brave new world {open}

[carysrohananor]

An afternoon in the city of Venice was unlike anything else. Underneath the sun's heavenly perch ran the bustling lives of countless people, going here, there, everywhere. Everything was jostled by the madhouse of activity. And yet it was comforting: in no other place in the world could there be such a pleasant aura in such a busy place. The fact that the water about the city adorned itself in gleaming coats of light, interrupted only by their gentle waves, only added to the spell of beauty under which was cast the Italian city.

On any other day, if he were anywhere else, Adam would be walking to get his cigarettes. Taking himself out to see the world by his own energy left him with a feeling of self-fulfillment he couldn't get when driving. But in Venice, it was nearly impossible to do. Unlike the rest of the world, the streets were made of water. Leave cars to the rest of the world; Venice prided itself on the vast system of canals that divided the city into countless sections. It was one of his favorite things about the city. And on a day as perfect as this -- with the clear sky a piercing blue and a cozily warm temperature to compliment it perfectly -- he couldn't resist.

A short gondola ride later, Adam found himself at what seemed to be the Venician equivalent of a strip mall. The money crammed in his pocket, one 100 note and a neglected $20, was the remainder from the service fee he gave to the gondolier. He never knew when he would need some backup currency, and though the U.S. dollar wasn't native to his own country, it made him feel more secure if he ran into issues with Euros. He had never been very good at math; it was boring. As much as his teachers in high school had told him he'd need it, he had pretty much dumped his memory of all but the most essential basics of arithmetic. If he were to be short on money for some reason, the $20 would ease his worry.

The sun soaked his dark jacket with jealous fingers. Damn. Why the hell did I bring this thing, anyway? he cursed himself mentally, ruing himself with only partial seriousness. As much as he didn't give a damn about how others perceived him, he always held standards for himself when it came to what he wore. The leather jacket was one of his favorites. The fact that the only time he could enjoy wearing it was during the winter months saddened him. He looked pretty damn good in that jacket, and it was only too sad to have to die from the heat by wearing it. Ah, well. At least he looked good now. The thought propelled his feet down the cobbled lane as he moved into a confident saunter. Those who passed him made note of his newly emphasized swagger with their insatiable curiosities, betrayed by the lingering attention from their eyes. Adjusting the unused headphones around his neck, he sighed contentedly, his evident happiness now manifested in his crooked smile. It was a gonna be a good day...he knew it.

tagged | open to anyone and everyone! =)
outfit | click here
muse | pretty dang good
soundtrack | lonely day - system of a down
ooc | yay, first post

[levi riley abbott.]

Levi had no idea what he was doing here. He was a bored, lonely tourist with a few bucks in his pocket. Supposedly, he'd come to be less lonely. To make some friends. Meet some cool people. So far, he'd bought a fro yo and a new pair of sunglasses (to add to his collection of about a million), and now he was sitting on a bench in the sun. There was no shade, and it was about as hot as days could get in Venice. Anyway, he was used to heat. Australia was hotter than anywhere. He got up and moved to sit under a hang-over at the corner of some nondescript little shop. Hmm. Well, at least he had his fro yo and some shade now. Like a proper summer day. Levi was just killing time before the first concert began. He had a while. He leaned his head back against the glass window of the store-side, reached into his pocket, and pulled out his iPod.

He spent a few minutes like that, simple, close-eyed, relaxed, and listening to The Red Hot Chili Peppers play. He thought he might look a little crazy singing his heart out by the side of the street with his eyes closed, and maybe he shouldn't have cared about that, but he kept his mouth shut nonetheless. When he finally did open his eyes, he started people-watching, observing the scene, trying to decide who was a local and was here for the festival. Suddenly, his eyes caught on a fellow near to him with dark hair. He had his headphones in as well. Something about him looked strangely familiar, but Levi simply could not put a finger on it. How could he know this guy, anyway? He was in freaking Italy. He didn't know anybody here. He strained his eyes, trying to see this guy more clearly. It was nagging on him. He knew this guy, he was sure of it. Somehow. From somewhere.

With the realization that Levi was in a new country and had pretty much nothing too lose, socially speaking, he raised himself up, removed his headphones, and made his way over to this guy. He neared him and stopped. He'd left his fro yo by the corner and was pretty sure it was going to melt. Eh. Whatever. "Uh, hey." Levi said. Oh, god. he thought. This is just gonna get really weird if this guy has no idea what I'm even talking about. Of course, Levi had no idea what he was talking about, either. "So, do I know you from somewhere?" Even more embarrassingly, he realized that what he'd just said had sounded like a pick-up line. Levi was quite heterosexual and quite flushed in the face.

[carysrohananor]

Hordes of people, their clothes embodying every shade and color under the sun in what was typically called summer fashion, filed busily past in thrumming lines. No, that wasn't accurate. It was more like waves; pushing and shoving each other with only a little less violence than what you'd see at a concert, they all mingled together in their own desire to get places. Everyone had somewhere to go, something to see and do, someone to meet. But his casual stride did not seek to shorten his journey. Time did not encumber his efforts, and he was not pressured by obligations to return home. He was allowed to enjoy himself -- and walking by the spotless windows of countless shops and the restless waters of the canals was the epitome of relaxation.

All at once, a vagrant melody wavered steadily to his hearing. It was hard to know for sure where it came from with all the hubbub of shoes on stone and people engaging in excited conversation. But it was there, lingering, as if floating above his head. Adam's face tilted upwards as he stretched his spine, seeking to put his average height just a few inches above the moving crowd. There it was again: to his right was the source, if his hearing wasn't yet failing him. Pulling his headphones to a snug position around his neck, his eyes pored through the moving figures around him. It was almost before he knew it that a stranger -- a young man, only but a few years his junior -- had approached him.

"Uh, hey," the boy began, his voice mature enough to keep his tone steady while introducing himself. "So, do I know you from somewhere?" Huh. That was one way to get to know someone. If he hadn't have known better, he might have thought the dude was trying to get hooked up. But this was Venice: far from home, there was no way of knowing what was normal here. His mind shrugged it off easily, not even giving the somewhat awkward introduction a second though. His feigned familiarity was surely better than emphasizing the fact that he may not even know him. How else would he pick up a conversation? Adam could hardly criticize him anyway. The fact that he wasn't the most capable of striking up conversation with people he didn't know didn't help his case either. Luckily, it hadn't been him trying to initiate it. The prompted words struck a chord of pleasantness within his chest, and with a smile, he turned his eyes upward. Hey, man. I dunno -- I'm kinda bad with faces. But giving me your name would be a start to helping me remember. The normally faint blue that colored his grey eyes ever so slightly was now reflective of both the vibrant summer sky and the beckoning canals. But within his gaze rested a gentle and forthcoming sliver of friendliness, and it penetrated his glance thoroughly.

tagged | levi abbott
outfit | click here
muse | still hangin' in there
soundtrack | ---
ooc | thanks for replying, yo! I was wondering if this was just gonna sit here unheeded for a while xD

[levi riley abbott.]

He listened as this guy gave a seemingly tentative reply. Tentative, but friendly enough. Levi felt a little dumb, but wiped that away quickly with a smile. Levi never let much feeling show through. He didn't even have to make a conscious effort to mask his own thoughts, it just came naturally. He was that happy-go-lucky guy with the grin and the crazy hair. Here, in Venice, he was the happy-go-lucky guy with the Australian accent. He didn't mind it. It made him feel distinguished from the crowd. Of course, when more people starting coming in for the festival, he wouldn't be so special. No, not next to the Chinese guy with the purple mohawk. He knew how it usually went, he'd watched the thing televised years prior.

He couldn't help but notice this guy was distinguishable, too - out of place looking, a style from elsewhere. The long grungy hair. The black clothes. Suddenly, it dawned on him. "Wait - aren't you in... god, I know this... don't you, uhh, sing in that one band? Or something?" He made a subtle effort to lower his voice as he said this. He seemed to be acting like he was afflicted by "crazed fan" syndrome. Although, he couldn't remember what he was a fan of. That one band. Stupid me...

He peeked up at the guy, scratching the back of his head and shifting his position. He realized that he'd never turned his iPod off and, with a start, grabbed it and fiddled around for a second until it was off. He looked up again, waiting for a response.

ooc: ayy, no problemo my brotha. (:

[carysrohananor]

The strong accent of the kid held him at attention once more as he fumbled with his thoughts. It almost brought a laugh out of Adam to see his counterpart struggle. He'd come to grips with the fact that he'd not yet made as big a name of himself as some; the fact that the guy recognized him at all was enough to make him feel grateful. The band was only in its first couple years, and yet they'd already made it onto the radio, and released a hit single. Every step towards his dream of becoming a really successful musician brought him that much more happiness. He was only too glad to be approached by this messy-haired kid.

Yeah, I am, keep it comin'! he laughed gently, eyes searching his audience's face. He didn't recognize anything outstanding about him that would prompt his memory. In fact, he seemed to be from a place much different than Venice. The thickly tanned skin, beach-boy hair, and Australian accent gave him away. Adam wondered if his own accent was betraying his own origin. People said that his was really subtle, but it might have been due to the fact that he didn't talk a whole lot. Not to just anyone, anyway. Three Days.....? He left the last word open. He figured that the dude wouldn't want to keep struggling with his own memory for too long; and he hated to make it even more awkward for him. Leaving it at that, he chuckled softly, letting him work out the rest.

A hand stretched down to his jeans pocket in search of a cigarette. The last f*ckin' one. He'd meant to save it for the walk back, once he'd purchased a new pack, but he was beginning to feel his blood slow from exhaustion. He wasn't used to waking up early; but here in Venice, there was so much to see and do and plan for, he had barely enough time in the day. Ah, there it was. The last Camel cig slipped from the tightened holster of his pocket and into his hand, and he held it there, unwilling to light it in front of company. Unless the other guy smoked, he wouldn't be so rude. But until he responded, he didn't have much to do, so he just twiddled with the cigarette in his hand for a while. Tossing his head to the side to free his vision from his dark hair, he gazed once more on the Australian kid, a cheeky grin displayed on his face.

tagged | levi abbott
outfit | click here
muse | it's goin'! haha
soundtrack | ---
ooc | ---

[levi riley abbott.]

"Grace! Three Days Grace!" he called out with plenty of characteristic hand motions. Some had told him that he looked like a troll when excited. Maybe it was true, but he'd never seen himself that way, so he wouldn't know. He wasn't usually hyper in front of mirrors. He was usually fixing, or messing up, one might more correctly state, his hair. "Aw, jeez, dude. Three Days Grace... nice. Good band. You're the singer, though, I got that much!" he said with one hand in his pocket and one hand in a point, teetering around on his feet with a slouch like an embarrassed little kid. "Wait. Do you play any other instruments?" he asked. He'd always had a subconscious prejudice against singers who could only sing. It was something built up over time, not something he would like to have. He didn't like preconceived judgement of anything. Or he didn't believe in it, mostly.

He blinked his eyes in the face of the bright sunlight ahead of him and notices the shimmering water to the far right of the shopping center, sparsely dotted with various colorful boats. It was really beautiful here. It reminded him of a preset computer screensaver, except less ridiculously fake looking. It was 100% real, and boy, wasn't it lovely? He let a small smile play on his lips. And then he noticed a hot girl, tall with shiny brown hair that reached her waist, walk in front of the view. His eyes trailed with her until she disappeared behind a building. He simply couldn't help himself. He liked attractive things. It was just in his nature. His mother had always told him since he was young, he was a very visual person. He'd tried to take up art once, really just because of that exact thing, but he had the attention span of a flea and therefore couldn't finish a whole painting. He doodled a lot though. His wandering mind began to muse about the possibilites. Hey, he was in Europe after all. Maybe he should start up art again. Hopefully, now that he was no longer twelve years old, he could, indeed, finish a whole painting. He wouldn't want to paint the water or the skyline or anything. At least, not in a classic way. That just seemed so cliched to paint some tourist attractions or whatever. He decided he would start that night, painting people.

Levi realized that for about a minute, now, he'd been off in his own little world re-thinking his life plans. Typical Levi. "What?" he said, assuming the guy had said something. If he hadn't, Levi would look even more stupid than he already did, and that would certainly be an impressive feat. "Hey, what's your name?" he said, before the poor guy could even answer him. "And still, what?" he questioned, hoping to make up for his interruption.

[carysrohananor]

There it was. The spark of realization lit up the young man's face with obvious relief and excitement. He almost laughed aloud at the instant gesture of satisfaction he made with his hands. But his attention returned once more from the outburst and settled onto the tanned face. Yeah, that you did. Thanks though. Yeah, I play guitar too. Nothing in the world could compare to the satisfaction he felt at having come this far in his music career. He'd always wanted to be a rock star; and nothing would stop him from achieving that dream. But even then, he took compliments in stride. His cheeky grin was hidden by his dark hair as he looked downward, scuffing at the ground with a solitary foot to keep his attention.

For a moment, he considered all he'd been through. The countless band practices, the fliers around town, the constant efforts to get rides to and from practices from his mother...it had been a rough start. Fun, but rough. Starting something new always was. And he honestly couldn't think of a better group of guys to try it with than his bandmates. Barry, Neil, and Brad were the closest people to him outside of his own family. They were family now. It was inevitable; they'd traveled the world together, and now they were here in Venice. You couldn't say you weren't close after that. But in all honesty, as long as he had them, he'd even consider staying a mediocre band. The fame and fortune, the power and glory was not really that great if you enjoyed it alone. Without them, this band would be nothing. He would be nothing. He owed it to them, in so many more ways than he could ever repay them for.

The sudden blurt of "what" yanked him from his reveries, and he started for a moment as his head jerked up to eye level again. From the somewhat confused notion expressed by the kid's face, he assumed that he might not have been the only one to have been lost in his thoughts for a moment. Abruptly, he prompted for his name. Adam Gontier. Nice to meet you. He chuckled softly as the boy asked "what" again, more determinedly this time. Oh, I was just saying I'm the rhythm guitarist for our group. So I'm not entirely useless, right? He took a chance and laughed aloud, his voice carrying freely over the gentle summer breeze and adding to the pleasant atmosphere of the canals.

tagged | levi abbott
outfit | click here
muse | all good now.
soundtrack | ---
ooc | sorry for the hiatus there - my muse ran away from me, and only now came back! xD

[levi riley abbott.]

"Oh, that's cool." he nodded. He did think it was cool, really. He wondered if Adam was any good at it. He figured he probably was, seeing as he was in Three Days Grace. He didn't really listen to the band much, but he had recognized Adam's face, so that was something. What he had heard of them, he'd liked. And it didn't matter anyway. Levi was easily starstruck, even by everyday people. "Oh, you're that mailman my friends always talk about! Wow!" "Yeah, yeah! It's cool to meet you too! Totally awesome." He was nodding again. "Yeah, no, not useless. Nope. Yeah, I play guitar too!" Levi was cheery, and comically so. His whole body moved with him when he talked. It was a quirk. He was always dancing around on his feet, bobbing his head, motioning with his hands, smiling really wide. He never liked to keep still for too long. Sometimes he even ran normal places, like the grocery store, just because he didn't feel like walking. Levi was, all around, a very energetic person. Anyone could tell by first glance.

He put his hands in pockets, though he was still moving them around. "I swear, it is sooo cool that you're in a band. I wish I was in a band." This was partially true, but Levi had never tried much to make that happen. Besides, music wasn't his main passion in life. He only played a little. It was just that he got really enthusiastic about things really easy. He had a history of adopting new hobbies, then throwing them away a minute later. He'd taken up table tennis, pottery, skiing, and carpentry before. Those were all things he liked doing. Well, not so much carpentry, but the other three things. He had honestly thought they were his life's passions before, though, and that was not at all accurate.

ooc: 'sall good! welcome back!

[carysrohananor]

Adam felt his head nod instinctively to the kid's excited words. He seemed to never have a lack of energy or words, regardless of the fact that they'd only just met; and it struck him as a very likeable aspect of his personality. These days, Adam would feel torn between exhaustion from the sheer magnitude of work he'd always have laid before him and excitement at the opportunity of it all. Perhaps it was the pressure that really made him worry so much about everything. He had never wanted to prove himself a failure. Since it was slightly unconventional to plan on becoming a successful rock star, he didn't want anyone to think "I told you so" if he didn't manage to achieve his goals. So he gave it his all, all the time, every minute and second of every day. But to have this kid's enthusiasm...that would be one of the best gifts. He must have felt really happy to be able to act in such a manner.

Oh, do you now? That's great, man. How long ya been playing for?

How coincidental that he'd happen to meet a stranger who not only knew who he was, but also played the same instrument as he. Venice never ceases to amaze, he laughed inwardly. He was becoming more comfortable with the kid's incessant motion. It was as if he had so much energy bottled up that he was shaking from the effort, moving his hands and jumping around without even a second notice. It was interesting to him how they similar they were, while simultaneously being so different. But the kid spoke again, and he listened up.

It's definitely an adventure, I'll tell you that. But it's not as easy as I thought it'd be. Still worth it, though. His gentle blue-grey eyes relaxed their focus on the young man's face, small dimples forming as his mouth spread into a tiny half-grin. Heck, you could make a one-man-band if you really wanted. They can go just as far. He didn't really know whether the dude was that into playing, or more into listening, or whatever else; but it was decent conversation, and he was proud of himself for being able to hold one for this long. He wasn't usually this easy around new people. Luckily, the kid had seemed to found a niche of easiness within him he hadn't even known he had.

tagged | levi abbott
outfit | click here
muse | just fine!
soundtrack | ---
ooc | again, I apologize for the wait. I've had a few emergencies happen this week....no bueno. >.<

[levi riley abbott.]

Levi appreciated Adam's easygoing vibe. It took one of two sorts of people to put up with his lively self. One: someone who was also incredibly jazzed up all the time, or two: somebody chill enough to not mind the hyper, kind of like an old dog puts up with the toddler tugging on his ear. More often than not, the situation was the latter. If they put up with him at all, of course. Deep in there, Levi was an extremely sensitive and empathetic person... he had a way of communicating with people, of understanding them. It had little to do with words. He could just get it most of the time, and he really did care. However, it was a frequently overlooked quality he had in his possession. He didn't wear it around like a ring on his finger. He was entirely unaware of his own doing, but he did have a knack for the interpersonal.

First impressions killed Levi. They'd done it all his life. Some people initially found him charming and loved his quirks and energy. Those people usually got a bad case of the "you're my favorite person in the universe" syndrome and started following him around everywhere. Then, when they got to know him, they'd realize that Levi annoyed the crap out of them and high tail it the hell out of there. Also, many people instantly found him annoying, got turned off of his personality, and never spoke another word to him. This, of course, wasn't everybody, because Levi was all around a pretty likable person if you could handle him. Some people stuck around a while. However, almost everybody relied on their first impression of Levi. And it was practically never the correct one. He adopted a new persona daily, depending on his mood, who he was talking to, and various other environmental factors. He was malleable; he changed. Always.

"Yeah, yeah, for maybe two years? But only on and off... not... well, you know?" he laughed a little. Not shyly, but happily. No particular rhyme or reason involved. "You should so teach me to play the guitar!" Levi was already getting way ahead of himself. He didn't know it. He had no idea. He tended to just say what he thought, and now was no exception. He didn't mind getting shot down as long as it wasn't anything too important. Even by a famous person from a big band. He laid it on the line and let the universe decide. He liked to try things, do things... take risks. To be passionate, but take it all in stride. However, the way he changed his mind all the time tended to keep him from reaching the goals he set for himself.

ooc: no, no es bueno. lo siento escuchar eso.

[carysrohananor]

From the eager grin his words were met with, Adam supposed that he'd struck a good chord in the kid's head. That was good; as awkward as he often was with first encounters, he was just as likely to say something stupid, and deter them from sticking around. The only thing he had to compensate for his shyness was his carefree mindset. As much as he tried to get others to like him, so he could get along with most of the people he met, when push came to shove it was really a matter of perspective. If first encounters didn't go so well, it wasn't that big of a deal, really. He didn't know them; they couldn't be that important. If they took off, high-tailing it away from the laid-back guy with a silly sense of humor, it was their loss. At the end of the day, it was his true friends that counted. But this dude seemed to like him well enough; perhaps he felt the same way, considering he wasn't the typical guy you'd come across anyway.

He answered the question truthfully enough, though it might have been considered a little scatter-brained to some. Adam just let a laugh kick in quietly, keeping it restrained so that he wouldn't offend the guy. Ah, so you're better than me then! he joked, using his free hand to gently deliver a playful punch to the kid's arm in slow motion, as if riling him up. His other fingers still clutched at the cigarette, which, surprisingly enough, now lay limp in his fingers. He hadn't expected his attention to be caught so fully by his audience, especially with his tired mind and nicotine cravings to vie for it. But are you for real, dude? Cuz I'd be happy to, if you are.

Now that he thought about it, the chance at teaching someone else seemed like an opportunity he should take. For one thing, he needed to keep his guitar skills poised for when their concert would eventually take place. Instructing someone else was one of the best ways he knew to cement his own knowledge. And if he didn't want to be partying and sight-seeing constantly, he'd have to have the diligence to maintain an agenda that involved the music for at least a couple hours a day. Just one hour with this kid every afternoon would help. And heck, he wouldn't charge much, considering he wasn't an officially licensed teacher. But hell, who needed licenses for it anyway? If you could play, you could play, and that was all that mattered. If this guy thought he was good enough to take up as a teacher, he'd be down for it.

So, whaddya say? I'll hook you up every day, however long you need, and we'll play some guitar together.

tagged | levi abbott
outfit | click here
muse | suddenly kicked in when I started this -- booyah
soundtrack | ---
ooc | ....me es no comprende espanol? xD

[levi riley abbott.]

Levi smiled giddily at Adam. "Oh, man. For real?" he asked, though it wasn't an actual question. He didn't wait for Adam's reply. "Cool! Yeah, we should do that! Awesome!" he exclaimed. Though Levi had high enthusiasm for most worldly things, he was especially enthusiastic about this matter. He had a great opportunity to get some guitar lessons from this guy... this famous guy in a band! Levi was surprised he had the time. But, then again, when you're a rock star... isn't time more having you? He accepted Adam's friendly arm punch with a grin. "Yeah, woo hoo! When's our first session, teach?" He was prancing around on his words, feeling them out. He was excited. How he loved taking up new activities. The hard part would not be getting psyched or starting out or anything. Levi was usually a fast learner, adept, and, although, not a very good listener, he was good at taking instruction. He didn't have any pride to swallow.

The lights of the day were growing dimmer - still sunny, but dull, like twilight might be setting in across the horizon. He noticed often how the light on the water played around, moving back and forth, but slowly shifting to the east as the sun began to set. The day was hot, but graying as they spoke. He liked the way the weather changed here. It had a good vibe about it. Always pretty, but ever changing, shifting, clouding up. The sky never failed to fascinate him here. It also shocked him how mild and gentle the waters could be. Sometimes, there would be a bit more friction in the waves. But over all, he couldn't believe the tranquility they could preserve. There was just so much of it. How did ever contain himself? Levi couldn't even contain himself. He was always making a splash wherever he went, and yet, he was just one guy. The massive body of water that overtook Venice was seemingly boundless, but it never abused it's power. It was much appreciated. It made him feel like nature was on his side, which is a difficult feat to accomplish in this bustling and famous of a city.

His surroundings were ebbing and flowing. The atmosphere was quieting down. After so hot of a day, Levi was glad to have a bit of serenity to just have a conversation. To just chill out, really. For a guy so, well, not chilled out, he sure did like to chill. He was constantly surprising people with the many dimensions of his changing personality. Levi didn't try to change himself, but he'd been seen as fake before. He was made up of the stories he told and rarely let his innermost thoughts shine through. Who really knew him? Not his parents or any of his other family members. Certainly not his friends. The ones he didn't have. All of his friends from before he came to Venice - and there were many of them - were no more than fleeting, surface-y friendships. They didn't last through the move. Levi never expected them to, and the way he played it out in his head, he never wanted them to, either. He'd never thought to himself that he might be lonely. It never crossed his mind. All he knew was that he didn't like commitment. He was a boy of stories. Raised off of them, born from them. He was the product of them only, not a soul wandering through time like many people saw themselves.

ooc: haha it meant "no, that's not good. im sorry to hear that."

[carysrohananor]

He wasn't altogether surprised by the happy look that now splayed itself eagerly across the kid's face. From the little he did know about him, he was not the kind of person to hold in his joy at something. Of course, if he had gone into all-out antics of jumping around and stuff, he might have been a little ashamed. Adam wasn't the type of guy to draw attention to himself, even if it was well-deserved. In fact, his offer to teach the kid wasn't even something he'd ever thought he'd do. He thought that doing that would only portray himself as a self-centered guy who thought he knew everything and had everything to teach the world. Which, of course, he didn't. And he wouldn't be altogether too excited to have to deal with a crazy fan screaming with joy if he was to offer them such an opportunity. But the tanned boy before him, with his exuberant hand motions and lively conversation, had caught his eye. He knew of his band, and yet didn't flip out over it. He could deal with someone as 'chill' about the opportunity as that. And he felt like he was just doing a good thing, not parading around like some narcissistic fool.

Lost in his own self-confirmation of his gentle offer, he almost forgot that he had been spoken to once again. The grey-toned irises of his eyes lifted gently as he regained focus on the kid again. Oh uh, yeah. Well, whenever you're available. He thought for a moment about when he'd likely be most available. Mornings were reserved for sleep and band activities; having their jam sessions, talking about plans, upcoming concerts, and the like. The afternoons were generally up for whatever happened. Evenings would be a mixture between laying back and relaxing, or enjoying the nightlife of Venice. Any time in the afternoons or evenings would be nice. I've got nothing planned for the rest of the week, so it's your pick. He couldn't suppress the meager grin that perked itself up on his cheek as he heard the term 'teacher' being attributed to himself.

While he waited for the kid's answer, he took a moment to glance at his cigarette, waiting ever so patiently for him in his hand. It was interesting how he'd nearly forgotten about his Nicotine craving while speaking. Pleasantly flummoxed, he tossed it between his fingers absentmindedly. It was nice to have a change of pace. Having his time forever alternating between spending it with the band mates or completely by himself was a little tiring after a while. Some new company was always appreciated. And with the gentle warmth of the day and the comforting lap of water against the gondolas parked at the dock, he found himself more comforted than he'd been in a long time.

tagged | levi abbott
outfit | click here
muse | yay
soundtrack | ---
ooc | bahaha, I figured it'd be something along those lines =P

[levi riley abbott.]

Levi was naturally a ridiculously enthusiastic person, and that was on a bad day. Most enthusiasm was unconscious, though - simply an expression of his quirkiness. He thought back to a time when he was shy. The shy kid, the attentive student. He was still happy. Still enthusiastic. Just a lot less outgoing back then. And also, he paid a lot more attention to his school work. Granted, he was young and it wasn't as difficult. But that doesn't really matter. It's the effort that matters. Your mindset. He had a particular memory in mind, one that slid into his brain with little relevancy. He was sitting in the back of his father's truck while his parents were getting gas. They were on their way back from a brief trip. Rust-orange peeling car paint, a dulled-out silver nozzle, and sizzling hot pavement reflecting the light of the sun back into the car windows. Summer heat. Levi was sitting idly, waiting. Thinking. Outside his window he noticed a group of boys from school playing frisbee a few yards away. Levi remembered thinking that he never did stuff like that. He never had really minded, either. He was a homebody. Now, though, he was anything but.

"Its your pick." he heard. My pick? Really? He was surprised this guy had any time on his hands at all. Success never failed to amaze Levi. It seemed to be different for every person. "Yeah! Cool! Uh." Levi didn't really have any plans aside from the festival. Nothing that couldn't be easily rescheduled. He had come here alone, after all. He was a perfectly clean slate. "Well, I guess there's no need to decide for certain anyway!" he grinned. "What do you say about five tomorrow?" He was just throwing out a random time. Five seemed as good as any. It wasn't really afternoon or evening. The middle ground. That was Levi. Always compromising. He had so much difficulty keeping attentive that it made it almost impossible for him to make precise decisions. His mind wandering slowly back to his memory. Decisions. He, at that point in time, had been a bit frustrated with his shyness. He had considered jumping out of the car and saying hello. He had considered staying put. Decisions.

Decisions. He was always putting off making them. Always skirting the possibilites. Right now, he had a big decision to make. What next? He was on a getaway to Italy. Psyched about the festival. Psyched about all the new experiences he would have. However, sometime, somehow... he had to get a job. Maybe go to college. Where? When? He shook his head and realized he was probably spacing out again. To make up for it, he nodded his head absently in Adam's general direction. "Cool." I hope he hadn't been talking about something important. He was still nodding.

ooc: this reply was ridiculously late, even taking account that i was gone for more than a week. haha. well. should we start a thread for the lessons?