12986/Sour Notes

Sour Notes
Date of Scene:	06 October 2022
Location:	Little Italy
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Alexis Carr, Ariah Olivie

---

Alexis Carr has posed:
    There was a time when men were kind -- when their voices were soft, and their words inviting --

    And that's when the trouble began.

    It's a bar-and-resturant called Giovanni's in Little Italy, a place where the lettering is in the colors of the Italian Flag, they have red checked table clothes that are just the right amount of sticky, and you can smell the garlic from the street side with the windows open to let in the ...err... "fresh" air of New York City.

    There's some generic barcolie playing on speakers, people sitting and enjoying pop drinks and spaghetti and meatballs and slices of lasagne the size of a dinner plate.

    It also had a bar where men had been arguing in Italian, loudly, over (what else?) a sports game, and things have come to a head after the Bartender tried to separate them.

    No, that wouldn't do. The younger guy, full of himself and braggadoccio, picked up the older guy handily, and swept the bar with him, launching drinks and antipasto everywhere as the fight picks up in the heat!

    "How dare you tell me that the man was faking! That is the EXPRESSION OF PAIN! And now you know how it FEELS!" the younger guy states.

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    Ariah doesn't understand much Italian. Let alone Italian shouted in anger. The small white-haired woman, however, does understand the sound of a body impact and dishes breaking. She's taking a walk, a nice walk out in the city, to put in some time at the karaoke bar in Little Italy. Unlike many goers to the place, she's not going to get drunk and wail into a mic a slurred rendition of 'Don't Stop Believing'. Instead she's carrying the hardcase possessing her violin, slung on a strap across her back.

    The shouting and beginnings of a fight do give her pause as she's about a storefront away from Gio's, though curiously, the scent of garlic seems to entice her rather than repulse her. The tang of sauce on her tongue and something bready to chew does sound nice, being that she has no particular aversion to food. "...curious..." she muses, stepping closer to where she can peek in the window.

Alexis Carr has posed:
    Don't Stop Beleiving is a group song for Karaoke, and you will never convince anyone who enjoys Karaoke otherwise.

    The old man goes down, a cut on his head! The younger man is gloating in Italian, and there are angry hand gestures all over the place as a crowd begins to form around the argument, though there's a dark-haired, dark-eyed woman sitting to the side that is watching with some interest between picking meat between chicken ribs in a Pollo alla Cacciatore.

    She purses her lips, eyebrows knitting as she listens to the group.

    And then a knife is pulled. And two more knives get pulled. ONe man is thrown out of the open front window of the restaurant and onto the street, where a cab narrowly misses striking him!

    Is it time for action?

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    Ariah is a strange duck. She also generally doesn't sing group songs. She watches from the window, though. Her senses focus on the goings on through the gap in front of her, both her eyes and her ears. From quickened heartbeats to the sound of blades being drawn. She can hear it as it happens, and she frowns. The scent of blood overtakes the garlic and she just sort of stares, blinking owlishly, as violence begins when someone is hurled into the street right in front of her.

    She sort of just stares at him, and the cab, then looks back into the window. Cautiiously, she steps past it, closer to the door, but doesn't go in. Not just yet. It isn't like this is her business. But. Concern for collateral damage to someone not in the middle of the scuffle keeps her lingering.

Alexis Carr has posed:
    There is yelling, knives pointing, the Bartender grabs a baseball bat and prepares to swing like he's Babe Ruth aiming for the bleachers, and one insult causes the young woman at the table to speak up.

    "Ehi! E scortese invocare lo stato di mutante di qualcuno!" she calls out a she comes to a stand.

    The young guy who manhandled the old man turns, and he cracks his knuckles.

    "Oh yeah? And what are you, some sort of mutant-lover?" he asks, stepping forward.

    The woman blinks a moment. "Well. Yes?" she replies, an eyebrow rising up. The group turns to face her now, which lets the old guy get away.

    "In either case --" she states with a crisp British accent, "You gentlemen don't appear to have any class. I should be so happy to teach you some."

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    Well now. That makes Ariah's brows lift. She catches just enough of the barked Italian with clarity, and of course, the English responses. The crisp accent gets her attention, too, and she sees the group seeming to turn on her rather as a whole. Her lips purse, and the small woman slowly begins to frown. Shaking her head, she makes her way into the pizzeria. A little extra weight is added to her steps, making her entry a little louder than it normally would be.

    "Ah... is this all... terribly necessary?" she asks, not at all concerned about any potential friction coming from the group with her French accent. Not that she's been at all keeping up with France-Italy relations in the last fifty years. The way she asks is so soft and innocent, her voice cold as she looks up at the variety of people quite a bit taller than she is. She really does just want a pizza or some bread.

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "Yes!" The group of men all reply to Ariah as she walks in.

    "No, not really." the dark-haired woman replies, looking to Ariah, and she gives a slight smile "But it seems they want to have a lesson in humility and proper behavour in public." she gives a shrug. What can you do?

    And that's when one of the men goes after her with a knife towards her face!

    Two others go to crowd around Ariah and force her out of the restaurant.

    "Time for you to go little sparrow!"

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    The near-unison response to her inquiry is met with more owlish blinking and a blank expression. Ariah continues to frown, and looks up at the pair attempting to remove her from the restaurant. "Why so impolite?" she asks, looking between them and digging her heels in. "What will you do if I say non? And people say we the French are rude..." she muses aloud, still remaining aloof and largely focused on, curiously enough, communicating. The poor small thing looks unarmed, too, unless she's hiding a Chicago typewriter in her violin case.

    Something in the girl's mismatched eyes flickers eerily as she gazes upwards at her new... friends.

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "Well, we'll do to you what is going to happen to h--" one of them pipes up when his friend gives an anguished cry and stumbles back.

    There is a lot of rapidfire angry Italian cursing from the gentleman, and now the lady's got the knife that was aimed at her face.

    "If you say no, you'd better be able to fight, mon petit ami!" the woman states, and she steps forward to stomp her heel to the instep of the man, and then brings her knee up sharply.

    The two men holding onto Ariah begin to try to grab her in earnest now, whether to throw her out on the street or into the brewing brew-ha-ha!

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    "So very impolite..." Ariah tsks, her frown deepening. Then her expression simply resets as she's grabbed. Her body twists and wriggles some, but not to escape. No, she's trying to slip out of her violin strap so it slides off of her back. "..if this breaks, you will have to pay for it.." she states, as if she's more concerned for her instrument than her actual well-being. So she writhes, shifts, and catches the case between her legs and lets it thump on the floor surprisingly gently.

    Then a nudge with her foot not only pushes it out of the way of the door, but under a nearby chair. Now hoping it's safe enough, she grabs the shirt of one of the men and yanks him down towards her with strength that seems incongruous with her size. She meets his nose with her forehead, breaking it and with what sounds like a -crack- or a -crunch- probably puts a dent in his skull as well! With another turn she shoves him off to the side and stares up at the second still grabbing on her, reaching for his arm with both hands. "I will not kill you but you will be in a lot of pain," she deadpans.

Alexis Carr has posed:
    The first guy goes CRUNCH! He squeals, and is reaching for his nose, holding his hands over it defensively.

    The second guy decides he wants nothing to do with Ariah!

    "Yo, not a fan of pain when it's comin' outta me!" the guy states, raising his hands up and backing off from Ariah.

    And as quick as it happened, the fighting seems to femlt away with some grumbles of agreement that the girl, in spite of her accent, MUST be of Italian stock, because where else would she get that special something from?

    The other woman is definitely of Italian stock, in spite of her accent. She keeps the knife, and sits back down to her meal, giving an apologetic to Ariah.

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    Ariah, freed, reaches up and rubs the top of her head some. It isn't that she's hurt from her sudden headbutt, she's more checking to make sure there's no blood on her. "Good," she states simply, and takes a moment to retrieve her violin and return it to her back. "Mutants and sports... more important things to get worked up over..." she mutters and makes her way past the group to approach the woman with the knife. "You appear to be the only reasonable one here," she states once she's much closer.

    "Do you mind if I join you?" she then asks, much more polite than the other patrons. She glances back over her shoulder, "I would rather my meal not be interrupted."

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "If I was reasonable, I wouldn't teach dance." the woman replies, the knife disappearing into her tote bag in case anyone gets rowdy, and she motions "Please, have a seat. As long as you're not ordering something awful, I'd be glad to have the company. The caccitore here tastes a lot like my nonna's. They have a seafood pasta that's very good." she smiles to Ariah.

    "I'm Alexis."

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    "You teach dance?" Ariah asks, sounding interested despite the cold in her voice. She nods, though, and takes a seat, carefully sliding her case off of her back and leaning it against the side of her chair for safekeeping. "I had interest in garilc-cheese bread and curiousity about pizza... though if not on the latter, the caccitore sounds good..." she muses, the word 'caccitore' sounding interesting with her particularly thick French accent.

    "I am Ariah," she replies to the introduction, simple.

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "English and Italian school ballet, jazz, dap, lyrical and modern. And violin, piano, guitar... any way to make the rent on the school." the woman looks suddenly very tired, and Alexis gives a small smile.

    "Poulet CHasseur, in French." she explains, stirring her food a moment, breaking apart a chunk of meat.

    "I see you play."

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    Slowly, Ariah nods, taking in everything. "That is quite a resume," she states. "I am versed in... a few things, myself... oui," she nods to her violin. "I play publicly, for fun, it is a good way to pass time when I am not studying," she adjusts her seating some and sits up straight but also comfortably so. "It looks good," she says, regarding the food, though ponders as she looks around. "Do you have a suggestion on the pizza? Or would you consider the lasagna a better choice?"

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "I'd consider the lasagna a better choice. The pizza? Eeeh... there's better places to get Pizza in New York City than this place. Get real Italian fare in a real Italian restaurant." the woman replies with a smile.

    "I used to busque. Still do on occasion to donate the funds I get when time permits. Hymns outside churches on Sunday, Billy Joel at piano bars, Broadway and standards on weeknights when it's warmer -- what do you like to play? And where do you usually set up, because goodness I'd hate to encounter your noggin." Alexis gives a bright smile.

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    Another nod, "One could spend a lifetime seeking out the 'best' pizza in the city. One would never quite be right." Ariah considers her options and opts for a hearty, meaty lasagna. "Ah. I do not quite busk in the full sense. I have no need for money," she explains. "It is... I simply enjoy music. And at times, to sing," she says, though it may perhaps seem odd that the small, cold, soft-spoken girl would be the sort to... sing?

    "There are coffee shops that offer live music, the violin is a good choice. I have been lucky to pair with pianists in some restaurants, too," she muses aloud, a hint of pride showing through her chilly exterior. "As for music... classics, and... more modern things. Such as soundtracks. I believe my favorites are attributed to Studio Ghibli, as of late..." she trails off, head tilting slightly. "If you give me no reason to fight you, then you will have no need to worry about meeting my skull in such a manner."

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "Oh good, 'cause I'm rather attached to my face!"

    Alexis gives a soft 'mm' as she leans back, and she waves for one of the waitors.

    "Studio Ghibli... let's see... I know Merry-go-Round of Life, that's a popular one I think?" she considers, her nose wrinkling. "And can play the theme to My Neighbor Totoro." she looks up, thinking back into her catalogue.

    "I'm afraid I play a little bit of everything. It's easy to lose track of *what* I've played." she shrugs apologetically "Mostly it's been all warm ups recently. New student."

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    "It is a nice face," Ariah says simply. The nuances of flirting are lost on her, and she's making a very face-value statement. No pun intended. She nods at the mention of the songs, considering things for a moment. "If you play piano, perhaps we could play together sometime. My strings, your keys. If you have the time. It sounds busy that you have a school to run, non?" she asks, tilting her head to the side. "Espcially with a new student."

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "I make time to play with people." Alexis replies, "After all, it's not often one comes across an adult who has the time for a classical session. I'm afraid my Liszt is getting rather rusty." Ariah's flirt doesn't go unnoticed, her cheeks pinken a moment.

    "And forgive me if I'm not quite... there. I'm getting over a break up."

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    An owlish blink, once more. The look of innocent bewilderment seems to just be there on her face half the time. Maybe she's not even sure if she was flirting. The little rush of blood to Alexis' cheeks, however, do go noticed. How could she not? The scent of blood from the fight earlier, brief as it was, the rush of adrenaline from breaking a man's face, and the red... everywhere. So much zesty sauce on pasta. Still, the talk of music, and the promise of a meal is the focus.

    "On the more modern, I can play the bass guitar. I just have many more years of practice with the violin. They are my, ah... primary musical interests? And it is easy to pair a violin with many things..." she says with a slow nod. "If you would like to..." she pauses, trying to find the right word, or verify the right -use- of a word, and continues regardless: "...jam... some time. It would be nice."

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "Nothing wrong with playing the bass. Some of the nicest people play bass guitar." Alexis gives a wry grin, and she takes another spoonfull of her saucy chicken.

    "And jam's the right word. At least that's what I've heard. Duet. I'm not particular to one lexicon over the other. I've 'jammed' at piano bars with people before, it can be quite refreshing to get the chance to play off one another." Alexis replies, her shouldersing up as she blinks, her lips curling softly.

    "So, where did you learn how to play? A private instructor? Did you play in school, or uni?"

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    "It suits me," Ariah remarks, commenting on the bass. "It is. Soft-spoken. Understated. But it is strong, holds the rhythm." Perhaps some self-referencing commentary there. Easy to miss, but impossible to ignore. "Were there a piano here, I would offer to sing for my supper, so to speak," she says. "After all, Czardas is a duet, non?" she seems to offer a ghost of a smile at that. "Both. Private instruction, and in school. It is a hobby I have kept up after," she answers earnestly, again with hints of pride shining through the icy shell. "Yourself?" the shorter woman flips the question around, curious as to Alexis' musical education. "You have... as said... a large resume of music."

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "I grew up in a musical conservitory run by my grandmother. By thirteen I was teaching master classes in composition for piano and violin... but... I try not to brag about it." Alexis gives a smile. "I find it's a lot nicer teaching children how to move their bodies rather than trying to teach adults how to hear the chords as they write." Alexis gives a smile, and she shakes her head "That feels like a lifetime ago."

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    "That sounds... very pleasant," Ariah states, her mismatched eyes twinkling some. "Was it a good upbringing?" she asks, sounding like she's genuinely interested. "A distance from where I grew up," she says, as if it really was a lifetime ago. Maybe it really was. "I also know how to dance, but it was not... taught?" she tilts her head slightly, as if trying to quantify it. "I would like to see you dance, however, though I am not sure how much I would be able to learn. Would be a nice... spectacle, non?"

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "Well, the next time I hold a pick-up adult's dance class, you're welcome to come -- here," Alexis states, pulling out a business card adn offering it over to Ariah. Fyre Muse Studio is the name of the business, a couple of streets over in Little Italy.

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    Ariah takes the card and turns it over and over in her hand. "When do you host them?" she asks. "Or should I simply stop in and hope that I have good timing?" she teases quietly, looking the card over intently before slipping it into the little gap between the halves of her violin case. "Merci, mon amie," she nods politely. "I am afraid I do not have anything to give you in return. I am still studying at the university."

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "Follow my instagram, I announce it on there and on MeetUps, and I'll put a flyer on the door with dates once I set them." Alexis leans her head into her palm and gives a small grin.

    "It's fine, it's just nice to have the possibility to play with someone who's near my level."

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    Uh oh. There's the magic words. Ariah is not exactly on the up-and-up when it comes to tech and trends. She blinks in that way she does, looking directly at Alexis. "..insta...gram..?" she asks, sounding like she's having trouble just saying the word, let alone comprehending what it actually is or means. "Apologies, I am... not familiar..." she says, sounding unsure. Unsure, but honest. "...and meet ups. I will simply... look for the flier now and again."

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "Do you have a cell number? If so I can send out an alert?" Alexis inquires, drawing her own phone out.

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    "Oui," she answers, showing she's clearly some kind of witch because her skirt has a pocket for her phone in it. She draws it out and takes a moment to get to the address book. "I can give it to you. It will be easier to keep track that way."

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "Sure, just read it off to me, I'll shoot you a text to test and then I'll add it to my alerts list. You might run into some parents of my students on the adult night, but there's typically snacks and some refreshments," Alexis explains, "Mine is 723-555-7849."

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    Snacks and refreshments. There's still that tingle in her retracted fangs from the blood smell earlier. At least the lasagna will take -some- of the edge off. She inputs Alexis' number when it's spoken off to her and instead simply sends a 'Hello.' to the other woman's phone. "Does that work?" she asks, tilting her head slowly. "I am. Curious. I do not normally dance. At least not in the... traditional sense?" she offers cryptically. "But it would be nice to see what you do."

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "Well, if you don't dance in the traditional sense, what do you dance in? Bellydance?" Alexis inquires, responding with a 'Hi!' and a smiley face, and adding Ariah to her phone, she tucks it away.

    After a moment, there is a plate of lasagna set in front of Ariah. It weighs at least two pounds and is the size of the plate.

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    Worth the wait, and the weight, to be sure. Ariah stares down at the pile of meat, pasta, sauce, and cheese set before her. There's no way a little thing like her could pack this all away and still be so... small! "Fighting is not always about cracking skulls," she answers the question with another somewhat cryptic and vaguely related statement.

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "... oh, that I know well." Alexis replies, with a little darkness to her tone.

    "And not a dance I can teach. Since I'm just learning myself what goes into it... someone... has to look out for people, don't you agree?"

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    Ariah's head tilts to the side slightly, and her eyes remain on Alexis even as her hands begin the process of cutting a square of lasagna off to begin actually eating. "Oui. If you like, we can jam in another sense. Teach you how to dance, non? If you wish."

Alexis Carr has posed:
    The younger woman bows her head a moment, and she curls her fingers against her now-empty bowl that held her chicken and sauce.

    "Perhaps that's a discussion better left to a place not full of young men we just threatened?" she replies with a soft voice. "How is the lasagna?"

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    "They would not dare," Ariah says simply. There's no 'overconfidence' in her voice. No braggartly tone. No taunting pride. It's just simple, and matter-of-fact. Then she takes the forkful of baked Italian goodness and promptly stuffs it into her mouth. She takes her time to chew and to swallow, letting everything settle in just so. Eventually, she answers with a satisfied nod, "Tres bien. I will have to come here again. Especially if this is a place you frequent. There is karaoke not far from here that I visit sometimes."

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "Eh. I wouldn't overestimate their intelegence. It's the second time I've taken a knife from him in two weeks. He's not a very good fighter." Alexis shrugs slowly, and she gives a small grin.

    "Karaoke, hm? I haven't been to a decent karaoke binge for a while... I kind of... lost a lot of contact with friends when I had to end my engagement. On good terms, of course."

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    "Broken arm, broken ribs, more lasting impression. Disarm by removing the capabilities of the arm, not the weapon in the hand," she states, again matter-of-fact and downright cold. Another bite of lasagna is taken. There's a warmer twinkle in her eyes. It's good. Shen ods slowly, "It is good to have friends. Karaoke bar here is not bad. I find I still overall prefer playing violin for a nice restaurant."

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "True, but I'd rather not have them start packing guns for when we run into one another. They're not the smartest, and... I'm a teacher. I don't want them to show up at my classroom."

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    "Fair," Ariah concedes. "I have no such limitations. I am adept at getting people to leave me alone if I wish it," she explains, then takes yet another bite. She's definitely putting a dent in this lasagna, and enjoying every bite of it! "Guns are inconvenient," she adds after she swallows.

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "For a lot of reasons. Loud, first of all. And so few people are actually skilled in them or take time to learn how they work, or how they're put together... I took a rifle class once. Terrified of guns, really."

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    "I am... very familiar with them..." Ariah states, slowly adding to her small reportoire of things she knows. "Military school," she then elaborates. Well, she didn't say *when* exactly. "It is good knowledge to have, with how many there are around. Unfortunate. More music classes, less weapons," she tsks, then looks down at her meal. "More lasagna, too," she adds, then racks up another bite.

Alexis Carr has posed:
    "More music classes, less weapons, more lasagne. You sound like my Nonna." Alexis gives a small smile, and then stretches her arms.

    "Well, I'll settle the bill. Feel free to stop by the studio when there are no classes, Ariah. It'd be nice to have a visitor. Bon soir!" Alexis gives a smile, pulling out cash from her wallet as she goes up to pay for both hers and Ariah's meals.

    It's nice to be wealthy like that.

Ariah Olivie has posed:
    Ariah nods, then she blinks at the offer to settle the bill. "I will get you next time, then," she states. Her matter-of-fact firm and cold tone doesn't just lend itself to being spooky about injuring people! She seems quite intent to return the favor and pay for Alexis' meal next time they meet where there's food. "Merci for the conversation and company. Look forward to seeing you again, you have my number."