2023.05.25:Let's Make Some Music

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Let's Make Some Music
A shopping trip to buy some instruments.
IC Date May 25th, 2023
IC Time Mid day.
Players Jackie, Evan, Lorna, Janneke
Location Kinfolk House, Detonation Boulevard
Spheres Garou, Changeling


Kinfolk2.jpg

Evan grins at Lorna when he pauses between songs and the kin kids listening to him play go nuts clapping. Then their teacher comes back and they start heading off to whatever activity. Once things quiet a bit Evan asks "Any requests? The show doesn't have to end just because most of the audience left."


Evan is sitting by the fire pit with Lorna.


Lorna sips her tea then grins impishly. "Dunno. You know Rattlehead by Megadeth? Sorry, my musical repertoire is sort of limited to classic metal. Much like my piercings. Still, I like what you do. It's nice for the kids, too."


Evan grins and looks down at the acoustic guitar before answering "Most of my training is in ballads and lore songs but I might be able to manage something. Though I will say truly I don't get called on for Metal much. The kids though, them I can meet where they live. Story songs from their stories come easy enough, not hard to learn either."


Jackie parks her car in the driveway and heads on over to the fire pit. She's carrying a large yellow and black paperback book in one hand, titled 'Guitar for Dummies'. She waves as she approaches and grabs a seat near the other pair. "What's not hard to learn?"


Lorna says, “True enough. Learning through song has been part of human culture since before we could write. I reckon something that tried and tested is worth sticking with." Sip of tea. "Hey, toots!How's the great musical journey working out?”


Evan grins at Jackie "Songs from cartoon movies for kids. It makes them super happy and its not really that hard. At least not for me though back home I caught more than a little grief growing up for learning some of it, since they weren't from any of the traditional cycles or even written by garou the ultra-orthodox saw it as a waste of my time." Peering at the book Evan adds "That's a good one, I didn't grab my copy when I packed to leave my Uncle's place but you'll probably keep it around as a reference work even once you know how to play better."


Jackie sets the hefty tome on the log beside her and nods. "I picked it up on the way home last night. I didn't actually like the name, but people seem to think it's pretty decent. I did some flipping through it and reading the basic stuff last night, but I haven't really tried anything yet. Mainly because I don't have a guitar yet. I was doing a little looking online, but there's just a ton of options. Even though my first instinct was to get an electric, I figured I'd catch some flak for that. Also, I couldn't bring it to the Caern, so that could be a problem."


Lorna laughs slightly. "You're not a dummy. But If it looks good enough to learn from, go for it. And besides, you got Evan here to help. And youtube. Must be so much easier to learn stuff these days, with so much help available online, compared to fifty years ago. Me, I will stick to a kazoo. If I started spending hours learning an instrument, Cain would never stop nagging me. He thinks every free moment should be spent practicing HIS lessons."


Evan nods at Jackie "That's a fair concern. I want to learn more about playing Electric guitar now that I'm somewhere I won't get excessive side eye for it but my official event instruments are always going to be acoustic. Once I have somewhere to keep more instruments though I'll probably wind up with quite the collection." Lorna gets a grin "He the sort who doesn't seem happy unless they're grumpy then?"


Jackie pulls up her phone and checks though her open Amazon pages again. "Should I just get something cheap and basic for started then? And with no wires inside it, only on the outside? And wait, where are you keeping your instruments now?"


Lorna purses her lips. "Cain is an ancient spirit of intellect. Honestly, we bitch all the time, but we are actuay great friends. And I can stand a bit of his sass, to be his pupil. He is an amazing teacher. He taught me everything I know about psychic powers, and that is a hell of a lot, to be honest.!" She then grins. "And do not buy a cheap guitar. I cannot play, but I listen to a lot of music, and if you buy cheap, it will play and sound cheap. Jump in with something really well made, for more cash, and you will absolutely sound far better."


Evan grins at Jackie and pats the guitar "This is the only one I brought with me for all that I can play more. And I'm in one of the cabins in the patrolled area near the caern. Even if I kept myself to the ones that my tribal teachers back in New York were fine with calling me proficient in that'd be about...seven or so. Would get kind of crowded. And Lorna's right, lets see if we can find a good music shop in town were we can handle the guitars and see what they sound like. It'll cost a little more but I promise it'll be worth it in the long run."


Jackie listens to the advice, then looks back down at her phone to close the pages down before slipping the phone back into her pocket. "Alright then, no online ordering and no cheap junk. I've been on a good streak lately, so I think I can afford something on the good end. Just let me know when you've got the time for a shopping trip. And as for psychic powers, how many do you have, anyway?"


Lorna says, “I'll tag along if you like. I know bugger all about what is good and what is not, but I can distract all the pimply egomaniacs who infest such shops, so you can pick out something without harassment." She gulps down more tea. "How many? Well. A lot. let's see..." She starts counting on her fingers silently. "Nine, I think, for now, but I am learning fast these days.”


Evan gives a low whistle at Lorna's declaration "That's pretty impressive, gotta have quite the collection of handy tricks." Then about the shopping trip "Cool! I'll do some research or something, see what sort of shops there are that might have some stuff good for what we need. I need a violin and a djembe at least. Especially if I'm training up someone to take on the guitar part."


Jackie lets out a small impressed whistle at the count. "Wow, yeah, that does seem like a lot. And also, what's a djembe?"


Lorna laughs "Cain would biter your nose off if he heard you call it tricks. But yes, it does give me a major edge in a lot of ways. I could rewrite your memory, fly, talk to local ghosts, nuke your mobile phone, have a chat with a weasel... all sorts of fun things. But I try to use them responsibly, and to help the nation. Gaia has seen fit to give me these abilities, it is only right to use them for the benefit of the sept."


Evan grins at Jackie "A hand drum that's sort of cylindrical and you hold it between your knees when you're playing it sitting." Lorna's description of some of her abilities "That sounds really amazing. I can think of a lot of situations where those would be really useful."


((Moving on over to Detonation Boulevard.))
Db header.png

A cheerful, dark-haired young woman is at the main counter, talking to a customer and handing them a bag. "Thanks, have a great day!"
She looks up as the new people walk in and offers a warm smile, saying, "Hi, Welcome to Detonation Boulevard. Do you need any help?"


Evan did some web searches on his phone and found a place that was local, had good reviews, and was currently open so the group piled into vehicles and headed into town. On the corner of D street and Fifth is 'Detonation Boulevard', right near a tatoo parlor, a coffee shop, and an occult store. This shop though is a place for things Music and music adjacent. Evan has his own guitar in its own case hanging off his shoulder as he leads the way in, looking around he goes "whoaaaa."


Lorna arrives on her vintage cycle, but is hot on the heels of Evan on arrival. She looks about and blinks. "I...er..I..." She then coughs, covering her mouth, and looks a little nauseous, before regaining some composure.


Jackie follows in behind Evan, letting herself be pulled in along in his wake. She follows his gaze around the room, looking a bit less impressed but based on a lack of understanding and full appreciation of what she's looking at. She looks over to the woman at the counter and gives a wave accompanied by a cheerful smile. "Yes, actually! I'm here to get a guitar. My first one, in fact. This here's my friendly expert." She hooks a thumb at Evan.


Jordan smiles at that; the young woman nods agreement and comes out from behind the counter. "Are you looking for entry-level pricing as well? Our stock is better quality than most of the entry-level instruments you'll find in big-box places, of course, but there's a lot of range price-wise. Are you looking electric or acoustic, to start?" She's cheerful, and seems knowledgeable.

From behind the plexiglass in the back, a small woman with blonde-brown hair pops out, dressed in jeans and a loose tee for an old, old Iron Maiden tour. She removes safety goggles, and observes for the moment, clearly willing to take over if need be.


Evan is fascinated and looking around, when Jackie points at him he re-focuses and nods "Yeah! And I was pondering a Violin. I had to leave my old one behind when I moved here, want to replace it before I get too out of practice. Acoustic for the guitar, and I was advising going for something nicer up front that'll actually sound good and we wanted to shop somewhere we could actually hear them properly first."


Lorna occupies herself browsing, though she knows sod all about the instruments. She can appreciate the pretties. And when someone pops out in an old t-shirt she blinks, then grins, and remarks in a manner utterly unhelpful to shopping. "World Slavery Tour? Seriously? My parents met at the Newcastle gig!" She rolls up a sleeve and displays her Iron Maiden tattoo - one if several she owns, on various body parts. "Up the Irons!"


Jackie nods at the employee, smiling. "Yeah, what he said. Which makes sense, I figure like most tools you get what you pay for and the good stuff lasts. And then if I actually manage to get good at it, then I'll think about an electric one too. Oh, and I'm Jackie, he's Evan."

She glances towards the back at Lorna's exclamation. "Hey, look at that, Lorna's found a kindred spirit."


Janneke smiles, and pops in. "Here, Jo, let me take over. Hi, it's good to meet you all! I'm JJ, almost everything here has been fixed or reconditioned by me." She blinks and beams at the revelation, and blurts out, "Oh, I loved that album so much, I made my fingers bleed hard learning 'Two Minutes to Midnight' a while back. This one's vintage, but... well, we do a lot of vintage shirts here. I buy out whole collections because people love the authentic shirts!"

She comes off cheerful, chatty, and sincere; her accent is East Coast, but not terribly heavy. "So we're looking at an acoustic. I have a few I like for newer students, if you can give me a price range. I have a really nice Taylor Academy that we just got in a few weeks ago, great sound. Only issue with it was the tuning pegs, which I fixed. It's somewhere around... um, call it $550, and that's a giveaway. But it's honestly the one I'd most recommend. Now, I know that's a lot of cash, so there's also a Fender CD-60S, nice mahogany piece, has a great neck. That one is brand new, pricing is usually around $200 but I can do $175 out the door with the gig bag."


Lorna just grins "If you got any more of those shirts, or posters, I'll take the lot. My parents would EXPLODE if I sent them back that stuff. Major brownie points for me. But yeah, sorry. I am sort of getting in the way of the sale. I shall let the musical people do their thing!"


Evan grins broadly "Mine was a gift from one of my mom's endless horde of cousins and I have no idea how much they paid for it. I can play it so it sounds real pretty though." Then to Lorna "Maybe they have sheet music for that song you were requesting earlier. I'll get it and learn it if they do, even if it might sound a little odd on an acoustic." To Jackie "Give them both a try and see how they feel, sometimes the right one just...calls you."


Jackie looks around at the hanging instruments, unable to pick out the ones mentioned by name or appearance yet. She nods at Evan, then looks back to JJ with a grin and growing enthusiasm. "That sounds like a good plan to me! Is around five or six hundred what you'd consider the high or top end for a beginner then?"


Janneke ohhs and grins. "I've got a signed poster from the Trooper single image, the redcoat Eddie with the Union Jack one. I have a shirt from that tour, too, in..." She thinks. "A large, I think. I have a LOT of Maiden merch, it sells like hotcakes."

She leads them over to the walls, first, and gets the tall young man stocking the poles of garments to fetch down two guitars and place them in empty stands. While he's doing this, she flips through the shirts, and motions Lorna over. "Here's all the Maiden shirts, sizes range from kids on a few to four-XL, depending on who you want them for. The oldest one dates back to the Clive Burr days from Number of the Beast, but it's honestly showing its age." She then steps aside to make room for her to browse.

The first guitar down is the Taylor, and she picks it up almost tenderly, and offers it to Jackie, smiling. "I wouldn't personally go over 500 or 600 for a beginner, because you might not enjoy doing it once you're learning. There's a lot of money to be put into instruments, but until you know what you like in the feel and sound of one, you don't really have the level of preference to go for the expensive ones, you know? It's like buying a car. When you know you want a coupe, you don't buy an SUV, but when you're first learning, you might not know what you want yet."

To Evan, she adds, "I've had a bunch of violins pop up, all in very good to excellent condition, from students who gave it up. I have a few Yamahas, which are really the best of the bunch here, and also a Revelle and a couple of Knillings and Cremonas. I personally like the sound on the Yamahas, but that would be a matter for your ears. Because they're used, the prices are a lot better -- I could do a couple of the Yamahas between 6 and 700 complete out the door. They'd usually be more, but I wound up with more than I need."


Lorna browses the merchandise thoughtfully. She would buy it all if she had the cash, but while Erin is a good employer, she is hardly forking out six figures for a mechanic, even one as good as Lorna. So she has to choose carefully, but she is absolutely going to take the signed poster. "Makes sense. You don't want an old jalopy, but nobody buys a ferrari to take their first lesson. Nobody sane does, anyway. I suppose some dumb rich kid might. And you are definitely not dumb. Nor that rich." She grins impishly.


Evan nods at the suggestion "I'll be guided by your suggestion of your stock, after Jackie's checked out the guitar of course. That's our priority for the day." And he turns to Jackie to listen.


Jackie accepts the Taylor carefully, rotating it around and putting the sling around her neck. As she adjusts her grip it's clear to any expert that she has more Guitar Hero than guitar playing in her history, but she's at least done a bit of reading on the right way to do things at this point. But once her fingers start handing the pick, they show off a fair amount speed and precision. She sticks with the song she tried last time, and manages a recognizable attempt at the riff from Metallica's Enter Sandman. She looks up and around at the peanut gallery after a minute or two of going through it. "So, how did that sound?"


Janneke grins at Lorna. "Precisely," she agrees, having figured that once the woman saw the stock, she'd want to browse. She tugs a couple of shirts off various places on the rack and hands them over to the young man, who brings them up front, no explanation given.

She nods to Evan, her smile offering an open sort of friendliness -- but more, it seems like there's a genuine nature to it, not just a saleswoman getting people to buy stuff. "No problem, one thing at a time, right?"

As Jackie takes the guitar, JJ prepares to hold her smile no matter what. She's seen some BAD renditions of "Stairway" in her day. This, however, is not bad. She nods, head bobbing, and says, "For someone just starting, you're doing well. You have good hands and good speed. Those'll help a *lot*. And if you're playing by ear, that's also a good sign, a lot of people can't."


Lorna applauds, as she leans on the counter. "I'd say you got a nice rapport going on there! How did it feel though? Only you know for sure if it is what was meant for you. Best try a few to be absolutely certain!" She browses the shirts, but keeps talking. "Just remember, same as driving. Don't worry about speed at first. Just try not to hit anybody." Her grin is impish.


Evan applauds also and nods in agreement with Lorna and JJ "Its one of the reasons I didn't switch tracks to suggesting another instrument after she tried it on my guitar the other night. Coming at it cold, with no prep. I think she could be real good with some practice."


Jackie grins, the car metaphors working perfectly for her. "Alright, no hitting people, I promise. I wouldn't want to scratch the finish or anything. But yeah, I think it feels good, not that I have a lot to compare it to so far. It is a bit different from the Rock Band controllers though." She grins, and unslings the instrument to hand it back over to JJ. Ok, what was the other one you wanted me to try? And which was this, the coupe or the SUV?"


Janneke nods her agreement with Evan, saying, "I mean, you guys don't know me so my opinion is worth whatever, but I think there's some real potential here," smiling at them all with an easy mien. "And this one is the coupe, but the next one is more a compact than anything -- practical, but I find it less... I'm trying to find a word for it. The neck doesn't feel as good." She takes the Taylor and switches for the Fender. "Also keep in mind that I have short arms, so for me, it may be partly that. And I play bass by preference, so you can imagine the reaching." The fender is presented to Jackie, the Taylor places back in the rack.

She also tells the young man, "Grab the Little Martin, too, just so she can try it?" She turns back to the others. "Don't panic, it's not a full-on top-line Martin, it's an introductory Martin, so it's only around... 375? Thereabouts."


Lorna shakes her head "I could not do this. I would want to own, like, everything. It'd bankrupt me in a week. It took ages for me to reassemble my bike. If I tried to do the same with a vintage instrument, I'd probably lock myself in a workshop and that would be the last anybody would ever see of me." [Weather] Prospect Weather Report for Thursday, May 25, 01:00 pm: Current conditions: Overcast / Temperature: 62.0 F (16.7 C)


Evan gets a little impressed and then relieved when JJ mentions the Martin "One of my teachers had a Martin that he said cost him almost ten grand. It was a real nice instrument though. He played some Ritchie Blackmore pieces on it that were just amazing."


Jackie takes the Fender and goes through the same sequence, this time focusing more on the differences in how it feels in her grip and how naturally her hands find their place in comparison to the Taylor. She chews her lower lip as she gets through the bit of song again and winds down, weighing the two for a moment. "Hmmmm, I think I may be a coupe girl? This is good, but I think I liked the first one a little better? Figures I'd like the more expensive one, right?" She grins at JJ, clearly not begrudging that fact as she returns the Fender.


Janneke laughs brightly and nods. "Oh, trust me, some days it's hard. But I was a collector for myself, and then I realized I was keeping all these neat as hell things from people who were such huge fans... so I figure, this is how I share the love. A lot of those concert shirts were my own collection, too. I trimmed myself down to about 50. But... well, the instruments, I'm working on a rebuild project of my own. I have one of those Gene Simmons axe basses Kramer put out, but they're fucking awful instruments. Cool looking, but awful. So I'm trying to build one of my own from scratch that looks like it, but sounds better."

JJ grins at the mention of the Martin. "Oh, yeah, one of the 'no-frills' models they make is still around $700? But the sound... it's hard to beat the sound out of a Martin. Ten grand of a guitar, I'd cry if someone sneezed on it. And Blackmore... the only reason I know how to play a mandolin a little is Blackmore's Night."

JJ takes back the Fender, and offers over the Little Martin. "This is the brand we were just talking about. It's good for a starter, but it's smaller, this one. I also have a Martin in the $700 range, but truthfully, I think the Taylor would work for you well. Just want you to have options, and this one's solid as well."


Lorna rummages through the shirts and things, and makes a couple of selections. Hard to not take them all, but she does have to do things like... eat. Feed a wooly mammoth who pretends to be a dog. Things like that. "I sympathise. After doing a total restoration of my bike, if someone even breathes too heavy near it, I get these urges to scream and reach for weapons."


Evan nods at JJ and grins as Jackie works her way through the guitars "Listening to the solo in 'Fires at Midnight' is what made me understand that I needed to get into Electric guitars someday. Glorious. I could probably make it work on acoustic too but it wouldn't be the same."


Jackie moves on to the Martin, starting to get the hang of this a little more as she goes. She tilts her head a bit, angling an ear down toward the instrument as she focuses. "I think I can hear what you mean, but I'm not quite sure yet. It does feel easier to hold than the other two though, maybe because my arms and legs are a little long for my height? Anyway, I'd call this my favorite so far."


Janneke ooohs. "A restored bike? Oh, I have to ask, what kind? I can do a few fixes on my car but nothing serious. Last time I had an issue I brought it to Erin's." She nodnods and says, "I think I would cry if someone harmed a bike I'd restored."

She ooohs and says, "Oh, the way he makes a guitar sound like a guitar *and* bagpipe on that track is pretty amazing. I saw them a while back in New York... gah, sometime in the 2000's.. at this little former church and oh, the *acoustics* were so good. We were all there in Faire Garb and we had so much fun. But... yeah, I don't think it would work as well on acoustic, but hey, if you're Blackmore..."

JJ notes, "Electrics are thinner-bodied for the most part, so going in that direction should be comfortable for you. The only thing you lose on the smaller body is a little of the low end, which is more of a concern when you're performing or composing. Martin makes guitars with good body sound overall."


Lorna chuckles. "If you bring anything to Erin's these days, chances are that it'll be more Jackie who works on it. Erin's taken a bit of a backseat with the mechanic work since the latest sprog popped out. Focused on being a mother. Good for her. I enjoy taking up the slack. And my bike is a 1954 BSA A7SS Shooting Star, with a 1966 Watsonian Grand Prix sidecar. In mint green. Parked out front. Took four years to source and afford all the parts I needed. Was a labour of love!"


Evan nods at JJ and grins nerding out about music "He can do whatever he wants with any sort of guitar. Him and Carlos Santana." Then when mechanics are getting discussed "I should probably learn to drive eventually, I've always lived places with public transportation so I haven't gotten around to it."


Jackie smiles at JJ, nodding in response to Lorna's statements. "Right, I do some work at Madd Modds part time these days, helping out when and where needed. And Lorna helped me rebuild an old Indian bike there last year too. So if you get any car trouble, be sure to call us before anyone else! For today though, I think I'm going to go with the Martin, unless anyone feels like trying to warn me off of it?"


Jackie leans over to whisper to JJ when she gets a moment. "Also, put their stuff on my bill. I owe them, and Evan needs a welcome to Prospect gift. Make sure he gets what he wants, too, not something he's settling on to save a couple hundred bucks, ok?"”


Janneke whispers back, “You bet. I'll make sure Jordan knows, up front.”


Janneke nods and says, "Definitely. Honestly, I don't know how she has the time to do everything she does, she's a wonder. Three kids, a business, all the other things she does." She looks to Jackie and oohs at the thought of the young musician-in-progress also working on cars. "I'll keep that in mind. I don't mind working on barter if it's allowed through the boss."

Back to Lorna: "You don't see a lot of BSAs around. Mint green? Oooh. Okay, I love it already. When I bring everyone to the cash register I'll pop outside and gape at it a bit. Someday I want something more fun than my boring SUV that I use to pick up inventory."

JJ uh-huhs and says, "I'd pay good money to see either of them play 'Three Blind Mice' for two hours, totally agreed." She mms and notes, "Well, public transportation's not bad here, but this is also a good climate for a motorcycle, if you'd prefer that." And she motions toward Lorna with that. "And it's somewhat less expensive on maintenance, from what I hear. Friend of mine loves her bike, I keep thinking about getting my own. But I'd need a little bitty one, I'm not that big." She grins.

She nods, and sends Tall Guy to the back for the bag and the other included items, saying, "I think you'll be really happy. And if not, I do take things back. 60 days, trade-in-value-only after, but still." She murmurs an exchange with Jackie and says, "Oh, yeah, we have a ton of guitar straps! And a little something... you like classic metal?" She comes up with a fake book that's in very good condition but used, that covers bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and a selection of American and NWOBHM Metal bands. "There's some things to try out for you, if you want the chords and fingering notes." She adds it to the gear, with an 'On the house.'


Lorna pays for her own choices. "CLimate is better for the bike here, but took me a while to adjust. I grew up in a place where it rains a lot. We get snow in June. Trust me, they make us hardy up north in England. WHen i got here, I melted on a daily basis, but there's no doubt it is kinder to vehicles. And if you want a bike, just come by the shop. I'll help you find a perfect fit. Just like you do with instruments. Labour of love, that is what it is!"


"Cool, thanks! I'll take a look at those straps while Evan takes his turn looking at the violins." Jackie smiles and takes the book, already flipping through it as she heads over to the rack display of straps and starts her browsing.


Lorna looks at Jackie then laughs a little. "I owe you one, then. The trip here was definitely a great idea. My mam is going to flip out when these packages arrive!"


Evan grins and nods "I grew up on the Niagara River, right near the Falls. So Cold and Wet. I gotta say though, its really nice here. I really like it." As Jackie finishes up he steps up, clearly a little excited "I've played a Yamaha before, I am almost certain it'll do unless this one is really different. I had an Eastman that I used some but It wasn't really clear if it was *mine* so I didn't bring it when I left."


Janneke nods and says, "I have a Yamaha here, an Eastman, and a Knilling. What styles do you play? I was trying for a diverse group for you. I've never had anyone unhappy with a Yamaha, I'll say that. But each has its own sound. That Knilling has a slight sweetness to it, not sure what it is, but it just gives a very... appealing sort of resonance."


Lorna has her goodies, and is a very happy little metalhead. She watches the instrument discussion curiously. It is outside her experience, but sheis always happy to learn, and is definitely fond of seeing people who really know their field, enjoying their subject.


Evan considers how to explain Fianna tribal ballads and teaching songs for a moment before deciding "Irish Traditional. And some American Folk music. I can do classical but its not my favorite." And he clearly means what he says and is passionate about the topic. After a brief thought "Lets try the Knilling then, I've got just the thing I think."


Janneke smiles at the passion; she may be a rock n' roll girl, but she has an appreciation for music of all sorts, especially when well-performed. She hands over the Knilling and the accompanying bow, her face interested and expectant. Clearly, she wants to see just what the multi-instrument-player has to show.


Lorna gives a wry smile. Evan treading carefully around the subject is something she can relate to. But she waits to hear what he produces. She might not be into the genre, but she is very happy to see an artiste at work!


Evan smiles as he prepares himself and the violin to play, clearly knowing what he's doing and being careful and respectful of the instrument. Then he starts to play, JJ said it had a sweetness and Evan picked a song to play to that. Nothing exotic, nothing complicated but a song that he and probably the audience know well so that his skill and the instrument will be what matters. He closes his eyes and begins to play https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK2jFtd3SRg


Janneke goes silent, and listens. And then... her eyes go wide as she listens to the young man's hands on the instrument, the restrained passion of the song singing out over the noise of the shop. She says, very softly, at the end, "...oh..." and she swallows, clearly seeing, or understanding, something beyond the basic 'guy playing a violin' there. He's... "Your fingerwork is *exquisite*," she tells him quietly when he finishes the short piece. She's at a bit of a loss for anything more to say for the moment.


Lorna listens, and then shakes her head to clear it. "Damn, mate, that's one hell of a skill you got there! If that is what you produce on that instrument, I really think you need to marry it!"


Evan grins and sighs as he opens his eyes when he's done and he nods in agreement with Lorna "Oh I think this one and I will get along just fine." Then to JJ he grins "Thank you. I haven't gotten to practice properly in like a month almost."


Janneke smiles at that -- when someone knows their instruments, they can make those decisions easily enough. She gets a bag to pack it in, and writes up a slip for the register, helping Evan get the violin back into the case and smiling. "If that's you without a month of practice, I want to hear you play when you're all prepped," she says sincerely.