Post by maddawg85 on Jul 6, 2009 0:29:58 GMT
The air was thick and stifling today, at least more so than normal. With the plates covering the entirety of the sky, there was really no way the air could have any different texture to it. Buddy looked towards the massive reactor that towered over everything in the vicinity.
“The reactor’s probably overheating.” Buddy thought to himself. It was the only reason he could imagine why the air could be so smothering. Other than the fluctuation in the atmosphere, the day had proved to be uneventful as Buddy had gone to many of his contacts looking for available work. With the lack of activity, he planned to head to the children’s park and relax for the rest of the day, maybe visit the 7th Heaven later in the evening. Passing through the running and screaming children playing who comprised the ninety percent of the parks occupants, Buddy made his way to a familiar looking piece of metal. Making sure to remove his katana from his back and placing next to where he was planning on lying down, he brought his guitar around his shoulder and set himself down on his back. Lying there motionless, Buddy listened to the laughter of children who could forget their dreary home. They would play in harmony, never worrying if a stranger joined them in their game; instead they embraced the newest playmate. Others would cry at points, learning first hand how painful even the most joyous times could be.
Buddy closed his eyes and tried to clear out his thoughts, but his problem with the lack of work available would keep bringing itself to the forefront of his mind. He took a deep breath and sighed. “We need a big assassination soon.” He shook his head, as if he was trying to get rid of something in his hair, at the negative thought, but couldn’t argue with the fact that if someone with a big public face was knocked off, it would produce a large amount of distrust among some of the other higher-ups in the city and they would be calling out for people like him. “Oh well, the work’ll come my way soon.”
Suddenly, something hit his leg, interrupting his thoughts. Buddy lifted his head to see what had bumped into him and looked straight into the eyes of a dirty blonde boy holding a strange looking plastic ball. Paying more attention to the ball then the child, he noticed that it wasn’t smooth like most should be. It had small bumps across its entire surface. Dirt covered most of it, but a few stripes of white and blue were visible. Looking at the boy who was still standing in front of him, he noticed that he was eyeing his sword, which was lying next to him. Waving his hand the kid in the signal for “get going”, Buddy watched as he immediately scampered back to his friends. Lying back down and letting his fingers run across the strings of the guitar, he began playing a calming melody. The music brought about serenity, giving him a chance to relax and forget about the problems of this world. Almost as if in a trance he lets his fingers move on their own, while his eyes closed themselves, painting pictures of the fields, beaches and oceans outside of Midgar. Breaking his concentration again, a familiar object bounced off of his leg. Sighing heavily as he lifted himself into an upright sitting position and opened his eyes. Expecting to see the same boy, Buddy’s eyes became wide as he noticed that the child had brought several of his playmates over with him this time. They all seemed enticed by the shiny blade he kept with him. Giving a frustrated look he waved his hand above the katana, pulling the children’s eyes away toward him. He pointed at the sword shook his head at the children and gave a frown. The children looked sheepishly at him and a few looked towards the ground. Looking away for a moment, then back at the kids, he reached out and grabbed there attention again, but this time pointing at his guitar and giving a big beaming grin at them. A few of them giggled, as all of them at least smiled back. Buddy then started tapping his right foot and slapped the body of his guitar several time to start a beat and proceeded into a frivolous and upbeat tune. As if the response was automatic, some of the children began to dance in front of him. In a matter of minutes the other children in the park had gathered around and were dancing also. A few of the supervising parents had gathered around and began to watch there children dance wildly to the beat provided by Buddy, and in return Buddy winked at a few of the more attractive women. Some would blush and wink or wave back as other women forcibly pulled their child out of the revelry and out of the park grounds, offended that he would try such a lowly and presumptuous greeting.
Loosing all track of time, Buddy continued to play late into the afternoon, where children and adults alike would come and go. Some would leave Gil at his feet, thinking he was a street performer, and seeing as how work was scarce, Buddy opted to accept the generosity of the community. Long after he first began, the last of his audience left and Buddy’s fingers recognized the marathon he had just put them through. After resting his hands for a bit, he reached down and began counting the Gil that had been donated.
“130 gil, not too shabby for a free show.” He thought to himself as he grinned and placed the Gil into his pouch. It certainly made his earlier decision about hitting the 7th Heaven easier, now that he had spare money to burn through. Strapping his katana sheath onto himself and flipping his guitar over his back, Buddy lifted himself up from his seat and proceeded towards the bar to find some refreshing adult company.
Word count: 1036
“The reactor’s probably overheating.” Buddy thought to himself. It was the only reason he could imagine why the air could be so smothering. Other than the fluctuation in the atmosphere, the day had proved to be uneventful as Buddy had gone to many of his contacts looking for available work. With the lack of activity, he planned to head to the children’s park and relax for the rest of the day, maybe visit the 7th Heaven later in the evening. Passing through the running and screaming children playing who comprised the ninety percent of the parks occupants, Buddy made his way to a familiar looking piece of metal. Making sure to remove his katana from his back and placing next to where he was planning on lying down, he brought his guitar around his shoulder and set himself down on his back. Lying there motionless, Buddy listened to the laughter of children who could forget their dreary home. They would play in harmony, never worrying if a stranger joined them in their game; instead they embraced the newest playmate. Others would cry at points, learning first hand how painful even the most joyous times could be.
Buddy closed his eyes and tried to clear out his thoughts, but his problem with the lack of work available would keep bringing itself to the forefront of his mind. He took a deep breath and sighed. “We need a big assassination soon.” He shook his head, as if he was trying to get rid of something in his hair, at the negative thought, but couldn’t argue with the fact that if someone with a big public face was knocked off, it would produce a large amount of distrust among some of the other higher-ups in the city and they would be calling out for people like him. “Oh well, the work’ll come my way soon.”
Suddenly, something hit his leg, interrupting his thoughts. Buddy lifted his head to see what had bumped into him and looked straight into the eyes of a dirty blonde boy holding a strange looking plastic ball. Paying more attention to the ball then the child, he noticed that it wasn’t smooth like most should be. It had small bumps across its entire surface. Dirt covered most of it, but a few stripes of white and blue were visible. Looking at the boy who was still standing in front of him, he noticed that he was eyeing his sword, which was lying next to him. Waving his hand the kid in the signal for “get going”, Buddy watched as he immediately scampered back to his friends. Lying back down and letting his fingers run across the strings of the guitar, he began playing a calming melody. The music brought about serenity, giving him a chance to relax and forget about the problems of this world. Almost as if in a trance he lets his fingers move on their own, while his eyes closed themselves, painting pictures of the fields, beaches and oceans outside of Midgar. Breaking his concentration again, a familiar object bounced off of his leg. Sighing heavily as he lifted himself into an upright sitting position and opened his eyes. Expecting to see the same boy, Buddy’s eyes became wide as he noticed that the child had brought several of his playmates over with him this time. They all seemed enticed by the shiny blade he kept with him. Giving a frustrated look he waved his hand above the katana, pulling the children’s eyes away toward him. He pointed at the sword shook his head at the children and gave a frown. The children looked sheepishly at him and a few looked towards the ground. Looking away for a moment, then back at the kids, he reached out and grabbed there attention again, but this time pointing at his guitar and giving a big beaming grin at them. A few of them giggled, as all of them at least smiled back. Buddy then started tapping his right foot and slapped the body of his guitar several time to start a beat and proceeded into a frivolous and upbeat tune. As if the response was automatic, some of the children began to dance in front of him. In a matter of minutes the other children in the park had gathered around and were dancing also. A few of the supervising parents had gathered around and began to watch there children dance wildly to the beat provided by Buddy, and in return Buddy winked at a few of the more attractive women. Some would blush and wink or wave back as other women forcibly pulled their child out of the revelry and out of the park grounds, offended that he would try such a lowly and presumptuous greeting.
Loosing all track of time, Buddy continued to play late into the afternoon, where children and adults alike would come and go. Some would leave Gil at his feet, thinking he was a street performer, and seeing as how work was scarce, Buddy opted to accept the generosity of the community. Long after he first began, the last of his audience left and Buddy’s fingers recognized the marathon he had just put them through. After resting his hands for a bit, he reached down and began counting the Gil that had been donated.
“130 gil, not too shabby for a free show.” He thought to himself as he grinned and placed the Gil into his pouch. It certainly made his earlier decision about hitting the 7th Heaven easier, now that he had spare money to burn through. Strapping his katana sheath onto himself and flipping his guitar over his back, Buddy lifted himself up from his seat and proceeded towards the bar to find some refreshing adult company.
Word count: 1036