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The Fox & the Hound pub and grille.

Seth was just finishing "Come Sail Away"....Lord he hated this old music...but it's what people wanted to hear. The Tips had been coming in steady all night though.

He was going to do one more request tonight, and then the set was over. Then he had a 30 minute break for food, and he got to play his own set...He finally had a full one.

He told people to start showing up now, and he hoped they did... He wanted at least a few friendly faces in the audience....

After cheerleading practice, Megan had gone home and done her homework early so she could join the others at Seth’s show.  After about an five hours of home work, finished in a bit over half an hour, she then got ready for the show, taking a quick shower.  Putting on a pair of AG jeans, she put on a tank top with a nice cashmere sweater over it and a light amount of perfume.  She then was off to meet John, the two of them walking to the El together, riding to the nearest stop to where Seth was playing.

They arrived just before he finished “Come Sail Away”, and got a table big enough for everyone that had said they would be showing up.  Megan waved to Seth as he was finishing.

John was not a member of the fashion elite.  He wore jeans and t-shirts, always blue t-shirts.  He apparently had an endless supply of them, or he never changed his cloth.  Megan was pretty sure it was an endless supply.  He wore sturdy boots and a lined denim jacket.  He'd commented to her that he was rough on cloths growing up, so his mom went with durability over looks out of sheer necessity.  They seemed to fit him though, his character and outlook.  Simple, yet dependable.

After school, Sammy left a message on Elrod's cell phone.  "Hey, it's Sammy.  A friend of mine -Seth Mondsee - is playing at the Fox and Hound tonight at 8:30.  I'll be there with some friends if you want to join me.  You don't have to call me back or anything; just show up if you're interested.  OK?  See ya when I see ya."

As she draws near the club, she spots Sylviandonnie deep in conversation with each other.  She waves hello as she passes them, but they don't seem to notice, and she doesn't want to interrupt.  She steps into the welcome warmth of the club, unzips her coat, and looks around for anybody else she might know.  Its tough to make out faces with the filtered light, but it looks like that might be Megan and John sitting at a big table across the room.  She walks over in that direction.

It's about five minutes later that Dave, Greg, and Elrod arrive.  He gives Sammy a kiss on the cheek as he grabs the seat next to her.  Quick introductions are made by Dave to John and Megan, but Megan has already met Elrod at the Janush home a few times.  "Sorry I'm late."  Elrod begins, "My sister has been on the warpath all afternoon, apparently she lost some pink sweatshirt and I was force to help her look for it."

Megan smiled at John’s comments about his clothes and her thoughts about how they did seem to fit his character.  “Well, if nothing else, you likely don’t have much decision making in the morning as to what to wear.  Though that is not such a task for me anymore.”

She then spots Sammy walking across the pub and grille and waved her over before looking back at John while waiting for the other girl to get through the crowd.  “But you know, it never hurts to have one or two nice outfits for more special occasions.  But I like it.”

As Elrod arrived with Dave and Greg, Megan gave him a smile and greeting, "hey El."  When he mentioned Lisa loosing a sweatshirt, she gave him a quizical look.  "What sweatshirt did she loose?"

"Oh, I gave it to her for her birthday, it's a pink zip up hoodie with the word 'Bitch' on the back in little diamond glitter stuff.  She swears she had it before dance thing she went to last weekend, not she can't find it."

Megan manages to keep just a look of curiosity and concern on her face at the mention of the Fenwick dance and the sweatshirt that Lisa had lost.  “Were you two able to find it?  It sounds like something that would be hard to misplace, would stand out from most of the rest of her wardrobe.”

"That would be true, if her wardrobe was in one place.  She has five closets in the house."  Elrod waves over the waiter, "Anything from this table, on my tab tonight." 

The waiter nods, "Yes Mr. Janush."  and he takes orders before leaving.

"We looked all over and couldn't find it.  she's checking the boy-toy's car andn some people she's seen."

“That isn’t really necessary El.”  Megan replied as he told the waiter to put everything on his tab.  She then pauses and looks at him as she asks.  “El, have you noticed anything strange with Lisa over the last few weeks?  Not typical of her behavior?  She has me a bit worried.  She doesn’t remember that Candice Bell tried out for the squad.”

Sammy's hand freezes in the bowl of pretzels as Elrod mentions the pink hoodie.  Forcing herself to act normally, she pulls a few out, eats one, then oh so casually says "Maybe one of her friends borrowed it?  My sister's closet is half filled with her friends' clothes; they're always swapping between themselves.  Was anybody hanging out with her before it disappeared?"

She leans in close so that theoretically at least, he's the only one who can hear her ask "Is this another one of your father's clubs?"  Her breath is warm and ticklish against his ear.

Kel arrives early for once, he breezes past Sylvia and Donnie with a nod and then walks into the place.  As soon as the warm air hits him, he slowly removes his leather jacket, then he spots his friends and giving them all a wave walks over and pulls up a seat.  "Hot as hell in here, eh?"  He says conversationally as he drapes his jacket over the back of his chair.  He's wearing a pair of tight jeans, his usual combat boots, a shirt that probably once was a bit loose but as his muscles are building up it's now looking a lot tighter than it did a few weeks back, his hair now posses a pair of streaks, one acid green and one electric blue.

"My pleasure, I don't get to hang out with you guys that much."  Elrod almost chokes on his soda at the mention of Candice Bell and the tryouts.  "Candice did what?"  he wipes his mouth and the table where he spilled soda, "That certaily sounds like something she should have remembered.  As for strange, not really.  She's as stuck up and selfish as always.  she is devouring boys at an alarming rate lately though, I think she's just trying to get the taste of the football guy out of her mouth though."


"Just the usual crowd of cheerleader freaks."  Elrod smiles and looks at Megan then Kel, "Present company excluded, since you can apparetnly be seen with the unwashed masses, I'll assume you're not the type."


He turns his lips to her and purrrs into it for a moment, "Yes."  is the only word he utters, in a kind of breathless way that makes the hair on her neck stand up.

Sammy shivers in delight, and her eyes appear to widen as their pupils dilate ever so slightly.  There's a distant buzz in the back of her head that sounds remarkably like her father warning her about the dangers of dating an older boy.  She ignores it, and it goes away.  "Excellent," she breathes.  She's probably not talking about the ownership of the club.  Another annoying little buzz clamors for her attention.  Its her own voice this time.  Focus, Samantha Marie Jamison, focus!  Pink hoodie!  P-I-N-K H-O-O-D-I-E!  She blinks herself out of the predator-prey trance, and pulls back far enough to see his whole face.  "Well, I wouldn't worry about it any more if I were you.  She lost it, she can find it.  Megan can go over tomorrow afternoon and help her look if its really all that important."

"I'm sure she'd appreciate the help."

Megan frowns ever to slightly at Elrod’s course comment about his sister wanting to get the “taste” of John Maddox out of her mouth, but that is very brief and she doesn’t comment.  When he comments about the “cheerleader freaks”, she gives him a half smile.  “Well thank you, but I will ask you to not comment about any of my friends in such a way in my presence.”

Kel gives a hefty laugh when Elrod makes his cheerleader comment and says, "I doubt the they'd be around me at all if I weren't on the squad."  He then winks over at Megan to let her know that this is no insult to her, and then smirks to himself as he catches her slight frown.

Seth finishes his song and makes his way over to the table.

"Hey Guys, I start my set in just under 19 minutes.........I may or may not be nervous" the last sentence is overly coy...comically so

Thanks for coming.

(OOC- I'm going to post the lyrics to the songs he sings. I won't write all of them, some of them i will just steal from bands I like (all post 2000) and we will pretend that seth wrote them. the ones I write i will star.)

Seth orders some food. A blackened Chicken Sandwich and some tea. He is trying to save his voice and kinda nods along to the conversation.

One blackened chicken sandwich later....

(OOC- not that conversation doesn't happen...and it can...I'm just going to post the first song...)

Seth walked behind his little stage area, behind the curtain and took a deep breath.

He had called in a lot of favors to get these 6 guys (OK 5 guys and 1 girl) to play backup for him...and he was happy they were here. He wasn't going to reveal them yet, which was why they were eating french fries behind the curtain...But he had a whole "dramatic reveal" thing planned for the part in his....he was gathering moss.

"Hey, You guys ready?"

A chorus of yeahs assaulted him. And then the inevitable death question that brought the wonderful sensation of butterfly's mating right into his stomach.
"Hey man. You ready?"

"Yeah" He said without to much conviction.

"Break a leg"   Ok, he thought. Yeah. He was going to rock this.

He grabbed his violin, from it's case...and nodded to them to get ready. And then he went to his awaiting audience.

He sat on the stool provided and gripped the microphone.

"Hey" He let go cautiously into the mike. And then suddenly all the eyes were back on him. Damnit, he had just sung for an hour like 15 minutes ago.

"My name is Seth. And I'm uhh...Really excited to be playing my own music for you. This is the first time I've had what I would consider a full set. So take a seat. And relax...and I'm going to sing about all kinds of things. Any comments you have after the show would be helpful."

He adjusts the mic again, and then looks at the "usual suspects" for support.

"So I'm uhh...15 if you hadn't noticed. And I have some crazy friends. This song is about them. It's a really last minute addition, I just wrote it last night. So it's a little rough. Just the Violin for this one. So here we go. It's called Soft Revolution."



He sings it with energy and without emotion, and somehow it fits the song. The violin is more for rhythm  strangely, during the lyrics, but there is a wonderful solo between the verses. It substitutes in everyway for a chorus.

He finishes...and puts his violin down. "Thank You" he says...and doesn't wait for any applause before he starts grabbing  his electric guitar from the stand close by.

Sammy looks around as all the glass in the coffee house shudders slightly, causing little ripples to appear in drinks.  "That was weird.  Did a plane just fly over?"

John stands up, "No."  he heads for the door and steps outside.  A moment later he comes back to the table.  "Donnie and Sylvia are having an arguement, I guess Donnie can get loud.  Best to give them some privacy."

Megan watched John as he stood up and made his way to the door, slightly tensing in case there might be some sort of trouble.  Having Elrod there was a bit of a problem, so hopefully it was nothing serious and they could just enjoy Seth’s songs.  When he came back over and explained what was going on, her face sunk a bit.  Apparently Sylvia’s fear of how it might go seemed to be unfolding.  “Yeah, that’s probably best.”  She replied in a quite voice. 

Leaning over to John, she spoke in a soft whisper, one she knew he could likely be the only one that could hear in the loud restaurant.  “If you can hear when its over, let me know if Sylvia needs some to check on her okay?”

John nods in response to her request.

At home, Colin tried to work on Sammy's photos, but after a couple disappointing results he had to admit that his head wasn't in the right place, so he took his windbreaker, and went out a bit, after a solemn promise he wouldn't put himself in any trouble. He remembered at the last minute of Seth's show, and arrived just as he was beginning to sing, and in the rush he didn't notice Donnie and Sylvia outside.

He gets a seat near the counter as Seth explains who the song is about, and does his best to keep the tears in as he sings. As the song ends his hands start to clap before he even realizes it, because it felt so... true.

As Seth changes instruments, he notices some of the others and goes to join them. He waves hi and takes a chair to sit slightly apart from the two couples.

Sammy can't remember if they've officially met, so she makes sure that Colin and Elrod are introduced.  She notices that Colin looks sad.  Then again, Sarah is not here.  He always looks forlorn without Sarah.

Colin shakes Elrod's hand with as much of a smile he can muster. He's happy Sammy found someone to dance with. Normally he would give a quick glance to his aura too, just in case, but tonight that's the last thing he wants. He doesn't want to think about that at all.

"Nice to meet you.  I think we met at that party my sister through at the begining of school."

Colin makes a face, quite embarrassed.

"Yes, we probably did. Not one of my brightest moments. I swear I'm not always like that."

"Everybody has ups and downs, that's why they call it the human race."  Elrod says waving the waiter over to get fresh drinks.

"Ups and downs. Yeah. My life then is a rollercoaster. On fire."

"Hey, plenty of air to fan those flames then."  Elrod says with a smile.  "At least it wont be dark where you are."

Something happens. John whispers something to Megan and Sammy, who quickly set up too leave. Colin's not stupid. That means there's trouble.

"John? What's happening?"

Kel snorts when Colin asks John, "Sylvia and Donnie are fighting out there, didn't you notice when you walked in?"  He waves his hand as people start leaving, "Obviously the shit hit the fan."

John looks over at Colin's question, "Just teen romance stuff.  Nothing world shattering."

Colin is torn. World shattering is relative. Both Sylvia and Donnie are friends of his, and he doesn't understand what could have gone so bad between them. But this evening is important to Seth. And he's not sure he can offer good advice to anyone.

He gets out his phone and texts them both the same message.

- Wanna talk? -

After Sylvia left, Megan made her way back to Seth’s show, feeling a bit guilty about what was going on with Sylvia and Donnie.  She had confronted Sylvia yesterday, seeking to make her realize that she needed to do something about what had happened and that it might not remain a secret forever.  But things had not turned out very well, at least not for the moment.  But the blonde teen had to remind herself, that this likely would have happened, at some point, and that this way Sylvia had been ready for it.  Unfortunately, there had been no way Megan could have helped Donnie be prepared as well, the difficult part of being caught in the middle of something like this.

Soon she walked back up to the table, her face showing disappointment as she looked at the boys sitting there.  “She didn’t want to talk right now.  I think she is okay for the moment.  Hopefully she will be ready too soon and call.”

This next song is called "Aside."

I was playing with rock riffs and word play....and this is all the good that came out of it. Seth Smiles. A sexy little rock star smile. It looks like he's warming up and won't be as nervous.

He sits back down on his stool. Strums a few chords like a little troubadour. And then speaks the first two verses.

His speaking got faster towards the end there...and at the word poetry...the room explodes. Before he had merely been sitting strumming and talking. On Poetry, He jumps up, kicks the stool back, and the curtain falls. Theres a full band behind him. Drums, Bass Guitar, Two Horns, and a girl who's running to the keyboard after letting the curtain drop. "And...I'm....Leaning..." Guitar in hand Seth jumps up, bringing his hand down with gravity. Now the whole band is playing. The tune is catchy, infectious and upbeat. Seth is jumping around and playing with more energy or feeling than any of you have ever seen him use....times ten....thousand. "On this broken fence"


When he's done...His breathing is a little faster, and he's got a little bit of sweat worked up. "This is a band i put together for tonight. That's John Klien in the Bass Guitar, Evan Baxter on Drums, Marita Tyler on keyboard, and on the horns are the twins Dave and George. They are faternal twins, which we decided was lame during practice. I believe Evan said it best. "If you're going to be twins at least have the deceny to be identical ones."  

Megan listened to Seth’s next song, wishing she could really be enjoying it more, but she still was worried about Sylvia and the fact her and Donnie had fought.  If she had not been feeling this way, she might have thought of having a bit of fun with the fact it was just her with six boys at the table.  Instead, she just leaned over towards John, lying her head on his shoulder as she tried to let Seth’s songs make her forget things for a little bit.

John put an arm around Megan and gave her a soft squeeze.  "Try not to worry.  This sort of thing happens all the time, they'll be alright."

“Yeah, I know.”  Megan replied quietly.  She did not feel it was her place to talk about the reasons for their argument.  It was still Sylvia, and probably now Donnie’s, story to tell, not hers.  Perhaps she would tell John more later, but she was not even sure she should do that.

Megan had been gone for a while, and John left the table to call her and see what was going on.

"If you haven't found her she pronbably doesn't want to be found, why don't you head back here?"

Operating at full speed, Megan had brought the phone up, checked the ID and had answered it before the first ring had finished.  “She might not want to be found, but I might need to find her.”  She replied to John.  “Sammy called and said she found Donnie and that he was doing okay, cooling off.  But she also said that Donnie told her that it had seemed like Sylvia had…somehow made him angrier, that maybe it’s a power she can’t control.  If that’s true, it could be a problem if she is out there alone and upset.”

"Actually, it might be better if she's alone with a power that makes other people angry.  The point is, you can't find her if she doesn't want you to.  Leave her a message, if she wants to talk she'll call."

“I’ve left her a message.”  Megan replied skidding to a stop in a deserted part of the park she was passing through on her way towards Sylvia’s house.  “Unless she is using her illusions, I can possibly find her, just might take awhile to look everywhere.”

She paused a moment and then continued, “and maybe it is better if she is alone, but what if she gets near others without meaning too?  And besides….I feel a bit responsible for tonight.”  She took a deep breath and continued.  “Yesterday I talked with Sylvia and pretty much told her she needed to level with Donnie about some things that I had found out about.”

"And she did.  The results are not your fault.  Listen, you can run around all night and not find her.  She'll talk when she's ready, and she's probably not ready."

Megan sighed, knowing he was right, but she still wanted to try.  “Yeah, your right.  How much further in his set is Seth?”  She asked as she turned back towards the direction she had come and started walking, ready to go to full speed if it sounded like the show was not already almost done.

"Don't look at John in the 4th verse, Don't look at John in the 4th verse, Don't look at Jogn in the 4th verse." The words were a mantra.

"This is about childhood, love, wonder, and feeling alone in yourself. Or being a teenager. Whichever.' Seth says a little breathy. "Straw Dogs"
Seth trades the guitar for his keyboard. The arrangment is what makes this peice stand out. It's youthful. He almost talks though it. But the chorus is pure song.

Hey plays the keyboard through the verses so that it takes centerstage. Rock piano!


He lifts himself from the bench at this  next verse. His eyes close and he sings standing into the mic. Every word coming from the lips during this verse is heartfelt and earnest. The piano is exquisite. His hands fly over it even closed. It's his power verse

"Uh, three or four songs.  I'm not sure how much longer he'll be on stage.  If nothing else come back and get something to eat and warm up.  If you still insist on going back out I'll go with you."

“Okay, I am on my way.”  Megan replied as she was off again at top speed.  “Should only be about six minutes.”

Colin looks at Seth and his show utterly entranced. What he's doing... it's special. It's beyond art. It's like when he manages to take a picture just in the perfect instant, when he captures perfectly the meaning behind it. These are not just songs. Most people won't realize it, but Seth is offering them a piece of his soul.

And it's so beautiful, and intense. He can't help but thinking of the shadow in his brain, and wonders why God, the Great Spirit, or whoever is behind these things decide to send one like Seth on earth and immediately threaten to take him away before he's fully blossomed. It shouldn't happen.

Just as it shouldn't happen to have your soul devoured by a demon just because you did something stupid. Or dying on a ship thousand of miles away from your family. Why do these things happen?

When the music ends, Colin stands up to applaud, as if clapping his hands could ever be enough in exchange for what Seth just gave them.

Kel claps and gives Seth a wave to let him know he's leaving, he leans into Colin and says, "Tell Seth it was great, but just not my kinda thing, see you guys later."  He then slips out of the pub into the cold air and walks home, hoping Sylvia's there.

True to her word, Megan comes to a halt near John about six minutes later.  She gives him a faint smile.  “I was a good ways to her house when you called, no sign of her.  I hope she is okay.”  She says as she starts to make her way in with him, wrapping her arms around one of his.

And i Didn't even look at john in the 4th verse. Turns out i didn't need to... Seth thinks with somewhat poor capitalization to himself.

"This is a song about a possible future. Mine, yours, it doesn't matter.

This might freak someone out. But it shouldn't. This song is called: "What Sarah Said"

Seth sits back down at the piano and gets real sombre in mood. He starts to play, and soon the drums join him. But this piece is all piano.


The last two lines are strung out among a full 12 out of 8 counts each...Over the piano. It should come off as corny. It's anything but.

This time Colin doesn't applaud, but the two big tears that have fallen down his cheek speak volumes.

Maybe I should just tell him to accept. It doesn't make any sense that he's going to die. Not when he could be singing like this. I hope, I really hope that John's doctor finds another solution.

Why are we getting the worst of the world thrown at us?

It's not the worst Spirit Dancer, it just seems like it from your present vantage point.

Well I guess there are lots of people that haven't got the option of giving up their powers to save themselves from cancer. So not the worst. Close, though.

He closes his eyes and sighs.

There thousands of people starving to death and children forced into fighting wars. I know that, blackbird. I didn't really believe this is the worst. As you said, language is far from perfect. Can you allow me to be in a sour mood every now and then? It's not always easy to see the bright side.

I'm quite attached to those things that make me human, blackbird. Please don't take them from me. I would not shirk my duties because I'm sad. I do look at the bright side. It just takes me time.

Or Sarah. his mind adds, and he immediately hopes the blackbird didn't hear that.

The piano goes on for awhile at the end of What sarah said, and seth is now completely warmed up.

"How about something a little more upbeat. This next song is about Crystal Lite.

Seriously.

It's delicious. You should order one with dinner."

He stands up and does a kick spin to his guitar. Grabs it an hoists in above his shoulders. Starts the chord and starts bouncing on his corning feet. It'sa little rock guitar dance. Lyrics and manner don't exactly match. This song is fun for him.  Once the music has started, and he's been joined by the keyboard and the drums...

"This song is called Modern Chemisty"


He finishes, after several flourishes, in about the same place he started.  And then he starts a new song. No segway. This song is even more upbeat, and if Seth were a woman, he would be a valkyrie on stage. But he's not a lady. Instead he just looks, ever so tiny-like, to be a little rock star in training.



The lines between {{{ and }}} are spoken incredibly fast like a toungue twister. Seth finishes, puts down his guitar, and takes a seat at the piano. He grabs a water bottle and takes a swig.  (OOC- Megan gets back about this time if my calculations on time are correct)

"That was called Capital H, this next song is I'm ready"  John Klein on the Bass guitar makes his way to the mike, apparently he's going to sing too.


(Lines in parathesis are song by John) [Lines in brackets are SPOKEN, in a sort of direct way, by seth]

(I wrote this one, in the last hour. It's a little rough so be kind.... It works if sung out loud. It may be extra preachy.)

"Title Pending"

Colin hopes Seth will drop by after he's done so he could at least offer him something to drink, and tell him he's been great.

He doesn't hold back nothing from his songs. They are so... devastatingly personal, so much about him and his life. I don't think I am like that. I stay behind the camera, invisible. I put my heart in what I do in a different way.

"Suicide Medicine"

Seth switches back to the piano.... And begins to play a beautiful 9 minute song....


"Ladies and Gentleman...You've been a great audience. Thank you so much....

I have one more song tonight..."Innocent". Tip Your waiters, try the veal and all those other cliches.

Seth stands for this one, lets the band take it. Just singing.

"Again, Thank you John, Evan, Marita, Dave, & George. I couldn't have done it without you.

Take your bow. You're turn on the cat walk. Take your little turn on the catwalk, Seth says dryly into the mike." A water bottle sails at his head, from the direction of the drums, and seth avoids it.

"You really have been a great audience"

Seth puts his guitar down....and moves back towards the table where his friends are sitting.

He is sooo eager for feedback it hurts, but he lets them give it. "Man, I'm tired.   That was fun. I need to do this like every night."

He's sweating and parts of his hair are plastered to his face, but he has a grin about a mile wide.

Megan and John had rejoined the others as Seth had a few more songs to sing.  Focusing back on Seth’s show, the blonde teen found it helped to forget some of the mess that was going on with Sylvia and Donnie, if only for the moment.  When Seth rejoined them at the table, she was smiling widely. 

“That was great Seth, I think you have gotten better than when I heard you play at the Tasty Dog the first day of school, which seemed like something impossible.”

Seth smiles at the compliment.

"I noticed you were gone for a few songs. Anything important i missed. I'm a little oblivious on stage.

And what did everyone else think?"

Megan made a apologetic face as she replied.  “Yeah, there…was a bit of teen drama involving Sylvia and Donnie.  I went to see if Sylvia needed to talk or anything, Sammy went to check on Donnie.”

John nodded, "You're really good."

Colin quickly wipes the tears that remained around his eyes.

"That was beautiful, Seth. That was really beautiful. Thank you."

"Well thanks guys."

Seth could probably say more but he didn't trust himself to say the right thing, what with colin crying and all.


(OOC-Close this here thread and move it away please)