sixwordstories | (no subject)

I'm gonna answer that question with... yes, please.

Good, because I wanted to come teach your kids to play guitar.

They will be thrilled, Sam. The beyond words kind of thrilled. You can do it as a group thing or spread it out over a few days to be more one-on-one with them. Whatever's easiest and better for you.

Think I'll spread it out over a few days.

Thrilled? Now I'm nervous.

Well if you need a place to stay, the couch in my office slash guest room folds out into a bed. So the offer is there. Although at a hotel you'd get room service which is a plus, I guess.

[He laughs.] Don't be nervous. They're gonna think you're so cool... especially the younger ones when they hear you're a real rock star. It'll be good.

I'll need a ride. I have no idea how to get around in the city. But, I've already got a room booked. Thanks for the offer though, I appreciate it. [Sam has nightmares and can suddenly change into a wolf, which is best to keep to himself for now.]

Or they will think I'm an idiot when I screw up. [He laughed.] I can bring extra guitars if any of them need something to play on.

No problem. Room service is a big draw. But I can get you to and from wherever you need to go. So can a cab, but my car smells better.

Nah, they're gonna think you're way cooler than me. I usually just have them use my guitar so bringing some extras would be great. Thanks so much for thinking about doing this for them.

And? I'd rather talk to you over a cab driver anyway.

I can talk to them about German poetry and math if you want me to make myself less 'cool'. Someone told me once that everything comes at a price, I've been given a lot, I have to pay that back some how. So really you are helping me.

Best compliment ever. Thanks.

Oh no. I need them to know I have cool friends. Then I'll be vicariously cool to them... through you. It's all a part of my secret plan, really.

[He laughed at that.] I'm an accessory, hm? Like a great pair of shoes or something...

Way better than a great pair of shoes, which is saying a lot. [Teasing... teasing...]

You've got a thing for shoes?

Not really, but it sounded funny, didn't it? It made you smile, right?

Yeah, you made me smile. [He bit his lip and paused.] It made me.

[Right.]

So what sort of music are these kids into?

Me too. [Right.]

Uhm, mostly hip hop and rap and all that. But I think I'm influencing them into the classic rock stuff. I always have it playing on the radio there and lately they've asked for it to be on a few times. A lot of these kids are from crappy homes, have siblings in gangs. It's just how it is. So you've gotta be aware of it and work around it. I have one girl there who's very into Broadway showtunes. It's pretty cute when she starts belting them out. I got her involved in a Broadway for kids camp last year. Think I'll do it again this year. She's real sweet.

[He pauses.] And boy can I talk when the subject is the kids, huh?

[He's chewing his lip trying to stop himself from laughing or smiling again.]

I can work with hip hop easy enough. There is a group, The Roots, they are hip hop and all of it is played on actual instruments. Shocking, right? Jay-Z did Unplugged for MTV and they were his band. I can come up with some music that will fit them. It's always more fun when you like the music you are playing, or can relate to it. Who doesn't love Broadway?

[Sam chuckled a little.] It wasn't all kids, you and the kids.

The Roots, I've heard of them. They uh... they're on Jimmy Falon, right? Or they used to be. I haven't watched it in some time. But the actual instruments thing is very cool... and yes, shocking.

If you don't think I'd mess up your game too bad, maybe you and I could play some too.

I'm not sure....I've never seen that show. I think it's on after my bed time.

Mess up my game? [Sam chuckled.] First I have no game and second? I was sort of counting on you playing with me.

Mmm bed time. It's the best time of the day, second only to morning time... cause in the morning there's jogging and then coffee. It's that afternoon time you've gotta watch out for. The in between...

You have so got game. Trust me. [His smile is audible in his voice.] And I was hoping you'd say that. Less awkward when I just start playing and trying to keep up with you. Less awkward is good.

I've always wanted to jog around Central Park or just see it. I like the heat and the smells of noon to three.

[Sam laughed his awkward, dorky laugh that he hated but couldn't help.] You're doing that thing again and making me blush.

Careful, the making you blush thing could become a thing I actually try to do... all the time. Especially when you're here and I can see it. [And oh god, that laugh is adorable. Stop thinking that, Mark.]

Maybe we can go for a jog while you're here. Not... that I'm trying to fill up all your time and make you hang with me, because... I'm not.

You're trying now, I know it.

[Sam sighed. Knowing what the trip to New York meant.] I'll have a lot of time to fill up. Just need a few hours a day to visit Eothian, I mean if they'll even let me.

Edited 2012-06-05 21:48 (UTC)

There may be a little trying going on.

[Mark hesitates just a heart beat before speaking again.] Who's Eothian?

I thought so.

[Sam pauses and thinks about how to best answer that. He's suppose to keep their relationship to himself, for fear of Janet losing her shit. She told them to keep it to themselves.] He's....it's complicated. He sings in the band, before we can tour or promote the album he has to enter a rehab center and complete treatment. Or we'll lose our contract. We found a place in New York, his family is there.

Oh. Okay. There are some great rehab centers here in the City so... he's probably getting great help. And I bet they'll let you go in and see him. Usually isolation is only... a couple of weeks or so depending on the situation with the patient. You know the visiting hours of the facility, right? Maybe you could call ahead and make sure.

I hope so, I don't think I can go a couple weeks...[Sam's voice trailed off. He paused for a moment and cleared his throat.] So.....jogging?

[Mark is quiet for a few brief moments.] Yeah. Jogging. And good things like helping kids with having things to do aside from be out on the streets. And New York. Plus the room service, can't forget that. It's good.

I'd rather eat out then alone in my room. [Sam let out a heavy breath.] Did I say something?

N-no, no, you didn't. Just... putting two and two together... I think. It's cool. I could take you to some places while you're here. I know some great local only places... some off the beaten path places.

And what have you put together? [He swallowed so hard he was pretty sure it could be heard.] I'd like that....a lot.

Five. Two plus two is five. That and room service and rehab make more sense than five. [Mark's back to his default, which is dry humor / joking.] Then it's an outing. Maybe a couple of outings since I know a couple of places. And by a couple I mean several. As many as you want.

I hope you're better at playing the guitar than math. [Sam laughs at that.] Outings. Nice way of not saying date. You don't mind showing a kid around the big city?

Well, on a scale of one to ten, I'm about a five at the guitar. But don't let that scare you off. Mediocre just means I'm good back up.

[He grins, audible in his voice.] I thought it was clever. Like Saturday Night Live clever. And I really don't mind. You may even never wanna leave after you've been here a few days.

Mediocre just means I'll have teach you a thing or two. [He was glad for the upbeat tone of Mark's voice.] If I stayed you'd never be rid of me. Then what would you do?

You could probably teach me more than a thing or two. Maybe three or four... or all the things, however many things there are. Plus I'm a quick learner so I have that going for me.

[He draws in a deep breath, then smirks.] Be glad to have you... keep trying to entertain you. I could break out some sock puppets. Plus there's Delilah. She's a furball of entertainment all by herself.

Delilah, the graceful cat. [He chuckled.] Thank you, Mark. It's good to have someone right now. This is....harder then I thought it would be.

This being... Eothian in rehab?

Life. Fame. Friends. All of it. I never thought I'd be around this long. Never really lived much.

Sometimes I still feel like that seven year old kid Beck found. Naive....hell sometimes I'm totally clueless. Shy.