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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?“

[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]

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.

[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.

[willoftheblackbird]

The handshake felt strange, and unexpectedly cold. It startled Dee, but he tried his best not to let that show. This was Ziggy Stardust’s uncle after all.

Though when Tom whispered to him, an equally quiet observation slipped out.

“He walks well… Sorry… I mean, at first, I thought he might… well… have the same condition I do.” Dee admitted. “But maybe not.”

[hellomajortom]

Tom is glad to be behind Dee when he makes his comment. There's a moment of startle and panic, still, sometimes when the subject of his odd family comes up. After a breath though Tom comes back around.

"My wife's family does have an inherited, genetic anomaly but I wouldn't expect it to be like yours." Tom mentioned and truthfully muscle wasting was not one of the issues Antheans had on Earth. "The condition is rare."

How much rarer could you get than alien? However, Tom made a mental note to talk to Damien since he could get lumped in with the family for sure.

[willoftheblackbird]

Despite Tom’s momentary panic, Dee had no reason to seriously think that aliens existed. He was of the mindset that humans probably weren’t alone in the universe, if only because that would be a big waste of space. But he didn’t think they were here, on this planet, playing in rock bands or leading international corporations.

“…I understand what that’s like.” He empathized. Having a rare genetic anomaly himself - and being 100% human - he understood. Or, at least, he thought he did.

“Not sure if mine was inherited… or if I just got lucky with some spontaneous mutations.” Dee admitted. “But it is genetic. If I wanted to have a family… they might end up like me…”

Not that he really had to worry about that, being in a homosexual relationship.

[hellomajortom]

Tom headed for Robert's apartment and nodded to Dee understanding. There were similarities, especially when an Anthean first got to Earth. Th weakness, tiredness and some of the other things would definitely align.

"I tell them it must be all that red hair." Tom mentioned and it was enough to have Newton pause to give him a disappointed look. Every once in awhile Tom teased Tommy over things.

"It's something my wife and I thought about before having our second child." Not many people knew about Zayda in the public.

It wouldn't be long before they were entering Robert's apartment that he shared with Erik. Aside from the side table strewn with papers, the apartment is clean and tidy. Martyn and Robert are both in the kitchen talking quietly and it smells amazing in the apartment from whatever Robert is cooking, garlic, spice, and tomato definitely are involved.

[willoftheblackbird]

“…You mean Jack?” He asked, having met Ziggy’s brother when they first arrived.

The man looked almost exactly like Ziggy, but he could easily have been a little bit younger. It wasn’t like they got a close up look at the famous one to compare. Still if he looked that similar, he probably inherited the same genetic anomalies too.

[hellomajortom]

Tom could have kicked himself if he wasn't currently walking. Sometimes the alternate dimensions, aliens and what-not meant he put his foot in his mouth. This was one such occasion.

"Ziggy and Jack are twins." Tom clarified as he tried to dig himself out of the hole he just threw himself in. He could have kicked Tommy too for the amused little smile the older Anthean had. "I meant our youngest daughter."

Hopefully that would kill this line of questioning before he got truly backed into a corner.

[willoftheblackbird]

It was a vey legitimate question. But the answer, while worded a little strangely, still seemed to satisfy Dee. Twins had the same genetics, after all. It wasn’t something he and his wife could have discussed in the middle of labor, between the births. It wouldn’t have made a difference even if they did. But discussing whether to have another child made plenty of sense.

”Oh, second pregnancy...” Dee mused aloud. “…did she? Inherit the condition, I mean? …If you don’t mind me asking?”

[hellomajortom]

"Yes." Tom internally sighed with relief. "Yes, though it hasn't expressed itself the same way."

It was strange to talk about another species as a disease but in the moment it was necessary. Tom wondered how to approach this and added. "It appears to be a dominant expression."

That would at least help explain the similarities between Tommy. Aletayria, Ziggy, Jack, Zayda... and.... Tom's mind froze on Damien. Well, hopefully the lack of red hair would avoid that confrontation in the near future.

[willoftheblackbird]

Tom would be granted a little luck. Dee hadn’t met Damien at the party, and therefore, hadn’t made any connections between him and the Antheans. He was also buying Tom’s clever cover-ups.

“…Mine isn’t.” He added for comparison. “And it was a complete surprise… that I didn’t get until I was a teenager.”

His voice trailed off, not sure of what to say. He wasn’t sure if having more time to prepare would have been any better. Actually, it probably would have been worse. He went through a year and a half of hell, and couldn’t possibly imagine what his entire childhood could have been like if his parents tried to get ahead of it.

Dee literally shuttered at the thought.

Which made the new apartment, the new people and the smell of something cooking a very welcome interruption. (Probably for both parties by this point.)

[hellomajortom]

"Theirs is present from birth." Tom thought that would be the end of it hopefully. It wasn't that Tom disliked talking about his family but that it was a secret still, especially with strangers.

Martyn came out of the kitchen and looked at Dee before turning around to talk to Robert. "Do we have another set of dishes?"

It seemed they were going to have unexpected company.

[willoftheblackbird]

Dee was quiet, realizing that he had even more reasons to hopefully meet Ziggy now.

While he didn’t know the exact nature of the family’s genetic condition, if it was present from birth, then Ziggy rose to prominence while navigating some collection of symptoms and treatments. He might be able to provide real life advice that no one else could. And maybe… just maybe… he’d be impressed by a kindred spirit, and see Kuro as a worthy audition to the lineup.

“Oh! Hello!” He gave the two older men a weak wave. “Thank you for letting me join…”

[hellomajortom]

That might be an awkward conversation if it ever happened but Tom hadn't thought that far ahead.

"Good evening." Robert answered while taking things out of pots and plating them up to serve family style. The smells were a chunky vegetable spaghetti with garlic fried tofu. Part of the reason Robert made it as much as he did was Erik's love for the dish.

"Those are Rekker's older brothers." Tom explained since those two were busy getting the food and Tommy was pouring a drink. "Robert, our head of security, and the oldest is Martyn."

He headed for the dining table that was in the rather open space living room/dining room/kitchen space that was mostly only divided by the kitchen island and cabinets.

"Do you want to stay in the chair or sit in one of the dining chairs?" Tom knew to ask, not because of any dealings with illness but he had lost track of the leg injuries that had occurred on this tour, and all the others for that matter.

[willoftheblackbird]

Despite having been an acquaintance of Rekker’s back at CalArts,he hadn’t actually met his older brothers. (Not to mention, Head of Security for the tour was definitely someone worth getting to know.)

“I can sit in one of the other chairs.” Dee replied. It was usually easier that way, especially when he and Jay went out to eat. Venues didn’t have to try to accommodate, and people didn’t have to stare for long periods of time. “…just… give me a minute, please.”

He’d definitely overdone it at the party itself, and his body was tired. His legs ached. He rubbed his thighs, for what little good his weak grip might do. But with a little help, he forced himself up and walked a few steps over to the nearest dining chair.

“Thank you…”

[thisisgroundcontrol]

"You're welcome." Tom was willing to help as much as Dee needed, including pushing in the chair.

Martyn came in with an extra place setting for Dee. The oldest Sterling naturally curious about everyone. "Are you from one of the bands?"

Martyn had seen most of the people but honestly, sometimes he couldn't always keep track. Robert soon joined them with a huge plate of spaghetti and bowl of salad. "Are we getting a midnight raid tonight?"

Robert asked Tom with a sort of paternal amusement. Tom shrugged and looked toward the door. "I think they can smell it from across the building some nights."

[willoftheblackbird]

“Yes. Well… no… Not yet?”

Unfortunately, this time, Dee really was fresh out of recording balls. He didn’t have any more copies of his demo to share.

“We’re still in the process of auditioning other band members. And shopping our demo around to labels…” he didn’t dare say he hadn’t had much luck. He didn’t want Tom to think they weren’t good enough. So it was best to just leave it at that.

That, and an introduction.

“I’m Dee. I perform as The Prophet… I’m one of Jan’s voice students…”

[stormwings]

"You're not the only one." Martyn encouraged as he sat down at the table with Tom and Dee. "I don't think all the bands here are signed."

That was as much of a statement as a question directed at Tom who nodded. "I think some are unsigned or recently signed."

And there were a reasonable number of people on the tour who weren't in bands, either because they were musicians without one or people who did something other than music.

Robert placed the things on the table and took a seat between Martyn and Tom. None of them gave a second thought to Tommy sitting off in the recliners watching them. He did that all the time and none of them paid it much heed at this point.

"Jan is Davy's mother?" Martyn asked because he was far newer and hadn't had time to memorize all the interactions and relationships that existed. It took time to commit names to memory.