track 1

[dethangel]

[There's a weird sound coming through the Murmur to anybody who happens to connect, the quiet tinny noise of an electric guitar being played without amplification. There's a soft layer of how it's supposed to sound laid over it, a distorted rhythmic chugging straight from Toki's own brain, but it fades in and out as he works things out.

His voice as he sings is hesitant, stopping every so often to try different phrasing, in both Norwegian and English, so sometimes things rhyme and sometimes they don't, depending on word choice and translation. Sometimes he swears a lot. He can be pretty easily interrupted, so once he notices the connection form, he laughs. He was sort of trying to send it out so whoever it's for would know what he's doing, but he doesn't exactly know if he's doing it right or not.]

Oh! Uh, hi, I'm doing a song. For "Her." Because a guy told me to, so I could get a guitar.

[You know, reasonable stuff to do. He's obviously got the guitar, so he's got that going for him.]

Just gotta... finish it.

[It's more serious than what he usually comes up with for himself, after all.]

Comments

[scowlish]

[The sensations that come through the Murmur might be familiar to Toki - the feeling, for a moment, of being in the deep woods of Finland, sun cutting through the branches overhead, the scent of rain in moss. The feeling of Toki is a little familiar to Onni as well.

He's even more surprised when he recognizes the Norwegian words for what they are.]

You're Norwegian.

[A soft exhalation.]

Who is "her"?

[dethangel]

[Toki's reciprocal vibe feels a little harsh, although a glimpse of an abandoned village in the snowy woods cuts just as quickly to a dark and dingy record store that's much more pleasant.]

Yep!

[Thanks to... whatever's going on with this place, it's been easier to just go with Norwegian than his not so amazing grasp of English, but coming up with lyrics brings a sort of extra intent to the words.

The question is... well, one he's not so sure of himself.]

I... don't know? I thought, maybe she'd want to hear it, and then I'd know who it is.

[Could be all kinds of ladies around here who want a song, after all.]

[scowlish]

[Onni catches that flash of a snowy woodland village, and it reminds him of home, though it's obvious the other man doesn't particularly want to dwell on it, so he leaves it be.]

I'm from Finland.

[For a moment he's quiet, completely puzzled by that answer.]

So you don't know who you're writing a song for a woman you don't know on the suggestion of a man you don't know?

[dethangel]

Oh, cool.

[And it is! Even though there seem to be a few people around here, he doesn't think he's run into anybody who's from anywhere near where he's from, even if he hasn't lived there in a while.]

So, uh... sometimes when you write a song for somebody, you don't know them, you know? They're just buying it. So this is like that.

[He talks nonchalantly about it, like it doesn't seem particularly odd to him.]

I told the guy I'd do it, so I'm doing it. I got the guitar and everything so it worked!

[sorte]

A guitar was your priority in this place, huh?

[ sometimes you just gotta do your thing, he gets it, but still. ]

Some guy just gave you a guitar?

[dethangel]

He told me where the guitar store was!

[So that's basically giving him one. He sure as hell didn't know where to go.]

I... thought it'd be nice to have one. In case I needed it.

[sorte]

Did it need fixing or anything? I guess i wouldn't have expected a guitar to remain in good condition in this place's state, but...

[dethangel]

I had to change a string, but it was pretty nice. It was in a case, and then they had it locked up. Maybe they were saving it for someone?

[Well, now it turned out that whoever they were saving it for ended up being him, long after they'd left.]

I don't think a lot of people went in there to take stuff? There was still stuff, just a lot was in bad shape.

[sorte]

Hmm. I'm wondering if this place had many people left after its catastrophe to try and take much of anything. It's true if the situation was dire on a large scale, people would be less likely to loot a music store.

[dethangel]

Right... you'd want to get food and stuff, why all the food places don't have a bunch of stuff left.

[Everything just happened to work out nicely enough for him to get what he wanted, although of course he has that guy to thank for getting there.]

I wonder what other cool stuff's out there that nobody wanted?

[sorte]

What else did they have at the store? Did you notice?

[dethangel]

Uhhh... well, a lot of stuff was broken, but I found some strings and stuff. And maybe there was more locked up, but I was glad to find what I found.

[sorte]

Did it look broken as in something or someone destroyed it or simply abandoned and perhaps ransacked by survivors at some point?

[dethangel]

I think it was just... there wasn't anybody to take care of it. Maybe someone went in to mess around with stuff but they left because there wasn't anything they could use in there? I don't think anybody got really mad and went in hitting stuff with stuff or anything.

[sorte]

Good to know. Can I ask where the store is? I'd like to take a look.

[dethangel]

Yeah, yeah, hold on, I wrote it down!

[He pauses for a second.]

25 West 14th Street. That's where it is!

[sorte]

Thanks, I'll be checking it out.

[dethangel]

Cool, let me know if you find anything fun!

[offseers]

[ noah's expression brightens. ]

You found an instrument? Did you see any others?

[dethangel]

A lot of stuff was broke or gross, but I think there could be more! Or if you're really good at fixing stuff, maybe you can do that. It didn't look like a lot of stuff got smashed or anything.

[It was mostly just stuff being in bad shape because of how abandoned everything was. It hadn't seemed like anyone went through there looking for food.]

[offseers]

[ hm. flutes can be tricky as woodwinds. but it's better than nothing. ]

I guess I'll have to try. I need a flute.

[dethangel]

Hmmmm... I don't know if I saw any of those. But I wasn't looking for those, I was looking for a guitar. They had stuff that was extra locked up so it didn't get too hurt.

[First person to raid the Guitar Center in a long time, apparently.]

It's the Guitar Center at, uhh... hold on... 25 West 14th Street if you know how to get there!

[Might as well pass on his knowledge in case other people need it.]

[offseers]

I can find it.

[ probably. having streets is a fairly new phenomenon but he's a military man. figuring out locations and distances is something noah could do in his sleep. he wishes everyone had an iris. it's much easier than . . . this. ]

Why were you looking for one?

[dethangel]

Because that's what I play!

[He can play keyboard too, but at least an electric guitar can make some noise without electricity. A keyboard's kind of useless on its own.]

So... I thought I should have one. Just in case.

[You never know when you need it.]

[offseers]

Just in case of . . . what?

[ that's the part he can't quite follow. ]

[dethangel]

In case I need it!

[He doesn't seem to see what the issue is here.]

If I needed it but I didn't have it, that'd suck.

[offseers]

Need it for what?

[ he needs his flute for offseeing. it'd be nice to compose his own music, but that's far down the line.

music can exist for fun. entertainment. for music itself, but he can't say for certain right now. ]

[dethangel]

You know... when you gotta play a guitar?

[This place seems a little too late for any kind of song of salvation, but it's still a good idea to have one on hand. Not for practicing, though.]

I think it'd be good to have a whole band too... but I can do what I can with what I have.

[offseers]

[ people have called noah empty-headed, which. not wrong entirely. this is a new level though. still, he doesn't begrudge. it's kind of neat. but he does feel . . . concerned. ]

So you're all set on . . . supplies and food and everything else?

[dethangel]

I got some stuff!

[That's not... completely an answer to the question, and he answers it a little too quickly.]

Don't worry, I'm okay.

[offseers]

[ well. he's definitely concerned now. ]

"Stuff"?

[dethangel]

Yeah, I got stuff to eat and everything. So you don't have to worry about that.

[It's not the first time he's had to forage for food or whatever, and he's doing fine so far!!]

And now I got this.

[offseers]

[ hm. HM. ]

Have you ever done this before?

[dethangel]

Yeah?

[He's not entirely sure what particular "this" is in question here.]

There were more people around though...

[offseers]

Normally, yes.

But none of us are in a normal world.

Do you have a weapon to protect yourself?

[dethangel]

I found a bat.

[It's just as beat up as most things around here, but a big stick's a big stick all the same.]

Couldn't find anything cool like a flamethrower.

[offseers]

[ noah has heard of all kinds of weapons, but a "bat" is unfamiliar to him. flamethrower at least makes sense. ]

I suppose that's better than nothing.

[dethangel]

Yeah, it'll be fine!

[None of his problems have really involved anybody trying to hurt him yet, so hopefully it'll stay that way.]

You don't have to worry about ol' Toki.

[offseers]

[ he is a touch worried, but. there isn't much he can do about it right now. ]

If you say so.

Just . . . be careful, all right? If you need combat training or help. just ask.

[dethangel]

Okay! I'll remember to do that.

[He's doing well for himself so far, but "combat training" makes him think about being able to kick some guy's head off or something, so maybe when he can settle down enough he'll go for that.]

You be careful too, for if I need that!

[offseers]

[ noah smiles. ]

Of course. I'm a trained solder. So I'm a little used to things.

[dethangel]

Yeah, they probably train you about a lot of stuff.

[Like kicking some guy's head off.]

But I'll do okay!

[offseers]

All right. As long as you're sure.

[ he just has to have a little faith. ]

[dethangel]

Yep! See you later.

[And he means it!]

[moonsomnia]

( interesting. the last thing kafka expected to hear through any connection was music. that soft layer keeps her tuned in, though the distortion sets her on edge. she's coming to understand the Murmur as something… unpredictable, so her bristling is curbed by the laughter. )

Hi, ( said as one would greet a friend. ) Doing a song for someone sounds good but the reasoning is a bit…

( wait. "Her"? something about the way it's said makes kafka wonder—about a dream. or a reality. she's still not sure but, for now: )

I'd ask if this "Her" is special to you but if you're doing a song for a guitar, I'm guessing she's not?

[dethangel]

Well... it's like when someone pays you to write a song, you know? Like... your manager goes, oh, you guys need to write this stuff for this thing, and then you do it, and you didn't even really know anything about the coffee guy, right?

[Sure, he's generally not doing much if any of the songwriting himself in cases like that, but he's seen enough of it to know how it works.]

So I was supposed to offer this lady a song, so now I'm writing it 'cause I offered.

[Since he's doing it solo, he has to do all the writing parts himself.]

I hope she likes it!

[moonsomnia]

Oh? Very true, I hadn't considered that. I'd assumed you were a cupid. Or struck by one. So you're already landing jobs here, how resourceful. I wonder if you'd know where I can find this guy you mentioned?

( not that she thinks she can write a song too, but someone who can offer a guitar must have resources... right? )

Sounds like you're a trustworthy guy. Well, how's the song coming along? You like it?

( even if it's not the sort of gesture she'd assumed, as far as she's concerned: )

Having something made for you always feels special, right? I hope she likes it too. You can keep working, I hope you don't mind my listening in until this... connection ends.

[dethangel]

Uhhh... well, it was a wrong number? Like, with the mask, I think he was looking for somebody else? So I don't really know how you find him.

[Hopefully he'll be able to find him again, though. He'd like to show him his work, and he seemed nice to talk to. He's always looking for friends!!]

I think it's going good! Just gotta come up with stuff. Usually they at least tell you what the song's supposed to be about. Like coffee, or gum, or looking both ways before crossing the street...

[But he's enjoying having full creative control for his first commissioned song.]

So I guess you can listen if you want! Stuff might not make sense though.