Rodrigo Cantor

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[lithia-rahn]

Reprieve || Lithia & open

[lithia-rahn]

He held her attention as he spoke, curious as to what he had to say concerning instruments and music in general. While her talents resided in dancing, Lithia never picked up other forms of entertainment. Except for singing in the shower, but that was her little secret. No need for others to go deaf with her caterwauling a terrible rendition of some song she heard on the radio. Just imagining her entertaining others with a song almost caused a fit of giggles to erupt, but she kept it in check by biting the inside of her cheek and offering a gentle smile. No need to start laughing in front of a complete stranger, would be terrible if he thought that she was laughing at him or that she came off as some snooty dancer. In which, growing up and working around such people, she picked up a few mannerisms. Not that she would act that way, terrible business. 

Lithia’s eyes widened in surprise when the pianist tapped a finger against his throat. Not only did he play the piano, but he sang as well. It shouldn’t be a surprise considering most can play an instrument and sing. Hell, she once saw a video of a woman dancing and playing the violin at the same time. It was amazing. “It’s nice to meet you Rodrigo, I’m Lithia. Are you sure? I don’t want to distract you from practice” 

Conflict brewed inside, should she stay or leave him to practice? The young woman was curious as to what he was going to play and sing. Yet at the same time, she did not want to intrude on anything out of politeness. 

Chewing on her lower lip, Lithia shifted on her feet a bit before nodding as if having made a decision. “Are you practicing for a recital or some exam?” She did not see any announcements for a recital on the bulletin board, exams or tryouts for more prestigious schools and professionals that were looking for new talent. But it never hurt to ask, plus, she had nothing else to do once she went home. Unless vegging out on the couch counted as something productive. 

@dark-cities-rodrigo

[dark-cities-rodrigo]

Rodrigo’s fingers halted their gentle tapping of the piano keys. He hadn’t expected Lithia to stick around, but he wasn’t about to chicken out of his  offer either. 

No problem. This won’t be the first time I’ve played for somebody. It’ll be fun!

“Me? Oh, no, I don't actually take any classes here,” Rodrigo explained with a shake of his head. “I mean, I did, but back when I was a kid. I just come here sometimes to practice and, you know...get away from it all.”

Rodrigo grabbed his hefty piano book, thumbing through it in search of a song to warm up to. “What about you, Lithia? Are you taking a dance course here?”

[dark-cities-rodrigo]

The Intern || Rodrigo & Cahill

[aiming-at-darkness-deactivated2]

“Exactly how honored are you to be here?” Cahill asked in amusement. He stood off to the side, having just come in from another hallway. As always, he was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit. It wasn’t an incredibly expensive one – Cahill came from a family that could afford to wear anything they damn well pleased, but he had made a point of saying, early on in his career, that no politician should be better dressed or fed than was possible for their constituents to be. So, although Cahill always looked like a million bucks, it wasn’t because he was wearing the money on a designer brand. It was because he employed tailors, because of his charming smile, and because of his intense, dark eyes. 

It also might have something to do with the fact that he was an evil son of a bitch secretly in league with a world-destroying demon, of course. That tended to lend a man confidence, and confidence was something Cahill had in spades.  

“I’m sorry, please forgive me. You’re Rodrigo, right? It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He offered the kid his hand, then led him into his office. “There’s a water cooler if you’d like. It’s hotter than hell out there. So.” He walked over to his desk, glanced down at the notes left on it, and quirked an eyebrow. “My last intern, Dana, is apparently taking some unexpected personal time in the desert, on some quest for a blinking light or something. Her messages were vague. Anyway.” He unbuttoned his jacket and sat down. “She won’t be joining us again, which leaves me with you. Now, I hate to say this, but nobody’s told me anything about you yet – which leaves you very much on the spot. So. Take a load off and tell me about yourself, hm?" 

Cahill was a very friendly man, but he was also a busy one, as the stacks of paper and the constantly blinking lights on his phone indicated. He ignored those, though, focusing solely on Rodrigo.

[dark-cities-rodrigo]

Rodrigo was startled by the sound of the Senator’s voice, but managed to keep a bright smile on his face as the man approached.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Senator Cahill,” the new intern replied, shaking the other’s hand firmly. As Rodrigo followed Cahill into his office, he took a few seconds to admire the room’s fixtures and decor. One day, Rodrigo hoped to have a similar office of his very own in Starling City.

Gratefully taking a cup of water, the young man raised an eyebrow at the mention of this “Dana”. From what the Senator was saying about her, she seemed an...interesting individual.

Rodrigo accepted Cahill’s invitation to sit down, a little nonplussed that the Senator hadn’t received any information about him before he’d arrived in Gotham. However, he figured Cahill had been occupied by more pressing matters during that time, if the stacks of paper on his desk were any indication.

“Alright, sir. I was born and raised in Starling City, all the way in Washington. When I was very young, I’d tell everybody I met how much I wanted to become the President,” Rodrigo chuckled in fond remembrance. “I’m not sure if I’ll ever get that far, but that desire motivated me to learn as much as I could about American politics: campaigning, elections, lawmaking, you name it. And I hope to learn a lot more while working with you, Senator,” he added eagerly, pausing to allow Cahill time to make any more inquiries about him.

[lithia-rahn]

Reprieve || Lithia & open

[lithia-rahn]

“No need to find another place, I’m finished with the room” Lithia shifted a bit to sit up and stretch her arms above her head. A content noise leaving her lips. It truly felt wonderful to dance her heart out without a care in the world. Too long she had gone without doing so and the inner conflict swirling inside of her nearly tore her apart. 

Standing up, the young dancer dusted of the black mesh wrap skirt that reached just below her knees. Not that the floor was dirty, it was a habit that kept her hands busy when around strangers at the school. Other than her teacher and the occasional student, there were many students that came and went that Lithia did not know or only met for a brief moment. Turning to make her way toward the small duffel bag she brought in, her eyes landed on the stranger, taking in his appearance and noted the thick book under his arm. Unable to fully read to know what kind of book it was, she guessed that he was either a composer or a pianist or both. Not that she knew much about music, just enjoyed it. 

Flashing him a smile when he took a tentative step toward her and made a query concerning her well being. “I am, just haven’t the freedom to choose the style of dance and music in quite some time. It was…liberating?” Lithia’s nose scrunched up as she couldn’t quite find the right word to describe the feeling she had felt earlier. It was definitely freeing and exhilarating. Hands on hips, the young dancer shook her head and shrugged. 

“You’ve picked the right room for your practice. Out of all the pianos here, I rather like the sound of this one…Not sure why, I just do.” It was half a lie. There were certain instruments that invoked strong feelings inside of her or helped her get lost in the feeling they were trying to convey through musical notes brought to life by a myriad of instruments. Some had a sound that just created a much stronger feeling by themselves. Granted, it had been quite some time since the last time Lithia heard the piano be played, so it made her wonder if it had changed or not. Perhaps it was her child like mind that found some sort of magic in it. 

@dark-cities-rodrigo

[dark-cities-rodrigo]

Rodrigo watched the lithe girl rise, wondering what she’d meant by lacking the freedom to dance in the way she preferred. Maybe her dance instructor had assigned her a strict set of routines to learn?

He hummed in agreement as he moved to sit before the piano’s keys, setting his book on top of the instrument. “Instruments can have that effect on people. Each has its own unique sounds and tones that become familiar after a while, like the voice of an old friend.” His fingers moved involuntarily spoke, a soft arpeggio ringing about the otherwise empty dance studio.

“But the piano is only my second-favorite instrument. That honor goes to this one, right here,” Rodrigo grinned, tapping a finger against his throat. “My name’s Rodrigo, by the way. I wasn’t expecting an audience, but you’re welcome to stick around, if you want.”

It had been some time since he’d sang in front of anybody. Well, besides that one night at the karaoke bar that had resulted in a drunken medley of Destiny’s Child. This girl seemed nice enough, so hopefully she wouldn’t critique his vocals too harshly.

[lithia-rahn]

Reprieve || Lithia & open

Lithia Rahn had a tendency to get lost in the music. To let it take hold of the strings attached to her limbs and guide her like a puppet, thus letting her mind seek a brief respite from the on goings of the world around her. Even more so whenever she had to dance at the club, entertaining all who laid eyes upon her like some prize they wanted to grab hold off. It helped her get through the motions as she danced on stage to whatever music was decided upon. Usually it was something that never increased in tempo and left her moving in a succession of slow, soft, lyrical and continuous movements, giving the illusion that each position flowed from one into the other seamlessly. Even more so with the flowing white dresses she had to wear. 

At least, in the safety of the school where she learned to dance, she had the choice in music. Ranging from simple piano medleys to more upbeat rhythms that rose and fell like a leaf carried by the wind. 

The rhythms continued to rise, getting ready to reach the climax that left any who heard it with a sense of freedom. Pulse mimicking the beat and leaving the listener with a wide smile. For the lone dancer, it meant fast and dynamic movements with an array of sequences that was filled with energy. Bringing forth the hidden smile and light back into her eyes. With one final jump, the music ended and Lithia was left panting in the middle of the classroom. Without the gracefulness that she exhibited moments before, the young woman plopped onto the floor and fell onto her back. 

Enjoying the cool feeling on her back, she closed her eyes and let out a content sigh. For the first time in months, her mind was clear of troublesome thoughts. No fear or worries clouded her and left her wanting to cry at every little thing. She wanted this moment to last for a lifetime. To enjoy the peace, smile, laugh and go about life without a care in the world. To join with fellow dancers and perform in front of a proper audience. Perhaps go to school and get a degree. 

A noise brought her back to reality as she opened her eyes and gazed up at the ceiling, not moving or looking in the direction of the door thinking it was one of the dancers or perhaps her teacher. “Ah..I’ll be out in a moment.” Lithia just assumed that they needed the room for practice or that a class was about to start. As much as she did not want to leave just yet, but she could not hoard a room to herself, especially when others used it. 

[dark-cities-rodrigo]

With the weight and stress of college pressing down on Rodrigo a little more each day, he found himself visiting a refuge from his past frequently: the performing arts center he’d taken singing classes at as a boy.

Although the University offered a well-equipped facility for the use of its musically inclined students, it just didn’t provide the same comforting warmth from his childhood, when the world seemed brighter and he could grow up to be anything he wanted.

Rodrigo paced down the halls with a thick piano book in under his arm, greeting and passing his former choir director as he hunted for an unoccupied classroom. There was one in particular that he knew housed a piano used to accompany the dancers’ routines. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be trespassing on a dance class in session.

“There it is,” the student murmured under his breath, twisting the doorknob and entering the empty dance studio. Empty, that is, save for an enervated girl sprawled out on the room’s floor.

“Oh, um, that’s alright,” Rodrigo stammered sheepishly, feeling foolish for having intruded on…whatever the young woman had been up to. “I can go find another place to practice.”

And he would’ve turned tail and scurried out of the studio if concern and perhaps a bit of curiosity for the fallen girl hadn’t begun nibbling at his thoughts.

“Er…are you OK?” the singer asked cautiously, taking a tentative step towards her.

[dark-cities-rodrigo]

The Intern || Rodrigo & Cahill

Starling City and Gotham were separated by much of the contiguous US, but to Rodrigo, they could have been on opposite sides of the Milky Way Galaxy. Sure, Gotham had turned out to be the gargantuan economic capital he’d imagined, but the people, the streets, the very atmosphere were unlike anything he’d experienced back home.

Perhaps it was the smog, but Gotham felt...worn down. Defeated, even. The impending trial against Oliver Queen didn’t exactly help damper things any less, either.

Now wasn’t the time to ponder these matters; not when he was standing in a highrise in his best shirt and tie, about to meet an upstanding Senator and kickstart a hopefully fulfilling career in politics.

Rodrigo struggled to refrain from pacing and fidgeting in the hallway in front of Senator Cahill’s office. Spying his reflection in a mirror hanging on the wall, the newly-appointed intern adjusted his tie and hair for what felt like the hundredth time.

“Get a grip, man,” he hissed, scolding his mirror image. “This isn’t the principal’s office, and you were chosen for a good reason. Now, when the Senator comes out those doors, you’re gonna give him your best smile, shake his hand, and tell him how honored you are to be here, OK?”

Realizing he was talking to himself like a loon, Rodrigo deflated with a nervous chuckle.

“OK,” he replied softly, nonetheless.

@aiming-at-darkness

[dark-cities-rodrigo]

Singing is one of Rodrigo's passions, but it was never his goal to land a musical career. 

[vandalsavage-deactivated2017032]

Follow Rodrigo --

Please follow Sebastian’s lovely OC, a student at the University of Washington, residing in Starling City! Having been lucky enough to meet one of Sebastian’s original characters before, I am super excited to be able to introduce one here. I have no doubt that Rodrigo is going to be amazing!

[dark-cities-rodrigo]

Correction: http://dark-cities-rodrigo.tumblr.com/bio