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Sammy had arranged to use the garage for the band to practice in.  Elrod had scored tickets to some culture to get the folks and sister out of the house, and Dave had arranged for the amps and stuff to get delivered.  Elrod made sure to be there early to help Sammy set up anything for the entertainment phase.

After everything is going along under its own momentum inside and people have had a chance to eat and relax, Sammy ducks through the door that leads into the garage, and starts warming up.

Some time later, Alicia saunters in and finds herself an out-of-the-way spot to sit and be an audience.

And by out-of-the-way I mean somewhere not normally considered a seat, like the top of a bookshelf or the back of a sofa.

And by sit, I mean sprawl bonelessly and look at the world through half-shut eyes. It's tough work digesting all that food.

Rhys does some scales to get warmed up on his bass, and smiles when Alicia comes in and perches somewhere. Does he seem to get a little bigger, too? With most guys, you'd think they were just puffing out their chest and standing on tiptoes, but with Rhys you can't be certain...

Elrod had invited a few others, which included a drummer and a guy that had a synthesizer.  Sammy recognized them from school, but they weren't band kids.  There was some chat about what everyone knew and felt comfortable playing, and then they made some music.  Sammy and Rhys are musicians.  They have the training, and that something that makes their training into beautiful music.  Elrod know how to play, and it's obvious he loves music, but he's a notch down from Sammy and Rhys.  The keyboardist knows how to play notes, they come at the right time, and they are the right ones, but there is something not there when he plays.  Then there is the drummer.  He's got the love, and the spark, but not much training.

Alicia seems content to lie there and groove on the sound. At certain points, her body will unconsciously move along with the music.

Her face shows that she's capable of catching the flubs, as it winces when the odd false note comes out.

All in all, she feels it's a good warm-up for the fun coming up later in the evening.

That's what practice is for.   She smiles at El and whispers "We can make this work."

Rhys enjoys himself, and it shows. Even though some of the others aren't quite up to the caliber that he'd like, he still goes with it. The experience of getting together with other people and making music - any music - is an experience better by far than any drug. Sometimes he gets into the music so much that he starts to get a little... undefined. Some of his details blur like an out-of-focus photograph, and his fingers do things on the bass that no normal human's fingers should be able to do. Then he catches himself, and reasserts normality, and still plays well; just without that little extra something he has when he really loses himself to the experience.

As they both sink into the experience, Sammy flashes Rhys a conspiratorial smile, and lets loose.

Rhys keeps up with her, change for change: from counter-rhythms through to polytonality, he challenges and meets challenges. It isn't a competition - it's an exultation. And he's loving every second.

As the two engage in their musical exploration, Alicia smiles and closes her eyes.

To her, music is like a painting. Some people just splash colors on a canvas and call it art. But the true beauty comes out when the image tells a story, evokes a mood, or brings out an emotion.

She can tell that both Sammy and Rhys are putting their soul into the music, and after a while she can't help joining in. Slowly her movements become more pronounced and soon she is dancing to the rhythm, adding her counterpoint to their harmony with her body.

Elrod plays best when things are less well defined.  And the drummer seems to rise to the occasion, showing more promise with every odd shift in the music.  The keyboardist plays along, doing what is expected, but never getting into the broad strokes of the exploration.

Sammy feels alive, as alive as she feels when she's flying.  The music is in her blood and her blood in is her music and all is right with the world.  She is blissed out.  She loves everybody and everything so much right now that she doesn't want to show off as much as make the other musicians sound their best.  She weaves her parts in and out and around them all, complementing and augmenting and supporting wherever she finds a place to do it.

The group plays for a couple of hours before the keyboardist has to go.  He makes all the polite noises, and shakes hands on his way out.  The drummer starts to make his way out as well.  He's a little more animated, happy to have been given the chance to play with you guys and mentions that he hopes he gets the chance to play with you again, and then he's off as well.

Elrod lays on the cool cement of the driveway.  "Steve, the drummer guy, he's go promise.  I'm going to block the keyboardist out of my memory if possible."

Sammy kneels down over Elrod and gives him a quick smooch.  "You're gonna freeze your butt off if you stay there."

"It was hot in there."  he says with a smile.  He relents though and gets up.  "The drummer is on my call back list.  And I know a guy he can take lessons from.  Maybe we can do this again in a couple weeks?  By then I'll have rustled up some more talent."  he gives Sammy a kiss, then says softly, "You sure I can't invite Rhys?  He can actually play."

"Yes, he can.  Sure, invite him.  I just didn't..."  she twitches uncomfortably.  "My music is too strong for me sometimes.  I get carried away by it.  Promise to stand between me and him if-- you know.  I'd rather aim myself at you, ok?"

Elrod smiles.  He puts both hands over his heart, "It is such a sacrifice, but I'll do it."  he says with the drama poured on thick.

{Can I assume this part of the conversation is quiet/out of earshot?}

"Punk" she says half-heartedly, with a giggle to further ruin the effect.  "He's not a bad guy.  I just don't want to mess up."  The word again is implied.

"Let's see how the next couple months play out then.  We have more auditions ahead lady."  And elrod wraps an arm around her to go back inside.