recolle | Karaoke Bar [OPEN]

Entry tags:

Karaoke Bar [OPEN]

WHO: Matt, Kyouko, and YOU
WHERE: One of the several karaoke bars in the city
WHEN: November 11th, 7PM on into the evening
WHAT: Have a drink or some food, get on stage and sing, meet some new people. No alcohol for any minors who pop by.
WARNINGS: Intoxication most likely

Matt is not the guy you expect to suggest a trip to the karaoke bar. That's his friends' niche, they drag him to the bar and pester him to get on stage with them and he either refuses and insists he's tone deaf (he's not, he sings perfectly well) or mumbles into the microphone and slips off stage as soon he can. Intoxicated Matt is a very different story. Still, it comes as a surprise to his friends when he tells them he wants them all to go.

Kyouko had never been to a karaoke bar. Had she even tried karaoke before? This is something that must be fixed. Everyone needs to try it at least once. It's fun. Matt might never admit that thought to himself but it's true.

So friends had been invited and here they are at the bar for the evening. If a friendly stranger or acquaintance just happens to stop by the bar while they're there that's a welcome bonus.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[For Kyouko]

After they've made themselves comfortable at the bar and ordered drinks Matt points over his shoulder towards the small karaoke stage. "There it is. The infamous karaoke machine. Any idea what song you'd want to sing?"

OTA

Throughout the night Matt can be approached easily at the bar between conversations with others. He's more his typical self during the first couple hours but multiple drinks and shots later at the urging of his friends he starts grinning and laughing loudly at anything remotely funny. He might even do something silly like sing with a stranger if asked. For a blind man with alcohol in his system he's oddly coordinated, never tripping on the edge of the stage or on the legs of chairs when he passes.

[Derek sees Matt at the bar and grins. Time to start getting the drinks in him. He walks up beside Matt at the bar and asks the bartender for a Tom Collins. He then turns to Matt.]

So what will it be Matt? I'll buy you your first drink of the night. And then, maybe we could go up and do one of our famous duets. I mean... this get together was your idea after all.

[Derek cannot help but smile like a fool. He is completely amused that Matt invited him to a karaoke bar of all places.]

[ Matt sighs and shakes his head. ]

Alright. But one drink at a time only. I don't know what my senses will do for sure so this is going to be an interesting night. I'll start with one of the lighter brews they have on tap.

A lighter brew eh? Ok.

[Derek turns to the bartender and orders a Magners irish cider pear. It's a similar abv as a lite beer, but probably tastes better. Once the bartender hands it to Derek, he slides it over to Matt.]

Here you go Matt, try this.

[ Matt smells the beer as it's poured and he takes another whiff of the air as Derek slides it over to him. ]

Hm. It certainly smells lighter. Thanks.

[ He raises the glass toward Derek then takes a sip. The bubbles course over his lips and tongue and erupt like a set miniature firecrackers. There's a sweet taste, a ripened pear but intense and aged. Then the alcohol. Bitter, musky like the barrel the cider was created in. Then the sweetness of the fruit hits his nose and the sweet and bitter converge as he swallows and the alcohol fizzes as it disappears down his throat. ]

Wow. That was... It's good.

[ He drinks some more. ]

[Derek grins, happy that he chose something Matt's super senses could handle.]

So your super senses approve? I'm glad. How have you been holding up?

There are still moments where I start to lose control of it. It's... Still fluctuating you could say. It was extreme those two days and then I thought I had some control for a while. Then it seemed to fade off. Now it comes back strong intermittently. So far I've been all right as long as I take some pain medicine.

[Derek take a sip of his drink.]

Be careful with those pain pills, you wouldn't want to get addicted. Have you tried looking up some natural remedies for pain?

My neighbor Eren brought over some oils. His mother is a nurse, she had some recommendations. Honestly the pills are my first choice simply thanks to ease. When I'm at work and it starts to happen that's the simplest and quickest solution.

[ He sighs. ] If I can just remember how he controlled it that would be the end of this.

Weeellll, if you really want to know that bad, you could always pray to get that particular memory back. Or perhaps write Retrospec asking them to give you that memory back next.

[Derek takes another sip of his drink.]

Or there's meditating, but would you be able to find a silent space?

I can't say I'll ever experience true complete silence ever again. Even in a quiet room I can hear the sound of my own body and the air passing through the nearest vent. Sounds in the walls from pipes and the creaking material it's made of. Even living creatures in the walls. For that matter, the quieter the room the easier it is to hear things far away from where I am.

That has got to be annoying. Do earplugs helps at all?

A little. Tatsuo and Mary provided ear muffs that made a difference. They cover up some of the sounds from further out.

I'll get used to it eventually. Got to give it time.

For now, distraction is a welcome friend and we're at the perfect place for that.

[Derek grins at Matt.]

Well, how about we get a few more drinks in you before we grace the crowd with are karaoke skills? Drink up my friend.

[Derek takes a big sip of his drink.]

Hm. [ He starts chuckling. ] Sure. Promise you'll get me home safely if my senses do something strange while I'm intoxicated. There's a risk I'll start oversharing the things that I have heard. You do not want to know. Believe me.

[ He takes a swig to emphasize that statement. Use your imagination Derek. ]

[Of course Derek wants to know, but he keeps that feeling to himself.]

Ah, so I have to be the responsible drinker tonight huh? Very well, you don't have to get me drunk to karaoke. I'll have two drinks then stop.

Is there anything else you'd like to drink? Or are you going to stick with the cider for now?

[ glancing at the machine, kyouko shakes her head. ]

I can't think of anything in particular...honestly, what I'm most familiar with are children's theme songs or popular hits, when it comes to words. But since they play the words, it should be easy either way, right? Or if not easy, at least doable...do you have any suggestions?

They actually have an impressive selection of songs to choose from. My friend Derek sings songs from musicals sometimes and I've heard strangers get up on stage and lead the entire bar in a rendition of the ~~Poke~~mon theme song. They have to have some of those those top forties hits and theme songs you know. If in doubt the lyrics are supposed to show up on the screen near the microphone stand. -I'm assuming it's working.

They should have a tablet on the counter somewhere. You can use that to search and select songs.

It does seem to be working, so at least my lack of knowledge won't be too big a barrier. Ah...if theme songs are permissible perhaps I'll do that one? I'll admit I actually know the tune...

[ w/e those pocket monsters are called in this universe ]

Would you feel comfortable up on stage alone or would you prefer some company?

[ He might know it too. In his teenage years at the orphanage it seemed like the television had that show on several times a day. Entire flocks of the kids, all ages, would gather to tune in. Matt miiight have imagined Meowth as a little old man who just really liked cats until someone explained what Team Rocket looked like. He still has trouble understanding Jessie's hair. ]

I certainly wouldn't turn down the company if you're offering...?

[ for Not Pokemon which is basically pokemon. you know. ]

[ Typically he'd hesitate but... ]

Sure. It is one that makes me nostalgic.

[ To be safe he takes another drink from his glass, then gestures toward the empty stage. ]

Shall we?

Yes, let's.

[ her karaoke debut...kyouko brushes her skirt off as she stands, but then heads towards the stage to select the song to play. the not-pokemon-really theme song!

her voice isn't bad but she's clearly not meant to be a pop star or anything. it's not what someone would call very good; it's just average. ]

[ Matt grabs his cane and follows her. He stands next to her with the other microphone in hand and tries to harmonize with her in a quiet voice, head hung a little low as he grins nervously. Lucky for him some others in the bar recognize the song and start singing along. Whatever can still be heard of his singing over the excited shouts of You teach me and I'll teach you! sounds far better than the tiny squeak of a singing voice he had a moment ago. ]

[ ...it's kind of fun. she's absolutely never done this kind of thing before, but it's fun, and matt misses kyouko's very tiny and rare smile at the end. still, her voice is a little warmer after they finish: ]

...That wasn't unpleasant.

Good. Now you have an idea of what it's like.

[ He approaches the edge of the stage slowly, careful to locate where it drops off so he doesn't trip as he steps down. ]

Sounds like some of the other guests are going to take a turn. [ He lowers his voice. ] We'll find out if they're good singers shortly.

And what's the protocol if they aren't?

That is up for debate. Some people find it amusing, some people heckle the singer... Others choose to have another drink to make it easier to ignore. In my experience it really depends on what kind of "bad" singing they do.

Admittedly, I don't think I'm the heckling sort...? But what are you?

I'm more of the "sit down, have some more to drink, and wait to see just how bad it gets" type.

I think I'm more the "watch with amusement" sort, if anything.

[ He chuckles. Right, that would be another option. ]

That's a great choice. Come on, I'll buy you another drink.

i. a duet

[ flipping through the book of options, kirigiri at least seems willing to entertain the idea of giving this an amount of effort. she's not, like, entirely sure why she agreed to this outside of curiosity, but it's kind of fun...? even so... ]

If there's a song you'd like to sing together, I don't mind giving it a try...

[ ...she's less likely to sing solo, for now. ]

ii. drinking?

[ when she isn't singing herself (or considering it) kyouko will slowly work on her drink, though. she sticks to fairly basic things and doesn't seem to be outwardly tipsy much at all.

she's always willing to talk when she drinks, though! ]

iii. wildcard

[ alternately, throw whatever at me and i'll respond accordingly! ]

Edited 2017-11-13 07:14 (UTC)

Tatsuo is trying really hard tonight. The anniversary is coming up, but at the same time, he's finally off administrative leave and can return to work on Monday. Which is great because he knows the work has been piling up, and frankly the past two weeks have been monotonous.

So he orders a couple drinks to loosen up. Derek will undoubtedly drag him up on stage at some point. And surely they can get Matt up there as well, since this was his idea for once.

Sipping his second Americano, Tatsuo looks over the song listing for the karaoke, making a short list of songs on his phone. And then he notices there's a Japanese section. Oh... he's going to look through that, too.

[Nursing a whiskey sour, Mariko is watching the karaoke shenanigans with a small smile. Humming along to a particularly good selection, she's mostly just taking in the environment - everyone having fun, for once.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Karaoke Bar [OPEN]

no subject

OTA

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

my prompt, for me!!!!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

ota

ota