Pre-Concert Jam Sesh, No Biggie
Summer 2021, Week 3
Friday midday
Xander Knight's Loft, The Heights
Paige Nelson
She got off the purple line and walked along Whimsy Park, listening for Google Lady to tell her when to turnoff into Xander's neighborhood. The new Strat was across her back. Never before had she been so careful with something she owned. Then again, she'd never owned anything worth even a fraction of the cost of a freaking Stratocaster guitar. She had been practicing on it so carefully, trying to up her game before the next time she had to play in front of the punk god. She probably still sounded like shit, but whatever. Tonight's concert would wipe away whatever mortification she felt after this session. It was going to be so fucking cool so he him and her best fucking friend play on the same stage at the same concert. Excited didn't even begin to describe how she felt. She might even become one of them... a... woo girl. Oh god. Fuck it, it's worth it. She'd just kill anyone that mentioned it outside of tonight. Problem solved. Plus, she was going to the concert with Xander fucking Knight. It's fine. Everything is fine. Just then Google Lady boomed in her ear "your destination is on the right". She figured out which loft was his and knocked on the door, bouncing on the balls of her feet and looking down on the ground as she waited.Storyteller
The woman who answered the door was fairly tall, standing around 5'8" even in her simple black Chuck Taylors. The rips in her black jeans led up her fairly muscular legs, simple black belt fashioned from a seatbelt resting just below the line of her hips, pale flesh peeking out between black pants and white tank top, bearing the open-mouthed skull of Outcry. The sleeves and neckline were raggedly, amateurly cut, lacy black bra granted a bit more visibility than most would allow, though it didn't seem to bother her. The woman's face was beautiful, a defined jaw outlining her slim face, soft features gracing her pale skin, her eyes, though presumably dark brown, seemed to shine with a hint of purple, just like her shoulder length hair. This was Naomi, the bassist and backup singer of Outcry, stepping to the side to allow the young girl before her entrance.Xander Knight
"Oi! You've made it! This is Paige, the girl from the music shop." He stood to greet her, dressed in the same black pants and white jacket vest, though swapping the band tee for... a different band tee. He was a bit taller than most people, though the woman beside him seemed closer to his stature than most. His attitude, as always, was hardly befitting of a celebrity, casual and humble. "Not too hot today? Still adjusting from English weather."Paige Nelson
'First Xander and now Naomi. It's like a punk kid's wet dream, holy fuck.' "Sup." she managed to mumble at the woman as she walked past. She perked up a bit as she focused on Xander. "Nah it's not too hot. No rain yet, thank fuck. Didn't want to get the Strat wet. I'd have fucking died right there." She nonchalantly looked around, having never been in his place before. She memorized every detail she could, not sure when she'd be allowed back because clearly, she was going to wake up at some point. "Cool loft. Going for the minimalist look?"Xander Knight
"I've only been here... what, two weeks, maybe? True though, I should probably get a couch..." he pondered as Naomi closed the door. "You wanted to get a lesson in before the show, or just... hang out? I've not got much in the way of entertainment, but we've got some time." He began to lean against the railing of the staircase to the loft, causing a sharp spark to leap from his hand to the metal, though he didn't notice.Storyteller
Naomi looked around the flat with a smirk. "Always so sparse... you know, you've got money now. You can afford to get a telly, or some houseplants, something." She motioned to the large, slanted windows, drawing the lines of vines across the wall.Paige Nelson
"Seriously, dude. How do you not have a tv? But I don't care. Whatever you wanna do is cool with me. I can always leave if you're busy getting ready n shit. I get it."Xander Knight
"What have I got to do to get ready, eh? I wear the same shite every day. I've not got a hair and makeup; I've not got costumes or anything. I show up, I play." He shrugged, as if talking about preparing for the school day, or deciding which uniform he would wear. It made no difference to him. "Though I assume Ros has got some incredible looks tonight. Not to mention White Lotus, who always looks... well, like a rockstar. Very... 80's, in your face. Quite like the look."Storyteller
Naomi chuckled, shaking her head. "Never act like a rockstar, will you? Still the same poor kid with a guitar. Don't worry, I'll do your hair and makeup." She turned to Paige, looking her up and down. "Yours too, if you want. Not that you've not done yourself up nicely, just an offer."Paige Nelson
"Uh, I mean, nah, I'm good... not like anyone gives a shit what I look like. I'm not performing. I'm not even going with anyone. My friend had to bail... since she's gonna be performing. You remember Abbey, yeah? She's gonna be up there with Roslyen. Something about a last-minute cancellation."Xander Knight
His eyebrows raised, looking over to Naomi. "Talk about promotion, eh?"Paige Nelson
"Fuckin right? But like I said, she's got the voice..." A hint of sadness tinged her words.Xander Knight
"Voice can be nurtured, improved, if you try to. Not speaking from experience, I just... yell." He shrugged, motioning to the guitar strapped to Paige's back. "Guitar can be taught too, but its more... animal," Xander said, pointing to his heart. "You've got fire, you've got heart. You can learn theory and scales and techniques, but if you've not got heart, it’s just... textbook. That's what you've got, that’s why I'm going to teach you. Got to fuel that fire, put it towards something."Paige Nelson
"Fire is one way to put it." She laughs and starts counting on her fingers. "Asshole, smart ass, pain in the ass, dipshit, dumb kid, fucking annoyance., drain on existence, freak, weirdo, good for nothin. Those are the ways it's normally described to me. Good luck turning that into any sort of 'talent'." She swings the case around to the front of her body and pulls it over her head. She walks over to the side of the room and puts it down, pulling out the Strat.Storyteller
Naomi chuckled, looking over to Xander. "You're right, she does sound like you." Walking to the corner where Xander had set the studio equipment, taking a plain black bass guitar and approaching Paige. "So how much do you know? About music?"Paige Nelson
"I know a fuck ton about listening and the sounds I like. Not a damn thing about playing it."Xander Knight
"Well, that's a good starting point. If you know what it’s supposed to sound like, you can play by ear. I'll teach you some chords, some scales, just... give you the notes. After that it’s just a matter of organizing them into what you want the guitar to say."Paige Nelson
"Is this where you say something corny like 'you and the guitar will become one'. Are you my Mister Miyagi? Wax on, wax off." She starts mimicking the movements exaggeratedly.Xander Knight
Xander drew in a deep breath as Naomi erupted into laughter. "Something like that."Paige Nelson
She laughs along with Naomi. "This is gonna be a fuckin trip." She gingerly puts the guitar over her head and looks between the two of them. "So, let's do this. Turn me into Johnny Ramone."Xander Knight
He took a few minutes to show a handful of basic chords, guitar 101, until she could switch between the four most basic chords in all of music. Not trying to overwhelm the girl, but also not used to being a teacher, he led her through a basic warmup, pentatonic scales and switching back and forth between chords.Paige Nelson
She did her best to follow his lead, but... 'I suuuuuck. I suck. I suck. I suck. I suck.' was all she heard in her head. Her fingers were getting sore by the end of the training, not used to the strings pushing into her fingers for this long.Xander Knight
"Not bad for your first day with a guitar. You'll learn more as time goes on, play by ear and such."Paige Nelson
"Yeah, sure." She scoffed and rolled her eyes as she looked at the indentations on her fingers. "I'm probably not cut out for this."Paige Nelson
"If you say so, dude. But... this was cool as shit. Thanks for trying."Storyteller
Naomi chuckled, plucking at her bass absently. "He's right, you're really not as bad as you think." Her accent was a bit more rounded than Xander's, a flat BBC British accent as opposed to Xander's rarely seen in media, save for henchmen, maybe.Paige Nelson
"Huh." She carefully put the guitar back in its case. Sitting on the ground, she spun around to face them again. "So, where's the rest of Outcry? What's the plan for tonight? How do you guys get ready? Feel free to tell me to shut up if I ask too many questions, I'm used to that."Xander Knight
The two looked to each other. "The rest of... You mean Keenan? He's at the venue, likes to set up lights and such. Not sure why, he just... likes it. He'll meet us there. As for getting ready, I guess we just... go. No costumes or special effects like Lotus or Ros."Paige Nelson
"So, you guys don't have any sort of pre-concert rituals? That's so fuckin chill."Xander Knight
"I'm not sure what we're supposed to do. In dive bars and underground clubs, we mingle a bit, have a drink maybe? But this venue is massive, by my understanding. I would like a word with Roslyen beforehand, Lotus too, if we can communicate. But I've not got any superstitions or anything."Paige Nelson
"Sounds legit. What's the plan until we leave? Or, well, I guess I probably can't head in with you guys. I'll chill outside until they let in the rest of us plebes."Xander Knight
"You can go backstage with your ticket, but that’s after the show. Beforehand, you'll have a special place to wait with the other VIP tickets before doors open."Paige Nelson
"Oh ho ho. Look out world! Paige Nelson, big time VIP badass. I'll have to make it count. Think they'll serve a minor?"Xander Knight
"Minor?" Xander and Naomi shared a glance. "Thought you were 17 mate?"Paige Nelson
"Yeeahh... I forget you're new." She laughed. "Drinking age is 21. Smoking age is 21. Being 17 gets you about fuck all here. Oh! I can fuck though. But Virginia has some messed up rules around that shit too."Xander Knight
Their glance became accompanied by some odd facial expressions. "In England, past 16 people sort of stop caring. Odd priorities you've got, though."Paige Nelson
"So, what I'm hearing is you'll let me drink with you because it's not a big deal." She gave a sly smirk.Xander Knight
"Yeah, I don't care," Xander said nonchalantly with a shrug, prompting a soft smack to the back of the head from Naomi. "I mean... Only with parental approval."Paige Nelson
A bark of a laugh came out of the girl. "If you ask them for permission to let me drink, we'll all be in some shit. Who knows, maybe they'd even send me back again. Yeah, that'd go over really well."Xander Knight
"Well, I've got some beers for Keenan, if the bastard ever visits my flat, you can have one of them after the show."Paige Nelson
"Fuck yeah, dude! Though I don't know if I'll get to come back here after the show. Bob and Linda would expect me back eventually. But... Ah fuck it. It's whatever. They'll be fine."Xander Knight
"I'm not going to keep this a secret from your parents, they ought to know I'm teaching you. I don't want them thinking it’s an affair or something."Paige Nelson
"Oh my god. An affair!" She burst into a fit of giggles. "Dude it's fine. They know I'm going to Abbey's concert and that I'm here first. I'm trying not to be a total jackass to them. They just want me to come back after the concert."Xander Knight
He nods, looking around the apartment. "God, I could go for some Nando’s, eh? You've not got them stateside..."Paige Nelson
"They've gottem up in Alexandria, but not down here. Still working on expanding, I think. Good shit though."Xander Knight
"Hmm. Any fast food around? looking for some... hot fried chicken. Or a chicken sandwich."Paige Nelson
"Yeah, sure. You're in the South after all. There's Raising Cane's, Chick Fil A aka homophobic chicken, KFC, Popeye's, all the usual suspects."Xander Knight
"Ah, I've heard you've got homophobic chicken. Let's go... somewhere else. Or maybe we can get an add on to the rider, get it delivered to the venue."Paige Nelson
"Totally up to you, my dudes. I'm just along for the ride. I can find something I like just about anywhere."Storyteller
“Yes, I’m sure these are the conversations you imagined when coming back to a rockstars flat, eh?” Naomi asked with a smirk, eyeing Xander, who cleared his throat.Xander Knight
“Right, rockstar… well, I’ve got to save it up for the show, right? Can’t use up all the mega stardom beforehand.”Paige Nelson
"It's why I like you guys, you're normal as fuck. If you were total douchebags I wouldn't be here." She shrugged. "I'm glad you didn't ruin the image for one of my favorite bands. They say don't meet your idols or whatever, but you're not lame."Xander Knight
"I actually struggle with the public perception of a rockstar, ya know? I've gotten in bar fights, shite like that, but never bit the head off a live dove or splattered the front row with pigs’ blood or anything like that. I'm just some bloke who loves drunk food and good music."Paige Nelson
"Ozzy would be so disappointed." She shakes her head at Xander. "Such a shame. How dare you not be a media whore?!"Storyteller
"That's another thing," Naomi said, placing a hand on her partner's head, "he hates being photographed."Xander Knight
"Well, I hate being photographed on the street. On stage is fine. But the media doesn't even like to follow me, just some poor Gypsy bloke from Blackpool who makes angry music. I can't even actually get drunk, it’s just other drunkards who pick fights at the bars with the best billiards."Paige Nelson
"Wait, you can't get drunk? Why?"Xander Knight
"Just the sheer amount of electrolytes in my body, the energy running through it. Same reason I eat whatever I want, and so much of it." He shrugged, as if this was nothing to brag about before his eyes widened.Storyteller
"He means he has such a fast metabolism," Naomi said, attempting to maintain the cover of her oblivious friend.Paige Nelson
"What, is your blood just Gatorade or some shit? Are you Gatorade Man? The assured enemy of Kool-Aid Man! One busts through walls, the other can't get drunk!"Xander Knight
He chuckled a bit, shaking his head, curly white hair flopping about until it is pushed back from his face. "Something like that."Paige Nelson
"Not a denial! The idea of Gatorade Man lives on!"Storyteller
Naomi shook her head, holding her face in a hand. "Yes, Gatorade man."Storyteller
The following hour or so was fairly uneventful, having ordered what fried foods they wanted, Xander devouring triple everyone else's lunch in about the same time. They sang, they played, they were... well, they were normal people hanging out. Until the time came to head to their concert venue, one would think nothing of their gathering. But the time did come, the group piling into Naomi's black Aston Martin Vanquish and making their way to the Octavium.
Type
Record, Historical
Medium
Digital Recording, Text
Authoring Date
July 9, 2021
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