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[nohalfway]

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[shittybirthday]

[ Playing music reminds him of simpler days, better days, which is why he's taken so long to play anything at all. He's not about to admit that to Ellie, though. He just gives a one-shouldered shrug, never being too good at taking compliments.

But then he looks over at Ellie and sees the smile on her face, and while it's been so damn hard knowing how to talk to her or how to make life return to how it used to be between them, his mouth quirks at the corners with a hint of fondness and he reaches his hand out to affectionately give her hair a small ruffle. ]

[nohalfway]

[ Ellie wrinkles her nose at the ruffle of her hair, shoulders hiking a tad in protest. She snorts as she whacks away his arm. ]

Hey, I'm being serious.

[ She's thoughtful, grateful as she looks back to him. ]

Did you practice before showing me?

[shittybirthday]

[ He knows she's being serious. He's just... really awkward and trying not to be.

But did he practice? He nods. ]

Practiced at Jesse's so you wouldn't hear me.

[nohalfway]

[ Her smile brightens at that. ]

No way, you've been rehearsing this whole time?

[shittybirthday]

'Course. I'd be makin' mistakes all over the place if I didn't. Didn't want to give you a crappy performance.

[nohalfway]

[ She grabs at his arm, playfully tugging at it. ]

Holy shit, Joel, really?

Okay, okay.

Your debt is totally repaid. That was awesome!

[shittybirthday]

[ It makes his chest do a slight painful twist to hear her mention his debt but Joel gives a kind of long-suffering sigh at Ellie tugging on his arm all the same. It's not without a hint of looking glad, though, perhaps even a little chuffed. ]

Pretty sure I could teach you how to play it if you wanted. Bunch of other stuff, too.

[nohalfway]

[ She stops tugging at him a second, looking up at Joel with a questioning look. ]

Am I missing out on another gift-giving holiday I wasn't aware of before? Is this like another birthday thing?

Because my birthday was over a month ago, Joel. And it's not Christmas.

[shittybirthday]

Gonna take it that means you're interested?

[ He sounds more hopeful than he means to. Jesus, he's willing to try anything to try and mend things between Ellie and himself. ]

[nohalfway]

Um-- Yes?

[ She shuffles again in her seat, excitably as she scoots closer to sit next to Joel. Ellie looks to the guitar and back to him. ]

Okay, so what happens first?

[shittybirthday]

[ With the slightest hint of a smile tugging on the corners of his mouth, he lifts the guitar away from his lap and hands it over to Ellie. ]

First... rest the guitar on your thigh the way I was holdin' it.

[nohalfway]

Okay.

[ Ellie does just as she's told, placing the curve of the guitar on her thigh while her left hand holds the neck. ]

Like this?

[shittybirthday]

[ Joel gets up from the bed and steps around to crouch down in front of Ellie. He reaches up to unclamp the capo and sets it aside. ]

We'll start with somethin' easy. A chord. Forefinger, middle finger, ring finger: place 'em over... [ A hand stretching forward to point at the second fret. ] The D string, G string and B string.

[nohalfway]

[ Ellie has never made an attempt at playing an instrument. She's read about it before, maybe picked up a book or two about how to play the guitar as a beginner. But that was a long time ago, and this is just as foreign now as it was then. ]

[ She crouches over, eyes looking to the fretboard and placing her fingers where he tells her to. ]

All...Right.

Uhh... Forefinger, middle...

[ She makes the shape of an A-chord, though her fingers are small and don't bend right. Ellie's thumb is sloppily curling over the neck, pressed on the sixth string incidentally. ]

[shittybirthday]

That's it. Bit tricky at first 'cause your fingers aren't used to it, but you'll get the hang of it with practice. Now, just strum down with the tip of your forefinger.

[nohalfway]

[ This is insanely... Difficult? Ellie's hands are tense and she's pretty sure she isn't gripping this thing right. But she does as she's told, strumming downward on the strings. Just as expected, there isn't even close to a pleasant sound. There's an obnoxious buzz and clapping sound, which Ellie wrinkles her nose at and laughs. ]

Eugh-- Uck, that sounded bad.

That was really bad.

[ She lets go and shakes out her hand, reaching around again to try it a second time. ]