Visit from Sis
Summer 2021, Week 3
Sunday evening
Sorin Fionn's Apartment, Old Towne
Sorin Fionn
Excitedly, he picks up a few things and makes his apartment ready for Layla to come over, occasionally sidestepping Hex as she darts around, also excited because this commotion means her second favorite human is coming soon. Just a little tidying up in tha kitchen, gotta start the water boilin', get tha saucepans ready... MUSIC! I can't believe I forgot tha music! Abandoning everything and almost tripping over Hex, he rushes over to the living room and turns on his Bluetooth speakers, fiddles around with his phone to pair and play music, a strange hodgepodge of different music ranging from alternative rock to songs featuring a hurdy-gurdy.Storyteller
After some time, the rather small, one bedroom apartment is cleaned, the smell of cooking pasta and garlicky tomato sauce permeating the air while music blares from the living room, Sorin in almost a dance as he works. Shortly before everything is ready, the music is interrupted by a call, with a caller ID of 'Front Door'Sorin Fionn
He answers the call and quickly enters 9 to unlock the main entryway doors and rushes over to his apartment door, readying his phone for a song for when she walks in. At the sound of knocking, he presses play and opens the door, a familiar sight he grew up with smiles ecstatically back at him, and rushes in for a big hug, the two twirling together for a moment before singing together along with the song."Ascension"
Layla
In a lull of lyrics, they greet each other with a kiss on each cheek, his facial hair tickling her face as they do. She can feel Hex brushing up against their legs, accompanied by a soft "Brrreow?" Layla exits the embrace to squat down and give Hex some scrithches. "How is ma Queen Bitch doin'? Didja miss me, Hexie?" Her attention and singsong voice elicits more loud purring from Hex, who promptly flops over on her side, happy for the love and attention from Layla.Sorin Fionn
Sorin glides over towards the kitchen as Layla gives Hex a thorough belly rub, which will soon develop into roughhousing between the two. A quick stir of sauce, a check for pasta readiness and a quick strain with a colander later, the meal is ready to be served.Layla
Layla, after playing with the black cat, strides over to the kitchen sink to wash her hands before the meal. "So, how are you, love? Stayin' safe at work?Sorin Fionn
"Eh, safe as I can be with people becoming idiots with a bit o' booze. Just Wednesday I had one a the strong EVOs try and rough up another customer. I'm jus' thankful they didn't know how ta fight well when I stepped in."Layla
Godsdammit, Sorin. She lets out a disappointed sigh. "Ya know I don't like hearin' that you are gettin' inta fights."Sorin Fionn
He dishes up two plates, and lays them on the table, then pours them both a glass of soda before taking his seat. "I'm here on this fine Friday, aye? To see ma beautiful sister from Saint Marsh's."Layla
She frowns slightly at the mention of the orphanage they grew up in, then shakes her head and smiles again. "Aye, yer still alive and well. Us Ward fuckers are tough ta take down."Sorin Fionn
He gives her a cocky half-grin and winks. "That, we are."Storyteller
They spend the rest of their meal talking about the week, Layla's new prospects and how they won't get a second date, and occasionally humming or singing along to the accompanying music for their dinner.Sorin Fionn
After the wonderful meal, they sit on the couch in the living room and turn off the music and speakers. "Shall we warm up, or dive right in?"Layla
"Who needs ta warm up?" She smiles coyly "when you can just copycat someone that already has?"Sorin Fionn
He frowns. I don't like watching singers because I can do that... I don't want the one thing I can do on my own to be muddled with... that... "You know I can't help it if I see it."Layla
"I'm jus' teasin', love. C'mon, let's dive right in."Sorin Fionn
His frown becomes a slight smile and moves back and forth from the closet where he keeps his instruments, handing her the keyboard and power cable. "Just for that, you can set up your own." He says as he picks his guitar case off the shelf. They both set up their respective instruments, and he asks, "I See Fire, but with a little iron?"Layla
"With pleasure"Sorin Fionn
He pauses for a moment. "Why don't you take the lead this time?"Layla
She seems a little surprised, one of her eyebrows shoot up. That's new. “...All right.""I See Fire"
Sorin Fionn
After the song was finished, he looked up, having looked away for the duration of the song, focusing on the sound rather than the image of Layla performing. "Your turn" he says with a smileLayla
"Then Rosen up your bow, because I choose My Friends"Sorin Fionn
He raises an eyebrow as he moves again to the closet to pull out his viola. "Aren't we a bit somber tonight? Shouldn't I focus on vocals for that one?"Layla
"I thought you liked a challenge" she says as she smiles coyly.Sorin Fionn
"Well, I never said I wouldn't do it," he replies with a cocky grin. He begins to rosin the bow for his viola and tunes it a little bit before they start. "After you" He closes his eyes and waits for her to begin."My Friends" He tears up a little during the song, thinking of those friends and 'Marsh family' that have come and gone, some coming into their own families, some fallen prey to the cruelty of desperate thugs before his very eyes. I was foolish then, letting people get close ta me like that, and unable to do anything to stop them. I'm no Titan... I'm barely even an EVO, if at all... His voice cracks a bit as he continues to sing. At least I'll always have Layla...
Layla
She sees Sorin is starting to tear up and lose his composure but finishes the song and waits for him to look up. After a moment of him breathing heavily and not looking up, she gets up and walks over to him and gently starts to rub his shoulders while taking a seat beside him. "What's wrong, Sorin?"Sorin Fionn
Almost flinching at her touch, he looks up at her with reddened eyes. "Sorry, Layla. I was just thinking of... well, of all our friends... and remembered what happened to Tim... and Rilea... and Sean..." He remembers vividly the visceral crunch of their bones cracking under the force of the thug's metal bat.Layla
Hearing their names, she remembers the incident, and how they... No, that bastard deserved what he got She thought, the image of the thug murdered and broken moments before they ran.Sorin Fionn
"But that life is behind us, and as long as we stick together, we'll solve any trouble, right?" He wipes tears away and forces a smile.Layla
How am I going to tell him? "Sorin... I've been thinking..."Sorin Fionn
His blood ran cold with those words. "...That you'll give Marvin a second shot?"Layla
She smiles sadly at his forced optimism, seeing the obvious worry on his face. "That I should study law, and try ta do my part to help the city in a much bigger way than what we're doing now... I mean, there's only so much I can do as a normie, but I want ta help make it a better world, dammit."Sorin Fionn
Huh... guess I never learn... I'm such an idiot. Why would she be any different? Attachments only lead to broken hearts. He forces a smile "I suppose you've already been accepted, and your mind is made up, aye…? How far are ya goin'?"Layla
"Stanford. I'll be... going to Stanford."Sorin Fionn
"Ah... Across the country... But Stanford is one a the more prestigious colleges, right?" He smiles. "I always told ya you were better than me."Layla
She shoved him playfully and laughed at the absurdity of his statement. "Better than you? Pffft, as if. Anything I do you can learn in a minute if you watch me. You don't even realize how special ya are, ya dummy" She gets up quickly. "How's about that ditty we've been working on?"Sorin Fionn
"Sure." His smile turns up on one corner of his mouth. "Yer really makin' me work tonight." He moves towards the closet once more to procure his second favorite case, a worn red leather case containing his hurdy-gurdy. He pulls it out and begins to tune it, setting the drone strings to the proper placements while turning the crank slowly. Once tuned, he continues to turn the crank to hold the note. "After you.""Horizons Turn Red"
Storyteller
The two finished their song and discussed a departure date for Layla. They bid each other good night, her leaving for her own place in New Victoria. As he lay awake that night, he contemplated how he would do his part to make New Victoria a better place to be. The thought of enlisting in AERI came across his mind, but shot down the idea, as it would reveal he was an EVO and, in his mind, not a very capable one. The thoughts continued to wrestle in his mind until sleep took him, Hex curled up by his feet.
Type
Record, Historical
Medium
Digital Recording, Text
Authoring Date
July 4, 2021
Authors
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