Music in the Park (Open)

[Mordechai]

Settled in near the fireplace, the massive killer kept one hand wrapped around the hand of his kennedy, as a boot tapped in rhythm to the voice from the stage. It was a subtle movement, just a light tap. but the thud of the New Rock attached to his foot sent light tremors out across the floor. When it was ended for sure, and Bartimas was packing up, Mordechai gave a slight tug, then lifted kennedy up and settled her in his lap as he watched the musician lifting his cases. He knew better than to offer too much help, to steal his independence, but as he had reacted well to the last telepathic sending, the killer decided to just wait, and give him a subtle nudge, if a crash an burn were imminent.


Mordechai's hands circled kennedy's waste as he rested his chin on her shoulder, answering Pi. "My main business is midknight armaments dealing with weapons import/export and we have branched successfully into general sales and custom gunsmithing. I also run a small pest exterminating business on the side. It is called eXtreme Prejudice." Mordechai hugged kennedy to him, his hands sliding under the hem of her sweater to caress the flat planes of her muscled abdomen with his calloused fingertips. "I have had them for some time now, they are doing quite well" Lowering his head he placed a gentle kiss on top of the brunette allurist's head, inhaling the subtle scent of lavender as he did. Turning his head towards the oncoming blind artisan, a rare smile graced his visage. "Bartimas, i would like you to meet my kennedy. Before I heard your music, she was my sole saving grace." Lowering his head he lightly dragged the tips of his fangs along the nape of her neck, concealing them from the humans with small nibbles of his lips before raising his head once more. "Your music is amazing. I have no other words to describe it. Your voice, your voice carried away all of the patrons here, there was not one that was unmoved."

As always his eyes were roving his surroundings, no matter who he was talking to, or what he was doing, and has his hands slid up, the 'V' of his thumbs and forefingers gave some unneeded extra support to kennedy as his finger gently hugged her to him. his eyes locked on to the smallish dark haired woman that appeared to be approaching their settee. A small burst of power left him and enveloped her for a split second, as he read her. A shadow. That would explain the rest. She appeared to be above average at theft and hacking, two things that shadows excelled at. He did not fear her fighting abilities, but he made sure that one of his New Rocks was clear of any obstruction. If trouble started the Fairbairn Sykes secreted within could be drawn almost instantaneously. The woman was headed for their area, and appeared to know Pi as she addressed her by name. At the hurried greeting aimed at the rest, The killer merely nodded an acknowledgement as his fingertips began tracing the outlines of kennedy's individual abdominal muscles.

[Pi dArtois]

Pi smiled at “I might talk to you about your weapons exports one day. We might have something in common there.” Pi replied

Pi watched Mordechai slip his hand into Kennedy’s waistband and arched her eyebrow. Public displays of affection were so awkward. How was one meant to react to that? Not at all, or stare and appreciate the show? Pi rather thought his touching & feeling was for his own benefit and figured as well that commenting on it wasn’t the thing either. But there they were, standing together and he had his hand up her shirt, what was a person meant to do with it? Ignore it, that’s what.

With that thought she averted her gaze and let it fasten rather desperately on Klara and made rather hurried introductions. “Klara, this is Kennedy & Mordechai” She swept them a small wave to indicate the two people, trying to show a modicum of aplomb at the couple’s current feeling and touching before introducing Bartimas. “This is who you heard. Bartimas… may I introduce Klara.”

There wasn’t much more Pi could add to the introduction. She didn’t really know that much about Klara, not beyond what small part they’d found out about one another on the family Crow. That might change one day, but it certainly didn’t help Pi with the current introductions. She knew the woman seemed to be quiet pleasant, shy almost but approachable and friendly and in this town approachable and friendly was always a good thing.

“He plays so well doesn’t he?” Pi answered Klara, but was looking at Bartimas himself, directing the compliment to him, even if he couldn’t see where her gaze was pointed.

[Kennedy]

A quiet chuckle slipped from Kennedy as Mordechai slipped her into his lap. She was surprised that he let her sit on her own for as long as he did but as the bar grew with more patrons, his possessiveness grew. Leaning back into him as she watched the man on stage pack up, still smiling at the beautiful music that he played. It was a delight and the serenity she felt from it was highly welcomed.

Her attention was pulled back to the table as Mordechai began to speak to Pi. She wanted to seem like the supportive and attentive companion that she was. Being an allurist didn't mean that every time there was a shiny object, she had to turn and look though at times, she caught herself doing so just out of curiosity. The smile lingered upon her lips as she listened to them talk about business...it wasn't her cup of tea but she knew that there was a lot of work and headaches that went into owning your own business and she wanted no part in it. Crossing her leg over the other as he hugged her closer to his body, letting his fingers boldly explore while in the company of others. Honey orbs looked up at the musician as he joined them at the table. "Hello. It's nice to meet you. I really enjoyed your set." She was sure that he would hear quite a bit of praise before he made it home for the evening so she didn't want to overly gush about his music to give others a chance to say their compliments.

As a woman approached them, she looked up at her. She was frantic and almost needy as she desperately tried to find out who was playing the music just moments before. The woman had addressed Pi so Kennedy kept her mouth closed as to not interrupt and smiled as the quick introduction was made toward Mordechai and herself. "Hello Klara. It's nice to meet you." Public displays of affection weren't foreign to her with being a former stripper and now being Mordechai's pet and companion. She often missed when others were awkward when the pair of them were touchy feely but Mordechai's intent was more bold when Klara had appeared. Looking back at him as she perked her brow, she gave him a look of 'what are you doing?' Not because she was uncomfortable but because it was different and not in a possessive way like he normally did, this was...almost as if he was trying to make someone jealous but she didn't know why. Mordechai would let her know if he chose or he would just leave her in the dark until later when she could verbally ask him in private.

[Klara]

Klara smiled and nodded as she looked at the couple who obviously had some sort of relationship going, blushing deeply, not used to seeing others showing this level of physical affection in public. “Hello to you both, it’s very nice to meet you.” She was not sure where she should be looking, trying to look at them without seeing what the man was doing to the lady. Turning, she then looked at the gentleman who had left the stage earlier and smiled happy and relieved he had not left.

Holding her hand out to shake his own, she took in his appearance and his demeanor. She wondered why he was playing here, he should be traveling the word on the biggest stages or maybe he did and this was just a place to relax and enjoying. “Hi, I’m Klara; it’s very nice to meet you.”

She looked to the entire group, “I’m so very sorry for interrupting your time” turning once again to the man named Bartimas, moving closer to him. “You are one of the most talented people I have had the pleasure to hear play and sing. The song you sang hit a nerve with me but it was more than that. It was your violin playing. I am a musician and I notice people’s personal styles.”

Klara was trying to find a way to ask without sounding crazy, “Well, your style reminds me of someone who was very dear to me once but they disappeared and I can’t find them anywhere. Would you be so kind to tell me who your violin teach was?”

It had been so long since she had seen Joseph, she had heard he was in Canada and to hear someone play so similar that it made her wonder if this man had studied under him and could shed some light as to where he might have gone.

She stood there trying to be patient waiting on his answer.

[Bartimas (DELETED 5582)]

How was one to handle a growing crowd? It was a difficult thing for the young man. After all the years making his way on the streets, not an easy thing to do with blindness, he would be the first to admit his social skills where a bit lacking. What was one to say to a growing group of people developing around him? He finds his cheeks reddening ever so slightly below the bottom edge of his mirrored sunglasses, namely at the heard conversation. His voice? It was a strange thing, in a way to be in the spotlight such as this. Playing out on the streets one was always a side not, a distraction. People would brush by… Either ignoring him, or stopping to listen a few moments, perhaps a few minutes, before tossing money into the open case of his guitar before moving along. This… Intensity, the amount of attention he was receiving, drawing… it was something new, unexplored. Although it was pleasant, almost able to feel the eyes on him. To feel the pull of the music, or the way it felt when everyone was listening and he could find just the right set of notes… That set of chords that just felt right. Perfect… Being born blind, he could never describe a color to someone. Although they felt… Golden, if one could describe the music with a color. Right, perfect, shining as if a star, although a star only the blind man could see, lingering in the air before him.

As he shifts in his seat, he becomes aware he had likely seemingly spaced out there a moment. A forceful show of energy should correct that, letting a warm smile form as his blind gaze tracks across the newly introduced, and in some cases, arrived people who have joined him. He starts with Mordechai’s words, more or less gauging the location of Kennedy based on her voice, where he could sense she was seated. Atop of his lap? His gaze was tracking more or less onto the couple, and one would be able to see his cheeks coloring at his moment of indecision of where to try and track his face’s orientation, settling for just facing the pair in general, rather than trying to focus his blind gaze onto where he could hear that individual’s voice come from, as he would normally do. His reply to Mordechai’s words, and indeed Kennedy’s, comes easily enough, with a wry little smile “It’s a pleasure to meet you Kennedy… I admit, all of this is a bit shocking to my system. It has been a very… Eventful few weeks for me. I admit, I am never really sure what to say when I meet someone new…” there is a faint self-deprecating smile drawn across his face for a moment before his gaze is drawn over towards Pi and the newcomer, Klara.

His attention is drawn first to where Pi’s voice would come from, politely making an attempt at a semblance of eye contact as per his usual as he says “Pleasure to meet you Klara… And as always, all I can say is I try… there is a certain pleasure in trying to do something as best as one can.” His cheeks do redden subtly, a hint of a blush there, an almost shy smile forming on his features as his hands rest upon his cane, holding the handle of it between his palms, not quite folding his hands over it, a relaxed sort of stance one might guess if they had been observing him. Clearly warming to company, overcoming the nerves that had been keeping him silent.

Klara draws his blind gaze next, tilting his head somewhat at her words. His expression twists, a hint of confusion entering it before he carefully thinks on precisely what it is she was saying. His tone is a hint bemused now, clearly not really sure what to say to this as he says “My style? I… Don’t rightly know what to say. An old man took me in when I was very young. His name was Paul… Its his violin Im carrying around..” for a moment, his hands become a bit fretful, the grip on his cane tightening somewhat as he says “I do not have very many people who have made such an effort in my past. The violin he gave me and the music he taught me kept me fed and warm when otherwise I would not have..’ He hesitates, his expression twisting. Sorrow… Flashes of memory. Old, warm hands on his own. ‘Like this Barty my boy… Like this. Feel the natural tension of your arm…’ He shakes his head a moment, aware his hands have been flexing, in something akin to distress at the memory, and where it lead, upon the cane. He manages, Mostly, to keep his voice even, and face more calm, trying to come back to that pleasant smile from previously as he replies “I… Was it someone named Paul? I… “ he bites his lip, carefully choosing his next words “I wish I could say it has been a long time since I saw him… But I never really did.” He touches the mirrored sunglasses covering his eyes, leaning back into his chair, deflated somehow, mind a whirl of memories and past at the moment

[Mordechai]

The killer let a small smile grace his lips as their hostess made the introductions, and nodded to the newcomer. "Greetings" Inhaling the scent of lilacs one last time, Mordechai lifted his kennedy to the seat beside him, retaining a hold on one hand as he listened to the flow of the conversation. Societal settings were not his cup of tea, to steal a phrase, but the presence of his kennedy, and the beauty of the impromptu concert given by the talented Bartimas, imparted enough peace that he was able to restrain the inner demons that sometimes drove him. Solitude had always been the fortress that he retreated to, but it seemed that he would have to find new avenues, if he were to keep the respect of the one he held dear. She was an animal of color and life, the complement to the darkness and death that wove a net about him. If she were lost, he feared it would begin a never ending spiral into the blackness.

Clearly Bartimas was much more talented at social interactions than the killer that sat before him. He excellently fielded the questions offered him, and showed a humility that was unneeded, but neither was it false. Mordechai's ears were locked upon the blind violinist, while his eyes continued to rove the clientele of the bar. No place was safe in this city, and with his kennedy in attendance, his guard would never drop. The words that flowed from from the violinist told of a past, that tho sad, was much more than that he had lived, and silently the killer absorbed it. His hand tightened almost imperceptibly upon kennedy's as her near presence allowed him to feel the sadness in Bartimas' closing statement.

[Pi dArtois]

From Klara to Kennedy to Bartimas and back, Pi’s gaze tracked the conversation, not interrupting or adding to any part of it, but willingly watching and listening. The art of conversation was a dance, a verbal repartee between people, giving and taking cues, asking and answering questions. She felt sorry for Bartimas, since he seemed to be the one doing most of the answering as people peppered him with questions. She supposed the talented were afflicted like that, mauled and fawned over as their talent targeted them as special, shining a bright light on the top of their heads and gravitated people towards them.

Isn’t that what her and Mordechai had done? Hadn’t they heard his music, playing softly into the chilled night, and stopped. They had both reversed their plans for that night, changed them, altering the course of their evenings in order to meet his man with his special gift. It was the draw of the music, the tantalizing promise of musical magic that drew people in.

Even now she could see stares sliding their way, envious and curious. Others in the bar who had just finishing watching this man weave his minuet through the crowd and were now left wanting more maybe? Questions asked at other tables along the lines of ‘who was that’.

Turning Pi looked towards the bar, her gaze questioning and she nodded to the server. It was a silent question, and not one Pi could expand upon because what else could she say to even one of her own staff. She knew no more about this man than he had volunteered in this, their brief acquaintance, but what she did know was good. A soft spoken man, with a very obvious talent. A heady mix that.

The conversation reached its peak, all questions answered by a man who had managed to field them all with an admirable aplomb. It was Klara’s turn, her volley in this tennis match, as Pi settled in to watch.

She rather thought too many people contributing to the conversation would just make it a bit manic and she was happy to keep her own counsel, at least for the moment.