|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 11:24 am
Standing out on his own in the middle of Hananeko Park, a quiet bombay tom stared up at the bright full moon. His blue tail-tip flicked once and he let his violin slip from his shoulders, setting it down gently and popping open the case. Ikuto extracted the delicate string instrument gingerly and straightened, bringing it to his chin. Sliding his bow across the strings, the tom began to play. Beautiful notes began to fill the air around him, deep and rich, but emitting a lonely sound. Deep blue eyes slid shut and his arm moved on it's own, going through the motions long memorized as he played. It was the first time he'd brought out his father's instrument since coming to this town, Ikebukuro. Silken black and blue ears fell back slightly as several young faces flashed through his mind, and the teen poured those heavy feelings into his song.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:45 pm
A slightly dirty Tonkinese who was of fifteen years was relaxing in the park. It was the most familiar of all places to him. A beautiful scenery was just perfect for many of his usual activities, such as sleeping, playing, people watching. The list went on and on. Upon this cool, moonshine filled night the youngster was sleeping down in the bushes. His fluffy tail twitched softly with every change of a note that came from a gorgeous sounding stringed instrument. It wasn't that Ikuto was disrupting Achilles' slumber. Actually, Achilles was just about to wake up anyway. This was just more pleasant to be woken up by.
Light grey blue eyes fluttered open to the tune that floated on the night breeze. His eyes adjusted quickly to the dark as he sat up straight, finding his way out of the bushes and into the open. "W-where's this music coming from?" He asked himself as he looked around. On a small mound in the park he spotted a very sorrowful looking Bombay. With him was a magical looking instrument that Achilles wasn't to familiar with. He wanted to approach and ask what this thing he was holding was, but he was a but nervous. Achilles walked over to the tom anyway, defeating his fears for the most part, but he was still shy. So, he only stood at a good distance and watched, admiring the music.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 8:31 am
As he played, Ikuto was slowly becoming aware that he wasn't alone. He didn't look at the other cat, but could hear him shifting towards him. The bow slowed to a stop on the strings and the bombay opened his eyes slowly, staring off straight ahead for a moment. His fur bristled slightly with the feeling he was being watched, and he flicked his tail a few times. This was familiar. With one ear cocked to the side, Ikuto turned his head and fixed medium blue eyes on the younger tom cat. His eyes narrowed coolly, the sleek black Bombay cat wore an impartial expression as he gazed at the other. He was slightly curious as to what this cat wanted, but inside his head, was the image of a younger girl in place of this Tomcat. Ikuto's blue-tipped tail flickered, and he finally turned his head away again, breaking that image that had formed. Without saying anything to the other cat, the Bombay tom turned from him and stooped to put his violin away again.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 11:58 am
As the Bombay slowed his playing and came to a stop the silent observer stared with a softer expression. How come he stopped? Achilles didn't want him to stop. In fact, he had hoped he would play longer to keep his taste for this music alive. It was rather beautiful. It wasn't until Ikuto's fur bristled and his tail started to twitch about that Achilles grew more and more anxious to get out of there. Maybe this cat wouldn't be pleased to have an audience. Perhaps that's why he was playing in the middle of the night. It seemed like his rapid heart beat froze when finally Ikuto stared right in his direction with a serious expression.
The boy wanted to run, he wanted to get out of this place, but he feared running would make things worse on him. Seconds passed as they stared at once another, the younger unable to speak and the elder seeming to be lost in a daze. When Ikuto finally turned and stooped down to place his violin in the back Achilles had a sudden second of courage and spoke out, "Why are you stopping?" It wasn't common for the boy to speak out like that, but he desperately didn't want to music to come to an end so soon.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 3:22 pm
Before he could zip the case shut, the other tom's voice finally sounded; the words again bringing about familiar memories. As he had done once ago, the bombay straightened and turned his attention on the younger boy. "That was the end of the song." he responded simply, avoiding the fact that he didn't want to be watched while he played, "Were you going to ask me to keep going and sing for me?" the black cat couldn't help himself. He'd been through this conversation before, it didn't hurt to test fate did it?
Looking the younger boy over carefully, he twitched an ear in a moment of private amusement. Hopefully fate didn't repeat itself exactly. That would definitely become awkward.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 3:45 pm
Achilles felt fullish for not recognizing the end of a song when he heard one. It wasn't like the young thing understood music very well, though. "O-oh..." he said softly to show he understood now why the older cat had stopped playing such wonderful, relaxing music. That didn't stop him from wanting to hear more though. "I.... I can't sing, but I would like to hear more... if it isn't to much trouble. I think ... it sounds really beautiful." Slowly the Tonkinese took small steps towards the other. "Would you?"
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 6:17 pm
Ikuto stood studying the boy again before wordlessly bending over to retrieve his instrument again. His face never shifted from that disinterested expression, and yet he complied with the boy's earnest, pleading gaze. "One more." he murmured softly, raising his bow and drawing it gently over the first notes of a new song. Again, his eyes slid shut, and he tilted his ears back as he let the notes leave his hands. Although it was a new song, that sad, lonely undertone remained.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 6:24 am
Achilles gave a relieved smile as the Bombay boy agreed to playing one final song for him. "Thank you," he spoke hardly above a whisper, hoping that Ikuto would hear his dangerously soft voice. As the instrument was brought out for a second time the Tonkinese inched closer and closer, hoping for a better seat. Once he was maybe five feet from the musician he sat down on the grass, looking up at the black furred male as he pulled the bow carefully over the strings.
It was interesting how this song was similar to the last. Achilles expected something more lively or flamboyant for the final song, but it was just as sad and lonely as the first. Watching carefully to Ikuto's expression Achilles could very well tell it had some personal meaning to the song, or at least to the instrument as a whole. Once the song ended Achilles shifted up so that he was standing instead of sitting aside the stranger. "Why sad songs?" The boy was curious, so why not ask?
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 5:04 pm
Finally pulling the violin from his chin again, the dyed bombay cat held it down at his side and looked at the younger cat. "That's because... they're memories." He murmured thoughtfully, uncertain about how to explain the tone that's been a part of his playing since he could remember. Crouching down, Ikuto put his instrument away, then turned his back to the white case and sat to watch the Tonkinese. "Do you always question strangers you meet in the park, like this?" His voice was cool and smooth as he met the other cat's gaze evenly. Behind him, a blue-tipped tail swayed back and forth at a sedated pace, and he sat in a loosely cross-legged position, comfortable as could be as he addressed the younger tom. Something about the cat interested him a little. He was shy, uncertain of himself.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 7:39 pm
Achilles observed the other male lower his instrument from it's proper playing position and opened his ears to listen carefully to what this older fellow had to say. Memories? If this music was his memories than Achilles only guessed that he must have had a sorrow filled past. "Oh, I'm sorry..." he apologized for the assumption that gathered in his head. Ikuto placed his instrument in his bag and questioned Achilles about whether or not he usually asked strangers such personal questions. "Actually, I really don't. I'm sorry if I'm bothering you," another apology came, just as sincere as the first. Achilles was never to fond of making others uncomfortable. In fact, he usually tried to avoid asking questions, fearing this very reaction. Yet, it didn't seem terribly horrible. The Bombay sat and watched him, making little Achilles feel put under some sort of pressure. "May I ask you another question?" He asked permission first before launching another thought at the man, even if he already asked a question about asking a question.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 8:31 pm
With each exchange they were deviating more and more from a repeated fate; Ikuto gave a small smile at this. The boy was a little interesting. "Maybe you are bothering me..." the black cat murmured, turning his face away, only to open one eye and glance back at him, "but there's really no helping that, is there?" Giving his tail one more flick, the Bombay cat sighed and slouched over his lap slightly, resting his head in the palm of one hand. Disregarding the fact that the asking of permission for another question was, in itself, a question, Ikuto lifted his ears to listen and gave the boy a small nod.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 6:03 pm
Achilles felt his mood slop down into guiltiness as the Bombay brought up the fact that he could have been a little bothersome. "I um... could leave. That's helping, right?" He stated but took the opportunity to continue with his other question before it was to late to ask. "Do you play in the night because you don't want anybody else to hear?" He sat beside the male with his ears folding back ever so lightly. Giving away that he was slightly nervous about being so close to this man.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 7:24 pm
Ikuto watched as the boy moved to sit next to him, his own ears tilting back slightly. Pulling his violin case around so that he could zip it up, the Bombay tom responded quietly, "Perhaps that's it. I don't play for the benefit of others." Behind him, his blue-tipped tail waved slowly, "And still, people seem to be drawn to the sound of this instrument." Fixing his gaze on the boy next to him, Ikuto flicked on of his ears. "Now that you've determined why I'm out here, what brings you out in the middle of the night? Don't you have a home to go to?"
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:17 am
Ikuto was a very intriguing person to listen to. His voice was always so calm, so mellow and serious. Achilles found it slightly exciting to meet a person who was so different from others. He plays such a beautiful instrument and yet shows off to nobody. Could it be that he was humble, or maybe it was the tom's selfishness.
Now that the Tonkinese had discovered why the male was out here in the dark, all alone, he figured what question was coming next. The black cat indeed asked just that question Achilles was anticipating and he took his time to think of the right answer. "Uh..." he paused shortly after starting. What would it matter to tell this male the truth? "I sleep here... this is my home for now..." He wanted to find a more comfortable place but this was all he had for now.
When his response was finish Achilles looked up at the sky at the many stars tinkling in the blueish black of outer space. "Does it bother you?" He asked not turning his head from the scene above them, "that I listened to you play." After a second or two of waiting for an answer Achilles turned his head back down, letting his grey blue eyes stare with a hint of worry in them.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 11:27 am
Ikuto considered the question a moment and stared at the white case in his lap. "Not really." He responded finally; this was different from the life he'd lived before. He didn't have anything to hide here; surely Easter's goons wouldn't be able to find him in this town. "So, strays are common here?" His question might have seemed a little strange. No matter where one went, strays existed for certain. Having spent most of his life running from those who would capture him, Ikuto couldn't help but feel a little more at ease, knowing that there were others here who lived their lives outside the comforts of a loving home and family. "I wonder how she would handle that...?" He murmured very quietly to himself, giving a short chuckle with softened eyes.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|