"...what are you doing, playing hooky?" Edward was just going by the sheepish expression, laughing a little and sniffing the air. "You have got to be too old to be smoking in secret."
Not that he was big on smoking, at least anything that didn't get him high, but still. Surely this guy was out of that age. He walked over, smiling in a way that he hoped would relax the guy. However, given his heavy eye make-up and stage outfit, he wasn't really expecting it to put any of these country stars at ease, going by his experiences so far. They carried their no homo proudly here. "You can keep smoking, I just wanted to cool down some."
"It's a bad habit, people don't like it." Jonathan pointed out, not feeling the need to justify was he was being careful about it. He patted himself down and pulled out another cigarette, lighting up so he could smoke another. If he didn't get some of the edge off soon, he'd lose his fucking mind. "Do as you wish, son. I ain't gonna stop you but I am gonna keep on smoking."
He exhaled smoke into the air and turned to Edward, properly looking at him now and raising an eyebrow. Huh. He looked fucking wild. "Riddle?" He knew the band. Vaguely. He just wanted to be sure, he was piss poor with names.
Son, huh? He would be surprised to find out that this guy was much older than him, if at all, so Edward just smirked and leaned against the wall, running the fingers of one hand through his hair, patting himself down. "Riddle, yeah. I'm Eddie. Nice to meet you, daddy."
Hey, if he called him son, he was asking for it. He found his flask and got it out. It was one Echo had gifted him a while ago, silver and in an elaborate steampunk gothic themed design. She knew his tastes. He unscrewed it and took a sip, then held it out to the guy. "Have some. Calms me down every time."
He did seem nervous. Or just unsettled. Something was off.
"What? ... Ah." Cause he called him son. Huh. Okay. Never doing that one again. He looked at Edward's offer of the booze and he leaned forward to look the flask over before taking it and sniffing. Seemed like something good, likely a whiskey? He wasn't sure but he didn't want to drink anything too weird. "I don't need to calm my nerves but I always need a drink. Thanks."
He took a long sip and then held it back out to Edward, eyes drawn to him again as he studied his make up and wondered what his family would make of a boy like this. "First time in Georgia?"
"You think? You should see what I wear off-stage." Eddie winked and ran his hand down his chest, since he could and since he liked to test people. It was fun. "First time, yeah. I'm not sure if I'm hoping it's gonna be gentle or rough."
Both had some appeal. Although so far it seemed mostly all right, not that he was overly worried. He was from Gotham, they were used to a lot of rough handling, to say the least. "You like the outfit? I guess out here anything that isn't plaid is alternative."
Although there were of course quite a few steps between that and what he was wearing. "Personally, I feel most people would look better with some leather and chains. I know you would."
"I think anything would be a vast improvement, don't you?" He gave Edward a small frown, wondering what he thought of him. What did folks outside of Georgia think of a country star? Likely assumed he was a hick. Hell, he felt like one. He didn't get to have opinions and he was bored as fuck, all he really did was get high alone and sing whatever the studio wrote him. "I ain't done music in years. I don't know what I did earlier but it ain't music to me. Changing the costume won't do shit."
He laughed to himself as he exhaled smoke into the alley, clearly amused as he smiled to himself. "It'd be interesting, at least. Chains and leather. Sounds like a fucking party."
"Oh, it can be. Lots of things to do with chains." Of course he was suggestive, he just about always was. Not something he intended to find an off-button for, especially not when talking to a cute country boy so desperately looking for some excitement. He would have to be awfully cruel to not try and provide. "You are done with your set, yeah? Why don't you come on stage for mine?"
He laughed a little, stepping closer, even if he was not fond at all of that cigarette smoke. "I could even provide the outfit, if you want. You play bass? Our bassist is shit, my manager cheapened out on me."
"I think my manager would hang me up by a noose." Jonathan wasn't saying no, he was just stating fact. He took a long inhale of his cigarette as he pondered if the damage was worth the excitement. This was the first thing in... well, forever? Maybe forever. First thing in forever that he had actually wanted to do. "You better not leave me for death afterwards or I'll smash up your bass after. Not that I imagine it's worth shit, given your manager is cheapening out."
Oh yeah, sure, whatever. He was agreeing to it. Crazy and insane but he wanted to play. "I don't know your songs so well. I think I know one at most. Dunno how good I'm gonnabe."
"Eh. If you suck too much, I'll just go into falsetto, throw everyone off." Edward wasn't too concerned. This was exciting and, hey, anything to replace that dumbass Oswald had saddled them with. "Now, come on. Gimme a name and I'll think of how to outfit you. Digging that noose idea, honestly."
Hey, he had had weirder ideas before. "Come to our dressing room. I promise we don't bite. Much."
Maybe some. He was looking awfully sweet. "Can't wait to make those baby blues pop." He popped his tongue to illustrate, then grabbed the guy's wrist to pull him along.
"You're a queer one, ain't you?" In every sense but he meant it as weird. Edward was baffling and this was a disaster but it was something that woke him up. He was happy, in a sense, to know he'd perform with someone so out there that he didn't have to carry a show. Following Edward through the hallway, he tried to work out how bad this could get but honestly, it was hard to predict.
"I like nooses. Very American gothic, you know? Always wanted that vibe. Farmland nightmares. Like a scarecrow." He mostly thought of that because of his childhood nightmares but that was what he thought out when he thought of nooses. It was a seriously creepy scarecrow his granny had.
As they entered the dressing room, Jonthan's eyes widened at the half dressed women and he politely adverted his eyes. He was expecting them to yell and one started to, just not in a way he had expected. "OH MY GOD! Eddie, you found him!"
"Who did I find? I found this gem here." Oh, right. "Kindly cover up those amazing breasts, will you? I would help, but I was just outside, so my hands are called."
Edward sounded quite apologetic, then he turned around to face Jonathan and, ever so kindly, grabbed him by the shoulders to navigate him, so he was with his back to the scandalising sight. "We love doing American Gothic. You should watch our music videos some time, when you've got time. Echo! Can he borrow your make-up? I'll help him do it, but he's closer to your colouring, don't you think?"
"We always have rope, I'll go find rope." Query called out as she pulled on a shirt and both girls, thankfully, were covered again. Not that they seemed bothered, just Jonathan. It was a lot, he hadn't actually seen anyone naked before so it was an odd experience to see all at once. As they came to the side, Jonathan looked up at Edward with a baffled expression.
"Is it always chaos like this with you?" Cause he actually liked it. It felt so different from the controlled world he was usually in. "You know, you paint me up and all these people are gonna think I'm a fairy. Georgia is very simple. Thing good or thing bad. And makeup on boys? I reckon that's the worst." And yet, Jonathan was smiling.
"With me, it's always magical. And therefore, my dear friend, we will just turn you into the most beautiful American Gothic fairy we can." Given the man didn't actually seem that bothered, Edward wasn't either. He laughed and guided him through the room to the side table, pulling a chair up and then pushing him to sit in it. He got another chair for himself, straddling it so he could lean against the backrest as he worked, should help steady him.
He looked at him, tilting his head to the side and using his hands to create a frame in the air as he thought about it. "Black, for sure. But I might go with some blue tones, bring those eyes out even more. Mesmerising, you'll see. Damn, you'll be hot!"
Already enthused, he reached for the make-up pallet, so he could pick the colours. "Echo, we got anything in my wardrobe that would fit him and a hanged man concept?"
"I'm gonna have a raid. Luckily we had stuff from our third act."
"Your concerts have acts?" The fuck? He let Edward apply the make up and didn't move, very patiently letting Edward do as he pleased. What could he say, he had a lot of experience doing this. Though the only make up he wore was conceal. Not too much or it'd suddenly be queer.
"Three acts. We like to tell a story. It's more an experience than a concert." Echo explained as she pulled out some brown leather and held it up for Ed to see. "Thoughts?"
"Yes, love it, it's bought. Give it here." Edward was feeling rather gleefully about this, while he gently applied the multiple layers of eyeshadow he was going for here, trying to go for spooky more than fairy, to fit the theme. "We are story tellers. I like to perform a play every time I'm on stage. And in-between too, if we're being honest here."
He grinned and reached for the eyeliner, to apply that final touch. "Currently we start with oppression. Second act's rebellion. Last act is freedom. You know, more or less."
Suddenly leaning in, he kissed Jonathan's cheek, before grabbing him by the shoulder so he could spin him enough to see his reflection in the mirror. "Whatcha think?"
"Fucking hell." He didn't know what he was saying that too, the make-up, the leather or the kiss. Frankly, all three. Is this what his father meant when he said one slip would lead to a hundred slips and soon he'd be in hell. Cause if this was hell, he was pretty into it. The slipping was fun. Jonathan looked himself over and then raised his hand to ruffle his hair a but looser so it wouldn't feel as uncomfortable, his manager always made him gel the shit out of it. "This is gonna cause quite a stir. Where'd you come from again?"
"We're from Gotham City, baby." Query responded as she came in, handing Edward the rope with a playful smile. "City of love."
Jonathan raised an eyebrow but didn't ask any more, though at least he knew somewhere he could escape to if this scandal ended as bad as he assumed it might. "Where's the bass? And my clothes?"
"A city of justice, a city of love, a city of peace," of course, Edward had to break into song on the cue, even as he took the rope from Query and started tying it off into a noose. One picked up some skills along the way, "For everyone of us. We all need it, can't live without it."
Lifting the newly tied noose up, he looked at Jonathan through it, smirking suggestively. "A Gotham City, oh yeah!"
That said, he gestured over to where Echo had put down the clothes. "If you want modesty, you can change behind the door over there? I reckon. I don't know, none of us have any modesty. I'll give you the bass after."
"Oh come on, you wanna sin, don't you? Take it off. We're not shy." Echo saw it as a test, in some ways. Maybe he was shy, maybe he had to work up to it or maybe he was their type of person and had been this whole time, just trapped under that country boy vibe he had going. Echo wrapped her arms around Query and watched him, smiling playfully. "Me and Edward always dreamed of marrying you, by the way?"
"... You what?" Jonathan was frowned by that, he gave them both a weird look as he pulled off his shirt and tossed it aside, not aware he was passing any test. He just wanted to get changed. He was a very slender guy, all ribs visible and many scars littering his body, not much to look at. "When?"
"When you had that cute song about holding hands." Echo held her hand out towards Edward and sang the song, waiting for her best friend to take it.
"Ohhh, you are Jonathan Crane? I saw him first, Echo, I totally get to call dibs." Ed grinned and then leaned over, so he could take her hand, giving it a light squeeze as he joined in with her song. "You've no idea, Jonny! I think we had a poster of you up for a while too. You were so much nicer than the boys at school! My first boy crush."
And evidently he had no shame whatsoever about that, not that that was surprising at that stage. "Ready for the noose?"
"Glad I could bring the gay outta you, God would be proud. Pass the noose on over here." Jonathan took the noose, still thrown by all of this but he knew if he took time to process it, he might not do it. And at this point, that wasn't an option. He nodded, agreed and used his ability to zone out and not ask questions as an asset. Jonathan slipped the noose over his head and tightened it slightly, leaving it nice and loose before grabbing his pants. "I would thank you for the cash from the poster but I don't see a cent."
Everyone around him did instead. He dropped his jeans down and kicked them off, slipping one leg into his leather pants before being very aware of the eyes on him. He paused and looked up, noting that yes, Echo and Query were staring.
"Huh. Guess I really cast you well, didn't I?" Edward grinned, looking down as well and then taking a couple steps closer, so he was between Jonathan and Echo's and Query's stare. "Turns out our hanged man is a hung man as well."
He laughed at his own joke and a little bit at the fact that this guy might just be packing the biggest dick he'd seen outside porn. He reached for the noose and used it to pull him a little closer - and a little down, because, damn, was that guy tall - until their faces almost touching. "With you on stage, I'm gonna be reaching those high notes."
A slight shove to Jonathan's shoulder and then Ed bounded through half the room to get the bass and hold it out for him. "There you go, you're ready!"
"Still not an expert on your songs, just keep that shit in mind. And keep my dick outta your mind, son." Fuck. "Not son, forget that." He didn't want dick and daddy to be in the same breath. He rolled his eyes and finished fastening his pants, meeting Edward's eyes and watching him bounce off the fucking walls like a hyped up dog. He had so much energy, just watching him was exhausting.
"Well, you know, if you don't know our songs, just plays yours. I know your old stuff. Love that twang." Echo grabbed her guitar and Query had her drum sticks in her hand, heading out after Echo so they could get set up before Edward came out.
Jonathan wasn't entirely sure what to do himself, he held onto the base and looked it over before slipping it on and testing it out. He tuned it a little to make it sound better, still not sure how he'd pull this shit off. "I guess I'm as ready as I'm ever gonna be."
"Nerves, huh?" Ed walked over to him again and then simply kept walking, one hand on Jonathan's chest until they hit the wall. He looked up to meet his eyes, smiling just a little bit. Yes, he was hyped, he usually was before a gig. "If it gets too much, Jonny, just stay calm and think of Gotham. It's what I do. Nothing better to centre you than pure chaos."
Whatever that meant. He stepped back and headed for the door, holding it open for him. "After you." With a grin, he just had to. "Daddy."
"You're a touchy sort, huh? All needy. I always like that." Not that he had any experience with dating anyone, either sex, he knew what he wanted out of people. To be the one people wanted to cling to, that certainly sounded appealing. He sighed and shook his head, taking off ahead of Edward and walking out, not sure what the hell he was fucking doing but here he was, committing career suicide. Or improving it, potentially. Hard to say.
He tuned the guitar as he walked down the hall and then headed out, wondering what the hell it was like to be on stage with that hyped up loon.
Edward let Jonathan go on stage first, not expecting anyone to recognise the man right away and therefore still banking on being the one to get the bigger entrance. If Jonathan seemed all right with it, he could always introduce him later, for that wow effect then. But for now he waited about a minute and thirty-three seconds - or exactly a minute and thirty-three seconds, because he always did - and then he came on stage, catching Query's eyes so she'd know to start.
So far there was only that beat, not any song just yet, so he had time for some introductions and a little taste of what was to come to get the crowd into the right mood. He liked it loud and even if maybe some of the audience didn't quite know what to make of them, there was quite the dedicated group of younger people, mostly girls, who seemed to be getting exactly what they wanted out of this.
Finally he walked right over to stand in front of Jonathan, looking at him as he told him what notes to hit, right before hitting them himself. Hey, it was a good way to test Jonathan's skills, not that he really doubted them, get his voice warmed up and show off his range some.
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icebergloungers2021-02-05 09:55 am
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Not that he was big on smoking, at least anything that didn't get him high, but still. Surely this guy was out of that age. He walked over, smiling in a way that he hoped would relax the guy. However, given his heavy eye make-up and stage outfit, he wasn't really expecting it to put any of these country stars at ease, going by his experiences so far. They carried their no homo proudly here. "You can keep smoking, I just wanted to cool down some."
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He exhaled smoke into the air and turned to Edward, properly looking at him now and raising an eyebrow. Huh. He looked fucking wild. "Riddle?" He knew the band. Vaguely. He just wanted to be sure, he was piss poor with names.
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Hey, if he called him son, he was asking for it. He found his flask and got it out. It was one Echo had gifted him a while ago, silver and in an elaborate steampunk gothic themed design. She knew his tastes. He unscrewed it and took a sip, then held it out to the guy. "Have some. Calms me down every time."
He did seem nervous. Or just unsettled. Something was off.
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He took a long sip and then held it back out to Edward, eyes drawn to him again as he studied his make up and wondered what his family would make of a boy like this. "First time in Georgia?"
It was a logical assumption. "Bold outfit."
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Both had some appeal. Although so far it seemed mostly all right, not that he was overly worried. He was from Gotham, they were used to a lot of rough handling, to say the least. "You like the outfit? I guess out here anything that isn't plaid is alternative."
Although there were of course quite a few steps between that and what he was wearing. "Personally, I feel most people would look better with some leather and chains. I know you would."
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He laughed to himself as he exhaled smoke into the alley, clearly amused as he smiled to himself. "It'd be interesting, at least. Chains and leather. Sounds like a fucking party."
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He laughed a little, stepping closer, even if he was not fond at all of that cigarette smoke. "I could even provide the outfit, if you want. You play bass? Our bassist is shit, my manager cheapened out on me."
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Oh yeah, sure, whatever. He was agreeing to it. Crazy and insane but he wanted to play. "I don't know your songs so well. I think I know one at most. Dunno how good I'm gonnabe."
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Hey, he had had weirder ideas before. "Come to our dressing room. I promise we don't bite. Much."
Maybe some. He was looking awfully sweet. "Can't wait to make those baby blues pop." He popped his tongue to illustrate, then grabbed the guy's wrist to pull him along.
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"I like nooses. Very American gothic, you know? Always wanted that vibe. Farmland nightmares. Like a scarecrow." He mostly thought of that because of his childhood nightmares but that was what he thought out when he thought of nooses. It was a seriously creepy scarecrow his granny had.
As they entered the dressing room, Jonthan's eyes widened at the half dressed women and he politely adverted his eyes. He was expecting them to yell and one started to, just not in a way he had expected. "OH MY GOD! Eddie, you found him!"
"Christ almighty, Riddles. They're fucking undressed."
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Edward sounded quite apologetic, then he turned around to face Jonathan and, ever so kindly, grabbed him by the shoulders to navigate him, so he was with his back to the scandalising sight. "We love doing American Gothic. You should watch our music videos some time, when you've got time. Echo! Can he borrow your make-up? I'll help him do it, but he's closer to your colouring, don't you think?"
"Oh, and Query, do we have any rope?"
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"We always have rope, I'll go find rope." Query called out as she pulled on a shirt and both girls, thankfully, were covered again. Not that they seemed bothered, just Jonathan. It was a lot, he hadn't actually seen anyone naked before so it was an odd experience to see all at once. As they came to the side, Jonathan looked up at Edward with a baffled expression.
"Is it always chaos like this with you?" Cause he actually liked it. It felt so different from the controlled world he was usually in. "You know, you paint me up and all these people are gonna think I'm a fairy. Georgia is very simple. Thing good or thing bad. And makeup on boys? I reckon that's the worst." And yet, Jonathan was smiling.
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He looked at him, tilting his head to the side and using his hands to create a frame in the air as he thought about it. "Black, for sure. But I might go with some blue tones, bring those eyes out even more. Mesmerising, you'll see. Damn, you'll be hot!"
Already enthused, he reached for the make-up pallet, so he could pick the colours. "Echo, we got anything in my wardrobe that would fit him and a hanged man concept?"
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"Your concerts have acts?" The fuck? He let Edward apply the make up and didn't move, very patiently letting Edward do as he pleased. What could he say, he had a lot of experience doing this. Though the only make up he wore was conceal. Not too much or it'd suddenly be queer.
"Three acts. We like to tell a story. It's more an experience than a concert." Echo explained as she pulled out some brown leather and held it up for Ed to see. "Thoughts?"
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He grinned and reached for the eyeliner, to apply that final touch. "Currently we start with oppression. Second act's rebellion. Last act is freedom. You know, more or less."
Suddenly leaning in, he kissed Jonathan's cheek, before grabbing him by the shoulder so he could spin him enough to see his reflection in the mirror. "Whatcha think?"
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"We're from Gotham City, baby." Query responded as she came in, handing Edward the rope with a playful smile. "City of love."
Jonathan raised an eyebrow but didn't ask any more, though at least he knew somewhere he could escape to if this scandal ended as bad as he assumed it might. "Where's the bass? And my clothes?"
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Lifting the newly tied noose up, he looked at Jonathan through it, smirking suggestively. "A Gotham City, oh yeah!"
That said, he gestured over to where Echo had put down the clothes. "If you want modesty, you can change behind the door over there? I reckon. I don't know, none of us have any modesty. I'll give you the bass after."
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"... You what?" Jonathan was frowned by that, he gave them both a weird look as he pulled off his shirt and tossed it aside, not aware he was passing any test. He just wanted to get changed. He was a very slender guy, all ribs visible and many scars littering his body, not much to look at. "When?"
"When you had that cute song about holding hands." Echo held her hand out towards Edward and sang the song, waiting for her best friend to take it.
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And evidently he had no shame whatsoever about that, not that that was surprising at that stage. "Ready for the noose?"
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Everyone around him did instead. He dropped his jeans down and kicked them off, slipping one leg into his leather pants before being very aware of the eyes on him. He paused and looked up, noting that yes, Echo and Query were staring.
Staring at his crotch. "...What?"
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He laughed at his own joke and a little bit at the fact that this guy might just be packing the biggest dick he'd seen outside porn. He reached for the noose and used it to pull him a little closer - and a little down, because, damn, was that guy tall - until their faces almost touching. "With you on stage, I'm gonna be reaching those high notes."
A slight shove to Jonathan's shoulder and then Ed bounded through half the room to get the bass and hold it out for him. "There you go, you're ready!"
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"Well, you know, if you don't know our songs, just plays yours. I know your old stuff. Love that twang." Echo grabbed her guitar and Query had her drum sticks in her hand, heading out after Echo so they could get set up before Edward came out.
Jonathan wasn't entirely sure what to do himself, he held onto the base and looked it over before slipping it on and testing it out. He tuned it a little to make it sound better, still not sure how he'd pull this shit off. "I guess I'm as ready as I'm ever gonna be."
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Whatever that meant. He stepped back and headed for the door, holding it open for him. "After you." With a grin, he just had to. "Daddy."
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He tuned the guitar as he walked down the hall and then headed out, wondering what the hell it was like to be on stage with that hyped up loon.
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So far there was only that beat, not any song just yet, so he had time for some introductions and a little taste of what was to come to get the crowd into the right mood. He liked it loud and even if maybe some of the audience didn't quite know what to make of them, there was quite the dedicated group of younger people, mostly girls, who seemed to be getting exactly what they wanted out of this.
Finally he walked right over to stand in front of Jonathan, looking at him as he told him what notes to hit, right before hitting them himself. Hey, it was a good way to test Jonathan's skills, not that he really doubted them, get his voice warmed up and show off his range some.
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