snowtourn

12:53 PM

"Eh, it's fine. I'm broken more rules already. They haven't bothered to kick me out yet, so," Ryu shrugged once more. Though as she watched Ekmeros, she couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "A laptop is similar, but it can't make what's called 'phone-calls'. How you communicate through the device is different," she explained. "Phones are also easier to bring around with you in daily life compared to a laptop." She stared at Ekmeros for another brief moment before shifting her stance. "Do you want to take a photo of you and your hat?" Ryu smiled. @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

(ty for the thread the ones i make seem to break vergeoftears

) Ekmeros just stared at Ryu. "...why would you break rules?" His tone, though raised, wasn't aggressive or stern and certainly not angry, more just completely bewildered at the idea. "This- this church have opened their home to us, I really don't understand why we should test their hospitality or limits." His hand not holding the phone tightened its grip on the viol case that he always had strapped over his shoulder. "There must be better places to..." He gently wafted his hand as if to imitate the smoke from Ryu's cigar. His brows knitted together as she explained the difference, not that he really understood. "Well, I don't particularly understand why you would need a device. And my viol is rather sizable and I have no issues with carrying it. Surely a 'lap top'-" He was still pronouncing it as two separate words entirely despite being corrected several times, he really is an old man. "-could be carried in a similar manner. Why is it so important to 'take photos'?" He's not getting it. Ekmeros just stared at the phone some more. He then held his hand flat out to offer the phone back. "...it's not a hat, it's smoke." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

The way Ekmeros spoke made Ryunoske raise a brow. She didn't think he'd be so caught up in the whole 'rule breaking' thing. She found it quite interesting. "I do what I want. I don't really let rules dictate that. That's all," she simply replied. It was the truth. She wasn't feeling the need to justify anything she did to some old man. "A phone is simply convenient. It's one of the easiest and fastest ways to communicate with someone these days. Even if something like your instrument is easy to carry, you can't deny something as small as a phone is easier," she hummed, taking the phone back from him. "A hat made of smoke, to be more precise," Ryu grinned and took a photo of Ekmeros, even if he didn't say he wanted one. @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

"Well, there are- there is a time and place for doing what you wish. When somebody opens their home to you, I personally don't understand disrespecting them. I find it easy to follow the rules." Ekmeros just sounded even more confused, if possible. He did not understand any part of the conversation. He tightened his lips in thought before eventually saying, "Well, if my viol was the same size as the... 'sell phone'-" What is it with him and separating one word into two? "-then I wouldn't be able to perform with it, it would be far too small to serve its purpose." He gestured with his hand to the phone he'd just returned. "How does everything fit in there? There's no space for any of the things you talked about, it was much more plausible with Taisto's 'lap top'." As Ryu took a photo of him, he narrowed his eyes in more confusion. "What did you just..." He mimed poking the phone to take a photo with his finger. @ajjjjjjjj (edited)

"Well, sorry you can't understand it. Couldn't be me though," Ryu dismissed the man's words with a small wave of her hand."Technology is a fascinating thing, isn't it? Humans are quite good at compacting convenient things to even smaller, more convenient things. I don't know all the specifics, it's probably something neither of us would understand. All I do know, is that it's convenient," Ryu replied, though paused at the mention of the other old man. "You know Taisto? I just ran into him outside earlier in his dog form. Did you know he could do that? I sure as hell didn't. And I just took your photo. It's like... capturing a painting of someone. See?" She said as she turned her phone around so Ekmeros could see the photo she just took of him. @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

Ekmeros squinted. Not angry at the dismissal, not even really upset, just perpetually confused. Blink blink. Anyway. He stared at the phone as Ryu continued to talk about it, his eyes continuing to narrow as he investigated it. "It seems like it would be easy to lose. That does not seem so convenient." However, his attention was diverted as Ryu seemed to know Taisto. "Yes, he's my roommate. He can turn into different forms, mostly animals it appears. It is nice to know another person who is... also not human. I'm not as furry though." When Ryu turned the phone around, he did that old man dad blink of adjusting to the screen light before leaning in slightly to look at the picture. "...do you have to pay for it to 'take photos'? Paintings can be rather expensive." Short pause. "And I was right. The smoke hat does look ridiculous." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

"It's only easy to lose if you're an idiot," Ryu chuckled. Was that a diss? Who knows. As Ekmeros continued, she at least listened to him. Huh... The two old men were roommates huh? That seemed fitting somehow. "I see. Well, guess that means you made a friend your age at least. That's nice," she commented, a small smile on her lips. Though, she laughed once more as Ekmeros continued. "No. It takes photos for free. It comes with all modern phones now. And you can take a lot of them too," Ryu explained. "I think you look rather dashing. Green is an interesting color on you," she said as the hat of smoke slowly dissipated and faded away. @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

Was it a diss? Still leant over to look at the phone, Ekmeros furrowed his brow, then relaxed it. "He is... talkative- and he's good at being talkative." Then he scrunched his face up in confusion. "...we are not friends. We are acquaintances, we've only just met." "...how does it do it for free? I suppose it isn't a painting, so no need to factor in paint costs." He leant down more to try inspect the picture more. Man doesn't know zoom. "But to... make a device like this, it would surely be expensive." Ekmeros didn't reply to the green comment but noticed the smoke dissipating, and he seemed a little relieved. "It is odd to see a reflection of myself that doesn't move alongside with me." He tilted his head side to side as if to demonstrate. "Paintings, they are clearly not real, so there is no strangeness about it, but this 'photo' is... I can't explain it, I'm afraid." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Ryu laughed. "I suppose you're not wrong about that. The old man has a way with carrying a conversation," she smiled, thinking at the one she just had previously with Taisto. "Awh.. but wouldn't you want to be friends? It's probably difficult to make them with so many younger folk around the island," she asked with a teasing grin. "And the photo itself is done for free. The device as a whole is definitely more on the pricey side. Some expensive models can go up to being over a grand, while cheaper models can go for as low as fifty bucks," Ryu explained. "You've never seen anything like this before, so it only makes sense you're confused by it. Don't worry. If you wanna learn more about it, I'd be happy to lend you one." @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

"He does a lot of the heavy lifting during our own conversations," Ekmeros tentatively admitted. He hummed, not really catching the tease. "I don't really... make friends. I have a good variety of acquaintances whose company I enjoy, since I've met many people while travelling and some have stood out. Having 'acquaintances' suits me just fine." Sir that is just friendship. Ekmeros adjusted his viol case strap. Well, he didn't know the currency rate of gold coins into 'bucks' but he knew 'a grand' was a lot, especially in gold coins - though fifty gold was also a lot. "I see... so you pay for the entire 'sell phone' at once, and all of the things it comes with? So by paying the price for the 'sell phone', you are also paying for the ability to 'take photos' and thus can 'take photos' for free?" The offer took him offguard. "You must be paid well if you can afford another one." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

"Friends are a nice thing to have. I recommend you try it, old timer," Ryunoske chuckled as she flicked some of the ashes on the butt of her cigar onto the carpet. She didn't press more about the topic, however. She figured Ekmeros was just the straggler type if he had a lot of acquaintances, but no real friends. "Yep, you figured it all out. There are also a lot of other cool things you can do with a cellphone on a base level, most of those things also being free," Ryu nodded. "And yeah, I guess you could say my family is well off. We run a business 24/7, after all." @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

Ekmeros' eyes followed the ashes as they fell onto the floor, his mouth forming a grimace. It was enough to distract him from the conversation about him having no friends. Not that he'd been taking offence to it. "...most of those being free?" He raised a brow. "You pay a large sum of gold- or an equivalent of that, I suppose, 'bucks', for the 'sell phone' and still have to pay more for some parts of it?" Old man was not impressed. But then his eyes lit up with intrigue. "A family business? Must be well run. What sort of business do you run?" @ajjjjjjjj (edited)

Drugs tw/ Once again, Ryu shrugged. If she noticed the way Ekmeros grimaced at her lack of rule following and social etiquette, she didn't say it. Instead, she just chuckled once more. "That's just how it works these days. People are greedy. They'll make any excuse to charge someone money," she simply replied. "Oh, and my family produces and distributes drugs. Meth, Cocaine, Marijuana.. Basically anything with nicotine in it. We're a part of a... I guess you would understand it as a 'gang.' We have quite the amount of customers since my family remains on neutral grounds with other families," she explained. @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻 (edited)

Perhaps Ekmeros had been intending so say more about the phone, but any thought he had was cut off by Ryu readily admitting her family's business. He stared, clearly shocked - maybe at that readiness or maybe just... the business itself. Blink. Blink. "...I see," he said after a short while of silence. His gaze shifted to his feet as if trying to decide whether or not he should step away. Eventually, he chose not to. "Interesting career choice...?" @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Ryu could clearly see the shock on the old man's face. He wasn't all that good at hiding it, after all. She chuckled and put out the butt of her cigar on the sole of her heel. "You seem surprised. Don't worry, I know it's not the most... normal job, I suppose, but it does bring in a lot of money. So, giving away one of my burner phones is no problem." @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

Ekmeros watched Ryu put out the butt of her cigar with a grimace. He just hoped she wasn't going to leave it on the floor. "I am," he admitted, tightening his grip on the viol case's strap. "But money is a good... explanation for that career choice. I travel and perform with my viol, it brings in enough. But I do enjoy it, moreso than most other hobbies, so that is why I continue. Do you enjoy your career?" Hesitation. Blink. "I assume that a 'burn-er phone' is nothing to do with fire." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

"I don't really enjoy or dislike my job. It's just something I do," Ryu shrugged. "I don't think too deeply about that stuff. I was just born into it and expected to continue the process. It's easy enough to do. And yes, a burner phone is just the term used for a phone used for convenience then tossed when it's no longer needed. It's great when you're in a business like mine," she explained. "I'm glad you like your job though, old man. Are you good at it?" Ryu asked with a curious grin as she looked over the viol case. @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

"Oh, a legacy business!" Ekmeros' eyes widened in some understanding and he nodded gently, lips pursed. "I see, I wasn't too fond of working in the mines when I was a child but I suppose that was a 'legacy' for my family, though we didn't own the mines." What a totally normal thing to say. Ekmeros is soooo good at social interaction guys I promise. "Well, I've been playing the viol since I was young so I would hope I have some skill in it." Ekmeros also looked over his viol case. "And I've been told I'm good so I must be... all right." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Ryu nodded. "Yes. It's something that's been passed down from one head to the next for generations. I believe myself makes five generations?" She hummed, before raising a brow at the older man. "Your family are miners? That's pretty interesting.. and for you to go more towards music playing is also interesting," Ryu chuckled. "Well, do you wanna play a song for me or two? I'm not totally music inclined, but I can at least tell when something sounds good or not," Ryu suggested, almost taunting Ekmeros. @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

"Mm. My father and grandfather were, at least. I worked with them. I was taught to play the viol at home." Before Ryu even suggested it, Ekmeros was removing the case from himself to take the viol and its bow out of it. He stared at the instrument for a while, then looked back at Ryu. "Well... I would need to sit somewhere," he said. @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

"Hmm.. Interesting. Who knew miners would also have an interest in music. Who taught you?" Ryunoske asked as she looked around for a moment. "Give me a sec.." He said as he went to his bedroom and grabbed a chair from one of the desks. Ryu plopped the chair down by Ekmeros and gestured for the man to sit down. "Will this do?" @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

"...I taught myself after I started travelling." Not the question Ryu asked but sure. At least he seemed to understand what Ryu was doing and waited patiently for the chair, sitting down. "Yes, this will do." He got into the proper viol playing position and paused to think of something to play. When he did, the music seemed to bounce off the walls of the hallway, the song itself feeling like an echo even as it was emitted from the viol itself. Each note was long but twisting into the next, low and tired but loud. It never seemed to settle, always moving, but Ekmeros himself remained still, other than his arms and fingers, performing the piece. I totally know how music works guys. @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Ryu blinked. "Oh.. so no one else in your family was interested in music..?" She asked, but quietly faded off as Ekmeros started his symphony. The strange way he played piqued her interest in a different way than Glass' did. While Glass' was a bit more fun and funky, Ekmeros' playing seemed a bit more methodical and deep. She suppose that was the difference between age and purpose. Whenever the man finished, she clapped her hands and smiled. "That was quite interesting. What was that piece called? Or was it more so just some strings?" @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

Ekmeros did not answer that question and was very glad that the music distracted from his lack of answer. He seemed pretty focused on the music, blinking himself back to reality once he finished. He smiled as Ryu clapped, though his lips more sunk into his face than turned upwards, and nodded as a thankyou before standing up. "I believe it is called 'Life Without Motion. I know it sounds like a sad title but." He paused, as if changing his mind. "I quite enjoy the piece." @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Her clapping slowed as Ekmeros spoke. "Life Without Motion'.. I think it fits well," she smiled faintly. "It's the type of music you hear in somber symphonies and quieter moments in life, but those can still be enjoyable." Ryu looked over Ekmeros before smiling a bit more. "Thanks for the performance, old man. Your self teaching has done you well. Did you not have anyone else in your family to help you out?" He decided to ask once more.@soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

"Yes." Great addition. Ekmeros was quiet for a little while, then he found something more to say. "It is... a more melancholy piece but I think it suits the viol more." This is totally not a metaphor for something. At the question, he was quiet again, using the silence to pack his viol and bow back into its case. "Yes, I did," he eventually answered the question, but even then not really. @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania

Ryu tilted her head as she listened to Ekmeros, silently judging him and his vague responses. "Quite the mysterious and edgy guy, aren't you, Meros?" She hummed with small smile, the nickname rolling off her tongue quite naturally. "I guess I'll stop bothering ya if it's getting difficult to talk to me. Let you have a nice night," she chuckled. @soul | peregrine 🎭 + ekmeros 🎻

At first mildly confused by the comment and probably about to say something about being called edgy, Ekmeros practically froze at the nickname. "That is not my name," he said quickly, practically spitting out the words. He swallowed as if trying to take back how harshly he'd spoken before. "My name is Ekmeros. Please call me that." He nodded politely, his mind clearly elsewhere, and spoke absentmindedly, "You as well." Then man just walked away. @Aj | Ryunoske+Titania