orangetoughguy | log post II

[Okay well color him still curious and that feeling of curiousness hasn't gone down a bit. When they do stop again the kid tilts his gaze from the windows to the store sign then back to the windows. Really? Green focuses on brown.]

What is it?

[Don't be stupid, Newendyke. You're a cop, you know.]

A store.

[Larry puts his hands on his hips pushing his open coat back past his hips.]

We gotta go in. I think you need to find somethin' in there.

[No, he's not gonna hold the door this time but come on. The kid has to be putting the pieces together.]

[Oh he's putting the pieces together, yep. It's the disbelief he needs to swallow.]

Are you sure?

[What a dumb question, but the enthusiasm, excitement, and a little shyness are creeping into his mildly freckled face. Freddy waits a second before getting the door himself to scuttle in.]

Positive.

[Following but not too close. For appearances and because Larry wants the kid to find out which one he wants all on his own. There's only one thing he can find.

A long haired son of a gun gives them what might be a greeting if he opened his mouth wider.]

Thanks. Just lookin' for me.

Oh man...

[Freddy feels like a kid again looking over all the instruments, the gear, some he recognizes and some that don't even seem like it's from planet earth. Don't get too excited though, Newendyke, or that long hair's gonna try and rip you off. Of course, maybe that's the other reason Larry's here.]

Will you look at this? [Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacker.]

Which one catches your eye?

[He leans just so that these words are for Freddy and Freddy alone.]

Pick one. Go ahead.

[Lawrence Dimick, the voice of temptation....or something.]

[For the record that would make Larry the serpent and Freddy Eve...that just won't do, unless he goes by Steve and Freddy Newendyke don't look like no Steve. Pick one though, which? Would getting a bass just like his old one be the same as clinging to the past? That issue was with his father and getting a clone isn't going to resolve it or make him feel better. Getting something different would mark this occasion as strictly between the old man and himself. Something memorable. The kid would like that very much.]

I'm gonna take a while.

[Freddy warns except at the same time his hands go for a Rickenbacker 4001, c. 1986. It carries a not too high price tag, but it definitely ain't cheap.]

[In the Biblical sense he would be a serpent, it's true. Bears can't do that though? Even cunning ones? Larry is smarter than the average bear.]

Take your time, babe.

[He's able to breathe it quiet enough for only the man to hear. Price shouldn't be an object. Not right now. After all, it's a fucking surprise. Also the kid is getting plenty of use off of their grenade sale.]

[Oh he's cunning enough, after all he led this fox-faced hound on a chase. Also those words don't go unnoticed, fff. Green eyes narrow with a bit of slyness at brown ones before he waves at the long haired dude.]

I'm gonna hook this up.

[To which the guy over there shrugs like it ain't no thing. He's not your average salesman cause this is no average music store in an average city. After finding the amp the kid takes his time setting it up. He hasn't done this in forever, it shows by the way he looks at every port and switch longer than he needs to. Okay, this side goes in here that side goes in there...]

[The salesman...if he is actually interested in selling...looks like the deadbeat brother of Shaggy, the groovy slacker with the herky, jerky coward of a Great Dane. Larry shrugs to himself. Everybody's got a job. And the product practically sells itself anyway. Someone's gotta keep the air moving in the room and make sure none of the merch leaves with the standard Dimick discount.

Oh ho! Freddy found something. He tries not to look too amused as he's flipping through sheet music books. No, he can't read it just the lyrics.]

Is it the right kinda weight?

[That's part of the choosing process right? At least that's one of the elements when the old man is looking for a weapon.]

[Snort. The kid waves a hand at the old man.] Weight's nothing but a number. This is Geddy Lee's gear of choice.

[At least he didn't say the price tag ain't nothin' but a number. As if that matters to Lawrence Dimick but anyway. Pluck pluck, bawm bum. The bass croons, the sound sends a shiver up his fingertips and down his spine. Suddenly Freddy Newendyke's not just a cop except on the side of the brass he knows he's a decent cop. Not so much a bass player.]

[Okay. Never mind then. Larry leans back against a upright piano.]

Looks nice.

[Not that that is a factor that matters either. Standing there and able to hook it up he's impressed. The old man don't know shit about music in the technical sense. Ears are open for Freddy's critique. The fact that Geddy Lee had an ax like this is a note of quality, right?]

[Totally a note of quality, that Paul McCartney guy uses one too but who cares when there's Geddy Lee? If Freddy wanted to get taken for all he's worth (in the money sense) he'd unleash his inner fanboy 35 minutes ago. Fortunately he keeps it underwraps which should make Dimick's dealings a bit easier. He knows Larry's always willing to pay top dollar for top quality but he's not someone who would buy the Brooklyn Bridge either.]

It needs a little tuning but it sounds great.

[The light color body makes his hands look as if they're disappearing into the instrument but his fingertips practically glow against the black scratch plate. He'll try out a few others but it's clear the kid is sold on this one.]

[It's plain to see on his face. That's adoration. Having seen it many times himself, the old man can recognize it. All the same he stays off to one side. Looking around at the rest of the musical junk. Though he wanders to bother that shaggy son of a bitch in his loitering to ask if they tune here. The man said yes though it looked like it pained him.

Yep. Dimick is planning on dropping quite a bit. Only the best.]

[It takes only two other guitar try outs for the kid to come back to the Rickenbacker. Play it cool Newendyke, the old man knows it but does the shaggy guy know it? Freddy downplays his own enthusiasm with hands in his pockets.]

I don't know...I'm gonna need an amp. Maybe I should sleep on it or somethin'.

[He says after rejoining Larry's side, presumably in the company of that other guy. See Freddy can play the game too. When it's about stuff he actually understands it's a little easier. Suits and cufflinks and all that are a different story.]

[Sleep on it? Woah. Wait? What? The old man doesn't express exactly how confused he is by this sentiment. He's watching the delivery. What does it mean? Wait. Watch. Learn.

Aware of the future noise and aware of the lack of sleep he may have don't discourage his determination to get the kid a guitar.]

You wanna try another place...?

[This is helpful if the answer is yes and if the answer is no.]

[Now now now no need to be hasty. Shaggy's buddy here can knock off a digit or two to make a sale, has he made one all day? Not quite. And that Rickenbacker's been sitting there for some time now (not enough appreciation from the locals, honestly).]

The amp and a second set of strings.

[Not that bass players are known for breaking them but he'll take what he can get out of this package deal. The price knockdown isn't huge but in this kid's opinion it's definitely worth a trade for part of a grenade's earnings.]

[This kid is so generous to decide to patronage at all. Can anybody put a price on that?]

That come with the strap?

[Since we're wheeling, dealing and.....the old man doesn't want to feel left out of the loop since he's the one gettin' out his wallet right now. Not that Freddy needs any help at all. He's quite impressive all on his own.]

[The fact that the older one is getting his wallet out to pay for the younger one's goods is a little eyebrow raising, but the shaggy son of a bitch doesn't say a thing. He's making a sale, that's what matters. And yeah it comes with the strap.]

Nice.

[Freddy smiles, glad to seal the deal. For how much longer he can keep a lid on is excitement is yet to be seen.]

[As much as Larry would love to believe that it looks as though he is buying off the younger man, showing some kind of an illicit deal subtly....Shaggy likely believes that his pop is getting sonny boy a guitar. That's that.

Money changed, goods handed over. The old man gets the receipt.]

Anythin' else here?

[Up until now he is very impressed with the kid. What a cool, collected son of a gun. He knows where they're going now. Straight back to the apartment so he can fuck with it.]

[As long as Shaggy doesn't say it aloud because that would get a cringe out of the kid. Even though it sometimes works to their advantage, Freddy doesn't outright enjoy being mistaken for father and son. Seriously. If they only knew. If. They. Only. Knew.]

Naw, this is good. We can't buy out the whole store.

[This is a joke, a joke that suggests they're poor and not a pair of guys who could probably actually buy the whole place out with just a couple diamonds. A close look at Freddy's fingers though would show even though he's carrying all the gear he's just dying to try everything out.]

[Sure ain't no normal family life at fucking all if anyone suspected that. And if that is part of the package deal...what the hell kind of a people are they dealing with. Fine. Pop and Junior have their spoils in bag now.]

Not this go round you're right.

[Who knows? If they gotta stay in this joint for years may as well keep occupied and be thoroughly amused.]

Better be going then. Thanks pal.

[Whatever his name is. Shit guy hardly speaks but here he is. Making a sale. Puts something on the table. Whatever. Really the attention is on Freddy. Larry can pick up on the anticipation. Is he gonna bust out a cover or an original? Don't matter really. The old man will get to hear for himself. The first of many, many, many private concerts. Back to the car they go.]

[Once they're inside the car...the levee breaks.]

I can't believe I have Geddy Lee's guitar--I mean not his guitar but the kind of bass he uses. John Deacon's rolled with one of these too, oh and Paul McCartney. Hey didn't you want some drums or somethin'?

[The last part he only now just remembers. Way to hyperfocus on just yourself, Newendyke.]

[Well, if it keeps on rainin' as it had the levee is gonna break.]

Paul too? You got the best pick outta there then.

[He doesn't know better at all. Not one bit. Though the sheer enthusiasm that is bubbling out there can't be anything wrong or incorrect about it. It's all for damn good reason.]

Not today.

[Maybe not at all. Maybe It's an idle thought. Handling drums after so damn long, would he be any good? What the fuck would he play? It was dicking around. Bobby had a way of hauling him into shit at the drop of a hat. You're both handed. It'll be a snap is what he said.

Doors unlocked. Larry lets the kid situate his new piece. They can take the direct way home now. The one without the street blocks.]

Are you sure?

[Because for all the dislike he has when it looks as if he's junior or a boy toy he really really appreciates what Larry's done for him. Larry's always doing things for him, damn.]

Thanks.

[Yeah technically it wasn't all his money but the money aspect takes a backseat to the fact that Larry planned this for him. Larry set this up for him. Maybe the old man's expecting a blowjob or something.]

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whitetwoguns - 2011-06-13 15:12 (UTC) - Expand