally got up beside the new guy.

"And the answers are simple. I got him after me for insulting him and his comrades gravely when they bullied me earlier just before I got away from them the first time, and he seems to have found me again. Secondly, I run because I'm good at running and find it rather enjoyable. And finally, the reason that I didn't kick pandaboys head in is because I find all forms of violence and brutality rather savage and barbaric and refuse to fight no matter what. I'll be honest with you, even though I am gratefull for you saving me from him I can't help but to dislike the way you did it a bit."

Armond returned the smile.

"I've been honest with you, and I promise that I didn't mean any offence to you."

And with those words Armond turned around and walked back to George with an embarrased smile on his face when he sat down in front of him again.

"Sorry about running like that, but it was either that or get my head beat in by the big panda and I'm all to happy with the shape it has right now. let's see..." Armond thought for a moment. "Ah, right. Now I remember what I was going to ask you. So, how long have you been playing music then?"

He said, hoping to be able to pick up the conversation from before and forgett all about violence and bullies for a while.

[george]

George stood up as the stranger approached bearing news of the gang, then just watched as Armond ran away from someone dubbed, "Pandaboy". He bowed his head and sighed, quite disappointed that this... gorgeous day would erupt into violence. But, not that surprising... given the manner of the people in this area.

So George just took a seat and, for a moment, watched Armond run from Pandaboy, then watched the new stranger kick Pandaboy to take care of the issue. All the while, he had returned his guitar to his lap and was playing again. This time, no orchestra with the environment, just his guitar. He had been trying to learn Andy McKee's "Drifting", so he started practicing it. For the pretty complex fingerstyle methods presented by the way Andy played the song, George was doing quite well with it.

When he lifted his head at the end of it, he saw Armond and listened to the question; and George promptly answered it. "I've been playing guitar for about five years now... almost nonstop. I've been singing most all my life." George said with a smile, as he usually has.

[scarecrow117]

Corey shrugged his shoulders at the possible insult. He new it was savage, but when here you cant survive with just running,and he new this kid would eventually find somone faster than him.

He watched with interest out of the corner of his eye as the guy with the guitar started playing. he was a big fan of music, though he would never tell anyone that. He looked back to the one who had ran as he started to walk over there and ask how long the man had been playing.

Corey walked over, and after hearing his answer said "you aint half bad you know... you got a name?" and took a seat.

[armond]

Armond nodded at George's answer.
"I'm not much of a musician myself, I played organ for a while but I was kinda bad at it so I decided to stop. I doubt that anyone would have noticed that if I had put a five years old in my place back then though, unless they went to compliment my sudden improvement within the art." He laughed. "But what else do you do then, I mean aside from music? Or is it a fulltime hobby of yours?"

Armond dug through his pockets to see if he could find any snacks when he heard steps behind him and saw the guy that had helped him before stand there asking a question to George.

[george]

(ooc: sorry bout the wait, this university is totally raping my time.)

George listened to Armond's story and just seemed very happy. "I'm happy to say that you're the first organist I've met. Where I grew up there was never BIG churches... or anything else that could accommodate an organ for that matter."

He pondered for a second about Armond's question, "Hmm... well, this is pretty much what I do for most of my time. If you find me doing something else... its probably reading, taking a walk, or just... finding a beautiful spot and thinking. I'm very interested in the mind as well as philosophy. Don't even get me started, or else I'll probably talk until I lose the friendship thats developing here!"

He laughed a bit then looked up at Corey and then watched him join them. The more the merrier! "Yup, as most people. My name is George..." He offered his hand for a shake. "What can I call you?"

[armond]

Armond suddenly got quite a panicked look on his face and looked at his wrist watch.

"Aw damnit! I have to run now, no offence it's been a nice conversation but I'm going to be bloody late for class if I don't run now."

He said quickly and started running full speed towards the school, completly oblivious of the fact that the lesson he was afraid to get late to in fact had been cancelled today due to the teacher being away to take an injured student to the hospital.