A Song to Remember (open)

[Mila]

Alice Markinson:

Most of the houses surrounding this piece of curb are silent. It's late at night, far too late for any respectable people to be walking about. At least, that's what the general idea is. Not for musicians, though. A late night means a late working night, probably wherever the biggest crowd is. The biggest crowd is usually at the City Center, doing something or other. Today, though, I don’t want to push through the crowds and then compete with other entertainers to have a piece of space to play. Today, I want to play for the general people, not the politicians or such.

Rebellious thoughts. Hah.

The noise of the clamps on my violin case are opening are ten times louder in the silence. I grit my teeth and try not to think about the consequences if anyone complains about my late night playing. I could even have my instrument taken, but right now, I don’t need to think about that. Rather, I need to think more about the current situation.

What should I play? What will attract a crowd of people? Something beautiful and light, not too cheerful, as it is late. I ponder the situation. All I have with me currently are a few Capitol-approved pieces, and one or two non-Capitol approved, very old pieces that I have memorized.

I don’t feel like being patriotic tonight. I’m too tired. So, I visualize several pages of sheet music and begin to fill in the lines of music. Bach. Oh yes. One of the best composers of so very, very long ago… I can’t play too loudly, as then I will be dragged off. How ironic, that this song is so lovely and beautiful, and yet I’m not sure if I can play it legally.

Too late now.

I quickly tune my instrument, the strings letting out long notes ranging from high to an average tone.

Now, how to begin….

I murmur to myself, “Air on the G String, by J.S. Bach… and one, two, three, four….”

I let the first note begin so very soft, and then climb upwards towards a crescendo.

Now, if only the people will begin to come, then the show will truly begin.


OOC: If you want to hear the song, follow this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZXM2eq46_s

[-xXInverted FlyingJennyXx-]

Anneliese

I'm jogging homeward when, in the next street over, I hear a most amazing sound. It weaves under my earbuds and into my ears. I follow the sound. What instrument can create such a tone?

My curiosity leads me to a violinist, standing on the street in the dark of night. She's just playing out in the open, so bold. I stand there in silence and watch her stick thing travel back and forth, back and forth across the string, causing the string to vibrate into the night.

[Mila]

It takes a while, and my arm is starting to hurt from holding out ntoes for so long, much longer than the music implies, but someone finally comes. I'm inferring that she was most likely going home, but at least I can do something tonight.

Took them long enough.

I grin at the newcomer, my playing becoming more active and less dreary. Bach is reaching the end, and I start mentally searching for something new to play. Keep the audience entranced. That's the key.

Even as I think, I scan the street for more people, or for anyone coming to shut me up.

Absentmindedly, I pause and say, to my one-person audience, "What's your name?"

[-xXInverted FlyingJennyXx-]

Anneliese

She finishes the song and glances around. I follow her gaze, but there's nothing there to see except empty streets. She asks me what my name is.

"Anneliese," I reply. "That was amazing. How long have you played?"

I wonder what she's doing, out here so late? I venture a question.

"Why are you playing out here? Shouldn't you at least play at a concert hall? You're good enough. Out here, no one listens. It's a pity."[/blockquote][/font]

OCC: Sorry... AP exams consumed my life the past week...

[Mila]

"I've been playing since I was little. For, oh, thirteen years, I believe."

I think about her other question for a minute.

"Trying to get a spot in a concert hall for a lone violinist is as likely as the Hunger Games ending in a draw. It's not happening."

I shrug a little.

"And it's not about skill, here. It's about renown. What you play, not how you play it.

And I tend not to play too many patriotic songs..."

[-xXInverted FlyingJennyXx-]

Anneliese

"I see. So you play--" I gesture at her violin, at a loss for words-- "not patriotic songs?"

She answers and I nod, more for-once-natural blond hair escaping from my ponytail. I brush it back with a swell of pride. I've managed to evade Mother long enough to let my hair grow out and resume its original color.

"Don't let me keep you from playing. Continue, continue." I say, waving. She nods and holds her violin up again. At that moment, a Peacekeeper rounds the corner. It's not that common to see one of them in the neighborhoods so I stand still and wait for him to walk past.

Unfortunately, he stops where we are. "Good evening, misses. Please keep the noise level down--you're disturbing your comrades, you see."

I freeze.

[Mila]

I smile politely at the Peacekeeper, maintaining an icy yet polite demeanor.

"Oh, yes. Of course, sir.

Of course we'll keep the noise level down."

It reminds me of the times, when I was little, that my mother would bang on the ceiling and shout for me to keep that racket down when I was still out-of-tune and couldn't play anything right.

At least this Peacekeeper is polite. I've met others who have nearly confiscated my violin; those times I had to fast-talk my way out of the situation. But right now I need to be bluntly honest and wait for him to walk away, like most Peacekeepers do.

I attempt to dismiss him without saying another word, even reaching down to shuffle around some sheet music, hoping that he will leave soon.

[-xXInverted FlyingJennyXx-]

Anneliese

The man doesn't move. He just stands there, hands folded but tensed, ready for action.

"Miss, how do you plan to keep the noise level down? Do you have a mute? Would you mind playing elsewhere? Just agreeing and then playing again changes nothing." Peacekeepers must be smarter than they're accounted for. This one, at least. Then again, I've never been so close to a Peacekeeper before. They generally aren't needed in these parts. I hear they're more active in the Districts.

"Hey, maybe you should do what he says," I say softly so that only the violinist can hear. I've yet to learn her name. "At least use a mute or something. This one doesn't looks like he'll be fooled easily." I don't know how often she's dealt with Peacekeepers, but if she always plays in the middle of the night out on the streets, I'd doubt this is her first time.

[kyra]

Leo had been alone for a while now, to be honest he amazed himself, he got captured(not his fault), turned into an Avox, escaped, got caught again, escaped again and was still free in the capitol. Leo smiled to himself. What should he do tonight? Find a way home, haha, there was no way home, god knows how hard he's tried. Or be a pain in the keeper's side here until he finally died?
That was the thing about Leo, he knew he was going to die, he wasn't stupid, and he doubted it would take much time for his many enemies to catch up with him. Leo wasn't afraid though, he'd accepted he'd die along time ago, in fact he wanted to die. He had no life, his little brother had to be dead by now, he couldn't utter a sound anymore, he had no family or friends, nothing. The only thing that possibly kept Leo going was revenge, so he'd be an annoying pain until he was killed. Hopefully soon (not really!)
Looking at the scene before him, Leo smiled, coughing politely he bowed and walked up to the violin player, even taking out a hankerchief and gestured, as if he was her avox coming to clean her instrument. If the Keeper didn't leave, well, he'd be steps away from Leo, and more importantly, Leo's knife. Leo winked at the girl, Play along his eyes seemed to say.

[-xXInverted FlyingJennyXx-]

Anneliese

"Don't worry. We'll do something. Thank you for the reminder, sir," I say sweetly. My first encounter with a Peacekeeper. Hopefully, it'll be my last.

I survey the boy who just came up. He's awfully quiet. Then again, I wouldn't want to call attention to myself in the presence of a Peacekeeper, either. I nod hello as the Peacekeeper finally gets tired of bugging us and walks away.

"Hey," I greet him. "It's late. Why are you out and about?" Then again, why am I 'out and about'?

[kyra]

Leo rolled his eyes at her and stood straighter, not hunched over any more. He didn't need to act now. Leo's real posture returned, he no longer stooped, his weight was easily distributed his stance condoned easy movement, over all he just had a presence. Of course, he used to lead a rebellion, so giving orders came easy, all this lying, acting, came easy. It was only slightly annoying.
Leo pulled out a pad and scribled in his clumsy handwriting, Cause I am, I do what I want. Why are you out?
Leo sighed, the Keeper'd left. Oh well, at least he wouldn't have to clean his knife.

[-xXInverted FlyingJennyXx-]

Anneliese

"Oh, I was just out on a jog--and to avoid my mother's nagging about how I need another hair color change. Really now?" I hold up a strand of healing hair and make a face. "All this dyeing isn't good for my hair."

What really got to me was the fact that he took the time to write. Does he have a sore throat? I back away, just slightly. I hope it's not contagious. I need my voice.

"Are you okay? You don't have a sore throat, do you?" I ask, just to be sure.

[kyra]

Leo smirked, as if he'd ever dye his hair. Silly capitol people, though this girl seemed slightly better than the others.
Leo just raised an eyebrow, was she for real? Scribling on the pad again he wrote I'm an Avox, can't speak, ever again Leo told her, wondering how she couldn't have figured it out.

[-xXInverted FlyingJennyXx-]

Anneliese

I gasp. I know I do, and I can't help it. "I'm sorry--I don't mean to be rude or to bring back awful memories! I-I'm sorry!" I can't seem to do anything but apologize. I do wonder, though, how he came to be this way, but I don't dare ask. I've intruded enough already.

"So. In that new light, why are you out so late? Shouldn't you be--ah--doing your duties?" I've never really spoken to an Avox before. I don't really interact with the few we have at home--that's Mother's and Candice's job. I'm more like Father; I don't like seeing other people who led lives like I do living like this, unable to speak. I think that's the reason Father allows so few in the house. He says hard work builds up a person, both physically and morally. I totally agree.

So now, I'm at a loss for words, no offense intended. Would it offend him if I asked him much about his past life, or his days as an Avox, or who he keeps house for, or any of the other things I'm curious about? He is like any other person--he lives and feels, but he just can't talk about them. I wonder if I'll offend if I ask. Might as well let him feel more comfortable around me first. I wonder if I should write, too, so that we can communicate on the same level.

For now, I settle for a shrug and a tiny unsure smile.

[/color][/blockquote][/font]

[kyra]

Leo shrugs it off, Please, it's not like you just reminded me, It's a bit hard to forget you can't make a sound, are thousands of miles from home and your little brother is probably dead. You didn't make me think of anything I don't normally think about. Leo stopped writing abruptibly, he hadn't meant to write that much, maybe he just needed to tell someone.

At her next question, Leo had to hold his side he was laughing so hard, of course, with no sound coming from him, he looked odd, like a choking person. Leo couldn't help it though, he knew he looked disturbing when he laughed, but he so rarely laughed that he couldn't help it.
I don't obey anyone, I've escaped every 'master' and listen to no one, I'm going to be free till the day I die. Leo didn't feel he needed to mention just how soon that should be.