Issue 1 Downtime

Behind the closed doors of the music room Claire was playing.

She wasn't a music student. She didn't have a single class. She only came to the room when it was empty.

But she was there several times a week, usually at night if the doors were still unlocked. And she could definitely play.

((open thread))

Aiden was looking for a practice room when he hear Claire playing and looked inside. He smiled as he leaned against the door frame his guitar case slung over his back.

Claire finished up and started packing her violin away, not noticing Aiden yet.

Aiden clapped when Claire finished.

"You play quite well," Aiden said from the doorway.

"No, I don't," Claire says, "You just have bad taste."

"But thank you."

Aiden chuckled and bowed slightly.

"Perhaps I do," Aiden said, "You so rarely hear people playing violin on campus. Generally you meet about thirty people who can...play guitar."

"And a handful of music students that think they're better then everyone else," Claire says.

Aiden smiled.

"Good fortune for me than that I am not a music student," Aiden said, "No, I am unfortunately a business major."

"It's noble of you to admit your weaknesses like that," Claire says.

"I need to have some flaws," Aiden said, "Allows me be seen as quite nearly human."

"You're right," Claire says, "Otherwise, I might have mistaken you for a hedgehog."

"I would wonder about your eyesight if you had," Aiden said, "Also how you would have found your way to this room without assistance. Though I certainly have seen stranger things."

"Anyway," Claire says, slinging her case over her shoulder, "Room's free."

"Thank you, but I certainly do not want to kick you out miss..." Aiden said.

"McKenna," Claire says, "Claire McKenna."

"And I was leaving anyway."

"Aiden Mitchell," Aiden smiled, "Personally I would not mind the company. Music is much better with an audience or with multiple people creating it."

"If you say so," Claire says, "But I never play for an audience or with others."

"Oh, and why is that?" Aiden asked stepping into the room and taking out his guitar.

"That's...complicated," Claire says.

"And what is complicated about it? Does it involve being tossed through interdimensional portals? Because that I have some experience with," Aiden asked sitting down and beginning to tune his guitar.

"I meant it's a long and personal story that I don't share with random strangers," Claire says, sounding a little angry.

"Summer term and a few days off from work at the embassy means I have time, and strangers are simply friends you have yet to meet," Aiden said seeming to ignore Claire's anger.

"Enjoy playing," Claire says, heading for the door, "Have a nice night."

She slams the door behind her as she leaves.

"I do have a certain flair for that," Aiden smiled.

He then began to play