xavier_institute_logs | First Trial - The Sound of Music [OPEN]

Entry tags:

original: alric caelegart

First Trial - The Sound of Music [OPEN]

WHO: Anyone
WHAT: Alric playing some music and/or chatting with whoever drops in
WHERE: Music room
WHEN: A few days during the week, after or between classes
WARNING(S): None

Now that he's pretty well settled in and met some people ~~and had some things to stress out over~~, Alric has taken some time to slip into the music room with his guitar when the coast seems to be clear, and play some music. Some rock, but a lot of emotive classical music, mixing clean guitar with heavy distortion that produces crunchy, rumbling low tones and crisp, sharp high notes, but he definitely plays it like a classically instrument despite the modern sound.

His playing, however, while not always technically precise, is skilled, and in particular, very expressive--some anger and frustration, in places like wide swaths of Vivaldi, but a great deal of longing, as in pieces like Faure's Pavane, or especially the juxtaposition of yearning and tempest in the theme from Swan Lake. Depending on when someone happens to come by and take an interest, they could hear a dose of either or both.

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For better or worse, this time Alric left the door open, and someone walking by has come to investigate. Soren lingers in the doorway, just watching and listening. He's vaguely aware of the sound affecting the air currents ever so slightly, but that grabs his attention much less than the actual music. It's beautiful - perhaps all the more so because it's imperfect.

But he's afraid that if he enters, he'll disturb the one playing, and he'll stop. So he stays there in the doorway, just listening quietly. He doesn't mind being late to class for this.

There's definitely a degree of rawness accessible in that relaxation of technical perfection, the sort of thing tapped into by a lot of punk and goth music, for example--although Alric applies it instead to amplify the evocative qualities in the more classical music he tends toward. Its beauty is certainly a Gothic/Romantic sort of aesthetic that embraces the messiness and occasional darkness of emotions.

He does take a break after a few songs, though--partly to check his watch and make sure he's not losing track of time--and glimpsing Soren in the doorway, he turns and smiles, a bit sheepishly.

"...oh! Ah, apologies, I... suppose I am prone to becoming somewhat engrossed. I do hope I wasn't disturbing you, or..."

Soren shakes his head. "No. I was enjoying it."

There's no reason not to be honest, after all, even if he is a little uncomfortable having discovered. He fights the urge to flee then and there and instead shifts his books a little in his arms, as his notebook is starting to slide down. Music has never been a thing he has read a lot about in libraries, nor is it something he really knows much about beyond that he likes it when he hears it, so his review would be rather basic, if asked.

"Ah... well, I'm glad to hear it. I don't believe we've met, though... Alric Caelegart. I'm a new student, this semester."

He turns, hooks his pick between strings, and offers his right hand, the other supporting the guitar.

He looks at the hand warily for a moment, as if checking to make sure there isn't a weapon or something hidden, but then he properly enters the room to come over, shift his books to one arm and shake it. (But not before he glances to see where Alric's other hand is.)

"... Soren. I've been here about nine or ten months." Something like two semesters, he guesses, but he kind of came in the middle of one and mostly has been doing crash course remedial stuff to catch up to his age level, so he isn't entirely sure it counts as proper semesters.

Alric smiles, seemingly unperturbed at the hesitation, and shakes Soren's hand with practiced polite firmness and confidence.

"A pleasure, then, Soren. If it's not prying too much, what is it that you.. ah.. do, so to speak..?"

Soren's own handshake is stiff and much less practiced. Any confidence on his part is more a show than anything else. And if anything, he gets a bit more tense when his hand is his own to wrap around his books once more. His wings move a little under his sweatshirt as he shifts, hesitating before answering.

"I can manipulate air. ... you?"

"Indeed..?"

Alric's quite unfazed by Soren's hesitation, only moderating his good cheer slightly so as not to overwhelm him.

"Ah... plasma control, I suppose you'd say. It's, ah.. superheated gas. ...like a lightsaber."

He smirks a little at the last bit, somewhat selfconsciously.

"...or, so I'm told."

That gets a raise of the eyebrows in surprise out of Soren. Being able to basically make one's own lightsaber is... actually really cool, though definitely something to be careful with.

"I know what plasma is," he says a little sharper than he means to. But he seems to realize the harshness and shifts again. "... I've never seen Star Wars, though, so I'll take your word for it."

"Indeed..? Many older than either of us don't, although I suppose times are changing, as they say."

He smiles to himself a little at that thought. ...of course, lots of schoolchildren in Kaitheny know what plasma is, but it's sort of unavoidable in Kaithenian popular culture, considering.

"I confess I am a little surprised you've missed out. Although I suppose I might have, myself, if not for certain childhood friends of mine..."

Indeed, with the fascination most people have for royalty and every aspect of their lives...

But Soren lacks this interest, so aside from noting that Alric has a European accent of some kind, the connection never occurs to him. Even the accent isn't that noteworthy to him - not here, anyway. ~~Especially not when he's rooming with a crossdressing Brit.~~

In any case, he shrugs, frowning a little defensively. "I read a lot." Hence plasma knowledge. "And I grew up without much access to TV or movies."

Alric smiles reassuringly and nods.

"I'm certain you're not alone, in those respects. And there are far worse things, I assure you, than being one of those few remaining bastions against the encroachment of American popular culture."

He grins somewhat at his deliberately overdramatized description.

"What, if I might ask, have you read, predominantly--if you have some particular areas of interest, that is."

Soren, meanwhile, does not grin. He considers pointing out that since he happens to be American, he can't very well be a bastion against the encroachment of his own country's pop culture. But he decides that isn't worth picking a fight over, so he shrugs and waits for what else Alric has to say.

"..." He is quiet for a moment, as answering it requires a bit of thinking. Is there an area that has dominated his reading? He isn't sure. When he was younger, yes, certain things grabbed his attention more than others, but lately, well... He supposes there are a few things. "Mostly I've been catching up on schoolwork... but ... I like science, especially physics."

Even if his understanding is still fairly rudimentary.

Alric would have debated that point, anyway, but that's neither here nor there. He waits patiently, assuming that pause indicates broad-ranging interests, and smiles to himself, then nods when Soren answers.

"Mm. I'm no expert, myself, but I've studied the sciences quite a bit, as well. ...partly to better understand my, ah, abilities, of course, but my family felt a solid background in the sciences would be important. And I'm inclined to agree."

"I see."

He stands in awkward silent for a few moments before offering a little more.

"... I want to understand my abilities better, too. But I don't know enough math for fluid mechanics yet."

Alric nods at that, with a bit of an understanding smile.

"Hydrodynamics is certainly one of the more mathematically challenging areas. I've... dabbled, but I've certainly got more to learn, myself."

Soren shakes his head. "Not hydrodynamics. I can't do anything with actual liquids. Aerodynamics."

Still no smile in return. Instead, Soren is still watching Alric carefully, guardedly. He's been here for a few months shy of a year, and he still hasn't learned how to really relax around others. But then again, that isn't entirely uncommon here.

Alric's briefly puzzled--then snaps his fingers, chuckles lightly, and nods.

"Ahh, yes, apologies, you're right... archaically, 'hydrodynamics' referred to the entire field of what's generally called 'fluid mechanics,' now. Plasmas are governed by 'magnetohydrodynamics,' so that's the terminology I've grown accustomed to thinking of. Entirely my mistake."

Still staring at Alric - but this time in confusion.

"If... you meant it archaically then... why are you apologizing? It's not a mistake...."

Alric smiles graciously and inclines his head appreciatively.

"A most charitable point of view, but the apology was for fostering confusion on a point of terminology--the modern term is more proper, after all, and you were quite right to us it. At any rate, please let me know if I can be of any assistance, when you do begin to pursue fluid mechanics."

Soren nods once, slowly. And he seems almost like he's going to leave to get going to his next class, but he pauses first to give Alric a searching look.

"... one question. Why do you smile so much?"

Alric blinks and laughs a little quizzically at that.

"Is there a reason I oughtn't smile?" He pauses a moment. "I suppose I was raised to sustain a positive outlook on things... for my own sake, and for the sake of those around me."

He raises an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly.

"Does it bother you, somehow..?"

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First Trial - The Sound of Music [OPEN]

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(sorry I'm the worst)

why would you be the worst?

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