(not at all) accidental video; @maedae

[trashmammal]

[The feed cuts in abruptly ( maybe a little too abruptly), revealing Mae sitting at the edge of her bed. Her head's cut off by the frame, leaving just a torso and a pair of fuzzy arms cradling what is probably the shittiest looking bass in the world. She plucks a couple strings experimentally, like she's still not entirely sure what to do with the damn thing.

Then she starts playing.

It's shaky as hell and she misses about as many notes as she hits and her bass is insanely out of tune, but the song's there. Kinda. About halfway through, she starts singing, just humming at first, then little "dah dah dah"'s in places where she can remember the rhythm but not the lyrics. It's only when the second chorus comes around that she really hits her stride.]

I just wanna diiie anywhere else!
If only I could diie anywhere else!
So come with me, let's diiie anywhere else!
A-ny-where
Just not here.

[Her singing voice is, ah, how you say not so good. Really it's more shouting than singing, but she's doing it with gusto. Eventually, the song comes to an uneasy finish, and Mae's left sitting there in silence for a couple more seconds before she turns and, in what's pretty obviously a prepared reaction, notices that she's recording.]

Oh, shit! [Said with all the convincing acting prowess of an eight grader.

She dips down, enough that you can see her face for about a fraction of a second, and practically slams her laptop shut, embarrassed and a little bit afraid.]

Comments

[trashmammal]

[Mae almost objects, but no it absolutely is her job to make sure her bass isn't a huge shitheap, and just like every other job she's gone and bungled it. Still, the offer kinda catches her off-guard.]

Uh, yeah, alright! Miiiiight have to look it up, cause I think Gregg might've scratched the label off? [and if he didn't do it then Mae definitely did] For real though, I'd really appreciate it. Feels like a project. Like fixing up an old roadster or something.

[trashmammal]

I think that's like the only way bands can be fun. Like, it's not gonna be a good time if you hate everyone else's guts, right?

[She is trying very hard not to be a downer here okay]

[trashmammal]

[who what

how is flirt????]

Uuuuh, wow, okay? I mean I am pretty warm, so I can see how it'd be kinda tempting?

[smokedout]

It'll be a little quicker than that, but sure. Unless you totally fucked it - warped the neck or something stupid like that. But from where I'm standing, it shouldn't take more than a couple hours to get it back in shape. Research included.

[In fact he's already replaying her video and making notes on any defining features of the bass, so he can look up the brand himself.]

[supersweet]

[ Superboy appreciates your efforts. ]

I guess? I don't have many friends.

@endsoftheearth, voice;

[earthy]

Uh... [???] Are you... all right?

[No one else seems the least bit concerned here, but...]

[morganknight]

[Ha ha, okay, that's cute. Probably the best reaction he could have hoped for.] I tend to run a bit warm too, honestly. But I don't notice temperature much.

audio

[trashmammal]

Yyyyeah? [why does he sounds so worried is there something on her face oh god]

Didn't notice the laptop turning on, I guess. Sorry about that.

[trashmammal]

Wow you are just crushing my dreams here, dude. You're a dream-crusher. We could've had a fun bonding moment and everything and you threw it all away![She tries to sound broken up about it but she's too damn happy for that to really work.]

So when're you be gonna be down to make this happen? I'm available pretty much 24/7, so whenever's good for you. [yes Mae does know she has a job that she has to go to, but that's clearly not as high on her list of priorities.]

[trashmammal]

[Okay that is legitimately kinda depressing.]

Oh man, sorry for talking your ear off about it then. That must really suck. Especially if they're all at home and you're... here.

[trashmammal]

It's kinda the same for me too, honestly. Only really feel it around the summer when shit gets all gross and swampy

[Mae that's because you wear pretty much the same clothes every day you got no place to talk about temperature]

[smokedout]

[Well... he has a flicker of anxiety for a moment, worried that she actually is beat up about it, but it doesn't show the next time he speaks.]

Bring the bass up to me tomorrow, I'll have some pegs and strings for it by then. I've got the first room on the fourth floor, it says 'DODGER' on the door so it's pretty damn obvious.

[supersweet]

No, it's cool! But I don't have many friends back home either. At least not enough to have a band.

[leadintheyoung]

There's nothing to apologize for, Mae. If you're out of practice, you're out of practice. That's something that can be fixed easily enough. As for my tone, I apologize. You could say my hearing is, um... sensitive?

[ She tilts her head with a smile all the same, wondering. ]

Did you write the lyrics yourself?

[morganknight]

[Mae, you should be like Morgan, who in fact has racks of identical black Armani T-shirts and khakis back home.]

Humidity sucks, I hear you there. That's why summer's for swimming and mountain climbing.

[trashmammal]

Really? Are you sure I won't confuse you for the thousands of other Dodger's that run through here on the daily?

[She's fully joking, this time, and it shows in her voice.]

For real though, thanks. I'll be up tomorrow and we can get this thing going so right.

[trashmammal]

I don't think there's, like, a minimum. You could have a band with just two people if you really wanted.

[trashmammal]

Sensitive to terrible, terrible bass-playing, I get you.

[She's not bitter in the slightest, please pay no attention to her tone. She shakes her head, mostly reflexive because she knows for a fact Lía can't see her.]

Nah. Yoooou don't wanna hear anything I've written, trust me. Think that one was either Casey or Bea.

[trashmammal]

[A true fashion icon]

Dude I would be climbing hells of mountains if i could find any. It's all hills and farms where I'm from.

[supersweet]

[ He perks up with an AWESOME idea. ]

Maybe I'll start a band here! Ellie is learning guitar anyway.

[morganknight]

[To be fair when you're as rich as Morgan and have a torso like his you start defining fashion instead of following it.]

Well hey, guess where we aren't. Bet we could go hiking and climbing here no sweat.

[trashmammal]

Wait what? She is?! Man how have I not heard about this yet? She's, like, my roommate. You're supposed to know these things when you're roommates!

[It's not her fault, right? Mae is usually either asleep or at work, so it's not like she's had time for that kinda thing]

[trashmammal]

That actually sounds like there'd be a lot of sweat. So, so much sweat. Deodorant-unraveling levels of sweat.

I'm in.

[supersweet]

[ He shrugs. Jon doesn't know how room mates work. ]

She just got it, sooo maybe that's why?

[morganknight]

I promise not to stink too much. But no promises on wearing a shirt.

[Morgan does love excuses not to wear a shirt...]

I got nothing going on -- when do you want to go?