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Thread: [M] A Tale of Two Strangers [Ashen & Marimo]

  1. #21
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    When Hunter’s hand rested on top of her own, Jade felt her stomach flip-flop. It wasn’t anything overly suggestive or flirtatious, but just that small contact, that little tenderness, was enough to turn her cheeks rosy pink. The tips of his fingers were calloused, and she could feel their roughness on the back of her hand; yet it was the gentlest touch she had experienced in a very long time.

    At his comical compliment, Jade blushed even hotter and tilted her face away to hide her sheepish grin. What is it with this guy? she thought, her heart mimicking the fast tempo of the songs she had just heard. His laugh was like an instrument. Did he know that? Could he hear it, feel it himself?

    Once he started answering her questions, her attention went back to his face and she listened intently, watching as his lips curved into a smile and his eyes softened. Had she been given a test on what she had supposedly just learned, she would get an F.

    “T-That does answer all my questions, thank you!” People were usually never so prompt in their replies, often leaving out most of her ramblings to answer whatever it was that they even could remember. The fact that Hunter was watching closely and putting in extra effort to understand made her feel quite special. When he adjusted himself and rolled up his sleeves, she sat up straighter in her chair and beamed at him.

    “Of course, please get back to it! I mean, not to order you around or anything, but you know… doing your thing! Your solo!” When he stood up, Jade stood up as well. They were both still as they regarded each other from opposite sides of the table. His following words made her take in a shaky breath, but she smiled widely like she always did.

    “I should be the one thanking you, Hunter. You’re the one who saved me from the subway, escorted me, invited me, delighted me with your music, and have overall just been so kind and patient with me! Me, the rambling blabber-mouth!” She laughed nervously, clasping her hands in front of her and squeezing hard. “Play your best for me, okay?” Jade tilted her head to the side and then looked down, embarrassed about her forwardness. “And for everyone else!” She added hurriedly, “and for you! And whomever you want! I’m ready! I mean, we all are! Well, I don’t know about those people with their half-full wine glasses but I’m sure they’ll be ready eventually, too! Okay! Go do it! I mean, if you want to!”

    The only thing left was to run away, back towards the venue where she was seated. The shaking girl placed both palms on each side of her tingling cheeks and rushed all the way back to her seat. Not many people were back in the auditorium yet, so she hugged her knees and tucked her head into her torso. “Oh my god, what is wrong with me,” she muttered.
    Last edited by Marimo; 12-12-2017 at 03:52 AM.

  2. #22
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    On his way back to the stage, Hunter found himself smiling more. The hearing aid definitely helped him to keep up with Jade's ramblings, and he had been right earlier; she really did have a lovely voice. Getting into his seat, Hunter slightly nodded towards the other orchestra members on the contrabassoon and cellos. He opened up his sheet music and thumbed through the notes of his solo, as if trying to memorize them all in the last minute. As he read over his music, his mind wandered towards Jade. His eyes followed her to her seat, where she looked pleasantly out of place. Hunter liked the way her jean-jacket made her stand out, the way her smile lit up her face. He found himself watching her, before one of the orchestra members cleared her throat, snapping him back to his music.

    All too soon the conductor came out onto the stage again. He was greeted by applause from the audience. As he introduced the second half of the performance, Hunter stole that opportunity to look over his notes again. He didn't dare touch his strings, not wanting to make a sound before he was supposed to, so his fingers danced just over his instrument. He had practiced endlessly for this part, and the nap from earlier would certainly help. The first half had woken him up; now he was as ready as he'd ever be. Looking out over the audience again, Hunter located Pierce Connel, the man they were trying to impress. He was staring right at him, his gunmetal eyes digging into Hunter's silver grey ones. Ripping his gaze away, Hunter noticed the instruments on the other end of the stage start to sound, and he readied himself for the music.

    The show continued seamlessly. Hunter found his concentration to be sporadic, but he still played his songs well. When his solo came up, he drew a deep breath, and after glancing at Jade, he began to play his heart out. The rest of the instruments quieted, leaving only a few twinkling sounds along with the deep sound of his bass. Hunter gave himself to his instrument, letting his heart guide his fingers. His foot was tapping slightly to his beat, and he closed his eyes, letting muscle memory produce the sweet song he had practiced so hard for. By the time he was finished, sweat was beading at his forehead, but he was smiling, proud. He'd done it, he'd owned his solo, and he knew it.

    After that, it wasn't long before the show ended with a flourish. The hall was alive with the thundering melody of the orchestra. The conductor brought his baton down a final time, silencing the hall for only a moment before it erupted again in a series of applause. The musicians all rose to bow, and then motioned towards the conductor, who took his own bows. Everyone seemed happy, except for a single Pierce Connel. There was a slight smile tugging at the critic's lips, but otherwise his expression remained even. He was one of the firsts out of the hall and into the crowds exiting the building.

    By the time Hunter finally got to leave, he'd been praised for his solo by a few of the other musicians. He would get a proper report later. He packed up his instrument and untucked his shirt, then looked around for Jade. Most people had already gone, but he hoped that she had stayed back so he could speak with her again.
    Last edited by Ashen; 01-11-2018 at 06:10 PM.
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  3. #23
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    When Hunter began his solo, Jade entered a trance. Everyone else in the auditorium disappeared, so did all the other musicians, the conductor; the light shone only on the bassist and his bass. It was the first time she had listened to the instrument on its own. It wasn't uncommon to hear a violin or a piano in one's lifetime, but this was something entirely unique. The lows, the vibrations, and the pure emotion that emitted from the instrument -- from Hunter's hands -- was breathtaking. Jade sat on the edge of her seat, leaning forward slightly, as though she needed to catch every note he played. It's like Hunter and the bass were one, swaying and shivering in tandem. The crescendos had the smitten girl holding her breath, and the diminuendos had her heart clenching. By the time he bowed his last solo notes and the orchestra reappeared before her eyes, those very eyes were filled with tears. She fell back into her seat and watched as the concert soon after came to a close. Applause erupted all around her, people stood from their chairs but Jade remained seated, wiping the tears off her cheeks. She watched as the musicians bowed and left the stage, bravos and encores being exclaimed from the crowd. People scooted past her, heading for the exits. The hall was completely empty before she stood up and let out a long shaky breath.

    With a sniffle, she left her row and headed for the doors. She could hear the excited and pleasant chatter from the other concert-goers in the main hall, a cacophonous roar that felt unsettling after what she had just experienced. Jade felt a little silly to seemingly be the only person so influenced by the performance. People were drinking more wine and champagne from crystal glasses that glittered like their dresses and cuff-links. She felt even more out of place than she did before. After checking her reflection in the glass incasing a poster for the event, she smoothed down her hair, her dress, and wiped underneath her eyes for any remaining dry tears. The look of bewilderment remained on her face, but there wasn't much she could do about that.

    After silently and invisibly passing between the groups of people, Jade hurriedly made her way to the doors that lead outside and gulped in a huge breath of cold air. It felt like a much needed shock to her system, sending blood to her brain again. That was... she began to think, but couldn't finish her thought. She watched an elderly couple wearing fine coats walk down the sidewalk as she leaned against the wall right beside the main doors. Hunter was... she started again, trailing off. She couldn't think of the word that would come next. Nothing seemed to fit. After a moment of silence, she said aloud, "I've never heard anything so beautiful in my entire life."

  4. #24
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    The crowds outside the hall were overbearing. Hunter reached for his ears, prepared to silence the crowd, but decided against it for the hope that Jade would still be around. He scanned the hall, at the exiting masses and the socialites sticking around with their newly purchased drinks. For a brief moment, a sadness crossed his being. Of course she had already gone; why would she have stayed? The show was over, and the musicians always stuck around too long. Expecting her to be here now, Hunter realized, was stupid. Shaking his head, he headed for the exit himself, prepared to start the journey home.

    It was then that he saw her. She, too, was heading for the doors. Hunter merged with the crowd, effortlessly making his way towards the doors. He approached Jade just as they got outside, and she seemed to speak to herself. Hunter raised a brow, but a smile soon spread over his lips. "I'll pass that onto the conductor," he told her, walking to get in front of her. "Sometimes I forget how touching a performance can be. It's difficult to focus on the movement of the melody when you need to concentrate on just your own instrument, and the way you move your bow. It's--are you okay?" For the first time Hunter seemed to realize that Jade was crying. He moved closer to her, studying her stained cheeks. What had happened? So caught up in his music and the closing and the waves of people exiting the hall, had he not noticed something bad occur? Hunter reached to wipe her cheek, but firmly decided against it, having to remind himself of his place.

    A cool wind blew past, chilling Hunter's exposed face. He had grown used to cold climates, but his eyes trailed to Jade's dress, and her bare legs. "Do you have a ride home?" he asked, reaching into a pocket of his overcoat to find his car keys. "I don't want you to freeze out here. It might be better to talk in a warm vehicle." He motioned towards a street off to the side of the hall. Behind it was a parking lot reserved for musicians, staff, and those willing to pay far too much for the scant remaining spots. Hunter lingered though, letting Jade make her own moves, not wanting to force her into anything. "I hope nothing upset you. I should have warned you--we have large crowds of people like this for most of our performances, and it can be very easy to get overwhelmed in them, even if you think you might be used to them."
    Thanks to Craze for the beautiful Bravely set!

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  5. #25
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    Letting out a bit of a startled cry, Jade jumped back when Hunter appeared beside her. Had he heard what I just said? Her cheeks flushed scarlet and her wet eyes blinked rapidly. When the boy went silent and looked at her closely, perhaps even moving forward if her mind wasn't playing tricks, Jade placed a cold hand on her hot cheek.

    "I-I'm okay! Do I not look okay? I think -- I think the cold is maybe, hm, stinging my eyes a little bit? Ah, yeah," she trailed on, rubbing her eyes with both hands, "I should come with a warning as to not be seen in cold climates, I'm sure I look like a bruised tomato, I'm sorry!" Jade sniffed and looked up at Hunter with a huge smile. It only lasted a second, though, when she realized she was babbling again.

    "Oh, god! Listen to me go on about myself when you just did something incredible! That was amazing! You did really really good! Well, not that I would really know what not-good sounded like, but I suppose I would know, I mean I'm not completely tone-deaf but I certainly wouldn't be able to tell you the name of a note if I heard it, like... 'aahh...' I don't know what that is. Do you know what that is?" The girl bit down on her lips to stop herself from humiliating herself any further. She felt like she was making even less sense than usual. Really, she couldn't comprehend most of what she was feeling, for she had never felt so moved and subsequently embarrassed in her entire life.

    "I was going to walk," she began to reply when offered a ride, even though she could barely feel her legs, "it's not really that cold, yeah... although I did just tell you that the cold really affects me. Did I just say that out loud?" Through a strained laugh, she placed a hand over her eyes and took a deep breath. "Honestly, if you wouldn't mind, I would love a ride home. As long as it's not too far from your place, or if you promised someone else a ride, or if that would be weird or if you feel obliged or something, I mean I know you offered but you're so polite and I can see it being the kind of thing you offer someone out of etiquette, maybe that's a British thing, but I suppose Americans do it too, but really we're just colonies so there's no surprise that there are similarities between the two nations and uh--"

    Jade sealed her lips again and smiled genuinely at the bassist. After another deep breath to settle her cyclone of thoughts, she said softly, "A ride sounds great, thank you." Her attempts to hide her tears and emotions may have been in vain, but she hoped desperately that she -- at the very least -- only looked like a bumbling idiot.

    Taking a step forward, now in silence, head bowed and contemplating every syllable she had just rambled, Jade walked with Hunter to the parking lot he had motioned to. Some cars were leaving, some musicians stood in small circles and laughed clouds of vapour into the cold night air. Jade smiled at Hunter again, and wondered if he would rather spend his time with his fellow musicians. Before going on a full-on rant, though, she reminded herself to stop talking, seeing as she didn't really have a middle ground between silence and lecturing.

  6. #26
    The Ashen One
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    Hunter humbly accepted Jade's praise with a chuckle. He bowed a bit and let her talk as he normally did. When she sang a note, Hunter laughed again. She had so many questions and so much to say, and he was fascinated by her. As he watched her go on, Hunter found himself paying less attention to what she was saying and more attention to how she was saying it. The way her lips flew over her syllables, the way her cheeks colored at what he knew better than to be the cold, the way she kept pausing to apologize even though he showed no sign of annoyance... She was a lot like his sister, in a way. So sweet and bubbly with limitless energy. Memories of his family surfaced in his mind, though he had to sadly will them away. He'd left his family back across the Atlantic. For now, he was happy with just Jade.

    He waved her off when she started to make excuses for not taking a ride, then continued to walk her towards the parking lot. "I wouldn't have asked if I were busy," he said simply. Hunter walked towards the back of the parking lot. He approached a black BMW sedan and fished a key from his pocket. Shoving it into the door, he unlocked it, then went to open the door for Jade. Once she was inside he made his way back to the driver's side and sat down. "Let's see if I can remember where you are," he said, more to himself. As he pulled out of the parking lot, he waved at a fellow musician, and he started the journey back to Jade's apartment.

    As a habit, Hunter reached for his ears to remove the aids from them. However, remembering Jade, he decided against it. He glanced towards her to make sure she was okay. "I am glad you enjoyed the show," he said again. "I'm glad it's over. I think it went well enough, but I can hear my bed calling to me from here. I'm totally beat. It was a good night, too. A big turnout, and our critic seemed... mostly satisfied, I think. Hard to tell with guys like those. My solo went okay though, I'm glad for that. It's easier when you have someone to play for, I think." He wasn't even aware of Jade's reaction to his words. After a moment he paused. "Now look who's talking so much," he said. "I'm just really relieved, and really glad you came. So... Thank you, Jade."

    It wasn't a long drive to Jade's house, and surprisingly, Hunter got there with no issues. He got out of his car to help her out of the opposite side. "Don't know what sort of man I'd be if I didn't walk the pretty lady to her apartment," he said. He considered offering her an elbow, but ultimately deciding against it, not knowing if Jade would take it as the joke he meant or if it would embarrass her further. He walked her to the door and hesitated. "This was really nice," he told her. "Maybe next time we could do something that's more... together. I can't have you watching me every time." He chuckled naturally, and the light met his eyes. Despite his uncertainty about pursuing contact with this girl, he didn't seem awkward at all. "How about I take you to coffee sometime?" he went on. "That way, we don't have to worry about you running out of money for the metro, and you can have all the pastries you could want." He searched her face, wondering if he were overstepping his boundaries. Jade was clearly younger than him, and very nervous about things. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable at all, but a part of him wondered if perhaps they could be happy hanging out a bit. He liked her so far, and she seemed into him. Well, he would never find out if he didn't ask.

    Hunter decided to leave total control in Jade's hands. "Here," he said, reaching for his phone. "I can give you my number, and you can text me when you want to get that coffee. You're... a university student, are you? I don't want to interfere with your studies or anything, so please, if ever, whenever you'd like." He looked her over again before realizing he hadn't heard her actually say she went to school. "Do forgive me for assuming," he quickly added. "I guess there's still a lot to find out, huh?"
    Thanks to Craze for the beautiful Bravely set!

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  7. #27
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    During the ride back to her place, Jade watched and listened as Hunter talked. She realized she hadn't heard him talk this much before, and a small pang of self-consciousness gnawed at her chest. I really talk a lot, don't I? I mean, I know I do... but he hardly ever got a word in. And... I really enjoy hearing what he has to say. The girl let her thoughts fade away as she turned her attention back to Hunter, smiling as he smiled, blushing when he thanked her, and sitting in the small pauses of silence together. It was scary to leave space between words; Jade was always talking, thinking, or writing to occupy herself, to keep the stream going and never hear the emptiness. But in Hunter's warm car, the sound of car wheels on wet cement and gear changes felt oddly comforting. There was no need to run away from this moment.

    Jade found she was almost disappointed when they arrived, but she quickly brought herself back to reality when Hunter opened her car door and offered to escort her. She could tell he was feeling a little hesitant on how he should progress, and the thought made her hide a smile. Still saying silent, she walked beside him until they reached the top of the stairs in front of the double doors to her apartment complex. The two were underneath a small awning, illuminated dimly by a nearly burnt out florescent bulb. As Hunter began expressing the desire to meet again, her heart began to beat faster once more and the flurry of thoughts picked up once more.

    "I..." she started, taking a deep breath and inadvertently letting her teeth chatter from the cold or the nerves, "I would really like that." Small worries of what she would have to do to shut herself up on a coffee date started to dart back and forth between her eyes, but the excitement of sharing her favourite pass-time with her new acquaintance made the worries feel a little superficial. Upon noticing that he was taking out his phone, she took out hers as well.

    "Yes, I'm a journalism student... figures, right?" She laughed a little sheepishly, drawing a complete blank on what to say next. Jade couldn't believe she was preferring the silence to her drowning babble. After putting Hunter's phone number under a new contact, and placing a music note beside his name, she opened up a new text message and typed quickly.

    UNKNOWN: How about 2PM tomorrow? At Central Perk? I only have a morning class and then I'm free. :)


    After pressing send, she quickly slipped the phone back into her jean jacket and smiled. Hunter's phone buzzed in his hands, and the sound made her heart pound. Was it too daring to ask him out the very next day? What if he wants to sleep in, what if he's busy, what if he has to practice, what if he's only saying all of this out of courtesy, what if --

    Before she could go on fretting, and before she could start a twenty-minute long apology for being so stupid, Jade rose onto her tippy-toes, gently placed her hands on Hunter's shoulders and kissed his cheek. Not even a second later she was running into her building, down the hallway and out of sight, slamming the up button for the elevator a million times in an attempt to get back to her bed as quickly as possible so she could hide her embarrassment.

  8. #28
    The Ashen One
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    Jade responded and said she would like to hang out more, but something about her tone was off. Hunter studied the girl, taking note of how quiet she suddenly was. Was she uncomfortable with the idea? Deciding to not jump to any conclusions, Hunter did not comment, but kept the note in mind.

    He laughed lightly at her line of study, then nodded a bit. "It seems like a fitting profession," he commented. "Journalists need to be chatty and smart and faster than the speed of sound, and it seems that you are all of those." He didn't react to his own joke, instead watching her as she typed his name into her phone with a sweet little music note that made him smile. She continued to type, and owing her that privacy, Hunter looked away. His attention was snapped back to the vibration in his hands only a moment later, his screen aglow with a new message from an unsaved number. "Now who could that be...?" he teased, but Jade's expression gave him pause.

    He didn't get a chance to ask her. Hunter stood there dumbly, wondering what he could do and what all of Jade's awkward responses meant, when she grabbed his shoulders. He bent down a bit, and that was when she brought her lips to his cheek. The action startled Hunter, who didn't have a chance to stop Jade from running away immediately afterwards. The musician stood there, just outside of the apartment complex, dumbfounded. He hadn't expected such a bold move from the jumpy girl, but he had to admit to himself, he was glad she had kissed him. Maybe she was interested after all.

    Hunter got back into his car and started the drive home, all the while thinking about Jade. With his hearing aids removed and carelessly tossed onto the passenger side seat, he could concentrate on the memory of her voice, the way it rushed and slowed like a river. He didn't dare touch his phone until he was back home, in his own bed, where he opened her message and smiled all over again. After adding Jade to his contacts and typing up a reply, he plopped onto his bed and closed his eyes after his very long day.

    2PM sounds good, I'll see you there.
    Last edited by Ashen; 02-13-2018 at 06:41 AM.
    Thanks to Craze for the beautiful Bravely set!

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  9. #29
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    As soon as the sunlight streamed its way into Jade's bedroom, the girl's eyes fluttered open. Waking up at the crack of dawn was not her specialty, but the excitement of last night had left her to anxious and giddy to sleep very deeply. After taking a deep breath and stretching her legs and toes, she flung the large duvet off of herself and practically hopped out of bed. She landed on clothes, and walked through some more clothes, and remained blissfully ignorant of her slobbish nature because of her happy reverie.

    "Two o'clock, two o'clock," she mumbled, stepping into her tiny bathroom to brush her teeth. The foamy toothpaste dripped from her mouth, her smile too large to keep up any ladylike etiquette. Jade worked through the rest of her morning routine with a goofy smile on her face, doing little dance moves here and there, and looking at her phone periodically to make sure her plans were actually real. There was no way she was going to be able to focus in class, but this thought did not even occur to her as she left her apartment with bed-head and her shirt partially untucked.

    As soon as the professor put down his archaic piece of chalk down on his desk, Jade swept her unopened book into her leather bookbag and threw it over her shoulder. She got a few stares as she sidled across the aisle of students, who hadn't even put their pens down, but she didn't care or even notice. Out the door she was, and on her way to her much anticipated date.

    After two bus transfers and lot of speed walking, Jade tripped into her favourite coffee shop and checked her phone for the time. 1:46PM. Her heart skipped a beat. Why was she so excited? She barely knew this guy... but something about him made her curious. About him, about herself. She recalled their moment in his car the night before, and she sighed. That hadn't happened with anyone before; not in a long time, at least. Not since... then.

    Jade took a seat by the window, primped her hair in hopes that it somehow looked alright, and sat up straight in her chair. People were walking by on the busy sidewalk: businessmen with their smart phones, assistants with trays of coffee, a group of fashionistas with bags of clothes, a gang of teenagers roughhousing. Seeing each person's face and expressions and mannerisms made her happy, but as the minutes ticked on, her stomach became more nauseated and her breathing more laboured. What if he didn't come? That hadn't even occurred to her. Jade giggled and put her head in her hands. It's not like she hadn't been stood up before. It'll be okay, she reassured herself. If anything, her spirit was hard to break.

  10. #30
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    The sunlight shone directly onto the sleeping man's eyes, a better alarm clock than any digital one. Hunter, half-asleep, muttered something and rolled away from his window, not wanting to get up yet. The previous day had been exhausting, and he had no desire to be up early. With his hearing aids still in his car, he didn't hear the man pounding on his door, yelling something about his bass. Oblivious, Hunter went back to sleep.

    He woke up again a few hours later and sat up, rubbing at his eyes. He felt around for his phone, but realized it was dead. After plugging it in, he went to the bathroom and readied himself for his day. Body washed, teeth brushed, and face shaved, Hunter was ready to start his day. He walked back into his bedroom with a towel draped around his waist. His phone's screen was lit, and the name of his boss was shining. Confused, Hunter grabbed his phone, and noticed he had five missed calls, a text message, and a missed alarm. Panicked, he noticed the date: October 16th. There had been a fundraising event today, and he had completely forgotten.

    The time flashed 12:00, and he wondered how on earth he had managed to sleep so long. The fundraiser had been at ten, and he doubted they would still be playing, but he had to try. He quickly got dressed in a light green long-sleeved button down and khakis, cursing himself for not remembering the dress code of this event and figuring he couldn't go wrong with the semi-formal attire. Hopping into his car, he started for the park he was supposed to be at, hoping he wouldn't face repercussions too severe.

    The orchestra was still there, luckily. Hunter ran to meet them, and was greeted by the angry face of his boss, Paul Rodney. As soon as the man started talking Hunter realized he had forgotten his hearing aids, making the older man's angry voice become even more incomprehensible. He apologized profusely, and promised it wouldn't happen again. Rodney seemed especially angry that he had gone out of his way to summon Hunter, and the young bassist didn't know how to explain that he hadn't heard his boss's calls. "I am sorry," he kept saying, but he felt it was useless. Finally, his boss dismissed him, telling him to take his bass and get out of his presence. Hunter reluctantly obliged, hoping he still had a job by the time the day was over.

    It wasn't the first time Hunter had missed an event like this. As a musician, he worked his own hours, other than the performances, fundraisers, and practices that occasionally littered his calendar. He wasn't good at waking up to other people's schedules, and since alarm clocks didn't work well with him, he often slept too late when he did manage to sleep. He knew his boss was a patient man, but even he had his limits. Hunter knew he'd messed up now, and suddenly the exhilaration from his successful solo last night was completely gone.

    Hunter picked up his bass and sat in his car. He vowed to be better about keeping up with schedules, and looked through his calendar for the next one. He then noticed the time: 2:01. Remembering that he was supposed to meet with Jade, he panicked again, and started his car.

    He arrived at Java Nice Day only fifteen minutes late, after having taken every shortcut his GPS told him he could. He scrambled to collect his bearings, soothing his shirt and running a hand through his messy curly hair. Hunter entered the coffee shop and scanned the crowd of customers, hoping he wasn't too late, a dozen apologies already on his lips.
    Thanks to Craze for the beautiful Bravely set!

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    Spoiler: Ashen's Personal Hall of Fame 

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