Shout At The Devil! [Halloween Party] Band members and friends invited

[bangingthe_hellouttayou]

Zack had decided that he wanted to do something for Halloween now that he'd gotten his new costume and being a Spider-Man fan he'd gone for a Spider-Punk costume straight from his comics. He'd gotten it at a local comic store down on the Strip and couldn't wait to show Damien because he knew the Dog didn't have comics or anything fun back in Hunger City. Zack now pleased that he'd arranged a Halloween Party for the band members, their friends and family to attend inside the communal area of the apartments. It was the biggest space and there was a bar all stocked up with spooky drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic alike.

It would be a blast!

There were even spooky snacks with crisps and chips shaped like bats, ghosts and pumpkins. There were even actual pumpkins on a table for those who wished to carve a pumpkin alone or with friends. Zack had tried to make it accessible for all, those who wished to party and get drunk and those who wanted to do non-boozy activities too.

As for costumes---they were optional but preferred.

"Ok, I think that's it. Everyone should be arriving soon."

Zack looking around the room and hoping everyone would like what he had set-up with help from some of the others of course.

Comments

[willoftheblackbird]

Which was, of course, the exact moment when Dee found one remaining little cube. He pulled it out.

Even though most of the international musicians didn’t use the recording ball technology, Dee held onto hope that Tom - being a manager - would know what it was. (He had no idea of the Anthean connections, of course.)

“Here!” He exclaimed excitedly. His arm shook a little as he held it out.

The costume Dee was in, albeit a little messed up from both the party and the unexpected nap, was the same one that was on the cube’s artwork. He was listed as The Prophet. Another man in similar attire was pictured as well, credited as The Mystic. It wasn’t hard to assume that was Jay, the person who wasn’t back yet.

“It’s a demo…” he gulped. “For you… Please…”

[hellomajortom]

Tom took it and knew what it was because he'd heard from others. Now, he had some connections between who this was an the party the night before.

"I'll make sure Ziggy gets it." Tom figured that was who it was for and even if that wasn't the intention, Ziggy made the final choice on who joined the tour and who didn't.

[riff_razor]

Rik set aside the guitar that was in his lap and went to pull out the large flat case that was tucked behind the recliner. Laying it down, he opened it to pull out the pretty blue and purple, metallic two tone electric harp. His harp he wasn't quite as picky about, at least not this one.

"In my school, you can't progress unless you prove proficiency in the instruments or techniques you are learning that year." Which was part of the reason Rik knew so many instruments. "I will be adding saxophone eventually."

He hadn't written that part yet. He started with the harp or guitar parts always because they were easier. He came back over with the harp and sat with the bottom propped on the chair between his legs. "They are ticketed. How many can come for each student depends on how many are in the graduating class."

Rik couldn't guarantee anything because first spaces went to his partner and family. "Do you want to hear what it sounds like?"

Rik had turned the harp into almost another guitar by sound and surely, if these people were composers they'd love to hear it.

[willoftheblackbird]

“For mine, it was a lot more… specialized.” He noted. While he’d certainly learned to compose for a wide variety of instruments, what he demonstrated didn’t have nearly the same kind of breadth as Rik’s recital would.

“I understand. If there are some available, though, we would love the opportunity to purchase a couple and attend.” Jay smiled. He wouldn’t dare down a sneak preview now, though. “Oh, please!”

“I would love to hear what you have so far.” Dee agreed wholeheartedly.

[willoftheblackbird]

Rather than blurting out that he thought Tom was the manager, Dee at least kept his composure to squeak a breathy, yet still very gracious, “thank you!”

He knew there was still a chance that Ziggy wouldn’t listen to it. Or maybe he would, but he wouldn’t like the sound or the visuals. Anything could happen really. But Dee had to keep pushing open doors.

Just thinking about it made him far too excited to even try to go back to sleep.

[alskar_musik]

Johan indeed knew he had to audition first to see if he was suitable for the band with his playing style. Yet, the Swede had hope. He always looked on the bright side because he saw himself as a skilled guitarist.

"I'd love to hear that too and for the band to make it big one day."

That in itself would be pretty fucking epic.

"Looks like we need an audition set up for me and Karl to play together perhaps? Of course Rex deserves an audition too."

Johan believed that after the party finished he could work something out with Dee and Jay.

[willoftheblackbird]

“If you two want to audition together, I think we can work something out.” Jay mused aloud. It would be a good opportunity to hear how well they’d play with each other. And if they were both in the band, that was going to be rather important.

They would definitely be in touch after the party to nail down specifics.

[hellomajortom]

"Of course." Tom mentioned. He could see that Dee was tooo awake to return to sleep.

"We're about to get a late dinner. Would you like to join us?" Tom knew Tommy wouldn't mind, nor would Damien if he decided to make an appearance.

[riff_razor]

"Specialized?" Rik asked curiously. "Did you start in music before college?"

Rik didn't often meet others who had formal schooling and wanted to know how different it was in this country. "I should know in January."

Rik stood up and started adjusting the back strap for the harp. "I'm writing for a standard harp but I started a new song for the Hammers for the electric."

He took some time to make sure it was tuned still and then played a few riffs on the harp. Riffs was the most apt words since the Dane made it sound more like an electric guitar through tuning and plucking style than most would.

[Some references to how Rik plays the electric harp.]

[hungercity_hellhound]

"Have you ever seen Davon and Rekker get into rock paper scissors battles?" Damien had and it reminded him more of the children he taught than men 10 years or more his senior.

"I'm not interested in any of thier stripping games." He saw enough of that to survive that it lost some of the fun.

[willoftheblackbird]

A dinner with one of the most important figures in the music industry?! How on earth could Dee say no to that!!

“I would love to, yes.” He nodded eagerly, before reality reared its head.

It took a lot of effort to move his legs over the side of the sofa bed. Which probably didn’t go unnoticed by anyone watching. He knew he’d hit the point where they wouldn’t support him for very long. If at all. But of course, he wasn’t going to turn down that invitation.

Dee felt torn. He wanted to make a good impression, and so many potential managers, label executives and even bandmates looked at a wheelchair and lost any desire to back him. But he couldn’t exactly make a good impression by collapsing on the ground within seconds of standing up.

“But… I may need a small favor first.” He interjected. “There’s a wheelchair… somewhere in the main room. Close to the entrance. Could someone please… get that for me?“

[willoftheblackbird]

“Every instrument, or group of instruments in some cases, has its own four year program.” He explained. Major instruments like piano and guitar, and if memory served him right, even harps, had their own separate degrees. But there were programs for brass instruments, for string instruments, etc., as well. And of course, there was an entirely separate program for voice. He couldn’t help but wonder, now, how different it was overseas.

“I actually went through a program that offered music composition and performance together… I wanted to write my own music. And be the one actually out there on stage too.” He had a feeling Rik could relate to that. “I had piano lessons for years growing up. And sang in a couple choirs, like at school or at church. But… no… right before college, I… um… couldn’t do much of anything.”

A few riffs on that harp were a very welcome interruption. As were Jay’s protective hands on the back of his shoulders.

[itmeanstruth]

“No… and I think I might be happy about that.” He admitted, after all the ridiculous stripping games he sometimes found himself in. And the one where he didn’t and they still ended up stealing his clothes for some reason anyway. And all the towels in the gym. Seriously, Minoru really hated that prank.

“I’m just gonna stick to the little lobby parkour challenges. Or racing hotel room furniture down ramps. Gotta admit that was a lot of fun too.”

[Parkour hopscotch. Be on the lookout for it in a future visit.]

[riff_razor]

"Ours is structured differently." Rik could see the benefits to both though he thrived under the conditions in his Danish program. "Our degrees are based on a concept; music theory, composition, electronic music... and then every year or two, depending on the program, master an instrument that we continue to use as we progress."

Rik understood that the program he chose was intense but he wouldn't have it any other way. "I knew piano, flute and guitar before I started my degree in classical composition." He wasn't going to start talking about why he was so proficient at a young age. He had a love hate relationship with that part of his life.

"I started with performance when I was still in my secondary. When I went to the Academy of Music, my first was classical music, then Electronic music and sound arts, now I am finishing Rhythmic composition and music theory." Rik was interested in the comparison between programs. Rik wasn't much for talking about his earlier life either for different reasons. However, Rik was a prodigy of sorts with music, mostly due to some mental divergence and probably undiagnosed synesthesia.

"Ansgar showed me the music you gave him." Rik thought a change of topics was in order for both of them.

[hellomajortom]

Tom does notice and it isn't until Dee mentions the wheelchair that Tom realizes it is something health or physical related and not booze, exhaustion or something similar that is causing the issues.

"I'll get it." Tom had no problem, nor did he think less of people for physical limitations. At least Dee was more hospitable than when Vars' leg started acting up and limited his mobility. After a moment Tom returned with the wheelchair and offers what support Dee needs or will accept to get into the chair.

"Are you ok with vegetarian?" Tom asked while they were getting situated.

[willoftheblackbird]

While Dee may have his moments, limited mobility wasn’t usually his complaint. He’d had time to adjust to the gradual decline. Where he was physically was the natural end result of choices he made, choices that he still stood by.

“Thank you…” Dee was slow to push himself off the sofa bed. Those thin legs shook, and he gripped onto Tom for support in addition to stability. Sitting down wasn’t exactly graceful either, but he made it there.

“No… I don’t mind at all.”

[hellomajortom]

Tom didn't mind assisting. How many drunk rockstars had he helped up over the past year? Tom had lost count.

"This is Ziggy's uncle, Thomas Newton." Tom knew uncle wasn't quite the right term since Tommy was his wife's uncle but it was close enough. Tom takes his time turning the chair and pushing it toward the door. They were heading down to visit Robert who was cooking for them this evening.

[willoftheblackbird]

Their programs were surprisingly different in how they were structured. Jay, who merely minored in music while working toward a nursing degree, had a different experience altogether.

When Rik mentioned Ansgar, both of them cocked their heads.

“…He did?” Dee asked warily.

Jay let out a sigh. He was afraid that might happen. In addition to not wanting their new projects spreading around, they were looking for Ansgar’s take on it, not anyone else’s. And certainly not a musical prodigy’s.

[willoftheblackbird]

Dee settled into the chair and looked up. While he wasn’t as familiar with Ziggy as everyone else here, he interpreted the family resemblance when it was pointed out. After all, they both had red hair and a very similar build. Unfortunately, the name didn’t ring a bell on its own quite yet.

“Pleased to meet you.” He weakly held out his hand.

[riff_razor]

"What I could see of it while he was waving the paper in my face waiting for Aarne to pull his back up kit out of storage." Rik didn't think there was anything wrong. From his perspective. Ansgar's behavior was a positive. Anything that wasn't drinking until he couldn't think was a good thing. Rik would take the hyperactive madness over the drunken stupor any time.

"He's been.. better since he played for you." Rik mentioned and there's an unspoken thank you in the tone of the Dane's voice. It had been years since he saw Ansgar sober for more than a few hours. The past few days made Rik feel more hopeful about his cousins, and himself, healing from their past.

[willoftheblackbird]

As Rik continued, both Dee and Jay’s expressions shifted immediately. It wasn’t what they first thought.

Dee smiled. Jay laughed, ruffling his fiancé's hair. “Sounds like something you’d do, honestly.”

Jay liked Ansgar a lot. He saw enough similarities between personalities that they’d likely work well together, and be able to build off each other. That could work in the negative direction too, as they discovered the night of the City Charms show. But Jay could pull Dee out of those spirals easily now. He wasn’t worried about their potential new drummer.

“We’d asked him… not to collaborate on it with anyone else before the audition.” Dee explained their initial misunderstanding. “I’m glad he’s excited. We’re excited to hear what he does with it… how he sounds with us. I sincerely hope he will be the drummer we’ve been looking for.”

[riff_razor]

"Mikkel told me." Rik confirmed. "The only thing I did was told him what one of the notations meant. Ansgar was trained in theater and pyrotechnics, not music."

Rik didn't think that crossed any lines. Ansgar had to understand what he was playing off of if he was going to build on it. Rik hadn't even listened to him drumming to avoid any interference with the natural process, though he could hear him playing through the walls of the apartment and liked what he heard.

"I hope so too." Rik agreed. "Mikkel has been going on and on about how good of a drummer his brother is, to everyone." Rik chuckled because he was the quiet one. Though subdued when he was drunk, Ansgar and Mikkel had the same sort of high energy and mischief. It was good to see it coming back to the older Dane.

[iamjustvisiting]

Tom watched Tommy stare at the extended hand with a raised brow. After all this time Tom could still see the alien in Newton even if the humans just saw strange quirks.

Tom stopped pushing to wait and eventually Newton did reach out and gingerly take Dee's hand. His hands were even slimmer and more delicate than Dee's, and cool to the touch. Tommy didn't say anything when he let go and walked away toward the hall.

Tom shook his head and sighed before speaking quietly to Dee. "He's like that, quiet." Tommy was probably lost in some kind of thought over something or another. They were going to the apartment Robert and Erik shared, though Erik was off passed out with some of the others right now. Robert however was up and cooking.

[hungercity_hellhound]

Damien shook hie head. "It's funny watching them act like the pups." Which was an apt description of how the older musicians sometimes picked at each other. Damien found it endearing since he didn't have friends that had been in his life that long, not now.

"I heard about the chair skateboards with Aarne at the parking garage." That wasn't the only thing Damien had heard about but certainly one he was sad to have missed out on.

[willoftheblackbird]

Neither Jay nor Dee saw that as crossing any kind of line. It was about as innocuous as looking up a word in a dictionary while you were reading.

“I’m quite interested in tapping into his theatrical knowledge too…” Dee added. Ansgar really would be a valuable asset to their band. “I want to create an experience… not just an album. There’s sound and vision. Together.”

“Our costumes tonight are actually for our stage personas.” Jay added.

“I have so many ideas for a live show… but no idea how to put that kind of spectacle together.”