((Abigail “Abby” Lester continued from The Worst Pies in London))
Click Click.
Paper rustle
Creak
Abigail Lester stood upon a small crate in one of the practice room, tuning up her violin with focus. Water by her feet to drink if she gets exhausted. And on her stand was her phone, a video out and paused
Abby lightly travels her bow across the strings of her instrument before she lightly nodded. She pressed the start button and some instrumental started playing.
It's been ten long years since the devil laid his fiddle at Johnny's feet
And it burned inside his mind the way he suffered that defeat
In the darkest pits of hell the devil hatched an evil plan
To tempt the fiddle player for he's just a mortal man
“The sin of pride," the devil cried is what will do you in
"I thought we had this settled, I'm the best there's ever been."
Abby tapped her foot, placing her chin on the tailrest, as she sung to the lyrics, prepping her bow.
Johnny did you ever know that time keeps marching on
The coldest hour is the one comes just before the dawn
The devil's back in Georgia will you stand up to the test
Or will you let the devil be the best?
Then, the music came. Her bow sliding against the strings in quick succession as her fingertips lightly trailed across it, playing the chords of the fiddle song by Mark O’Connor, happily humming along to the beat.
Devil Down in Georgia
Practice Room (Open)
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SharkyTGirl185
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Devil Down in Georgia
May Love Guide you!
Johnny did you ever know that time keeps marching on
The coldest hour is the one comes just before the dawn
The devil's back in Georgia will you stand up to the test
Or will you let the devil be the best?
((Johnny Benowitz continued from Shakes 'n' Bakes))
If there's one thing Johnny had in common with the Devil, it's that you had to be careful about speaking his name out loud. Like Beetlejuice, saying it too many times in a row ran the risk of summoning him.
As such, Abby barely made it past the chorus before a familiar face came strutting on by, flipping out a comb to tidy up his do before sauntering on into practice room.
With a roguish grin on his face, Johnny flashed Abby an obligatory fingergun and silently mouthed a "How do ya do?", before making his way over to the instruments. He was there for a reason after all, that reason being to hone his guitar skills in prep for Valentine's day. Not that he needed much practice, obviously, being the natural virtuoso that he was. But, y'know... Even prodigies get a little rusty if they don't tune up ever so often.
Now, where the hell were the accoustics...?
The coldest hour is the one comes just before the dawn
The devil's back in Georgia will you stand up to the test
Or will you let the devil be the best?
((Johnny Benowitz continued from Shakes 'n' Bakes))
If there's one thing Johnny had in common with the Devil, it's that you had to be careful about speaking his name out loud. Like Beetlejuice, saying it too many times in a row ran the risk of summoning him.
As such, Abby barely made it past the chorus before a familiar face came strutting on by, flipping out a comb to tidy up his do before sauntering on into practice room.
With a roguish grin on his face, Johnny flashed Abby an obligatory fingergun and silently mouthed a "How do ya do?", before making his way over to the instruments. He was there for a reason after all, that reason being to hone his guitar skills in prep for Valentine's day. Not that he needed much practice, obviously, being the natural virtuoso that he was. But, y'know... Even prodigies get a little rusty if they don't tune up ever so often.
Now, where the hell were the accoustics...?
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SharkyTGirl185
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Abby perked up a little, momentarily pausing her ministrations to give a polite nod and smile to the new person walking in.
And what irony: Johnny Benowitz.
It was almost like it was fate that he'll come by, The Lord has an odd sense of humor sometimes.
She paused her phone as she adjusted herself, quickly sliding her bow across the strings to play the song solo before stopping and looking over at Johnny-Boy.
"They moved the instruments in the back." She pointed with her bow before tucking it under her arm and taking some water to sip.
And what irony: Johnny Benowitz.
It was almost like it was fate that he'll come by, The Lord has an odd sense of humor sometimes.
She paused her phone as she adjusted herself, quickly sliding her bow across the strings to play the song solo before stopping and looking over at Johnny-Boy.
"They moved the instruments in the back." She pointed with her bow before tucking it under her arm and taking some water to sip.
May Love Guide you!
"Hmm? Oh, gracias mi amigo!"
Wait, was that amigo or amiga? Audible shrug.
Johnny took note of Abby as he waltzed towards the back. She was something of an enigma to him, one of those academic types who otherwise avoided the usual schoolyard drama going on around them. About the only thing that stood out to him about her were those blue eyes, which he was pretty sure were due to a health condition or something? Didn't seem fair to characterise one of his classmates as 'the mousey girl with REALLY blue eyes', but that was honestly all he really knew about her.
Well, never too late to change that.
"Uuh, didn't mean to interrupt by the way..." he added, rummaging through the various stringed instruments at the back. "Devil's Gone Down to Georgia, right?"
Wait, was that amigo or amiga? Audible shrug.
Johnny took note of Abby as he waltzed towards the back. She was something of an enigma to him, one of those academic types who otherwise avoided the usual schoolyard drama going on around them. About the only thing that stood out to him about her were those blue eyes, which he was pretty sure were due to a health condition or something? Didn't seem fair to characterise one of his classmates as 'the mousey girl with REALLY blue eyes', but that was honestly all he really knew about her.
Well, never too late to change that.
"Uuh, didn't mean to interrupt by the way..." he added, rummaging through the various stringed instruments at the back. "Devil's Gone Down to Georgia, right?"
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SharkyTGirl185
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"No issue at all." Abby screws back on the cap of her water and sets it down, stepping off her crate "Came Back to Georgia actually. I really like the second song."
Abby found Johnny...quite an amusing individual. He reminded her of Sodapop Curtis from The Outsiders, and it was if someone from the seventies stepped into a time portal and ended up here. He was...odd. But in a good way.
"I like to practice in case I ever need to play."
Abby found Johnny...quite an amusing individual. He reminded her of Sodapop Curtis from The Outsiders, and it was if someone from the seventies stepped into a time portal and ended up here. He was...odd. But in a good way.
"I like to practice in case I ever need to play."
May Love Guide you!
"CAME down to Georgia, riiiight, right..." replied Johnny, still sifting his way through the instruments looking for...
Ahah! And bingo was his name-o, exactly what he was searching for: An acoustic guitar. Not the fanciest he's ever seen, just a cheap model for students to practice with. But like his daddy always used to say, a guitar's a lot like a woman: You gotta respect and treat 'em real nice, no matter how cheap they are.
He hoisted the guitar up and started tuning, giving it a couple practice strums as sauntered his way over towards the nearest seat. "Nice. I practice more for, like... I dunno, the sheer hell of it I guess? Honouring my old man's legacy? Somethin' like that..."
Ahah! And bingo was his name-o, exactly what he was searching for: An acoustic guitar. Not the fanciest he's ever seen, just a cheap model for students to practice with. But like his daddy always used to say, a guitar's a lot like a woman: You gotta respect and treat 'em real nice, no matter how cheap they are.
He hoisted the guitar up and started tuning, giving it a couple practice strums as sauntered his way over towards the nearest seat. "Nice. I practice more for, like... I dunno, the sheer hell of it I guess? Honouring my old man's legacy? Somethin' like that..."
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SharkyTGirl185
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“Oh bless your heart.” Abby nodded, cracking a casual smile as she sits down at another chair, lightly brushing her bow against the strings “It’s always good to hold up something of your family’s history, regardless of what.”
She lets out a soft sound as she leaned back and watched Johnny took his seat. Now. She was even more curious on Johnny and she placed her violin on her lap.
Initiating Joke to put someone at ease:
“Well uh, as the song goes, let’s see if you’re the best there's ever been, golden fiddle or not.”
Joke complete
She lets out a soft sound as she leaned back and watched Johnny took his seat. Now. She was even more curious on Johnny and she placed her violin on her lap.
Initiating Joke to put someone at ease:
“Well uh, as the song goes, let’s see if you’re the best there's ever been, golden fiddle or not.”
Joke complete
May Love Guide you!
"You're on!" replied Johnny with a smirk, never one to turn down a challenge. Well, unless said challenge risked loss of life. Or grievous bodily harm. Or an irreversible stain on his reputation... Otherwise, all bets were off!
Alrighty, no more dilly-dallying. With a one, and a two, and a...Shit, wait, hang on a sec. Still needs a little more tuning... Alright, let's go!
A couple things became evident as the two started playing, Abby with her fiddle and Johnny with his guitar. For starters, it was pretty clear that Johnny wasn't familiar with this song. Heck he'd probably struggle to remember how the original goes off by heart, let alone the sequel he didn't know existed until three minutes ago. But a minor detail like that wasn't enough to deter him - He was Johnny Benowitz! He could probably wing it and still come out looking mostly competent.
Well, about that... To the uninitiated, one could mistake Johnny for being proficient with a guitar, perhaps even pretty good with one. To anyone with an eye for music, however... Eeh. He had the basics down but he was clearly an amateur, never quite getting the timing right. All style, zero substance. There were probably worse musicians out there, but it was pretty clear that his skill level was below average.
Not that it stopped him from strutting sway with a cocky smoulder on his face, trying to make up for his lack of talent with sheer force of will.
Alrighty, no more dilly-dallying. With a one, and a two, and a...Shit, wait, hang on a sec. Still needs a little more tuning... Alright, let's go!
A couple things became evident as the two started playing, Abby with her fiddle and Johnny with his guitar. For starters, it was pretty clear that Johnny wasn't familiar with this song. Heck he'd probably struggle to remember how the original goes off by heart, let alone the sequel he didn't know existed until three minutes ago. But a minor detail like that wasn't enough to deter him - He was Johnny Benowitz! He could probably wing it and still come out looking mostly competent.
Well, about that... To the uninitiated, one could mistake Johnny for being proficient with a guitar, perhaps even pretty good with one. To anyone with an eye for music, however... Eeh. He had the basics down but he was clearly an amateur, never quite getting the timing right. All style, zero substance. There were probably worse musicians out there, but it was pretty clear that his skill level was below average.
Not that it stopped him from strutting sway with a cocky smoulder on his face, trying to make up for his lack of talent with sheer force of will.
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SharkyTGirl185
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Oh....that's not...
Abby's smile stays on her face, placing her hands on her lap while raising her eyebrows. Every misjudged note that he hit with such confidence made Abby feel....amused? Not insulted, really, since music was such a fickle medium and everyone has their style. But she found just how....prideful he was being, and she lightly chuckles under her breath as she watches him play, her eyebrow still raised.
Abby's smile stays on her face, placing her hands on her lap while raising her eyebrows. Every misjudged note that he hit with such confidence made Abby feel....amused? Not insulted, really, since music was such a fickle medium and everyone has their style. But she found just how....prideful he was being, and she lightly chuckles under her breath as she watches him play, her eyebrow still raised.
May Love Guide you!
Johnny's brow similarly rose, still playing along to the music.
He wasn't sure at first what to make of that laugh. Like, was it a "haha, what a loser!" kinda laugh? No, he knew what those were like. This one had a bit more warmth to it.
As such, he couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly along, reaching up to scratch the back of his head.
"Yeeeeah, little more familiar with the original, but... Y'know, for a first go I reckon that wasn't too shabby"
He wasn't sure at first what to make of that laugh. Like, was it a "haha, what a loser!" kinda laugh? No, he knew what those were like. This one had a bit more warmth to it.
As such, he couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly along, reaching up to scratch the back of his head.
"Yeeeeah, little more familiar with the original, but... Y'know, for a first go I reckon that wasn't too shabby"
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SharkyTGirl185
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Abby places her chin back on the rest of her violin, humbly trailing her bow across the strings while keeping a smile "The fact you can even hold an instrument and play it with confidence is an admirable quality."
With that, she does a quick violin piece on the song's chorus, keeping her eyes shut as her bow traveled fast across her fiddle. It was as if Abby was there fighting against the devil himself in Georgia.
"It just requires practice."
With that, she does a quick violin piece on the song's chorus, keeping her eyes shut as her bow traveled fast across her fiddle. It was as if Abby was there fighting against the devil himself in Georgia.
"It just requires practice."
May Love Guide you!
((Charlie Girl continued from Chlorine))
If there was one main criticism that a student could have about the practice rooms, recording studios, and other general music spaces within Southwest Red Rock it would have been that they could have pushed the boat out a little more with them. They weren't bad at all, but with how much money the school seemed to rake in on a regular basis, they could have sprung for some fancier equipment. The second criticism would have been that they could have had more spaces available to practice and play in.
That meant that Charlie Girl had booked her space ready for use because she wanted to put some finishing touches on her latest song. Her attempts to finish up with a few full play-throughs and tidy up parts as needed had been rebuffed earlier in the week when she found all the rooms in use. Hence her use of the ability to book out a room to practice in, she didn't want to go home without getting any practice done again. She could have practiced at home of course, her parents wouldn't have minded. But Red Rock had all of the facilities she could have wanted to use and also had recording studios available in case she wanted to put something down on tape.
She carried her laptop in her backpack and guitar in its case as she made her way across the Red Rock campus, hot Las Vegas sun beating down on her from above. Some underclassmen rushed by saying something about some drama in the auditorium. Charlie Girl paid them no mind, only making sure to move out of their way so she didn't get run down. It was weird to think that had been her once, rushing around with friends not worrying about the fact she had finals and deadlines coming up. She supposed she probably needed to do some work on her compositions for her music assessments as well.
The corridor leading to the practice rooms was plain and functional, and some more students loitered around inside, hiding from the heat as they waited for friends to finish up in the recording studios. The temperature inside the one-storey building was cool, and kept so by the small army of air-conditioning vents placed along the ceiling. The music and performing arts facilities may not have been the main focus of Red Rock High, but the administration certainly didn't want their expensive recording equipment overheating. As she reached the door of the room she had booked, she could hear music coming from within. That was a bit annoying as the room was booked for her but it wasn't a big issue, she could just go in and ask the people inside to clear out. She'd done it before, no harm no foul, most people understood.
There was, however, one issue Charlie Girl wasn't aware of, and that was she had her days mixed up. She was one day ahead, believing it to be Thursday when it was in fact, Wednesday.
"Alright," She said as she opened the door and stepped inside the practice room, paying no heed to the music that was being played. "I've got this room booked from now, so if you guys could leave, I'd appreciate it."
She didn't have the room booked. The board on the wall of the corridor behind her showed that the room wasn’t booked.
Because again, it was Wednesday.
If there was one main criticism that a student could have about the practice rooms, recording studios, and other general music spaces within Southwest Red Rock it would have been that they could have pushed the boat out a little more with them. They weren't bad at all, but with how much money the school seemed to rake in on a regular basis, they could have sprung for some fancier equipment. The second criticism would have been that they could have had more spaces available to practice and play in.
That meant that Charlie Girl had booked her space ready for use because she wanted to put some finishing touches on her latest song. Her attempts to finish up with a few full play-throughs and tidy up parts as needed had been rebuffed earlier in the week when she found all the rooms in use. Hence her use of the ability to book out a room to practice in, she didn't want to go home without getting any practice done again. She could have practiced at home of course, her parents wouldn't have minded. But Red Rock had all of the facilities she could have wanted to use and also had recording studios available in case she wanted to put something down on tape.
She carried her laptop in her backpack and guitar in its case as she made her way across the Red Rock campus, hot Las Vegas sun beating down on her from above. Some underclassmen rushed by saying something about some drama in the auditorium. Charlie Girl paid them no mind, only making sure to move out of their way so she didn't get run down. It was weird to think that had been her once, rushing around with friends not worrying about the fact she had finals and deadlines coming up. She supposed she probably needed to do some work on her compositions for her music assessments as well.
The corridor leading to the practice rooms was plain and functional, and some more students loitered around inside, hiding from the heat as they waited for friends to finish up in the recording studios. The temperature inside the one-storey building was cool, and kept so by the small army of air-conditioning vents placed along the ceiling. The music and performing arts facilities may not have been the main focus of Red Rock High, but the administration certainly didn't want their expensive recording equipment overheating. As she reached the door of the room she had booked, she could hear music coming from within. That was a bit annoying as the room was booked for her but it wasn't a big issue, she could just go in and ask the people inside to clear out. She'd done it before, no harm no foul, most people understood.
There was, however, one issue Charlie Girl wasn't aware of, and that was she had her days mixed up. She was one day ahead, believing it to be Thursday when it was in fact, Wednesday.
"Alright," She said as she opened the door and stepped inside the practice room, paying no heed to the music that was being played. "I've got this room booked from now, so if you guys could leave, I'd appreciate it."
She didn't have the room booked. The board on the wall of the corridor behind her showed that the room wasn’t booked.
Because again, it was Wednesday.
Johnny's brows raised as Abby started playing, nodding his head in approval. Hard to act all cool and aloof when you're genuinely impressed, even if it was over little things most musicians took for granted. It was almost like magic really; you rub the thing against the other thing, and WHA-BAM, music!
"Huuh, not bad..." he replied, giving the guitar a token strum as a genuine chuckle escaped his lips. "Remind me, are you like... In the school orchestra, or wh-"
It was at that point Charlie Girl arrived and pulled an Andrew Jackson on them, declaring the practice room to be her's and demanding that they vacate immediately.
"Oh? Uh... Aight" he replied, shrugging and getting up to put his guitar away.
Huh, weird. He was surprised there wasn't a notice or something that the room was booked. Granted, it wasn't like he bothered checking before swaggering on in. Maybe it worked on more of a need to know basis?
Either way, wasn't something worth making a fuss over.
"Huuh, not bad..." he replied, giving the guitar a token strum as a genuine chuckle escaped his lips. "Remind me, are you like... In the school orchestra, or wh-"
It was at that point Charlie Girl arrived and pulled an Andrew Jackson on them, declaring the practice room to be her's and demanding that they vacate immediately.
"Oh? Uh... Aight" he replied, shrugging and getting up to put his guitar away.
Huh, weird. He was surprised there wasn't a notice or something that the room was booked. Granted, it wasn't like he bothered checking before swaggering on in. Maybe it worked on more of a need to know basis?
Either way, wasn't something worth making a fuss over.
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SharkyTGirl185
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Abby paused as she took a look at Charlie Girl, pursing her lips in a frown. She lowered her violin and her bow before she took her phone and looked at the day. Wednesday.
"Oh, sorry." Abby mumbled as she stood up "I mean uh, this isn't your day though, I saw the schedule and you have this space for tomorrow. that's why I came here since I saw it was free..."
She paused, before nodding and beginning to pack up "Apologies. We'll get out of your hair."
She simply nodded at Johnny again, a simple, curt and polite nod as she stuffed her phone in her pocket, grabbed her case and immediately walked past Charlie Girl “Have a nice day.”
Don't need to stand your ground. Her practice is probably more important anyway.
((Abigail “Abby” Lester continued Elsewhere))
"Oh, sorry." Abby mumbled as she stood up "I mean uh, this isn't your day though, I saw the schedule and you have this space for tomorrow. that's why I came here since I saw it was free..."
She paused, before nodding and beginning to pack up "Apologies. We'll get out of your hair."
She simply nodded at Johnny again, a simple, curt and polite nod as she stuffed her phone in her pocket, grabbed her case and immediately walked past Charlie Girl “Have a nice day.”
Don't need to stand your ground. Her practice is probably more important anyway.
((Abigail “Abby” Lester continued Elsewhere))
May Love Guide you!
"No, it's my day since it's Thursday."
Charlie Girl froze momentarily as if someone had pressed pause on the tape. Abby passed her and left the room as she stood thinking. It was Thursday, right? She had been sure it was...no it was, it totally was.
But, one quick look at her phone couldn't hurt, just to confirm that she was right after all. A safety check, that was all.
She held an arm out towards Johnny with one finger up.
"Wait a sec," She said as her other hand fumbled around to retrieve her phone. "Just going to confirm that it iiisss..."
The illuminated letters on the phone screen broadcast back WEDNESDAY, in pristine white text. Proving empirically that she was, in fact, wrong and it was not Thursday after all.
So she both looked like an asshole and mentally had an extra day of school she needed to go through.
With a groan, Charlie Girl leant forward until her forehead rested on the door frame.
"I'm the dumbest girl alive."
Charlie Girl froze momentarily as if someone had pressed pause on the tape. Abby passed her and left the room as she stood thinking. It was Thursday, right? She had been sure it was...no it was, it totally was.
But, one quick look at her phone couldn't hurt, just to confirm that she was right after all. A safety check, that was all.
She held an arm out towards Johnny with one finger up.
"Wait a sec," She said as her other hand fumbled around to retrieve her phone. "Just going to confirm that it iiisss..."
The illuminated letters on the phone screen broadcast back WEDNESDAY, in pristine white text. Proving empirically that she was, in fact, wrong and it was not Thursday after all.
So she both looked like an asshole and mentally had an extra day of school she needed to go through.
With a groan, Charlie Girl leant forward until her forehead rested on the door frame.
"I'm the dumbest girl alive."