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

[rage_rekker]

Rekker smiled with reassurance. "Even I'm usually in bed before most of them wind down."

Rekker had other things in his life besides being a rockstar and unfortunately some of those were early morning. However, he and Bjorn had fell into a reasonable routine. Tia, who was now beside Dee, offered him a set of the plastic pumpkin carving tools they were using. The four girls that were Rekker's students knew why metal knives were nowhere to be seen.

Rekker did take a moment to introduce Dee to the kids, including Ana when she returned with drinks. Tia was 15. Heather and Sophia both 16 and Ana was 19. He also let Dee know that Sophia and Heather were both completely deaf but good at lip reading if he wasn't able to sign. It was why Rekker had hit the table earlier to get their attention. It might not be the norm for the hearing impaired community but something the developed on their own as being ok. It had started from the girls startling Rekker when he got too engrossed in things.

[willoftheblackbird]

Dee didn't know the history behind no metal knives, instead just assuming it was because of there being small children at the table. While most of Rekker's students were teenagers, there were clearly some younger ones there too. Like the adorable red-haired girl in Rekker's lap who was currently mesmerized by the glittery goop in her hands.

"It looks like some of them might not even wind down." he laughed. Granted, Dee knew what it was like to be going full speed ahead one minute and on collapsed on the floor the next. No wind down required.

"I don't know any sign language." he also admitted. "How do I ask... someone to pass me a pumpkin?"

The plastic cutting tools hadn't changed since what he remembered.

[rage_rekker]

"Bjorn barely does." Rekker mentioned but he was used to it. The insanity of the night kept Bjorn up and then he managed to get a few hours of quiet to work in the morning alone.

Rekker would teach Dee some signs if he wanted to learn, otherwise, all the other children and teens were hearing, though Tia also had an amount of hearing impairment it wasn't complete. Rekker also passed a marker in case Dee wanted to draw first.

Ana eventually spoke up. "Rekker is our teacher. How do you know him?" She had noticed that they seemed to know each other and she's curious.

[willoftheblackbird]

Dee did actually want to try, which likely got a few giggles from the kids as he tried to mimic Rekker's hand movements. His arms shook a little as he held them up, but he was quite dexterous. His long fingers would be easy to read if he knew what he was doing. It was all in good fun, though.

"He's a friend of my voice teacher." he replied, though obviously without any signs. Though for Anna, he didn't need them. "We all did a few charity events together a few years ago... But we lost touch for a while."

With the pumpkin in hand, he started sketching out a basic face.

"How long has he been your teacher?"

[rage_rekker]

Tia watched and pulled his elbows to the table top when she saw them shaking. Ana spoke up. "A lot of people struggle when they first start. It can help to put your elbows down if you can with the signs."

They didn't know why Dee was shaking and didn't ask. It was more important that he was learning. Heather asked something in signs and Ana nodded. "Do you mean the guitar auctions or the charity concerts?"

"11... 12 years." Rekker had lost track over time. "Ana was one of my first students. Her father used to haul gear for us." He mentioned.

[willoftheblackbird]

He winced slightly as his elbows hit the table. There wasn't any resistance when Tia pulled them, so it was definitely loud enough to get the attention of those who could hear. And it shook the table enough for those who couldn't. Even Dee was surprised by the sound it made - far more surprised than hurt - so he was quick to say it was fine, all the while shaking out his fingers from the side that managed to land right on the funny bone.

"Guitar... auctions..." he continued. "Fundraising..."

Yeah, that was probably enough attempts at signing for a while.

"Twice as long as I've been studying under Jan." he added. Clearly, Rekker was a good teacher.

[rage_rekker]

Tia squeaked from Dee's reaction, realizing she was maybe too rough with the new person. Immediately, she signed "sorry" with her right hand and put her left on on Dee's arm. Part of the accident was definitely being used to interacting with Rekker who was naturally more rough and tumble.

"Rekker helped the local schools develop music teaching for students with impairments." Ana pointed out. "That is when the others started with me."

Rekker was going to interject but he was used to letting the kids solve their own problems. The other two had been watching the discussion and Sophia pointed at Dee then her own lips. It wasn't signing more asking with pantomime if Dee was a singer.

[willoftheblackbird]

He might not have understood the signs for the apology, but the intention was clear. The kids meant well.

“It’s fine… My muscles don’t… work very well. That’s all. So my body isn’t very strong anymore.” He attempted to explain, and to answer Sophia’s question, as he thought he understood it. “My voice is a lot stronger than my body, though. I love to sing. Very much.”

[diamondpups]

"It's ok." Choko looked up from where she was drawing because carving was too hard for her. "Mine don't like to work some times, too."

Everyone at this table, one way or another, understood the idea of some part of them just not working the way everyone else's did. Sophia was signing again and Ana nodded to tell Dee what was being said. The translation came easily since Bjorn didn't know much sign yet either and was always around. "Sophia says that we're learning to sing from Rekker."

Well Sophia and Tia were and Ana would clarify that if Dee was curious.

[willoftheblackbird]

Choko’s acknowledgement definitely helped put Dee a little more at ease around the children.

“When I was your age, they still worked. It wasn’t until I was about…” he looked around the table, pointing toward Tia, Heather and Sophia, “about their age… that we started to think something was wrong.”

Something was definitely wrong. Despite the late onset, it was clear from the start that progression was rapid and would become debilitating in young adulthood without treatment. Still, Dee wouldn’t have changed the choices he made. Even if he could go back and do it all again. He really hoped none of the kids ever had to feel that way, though.

“When I first met your teacher, I didn’t have my chair yet… I could still walk around okay enough. I just… got tired a lot. And fell… sometimes… Choir rehearsals, concerts… were really exhausting.”

Said chair was tucked away in the corner for now. He could, and did, still try to walk around without it. At least inside places like this.

“Do you have concerts?” He asked the girls, then glancing to Rekker. “I’d like to come to the next one… hear them sing.”

[diamondpups]

"Mine never worked." Choko mentioned. "That's why Jack too me in, and Charlie. He's blind."

Rekker didn't want to hear any of this but he knew Damien well at this point and enough about Hunger City to keep his mouth shut about what Choko was mentioning.

"Rekker was one of the first people who offered classes for deaf students without it costing too much." Ana had been from a well off family but the other girls were from poorer families that could never afford classes. Rekker even watched them for free sometimes.

The girl's shook his head no. They hadn't yet. Rekker shook his head too. "We're still practicing at my studio but if they want you to come by for a lesson we do Saturday mornings."

[willoftheblackbird]

Dee nodded, assuming the children were being fostered. Which was sort of the truth. It was probably a good thing that no one had told him yet that other dimensions existed. He had more respect for Jack now, that being said.

"It wouldn't hurt to come and participate in one. Of course, if Jay's bringing me, you may not be able to get him to leave afterwards..." Dee laughed. "He's definitely going to commission a violin. Even if it won't be done in time for the wedding... He's been talking about it ever since the City Charms concert."

He turned to the kids, to ask their permission.

"Would it be okay if I came to sing with you one Saturday?"

[rage_rekker]

Ana smirked at Dee's comments. "We have to pull Rekker out of the workshop all the time."

The ginger couldn't deny the accusation. "As long as it is ok with the girls." It was their choice since it was their lessons. He didn't mind if someone came to watch the lesson.

[willoftheblackbird]

Dee smiled. It felt good to catch back up with an old acquaintance. And he very well may learn something, sitting in on voice lessons from another instructor.

“would it be okay, girls?”

He didn’t know any signs for that so he just gave a thumbs up.

[rage_rekker]

The girls all nodded yes. They wouldn't mind even if the younger two would be nervous having someone else listen to them.

"Let me know which Saturday." Rekker grinned. "I hope your not afraid of lizards."

Whatever Rekker was referring to had the girls giggling.

[willoftheblackbird]

“…Lizards?”

He wasn’t, but the way the girls giggled made him a little curious now.

[rage_rekker]

Rekker started to laugh, mostly because of all the kids giggling.

"I have unconventional pets." Rekker admitted.

"Crusher is sweet. She's like a dog." Ana clarified while the other two were signing something that had Rekker laughing more.

"Big, scaly dog." Rekker nodded as he translate the signing.

[willoftheblackbird]

“…As big as a dog?”

He held out his hands, though only to the point of, say, a chihuahua or a pug. How bit did lizards get, anyway?

The girls kept giggling.

[rage_rekker]

Rekker looked at the size that Dee motioned and snorted a laugh.

"She's as big as Rekker." Ana pointed out when her teacher fell into giggles. "We have to keep her away from the goats."

Crusher had never went after the goats because she was well fed but the kids knew not to take the risk.

[willoftheblackbird]

He should have known from the massive amount of giggling that ensued that he grossly underestimated the size of this lizard. But as big as Rekker, and big enough to eat goats.

“… are you sure you’re not keeping an alligator?”

That was huge!

[rage_rekker]

"James is the one with the crocodile." Rekker clarified. "Crusher is an Asian Water Monitor."

And to be fair, James' crocodile was a little baby.

"He has tarantulas and scorpions too." Ana mentioned because she felt like those might be more unnerving to someone than a big lizard that followed Rekker around like a dog.

[willoftheblackbird]

“Okay, that is pretty cool.” Dee had to admit.

As they were talking about the various reptiles and arachnids, Jay walked up behind them.

“Oh! Do you work on any of the next few Saturday mornings?” Dee looked up. “Rekker invited me to watch one of his music lessons.”

“I’ll have to look it up later.” He shrugged. “But we’re going to have to cut the night short.”

“What? …Why?”

“I got called in. Halloween’s made everyone crazy apparently. Three of the hospitals are understaffed and overflowing. They’re calling all of us looking for anyone who can help.”

“Any chance you can just… pick me up after your shift?” He asked. “Please?”

“It could be most of the night.”

On the bright side, it looked like the party wasn’t going to end anytime soon. And this was the biggest collection of musicians. They’d already secured two auditions. Jay couldn’t pull Dee away from that.

He leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. “Call me if you need me.”

“…Love you.”

[rage_rekker]

Rekker knew what this was like from watching his brother work and even more so being the medical emergency that pulled peopleaway from thier families.


"Don't worry." Rekker assured the both."I'll just add him to my collection of kids."

He's joking, partially but he is nearly old enough to be Dee's father which made it funnier to the ginger. Then he got more serious. "I'll be up late if you need someone to drive him home."

Rekker was as much of a chauffeur as his brother sometimes.

[willoftheblackbird]

The agency, for the most part, let their nurses make their own schedules. Jay had a tremendous amount of freedom in that. But sometimes, emergency situations popped up where they just needed more people. This just so happened to be one of those nights.

“Thanks.” He nodded to Rekker, and then kissed Dee again. “I love you too.”

There were plenty of times Jay would drop Dee off at a club or something on his way to work. Or pick him up from somewhere once he got off. Dee always managed to get by during the time in-between, so Jay wasn’t worried. But he appreciated the offer nonetheless.