|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 9:03 pm
The twins were about to answer the girl before another person came around the dunes asking what was going on. All of the Riosus, especially Deora, knew those questions were usually asked by A.M. Enforcers. Everyone calmed down when they saw the person wore no badge, but Deora was still on edge.
"I thought this was supposed to be a small party, Ray. How many people did you invite?" K.T. asked the Jamaican guitarist.
"'Ey mon, de party is open to anyone with Rhythm in dere heart." The man answered, starting to pick at the strings again.
"Yeah, K.T., chill out and enjoy the party." The black-haired girl said.
K.T. smiled and nodded. He grabbed a soda out of a nearby cooler and took a seat on the sand, saying "Yeah, I guess you're right.
---
Once the nervousness about the two new arrivals wore off, the twins decided it was a good idea to see who it was. His question offered the perfect opportunity to jump into the conversation, as well. "We try to do this once a month or so, to keep the network close. All we music lovers have is each other." Haro said. "We stick together, and we can evade the cops better." Ako simplified. "I don't think I've seen either of you two here before, though. What are your names?"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 9:39 pm
:::
To Gareth, it seemed that K.T. didn't want him around. Sure, he knew that music was banned and the A.M. police was there to make sure, but he had never experienced the isolationism the others felt. He had a few chips stored away of punk music, which is how he started drumming, but he had always practiced in privacy. But now there was no privacy to return to.
Still, he felt a bit of the cold shoulder from the boy, having no idea K.T. meant nothing toward him personally.
The twins began talking, and Gareth kept his eyes locked on them, happy to have answers. He nodded at the first statement with a hint of a smile. A community...
Gareth was hesitant to give his name, so the drummer in him spoke in his place.
"Me name's Beat. Yer can guess why," he chuckled, holding up his drumsticks.
There was a pause, and he needed to know.
"So, is dare a reason yer don't want me 'ear, bud?" he said unwittingly harsh-like toward K.T.
:::
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 10:46 pm
Haro nodded, and was about to tell Gareth his own streetname, but stopped when the boy called K.T. out.
K.T. had been taking a drink, but stopped the bottle just short of his lips. "Eh? I never said anything like that, man. Chill out and enjoy the party now that you're here, there's no need to be hostile." His voice was even, the effect of seeing plenty of conflict before. He knew there was no point in getting riled up just because someone mistook what he said.
There was a silence though, and people started turning their attention to what could be the start of a conflict. There hadn't been a fight at one of the gatherings in a long time, but everyone knew how quickly that could change. It all depended on how the new guy acted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 4:18 am
Melody sighed watching tensions grow, her easy going manner quickly disappeared as she grew more serious, quietly stating, "It makes sense to be somewhat suspicious of people you don't know, most of us have lost stuff because of the ban. And it isn't a secret that the A.M. police is sending undercover agents out..."
Sighing she returned to the twins question and said brightening, "My name's Melody. And you probably haven't seen me around because I try to keep a low profile most of the time, but I heard about this a few weeks ago and thought why not check it out?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 12:55 pm
:::
K.T. must have been playing games with him. He must have. Why else would he have that cool, mocking tone denying it and telling him to chill? Gareth's free hand clenched up in a shaking fist, the first thing he did whenever his rage began to build up. With a snarl that bunched up his eyebrows, he took a heavy step toward him, taking him off the slope of the dune and putting him on the level with everyone else. He heard the whispers and gasps of the few around them that talked of a fight. And maybe that would happen...
...if the girl to his left had not spoken up. Her words made sense and calmed Gareth, releasing the tension from his eyebrow and hand. Of course, this caused him to realize his foolishness, his blindness to something that should have been obvious. A flush of red flew across his cheeks as he lowered his head down and to the side. She turned back to the twins and he turned away, facing K.T.
"Sorry. Oi shud 'av figured dat much oyt. Guess oi shud leave, den, aye?" he asked, his heart heavy, not wanting to be cast out again. His eyes pleaded no as they dashed back and forth between K.T.'s. His drumsticks were held low by his side, drooping like wilted flowers, not wanting to leave the group of his kin.
:::
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 9:18 pm
K.T. knew the signs of a fight when he saw them. He was ready to pull out the knife he always carried on his jacket's inside pocket, and would have if the boy had taken another step. As it was, he still appeared relaxed, although he switched his drink to his left hand.
The twins started after the guy, but it seemed that Deora would beat them. She had looked to K.T. with a questioning look after the boy's question, and as if he had read her mind, K.T. nodded and relaxed.
Deora put a hand on Gareth's shoulder to get his attention, and help up the notebook she'd been carrying around. It was opened to a clean page, upon which she had written; "Stay."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 9:28 pm
Melody smiled first at Deora and then Gareth, "The girl's right, you should stay. Anyhow, it isn't like you are one of the A.M. agents, I can attest to that personally."
Shrugging she said casually, "Anyhow, I give it an hour tops before this has to be busted up because of some "good Samaritan's" report. You might as well enjoy it while it lasts." Her sharp gaze focused on Gareth, she was sizing the boy up. He was obviously one of the kids who'd live on the streets- but he wasn't hardened by life on the streets yet, that much was obvious. He wasn't a member of any of the local bands either, or at least as far as she could tell.
As she mulled it over she came to the conclusion that he was either thrown out or was putting on a front pretending to be far more naive and straightforward than what Melody would consider intelligent.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 10:55 pm
:::
The girl with K.T. approached him, walking in front of the twins. He grimaced, fearing that they were kicking him out physically. The hand on his shoulder stiffened his whole body, and he was prepared to shove her away, bringing him arm back slightly. Before he could think to do anything, he was smart enough to read the notebook.
The word filled him with an elation beyond that which he had experienced for so long. Not only were they not casting him out, but they WANTED him to stay. He normally did not take kindly to "orders," but he would willingly follow this one.
The girl reading over his shoulder bothered him a little, but he was in too bright a discovery to say a thing. ''Personally?' 'oy in de warrld can she 'attest ter dat personally?' She doesn't nu me. Ah, well. Best leave it be. You're jist lucky they didn't keck yer arse oyt...' he reminded himself, keeping his mood in check. 'Don't git too 'appy, they cud easily turn on yer..' There was no perfect moment for Gareth.
"T'anks for puttin' up wi' me shoite.," he said directly, looking right at K.T. He had nodded at the girl, hadn't he? His expression hadn't changed much during the whole scene. If Gareth had to make a bet, he would put his money on that he was the ringleader in all this.
"So, oi'm assumin' yer play music 'ere. Waaat else?" he asked, sounding unimpressed. But, oh, was he hiding. To be among those who might actually, possibly, perhaps WANT to hear him play. Unknowingly, the drumsticks in his hands were shaking with excitement.
:::
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 11:28 pm
Deora smiled as the boy seemed excited. She had to wonder about him; how could something so simple make someone so happy? She patted his shoulder again to convey a sort of 'no problem' feeling before heading back to her part of the group.
"Way to be positive." Ako said to Melody. No one liked being told a party like this would end, they liked to imagine it could go on forever. "And how could you be so certain he's not an Agent? You have access to that information?" Haro asked.
"It's no problem; you're not the worst person we've had crash a party." K.T. told Gareth. He took a soda can out of the cooler and tossed it to the guy. It was a generic rip-off, but at least it was cold. "And if you really want to know, no. Music's not all we do here."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 5:06 am
Melody smiled at Haro and said casually, "My day job gives me access to the A.M. police database. I'm a secretary there and it isn't hard to access all agent records when you are responsible for organizing them and taking calls and things." She shrugged. "And I have a good memory. Everyday I go to work I'm sure to look through the records and see if there is anyone new added. It is pertinent information considering that I'm a smuggler."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 7:56 pm
:::
This time when she patted his shoulder, he didn't jump. No, the pat sent a ripple of some kind of comfort shining throughout his body. He caught the soda on the descent of its arc by letting it fall into his hands. He wasn't about to look stupid by trying to catch it sideways. "T'anks," he said, keeping his gaze on K.T. Then he turned to the other conversation.
"She sounds more loike a potential Agent than oi do..." he said with a smirk. Then, back to K.T.
"So, if yer don't mind me askin', waaat DO yer al' do?" His smirk held and he sat down in the sand before opening his drink, not caring about the brand. He took a long sip and sighed, grateful for something. His next sip quickly followed, though he tried his best to not let on to the others that he was thirsty beyond belief. And he was lucky his stomach hadn't growled yet...
:::
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 3:36 am
"Well the secretaries are responsible for a variety of things," replied Melody to Garret's question. "Taking reports, filing past reports, making sure the computers and other technology is running fine. Making sure only those who work at the A.M. are allowed inside... just general secretary things."
"The agents are the ones who you have to really worry about though," Melody added. "And, while you are busy suspecting me of being an agent, I should add some fuel to that suspicion of yours. My older sister is an agent. Hell the b***h is responsible for a lot of my friends being caught... it was the good ol' days when I naively believed in her..."
Sighing she looked out to the ocean and added, "That is one of the reasons I became a secretary for the A.M. if I wanted to expand my smuggling business I had to first get her off my tail... Anyhow the agents track reports, investigate confiscated 'rebel paraphernalia' so they may track it to the source, going undercover to bust up bands... they do a lot. It depends on the agent, though, there is always the one's that are extra diligent in their work for the A.M."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 8:28 pm
"You're not making a good case for yourself." Ako said to Melody. The red head wasn't the trusting type anyway, but others in the crowd held expressions that seemed to agree. Most of them had one reason or another to hate the A.M., and Deora wasn't the only one permanently silenced. "We know what an agent is, what they do. We know the difference between that and a secretary, but A.M. is A.M., and they are not welcome here!"
Haro stepped up and gripped his twin's shoulder. "Brother, calm down."
Ako swung around, pushing his twin away. "NO! We've lost too much to those damn cops! I'm not going to let one join our band!" He yelled as Haro stumbled and fell to the sand. It was at this point another hand landed on Ako's shoulder. K.T. had gotten up when it had become apparent Ako wasn't going to calm himself down. The red head now tried to swing on his older brother, but immediately found himself face down in the sand with a knee on his back.
"You WILL calm down, Amp. Now I'm your brother, so I won't threaten you, but I promise you; if you don'T calm down I will kick your a** all the way back home." It was the first time in a long time that K.T. had lost his cool, and the rest of the group knew to stay out of the way when he raised his voice. They just stayed silent and watched, wondering what would happen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 7:39 am
Melody took a step back, once upon a time she would have been swung back, but in the few years since she first joined a band after she lost her parents she had grown smarter. She stepped back, her blue eyes narrowed but she didn't say anything as the brothers tried to sort it out. "Amp," Melody said, though her voice was calm, her fists were clenched tightly, "If my beliefs were aligned with the A.M. we wouldn't even be having this conversation. You would be in handcuffs already and this place would be surrounded. Don't think you guys are the only ones who have suffered."
"Anyhow I don't want to join your band. I've done the band scene before," Melody said, her voice beginning to sharpen. "A band is like a family- or at least mine was. And I got to watch everyone I loved get carted off and loose a lot their voice and even their freedom for some people."
Her blue eyes were narrowed and she fought back angry tears, "I'm not stupid enough to put myself in the position to feel that pain ever again. I still fight the A.M. and the ban- Hell my parents are most likely dead because of their fight against it- the only reason I'd quit fighting is if I was dead. But, I do things alone now. And I don't need your approval, Amp-" she raised her voice, "-or any of the rest of yours. I was here to enjoy myself, and maybe even offer my services to those who were interested."
She turned around, furious, clutching her bag tighter to her she took a step forward, and said almost in a whisper directed towards Amp, "If it makes you feel better go ahead and punch me... I don't care. If that'll help you, it's the least I can do..." She turned around forcing a smile, "... right, Amp?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 9:52 pm
Ako struggled against his brother's hold, but got nowhere. He was strong, but K.T. was heavy. It's hard to stand with close to two-hundred pounds on your back. Ako tried to raise his head to curse at Melody, but only got a mouthful of sand as K.T. shoved his head down. "You know not to speak that way to a woman. Mom and Dad may be gone, but they still raised you better. And I know they taught you to never hit a girl. Now I'm going to let you up, you're going to apologize, and then you're going to go sit in the van. Got it?"
Ako grunted and nodded his head. K.T. stood up and offered a hand to help him up, but Ako refused. He pushed himself off the sand and cast one last hate-filled look towards Melody before going to the van, knowing K.T. would likely leave him to walk back home, and would probably lock him out when he got there.
Haro picked himself off of the sand as well, and went over to Melody. "I'm sorry about my brother," He said, his voice soft compared to his older brother's, and even his twin's to a point. It matched his personality; not a born leader like K.T., and not a fighter like Ako. He preferred peace and love to war and hate, and did everything he could to keep violence at bay. "You don't have to leave, in fact, I'd like it if you stayed. We could use another in our group.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
