The Gift
Daniel's Storyline, Chapter 4.4
copyright comidacomida 2018
Kon shrugged. "Well... each Spirit type has a certain degree of leeway when it comes to creation-- I bet if Bat Boy there really tried he could probably manage a new creation inspired by something Humans have already done... and Talapus is incredibly creative when it comes to trickery and misdirection, while--"
The Coyote leaned back in his chair, twirling a drum stick around between his fingers. "True... true..."
Before Kon had a chance to continue I called him on his own information. "Well, what about you Kon? How can Yokai be creative? Maybe we can still figure something out."
Herne's response was accompanied by a no-nonsense scowl. "Yokai can create life, with a Human's help."
That thought blew me away and I was struck dumb for what felt like the longest time. After my brain restarted I tried to puzzle out what the Elk meant. "You can, Kon? You can make new life?"
The Fox shot Herne a dirty look before slowly turning to face me. "Sure, Danny... same as a Human can do. Out of all the Spirits, only Yokai can have offspring."
Although that was strangely unique in its own right it didn't have the same mind-numbing power as what I'd been imagining in my mind. "Oh... wow... that's pretty cool."
We sat in silence for time I didn't bother counting. What had originally started as a night about music and the opportunity to relax by doing some jamming had pretty much self-destructed. After dwelling on that thought for a moment I realized that we hadn't actually gotten around to Herne, so I looked at the Stag and asked "So... what about you, Herne? How does your kind of Spirit create?"
The Elk calmly set his guitar off to the side and stood up. Without saying a word, Herne walked over to me and took a seat on the stool across from me. Staring me straight in the eye, he stated calmly. "Like Aiden, I am a Glamour Spirit... but, unlike Aiden I have been around long enough to realize my full potential. I do not feel the need to show off, so we leave it at that."
The Stag couldn't have instigated with Kon more than if he had tried-- or, perhaps, that WAS him trying. The Yokai stood up and pointed at Herne. "Oh come on! Now you're just playing with him. He asked, so tell him! All of us did!"
Talapus wasn't about to be outdone. "Right. After all, it's only fair, and you've been all about 'fair' since we first got together."
Herne remained completely unaffected by the peer pressure. "No. You only want me to tell him because you do not know the limits of my capabilities. If Daniel truly wishes to know then I will expect him to ask me again."
With four sets of Spirit eyes on me and the unanswered question still hanging in the air, how could I have NOT wanted to know the answer? Looking back, I think maybe that was Herne's whole point of being evasive. Either way, it worked. "Come on, Herne... I really DO want to know about your creativity. If we can't come up with something as part of a jam session then at least I--"
The Elk reached out and rested his hand above my head, not quite touching it (not that he could have, considering the fact that he was a Spirit and all). I felt that little tingle the accompanied someone invading my personal space but I remained where I was, awaiting an answer that apparently began with the extension of an arm. When he finally spoke, it was not an answer, rather, it was an order. "Pick up your guitar again, Daniel, and I will show you how I embody creativity."
Even more curious than when we'd started, I obeyed the request and put the strap around my neck before looking at him. "Okay... so what does this have to do with your--?"
He interrupted my question with another direct demand. "Play."
It wasn't exactly a very clear demand. "Play what?"
His answer didn't help much. "A song. The first thing that comes to mind."
To be honest, the first thing that came to mind was some quality, old time Queen. Although that's how I started my plan, that isn't what ended up coming out the instrument. My fingers moved of their own volition, following a pattern that I somehow knew by heart, yet have never recalled hearing before. Herne remained at my side and, before I knew it, I was singing along with lyrics I had never heard and yet seemed second nature, as if I'd known them for my entire life.
"Long ago I was free; the world opened to me
cuz I never realized how closed it was.
Now clearly I see; everything has a fee.
It's no better when you're older because:
Oh, oh, oh, it's impossible.
Oh, oh, oh, undeniable.
Oh, oh, oh, irrefutable.
Oh, oh, oh: because that's life."
Remaining by my side, Herne simply turned toward the others who, in turn, nodded, and, before I knew it, everyone was at their instruments and the joined in for the next stanza. Still bewildered at the sudden appearance of a song that I knew had never been played coming right out of me like some kind of music-writing prodigy, I let go completely and gave into what I was playing, singing as I did so. The Spirits were flawless in presenting the entirety of the music as I'd apparently imagined it.
"But now what I dread: in ninety years I'm dead
never having a chance to leave my mark.
Cuz I'd made my bed: it got stuck in my head.
I just couldn't be made to understand:
Oh, oh, oh, it's not fixable.
Oh, oh, oh, irreversible.
Oh, oh, oh, reprehensible.
Oh, oh, oh: because that's life."
Even as I changed up the chord for the post-refrain build up the three Spirits playing along took it all in stride, as if they were somehow just as familiar with the song as I was. At that point, I let loose, rocking out a solo before I increased the tempo for a shout out; Talapus didn't miss a beat.
"What does it all mean? What was this all for?
Why am I staring out the window instead of walking out the door?
How can this be it? There's so much out there!
I'm sitting here trapped in my own mind-- knowing that this just can't be fair!
Oh, oh, oh, it's untouchable.
Oh, oh, oh, inescapable.
Oh, oh, oh, unachievable.
Oh, oh, oh: because that's life."
Coming to the end of the song, I played my heart out, the volume rising in the studio room as the Spirits matched the rapidly approaching crescendo, and they added their own voices in, harmonizing just exactly as I heard it in my head.
"Oh, oh, oh, it's impossible.
Oh, oh, oh, not fixable.
Oh, oh, oh, it's untouchable.
Oh, oh, oh, because that's life.
Because that's life.
Why would I want that life?
There must be more to life!
Why can't I get a life?"
And all music ended as I was left singing the last line with all the angst and gritty semi-spoken verse of a 90s grunge band. "... because that's life."
As I stood there panting, looking down at my guitar and my fingers that had just played the song for the first time, I realized that every last word, every last chord, and the kick-ass guitar solo in the middle were as familiar to me as any of the songs I've bothered learning to play. It took a minute for me to regain my senses but, when I did, I looked up at Herne and his expression remained unreadable. He stated simply "All of my creation must be channeled through a Human... but that is only a fraction of what I can do, Daniel."
The statement blew my mind; even if he was trash talking for the benefit of the other spirits, or over exaggerating, what I'd experienced had already blown my mind. Taking a deep breath, I--
b) -- strummed a few chords from the song I'd just-- written? When Herne looked back at me I asked "Do you think maybe we try another song?"
c) -- slowly sat down, exhaling. "Wow... so... you're some kind of muse or something?"
d) -- looked around at all of the Spirits then back to Herne. "Okay... even if I have to set aside the whole spontaneous song creation, I still want to know how THEY all knew how to play it and what parts to do too."
e) -- shrugged, shaking out the surprise before I addressed the Elk. "That's cool and all... but, maybe next time you coulda just told me?"
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[I]I'm comfortable with my own superiority but I show off all the time.[/I]
That's because you're you, Kon.
[I]...because that's life?[/I]
Quiet, you.