Singing in the dark (Connor)

[Victor "Break" D'Armond]

Sprawled out across the floor victor ran his hands through the short carpet, enjoying the giddy feel of being alone and the carpet tickling his arms. In the music room, far off from the rest of the school he knew no one would ever show up here, and the light to the room was off so no one would look inside. even though victor's eyes had adjusted he could barely see anything in the room, but that was okay with him. there was an excerisize his old voice teacher used to teach where one needed to close their eyes and listen, to get better tone and blend by shutting off your eyesight and thusly strengthening your hearing. he was always bad at forcing his eyes shut for long periods of time though, so to fix this he would do what he did now, find a nice dark room to encompass himself in, and enjoy the silence. he breathed in, his laying down position helping his breath support and focus.

"Suddenly... I'm not half the man I used to be... theres a shadow hanging over me, oh yesterday....came suddenly... why...she... had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say..." he sang the well known beatles tune to himself in the darkness. if anyone was out in the hallway he probably couldn't hear them over his own singing...

[Connor Dwyre]

Connor was trying to avoid people. After what had happened, he didn't know who his friends or enemies were. He was no longer following the knights. He had betrayed his "team." However, he had followed Gabriel, at least in the beginning. So, now he wasn't sure if Emily or Matrim would be after him. That, and there was a rumor that Gabriel was back. How, Connor had no idea. But, with his stand, if Gabriel was back, that might mean that Gabriel would be coming after him, too.

Connor thought he might still have a friend in Sara. Then there was Tash, and Demetra. But, he wasn't sure. He was feeling very alone, and very nervous. He was searching for a place to hide out for a bit, bide his time till the end of the day, and then...

... and then what? I still can't go home. What good is all this running and avoiding really going to do? How long is it going to take before I figure things out?

Connor found a room that was a bit far off in the school. He thought it might be the music wing. Connor opened the door, and shut it behind him silently. There. Now maybe I can...

He heard singing. He thought the voice was familiar, but wasn't sure. In any case, he prepared for anything. His tone was pleasant enough, as Connor would rather talk his way out of things than fight. Plus, he was not in the mood for a brawl. "Oh, hey... sorry. I... didn't know anyone else was here. Just trying to hide out for a bit."

[Victor "Break" D'Armond]

Break looked up as the door opened, the light shining in from the hallways blinded him in a flash for a moment, and once again the room was completely black to him until his eyes decided to readjust again. He got to his feet, he had no idea who just came in, and after the huge battle he had just seen he wasn't sure whether or not anything might go down at any moment, he was certain there where still a lot of people out there who where bitter...

with a pleasant tone, and a pleasant voice victor heard a quick apology, and explanation for interrupting his singing time. "No worries" Victor said, unable to place the voice, but he shrugged it off, clearly whoever it was wasn't interested in fighting or anything of that nature. "Hide out as long as you want, I hope you don't mind my singing" Victor said easily, biting his lower lip as his eyes slowly began to return to working condition. "I'm Victor, and I'd shake your hand, but I can't see you right now" he said with a laugh.

[Connor Dwyre]

The boy's name sounded oddly familiar. But, it could be that there was more than one Victor. Connor would remain open and friendly regardless. It sounded like the boy didn't want a fight, and neither did Connor. Connor hoped that if it was the same boy from the meeting, the one who had called to him for help with Gabriel, that once he realized who it was in the room with him, he wouldn't change his mind and lash out.

"No worries about the singing or the handshake." Connor said, a smile in his voice. He gave a tap with his foot, and found the boy easily enough. His shape was outlined, and Connor moved, closing the short distance between them. He took the boy's hand and shook it. "There... that settles that." He grinned.

"I've lived my entire life in the dark, so it's easier for me to find you. I assume the lights are off, or you'd be able to see me just fine." He took a breath. "I'm Connor. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think we've met... briefly." The nervousness in his voice showed a bit. It would be obvious now to Victor why Connor was hiding. He was trying to avoid getting into a fight. He hoped that this was a good choice of rooms, and that he didn't just give his name to his next opponent.

[Victor "Break" D'Armond]

Victor shook the hand firmly, that was incredible how he found him. Lived in dark all of his life... and he'd met briefly with victor once before? connor... showing a little fear of telling victor who he is? now why would that- LIGHTBULB!

this was the blind kid from gabriel's little meeting, the same one whom he had asked for help in saving gabriel's life. thats why the kid was way over here, thats what he was hiding from... he just wanted to get away from it all... not unlike victor. Victor thought this was respectable, he smiled, getting up off the floor. "you guessed it, I like to sing in the dark, it helps you listen better" Victor explained easily. "and I'm pretty sure you're right, you're one of gabriel's ex-chess pieces, we met at that meeting on the docks" Victor assumed with a big grin. "no worries, I understand wanting to get away from all that, it was all so stupid, I can't even believe it elevated to that level... I don't follow him anymore either... to be honest I've seen him recently... he's not much worth following anymore." Victor explained with many shrugs and hand gestures that would go unnoticed by the blind student. his thin figure was just starting to come into view as Victor spun his story.

"and I certainly wouldn't follow that maniac stu, he's just not even interesting... no, I'm quite done following people for now, I'm just into the things that are really important: Friends, fun, and music" he said, all with a laugh and a positive attitude. clearly he was not threatening

[Connor Dwyre]

The boy was as lighthearted as Connor was, and Connor was put at ease. There would be no fight. There would be no arguing, no hunting. The boy was here just to keep away from things, and Connor wished to do the same. When he mentioned seeing Gabriel, Connor's face reflected his feelings. The rumor was just confirmed. "So... he is back." He said it very softly, dream like almost. It was not out of fondness, his tone not carrying that at all. It was simply a realization.

But, Victor wasn't going to follow him. Nor was he going to follow the loon with the gun. That was good to hear. He seemed more into wanting to be carefree. Connor wished he could have it so lucky. He had a smile in his voice when he spoke to Victor. "Well, at least you're one less person I have to worry about wanting to fight me."

He chuckled. "I'm not about to go following anyone at the moment either. I do want peace, but I think I'll try to figure out a better way of going about it." He still had no plan, but at least he knew what he wouldn't do. "I wish I could concentrate more on the friends and fun thing. But, I don't exactly have that luxury. Things in my life are a bit... stressed at the moment."

He didn't want to go into detail, and he hoped spending some time with Victor might be helpful. At the very least, he just might have a friend out of it. "But, as for right now, I think music is just fine. So long as you don't mind a small audience." He smiled. Connor himself could sing. Extremely well, actually. However, he did so in the privacy of his room, and no one had heard him. He didn't know he could sing that well. But, he knew how to match a note, thanks to his oversensitive hearing.

"So, what style of music?" He liked Victor's energy. It was similar to Connor's. Open, friendly, and straightforward.

[Victor "Break" D'Armond]

Victor nodded, he had a big grin, though he knew that connor couldn't see it. "not unless you want to fight, I'm always up for a friendly tussle" victor said with a laugh, then went to answering connor's thoughts. "yeah, its true, but from what I could tell he has amnesia, claims that he doesn't remember a thing, but knowing someone like that... well, personally I think he's faking it, but who knows" victor said with a little shrug. his eyes where finally adjusted to where they once where. he could barely make out the outline of connor. "If you want to talk about your stresses I am a listening ear" Victor said, his voice held an honesty and charm, the richness was warm and definately had no dishonest intent behind it.

"But for now..." he began, a little twinkle in his deep blue eyes "I love having an audience, as for style I don't really mind, do you have any requests?" Victor asked with a big smile.

[Connor Dwyre]

Connor didn't get it. How could Gabriel pick his team? Why did he make his choices? Victor seemed like an innocent. Well, at least someone too nice to be a part of something so violent. He might have understood Sara, and from the energy of some of the others, it made perfect sense. But, as far as Connor and Victor went, they were very much out of place in that group.

The boy joked about sparing, and Connor smiled in kind. "A friendly spar would be fine, as I love a good one just as much as you it would seem." That was the truth. Connor loved to spar. It was how he tried to look at every fight, though not all were with good intent or good fun in mind. "But, as for now, I think something more peaceful would be best."

Victor told a little bout Gabriel. Amnesia? Hmmmm... Connor only knew the boy a little. Gabriel would regain his memories. That is, if he really did lose them in the first place. For now, if he had forgotten, then Connor was at least safe from him. For now.

Also, Victor liked an audience. Well, that made him braver than Connor. Connor might be able to sing, but he was too scared to do it in front of anyone, whether it be one, or a thousand. "A braver sole than I. Hmmm... well, I know a lot of music. When you can't see, TV becomes... well useless. I love music, so surprise me." There was a smile in Connor's voice. He took a seat in one of the chairs close by.

Connor felt he and Victor might become close friends. But, he also had reservations about things like that. After being hurt and loosing the trust in his mentor and his best friend, he was wary. However, he hoped that it would change. He was trying to be positive after all. He might divulge what was bothering him, but he would want to spend at least a bit more time with the boy before that. After all, unloading all your burdens on someone that you just met wasn't always the best route for keeping them around.

[Victor "Break" D'Armond]

Victor noted that connor liked to spar and put that little tidbit in the back of his mind for later. He smiled easily, "A fellow music enthusiast, I like it" victor said, at first his mind went to all the very obscure music he knew, indie stuff or forgotten 80's rock, but then he drew out of that, he wasn't trying to exclude the boy (if he even could) and not everything was a challenge. Still he decided to go a little less known with one of his favorite songs by the ever barely known future kings of nowhere.

His voice was rich and warm, beautiful and melodic, and he knew it. probably the reason he didn't have any fear of it. it may have been a little arrogant, but he liked to think that other people enjoyed hearing him sing, so why not sing?

he layed down as he sang, keeping a perfect breath support and tone throughout the piece, he was loose, his body naturally dancing a little to the beat of the song, and he spoke-sang a few lines to give it more of the feel like it had come out of a musical than from a band. he smiled when he finished, getting up and walking over to a corner of the room to pick up a guitar, he figured that might be useful for his next song. "so what do you think?" he asked as he walked back over to connor.

[Connor Dwyre]

OOC: Well, you just gave Connor and myself a first. Never heard of that song before. Nicely done! I actually have it playing as I reply.

Connor had never heard of the band before, nor the song. So, it was unfamiliar. However, even in an unknown song, Connor could tell that Victor was right on key. How would he know this? Because verses follow a pattern. After the first verse passed, as well as the chorus, he could easily tell Vic knew what he was doing when it came to singing. When all was said and done, Connor smiled and applauded.

He could of course hear the confidence in Vic's voice, and he envied it a little. Connor was lacking in that area. He remembered trying to speak to all the students at his last school, trying to rally them. Though he was able, he was so nervous doing so. Getting up in front of a single peer was hard enough. A group? Connor would need support to do so. He was able to sing. If he had the courage to do so, Vic would hear Connor's own voice singing not just in tune, but with a performance behind it. but, that was something he saved for the walls of his room, the only thing to ever see him truly be comfortable.

"Wow. That was great! Though, I've never heard the song before, it's obvious you know what you're doing with music." Connor himself had a very extensive collection. But there were still bands and songs he had yet to hear. Victor had just given him one. He could feel the boy move, and got to one area of the room and retrieve something. It was only the slight sound it made from a light touch to the strings that gave away the object in his hand.

"Wait... you play, too?" Connor might be able to sing, but he had never touched an instrument before. And, obviously, he couldn't read music. Connor was eager to hear Vic's next selection. He only hoped it might be a song he could recognize. If Connor got lost enough in the song, he might even begin to sing as well. Key word... might.

[Victor "Break" D'Armond]

Victor nodded as he walked back over, his smile growing before he audibly replied "yeah, for years" he said, plopping down on a seat and quickly tuning the guitar by ear. he sniffled a little as the blood returned to his head from having laid down for so long. "when my family realized I had a problem with violence they started teaching me the arts to curb my desire to fight people, for the most part it worked, and I got free guitar lessons out of it" he chuckled as he got the last e-string in shape. "when I play by myself I like to play a lot of indie stuff, so its not incredibly well known, but if you recognize it, all the better" he explained simply when his musical choice was brought up.

He twisted the chair around to face connor. The kid seemed really nice, and he enjoyed victor's singing, and anyone who liked his singing had to be pretty cool. He strummed a G chord, then a C, before biting his lower lip. "really wish I had a capo around here... oh well" he said, quickly trying to transcribe keys in his head. "so G would become... F? no... D... yeah... D" he muttered to himself strumming all the chords he named as he named them. then he changed his mind, he'd play that song later, "this one is a little bit better known" he said, begining to fingerpick an intro.

"It's by third eye blind, a nice little song called 'motorcycle drive by'" he introduced before singing.

His rich voice carried through the melody, deep and powerful his baritone carried the darkness of the song to a new level, his words clearly producing a more emotional tone into the song, you could read his true emotion easily through the song, a certain pain from him singing it. Victor would never admit it, but he rarely performed this song, because of a particular pain it held for him. as he reached the higher parts his voice did not strain but only grew more powerful, his tenor notes rang beautifully through the small room. his fingerpicking grew more involved with the occasional strum to give the song a bit of a fuller sound, it was a beautiful performance on a beautiful song that had clearly been played by victor many times...

"Darkly coming... to take me... home

and I've... never been so alone... and I've... never been so alive" he finished, strumming out the final chord instead of fingerpicking it as he had the rest of the song. his deep blue eyes had become a little silvery, he smiled. "very pretty song" he said with a little laugh.

[Connor Dwyre]

"Whoa." Connor was held in an almost hypnotic trance. Victor knew how to convey emotion through music, that was for sure. He could almost feel his pain. If Connor's Qi was activated, he might have felt just that. But, as for now, he just felt what the music showed. "I... don't know what to say. Except that... that was awesome." He was familiar with the band, but wasn't with the song. Again, Victor had chosen a great song, though he hadn't heard it before today.

"Well, I'd say you definitely came out of it with something good. You should go into the talent show. That is, if this school has one. You could really win! I'd come to see you play." He chuckled. "Well, hear you play. I doubt I'd see much of anything." He could imagine Victor playing his heart out, and getting the applause he deserved. And the boy was just as friendly as Connor was. He imagined Victor was well liked. The meeting flashed back into his mind, the one in the warehouse. When Gabriel had said they would be hated. He though of what he knew now, and doubted Victor could have been happy hearing those words.

Connor hadn't been, either. He didn't want to be hated, which was exactly what he thought he was after the other day. Hiding here with Vic, well... he was feeling much better. But, Connor was curious. "So, did you just come here to practice, or were3 you hiding out, too?"

[Victor "Break" D'Armond]

"If this school has one, I will definately enter it... I'd probably play one of my own songs though" he said with a deep throated chuckle. Then connor asked a strange question, well not strange, considering what had just happened so recently, but perhaps an off-key question. it didn't bother victor though as he laid the guitar down for a moment, it was talking time now. "well... originaly to practice, but I mean... subconciously I probably just wanted to get away from it all for a moment, so maybe a bit of both... less to hide and more to just have some solitude... I'm not much of a hider" he said with a laugh. "plus I hardly need to hide, I didn't get very involved, and very few people even know I was on gabe's side in the first place, I kept a friendly face to everyone and so no one really knew... and now that I've cut ties... well, seems like that whole 'you will be hated' thing never came true for me, and thank god, cause that would have driven me nuts!" he said with a hearty laugh. "how about you? what are you hiding from? cause if there are people out there who wanna fight you I'd gladly go out there and back you up if you wanted to kick their asses" he said with a friendly grin. he was totally serious too, his honesty shone through his words.

he didn't know what it was about this boy... well actually yes he did. the kid was honest and kind and funny and interesting, and victor liked him a lot, this was a true friend right here. someone honest... someone who got it.

[Connor Dwyre]

Victor had been lucky. He had stayed off to the sides, and no one knew. Connor, at least in his own mind, had it more complex. Victor's words made him smile though. "Thanks for the offer. If I need help, you'll be one of the first I will call." He sighed. "To be honest, I'm kind of trying to avoid both sides. I was on Gabriel's side, and when I stood by him at first, I was against people like Emily and Matrim. Matrim was the first person I met here. He took me around the school, helped me get my bearings. I met Emily, and we hung out after school one day."

He sighed. "I was against them that day. I had no idea Gabriel would take Matrim's girlfriend hostage. Use her as leverage. I didn't know she was pregnant. Then, in that moment, I turned on Gabriel." His remorse for that day showed in his words. He had been torn, and that feeling was obvious. "To stand by your leader, or follow your heart. I chose the latter, and sided with Matrim, Emily, and the other boy who showed up."

He sat there, and paused for a brief moment. "I try to be honest, honorable, and sincere. I don't know if Matrim thinks I knew what Gabriel was planning. He and Emily would hate me, and may try to strike out. If Gabriel really is back, then he may hate me for turning on him." Connor shuttered at the thought. "I enjoy a good spar, but I'm not exactly violent by nature. Both sides have reason to dislike me now, and I really don't feel like having to fight some of the strongest people around here."

He smiled then, still lighthearted. "Guess I just hope this blows over, and that at least one side isn't going to be after me. Right now, I haven't been seen by anyone, or they've left me alone. Like you, if I was hated... well, I wouldn't exactly be pleased about it, either."

He breathed another sigh, this one of relief. It felt good to get it out, and Victor had been willing to listen. "Now you know why I was nervous talking to you at first. I didn't know you had cut ties, or where you stood on the whole thing." He grinned. "I'm glad it turned out like this. I got a friend and a show out of it. And, I didn't have to pay for it." He chuckled, and felt a lot more relaxed.

Victor was definitely one of the 'good guys.' Connor was more than happy to know he had a friend in him. He hoped the feeling was mutual.

[Victor "Break" D'Armond]

Victor smiled, at this point his eyes had adjusted enough that he was now actually able to make out some colors even in the darkness. he got up and walked to connor's side. "sometimes its tough" he said, patting connor on the shoulder, a sign of respect "I mean... to be faced with your honor, and your duty, I felt the same way, I was on gabe's side but when he went to baby killing... that didn't sit well with me, I'm a little to good spirited for that... still I have to hand it to you, I admire you for being able to stand by your convictions so strongly" Victor said with a little laugh. "I just sat there and did nothing, so I wouldn't make anyone mad, you followed your instincts and your heart, and in this world, not many people do that anymore..." victor said in clear praise. He looked at the red-head, clearly this was going to be a very good friend. "as for the show, I'll just make you pay me back somehow else" he said with a friendly laugh.

"and if they've left you alone for this long, chances are they aren't gonna come after you... if they wanted to continue the little war, they would have..." Victor explained now getting more solemn "the question is lingering though..." Victor said with a hint of a sad smile, "gabe is back, and if its him, then that means none of this is quite done yet... so who's side will you be on next time?" he asked in a rhetorical fashion, though secretly he hoped connor would answer anyhow. Victor was indeed a curious one...