|
|
Post by Astrid Jackson on Jan 29, 2009 9:48:15 GMT -7
Astrid wanted to laugh but she managed to keep a semistraight face. She continued to look down her nose at him, though she really couldn't help the slight twitching at the corner of her lips. OK, she knew she really had to think of something NOT funny, or she would burst out laughing! Bri mooning the rest of the band....Yep, that had done it. The memory of her bandmates seriously pale butt killed the laughter that had been bubbling at the surface.
Folding her hands primly on her lap, she gave a quick shake of her head. "No, I do not believe I shall," she said, her voice dripping in her fake aristocratic accent. "As you can clearly see, I will not be intimidated into saying something I do not mean. " Her lips twitched again. White butt, the twitching stopped.
Unfolding her hands, she reached up and casually tossed her hair over her shoulder again. "So what exactly pray tell do you plan on doing about it? I'll tell you what, you'll do nothing. Why? Because I secretyl scare you..." She couldn't help it any longer and not even her thinking of white butts could keep the chuckle from escaping her lips. Oh well, she really had tried.
|
|
|
|
Post by loki2 on Feb 3, 2009 3:38:30 GMT -7
Leon's own barely restrained grin probably didn't help Astrid with her efforts. "That actually wasn't too bad, love," he said once she was done, exaggerating his accent. "But it's a little difficult to take a girl seriously when she's got pink stripes in her hair and happens to be wearing clothing that's umpteen sizes too big." He leaned forward, earning another burble of protest from Baxter. "And what am I going to do? Oh-ho, just you wait!" He sat back again and looked around, but saw nothing to foment some sort of payback. "Uhh... BAXTER! Get her! Sic her, Baxter!"
The big cat yawned.
"Aminals..." Leon muttered. "That's right, I said aminals!" He stuck his tongue out at Astrid.
"Oh YEAH? Well... take THIS!" He practically vaulted over his couch again, reaching for something. "a-HA!" A twang familiar to Astrid echoed through Leon's apartment just before he produced an acoustic guitar. Gripping it by the neck, he then gently and repeatedly poked Astrid in the belly with the body of the instrument. "HWAH! You can apologize anytime now..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Astrid Jackson on Feb 3, 2009 6:00:22 GMT -7
Astrid couldn't help it, when Leon tried to get his cat to attack her... Well she'd started laughing, laughing so hard that her sides were bound to start hurting. But, she really had needed to laugh, even if it was over some things so completely random as that. "Some guard cat you have," she managed to say between her laughter.
She tried composing herself, but before she could accomplish it Leon was poking her in her belly with a guitar. Not hard, but well, she was ticklish and he really wasn't helping any! She pushed the guitar away for a minute, just trying to keep the object away from her. Her sides were really hurting from all her giggling and laughing and dang it! She needed to breathe!
She stopped pushing the guitar away when she realized what it was exactly. "You have a gui-" she began only to be poked in the belly with it again. "Oh gimme that already," she groaned and quickly snatched it out of Leon's hands. She stuck her tongue out at him and took a few deep breaths before turning her attention the the instrument. "Wow, this is pretty nice..."
She turned it over in her hands, a smile tugging on the corner of her lips. Thankfully her own guitar hadn't been in the hotel. It was still in the bus which had been parked somewhere other than the hotel parking lot due to the cost of everything inside it. "Play something," Astrid demanded and held the guitar out for Leon to take.
"And just for the record, fluffy head, be thankful I'm wearing these clothes! You sir, wouldn't know what to do with yourself if I was my normal hawtness."
|
|
|
|
Post by loki2 on Feb 3, 2009 6:59:49 GMT -7
"Well, at least I know your weakness now." Leon accepted the guitar back from her with a small smile and mirth dancing in his eyes. "I've already seen you in a mini-skirt, fishnets and a tight t-shirt. What more could I possibly want?" He left it at that and shooed away Baxter - who made a point of placing both rear paws on Leon's groin as he launched himself out of the man's lap. "Ahhh you little bugger... Alright alright, hang on, I gotta tune this thing; been a while since I've picked it up."
He usually found it too depressing to play, memories of better times leaving him hollow and heartsick. But, for some reason, Leon found himself wanting to play for Astrid - and hoped to the gods of music that he wouldn't screw up.
The old red-wooded Washburn sat in his lap like an old friend, and Leon involuntarily found himself gently running a hand down the guitar's smooth body before he went to tuning it. It had been a birthday gift from his parents when he had entered high school.
Once the instrument was tuned, his fingers idly strummed it and his head tilted back with eyes half-closed as he thought of a song to play for her. He was trying to think of something that would both show his skill with the guitar and let her hear just how awesome of a voice he had!
Ah, yes...!
He straightened up as his fingers plucked out the opening notes of 'Last Kiss' as done by Pearl Jam. Ok, fine, it only had four chords, really, but dammit he liked this song.
Leon then began singing, his tenor voice ringing strong and melodious in the small living room:
"Oh where oh where can my baby be?
The Lord took heerrr away from me.
She's gone to heaven so I've got to be good,
So I can see my baby when I leeeaaaave this world."
Here he thumped the side of the guitar with his thumb to make up for the drums before going back to the strings.
"We were ouuuut on a daaaate in my daddy's car.
We hadn't driveennnn very far.
There in the road straight aheeeaaaad,
A car was stalled, the engine was deeeaaad.
I couldn't stop, so I swerved to the right.
I'll never forget the sooouuund that night:
The screamin' tiiiires, the bustin' glass...
The painful scream that I heeeaaard last.
"Oh where oh where can my baby be?
The Lord took heerrr away from meeee!
She's gone to heaven so I've got to be good,
So I can see my baby when I leeeaaaave this world.
"When I woooke up, the rain was pouring down,
Theeerrre were people standing aaalllll around.
Something warm flowin' through my eyes,
But somehow I found my baby that night.
I lifted her head, she looked at me and said:
"Hold me darlin' just a liiittle while..."
I held her close I kissed her - our last kiss.
I found the love that I knew I had missed.
Well now she's gooone even though I hold her tight ,
I lost my love, my liiiife, that night..."
The thumb trick again.
"Oh where oh where can my baby be?
The Lord took heerrr away from me.
She's gone to heaven so I've got to be good,
So I can see my baby when I leeeaaaave this world.
"Oooooo-oooooo...
Ooooooo...
Oh, ooohhhh-ooohhhh!"
Man, that had felt really good.
All his love for music had just come flooding back to him.
With a new vitality radiating from within him, Leon glanced up at Astrid and said, "Does the lady have any requests?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Astrid Jackson on Feb 3, 2009 7:39:50 GMT -7
Astrid flashed Leon a self satisfied smirk as the cat made sure to trample on him before taking off. "Well just so you know, that? Oh that was mild compared to some of the stuff I wear on stage.... You know, corsets, shorts...." She waved a hand dismissingly, "Though of course t-shirt and mini, oh so much better." OK, so maybe she didn't exactly wear a corset top with shorts but like he knew that.
She leaned back against the cushions of the couch, and drew her legs under her as Leon tuned his guitar. This was kinda exciting! She really hadn't pictured him as the type to play the guitar.... Drums, maybe but... Well yeah. So she had to admit that when he started playing she was more than a bit pleasantly surprised at how well he played and sang. Granted, it wasn't a hard song, but it was Pearl Jam! And he'd played it beautifully!
She closed her eyes, allowing herself to be swept up by the lyrics and the sound of Leon's voice. She sang along with him, though in her head of course. This was just great! He really was surprising her... When she'd first met him she'd only thought he was a complete jerkface and here all night he'd been completely throwing her off with his complete turn around!
When he was done, she clapped with a pleased and excited smile on her lips. "Ohmygosh! That was sooooo good!" she squealed. She thought for a moment before nodding her head. "Oh you have to, have to play 'I Alone' by Live! I completely LOVE that song! You know it??"
|
|
|
|
Post by loki2 on Feb 3, 2009 8:17:46 GMT -7
Imagining Astrid in a corset and shorty-shorts did nothing for his concentration, but fortunately a slight tightening of his voice was the only clue to the images running rampant in his head. Playing had that affect on him; Leon could tune out the world if he wanted to when his guitar was in hand. And seeing and hearing Astrid's appreciation of his talents sure went a long way in making him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. His cheeks even rouged ever so slightly.
After hearing her request, he tilted his head to one side and raised an eyebrow incredulously. "Do I know 'I Alone'? Live was my favourite band when I was a kid, honey-pot."
He managed to keep a straight face for two and a half seconds before he shook his head and laughed at his own endearment.
But hey, she'd called him fluffy head! Honestly!
He struggled to get his facial muscles under control as he began the song:
"It's easier not to be wise
and measure these things by your brains
I sank into Eden with you
alone in the church by and by.
I'll read to you here, save your eyes.
You'll need them, your boat is at sea.
Your anchor is up, you've been swept away
And the greatest of teachers won't hesitate
To leave you there, by yourself, chained to fate!
Yeah!
"I alone love you!
I alone tempt you!
I alone love you!
Fear is not the eeeeeend of this!
"It's easier not to be great
And measure these things by your eyes.
We long to be here by His resolve,
alone in the church by and by.
To cradle the baby in space
and leave you there by yourself chained to fate!
Yeah!
"I alone love you!
I alone tempt you!
I alone love you!
Fear is not the eeeeend of this!"
He put a bit more "oomph" into his voice.
"I alone love you!
I alone tempt you!
I alone love you!
Yeeeaah!
"Oh now we took it back too far.
Only love can save us now.
All these riddles that you burn,
All come runnin' back to you,
All these rhythms that you hide,
Only love can save us now.
All these riddles... that you... burn -
YEAH!
YEAH!
YEAH!
"I alone love you!
I alone tempt you!
I alone love you!
Fear is not the end of this!
I alone love you!
I alone tempt you!
I alone love you!
Yeah yeah yeah!
Fear is not the eeeeend of thiiiis..."
Ok, he was having way too much fun with this.
His heartbeat kicking up a bit, Leon could barely restrain the grin from his face as he said, "I, uh, have a song I wrote myself if you'd like to hear it... peach kitten."
And now he was just asking for it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Astrid Jackson on Feb 3, 2009 8:37:15 GMT -7
Her nose wrinkled and she had to resist the urge to kick him in the shin. Honey-Pot? Did she look round and plump? What the freak.... Sighing, she crossed her arms and gave him a look. "Well at least we have something in common and I guess this could mean you have some taste..." She muttered, though she wasn't really being mean, and honestly she wasn't completely annoyed with him. By now, she was use to Leon's complete cheese factor names for her.
It was probably a good thing that Leon started singing though, because as soon as he started she forgot any annoyed feeling she had and just enjoyed the song. It was pretty cool she had to admit that Leon could play the guitar and sing... It kinda made her sad now that he's sorta blown off her offer of coming with her and the band, but well there was nothing one could do about that now he had his mind set on doing the right thing.
His song came to and end and once again Astrid clapped. "You are really good! Why don't you try and do this professionally? I mean... Seriously, despite the 'fro, you'd completely do good dude!" OK, maybe she was teasing a bit about the hair, but she felt she had to... Because it was what they did... Or something.
She eyed him again, her eyes widening a bit in interest. "You wrote a song? This I have to hear! Wait.... Peach kitten? Are you serious? Is there a book you're getting this crap from? Like World's Most Lame terms of Endearment?" She stuck her tongue out at him again before motioning for him to start. "OK Fluffy, I wanna hear your song..."
|
|
|
|
Post by loki2 on Feb 3, 2009 9:15:10 GMT -7
Hearing Astrid say that he should play professionally tempered his enthusiasm somewhat.
Yeah, right.
He wasn't even in this country legally.
So go home already and set yourself up! How many YEARS have you yearned to?
No, this moment of bliss couldn't last past tonight. So for now, he pushed everything else from his mind and just enjoyed himself. Didn't he derserve that much?
And hey! She wanted to hear his song! His! One that he wrote entirely! It wouldn't be the same without Eslie on the piano, or Gavin with his harmonica and Bam with his sax, but he was determined to make it one of the best songs she'd ever heard.
Feeling giddy once more, he said, "Okay, this is called 'Driving Away From Home'... And just so you know, you will pay for those hair jokes. Just wanted to make sure you're aware of that." He smiled mischievously before breaking into the song.
"Hey.
Now just get in
And close the door.
Put your foot down.
You know, I like this suburb we're going through
I've been around here many times before.
When I was young we were gonna move out this way.
For the clean air,
Healthy, you know...
Away from the factories and the smoke.
I like that shop, too;
You can get anything there.
So just get in
And we'll go for a ride.
"Yes we'll go driving away from home
Thirty miles or more.
And we'll go moving away from home
Without a care.
"I'll tell you what
Why don't we cross the city limit
And head on down the M62?
It's only thirty nine miles
And forty five minutes to Manchester
And that's my birth-place, you know.
"Driving away from home.
Thirty miles or more
And we'll go moving away from home
Without a care in the world."
A wide smile nearly split his sunny face as he performed a small guitar solo. Normally this would be Gavin's solo with the harmonica, but Leon was so intimately familiar with the song that he transposed the notes instantly in his head so they would flow from his guitar.
"Driving away from home
Thirty miles or more.
Yes, we'll go moving away from home
Without a care.
"Some of my friends live up north, too.
If you'd like a longer trip,
All you've got to do is put your foot hard down to the floor
And we can call on people I know in Newcastle
Or maybe even Glasgow...
There's a lot of nice places to see out there.
So just don't worry.
"Moving away from home
Without a care in the world.
Driving away from home
Thirty miles or more.
Yes, we'll go moving away from home...
Without a care in the world!
"Move-em on, move-em out, move-em up.
King of the road, knight of the road,
It's all the same to me.
I mean, after all
It's just a road.
"Driving away from home!
Drivin'...
Driving away from home!
Drivin'...
Driving away from home!
Drivin'..."
When the last notes faded, Leon didn't say anything, he merely sat with the guitar in his hands and waited for Astrid's appraisal. Nevermind the fact that by singing that song he'd given away more about his past than most of his friends here in the States were even aware of...
|
|
|
|
Post by Astrid Jackson on Feb 3, 2009 9:56:39 GMT -7
Astrid frowned for a moment feeling Leon's self doubt emanating from his body. She thought he was seriously good!! She really couldn't understand how he didn't think he was. In her mind he seriously needed to take a couple of shots of confidence or something! But instead of doing what she normally would and telling him exactly what she thought, she kept silent mainly because she was kinda positive that this wasn't something he really wanted to be talking about.
Her frown faded seeing and feeling his mood shift more to a happy giddiness. "Alright," she said nodding her head before he began his song. A smile began to grow on her lips as she listened to the melody and the words and once again found herself wondering why Leon just didn't try his hand at playing professionally. Heck, even just playing in bars beyond rocked! And regardless of what he thought, she truly thought that he had talent! And his song? It really reinforced that view point.
The last notes of the song faded and they both sat their in silence. Leon for some reason and her... Well she was still taking in the whole feel of the song. She smiled finally and looked over at him. "That was really really good. I'd be squealing and such, but for some reason... It really didn't feel like the right reaction. But dude! It was really good!"
Astrid's gaze drifted to the guitar and a flicker of longing flashed through her gaze. She loved music, and all that it involved and well... Could anyone really blame her for wanting to play? It was her life after all. "Do you mind? I mean, if I played something too?"
|
|
