IC INBOX

[spelleton]

Available through calling, texting or network contact.

"Greetings, you've reached Ekkehardt Gehring. If you're listening to this, I'm probably busy. Try again later, or leave a message."

EKKEHARDT GEHRING
UN: HEMLOCK

STATUS: Graduate/TA. School nurse assistant.

ACCOLADES: I graduated from this academy 22 years ago. I've been rather boring otherwise.

BIO: I'm here to help treat whatever injuries you children can't just bounce back from. Try not to get into trouble.

© TESSISAMESS

Comments

[unpocoloco]

Forgive?

[He laughs too, at that.]

Mi amigo, if inexperience must be forgiven then I've got a whole ledger of other things.

[And besides that, he's kind of pleased to know there's one little thing he can actually offer.]

Where shall we start then?

[spelleton]

At the beginning, I hope? [ What else can he say to that. ] I know the basic principles [ mostly because he's seen Héctor play so much ] but that's all.

[ If Héctor's walking anywhere in particular, he's just going to follow. He has nowhere in mind. ]

[unpocoloco]

[He snorts. Whether it was intended as a joke or not, it makes him laugh.]

You have no preferred place to sit then?

[In that case, he will lead the way. Outside is a comfort again, years stuck out in it and none of the threats that were around able to touch him anymore, he takes to, but he wants to play along with his friend and so the music hall will be best.]

Don't worry, I won't throw you right in the deep end. Promise.

[spelleton]

I don't think the kind of places I like to sit would be terribly conductive to guitar playing, so. [ He makes an expansive gesture as they walk. ] I thought it was best to let you decide.

[unpocoloco]

[He snorts.]

Fair enough.

[Indeed, Ekkehardt was usually found sitting behind a desk. Not a very good place for music.

He takes Ekkehardt to the music hall as was his plan. He's quick to grab a second guitar off the wracks and quick to settle himself down again. There are plenty of chairs but he chooses the edge of the stage. The place is nostalgic.

He thinks of Maya, the girl who saw through him as quick as Peter and Ekkehardt, who understood him when he was at his very lowest points and so saved him from being anything other than his lowest self, lost to the music, or both. It was a breath of air, and he misses her. He remembers, too, being young, being delighted with the scene even while lost and confused, before a daemon of the darkest came for to hear him play and befriend him. That memory sends down a trail thinking of all the others he befriended in that small state, like Avery. It seems he's very nostalgic tonight.]

I should have asked. Are you more familiar with fingerstyle? Or with pick playing?

[spelleton]

I've had no experience with using a pick. Barely any just using my fingers. [ He glances at him for a moment, curious in the way of someone who earnestly wants to learn. The expression makes him look a little younger than he is. ] What would you recommend?

[unpocoloco]

Oh good. Pick playing is well and fine for beginners, or for simple rock songs played on steel string, if you like bass... but nothing beats fingerstyle. You get a lot more dynamism from it and you get to really feel the music.

[In his perfectly unbiased opinion.

It's a little strange, this moment, Ekkehardt looking young and with himself having some idea what he's doing for once. It feels like things have been reversed, but he's not uncomfortable.]

Here, [He passes the nabbed guitar over.] take a moment just to feel it out. Don't worry about doing things right, just get your musc-- well, your hands warmed up.

[spelleton]

Almost mistook me for a living man, hm? [ His tone is light, playful. He strums and plucks away on the guitar experimentally, but Héctor will probably be able to tell that the only experience he's had with string instruments are ones that are quite a bit larger. Not guitars, that's for certain. ]

[unpocoloco]

[His hands rise up in surrender and he laughs.]

You've got me. Most of the people I've taught are living. Ghosts can't quite grip guitars so well.

[He listens for a moment. He can indeed tell there's a lack of experience, but it's alright. This is what they're out here for. Teaching, learning, enjoying the sound.]

Alright. Let's try a slow Habanera. La Paloma. You can be my backing track. Just two chords; D and A.

[On his own guitar, he positions his fingers in D, waiting for Ekkehardt to copy.]

[spelleton]

[ He studies Héctor's fingers for a long moment before he places them just so on his own guitar, watching carefully. He has the clear air of someone concentrating hard, not wanting to get things wrong; ever a perfectionist. ]