Well, we're all in the mood for a melody...

[sapphira_ststep]

[The Tavern of Hell]
[It's nine o'clock on a Saturday, February 6 (day 251)]...and the regular crowd rushes in. And I know the faces you see at the bar, making love to their tonic and gin

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[mistresswanda]

I can't really believe I am going out to the Tavern on a Saturday night, alone, in my condition. But I promised Damien that I would be here and that I would sing with him, and I do like to keep my word.

I already wore the black dress here, so I go though the few things my husband was good enough to have his quar-- kwar--- his whatever find, and I settle on a snazzy pinstripe maternity dress. The pinstripes help, they always made me feel more in control, somehow.

I throw on my shoes and trench coat and head over, before I change my mind. Hidden within it's pockets and lining are a few choice surprises, just in case Lucien was right and anyone gets any funny ideas about my pregnancy.

Walk in and manage to smile at the warmth and the comforting prescence of the stage and piano. Also that there isn;t anyone I immediately recognize, either. I seemed to have beaten (hahaha)Damien here, so I head to the bar and hop up on a stool. I do keep my coat on though, it may not close, but for now,it conceals.

I would dearly love some absinthe or whiskey, and I have been assured that drinking will not harm my daughter. Still... appearances. I order a glass of meade, and sip it as I wait for Damien to arrive.

[damien_dw]

I'm really looking forward to this, to performing with Wanda. Makes me smile as I walk in and see her at the bar. I unzip my leather jacket and adjust the strap for the case with my guitar before wandering up to her. I give her a grin. "Ready to give these people a real show?"

[mistresswanda]

I people watch until Damien joins me. He joins me with a big smile.

"Ready to give these people a real show?"

His enthusiasm is almost infectious. "Let me finish my drink, it's been a while since I've performed seriously, need a bit of Irish courage." I tease, holding up my glass, but my jest about Irish courage triggers a memory. From a lifetime ago, it seems, of another man with a guitar and dark eyes, coaxing me to sing...

It is so painfully acute in my memory I have to shut my eyes to will it away.

After a moment, I manage to swallow down the grief, and I give Damien a apologetic smile. "Sorry, give me a sec." Then I yell for Thomas and a shot of whiskey. To hell... hahaha... with apperances.

[damien_dw]

Let me finish my drink, it's been a while since I've performed seriously, need a bit of Irish courage. Wanda teases holding up her glass. I'm about to say something like 'no rush' but then a look of pain appears in her eyes and she squeezes them shut for a long moment. Then she gives me an apologetic smile asking me to give her a sec. I nod. She can take as much time as she needs. I didn't mean to cause her pain. She yells to get the bartender's attention and then order a shot of whiskey. I'm not quite sure that's a good idea, but I don't want to start an argument. Instead I take a seat next to her. Maybe I'll order something myself. Part of me wants to suggest we go hide in the performers break room away from all these people. At least til we're ready to give them that show.

[mistresswanda]

Poor Damien, he is looking at me like I grew another head. I take a sip of my whiskey instead of knocking it back like I normally would, and smile as the liquid fire seeps down my throat.

"The last person that asked me to sing with him... he died this past Autumn." I explain softly. "I just... missed him for a moment."

I take a deep breath, and manage to smile again. "So, m'dear... tell me what type of music you had in mind. Any particular songs you want to play? I am open to just about anything... and chances are I'll know it." He gets it in his head, I'll be able to hear it instantly.

[damien_dw]

Wanda sips her whiskey still looking a bit sad and explains in a soft voice,The last person that asked me to sing with him... he died this past Autumn.I just... missed him for a moment. Oh. "I'm sorry for your loss."

Then she takes a deep breath visibly putting the pain away somewhere. Then she smiles, So, m'dear... tell me what type of music you had in mind. Any particular songs you want to play? I am open to just about anything... and chances are I'll know it. and I nod, "How d'ypu feel about Jazz?"

[mistresswanda]

"I'm sorry for your loss." I nod in response, and sip my whiskey. So am I Damien... more than anyone on this planet.

"How d'you feel about Jazz?" I smile around my glass, but dammit, his eyes are still in my head. "Like Jazz just fine. Or a little country, a little blues, a little rock... whatever."

"Tell you what, lets each rattle off a quick list of different songs we like, and we'll go from there, but... do you know Under the Milky Way?" I have the suddenly and melancholy urgeto sing that one for Lúgh's memory.

[damien_dw]

She nods and sips her drink. She smiles around the glass when I ask how she feels about Jazz. Says she likes it just fine. Same seems to go for Country, blues and Rock. Tell you what, lets each rattle off a quick list of different songs we like, and we'll go from there, but... do you know Under the Milky Way?

"Sounds good to me." I say but I have to admit, "I'm not sure I know that one". In fact I'm pretty sure I've never heard that name before. There's a lot of songs out there, no musician can be expected to know them all. "If you give me the tune I'm sure I can improvise something to go with it, if you have your heart set on singing it." I offer.

[mistresswanda]

"I'm not sure I know that one. If you give me the tune I'm sure I can improvise something to go with it, if you have your heart set on singing it."

Take a sip of my whiskey and then start to sing the song
softly, under my breath so he can hear it. "Lower the curtain down in Memphis, lower the curtain down alright, got no time, for private consultation, under the milky way tonight..." The imp moves at hearing me sing, and i smile and lay a hand on my stomach.

"Okay Damien... here's the easiest way to do this. Think of a song, any song..." I tell him, feeling more in my element now. "Get it in your head, the lyrics, the harmony, the melody, but don't tell me." I instruct, eyes dancing. This should be fun.

[damien_dw]

Wanda takes another sip and the softly she starts to sing, it's very quiet so nobody except me and maybe somebody standing real close to us can hear it. I do my best to memorize the tune. Yeah, think I can work with that. The smile she gives as she lays her hand on her stomach is much happier than the earlier ones. Makes me feel better.

Okay Damien... here's the easiest way to do this. Think of a song, any song...Get it in your head, the lyrics, the harmony, the melody, but don't tell me. She says, her eyes dancing. I have to smile back even as I'm a bit confused. Sounds like one of those old mentalist card tricks, but I'm willing to give it a try. "alright..." I wanna know what the trick id but I'll willing to wait and see. hope she can pull it off.

Several possibilities come and go through my mind but one stays and I let my mind fill with Roxane...

[mistresswanda]

He's grinning but dubious. Oh, yes, I forgot how much fun it was to pull out music from people's heads for teh fun of it.

I open up and for a moment I hear everyone, and it's an effort to narrow it down to just Damien, but I do. He goes through a mental rolodex, and I smile and wait until...

yes, he's got one now. I cock my head and listen for a moment, then grin like the cat that caught the canary.

" loved you since I knew you, I wouldn't talk down to you, I have to tell you just how I feel, I won't share you with another boy. I know my mind is made up, So put away your make up! Told you once I won't tell you again it's a bad way...

Laugh at the look on his face. "I do like that one, but I prefer "Message in a Bottle". And am I mistaken or did you consider "Space Oddity" for a moment?"

[damien_dw]

It seems like her eyes unfocus a bit and she just listens, smiling, her cocks to one side and she grins in triumph, then starts to sing along to the song in my head. How did she know?

She's laughing at me but I don't care, I like her laugh and the way it makes her eyes sparkle. I do like that one, but I prefer "Message in a Bottle". And am I mistaken or did you consider "Space Oddity" for a moment?

I'm amazed all over again, I DID think about 'Space Oddity' even let a bit of it play in my head. I shake my head in wonder, "No, you're not wrong. Wanda,that's- you're amazing!"

[mistresswanda]

"No, you're not wrong. Wanda,that's- you're amazing!"

I wave my hand dismissively. "It's not big deal, just a little quirk I have." I sigh, realizing now that I am not concentrating just on Damien, everyone is flitering in. They're all so loud, it seems. Love, desire, wariness, caution, eagerness... even the imp hears it all, I think, for she is flipping around like a jumping bean. At least she's excited, I think. "Shhh, darling, shhhhh..." I croon, stroking my stomach as I tune out the noise. She almost seems upset that I turned the music off. I wonder why.

"Anyway, all you have to do is think of the song, and I'll hear it. Sound good to you?" I ask, smiling and finishing my whiskey.

[damien_dw]

She's dismissive of it, probably because it's not amazing to her. It's not big deal, just a little quirk I have. She sighs and then rubs her stomach and croon a little to the baby inside her. Shhh, darling, shhhhh...

Then she turns to me with a smile, Anyway, all you have to do is think of the song, and I'll hear it. Sound good to you? I nod. "Sure! I wish that trick of yours worked both ways, would be very handy for building sets on the fly or jam sessions." She finishes off her drink and I give her smile and stand up.

"Shall we go up to the stage and get settled in while we decide what to play for them?"

[mistresswanda]

"Sure! I wish that trick of yours worked both ways, would be very handy for building sets on the fly or jam sessions."

I laugh a little at that. "Well, it'll work well enough for tonight, until we get a feel for the crowd."

Damien smiles and rises.

"Shall we go up to the stage and get settled in while we decide what to play for them?" Grab my meade and rise as well.

"Lead on." And I follow him to the stage.