"I hope so. Working around the wildly different music styles might be somewhat hard, though…" Aika mused out loud, before trailing off as she looked up at the ceiling. It might be hard, but it also might be interesting. And with everything going on, maybe even a good distraction.
((Oh, hell yeah I'm cool with it. Hey Mezzo!))
"Or it might bring something new to the table that is quite appealing," Rowan said, tilting his head thoughtfully as he stared at Aika. The other boys thought about it as well, and even Jordan set aside his food to think it over. The combination of classical and more modern music…it could either clash horribly or bring something new, as he said, that was so intriguing that people would be more inclined to give it a try. People did tend to publicize and favor new and different things as opposed to the same-old-same-old—bad or good, that was the problem. Many artists said that bad publicity was still publicity, but the boys didn't think like that. Bad publicity wasn't good for their reputation, and it could do more harm than good, such as bring the haters down upon them with more ferocity than usual.
Aika's fingers tapped a relaxed and soft beat as she thought for a few moments, smiling slightly. With a shake of her head, she drew herself from her thoughts, her gaze flickering around the room at the group. They all seemed so close, despite the bickering. Though, if they had decided to start a band together, that was kind of a given. For a moment, she found herself wondering what that would be like. A close bond with other people, people who cared the same way. "Something new to the table. That would be interesting."
Tobias piped up, still sitting on the floor. "We could do a mini album, sorta like how kpop groups do it," he suggested, looking to Rory. The blonde boy lifted his head to show that he was listening, and Tobias continued. "Release around four songs with this new mashup style, then see what the reaction is from our fanbase, however small." His large light-brown eyes darted around the group for their feedback.
Jordan rubbed at his jaw thoughtfully. "It could work, but I'm still outta commission. Maybe you guys could rig this whole hiatus thing we have going on to our advantage? Use the hospital—and different sets of ears coming in and out—to figure out how people respond to the different style?"
Kasper hummed and tilted his head back to look at Jordan upside-down. "Gains us popularity as well," he added. "I like it."
Aika tilted her head, watching them discuss the idea with slight curiosity. They seemed to take it all pretty seriously, and she wondered if she might have misjudged just how well-known their band was, for them to care that much about good feedback. Either way, she respected that. "Experimentation outside one's genre is usually good for artists too, ability-wise. An improvement upon your skill, or even adding another skill."
Kasper looked over towards Aika, flopping his arm out to point at her. "Yes. I like it. So it's settled then? We play with the never-before-done combination of modern and classical?" he asked, looking over his glasses at everyone in the room, even Aika, for feedback. He didn't really care that she was some girl that Rory had brought over. If he could talk music with her and run profitable ideas off of her, he liked her. Rowan tilted his head, tapping his cheekbone in thought, before nodding with a hum of approval, leaning on his elbow. Harvey grinned and gave a thumbs up. Jordan covered his mouth and choked out a noise that they all took as a yes. Rory shrugged, which was a yes to them. Tobias nodded with a smile.
Aika blinked, but nodded slightly, leaning back against the wall. It was slightly nice, to be so easily included, even in such a small thing as looking for agreement. And she was slightly interested in getting to see a different genre of music, from semi-professionals in said genre. A chance to expand her own knowledge.
A flash of pain in her chest made her close her eyes, pressing her lips together as she waited for it to pass. The list of symptoms Dr. Abaza had showed her flashed through her mind, 'chest pains' right there at the top. It wasn't the first time she'd felt them, she just had a reason now, one that made them worse each time they had happened while she was at the hospital.
"Sweet, meeting adjured," Kasper said, waving his hand around lazily. Jordan rolled his eyes and went back to eating his spaghetti. Rory looked over and saw Aika with her eyes closed. He wordlessly reached out and lightly gripped her arm, offering silent support for whatever was the cause of the flash of pain that went over her face—there and then hidden.
Aika's eyes opened, flickering over to Rory, and then his hand, as she shot him a slightly straightened smile. It was startling, having someone offer her support, especially with this. She had taken extra care to make sure everything seemed as normal as it could, to show she was handling it. She lifted her hand once the pain had passed, placing it over his in acknowledgment and thanks.
Rory returned her smile with a small one of his own. Around his friends, he was more reserved and less talkative than when he was alone with Aika. Actually, he was only really talkative when he was with only a single person. The more people around him, the more reserved he got—he sometimes even shrank back into a corner, burrowing into his coat.
Aika found herself almost missing his voice, odd, considering it hadn't been all that long since he'd talked last. Maybe it was because they'd met while she couldn't see, and his voice had been something easy to hold on to and follow. Whatever the reason, she wasn't sure, but she almost wished she could talk with him again, in the same easy way they had in the elevator and the cafeteria. She blinked suddenly, the internal clock in her mind she'd set herself going off. "I should…get going. I'll see you around?"
The others hadn't heard her, too busy talking about the latest news back in England, but Rory had. He tilted his head but didn't ask about the sudden need for her to go do something. "Um, yeah," he said, nodding and stuffing his hands into his pockets, "See you around." Once again, none of the others heard and continued chatting.
"This was nice, for the most part." Aika said, giving him a small smile. "Thank you for letting me tag along. I'll….see you around?" She arched an eyebrow slightly, almost like she wasn't sure he'd even be willing to talk to her again. Not quite irrational, considering it had happened before.
The corner of his lip quirked up at the repeated question, but he didn't comment on it. "Yeah, it was. If you ever want some company, feel free to come and find me." He jerked his chin in the direction of his bandmates. "They'll likely know where I am if I'm not here."
She nodded, her smile strengthening slightly at that as she stepped towards the door. "I'll be sure to take you up on that. The same goes for me, if they ever get to be too loud. Just find Gage if you can't find me." She pulled open the door, another flash of pain hitting her chest. This time, she didn't wince, just waved to him and any of the boys paying attention, before slipping out.
Rory smiled and waved back as Aika slipped away, completely unaware of her pain. Only Tobias had noticed her departure, so he was the only one that waved goodbye, besides Rory. The conversation picked back up, and they were all talking about the latest path for their music and what it might mean for their future. They all seemed to work in unison, a well-oiled machine that couldn't function without all of its parts. Should they separate…well, none of them could even fathom living without their friends.
((Skippito?))
((Yes please. I have no clue what to do now))
((Pppfftt. To when?))
((Uhhh, maybe twoish days later? One of them is looking for the other for some one-on-one time because people))
((Works for me! Who should be looking for who?))
((Uhhhh… I hate making decisions Who would be the most likely candidate?))
((Probably Rory, honestly. He seems just a tad more outgoing than Aika, at least in the sense of looking for people. Does that make any sense or am I just spewing words?))
((Nah, Rory does seem like the one to look for her before she goes to look for him. I have this scene in my head where he's just sitting next to her bed, sorta leaning on it with his head in his arms? if that makes sense? Like he's so mentally exhausted from dealing with The Boys he just walks into her room and attempts to take a nap for once in his life))