riverview | (not at all) accidental video; @maedae

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Jon doesn't know what to make of it, but talking cat > everything else is clearly the answer. So he claps tentatively and politely with a faint smile on his lips. ]

It's a good . . . start?

[Holy shit, this kid's gotta be like eight or nine or something. The fact that he's trying to pay her a genuine complement just slightly overtakes that initial shock.]

Uh, thanks? It's sorta been awhile and I just got this thing back, so I figured. [SHRUG.] You guys weren't really supposed to see that, though. Sorry.

[It's kinda surprising just how easy it is for her to lie to a child.]

[ Jon is still fairly naive, so he takes it all at face value. ]

Lots of people seem to into guitars lately. You're the second person I've seen.

Oh, word? [She just barely remembers seeing Ellie's network post the other day, so that's probably what he means.]

I was in a band back home, so this isn't like. Super new to me. Just kinda trying to work the kinks out.

What was your band called?

Were they all animals? Was it just cats?

[ Jon, that's insensitive. ]

[There's a VERY audible and poorly-concealed sigh on her end. Kid please you are killing her.]

Well, I'm not really a cat? Just getting that out there, for the record. I think Bea's the only one of us with scales though, so that's something.

But yeah, we never really settled on a name. Never really play out or anything, so I guess there isn't much point?

[ This time he catches onto the sigh, wondering if he should back off . . . ]

Then . . . why have a band?

[Okay maybe that was a little unfair of her. He's just a kid, it's not like he'd know any better.]

'Cause it's fun? Why does anyone have a band? I mean it's not like we could play if we wanted to. Everyone's busy with jobs and adult stuff.

[ Oh. ]

Yeah. That's the worst. I guess bands are fun if you have the friends.

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]

[ Superboy appreciates your efforts. ]

I guess? I don't have many friends.

[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.

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

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

[ He perks up with an AWESOME idea. ]

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

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]

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

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

(not at all) accidental video; @maedae

[ video | un: jkent ]

audio

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject