Summary:Music in the park leads to a first meeting. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
Related LogsTheme SongNone |
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It's a gorgeous August Afternoon, not too hot or humid, that perfectly partially cloudy day with a good breeze. There's plenty of happy foot traffic through the Park today, and Riley is taking advantage of it while she can. By a bench, her guitar case is open in hopes of tips, while she stands and tunes her guitar. Red hair is loose and picked up and teased about by the breeze, catching against her simple pale green v-neck t-shirt paired with some plain khaki shorts.
She will start playing, fingers moving easily along the strings, a smile curling along her lips before they part to sing. " You know just what to say, things that scare me, I should just walk away, but I can't move my feet. The more I know you, the more I want to.. "
Warren is glad for the not-too hot weather as he stands out in the crowd for the fact that he wears a long jacket. This really isn't his best time of year, so he seems intennt on getting from place to place, walking at a New Yorker's pace through the park. But the music gets his attention, makes him slow down as he's passing and listen for a while. He smiles, and his hand goes into his pocket to fish out his wallet.
Blue-green eyes will slide over the faces of people that pass by or linger, smiling, nodding to some of the more familiar face. Her body is dancing just a bit as she plays, her enjoyment of performing shining brightly in her voice and lines of her body language.
As her eyes find Warren and linger, there's just a glimmer of a grin. "You know just how to make my heart beat faster, emotional earthquake, bring on disaster… You hit me head on, got me weak in the knees, something inside's me changed, I was so much younger yesterday, so much younger yesterday…" And there's that joy, a hint of mischief, and a depth to theo words, like a lure intended to pull Warren in closer and keep him there.
Blue eyes meet blue green for a few moments and Warren's smile broadens as he is drawn in by the performance. He ods his head a little as he thumbs through the bills in his wallet to find one to drop in her jar. He steps in closer as he does this, forgetting about his discomfort as he enjoys the moment.
Riley will focus most of her intention on the gorgeous blonde with the great smile, though occasionally eyes flit away to acknowledge someone else. But it's almost like Warren's magnetic with that smile, those bright aqua eyes coming back to his again and again.
As one song ends and the next begins, he'll see that mischief peeking out from under her lashes with that gaze. "I'm so into you, I can barely breathe, and all I wanna do, is to fall in deep…But close ain't close enough, until we cross that line. So name the game to play, and we'll roll the dice…"
The choice of song makes Warren smile again. With all the eye contact going on, it feels like the song is aimed just at him and he finds himself checking out the redhead who's doing the singing. And he likes what he sees, so he plys along, giving her heated, hungry looks when their eyes meet.
She will flush, lowering her lashes. "Oh baby, look what you started, the temperature's rising in here, is this gonna happen… been waiting and waiting for you to make a move, before I make a move… So baby come light me up, and maybe I'll let you on it, a little bit dangerous, but baby that's how I want it, A little less conversation, and a little more touch my body, because I'm so into you, into you…" Those eyes lift again to meet his, "Got everyone watching us, so baby let's keep it secret, a little bit scandalous, but baby don't let them see it, a little less conversation, a little more touch my body… 'cause I'm so into you, into you…" If Warren didn't know better, he might feel like they'd met before, that she'd been flirting with him and teasing him along on dates for ages..
This quick connection, tugging at him the way it is, seems out of place in an everyday life that is ruled by caution and a fear of intimacy that has its roots in some very practical concerns. But then again, when does instant chemistry not seem out of place? It makes Warren jump to a rash decision, one that he perhaps normally would not make. Just slipping a bill into her jar and moving along doesn't seem enough. He has to at least talk to this girl He steps closer, just far away enough not to interfere with her, waiting for the performance to come to its natural conclusion.
There's a flash of those eyes, a hint of a smile. As he steps to the side, there's some people shuffling closer to drop some money in her guitar case. Occasionally a male will linger a little longer, but they don't seem to wait too long.
There's a last glance at Warren to the side of her, before the songs change up again.
This one is a bit more upbeat, country versus pop. "Stand on the box, stamp your feet, start clapping, I got a real good feelin' something bad's about to happen…" There's that country rock feel, the guitar swinging a bit. "Pulled up to the church, but I got so nervous, had to back it on up, couldn't make it through the service, grabbed all the cash underneath the mattress, got a real good feelin' something bad about to happen.."
Warren gets into the music, besides being drawn in by that unspoken something with the woman performaning it. His head bobs to the beat, but for whatever reason he doesn't move his whole body along with it, making him seem a little more reserved. He does have to smile again though at her choice of song (again), which still feels rather pointed.
Riley will finish the song, before she's unslinging her guitar. She'll bend to reach for her bottle of water behind her guitar case. She will uncap it, looking at Warren. "Patron of the arts, are you?" There's that hint of accent, something well below the Mason Dixon, that coats her words like honey.
Warren bends in and finally does drop his money in the case. He chuckles, because his family does donate heavily to the harts, but obviously she doesn't know that. He just shakes his head, "On occassion, sure. But not many performances catch me like yours." He offers a hand as he introduces himself, "I'm Warren."
"Oh?" She lifts her brows, as if surprised. "Aren't you sweet to say so." She will reach out to shake his hand, and he'll feel the strength of a hand that plays guitar on a regular basis. "Riley. I'm flattered you liked it so."
Warren's own hands are uncallused, but he knows how to give a handshake. Firm, sure, without lingering too long. He smiles and makes light of his interest, "Guess I'm just s a sucker for a good song. Or two. Or three." his blue eyes go to her face and he shakes his head, "I wanted you to know your talents were appreciated. He flashes that perfect grin of his.
There's a sip of water, those blue green eyes on his. She laughs softly. "Well, I appreciate the appreciation. Some days I feel pretty unappreciated, no one really stops to listen. Those are the rough days." The lean days. The worry about food and rent and books days. "Have we..met?"
Warren sounds a bit unsure about his answer to that, "Have we? I feel like I'd remember you if we had, but there's something familiar, I just can't put my finger on." He shakes his head, then smiles, "I'm sorry, I know that's not much of an answer."
She offers him a beaming smile, flushing again. "Well, if I'm not sure, why should you be? Could be we just saw each other on the street or the subway or something. I just.. there is that something familiar." She takes another swallow of water, before the top goes back on. "Because you're clearly not a tourist."
Warren chuckles at that, "No, no I am not. Just as you are clearly not from around here." He shifts, unconsciously smoothing his jacket to counter the movements of his cramped wings. "And I guess we could've crossed paths some time. It does happen." He smiles,eyes gleamig as he adds lightly, "So, how long have you been in the City?"
"Can tell by the clothes, most of the time." Riley shares with a smile. "And well, I'm from around here now, I go to ESU. But no, originally I started out in Alabama." There's a couple quick blinks as if she's trying to clear something out of her vision, that smile getting just a little wider. "A few years, now. You sound born and bred here."
Warren answers quickly, "In and around the City, yeah. ESU, huh? Good school." He's kicking himself now, not knowing exactly what he planned when he got into this conversation, just that he felt that connection through the music.
"It's good, offered what I wanted, and was a long way from Alabama." She smiles, that hint of mischief there again in her expression. "So, I'm guessing you're not a college student. What is it Warren does, when he's not appreciating the art of busking?" The tone is teasing, and she'll project that warmth and enjoyment of the conversation with her empathy.
Warren chuckles, "Hey, with the right busker it is sometimg to enjoy." He flashes her another smile as his nervousness evaporates for reasons he oesn't quite understand. Projective empathay is such a hard thing to notice, even if you've been subject to it before, and Warren isn't at all in the mindset to be thinking of that while he's trying to chat up the pretty redhead. Her question does make him pause though. "Business. Boring, boring business."
"Well, it can't be all boring, or you'd be trying to find something else to do, right?" Riley caps her water, tucking it back in her small backpack. "But maybe sometime…" She falters, blushing again. "When you're not busy with boring business, we could meet up again."
Warren seems about to say something, but hesitates. Best not to go into just how much money his family is worth and why he is being groomed to head the business. Her question draws a genuine grin from him though, and he ansers that quickly, "And here I was worrying about being too forward. See, I was going to ask if I could beuy you a drink or smomething…"
Riley will tilt her head at the hesitation, before his smile makes her beam back at him. "Well, coffee isn't too forward, right? Lots of people get coffee and things." She fidgets a little bit, tucking hair behind her ear. "But sometime when you're not busy with business, I think I'd like that."
Warren teases lightly, "Well, I guess I'll need your number then, if we're going to go for that coffee?" His eyes watch her as she smooths back her hair and he has to stop himself from reaching out to her. Then he pulls out a phone, and takes a few seconds to add her as a contact.
Riley will give him her number, the area code clearly not city local. She's fidgeting, feet shifting a bit. "I do hope you're not one of those have to wait three days sort of guys."
Warren laughs at that and shakes his head, "No, I never did see the point of that. I'm not big into head games. I do have somewhere I have to get to… a bit late I suppose. But if I call you later?"
The smile she gives when he says he's not into head games refreshing that warm and enjoyment. "I'll look forward to it. I hope I haven't made you too late."
Warren shakes his head and smiles again, reluctant to turn away but conscious that he needs to, "Not at all. But I should go now. Good luck with the busking. He gives her a little wink at that, then turns to leave her there. When he walks away there's a single white feather on the ground by her guitar case. Now where did that come from?
Wherever it came from, it makes the musician smile, and tuck it into her case. She'll turn her head to watch him go, as she slips the guitar back on and go back to her music.