There's a soft knock on the apartment door, and the slight sound of Albert muttering "No,nonono...crap." He's out of his cloak and what was jokingly called his Ren-fest gear for something a little more..normal, black slack, untucked dress shirt and his glasses. the violin was almost in two pieces, the neck barely hanging on to the main body of it. Really next time he moved (hopefully that wouldn't be happening anytime soon.) he'd take the damn thing with him by hand.
Piper pulls the door open. "C'mon in. You can put it down over there," he points into the workshop and the cleared bench. "You want coffee or tea or anything?"
"Tea if you don't mind. " there's a weak almost shy smile as he takes the instrument over to the workbench, "Thank you, and sorry to be rushing over with this at short notice, well sort of short notice."
"Damaged neck, and strings that have gone, or in a moments notice will go." Albert sips quietly, "Its due to my own mishandling during travel. I need to get a new case for it."
Piper examines the instrument carefully. Then he places it in a holder and aligns a laser sight along it at several angles, peering at it intently and making notes. The violin is not the highest quality but neither is it the worst.
"Body's evvvver so slightly warped... I can fix that easily enough..." He makes a few more notes then sights along the neck. "Neck's slightly misaligned, might as well fix that too since it needs a new one.. this one's dried out, that's why it cracked so easily... Bridge is dry too, not the best wood for it..."
He finishes making his notes then turns to a cabinet and looks through a selection of wooden blanks. He chooses one, then sets it in a lathe and gets to work.
Albert offers another smile, "Thank you and do I owe you anything for this?" he asks, moving to watch, partially out curiosity and partially out of worry. This was his baby after all one of the few objects of importance from his days before the hood, the stone and the psychic twin business. "Its a cheap one I know, but it was a replacement after my sort of ex from college gave me after breaking my first one."
"What's it worth to you?" Piper smiles. He sights along the finished neck and shaves just a few places. Then he turns his attention to the body, carefully cracking the glue and lifting off the warped section. After examining the remainder of the body, he puts the warped section into a steamer while he selects an appropriate fingerboard and pegs for the neck, then selects a better bridge.
A warm laugh follows, "Well considering the man who gave it to me was one of the few people I have ever been close to? A fair amount." there's no shame or shyness in that comment, just a blunt statement. "Really I can pay or repay you some other way. The stone is useful for that."
"Not a problem." Piper takes the body panel out of the steamer and lets it cool carefully, then checks it for alignment. Clucking his tongue with satisfaction, he glues the body back together, then carefully glues the neck and fingerboard in place and clamps them.
"That'll take about a half hour to set up. Refill?"
"Of course its rather good. You are rather talented with that." he goes quiet, watching as the musician worked. "Do you play just the flute or is there anything else you play?"
"Flute, brass, piano, strings, harp, drums.. if it's an instrument, I play it." Piper pours out another cup with a grin, "Not necessarily well, mind you. Flute and piano are my preferences though."
"I'd still like to hear one time if you don't mind. I happen to be a fan of most of those. The flute especially, it always adds something to a classical or Celtic piece."
Piper falters for a moment. He turns to a small cupboard and searches through it for strings. "I had a bad flu recently," he says, "It's thrown me so I'm not playing much right now." Well, it's mostly true, he did have a bad flu recently....
This is why he was the awkward turtle. "Sorry to hear that. I..well I am out of practice. So may not be up to par." there's a slight change of expression as he sips at his drink, trying to change the subject, "I'm trying to break out of my anti socialness. Is there anything well interesting going on?"
Piper chuckles. "You're asking the one who's been pulling away recently. My life's just taking me in a different direction, one that doesn't include bank jobs anymore.... And speaking of bank jobs, I saw the footage... Was your Stone dressed as Mr. Potato Head at one point??"
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Piper brings out the tea then sits down at the bench. "Now then... Let's see what we got...."
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"Body's evvvver so slightly warped... I can fix that easily enough..." He makes a few more notes then sights along the neck. "Neck's slightly misaligned, might as well fix that too since it needs a new one.. this one's dried out, that's why it cracked so easily... Bridge is dry too, not the best wood for it..."
He finishes making his notes then turns to a cabinet and looks through a selection of wooden blanks. He chooses one, then sets it in a lathe and gets to work.
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"That'll take about a half hour to set up. Refill?"
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