RP: Karaoke Night at the World's End, because why not?!

[tt_lisa]

Who: Lisa Turpin, Demp Wiggleswade, James Potter, public
When: 14 June 2002
Where: World's End Pub
What: Friday night at the pub! Open mic & karaoke are going strong!
Rating: TBD
Open/Closed: Public : Open

Lisa had slowly gotten back to feeling like herself after the latest bout of strange magic. She'd woken up on the first rid of the Cinderella complex, but still feeling out of sorts and when she'd wandered around the pub that morning she'd nearly throttled Paul for laughing as she screeched at how... Clean everything was. He'd informed her that they hadn't had an open mic in weeks because of the mess and as "Ella" she had furiously cleaned up after every single spilled drink throughout the two weeks to the point where people had become... polite. And neat. And it didn't feel like the World's End Lisa loved at all.

Now, two weeks later, things were back to normal - well, as normal as they got around here, she thought - and she'd announced via datapad that the karaoke & open mic night was back. With fingers crossed and a promise to Merlin that she'd make the drinks extra strong all night, she unlocked the door for the dinner service and waited as the crowd arrived, starting karaoke herself around 8pm with a particularly bad rendition of Alanis Morissette's "Head Over Feet" from 1995."

Comments

Demp at the bar...

[tt_dempster]

Dempster hoped that Lavender might be in this evening, he'd missed her, even as her Prince it hadn't felt like them, though his intense desire to protect her and be beyond reproach with her had taught him a few things.

He was completely falling for the witch. With or without fairy tale magic being done.

So, as any man deeply in denial would do, he found himself at the bar, laughing along with the rest of the crowd when Lisa announced the start of karaoke and even jumped on stage herself. She looked like she was having the time of her life even as the crowd playfully booed and cheered throughout the song. Some sang along, mostly women, but Demp didn't know the words.

When she came back, Lisa got him a fresh drink and blushed when he complimented her voice, her caramel skin turning dark pink for just a moment. Looking around the room, Dempster took a sip of his stout and sighed happily - life was back to normal, with long shifts on security and a Friday night at the World's End. Who needed to rock the boat with fairy tales or, if he dared use the word, love?

[tt_lavender]

A few extra shifts had gone a long way towards alleviating some of the guilt that Lavender had felt about her Snow-White persona being such a homebody. Regaining her own thoughts following the peculiar bout of magic had been perhaps a little less jarring than when the love potion had run rampant, not to mention her house and garden has been carefully tended to, but at least under the love potion she hadn't let her Security duties slip. How strange it had been to be so close to Dempster, too, even if they hadn't been themselves.

Being somewhat Dempster-savvy these days, Lavender had noticed the usual pattern appearing. He was working a lot. Hopefully that meant there was just something on his mind and he wasn't just ignoring her. When she arrived at the World's End, she was therefore a little surprised to see Dempster in his usual seat at the bar. She smiled, pleased to see him. Simply being in the same room as him buoyed her mood and she slipped through the crowd to be with him.

Her small hand came to rest on his shoulder, her body brushing against his side. "All alone tonight?"

[tt_dempster]

Demp sigh a content exhale when he heard her familiar voice and felt her near to him. He turned with a smile, "Most nights these days, been trying to make up for lost time during that last... issue..." he stumbled on the word, unsure what to call it. It didn't help any that the protectiveness he'd felt as the Bear Prince hadn't totally faded and his work in security was the perfect outlet for it.

He stood and leaned toward her to kiss her cheek softly, letting himself revel for just a moment in the softness of her skin and in her nearness. "How are you doing? Have things gotten back to normal for you?" He pulled back the seat next to his and asked with his eyes if she'd like to join him.

[tt_lavender]

Lavender took the silent invitation, sitting down. "Yeah, I think so. Though my house is still tidier than ever and I think Duke might be even more devoted." She grinned widely. "I seem to have made a couple of new dresses too. I almost feel lazy these days," she joked. Under normal circumstances, Lavender kept herself busy, but she wasn't anywhere near as domestic as Snow-White.

"I'm glad you're yourself again," she told him, leaning close to be heard over the latest karaoke song. "Not that you weren't very regal as a prince." Lavender would just rather be his equal.

[tt_dempster]

"I know the feeling, the Prince was so... Valiant." He shook his head feeling silly just saying it. "But yes, I'm very glad we're back to normal," Dempster was having trouble looking at her though, because back to normal meant back to feeling things he still wasn't sure he should be. At least when they'd been characters it hadn't been his fault he felt the way he did.

"Can I get you a drink?" He looked up and saw Paul, helping Lisa a bit with the crowd, and called the man over.

[tt_lavender]

"Yes. He was very... proper. Gentlemanly." Dempster was a gentleman when he was himself, of course, but the Prince had taken it to a new extreme. "Snow-White was so confused about how to behave around you. I mean, him." She let her hand reach out to cover his. Lavender had no need to be as demure as her counterpart.

"A drink would be lovely," she agreed, her thumb stroking over his knuckles. "Hi, Paul," she said with a smile, hoping that she might be able to coax one out of him. "What wines do you have in tonight?"

[tt_dempster]

Paul looked to Demp as if to ask why the witch was smiling at him but when he looked back at her he couldn't help a small, thin smile of his own. Lavender was infectious and genuine like that. He listed the wines and took her order and then moved back to the far end of the bar, his head back down as usual, his scowl surely in place.

"Why was Snow-White confused?" Dempster asked, waiting until they were alone again to ask, fearing it might be a personal topic.

[tt_lavender]

It was a good question, one tat Snow-White and, consequently, Lavender had thought about a lot. "Because when he was the bear, she could be so familiar with him. You know, curling up in front of the fire and all that sort of thing. But she couldn't do that when he was a prince." Her tone turned wistful. "She missed being able to get so close to him. Which is why I'm glad you're not a prince. It means I can do this." Lavender turned her head to kiss his cheek.

Paul interrupted by putting her glass of wine in front of her; Lavender shot him another smile.

[tt_dempster]

If Dempster didn't know better, he'd swear Paul blushed just a bit and muttered an apology for interrupting them. He smiled in the man's wake. "I like that you can do that, too," he said, turning back toward her and moving closer to kiss her lightly on the lips.

"Lavender... I have something a little awkward I'd like to ask you..." He wasn't sure where he was going with this but he dove in anyway. "Are you seeing anyone else?"

[tt_lavender]

This close to Dempster, Lavender felt awash with feelings. She wanted to kiss him again, but knew this wasn't the time or place, however appealing it was; it was too easy to get swept away when she was in his arms. She bit her lip, his question catching her by surprise. "No." She shook her head. "There's no one else else. And I don't want to see anyone else, either," she added.

She looked down at their hands. "Are you seeing anyone else?" She asked carefully, wanting to make sure now that he'd asked her.

[tt_dempster]

Dempster couldn't help his relieved, radiant smile when she answered his question. Shaking his head and leaning closer, he said, "No, and I don't want to, either." He closed the small space between and gave her a tentative kiss on the lips, unsure what such proclamations meant for them, but feeling so blessed that she had found him this particular evening.

James is being social tonight!

[tt_james]

James had sent off a bunch of notes to people via datapad earlier in the day, and then he'd gotten restless after a dinner at home. There was just something antsy about him over the last few weeks, even without the fairy tale magic, and when he didn't hear back from everyone right away he took himself to the pub to bother Lisa as a form of entertainment. He was pleased to find the open mic and karaoke night was back and walked in just as Lisa finished her tune.

Signing up to go later in the evening, surely they had 70's music available, he grabbed a small table near the makeshift stage to watch the show. A young muggle boy got up with an acoustic guitar and then a group of giggling ladies did some more karaoke. Lisa brought him over a glass of scotch on the rocks and he noticed with delight that he was a double. She gave him a friendly wink and disappeared back into the quickly growing crowd.

[tt_lily]

Lily had decided to go to the pub for a quick bite before realizing it was Karaoke night. Oh, how brave these people were. Of course, some were much better than others.

She spotted a familiar head of hair and headed over to James' table. "Hello Sir, may I join you?"

[tt_james]

James turned with a wide smile, "Of course, my lady! How kind of you to inquire," he stood and gave a low bow, a goofy grin on his face, before leaning into her with a light, lingering kiss. "You look beautiful, and here I thought I'd have to wait until tomorrow to see you."

He watched her as they both sat back down and then waved Lisa over to take Lily's order. When she arrived, she had another Scotch for him, too. Raising his eyebrows in thanks to turned back to Lil when Lisa had left. "Best service in the islands," he admitted with a laugh.

[tt_lily]

Lily smiled, loving the kiss, no matter how brief or simple they were. "Well, laziness won out tonight and I didn't feel like cooking. I didn't realize it was Karaoke night though."

When Lisa arrived, she told her what she wanted before asking, "Is there ever limits to getting up there and singing? Like, if someone is too drunk?"

[tt_james]

James shook his head, "No! And the brilliant thing about karaoke is that, actually, the drunker you are, the better! I found this little muggle bar back in London, not long after NEWTs, and used to spend Wednesday nights there. They even made you put on a costume before you were allowed on stage! Every Wednesday, real good people." He thought for a moment about his friends back in London, they hadn't really occurred to him until now.

Shaking the thought from his mind he sighed and smiled back up at her, "I've already signed up, hoping they have something from our era," he joked.

[tt_lily]

Lily couldn't help but laugh, "Why doesn't that surprise me that you've signed up? I feel so old with you saying 'our era'. I think they classify it as "Oldies". Poor Sirius is an oldie..." She shook her head. "Have fun with singing thought."

[tt_alicia]

When Sam had shown up, grinning like the Kneazle that got the canary, Alicia had been pretty certain that Viktor wouldn’t be too keen on what was about to be presented. As it was, she had been thrilled to hear about the karaoke night, and even Viktor had agreed to come, as had some of his team mates. Sam, of course, had already wowed the audience with his skills – while Alicia had only gotten as far as signing up for the karaoke – and he was discussing loudly with the Bulgarians about what do next, when Alicia’s datapad had vibrated alerting her to the fact that someone had sent her a message.

As such, it wasn’t all that important, but she figured that she could take a couple of minutes to message James back… until she realized that the git was here, and that them communicating via datapad was just downright silly. Brushing a kiss to Viktor’s lips, she left the boys to entertain themselves, while she made her way up to the table where he was sitting. She recognized Lily from the evening she had joined Ginny at their table, so she sent her a bright smile as she slipped into an empty chair.

“The drunker the better? Really, Potter?” she teased him, before she shook her head. “And here I thought you had some real guts. Liquid courage is for pussies.” With an all too bright grin, she placed her ice tea on the table, as if to make a point. “So, what will you wow us with tonight?”

[tt_james]

"I hadn't decided yet," James answered back rapid fire, not even phased by her joining them, interrupting their conversation, or making fun of him. "And what will you be entertaining us with? Surely you're above all of this if you won't even have a drink to loosen up." He smiled to show her it was all in good fun and then took a sip of his Scotch.

"And besides, I never said the liquid was for courage, but there's nothing wrong with a bit of fun in my glass when I'm out on the town, right Lil?" He nudged her and gave her a smile to reassure her that this new female friend was nothing to worry about (James knew he was a flirt, but didn't want Lily to have to worry about it).

[tt_alicia]

“True,” Alicia agreed with a chuckle, “That’s true, you didn’t.” She held up her hands in defeat to show that she would give him this one. But that’s where it ended; from what she remembered from her talk to Lisa, and what she had experienced just talking to James on his own, she needed a lesson or two in humility, which – she figured – would be easy enough, especially since this wouldn’t require her doing anything she wouldn’t have done ordinarily, or had done several times in the past.

“If you think I’m above this just because I don’t need to loosen up, you’re sorely mistaken,” she smirked. “I’m perfectly capable of making a fool of myself without being intoxicated, I simply prefer to remember how I did it.” The last part was probably the largest part of her reasons for not drinking: Alicia couldn’t hold her liquor, even if her life depended on it, and she had long ago learned that she would rather enjoy a long evening of fun, rather than having to be escorted – sick and drunk off her arse – to wherever she was crashing after two or three drinks. “But I don’t know what I’ll be doing up there tonight.”

Taking a sip from her drink, she considered that before she tilted her head and looked at him. “I’d considered just about everything from late 90s Brit pop to 80s glam or even back further, but just to make it interesting, why don’t you pick for me?” She looked to Lily to see if that was alright with her. James was about the last person she would ever consider doing anything other than be friendly with, for several reasons, though the most important one was Viktor. Second most important: he was her friend’s father.

[tt_james]

James lit up immediately. "Absolutely! Is 80's as far back as you can go, or do you know anything older? We should make a wager - you choose for me, I'll choose for you. Lisa can be impartial judge as to the winner. What do you think?" His eyes danced and he was practically jumping out of his chair in obvious excitement. This was brilliant! Why had he never done this before?!

[tt_alicia]

Laughing delightedly and clapping her hands at James’ enthusiasm, she shook her head. “80s? Hell no. I’ll go back as far as…” she considered that for a moment, trying to think of all the music her mum had raised her with, all the while loving how easy it had been to goad James into this. “Late 40s, early 50s… Lisa’ll be the impartial judge,” that thought had her chuckling, “and we keep the lyrics English?”

Turning around to see if she could spot Lisa, she waved at her, signaling for her to come down when she got a minute, before she turned back to James. “What are we wagering?”

[tt_james]

"40's? Are you a jazz girl?" He laughed along with her and when she called for English only he nodded in agreement and took another sip of his drink. Lisa came over and James thought on the wager.

"Oh! How about a double date? Loser cooks the dinner for all four of us. Agreed?" He watched Alicia and Lisa for their reactions.

[tt_lily]

Lily listened to them banter; expression varying from being slightly amused to downright amused. "If I were you, Alicia, I'd make sure to win. James is a fabulous cook." She stopped to think if she'd ever heard him sing before. She couldn't recall him ever singing - at least seriously.

She honestly didn't know on who(m) to place a bet on; she hadn't heard either sing before.

[tt_alicia]

“A jazz girl?” Alicia frowned slightly as she considered how that term fit with her before she shrugged. “I wouldn’t say a jazz girl, though I like that too. When it comes to music I’ve a broad taste, so anything goes. How about you? D’you need any safe areas or genres that can’t be picked?” Her smirk was full of challenge, and she wasn’t above goading James into giving it a free for all for both of them.

She nodded, accepting his suggestion of them betting a double date. “It’s a deal,” she told him, holding out her hand for him show that she’d accepted his offer. Alicia smiled at Lily. “Don’t worry, even if he couldn’t cook, I’d still give it my all, because there’s no way I’m losing this. So… how do we do this?” She quirked an eyebrow. “We give specific songs to the other, or go broader and give a situation or person, feeling, whatever?”

[tt_james]

"Ha! I laugh in the face of karaoke restrictions!" James bellowed in a fine mood, though secretly he wished he hadn't because he had very little experience with modern music, even if he listened to his datapad nearly non-stop. He'd just have to hope the fates were with him on this one.

Lisa piped up just then, "You each enter a song for the other, I watch, pub services will close for ten minutes, then I'll pick a winner with the crowds help. How's that sound? I'll even make the official announcement." She put a hand on James' shoulder, as if to seal the thing.

[tt_alicia]

Alicia nearly snorted her ice tea at James’ boasting. “Riiiight,” she chuckled as she wiped a few drips of her drink off her chin. “In that case, I’d suggest something by the eternally fierce Spice Girls…” She frowned when she considered what she had just said, then amended. “Then again, for the sake of everybody here’s hearing, perhaps it ought to be one of the boybands… Take That, I think…” Alicia already knew which song she’d pick for him, but there was no reason not to let him sweat a bit. “Both British, shouldn’t be a problem for a talented bloke like you…”

When Lisa showed up, listened at the rules she presented and then nodded. “Sounds good to me. Thank you, Lisa. You rock, you know that, right?” Certain of how this was going to go down, she turned her attention back to James, folded her hands in front of her as she leaned forwards. “So, Potter, I want you, to go up there, and sing to us… Seven Seas of Rhye, by Queen.” Not only was that song from the early 70s, but she figured that song’s key would suit James’ voice. “Although, you can also take a chance, turn this down and that way agree to the second song I have picked out for you.” With a smirk, she quirked her eyebrow up in an obvious dare.

[tt_james]

"Seriously?! Queen?!" His delight was obvious as he nearly jumped out of his chair wanting to sign up. "I'm no fool, I'll take option one." It was always better to know what you were working with than taking a chance on the unknown, and he had a feeling Alicia was very much an unknown in this situation.

"And for you..." He thought, before a wicked idea gleamed in his eye. "Seeing as you've been so kind to choose something from my, uh, era, I'll do the same. How do the Spice Girls tickle your fancy?" he'd heard their music more than once on random lists from his datapad.

[tt_alicia]

Alicia clapped her hands and laughed softly at James’ obvious delight. “Well, I think you’d’ve like option two as well, but… Queen it is, then.” While she wanted to win over James, she didn’t want it to be an unfair contest, just like she would prefer to win over somebody who wasn’t saddled with an obvious disadvantage. Victory, that way, just tasted better.

“Spice Girls?” Alicia’s eyebrow quirked up. “Sure, I’ll do Spice Girls any day of the week. Girl Power and all that, you know?” She looked up to the stage, trying to think of which song would work the best for a karaoke setting, and came up with only a very few. Then again, she had picked the song for James, so maybe she shouldn’t jump to any conclusions and she had noticed that impish shimmer in his eyes when he had proposed the challenge. “Which one?”