irisnetwork | Lessons, but not the kind in a class

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Lessons, but not the kind in a class

Hola, everyone. I'm Héctor. Any of you with night classes are likely already familiar with me. I'd been debating on this for a while and slowly taking on a few people who've asked, so I think it's about time I came forward and simply offered it myself.

I'm opening up guitar lessons, available to all skill levels. Solo lessons and group lessons depending on how many people are interested in the latter. You're free to pay what you like but it's not necessary. Just bring your own instrument and let me know you're coming along. I'll be meeting in the evenings, Fridays, by the cross of life on the school grounds. Thought it might be a nice place to play with the warmer weather coming.

Please just keep in mind I have poor health and some cancellations may be short notice. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask. ¡Buenas Noches!

[This announcement may come suspiciously close on the heels of a quiet rule change on a certain floor in Lumiere, but surely that is just a coincidence. What rule change? Guess it's a mystery...]

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Oh... [Well if that doesn't get him right in the heart. ] I see.

[He frowns, thinking.]

So, perhaps a lullaby. Like for a child. Can you hum it again? The whole thing this time? Maybe I can recognize it then.

[ He has to wonder about that, whether she'd hummed it for his sake or for her own, when his sense of music was always pretty bad and for him, he'd only taken comfort in the soft sounds that stand in contrast with the screaming that would be otherwise.

He sits back and starts humming again. There is very little improvement, Kano trying to build off of the parts of Héctor's interpretation that sounded somewhat familiar, but it's still. Pretty terribly off-key. ]

[He closes his eyes and listens carefully. He really tries to think what it could be. But it's not coming. Whatever song it was, it's not one he ever sang to Coco.

It's a song from a distant memory and butchered at that. His brow furrows until the song is done and at last he sighs.]

I'm sorry. I still don't know. Let me try and play it again. And If I don't get it, I'll keep trying to work something out myself and bring it to you. And then if not me, I'm sure someone can help.

[ Kano makes to get up— but decides against it and settles back down again, shaking his head. ]

No, no, no, you're the musician, so I thought I'd ask you! It's not that big a deal, so— It's a secret, remember?!

[ Nobody else is going to help, he's not telling anybody else about it. It isn't worth it, bringing somebody else into it, the song... it isn't that important.

He lets his hands drop to his lap. ]

It's not that important. Just trying this much, I appreciate it, you know? So you don't have to bother, after tonight!

Kano. [He says the name gently, but firm.] I want to.

[He smiles.]

You said it was something your mother hummed, si? Which makes it an important memory to you, especially if you don't have a lot to remember. That's a bit of a big deal. At least I'd think so.

I'll keep it secret like I promised, but I'd like to keep trying. Is there a way you can record and send it to me to listen to? That way I can keep referring back to it. Who knows, maybe I'll find what song it actually is in the process.

Edited 2019-05-27 09:32 (UTC)

[ Kano chews at his bottom lip, because it's not- he doesn't want it to be a big deal, just something he was always curious about but has lived without all these years and it wouldn't kill him to never know. He should know it. It's there in his head, little wisps and snippets of it that he's unable to string together into anything comprehensible.

There's a part of him which thinks that once he hears the song in its entirety, he'll go "okay" and never think about it again, and he doesn't know whether that's a good thing or a bad one. ]

Hm~ Okay, okay, but only because you insist! It's a secret, so if I find that the word's gotten out, I'm going to dunk you into the fountain, Héctor, I'm warning you now~! Here, I'm going to leave you a voicemail, so don't pick up your phone--

[ That way, the only copy of the song/Kano's poor attempt at song will be accessible only via Héctor's phone, the most security he can think of at the moment. ]

[He snorts over the threat, grinning wider. Being dunked in the fountain would be deserved in that case, and it's not as if it would kill him.

Which does get him thinking, as ignores the ringing of the phone in his pocket, only pulling it out so it doesn't ring inside his vest. He waits for it to stop, then waits longer still to listen to Kano's song again. He tucks the phone back away once it's finished.]

On the topic of secrets, I wanted to ask you... how much do you remember from the little you?

Mm... Bits and pieces. More of the feelings of stuff rather than anything concrete, sort of how in a dream you see something with clarity for a bit, and then it's a blur until it shifts to the next scene? Something like that!

[ He remembers more than he'd like, and he's glad that not very many people have brought up the little him from before. How he was before... Weak and helpless and shameful. He really was a stupid child. ]

That "secret" you told him, he was going to ask you something about it, but there wasn't time. It wouldn't have worked out, though, so it's a good thing he didn't!!

So you do remember.

[Even dreamlike, to say "it wouldn't work" is to say he remembers that part.]

I suppose I don't get to know what you meant to ask. But in any case, thank you, for keeping that quiet. It's easier for me this way.

[ Kano knows what Shuuya was going to ask, but it's something he will keep to himself, because Héctor doesn't need to be distressed over that. Instead, he can be distressed over this: the evil grin that spreads across Kano's face that Héctor is probably more familiar with than any other smile of his. ]

Oh~ I wonder what will happen if I accidentally let something slip? That would be too bad, huh? If only there were some way to ensure my silence~

You mean like the fact I've got a secret of yours?

[Héctor lifts a brow.]

I'll admit, you would have got me with that. You're not the only one who knows but it's still got enough of a chance to cause problems that you could've blackmailed me.

But. It's been more than just a few days that you knew. [More than he realizes.] You haven't said anything. I think I can trust you with this.

[ Hm, a bad idea, to trust Kano with anything, especially something as big as this. ]

Aw, our secrets are so different, though! You going around telling people "Kano's trying to figure out this song, have a listen to it--" would only help me out, wouldn't it? Your secret's a little more complicated than that~ Are you sure I can't blackmail anything out of you?

Perhaps. But you want it secret for a reason or else you'd let me do just that.

So, no. No blackmail. But you can ask for things if you like. Just like anyone else.

Hmm...

[ Asking for things just like anybody else sounds fake. Kano believes in two things: trades and blackmail, not freely offered help with no strings attached. ]

Can I have five thousand euros?

Sadly, I don't have five thousand euros. Maybe ask for things I can actually provide.

...four thousand euros.

[ give him money, tío ]

Definitely still out of my range. I've got a twenty and some loose change.

My lips are sealed for that twenty and the loose change.

[ again: give him money
Kano is very easy to bribe ]

[He snorts.]

Deal. I'll slip the cash under your door the next I stop by lumiere. Don't spend it all in one place.

No worries~ I'm a responsible child who banks my money!! Something like a college fund, you know?

[ That twenty can barely get him anything. Héctor will be funding Kano's no good very bad future plans, thank you for the patronage. ]

[Everyone says he's too trusting. This couldn't possibly backfire.]

Ah! Indeed, very responsible. Does this mean I'll be mentioned in your acceptance speech?

[ Nope, not at all... ]

Yep, that's right~ I'll let everybody know that I couldn't've done it without you! Everything that I accomplish, it'll all be thanks to you~

[He puts his hand over his heart.]

Oh, so touching. I'm honored.

You should be~!!

[ Congratulations, Héctor, you are now partially responsible for any and all future mayhem that may arise from this financial support.

It's enough work for tonight, though, and Kano straightens up and stretches his arms above his head, rolling stiff shoulders. ]

Okay...!! I'll be in touch to check up on your progress, so I'll be by to heckle you for the money if I don't see you soon!! And when you finally figure out what song it is, you can play for me and maybe teach me how it goes!

[All twenty euros of trouble and misplaced faith.]

Alright. I'll be expecting it then.

[He gets up to his feet, guitar going to his back. It feels comfortable there. He forgot what that was like.]

I hope not to disappoint.

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suddenlybees - 2019-05-29 02:04 (UTC) - Expand

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