More fun
Although I didn't have time to post it last night, I finally met Gustav Ahle in person. It was quite on accident, but it turned out to be a fun conversation nonetheless. Could this day have gotten any better? I hope today is fun, too.
Greenwich Village
A maze of narrow, crooked lanes offset from the gridwork roads and blocks of the rest of Manhattan, Greenwich Village is unique, and artistic. Trendy cafe's and shops line the streets along with SoHo-like lofts and off-Broadway theaters that attract thousands every year to one of the brighter points of New York. The actor, the artist, the musician...all can find some comfort here among the twisted jungle of modernization of Greenwich. Even the occasional occult shop is tossed in among the restaurants and the mix, or a low-key nightclub.
[Exits : [T]he [B]ay [H]orse, [H]ead [L]ike a [H]ole, [W]ee [B]ook [I]nn, [B]ad [A]ss [C]offee, [Sub]way, [S]o[H]o, [G]reenwich [A]partments, [S]weet [B]asil, and [Ch]inatown ]
[Players : Gustav ]
Gustav tromps up from the subway, horn case clutched in one hand folder of music in another. Various corners and titles of music stick out from said folder, but Gustav doesn't seem to notice or care at this point. He walks with his chin forward, but his eyes are partially lidded. He's clearly exhausted.
Quark walks down the streets, stopping in front of a newspaper stand to grab one with some spare change. He glances around with a smile and scans the paper, looking for some information. After a few moments, he finally ponders aloud, "When -is- the next concert in Carnegie Hall?!" He's dying to hear some good music.
Gustav blinks and looks up at the mention of Carnegie Hall, eyes opening a little more clearly, though he still seems completely exhausted. Yet he thinks he can answer, and trudges over to Quark. "Die Philharmonic ist performing zere zis veekend," he offeres.
Quark looks up to the musician and smiles politely, replying, "Really? Thanks a lot, sir." He blinks and frowns in confusion, noticing something familiar about this person. He double checks the appearance, noticing the french horn and the face. Finally, he slowly says, "You look like Gustav Mahler." Where -has- he seen this face before?
Uh oh. Definitely uh oh. He nods as common courtesy to Quark's thanks, but he happens to be frowning rather severly, his brows lowered and forehead creased. So now he looks like Mahler in a bad mood, but yeah. "You are not die first to point zat out," he remarks flatly. He's controlling himself, really! It's odd to have random people on the street come up to him and say this, but he knows they mean no harm. "You know your composers, eh?"
Quark grins in spite of himself, suddenly realizing where he knows this person from. Shaking his head, he explains, "No, no, that's not what I meant. I know who you are...You're Gustav Ahle! The musician I was talking to on your LiveJournal account online!" He politely extends his hand, saying, "I'm Chris, Chris Parker. Most of my friends call me Quark, though. It's a nuclear physics term..."
Gustav seems convinced that Quark did most definitely mean to say Mahler, but doesn't dwell on it. He likes the topic to go away. And he's also weirded out that random people are recognizing him. But he does shake the offered hand, despite the fact that he looks pretty freaked out. "Ach, yes...You commented on my user icon to die extent zat I look like...ach." There we go. Not where he wanted to end up. "It ist nice to meet you in person."
Quark's smile fades slightly, noticing how much the topic is bothering Gustav. "I apologize again for bringing up the subject. I understand, now, how much it irritates you to be compared to him. Also, sorry for the random conversations out on the street...I seriously was trying to find out when the concert was."
Gustav shrugs, moving as if to cross his arms, but bonking his knee with his horn case instead. So much for that. "Don't vorry about it. It vas not intentional on your part, und even I vill admit die physical resemblance. It ist die people zat persist to bring it up who make it a problem at all. Und do not vorry about asking about die concert, either. As I said, die Philharmonic ist playing zis veekend--I do not know vat."
Quark nods, replying, "Yes, I thank you for the information." Eyeing the horn, he adds, "Were you practicing tonight? You seem kind of tired." He grins and glances at his watch, glad that he has plenty of time and is in no kind of rush whatsoever.
"You're velcome," Gustav responds, then adds, "I am not in die Philharmonic, for die record. Zey are above vat I do...But I am in an orchestra, of course. Und zere vas rehearsal tonight. Vonderful music, und yet irritating people."
Quark smiles, nodding in understanding. "Still, like I said earlier, you're already better than me for even playing an instrument. I've never played one my entire life." As for the comment on irritating people, he simply frowns and replies, "What do you mean, 'irritating people'?" This spurs his earlier conversation, with Forge, and reminds him of the talk about that mutant school. Out of sheer curiosity, he can't keep himself from asking, "By the way, do you know anything about that all-mutant school over in Westchester, called Xavier's Institute or something like that? I've been looking into it, but I haven't been able to learn much about it from any of my 'gifted' friends."
"People who call me s'ings, you know..." Gustav keeps getting back to that point, doesn't he? Draat. But he brightens at the change of topic. "I haff spoken mit a few people involved zere, und yet I know little about it other than die fact zat zey promote peaceful human und mutant coexistance, und zat it has a music classroom."
Quark nods in interest, giving Gustav his full attention. "Peaceful human and mutant coexistance, hmm? I would -love- to go to a school like that. Do you know if it's for high school students, or is it only for college-level mutants?" Dang, he -really- has to get a hold of a staff person at the school and look into it...
Gustav shrugs. "I haff no idea of age or of specifics of classes. I just know die basic principle. I haff not asked further about vat you ask because I am beyond die age of schooling."
Quark nods, looking at nothing in particular as he ponders what the school might be like. "I really hope it's open to high school students. With new mutants being revealed at the school every day, people are becoming more and more openly against mutants. To be at a school where mutants are respected would be great...simply great."
Gustav transfers his horn case to the other hand, nodding a bit. "It is good to go to a school vere die s'ings zat are important to you are a priority of die school. Zat ist why I vent to music school."
Quark nods and grins, finding a nearby bench to sit at instead of standing for so long. "Music school, you say? What was that like? I don't know much about music, except that it's full of emotion and I greatly enjoy listening to it." He's trying to move the topic away from himself, so he doesn't make Gustav feel too awkward or bored.
"It vas very intense und difficult, but it vas very enjoyable for me. To vork on solo repertoire und orchestra und sometimes chamber music...Und sometimes even composition...It vas very fulfilling." Gustav smiles, half-lidded eyes still enthusiastic. "If it hadn't been, I vould not be in an orchestra now." Enthusiastic, but still tired too. "Und zat orchestra has many long rehearsals, as I said. I hate to be rude, but I s'ink I need a bit of rest now. It vas nice to meet you, und danke for die chat."
Quark nods, once again extending his hand of friendship and shaking Gustav's hand. "The pleasure was all mind, Gustav Ahle. It was nice to actually meet you." He waves goodbye and carries his newspaper with him so he can take a look at it later. Man, this was a great day...
Greenwich Village
A maze of narrow, crooked lanes offset from the gridwork roads and blocks of the rest of Manhattan, Greenwich Village is unique, and artistic. Trendy cafe's and shops line the streets along with SoHo-like lofts and off-Broadway theaters that attract thousands every year to one of the brighter points of New York. The actor, the artist, the musician...all can find some comfort here among the twisted jungle of modernization of Greenwich. Even the occasional occult shop is tossed in among the restaurants and the mix, or a low-key nightclub.
[Exits : [T]he [B]ay [H]orse, [H]ead [L]ike a [H]ole, [W]ee [B]ook [I]nn, [B]ad [A]ss [C]offee, [Sub]way, [S]o[H]o, [G]reenwich [A]partments, [S]weet [B]asil, and [Ch]inatown ]
[Players : Gustav ]
Gustav tromps up from the subway, horn case clutched in one hand folder of music in another. Various corners and titles of music stick out from said folder, but Gustav doesn't seem to notice or care at this point. He walks with his chin forward, but his eyes are partially lidded. He's clearly exhausted.
Quark walks down the streets, stopping in front of a newspaper stand to grab one with some spare change. He glances around with a smile and scans the paper, looking for some information. After a few moments, he finally ponders aloud, "When -is- the next concert in Carnegie Hall?!" He's dying to hear some good music.
Gustav blinks and looks up at the mention of Carnegie Hall, eyes opening a little more clearly, though he still seems completely exhausted. Yet he thinks he can answer, and trudges over to Quark. "Die Philharmonic ist performing zere zis veekend," he offeres.
Quark looks up to the musician and smiles politely, replying, "Really? Thanks a lot, sir." He blinks and frowns in confusion, noticing something familiar about this person. He double checks the appearance, noticing the french horn and the face. Finally, he slowly says, "You look like Gustav Mahler." Where -has- he seen this face before?
Uh oh. Definitely uh oh. He nods as common courtesy to Quark's thanks, but he happens to be frowning rather severly, his brows lowered and forehead creased. So now he looks like Mahler in a bad mood, but yeah. "You are not die first to point zat out," he remarks flatly. He's controlling himself, really! It's odd to have random people on the street come up to him and say this, but he knows they mean no harm. "You know your composers, eh?"
Quark grins in spite of himself, suddenly realizing where he knows this person from. Shaking his head, he explains, "No, no, that's not what I meant. I know who you are...You're Gustav Ahle! The musician I was talking to on your LiveJournal account online!" He politely extends his hand, saying, "I'm Chris, Chris Parker. Most of my friends call me Quark, though. It's a nuclear physics term..."
Gustav seems convinced that Quark did most definitely mean to say Mahler, but doesn't dwell on it. He likes the topic to go away. And he's also weirded out that random people are recognizing him. But he does shake the offered hand, despite the fact that he looks pretty freaked out. "Ach, yes...You commented on my user icon to die extent zat I look like...ach." There we go. Not where he wanted to end up. "It ist nice to meet you in person."
Quark's smile fades slightly, noticing how much the topic is bothering Gustav. "I apologize again for bringing up the subject. I understand, now, how much it irritates you to be compared to him. Also, sorry for the random conversations out on the street...I seriously was trying to find out when the concert was."
Gustav shrugs, moving as if to cross his arms, but bonking his knee with his horn case instead. So much for that. "Don't vorry about it. It vas not intentional on your part, und even I vill admit die physical resemblance. It ist die people zat persist to bring it up who make it a problem at all. Und do not vorry about asking about die concert, either. As I said, die Philharmonic ist playing zis veekend--I do not know vat."
Quark nods, replying, "Yes, I thank you for the information." Eyeing the horn, he adds, "Were you practicing tonight? You seem kind of tired." He grins and glances at his watch, glad that he has plenty of time and is in no kind of rush whatsoever.
"You're velcome," Gustav responds, then adds, "I am not in die Philharmonic, for die record. Zey are above vat I do...But I am in an orchestra, of course. Und zere vas rehearsal tonight. Vonderful music, und yet irritating people."
Quark smiles, nodding in understanding. "Still, like I said earlier, you're already better than me for even playing an instrument. I've never played one my entire life." As for the comment on irritating people, he simply frowns and replies, "What do you mean, 'irritating people'?" This spurs his earlier conversation, with Forge, and reminds him of the talk about that mutant school. Out of sheer curiosity, he can't keep himself from asking, "By the way, do you know anything about that all-mutant school over in Westchester, called Xavier's Institute or something like that? I've been looking into it, but I haven't been able to learn much about it from any of my 'gifted' friends."
"People who call me s'ings, you know..." Gustav keeps getting back to that point, doesn't he? Draat. But he brightens at the change of topic. "I haff spoken mit a few people involved zere, und yet I know little about it other than die fact zat zey promote peaceful human und mutant coexistance, und zat it has a music classroom."
Quark nods in interest, giving Gustav his full attention. "Peaceful human and mutant coexistance, hmm? I would -love- to go to a school like that. Do you know if it's for high school students, or is it only for college-level mutants?" Dang, he -really- has to get a hold of a staff person at the school and look into it...
Gustav shrugs. "I haff no idea of age or of specifics of classes. I just know die basic principle. I haff not asked further about vat you ask because I am beyond die age of schooling."
Quark nods, looking at nothing in particular as he ponders what the school might be like. "I really hope it's open to high school students. With new mutants being revealed at the school every day, people are becoming more and more openly against mutants. To be at a school where mutants are respected would be great...simply great."
Gustav transfers his horn case to the other hand, nodding a bit. "It is good to go to a school vere die s'ings zat are important to you are a priority of die school. Zat ist why I vent to music school."
Quark nods and grins, finding a nearby bench to sit at instead of standing for so long. "Music school, you say? What was that like? I don't know much about music, except that it's full of emotion and I greatly enjoy listening to it." He's trying to move the topic away from himself, so he doesn't make Gustav feel too awkward or bored.
"It vas very intense und difficult, but it vas very enjoyable for me. To vork on solo repertoire und orchestra und sometimes chamber music...Und sometimes even composition...It vas very fulfilling." Gustav smiles, half-lidded eyes still enthusiastic. "If it hadn't been, I vould not be in an orchestra now." Enthusiastic, but still tired too. "Und zat orchestra has many long rehearsals, as I said. I hate to be rude, but I s'ink I need a bit of rest now. It vas nice to meet you, und danke for die chat."
Quark nods, once again extending his hand of friendship and shaking Gustav's hand. "The pleasure was all mind, Gustav Ahle. It was nice to actually meet you." He waves goodbye and carries his newspaper with him so he can take a look at it later. Man, this was a great day...