Blending Into the Crowd

John arrived at the club with fifteen minutes until her performance and gulped as he saw the massive line. There must’ve been at least a hundred people waiting. Oddly enough, the bouncer seemed to know who he was.

“John Newman?” a deep male voice boomed out, and he cringed back slightly. Nonetheless, he kept walking forward, trying to act as confident as possible.

“You’re exactly as plain looking as she described you to be,” the bouncer laughed to himself at that but let John in, much to the chagrin of pretty much everybody waiting in line.

The sound of loud, prerecorded music instantly overwhelmed him, and he immediately saw enormous speakers booming in each corner. Unsure of what to do until he saw Jenny, he simply walked around the outside of the dance floor. That is, until he saw a familiar face. Or several.

Several students from the academy were here, and John sunk deeper into the crowd as he recognized them. I shouldn’t even be here, a small voice in his mind informed him, but before he could muster a response, he was surprised by a hug from behind.

“Hey there, hero, you look as lost as a lamb,” the bassist’s voice came from behind him, and after taking a moment to overcome his shock, he turned around awkwardly smiling. I need to raise my Charisma stat, was in the forefront of his mind as she planted her lips on his.

“Never properly thanked you for before,” she said, pulling out of the kiss. John was immediately intoxicated, though not by the multitude of **** around them. Speaking of which, he noticed her strapping a red wristband around his wrist. “Have anything you want on the house. In the meantime I’ve got to go prepare for my show. Catch you later, stud.” She pat his chest once and was gone; John had no hope of keeping track of her in such a dense crowd.

He was decidedly not going to get drunk. Especially not in public. Though the red wristband couldn’t hurt. He leaned against the bar he had somehow made his way to, eyes on the raised platform in the center of the club. Smoke rolled from somewhere backstage and quickly filled the floor, before the band made their entrance.

A burly, bald man with a ginger beard sat at the drums, and two women strutted out onto the stage, one with a guitar and one with a bass, the latter being Jenny. The guitarist had a nice figure, though her torso looked a bit bony. Her legs more than made up for it, and John wasn’t the only one in the crowd with that thought. He cast an Observe on the man and woman out of curiosity. The guitarist was of no interest, being a normal woman.

Joan Wilson

Dramatic Guitarist, Level 5

Mundane guitarist girl, part of a classic rock tribute group. Recently broke up with the group’s old bassist. Has no clue you exist.

RP: 0

The drummer, on the other hand, was somewhat interesting, though John had absolutely no clue what most of his description meant.

Keith Rutherford

Youthful Alchemist, Level 30

Drummer for enjoyment, alchemist by trade. Rakes in millions of dollars each month selling potions of any type through the Abyss Auction. Has heard of you through Jenny.

RP: +40

He's an even higher level than Jenny, and I can see info on him too... maybe it has something to do with the RP score, they both seem to like me. I can't really test that yet though...

“This one is for all the manipulative assholes in the audience,” the female guitarist, Joan, started, before going immediately into a cover of **** on Two Legs. He didn’t know the lyrics, but the band played it well enough that he didn’t need to; he simply reclined and listened.

After the song was over, he spun around, intent on getting a water, though this course of action was interrupted by a declaration he thought fairly certainly was directed at him.

“On a lighter note, this one is for all the heartbreakers out there,” Jenny called somewhat sarcastically, before the band went into Brighton Rock. This song was harder to follow, especially because he felt Jenny’s eyes on him the whole time. The rest of the performance went similarly, with the guitarist calling out for negative songs followed immediately by Jenny lightening the mood.

The very last song, a happy compromise in the form of Bicycle Race, was followed by the drummer speaking for the first time. His gruff voice, clearly not meant for music as the women’s were, cut through the chatter of the club. “Everybody with a red wristband can come backstage, otherwise goodnight, everybody.” His eyes rested exclusively on John when he said this, and looking through the crowd, John didn’t see anybody else with one.

Feeling out of place as he walked through the dance floor and with his wrist in his pocket, he approached the door next to the edge of the stage which had VIP above it in blinking neon lights. The bouncer from the entrance had apparently moved inside, as he was in front of this door. He cast an Observe on the man, as he seemed to be somewhat important.

Sal Emmerich

Brawn Brain, Level 12

Distant relative of a famous scientist. Despite his brawn, spends most of his time in intellectual pursuits. Likes you because you saved Jenny. Dislikes you because he’s fallen for her.

RP: +13

“They’re all waiting for you in there, hero,” the last word was layered with sarcasm, but John paid it little mind as the door was opened for him.

“Thanks, Sal,” John surprised the man, whose eyes bugged out as John slipped past him into the door.

Achievement Unlocked: Snake Charmer

Intimidate someone who could render you **** with a single punch. Let’s hope it didn’t take too many tries...

• +2 Charisma
• +1 Strength

That's... odd to say the least. He got intimidated just by me calling him his name. Either he spooks really easily, or something more is going on there, either way, not really my problem... John thought as the door closed behind him.

John left the speechless man behind as he walked through a short hallway, unexpectedly pulled into a sideroom as he made his way toward the end. When he finally laid eyes on his assailant, he realized it was the band’s drummer.

“Listen here, boyo, I know you’re going ta want to talk about the Abyss. Don’t. Joan doesn’t know anything about it, and we plan to keep it that way.” Though his demeanor was aggressive, the man had a smile on his face as he pat John on the back.

“Other than that, I can’t thank ya enough; Jenny is a close friend a’ mine, and I shudder to think what would’ve happened if you weren’t there. You’re alright in my book. I'm Keith.” After a bone cracking hug, he was released back into the empty hallway.

John stumbled into the hallway, continuing to make his way to the threshold at the end. He crossed it and entered a room that was somewhat overwhelming due to what was in it, but the who more than made up for it.

Jenny laid outstretched on the couch looking toward the doorway, her stage getup discarded for a thin, baggy white shirt and shorts. “There he is,” she exclaimed upon seeing him, looking back only to discover the room was empty. “Why don’t you take a seat, Johnny?” She moved to accommodate him, and he sat down next to her.

Immediately, she shifted into his lap, grinding against him for a moment. His erection began to tent his pants, and she didn’t fail to notice. “I was going to ask how you liked the performance, but I have a feeling you like this one better,” Jenny resumed her ministrations, leaning in to kiss him. John responded in kind, letting her take the lead. His lack of experience, though clear by his mannerisms, didn’t show terribly. After half a minute of this, the other two band members entered the room.

“Get a room you two,” Joan bitterly remarked, sitting as far away from them as possible on the couch across the room.

“We already did, this one,” Jenny replied cheekily as Keith sat next to Joan.

“Don’t mind her,” Jenny started, now looking back at John. “Joan’s just jealous my man put himself in harm’s way for me whereas hers put himself in Harmony’s way,” Keith snickered at the comment but stopped at a stern glare from Joan. John didn’t notice any of that though, as one thought was running through his mind. One he accidentally said out loud.