A Guy, A Lyre, and a Park Bench -Chapter 3-

>"And this will be your room."

>You climb the small ladder leading into a small, dusty attic.

>Finding the light switch dangling from the ceiling, you give it a tug and illuminate the tiny space.

>There was a small bed, a nightstand, a candle ON the nightstand, and a small round window.

>"So, what do you think? I know it's not the greatest of places, but I figured-"

"I love it."

>"Really?"

>You nod, walking up to the bed and sitting down on it.

>Lyra smiles.

>She'd been showing you the house she and Bon-Bon stayed in, and was currently unveiling your new room.

>You expected the attic to be a lot hotter, but it's actually surprisingly cool and airy.

>"Awesome. Okay, now that I've given you the tour of the place, you think you might lend me a hand with something?"

"What do you need?"

>"An opinion. And maybe a good set of ears."

>She trots down the ladder and you follow her to the living room, where she hops onto her couch and picks up her lyre.

>"I make music."

"No, really? I thought your cutie mark was just a temporary tattoo."

>She rolls her eyes and grins.

"You know, like the ones you get in Cracker Jack boxes?"

>"Cracker what?"

"Nothing. You were saying something about music?"

>"Yeah. I play the lyre, obviously, and I wanted your take on a song I'm working on."

>You shrug and sit down on the couch with her.

"I'm all ears. Hit me."

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxMoyRbIs_Q&list=UUJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A&index=7&feature

=plcp

 

>She holds her lyre in place with magic, while she closes her eyes and lightly plucks the strings, soft notes filling the room.

>You sit forward, your eyes on her as you continue to listen intently to Lyra's song.

>It was calming, dulcet.

>Peaceful.

>Her eyes stay closed, but she keeps playing, her focus remaining on the instrument before her.

>Towards the end, her eyebrows scrunch up and she stops playing.

>"I'm just not feeling it."

"Hm?"

>"The song, it's just... blegh. It's blegh."

>She makes a face like she's tasted something nasty.

"Blegh?"

>"Yeah, man. Blegh. I'm just not in the zone for this thing... blegh."

>You laugh and get up, crossing to the kitchen.

"Well, I could always make us something to eat. Get that 'blegh' out of your system."

>"A guy that can cook. Be still, my beating heart."

>She fakes a swoon ans rolls off the couch.

>Bon-Bon walks in and gives you a stoic stare.

>BON: "Are you moved in yet?"

"Pretty much. I just need to grab my stuff from my old place. It's only two boxes, so nothing huge."

>Bon-Bon gives a smirk.

>BON: "You lived in a box? And got evicted from it?"

>Her sarcasm is palpable.

"Yup. Just couldn't handle paying off my velvet rugs, god they were classy."

>Bon-Bon stares deadpan at you, then walks off to her room.

"She's just a great big ball of fun."

>LYRA: "You'll get used to her, I promise. She's really nice when you get to know her."

"If you say so. Kinda feels like she doesn't like me."

>She shrugs and trots up to you.

>"So, busboy, what's on the menu today?"

>You walk over to the refrigerator and peer inside.

>There was a LOT of cantaloupes in there.

"Uh... mind if I ask about all the melons?"

>"What?"

"You have... an ungodly amount of cantaloupes in here."

>"Do you have a problem with delicious orange melons?"

"No."

>"Then we may continue to get along."

>You push the large fruits out of the way and continue rummaging for other food.

>"Okay, how about this. I found some blue-berries. Do you have any mint?"

>"Like gum?"

"What? No, I mean like the leaf. I only need one."

>Lyra trots to a pantry and pulls out a small jar full of mint leaves, taking one out.

"Thanks. So, you like cantaloupes?"

>"Yessir, that I do."

"How about a blue-berry cantaloupe smoothie?"

>Her eyes light up.

"With a hint of mint?"

>"You're making me love you. Also, you rhymed."

"Doing something right then, it seems."

>The buzz of the blender nags at your ears as you mix up the smoothie.

>Lyra's eyes are fixed on the orange mixture, hints of blue swirls from the berries mixed within.

>You pour two cups and the two of you sit back down on her couch.

"So, did Anon do good?"

>She sips her smoothie in delight, and smacks her lips happily.

>"Oh, Anon... you did good. You did reeeaaaal good."

>You smile and take a sip for yourself.

>She was right, this was pretty good.

>"Why are you a busboy, anyway? I mean, you could open up your own place with this stuff!"

"My own place?"

>You raise an eyebrow and crack a grin.

>This should be good.

>"Yeah, man, you could... like... make a bunch of smoothies and stuff and sell them. From a stand. On the corner."

"I think the beverage stall business is taken up by fillies and lemonade stands, thank you."

>"No I mean you could open up a shop, make smoothies, you know. Your own business! It would be great! You could call it... uhm... I dunno, "Smooth Jazz Mugs."

>You spit up your drink a little.

"Haha, what?"

>"What?"

"Smooth Jazz Mugs. Really? REALLY?"

>"What? What's the matter with that?... c'mon man, cut me some slack, I'm just brainstorming here."

>You down more of your drink and chuckle to yourself.

"You think that'd really take off?"

>"Oh, GOD no. But, hey, a girl can dream."

>She sips more of her smoothie and squeals in delight.

>"Why must this thing be so good?"

>Today was a good day, you thought.

>Nothing major, no problems.

>Just you, Lyra, and some melon smoothies.

>You dreaded going into work tomorrow.

>A question nags at your mind.

"Lyra, what do you do?"

>She gulps down another mouthful of orange goodness.

>"Whaddya mean?"

"Well, I'm a busboy. Bon-Bon works at that candy store down the street. What do you do?"

>She looks at you, unblinking.

>Then slowly raises her lyre up to you.

"Oh."

>"Yeah."

"I just... is there a lot of demand for lyre music around here?"

>"Amazingly, no. No there is not."

"So how do you make money?"

>Lyra taps her chin with her hoof, pondering your question.

>"Honestly?"

"Uh... yeah?"

>Lyra shrugs, then crosses her legs and looks at you.

>Seductively.

>"I work as an... entertainer."

"Uh... I uh..."

>This got weird quick.

>The mood comes back when Lyra bursts into laughter.

>"Oh god, no. No no no, so much NO. I'm not a hooker, I promise."

"Oh, good. That would have been... well that would have made me reconsider my new housing arrangements."

>"No need to worry, Anon."

>She sticks her tongue out at your and leans back into the couch.

>"I'm in a band. We make music. And stuff. You know, what bands do."

"Oh. That makes a lot of sense, actually."

>"I play strings. String instruments, I mean. Not the cello, we already have someone who does that."

"So it's not just the lyre, then. You can play other instruments?"

>Lyra puffs up her chest in pride.

>"That I can! You're looking at an okay to decent player of the harp, and blue guitar."

"Wait, back up."

>"What?"

"Blue guitar? You play blues guitar?"

>"Uhm... yes?"

"Prove it."

 

Five Minutes Later

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWGIiuAHveI

 

>There was a harmonica in your mouth.

>Lyra had a guitar in her hooves.

>You were out on the porch of the house.

>And you were singing to what she played.

>This was possibly, THE best day you've had here.

>Ever.

>You were looking forward to more days like this.

 

~END~