and i wonder, when i sing along with you [OPEN]

[bardish]

who: Jeff Calhoun & OPEN
what: August Catch-All
when: ALL OF AUGUST
where: Various
warnings: Prompt II has brief references to past drug use and... VAGUELY demons.

i. it's a kind of magic (GRAMARYE)
[ Of everything Jeff could complain about with regards to his life here (Such as the recent kidnapping-by-cult! That's still a big one!), there's one thing he's totally content with: his job. Working at Gramarye, he gets the same joy of teaching as back home, only without the constraints of testing and curriculum drama. Also, the pay's marginally better. That helps.

Here in Riverview, he gets to teach kids who don't have a lot of opportunities at the public school, whether because they can't control their magic (or other abilities), or because the facilities aren't equipped for them, or they just... haven't had the best experiences with non-magical people in their own worlds, and feel safer with people more like them. Whatever the reason, they get their schooling at Gramarye, and Jeff's one of the teachers who works with them on their fundamental education. Not with magic (not a chance in hell he'd try to teach magical lessons, with there being ten thousand different types of magic here in the first place), but mundane subjects.

It's a challenge, coming up with lesson plans that can both cast a wide net and be allow him to customize for each kid's needs, but he loves it. And he gets to focus on all kinds of different things, depending on the students. Critical thinking! Reading comprehension! Self-expression! Occasionally, some degree of math!

For all that he might give off a slacker vibe, it's clear that he at least takes his job seriously. So, Jeff can often be found at Gramarye, whether it's during school hours for the magical youths, or after-hours: grading, lesson planning, or cleaning up after some magical mishap or another. Look, it's a hazard of the job. If he weren't so totally gunshy about doing magic, himself, he'd just... enchant the damn papers so no teenage wizards with a strong affinity for pyromancy could set their tests on fire when they get too stumped by a question...

Kyle.

So that's his current mission, when he's not teaching: asking his coworkers (or frequent visitors of Gramarye) for tips or spells to MAAAAYBE baby-proof his classroom. ]

Look, they're good kids, but sometimes they can get a little, ahh... excitable? It's like... shit happens! Things explode a little! So, if you've got a spell for that, I could really use a hand here...

ii. i'm burning through the sky, yeah (OPEN MIC NIGHT)
[ It's funny where life takes you. The last time Jeff played in front of a crowd, it was... 1995? A packed house, the crowd a mass of sweaty bodies, drunk, high, hopped up on this thing or that. He was shitfaced, too, trying to fry a voice out of his head with a cocktail of substances, but he could still hear it, even through the fog. From what he can remember, the set went from okay, to not-so-great, to a total shitshow. He lost time, blacked out, sometime around the last song in the set, and whatever happened after, he still has no memory of.

He found out after-the-fact that the night ended in yet another fight between him and his bandmates. Only by then, it was one fight too many, and that was the end of that. Bye bye, band.

And that wasn't even when he hit bottom.

This is the first time Jeff's picked up an instrument and played for an audience (instead of just himself) in over twenty years, and it couldn't be more different. Open mic at a coffeehouse, mellow music for a small, mellow crowd. Not normally something he'd do-- god, there's still a part of him that expects everything to go wrong, even as he's strumming a guitar and singing covers of other musicians (never his own stuff, not anymore)-- but, fuck, Athena's a bad influence here! Living with another bard, and not having his daughter around to pour all of his attention into, it's gotten harder for Jeff to keep on pretending he can live a full and satisfying life without music.

So, here we go. He's not flashy like he used to be, and half the people at the coffeehouse aren't even here for the open mic performances-- they're doing their own thing and hardly paying attention-- and that helps ease him through his initial waves of anxiety and settle into a nice groove here. It's just a few songs, by a few artists. When he's finished, it's a rush, that buzzing thrill beneath the skin that he always used to feel when he performed.

When it's over, Jeff sticks around to mingle and chat with people. Come say hi!

(And he enjoys the open mic thing enough that he'll come back a few more times over the month to play a short set. If Athena's with him, you can bet there will be duets.) ]

( And here's some references for songs he might've played: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. )

WILDCARD.
[ More prompts might pop up later. IN THE MEANTIME: if these don't strike your fancy, you can choose your own adventure. ]

Comments

FRIENDSHIP 101 [Closed to: Richard Strand]

[bardish]

Truth be told, Jeff would be stopping by Richard's office with or without the recent text from Alex. He's an outgoing guy, and he likes hanging out with his friends! Richard's his friend, ergo, Jeff's going to swing by his office to see if he wants to get, like, dinner and hang out. Gramarye isn't too far from the University, anyway, so it's not like Jeff's going far out of his way with this totally spontaneous drop-in.

So he hits the campus and finds Richard's office, rapping on the door with a short knock before he pokes his head in.

"Hey, man!" Jeff's smiling, BRIGHT AND SUNNY AS USUAL. Enjoy that, he's totally trying to harsh your gloom cloud. "Got any dinner plans tonight? Because I kind of skipped breakfast. And, ah... lunch?" So, apparently 'eating' is another thing he's not great at. "I'm about ready to gnaw my arm off for sustenance."

[nobasisinfact]

Richard is, not disposed to having visitors. The small bar that was, for the most part, hidden away, is exposed, and he's managed to carve out a place on the couch, a tumbler of scotch on the table in front of him and his arms over his upper thighs, head hung low.

The interruption is, unwelcome. At first, Richard thought it was Alex. It's always been Alex, but of course, it wouldn't be. Alex was the reason he left, and if she were walking in now, it would just start another fight. One he knew he didn't want to have with her. It was strange, after everything Alex knew about him, Richard wasn't sure she knew exactly how vicious he could be when he was jealous. He wouldn't unleash that on her.

Hearing Jeff comes in, sunshine and happiness and hunger, he wanted to punch him. A feeling which was generated through the glare that greeted Jeff's question. "Don't you have an apprentice to feed?" The words sound tired; as if his heart isn't in the biting remark. It's not. It's still thinking about this John person and how Alex used everything that was them to 'try and forget him because she'd lost hope'. How their moments of banter and flirting was now no longer their own. How it felt like such a complete betrayal, what she did; even if his brain knew it wasn't and that he was being utterly illogical.

[bardish]

Okay, so... That's not a good look for Richard. Jeff almost winces, once he takes in the miserable posture and the alcohol. It's a look he's pretty familiar with, one reason he has a hard and fast rule never to drink alone, himself. If he's gonna have a drink, it's gotta be strictly social.

Even though he's totally uninvited, Jeff closes the door behind him, leaning back against it casually. At least he won't get much closer than this unless Richard actually invites him to. But man, it's like the guy doesn't even have it in him to bite right now. There's just this air of misery around him. So maybe it dampens some of Jeff's sunny disposition-- at least enough that it's at normal, human, tolerable levels now.

He shrugs one shoulder, casual, unbothered by the remark. If anything, there's a wry smile on his face.

"Athena's semi-feral. She can fend for herself for one night." Also, Jeff totally prepared a week's worth of dinners for her in advance, because he's such a dad like that. It's quite possible he's much better at taking care of others than himself.

"C'mon. You're not planning on a liquid dinner, are you?"

You need more than scotch, Richard!

[nobasisinfact]

Richard watches as Jeff closes the door and leans against it. Jeff is, annoyingly persistent, but not the professional annoying persistent that Alex is. He was pretty sure that, if given the option, he would rather go to dinner with Alex. They're both similar after all. Very unlike himself. And he's poor company at the best of times. Which meant there had to be a greater reason he was here, even if he'd just decided to stay because of Richard's current condition. Something Richard would rather not think about because of how much worse it made him feel. After all, he didn't need anyone. At least that's how it was supposed to be.

"Alex sent you, didn't she?" He knows Alex, and knows she's aware of his tendency to mull things over on his own. To seclude himself away and sustain himself on power bars. Not the plan for the night, but also not untrue.

ii

[breqintopieces]

[Breq isn't even that big a fan of coffee-- or tea, which she's just as likely to get when she stops into one of the little coffeeshops that seem to litter the corners of the streets of Riverview. She certainly doesn't stop by them just because. This particular one, however, has managed to catch her attention, enough to have her coming in at least once a week, as she comes and goes from the Perimeter Guard outposts and beyond the city's walls.

And if it's always a time that aligns with one of the open mic nights, well, attracting patrons are what those nights are all about, isn't it?

On this particular evening Breq has picked a comfortable seat close to the 'stage,' and when Jeff finally finishes a set for the night, she looks over to him and nods.]

Congratulations on a good performance. What was the name of that last piece, again? [She hums a few rough bars of 'Reach for the Sky.']

[bardish]

[ Look at that: he did it! He did a whole (abbreviated) set, just music, no magic, and nothing bad happened! Which, of course, logically and statistically, that's how these things tend to go, but that didn't stop him from putting off all things music for two decades, anyway. This is such a small way of dipping his toes back in the water, and he's pretty sure the Jeff Calhoun of Yesteryear would've scoffed at this coffeehouse gig, but whatever, the Jeff Calhoun of Yesteryear was kind of an idiot.

So he's feeling a bit electrified when it's done, and so in his head that he seems almost startled when Breq congratulates him on the little show. ]

Oh! Thanks! [ He's smiling, always eager to share in music appreciation. Jeff's just one of those people who wears their feelings sincerely and openly. ] It's, ah. 'Reach for the Sky.' Social Distortion? I grew up listening to them. [ Back when he was a punk kid in 80s Southern California, their stuff totally spoke to him. Now he's a long ways away from all of that, but the music still strikes a particular chord with him. Some albums so tied up in his own memories and experiences that it's practically like being transported back in time when he puts them on.

Just one of many things he loves about music. ] Admittedly, the version I just played is a lot more mellow.

[breqintopieces]

It must not exist where I'm from. The melody isn't familiar. Nor was the rest of your set.

[Breq's shrug is nonchalant, communicating her lack of surprise at that. She's discovering that seems to be true of a lot of the people she interacts with, where things they think are commonly represented aren't things she's familiar with in the same form.]

Or if it can be found where I'm from, I've never been there. [She taps one finger against the side of her mug and tilts her head, adopting a smile to return Jeff's own.] I imagine I'll prefer your acoustic version.

[bardish]

Ah, yeah... [ He nods. That's not too surprising, considering all the different worlds and timelines and realities and... everything! It's really something he appreciates about Quarantine, even if he'd rather be back home with his kid. ]

So if I were a less ethical guy, I could have totally used this as an opportunity to take credit for everything. [ A joke! He's so not down with art theft. He exhales. ] Honestly, I'm just glad this went well. [ Oh! And he offers his hand to shake. ] I'm Jeff, by the way. I can't remember if I said that, like, during the set?

[ It's VERY POSSIBLE he totally forgot to introduce himself before he started singing. ]

A RACE TO THE BOTTOM [Closed to: Cameron Waltz]

[bardish]

[ It's a lovely morning! Breezy, not too hot out, and early enough in the day that there's hardly anyone on the beach at all. All in all, ideal conditions for Jeff's daily run. And, ah, it's the start of the weekend, so he has all day after this to just chill and do whatever he wants. Like... paint the living room. Maybe he'll rope Athena into helping him with that. It'll be fun! A carefree distraction from their mutual homesickness! And then, uh... He could hit the gym!

...

God, Jeff needs hobbies. Maybe he'll call a friend later. He's been here long enough that he has those now!

So anyway, it's a beautiful day, a beautiful beach, and Jeff's just minding his own business, happily listening to his running mix as he jogs along the beach and tries to plan out his weekend. What could possibly go wrong? ]

[enveloped]

[Jeff's not the only one enjoying the beach.

Cam got up bright and early for his morning run. He likes hitting the road before anyone else, so he can run without dodging pedestrians or interruption. Almost before he's woken up, he gets dressed, pulls on his shoes, and goes.

He doesn't have music yet. The portal didn't see fit to pull him through with his iPod, so he'll have to find the Riverview equivalent when he has time, and pray there's something worth listening to. Until then he enjoys the sound of the waves, sea birds, and dull hum of the city as it slowly comes to life.

There's another man on the beach. Tall. Broad. The sun catches in his sandy hair. Cam watches him for a moment, enjoying the view for a moment before passing. Can't let himself get too distracted.

It's only when he comes up on the man's right, glancing over to catch a glimpse of his face (sue him) that Cam recognizes him.

Jeff Calhoun.

Since when does he run? Cam's amazed he's coordinated enough to put one foot in front of the other at any speed.

Speaking of speed, Cam increases his pace by a couple MPH. Just enough to put him ahead, but without looking like he's trying. Steady. Graceful.

Superior.]

[bardish]

[ He's been running just about every day for the past twenty years, Cam, thanks! You know, a guy picks up a lot of neat hobbies when he gives up his two biggest passions at the same time and has to fill the gaping void with something else ASAP.

Not that Cam knows him at all, contrary to what he thinks from their handful of unpleasant interactions back home. Just like Jeff doesn't know him, either. Case in point: when he realizes the guy to his right is none other than Cameron Waltz, and the biggest thing that stands out to him is that Waltz isn't wearing a suit. Which, of course, makes sense when one is running! But he's surprised there's no... tailored running suit on the man.

And, look, Jeff's really not into competitive dick swinging. All that I'm such an alpha male bullshit posturing. He may be overly anxious when it comes to a lot of things in life (thanks, youthful trauma), but by nature, he's a pretty chill and laid back guy. (And yeah, his nature being so at odds with his neuroses is A THING. It's a problem. He finds ways to manage it!)

So when a guy tries to show off how much bigger, stronger, faster, manlier he is than Jeff, he tends to shrug it off. Let them do their thing, while he keeps at his. He's pretty content with himself, so he has nothing to prove, and clearly, it means more to them than it does to him, etc etc etc.

When Waltz passes him-- and he's totally speeding up on purpose, Jeff knows it-- Jeff finally gets it. The spirit of competition whispering in his ear: FUCK THAT GUY, HE'S SUCH A DICK, SHOW HIM UP! Okay, so it was less a whisper and more a shout.

So, fine!! Jeff picks up his own pace, pulling his headphones off so he can flash Waltz a smile and a cheerful: ]

Morning! What a nice day, huh?

[citharede]

[ The first time Jeff picks up his guitar and heads out of the house, you bet your ass Athena follows him. SUPER SNEAKILY. TOTALLY HIDDEN. VERY NOT OBVIOUS.

She hesitates outside of the coffee shop, because seriously? Is he doing this? Is he really doing this?

He is.

She hangs around the back, drinking black coffee (sweet things are supposed to be treats, after all), listening to him play and sing and trying to decide how she feels. She could barely get him to sing one song at a karaoke bar, but here he is, strumming and singing Bowie while no one even really listens. It makes her angry, these people who don't get how big a deal it is. They should be hanging on every chord.

When someone takes his place on the stool at the front of the room (she already thinks of it as his place), Athena drifts up to the front, watching him for a second as he puts his guitar away with his back to her.

Very quietly: ]

Hey, Jeff? ...Are you okay?

[bardish]

[ Wow, Athena, you're so sneaky you could be a spy!

...

No, seriously, because Jeff had no idea she was even here, not until he hears her voice speaking up behind him. Then again, it could just be that Jeff's a wholly unobservant person! Or maybe he was just so wrapped up in his own nerves that she could've been waving her arms right in front of him, during his short set, and he still would've missed her.

He looks over his shoulder at her, flashing her a cheerful smile, trying not to go like, too far into smiley territory, where he'd just look manic. He feels kinda manic, though, electrified, even though it was just one mellow coffeehouse set. ]

Yeah! [ He's totally okay! And oops he didn't even say hi, so: ] Hey! [ THERE. Greeting accomplished. ] Why wouldn't I be okay?

[ As if he has NO IDEA why she might ask, even though he totally does.

Oh, and BY THE WAY: ]

Did you like it?

[citharede]

Hey.

[ WHO'S SUPER NOT CONVINCING? JEFF CALHOUN IS SUPER NOT CONVINCING!!! She sits down in the nearest chair, still very clearly worried. ]

Because, I dunno. [ She doesn't really have the words to wrap around her worries. ] Because you didn't tell me you were gonna do this? Because... I'm just surprised, I guess. It was great though! You were fantastic.

[ AND NONE OF THESE IGNORANT PLEBS DESERVED IT!!! ]

[bardish]

[ Jeff finishes packing up the guitar and then joins Athena where she's sitting, his own expression going a bit more sober. Yeah, he still feels full of energy, but he can take it down some notches for her; it's clear that she's concerned.

He supposes he can't blame her. He'd been adamant about not playing for an audience in the entire time they've known each other. ]

Thanks. And... sorry. If it helps, I didn't tell anyone. [ He pauses, trying to figure out how to put it. Athena's one person he tries to be as open with as possible. He'd be a shitty mentor, he figures, if he wasn't. And he may not tell her everything on his mind all the time, but if she's raising an issue, he won't brush it aside, either.

No matter how uncomfortable it makes him to talk about certain aspects of his own bullshit. ]

I kinda wanted to see if I could even do it at all.

ii

[11calls]

[Did someone say coffee shop? Alex tended to haunt coffee shops at multiple and varied hours of the day, honestly, so it wasn't a surprise that she found herself there during open mic. Depending on what's going on, she normally ignores the act on stage in favor of getting her coffee (and pastries, she totally always buys pastries to bring home for everyone) and getting out of there. Today, however when she hears a familiar song, Alex finds herself turning towards the stage and looking at it, and seeing a familiar face there playing.

With a broad grin, Alex collected the coffee in a togo cup, and her pastries and to the annoyance of the barista, went and took a seat at a table not that far from the stage. Staying there and sipping coffee through the length of the set, Alex cheered when he was done with every song of course. It was enthusiastic, because she knew about Jeff's history, and she imagined that this needed to be hard for him, considering everything.

Just before the end of his set, Alex went up and ordered him a coffee too, so when he came off the stage, Alex just held it out to him with a grin.]

That was really great, Mr. Rockstar. [Her voice is light and teasing, because she's proud of him for doing it, and also more than a little impressed that he did.]

[bardish]

[ Oh god! Jeff shoots a startled look in Alex's direction when somebody actually cheers him on at the end of his abbreviated set. There's a moment where he looks like a deer paralyzed by headlights, like some spell of anonymity has just been shattered, before he grins at her. There's an easy confidence to it; for a moment, he might even look like the rock star he used to aspire to be.

Once he's done and his guitar's all packed up, Jeff finds Alex pretty easily-- or, rather, she finds him. He accepts the coffee with a thanks, then a wince. ]

Oh god, I had an ex who'd call me that... [ FLASHBACKS. But he's smiling again, taking a sip of coffee. ] Thanks. Glad I didn't totally bomb!

[11calls]

[With how he looked, Alex definitely made the decision to dial it back a bit. She didn't want to undo what progress he'd made that he could end up picking up a guitar and playing in public! Especially not when he was as good as he was, because he definitely was really good. Oh, Alex wasn't a musical critic by any means, but she'd been to perhaps more than her fair share of little places like this with musical acts, and she could tell the difference between someone who was good, and someone who wasn't. And he was.

That said, she let out a little wince when compared with his ex, so she made a mental note not to do it again. Instead she just took a sip of her own coffee and shook her head.]

I'm pretty sure that's the total opposite of bombing, actually! You did really great up there, Jeff! Seriously! I'm really impressed.

[A beat and Alex played her hipster card, with a broad grin.]

And I'm from Seattle, so... [She knows great small acts.]

[bardish]

[ Jeff catches the wince and is quick to explain: ] Oh! I didn't mean anything by that. He wasn't, y'know, a bad ex or anything.

[ Though there are some unpleasant memories linked with that relationship, but it's less that the relationship itself was a mess, and more that Jeff's life in general was a mess at the time. There's a reason you're not supposed to mix romance and rehab.

But he's smiling, easygoing, as Alex tells him how good he was. It's weird, how torn he feels between being proud of himself for just putting his talent out there, in some small way, for the first time since the demon incident, and feeling kind of pathetic that he's gone from screaming crowds in packed clubs to a coffeehouse open mic.

At least he can just listen to the praise, and take it as genuine. Even if Jeff sometimes feels like a loser, it's nice to know his friends don't see him as one. ]

So you know what you're talking about when it comes to music. [ He lifts his cup. ] And coffee!

IT'S NOT A DATE [Closed to: CAM & ATHENA]

[bardish]

[ It's kind of a date.

Anyway! After all the fretting and the frantic texts he shot to his friends here (and they're all his friends, whether they want to admit it or not, Richard), Jeff's finally as prepared as can be for this 'family' dinner with Mr. Waltz. And Athena! Athena's here, too, so it really can't even be a date by most standards of dating!

So.

Yeah.

Not a date. And Jeff's definitely not trying to impress-slash-entice Waltz by wearing an outfit engineered to hang well on his build, ie: a fitted black henley and stylish-but-totally-casual (TOTALLY. CASUAL.) jeans.

He's also not trying to impress Waltz with this home-cooked meal! It's just chicken, anyway, nothing big. A simple dish with shallots and white wine and cherry tomatoes, which looks fancier than it really is and totally doesn't scream I want you to like me so badly. The side's just a simple arugula salad. And, like, the bread isn't even homemade. It's from a nearby bakery, because like hell is Jeff or Athena going to try to fuck with yeast and the whole science of bread-baking.

So, as you can plainly see, Jeff definitely didn't put any effort into this dinner, because it's not a date, and how dare anyone imply otherwise!

Anyway, dinner's going pretty smoothly so far. The chicken turned out pretty great! Jeff's picking at it, Athena's chowing down, and Cam's being beautiful and perfect and h e l p-- ]

This is nice, huh? We should make this a regular thing!

[ Please ignore the slight strain of panic in Jeff's voice. ]

[enveloped]

It's lovely. Thank you for inviting me over. Best meal I've had all week.

[Cam sips his (nonalcoholic) beverage, a berry and hibiscus lemonade he whipped up the night prior and smiles.

It is nice. The food is good, but the company is better. Cam's already tired of eating alone. His new place has a kitchenette, but he has yet to use it. Most nights he walks along the strip until he finds someplace interesting, so he can dine by himself in the company of others. It's somewhat less depressing.

The promised avocado truffles sit on a cocoa dusted plate, neatly arranged into a pyramid. Dessert for later.

Cam lifts a forkful of chicken to his lips, chews, and swallows before speaking. his table manners are impeccable. His casual conversational skills? Not so much.

Beneath his calm exterior, there are nerves. Nerves about being pleasant company, when Jeff and Athena could just as easily choose to cut him out of their lives, and even more nerves being in the vicinity of Jeff Calhoun on a casual level.

It's the first time they've spent together outside of the classroom, and he can only hope they'll continue to get along. Jeff has a way of getting him hot under the collar.

Granted, the shirt Jeff's wearing is doing a decent job of that too.

Cam's chosen black jeans and a dove grey button-up for the night, sleeves expertly rolled up to his elbows. He made a point not to wear a suit, because this is a casual gathering, and he is being casual. That, and Athena would likely have teased him for it.]

Perhaps next time we could eat at my place. There's enough room, and I recently bought a dining set. Then I can cook for you two.

[citharede]

[ Athena probably hasn't been helping Jeff's nerves, what with the super subtle glances between the two of them.

But she's kept the conversation going, quizzing Cam about his job and coaxing Jeff into telling stories about his fellow teachers and some of the weird magical shit that tends to happen in a place dedicated to its study. ]

Hell yes. Feed me, Seymour. [ Even odds as to whether or not she actually knows what that's from. SHE'S NOT TELLING EITHER WAY.

Pls excuse as she finishes off her main course and starts to reach for one of the truffles (at the top, she's not an animal).

She pauses with her hand half-way there. ] Do we just grab or is there some fancy way to eat them?

[childofaxios]

[ Chyler is at the coffee shop, because it's the one she and Finn went to that night after they shared the nightmare, and she has an emotional attachment to it now.

It takes her a second to recognize Jeff in this context, because she didn't expect to see him... Doing things?? Being out in the open in front of people??

Anyway she didn't expect it.

She takes an open table and listens to him sing, watches the entire time unlike the people around her. When he finishes, she's one of the few who applauds with sincerity instead of politeness. She gets up after he finishes packing up, approaching him without any kind of shyness. It's how she do. ]

You have a very nice voice.

[bardish]

[ Oh, Chyler, how like his students you are. They don't think he exists outside of very particular circumstances, either. But sometimes Jeff does indeed do things in public!

...

Sort of.

Anyway, he's shooting a smile at Chyler, even though his knee-jerk reaction is to go through a brief internal scream session that mostly consists of "AAAA NO DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE ME!!" Which, obviously, he's not going to dump all over her. ]

Oh! Thanks. Good to know my voice isn't as rusty as the rest of me. [ A jest! Because he is SOOO OOOOLD. ]

[childofaxios]

[ She smiles at him, which is like. Her laugh, really. ]

My CO plays guitar. He sings, too, but not as well. [ A PAUSE. ] Don't tell him I said that, please.