video; @star.lord

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Distinguished and not-so distinguished residents of Riverview, hello.

Currently, you are graced with a mugshot of one Peter “Space-Duke” Quill and a view of the messier half of his shared apartment. In his hand is his trusty mp3 player – which boasts at least three hundred songs, holy crap, y’all – and while he has one bud in his ear, the other dangles from the wire. ]

So. Apparently if nothing else, this place has, like, all the music ever. So if I’ve gotta be stuck here, might as well make the most of it, right?

I’m on the hunt for somethin’ new. Tryin’ to play a whole lot of catch up. If anyone’s got any music recommendations, I’m all ears. Songs, artists, albums, weird, avant-garde stuff with a guy saying “number nine” over and over – hit me with your best shot. I’ll try anything once.

Also, uh.

[ A pause, and he turns the mp3 player’s face toward the camera. The screen happily displays the album art of The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 while “September” plays. Zunes, man!! Aren’t they rad? ]

Don’t suppose anyone here’s familiar enough with this that they can show me how to add stuff?

Comments

[bunnyhopped]

[ She realizes that had been a mouthful, of course, but she waits for him to process it all. His secondary comment, though, has her quirking a brow at him. ]

Does it matter? The music is good— just 'cause the album title's complicated doesn't mean the music inside is any less good. That's like judging a book by its cover or whatever, right?

[nostalgiabomb]

What, I can't take a look at a thing and go, "That's still kinda weird"?

Sure the contents are great or whatever, but if a book has a picture of like, a weird, crazy clown on fire, I'm still gonna be like, "What the heck is with the weird, crazy clown on fire?"

[bunnyhopped]

... You must be looking at some weird books.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter puts on a triumphant sort of grin. ]

Now who's judgin' books by their covers, huh?

[bunnyhopped]

[ She—

Actually gasps at that, at the realization that she walked right in to that one. ]

You... you trolled me!

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He snorts out a laugh. ]

I think that about makes us even, right?

[bunnyhopped]

[ Hana gives a little 'humph,' complete with a pout. ]

I guess. Anyway, promise you'll listen to Synaesthesia? I'll send it to you.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Oh, no.

That expression just makes Peter laugh again. ]

Dude. You gonna be alright there, Whiskers?

[bunnyhopped]

[ Yup, this is Hana's nose scrunching up like a bunny's. ]

Whi—

[ SIGH. You know what, Star-Guy. Whatever. It's war paint, but whatever. (They're totally whiskers.) ]

Anyway, what's your music rec, huh?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He at least doesn't laugh this time, but his grin does widen. ]

Depends what you're into. Buuuut if you just want a jumping-off point? You can never go wrong with Sam Cooke.

[bunnyhopped]

[ This head tilt says, I have no idea who that is. ]

I have no idea who that is. Play a song?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ ... Ah.

There's the slightest falter in his smile, and he gives a helpless little shrug. ]

I... can't.

[ The Zune doesn't have anything by Sam Cooke, and the only copy he had of a Sam Cooke song was on a device that's been destroyed. (His gaze flicks off-screen over to Gamora, there and back again, and he hopes desperately she's not paying attention right now. She hasn't asked about his Walkman, and he hopes she doesn't.)

But he remembers the greatest hits tape Mom used to play around the house, remembers the way she would sigh dreamily when "Bring It On Home To Me" would come up.

"Sam Cooke, baby," she'd say. "One of the greatest singers of all time."

He recalls the songs he had fallen in love with after repeated plays, the catchier ones whose lyrics he committed to memory. ]

But, um. If you don't mind doing the legwork, give "You Send Me" or "Cupid" a shot.

[bunnyhopped]

[ "I can't" is a strange answer, she thinks, but she realizes he may not have his own copy of the songs the way she does with Lúcio's music. That momentary falter and the way he looks off to the side don't escape her, either, but she doesn't think too much on it for now nor will she ask about it. ]

Alright, I can see if I can find them. How do you spell his last name?

[nostalgiabomb]

Cooke. Like, preparing food, but with an "e" at the end. See, oh, oh, kay, ee.

You'll love him. I promise.

[bunnyhopped]

Why is there an "e" at the end if you don't even pronounce it? Shouldn't that be, like, "cook-eh" instead? Why is English so weird.

[ anyway, she's looking it up as they speak, fingers quickly and loudly tapping on her keyboard. Several of the first couple of results are all about this man's mysterious death across several realities, which. Okay, that might be interesting to look at later, but for now she's refining her search to sam cooke you send me. In a few moments, the song starts, audible through the feed. ]

... Oh! This is really old school.

[ the way she says it, though, doesn't suggest she thinks it's a bad thing. She even starts swaying her head from side to side to the rhythm. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He snorts out a laugh, holding up a hand as if to placate her. ]

Look, man, I don't make the rules.

[ English is weird.

And jeez, she's a fast typist. He waits as she apparently searches out his recommendation, and— yeah, that's the song he remembers. He feels himself smile; it's been forever since he's heard this.

And, really, Peter can't fault her on the observation. Even when he was a kid, the song was already pretty old. ]

He's one of the greatest singers of all time.

[bunnyhopped]

I like it, though! It's super cute!

[ Hana is smiling, too. There's something to be said about songs that were just... simple. This is just a song about being in love with someone. And it was easy to listen to, easy to hum and probably dance along with. ]

I kinda feel like I should be doing like, a cute little dance with someone to this song.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He breathes out a laugh at that, head tilting to one side in agreement. ]

Yeah, I can't blame you. Sam Cooke kinda has that effect on people.

Just gotta find the right partner.

[bunnyhopped]

Yeah, but dancing by yourself can be fun, too! Though probably not to this song.

[nostalgiabomb]

Yeah, no, not this one. This one's the kinda song you gotta slow dance to.

[bunnyhopped]

Well, I guess I won't be dancing to this one then.

[ s h r u g ]

[nostalgiabomb]

Well, maybe not now. But, hey, save it for a rainy day, huh?

[bunnyhopped]

Oh, sure! I danced with a bunch of people at the masquerade too. [ including Peter! ]

How'd the rest of that night go for ya?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ In retrospect, Peter will feel pretty stupid about the way his face splits into a quick grin. Because that smile is dumb and crooked and far too earnest for what actually happened, but—

It was a step forward.

(He makes a point to not look over at Gamora, because that would definitely give everything away, and maybe he had been practically beating Gamora over the head with wanting to be a thing, but maybe he should, you know, try to play it a little cooler?

Maybe?)

And he smothers the smile into something a little more restrained, a little more Star-Lord. ]

I had a better time than I expected.

Guessin' it went pretty well for you, too?

[bunnyhopped]

[ Don't think that goofy little grin goes under the radar, Star-Guy, because Hana definitely notices. And her own smile turns almost catlike, mischievous, and she leans in real close to the camera with her chin on her hands. ]

Uh-huh. But you look like you have a story to tell! What happened, huh? Did you get to kiss someone?