['anytime' is a few minutes or so; he's not too far away. so after the obligatory knock and come-on-in exchange, Blue steps in with a gentle nod of greeting.]
[ He was sort of counting on Blue showing up fairly quickly, especially when he stopped responding, so Jim's ready when he comes by. He invites him in, lets him choose where he wants to sit, then sits beside him, PADD in hand and a small speaker set up on a table nearby. ]
[ Jim watches Blue mimic the instrument. At first it reminds him of a harp, but it's the position of the hands that makes him think better of it. ]
Oh, a lyre! I have... no idea how to play those kinds of instruments. I can play a few songs in a guitar, but that's about it. I also had a harmonica as a kid, but I could never figure it out.
[ He doesn't mind. In fact, he loves playing for others, so he gets up to fetch the guitar, sitting back down on the bed, turned a little more on his side so he's facing Blue.
He plucks at the strings for a few seconds, thinking of a song, then he smiles as he thinks of something.
It's a soft tune, and Jim's voice is melodic, gentle and sweet to the ear. He doesn't miss a beat, or a note, and he lingers with parts of the lyrics, little bits here and there that make him think of Blue. ]
[the song as it's played, the song as it's envisioned, the song as it's willed to be fold together as they're presented to Blue. a gentle shiver leaves goosebumps on his arms and a flutter in his heart. Blue's expression softens and grows a little distant despite how present he is; it's just a shifting of focus as he takes in this new facet of Jim and all that is brought before him.
what you had...and what you had lost...
he can't help but think of them. Physis, Jomy...Harley, Brau, Mira...Zel... he still doesn't know if they made it away, if they escaped Megiddo after he triggered the detonation on himself.
he can hope, can't he? hope and dream.
Blue's trancelike state lingers some seconds after music and voice have faded, and his eyes are slow to blinking back open and fixing on Jim.
barely above a whisper:] That was beautiful. Your voice, those sounds...those intentions...
[ He doesn't mind it that Blue closes his eyes and seems to almost drift away. If anything, he's glad to see him almost melt into the song, into the meaning behind each word and each chord.
He smiles a little once Blue looks at him again, dipping his head slightly. ]
Thank you. [ He says of the part about his voice and the sounds. That much, at least, was all him. ] I like music that carries intention. Meaning. Music that makes me feel.
Well, good. Then that means I've conveyed the feelings well.
[ He smiles a little. ] That's true. But there are different types of feeling. Some people like music that's good for dancing. It's more of a physical feeling, I think. Other songs can make you think, others make you feel something deeper. Notes that tug at your heart, bring tears to your eyes.
Every kind of music carries emotion of some kind, if it's done well. It depends on how what you want to feel.
then...] Then...you wanted me to feel this way. [he puts a hand over his heart.]
It's strange... How scared so many are of true feelings here...and you aren't at all. I wonder if that's...the way people are where you're from, or...if it's uniquely you.
Well, I don't know how you feel right now, but yes, I hoped I'd make you feel something.
[ Otherwise, why not just pluck at some chords to show Blue how a guitar works? No, he chose that particular song for a reason.
He smiles a little at Blue's observation, arms resting crossed over the guitar. ] I don't think it depends on where I'm from. Each person is different, in that regard. For some it feels strange not to guard your feelings. I used to be that way too, when I was younger. Makes it harder for others to hurt you.
It just means...you spend a lot of time...hurting yourself, I think. [so maybe there's no true comfort in the extremes, one way or another. happy mediums win the day again?]
This kind of music, though... I like it a lot. Thank you for sharing it with me, James.
[ Jim smiles at that, nodding slowly. ] Yes. That's right.
[ Indeed a middle ground is the best way to go about it, as is the best way to go about most anything. Balance and tolerance, like with everything else. ]
It's my pleasure. [ He sets the guitar aside, leaning closer to press a quick kiss to Blue's cheek. ] But I've got more you can listen to, similar stuff. Maybe you'll find other songs you like.
[ He enjoys that a little too much every time. The only reason why Jim doesn't dive straight in for more than just that is because he kind of worries a little that Blue might faint on him again. ]
Oh. You want me to play more for you?
[ He will, gladly so, but he was thinking of just playing music for him to listen to. He'll leave it up for Blue to choose. ]
No, that's alright! I can play you one more. [ He smiles. ] I know just the song.
[ He picks up the guitar again and sets it up to start playing. A different start this time, quieter and slower, building up steadily once Jim starts singing. ]
Ground Control to Major Tom...
[ Maybe Blue will recognize it from Jim's chosen username on earpiece communications, and maybe paying attention to the song will help him understand why Jim chose it in the first place. ]
[it's only as recognizable as it would be were it at the forefront of Jim's mind in playing. as it stands, Blue once again lets himself get wrapped up in all those layers that the performance, his posture relaxing a bit more as he's eased by it all.
he shifts a little closer, but not so close as to disrupt the performance, resting his weight on the arm closest to Jim, settling into that same contemplative, immersed trace as before. a small smile plays on his features as he paints his own notions of what those words mean alongside what Jim's already got in mind; this song seems...closer to Jim's heart than the other, he thinks.
after a bit of quiet settles in from the end of the song, Blue's head tilts to gently settle against Jim's shoulder.]
It'd be nice...if you could see how that music looks...in a psionic sense... But it's already so lovely as it is.
[ It's a good guess, on Blue's part. For all the possible meanings of these words he sings, this song is closer to him than the other, the words resonating in him, striking chords in his heart. He's smiling a little as he finishes it, glancing over to where Blue leans against him, setting the guitar away carefully so Blue can rest his head more comfortably against his shoulder.
Slowly, he rests an arm around Blue's back. ]
Maybe one day you can show them. But I'm glad you like it either way.
[it's comforting to be around someone so open to closeness without that natural recoil most have. he doesn't fault people for it, even if he can't help but feel a little hurt when the natural response is to panic, to overthink, to wince away from being too close for fear of being perceived in ways they don't like... it's not their fault no more than his perception is his.
someone like Jim is a bit of a refuge from that sort of apprehensive energy that tends to pervade places.
it's also just nice to be held, you know? he'll indulge in that for a little bit.]
Are those...the kinds of songs you found? The ones you meant to share when you called, I mean.
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You never answered. Do Mu listen to music?
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Ah...yes. Some...are gifted with it. Alfred, especially. He plays a stringed instrument very skillfully.
But the kind of music...that Newt plays... [he shakes his head.] Nothing that intense.
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[ He points to his own acoustic guitar resting near the bed. ]
Yeah, no. You have a lot of types of music on Earth. I do like the kind of music Newt plays and listens to, but I like other stuff too.
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No...different. Smaller. No wooden back... [he hesitates, then sits up a little and tries to pantomime what he recalls of Alfred holding his lyre.]
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Oh, a lyre! I have... no idea how to play those kinds of instruments. I can play a few songs in a guitar, but that's about it. I also had a harmonica as a kid, but I could never figure it out.
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I've no predisposition for it, either. But I don't mind listening at all.
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[ There'll be plenty of time afterwards to listen to more music, after all. ]
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...I would like to hear it, yes. Please.
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He plucks at the strings for a few seconds, thinking of a song, then he smiles as he thinks of something.
It's a soft tune, and Jim's voice is melodic, gentle and sweet to the ear. He doesn't miss a beat, or a note, and he lingers with parts of the lyrics, little bits here and there that make him think of Blue. ]
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what you had...and what you had lost...
he can't help but think of them. Physis, Jomy...Harley, Brau, Mira...Zel... he still doesn't know if they made it away, if they escaped Megiddo after he triggered the detonation on himself.
he can hope, can't he? hope and dream.
Blue's trancelike state lingers some seconds after music and voice have faded, and his eyes are slow to blinking back open and fixing on Jim.
barely above a whisper:] That was beautiful. Your voice, those sounds...those intentions...
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He smiles a little once Blue looks at him again, dipping his head slightly. ]
Thank you. [ He says of the part about his voice and the sounds. That much, at least, was all him. ] I like music that carries intention. Meaning. Music that makes me feel.
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That's...what people use music for, right?
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[ He smiles a little. ] That's true. But there are different types of feeling. Some people like music that's good for dancing. It's more of a physical feeling, I think. Other songs can make you think, others make you feel something deeper. Notes that tug at your heart, bring tears to your eyes.
Every kind of music carries emotion of some kind, if it's done well. It depends on how what you want to feel.
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then...] Then...you wanted me to feel this way. [he puts a hand over his heart.]
It's strange... How scared so many are of true feelings here...and you aren't at all. I wonder if that's...the way people are where you're from, or...if it's uniquely you.
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[ Otherwise, why not just pluck at some chords to show Blue how a guitar works? No, he chose that particular song for a reason.
He smiles a little at Blue's observation, arms resting crossed over the guitar. ] I don't think it depends on where I'm from. Each person is different, in that regard. For some it feels strange not to guard your feelings. I used to be that way too, when I was younger. Makes it harder for others to hurt you.
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This kind of music, though... I like it a lot. Thank you for sharing it with me, James.
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[ Indeed a middle ground is the best way to go about it, as is the best way to go about most anything. Balance and tolerance, like with everything else. ]
It's my pleasure. [ He sets the guitar aside, leaning closer to press a quick kiss to Blue's cheek. ] But I've got more you can listen to, similar stuff. Maybe you'll find other songs you like.
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With...a different instrument...?
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Oh. You want me to play more for you?
[ He will, gladly so, but he was thinking of just playing music for him to listen to. He'll leave it up for Blue to choose. ]
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there's a missed bit of understanding thanks to that little bit of twitterpated energy, and it takes Blue a moment to catch up.]
...Ah, you meant...some other means. I see. Forgive me. I'll listen to what it is you meant.
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[ He picks up the guitar again and sets it up to start playing. A different start this time, quieter and slower, building up steadily once Jim starts singing. ]
Ground Control to Major Tom...
[ Maybe Blue will recognize it from Jim's chosen username on earpiece communications, and maybe paying attention to the song will help him understand why Jim chose it in the first place. ]
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he shifts a little closer, but not so close as to disrupt the performance, resting his weight on the arm closest to Jim, settling into that same contemplative, immersed trace as before. a small smile plays on his features as he paints his own notions of what those words mean alongside what Jim's already got in mind; this song seems...closer to Jim's heart than the other, he thinks.
after a bit of quiet settles in from the end of the song, Blue's head tilts to gently settle against Jim's shoulder.]
It'd be nice...if you could see how that music looks...in a psionic sense... But it's already so lovely as it is.
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Slowly, he rests an arm around Blue's back. ]
Maybe one day you can show them. But I'm glad you like it either way.
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someone like Jim is a bit of a refuge from that sort of apprehensive energy that tends to pervade places.
it's also just nice to be held, you know? he'll indulge in that for a little bit.]
Are those...the kinds of songs you found? The ones you meant to share when you called, I mean.
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