NETWORK: calling all romantics (backdated: February 14)

[cacophonish]

Who: Jeff
Username: freakscene
Warnings: nothing, this is a very wholesome post
Notes: Backdated to February 14, and takes place after Jeff's TDM threads (if anyone wishes to keep them canon, otherwise, I'm happy to clean slate!). An actual log post will be coming up when I get a chance, but you're welcome to toss action/prose tags here, if your character's at Bonnie's.

[ So, those who were around back when Jeff was, you may recognize this username! Otherwise, uh... here's a post that has nothing to do with the ADI or potential apocalypses, popping up on the network. Did somebody get lost on their way to some message board? Did the network get hacked? ]

hey i need some advice
if you were making a mixtape for someone you really like what songs would you put on it? here's what i got so far...

i think its missing something
should i add some meatloaf?
thanks xo xo :)

[ A few minutes later, he edits the post to add: ]

shit i totally forgot
where are my manners

happy valentines day!!!

Comments

[cacophonish]

[ Jeff doesn't know Rue, but he already loves them for addressing him that way, and will now accept nothing less from anybody else. ]

right?? lisa frank's fucking badass :)

[ Oh. OH. Okay, so Jeff could use this as an opportunity to troll and throw a bunch of terrible recs at them, or even rickroll them (except, you know, he's from 1995, and even after spending this much time in the 2020s, has no idea what rickrolling is), but.

BUT.

This is one thing he will always approach with total sincerity. ]

no shit? oh man! ok ok i can send you some of my faves if you want but theirs SOOOOO MUCH out there and its all so fucking beautiful so its like... what i like doesn't even begin to do the music of this world justice you know?

so tell me about yourself like what do you like? what's your vibe?

[ruevealing]

Well, consider me most intrigued! You have my full attention!

I confess, I struggle to think how I should categorize my, ah, vibe. I suppose I am a romantic at heart. I've been known to enjoy a good Cha Cha Slide every now and then, but I've always had a love of softer pieces, like the gentle arrangements of an orchestra or the melodious plucking of a harp. I would say my taste in music often lies in more emotional pieces, the kind that tug at the heart.

But having said that, I am open to any recommendations you may have! I am not one to shy away from the unknown.

[cacophonish]

[ He has their full attention? OH NO, IT'S THE ONLY THING JEFF EVER WANTS--

--well, besides to feed his hunger for fear and madness, but, like, that takes a backseat to music recs. ]

what's a cha cha slide?

[ Please, please teach Jeff the Cha Cha Slide. ]

ok i can work with that... heres a couple to start with lets see if any of it strikes the right chord with you

houndsoflove
dreams
yoursong

and this ones really special cuz its my mom's fave song
rhiannon

1/2

[ruevealing]

[oh baby, we can make that happen]

It is quite the dance! Why, its instructions are right there within the lyrics. I would be happy to teach you, though I'm certain a music aficionado such as yourself wouldn't need much help in the slightest.

Thank you, dear Freakscene. I shall give these a listen and report back with my findings. It shall be a nice break from binging television shows.

[Not that Rue is complaining about hate watching all of The Bachelor with Hob these last few months.]

2/2

[ruevealing]

[and maybe half an hour later -]

I am simply astonished with your talent! Truly, how did you manage to narrow down a list to the most perfect, heart-rending ballads that would touch my very soul? I have goosebumps!

1/2

[cacophonish]

i hope you like em :)

wait so its like the electric slide? dude!!! teach me! i know music but ive always been a fucking hopeless dancer

wait wait wait
dancing later
music first

2/2

[cacophonish]

[ AND once they've reported back--

--Jeff's totally preening. Rue's now Jeff's favorite non-Tim person. (Well, owlbear, but he doesn't know they're an owlbear, or what an owlbear even is, so--) ]

im a bard
music's what we do :)

sorry wait forgot where i was for a sec
i *WAS a bard but im not anymore cuz magics bad and wrong and against the rules

[ EYEROLL ]

glad you like em
i can send you more

[ruevealing]

I would be most delighted to teach you at a later date! Please, it would be a great deal of fun!

Truly? A fellow bard? What a delight to meet another! No wonder you are a master of music, I clearly have much to learn from you about the music of this realm! Any further recommendations you have would be most appreciated. :>

[cacophonish]

[ HOW could Jeff ever say no to that??? ]

hell yeah your names at the top of my dance card :)

[ There was a time when Jeff would've reacted to news of a fellow bard with hope, some foolish optimism over the slightest chance that maybe they're a bard in the way that he's a bard. Like maybe they're from his world, or a similar enough one, and they, too, know what it's like to harmonize with the Gift, and feel it thrumming in every melody, pure magic and wonder and possibility...

But he doesn't have hope anymore, not when it comes to his ties to home. He doesn't even feel a little twinge of maybe-there's-a-chance. Maybe that's a bad sign, like something in him has been well and truly broken, but...

Well. Regardless, Rue being a fellow bard is still welcome news! ]

your a bard too?? ok your definately my new fave person 😊
whats it like for you? like do you sing or play an instrument or is it like... you find magic in other kinds of performance?

ill make you a playlist! do you have spotify? its this app on the phone... it didnt exist back where im from but its so cool, totally helped me catch up on the last 20+ years of music

im jeff btw! but you can keep calling me freakscene if you want :)

[ruevealing]

[Rue would be devastated to hear of his lost hope, to know that something he no doubt once held close has been completely broken beneath the weight of all he has lived through. Such a young person should not be forced into shouldering the burdens of the world like this. And yet this is the fourth or so Rue has met since arriving. These children deserve better.]

Oh! You must forgive me! I sometimes forget that the usernames that people choose are not their preferred names. It is a pleasure to meet you, Jeff. My name in return is Delloso de la Rue, but I go by Rue.

I find my magic manifests most through my voice, though it is not for lack of trying with instruments. I'm afraid I simply don't have the delicate touch needed for most of them. And others are just too inconvenient to travel with.

I confess, I have not heard of spotify, though there are so many applications on this device that I can barely keep up! I will download it immediately and take any further recommendations you have. :)