New Year's @ the Dive!

[birthright_npc]

The Dive, which was prone to a gritty atmosphere, had been transformed for New Year's festivities. A rotating disco ball hung above the crowd, as well as a web of streamers. Colorful lights lit the stage for its five-band line-up, which began with a local cover band and then transitioned to new wave, punk, synthpop, and glam rock acts, all staples of the year in music.

By 11:15 p.m., the crowd was slap-happy and drunk, thanks to happy hour prices on drinks and $1 Jell-o shots. The patio smelled like barbecuing meat and nacho cheese. Merchandise for the Dive and the bands moved quickly.

The world was halfway through the decade and antsy for the second half to begin.

The Fraying Nerves were wrapping up a five-song set and about to clear the stage for the Death Spirals, a band whose hairstyles were a fire hazard.

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[melodymagic]

"Yes, it is," Melody replied, excitement shining in her eyes. She saw Theresa touching her own hair. "I like your streaks," she added, her nodding causing her own red curls to jiggle and bounce from their perches up on her head. She looked at Brian and Maddy. "Are you playing again tonight? Or is that it for your band?"

[brian_campo]

Brian stuck his hands in his pockets. "We're done."

Maddy took a pack of menthols out of her jacket. “Yeeee…up.” She lit up.

Brian took the lighter before it could be tucked away. There was an illustration of a Vargas girl in a polka dot bikini. “The last band’s about to go on. It's glam rock, which is great if you're into men skintight pants.”

"And I am." Maddy blew smoke rings at the ceiling.

[tiny_dancer81]

"Thanks, I just got it done," Theresa told Melody. "It costs, like, thirty bucks, but I wanted a different color after the blue faded."

She was mildly disappointed to hear about Maddy's interest in guys, but only mildly. Maybe if they could just hang out and stuff, she'd stop thinking about biting her. If Daniel could do it, anybody could do it.

"Who's actually made a resolution this year? And plans to keep it?"

[melodymagic]

"Not me," Melody answered, shaking her head. "My family celebrates Chinese new year." She stood on tip toe to see the band coming onstage, trying to see the band coming on next. Maddy had told her about them, but Melody had never seen any bands, until tonight. "Will we stay for the countdown?" she asked the other three, not sure if Theresa was supposed to be working or partying.

[maddy_ricks]

Brian fiddled with his t-shirt sleeve and shrugged. “I dunno. I might head out.”

Maddy tipped her head. Her mouth slipped into a power pout. “Aww… I know why you don’t wanna stay.” She wrapped an arm around Brian’s shoulder and squeezed him. “Don’t worry. I’ll kiss you.”

He snorted. “Try it and die.”

“Oh, it won’t be romantic,” Maddy assured him. “I’ll eat a bunch of nachos first and burp in your face.”

Brian grew uncomfortable with the line of conversation.

[melodymagic]

"Ewwwww, Maddy, gross!" Melody let out the exclamation and giggle at the grossness before she had the sense to stop it, her hand flying to her mouth when she was so loud it could be clearly heard by the three standing with her.

She died a little inside, again, and not for the first time felt weirdly uncomfortable, and completely aware of her inability to actually have conversations that conveyed any sort of intelligence at all. She curled her toes inside her boots, an act that reminded her how squashed they had been just a few minutes ago and brought her back to earth with speed. "I haven't been allowed to come to new years eve things before, I've usually had to work," she said, using the discomfort in her toes to help try and appear something more than a giggly twit. Which is sort of how she felt.

[tiny_dancer81]

Theresa laughed because she couldn't help it, both at Brian's discomfort and at Melody's sudden mirth. She didn't have any resolutions either, not really. Unlife meant things blurred together, and even though she'd been a vampire for less than a decade it was already happening. Maybe there was a pill for that.

"Well, I'm glad you're having a good time, despite the spillage," she told Melody. She should probably get back to the merchandise. Teddy was a nice guy, but he was drunker than Brian, and if any money went missing tonight she'd probably have to answer to Mike about it.

The vampire put one hand on each musician's shoulder, having to reach up a bit to touch Brian's shirt. "You guys killed tonight," she said sincerely. "I gotta dash, but if I don't see you after the countdown, happy new year."

[brian_campo]

"Yeah, you too. Later." Brian waved.

He looked at Melody and wondered how a girl as innocent as her got to be friends with Madeleine, whose mind was like a sewage pipe. It sounded like she still lived at home with her parents. Between that and working for them, she must be going nuts.

It was probably a good thing she was out with Maddy. Otherwise, repression like that tended to explode; One day, they'd find her with track marks in her arms, dangling from a pole on the seedy side of town in a schoolgirl costume.

The Vegas Special.

Jesus, he was glad he was telekinetic and not telepathic.

"In that case, you can't go home before the ball drops," he said over the music.

[maddy_ricks]

Maddy watched Theresa leave.

Yes, she had made the comment about the spandex-wearing metal heads on purpose. It was just that twice recently, a person of interest had asked for her phone number. Both Devin and Theresa had called. Maddy returned those calls, and then nothing, nada, dial tone for days. She wasn't a robot. She had feelings.

She shrugged off the departure and grabbed each of them by the arm. "C'mon."

They'd dive into the crowd, jump around and dance until the count down. Then she'd con Brian into smooching them both so everyone went home a winner.