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]

Jeff's similarity to Alex is probably why he enjoys Richard's company, prickliness, dedication to logic, and all. He's no stranger to it, really, his ex-wife being pretty similar. Nerds, man. He's drawn to them. He doesn't understand everything they talk about, and he's certainly not the most analytical person, but maybe it's their passion and dedication to something that Jeff finds so heartening.

As for that question... Jeff shrugs. In truth, yeah, she messaged him, but he would've stopped by, anyway, of his own accord. Maybe not today, but it would've been soon! As Jeff's official Very First Friend in Riverview, it's one of those inevitable things.

"I'm seriously hungry, and I seriously want your company." It's the truth! "The only reason I didn't call you first was because I can be very rude and inconsiderate."

Or, like, because he didn't want to give Strand a way to weasel out of socializing with him. See, he can be clever like that.

[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.

[nobasisinfact]

He looked up at Jeff, narrowing his brows for a moment. Rude and inconsiderate? Richard wasn't sure Jeff had the wherewithal to be either. Absentminded and having extremely poor judgment seemed more of an apt description.

He also noted that Jeff hadn't denied having been sent here by Alex, which, of course, he was. Richard had no questions about Alex's feelings or the fact that she worried and would do anything for him. He was exactly the same way (even if he didn't show it like she did). In his mind he knew that this whole thing was stupid. That he was being stupid and emotional. He was being a petulent child insisting that the woman he loved be as pathetic as he had been for over twenty years of searching and hoping that his wife would return. That logic and knowledge didn't make the fact of it hurt any less. It didn't make it feel like less of a betrayal, and it didn't make him less apt to saying something he didn't want to out of that emotion.

Logic also dictated that, like that night when Coralee left, he needed to talk to someone, and, unfortunately, Jeff was there. He wasn't Alex, but it wasn't as if Richard could talk to Alex about this without a fight. Without his armor being pulled up tighter than she'd really seen it before.

"I assume Alex told you everything. About, Coralee, and about the fight." He's sure she did. There's no way that Alex wouldn't tell Jeff everything.

[bardish]

Figuring he's not about to get kicked out of the office now, Jeff moves further into the office, since he doesn't exactly want to spend this entire conversation leaned up against the door. Especially if somebody tries to open it! That would just be awkward.

"She didn't, no." And Jeff's one of the worst liars in the world, so at least it'd be obvious if he were lying right now. But, Alex was clearly pretty guilty about what she called her 'big mouth,' and hadn't told him what the fight was about, exactly, only that there was one, and it was bad. "So the ball's in your court if you want to talk about it. Otherwise we can just hang out and talk abouuuut..." He cranes his neck, looking around the office, for some conversation piece. "Uh. Whatever you're in the mood to talk about."

There is totally other furniture if Jeff wants to sit

[nobasisinfact]

He didn't, want to talk about it. He didn't want to talk about anything or think about anything for that matter. He wanted to go back to being ignorant of the whole thing. A thing he couldn't even wholeheartedly call a transgression since there was nothing concrete between them in the first place. The only problem with that was the emotions that he knew were pointless and unfounded that were still causing his chest to feel like it was being ripped apart from the inside.

And Jeff, he knew, was informed about most of his life already. He also seemed to be surprisingly good at sticking around. A trait that had endeared Alex to Richard a few years ago. After all, it wasn't that he disliked people, he just disliked getting close to them. They were always a disappointment and a waste of time when they inevitably betrayed or abandoned you. Jeff would eventually disappear, but that was a foregone conclusion in the situation they were in. For the moment though, he didn't seem as if he were planning on abandoning them because of demon nonsense and everything else that came with being involved with him and Alex.

"Coralee is my wife." There's no ex there, no dead wife, just wife. It's a fact that hasn't stopped being true even though he knew things were over. Knew she would never come back to him, and knew that he didn't really want her to come back. Not after knowing what she'd done, to him, and more importantly, to Charlie. "Before we were married, she had a, transgression, with a Baptist minister. Four months ago Alex had a two-night stand with a man named John." Probably the one who sold Jeff the furniture. Richard wasn't sure if that made it better or worse.

[bardish]

Briefly, his gaze settles on the mug on Richard's desk, brows lifting as he sees the words 'Proud Dad,' before he goes ahead and takes a seat adjacent to Richard. When he hears about the wife-- and yeah, no 'ex' or 'late'-- that certainly puts it into even more context, so he's not totally surprised by the admission.

It's the rest that throws him for a loop. The affair with a Baptist minister, and Alex sleeping with somebody named John. Which, okay, that's a common name, but the only John he knows here is John Sheppard, who he's hung out with a few times. Boy, it'd sure be awkward if everyone's connected like that.

"Ohhh..."

Say something else, Jeff.

"And you guys were-- ah..." He searches for something to say, trying to figure out where all the pieces fit together. He knows Alex was here before Richard, but he doesn't know all the details, how far apart their arrivals were staggered, if they were a couple or not in her time or his-- all this arrival-by-portal shit can be really confusing! Plus there's the whole 'wife' thing, and wherever she fits. "You were already together when she did that?"

[nobasisinfact]

"No." Richard knew that admitting to that made him seem like a petty and jealous lover. He was being one, after all, no matter how you looked at it. Which was why he was so angry with himself, why he knew he shouldn't be taking this stupidity out of Alex, and why he'd left to sort it out on his own. There were, a lot of things that upset, no, annoyed him about the situation as it stood, but one very strong one came to mind.

"But she's using her belief that I wouldn't love her as an excuse." Not just accepting that it happened, but putting the blame of it, of something that really needed no blame, onto him. At first, it had been the fact of it, that she would use the same type of flirting that was at the core of what was them with another man, but as he thought about it something deeper had taken root. It was the immediate guilt that she had when she realized why he was upset. It was the use of her uncertainty of his feelings as a justification for doing it. They weren't together, no, but it seemed clear that in her mind it was almost like cheating.

[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.

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?

[bardish]

Well, emotions can be stupid. And for a moment, he figures it's just that simple: Richard's a guy who's not down with the illogical, and he needs help parsing that shit, because emotions can be messy, and irrational, and downright uncooperative.

But then he gets to the real root of the issue-- at least, from his perspective (god, there's so much here for those two to unpack)-- and Jeff... well. He can't blame the guy for feeling upset. Richard doesn't have to explain why Alex's excuse got to him; by framing it like 'Well, I did it because you wouldn't love me,' it was shifting the blame to Richard. Passing the buck! Totally unfair.

Of course, he doesn't know if that's really how Alex was feeling about the whole thing. If she's anything like Jeff (which she sure seems to be), it's likely she was just flustered and shoving her foot in her mouth. He knows from yeaaars of experience how easy to say something you don't really mean, don't even think through, in an attempt to fix things. How you can, with the best of intentions, really hurt your partner a hundred different ways.

"Like... it's your fault," he ventures, just to make sure they're on the same page here. "Do you think she really believes that?"

It's a genuine question, asked without judgment. He's not pushing for any particular answer or admission here.

[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. ]

[nobasisinfact]

It takes a moment as he thinks that through. Unfortunately, the answer isn't the one that would make things better. "Yes." Richard is pretty sure that Alex really does believe it. She'd repeated it more than once; how John was because he wasn't here, how she thought Richard wouldn't love her, so Alex slept with him, how she'd done it because he'd mentioned Coralee the last time they'd been together. There had been too many repeats of the same belief for it to simply be a slip of the tongue. "There were, multiple times she implied the sentiment."

He frowned, finally taking a drink from the glass. "Alex and I are complicated, even at the best of times. And I don't expect anyone to understand, but she can be, irrational. It's highly likely that she believes that the reason is my fault." Isn't it often his fault? Her telling everyone about his past, his personal and private history which she knew he didn't want to be known had also been his fault for not being here. For not telling her not to say. Never mind the fact that she continued to do so even after he'd told and asked her to stop, several times.

[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.

[citharede]

[ That's fair. She doesn't like it, but she understands. What if he had told her, and then he hadn't been able to go through with it? What if he'd frozen up, or something bad had happened?

She would have wanted to be there for anything bad, but... she still gets why he wouldn't want her to be, too. ]

Of course you could do it.

[ She sounds cavalier, but there's still worry on her face. Athena punches his knee lightly. ]

You'd better tell me next time.

[ She looks out at the coffeehouse patrons as the next musician starts singing. They're not paying attention to that guy, either. ]

Don't these assholes know what it takes to sing in front of people?

[bardish]

[ Jeff huffs out a short laugh. Athena has all the faith in the world in him, because of course she would. (Just like Mel would, if she were here.) She's only known him as an adult who (MORE OR LESS) has all his shit together. She hadn't even been born yet back when he'd crashed and burned so hard it's a wonder he's even come back from it. She never saw him sloppy drunk or actually high-- high on shit a whole lot harder than pot. And she sure as hell never watched the trainwreck that was Jeff Calhoun pissing away what could have been a promising music career.

Athena doesn't know him at his highest highs or his lowest lows; she only heard the stories. ]

I will. Promise.

[ He means it!

Jeff nudges Athena with his shoulder, smiling at her protectiveness. ]

Probably not. But... C'mon. They're not assholes. They just didn't come here for this.

[ And honestly, Jeff's grateful for the patrons who didn't pay attention to the open mic performances. He doubts he could've gone through with this if all eyes and ears were on him.

He's quiet, though, as the guy starts to sing. Nice voice, great potential, but he seems hesitant and nervous, and you can hear it. And the lyrics, uh. They could use some work! But there's a sincerity in his singing, an earnestness, that Jeff admires. God, he might even envy it. That's one thing he knows he held back on, here, tonight. In terms of like, rhythm and melody and harmony-- y'know, just sounding lovely-- Jeff was good. (He knows he was, and false modesty's bullshit.) He was good, but he wasn't open. He held back and kept himself guarded, and he suspects if anyone in the audience picked up on it, she's sitting next to him right now.

When there's a lull between songs, Jeff leans over to Athena. ]

Want to go for a walk when he's done?

[ Because he's still antsy, and they've got shit to talk about, but he really doesn't want to just walk out in the middle of a performance! ]