(Untitled)

[remindmeof_me]

We're so sorry.

We needed to say that in advance. You see, Corporal Shephard decided that today would be a fine day to indulge his musical habit. And, well, two things. One, his musical habit involves drums; he'd wanted to learn the violin as a schoolboy, but his family didn't have money for one, only an old drumset in his uncle's attic. And two,

Comments

[mend_and_defend]

At some point, he will find he has accompaniment in the form of a goldtop Gibson Les Paul.

...one that appears to be playing itself.

[remindmeof_me]

Oh... kay.

That's new.

Shep's gonna keep right on pounding until he runs out of tune (he's currently mentally working his way through Motorhead's 'Ace of Spades'). Then he's gonna get a better look at that guitar. Because: guitar.

[mend_and_defend]

It concludes with one last power chord, and then the tiny mechanical fingers working the strings fold back out of sight.

[remindmeof_me]

Shep leans alllll the way to one side, then alllll the way to the other. There does not appear to be a cord or an antenna for remote control, and so-

"You, uh... you some kind of robot or somethin'?"

[mend_and_defend]

"No-o-ot exactly," says a slightly tinny voice from the guitar.

It may sound vaguely familiar.

[remindmeof_me]

"Fuck me sideways. Bob?"

[mend_and_defend]

"Yep." The guitar sounds more than a little smug.

[remindmeof_me]

"Sheeeeyit." Shephard shakes his head. "Didn't know you could pull that kind of stunt, fucker. When'd you learn t'do that?"

[mend_and_defend]

"It's a long story. Uh, could you take a couple steps back? I can't shift when you're that close to me."

(Well, he could, but it'd be very uncomfortable for both of them.)

[remindmeof_me]

Shephard's already three steps back by the time Bob finishes his explanation. "This far enough?"

[mend_and_defend]

In lieu of a verbal answer, the guitar expands and warps into the form of a blue-skinned man in silver armor with a huge grin on his face.

Messing with people like this is never going to get old.

[remindmeof_me]

"Fuckin' hell," Shephard says, shaking his head. "That don't get you all cramped up or nothin', does it? It don't look like it c'n be all that comfortable."

[mend_and_defend]

Bob shakes his head. "It doesn't work like that. It's... I don't know if I can explain it in terms that would make sense to a User. It's a code reconfiguration, basically."

[remindmeof_me]

"So you ain't got bones in there to shuffle around 'n move out of the way," Shephard says. "Got it. You play good, by the way."

[mend_and_defend]

"Thanks. I've been playing since I was at the Guardian Academy," says Bob. "You're not so bad yourself..."

[remindmeof_me]

"Been a while since I got t'do much practice," Shephard says. "You should hear me on a real drumset. I could pound one of those fuckers all day."