No Lost Love - (For the IFers!)

[Anonymous]

A bunch of pigs.

All of them.

Jace’s eye twitched and he snarled at the hall way. He could understand them having messy rooms, but for it to be bad enough to leak into the hall way? Geeze. Oh well, it’s laundry now! Jares had laundry duty this week, Jace couldn’t remember if he’d updated the List’O’Chores stuck to the fridge, but he’d check once he went downstairs to put the scree from the rooms into the basket. It always surprised him when he found frilly skirts. He knew Pari liked using them for on the stage, but it was still weird to find in a house full of men. Boys… Men? Jace shook his head when he bent down to grab the clothing and put it into the crook of one arm.

Fresh wet hair stuck to his face and wrapped around his arm.  Jace was still straight out of the shower, topless with his long hair no longer dripping, but damp and sticking to his shoulders and arms. Rolling his eyes skyward, Jace found himself at the stair case, well… That must have meant he had everything! A sock, a skirt, a sweat band, a shirt – pink with flowers and hearts on it, Jace wasn’t quite sure who it belonged to – and some plaid boxers. Jace rose his eyebrow at those. Oh well, laundry. Just… Had to keep them on the top of the pile so he didn’t touch them, he could swear he saw a questionable stain.

Plain gray socked feet made his decent down the stairs quiet except for the odd complaint from the old house, but that wouldn’t wake anyone up. Of course, Jace was assuming they were sleeping. He didn’t want to assume anything else, it might make him want to meet the wall with his face.

Cory always made Jace want to introduce the two. The wall and his face, that is. This week was his turn the clean the bathroom, he’d have to remember that after he threw the laundry into the clothes hamper. A sharp turn to the left and the laundry room was on the right, the front door was a little farther and on the left. He loved this big house, it was so… Big. Two floors, not counting the basement they used as the sound room. Very likely the most expensive room in the house. Well, maybe besides Pari’s, that kid had some taste and splurged.

Then again… Jace’s mind wandered off, picking out which each of the boyo’s had that was expensive as he threw the clothes into the hamper and went to his own room. Jace took his parents old room, it was on the first floor in it’s own little corner, while he never one for being selfish, having a room not on the same floor as Cory was a god send. He’s never had to hear him sneak the girls into the house, screw ‘em, then kick ‘em out.  Cory’s room wasn’t even above his, so that was a pretty sweet deal too.

He’d found a turtle neck sweater and put that on before finding a hair tie and making a pony tail of his long black hair and sauntered off into the kitchen after closing his door.  Green eyes took a peek at the clock and he rolled his eyes and made a face. It was eleven am, and as far as he knew, no one was up yet, bunch of lazy bums. Might as well make breakfast for himself, he could just add more if anyone else came down stairs.

Then the sheet of paper on the fridge made him stop and stare. A frown flashed across his handsome face and he reached out to pluck the paper off the fridge. The List’O’Chores. Vaughans name was still on it. Jace swallowed the lump in his throat as he looked down at it, his eyebrows drawing together and he blinked away the moisture at his eyes. It felt so hard, having someone taken away like that. They all knew it was bound to happen, Vaughan had been freaking them out by reading little things from their minds for months before.

Though, there was an upside. Pilots knew about IF. It was a bit of a morbid way to look at it, but once they got a new singer they could start again. “Shit, we’ll have to get a new singer.” It’d been a few weeks already, they’d have to cancel a few gigs, luckily none at anywhere amazing but… Still…

Jace sat down at the kitchen table with a loud sigh and slouched, staring at the piece of paper and frowned at it. He’d have to fix it.

After everyone woke up and poked him to make breakfast. Hmm… Leaving the paper on the table, he loped down to the basement and looked for his guitar, this would be a nice wake up call for ‘em! A smirk played on his lips when he turned everything on and let his fingers pluck along the strings, a melodic tune, but with enough annoying high pitched notes to keep someone from sleeping peacefully.

He’d left the door open so it’d carry up the stairs and annoy the rocks of the house.

Jace wasn’t one for imagination, but he thought he was being pretty awesome by playing the guitar instead of smacking their doors, he’d just play louder and more annoyingly, maybe even badly, if no one woke up and told him to shut up with the damn guitar playing.

[Anonymous]

Cory was well and truly awake. He’d been awake for about a half hour actually, and for the last fifteen minutes he’d been getting in a little quiet morning workout. Quiet because he’d heard Jocie poking about, and didn’t want to get yelled at if he could help it.

He took his hand off the girls mouth, which had been stifling the little moaning sounds she made every time he thrust his hips up towards her, once he heard Jocies footsteps going down the stairs. She was cute, just like the other two still asleep on either side of him. No tits to speak of, but it was a fabulous ass he was currently holding in both hands. She kissed him, now that her mouth was again free, both arms wrapped around his neck. He slapped her rump firmly with one hand, making her squeak and shudder. This one liked to be spanked, and he was happy to oblige. Fine ass like that, who wouldn’t want to be spanked?

Jace hated him bringing girls home. He had no idea why. Well, he had quite a good idea why, he just thought it was stupid. Just because he chose to be a good little boy and just love his own hand shouldn’t mean Cory had to as well. His long tongue explored the girls mouth, literally wrapping around her own.

All of a sudden a piercing tune shot into Cory’s ears, making his face scrunch up. Damnit Jace! Captain Clean apparently wanted them up, which was silly because it was only (he glanced at the clock) eleven.

“Uh…baby? Get off please. Come on baby, get off.”

She moaned in reply. “Ooooh yeah Cory, I’m getting off!!”

“No, I mean get off me! Get off before Jocie comes up and finds you.”

He felt her shudder and tighten, rolling muscular spasms rushing through her. Which all would have been good fun, if Cory’s hard on hadn’t just totally been ruined by Jace.

Once she was done her lifted her up and placed her on top of his tail, which was running down the bed and sitting on the floor. He kissed each of the other two girls, telling them it was time to leave, and then slid out of bed.

He watched them dress in their short little skirts and tight tops. All the same, with an IF logo printed on the front. They were friends, apparently, though he’d never really asked. They were just talking as if they knew each other now.

With his junk once again stowed in its little hole Cory didn’t bother to put on clothing as he followed his girls down the stairs. The coast was still clear, no one else in sight, as far as he could tell. Jace was the only one he’d have to watch out for.

At the door he kissed each of them goodbye, accompanied by a form breast and butt grope. They’d all left their panties in his room, to add to his collection, so right now they were going commando. Nice. He watched them go, warmed by the thought anyone walking behind them would get a great view of some ass and pussy. He hoped it was old people.

Cory slid to the kitchen, standing at the table and waiting. If Jace had woken them all up he was damn well making breakfast. Cooked breakfast too, with bacon and eggs. And of course, Cory had been woken up. He certainly hadn’t been having sex. No sir.

[Anonymous]

Normally Pari was up by 11, but he had been up late last night. He was still not sleeping well, with his normal bed partner gone. Vaughan had been just next door and the pixie's favorite person to curl up with. Vaughan had nightmares too, he had understood. So one or the other of them was always crawling into bed with the other one. There had even been one amusing night they had met in the hallway.

Pari frowned at the memory. Stupid Vaughan. Stupid, stupid Vaughan. How could he go and leave Pari like that? Pari knew it wasn't really the singers fault, but it still upset him. And Vaughan would be getting a package soon with a poster of Pari and a letter.

The pixie jerked upright as the wailing of the guitar reached him, eyes wide. That...would be Jace. Pari perked up, fluttering his wings happily. That meant breakfast. Throwing the covers off and skipping out the door in his silky red shorts and a white tank top, Pari headed for the basement.

Once the guitarist was in sight, the tiny male threw himself at Jace, his arms latching around his neck, "Jaaaaaaacy! I want breakfast!"

[Anonymous]

An arched eyebrow tweaked up when he felt a cool draft. Instantly his face drew into a frown, Cory…  That kid just did not seem to grasp that this was his house, and his house had rules. Jace looked a the cord and, while playing, walked up the stairs to peek up at the front door. And saw some lovely naked bottom and a familiar hand. A particular twang cut through the music and Jace frowned and went back down the stairs and continued to play, the tune not losing any of its melody and Jace’s fingers plucking at the strings just as they were before.

Of course they stopped when something barreled and clung around his neck. Well, someone had woken up, and he’d gotten glomped to boot. That meant he was going to put the guitar down and start breakfast… And yell at Cory for breaking the rules. Swallowing what little angry he could muster towards Cory he gently pulled Pari from around his neck, turned off the amp and put the guitar back onto it’s stand.

Then, in one fell swoop he wrapped his arms around Pari and made snarly noises in his ear. “Breakfast?! You want breakfast?” Jace smiled and scooped Pari up bridal style careful of his wings and went up the stairs, two a time. Of course not before turning the light of. Jace locked the front door in passing ha, more proof to smack Cory in the face with. Another quick hug to Pari and he put him down just outside the kitchen on the carpet and sent a brilliant green glare towards Cory.

In his turtle neck and pants, Jace went about the kitchen, getting out pans and bowls and pancake mix. He was extra loud when he pulled out the knives to cut up Jares’s fruit – putting them off to the side to cut the fruit fresh if Jares would ever grace them with his presents - and when he put the skillet over the oven element he made sure it clattered.  He shot a look over his shoulder, “I could have sworn I said no ‘guests’ without prior permission.” Jace’s voice was cold as he went about the kitchen pulling bacon out of the freezer and eggs from the fridge, enough for everyone, maybe too much.

It was hard to get used to not have Vaughan around. Pari and Vaughan would usually be up at around the same time. Vaughan didn’t exactly glomp Jace, but he’d be off the side smiling and shaking his head. Bah. Jace took a deep breath and looked at the raw material for breakfast.

” Cory.” Jace turned around to look down at the blonde haired snake bodied bassist, “ I don’t like being lied to, I hate that you sneak weird girls into my house even more.” Jace, spatula in hand, pointed at Cory, “ This is my house, these are my rules.” To emphasize his point, Jace waved the spatula at his face, “ If you don’t like them, you can leave.”

Jace turned around and took out some bread, popping two slices in before he snarled, “ We’ve already lost our singer, I don’t think losing a bassist at this point will be much of a blow.” His voice was quiet and he cracked the eggs over the skillet, until the pan was full of slowly cooking egg, scrabbled. Like usual.

A sigh and Jace looked over his shoulder and smiled towards Pari, “Do you want toast or pancakes?” Pancakes, probably, but it was nice to check.

[Anonymous]

Rather than deal with Cory, one of the residents decided to do something else. Like get the hell out of the house away from all that...noise. The Naga might have believed he had been quiet sneaking the dumb bitches into the house and having sex with him but...he wasn't entirely human himself. He had good senses. Senses that sometimes got really disturbed by the fact that there was a lot of noises coming from the room beside his. So he got dressed in his best suit and left to enjoy Haviah. Just as he always did. Of course, this resident usually got up at three in the morning anyway to go out and scout about.

This resident in question was Mitt Toque, the manager of Indigenous Fairy. Being the manager was a tough job, not as tough as the actual band of course, they had their work cut out for them. He just had to ensure that he had a lot of contacts, he had a lot of people in his PDA, and in his brain. Success was having good people in the band, and a good Manager, one who could advertise and land them jobs. To think they had been a simple little garage band, and now people knew them, wore their merchandise, bought their music.

The young Tiefling was dressed in his deep crimson suit, the soft material hugging his body, the tailcoat all buttoned up and a lavender tie tucked inside. The trousers matched the colour of the blazer, and the shoes were simple black, nothing too extraordinary. His brown hair, which looked more like a dark red as well was gelled in a messy style, managing to look...interesting on him. All the dark colours helped to bring out the gold rings of his eyes, which reflected brightly when struck by light. Almost like an animal's would. If one were to look very carefully on his forehead they might see his little black horns, which he took great pains to hide. Some of the members joked he should just cut them off but...they were his horns. That'd be like getting them to cut a finger off.

Which none of the band members would do.

People were already up, and Mitt really...really could have used a nice strong drink. He had been going around to music stores and late night cafes, handing out his holo-business card to people. He had to make contacts after all. His holodex just grew every time that he went out. His goal was to make everyone in Haviah know the name Indigenous Fairy, and hopefully have even other races come from their planets to see them. That would be amazing.

He had some very odd dreams concerning aliens in warships travelling across the galaxy only to stop at earth and simply watch the band play before they went off to war.

Sent shivers down his spine.

The sounds and smells of the kitchen alerted him to where some people might be. Hopefully just Jace and Pari. Of course when he sauntered up to the kitchen door he noted Cory was there. No doubt Jace was putting him in his place. He managed to catch a little bit of the ah...end of it no doubt. That would give him a very nice opening. And to tell everyone that there was a lot of bassists in Haviah.

"He wouldn't even be that hard to replace, bassists are a credit a dozen. Always seein' posters for a bassist wherever I go." Mitt had a rather nice voice. Had he taken the time to learn, he could have been a singer, but that wasn't his destiny. The Fiendish blood and heritage made him good with numbers, great for business. He hadn't a clue why. Besides, he couldn't see himself up there on stage singing, that was just...way too scary.

"I'm sure if we needed to we could put three on the payroll for the same amount as Cory." Mitt went straight for the coffee machine, pouring himself out a very big mug of it. He added nothing, and he pretty much drank it right like that, despite its boiling quality. It might have burned a lesser man but...not Mitt.

"I might have lined up a gig for the coming future. Some club owner wanted a live band to perform at his place, so we might want to start...practising and finding a replacement for Vaughan..." Ugh. That would be just...horrid. Vaughan had been really good at what he did, and now he was gone. That really didn't sit well with Mitt. It didn't sit well for anyone in the band no doubt, and the fans...oh the lamenting of the fans. He had almost wondered if some had tried to attack the ATC. That would have been hilarious. Er. Sorta. Kinda. Ahem.

"So, you making us breakfast now, dear, because Daddy could go for some waffles." Mitt grinned toward Jace, tapping his finger on the side of his cup. There were words on the mug. Words that read something. Something that said "World's Greatest Dad" to be exact. Mitt might have bought this cup just so he could tease Jace.

[Anonymous]

Beaming brightly at Jace, Pari was not at all fazed by the playful growling from Jace, "Yes! Breakfast! Pari wants lots of tasty breakfast! Jace is the best cook!"

As he was scooped up, Pari giggled loudly and threw his arms tightly around Jace's neck, nuzzling his cheek against the taller males, "Yay! Pari the princess!" He carefully shifted his wings, not wanting the delicate membranes to get accidentally crushed, though most of the members of the household were good about it.

Once in the kitchen, Pari slid out of Jace's arms and took a seat at the table, starting to scoop large spoonfuls of sugar into a glass of water. It was a pixie thing, he loved sugar water and milk and honey and cream. Though his expression got a bit less happy and more tense as he listened to Jace lecture Cory.

Mitt arriving got Pari to perk up for a moment. Until the manager spoke, then Pari was looking upset again, "Hey! Both of you stop talking about that right now! We are not kicking Cory out of the band just because he can't keep his penis in his..." Pari paused, having been about to say pants. But nagas don't really wear pants, "Um....tail."

He stuck a straw into his tooth rottingly sweet water, glaring at Cory, "Which isn't to say you shouldn't be in trouble. It's gross when you bring those girls here. Go sleep with them at their place." Which was what Pari did. He refused to bring any of the people he slept with over. They weren't every worth of meeting Pari's family in his opinion.

The small half pixie huffed, glaring at all three of them, "So you all suck. We already lost....lost Vaughan. We shouldn't lose anyone else." Pari did not like it when people left, not at all. It was just slightly better then being alone. And while he knew they weren't really serious, Pari was still twitchy from Vaughan leaving. Pari didn't like it when people left.

Another frown crossed his face at Mitt's comment about needing another lead singer and the boys wings dropped. He didn't want to replace Vaughan, and while Pari was a good singer with a huge range, he lacked the power and force to be a lead singer. But he knew it had to happen.

"And pancakes! Pancakes are way better then waffles! Cause pancakes can have shapes!"

[Anonymous]

Cory gave his best innocent look when Jace glared, hoping that he’d just assumed Cory had done something wrong and that he didn’t know anything. The key was to deny everything until you were presented with solid proof, until then, lie lie lie.

He sat very calmly and very still as Jace fiddled about with the breakfast, trying not to look guilty in any way. Every clang and clatter made him shrink down a little, tying the knot in his stomach a little tighter each time.

When Jace spoke, Cory hunched his shoulders. Trying to breathe deliberately, he focused on the fact that he still might be guessing.

In response to his name, Cory twisted to face Jace, blurting out, “I don’t know what you’re talking about I didn’t…” He was cut off. His eyes crossed as he watched the spatula warily, prepared dot dodge a smack to the face. He really didn’t see what Jocie’s problem was with him bringing girls home occasionally; it wasn’t like they made a mess or much noise.

Cory tried to defend himself again, but Jace ploughed on in his tirade, this time, as far as Cory was concerned, taking it too far. He felt a deep, ancient instinct to lash out and bite Jace at that moment. He didn’t have any kind of venom or anything, so it would have been largely pointless and probably get him in even more strife.

Before he could let out a snide retort Mitt piped up with yet another of his insightful little comments, causing Cory to give him a slit eyed stare. He was about to respond again when Pari threw in his two cents. Before anyone else could talk over him he yelled, jabbing a finger towards the pixie, “Yeah! What she…uh, he said.” Calling Pari a girl at this point probably wasn’t going to help his cause. His mood towards the effeminate guitarist changed some when he too started getting angry. Bah! Everyone was against him.

Planting his chin on the table in front of him Cory grunted, “Bacon. Lot’s of bacon. Not that anyone asked me.”

So he was being rude. Everyone was against him, and he didn’t much feel like being nice to Jace at the moment. If stupid Vaughan hadn’t gone and been psychic then everything would have been better. He hadn’t been attacked so much when Vaughan was still here, but now with everyone feeling irate, Cory was the scapegoat. Well, that’s how he saw things anyway.

[Anonymous]

Scramble eggs, put them in a big bowl, put the bowl in the over so they stay warm while the rest of the stuff was cooking. The bacon was frying away in another pan, fat sizzling and spitting at his arm when he reached to turn the element down, glad for the big sweater he was wearing, it might sting if some of that splashed his skin. Jace sighed and pushed his bangs from his face, leaning down to check on the eggs while Mitt prattled on about bassists. Untrue. Cory was irreplaceable, but… It was getting so tiring. Jace leveled Mitt with a brilliant green glare then pointed the Dreaded Spatula at him.

“You get pancakes, waffles need a device that I’m not digging out.” And back to the bacon the spatula went.

While Jace stirred the batter and flipped over the already semi-cooked pancakes in the old egg-pan. One done. Fifty-billion to go. Maybe waking everyone up at the same time was a bad idea, Jares didn’t count, he just had to cut up some fruit for the guy. Jace looked into the oven again to check on the eggs, make sure it was warm in there and not cooking. Should have made those last. Oh well.

Second pancake done.

Jace sighed and flopped a few more pancakes onto the plate. Cory didn’t deserve to be treated badly. Everyone was on edge after losing Vaughan. “Well find another singer. And we’re not getting rid of Cory.” Jace moved the spatula to the bacon pan and tilted it, causing all of the grease to fall to one side. Off into a little jar for later it went and off to the side to keep it from getting smashed. Then onto its own plate, covered in paper towels to soak up the rest of the grease. Blegh. Jace wasn’t a huge fan of bacon, one or two pieces was good for him.

“Cory is part of the family, just as much as the rest of us are.” With the bacon in its spot on the kitchen counter, Jace moved that into the oven too, still warm. Jace looked towards the growing pile of pancakes, that had to be enough… “ It isn’t fair to Cory if we take it out on him.” Jace turned off all the elements and put an oven mitt on before retrieving the eggs in their bowl and the plate of bacon.

Another huff and he put the two plates and the bowl of food on the table. “Sorry if the eggs are gross,” he said before he went to the fridge and got everything that usually went with breakfast. Whipping cream for Pari and his pancakes.

“We seriously need to discuss replacing Vaughan though.” He looked pointedly at Pari when he spoke next, “I know you miss him, and I know you can send him mail and what-not, don’t tell him” He gave a bit of a glare to Cory, he was the one who’d tell Vaughan to spite the rest of them. “Please.”

Taking a breath and looking at the kitchen table, he went and got a mug from the cupboard, poured coffee in it, sugar and cream, and leaned against the counter and watched them. “There’s breakfast, kiddies, eat up. Once you’re done we can have a serious discussion about what we’re going to do.” Jace flicked his eyes towards the ceiling, “Or once Jares wakes up.”

[Anonymous]

"Talking like what Pari? I was simply stating some observations I had noticed during my nightly walk. That's all. The fact that it was relevant to the conversation was sheer coincedence." Well. Part of it had been, but that was more of an indirect threat toward Cory. Don't address him, but make sure he overhears and knows who is being talked about. Heh. Almost like a dog. They knew when you were talking about taking them to the vet or for a walk after all. Cory was at least as smart as a dog. Though, Mitt could never recall his own canine companion ever bringing home sleazy bitches, sneaking them in and fucking them while everyone apparently slept.

Mitt raised an eyebrow slightly at the glare and the dreaded spatula that was now pointing at him. He even gulped, perhaps a little afraid. "But the waffles are better..." Mitt muttered as he looked down at his stomach. "Sorry buddy, Mommy says we get pancakes. Yes I know, but when mommy puts out, other parts of us are happier, so we make do. The needs of the many and such." Mitt raised his eyes back at Jace, grinning all the while.

MItt chuckled as he shook his head. "Right, you think I'm transferring my anger of losing Vaughan into anger for Cory bringing women into the house to screw noisly beside my bedroom." Yeah, he didn't need to transfer any anger for that at all. Smiling though he started to drink his coffee again. Mitt took a seat, ready to start on some good home cooking courtesy of Jace. "The eggs look fine." Mitt told him as he got a plate and started to put some food onto it.

"I'm sure that Vaughan will know if we get another singer. I think he's expecting it. Though you're right, it's best not to add that little stresser to Vaughan." Mitt didn't want to hear about Vaughan being shipped off to TRIM. He'd rather in three years have Vaughan show up on the doorstep with his dragon saying he passed. Not go looking in the records and see he was transferred to TRIM. That could not go at all well...not for anything of them.

"Okath, ather bleakthath then." Mitt nodded, his mouth full of pancake as he chewed with a big grin on his face. So maybe the pancakes were actually really good. Still waffles would have been delicious too. All waffly and crunchy. Well, if he wanted waffles, he'd have to make them, and really that was a chore. Plus he wasn't the best cook. He could make some killer sandwiches but that's only because no cooking was involved. Well. He could do grilled cheese. Mmm. That would be lunch for sure.

After swallowing the current pancake mush in his mouth he looked to Jace. "Shouldn't you have something too Jace? I know you waaaant to." Mitt held up a piece of bacon, his tongue coming out to lick along it before he brought it into his mouth and chewed the crunchy meat, making a rather exaggerated moaning noise then grinning at Jace again. "Come sit on Daddy's lap and have something to eat Jace."

[Anonymous]

Pari huffed slightly, still a little on edge at all the anger fluttering around the room. He just wanted things nice and happy. And he wanted Vaughan back, badly. He missed his best friend a lot. But he did feel a little bad for snapping at everyone. Well, not that badly for snapping at Cory. Cory was mean. He stuck his tongue out at the naga, "I'm not a girl stupid."

Pari softened when he glanced over at Mitt. The pixie could never stay angry long, not even with Cory, "Well...okay then. Just as long as you weren't trying to say Cory was getting kicked out. And yay pancakes!" Pari's arms raised into the air and his face split into a huge smile.

Pari's happy mood slowly diminished even as Jace was flipping pancakes. He hated this. He hated how it felt like everything was getting ripped apart. Why did that stupid pilot have to go and ruin everything? The pixie's wing dropped slightly and he stared down at his plate.

Jace was still talking and he tuned back in, only half listening. The small boy gave a small nod, "Yeah. Pari wont tell. I promise." Pari didn't want a new singer, but he knew they had to get another one. Or IF would die. Fans were fickle and they were still small.

But there were pancakes now. And bacon, though Pari didn't really eat a lot of meat. He might have a slice, but currently he was happy piling his plate high with the fluffy cakes. And then covering them in syrup and whipped cream and butter. If there had been honey, that would have gone on the pile as well.

Shoveling food into his mouth, the pixie was trying to cheer up. Think happy thoughts. Vaughan would be back in three years! Yeah! And maybe they could go visit him! The thought that Vaughan would end up in TRIM didn't even cross his mind. Pari was positive that him friend could do anything.

Swallowing he tilted his head at Mitt, licking his lips clean of any residue sticky, "What is after breakfast?" He blinked his bright gold eyes, "We are looking for new singers after breakfast. Isn't, isn't that...so soon..." Pari trailed off, looking down. He knew it wasn't too soon. They really should have started looking for a new one already.

But Pari would not give in! He wouldn't! Things would be fine and the time would fly by and he could see Vaughan again! Forcing a perky smile on his face he watched Mitt tease Jace, giving a small laugh.

[Anonymous]

All was forgotten when the smell of delicious bacon filled Cory’s nostrils. When Jace placed the food on the table Cory dug in, fork already in hand in preparation. After shovelling over half the bacon greedily onto his plate, he quickly put some back, looking a little ashamed of himself. He didn’t take any pancakes, and instead just started hoeing into his bacon pile.

Feeling Jocie’s glare hitting the back of his neck, Cory swivelled and mumbled, “What?” through a mouthful of fried pig. After a little wide eyed shake of his head he turned back and swallowed. It wasn’t as if he’d tell Vaughan out of spite or anything, yeesh.

Mitt being a dick wasn’t helping either, and while his mood was being improved again with each new bite of delicious bacon Cory still seethed inside. Damn Mitt, being such a jerk.

They did desperately need a new singer though, and a good one. Everyone knew that the lead singer really made the band, so in order to keep their fan base they’d need someone who was actually better than Vaughan, and Vaughan was pretty damn good. Finding someone who could not only tackle the same vocal range as Vaughan, but also make it sound better was going to be a challenge. A long, boring challenge.

Coming in as Pari finished Cory said, “How do we even do it anyway? Do we like…put up posters and hope someone good comes along after we wade through all the shit people?”

Damn Mitt. Cory just wanted to scream ‘You’re a jerk and you’re not funny!’ at him, but resisted because that would just cause Jocie to have another hissy fit.

[Rhi-Rhi]

[Sorry for being lame and taking so long! xD Aaand...sorry for the suck.]

Always one to be fashionably late, Jares strolled into the kitchen. He would have come a lot sooner, and he almost had, but halfway there he'd heard the unmistakable sounds of bickering and so he'd backtracked and decided to take a shower first instead. Arguments. Ick. While playful bickering was all good fun, when things got serious and real tempers flared he liked to try and just avoid it.

Especially when all the anger was no doubt over Vaughan. Jares knew avoidance wouldn't solve anything, but he just didn't want to think about it right now, about how much he missed the kid and worried about what would happen to him in that nasty place. Images flashed through his head of failed candidates being ground up in giant food processors for use as dragon food--what did dragons eat, anyway? They were huge!--though he knew that was silly because they were sent to TRIM. Not much better.

Whatever. Not thinking about it right now.

The atmosphere still felt a little...heavy and tense, but everyone's mood seemed to be a bit lighter than before. Flashing a fanged grin at Cory, who looked pissy, Jares pulled out a chair next to the naga and sank down into it, waving at Pari and Mitt in the process before he covered his mouth in a long yawn. Always a late riser, but he had an excuse--he was a vampire and those guys were usually nocturnal. Sure he wasn't the standard sort, but that was his story and he was sticking to it.

"Sooo...what's up y'all?" he asked, leaning on his elbows, which were placed on the table. Screw manners. His red-brown hair, long and layers and coming down past his shoulders, was still wet and tangled from his shower, and there were random streaks of color running throughout it in all the standard colors of the rainbow. Beads of water were still sprinkled along his back and shoulders and...

...He also wasn't dressed in anything but a tie-dye towel wrapped around his waist and tied in a knot at the hip. It was another testament to Jares' laziness. If he was just lounging around the house, there was no real reason to get dressed. Everyone was just lucky that he was polite enough to wear a towel, because if it were his choice he'd just let it all hang out. What? They were all guys here.

Another yawn and he looked over toward Jace, who was leaning on the counter drinking coffee and being anti-social. Jares fluttered his orange eyes at him and gave a charming smile. "Hey mama, didja make me my fruit? I'm hungee."

[Anonymous]

A heavy sigh and Jace watched his little ducklings dig in. Pari with his … Mounds of pancakes, Jace chuckled quietly into his cup, but flashed a brilliant green glare to Mitt. Leave it to him to start the mommy comments. A faint blush stained the skin under his eyes when Mitt licked the piece of bacon, his brain automatically going to dirtier things and he just glared again. “I’ll eat when you pigs are done. Cory,” Jace jumped from the manager to the bassist and reached out a leg to poke him with his foot, “eat something besides bacon, I can make toast if you don’t want pancakes.”

He would, too.

Jace took a deep drink of his coffee and when he looked up Jares was there. Naked. Okay, almost naked. “Jares, I’m sorry. I must have put all yours clothes- which were in the hallway – into the laundry. Maybe you should try being cleaner.” His voice held a light note to it, pure teasing, Jace couldn’t recall what he found. No man-skirts though. He wasn’t sure which he liked better, the raver man-skirts or the ugly tie-dye towel.

The orange eyes got turned on him and Jace snorted into his coffee cup before he drag it down, placing the cup down on the counter and rolling his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, Little Birdy, Mama’s gonna feed your lazy ass.” Jace shot a look over his shoulder, blowing his bangs out of the way so he could actually see Jares. Late riser. He wasn’t even a real vampire. Fruit vampire. At least he was healthy. Jace wondered for a moment if he bled orange juice.

Heh.

Taking out a rather scary looking knife, he pulled a plate down placed it down and put a large grape fruit on it before reaching for a tall glass and pulling the squeezes orange juice from the fridge. Jares ‘stash’, made it at least once every two days, and damn if they didn’t go through oranges. They were as organic as anything got in Aedolis. Which meant a carefully monitored fake environment for them to grow in and become huge and plump and tasty.

He poured the orange juice into the glass and plunked that down in front of his Hungry Little Birdy before moving the knife – it made a cool ‘shhn’ noise, too – and sliced through the grape fruit. While Jace did this, he gave a quiet gasp; he’d remembered something.

Then he swore.

“Awgh!!” He gurgled out staring at the nic in his palm which bled rather well. “Ouch! Grapefruit fucking stings!” He snarled before glaring at the knife, tossing it into the sink with a loud clatter and putting the sliced grapefruit – free of blood – in front of Jares. He placed the bleeding nic on his palm against his mouth and looked between them. Mitt, too. He was part of the band, in the back, clearing everything. Making it run smoothly – Though not at home, that was Jace’s job.

“Guys, we forgot all about Synesthesia.” He chewed on his lip and left the kitchen for a few, his palm still to his mouth, going to chat at the owner. To Cancle. They had no singer. How could they perform with no singer? The gig at Synesthesia had been planned out nearly months in advance, they’d forgotten about it. Jace returned a short while later, his lips pursed, the wound on his palm having a bandaid over it.  “The owner says we can do this without Vaughan. A tribute. I think it’s a good idea, we can make Pari a little louder on vocals the crowd can sing along or something.”

Jace gave a level glare at Mitt and chewed on his bottom lip, “This band is as much mine as it is yours and you have a say in where we play too.” Standing behind Pari he placed his hand on the younger boy’s shoulder and squeezed lightly.  “We can get it taped or something, Mitt can do it! We can send it to Vaughan, so he can know we – and everyone who likes IF – miss him.” A quiet sigh and Jace looked over to Cory and Jares, “Good idea? You guys in?”

[Anonymous]

Well, at least everyone was slowly starting to get along better. Their initial little fight was slowly being forgotten, replaced instead by the fact that food had been cooked for them and it was delicious. "I'd never say such a thing Pari." Mitt smiled at Pari, though really thinking he might actually. The Naga was just starting to really irk him, but the people came to see IF, and if Vaughan AND Cory weren't there, things could turn very badly. Hard enough to replace Vaughan, he got along so well with everyone, and he was the main singer, but to replace the bassist? Ugh.

Mitt shook his head while sipping his coffee, taking a deep drink from it. "There's different ways of going about it. We can go listen freelancers around the city, we could put up advertising of course, I do have some contacts I could call up, not like I don't get given a bunch of phone numbers from people who so desperately want to make the grade. We just need to find the diamond in the rough." If there was one thing that wouldn't be hard to find, it was someone who wanted to be in the spotlight and could sing. The problem was, whether they could sing well, and not to mention whether they could sing the right thing.

They needed someone who could sing /their/ stuff, and not a different genre.

That's when Jares was finally deciding to join them. Mitt just shook his head again. "Just discussing what to do with IF, Jares." He told the fruit vampire with a faint smile. "Glad you're finally here to listen in." Now that they were all finally here, the real business could begin. He blinked several times as Jace cut himself, swearing and holding his hand. Of course, the flying knife into the sink thing also worried him.

"Hey, careful with the knife, it just attacked and succesfully  sliced you, it could after any one of us now." He was worried though, his expression one of concern as he peered at the wound from his sitting position. It wasn't life threatening, but it would make him sore. Hm. Hopefully it wouldn't hinder him anyway. Jace had a really big job after all, he kept the whole place together.

"Wait. Syn? Oh..." His hand went into his pocket, pulling out a small PDA and began to read it over. Oh crap. There it was. A gig with Syn. Ah hah hah...that...oh crap. How could he have forgotten about it? Mitt was the manager, he was supposed to be on top of this sort of thing. Usually he got warnings and things would beep at him and tell him there was a show to be prepared. However this time there had been nothing. Ugh. That was not good at all. At least someone remembered it then.

"I could set up the standard holo-camera for it, and it's not like we can't up the volume on Pari's microphone...Well, not like I don't record the shows anyway...hm, I think Vaughan deserves a good tribute...I'm in." He'd have to get a hold of a much better camera for this though. oh yes. He had a few contacts that might be able to help him out. He wanted a really nice holo-recorder, so that Vaughan could take it and feel like he was almost sitting in the crowd.

They'd do him proud no matter what.

[Anonymous]

Pari was not going to get used to Jares casual nudity. The sight of the vamp strolling in with just a towel on got a blush from the pixie who did his best to not look lower then his collar bone. Though he did smile and wave back, "You're hair looks pretty. Did you put more color in it?" Given the chance, Pari liked to help dye it. It was always fun to add color to peoples hair.

Pari went back to his pancakes, absently watching Jace slice the fruit. He didn't really want to deal with all this stuff. He wanted Vaughan to come back in the door, laughing and saying 'oops! Didn't have physic powers after all!' But that wasn't going to happen. Vaughan was gone for the next few years. And even when he was a pilot, he probably couldn't sing in a band.

Then Jace was swearing and a knife got tossed loudly into the sink. The half-pixies eyes went wide and he dropped his fork, "Jace! Are you okay! You're bleeding!" Pari didn't do well with blood and injuries. He didn't know what to do and tended to freak out over it.

The cut didn't seem to slow Jace down much. He just set the fruit in front of Jares and started talking about some gig. The words slowly sunk in and Pari's golden eyes got even wider. Oh shit. What where they going to do, "You want the crowd to sing Vaughny's parts?"

In a tribute? That...might be alright. Though Pari really hoped he wouldn't start crying halfway through the show. That wouldn't be good. But he slowly nodded, "Sure. I guess. We don't have a singer otherwise." He liked the idea of sending Vaughan the tape.

He looked down quickly at his plate, trying to not let anyone at the table see his upset. Vaughan was his best friend and he missed him so badly. He felt like a part of him was gone. And he loved the rest of the band, even Cory...mostly. But Vaughan had been special. And he was so lonely without him.

Don't cry. Just smile. Everything will be okay.

[Anonymous]

Cory gave a friendly jerk of his head and a, “Duuude,” to Jares as he came in and sat down, wearing only a little more than Cory himself was. Of course, Jares didn’t have a pocket to store his junk, so they other guys, namely Jocie and wet blanket Mitt, would probably have a problem with that. He idly scratched the front of his tail, chewing another piece of delicious bacon.

“Yeeep,” came Cory’s disinterested reply as Jace sliced himself. It wasn’t that he wasn’t concerned, but Cory believed guys should just handle that sort of thing and didn’t need sympathy. He just kept shovelling bacon into his mouth, enjoying the salty goodness.
Crap, Syn, he’d totally spaced on that as well. What a band they were, all forgetting a massive gig. He resisted the urge to make a crack at Mitt’s shabby managerial skills and instead just replied, “Course I’m in, what would all the girlies do if I weren’t there eh?” With a grin and a chuckle he went back to his food.

After considering his plate for a moment, Cory leaned back and pouted at Jace. “Jociiiiiie,” he whined, “Can I have a bowl of Dragon O’s? I’d get it myself but….the pantry is aaaaaall the way over there.” He gestured towards the pantry maybe three metres away, acting as if just stretching out was about to kill him. “Pleeeeeease?”

He flashed Jace a grin before leaning back to the table. About to turn and talk to Jares, Cory noticed that Pari was acting weird. So the guy wasn’t his absolute favourite person in the world, at least he wasn’t a dick like Mitt or a fussy britches like Jace. Still, just because they didn’t always see eye to eye didn’t mean Cory couldn’t tell that Pari, no, that his friend was upset. Wriggling closer to him he planted a hand on Pari’s delicate little shoulder and said softly, “Hey, buck up pixie boy. I’m sure we can go see Vaughan real soon. And think, once he passes, we can have a band with a pilot in it, think of how popular we’ll be!” He gave the shoulder a squeeze and flashed Pari a grin, flicking his tongue out quickly, then slipped back over to his plate.

[Rhi-Rhi]

Jares only rolled his eyes when Jace made that dig at him about clean clothes and the like, and muttered something about the laundry hamper being just too far away. Never mind that a majority of his clothes landed around said laundry hamper but never quite made it inside of it. Wasn't his fault he had bad aim, and it was just too much of an effort to bend down and pick the clothes back up.

He thought he had a valid excuse, being a vampire and everything. He was old. Well...technically only fifty even though he looked like he was in his twenties, but that counted for something.

Jares smiled brightly at Pari and twirled a strand of wet hair between his fingers. "D'aaw, thanks! You noticed! Yeah, I dyed it this morning. Felt it needed some pizazz, you know?"

When Jace said he'd feed him and started slicing up the fruit, Jares flashed a toothy, fanged grin and drummed his fingers on the table as he waited, though it was kind of a killjoy when Jace cut himself. Jares' stomach lurched unpleasantly, wide orange eyes fixed on the bleeding cut for one horrifying moment as a lump rose up in his throat, which he quickly swallowed back down. Blood. He was bleeding. Oh Gods.

But before the horror of it could fully sink in, a far more terrifying thought struck him.

The fruit!

"Ahh! Don't bleed on the fruit!" he yelped, halfway to his feet and ready to lunge for the plate, but Jace tossed the knife away, sucked on his cut, and placed the fruit in front of him before he'd straightened all the way. Jares plopped back down in his seat, eyed the fruit for a moment like it had gone moldy and started sprouting sentient lifeforms, and then poked tentatively at one of the halves. Finally he picked that half up and turned it this way and that, studying it closely for blood splatters and forcing the image of Jace's bleeding palm out of his head before he could get all queasy again.

No, he wasn't a real vampire in the least. He fucking hated blood and just the sight or smell made him sick. And the taste? That was guaranteed to make him puke.

When he was satisfied that there was no blood, he lifted the fruit to his mouth, sank his fangs in, and proceeded to drain the life--er, juice--from the unfortunate fruit. It was lemon-sour and made his toes curl, but damn if it wasn't good stuff.

He was so caught up in sucking off his fruit that for a few seconds what Jace and everyone else were saying didn't register.

His head snapped back up, the grapefruit stuck to his fangs, and he pulled the fruit free and smacked his lips. "Oh shit, Syn?" Yep. Totally forgot. "Well, I'm in. Of course. As if you even need to ask. And if we're doing it for Vaughan then that's a major 'hell yeah'! The kid deserves a tribute, and...well, I think he'd like it if Pari sang."

He smiled over at the faerie-boy, who was trying to look so brave but he knew better. Hell, even Cory knew better. They all knew how close those two had been, inseparable friends, and while it had hit them all hard he knew it had to have hit Pari the hardest. "Seems only fitting. You'll do him proud, Pari-Faerie! And you better smile the whole time, too. I bet that'd make Vaughan happy, 'cause you'll be doing it for him, right?"