When John had first asked Ringo to fill in for the ‘unavailable’ drummer Ringo had had second thoughts about it. Not because he disliked The Beatles as a band but more because he had issues with certain members of the band. Pete because well, he couldn’t smile at a woman-beater and Paul... he didn’t like being compared to a short dwarf. But he respected and valued the friendship he had between the other members and agreed almost instantly to fill in. An hour and a half practice and then the real thing... he felt he knew their work like the back of his hand. Not that it was hard to follow.
Finally the music finished and Ringo stopped his motions. Lifting up his once bopping head he looked past the band not helping but notice their very different dress sense. The Beatles were wearing their usual leather whilst he sat quite prim and proper on his stool in a grey suit with tie! It was easy to tell he was just a replacement on short notice.
“Compensated?” Ringo asked. “Does that mean you’ll be buyin’ me a pack of cigarettes or a beer?”
"Maybe even both if you're lucky," John said with a grin. "I'll even give you a cigarette now and maybe even buy you a drink," he paused. "If you'll play with us for the rest of the night." John pulled his pack from his pocket and handed one to the drummer before lighting himself up.
Raising his brows Ringo nodded ardently taking the offered cigarette. “I’m sure I can work something out” He replied with a playfully smile before pushing the cigarette between his lips. Lighting it up with his trusty matches he flicked a dead one into the audience. “Y’know I’ll help ya out John. Wouldn’t leave you with your trousers down would I? I’ll play the rest of t he night”
John's smile only grew at Ringo's words, "I knew I could count on you." Too bad John shouldn't get to used to the idea of Ringo being in The Beatles. "I'll buy you a drink," he said heading away from the stage toward the bar.
Scrambling up his drumsticks Ringo quickly scurried after John. “Knew you were a good bloke John, I’ve Been gaggin’ for one all set” Ringo laughed walking just behind John. Walking through the crowd of people tapping at the air with his drumsticks his eyes went wandering to the right and left hand sides of him. He liked attention; he loved the positive attention anyway. Being seen with the band on stage gave him second looks from the women in the audience and Ringo was more than happy to return them with a flirtatious smile to boot. “Love drummin’ so I’ll always help ya out”
"I wouldn't say that lightly," John teased as they approached the bar. Once they had sat down. He ordered a couple pints for the both of them and slapped his money on the table. "We might keep you forever,' He warned teasingly.
“I don’t know what sounds more terrifying then John. You havin’ me forever or Rory havin’ me forever...” Picking up the pint he took a quiet swallow enjoying the taste even more so than usual. A free beer always tasted better than one you had to fork out for. He replaced the glass with his cigarette. “Maybe I’ll get lucky and join a Swedish all-girl band. I can tell you now though; I’d be bangin’ more than me drums heh. Hmm on second thought it sounds tiring - maybe you could be my stand-in”
"I'll be standing there while you have all the fun," John said bitterly though he was not serious about it. "Pete can go play for Rory," John continued swallowing a large portion of his pint. "You can stay with us." He raised his eyebrows suggestively to suggest what he was suggesting was a possibility.
“Iye it’s a good offer John but... I doubt Rory could put up with your drummer if am honest. Let’s face it; your drummer has one of his sticks stuck up his arse an’ Rory can’t seem to pull his head out of his. I think they’d clash a bit don’t you?”
Ringo had never thought of joining The Beatles and he wasn’t going to now. Although the offer was tempting he had responsibilities with The Hurricanes and besides, John’s words were out of frustration. The drummer had been getting on John’s nerves since they flew out of here. It was probably down to the fact The Beatles were living in each other’s pockets and some personalities were meant to stay in a pocket in a completely different set of trousers.
"You said it," John told Ringo with a shake of his head. "Have to room with him now just because Paul can't defend himself and he's queer." John was pissed at Pete, but annoyed with Paul for just taking it. "Had another run in with him, did you? Besides me birthday."
“Pete? Queer?” Ringo asked doubly confused by John. “Yeah I did have a second run-in with him John but he ain’t queer. Saw him with the barmaid who works here, they’re very close y’know. All over him she was and he wasn’t fightin’ back”
John cocked an eyebrow behind his pint as he listened to Ringo. "That's not what Paul said," he didn't think at all that Ringo was lying or anything. "Said Pete came on to him and beat him up for refusing."
Ringo’s own eyebrow cocked up curiously not wanting to gossip. Although he liked neither Paul nor Pete the last thing he wanted was trouble. Either way he didn’t want rumours flying round about either of them, not ones he thought were false anyway. He had seen Pete and the barmaid... they were clearly a couple.
“No... Pete ain’t queer I don’t think. He’s nasty but he ain’t queer... he was bangin’ that barmaid last I heard but mind you, Paul had a thing with ‘er didn’t he? Probably a sour grapes thing y’know. They probably got in a fight over her and Paul doesn’t wanna admit it”
As John listened to the drummers words he felt he had been fooled. Paul never told him there was a struggle over a woman, nor that it was that barmaid. "That makes things different." John thought it wasn't worth his time to torment Pete anymore. He wouldn't put it past Paul to lie, but he didn't want to believe he was-the kid was beat up pretty badly. Rather than pick a fight John would stay out of it.
"It's just a girl John. We've all been there ain't we? As soon as you're outta Hamburg I'm sure they'll realise how stupid they were an' kiss and make up and all that" Ringo replied taking a swig of his pint. Putting the glass back on the table alongside his drumsticks the drummer offered a large smile and small shrug of his shoulders. "They can hardly keep a feud runnin' back home can they? Doubt the Barmaid would fly out for regular visits"
John thought Ringo was very funny, and it seemed every word that came from his mouth was reassuring him that he should ignore the matter all together, "She's very young-the crazy one I was telling you about," he explained while pulling a cigarette from his pack that was empty again. He played with the money in his pocket and slapped it on the counter. "How about two more pints!" He shouted at the bar tender.
Finally the music finished and Ringo stopped his motions. Lifting up his once bopping head he looked past the band not helping but notice their very different dress sense. The Beatles were wearing their usual leather whilst he sat quite prim and proper on his stool in a grey suit with tie! It was easy to tell he was just a replacement on short notice.
“Compensated?” Ringo asked. “Does that mean you’ll be buyin’ me a pack of cigarettes or a beer?”
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“Knew you were a good bloke John, I’ve Been gaggin’ for one all set” Ringo laughed walking just behind John. Walking through the crowd of people tapping at the air with his drumsticks his eyes went wandering to the right and left hand sides of him. He liked attention; he loved the positive attention anyway. Being seen with the band on stage gave him second looks from the women in the audience and Ringo was more than happy to return them with a flirtatious smile to boot. “Love drummin’ so I’ll always help ya out”
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Ringo had never thought of joining The Beatles and he wasn’t going to now. Although the offer was tempting he had responsibilities with The Hurricanes and besides, John’s words were out of frustration. The drummer had been getting on John’s nerves since they flew out of here. It was probably down to the fact The Beatles were living in each other’s pockets and some personalities were meant to stay in a pocket in a completely different set of trousers.
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“No... Pete ain’t queer I don’t think. He’s nasty but he ain’t queer... he was bangin’ that barmaid last I heard but mind you, Paul had a thing with ‘er didn’t he? Probably a sour grapes thing y’know. They probably got in a fight over her and Paul doesn’t wanna admit it”
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