♬ the pianoman's thirty-third song ♬

[lawyerlarry]

[Larry has been either at work at Caritas, being only as social as need be, or cooped up in his room for the past couple of weeks. The whole baby thing really bugged him and he dealt with it the only way he knows how. Badly

Comments

[hard_talker]

[organize lessons, scope out one of the safe zones for the Patrol. two birds, one stone. Mark thinks it's a pretty decent idea. arming himself with a nine-iron and a cross on a silver chain tucked under his t-shirt, he makes his way down from town to Caritas. using the club like a walking stick, he makes his way over to the bar and pipes up to no one in particular]

Uh, hi, I'm looking for Larry?

[lawyerlarry]

[Larry hears his name and looks up, and...stares. Okay. This looks interesting. He's also talked to this kid before, hasn't he?]

I'm Larry.

[hard_talker]

Oh! Hey, hi. [he offers a sheepish grin, and a hand for a handshake] I'm Mark, we've talked over the journals a couple times...? You'd offered lessons. I was hoping I could still take you up on 'em.

[lawyerlarry]

[shakes his hand and smiles]

Absolutely. Have you ever played before?

[hard_talker]

Uh, yeah. I ... I know the basics? But it never hurts to learn more. And it's been a few years - I haven't touched one beyond plunking around since ... [he thinks about this. Mrs. Goldbach retired in ... okay got it] 7th grade.

[lawyerlarry]

All I do is plunk around, so you're not far behind.

[hard_talker]

[he laughs] Didn't sound like it, to me. .... So, uh ... can I pull up a stool, or do I need to go hang out at a table? [what with only being 16 and all]

[lawyerlarry]

I don't know, but I can move to a table with you. I don't mind.

[he gets up and gets his drink]

[hard_talker]

You sure? ... I mean, you told people to come looking for you, and if anyone else shows up I don't want 'em to think you're not available to talk to because you're sitting at a table ...

[someone is a little more neurotic than usual about these things after the fiasco he went through at the Patrol meeting last week]

[lawyerlarry]

[just looks at him]

If I was worried about that I wouldn't have suggested it.

[hard_talker]

Okay. [he shrugs] Sorry, I just ... don't like stepping on people's toes as much as a lotta people probably think I do.

[lawyerlarry]

[places a hand to Mark's shoulder and smirks a bit]

Relax, okay?

[guides him over to the table]

[hard_talker]

Okay. [he does, thankfully, remember to breathe, and sinks down into a booth. as one of the staff breezes by, he'll order himself a cherry pepsi]

[lawyerlarry]

[And Larry will settle in across from him, getting a refill on his scotch.]

How've you been?

[hard_talker]

Uhhh. [that's sort of a loaded question. he rubs at the back of his neck] Pass. You first.

[lawyerlarry]

[a sigh, and he shakes his head]

I pass, too.