[Katrina Wells]

Katrina had told her parents that she would be spending the day at her university library studying for an upcoming exam. She left her necklace and her phone there in a secret pocket she'd found no one looked through. This gave her the opportunity to take her guitar and her secret phone and her guitar down to the local cafe that she liked to play at on the weekends. She'd gotten familiar with the owner who enjoyed letting her play some live music. It brought in more customers, let Katrina do what she loved, and gave her a little extra pocket money. Seemed like a win-win situation for everyone. 

She'd set up in a little corner section by a large window. Just her and her guitar. When she played out on the street she had a mic and a speaker but she liked keeping the calmer vibes here and wanted people to still be able to hear their names for their orders. Besides, she'd learned to project her voice enough to be heard through the cafe. It was a warm, beautiful day. The sky was clear, the sun shining, the door to the cafe stayed propped open. Katrina's voice poured out slightly to the side walk as well as the strumming beat of her guitar. Her long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail with a few loose wavy strands that fell out and framed her face. 

There was the smell of coffee and pastries. People chattering softly with each other, some typing on their laptops, and others simply watching and enjoying the live music. There were a few familiar faces that Katrina saw every weekend and a few people she didn't recognize that came in for a drink and some live music. Her guitar case was sitting in front of her open with a few dollars and coins put in it while she'd been playing. Katrina never asked for money but she was always grateful to get a couple of dollars dropped in the case. She'd only been playing for thirty minutes when suddenly one of the strings on her guitar snapped with a sharp thwack

Katrina gasped and pulled her hand back before it could smack her. Knowing all too well how that hurt. Her face flushed red with embarrassment as grey clouds began moving over the sky. This was her fault. She'd known it was about time to change the strings. Maybe she tuned it too high? That didn't seem right though. Still, she mentally kicked herself as she set the guitar down. "Um, I'm going to be taking a small break," she said with a slightly nervous chuckle.

Her fingers could probably use a break anyway. But she didn't like the idea that's she'd snapped her chord during her set. Katrina bit her bottom lip and sighed as she looked over her poor guitar. Did she have any extra strings in her car? She wasn't sure. Restringing was also more of a pain than she wanted to deal with at the moment. "Frick," she grumbled under her breath as she looked over the guitar.

Gavyn Colburn

[Gavyn Colburn]

[nospaces]

I REALLY JUST WANT TO BE

warm yellow light that pours over everyone i love

[break]

[attr="class","mottledbug-text"]Gavyn walked down the sidewalk, humming a light, lilting tune under his breath. Occasionally, the quiet droning became words, lifting in volume as he tested a formulating lyric, and sometimes his step was interjected by a random hop or skip. Once or twice he even paused, face tipping in thought or inspiration, and a person walking too closely behind bumped right into him. He'd apologize, be ignored or grumbled at, then mull over whatever thought had struck him to stillness before stepping back off at another unpredictable pace. [break][break]

With the sheer amount of stuff he was currently lugging around, he looked much like a traveling merchant in a video game or a packed adventurer in a movie. A guitar case was slung across his back, secured there by a strap at his shoulder, a flute case was tucked at his hip, and in one hand was yet another case — holding the brand new lute that he'd just purchased with the entirety of his most recent paycheck. In his arms, clutched haphazardly to his chest, were a number of plastic bags stuffed with all the art supplies Isaac had asked him to pick up  "while he was out". The list had been short... but vague... and Gavyn had ended up buying heaps more than was necessary for fear of grabbing the wrong kind of something. [break][break]

As he passed by a café, he paused and quieted. It wasn't the smell of fresh pastries or brewing coffee that struck him first, or even the chatter of people as they exited the building, but the music. An acoustic guitar, its lilting chords practiced and soft. A similarly-soft and melodic voice accompanied it beautifully and the sound of the two together almost seemed to match perfectly the gentle breeze that kissed against Gavyn's cheeks and toyed with his curls. [break][break]

Without another thought, he stepped into the shop. After taking a quick glance around, he shuffled awkwardly to a nearby table where he deposited the bulk of his stuff (trying to be as quiet as possible; a difficult task with rustling bags and big, bulky instrument cases). As soon as he shed all that he was carrying, his eyes found the source of the music. A woman in the corner, next to a large window that slanted warm sunshine across her. He was familiar with the look about her — could recognize that she was absorbed only in her playing. It was thick in the timbre of her voice and the way she held her notes. He could only imagine too well how the café — the people milling about and chatting — might be muted and faded to her as she gave herself completely to her song. [break][break]

Still standing there, unmoving, he observed the way her fingers bent and slid down the neck of her guitar, fingers pressing chords to life. He pictured the notes on paper even as they sprang to the air. And, almost with no conscious thinking required, he imagined how he might accompany it. How to harmonize. How the quieter sounds of another guitar, his, could lend a whole new shade to the melody. [break][break]

But he only got to listen for a brief, couple of minutes. He'd turned and made his way to the cafe's bar, ordered a drink that was more ice-cream than coffee, and had only just received his cup when the music abruptly ended. He glanced over his shoulder, very quickly pieced together what had happened, thanked the barista, and hastily returned to his table. After setting down his drink, he picked up his guitar case, and made his way to her corner. [break][break]

"Please don't tell me you're done," he started, letting a casual beam spread wide across his face. "You can use mine... if you want?" He lifted his case slightly, brow raising simultaneously. "I can restring yours while you continue? I've always got extras." He was notorious about snapping his own, as quickly as he wore them down. "No pressure, of course! Just a shame that I just got here and only got to hear a little bit."

[break]

Tag: Katrina Wells [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes!

[newclass=.mottledbug-text b]color:#F38574;font-size:8pt!important;line-height:8pt!important;font-family:Open Sans!important;[/newclass][newclass=.mottledbug-text a]font-size:8pt!important;line-height:8pt!important;font-family:Open Sans!important;[/newclass][googlefont=Poppins][googlefont=Open Sans]

[Katrina Wells]

You romanticize the feast and famine

Paralyzed by fear of failing

---

---

In the process of trying to figure out if she'd have to go to a store to pick up more strings, or get someone to restring it for her, Katrina didn't notice someone move next to her. The sound of an unfamiliar voice was almost enough to make her jump out of her skin as her eyes snapped up to the stranger with his own guitar case. For a moment she wasn't sure what to say. Mostly because she hadn't thought someone would care that much about her string snapping.

Usually Katrina took meticulous care of her instruments. She made sure to keep mental notes on their upkeep and hadn't had a string just snap on her like that in a few years. So, she was still kicking herself a bit for not paying better attention to her sweet Betty. Still, she stood straight again with a warm smile at the offer. A smile that only faltered slightly to surprise as she realized just how tall the man was in front of her.

"Um, thank you for the offer," she started as she smoothed her hands down the front of her dress. It wasn't a denial but no one had offered to let her play their personal instrument before. Though she also hadn't actually met a lot of people who just carried their guitar around like she did. Unless he was also a busker? Her eyes flicked back to her guitar for a moment before she looked back at the man. "Why don't you play with me instead?" She offered with only slight hesitance in her voice. Katrina had never had another person to play with her as it was. It was normally just her and her guitar. "If you'd like to that is," she could have been wrong after all. Maybe he wasn't a fan of playing in front of other people.

If he played with her though and still wound up restring her guitar afterwards she could give him a portion of the tips as well. That way she wouldn't feel so bad about taking one of his strings or having him help her. Besides, it was kind of exciting to have the chance to play with someone else. "I think I need to give my fingers a break anyway," she said with a small giggle. The distraction of talking to someone knew helped pull her mind out of her own pity party. Making the clouds break up again and beams of sunlight broke through the window again. Dancing across the floor and lighting up the space a little more. "We can do a song you'd like if you want."

The chatter of the people inside picked up a bit as they realized that there wasn't any music playing at the moment. With a blink of realization Katrina realized that she hadn't introduced herself. Which her parents would have scolded her for not remembering her manners. "I'm Katrina, by the way," she said sweetly as she offered out her hand to him. Her warm smile still on her lips and with a bright sort of joy in her eyes.

---

---

Tag: Gavyn Colburn
Let me know if anything needs to be tweaked!

[Gavyn Colburn]

[nospaces]

I REALLY JUST WANT TO BE

warm yellow light that pours over everyone i love

[break]

[attr="class","mottledbug-text"]With a stifled jump, the woman's eyes snapped up to meet his own. At her somewhat startled gaze, Gavyn's brow inched further upward and he felt an apologetic chuckle begin to form in his throat. He hadn't meant to surprise her. But then she straightened and a warm smile unfolded across her face, soothing the urge. When she spoke, thanking him, and smoothed her hands down her dress, he kept his own beam decidedly fixed, despite an inward stab of worry. She sounded a bit hesitant (or uncertain) and he hoped he wasn't putting her in the awkward position of trying to find a "nice" way to refuse him. [break][break]

Everything flooded away though, when she invited him to play with her instead. [break][break]

"Yeah?" He asked hopefully, perking like a dog being asked if it wanted to go on a walk. His eyes lit and a corner of his mouth tugged. Then, very briefly, his brow furrowed. Was the polite thing to do, to refuse? To be convinced it was really okay, first? He didn't want to hijack her performance. But his expression smoothed a moment later as he decided she wouldn't offer at all if she wasn't open to the idea. As he tended to do, he would simply trust that she'd tell him if he was overstepping. Besides, the warmth to her smile seemed sincere; the bright friendliness in her eyes, genuine. [break][break]

"Okay, yeah!" Gavyn gave a nod, not needing another invitation or further reassurance. He let his hopeful half-smile return to something big and openly-excited as he quickly — not playing it cool at all — turned to pull a nearby chair noisily across the floor. He pushed it close, angled more toward her than the rest of the café, and sat down. "You mean like you sing and I play? I'm all sorts of down for that. Or even like a duet? Playing with friends is always so much more... I don't know, just nice... than playing alone." As he spoke, he set his case down in front of him, opened it up, and pulled out his guitar. He propped it across his lap, momentarily reveling in the rightness of it; the weight across his legs, the way his arm settled atop its curve, the press of it into his stomach as he adjusted, moving to the very edge of his seat. His leg began a tiny, excited bounce and he lifted his bright eyes to her. "Oh right, and I'm Gavyn. It's nice to meet you."[break][break]

Now, what to play? A coffee shop wasn't his usual scene. He was more accustomed to playing loudly, chaotically, and with wild, crass abandon on street corners or on low-lit stages in dinky, loud bars. Music that befit guttural growls and stamping feet. Performance spaces where a discordant note or a cracked voice didn't sound amiss but honest. This atmosphere was quieter and more casual. Softer and somehow neater. He tried to think of something fitting, using what Katrina had been singing before as inspiration; considering something similar and trying to think of music they might both know. [break][break]

"Off the top of my head, I can do any Jack Johnson song. I Got You? Better Together? Banana Pancakes? The Beatles? Here Comes The Sun? It's a great day for that." His gaze pulled to the open window and it's generous pour of sunlight, mouth tucking thoughtfully before he continued. "Train? Or really, whatever you're feeling! Any suggestions, I'm all ears!"

[break]

Tag: Katrina Wells [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes!

[newclass=.mottledbug-text b]color:#F38574;font-size:8pt!important;line-height:8pt!important;font-family:Open Sans!important;[/newclass][newclass=.mottledbug-text a]font-size:8pt!important;line-height:8pt!important;font-family:Open Sans!important;[/newclass][googlefont=Poppins][googlefont=Open Sans]

[Katrina Wells]

You romanticize the feast and famine

Paralyzed by fear of failing

---

---

Katrina had never played with another person before. There had been a few other musicians that had stopped by to tell her they enjoyed her playing or would ask her if she wanted to jam with them sometime but nothing had ever really gone through. So, it was a little exciting, the idea of playing with someone else. And with her own guitar currently out of commission Katrina thought this seemed like the best time to see if someone would like to play with her. When she saw his eyes light up at the notion and the way his expression perked up she could almost imagine a fluffy tail behind him wagging rapidly in excitement. It almost made her giggle but she managed to keep that bubble down. She didn't want to seem like she was laughing at him.

Instead she gave that same smile and nodded with a firm, "Mhm!" As the chair scraped noisily across the floor Katrina winced a bit at the sound but it didn't falter her own excited smile. His genuine joy and excitement at the concept of playing with another person felt contagious. It at least helped her own nerves as she watched him set up his own guitar on his lap. She was all to familiar with that warm, comfortable, right feeling of having your guitar on your lap.

The feeling of the strings pressing into your fingers. "We could do either," she said with a small shrug. Just more excited to play with another person she was happy to go along with whatever he was most comfortable with. "Or a mix of both if you want to play for a few songs?" She offered. Unsure how comfortable he was with singing in front of crowds or how practiced his vocal chords were for singing for longer than a song or two.

"It's really nice to meet you, Gavyn," She said sweetly. Though as she was thinking of what they could play together it seemed he'd had the same idea. Katrina went over the songs and bands he suggested in her mind. Weighing which ones she knew better by heart. Which ones she felt most confident with singing and doing justice. Though his comment on Here Comes the Sun being fitting currently did seem right. And she knew that song really well. "We can start with Here Comes the Sun," she offered.

A calm cafe was a different vibe than a street corner. Though Katrina didn't do many wild guttural songs herself she had played her fair share of more emotional pieces. Ones that pushed her limit on her vocal range and gave her a chance to put some real emotion behind her words. But those didn't really fit the current atmosphere. With the soft talking and quiet laughter. The loudest noise being cars passing by from the street. "We could do a duet for Better Together or Banana Pancakes after that."

---

---

Tag: Gavyn Colburn
Sorry this took me forever to respond to. Let me know if I need to add or change anything!

[Gavyn Colburn]

[nospaces]

I REALLY JUST WANT TO BE

warm yellow light that pours over everyone i love

[break]

[attr="class","mottledbug-text"]"Yes, great, love that!" Gavyn exclaimed cheerily as Katrina decided their line-up. "Here Comes the Sun then Better Together, it's perfect." His mouth pulled in a big beam that continued to grow wider and wider, eventually parting to show his teeth as he leaned over his guitar to pluck the capo from the case at his feet. He clipped it to the instrument's neck and tested a few chords before readjusting and trying again, going by ear to find the appropriate Beatles-esque pitch. "Do you play any other instruments?" He asked, gaze flitting briefly to her friendly face before falling back to study his ministrations. "I don't think I could live without music, honestly. There's nothing better. Ahh," he chuckled, strumming a couple of times as he found the right key. "A Major. Shoulda known. Ready?" [break][break]

He waited for her affirmation then launched right into the intro of the song. It was a simple tune with a pleasant, repetitive lilt. One hand danced as it plucked at the guitar's strings while the other pressed calloused fingertips — broken in and roughened many, many years ago — into the fretboard; finding note after note with an ease he hardly had to think about. He played it perhaps a hair faster than expected, and a bit louder than was typical, but he didn't think it mattered much. Almost immediately, he couldn't sit still and jumped to his feet. When it came to performing, it was always difficult for him to do so sitting down; as if the music itself possessed him and demanded motion. Refused to be brought to life without his moving, dancing, or (at the very least) swaying. [break][break]

With a bright beam and glittering eyes, Gavyn scanned the people before them while spinning in a slow, lazy circle. If it were a quicker or more lively song, he would have been weaving between tables, leaning close to any person who looked the least bit receptive. But, as it was, he curbed himself, and when it approached Katrina's time to begin singing, he turned his dimpled, cheesing grin to her and lifted a brow with obvious, anticipatory excitement.

[break]

Tag: Katrina Wells [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes! [break]
Sorry it's short and took so long ;v;

[newclass=.mottledbug-text b]color:#F38574;font-size:8pt!important;line-height:8pt!important;font-family:Open Sans!important;[/newclass][newclass=.mottledbug-text a]font-size:8pt!important;line-height:8pt!important;font-family:Open Sans!important;[/newclass][googlefont=Poppins][googlefont=Open Sans]

[Katrina Wells]

You romanticize the feast and famine

Paralyzed by fear of failing

His joy was palpable. Infectious. As she watched his smile grow more and more she couldn't help but giggle and offer the smile back. Her lips curling and breaking to show her bright white teeth. She let him get settled, watching him a bit curiously. Until he asked her if she played any other instruments. "I play the piano, the harp, the flute, the bass, the electric guitar, and the cello," she stated easily then felt her cheeks warm up in light pink blush. Katrina loved music. She always had ever since she was a little girl. Playing music and singing was her escape.

"I uh, I really love playing music," she said as her eyes averted to the ground. It was one of her only hobbies her parents had been happy to indulge and even heavily encourage. Putting her in several different classes. Different tutors. Always wanting her to try new instruments. She had a feeling it was mostly just to keep her busy. As he admitted to his own love of music she offered a bit more of a confident smile. She brought her eyes back to him and nodded. "Me neither, this is my escape from everything."

As he asked if she was ready she nodded excitedly and waited for him to start playing as she turned back to face the rest of the little crowd. As he began playing Katrina tapped her hands on the side of her thighs to the beat. Keeping the tempo as she swayed, rocking her hips back and forth as she brought the lyrics back to her memory. Though seeing Gavyn suddenly stand and start moving with the music as well made a wider, more surprised smile break out of her her lips.

He was so enthusiastic. So excited and moved by the music it made her giggle softly as her eyes were pulled from the crowd to him. She almost forgot she was supposed to be singing along with him for a moment. But as the time came up and he looked to her expectantly - with that same infectious smile - she remembered what she was supposed to do.

"Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo
Here comes the sun, and I say.
It's alright.
Little darlin', it's been a long, cold, lonely winter.
Little darlin', it feels like years since it's been here.
Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo.
Here comes the sun, and I say.
It's alright."

The song was simple, repetitive, but sweet and catchy. Katrina's voice was honey sweet and danced in the space around her and through the cafe. Her head began to bob side to side as well as she rocked back and forth to the beat. Sunlight bleeding into the window and haloing around the two of them as she sang. She could feel it warm on her back as she let her eyes switch between Gavyn and the rest of the cafe.

"Sun, sun, sun, here it comes.
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes.
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes.
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes.
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes.
Little darlin', I feel that ice is slowly melting.
Little darlin', it seems like years since it's been clear."

Some of the patrons of the cafe seemed to find their joy just as infectious. There were a few that swayed along as they watched. Even one of the barista's seemed taken to move as she was taking orders. Having someone else with her that loved music as much as she did wasn't something Katrina was used to.

"Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo.
Here comes the sun, and I say.
It's alright.
Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo.
Here comes the sun.
It's alright.
It's alright."

Tag: Gavyn Colburn
Let me know if you need to change or adjust anything!

MADE BY NIGHTBLOOM

[Gavyn Colburn]

[nospaces]

I REALLY JUST WANT TO BE

warm yellow light that pours over everyone i love

[break]

[attr="class","mottledbug-text"]Katrina seemed refreshingly receptive to his enthusiasm. She returned his smiles and volleyed back her answers in a soft, sweet way that he found immediately endearing. At one point, her gaze pulled to the ground in a more sheepish manner, which tugged a little at his chest — why had she felt the need to do so? — but then her smile was back in full swing and he let himself brighten as they launched into their first song.[break][break]

He played while she sang. It wasn't a perfect rendition. Though the melody and chords were easy enough to recall and recreate, he couldn't help but put a spin of his own on it; a little, occasional diddly that fit seamlessly into what might have been a little "simple" otherwise (as repetitive as the whole thing was). But he made certain his playing remained soft and subtle; that it didn't pull attention from Katrina's vocals or demand focus.[break][break]

And, just like before — when he'd been made to pause outside the café by the sound of her playing  — he couldn't help but quietly appreciate how well and warm she sang. He made a couple of turns as they played, quite conscious (and openly fond) of the way her own love for the music scripted across her face and made itself known in the way she swayed to the tune. [break][break]

When the song was finished, he spun to give her an appraising beam, crouching by his case to return the capo.[break][break]

"Amazing. So you play strings, keys, woodwind, and even orchestra," he started, returning to their conversation before the song as if there'd been no interruption. Standing again, he watched her with gleaming eyes, chin lifting while his smile curled deeper. "That's really quite impressive. Throw a brass instrument in there and I dare say you can probably play anything. Trumpet? You ever listen to Cake? Vince DiFiore is —" He lifted a hand to pantomime a quick chef's kiss, then returned his fingers to the neck of his guitar to test a few chords and fiddle with the tuning. As he did so, he hummed the intro to Better Together under his breath. God, the opening line was so perfect, what a trill, what an artful lilt, Jack Johnson was perfect, he couldn't wait.[break][break]

When he was ready, he lifted his brow, fixed Katrina with an inquiring look and, a moment later, let his mouth split into a grin and whirled back to face the rest of the café; hand slapping against the wood of the guitar as he strummed and his fingers found the opening chords. He took the lead with this one — what song was there more suited as a duet, after all? — his voice lifted with fond enthusiasm as he began.[break][break]

"There's no combination of words I could put on the back of a postcard," the smile became more evident in his tone as he, again, couldn't contain his amazement at how well-crafted and melodic the single line was. "No song that I could sing but I can try for your heart. Our dreams and they are made out of real things. Like a shoebox of photographs with sepia-toned loving." [break][break]

This time, he did move — stepping from the corner the pair of them were at and making a slow mosey through the tables and chairs and people while holding any gaze that raised to him. "Love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart. Like why are we here? And where do we go? And how come it's so hard? It's not always easy and sometimes life can be deceiving. I'll tell you one thing, it's always better when we're together."[break][break]

He made a slow return to the corner, watching Karina now as he sung through a smile and swayed to the beat. "Mmm, it's always better when we're together. Yeah, we'll look at the stars when we're together. Well, it's always better when we're together." He nodded to her, winking slowly in an attempt to cue for her to maybe pick up the next verse — but prepared to continue if she didn't. "Yeah, it's always better when we're together."

[break]

Tag: Katrina Wells [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes! [break]
Or if you need more to work with.

[newclass=.mottledbug-text b]color:#F38574;font-size:8pt!important;line-height:8pt!important;font-family:Open Sans!important;[/newclass][newclass=.mottledbug-text a]font-size:8pt!important;line-height:8pt!important;font-family:Open Sans!important;[/newclass][googlefont=Poppins][googlefont=Open Sans]

[Katrina Wells]

You romanticize the feast and famine

Paralyzed by fear of failing

"Ah no, I don't play any brass but my brother Nick and play trumpet and the french horn." Not that he would admit that to anyone. "Sometimes I think my parents were trying to get us to start a small family band," she said with a soft laugh. Though as he mentioned something about Cake she tilted her head curiously. "I don't think I've ever heard that one before," she admitted with an obvious air of curiosity about her. But that could be settled later as she watched him start the song.

As he lifted her brow to her Katrina nodded enthusiastically before she watched the way that bright smile split back across his lips. Katrina did love Jack Johnson. The flow of his music was easy and never failed to ease her heart. Though watching the way Gavyn moved through the crowd as he sang made her smile all the wider. She watched some of the customers grin as he moved around them, some even mouthed a long the words. It had been years since she'd had someone really willing to sing with her and even longer since it had been someone so enthusiastic about music. Let alone a person who seemed to just enjoying preforming.

Gavyn had such a natural and easy charm. From the way he flowed easily through the crowd and the song. Katrina swayed to the song in her spot but didn't move around the room as much as he did. Mostly because the space wasn't exactly large enough for two people to shifting through the crowd and she didn't want things to be too clutter the space too much. Besides, Gavyn seemed much more natural with it than she felt she would. Katrina wasn't as used to moving around too much when she preformed.

As he shot her a wink she grinned and nodded. Taking the time to settle when the next verse would hit.

"And all these moments just might find their way into my dreams tonight.
But I know that they'll be gone when the morning light sings or brings new things.
For tomorrow night you'll see that they'll be gone too.
Too many things I've got to do.
But if all of these dreams might find their way into my day to day scene.
I'd be under them impression I was somewhere in between."

Her eyes turned to Gavyn again with almost a sparkle in them as she smiled at him. She lifted her hand to point at him with her own more playful wink as she sang. Offering him the final verse in the same way he'd cued her as she came to the end of her part.

"With only two, just me and you, not so many things we got to do.
Or places we got to be we'll sit beneath the mango tree now.
Yeah it's always better when we're together.
Mmm we're somewhere in between together."

Tag: Gavyn Colburn
Let me know if you need to change or adjust anything!

MADE BY NIGHTBLOOM