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Post by zuyuri on Nov 8, 2014 21:04:54 GMT -5
It was difficult for Carl to keep his eyes open. Between running shifts in security and selling balloons, there was hardly any time to rest. His hands weren't as quick as they used to be, and even just tying the balloons was getting hard. As one customer walked away, grumbling about wasted time and money, Carl looked eagerly into the tent behind him, letting out a doleful sigh. "What do you think, Ellie? The establishment still staying strong?"
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Post by ToMaiBetter on Nov 10, 2014 13:53:30 GMT -5
Roger was in his usual spot in the band pit, sat at the piano and trying out a new tune. He was playing 'Hit the road, Jack' but to a slightly faster pace. It was just a nice way to warm-up for the day and it was a good song. His pipe was in his mouth as he played, but he wasn't smoking it and it was just there because he had no free hands.
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Post by zuyuri on Nov 11, 2014 0:35:00 GMT -5
As Carl was leaning in, a very familiar song caught his ear. The tempo was quick, but something that his wife enjoyed listening to in her early years resonated with him. It was like Ellie was coming to him in spirit. The pianist was a lanky man with a blond coif, sitting erect with a pipe puffing out lazy clouds of smoke. The older man cleared his throat as he approached, knowing a comment would have interrupted the playing.
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Post by ToMaiBetter on Nov 11, 2014 9:46:02 GMT -5
Roger reached the end of the song, pulling his pipe out of his mouth and placing it down. He turned to the large pile of music sheets that sat next to him on the piano bench, he flicked through to find the one he was working on. Even since Ellie started working as a stunt women, his organisation skills went down hill and he still has trouble finding anything. Roger heard the cough and looked around to see who was here, finally looking up to the older gentleman. "Can I help you?" He asked.
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Post by zuyuri on Nov 11, 2014 18:53:46 GMT -5
"If by help, you mean work on another piece, then yes," Carl retorted, leaning against his cane. Yes, he may have had seventy eight years on him, but Carl wasn't one to run away from speaking his mind or retort back. He had done too much shying away in his youth, and it was time to get out of it. The stack of sheet music to the pianist's side could have gone up to the sky if any more piece were folded out
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Post by ToMaiBetter on Nov 12, 2014 11:11:37 GMT -5
Roger moved the sheets onto the ground. "Every little helps." Roger shrugged, moving over to let him sit down. "I'm Roger, Roger Radcliffe." He replied, holding his hand out to the older gentleman as a handshake. "So, what do you have in mind?" He asked, moving his pipe closing to himself; in case Carl wasn't comfortable being around it. Since it was something he was repeatedly told to put out.
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Post by zuyuri on Nov 12, 2014 22:27:59 GMT -5
A weathered, elderly hand extended the shake that of the pianists, and a very small trace of a smile curved on his lips. "Carl Hudson." As he leafed through the black and white pieces, some yellowing due to age or showing wrinkles on the pages from being turned time and time again, he paused at one particular title; "You have the sheet music for 'Lady Madonna'? Oh, my wife Ellie loved this piece. Every time it came on, she'd start dancing around the house, be it with a broom...or even me."
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Post by ToMaiBetter on Nov 13, 2014 9:56:55 GMT -5
"Nice to meet you, Carl." Roger replied. He watch Carl going through his song sheets, wondering what he would pull out. "Yes, I have a large book filled with the beatles' music. I had it since I started studying music. It was a gift." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. He did smile at Carl's story. "Your wife has the same name as my daughter." He chuckled lightly, placing his hands on his knees.
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Post by zuyuri on Nov 14, 2014 1:57:55 GMT -5
Carl chuckled. "You and I have similar tastes in names, then. Ellie wasn't able to have children, unfortunately, so I don't have any young ones. But I guess some of the children here are surrogate grandkids." He placed the hold Beatles' songbook to one side, flipping through the other bits of sheet music, "so what does your daughter do while you lounge at this piano bench?"
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Post by ToMaiBetter on Nov 14, 2014 12:06:49 GMT -5
"I'm sorry to hear that." Roger replied softly with a nod. He accepted that Carl didn't want to linger on the topic and returned the conversation back to his daughter, but Roger was still curious about Carl's wife. "She does some of the stunts now, she's normally the woman against the board for Lord Shen's knife act. I think there might be a few other acts but I'm not sure." He explained, turning around and picking up a few sheets. "I hated her doing at first, but there's no changing her mind. She gets that from me unfortunately. But after a few times, I have more faith in her but I still worry."
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Post by zuyuri on Nov 15, 2014 1:30:41 GMT -5
A brave girl, then. Most women would swoon at the thought of being pinned down and have sharp objects thrown at them, but not this variation of Ellie. "At least Lord Shen is an able aim," Carl commented, "he hits his target, but would never hurt any person with it." Having witnessed the White Phoenix' skills during the rescue mission, the older gargoyle had grown some respect for people willing to fight with weapons.
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Post by ToMaiBetter on Nov 15, 2014 9:33:38 GMT -5
"Yeah, I'm forever grateful he does. I don't know what I would do if I lost her." Roger nodded, picking up a booklet and placing it next to him. "To be honest, I did feel uncomfortable around him. I have nothing against him, just the animal part of me isn't comfortable around certain creatures. I can sense something off about him that I can't put my finger on." He chuckled. "But again, if Ellie trusts him, then I trust him."
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Post by zuyuri on Nov 15, 2014 15:15:24 GMT -5
Carl's hand tightened on the mention of not trusting animals. It wasn't that he couldn't relate to Roger's dilemma, but it was rather the big secret that the old man had that could break a healthy acquaintanceship. "I take it the animal tent is no friendly place to you?" The comment was half-joking, half-serious. What kind of creatures did Roger not trust?
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Post by ToMaiBetter on Nov 16, 2014 9:26:40 GMT -5
"When I don't shift, I'm fine." Roger shrugged. "Oh, I've should have said about that. Sorry, I can shift into a mouse. That's the only reason why I'm not get around animals." He explained, placing a couple of books onto the group between them. "I'm with some and I hold no grudge against them. Just don't like it when they lick their lips if they see me." He joked.
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Post by zuyuri on Nov 16, 2014 16:54:17 GMT -5
"Forgive me for pryin', but...are you and yer daughter connected to the Ratcliffe Clan? They were a mouse shiftin' group outside of me hometown in Scotland." Shifter clans were not uncommon in the United Kingdom, but the Ratcliffe Clan got the most recognition. Some called it a nature versus science side effect, others called it unexplainable. Regardless, they were still at large and their intelligence was revered for being beyond that of humans/
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