With Good Friends, You Can't Lose

Kenny Franks | 28 | Musician

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

Tiana

Tiana - A time you tried the hardest for something?

“The first few days after Madeline left me, I tried to get her back. It probably was stupid of me, but I did try. And I honestly tried really hard. Obviously was not successful.”

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

♦

♦ - Something no one knows about your muse?

“I say I can play four instruments, sing, and dance, but that’s actually a lie. I can only play guitar and piano. The other two just came from me making up a story of me playing the banjo and the harmonica.”

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

buzz

Buzz - Favorite fantasy world?

“Harry Potter hands down. It’s been my favorite since I was little.”

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

moimadeline

like cold water on her skin, the insult shocked her. hazel eyes went a little wide, and one of her heeled feet took a minimal step back, as if she was bracing herself. that was nothing like the kenny she remembered. the kenny she remembered was warm, soft, loving. but that was ten years ago. ten whole years. yet she liked the old one better. “ i - ” she was breathless, the chill of the air around them sparking with heat. “ excuse me ? ” how harsh could she get, oh, he knew, and he was playing a dangerous game, pretending like he didn’t. “ i’ve done plenty of nice things without wanting payment in return. ” the job she had was entirely of her own free will, because her mother had needed someone to be the manager of the shop (but getting away from her and her even colder demeanor was a nice little bonus). plus there was the matter of every birthday, every valentine’s, every random act of kindness she ever did, for his boys, their friends. “ especially for you. ” voice drop, tone gentle, but the embers still smoldering. “ look… ” there was no good way to start this, especially out in the middle of the sidewalk for god and everyone to hear. “ i don’t want to do… this. not right now - ” hopefully not ever, but they were adults, and they couldn’t ignore the hurt that radiated off of either of them. “ - but can i please get you a drink ? just so you don’t freeze your stubborn ass out here in the cold ? ” there was no malice in her tone, no actual insult. there was actually very heavy inclination that she still cared for him. and hell, maybe if he accepted this, she could sit with him, listen to whatever he was working on. a girl could dream.

He knew it was probably a little out of character for him to act that cold, but ten years of resentment were boiling to the surface. He didn’t want the situation and his feelings to just be swept under the rug. He loved her, but she left him without any warning. After that, he had thought back on a lot of their relationship and labeled her as rather selfish. It’s likely why he was acting so bitter. “When are we going to do it then?” He asked raising an eyebrow as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. 

He had been ignoring the pain in his hands and face from the cold wind up until that point. He looked her over noting that she was probably colder than he was. His expression softened slightly as he let out a heavy sigh. “Fine...” He said offhandedly as his gaze fell to land on his guitar. He took a moment to pick it up by the strap and sling it over his back. He wasn’t forgiving her, but he figured he’d try to be civil enough to get through having coffee with her. It was a start more than anything else. “We do need to talk about it though Madeline. We can’t just ignore it. If you ever expect things to get better at least.” He turned to open the door for her. 

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

moimadeline

ten years. jesus christ. she could remember a lot of those little things when it came to kenny - his old coffee order, how he liked bowties rather than regular ties, his fondness for the banjo even though god she always thought it was such a stupid instrument; his love for the color green. yet it looked like she couldn’t even remember how long it had been since they last spoke. her priorities were weird. she had no trouble admitting that. he was fidgeting, trying to get out of sitting with madeline, and that hurt too. it shouldn’t have, because yep, her approach of pretending to not care at all wasn’t working, but she was still a person, underneath the sass and dramatics. she had a softer heart than most. “ oh… ” she took the tiniest step back, giving him a little more room, in case he did stand up fully and decide to walk. “ i wasn’t trying to say you were poor or anything, kenny. ” though her voice was pointed, it was gentle, because they both knew she didn’t brag about that (she always believed she had lots of other things to brag about, like her looks or her killer roundhouse kick). “ i was just trying to be nice. ” what a childish thing to say, i was just trying to be nice. maybe she was also trying to make up for lost time, try and rekindle something, anything between them, but he didn’t need to know that.

Kenny wouldn’t admit it out loud, but he remembered everything about her. He remembered EVERYTHING she ever told him. He knew he probably shouldn’t have cared that much after ten whole years, but he couldn’t help it. She made him feel so many things at once it was almost difficult for him to know what to think about her half the time. He almost thought he was bi-polar because of the range of emotions he’d go through every time he thought about her. He swore he’d get emotional whiplash. 

Guilt began to fill him at the look of disappointment on her face. He found himself falling back into the same place he was with her all those years ago. She had some sort of effect on him to always make him want to forgive her. He sighed quietly as he picked himself up off the ground. “I know you weren’t...” He said leaning back against the wall. He felt himself let out a sarcastic laugh at the last comment she made. He had felt guilt, but it was being replaced with slight annoyance. “Nice Madeline? When was the last time you actually did something nice for someone without wanting something in return?” He asked coldly. 

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

mvralis:

* & || ‘ I DON’T GET it, ’ murali stated to the air, eyes fixated on the open scenery before him with really nothing particularly focused on. it was just land and buildings and people passing by. ‘ i don’t get how i’m so addicted to coffee, that i let the world tell me that i need to pay six dollars for beans and water. i know it’s stupid, but i keep doing it. something has to be wrong with me. ’

Kenny hadn’t been meaning to listen in on the other talking, but he couldn’t help it. It was how he found himself laughing lightly in agreement with the man. His eyes were still locked on the guitar in his hands. “I wouldn’t say there’s something wrong with you for that. I find I can’t work on my music at all with out that overpriced, bitter, caffeinated, water.”

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

what musical artists inspire you?

“Anyone from the 80′s or 70′s I’d say. It’s what I grew up listening to.”

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

“Well I see myself hopefully doing the same thing I do now. Playing music here in Apple Peak has to be one of the best things to happen in my life.”

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

wartiisms:

Arnold searched through his phone to find some sense of entertainment, browsing all sites until finding a specific meme that got him reading out loud, “Who would win? 100 million people vs. One bubonic boi. The answer might surprise you.” It took him a couple of seconds to realize what it meant, but not long after, he let out a mix of chortles and full of awkwardness looks, searching all around him in hopes he hadn’t been heard. 

Kenny had been completely fine minding his own business. He had his earbuds firmly in his ears as he blasted some Prince music through them. He was trying to find inspiration for the next set the band was to play. He was interrupted by an abnormally loud laugh. He gently pulled out one of them as he looked over at the man. “What’s so funny?” He asked raising a brow. He took a long drink from the coffee cup in his hand. 

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

disquieting-metamorphosis:

@itsncteasybeinggreen

     EDMOND USUALLY TRIED TO MAKE time to come to the cadetina whenever kenny’s band was performing. nine point five times out of ten, he was there, but if there happened to be a party that got in the way, he had to go entertain. but that was so rare that one could generally bet he was in the bar. he was seated backwards on his stool, his wine glass in his hand, and a smile settled on his face as the song ended. he set his glass down behind him before he clapped, then watched kenny head over after he thanked everyone. “ i liked the ballad in the middle. what was your inspiration? ”

Kenny loved performing at the Cadetina. Not just for the free food that Rich would offer to him, and the band, but the people were also amazing. One in particular would always put a smile on his face when he saw him in the audience. He had spotted Edmond while they were still performing. It felt like forever until their set finished, and he got to thank everyone for listening to them play. He hopped down from the stage, guitar in hand, and walked up to the man. “Wasn’t it obvious? Didn’t hear all the pain and suffering behind the words?” He said with a light laugh as he took a seat next to the other.

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

Closed starter for @get-outofmyhead

Kenny had finished his set at the Cadetina and was now sitting at the bar, nursing a beer. He had started up a conversation with someone he had seen their quite often. “You seriously haven’t heard me play piano before? Next you’re gonna be telling me you haven’t seen me dance before.” He said with a laugh.

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

moimadeline

his tone alone was like a knife in the chest, temporarily leaving her breathless. the only time kenny had ever pulled a tone like that with her was in the hours leading to their break-up, the unwanted memory another stab in the gut. “ it’s okay, ” she responded easily, shrugging. “ it’s been - what - eight, nine years ? you’ve probably got so much going on. ” a gentle laugh. she’d always look on the bright side, at least with him. when he stood, madeline took a tiny step back, giving him room, reminding herself that she wasn’t allowed to get any closer. “ oh, c’mon, you were good at, like, everything. ” he always had a problem with that, being too humble, selling himself short. she wanted to hug him, just touch him, assure him, but that wasn’t her place anymore. it could be. we could try again. “ i came here for my afternoon latte, obviously, ” the blonde responded, nodding to the cafe behind him. “ you just happened to be sitting outside. ” she made it sound so casual, so off-handed, like she hadn’t been thinking about him at all. maybe that was a good thing. “ do you wanna come in ? it’s freezing out here. ” says the girl in the skirt and tights. “ i can buy you a cafe mocha, extra chocolate syrup ? ” that used to be his favorite; it was a wonder she still remembered.

Kenny almost felt bad for the way he was speaking to her, but who could really blame him? The girl who broke his heart was now in front of him trying to act like what happened all those years ago didn’t matter. It almost hurt more that she could just brush it under the rug. Like the fact she hurt him didn’t matter at all. “Yeah, ten years.” He said without thinking. He could never forget the day it happened, so it came as instinct to correct her.

“I--I don’t know... I should probably be getting back to the guys.” He said trying to come up with some sort of excuse. He wouldn’t know what would happen if he spent time with her. Especially if they weren’t going to talk about what happened. His eyes went wide again. He couldn’t believe that she remembered his coffee order from high school. He regained his composure before trying to speak again. “I don’t need you to buy me anything.”

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

Closed starter for @ofponchos

Kenny had decided to stop by to see his good friend Poncho. He was coming under the guise of wanting to practice for a solo gig, but it was actually a duo gig he had set up for the two of them. He loved preforming and practicing with Poncho, so he had thought it was a great idea. His guitar case was gripped tightly in his hand as he hopped up the front steps of Poncho’s house. He knocked lightly before he shifted the weight between his feet. He waited quietly as the winter air blew around him sending a chill down his spine.

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

moimadeline

her grin didn’t falter, because she was still so caught up in seeing him, in pretending, just for a little bit. keep rolling, her told herself in her head, like she was an actress in front of a camera. “ in the flesh ! ” the blonde replied, doing a cutesy little hip pop and laughing. “ oh c’mon, don’t sound so surprised. you know there’s a dinglehopper shop here in apple peak. ” she waved a hand. “ my mom sent me here. ” a lie, though not an unbelievable one - madeline’s mother always did want her out of her hair whenever it came to business, and all her life was these days was business. “ you know how she can be. very PTA in front of the camera, but a total ice queen behind the scenes. ” a pause, a considerable soften. she didn’t have to put on the act with him; never did. “ you’re still playing the guitar, ” she stated, nodding to the acoustic now leaning against the wall, scooting just a bit closer, hands clasping in front of her. “ same band and everything ? ” maybe if she avoided the elephant in the room, he would too.

Kenny could see in her face and hear in her voice that she was trying to avoid what was likely on both of their minds. “Yeah I did, but if I’m being honest I forgot your mom owned them.” His tone was cold. He couldn’t believe she was trying to act like nothing happened between them. He sighed. “Of course she did.” He said under his breath. He stood and placed his hands between him and the wall.

He leaned farther against the wall as she moved closer. He looked down at his guitar for a moment remembering that it was the same one he used to play for her when he asked her out for the first time. “Yeah. It’s really the only thing I’m good at still.” He said offhandedly. “Yup. The guys and I moved out here after graduation.” He paused for a moment. He couldn’t beat around the elephant in the room anymore. “Honestly Maddie, what do you want?”

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

moimadeline

to most residents, apple peak’s light dusting of snow and gentle icy breeze would be cause to bundle up. yes, madeline absolutely stuck out, in her skirt and tights and cardigan, but new york would always be colder. however, she was wearing gloves, and she was craving something warm to drink, so she had taken a break form her spot at the dinglehopper and headed to the tea kettle. the first thing she saw was the guitar. but lots of people play guitar, she reminded herself as she got closer. then she heard the strumming, the definitive notes that were just familiar enough. that’s when her heart kicked into high gear, because she knew the person sitting on the cafe wall, the curly head of hair an achingly-sweet sight. it had been years, but she wasn’t afraid of saying his name out loud, excitement and nostalgia thick in her cadence. “ kenny ? ” the grin was hard to fight. “ kenny, is that you ? ” maybe if she pretended, just for a moment, that she hadn’t wrecked their relationship, he’d play along. maybe they could be happy again.

Kenny heard a voice that made him freeze. His eyes went wide as he looked up from his guitar. Hazel eyes met brown as a million thoughts ran through his mind. He thought back to the last time they had seen each other. The pain of all those years ago, feeling like they just happened yesterday. His gaze moved to look her over. She didn’t seem much different to him even if it had been years since he’s spoken to her. 

“Madeline?” Her name fell from his lips shakily. His tone was full of disbelief. “W-what are you doing here?” He was in such a state of shock that he couldn’t properly form his thoughts into words. He leaned his guitar carefully against the wall before running a hand nervously through his hair. He almost couldn’t believe she was here.

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

⭐️

Kenny thinks Rich is great. He has given Kenny and his band the most jobs they’ve gotten since they moved to Apple Peak. He’s always so nice to them and pays them well. He’s still trying to find a way to pay Rich back for how kind he’s been.

“I’ll play my next gig here for free. It’s to pay back for all the free pizza’s you’ve given the guys and I.”

[itsncteasybeinggreen]

⭐️ (For Remmington)

Kenny enjoys hanging out with Remmington. He just thinks the guy needs to loosen up a little bit. He tries to invite him to all of his gigs in hopes that that will help. Music helps him relax, so he usually gives it as a remedy for all of his friends. 

“Come on dude. We’re playing the Cadetina tonight. You’re coming whether or not I have to drag you out of here myself.”