though my mind could think I still was a mad man

[waywardnoblet]

Someone in the Conrad basement's common room is playing electric guitar and belting out "Carry On Wayward Son" at the top of his lungs. He's quite good, actually, but there's one problem.

Well, two problems.

1) He's drunk.
2) There's no guitar.

He's playing air guitar, you see. Actually, literally, for real playing air guitar.

Chuck has no idea what's

Comments

[mightvebeen]

Maddy has been watching Chuck for a little while. She honestly has been rendered speechless which is a miracle for her.

During a guitar solo, she approaches him and folds her arms as she stands in front of him.

"Chuckie, there are so many, many things that I could say ri- Are those leather pants? Who on Earth let you have leather pants? I would like to know so I can find them and slap them. Hard."

[waywardnoblet]

Madeline May, you did not just interrupt a guitar solo.

Chuck stops playing and stares at her with glazed eyes, half-glaring. "Excuse me. You're interrupting my show. Look! I have an audience." He points at Dan, who holds his hands in the air in a don't get me involved way, then quickly turns around.

And now Chuck is frowning. "Look what you did! My audience is gone."

[mightvebeen]

Madeline May so just did interrupt a guitar solo. No, not a guitar solo. Chuck's dorky flailing though his singing sounds nice enough. It's not exactly the point here.

"Yes, exactly, excuse you and those leather pants of yours, Chuckie. Seriously. Did you steal these from someone? I can't imagine someone letting you walk out of a store with the impression that you could wear them." Maddy reaches down to check if his pants are real leather and then looks sideways at his 'audience'. "You mean the one guy that couldn't turn his eyes away from the freak show? It's like people who stare at the aftermaths of horrible car crashes even when it increases the likelihood that they'll drive into someone cause they're not looking forward."

[waywardnoblet]

"I bought these pants. These pants look great on me. You only wish you could pull these off!"

It's quite possible he means that in more ways than one. Ahem.

"Pff, whatever." He waves his hand at her. "You can be my audience. You like Kansas? I used t'be in a tribute band. I was the lead guy. I was awesome. KANSAS ROCKS!"

And now he's back in rock star mode. STAND BACK.

[who_will_buy]

Emily is not alone outside the Conrad. Her babysitter is leaning against the outside wall.

She stares at the man with the bag.

Emily points in at it since it seems to be wriggling in his grasp. It seems very strange to see someone walking around with a bag like that. Purses? Okay! Backpacks? Of course! But this?

"Excuse me, sir, why is your bag moving like that?"

[cuckoobaron]

"Oliver is unhappy," he replies, poking at the bag. "Possibly because I am poking him."

So, he pokes it again.

This makes total sense.

[who_will_buy]

Emily is still very confused. She walks tentatively closer to him though keeps her distance still. Emily glances back at her babysitter who doesn't seem to be paying too much attention to who she's talking to. Emily has a habit of talking to the oddest sorts of people.

She thinks this demon might be the worst.

"Your bag's name is Oliver?"

[cuckoobaron]

It's possible!

He stares at her as though she just said the dumbest thing ever. He may not be in his right mind, but even he knows bags don't normally move of their own accord like that.

"No, child. The squirrel inside is named Oliver."

A tiny claw scratches at the bag from the inside.

[rattle_thecages]

There is someone else in the basement's common room, curled up in an armchair reading a book nearby Dan. Rachel Dawes is staring at Chuck with a similar expression of bewilderment. She is not impressed.

It figures the first time in a week Rachel decides to leave her room and brave the world once again she is met with air guitar and leather pants.

Really? Really?

Plenty of thoughts race through her mind but the one that sticks out the most is dear God how do we make it stop?

[findaconstant]

You don't, Rachel. You can't.

"Only heaven waits for youuuuuuuu!" Chuck half sings, half howls, dropping to his knees. He has quite the flair for performing! Performing and annoying people and generally being an ass.

Dan gives Rachel a helpless look. He knows what she's thinking. "I think leaving is a good idea," he suggests, cringing at the notes.

Notes? Those aren't notes. Those are... audible pain.

[rattle_thecages]

Rachel doesn't look over at Dan just yet. She is staring wide-eyed at the man now dropping to his knees. Dear God, why. The man is wearing leather pants. The man does not have a guitar and somehow he is playing the guitar.

"There's no reason to leave," she reassures Dan at last, with a finality that's the slightest bit forced. Not even leather pants and Kansas will drive her away from her favorite armchair. It's possible she's trying to prove something to herself.

She's certain the man will kindly stop playing once they ask him to turn it down.

Rachel has not met Chuck Noblet.

"Sir?" Rachel clears her throat. "Excuse me?"

[waywardnoblet]

No, she has not.

He doesn't have his fire extinguisher with him now, though, so that's good.

When Chuck hears the fine lady calling to him, he stops playing and fixes her with a crooked grin. Obviously, she is a fan. Chuck wants to know why she hasn't thrown her panties at him yet.

"Yes?"

Dan's going to go back to staring, now. Maybe this woman has some tricks up her sleeve. (Or a tranquilizer gun. That would also work.)