(Untitled)

[sirjaggernaut]

The middle of a circus ring is a good place to give orders from. Mick supposed he gave a lot of them, but only what had to be given, in his opinion. He had a microphone and a megaphone, and used them both, but neither of them seemed to work out. The megaphone was too square for his taste, like some kind of school days phys-ed control freak. And the

Comments

[lennonofbag]

John had hung around outside the dressing-room door for a few minutes, unable to hear more than the odd murmur and George's low, husky laugh. It wasn't a sound he'd heard much of late, he realised with a pang of regret. The little scene earlier was an echo of the same resentments and bitterness that had spilled out repeatedly since Rishikesh, John seemingly unable to keep from lashing out and earning yet more disapproval from George.

When had Harrison's regard become important to him? The awe-struck kid who'd once driven him nuts was long gone; in his place this...man, this painfully honest man who wanted, no, insisted on being his equal, who had more recently gained the upper hand in personal terms, if not professional. He longed for that old sense of control, to be in charge of the situation but that had never been enough, had it? It wasn't the acquiescent kid he was drawn to; it was this George, quietly self-assured and refusing to bend to John's will, who engaged his interest. He knew this, although how to handle it was more of a mystery. Clearly he needed to change tack, though.

Another laugh reached him, propelling him forward. For appearances sake he gave a quick rap on the door as he entered the room, stopping short at the sight of George on his knees before Eric.

He looked from one to the other, eyes lingering on George, good intentions forgotten at the rapt look on his upturned face.

"Fuck me, son. Is there a guitarist in this joint you haven't had a mouthful of?"

[somethinggeorge]

"Fuck you? Not bloody likely. After all, not an hour ago, I seem to recall you saying, 'What I need, Yoko provides. In every respect.' You couldn't possibly have changed your mind on that already, could you?"

[lennonofbag]

"And why the fuck would that matter to you, son? You're quite clearly otherwise engaged."

[ericclapper]

"It's not what it looks like..." Eric said, trailing off. He chuckled and raised his hand to his forehead, then continued, "Not EXACTLY. Can't you just give him a break, John?"

[lennonofbag]

He shot a venomous glance sidewards at the interruption, looking Eric up and down with a sneer before advancing on him.

"All this and dazzling conversation too, eh?" A step closer. "So. What is it exactly, then? Enlighten me, son."

[ericclapper]

Eric struggled to keep his balance as he stared into John's eyes in objection. He suddenly pitied John, pitied anyone who might've thought they were abandoned in favor of Eric Clapton. 'There's a raw deal if ever I heard one,' he thought. He sighed and said the only thing he could think of. "I honestly don't know." He slumped back into the chair and left George to handle John. He'd be there if he was needed and George knew that.

[somethinggeorge]

George sighed in exasperation as he looked at one befuddled friend slumped in a chair and the other in a jealous rage. He took a deep breath and decided it was time he and John stopped sniping at each other, at least for one night.

Taking a deep breath, he straightened up decisively, hands on hips, and addressed John firmly.

"Can we cut all the bullshit for a minute here?" He caught John's eye and continued in a quiet and rational voice. "This has nothing to do with Eric. I think we could leave him out of it, don't you?"

"What is it you want from me, John?"

[lennonofbag]

John chewed his lip, caught off-guard by the sudden change of pace and the appeal in his friend's voice. He shifted uncomfortably beneath George's gaze and shrugged a little, unable to look away.

"I don't know." The admission was quiet, but the tone unintentionally defiant. Shoulders slouched, he lifted his hands in a gesture of defeat, speaking more softly. "I just don't know, George, alright?"

"Is he...I mean, are you..?" He glanced at Eric and trailed off. "Forget it."

[somethinggeorge]

George stared at John weighing the possible alternatives. "John?" George advanced towards him and put his hands on his mate's shoulders. "When you figure it out -- what you want from me -- I'd very much like to know."

[lennonofbag]

The familiar touch on his shoulders, the squeeze of George's fingers was at once comforting and enticing. He swallowed, casting about in his mind for possible responses. All of them involved George making the first move and absolving him from any possible blame when things went tits up, which this surely would. Whatever this was, now Eric was on the scene.

"I..." He cleared his throat, smiling slightly. "Maybe I just need reminding, eh?"

[ericclapper]

Eric looked up at John after that last remark, surprise and frustration mixed together on his face. What the hell was Lennon thinking?

Calmly, he addressed them both. "I'm still present. In case you forgot."

[somethinggeorge]

George felt torn between his two mates. He took his hands off of John's shoulders and took a step back. "John, let's continue this privately a little later, yeah?"

[lennonofbag]

Hiding the twist of resentment over Eric's untimely interruption he raised an eyebrow slightly, lips quirking with a smile.

"Perhaps. When you get bored." A tell-tale glance at Eric before flashing George a quick wink. "I'll expect you soon, shall I?"

He disappeared, a smirk on his face.