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Post by Lea on Jan 16, 2012 19:37:19 GMT -5
He had an open shift, but he loved to stay in here anyway and listen to the music and watch the lightshow. THey always had good DJs on Karaoke night - Neku sometimes volunteered for the before-midnight shift, one of the ways he managed rent each week. He was on tonight, and he was actually pretty good at it. SOmetimes he played his own mix tracks, sometimes he played old favorites - he took requests, too. And then, there was the karaoke timeslot where Neku took a break playing for the party and played the instrumental sets for people to sing with the monitor. It was, admittedly, a strange way to do it - but that's what Veil was known for.
He slipped a piece of paper up to his friend, then went to sit down with Aya at the table.
"You having fun?" he asked.
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Post by Aya Brea on Jan 16, 2012 19:49:46 GMT -5
I have found myself spending more and more time at the Veil. Not for the drinks or anything like that, just Lea's company. He's quickly become important to me.
As he sat down next to me, I grabbed his hand and nodded. "Yeah, just don't try to get me to sing later, ok? I sound like something getting ran over with semi." A small laugh escaped my lips. "What did you request?"
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Post by Lea on Jan 16, 2012 20:03:46 GMT -5
He chuckled. "It's a new song, I've fallen in love with it." He shrugged. "Hey, I won't if you won't try and get me. I'm terrible."
He shrugged. Oh, how he loved listening to music - but he hated singing. Performing. He always felt like the crowd was staring at him, judging him... best stay off the stage for-
"And, the next Karaoke session is starting," Neku's voice interrupted. "To start it off... there's a request here for 'Start of Something Good' from Daughtry's new album, Break the Spell..."
"Oh, crap," he mumbled.
"....from Lea Strife."
"BUt, that was... that wasn't Karaoke!" he burst out, and saw Neku's sly grin.
"Sorry. Looks like it got into the wrong pile..." he said, innocently. "Hey, how many of you want to see Lea sing, hmm?" he asked over the mic.
"...I am going to kill you," he mumbled as several people started to cheer.
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Post by Aya Brea on Jan 16, 2012 20:16:50 GMT -5
"Looks like I don't have to, Neku is going to." Neku looked quite proud of this little, what would you call it? A prank? Either way, he had a sinister smile on his face and it was quite amusing.
I looked around at the people cheering, to Neku, with his sly grin and then back at Lea. "Go please your crowd." I gave him a small, joking shove. He better not try to get back at me for that later.
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Post by Lea on Jan 16, 2012 20:27:07 GMT -5
He gave her a dark look and a growl, but he got onto the platform. He didn't want her to know or realize that he had this song memorized. That he often sang along when no one was around. He didn't want her - or anyone else! - to hear him sing at all. He especially didn't want Aya to hear him sing this song.
Oh god.
Could he do this?
He had to.
Oh god.
He started blushing, but the song came up and then it was time to start singing.
He closed his eyes, opened his mouth... let it out.
"You never know when you're gonna meet someone
And your whole wide world in a moment comes undone
You're just walking around then suddenly
Everything that you thought that you knew above love is gone
You find out it's all been wrong
All my scars, don't seem to matter anymore
'Cause they led me here to you..."
He'd been misleading people about his voice - it was far from horrible. A bit rusty and unpolished, perhaps, but it had a clear tone and a good range, and its owner had an eye for melody.
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Post by Aya Brea on Jan 16, 2012 20:58:11 GMT -5
The entire room fell silent when he began to sing. No one dare to spoke. I grew quiet as well. He... The lyrics... They held so much meaning.
It's funny, you never would have expected anything like this from Lea. He was the jokester, the flirt. This showed a side of him only a few saw, him completely raw on stage for all to see. You couldn't blame him for being so nervous I suppose.
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Post by Lea on Jan 16, 2012 21:31:07 GMT -5
Then came the chorus. His gaze found its way to Aya; this was the painful part. Saying what he truly meant, admitting what he really wanted to say. ANd... hoping.
"I know it's gonna take some time
But I've got to admit
That the thought has crossed my mind
This might end up like it should.
I'm gonna say what I need to say
And hope to God that it don't scare you away
Don't want to be misunderstood
But I'm starting to believe that
This could be the start of something good."
He took another breath, and he moved his gaze away, to a safer part of the room, to an unfamiliar face, one that he wouldn't have to feel embarrassed about - only, he did. He always did. But at least this time, it wasn't as bad as looking in the other direction, where too many emotions could crawl to the surface.
"Everyone knows life has its ups and downs
One day you're on top of world
And one day you're the clown..."
Another section of the bar, another unfamiliar face, but...
"Well I've been both enough to know
That you don't wanna get in the way when its working out
The way that it is right now
You see my heart; I wear it on my sleeve
'Cause I just can't hide it anymore."
...but his gaze had returned to her by the end of the verse. He felt... pathetic. What had they been through together? A couple of miserably failed dates, some battles? ....Sharing secrets, after that last one?
Tonight.... tonight had turned out a total trainwreck. All he could do was beg.
"I know it's gonna take some time
But i've got to admit
That the thought has crossed my mind
This might end up like it should
I'm gonna say what I need to say
And hope to God that it don't scare you away
Don't want to be misunderstood
But I'm starting to believe that
This could be the start..."
ANd then the bridge, and with its soaring crescendo, so lifted his spirits, falling back down into its mellow confidence...
"'Cause I don't know where it's goin'
There's a part of me that loves not knowin'
Just don't let it end before we begin
You never know when you're gonna meet someone
Don't wanna be misunderstood
But I'm starting to believe that this could be the start
'Cause I don't know where it's goin'
There's a part of me that loves not knowin'
Just don't let it end before we begin
You never know when you're gonna meet someone
And your whole wide world in a moment comes undone..."
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Post by Namine Joy LeBeau on Jan 17, 2012 6:13:11 GMT -5
I leaned back against the bar, one arm propping me up and holding a now luke warm beer, eh whatever. My eyes and ears had just discovered so many ties in this room alone, it shakes me how random and strong the human nature for companionship is. Sunglasses, no I'm not copying the spazz job blond whom throws way too heavy objects, are tilted with my other hand as I watched, Lea was it, preform. It seemed like he has a little stage freight, but then again it could be because his girl, yeah, I caught that connection and who the song was for, is here and watching him.
My hair is down tonight as I'm clad in a white dress, some white ballet flats, and a grey fox fur coat. Well, a half jacket of fur at least. I swirl my beer around a moment before downing the last of it. This place seems to be happening tonight at least. And my emotion ties dump has just gotten itself an upgrade, whoop-di-doo.
I raise my can, signaling for a second one, wondering if the song is over, how everyone was going to react, and if anyone else has an act for tonight. Because, as badly as I want to sing Umbrella, though I have no one to sing the guy parts with me, I'm here on a job.
Yeah, some low wage, stuck up little prick payed me for some Intel. Pfft, like I was gonna pass any extra cash down. Just because Namine sends me care packages doesn't mean that I get to see any of that. After the bills and the groceries, my eyes roll as I slide the shades back up and receive the second beer of the night, I only got pennies to my name. So I started up the old business, weather demon or human I'll be your scout if you'll be my daddy.
I laugh inside my head as I practically mentally record every thing that's going on, besides... The omen would like to know that Nam isn't out and about enjoying herself like he planned. Maybe that will get him off his lazy ass to help more around the house.
Pfft. Whatever.
Opening the new can and taking a relaxing swig, I watch the room, eyes a glowing ocean blue as I do. Tonight is a job after all. Lets see what plays out, just for shits and giggles though...
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Post by Aya Brea on Jan 17, 2012 17:26:58 GMT -5
This was Lea's moment and he owned it quite magnificently whether he knew it or not. I clapped at the end of the song, the last chorus still ringing clear in my mind and my smile seeming stuck in place.
The woman not far away though went unnoticed, how long it stayed that way though, no one knows. There was no sinister feeling, nothing that could possibly make the night feel like it would go badly. Silly.
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Post by Namine Joy LeBeau on Jan 18, 2012 6:36:29 GMT -5
"Cute, huh?" I mouth to the person whom had just walked in and slid up next to me. Their hood still up on their head. I pass them a note and smirk to myself. "And don't forget I'm doing this for HER, not you." My voice hadn't even risen above a whisper when they opened the note, their gloved hands shaking.
I give them a pat on the back and then watch the rest of the night unfolding. Although, I've got to say my leg is getting a little annoyed with how close we're sitting, all well. I'll get a thank you sometime later in life, its all part of a process after all.
Ugh, I'm sounding more and more like HER by the minute. I chug the rest of my beer down and turn to pay, feeling the need to leave now. Besides... I've got other people I need to batter up for the frying pan...
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Post by Roxas on Jan 18, 2012 16:01:41 GMT -5
Roxas walked into The Veil with a smile on his face. He'd entered at the perfect time, just early enough to catch Lea sing but late enough to have gotten through the awkward start to nights like this where nobody really knew each other, but once the drinks were flowing? People were talking and he found it a bit easier to communicate and make friends. Walking up to the bar he placed a note down and slid it across, exchanging it for a beer, he wasn't much of a drinker, and it didn't take much for him to get drunk so he liked to savor the flavor of the alcohol and interchange it with soft drinks to keep himself going.
He'd only been in town for a few days but he'd enjoyed them, Lea was pretty hospitable and he knew that he'd chosen the right guy to bunk with and he was one of the crowd who applauded him when he was done. He knew he was here with his lady friend, so he thought that he'd give them both a bit of distance for the time being, he was sure that he'd be welcome later in the night when the drinks were flowing. But for the time being, he was happy watching the poor fools up on the karaoke.
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Post by trigun on Jan 20, 2012 22:09:08 GMT -5
Following Roxas was a swish of red as a mysterious person was drawn in by the music and smell of food.
"Wow, quite a set up here...." he looked around the place, enjoying the sights....and then he saw a SIGHT. Namely the dark haired female bartender behind the counter.
Holy wow! What a looker! Come on Vash, it's charming time! He cleared his throat and walked to the bar, making a note to add a swagger to his step as he leaned against the counter.
"Well hello there," he peered at the bartender through his yellow shades, "Any chance you can give a lonely, heroic, gunslinger a drink?"
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Post by Noctis Lucis Caelum on Feb 4, 2012 4:28:13 GMT -5
Noctis could hardly believe that he was here on a Saturday, the infamous Karaoke Night. However, like Lea he had been called in for an open shift. Being one of the waitstaff had its advantages, like a paycheck and a discount on drinks, but Noctis couldn't help but be a little worried that Tifa or Lea would try to force him up on stage. A quick glance around the room allowed him to quickly locate Aya at one of the tables. He hadn't specifically been looking for her, but she was one of the few people he knew. Therefor he made a beeline for the table and quickly slid into one of the chairs before glancing up at Lea on stage. "Here I was thinking that no one would be able to get him up on stage." He said offhandedly to Aya, his voice raised a little more than he was used to in order to be heard by the blond woman.
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Post by Aya Brea on Feb 5, 2012 13:54:12 GMT -5
I looked over at Noctis and laughed, he was a pleasant sight. "Apparently Neku could, although you can tell he'd rather not be up there. How've you been?"
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Post by Noctis Lucis Caelum on Feb 8, 2012 6:28:39 GMT -5
Noctis chuckled slightly and leaned against the cushioned back of the booth, glancing once towards Lea up on stage before looking back towards Aya. "No different than usual, so I suppose I can't complain. What about you?" The moment he finished his question he glanced around briefly before speaking once more, lowering his voice so as only to be heard by Aya. "Has Izaya called you in for any jobs?"
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