triggered here: abclost.proboards40.com/index.cgi?board=rpgshelters&action=display&thread=1161246246&page=1#1174775989The bell chimed as Ethan pushed the door open. He set his bag down. As usual, there weren't many customers. Natural light flooded the store as music drifted through the store over the speakers. He moved through the CD aisles until he reached the counter.
Sunny counted out the change for the current customer, gingerly placing the bills in the woman's outstretched hand and then placing the change on top. "There's your change, and thanks for shopping with us. Have a nice day!" she said with a practiced smile.
Once the woman was clear and the bell above the door had chimed to mark her departure, she turned to Ethan with a weary look. "Why do I have to say 'have a nice day'? Why should I care about the quality of their day? Especially when they buy a Hall & Oates record?" She closed the cash drawer with a flourish and leaned forward on the counter. "Anyway, did you have a nice day?"
He smiled, laughing slightly. "Oh, well...same old, same old. You?"
"Trying my best to enlighten the heathen masses of this town as to what music should really sound like," she sighed dramatically. "It's a heavy burden, but I must bear it."
"Ah. Truly a modern heroine." he replied, smiling again. "And what should music really sound like? Because I have opinions and I could very well be needed to help bear this burden."
She placed her chin in her hand. "Well, that is very chivalrous of you, Sir Rom," she smiled. "Music should inspire. It should uplift your soul, or drop you to the deepest depths. It should make you feel, not just...repeat some empty chorus over and over."
He just smiled. "Hence why Rod Stewart is a God amongst men." he replied. "Well, Lady Whedon, I was actually...thinking of applying for a job here." It was a good prospect in Ethan's mind. Good money, see Sunny more often, and get out of the damn house. Especially the ‘seeing Sunny more often’ part. Seeing her was the highlight of…well, every day.
She straightened up, eyes wide. "Really? That'd be awesome. I'm sure my dad would love having a guy to help out," she said, retrieving an application from under the counter and sliding it across to him. "I always whine that I can't pick up the heavy boxes."
"Oh, you whiner. You fooled me when you smacked Tucker with that binder. But you can't lift boxes? Pfft." he teased, taking the application. "Just a leeeeetle girl."
"Ethan, I am dainty and delicate," she asserted. "And I'll kick anyone's ass who says otherwise."
He laughed, "I'll keep that in mind. Don't say Sunny is anything other than dainty and delicate and beautiful, understood."
She looked down, trying to hide the flush in her cheeks. "Well, I think the 'beautiful' part is in the eye of the beholder," she said. "Anyway, how did you do on your math test?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Well, I broke my pencil in my sharpener and ended up using a piece of lead smaller then my fingernail to complete four pages of fractions. Other than that, I came out pretty well." He replied simply.
"Aw, I'm sorry," she consoled. "I bombed chemistry, if it makes you feel any better. My lab partner is problematic."
"Y'see, with chemistry, it's often a pairing up of people who want to see stuff blow up a few inches away from their face, and people who want to see tomorrow." he replied with a little smile. "I'm guessing your lab partner was of the blow-shit-up category."
"Actually, that would have been more fun," Sunny said, flipping through a stack of albums that someone had brought in earlier. "She's on the pep squad, and way more worried about her corsage for homecoming court than molecular bonds."
"Yeah, shame she's not of that category. If she was, at least she wouldn't be around for long." he replied. He paused, and then said, "Since I might be working here, d'you need any help? Moving those heavy, heavy, heavy boxes?"
"Nah, I think it can wait till you're officially on the clock there, Hercules," she replied. Then she paused on one of the albums. "Dude," she whispered in awe, holding it up for Ethan to see. "I cannot believe someone is selling this back."
He squinted at the title. "Jeff Buckley 'Grace' album." he read aloud. "Huh. Do you want the music, or just the cover?"
"Oh, both," she sighed wistfully. "This...is music. This is the kind of album that can change your life. You have to hear it," she insisted, gingerly placing the round piece of vinyl on a nearby player and setting the needle to the beginning of “Hallelujah.”
As he listened to the slow, haunting melody that he had to admit was indeed a beautiful song, he kept looking at Sunny. Just glancing when she wasn't looking. Which was a shame, because while she was always beautiful, she was even more so when she was smiling at him, and him alone.
I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this...the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall
The major lift
The baffled King composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you.
She tied you to her kitchen chair
And she broke your throne
And she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Baby, I’ve been here before
I’ve seen this room, and I've walked this floor
Y’know, I used to live alone before I knew you.
And I've seen your flag on the marble arch
And Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
There was a time you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show that to me, do you?
But remember when I moved in you
And the holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Maybe there's a God above
But all I’ve ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you.
And it's not a cry that you hear at night
it's not somebody who's seen the light
it's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
HallelujahAs the opening chords played, she closed her eyes simply to feel the rhythm flow through her veins. She softly sang along to the melancholy lyrics, remembering how this song had comforted her in cold, dark nights. When she opened her eyes and met Ethan's gaze, she smiled self-consciously.
He smiled back at her. He felt a sudden need to lean in and kiss her, but resisted, instead saying, "Not bad back-up vocals you did there."
"Oh, I don't think I'll be first soprano in the chorus anytime soon," she replied, removing the needle and turning off the record. "But thanks."
"Not a problem. Actually, I gotta’ get going, but, well....could I buy that from you? How much?" he asked with a small smile.
"It's on the house. Buckley is meant to be shared," she answered, handing him the album. "Or Dad'll just take it out of your first paycheck."
"Thanks." he smiled. "Hopefully I'll see more of ya’ if I get the job. Well, later, Sunny." He turned, and headed for the door. As he did, he thought he saw the shaved head of Tucker just outside. But no, his imagination. He relaxed. He threw another smile at Sunny as he picked up his bag, and disappeared out the door.
ooc: for those if you wondering why Sunny is so well-written and witty, this flashback was done with Miss Kristi as my dancing partner. Kudos and thanks to her. 
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