Gathering Post - Singles' Night (These Are The Times)

[prodigalflame]

The Tavern, as it was called, brought to mind images of faded Tudor quaintness: of whitewashed exterior, black beams, windows barred with cast iron, mulled mead and a fireplace in every room.

In truth, the pub was anything but. Located in one of the gentrifying suburbs, it was a modern bulwark of concrete, iron and glass. The first two stories were the pub proper, and the next ten were apartments. The owners had called it 'The Tavern' in a display of hipster pride, as if it was the only pub that mattered. Snaking through the two levels were a series of pipes, as small-scale brewing took place on site.

It was usually a lively sort of pub, populated mostly by the fussy, the well-off, the well-educated and those that aspired to be, although situated near a tube station meant it also got a lot of randoms peering in to grab a pint. The alcohol menu was diverse, the food menu was dominated by various pulled meats and a cheese board (if anyone cared) and there were probably far too many male graduate students with neckbeards who nodded enthusiastically at each other as they discussed Kant.

Still, on Saturday night it was even more bustling than usual. People stood on the stairs, beers in hand, and chatted. Every seat was taken. The wait staff had their hands full (literally), and moved with ease and grace through the throng to deliver food to tables, and collect numbers and plates.

Tonight there would be music. Tonight there would be bands. Tonight was Singles' Night, a guarantee of no sappy love songs, no heart break, no angst. Two local bands were playing: first there would be a set from The Flamethrowers, with a mix of classic rock and pop standards, and then after a break, there would be an electro-synth duo to allow for dancing well past midnight.

So at about 9pm, patrons were treated to the sight of the first band tuning up. There wasn't really a performance space, so much as a corner on the ground floor of the pub that was currently unoccupied by tables. It was a four-piece band: some shaggy-haired cross between hobo and hipster on rhythm guitar and vocals, a slightly older british caribbean guy in glasses with goatee on double bass, a short-haired woman in her mid-20s on percussion and vocals and a tendency to beat the ever-living fuck out of the drum set, and another woman, more long-haired and willowy, on keyboards and vocals. Mr Hobo-Hipster of the shaggy hair and blond tips sang lead most of the time, but he gave it up for each of the women through their eleven song set, and there were duets. The keyboard was set to produce a more honky-tonk piano sound, and combined with the double bass, most of the covers had a dirty feel to them, all loose chords and guitar slaps. Clearly they'd played together for long enough to have a good feel for each other, which just added to the looseness, the occasional digression or ad hoc solo.

And Mr Hobo-Hipster didn't so much as introduce the band members as say "Hey. We're the Flamethrowers" and then let his guitar speak for itself as they launched into a funked-up version of Money. His voice was a little rough, almost a growl, and his stage presence was contained but not muted. Even without posturing, John made it very clear that he was the driving force behind the band: he didn't preen or strut, he didn't need to, and only the hint of a smirk could be seen around his eyes. There was no grinning, not now: now he was controlled and contained and came off a little bit contemptuous of having to perform. He sang, sure, and he played, and played pretty well, but his focus were the frets of his guitar, the lyrics of the songs. That night, he was sleek and dangerous and full of pride. That night, he had no reasons to smile or grin or show how happy he was: he'd lost those along the way. He was pared back to his disdainful core. Overall, the band was good but not great, and with John being Intense, the performance probably came off somewhere between 'bluesy rock band' and 'satanic death cult'.

Grooving through the set-list for roughly 45 minutes, the Flamethrowers played a series of stripped-back, funked-up covers. Rock the Casbah. a slowed-down take on Time after Time. Versions of Dangerous and Sweet Dreams (are made of this) that were dominated by the keyboards and a sparse double bass. Everybody Wants to Rule the World. John's wry grin came out for a guitar driven, lazy run on Carole King's "It's Too Late", before he paused to finally introduce the band, have some water, and explain that the point was to avoid the melancholic and romantic: to not make anyone feel bad for being single.

Four more songs, and they then closed with Mama Told Me Not To Come, having meandered their way past some INXS, Living End and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

In the end, John thanked the band (again), thanked everyone for showing up, and hoped they passed the audition. As a nicety, he promised there would now be some 'music you can dance to' after a little break, and then disappeared to pack up his guitar and amp and find himself a drink and a quiet corner.

The night went on without him, and that was just fine.

[OOC: Saturday night at an upmarket pub and destination of note. Feel free to show up before, during or after the band. Complain about the noise, the locally brewed artisan beer, the hipster food, the even more hipster band, or just dance the night away.]

Comments

[utterly_mysterious]

Angelique wasn't sure how Fin would find her, but he had said he didn't want too much fuss, and she wanted to give him all the autonomy he deserved. "It's to the left of the bar, back near the wall. Give us a wave if you want a hand," she added, pecking a kiss to his cheek before she pried herself away, not certain it was a good idea to leave him alone.

When she'd said the lone man at the small table was a 'likely sort', what she'd meant precisely was that he seemed the kind of wrapped-tight bundle of nerves that would be made uncomfortable by her. She was absolutely correct in that judgement, and within five minutes of her imposing herself upon him, the man was mumbling excuses and hurrying away, leaving Angelique with a table and two chairs all to herself.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin got the two drinks, then ordered a plate of appetizers and asked they be brought to the table as well. Since his appetite had returned, Fin found he could always eat.

His magic could guide him, and would nudge any sentient obstetrical out of his way. If he were feeling more patient, he'd have made a show of gently knocking into a person or two, but he didn't have the energy for a show. He just wanted to sit and chat. Though even though his magic was showing him where to go, he made a point of nearly going to the wrong table, so as not to appear too suspiciously able.

[utterly_mysterious]

"Just a bit to your right, Fin," Angelique trilled from her spot, rising to get the other chair to a spot that Fin could find it easily. She didn't reach to touch him, lest she knock him off-balance. "Really, you are a marvel. Sit, and I'll pour if you like. I need to hear all the Finlay Flynn news. None of that deadly dull gossip stuff, mind."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin nodded, letting her take the glasses as he sat.

"Just have a lot of practice getting around is all."

[utterly_mysterious]

"Just let me marvel at you," Angelique laughed, warm and affectionate. She took over distributing the glasses once Fin was settled. "So. I do believe your sister attempted to ask me what my intentions were with you," she confided, amusement still lacing her words. "Mind you, I do believe she approves, but she did ask one or two pointed questions about how involved I am in your life."

Of course, Angelique didn't know at the time that Pippa had been curious whether Angelique knew about Fin's supernatural connections -- which she hadn't. One mythological friend at a time was as much as she had managed so far. To Angelique, the conversation had sounded like a typical sister's concern for her brother's heart. To which, naturally, Angelique was no danger.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Really?" Fin asked. "I mean, I'm not shocked she approved, just that she was interested. That part of our sibling relationship is sort of new, to be honest. Growing up I never really dated, and then we were apart for quite some time, so- Well, this is the first time she's known me to have intimate relationships, really. ...Starting with Will, who, erm, she very obviously isn't a fan of."

[utterly_mysterious]

"I promised her that we are friends first and foremost, and I'm absolutely no danger to the state of your heart," Angelique promised him. She tasted the plum wine -- god, that was delicious -- and leaned forward.

"And... what is the party line on the Will question?" she asked, not wishing to sound too delicate or treat Fin like he was fragile. "You know I'm on your side, whatever it is."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"It's complicated," Fin replied quietly, wishing he could tell Angelique everything, but aware that here and now might not be the place to tell her he wasn't exactly human. "I'm living in the flat next door to his, and we're... Working on things. Pippa doesn't approve, but, it is what it is for now."

He shrugged, picking up his glass and taking a sip.

[utterly_mysterious]

Angelique wasn't sure she approved, either, but approval wasn't her job. Supporting Fin was her only goal here. "How is it going? The... 'working on things,' I mean. Is it getting better?"

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I don't know. I have a hard time forgiving what happened. ...And then there's this," he said, gesturing at his eyes. "Doesn't make it easier. He's trying though, he just- He's um... He's a prince. He's a fairy prince," he said, knocking back his wine and then laughing.

"He's a prince, I'm a prince, my sister is a queen, and it's one big bloody mess."

She'd likely think he was joking, and that was fine. He was just sick of talking around it and lying to everyone. Especially the people he cared for.

[utterly_mysterious]

Angelique wasn't quite sure what to think about that, because it seemed so very out-of-the-blue, and she couldn't tell what this... metaphor? confession? ... exactly had to do with the situation at hand. Then again, perhaps even Fin didn't fully know.

"Fin, dearest, I'm not quite sure what you're saying," she said slowly, but not shocked, "but I do know that the way we feel doesn't seem much affected by those kinds of things. This summer I started to fall for someone who confessed to being a vampire. And, you know, my feelings weren't affected by learning that. In fact, just like any normal humdrum crush, the fact he was already seeing someone was a much greater blow.

"I know it's not the same," Angelique added, her attention drifting down to the table top since Fin couldn't see her expression. "I know I don't completely understand, but I do... a little."

[prince_of_nymphs]

A vampire. Hmm, maybe she wouldn't think he was drunk or mad then.

"No, but what he is, in my case, changes things. You said you were seeing a vampire, so you know... You know there's more out there than just people..."

He was fumbling a bit, pawing around mentally to say what he wanted to say- Only now realizing that he might be a bit tipsy.

"I... Sorry. I don't know what I'm doing. Just forget that. Let's not talk about Will. Tell me about this vampire instead," he insisted quietly.

[utterly_mysterious]

Angelique smiled, and it was a strange luxury to smile only for herself, and not to please anyone else. She was glad Fin couldn't see it, for a number of reasons. "Oh, did you order something to eat?" Angelique deterred, as one of the servers came by with a plate for them.

It was a few moments later before Angelique spoke again. Usually she spoke in a tumble of purring and effervescent chatter, even about serious things. Now, her voice was softer and more even, contemplative and hready. Her experience with Kersen had changed her thoughts on many things. "Yes, I suppose I know there's more than just people. He didn't really want to tell me. I didn't know what to believe at first, but... oh, I don't know, Fin." She sighed. "I always thought myself quite unique in the world, and now I know there's far more unusual than myself. I suppose I don't feel... adequate. Worthy of him. I'm twenty and he's over four hundred. What in the world have I got to offer?"

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin was picking at the food, listening closely.

"You don't have to be old to be interesting. Will has years and plenty of experience on me, but he still took an interest. You have more to offer than you know."

[utterly_mysterious]

"Generally, I wouldn't disagree with you," Angelique confirmed. Most of the time, she had a very positive view of what she brought to any relationship -- no matter how temporary. "Only this time, I... don't know. Strange as it sounds, we might be too similar. And, as I said, he already has a lover that I don't know anything about. I think I'm safest remaining his friend. Anything more seems like asking too much. Borrowing trouble."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin nodded in understanding, reaching out to take her hand.

"When you find someone you really care for, you deserve to be their only one anyway."

[utterly_mysterious]

"When I..." Angelique moved her hand so that Fin could find it more easily.

"I keep forgetting that you don't know. So, you're a fairy prince? I'm the slattern in this fairy tale. I've been one since before we met, and I could never find the right words to tell you, but I suppose we're being honest tonight." She sounded sad, and her fingers loosened in Fin's hand, in case he wanted to let go. She didn't think he would. Fin had been a good friend to her. Some things were difficult to handle, though, she knew.

"A dressmaker's stipend doesn't pay the bills, I'm afraid. I'm working the oldest profession in the world, too. I'm not going to be anyone's 'only one.'"

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin listened, brushing his thumb over the back of her knuckles.

"We all do what we have to, but I don't think being what you are means you're never going to find someone. You're lovely, Angelique. You're beautiful and charming, and fun..."

He pulled her hand gently towards his lips, pressing a kiss to it and smiling softly.

[utterly_mysterious]

Fin couldn't see Angelique's small smile, but he could feel the soft squeeze of her hand in his. "Yes, yes, my Prince Charming is out there somewhere. Do you have any fairy princes to spare? They're all quite dashing, charming, and clever, if my experience is anything to go by," she said fondly.

Much like when Kersen had confessed to her, she didn't really know what to think about what Fin had said. Perhaps it was better just to accept everything at face value. The world was wider and deeper than what she had known in the first twenty years of her life. Maybe she would never understand it. At least she'd never be bored.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Honestly, all the fae royals I've met are kind of awful, so I wouldn't advise seeking them out," Fin assured her with a sad smile. "Stick to mortals, maybe? ...Well, making exceptions for the occasional fae and vampire," he added with a wink.

[utterly_mysterious]

"Very occasional," Angelique promised him. "Human men are my specialty, after all. Only I don't think..."

With the conviction of her twenty years, hardly understanding how very little of her life she had lived, Angelique had begun to believe that love was not something she could find. That she was too strange to be loved for everything that she was. This wasn't something Fin would want to hear, though.

"I don't think I'm looking for happily ever after, anyway," she went on in a more carefree tone. "Happy right now works for me."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin smiled sadly, but didn't argue with her. After all, who was he to say what she needed or might desire?

"Then I hope I can aid in maintaining that happiness," he said.

[utterly_mysterious]

"You're a champion at it," Angelique promised, smiling so he would hear it in her voice. It was a bit of a relief that he couldn't see her eyes. "An absolute prince."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin chuckled at that, then shook his head.

"Ah, yes. The Blind Prince. Brilliant at fucking and good for very little else," he quipped, his words betraying how tipsy he might be."

[utterly_mysterious]

Angelique made a quiet sound of disapproval, mostly lost in the noise of the bar. "You've been a good friend to me, Fin. You can count that amid your accomplishments, even if you only count them two."