Von managed to trade off all his former stuff for $300. The price was far less than their value, but that was the best he could get from a Pawn Shop. He also bought a beat-up acoustic guitar while he was at it, having to cough out $90 from his windfall.
Von considered where to play for a moment before deciding on Lincoln Road Mall. It was a pedestrian-only outdoor mall in South Beach and had lots of tourists and locals walking by, so it was the best place for him to impress people.
When he arrived, it was almost 4 PM. The sun was setting, but the mall was bustling with people carrying shopping bags and ice cream cones.
Von found a lonely bench by a fountain and sat down before opening his soft guitar bag in front of him.
He gripped the guitar neck and it felt naturally safe in his hands. He masterfully tuned it, his fingers twisting the pegs with an instinct he hadn't possessed hours ago.
He noticed he captured stares from some passersby as he played a warm-up melody, but most people were busy and soon went back to their activities.
"1, 2, 3..."
🎸 ♪ ♪ ♪
On his count, he began playing a soft acoustic melody.
When he begun playing, he began getting more attention from how masterfully he picked the strings. Some people actually stopped to look.
🎸 ♪
"The only time I sat and waited for the sunrise!"
"Was when I saw the fear of leaving in your brown eyes!"
🎸 ♪
The opening line alone caused many to turn... and immediately return to their various activities.
Von sensed their reactions, and his face paled. 'They don't like it. Maybe I'm not loud enough.'
He played the melody longer before he continued, this time trying to hit higher notes.
🎸 ♪
"THIS IS JUST SEPERATION, BABE, IT'S ALL FINE!"
"MAKING QUIET CALCULATIONS ON THE LONG DRIVEE!"
🎸 ♪
Everyone on the street lost it at that moment. Some even began to cover their ears in horror. Von smiled wryly upon realizing that his singing was bad.
'Fuck you, F- Vocals!' he screamed inwardly.
He decided to start again. This time, he only played the melody, which he noticed that some people liked. So he kept playing the intro.
🎸 ♪
Mmm... mmm. Mmm... mmm
🎸 ♪
After playing the intro on repeat for over five minutes like he was building suspense, Von took in a deep breath and decided to go for it again. This time he decided not to be loud when he sang.
🎸 ♪
"the only time I sat... and waited for the sunrisee~!"
"was when~ I saw the fear of leaving in your brown eyes~!"
🎸 ♪
Seeing everyone who passed him increase their pace, Von realized he wasn't the only one not feeling it.
'This dragged version sucks.'
He used [Inspect] on the piece. The performance completion was a mere 13%, with 100% representing the actual song.
It became clear to Von that he couldn't sing. But that didn't discourage him in the slightest.
'I might as well practice before a live audience.'
So Von resumed playing the guitar before he began again.
🎸 ♪
"The only time I sat and waited for the sunrisee... No, that's not it."
🎸 ♪
"The only time I sat and waited for the sunrise!"
For the next thirty minutes, Von kept practicing the song and trying different styles, hoping to be better.
'Practice makes perfect.'
After forty-five minutes, he believed he had done the song some level of justice, so he went again. This time, he closed his eyes and tried to feel the music as he played.
🎸 ♪
"Hey! Buddy!"
Von was barely done with the first part when a voice interrupted him.
He opened his eyes. A man dressed in a black business suit was standing right in front of him. A hopeful smile broke across Von's sweaty face as the man reached into his wallet.
'My first fan!' Von's heart soared.
"Here." The man pulled out a hundred-dollar bill and dropped it into the open guitar case.
"Thank you!" Von beamed, strumming a victorious chord. "Any requests?"
"Yeah," the man said, rubbing his temples. "Can you stop? Like... completely? I'm trying to have a phone call three blocks away and I can still hear you dying."
Von's smile froze.
"Take the hundred bucks," the man pleaded. "Just... go home. Please."
Von stared at the money and back at him. He decided to take his opportunity.
"Thanks once again, good sir! For $300, you won't see me here the next day!"
He promised with a serious look and a pouted expression that tried to scream cute.
The man could only stomp his feet in anger and leave. "Fucking retard."
Meanwhile, Von's heart twitched at the massive opportunity he just missed. He could tell the man was loaded because of what he saw through [Inspect].
[Name: Unknown]
[Vocals: D-]
[Skill: None]
A D- was a big deal. Through the course of the day, Von hadn't even seen someone on the E level, but this man was two levels above him!
'He must be a singer or something,' Von thought to himself.
"Oh, well. Let's continue."
Von went back to strumming the guitar. He didn't get a fan yet. But a hundred bucks on his first day was big progress.
🎸 ♪
"The only time I sat—"
"Hey! Stop there."
Unfortunately for him, he was interrupted again. Two security guards walked by, and this time it didn't seem like they wanted to tip him to stop.
"You're disturbing the peace and quiet of this great place," the burly guard said. "If you can't play something useful, then scram!"
"For a hundred bucks?" Von pushed his luck.
A hard, long look from the guard was enough for him to pack up his guitar and leave.
___
A/N: Just a quick reminder: Unless indicated, the song(s) played in any chapter will be inspired by the song recommendation, so do listen while reading! Today's own won't be revealed yet until a proper performance. ;)
🎧 Song Recommendation: EWO by Famous Pluto ft. Shallipopi & Zerrydl. Let me introduce you to some smooth Afrobeat vibes! 👀