not dressed for this

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe lowered her head as Mae asked about Ava. She opened and closed her mouth for a moment, fidgeted on the chair, and at last let out a very quiet; "I haven't seen her in a while." The thought of telling Mae the truth: that she'd kissed her step-sister and that had been when her power had kicked in, sending the other girl to the hospital, absolutely terrified Zoe. She could just see Mae running for the door and not looking back, and after they'd just decided that they were now best friends, that was the absolute last thing that Zoe wanted to happen.

So she shifted again and took the ordered drink that soon appeared, glad that she could at least have something to help her stop talking if only for a few seconds. Mae lingered upon song selection for a bit, and Zoe soon found herself nodding again: "that would be great," she said nodding. "I'd love to hear two more songs. that's... great."

Ugh, maybe she should've just told Mae the whole truth. Would've at least gotten it out there. Now she just kept fidgeting and wishing for the whole power of invisibility again. Why did life have to be just so awful?

[Maelea Mareaux]

With a frown she lowered her own glass and focused more on Zoe. "How come? But um, you don' have'ta tell me iffin ya don' wan'." A part of her wanted to go on about how she knew how it felt to be shut out from family. But she didn't want to make the conversation all about her. Plus she didn't want to go on about all that depressing stuff, and how the only family she had left in the world had decided she was evil. To be cut from their lives like some sort of tumor.

Another sigh emitted from her lips as she let her mind roam to other things. To one of the few things that could consume her mind : music. It was easy to loose herself in it. "Yeah? Good, two more songs fer ya it is." Mae stared hard at her friend and though she wasn't the best at reading people something seemed off. Maybe? "That sounded very enthusiastical." She knew Zoe was a calm quite girl so she was probably just being overly sensitive, again.

Mae stirred her drink a bit with her straw then glanced back over at the stage. She didn't seem to be doing a good job with the conversation tonight. It all seemed so much easier on that stage with a guitar in her hands, and a mike in front of her. Should she mention photography again? Surely Zoe liked more than just taking pictures. "Hey, um, after the show did'ja wanna do summit? Anythin' you name it." There that should open things up a bit, she hoped.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe looked away. How come? Could she say as much to Mae? The other girl said she didn't have to. Zoe shuffled in her seat again, moving about. Did she want to...? No, not really.

"Maybe later," mumbled Zoe, her voice barely audible. She shifted in her seat again, feeling wholly uncomfortable. A shuddering breath followed, then the put upon smile, the one asking to just leave it there. Mae got caught up in the music, or so it seemed to Zoe. Zoe nodded, glad to have two more songs. It certainly didn't bother her to have her friend dedicating music to her. That's what friends do, after all.

A little more of a lull while the two stirred drinks and took sips. Zoe let out a little noise of pleasure upon realizing that she'd done well in ordering the sweet drink. It actually reminded her of home, and she nearly said so, before realizing that she really didn't want to think about home at the moment. Naturally, Mae broke the silence, and Zoe turned to her.

"Um, I would," said Zoe, shuffling, her eyes flicked as if to look over her shoulder, where her escort still loomed, "but I'm still escorted and I only get so much time away..." because of threats and such. Zoe lowered her head again, taking another sip of her drink. "I swear I would. Whatever you want to do. Honest."

[Maelea Mareaux]

More mumbling, more looking none too happy. Mae wanted to scream or cry or both. Feeling rather defeated she wished she knew of something to make Zoe happy. To make her smile. To make her laugh. She felt like a failure of a friend to not be able to do these things. Isn't that what friends did? Make each other happy? Cheer each other up when they were down? She just didn't know how.

Her drink had lost its flavor. It was just cold bubbly liquid that went down her throat. The bubbles even burned a little as they hit her tongue. Even as she tried to focus on her music it didn't help much. But she smiled for Zoe she did her best to make things light again. And again she failed.

"Oh." Mae followed the gaze and nodded like she understood when she really didn't. Did she understand anything? "It's okay. I don' wanna do nuttin." Setting down her drink she stepped away from the bar staring at the dark floor of the bar trying not to think what all was stuck to it. When she lifted her head again she was back to smiling but her eyes held none of the luster that usually came with a smile.

"Next time. I'm gonna head on stage. See you later then?" She felt like a curtain was closing between them right then. Not a wall because walls were far more permanent, just a curtain. But if she didn't she'd cry and that would just be pathetic.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

now Zoe felt awful, like she'd done something to mess up the beautiful thing that had begun starting here. "I--I do want to--do something with you, really," she stammered, moving a hand. she was tempted to reach for Mae. the other girl was already moving to get away. "Really! Mae! I don't--have many friends and--it really is..." her eyes welled. Mae was talking about getting up and going to the stage though. Zoe sighed, turning back to her drink.

Why did everything Zoe touch have to break apart like this? She just... she wanted something good to happen. The bad just kept piling up more and more. Here she was, actually getting a best friend, and she'd had to go and mess that up too. And she knew it. She knew that she'd messed it up, that everything had gone bad and it was just all her fault. Maybe she should just go...

no, she should at least stay for the songs. She owed Mae that much. She... why couldn't something good just happen?

[Maelea Mareaux]

At the sound of her name she stopped and stared for a moment wanting to help. "It's okay Zoe. There's always tomorrow." She scooted the small bowl of cherries over to Zoe. "You like sweet things... eat 'em all iffin ya wan'ta. And get as many drinks as you want." Mae smiled again swearing to find a way to make her happy.

With a finger wave she made her way back to the stage. Her bandmates started to get up but she held up her hand and merely grabbed her guitar. "The next few songs are for a special friend of mine." She started strumming her guitar "First something... soft." Eyes dropping she started singing.

The night is when
The ghosts all come out
Playin’ with my head
Spin it all around
This room is like a prison cell
I'm all by myself
I'm waiting for my friend
To come and break me out

She sang through it not really looking up at the crowd just concentrating on her song. Once it was over she waved up the rest of the band and turned toward the mike with a wicked smile. "Now time for something a lil...energetic." Again her eyes dropped as she whispered into the mike. "The end is the end.Don't bless me father for I have sinned." Then the music started and the rocking began.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe didn't know if that okay was real or just said to make her feel better. The always tomorrow that accompanied it buoyed her slightly, gave her hope that maybe something more might lay around the corner. As did the offered cherries that followed. Zoe smiled thankfully up at Mae, reaching out to take them at the same time. She hoped that Mae understood; she seemed to but... it was just so hard to tell.

Then Mae was back on the stage. Zoe took a few more cherries, lifting her camera for a moment. She knew she already had several pictures, but she figured that snapping a few more couldn't hurt. Just a few. Though she ended up forgetting as she heard Mae's voice go through the next one: a delightfully morbid one that sounded exquisite to Zoe's ears. She closed her eyes roughly halfway through, taking it in, thoroughly enjoying each and every note.

Then that one ended, a more raucous one following. Zoe found she didn't' care as much for this one, though she could see the audience moving along. Easier to snap a few photographs too, catching Mae in her element. Zoe then lowered it, just enjoying the moment, trying to let the song help buoy her waning spirits.

It sort of worked, at least. Zoe smiled and clapped with the rest of the audience, before eating a few more cherries and taking another sip. She almost wished she had more time. It would be great to hang out some more with Mae. Her escort was already looking dodgy though, and Zoe had already promised a few more pictures....

[Maelea Mareaux]

She played her songs both haunting then jamming to the full capacity of her abilities. And even though she had only planned on singing two songs for her friend like she'd promised she decided one more was needed. The more energetic song drew to a close then setting her guitar down she took up the cordless mike. "Alrigh' everybody time fer my last song of da nigh'. This is dedicated to everybody who feels a lil' less. Ya all should know it."

Walking down slowly off the stage as she sang she smiled warmly. Mae sang with all her heart eventually coming to sit on a stool right next to Zoe. She held out her hand to the timid, sweet girl she called her best friend.

Pretty, pretty please, don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than, Fuckin' perfect
Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing you're fuckin' perfect to me

Once it was over she giggled a little cheeks blushing. "I know that migh'ta been a bit lame, but it was true." Mae smiled hoping that she hadn't just embarassed Zoe to death, and that for once she'd done something right.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

The set proved just as enthralling as the first, at least for Zoe. She stared, her brown eyes widen in admiration, her lips even parting a few times as she just took it all in. Wasn't Mae magnificent? Wasn't the artistry and the power and the drive and just everything about it just worth admiring?

Then that last song! Zoe had flushed, realizing that Mae had added yet another for her. Her head lowered then, practically burying into her arms. Of course, this only served to make her more noticeable, not less, and several peopled turned. A few looked back and forth, seeming to realize. Perhaps most surprising, however, was that Zoe's escort stepped forward, giving harsh looks all around, enough so that when Mae came down and Zoe finally pulled her head up, the crowd had dispersed.

"Thanks," said Zoe, flushing. "I, well, I did really like it. You did well on the guitar work too," she said, nodding toward the instrument in question. Not that Zoe could really tell all that much. "And I really am sorry that I can't, um, do anything else. I just--- I need to be getting back to the Academy soon. We probably have enough time for, um, a few more pictures?" she pulled her camera out, getting it ready to do the last few shots of the band she'd promised. Then, as she had said, they would have to leave for the Academy.

[Maelea Mareaux]

Her friend really was one of the most adorable things that she'd ever seen. Wait, was it okay to call your best friend a thing? She'd have to worry about that later. Right now she had to focus on making Zoe smile. Ignoring the body guard she kept on singing until she was beside the delicate flower. This was easy because she had momentarily forgotten that the big lug even existed, and why he was there.

The blush made her grin and want to hug Zoe to bits. Listening to her friend say more in one setting than she probably ever heard her say Mae grinned broadly. This was definitely an improvement from how things were from earilier. By the time Zoe had stopped rambling Mae was practically aglow with how happy she was that her friend was talking. "No worries! I'm glad ya liked the songs."

Mae looked down at the camera then nodded moving to stand in front of Zoe. "Yes! Come on I'll introduce ya to the band, and we can get started." Waving her on she lead the petite blond toward the backstage area to get the pictures taken. She glanced behind them to see if the body guard was following, but wasn't overly worried. In her opinion if anyone wanted to start something now with Mae and Zoe together they were going to get eaten alive by spiders.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe practically collapsed with relief when Maelea said no worries. Not that the shy photographer took it at the wholly literal sense, thinking that everything had sloughed off in one shrug or anything like that. Just losing one of the several burdens she had was enough to make Zoe smile in relief. Plus, she really liked Mae's music, so there was that as well.

Soon Zoe found herself heading toward the backstage, looking at the various strangers (though she had just seen them perform and they were all friends of Mae, so they weren't utterly terrifying). She waved at them shyly, and if anything, they seemed to be overly pleased to meet and greet her. Probably had something to do with Mae insisting that they do it. That's what Zoe figured.

she looked over at her friend as they entered the room. As usual, Zoe remained quiet and fidgeted nervously, hoping that Mae would do what she did so often: take the lead and start talking, get the show moving. Just a few more pictures...

And when someone stepped in behind them, Zoe almost jumped out of her skin. She turned to see that her bodyguard had come along. They waved for the others to just do their thing before hanging back. Just needed to keep Zoe in sight, after all, and not all the staff wanted to torment the shy little thing.

[Maelea Mareaux]

Not noticing any discomfort, distress, or what not from Zoe she just went about things like she normally did. She nudged a young boy with her elbow jerking her head to get him to move. Then sat down with a smile. "These are my mates! Oh, tha' was so British sounding." Giggling she pointed at eat person in turn introducing them, and telling Zoe what instrument they played.

They looked a lot like her with dark clothes, dark make up, and wild colors mixed into it. Basically all of them had some sort of spider on either in their clothes, as a pendant, or a ring. To a lot of people her and her band mates might be a tad scary, but she knew the truth. They were teenagers just like her. They wanted to be loved, they wanted to be a part of something, and they loved music. She wasn't all that close to any of them, but she hoped over time that would change. Now that she had a set band and not just whatever the club provided.

"Okay, I fig'ger you can take a picture of each of us with our instrument. For like profiles. Then a few group pictures. Some with me, and some without." Two got their guitars, one went to sit behind the drums, another went to the key board. All waited for Zoe to take pictures most smiling at first then went serious trying to look intimidating. Because rock bands weren't all about smiles and giggles. It was hard for her drummer to stop smiling he was so excited.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe actually giggled a little as Mae giggled. The sound made her relax even more, and soon she was smiling at the various band members, shyly wiggling a few fingers as she was introduced to each in turn. They all seemed quite frenetic and filled with energy and what have you, their buoyant mood helping to lift Zoe's spirits a little more. A few commented on how cute Zoe was, which just had her blushing and pulling her camera up for the protective shield that it had quickly become.

Nods met Mae's suggestion, and Zoe got into position. The shyness melted as she slid into the photographer role, issuing soft commands to the various band members. Everyone clearly enjoyed themselves, even when Zoe had to actually be stern with one or two, like the drummer who seemed incapable of not smiling: "You have to look serious like all the rest! So stop smiling!"

Which obviously didn't work immediately. It took a while for everyone to settle down, though they eventually managed. Zoe got several good shots and was quite positive that she could give something to Mae. Unfortunately, she could also see that her bodyguard was tapping a watch and suggesting that they head back. it was getting late...

[Maelea Mareaux]

Mae sat back for the most part and watched Zoe in her element. Watched her bandmates soak up the attention like they were already big rock stars. She was glad that Zoe was willing to do this for them, and glad to bring this bit of happiness to her band mates. They were a fairly new group so they needed as much bonding as possible. She hoped this would be a big step toward them being a cohesive group.

Laughing when Zoe actually had to take charge she covered her mouth with her hand to muffle it. It was so very odd to see that meek little mouse command the big bad goth kids around. The drummer eventually was able to hold a serious face long enough for a picture but a glint never faded from his eyes.


She was having so much fun watching Zoe work and her bandmates get their pictures taken she didn't notice the time. Then she got up and joined them though never really feeling a part of them. They had all been playing together for a while but didn't really have a singer. That's where she came into the picture, so she didn't feel like she belonged. Yet. "Hey, set one up wit' all of us an' you. You're our photographer after all! Gotta give ya yer dues!" Mae smiled waving at Zoe trying to get her in the picture. The rest of the mates nodded calling out for her to join them for a big group picture.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

The light mood affected even Zoe's spirits, and she thought that she'd managed to hit it off well enough with the band. She wasn't about to go around hanging out with them later, though she had this feeling that they'd probably remember her and quite possibly ask after her for later pictures, should something come of it. That wouldn't surprise Zoe: they had been quite good.

The mood had dimmed slightly when Zoe realized that her escort wanted to head out. She'd shuffled and been about to point this out to Mae and so on, but they'd insisted on taking a group shot. Blinking, Zoe fidgeted for a moment. She wanted to protest, her mouth even opening slightly. But, well, she'd taken pictures with other people before. She supposed it wouldn't hurt. They even had someone.

So Zoe cleared her throat and called out to her bodyguard. "excuse me, but would you--" and to her surprise, they'd already moved forward. They looked more amused than anything, though there was also a slight air of "let's get this over with" about the proceeding. Zoe blushed but moved to be near the band, though she certainly didn't want to take a central position in the photo or anything.