give out the good, leave out the bad [open]

[hauntedsavior]

Who: Anna, Kainé, and you!
What: Anna's girlfriend makes her musical debut
When: Late November/early December
Where: Anna's bar

Content Warnings: Faces being rocked off

All right. Here it is. Their big debut, the two of them, right on stage at Anna's bar. She opens the show the way she normally does—with a rousing chorus of "Fuck the Shit" by Sons of Butcher that she hopes she never stops thinking is funny. And when the crowd dies down, she grabs the microphone and plants her feet firmly with her bass swinging around her neck.

"What's up, Trench? How we feeling tonight?" She drinks in the reaction the same way she always does, and right now, she does feel a little bit like a rockstar. Even if it's the same as every night so far, she knows that something incredibly important is coming.

"So you guys might not know it, but you're about to see something pretty fucking cool. See, it gets lonely up here on stage sometimes. I know, I know—but don't feel too bad for me, 'cause tonight I'm gonna have someone else here helping me out. You're gonna hear her play guitar, you're gonna hear her sing, and so help me if you guys don't clap I'm gonna get Steve to throw you all out."

She flashes a thumbs up towards the bartender on staff tonight and grins in his direction; he gives it back.

"See, he's on board. Okay, everyone, please give it up for local guest musician and the absolute love of my fucking life, Kainé!"

Kainé shuffles onto the stage with a guitar slung around her neck. The only thing giving her stage presence is her revealing outfit, practically just a miniskirt and a bustier, with stiletto heeled boots, but she's nearly expressionless as she approaches the mic, her eyes quickly darting away from the audience to look meaningfully at Anna.

She clears her throat her once, and growls, "Anybody who doesn’t cheer at her music, I'll fucking kill you." Yeah, that works. She'll let Anna handle the rest.

"She'll do it, gang," Anna says seriously with her head bowed low. "So here's what we've been working on together."

The setlist they play together has a bunch of songs that people who are regulars to Anna's shows haven't heard before. Nothing too complex, but things that lend themselves to an additional live guitar, to the angelic arias and guttural growls that Kainé is capable of producing—and a lot of the time during the show, Anna finds herself getting distracted. She's staring at her girlfriend and she knows it, not because of how hot she is but because of how proud Anna is of her.

The two of them get through the set, say their thank-yous, and then it's time to meet the adoring fans. Or the people who wandered in not expecting to see a miniature Lilith Fair's worth of lesbians on stage. Either way.

Comments

[foulhussy]

She's come a long way from bitter sulking in the corner of that party Madame Generosity dragged her to, that much is for sure. If this is what it feels like to sing in front of people, she gets the appeal. She feels amazing. And still a little terrified that she really just did all of that.

"...Well. Yeah. Of course we fucking were. I mean, it's mostly her. But I'm gonna catch up."

[cuddlery]

And Scorpia feels so proud of her! She might not have known her for long, but she's gotten to know her well enough to know that this is a big accomplishment.

"Hey now, don't sell yourself short. You were really great too! As the kids today would say, you slayed!"

[foulhussy]

"Slaying is my other job." Kainé doesn't say that as a joke. She doesn't understand the hip slang. But she certainly feels proud of herself. She can hardly believe that she really did all that.

[cuddlery]

That answer sure does sound serious! So Scorpia's smile fades a little, growing sheepish.

"Oh. Oh, I- I see. So I guess you're one of those Hunters? But, um, I meant you slayed in terms of doing really, really great at your singing, really! Basically, you really do got this."

[foulhussy]

"Yeah. That's my first job. Anna's too, really."

"But I'm keeping at this when we have the time. Trench... really needs this too."

[cuddlery]

"I see...!" So they really are slaying in multiple senses of the word! She nods along, with an encouraging smile.

"You're right. Both are very valuable services in a place like this. Helping people physically - and emotionally. It's a great combo."

[foulhussy]

"It'd be a pain for me too if this place went to shit. And for Anna." Playing it off, naturally.

[cuddlery]

"Oh yeah." She nods along in agreement. "It- it would pretty much be pain all around. Really bad stuff. Of course, it doesn't make what you're doing any less nice! You, my friend, are a splendid person."

[foulhussy]

Have you ever seen somebody groan miserably and sort of smile at the same time? That is one Kainé is doing, as though a very bad joke had just been told. "Wouldn't have a place to play."

[cuddlery]

That reaction just feeds Scorpia's smile more. "Uh-huh. I still think you're a good person, and you could perform anywhere and do great! It's just a great and fun extra thing to do with your job."

[foulhussy]

"I can still get better. I will."

[cuddlery]

"Of course you will! As awesome as you already are, you can always improve. And I will be cheering you on and helping you out however I can all the way, buddy!"