#((also this is totes Rhodes seeing he has feelings for his best friends ;3;))

[ducknotinarow]

[Rhodes, Buddy, Charlie - a totally random coincidence uwu]

When Buddy found out about what happened with Rhodes, they couldn't stop thinking about it. They were even grinding their beak over it, unable to just let it go. They even went on to tell Charlie about it, mostly venting about how a parent could do that to a child! It was there, between them, they hatched a plan. A surprise. They would save up every penny they could and get Rhodes their instruments back! Somehow...they knew they could ask their parents for help, but, they wanted to put in the effort - for their friend.

So, it took a while, a good couple of months of working their feathers off, but they were still able to afford the electric guitar that got sold. The drums would come later; they got one out of two done.

-

"C'mon Rhodes, you're gonna love it," Buddy grinned, leading both Rhodes and Charlie up the stairs, "It's a surprise, just for you."

Buddy was giddy themselves, doing their best not to just spoil the surprise. Leading them straight to the music room, Buddy threw open the door, letting Rhodes and Charlie inside. Resting against the piano, was a jade green electric guitar, with Rhodes name printed on the side. Buddy gestured towards it,

"Ta-Da!" Buddy laughed, "We got you your guitar back!"

"Well...we doubt it's the exact same one your dad sold..." Charlie comments, "But we hope you like it as much..."

"Well, what do you think?" Buddy asks

| muse interaction [part one]

Rhodes was a few things, he was pretty blunt and didn't fully hold back his thoughts. Full of opinions and well he made them known as well. Could blame this side from the way he was raised by his father a harsh critic himself. Throw in the fact the boy was smart and often made to feel in the right? well it was just the right mixture to create the mess that was the owl-pegion. But like himself being mixed species he had other interests past just knowing what was good like food and drinks and even fashion. Rhodes also had a love for music. Sparked by his mother from when he was young. Introduced to the best of the best of music because of his mom. It was what she claimed helped spark her inspiration for art. Always playing the old glam rock bands loud and proudly. So she started to give him her old CDs she would burn the music on to. Even with his mother being so far away after the divorce. It was like having her near by. Maybe that is why music became a passion.

Not that it matters what it meant to him. His step mother turly fit the bill on the wicked step mother trope. Complaining anytime he touched his drum set, he'll even when he got headphones for his guitar! But now she just blew up every time he even just thought about playing! When his brother was a hatchling sure he could understand the claims of interrupting their naps and such. But when they got older? Sudden it was giving her headache and whatever bullshit she are up with. Often getting his Dad to scold him and tell him he couldn’t practice in the house. Fine! He wouldn’t he went else where, and played for hours like the pier, or around the town just anywhere he could hell he even got a gig or too in some coffee shops. And maybe he got a bit carried away. Maybe he stayed out too long and missed an assignment here and there And Maybe when Karine got stuck answering a call from the school only to be annoyed? Rhodes shouldn’t have told her to bite shit. And it shouldn’t been a surprise when he came home from school to find his instruments just gone. Sold. Just like that, Rhodes wasn’t sure what hurt most. His dad agreeing to it? Or the fact the drums were a gift from him. He never had the heart to tell his mom what happened.

It wasn’t worth the fight that would break out between them and maybe? Maybe he was tried of all of that. Maybe he could just take this sacrifice. If he just gave it up then, that would end the fighting between him and Karine. Which would end the spats between his mom and dad over it all. Because, his mother was always on his side. Which just made more trouble at his dad’s. Yeah maybe it was for the best. But? Rhodes was kind of known for being a music guy. Hell he scored a few dates because he could play. Guy like musicians too after all. So when he got asked to help out tje school band in a pinch?

More trouble. He spent a few days with Buddy's family till things blew over. He really didn't want to turn to his mom because well then she would know what happened. But he did let it slip to Buddy what happened and honestly? He didn't know Buddy could be mad. Did feel nice though having someone on his side in that whole mess. But it wouldn't compare to now.

And we'll it's why he had gotten three tickets for the school performance. On the off chance he felt lole asking Charlie and Buddy to go. His mom was going she could pick them up. Maybe. The show was that weekend. When Buddy called to see if he could stop into the city though? He brought them he needed.to give his mom her ticket anyway.

"C'mon Rhodes, you're gonna love it,"

Buddy was sunny as always, smiling wide and looked like he might pop from the excitement. So course Rhodes followed along with Charlie who seemed equally as excited in his own way. Interesting?

"It's a surprise, just for you."

"For me?" Rhodes tried sharing a stare with charile to see if he could gain a hint here at all. But nothing. He tried to rack his mind a second to take a guess. Unable to think of any reason for a surpise? A but familiar with the house by now he did notice they were heading towards the music room. Buddy's Dad Bailey was a musician himself. Piano and the violin he believed was what that room housed in it?

Still didn't give him much answer on why they were going there? Rhodes didn't know squat about either of those instruments? Maybe this was some werid bonding moment? Like friends do? An attempt to cheer Rhodes up over everything going on? Well the guestuer was nice but not needed.

Course that wasn't the surpise. "Alright but I gotta get to my-" words dying out ready for an excuse to be givin when his eyes landed on it. A jade green electric guitar. Propped up against the grand piano on the room. It almost nearly matched his own why it took him a second to react to it at all. But Buddy wasted no time to reveal the surpise.

"Ta-Da!" Buddy laughed, "We got you your guitar back!"

"You?" Was all that came out from Rhodes own beak at the time.

"Well...we doubt it's the exact same one your dad sold..."

Of course it wouldn't be, he tried to get it back the day it happened to no avail. The guy at the shop from the receipt he was so kindly given by his step mom, said his stiff was gone. Top teir shit so course it went fast in a pawn shop. But it nearly looked the same!

"But we hope you like it as much..."

"I.." again words just were not forming as they would normally. Left to simply walk into the room and get a closer look. It wasn't the same the excat same but it was the right model and color even. But what stood out most? His name was on it. Which deceeases resell value. He sure putting his name on it was more just to add to the gesture for some reason Rhodes was unable to guess the meaning behind. Moving to pick it up still at a loss for words he slipped the strap over and around his neck and felt over the strings. Taut of course because it was newer and odd tingle of excitement came across his fingers. Recalling the pain and blisters he got from learning. A little quicken pace to his heart as he strummed across the cords.

He forgot how that felt.

"Well, what do you think?"

Rhodes stood quite for a moment. What did he think? for someone not to shy away from stating his thoughts for once he couldn't form a single one. Rhodes deep down loved both his parents he did but some where along the way it was like they both sort of just forget about Rhodes. His dad remarried started a new life. Before encouraged his quest for music. Now? he selling what he loved most and claiming it a waste of time? His mom was better sure but in her time being single it's been about finding who she was and such so much so she barely seems phased by Rhodes lack of interests. Doesn't help he says nothing of course. But Buddy and Charlie? they went out of their way and got him this? Rhodes felt a warmth hit his cheeks. They didn't have too. At best he thought this friendship would last a few months at best. But now? He finds himself chocked up, wiping at his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt.

"Think, it's better than my last one actually Buds and Char." Needing a second before he turned to face them. Smiling softly he had no idea how to even say thank you. As he looked at the pair of them, and lowers his gaze down to the gift. Feeling over it. It felt right. "Thanks really you really didn't have too. You two better be ready to tell me your favorites songs though. Only right the first thing played on this beauty is the favorite songs from my favorite people ever." Sentiment wasn't truly his thing. Suddenly he recalled the tickets. "Ya know, im pretty good on the drums too." He reached into his pocket so to hold the tickets out to the pair of them. "if ya free this weekend that is, was hoping you guys might wanna check it out?"