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After Sammy gets home from flying with John she gets a chance to warm up and have dinner with the family.  As the dishes are getting finished she gets a text from Elrod.

Concert in town tonight.  Interested?

ok.  c u soon!

Sammy traipses downstairs to inform her parents that not only will she be leaving early to go to Jakob's farm, she'll be out late going to a concert with El.  Then she goes back upstairs to get ready to go out.

Elrod is prompt.  He's driving his Impala and has the heat roaring.  Dad grills him briefly on the venue, the no alcohol rule and then give Sammy a hug and a kiss, "You guys have fun."  he says as he waits for them to get into the car and leave.

The stereo is playing as the pair drive into the city.  Elrod is a careful driver, and the conditions of the winter roads don't seem as dangerous with him behind the wheel wrapped in two and a half tons of good old Detroit steel.  "This is a friend of a friend's band.  No word as to how good they are other than I have to see them.  It's supposed to be something 3 Doors Down like."

Sammy can tell he's not sure where they are as a couple.  He's being Elrod, but not the Elrod that is dating Sammy, more the Elrod she knew before they kissed.

The ride to the club is about forty-five minutes, and Elrod passes the key to the valet.  They move to the VIP line and he shows the bouncer his ID, which appears to have money wrapped around it, "Eddy told me to come see the band."

The bouncer nods and palms the bill, lowering the velvet rope so Elrod and Sammy can go through.  They both get the 'Underage' stamps and then push into the crowded club.  Elrod leans close as they make their way towards the bar, "Remind me to think twice before coming to a club on a Saturday night again."  he says with a smile as they move through.

This suits Sammy just fine.  She's not sure where they are either.  At least this stepped back level allows for friendship while the rest is figured out.


She slides her hand into his to keep them from becoming separated as they push their way through.

Elrod orders up a couple of sodas and then guides them through to a table.  "I've been thinking about a lot of the stuff we've talked about.  Mainly about me getting out and doing some traveling.  I think I'll knock out the first half of college, then maybe take a year or two off.  Do a walk about, then go back and finish up my degree.  That way I can get used to not watching over my sister and maybe learn something before I trek out across the globe."

Sammy smiles and nods encouragingly.  "So you found a compromise with your dad, huh?  Great!"

Then she feels kind of awkward and stupid and doesn't quite know what to say.  She takes a sip of her coke.  As she sets it down,  she can't quite meet his eyes but she says "I'm sorry for being such a jerk."

"Dad's not entirely unreasonable.  And he knows I've been brushing up on all the business stuff so he's willing to let me throw a couple of years away ass he puts it."

When Sammy comments about being a jerk he puts a hand on hers.  "I'm not the best guy to ask an opinion on that.  When my one and only girlfriend before you cheated on me I hit the roof.  I refused to talk to her, blocked text messages from her, emails, changed my class schedule so I never had to see her.  your reaction was probably a lot more reasonable."

"Reactions can only be judged in the context of the circumstances that cause them.  You might have been entirely reasonable."  She shrugs slightly.  "Anyhow, what happened... I can't blame you for any of it.  I wanted to,  but you were a victim.  I wanted to blame me too, but that's pointless.  It's not like I invited visitors from another dimension."

She pauses.  "If its okay with you, I want to let it go.  I don't want to hear what she was like, or what she said or did to make it happen because that way lies madness for me.  I don't want to be compared with her, for good or for bad, in my own head or know about it happening in anybody else's head.  Ever.  I want that entire series of events to eventually become as irrelevant as a bad dream, as much as possible anyhow.  Do you think you can do your part of all that?"

Elrod nods.  "I expected to get attacked sometimes.  sometimes hurt.  I expected to have to worry that you were going to get hurt.  I had sort of made my peace with being the boyfriend that wasn't going to be protecting his girlfriend as often as being protected by his girlfriend.  But nothing in my feeble little imagination could have prepared me for the word to take the turns it did.  I'm just glad that you're who you are, otherwise I seriously doubt we'd be here tonight.  Together."

Sammy nods and squeezes his hand once.  She watches the crowd and listens to the background sounds, not sure of what to say because she isn't quite sure where the balance point is, where she wants it to be, or even when she wants to find it.  This is good enough for right now.

The mic opens and the DJ announces the band, "Stray Thoughts".  And the first set begins.

OOC: Heading to a movie.  So probably out of the loop until tomorrow.

If its any good, Sammy relaxes and gets into the music.  If they're really good, and she knows/can pick up on the songs, she will most likely be watching the performers very intently, and might even softly harmonize with the music.


OOC:  OK.  Movie...   :'(   Seriously jealous.  Have fun.

The band is good.  They do a few covers of old rock tunes given a more modern tempo and feel as well as some original stuff.  Elrod seems to be relaxed more, listening to the band play when s young man sits at their table unannounced.  "El!"  he works to make himself heard over the sound system.  "Long time."  He offers his hand in one of those side-swipe handshakes that teens and twentysomethings do, and Elrod mimics the action, but in that moment Sammy sees the savvy businessman he will become.  Blending in without actually buying in.

"Sink, this is my girlfriend Sammy.  Sammy, this is Sink.  He's a music promoter for Great Lakes Records here in the city."  Elrod moves his chair an inch closer to Sammy.

Sink nods as his eyes dance along Sammy, and she gets the distinct impression of being measured, valued, and categorized, "Nice to meet you Sammy."  He says, not bothering to offer his hand to her.  "So, El, what do you think of my boys?"  Sink says, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder.

"Nice."  Elrod says nodding, "They write their own stuff or do you get the tunes from the GL staffers?"

Sink shrugs, and Sammy detects a twitch in Elrod's eye.  She's seen it before, when he's dealing with people he thinks are incompetent.  "Listen, Virgin and Atlantic are throwing a little party up at the Ambassador.  Rooftop access thing.  You and Sammy interested, I can get you in."  Sink seems to develop a sudden epileptic seizure, then grabs at his phone.  He holds a finger up to the pair and leaves the table to take the call.

Once he's out of earshot Elrod leans over to whisper to Sammy, "I want to apologize if the girlfriend comment seemed out of bounds.  But Sink is a predator, and as much fun as it might be to watch you blow him into the lake I'd rather just cut him off at the pass.  Or actually before the pass if you follow."

Sammy has a flash of deja vu, and for some reason it strikes her funny.  She grins, and says "Nah, it doesn't bother me a bit.  Its not like you spilled your drink on him to make him back off.  We're good."  She leans over closer.  "Are we going to that party?  Or did you have other plans?  I don't mind either way.  If you'd rather not spend your night keeping my face off of the 6 o'clock news, I totally understand.  But the lake is so big; nobody would ever have to know..."

Elrod grins.  "My plans were flimsy, and a record company party might be a once in a high school career thing."

Sink comes back to the table and sits, "So, party?"

Elrod waits for Sammy's nodding consent, and then looks back to Sink, "Sounds good."

"Excellent."  he says, taking a pair of passes from his inner jacket pocket and giving them to the pair.  "Maybe next week you can give a listen to some people, give me your opinion then El?"

Elrod gives teh passes to Sammy for safe keeping.  "Sure.  Call me Wednesday, I'll swing by the studio."

This brings a smile to Sink's face and Sammy confirms he has a gold tooth near the front.  "Sweet.  I'll ring you then, gotta go mingle.  Nice meeting you Sam."  He doesn't wait for a reply as he rises from the chair and slithers into the crowd.

Once he's a little ways off Elrod puts his head on Sammy's shoulder and moans.  "The last time he asked me to check out a band I thought my ears would bleed.  Worse German Techno band I ever heard.  Which wasn't hard since they were all like nine and from Minnesota."

Sammy kisses him once lightly on the top of his head and pats his shoulders comfortingly.  "Poor child.  Promise yourself a nice lie down afterwards, and you'll get through it.  Or just say no to Goldie, unless your friend needs him."

The band finishes their set and the club goes back to letting the DJ run the show.  Elrod and Sammy make their way out to the Valet and then head towards the Ambassador.

The pair make their way to the penthouse, where they show the woman at the entryway the invitations Sink had given them.  She smiles and lets them in.  The space is filled with a variety of people.  Everything from elegant evening wear to torn jeans and ratty band t-shirts make up the attire.  Elrod taps one of the waitresses on the shoulder and whispers to her.  a few moments later she finds them, handing them each a glass of what looks to be champagne but Sammy is quickly able to determine is actually white grape juice with a little club soda.

"Elrod Janush?"  Elrod turns to see an older man approaching.  this handshake is more traditional, and the man smiles at Sammy, offering his hand "Greg Phillips, Sony Limited."  Phillips looks to Elrod, "What brings you to this thing, I thought you were trying to stay clear of the vultures?"

"Sink gave us a couple of passes, and I thought it might be fun."  He puts his arms around Sammy, "Sammy is a musician, I thought she might like to see what the enemy looks like."  elrod grins and Phillips does as well, his attention focusing back on Sammy.

"He's right you know."  Looking around the room, "Bloodsuckers.  All of us."

Unfortunately, the recent events at the Museum make Sammy think "Vampires" when she hears the word bloodsuckers, and she twitches inside Elrod's embrace.  She pulls his arms slightly closer around her and says "Glad I wore a turtleneck then.  Wouldn't want anybody to be given the wrong idea."

Phillips and Elrod both laugh.  "I thought you were trying to avoid Sink?" Phillips asks, snatching a fresh glass of champagne from a tray moving by.

"He cornered up at a club.  One of his acts was there, 'Stray Thoughts'."  Elrod seems to welcome the proximity of Sammy, relaxing even more when she pulls him close.

Phillips nods.  "Truth now.  are they any good?"

"He couldn't tell me if the original stuff they did was their own or if GL staffers wrote it for them."

"Pratt."  Philips blurts out, then covers his mouth, "Sorry Sammy.  So rude of me.  Perhaps numb skull might have been a better phrase to use."

Sammy smiles and lets the comment slide.  "Why don't you just ask the drummer about the music?" she says.  "He's not one of the shiny up front boys who's going to have a quick answer ready.  You'll catch him at it if he's got to think up something on the fly."

Phillips raises an eyebrow. "Clever girl at your side there Elrod."  and Phillips begins to look around the room.  "I wonder if they'll be here to ask."  he says.

"Stealing a band from my mother's record label would be totally uncool Greg."  Elrod says.  "Now, if you were to make an offer for a limited partnership with GL."  Elrod smiles, "Great Lakes Records could use Sony's distribution network, and Sony would have a pipeline into the Chicago music scene."  Elrod takes a sip from his glass.  "And I think I might have some sway with the owner."

Greg smiles, lifting his glass to Elrod.  "I'll call her Monday.  If you think she might be willing to talk about it?"

"I'll talk to her in the morning."

Phillips pats Elrod on the shoulder and walks into the crowd to mingle some.  Elrod places an unexpected kiss on Sammy's lips.  "You're a good luck charm, you know that?"  he says.

"Nah.  You are your own good luck.  I'm just arm candy."  She unwraps herself from his arms and tugs on his hands.  "And speaking of candy, can we get something to eat?  If I'm not mistaken there's a buffet table over that way.  Then, if you want, I can distract more old men while you take advantage of their diminished negotiating skills."

She lets him break a path through the crowd.

"You don't have to tell people I'm a musician.  I'm not out to impress anybody or sell anything tonight, and I don't want anybody thinking I'm, you know, using you for your influence."

"If I'd have thought of this distraction thing before think of the damage I could do.  Mwahahahahaha."  Elrod's evil laugh is weak.  "And I'm doing it to give you your own avenue.  Instead of everyone thinking you're just arm candy.  And I will risk bodily harm to add you make delightful arm candy by the way."

Sammy rolls her eyes and smiles.  "Nah.  I can't damage you.  I need you intact to chase away the wolves.  I'm helpless and delicate, you know."  She plucks up an hors d'oeuvre and pops it down in a single bite.  "And dainty, too."  She giggles.  "You know you can stop me at any time."

"And ruin my fantasy that I'm the strong protector.  Not on your life."  he says, getting some stuff on a plate.  "The least I can do is carry some food for you."  he says with a smile.

As the evening goes on the pair meet several musicians.  Some famous, members of assorted bands that are under contract to the various record companies that are hosting.  Some not as famous internationally, but that Elrod knows from Chicago or other cities from across the country.  There are lively discussions on style, music theory, and Sammy feels strangely at home around perfect strangers through their love and appreciation of music.  As much as people seem to respect Elrod's ability to pick a winning band, Sammy quickly establishes herself as someone who knows music.  And at one point, sitting at the table with the members of Barenaked Ladies and a pair of record execs she gets a shock when the band essentially asks her to jam with them.

"I happen to have the keys to a recording studio."  One of the execs says.

Elrod laughs.  "I can have instruments here in a half hour."  Elrod puts a hand on Sammy's shoulder, "Unless you're rather just take it easy tonight?"

OOC: Barenaked Ladies happen to be playing now, that's how they got picked.  I don't know the names, or the recolrd company they are signed with.  But this is where I'm going.

Sammy looks a lot surprised and also more than a little nervous about this offer, but she nods.  "OK" she says, "Why not?  Horn or vocals?" I can fly away faster than they can chase me if I have to

"Don't leave me," she whispers to Elrod, "I need somebody to catch me if I pass out."

"Not going anywhere angel."  he says snapping his phone open. 

Elrod makes a call, and Dave springs into action, mobilizing the unseen forces of his vast army, and arrives with instruments about thirty minutes later.  The band starts to set up, and the buys decide to have Sammy play the horn.

"Elrod is getting her something to drink as she's putting her trombone together.  "The role of eye candy is being played by Elrod Janush, co-star to the lovely and talented Samantha Jameson on the Trombone."  he kisses her softly.  "I'm gonna call your folks to let them know where we are, this might run late."

Sammy goes very still for a moment, and closes her eyes to take a deep breath, but when she opens them, she seems okay.  She smiles and says "My dad will want pictures for bragging rights at work.  Tell him I still plan to go to the farm in the morning."

She finishes putting her instrument together and warms up while everybody else is still getting set up.  For no good reason, she's suddenly very glad that the choice was for an instrument rather than vocals.  What she puts of herself into the music seems more controllable when filtered through brass.  She wonders if djinn can entrance people with the power of their voices, if for them speech and song and music is somehow magical.  She isn't really sure why she's thinking this, when it has never entered her mind before.  Its just air, right?  She probably just has a case of nerves.

"Right there," she whispers to El after he's finished the call, "sit right there in that chair by the door, right where I can see you, especially if I am asked to sing later.  I want an anchor, something to keep me connected to the earth.  I'm all of a sudden feeling... powerful... tonight, and it scares me a little.  Stupid, huh?"

Elrod shakes his head.  "You are powerful."  he says, kissing her again, "And after I explained that Barenaked Ladies was a band and not a bunch of girls with no cloths I was told to take pictures."  he has a broad smile on his face, "Knock'em dead T-Bone."

Elrod grabs the seat Sammy pointed out.  Dave and the guys that helped haul things in get some food and sit down.  It helps to have familiar friendly faces n the crowd.  The band and Sammy huddle up for a couple of minutes.  She knows most of their stuff, but without horn music they agree to let her wing it when they do that.  Then they chat about some fun stuff to do, covers of stuff that everyone would recognize, some kids songs just for giggles, and some free form jazz.

The drummer times them in and the room explodes with music.  Sammy is in her element, playing music in front of a crowd just for the sheer pleasure of it.  Elrod's taking pictures and the whole room seems to be getting into the groove of what's playing.  A few times people venture out in pairs to dance a little if the song lends itself to such.  As the night goes on the band is joined by other guests.  Jim Creeggan the band bass player manages to harass Anne Lennox onto the stage to do her version of Cole Porter's Everytime We Say Goodbye to which Sammy adds her steamy horn.  Not to miss the chance Kidd Rock hops up after and begs her to do a duet with him.  They settle on It's Only Love  and that starts a sort of battle of the vocalists as a few of the others at the party insist they get a chance to belt out something they normally don't do.  For some it's just for fun, and for a few Sammy can tell they're trying a song on for size to see if it's well received.  A couple of people throw napkins at Jon Bon Jovi until he finally puts his drink down and makes his way to the stage.  Jim whispers to him and he nods, coming over to Sammy.  "Do you know Who Says You Can't Go Home?"  he asks, referring to a country duet his band recently did with Jennifer Nettles.  "I'm told you can do vocals."  he offers her one of the mics.

Sammy nods.  "I know it."  She tightly squeezes Elrod's hand once, and moves up to the stage, trying hard not to look at the crowd and trying to remember this is all just for fun.  All she has to do is relax and enjoy it.  She flashes a quick smile to Bon Jovi.  "Wow," she says nervously.  "I'm starting to wonder if today is real.  Because if its not, I'm having one hell of a good dream."

She stretches out her neck and shoulders, shakes the tension out her arms with a little wiggle (thanks Nick, for teaching me that) and smiles again.  "OK, let's do this."

The band starts to play.  With a final glance at Elrod, she then fixes her gaze on Bon Jovi and takes her cues from her partner.  She lets the music flow, but tries really hard to sing with him and not overpower him.

Jon is all smiles once you two start to sing.  The song plays well, and Sammy has a good time doing the number.  It's over before she realizes, and Jon gives her a hug as the crowd starts to applaud. 

The rest of the evening it's as much free form as anything else, and people start to make their way out around 3AM.  Elrod has been snapping pics the whole time, and talks to the mixing guys at the end.  He slips the guy some cash, and comes her find Sammy.  "Ok, Jerry said he'd upload the tracks for me, so."  Elrod reaches into her pocket for her phone.  "Tell your dad I'll pay for these."  he says, as he tosses the hone to Jerry who proceeds to download the tracks to Sammy's phone from his private server.  "And your dad just sent me a text.  You're not supposed to forget about the farm.  What farm?"

Sammy answers him.  Her speech is broken up by yawns.  "Oh!  There's a new boy at school.  His name is Jakob, and his family has a farm.  I think that's the story.  John brought him around, he was assigned to help him get acclimated, you know how that goes.  Anyhow, he invited everybody to visit his farm Sunday morning, and we're supposed to meet him at the school early, like before the paper boy gets up.  I said I'd go.  I didn't know I'd be here.  I guess I'll be sleeping in a hay stack later today."

Elrod smiles and puts an arm around Sammy, helping her make her way out into the shocking cold of a Chicago winter's pre-dawn.

Elrod gets the car started and they head back towards her place.  "The only flaw with this car, it takes forever to warm up."  he says, pulling her close to keep the two from freezing until the heater will be useful.

"I can help a little with that".  Her head resting drowsily against El's shoulder, Sammy wraps a force field around the two of them to let their body heat warm up the area a little faster.

It's not long before the pair are warm and cozy a they head out of the city.  It's less than forty minutes before Elrod is carrying a sleeping Sammy through the front door of her house.  "She dozed off in the car."  he whispers to dad, not realizing she's awake.

"Let's lay her on the couch.  I'll get a blanket.  She has to be up before too long to go anyway."

Sammy whispers a sleepy goodnight into El's ear as he lays her down on the couch.

El gives Sammy a kiss on the cheek, and dad lays a blanket over her.  A few seconds later, at least it seems like a few seconds, dad is waking her up.

"Farm day kiddo."

OOC: Close it here?

OOC:  sure.