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]

“Four?” He exclaimed. “It’s hard enough wrapping my head around one. We haven’t set a date yet. We’re still trying to pick a location… which is going to have to be out of the country at this rate…”

Jay had already insisted that they didn’t have to worry about money, that his parents would help support a destination wedding if that’s what it took to actually tie the knot.

“A few of the folks here had some good suggestions in Europe that we’ll have to look into.” Dee added helpfully. “It’s legal in some countries over there.”

Which definitely answered any and all questions about whether his fiancé was a man or a woman - for those who hadn’t seen Jay around before he got called into work.

“I at least got the fittings arranged…. for the tuxes we’ll both be wearing.”

That was progress. The tailor was going to have a field day with this job.

[thisisgroundcontrol]

"Yes." Tom nodded.

Martyn was laughing. "What did you think would happen bringing this many gay and bisexual pretty boys into one place?"

Tom looked up and was about to get sarcastic but Martyn had a legitimate point. It was a matter of numbers and constant close living, nevermind the widespread trust issues in this group.

"I know Rekker and Mick have similar plans because of legality." Robert interjected and he had seen the most extreme angry outbursts over that from his brother. "I think they were looking at Denmark or Sweden."

Tom nodded. "That's a good start. Anything that can get done before hand lessens the stress."

[willoftheblackbird]

Never mind how legal the marriage might be considered once they got home… why was this such a big problem in so many people’s eyes anyway?

“Denmark and Sweden were both suggested.” Dee nodded.

He knew he’d have to do a lot more research to narrow down some perspective places, and figure out how accessible they were. He didn’t know Danish or Swedish either, so knowing some people now that did was going to be a huge help.

Dee playfully shook his head at Tom’s comment. “Tell that to Jay. He’s still stressed about the fittings… and been on a diet for the past month.”

[hungercity_hellhound]

"Last time I was with them Ollie, Rekker, Vars and I almost got arrested for street racing."

Damien was competitive and couldn't resist. Tom would have had their skin for it had they been caught but Damien had the time of his life racing across the desert.

"I've had some rough landings before." Damien confessed. Some were almost deadly.

[itmeanstruth]

His coach was always full of surprises.

“Street racing? i didn’t know you even knew how to drive.”

Granted, Minoru had only seen the Dogs riding horses, and sometimes other animals, whenever he was in Hunger City.

[hungercity_hellhound]

Damien shrugged. "I was raised by the Ministry. I can do everything the people who chase us can."

And more because Damien was in the program to lead the Ministry. The Dogs would drive but gas was rare and the debris all over the streets was helpful as a barricade. Horses were the best option for them.

"Their plan was for me to take over one of the high ranks." Damien knew that was why he had been treated so badly by the Dogs at first and some of the reason why he was so valuable to Jack.

[suomi_thunder]

"More pink." Aarne giggled because Davy was such a princess but he actually liked the American, despite the attitude sometimes.

The Finn started to laugh as he leaned into Joe. "He couldn't say anything. He won't yell at kids." and therefore Aarne got to make a mess of his car.

[itmeanstruth]

By the time Minoru met Damien, he was Jack’s obvious second in command and a natural leader in his own right. It was easy to forget sometimes that he was on the opposing side for a while.

“I’ve gotten to do a couple ride-along stunts, but nothing too fancy.” He admitted. “Never any street racing.”

While Minoru almost always opted to walk everywhere (or technically freerun everywhere, let’s be real), he did have a license and did know how to drive. Their car was even in his name. But it was probably good that he didn’t try to take said car to 200mph.

[hungercity_hellhound]

Damien had spent more than half his life in service to the Ministry. Minoru wasn't the only one that forgot that though, the Dogs often did too, assuming he had always served them.

"With Ollie?" Damien assumed that this was the obvious choice though he could see Aarne, Joe, Rik, or even Rekker getting into some sort of stunt driving.

Damien sighed. "If I was still in the Ministry, I might be in charge of hunting the gangs now." Which was another reason why Damien was so good at his job. He knew all the ins and outs of how the Ministry hunted the gangs, hunted the Dogs.

[itmeanstruth]

“Yeah.” Minoru nodded. It was a blast of a day, even if he didn’t get to, say, jump out of a moving vehicle at full speed or anything like that. Apparently, Ziggy made them promise to return his cuddle boyfriend in one piece, unbroken. “Ollie’s amazing behind the wheel!”

Minoru would probably make a good stuntman. Several of the big competitors on American Ninja Warrior worked in that industry.

“Hey, you’re not, though.” He added about the Ministry. “That’s what matters.”

[hellomajortom]

"I think those are high on the list because of dual citizenship options and marriage recognition because of one of the partner's citizenship." Tom explained. He wondered if the next leg of the tour was going to have pit stops or down time for weddings. It wouldn't be outside the possibility.

Martyn shook his head. "Dieting isn't the best for fittings. I did that when I was planning mine and then stress ate my way to a refitting three weeks before the wedding."

Robert was not surprised that his higher strung older brother was a stress eater.

[willoftheblackbird]

"Neither of us have dual citizenship. I hope we'll still be able to make something work..."

Dee was originally from Ohio, and Jay was born and raised around Los Angeles. The latter had at least traveled out of the country before, if that counted for anything. Dee hadn't even done that.

He turned to Martyn, "Well, even if that does happen... at least everything will still fit for the engagement photos. And maybe then he'll relax a bit."

Obviously, Dee loved his fiance regardless of what size tux he wore. And he knew the feeling was mutual.

[hellomajortom]

"Rekker was on a rant about it." Tom tried to remember what the ginger had been on about. "Something about dual citizenship forcing laws to accept the validity of a marriage."

Martyn snorted a laugh while drinking wine. Of course, Rekker had found some loophole. If anyone could, Rekker could because he got obsessive over things that irritated him.

Martyn wasn't thinking at all about size but his own stress around his marriage but that had fallen apart. "Do you have plans for the photos?"

[riff_razor]

Rik listened to the band description and his brows slowly rose up. The description sounded far too familiar but he was far too polite, and shy, to ask if they were from Damien's world. The description sounded way too similar to things he heard in passing about Jack.

The Dane reminded himself that this was a story for the stage. No different than his own band singing about mythology. There was something in this though that applied to the tour and musicians here.

"Ziggy brought us all together to break social conventions and change how the world is going right now." Rik had his own motivations, they all did, but the end point was the same. Change, for the better.

[willoftheblackbird]

Dee would have to ask Rekker about that. He and Jay could use a good loophole, honestly.

“Jay’s parents said we could shoot on their property. So, some may be out in the orchard. Some inside. They have the most beautiful grand piano in the foyer…” he replied, imagining some particularly romantic shots of the two of them, instruments and all. “I still need to pick a photographer, though. Do you… know of anyone?

[willoftheblackbird]

“Music is meant for that.” Jay nodded, echoing the sentiment. “It brings people together in ways that nothing else can.”

“And storytelling… People naturally gravitate to a story… more than just to a message itself.” It was one of the things he picked up on in conversations with those studying film and animation at CalArts. It was something hardly touched upon in the music composition side of things. “So if people see themselves rebelling against the Scarlet Cross of the Ministry… the words I sing will resonate more.”

If the basic plot made Rik take notice, the casual namedropping of the tyrannical government probably wouldn’t escape him either.

However, chalk it up to coincidence (or perhaps some kind of other multiverse theory), because Dee and Jay were not from Jack’s world. They didn’t know other worlds even existed.

[riff_razor]

Rik got wide-eyed and worried. His first thought was that maybe they were from Damien's world but then things were off just enough. Rik started to say something then nervously stopped. He wished Vars was here to explain this. Rarely did he feel like he needed someone more adult and together than he was, but off in a side room there would be no rescue.

"It's an interesting stage concept." Rik spoke that first since he could admire a good story. However, the other matter left him uncomfortable since these were new people.

"I...I'd be careful talking to Damien.. um.. or maybe Jack.. about this idea." Rik knew that he would have to explain but how to say it without sounding like he was off his rocker on drugs? He didn't even do drugs. "Damien.. he .. so he was imprisoned for a long time by people that called themselves the Ministry."

How much to say? Rik left it at that but said one more thing. "I know I.. well my family imprisoned me, I guess. And sometimes things bother me, and maybe Damien..." He didn't want to speak for Damien but with how jittery Damien could be this new person deserved the warning.

[willoftheblackbird]

Dee and Jay both looked extremely confused. Damien... they hadn't met him directly yet, but a few people had mentioned him as part of the security team. And having met Ziggy's brother, they were understandably confused how their band's fictional backstory would be considered offensive...

"That's a very... unpleasant coincidence..." he stuttered.

Jay looked to Dee. "Should we change the name?"

Dee wasn't sure. On the one hand, he didn't want to ruin his chances of Kuro getting signed or getting a spot on the tour. But on the other, if there was a horrible group that just happened to call themselves the Ministry, and if they got exposed and their members arrested because they drew attention to it, then they owed it to current and future victims to shed that kind of light.

"I... don't know?"

[riff_razor]

Rik bit his lip as he listened to the back and forth. "Uh.. I don't think you have to change it but.. um.. if.. if you stick around then maybe talk to him."

Sooner rather than later was left unspoken for the moment. Rik wondered if it would be easier or harder on Damien for someone else to bring up this band's stage persona first. Who knew? Zack might.

"Maybe talk to Tom or Zack." Rik thought it over and then nodded, mostly to himself. "Zack could help, I think."

[willoftheblackbird]

"Thanks for the heads up." Jay answered.

They definitely wanted to stick around. Also, Tom was one of the people Dee most wanted to run into, after everything he'd heard at the City Charms show. So he made a note to ask him that too if he got the chance.

[hellomajortom]

Tom and Martyn both looked to Robert. He was the one with an artist as a partner.

Robert felt on the spot and then shrugged. "There are a few here. Joe, Rex, Rik.. Heikki, I think. Korppi?"

"Not people." Tom pointed out. "Korppi does wildlife photography." Tom understood. It was hard to keep up with everyone, let alone all their side skills.

Martyn spoke up. "There are quite a few hair stylists and make up artists too."

Tom was listening and nodded. "I think Hunter, Aarne and Bjorn all did cosmetology... Mikkel and Syn... Davy."

Robert thought about that. "Torden.. he's a model and he's run photoshoots as the photographer."

Martyn nodded. "Torden does shoots for a living on both sides of the camera."

"Isak." Martyn brought it up and Robert rolled his eyes. "Wrong kind of photography, I think. But Isak, Jorgen, and Sven .. at least have done modeling."

It would become clear quickly that there were many people with multiple talents around the apartments. Tom knew this could be overwhelming without having faces for these names. "I'd talk to people. Most of them will tell you about their hobbies if they start talking."

[willoftheblackbird]

That was an overwhelmingly long list of names! Hearing Rik's name made him think of something else, but this wasn't really the time to change the subject.

"All of them shoot professionally?"

He'd met both Rik and Rex, the latter was going to audition for their band later next week.

He knew Mikkel, Syn and Davy, so asking them about hair and makeup was a very good idea. They'd need that for the photos, and also the wedding itself when it came to that.

[hellomajortom]

Robert shrugged and Tom did too. "Rik is from schooling and Torden but I don't know about the others. Does Jake do photography?"

Both the Sterlings shrugged because they didn't know. Even for Tom, without his infamous notebook, sometimes got overwhelmed with all the people.

"I don't know Heikki very well." Martyn admitted. "He's either chasing after that blonde or being chased off by Davy constantly."

"No." Robert corrected. "That is Ivar that Davy is furious with."

"Is it?" Marty asked curiously. They all got confused now and again.

Tom shook his head chuckling. "I'd talk to the others. There are too many to pinpoint all of them."

[willoftheblackbird]

Dee would definitely have to ask around. "Thank you... That's still a big help."

When it came time to plan the other portions of the wedding, he may very well find help there too. Surely, they would know good caterers, florists, etc.

Before he could say anything else, though, his phone buzzed. "Oh! Jay's on his way back. Which apartment is this again?"

[hellomajortom]

Tom nodded. "I think you'll find a lot of the skills you might want here, and people willing to help." Sure, they might want paid for the skill but there wouldn't be any of the worries that could come with dealing with a stranger.

While Tom gave Dee the information to get Jay back to the apartment and the number, Robert got up and went to the kitchen. Soon, Robert had set up a to-go container for Jay. The older men did this for the younger ones all the time, not to mention Mick's parents, Torden and others.