Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
I've run into some problems threading a few plot lines together. Current version of next chapter just reads awkwardly. So I'll going to be a day or two late.
In the mean time, I have a spray of small images to divert your attention from that train wreck. Larger versions of each pic available in my album of IRIRS photos.
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
Okay, this chapter turned out to be a little bit of an experiment. I was playing around with relatively quick cuts to move between relatively simultaneous events. If I did it right, it should play out like a fairly tightly edited television episode or something. The content is mostly light or humorous except for one thread with a few moments of pathos.
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
Quote:
Originally Posted by synaesthetic
god so behind...
I'm going to catch up on this sometime this week but crazy craziness abounds with school and trying to get my book ready for the Kindle Store...
Tell me how that goes. I'm whacking away on the rewrite of the first volume (which will probably be vol 1 and 2 together) and looking at several distribution channel possibilities.
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
Author's notes, comments, and babble time
I feel like I pulled a "Megatokyo" or a "Katanagatari" in NOT showing the heart-to-heart chat between Tsika, Glyc, and Blar as it happened (kind of like not showing the duel itself, just the aftermath). I think that might have been quite interesting as a story sequence the more I think about it.
I'll blame self-imposed deadline and material that might belong across two chapters instead of crammed into one. I wanted a tight focus on the Sashiko plot thread so I stuck with that. If I don't keep to my self-imposed deadlines, I'll spiral into a deep pit of "not finishing stuff".
When I rewrite this section for publishing, I'm very likely to substantially expand and alter the whole "Tainted Love" sequence into two chapters worth of story and include the part of the day Tsika/Blar/Glyc spent trying to hash their lives out.
Right now, my rewrite of volume 1 has gotten fairly significant in terms of expansion and tweaking. I had several people find Blar stalking Tsika a little too creepy as it was. So I took some input from them and made some changes that I think actually makes the storyline more amusing and realistic (as a hint - they're actually sort of stalking each other now - just using very different tactics). Changes like that permeate most of the early chapters now. I may dial back the explicit sex scenes or adjust the terminology - just so I don't run into anyone getting "50 Shades of Gray" bashful about reading.
Also, I'm becoming convinced that the rough draft "vol 1 and 2" are going to end up being one single larger volume after the rewrite. "Start of the Band" all the way to heading to the airport for "Off to Japan" makes a much more satisfying read than just chopping off before the retreat or just after Glycerin's psychological revelations. It also puts the two secondary characters into the picture frame and sets up (hopefully) desire to purchase the next volume of the adventure in Japan (heh).
I reviewed the Kindle store operation -- suddenly that looks like a more attractive option for an initial release but still need to review the fine print.
Actually my biggest issue at the moment is still illustrations. I want to use illustrations. I've been playing with DAZ but I'll end up spending as much money buying DLC with it as I might just commissioning art. Also looking at some tricks of doing my own art. I even wrote Harmonix to ask if what the options were for using Rockband screen captures (I figure the answer is no, but who knows until you ask).
edit: Surprisingly, I had a back and forth conversation with Harmonix. They liked the idea but in the end they just didn't have a licensing framework and they were sketchy about adult situations being directly connected with the product (since the franchise is "PG-13" so to speak). I was just happy they took me seriously. So I'll have to have original artwork -- back to DAZ probably.
And a flashback to nine months earlier, the band The Lost Girls one week before Blar met Tsika in the snowstorm (before Sashiko got herself fired). A small gig in Portland.
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
Well, crud - paying work took longer than expected. Will try to have next chapter out on Monday.
As penance, here's Dark Glyc and her minions doing a Lacuna Coil cover of Swamped. This one reminds me how tall she is compared to the others and those long legs and scary eyes Managed to catch some nice imagery in it. Tsika also has a lot of energy playing her bass in this one.
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
Sigh, made some progress tonight - six pages. Some days entire chapters roll out in one swoosh, other days just getting a paragraph out is like shoveling wet mud. Six pages a day plus review/edits, erk.
The band is getting a new coordinator for the next few towns as Kobayashi hands them off. In the meantime, here's a size reference shot of Glycerin (5'11"+) and Tsika (4'10"). Glycerin has heels on. She has to wear flats if Tsika is to have any chance of mashing her face into Glycerin's cleavage.
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
Sorry, I got halfway into this chapter and hated the way it was going -- pulling back and rewriting it. Some important plot points I want to get right without too much foreshadow.
Another diversionary video - one of the concert's in Japan doing a cover of a Roxette tune.
Still feels kind of flaky and sketchy, interactions with Sakaki and some moments in Hank's photo hike missing. But I need to focus for a few days on my rewrite of Volume 01 and 02. (Almost done with v1 and halfway through v2).
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
On a small USO jog in the tour, Hank the band's light/sound engineer loses a bet and has to sing a couple of songs for the troops. He chooses a couple of tunes relevant to the story. Here's one --
I'm going to be a bit quiet for the next week or so, some work contracts that involve travel. I'm going to focus on Volume 1 and 2 rewrites during my evenings and see if I can get ahead on Volume 3 (the japan tour).
Hmm, my rewritten version of Volume One currently stands at just over 200 pages, ending when the band drives off to Big Sur and the music retreat.
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
Studying up on copyright issues with using extracts of song lyrics. Apparently, it can get pretty stupid to even invoke a few words explicitly referencing the song without permission.
I may seek out permission on "No Rain" from Blind Melon and see how that goes. Otherwise, I'll either need to write parody/satirical lyrics or rework the scenes so that the reader may be able to guess the song but it isn't explicitly referenced.
I *think* I can use song titles as my chapter dividers as I have been but even that seems problematic according to some -- even mentioning which tunes the band is playing may get interesting. The author Robert Aspirin often used quotes by famous people to open each chapter of his Myth-Adventure series but again, this is the music industry where jackasses in suits own the exhaled breath of many artists.
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
Sorry. Kind of fell off the train there for a couple of weeks. I spent it (besides RL interrupts) making rewrite passes on Volume 1 and volume 2. Volume 1 is about 200 pages and volume 2 is nearly twice that -- kind of surprised me.
About halfway through chapter five of Volume three today. New rule for myself - never take a long break from a story thread, its much harder than taking breaks in between major story arcs.
The group is doing their Hatsukaichi shrine concert at the moment and is about to head for a USO one-night gig. Here's a video extract of the USO performance. The girls dressed a bit naughty for the special forces guys.
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
Volume 03 Chapter 05 Part 01 ("Hells Bells")
Material - adult situations, NSFW in this chapter
Spoiler for vol 03 ch 05 part 01 content:
Sashiko had thought it nerve-wracking with Tsika at the wheel of a vehicle back in Portland but Sasaki's erratic driving made the little Russian's skills seem positively expert. Sashiko and Hank had gone on ahead with Sasaki and the moving truck after the limo transport for the band had run late. They were headed towards the outskirts of the town towards the concert area shrine.
“Not driven a stickshift much, Sasaki-chan?” Hank was gripping the safety bar on the dash tightly. Sashiko was hanging on in the truck's rumble seat behind him.
“Shoganai! Uh! It can't be helped! I don't drive much at all! I wasn't told this was part of the job! Ah!! Gomen nasai! Gomen!”
She narrowly averted a side collision as she failed to stop through a yellow light, screaming apologies out her window at the other vehicles. Sashiko could see the tiny Japanese girl descending into frazzled panic as she worked the stickshift, the wheel, the pedals, and tried to watch where she was going while avoiding destruction.
“Ah bet Hank could drive this beastie with all the monster trucks he grew up with! Ya wants Hank to drive and yew navigate, lassie?”
She is probably having trouble understanding me. Fookin' hell's goats!
“Want … Hank … to drive? He can drive these, I bet!”
Sashiko clearly heard a sniffle out of Sasaki. “Arigato … but Sasaki would be in trouble if that became known. We almost out of town, easier out here, ne?”
“Bloody hell. Ah'd at least lahk to make it to Hokkaido before I check out of the fookin' world!”
Sashiko peered back and forth down the country road they were rolling on now. “Aye, Sasaki-chan. It looks pretty clear now. Ah thinks yew can relax a bit. Any landing yew walk from is a good landing.”
The young Japanese woman nodded but remained very tense at the wheel. Sashiko wasn't sure whether engaging her in conversation would help her relax or just give her one too many things to keep track of. The pastures gave way to dense forest alongside the two lane road.
“Hank, yew got yer GPS runnin' in case the others end up needing a taxi out here?”
“Yup. I can transmit the destination to Blar once we get there. The limo driver might need one anyway with all the turns we've made.” Hank looked back at the freckled redhead and scrutinized her garb. “Is that what you're wearing tonight for the performance?”
“No, ya nosy ram goat. Ah'm gonna prance the stage nekkid.” Sashiko noticed Sashiko's startled movement in the corner of her vision. “Fook! Dinnae listen to us, lassie! Just drive! No, ya bloomin' idjit, ah got me stage things in this here shoulder bag. Ah figure ah can change in the truck if naught else. Just wearing me grubbie jeans while we scope the place owt and haul stoof. Makes me wonder why the wacky blonde glitter didn't come with us. She loves tha picking shite up and putting it down.”
Kpau was originally going to get in the truck with them but Tsika had hauled her back to the rooms for some reason and Blar finally told them to scoot.
Hank just shook his head and shrugged his shoulders before they were all suddenly tranfixed by a deer that jumped into the road ahead. To Sasaki's credit, she didn't kill them all. She slowed up, whispering “sika” which Sashiko knew meant “deer” in Japanese.
“Pretty little dinner, all da white spots on it lahk a fishie.”
“Heh, Sashiko. No problem with your place on the food-chain, I take it?” Hank snapped a picture as the young deer ambled across the road. Sasaki was peering nervously left and right into the forest to see if there were others that might leap out as she kept her foot on the brake.
“Food is fer eating. Dinnae tell me you're sum weird cowboy vegetarian!”
“No, ma'am. Not a cowboy or a vegetarian. My schoolmates did call me weird a lot. I think you can go now, Sasaki-chan.” Sasaki crunched the gearshift into first and the truck began rumbling up to speed again.
The remainder of the trip went silently until Sasaki steered the truck onto a turn off that passed by some stone shrine markers. Hank seemed bemused.
“Is this concert shrine some well-kept secret? I would have expected more signage.”
“Is well kept secret that every one knows about!” Sasaki seemed pleased with her small attempt at humor so Sashiko sympathetically chuckled. The wee sprite needed all the encouragement she could get. The structures of the shrine could be seen through the trees as the road wound between them.
“Roight. Now we find out if ah'm going to be upchucking all night or not. How big is this place?”
Sasaki brought the truck to a grinding stop in a large open area for parking that fronted the shrine entrance. Hank and Sashiko hopped out, Hank giving the redhead a hand to hop down from her rumble seat in the back.
He touches me lahk ah'm glass and gets that weird look on his face. Bloody Kpau keeps acting like he's makin' a play for me. Ah don't even know what that feels lahk. Does it feel like this? If he is, why da fook at me? Ah'm all butched up and with mah demonic voice ah figure why bother. Ah dinnae think he's goofing with me, though. Guess ah got to figure him out over beer or something. Bloody hell, I'd shut all those thoughts down long ago.
They made their way through the shrine gate doors. The place was staffed by an actual priest oddly enough to the two bandmates. Sashiko was conversing with the older man. The other two couldn't follow the conversation at all, so they simply started exploring and entered the main performance area.
“Hey, Sashiko! This doesn't look too bad, does it? You're a bit higher than the audience but not too disconnected. You can jump down easily and the whole area is a mosh pit of a sort. I guess people bring their own chairs if they want them!” Hank was roaming the perimeter as he shouted to her.
Sashiko was standing stage center. It was obvious this place was still an active shrine but one that doubled as a concert site. Given the shrine was dedicated to a goddess associated with music and dance, it made sense. It certainly helped with the shrine budget, Sashiko figured.
Almost too big for her. She could feel a twinge of nausea at the number of people likely to fill the grounds. Suddenly Sashiko felt Hank right next to her.
“You look a little pale. Need to sit a moment?”
“No, ya daft knob. Ah told the grand stallion ah'd poosh me self. Ah'd say this is right on the edge of needin' a bucket to hurl me guts into.” Sashiko watched Hank as he kept trying to find something to do with his hands. In his pockets, behind his head, thumbs clipped onto his belt. She rolled her eyes and grabbed one of them while they were in transition.
“Come on, let's find our poor itsy Sasaki-chan and get to unloading the truck.” She began humming and then singing out loud as they walked back.
Once there was a young man, No one could understand, da-da-dee-da-da-da-dah
All he ever playin' is That rock n' roll music, Rock n' roll music yeah
All he ever wanted was a reason to do it, Reason to do it yeah
Hank was giving her the strangest look as her gravelly voice echoed off the shrine fencing and walls. She broke off and glared at him. “What da fook is yer stew? Ah'm just testin' the arena sounds out! Did ya want me to sing Twinkle Twinkle?!”
- - - - - -
Kpau was sitting in the limo with a grumpy look to her. Tsika wasn't slacking off as she took her seat.
“Goofy blonde! You must give them a bit of space! Thought I was controlling queen! Too much pressure on clay and you ruin pot!”
Kpau made a face. “When did you ever stick your hands in wet sticky clay? But yeah, I get it. I was getting overactive because I like watching the show and want it to move faster.”
“Bah. Would be like getting game with one big red button! Push it and it says You Win.”
Blar pulled himself into the vehicle and sat next to Tsika, followed quickly by Glycerin as she slipped over to a seat next to Kpau. The blonde thought Glycerin's seating choice odd and marked the event in her head.
“You get it, Glyc! It's just fun to watch!”
Glycerin peered out from behind the lock of hair that hid half her face. “Tsika is right, little dove. Musn't p-push too hard. But it is f-fun and adorable.”
Blar put his cellphone away. “Hank sent me the coordinates. They do match a spot on the map that just lists the location as a shrine and I gave that to the driver. Hank also says we missed quite the experience of Sasaki-chan driving a large truck with a stickshift. He doesn't recommend it for Glycerin.”
Glycerin's face got a little paler as she peered through her fingers. “I sh-shall thank him for that alert.”
The lead guitarist's phone lit up and she examined it a moment before making a glorious cooing sound. “Oh my! They saw a deer! A charming little d-deer!” Glycerin passed her phone around for the others to look. It ended up with Blar.
“Hmmmm. I suspect the excitement just a few seconds before that pic was epic. It is in the middle of the road right in front of the truck.” He handed the phone to Kpau who glanced at it with a smile before returning it to Glycerin.
The limo began to move as Glycerin read the next text message Hank had sent. “Kpau? Hank also s-says there is a bell there you have to see. A big one. He has an idea for the concert that involves it and has already checked with the priest who says it is okay.”
“Say no more, Glyc!!! Hell's Bells!! Woot! Oh, damn, I bet Sashiko will have to play it cuz Blar has to sing! Leaves me on drums. Damn!” Glycerin shyly patted Kpau on the head as she wailed.
- - - - - -
Blar and the others arrived to find the gear largely unloaded from the truck and on the shrine's stage. More amusingly, Hank had Sasaki up in the catwalk overhead angling lights for him. Sashiko had strapped the small Japanese woman's extensive hair into a bundle with packing straps against her back for safety. She waved and shouted down to Blar before his grumbling started ratcheting up.
“Is okay, Blar-san! Sasaki had nothing to do anyway while Sashiko-chan and Hank-san worked! Sasaki is here until performance is over anyway, ne?”
“Fine, fine! I just don't want to have to deliver the bad news to Kobayashi-san that we broke his cute kokeshi doll!”
Blar could see her blushing despite her altitude over the stage. His shin sent him a pain message as a small twin-tailed Russian delivered a light kick. “Idiot Bear! No making her fall with complimenting embarrassments! Besides! Bear already has doll to worship and coo at!”
Tsika strutted and preened in front of Blar in her stage garb of candy-striped leggings, miniskirt, and naughty school girl blouse and laced vest corset. Blar chuckled as he noticed Glycerin climbing up on the stage.
“You need to do some of that sexy posing for Glycerin. I think you've got her heart racing.” Tsika twisted around as she was snared in Glycerin's hug. Tsika squeaked but did not resist, much anyway.
“S-such a beautiful little d-doll! You must treat her wonderfully, my Blar!” Glycerin looked down at Tsika as she held her. Blar watched her expression shift into something more enigmatic. “I … I'm sorry, Tsika. I sh-shouldn't interrupt like that. I'll go work on the cables with Kpau.”
She handed Tsika over to Blar and made off before Tsika could respond. Tsika started to chase after her and Blar caught her arm with a questioning look. Tsika was disconcerted.
“What was that about, Blar? I wasn't upset at all with her joining in!”
“Well … just for a split second you had an annoyed look on your face I think she noticed, but I don't know for sure. With her and Snake reworking their entire relationship with each other, her mood shifts around so fast I spend a lot of time perplexed lately. I guess she's trying to give you space with me? I know she sometimes feels like she is sucking a lot of time and energy from both of us.”
“I need to not be possessive of you or ignoring of her. I say and do stupid things when I am frustrated. It would be awful if such poisons were piling up on her. Every second I spend with my Mouse is worth cost.”
“Maybe we should focus on her while she's evolving and you and I just remember to hold hands?” Blar wasn't fond of the idea of unbalancing the triangle but he thought Glycerin might simply need the extra support for a while.
“We are on unclear ground, Bear. Not too much harder than just being couple, but it certainly is much difference. No guidelines.” Tsika stretched up and kissed him. “Am finding my Glyc and spend time near her. You do likewise when there is chance, h'okay?” She buried her face in his chest and mumbled something.
“What? Didn't quite catch that, delicate flower.” Blar put his large paws on Tsika's shoulders.
“Love my Bear. Don't make me say it louder, h'okay? Is scary to say out loud such vulnerable thing.” Tsika put her hands on his a moment before extricating herself and trotting off to find her friend.
Blar turned right into Sashiko as she stood next to him with the ends of a bundle of cables in her hand.
“Uhhhhhhh, iz there sumthin' ah should be aware of or can help with, ya stallion? Ah'm getting sum drama vibes from that wee exchange.”
“I don't think I need to say this to you but just to reinforce … make sure Glycerin feels loved and wanted. She gets introspective about how we tend to her, then odd ideas creep into her head that lead to bad places.”
“Tsika has mentioned somethin' to that effect in the past. Ah'll dew wot ah can to keep the magical Glycca fluffy. In the meantime, we have a small power problem that needs managerial assistance. Power cords don't quite reach a few working outlets. Sasaki-chan is hanging from the ceiling like a bleeding fruit bat, so ah thought you might go round up a few extension cords from our fine priest over there watching our antics.”
“Roger that. Management hat on. Be right back.”
- - - - - -
Tsika finally found Glycerin just outside the shrine walls. The slender woman was staring at a tremendous tree with a Shinto rope around it designating it a sacred tree. The small paper zigzags attached to the rope were fluttering in the mild breeze. Tsika tried to tread quietly but her foot snapped a twig. She could see Glycerin glance in her direction momentarily and then look back at the tree.
“I … I was th-thinking I might spot Kpau Angela's Totoro spirit or mayhaps her Cat Bus if I stood here a bit.”
Tsika moved closer until she was within arms length of her friend. “Glycca? My precious Mouse? You're not playing fair. We said we would share, that there was enough love to do it. None of us are perfect. I'm full of little selfish bubbles that pop out. They aren't your fault, they're my fault.”
Glycerin remained silent as she gazed at the tree. It was so large Tsika felt like a bug next to it. She stamped her small feet as her emotional facade crumbled.
“Glycca, I need to be selfish right now because I need a hug from my Mouse! I need to know she loves me … because I love her so much!” Tsika could feel the tears streaming down her face.
The light blotted out as she was enveloped in a hug that smelled of lavender. Long slender hands stroking her neck and a cooing voice. Now she was in Glycerin's lap being rocked as they sat on a trunk root in the still gloom.
“Sorry, love. Everything has g-gotten so different. I get lost so easily. Some days I think Snake has a better grip on the outside than I d-do. I just … just … I feel like I need to give you time to be with Blar. No matter how m-much I love my doll, I … I can't be selfish with her … or … or g-give her a f-f-family down the road like Blar can.”
Tsika's brain fried for a moment. “Glycca? Is that part of the problem? If it were just you and me, we could adopt. There are ways to get pregnant. That you care for me and I you is most important thing!”
“But there's Blar now, love. And he comes with a lot m-more than just a hump in the night, little doll.”
“Omigod, Glycca! I've never heard you talk like that! So racy! But yeah, I'd rather make a family that way – and it feels cozier for BOTH of us with him, don't you think?”
Glycerin was beet red in the face as she sighed. “Maybe … maybe I'll just feel better once you and Blar … once you and he … make love.”
“You want him badly too, my Mouse, don't you? But you're just all shredded inside because you've stubbornly decided to wait for me. Is that it?”
Glycerin silently nodded and rocked Tsika. Tsika's ears perked up. “They're looking for us, Glycca. We should go back before Sashi forms big union and strikes.”
She stood up and held her hand out to Glycerin. Glycerin took it and let Tsika lead her back. Tsika shouted that they were on their way and started trading noisy insults with Sashiko over the shrine walls.
“After all, my little doll, b-being with Blar is on m-my bucket list.”
“What was that, Glycca?”
“Nothing, my love. J-just babbling. Let's g-go see if they f-found power for our amps.”
- - - - - -
“Papa Bear, it's kind of amazing to watch this place shift from silent spooky shrine in the middle of a forest to pre-concert noise, lots of people, and Hank's hallucinogenic light show playing over the crowd. Just surreal!”
Kpau was tuning her drum kit for the evening coolness and humidity as Blar made sure her head mike was tuned correctly. She tried not to shiver every time he stroked her head while he worked the headset.
“You and Sashi have your cues worked out? She works the bell for the opening number, then she comes back on stage for the rest of the gig. How's her stomach doing?”
“She gurgles a little but she seems butthead determined to make it through this. Hank's been cheering for her and giving her ideas for keeping her cool all afternoon. I think … she's starting to get a clue about him. Stubborn woodpecker.”
Blar chuckled and then pointed at Glycerin and Tsika as they were going through final checks on their guitar tuning. “Shift your ferrety brain just a bit and keep an eye on Glyc for a while. She's getting that “doesn't belong in the world” feeling again and it's bombarding her in a lot of different ways I think.”
Kpau patted Blar on the arm. She knew. “Yeah, I've been catching little glimmers the last couple of days. Old habits easily return under stress. With her it's almost a second by second manic-depressive cycle. She's happy as a lark then BAM she's thinking she's just a boat anchor on us all.”
“Hey, Kpau? This band is something you and Tsika clearly want very badly and I just assumed Glycerin did as well. My slow brain is just now percolating that may not be the case.”
“Glyc's whole world is about wanting Tsika to be happy. That doesn't mean what it takes for Tsika's happy isn't stressing our Glyc out. Playing duets with her little doll is one thing. Standing in front of the whole fricking world? Scares the shit out of her by my sensors. Scares her so bad a padded room may not be enough. She makes it through every concert by focusing on you two.”
“Well … crap. One day at a time derping along. Tsika and I are going to focus on giving her all the support she needs during this tour.” Blar wandered off. Kpau shook her head quietly in response.
That may be a lot of what is making Glyc feel like she doesn't belong, old man. She wants Tsika to be happy. Happy means you. If she decides she's in the way of that happy … okay, now I'm nauseated. Great. Just flippin' fabulous yeehaw.
Kpau got up from her drums and walked over to Tsika and Glycerin as they traded chords.
“We don't do this enough lately. Hugging the Glyc and the vampire now because I need you both.”
Mint and lavender together is the best I think. Tsika's giving me that look that she knows why I really wandered over here and yeah I'm hugging the Mouse harder. I love it when Glyc strokes my hair. Doesn't get me horny, just feels kind of like having a momma when she does it.
“Right. Now my headset is messed up again. Hey, Papa Bear! Come back here! Fix it! Fix it! Heh!”
- - - - - -
At the hour, Sashiko checked her cellphone one last time where she had taped it to a pillar. She grabbed the large wooden timber by its rope handles and hauled it as fast as she could towards the eight foot tall bell just outside the arena area. The priest had actually been rather happy to have it used in a performance. He only asked that they let him purify the area beforehand to encourage the muse kami to come watch.
“Five steps! One! Two! Three! Four! Five!” The sound the bell made vibrated inside her guts and skull.
Quick now, back for the next one! Count the steps!
“a h-aon! a dhà! a trì! a ceithir! a còig!” Stepping fast. The last sound vibrations hadn't quite vanished when the next sound wave smacked her innards. She could hear the crowd inside start to cheer as some started to clue in on what the opening number was. Nothing like a little AC/DC to warm any crowd up.
Sashiko almost lost count of her bell strikes before she heard Glycerin's arc-lightning opening guitar introduction to “Hell's Bells”. She kept the bell ringing up til the midpoint of the song when Kpau took over with a custom electronic gong effect on her drum kit that broadcast through the main amplifiers.
Sashiko collected her phone and trotted back just in time to see Glycerin execute a wild dervish spin as she reached the main guitar solo of the piece. The Scottish woman waved at Kpau as she caught her breath and jumped down to join Hank in the engineering pit where her keyboards were set up. She and Blar had decided she would play keys down there and get up on stage when she was lead vocal. Sashiko's stomach happily accepted that compromise.
“Okay, wow. That little outfit kicks ass.” Hank was getting his first look at Sashiko's stage clothing, a camo bikini top and green plaid pleated skirt. It was accentuated with military style belts and high heel bootlets. Sashiko had spiked the outfit with fishnet hose after Kpau had whined for her to wear them until Sashiko was half nuts. Hank focused on her face with an odd look that had her nervous.
“Ah know there ain't any spotty bugs on me, wot?!”
“Your face paint is smudged. Must have happened when you were slamming the bell. Hold still.” Hank grabbed a towel and carefully dabbed at Sashiko's face. The band's music seemed to fade as she processed Hank so close to her. Looking down at her while he focused on her cheek with a tip of the towel gave her a very close examination. He was only a few inches taller than her but he had nice shoulders and the bluest damned eyes. Her breath got a little faster.
“There! Now you're symmetric like a pretty bird should be.” Hank's blue eyes moved from scrutinizing her cheek to her green eyes and his matter-of-fact expression floundered into something less confident.
“Uh … thanks, ya daft glaikit.” It felt both scary and nice to stand close to this guy. Sashiko stayed close and looked up at the antics onstage. The sheer pounding of the sound waves from the amplifier stacks required the two of them to take turns speaking into each other's ear. Sashiko didn't miss Kpau's smirky expression from up on stage with her eagle-eye view of the engineering pit.
“Yew can see up everyone's skirt from here! Quite a bonus fer yew.” Sashiko grinned as Hank's face burned red.
“It freaked me out the first few times. Now I think my brain just subtracts the idea while I focus on the lights. Ah, they're finishing.” Hank typed a string of code sequences into his laptop and moved some switches, all rather mysterious to Sashiko though it did remind her of her piano-synth keyboards.
“Yew've got quite a lot of this automated, doncha?” Sashiko watched Hank's hands work with some interest as the band shifted into a pounding metal tune. It opened up with a long solo by Tsika profiling her flying finger skills on her batwing bass guitar and Hank was shifting the color palette of the lights up and down the rainbow colors to match the little twin-tailed woman's bass notes.
“Yeah, I tried to take it up a level so I can focus on mood and atmosphere more than oh damn pot light thirtyfour is off twenty degrees.” Hank's hand darted over to a switch as Glycerin jumped to a part of the stage she didn't normally head for during her main melodic stanzas. “I'm getting better at backup sequences when Glyc pulls a new dance pattern like that.”
“Well, ah'm all over the place and in the audience. How ya handle that?”
“For tonight, I had Sasaki-chan angle one spot up high with a threesixty on it. I can follow you all the way to the front gate. Has to be done manual though, I follow you by eye and use that joystick.”
As they spoke to each other, Sashiko kept adjusting her position to reach Hank's ear with her lips until she was against his chest. Hank suddenly reached around her to flick some switches during a Kpau drum solo, leaving her under his arm pressed tightly against him. Sashiko could feel her face flaring up as he brushed against her. Hank started to draw back.
“Sorry! I needed to hit that moment on cue, I –.” Sashiko stepped lightly on his foot in annoyance.
“Yew doo wot yew need to do for the performance. If yew need to knock me down, doo it. Ah'm fine with yew putting yer hands on me, ya bloomin' idiot. Ah knows everyone else pretty well. Yew and me just need to go find sum beers after one of these gigs and babble 'til we're not so jittery around each other!”
Hank stood wide-eyed until he lunged at a switch. “Damn it. Missed that cue. Uh, that'd be great. Especially since Blar is giving me the evil-eye now for missing that cue. Ouch.”
“Ah'll throw meself at him and tell him you saved me from a wardrobe malfunction. Which, crap on me head, ah am having right now!” Sashiko grabbed at her bikini top as it slipped away. “Fook! Ah must have not caught the snap right or the bell-ringing messed it oop!”
“Stand by, Sashiko. Got to hit these cues.” Hank played his board like a piano while Sashiko stood stock still gripping her bikini top against her chest, not daring to reach around behind her. She looked up to see her feminine band mates, three pairs of eyes, all trying to hold their stage expressions without bursting into giggles as they played. The big stallion was thankfully clueless as he pranced about growling his lyrics.
While Sashiko blanched at the idea of the merriment her friends would have at her expense later, she felt two warm hands on her shoulders as Hank moved behind her. “Never actually done this, you should know but the concept seems simple. Just … this … ah, there's a hook … and … there. You're safe. You can adjust it now.”
“Not lahk there's a whole lot to see, dunno why I give a fook.”
“Dammit, stop that! You're cute! There! I said it and I'll keep saying it! My notes say you're on stage in about forty seconds. Move those pretty legs!” Hank seemed actually exasperated at her. Sashiko liked that feeling better than the tippytoe bullshit. Something to butt her head against.
“Ah'll flash me skirt at ya on stage and you can watch all the leg ya like, dafty twit! Running now!”
- - - - - -
The shrine gig was going exceptionally well as far as Tsika was concerned. She could see the tiny Sasaki-chan just off-stage madly dancing to their music. It gave Tsika a small glimpse of what Blar found attractive in herself. All that hair shimmering and bouncing around a cute little gyrating nymph. Tsika shifted back to keeping an eye on Glycerin.
Glycerin was having an amazingly energetic night, throwing herself into her dance moves and shredding so fast Tsika was having trouble synchronizing her own supporting musical progressions.
Nice to have to work harder and step up, but it has me wondering what Glyc is escaping from in her happy place. Need to love her more. Make sure she understands how necessary she is to me.
Tsika bent her notes just a hair to get Glycerin to look at her. Those lavender pupils were wildly dilating and contracting. The tall dangerous looking beauty had a half-smile half-snarl on her face. Tsika emulated the smile-snarl back as she pranced over and engaged Glycerin in a semi-duel of who could flick faster. Glycerin always won but it made Tsika feel better to watch her tall friend's expression remold into an almost religious ecstasy as the notes machine-gunned off of her fingertips.
They finished the piece in a progression of power chords that left the audience a bit stunned. Tsika almost counted to two-onethousand before the applause and cheers erupted for the improvised duet in the piece.
Blar began chatting with the audience in a mix of Japanese and English, introducing the band and warning them that Sashiko was about to take the stage for the next set so they'd better put their armor on. Tsika could hear Sashiko yelling profanities at Blar from the other side of the stage while Glycerin found ever newer shades of red to blush in as she stood between them. The audience loved it.
Tsika loved nights like this. It made her feel alive as she flirted with the edge of disaster on every note. She couldn't even imagine where her friend's mind was in that ecstatic frenzy she went to in her guitar play. Blar had told her before they had flown to Japan about his sensations of Glycerin being a priestess of the gods during some of their performances. Tsika had long felt Glycerin was channeling something not merely human. Discovering just how differently Glycerin was wired made that feeling even stronger.
Channeling the gods if there were such things! But such a fragile conduit my precious Mouse is! Ah! Whoops, is my turn in the spotlight for Blar's chatting moment!
Tsika percolated the fastest little bass melody she could play, smiled and waved at the audience. The spotlight moved on. Tsika decided she, Blar, and Glyc should get flaming drunk when they got back to the inn – together.
- - - - - -
“Woof, woof, woof! That's my other dog imitation!”
“Are you asking me to start calling you Oddball instead of Chicklet?”
“That's why I like you, Papa Bear! You catch every one of my lines! No negative waves at all! Mwah!”
Sashiko rolled her eyes as Kpau lunged over the table to plant a nasty wet kiss full of tongue in Blar's mouth. Tsika was giggling spastically and Glycerin could barely catch her breath she was wheezing laughter so hard.
Poor Sasaki, their guide and handler, was just riveted by the antics of the band. She'd taken them to a late night yakitoriya to celebrate surviving the first night performance at the shrine as was her job duty. Sashiko decided the little wee sprite had been rather sheltered in life up until this morning. She hoped this wasn't actually on the little creature's own tab. Everyone was sucking down quite a lot of beer, pot stickers, chicken kabob, and other Japanese grilled treats.
“Sasaki-chan, ya better start drinking moar. We're downright boring conservatives compared to some bands you'll be trying to herd in the future.”
“Sashiko-chan! It is fascinating in same way large tiger would be fascinating to rabbit in last moments of life, ne? Have only done girl idol groups up until now. Many, they mostly squeal a lot and worry about how they look.” Sasaki paused to fiddle with her beer before slugging a fair chunk of it down. “It is clear all of you care for each other a great deal. That is nice to see, ne? Some groups are very mean to each other.”
Sashiko blushed a bit but carried on with keeping Sasaki sane. “Ah, that'd probably be the corporate plastic designed groups and wotnot. And when ah said drink moar, ah dinnae mean you should drink yourself under the table. We wantcha to succeed at this, wee sprite. Just watch out if Glyc or Kpau decides you need a kiss. They're more likely a threat to your pretty mouth than the big stallion or this bloomin' idiot next to me.”
“Oh, I dunno. Little Sasaki-chan looks very kissable from here. Uhhhhhh, theoretically speaking.”
Sashiko jabbed Hank in the ribs with her elbow. “We're trying to keep her from being scared out of her wits. Save the compliments for when she's not about to cry, eh?”
Sasaki's delightful blush faded. “Nice of Hank-san to try to say compliments. Not so many compliments from boys back in school days.”
Tsika patted Sasaki on the shoulder. “Fellow midget understands completely your lament! You and me are special tastes, not booberfic fatty sweetmeats. Some very nice person will spot you someday and follow you home with happy ending!” Tsika was so tipsy she was nearly nosediving into her plate. She clung onto Glycerin's arm to steady herself.
Sashiko had noted the shift in the trio when they had originally entered the bar and grill. Usually Blar sat between Tsika and Glycerin. At present, Glycerin was between the other two in a protective field of much hugging and touching. It did seem to be helping. Glycerin was simply glowing and not just from the alcohol.
“Hank, ah dew believe yer sloshed.” Sashiko caught some spray as Hank accidentally poured a bit of beer on his leg.
“Guh, trying to be … oh what the hell … no, I rarely drink this much. There probably isn't a person at the table that can't drink me under it. Even Sasaki-chan seems to guzzle better than I do.”
“We're not trying to get poisoned. Just drink enough to have a good time and dinnae be counting, ya knob.”
Sashiko leaned into Hank with her shoulder. She suddenly processed that his arm was around her and the hand at the end of it was keeping her other shoulder warm. She let it stay. It was a bit cold and his arm and hand felt good on her bare shoulders. Plus, no one seemed to be paying any attention.
Ah, carp dung, Kpau is noticing, of course.
“Hey, Sasaki-chan! Where do the cute guys hang out in this town?” Kpau has that prowly look on her glittery face.
“Uhhhhh, there is a dance club near the center of town. Probably some of the audience went there after the show, ne?”
Kpau got a gleam in her eye. “What say you and me head over there and chat up the guys? I'm still coated with energy and these milksops are fading.”
“Me? You? Going … over there?” Sashiko almost felt bad for Sasaki. Kpau had grabbed the wiry redhead like that a couple of times in Los Angeles. Those had gone badly though once she opened her mouth and the demonic voice was heard. Kpau had apologized profusely for putting her in those spots. Sashiko didn't think the little Japanese cutey would have that problem. Her problem might just be inexperience. Once she got over her blushing though, Sasaki seemed interested.
“I don't speak a lick of Japanese so you'd be essential! Unless we find a Cambodian boy and then all I can do is cuss at him and make him cry. That doesn't work! Come on, Sasaki-chan! Guys, we're going to go trolling and dancing!”
Blar rolled his eyes. “I know you're supposed to pay for this, Sasaki-chan. I'll cover it and forward you the bill so Kobayashi won't be biting your cute little butt off.”
Sasaki-chan was shocked at Blar for all of half a second before she excitedly got up and bowed about a half-dozen times.
“Arigato! Arigato gozaimasu! Thank you!”
Sashiko couldn't stop smirking. She shifted and lay her back on Hank's chest as his hand dropped from her shoulder down to her thigh. Involuntary shiver. Just … grip the table, yeah.
Kpau leaned over Blar from behind to whisper to him. Sashiko could just faintly hear her. “See ya'll in the mornin', Papa Bear. Om nom time.”
Blar whispered back. “Don't break our little escort, Kpau. I'm not entirely clear she knows what kind of ride you're putting her on.”
“Bah. I'll take care of her. Safety before treatment.” Kpau stood back up and shouted to Sasaki-chan. “Come on! I thought I was a bouncy tigger! Lead the way, Sasaki-chan!”
Sashiko thought the whole thing was a hoot watching the two women scamper out of the establishment until she realized Kpau had just left her and Hank alone in their room. She froze, then decided it might be good if they took a bottle and just had a chat to get things straight and on the same page. Damn that Kpau and her little games though.
“Well, there went the entertainment portion of tha evening, ya grand stallion! Joost us boring people left! Ah'm stoofed wit' potstickers.”
“Interesting bar noisy woodpecker has set for what is boring!” Tsika draped herself on Glycerin's arm.
Blar paid the bill and ordered an extra bottle of sake to take. Sashiko coughed.
“Make that two bottles to go. Ah think me and Hank are gonna drink ourselves senseless and play stabscotch. Oh, hey! Has the Roosian princess done that since she moved to the Northwest?”
“Only once while on road trip, nosy woodpecker. Think I scared the large Bear more than I scared the target.”
Hank was blinking. “What the hell is stabscotch?”
“Ah'll be nice and show you what it is without the blood. Come on, ya knob. It'll take those three half an hour to untangle over there. See ya glaikits in the morning! Lunch-ish?”
Blar nodded. “Yeah, sounds like we'll need to do a body count. Should be an interesting night.”
He's lookin' at me with his eyebrows wiggling. Ah should pour this bottle on his head but ah wanna drink it.
- - - - - -
The pounding dance beat and techno-rave style lights seemed to enchant the woman with that amazing fine white-blonde hair as they entered the club. Sasaki was a little nervous. She had only come here before with large groups of women and here she was with one other woman, someone she barely knew, and she's a foreigner to boot!
Sasaki couldn't believe how many eyeballs suddenly locked onto Kpau and by default, her. She wouldn't have been much more surprised if the music had stopped. For a brief instant, she had a glimpse of what it was like to be a gaijin in Japan.
“Kpau-chan. I usually go to that bar and sit. It has a good view of the dance floor and we can watch the people. It is a small city here but we try to keep up on fashion.”
“I like to browse Tokyo street fashion on the web for ideas. You're just darling, honey. You don't have to worry about looking provincial. Let's go sit over there. I count more targets of opportunity on that side.”
Sasaki was now completely outside her comfort zone. Not her usual bar counter! She wondered what Kpau meant by targets of opportunity. Sounded military and she didn't think Kpau was in the service in the USA.
They sat at the bar Kpau had zeroed in on and ordered drinks. “Kpau-chan. Most people here speak some English but if it gets complicated I can help.”
They sipped their drinks as Sasaki watched Kpau scanning the room. What was she looking for? Surely not a guy! She seemed to be all over that nice engineer in the group … but she had left Hank with Sashiko leaning against him. Sasaki already had inklings that Blar, Tsika, and Glycerin shared more than just a room. So amazing. Sasaki could barely imagine her parent's heads exploding at the very idea. Was it like that with Kpau as well? And other bands were wilder? Maybe she should go back to teaching English. But that was so boring!
“Hey, Sasaki-chan. Wanna dance?” Kpau had already finished her scotch. Oh my!
Alarm bells went off in Sasaki's head. “You? Me? Dance? What … did I misunderstand something?”
“No, no, silly! Hah! No, like those girls over there. Just burn off some energy and scope out the guys who are scoping you out!”
“Scope out? I dont understand.” Sasaki drank her martini faster.
“Ah, um, watch for guys who are finding us attractive!”
“OH! Oh! You are looking for boys? Actually? I thought … you and Hank.” Sasaki felt way out of her league.
“What? Oh, hell no! He's just a buddy! Like Blar! He's all mushy over Sashiko but that's a secret. Blar has his hands full as I suppose you've noticed. Poor guy, each one of that lovely pair is a full time job of their own.”
“I don't understand how that works at all, Kpau-chan.”
Kpau started to say something then clearly bit her tongue. “Not for me to say, but it's lovely to watch when it works. I'll just say Tsika and Glyc started out very very close long before Blar or even me was in the picture. Come on, too much thinking! Let's dance!”
Sasaki babbled as Kpau pulled her onto the dancefloor. The DJ was playing a La Roux disco mix, part of which Sasaki realized was a tune that Kpau covered. Kpau sang along on that part as they danced. Sasaki started relaxing a little. Kpau was so infectiously fun and happy it was hard not to. She spun, she wiggled, her glittery fine hair flounced about, reflecting the lights. Then Kpau moved closer and whispered.
“Ah! Two guys off to our right. Potential. I'll keep an eye on them. They look like our types!”
Sasaki squeaked in horror. “What are our types, Kpau-chan?!”
“One is kind of bashful and the other looks like a tiger. Which one do you want? They're watching us and whispering to each other like you and I are doing right now.” Kpau was grinning like a cat who spotted fresh dinner.
“Oh no … uh,uh, the bashful one, please kudasai!”
“Don't worry, little doll, I promised Blar I'd keep you safe. Don't do anything you don't want to do and let me know if you're drowning.”
Sasaki nodded as she kept dancing. This was so scary … and a little bit exciting!
The number ended and Kpau led Sasaki off the dance floor. “Let 'em lose us a bit and get themselves a bit more wired up looking for us.” She ordered repeats of their drinks, repeating what Sasaki had said in Japanese.
“I … I thought you couldn't speak Japanese! Why am I here?!”
“I can't. I just copied what you said and responded like you did. I learn music by ear, too. I couldn't tell you a major chord from a smack on the head sometimes. Oh, I can read music but it is plink plink. To PLAY it, I kind of need to hear someone else do it first.”
“I thought all musicians read music!”
“Nah, it's kind of like how you speak Japanese without necessarily knowing the rules. Just some weird skill I've always had. That and a good memory. Ooh, they're inching over this way. Look cute.”
“How do I look cute?!!” Sasaki could feel horror creeping up into her throat.
“See? You don't practice, you just ARE cute! Heh!”
- - - - - -
Volume 03 Chapter 05 Part Two continued in next post.
-->The damned BB Code tags don't seem to be working no matter what browser I use - switching to SPOILER tag for now. getting tired of fighting with these codes because I used an italic or some hidden character blows them up.
Okay, I'll probably get some "what the hell?" out of this chapter but I had some fun writing it. I re-arranged a couple of plot points from a bit further in to make one big raucous night for everyone in the band. Some pathos but lots of "adult situation" and hopefully amusement.
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
Volume 03 Chapter 05 Part 02 ("Hells Bells")
Material - adult situations, NSFW in this chapter
Spoiler for vol 03 ch 05 part 02 content:
- - - - - -
A half hour later, Sasaki was in an alien dimension where the tiny lass was sitting on Bashful's lap giggling nervously as he handed her another martini and arranging her long hair so it wouldn't get caught on anything. Kpau was sitting across from them in a matching lounge chair with Tiger's arm around the blonde stroking that magnificent hair.
Bashful's name was actually Keiichi and Tiger's name was Junichi. Sasaki decided quickly she would be screaming for help near Junichi but Kpau seemed to be just as rugged herself. Two tigers circling each other in mating season.
Keiichi, on the other hand, seemed quite sweet and was treating her gently as if he feared she'd run away. The fact she was about two seconds from running in terror made his gentle care quite appealing.
I've never done this. What am I saying! I was the butt of short jokes in high school! No one wanted to date me! In college, everyone was too introverted. And now I'm sitting on a man's lap and giggling as I swing my legs! And he just put his hand on my knee!
She glanced over to Kpau, who somehow was managing to pay complete attention to Junichi's attempts to speak English while keeping the corner of her eye on Sasaki. Sasaki suddenly knew with no doubt Kpau would drop a rock on Junichi in a heartbeat if Sasaki even blinked a certain way.
Okay. Keiichi doesn't give me any vibes to worry about at all. I should get to know him.
- - - - - -
“<Keiichi-kun, I really am scared to death. I've never done this.>”
Sasaki was sitting on a hotel bed next to an equally nervous Keiichi. Kpau and Junichi were next door and Sasaki was certain they were already at each other like rutting ferrets. They had gotten so embarrassing in the club, the manager had gently asked them to leave.
Keiichi fidgeted. Sasaki watched him out of the corner of her eye. His expression kept changing, as if … as if.
“<Keiichi-kun. Did Junichi-kun coach you? Are you as nervous as I am?>”
“<No! Of course not! I've done this many times … and I'm full of shit. Junichi said he'd find me a girl to knock my socks off, that he knew all the moves.>”
Sasaki found herself laughing hysterically, falling back on the bed and taking Keichi with her.
“<Keiichi! O my god! Kpau is like this renowned she-wolf!! She had him picked out seconds after we entered the club! He never had a chance!>”
Keiichi started chuckling and finally he was laughing as hard as Sasaki.
“<Thank you, Sasaki-chan, for telling me that. He's always boasting about everything. Now I can listen with a twinkle in my eye.>”
Sasaki got quiet. Her breath started catching a bit.
“<Do … do you … want to … with me? You don't have to if you aren't really that … interested ….>”
“<I can barely speak I find you so cute and pretty. But you said you were scared.>”
“<Sasaki thinks you would be gentle with her. I want to try if you want to. We're not getting any younger after all.>”
“<I would be honored to be your first and I may be lousy at it as you are my first.>”
Sasaki smiled. “<I see. Set my expectation low and I will be pleased? Let's find out, Keiichi. I am feeling brave with new job tending to wild rock bands and new world.>” Sasaki blanched. “<Uh! Wait. I don't have a … a ….>” She blushed.
Keiichi followed suit, blushing to match. ”<I have a condom. Um, it is even ribbed.>”
Sasaki burst into nervous laughter. “<See? Gentle and thinking of the girl! It will be fine.>”
Keiichi rubbed his scalp. “<Um, Junichi says we should undress each other. It's more exciting he says, like a present.>”
Sasaki nodded. “<We'll do that. But then let us not speak of Junichi again and do what WE want to do with each other.>”
“<Sounds good. I already am fond of you, Sasaki. I like laughing with you. I hope this leads to more.>”
“<I think it will, Keiichi>”
Sasaki relaxed on the bed and closed her eyes so she could more fully sense him unbuttoning her blouse. She was trembling but mostly from sheer excitement. His hands were shaking as well. It wasn't quite the way Tsika had put it but a very nice guy had come into her life who liked the way she looked and they could laugh together. The blouse, the bra, her pants. OH! He's already undressed!
Was Kpau a kami of love in some way? It was like she'd planned it all! Oh, my! That feels so amazing! Feels so good!
“<Sugoi!! Sugoi!! Kimochi ii, Keiichi!! Iku! Aaaaa! Iku!>”
- - - - - -
Sashiko loped up the stone path through the inn's garden towards their room. A bottle of sake in one hand and Hank's hand in the other. His palm was sweaty. Or was it hers?
“Are we in a hurry, Sashiko? I'm stumbling from all the booze and you want to drink more?”
“Ah need to drink more. The stallion and his harem were getting' so cuddly me ears were steaming. Besides, ah think this constitutes as good a time as any to get comfortble with yew so we don't keep jittering all over each other.”
“Okay?” Hank was suddenly feeling pretty sober and concerned. Was he about to get stuck in the friend zone? Again? Had he made an error in courting her or had he completely been led astray and she just wasn't interested in guys at all anymore? He still enjoyed being around her either way but it would be a terrible thing to have to kill another budding hope. Again.
- - - - - -
“Ah! My Blar, I-I-I can't keep vertical! So much rum! Whee!” Glycerin chose the wrong shoulder and nearly careened her and Tsika into a shrubbery. Blar reeled them both back just in time.
“We're tryiing to get to our room and THEN get completely wasted. Glyc, you got a head start I think, you wickedly sexy sorceress.”
“Sorry, love! They made s-such delightful spiced rum drinks, I forgot to c-c-count!”
“We're spinning like a top, Mister! Round and round!”
Glycerin now Snake broke away and spun slowly like a wounded Stevie Nicks.
“Snake!” Tsika wasn't doing much better herself as she lurched over to hang onto Blar's belt. “Stupid shadow is going to throw up from spinning! Huge mess!”
Blar started laughing. Tsika was certainly treating Snake like everyone else at the moment. One of Glycerin's ongoing pleas was being adhered to – not to be treated differently.
Ths spinning stopped though her soft purple pupils kept dilating and contracting as fast as Blar had ever seen Glycerin's eyes flicker and shift. He had a mental impression of two tipsy women trying to drive the same vehicle.
“Okay! Got you two gyroscopes! We're mere feet from the door, try not to break it. Softwood, paper, and glass remember? Slides, remember? Right, here we are. Ever-one stand still just an instant!”
Tsika giggled and threw herself onto Glyc. Her voice was low and raspy. “Glycccca! My sexy Glyc! You need to stay in focus! If you're blurry, Blar can't catch you to manhandle you!!” Tsika nearly collapsed laughing at her own joke.
“Oh, my touchable doll, I-I … can't hold you-you … up! Blar!”
Blar got the door open and grabbed them both by their waist belts dragging them in and falling to the floor with the two women sprawled limbs askew over him.
“Right. Door closed now. Closed.” Glycerin stretched a long leg over to the door and nudged it shut with the toe of her boot.
“Bear! Where's the sake?” Tsika rolled over on her back as she tumbled off of Blar.
“You have it in your hand, little brain-blown mite.”
“Oh! Silly me. Opening it now. Hmm, screwtop. Ah, it is a fortune! Liker cookie! Will be screwing on top, yes?”
“Only if we can watch!” Came a feminine voice from the near the door followed by a snorting giggle.
“Too drunk to get embarrassed, naughty Mouse! Maybe I come suck on your neck and make marks!”
“Tie me down, little dove, and I'm yours.”
Blar listened to two bouts of simultaneously snorting, giggling, and the random hiccup. He staggered to his knees and grabbed each woman around the waist to try to herd them over to the bed.
Gah, mismatched freeweights! Ninety-some odd pounds and one hundred fifty or sixty pounds. Must remember to switch out periodically or it's Quasimodo time.
“Come … on … you two … sexy … little animals! I'm tempted to see what makes you tick together … or maybe who can moan the loudest.”
Blar could sense the burbling of mild panic from Tsika as she giggled and struggled. Glycerin was not much better, she was trying to reach around and grab Tsika as she kissed and squeezed any part of Tsika she could latch onto.
They finally ended up on the floor beside the bed with a fair amount of the sake on them.
“I forgot you'd said you opened it. What's left?”
Tsika threw her head back on the bed and toss her hair tails up on the sheets. “Enough, rancid Bear! Enough to go around!” She took a sip and passed it to Blar.
“You wouldn't really take me now, would you sweet Bear?” That sounded a little nervous.
“So tempted to … especially if Glycca helped.”
Tsika laughed but it was a high-pitched shrieking nervous laugh.
“I'd love to help my Blar ravish my little princess, but we knows her dreams so we'll be good. Doesn't mean we can't torture and tease though!”
Glycerin had already set the sake bottle on the bedside table and lunged over Blar, grabbing Tsika by the thighs. Tsika squealed like a dying rabbit and tried to escape but Glycerin slithered over Blar and enveloped her tasty rabbit. At least that was Blar's version of the event happening in his lap.
Suddenly it got quiet and Blar focused. Glycerin was kissing the daylights out of Tsika. More fascinating, Tsika was kissing back. No tentativeness, no restraints. She was kissing her Mouse back with fire. Blar relaxed and stroked both their backs. The kiss ended with Tsika and Glycerin nuzzling noses. Glycerin's eyes were wet.
“Thank you, little doll. We knows it is hard for you.”
“Not hard, my Glycca. Meant every bit of it. For my Mouse, it is good.”
Blar lay his head back and tried to focus on the ceiling as he massaged their necks.
“Now we have big problem and I am drunk enough to deal with it! Time for lesson, Glycca?!” Tsika's voice ended on a rising shriek. She was totally sloshed.
What the hell are they talking about? I'm trying to calm myself down here from a massive salute to these two lovely sweets and, holy shit!
Tsika unclipped Blar's jeans and unzipped them as her head weaved unsteadily. “You follow my lead and we do this together! Our Bear needs tender care for all stress we put him through!”
My brain just train wrecked. I can't believe! “What? Wait! You don't have to do this! I thought …! Aren't you …? Gah! Oh my god!”
Small fingers stroked and Blar shivered. Tentative long fingers added their input and his brain mushed. He shut up. The room got much quieter.
“Now … my Mouse. You tease gently … with lips and tongue … like … this.” Exploding oblivion from small lips.
“Oh … o-o-oh, like ….” He thought it was oblivion before but the soft bare touch of larger tasting lips and a flick of a tongue amplified his insanity. The two pairs started matching each other's movements up and down. Blar focused just long to look. Tsika and Glycerin were eyeball to eyeball as they treated Blar. What little brain he had left brokenly processed that Glycerin was completely focused on Tsika, that their lips were touching as they licked and kissed on him. At first he thought she was sidestepping panic by focusing on Tsika but then that theory got blasted when Glycerin's lavender eyes glanced up at Blar. They were wild and excited and when she saw Blar watching, she executed a long flickering stroke with her tongue. She was enjoying the hell out this, being with her little doll and the only guy she had ever really trusted.
Blar's mind collapsed. He heard some faint squeals.
“Oh m-my. It-it is quite m-m-messy! Come h-here, my dove.” Blar wasn't sure he should look but couldn't stop himself. Yes, Glycerin was cleaning up Tsika's face with kisses and licks. He had obviously lost his mind. Or they were all really that drunk and tomorrow was going to be a brand new day. Now Tsika doing the same for Glycerin. Brand new day. Tomorrow might be really awkward.
“Don't blame me tomorrow and thank you both very much. I'll admit I was going absolutely crazy wanting both of you. I … I suppose I could ….”
Blar ran his hands down both their blouses stroking a breast with each hand. Tsika was caught off-guard and moaned. Glycerin whimpered. It wasn't a fearful whimper. She wanted the touch. They both climbed up and snuggled against him. Glycerin had an arm around Tsika and Tsika was stroking Glyc's hair.
“I think my sweet Mouse got some Blar in her hair. We may have to shower before we pass out, precious Mouse.”
Blar pulled on the back of Glyc's hair a little roughly pulling her head back. She didn't resist and he took her mouth, tasting, licking her tongue, kissing her nose, her eyes. Her breath was short and rapid, catching roughly as his fingers danced on her breasts under her blouse.
“Oh my! So n-nice. We feels so safe with our Blar and doll.”
Blar turned and gave Tsika the same treatment, eliciting erotic squeaks and moans as he dragged his nails down her small breasts and tummy.
“Just remember, delicate flower, whose idea it was to teach Glycerin how to do that when you freak out tomorrow after you sober up.”
“I … plan to be so drunk I remember nothing!” She grabbed at the sake bottle as Glycerin retrieved it and handed it to her. She took a long drink. “I can almost chug this stuff it's so smooth.”
Tsika looked fiercely at Glycerin. “This is how it can be, my Mouse. I want it to be this way because I want my Mouse to stay. Please stay?”
Blar didn't miss the sudden realization on Glycerin's face as her eyes darted back and forth between Blar and Tsika. She started crying.
“It-It is just so h-hard. I g-get these w-w-waves of not belonging, of being in-in the way. I don't kn-know where they come from. It isn't Snake. Snake screams at the waves! She hates them. She loves you! All of you! And we're afraid. I'm afraid. I might need some treatment but they would treat everything! And I'd a zombie with no Snake like before! Can't someone treat just my bad feelings and leave Snake alone? We hates the drugs so much!”
Blar squeezed them both. “I remember reading an article that marijuana in low doses is a good well-targeted treatment for depression. It might also help curb your panic attacks. That's available in Oregon but we can't get a reliable supply or be certain of the quality here. Plus they'd kick our ass out of the country in a heartbeat. We could short the tour and ….”
“No!! NO!! I won't do that to the b-band … to Tsika! Just-just keep me safe and distracted, not alone! It's only twenty or so m-more days. We can do it!”
Blar looked at Tsika. She was obviously torn. She coughed and patted her friend's cheek. “We'll see how it goes, Glycca. I'd drop the tour in a heartbeat if I thought it put you in danger!”
“I agree. Just don't get all balled up, Glycca. Keep us in the loop anytime you feel off base. We'll be there for you.” Blar kissed her forehead as she wiped her eyes.
“Okay, I've made a mess of you two and thank you both. I won't be able to add two and two for days now. You two go share a shower and groom each other. I like hearing you two in the shower, yes, I'm a pervert on that matter. But it's like watching Glyc comb Tsika's hair. It just makes me damned happy.”
Blar lay his head back. “Make me take a shower, too. Even if you have to beat me with a stick. I may pass out while you two splash about.”
“It would either be the shower or we'd dump you on the floor, stinky sake-covered Bear!”
“Hey! Whose fault was … o yeah, joint effort. Right . Crawl to the shower so I can watch your slinky butts exit the room. Ouch! Hey!” Blar tackled both as they tried to crawl off amidst screams and giggles after pinching him.
- - - - - -
“Okay. Wot evar yew do, dinnae move. It goes lahk this.”
Hank had his fingers out on a piece of plank Sashiko had scrounged up next to the room and she had her folding knife out. She rocked as Hank heard her whispering number counts to herself.
“You really didn't have to bet that and I'd really like to keep my fingers. You're totally snockered, Sashiko.”
“Ah dew this better drunk than sober. And it tain't noo fun if there be no bet!”
Sashiko weaved unsteadily and then counted down in what Hank figured was Scottish or whatever they called it.
“a trì! a dhà! a h-aon! Rach!”
He stayed frozen as the knife jabbed between his fingers fast as lightning in a staccato pattern. If he pretended it was someone else's hand, it was kind of nifty to watch. He'd seen this game in one of the Alien movies years before but had no idea it was such an ancient pastime for idiots. There was a specific pattern and a fixed number of rounds to it.
Sashiko had bet she would sleep with him if she nicked him.
This was after they'd finished off the bottle of sake in the hotel room, traded mild insults, and hurled their sneakers at each other. Hank decided Sashiko's bare feet were pretty cute as well, which just told him how twisted he was getting over her.
Hank could see her counting, totally focused on the stabs. And then she was done.
“Wow. You did it. I'm slightly depressed but more impressed … “
Sashiko was staring in shock at a small bubble of blood between Hank's pinky and third finger.
“Whoa, I didn't even feel that. Can't even see the nick. Must be one hell of a sharp … knife … oh.”
Sashiko mutely got up to retrieve a tissue and blotted Hank's wound. Her eyes were as wide as Hank had ever seen them. She still had on her black face paint design around her eyes so they accentuated her expressions and the sharp green of her pupils.
“Ah've never missed before. Never. Ah bet. Gotsta pay out.”
“No big deal. I'm not expecting you to ….”
“AH GOTSTA PAY OUT. IT'S LAHK AN HONOR THING!”
Hank took the knife, put it down and took her hand. “You do not have to do anything you don't want to do. Period.” He was sobering up really fast at Sashiko's panic.
“Ya dinnae get it. It's like national pride or sumthin. AH'D KNOW I DINNAE PAY OUT.”
“Wait. Wait. You bet … you bet you'd sleep with me. That's exactly what you said. Right?”
She sniffled. “Yeah?” Very soft gravel voice.
“So sleep with me. You didn't say you were going to have sex with me or I was going to get to take you anyway I wanted. Just … sleep with me.”
“But that wasna the intent ….”
“Letter of the law. That's how I'm reading it. You go shower first, I'll shower and then we'll just crash together in the same bed. Your national pride thing is covered.”
“Yer okay with that?”
“What I'm okay with or might fantasize about is … not the issue here. I don't want you scared of me and frankly, just … err … just keeping you warm sounds wonderous. Yeah, didn't mean to go that way with that. Too Much Information.”
“Ah dinnae get you at all. Ya gots a glittery flouncy Kpau that would jump in the sack with ya in a heartbeat as long as ya didn't get mushy on her and you spend all yer time staring at a wiry skinny woodpecker who cuts her hair wit' garden shears and growls like sumthin' out of da Exorcist.”
“I … have … particular tastes. I like next door girl tomboy types. I love freckles. Red hair. It helps that I like butting heads with you. You make me smile. I can't believe anyone so talented gives me the time of day but there you are.
Sashiko's face was so red her cheek freckles had nearly vanished. “Dinnae bullshit me, yer a talented dobber on tha lights and sound. Iz lahk keyboards but with different magic.”
“You're sidestepping. Look, keep this simple. The debt is paid if you just curl up next to me. Hit the shower. I'm having a great time with you and don't want it busted up over a little finger nick.”
Sashiko nodded and padded off to the shower, her head down whle Hank rolled his eyes at her pretty back.
- - - - - -
Hank brushed his teeth and trimmed his jaw whiskers. Then he slipped on his shorts he'd taken to wearing for nightwear. Here we go.
Sashiko was indeed over in the bed he'd been using. She was on one side and curled up in a ball. She seemed to be passed out, so Hank was careful sliding into his side of the bed. He cut the light, leaving just the little nightlight Kpau had brought shining a dim blue flicker.
Hank rolled on his side and looked at the little ball of Sashiko. All he could see was her back and that shock of red hair she called a hairstyle. She had taken all of her piercings out. Hank thought that would make sense. Laying on them probably hurt after a while. He started to close his eyes when she rolled over.
Bright eyes looking at him in the near dark. “Yew can still take yer pay out the way it were intended.”
“Is that what you want to do? No, I can tell without your answer it scares you. Don't want that. I like you. I think you can stand me. If it turns we really like each other, well then maybe when you're excited instead of scared.”
Sashiko's lips pursed. A slender hand reached out and Hank took it in his.
“Okay, I think ah'm not jittery around you any moar. Ah dinnae think you're goofing with me. Ah still think yer a bit nuts thinkin' ah'm a wee fishie. Let's hav' fun and jus' see how it goes.”
“I think that's all I ever wanted. You're shivering like crazy.”
“Yeah! Fook! Damn ocean air creeps in at night and there's no heat in these picturesque wooden piles!”
“Come here. I'll play the role of Kpau tonight. No messing with you. Promise. Just get closer and catch some heat off of me.”
Sashiko scooted over and lay her head on his arm as he pulled the covers over her shoulders.
“Okay, I think this is the best prize ever for a nicked finger.”
“Yer a daft glaikit.” A moment later. “Thanks. It's been a happy riot so far wit' ya. G'night.”
“Good night, Sashiko.”
“Yew can call me Sashi, ya know, it's all right.”
“I like to call you Sashiko.”
“Yer a pure dobber.”
“You're warm and soft. Go to sleep or I'll compliment you more precisely.”
“Augh! You win!”
- - - - - -
Okay, I'll probably get some "what the hell?" out of this chapter but I had some fun writing it. I re-arranged a couple of plot points from a bit further in to make one big raucous night for everyone in the band. Some pathos but lots of "adult situation" and hopefully amusement.
It is modern, discusses the various routes a band might take, how much things costs, how much people cost, how much a band might expect to make from a gig to a tour to a record deal, etc. Great resource. for writing or for actually getting into the business of music.