”Was, she’s dead now.” Carrick said flatly as he turned his attention back to the guitar in hand if there was something interesting on it. It was an awkward conversation topic and Carrick didn’t do sad, at least that’s what he kept telling everyone.

”Happened a bit ago so it’s fine. She was sick fer years, actually the reason I moved back home was to care fer her. But with her gone and me being in the prime of me youth again decided it was best to come back and finish school.” that was in short what had happened. He didn’t recall all the details but the note he left for himself was enough to go by.

”So we are starting a band then?” Carrick asked trying to change subject back to a more lighthearted one. ”Beasty boys is already taken though.” he said with a sigh, ”What lies below?” he asked plucking a few stings as he thought out loud. ”Tame the beast?” he snapped his fingers and looked up to Rowan, ”Gotta be a good drummer with a name like that!” he smirked.

”What about Lovesickpuppies?” he asked chuckling at Rowan’s expense.

The younger shifter's eyes widened when Carrick mentioned his mother was dead. Rowan looked away, embarrassed he had even brought it up. And worse was that she had been sick, for a long time. He mentally facepalmed, completely frozen in the conversation. The most he could do was mutter a soft "M-my condolences..."

Luckily Carrick was able to change the subject. Rowan let out a nervous laugh, trying to dispel his anxiety.

"Yeah...I'd jam with you...a band could be fun!" Besides, Ms. Gemma had suggested he try to get into an extra-curricular. He quietly nodded along to Carrick's naming suggestions, until he got to the last one. Rowan immediately became a blushing mess, glaring over at Carrick.

"N-no way! We need a tough and hardcore name for our band! Girls...love tough and hardcore!" Rowan said, completely unaware if girls really were into more intense bands. "Like...like...Fangs N Claws! Or...Wild Beasts...Or...or the The new Beasty Boys!"

He crossed his arms in front of his chest, huffing. "And I'm not lovesick! Or a puppy for that matter!" He sat up a little taller, trying to seem bigger.

”No need. It’s fine. She ain’t suffering anymore. Not much I could do about it then. Even less now.” he didn’t ask about Rowan’s family. The younger shifter would have brought it up if it was important. Things like that didn’t really concern Carrick too much not having the best relationship with his other immediate family would do that to you. His thoughts about his mother could be heard in the most recent string of cords.

Carrick smirked at the younger shifters response, ”Look at you. Two minutes in a band and ya already know what the fairer sex likes.” Carrick chuckled. ”Good fer you.” the names caused him to raise his eyebrow and flash his teeth more this time laughing.

”Problem with that is I’d probably ruin me voice screaming into the mic if were supposedly tough.” he cleared his throat and roared glad there wasn’t a microphone around. It was a short lived one but he wasn’t exactly looking at Rowan due to some head banging as his fingers ran up and down the instrument quickly.

”Add some Z’s and it’s a given!” he nodded his head, before going back to teasing, ”Love struck? Crushin?” he asked teasing a bit more.

Rowan listened to the somber music Carrick played as he talked about his mother. Rowan just nodded, not sure what to say. He couldn't really...relate to having a positive relationship with a mother figure, but there was no need to mention that.

The roar, as short as it was, took Rowan off guard. It was hard to talk Fluffy out of this. That roar was a display of power, a direct threat. Roar back. Be louder. Show your teeth. Tear out his throat. Rowan could feel his teeth growing, his muscles flexing. The head banging, and the guitar riff, pulled Rowan back into reality. Carrick wasn't threatening him. Carrick was joking around. He was just trying to act like a rockstar. Not a threat. Rowan took a shaky breath, trying to focus on his own thoughts and not the thoughts of his beast.

Shortly after Carrick went back to playful teasing. For some reason it bothered him more than before, but that was probably his beasts doing. A growl rose in the back of his throat, which he quickly tried to cover with a cough. Rowan glanced over at Carrick, eyes red.

"Fine...fine we can have a mushy name. Like Beasts of Love or Heartbeats or something."

He stuck out his tongue, playfully, showing jagged teeth.

"But we gotta have a cool logo."

”Heartbeasts?” Carrick asked after clearing his throat. The roar made it scratchy again, one the reasons he wouldn’t make it as a ‘screamer’. He’d lose his voice and if you’re a performer... why? ‘Fight!’ Carrick smacked his chest distracting himself and then looked back to Rowan whose eyes were red again. Was he crying? The Irishman didn’t ask. Music affected everyone differently.

”I found those with a more approachable name hav’a stronger fanbase.” he said his tail flicking while his pupils turned to slits. Beasty was on edge. Carrick averted his gaze and started to pluck the strings again moving his fingers about with less head banging thankfully. It gave him a headache.

”Only needs ta be a rough draft though. Ya worry about rebranding when ya make it and sell out right? Can’t wait.” he smirked his tail flicking behind him. ”Never have to worry about when yer next meal is coming from or what grades ya got in school. That’s the dream.” he chuckled flashing his teeth back at Rowan.

”Yer more than welcome to come up with it pending approval of course.”

The younger shifter was pleading with his beastial side to get over himself. It seemed like everything Carrick was doing was angering him. The flicking tail, his pupils dilating, showing his teeth. It didn't help that he was still feeling embarrassed about revealing his crush and the strange emotions that came with discussing the downsides of their mutation.

Rowan swallowed, trying to ignore the trashing in his head. "Heartbeasts...yeah that's good...it's tough and cute...and kinda punny." Rowan could feel the rumbling of a growl start in the back of his throat, prompting the boy to clamp his mouth shut.

"I've got to...I should...leave." Rowan was able to spit out, words slightly slurred around his jagged teeth. He stood up, feeling a little dizzy. His heart was racing, muscles twitching. His body was ramping him up for a fight, a fight he didn't want to have. He hunted over slightly, trying to remind himself to stay small.

"But...uh...thank you, for all the advice that is. I'll be a bad boy, but also authentic, and I'll take her on a study..." He couldn't say date. "Study hang out...thing."

After a moment of hesitation he grabbed the drumsticks, hoping they would be a visual reminder to work on his rhythm.

"Maybe...next week...we can do this again? Band practice I mean...after class?" He nervously scratched at his arm with too-sharp nails. "I'll...try to sketch out a logo by then."

”Course it is. I thought of it.” Carrick said chuckling to himself. ”And I happen to be at least two of ‘em so it works out even better.” he joked turning down the amp an playing a bit softer now that there was no drumming.

The thief’s ears perked at the start of a growl having stopped himself so many times he new the signs and the hand clamping to his mouth shut. ”Don’t worry I’m sure people will find ya cute.” he offered trying to lighten the mood. ”Do what ya need to.” he nodded his head. Sometimes it was easier to leave than argue with yourself. Especially when the other self is furred.

Carrick’s eyes fixed on Rowan for a moment, ‘Fight!’ his tail flicked in response and he fought the urge to move quickly towards the kid before he went full beast. His fingers moved instead strumming on the softer strings trying to distract his own beast. He knew Rowan was struggling with his own. ”Date.” he corrected the younger shifter who was stumbling over his words.

”Be clear on yer intention with her. Ya like her. Be up front. That way ya know yer not wasting each others time.” he said nodding his head sagely shutting his eyes trying to get them back to normal.

”Aye, sounds like a plan, ya might need to remind me. Really bad at planning things in advance.” his wings opened a bit and his tail flicked, ”No part of me is good at it.” he laughed glad his eyes were back to normal. ”Be sure to get some practice in! Make it loud and be confident! On yer date as well!” Carrick shouted so the word date could be heard further away only to play it off by jamming on the guitar.