fey_fire: (Rock Star)
[personal profile] fey_fire
Takes place after this prompt and this post.

Rory got to The Columns a little later than he'd planned, mostly due to his determined efforts to pack away anything of Pippa's left in his apartment. Maybe later tripping over traces of her would no longer feel so cutting, but right now he was still far too raw.

He also took a break in the middle of the day to pick up small gifts for the rest of Breaker Street. Nothing flashy, just small silver charms of various Chinese symbols, easy to dangle off chains, earrings or zipper pulls as the wearer chose. He chose symbols that in his mind represented each of his fellow band members, courage for Nil, happiness for Sascha, strength for Kreske, awesome for Junie, peace for Dave and intellect for Morrie. To each of these he added a symbol for success, a wish for the New Year. After a moment's thought, he bought another success charm for Peter along with the symbol for friendship. Then, remembering that Cait might show up if she could cut loose from her publisher's office party, he went back for a prayer box he thought she'd like.

But he was here now, with the one indisputable advantage of riding a motorcycle in the city: parking wasn't a problem even when late. Nor was gaining access to the already-crowded club, the guys on the door remembered him from the many times Breaker Street played here and waved him in with grins and the news that his band has already arrived. The Columns took up a large piece of a converted warehouse; he could feel the music throbbing through the cavernous airspace as he walked in. Sister Mystere had the stage tonight, and they'd pulled in a good crowd already.

"Ro-RY! Over here!" For such a slim little thing, Sascha had quite a set of lungs on her. Rory waved in answer and threaded his way over to the table where his friends were waiting. Jaye sitting next to Nil meant that the Camerons must have gotten lucky with a sitter, and Junie was on the arm of a man she introduced as Felipe, but Morrie, Dave, Sascha and Kreske were solo. Good, he wouldn't feel like the odd man out then.

"What are you having, Rory?" Dave asked as he waved over a waitress. "Fruit juice as usual?"

Fruit juice. Seven hells, did even something as mundane as a drink order have to call up memories of Pippa, smiling as she presented him with one of her juice concoctions at Last Call? Rory bit back a particularly vile Gaeilge curse and kept his smile on his face. He was determined to enjoy himself tonight no matter what. "I'll have a Guinness," he told the waitress. A púca like himself couldn't get drunk on New Years Eve, but what the hell. It would be symbolic, like the charms.

"Cait and Peter Webster might show up a bit later. You all remember Peter, right?" A chorus of affirmation from the band was followed by Sascha crowing, "Excellent! More people to dance with." His beer showed up, the waitress gave him a smile, and Rory started to relax. He could do this. No problem.

Date: 2009-01-01 05:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
It wasn't too long after that when Peter did make his way over to the club. He had meant what he said the day before about going into the hospital to make use of the empty lab, but by the time late evening rolled into night he'd had more than enough of work and wanted a little fun. The Columns it was.

Unlike Rory, he did have to consider parking, decided it wasn't worth the hassle and left his Jeep in the hospital's staff lot. He took the subway and then went on foot for the last couple of blocks. Of course, he'd also had the sense to change into something more scene appropriate than his work attire and he wasn't above flirting a bit to get a place at the front of the line for the entrance.

Once inside and after giving the little blonde he'd been making insincere eyes at the slip, Peter wondered how in the world he was going to find Rory and his band in the crowd. Phone. Oh, wow...he was brilliant. Idiot. He flipped open his cell and dialed the Irishman's number.

Date: 2009-01-01 06:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fey-fire.livejournal.com
Kreske had just finished a rather involved story involving a fender bender he'd gotten into the day before when Rory felt his phone go off. Hearing a ring tone in a packed club was as close to impossible as made no difference, so he kept his on vibrate and in his pocket.

Pulling it out, he spotted a number he recognized. "Peter!" he said cheerfully, then raised his voice to compensate for the noise. "Where are you at, a chara?"

Date: 2009-01-01 06:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
"Hopefully not too far from you--ow, hey my foot...yeah you too, buddy." He paused the conversation with Rory to exchange insults with another guy shoving his way through the masses. "Sorry, just thought this was the faster way to find you guys since it's packed in--ugh. I'm by the bar. Behind the world's largest pair of gold lamé pants you have ever seen." Peter winced as he described the patron currently obscuring his view of...well, everything.

Despite this, he sounded as upbeat as he could while yelling into his phone.

Date: 2009-01-01 07:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fey-fire.livejournal.com
Gold lamé. Ouch. Rory himself was wearing black jeans, a form-fitting forest green henley and a black vest, but quite a few of the partiers present had opted for much more blinding attire. "We've staked out a place over to the left side of the dance floor, between -- hang on just a moment. I'll give you a landmark."

With that, Rory rises and steps up onto his chair. The added elevation to his six-three height means he has no problem spotting the glittery bar denizen and the young med student nearby. "There you are. I'm at about ten o'clock from your position."

Date: 2009-01-01 07:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
In jeans and a black turtleneck himself, Peter had opted for a more casual look, even if he did look as if he'd fallen right out of the nearest Banana Republic. Looking up and over, he spotted Rory--hard to miss the tall, lithe man towering over the crowd. "I see you."

He hung up the phone then and gave Rory a nod before making his way across the bar and in Breaker Street's general direction. General since there was no way he was going to make it to the table in a straight line. Circumnavigating around the dance floor and a few of the more boisterous partiers, Peter finally placed a hand on the back of the singer's chair. "Hey..."

Date: 2009-01-01 08:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fey-fire.livejournal.com
"Hey!" Rory had unwound to the point where he no longer had to stick his smile in place, it came naturally. "Glad you could join us, Peter. We saved you a spot." Grinning up at his friend, he gestured to the chair sitting between himself and Sascha.

The rest of the band also offered their hellos, and Rory took a moment to introduce Peter to Jaye and Felipe. "Can I get you a drink? One nice thing about visiting a club where we've played: we get good service." Indeed, their waitress had already spotted the new arrival and was headed over.

Date: 2009-01-01 09:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
Peter nodded, smiled murmured greetings of his own as he took the empty seat, giving Sascha a playful look as he casually pointed to the dance floor. Later? Oh, yeah, he planned to dance and have fun here.

He scanned the table to see what everyone else was drinking and arched an eyebrow at Rory's glass of dark beer. So much for not drinking--then again Peter had seen Pippa's latest blogging efforts and couldn't fault the man sitting on his right.

"Ah...sure. An Old Fashioned. Don't put the fruit in it." He didn't like beer, was more of a wine drinker, and decided this was a comprise taking the mixed drink route. With his order given, Peter let himself slouch in his chair a bit before leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table, one hand cupping his chin as he looked at Rory. "So, in other words, half the clubs in Manhattan...right?"

Date: 2009-01-01 10:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fey-fire.livejournal.com
Rory saw Sascha flash a but of course grin at Peter. Breaker Street's youngest member never needed much encouragement to hit the dance floor, and if memory served, she'd done so with Peter once or twice before. He gave her ten minutes before she started tugging on his or someone else's arm.

"Oh, at least," he laughed in response to Peter's question. His smile shaded to something a little more wistful as he went on. "I've been missing the gigs a bit. Studio work is intense, but it's just not the same as a live audience."

Date: 2009-01-01 10:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
"I'm guessing it's not exactly the same thing but being in various plays and stuff..." He was not going to add 'and singing in choir for church' in this crowd, "but blocking and rehearsals were never anywhere near as fun as actually playing to the house. Without the instantaneous feedback from the audience--I don't know. I always felt like I may as well have been standing there on stage talking to myself if I didn't have indications from the crowd that I was putting on a good show."

This was quite possibly the first time that Peter realized how much he and Rory had in common, and that for all he was a fan of the band and the man sitting next to him, he was just another guy. Friend, not fantasy. Peter sat back in his chair, a far sight more comfortable than he had been with the initial idea of hanging out with a group of performers on the verge of becoming something larger than they currently were.

"You think you're going to miss playing places like this?"

Date: 2009-01-01 11:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fey-fire.livejournal.com
"I know I will," Dave offered from Sasch's other side when Rory paused for thought. "I mean, the roar of a concert crowd may be pretty heady stuff, but it's hard to see how all those faces could be anything but a blur, y'know? At a club you can at least pick out individuals."

"You're jumping a little ahead, Dave," Rory chuckled. "We're not playing Madison Square Garden just yet. No doubt we'll be starting in smaller venues, and as an opening act at that, before we can work our way up to those face-blurring crowds." His eyes were tranquil, but with a glint of determination behind them.

"I do see your point, though. There's something special about playing in an environment where you can actually--" He raised his glass in Peter's direction. "--meet and talk to your fans."

Date: 2009-01-01 11:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
Did he say relaxed and comfortable? Peter was thankful for the low lighting because he could suddenly feel the back of his neck flush at Rory's salute. He picked up his own drink and took a healthy swallow before attempting to brush off the remark. "Pfft. I'm just being nice so you'll help me move Saturday. Fan..."

At the looks from the others gathered around the table, Peter continued, "Rory's saving my sanity by driving my Jeep down from Westchester because I'd sooner sell my pretty set of wheels than let my little sister make that trek. And--" His face took on an entirely impish expression, "did you and Jean-Paul ever come to an agreement about whether or not you were doing the heavy lifting in some state of undress?"

Date: 2009-01-01 10:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fey-fire.livejournal.com
Of course the entire band had to chime in with a pitch-perfect "OooooOOOOooooo!" after Peter's teasing question, followed by rapid-fire comments. "Mmm, sweaty, shirtless Rory ... hey Peter, you should bring a camera and take some pictures for the website!" Junie laughed. Morrie snickered, "Website, hell, he should sell prints on eBay after the band makes it big," Nil capped off the needling with, "So who is Jean-Paul, and what exactly is his interest in seeing you 'in some state of undress'?"

Laughing along with everyone else, Rory wadded up a napkin and pegged Morrie with it before responding. "Jean-Paul is another friend of Peter's who volunteered to help him move ... or to supervise, I'm not sure which. He just likes looking at shirtless men in general, not me specifically."

After another swallow of his Guinness, he turned back to Peter. "Seriously, I'm happy to help out. For friendship, for the support you've given us, and of course--" His eyes sparkled impishly. "--for that breakfast you promised me."

Date: 2009-01-01 11:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
"Yeeeeah. No." He drawled then laughed at the various suggestions for photographic evidence. "For one thing, if there's a camera around, Jean-Paul would probably spend all of his time mugging for it monopolizing the shots." It was said with nothing but affection for his Quebecois friend, but Peter really didn't feel as if he were exaggerating at all.

And...was he serious? That sparkle in Rory's eye didn't go unnoticed by Peter and the younger man couldn't help but smile, putting his dimples to good use. "If I had known that the offer of sausage and hot cakes was all it took to get you up to Westchester..." Peter let the thought trail off, aware of the fact that he had a very interested audience watching them. "No, really, Rainy's an amazing cook and she'll probably make enough food to feed a small army. She usually does. Plus hey, I think Caroline is in love with you by proxy for getting Ashleigh to sleep the other night."

Date: 2009-01-02 02:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fey-fire.livejournal.com
Though he had far less on which to base his opinion, Rory also suspected that Peter was telling the strict truth about Jean-Paul. Meeting the other man on Saturday should prove interesting, to say the least.

For a moment Peter's dimples brought Anraí to mind, but the likeness quickly submerged under the weight of of the differences. Different voice, accent, scent, eyes, attitude, energy ... not difficult at all to distinguish the two, especially with a púca's keen senses. And thank God they also made it easy to separate Peter from someone else with similar features ...

But he refused to think about that someone else tonight. One more thing to add to the pile, hm? Instead he kept smiling and answered the inquiring looks triggered by his friend's last comment. "Peter has a very new niece with a very powerful set of lungs. I was able to quiet her down with a lullaby some nights ago."

Date: 2009-01-02 06:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
On most levels, Peter realized that Rory was off limits. The guy had just been dumped, for one thing. For another, he knew there was a likeness between himself and the musician's brother. While Peter was used to someone else with his face, he sincerely doubted a non-identical twin was quite used to the same level of surrealism. On the surface, however, Peter was more than willing to enjoy the playful side he was seeing of his friend. Half a drink warming his insides helped silence any lingering nerves on that front.

"My hero..." Peter gave Rory a wink and another dimpled smile, this one bordering on impish smirk.

A change of song managed to drag Peter's attention away from Rory and he settled that devistating grin on Sascha instead. "Are you going to dance with me or not, Ms. Fab-ulous?" If she wasn't, he'd drag someone else onto the floor with him.

Date: 2009-01-02 08:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] breaker-street.livejournal.com
Sascha beamed a high-voltage smile right back at Peter. "Why, Mr. Spec-tac-ular, I thought you'd never ask!" Wasting no more time, she tugged him toward the floor, though he didn't need much tugging.

She was nowhere near drunk herself, but she'd had enough by now to be a few sips beyond a happy glow. Just buzzed enough to be mildly bummed by the fact that her adorably dimpled dance partner was not of the orientation to be coaxed into a little necking with her at some point in the evening, but nowhere near sloshed enough to actually say so. Not that Peter had ever told her he was gay, but the looks she caught him giving Rory now and again told the story eloquently enough.

Still, he was a damn hot dance partner. Sascha was in a mood to see and be seen and had dressed accordingly, in something lissome and lacy (http://web2.revolveclothing.com/images/VELVET-WS1000_V2-BIG.jpg) over midnight-blue velvet leggings. She certainly had no problems being seen with Mr. Sexy-Grin Webster.

Though there were limits. At one point she caught Peter's shoulders in her hands and leaned in to make herself heard over the crowd. "Peter, babe, would you have any idea why I'm getting dagger-eyes from a cute little blonde in neon blue?" She nodded in the direction of the stage and the blonde in question.

Date: 2009-01-02 08:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com

He didn't answer her right away, instead taking Sascha by the hips and turning her around, effectively spooning them together as they continued to move to the music. Without following his partner's gaze, Peter thought he knew exactly who she was referring to. Great. "Ah, well..." He dipped at the knees and keeping an arm around her waist, brought Sascha with him, "I think she thinks you are poaching on her territory."

Peter briefly debated his options then lifted his head from the crook of Sascha's neck--it was easier to murmur in her ear that way--to look at the angry blonde in question. "Oh, noooo...um, she goes to my church." Oh. No. It wasn't the girl Peter'd flirted with to get inside the club. It was Adele Congreve. The look on her face made it perfectly clear that Mr. Spectacular was still on her hit list. "She hates me."

He turned them around on the dance floor and after a bit of a step-ball-change shuffle of his feet, spun the petite girl in his arms so that she was facing him again. "A lot. We sort of dated for a while."

Date: 2009-01-02 09:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] breaker-street.livejournal.com
"Dated?" Sort of dated? How did that work? Was cutie Peter bi after all, or was this A Thing? And a deliciously complicated Thing from the sound of it. She wondered if she could get the story out of him later; it had to be a doozy.

Sascha Brockmann had been accused by more than one person of having an overdeveloped sense of mischief. Right then and there she could not have denied it. That sense impelled her to grasp Peter's shoulders again, lean in with a wicked grin and ask, "So you're saying she'd have an issue if I planted one on you right now?"

Date: 2009-01-02 09:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
Hazel eyes went wide at her suggestion. He liked Sascha, sure. Hell, she was great but not like that. Then the gleam in her eyes registered--she wasn't hitting on him, she was trying to screw with him. With Adele. Angry Adele who was making her way through the crowd.

"Um...haha." Nervous laughter was all he could muster now that he was effectively caught between a rock and something much harder.

Date: 2009-01-02 09:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] breaker-street.livejournal.com
Sascha couldn't help dissolving into giggles, her head coming to rest briefly on Peter's chest. Her feet didn't miss a beat though. "Joking, joking! I'll be good, I promise." Well, -ish. "Not that you're not hot of course, but -- ut-oh."

She too had spotted the ... ex? Wannabe? Whatever she was, she was on a collision course and approaching fast, threading her way through the other dancers with definite intent. "Oh ouch, I'm sorry. Anything I can do to help? Throwing myself on the unexploded bomb or something?"

Date: 2009-01-02 09:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
"Run." He muttered dryly, his dancing coming to a halt but his arm looping around Sascha protectively despite the advice. Adele was something of a man-eating beast but Peter didn't think she'd make too much of a scene.

He hoped.

"Peter Webster." Blonde, thin and otherwise pretty, Adele Congreve was wearing an expression that would frighten most people. She only gave Sascha the briefest of glances. "You're sick. You know that don't you? You manipulative creep. Lying, manipulative creep. Sick, lying, manipul--"

"Adele, have you met my friend Sascha?" Peter interrupted the tirade before it picked up any more steam. "Adele and I go to the same church. Her aunt's a Bishop. So's my grandfather."

The look Peter gave Adele made it clear that if she didn't shut up, he'd drag her own dirty laundry out into the open. Adele wisely changed her tune. Slightly. "I hope you don't have any brothers Sascha. Don't let them meet Peter."

With that, she turned on her heel and flounced off the dance floor.

Date: 2009-01-03 02:50 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] breaker-street.livejournal.com
"Oh hey ..." Sascha's attempt to explain that it was so not like that trailed off as she was presented with Adele's retreating back. She kinda suspected that telling the blonde that Peter was actually after the lead singer of her band wouldn't go over too well anyway. With anyone. Buzzed or not, Sascha could (on occasion) be circumspect.

Circumspect enough, anyway, to avoid asking if Adele's closing shot about brothers and Peter meant what it sounded like. She'd been right; the story was a doozy. Maybe she'd ask later, after Pete had a few more drinks in him.

For now she turned to her partner with a sunny smile. "We both seem to have come through the bombardment unscathed, sir. You up for some more moves, or could you use a break?"

Date: 2009-01-03 02:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
"Drink. Now. Good." He was offering one-word sentences and wincing on the inside. Unscathed, his cute little ass. Adele was still in the club and worse still, he knew he'd see her on Sunday. He was fairly certain that she'd make sure plenty of people heard about his 'sleazy' behavior between now and then, including Bishop Congreve.

Peter not so gently ushered her from the floor and back to the table, hoping his horror wasn't written on his face. "I am so sorry. Really. She's...Adele's aggressive. And likes to hold a grudge."

Date: 2009-01-03 06:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fey-fire.livejournal.com
Starting with Sascha and switching to Rory ...

Peter's expression didn't register as horror with Sascha, but he was obviously unsettled. Her brow creased in concern as she accompanied him back to the table. "I'm okay," she said, followed by a sudden huff of irritation. "It's just so ridiculous that she should get her panties in a wad when all we were doing was dancing! I don't suppose she'd listen if I tried to set her straight?"

***

Sascha and Peter's migration to the dance floor had been the cue for both Junie and Jaye to urge their respective dates in that direction as well. When Morrie migrated toward the stage to have a chat with Sister Mystere's sound tech, Rory took the opportunity of a mostly-empty table to set his small gifts at each place. In a fortuitous last-minute rearrangement, the prayer box went to Jaye's spot. He could pick up another later for Cait.

While Kreske chuckled over Dave's attempts to suspend his peace charm from his nasal septum, Rory stretched out in his chair and smiled. He felt good, far better than he was expecting to. He finished his beer and asked for an iced tea to replace it.

The crowd gave off mostly upbeat energy, contributing to his easy mood. There was something relaxing about being able to ride the emotions and responses of the audience without being their focus. And Sister Mystere had a good sound to match, the throbbing techno beats blending well with lead singer Dacia's husky, lush vocals.

Rory was jolted out of his preoccupation with the music when he felt a sudden sting of roiling upset from a familiar source. Glancing up he saw Peter and Sascha approaching the table, looking something less than pleased. "Hey," he said, trying not to broadcast too much concern too quickly. "How's the floor?"

Date: 2009-01-03 06:39 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
"Crowded." Peter muttered as he flopped into his seat again and picked up his drink with one hand. The other closed around Sascha's wrist and tugged her down to sit with him. Adele hadn't sucked all the fun out of his mood, but she had irritated him enough make him leave the dance floor and want more alcohol in his system. "Sometimes, I think this city is too small and there are not enough people in it."

He didn't notice the gift from Rory. Or pay any attention to Dave's antics. Peter did look up at Sascha with a smirk though. "No offense but women are crazy."

Date: 2009-01-03 10:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fey-fire.livejournal.com
Rory glanced out over the floor, wondering when might be a good time to get in some dancing himself. A Pippa-twinge came with the thought, which he didn't so much stifle as acknowledge and set aside. There would be many such twinges in the coming months, he could tell.

Peter's comment about women brought his attention back to the table in time to see Sascha stick out her tongue and smirk. "Be nice, Peter, or I'll be forced to give you chapter and verse on all the insane men I've dated -- ooo!"

She'd spotted the box next to her drink. After checking the gift tag, she gave Rory a smile and an "Aw, thank you, o intrepid leader!" Once she got the box open to reveal the contents, she immediately set about removing the silver hoops in her ears so she could dangle a charm from each one, reading the cards that described the meaning of each symbol as she did so.

Rory smiled at her reaction. Twinges or no, tonight was a party. "Just think of them as wishes for the New Year."

Date: 2009-01-03 10:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
Peter flicked the charms hanging from her ears as he laughed. "Nián nián yǒu yú." He gave the kanji for success another gentle flick. "Prosperity in every new year."

His graduate adviser, Chris, had wished him much the same the other day which is the only reason Peter was able to get the pronunciation correct. The symbol, he recognized easily enough. "Maybe you'll get lucky and it'll carry over into your social life. Meet someone sane."

Once he stopped playing with the pretty bits of jewelry hanging from Sascha's ears, Peter noticed his own gift sitting on the table. He gave Rory a questioning look and then a small smile as he opened the box. "Friendship...thanks man, you really didn't have to."

Date: 2009-01-04 02:48 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fey-fire.livejournal.com
"Of course I didn't have to," Rory said easily, a gentle smile on his face. "But I wanted to." He reached over and gave the younger man's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Friendship and success. Soon I'll be calling you Dr. Webster."

The Camerons made their retreat from the dance floor just then, with Nil waving the waitress over for a fresh round of drink orders. More gift opening, more thank-yous and Rory felt his twinges receding once more, eased by the camaraderie of friends in an environment he knew well.

"So how's your project going?" he asked Peter.

Date: 2009-01-04 03:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
Peter tried not to read anything into the hand on his shoulder. It didn't mean anything more than Sascha sitting in his lap. But of course, Rory's touch sent a warm tingle down his arm and back up to run along the side of his neck, forcing Peter to repress a pleasant shudder. "Yeah, years from now. Long schooling is long."

More dimpled smiling as he nodded that yes, a second drink would be appreciated as the waitress made her rounds, then he cleared his throat to answer the singer's question. "Good. Well, depending on which project you're talking about and what we are going to qualify as 'good' while talking about one ugly, vicious disease."

Peter loved his work, his research and even the patients that were part of his case studies but he rarely considered the subject matter party conversation. Either he took a far too academic bent to avoid the emotional or he was honest and depressed a lot of people. "We're starting clinical trials to see how well some tumor reactive T cells we created react to certain targeted proteins in patients with lymphoid leukemias. Basically, I've been screening prospective patients for the study."

He stopped there before anyone got that glazed and confused look.

Date: 2009-01-04 07:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fey-fire.livejournal.com
Peter might have quashed the shudder, but a taste of his reaction slipped into Rory's crowd-attuned mystical senses anyway. He needed to be careful. To say that encouraging the younger man could lead to complications was an understatement of massive proportions.

He actually followed Peter's description of his work reasonably well. Medical jargon wasn't his forte of course, but you couldn't heal from the inside like he and his family did without understanding how the body's immune system and self-repair mechanisms worked.

Rory had just opened his mouth for further comment when another surge of irritated and familiar emotion hit him. He looked up to see Junie stalking toward them, outwardly composed and inwardly seething, looking rather like a panther in her black beaded dress. She stopped between him and Nil and said calmly, "Well, we now have a seat for Cait when she shows up."

"Oh, man," Kreske winced. "I take it Felipe didn't just head to the men's room?"

Junie exhaled through flared nostrils. "Felipe decided to pick a fight about my earlier appreciative comment on how Rory looks shirtless. To make a short story even shorter, he was a dick, I let fly with the temper I inherited from both halves of my heritage, and I will now be drafting the rest of you gentlemen as dance partners for the evening." She bent to give him a hug. "Sorry, hon."

"Don't be, Junie." He slid an arm around her waist to return the embrace. "I was just thinking about getting some dancing in, so you save one for me, hm?"

Date: 2009-01-04 07:47 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
Peter winced as well, after all he had been the one to bring up the subject of Rory and undressed states. He didn't know Junie well at all so he kept quiet, studied his drink a bit and then gave Sascha's hip a squeeze. "If blonde and crazy stays away, you willing to give me another turn on the dance floor?"

Date: 2009-01-04 09:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] breaker-street.livejournal.com
Sascha whispered back, "If blonde and crazy tries anything else, I'll defend your honor." She added a wink and a pat to his knee.

Junie ruffled Rory's hair before retreating to her seat at the other end of the table. "Honestly, the comment wasn't really the problem. He was already annoyed that we weren't spending enough time together." She spread her hands. "What can I do? It's not like our free time is going to magically improve, especially with the release coming up. So I can understand some frustration, but the insinuations he just made ... dating me for a month doesn't give a guy the right to get all territorial."

She sighed and offered Rory a wry, sympathetic smile. "And here I thought getting into show biz was supposed to improve your social life."

Rory's return smile was equally wry. "You up for that dance then?"

Junie drained her bellini before saluting him with the glass. "You know, I think I am."

Date: 2009-01-04 09:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
"Oh, my hero..." Peter gave the petite thing in his lap an overly dramatic sigh and then rolled his eyes. "Not so sure there's much honor to defend, to be honest."

Yeah, he knew he was a total dog in the situation with the Congreves. He wasn't proud of it.

The other conversation going on had Peter giving Rory a sidelong glance. Was time the reason his girlfriend left him?

Date: 2009-01-05 12:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] breaker-street.livejournal.com
Sascha nibbled her lower lip thoughtfully. Petey-cutie was getting a little bummed, which really shouldn't be allowed. Shame she'd have to move to do something about it; his thighs made for a very comfortable seat ... but duty called.

As Junie rounded the table to take Rory's arm, Sasch bounced up and took a grip on Peter's. "C'mon then, sugar-toots, let's get out there with the old folks and show 'em how it's done!"

Rory glanced back with a laugh and a grin for the both of them. Junie had a welcoming smile on her face too, so clearly neither of them minded. Sascha bounced a little on her toes, waiting for Peter to stand up.

Date: 2009-01-05 12:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
"Sugar-toots?" Peter gave her a boggled-yet-amused look as he stood up. He enjoyed dancing with Sascha, she had a good sense of rhythm and wasn't afraid to have fun on the dance floor. If it hadn't been for Adele, Peter was fairly certain they'd still be out there having fun.

Letting the girl drag him back out into the crowd, he laughed, "They won't be able to keep up with us."

Date: 2009-01-05 03:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fey-fire.livejournal.com
"Hah!" Rory laughed again himself at Peter's declaration, his smile pure charm and tease. "Dream on, sugar-toots. We 'old folks' are about to run you into the ground."

"You'll be begging for mercy," Junie tossed cheerfully over her shoulder as she led the way back onto the floor. The four of them wound up packed together a little snugly by the crowd, Junie across from him, Peter beside him and even Sascha on the opposite corner, but Rory didn't mind. The contact heightened his awareness, his thrumming connection with the emotions of people who wanted to tune in to good music and have a good time.

And it was good music. Dacia and her crew were changing up their usual playlist by throwing in a few rock standards. Spotting Rory's tall self on the floor, she tossed him a cheerful salute before launching into a duet version of Bad Case of Loving You with her bass player.

Listening to her husky voice belt out the Robert Palmer lyrics, Rory let himself go into the rhythm. Movement, sound, the heat and scent of the bodies around him, they all touched him at a primal level, deep at the core of who he was.

What he was.

Angling a bit toward Peter, Rory found himself moving with all three of his friends, not Junie alone. It felt good. It felt right.

Date: 2009-01-05 03:48 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
"What is it with you people and 'sugar-toots'?" Peter was laughing quite a bit by the time the new song started up and while he found the tune in question a bit ironic considering who's hip he just bumped against, he decided to cut loose and just dance. Silly phrases forgotten in exchange for trying to work his body in time to the music amidst a crowd and still prove that he was capable of some more complicated steps, Peter ignored anything that didn't make him happy.

He also wasn't paying much attention to just which body he was rocking against and swaying with until he placed his hand against the small of Rory's back to keep his balance. Peter and his friends might know how to dance in a crowd, but there were plenty of folks around them with two left feet and no idea that you were supposed to move with the beat.

Realizing that he should put some space between himself and his taller dance partner, Peter turned around and reached for one of Sascha's hands, giving her a playful look as he pulled her in close and sang along with the song. Anyone casually watching the group might think he did indeed have it bad for the girl.

Date: 2009-01-05 05:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fey-fire.livejournal.com
The sound of Peter singing brought Rory partway back from his near-trance in time to see Sascha wrinkle her nose in a cute little moue and mouth the words you tease, you. He chuckled as he slid an arm around Junie and pulled her into a position that mirrored that of their younger friends, his feet still moving with a relaxed, unconscious grace.

Right about then Peter's excellent singing voice must have finally gotten through to the girls, because they both suddenly wore smiles of surprised delight. Rory had heard his friend sing, even if only through an online recording, but apparently they had not.

One shared glance between the three bandmates was all it took before they all started singing along. Every member of Breaker Street could sing and sing well, so three voices soon harmonized sweetly with Peter's tenor. No pill's gonna cure my ill, I got a bad case of looooooving yoooouuu ...

Date: 2009-01-05 05:25 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
"You think I'm cute, a little bit shy, Sascha, I ain't that kind of guy." Peter obviously knew the song well enough to play with the lyrics as he continued to dance, he also played at seeing the sorts of vocal gymnastics he could lead the soon to be professionals in--he's at least familiar enough with Rory and Junie's singing to know what they were capable of and he enjoyed the slight advantage he had simple because they'd not had a chance to really scrutinize him in the same way.

People dancing near them soon picked up on the fact that there were four showboaters in their midst and cleared a space around them accordingly, just enjoying the floor show. Peter almost immediately took advantage of having more room to move, swinging Sascha out in a controlled spin before pulling her back again.

"Hey, Rory...switch?" Peter didn't bother to check with the women, he only wanted to make sure he and the other man were on the same page before trading Sascha for Junie in a bit of a rhythmic shuffle.

Date: 2009-01-05 07:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fey-fire.livejournal.com
Rory caught a laughing Sascha smoothly by the waist, dipping her sylph-like slenderness to one side and then the other before spinning them both in a tight circle. He thought he heard a smattering of applause from the other dancers under the surface of the music. You want a show? You've got one.

Not to be outdone, Junie struck a sultry pose as she faced Peter, dark eyes sparkling with mischievous challenge. Okay, sweetie. Show me what you've got. Tossing her dark curls, she matched his steps with a swivel-hipped, stiletto-heeled strut as she kept singing. I know you like it, you like it on top. Tell me sugar, are you gonna stop?

On that last word she reached up to run her fingers through Peter's dark hair, leaning forward as he leaned back, smile blazing. What do you plan to do about it, sugar-toots? her laughing eyes asked.

Date: 2009-01-05 07:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] half-whole-pw.livejournal.com
What was he going to do, indeed. Peter flashed Junie his dimpled grin,jerks his head to the side to free her fingers from his hair and as he stood, he pulled the older woman tight against his body. The look he gave her was a challenging one, young and not all that interested in her type, he could still be convincing to the contrary.

Peter's hands ran up Junie's back, finger's fanned possessively until they reached her shoulders. He gripped her firmly, turned her one way and then the other,laughing as she ducked under his arm--they were doing a modified salsa as they moved together, their steps measured and tight, their bodies held smartly. Precision even as they played, more for the effect it had on the audience than anything else.

Profile

fey_fire: (Default)
fey_fire

June 2011

S M T W T F S
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
1920 2122232425
2627282930  

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jul. 6th, 2025 12:28 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios