heyfreemagic | (no subject)

[When shadows are living forces and your city is under attack, it's no surprise that some people are driven to drink. Those newly brought into the city have been dragged into an unfamiliar place away from their homes, pushed into a fight they know nothing about, and saddled with abilities they likely never asked for. It's a lot to take in.

The go-to method for Greg is to avoid making waves and just try to get along with other, normal people, while someone else can handle the issue. Unfortunately, none of the normal people seem to be willing to get along. For all his efforts, he can barely get one-word responses out of the best of them, and general disdainful looks from all. Not to say it's an unfamiliar circumstance, but with everything else it's all too much to deal with right now.

Greg hasn't drunk a whole lot since the birth of his kid, but his kid's not here, which is a conflicting matter all its own. He's nursing a beer alone at a table, tuning his guitar softly. The rest of the barflies don't seem happy to have him there, since, well, they're presumably here to drink and forget about all these foreigners. Still, they accepted the few crumpled bills from his wallet without too much complaint.

They may have to get used to sharing the space, should anyone else feel like coming for some pressure release.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Got me through the worst of my divorce.

[ It's grounding- familiar. Helps him think of home in a way that doesn't leave him embittered or upset, helps the bourbon go down smooth. A few lines in and he's settled back in his chair, humming a low, rough harmony. ]

[For a little while, it's just two tired men crooning their way through their exhaustion. It's nice, Greg thinks, to have a moment that can pass for normal.

After the song's done, Greg can't help but give a nervous peek around. Everything seems normal, and he sighs into a gulp of beer.]

It's Leonard, right?

Mhmm. Or Bones but- Don't think anyone here's gonna call me that. S'gonna be weird.

[ Probably better not to have the reminder of home. It'll just make being stuck here worse and the last thing he needs to do is worry about what the hell is going on while he's not there to keep the crew alive. ]

You play well, Greg. S'the first normal thing in this whole damn city.

Hey, if you're introducing yourself to everyone, you get to pick what they call you. Bones, Doc, Lenny, go wild!

[Coming from the guy whose name is Universe, he knows what's up.]

Hah, well. I'm a little out of practice, but, good enough for open mic night. Figure this place could do with a little up-tempo.

Anything but Lenny. My Ex called me that- hated it but she liked say'n it so I let her.

[Not the first or last thing he did to keep Joyce happy when he probably should've spoke up. Not that they talked enough when it mattered.

He is not drunk enough to get this maudlin, he'd rather settle in with Greg's good humor and just- forget about whatever's got them all here for a little while. ]

Speak'n of up tempo- know any Journey?

[Ah yes, thoughts of exes are hardly a step up from everything else going on. There's no choice; he's going to have to pull out the big guns for this one.

Greg leans in, conspiratorial.]

That depends, Mac; do you know any?

[He waggles his eyebrows and gives a strum. No fun belting alone, man.]

Do I know any? Do I- what kinda southern boy do you take me for?

[ Sure maybe not all southern boys know classic- archaic, technically- rock but he was a McCoy! They held onto that kinda stuff to keep 'em grounded. ]

All right, then prime up those pipes, 'cause we're going to have to take the midnight train! That goes for all the rest of you, too--sing along if you know the words!

[The bargoers do not appear at all in the singing mood, but no one's stopping him either. That's all Greg needs to start up some excited strumming.]

Just a small town girl,
Livin' in a lonely world!
She took the midnight train
Goin' a-ny-where!

[This is not a song you worry about keeping in tune for. Do not expect as much from him.]

You're on, Greg.

[ Bones has had just about enough to carry a tune happily and not give much of a damn about how loud he is, but not so much as to lose the same lazy harmony he had for the last song. Greg belts and he, well, he takes a little time to warm up to it. ]

Just a city boy,
Born and raised in South Detroit-
He took the midnight train
Goin' anywhere!

[This sounds a lot sillier with just an acoustic guitar backing up some half-baked singing. Good thing this is a shady bar and not a concert hall. If you can't be a mess here, where can you be? He gives the gathered, uninterested masses another grin at the next line.]

A singer in a smoky room, YEAH!
The smell of wine and cheap perfume!
For a smile they can share the night,
It goes on and on aND ON AND OOOOON!

[It's really been quite a long time since Greg's done any sort of performing in front of an audience, drunken and uninterested or not. Heck, this is a bigger crowd than most of his concerts ever got There's something liberating about it, taking it back to old days..]

Strangers waiting,
Up and down the boulevard-
Their shadows searching
In the niiii~iight

[ God it's been years since he's been done enough with everything that he quit worrying about what he looked like to other people. They don't know him, they don't like him, they don't want him- so fuck dignity. He takes another swig, drumming on the table to keep the beat. ]

Streetlight people,
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin' somewhere in the nIIIIIIIIIGHT!

[Can you play a wicked guitar solo while acoustic because GREG IS GONNA TRY. Everyone in the bar is going to have fun whether they like it or not]