02 - The Bass

//--Daniel
So, the morning at the end of his three days recuperating, Daniel'll sit in his room with a pot of coffee, pull out the Trump of Random, and give it a go...

//--GM
There's a sensation of great distance, and maybe some interference, but no answer. Try to force the issue, or ?

//--Daniel
He'll hang on a few minutes, maybe five, and see if he answers. Not pushing, though.

//--GM
The resistance fluctuates a bit over that span, but you don't get a connection. Then?

//--Daniel
He covers that card and tries the Queen.

//--Vialle
Vialle answers after a brief pause. "Hello, Daniel." It looks like you've caught her dressing for bed again, but she seems at ease. "Are you well?"

//--Daniel
"Reasonably. I was trying to reach Random, but he was out of touch. Given recent events, I thought that warranted checking up on him through you." I smile.

//--Vialle
"He warned me before he left that Caine was taking him far afield to check on the Sabrand situation. I heard from him a little while ago, but he didn't have much to say." She pauses a moment, then rises from her dressing table, offering a fine show of leg before her dressing gown settles. "I have something for you, if you're in a position to take it." She moves toward the bed.

//--Daniel
"Where I am is pretty secure, your Majesty."

//--Vialle
She ducks to the edge of the bed, reaches under, and pulls out a long, rectangular case, maybe 6"/12"/5'. Readjusting gracefully, she offers the case through the Trump. "Hopefully it will go to good use soon."

//--Daniel
I reach into the link to help her pass it through, moving it across my lap and onto the bunk. Without dropping the link to the queen, I flip it open.

//--GM
Inside is an elegant dark ivory bass, with hand carved acoustic chambering and high fidelity pickups. Seems light but sturdy, with enough custom touches to believe that it's one of a kind.

//--Daniel
Daniel looks at it and nods a moment. "Mm. Nicely done." He's a little speechless. "Very nice." He lifts it out, rolls it over, rolls it back, runs a hand up the strings, and gently returns it to the case. He swallows a dry patch in his throat, and coughs to cover. "Thanks."

//--Vialle
"I just hope I get the chance to hear you play sometime." She seems to sense some 'distress' in Daniel, and asks, "Is the color all right?"

//--Daniel
He clears his throat again and answers, "Mm, yes. It's beautiful. Where'd you have it made?"

//--Vialle
"I commissioned a violin maker in the Golden Circle for the body and the neck, and then purchased the electronics in a shop in Basin City. Hopefully, I assembled it properly." She blushes ever so slightly.

//--Daniel
"It is very well made, and you chose excellent components. I will ask that Random allow us some practice time in Amber, or in a venue of your choosing, as soon as he is able." I find this formal way of speaking helps me through, with the strange gamut of emotions Vialle brings out in me.

//--Vialle
Vialle nods, any confusion at the sudden onrush of formality falling away quickly. "I'm sure that will be fine, Daniel. It may be a while before I have news of Random, but I will try to reach you once there is word of any kind... if that is all right...?"

//--Daniel
"Yes, please do. And thank you again."

//--Vialle
"You're very welcome, Daniel," and she waits for the termination of the connection, smiling.

//--Daniel
Daniel's eyes linger on that smile, then he closes his eyes and ends the call.

He sits for a minute, then takes out and rosins the bow. He brings the instrument across the room to where he can sit on the edge of the writing desk. He checks the strings (I assume this is a part-acoustic instrument) and tunes it, staring off into the middle distance while learning the personality of the bass's body. Finally he closes his eyes and sets about playing, something low, sweet and classical with lingering tones.

//--GM
It is everything he might have hoped at first glance and more. Even the imperfections - minimal as they are - seem to enrich the sound even further. [my iffy hearing and limited musical experience inhibit further description - my apologies - but it's safe to say that a virtuoso would consider selling his children for such an instrument. *eg*]

Any afterimages, as the song fades?

//--Daniel
Beginnings... hope and sorrow... just a little emptiness (This is before the conversation with Mandy). Daniel met that man on the road, the man he used to be, and did, indeed, kill him. As that was part of himself, he's not sure what's left. He's not trying to be loud enough to draw any attention, but he is certainly filling this room.

//--GM
Duncan tends to go out of his way on the soundproofing in his place(s), so Daniel won't draw a crowd unless he chooses to by leaving a door open, and he can truly fill the space with sound if he wishes. [something about the 'man on the road' image really gets to me right now - very cool.]

//--Daniel
No, he plays this one through for himself, though he wouldn't stop if interrupted.

//--GM
No one interrupts.

I'm assuming this took place in Daniel's new digs at Duncan's. What does his crash look like?

//--Daniel
Daniel has so far thought of this place as temporary, so it's pretty much as it was given to him: twin bed that could be fitted for a bunk but isn't; Steelcase desk and chair, dressing chair, trunk and closet, sink and shaving mirror, all pretty tidy--very much in contrast to Mandy's arrangements.

He arrived with minimal stuff and has only purchased a few necessities since then: a couple pairs of jeans, underwear, a couple of shirts.