Tooting Horns|Neo'anar, New Anarlina

[Kender Bard]

Erik checked his trumpet over critically as he leaned back against the bardic guild's outer walls. I think I should audition, he thought to himself as he licked his lips and considered what to play. He'd missed the place and the people when he'd finally stopped taking lessons late in the previous year. It was unclear if he'd be called away in the near future to help do battle against the pirates in the islands to the far south, but in the event they didn't... Well, all the knights and soldiers knew how slow a warrior career was during peacetime.

He pushed the thoughts aside for the time being. He'd find one of his friends to discuss the matter with. Perhaps Jonathan. Bringing the trumpet up to his lips, he began to play an upbeat ditty, one of his favorites. Absorbed in playing the music, he enjoyed his musical reverie until nearby another brass began to play as well--much louder than he was, drowning him out.

He cut off and shot the other player a glare. The other individual, a dark skinned and black haired boy managed to smirk against the mouthpiece of his own horn while continuing to play loudly.

"Ass," Erik grumbled.

[Devon]

"Perhaps you should knock some sense into him," a voice from beside Erik said quietly. Beside him stood Desmond. The Beloved Knight found himself with increasingly less to do around the barracks lately and had taken up a habit of walking through Anarlina. He was intentionally looking for trouble, but unintentionally he had actually found a way to relax.

[Kender Bard]

"I'm not gonna punch a man for being an obnoxious ass," Erik scoffed. "Even if he might deserve it. Besides, just being louder doesn't mean he's suddenly better than me." Erik tucked his trumpet under his arm, but continued to glare in the direction of the other horn player. "What have you been up to, Desmond?"

[Devon]

"Avoiding my father's estate and trying to find something to do," Desmond answered. "I'd hate for my blades to go off and rust on me." Desmond glanced at the trumpet tucked under Erik's arm. "I never was much for music myself, how long have you been playing?" he asked

[Kender Bard]

"Couple years now," Erik responded with a smile. "Just stopped attending classes recently. I hadn't given it much thought either; Twilight signed me up." He rolled his eyes, smiling. "Without asking me of course. He always thinks he knows what's best for people. It's bitten him in the ass before, and it will again no doubt, but this time he was on the mark. I really took to the lessons. In fact, I was just considering trying to get into the guild. Auditions are this week. What do you think? Do you suppose being a Knight would get in the way of that?"

[Devon]

Desmond smirked, all of his interactions Twilight were completely different. There was no goading into bardic lessons, only assignments usually ending in someone getting stabbed.

Regarding Erik's question Desmond tapped his chin lightly and feigned a long pondering. "Being a Knight in peace time getting in the way of pursuing a passion? No I don't think it would get in the way. In all seriousness you should do it because you're a Knight with that worry. I know better than most how...encompassing this job can be on your life, it is never a bad thing to have something outside of this."

[Kender Bard]

"Can't hurt to try," Erik agreed, easily persuaded. "Want to go somewhere more quiet and listen to a song? Tell me what you think?"

[Devon]

"Sure," Desmond answered. "I don't often listen to many musicians so I hope I help even a little," he told him, waiting for Erik to lead the way.

[Kender Bard]

"Well I'll take any excuse I can get to show off," Erik chuckled leading Desmond away towards the other side of the building. Seeing that nobody else was playing, he brought the trumpet to his lips and began to play again the song he had started before getting interrupted.

He almost got all the way to the end before the dark haired man appeared again. He brought his own trumpet up and played one loud burst of noise to interrupt Erik. "Hey!" he shouted. "Just so you know, a half-rate horn like yours has no chance of making it in the guild, so don't even bother with the audition!"

[Devon]

Desmond was enjoying the sound from Erik's horn until they were rudely interrupted by the other trumpet player. While Erik might not be inclined to threaten a man, it was no where out of bounds for Desmond. Looking towards the other player he put on the same menacing face he was known for among the Knights when he faced enemies.

Marching over to the man, he put the player's trumpet and brought calmly down away from his mouth. "Interrupt my friend again and you'll be playing this horn from your ass," he sneered.

[Kender Bard]

The bard narrowed his eyes. "You can't threaten me!" he retorted. "I'll go the guard!"

"Desmond please," Erik sighed, flushing. He was annoyed as well, but he didn't want to see Desmond get himself into trouble over one obnoxious snot.

[Devon]

Desmond glanced to Erik and nodded, taking his hand off of the man's instrument. "Go is what you should do," he replied back to him. "I've faced worse things in life than sitting in a jail cell for punishing rude behavior," he said flashing the horn player a devilish smirk.

Turning he made his way back to Erik and shook his head. "Sorry, it'd be best not to invite to any shows you put on. Imagine what I'd do to a heckler."

[Kender Bard]

"I appreciate the gesture," Erik replied, watching the other horn player scurry off. "But I'm a little surprised in you. All the other knights display more... self restraint than that. Is it because of your unique position within the knighthood?"

[Devon]

"Maybe I'm just a bully," Desmond mused. Taking a seat near Erik he tried to seriously answer the question now. "I don't know, that might have something to do with it, but I was always getting into fights growing up. Always keeping a guard up, always on the offensive. I guess that attitude stuck with me."

[Kender Bard]

"Why?" Erik asked, looking a bit puzzled. "What happened to make you that way? I thought the average person in Anarlina had a peaceful upbringing." He knew not everyone did, of course, but the sad stories weren't numerous.