(no subject)

[bloodyrockgod]

[OOM: Charlie has a dream.]

Some things you think will never change, like Charlie, his guitar, and a song.

When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid, Oh I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

So darling, darling
Stand by me, oh, stand by me
Oh stand, stand by me,
Stand by me

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry
No I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me
Oh stand by me, oh won't you stand now, stand by me

Some things will.

Comments

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

"Sure," says a voice from behind him. "That's what I do, babe."

[bloodyrockgod]

Charlie tilts back his head and smiles. "And I'm damn lucky in that."

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

"Damn right you are," he says with a grin. "What've you been up to lately, eh babe? Been a few weeks for me."

[bloodyrockgod]

"Oh, the usual," Charlie says and puts the guitar aside. He takes Darien's hands and swings his arms a little. "Making music and avoiding madness."

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

He grins.

"You'll never believe what I saw."

Beat.

"Or, you know, didn't see."

[bloodyrockgod]

"What did you see?" He draws Darien closer, sliding his hands up his arms.

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

"There's a source for this thing in my head?"

He shakes his head.

"Bigfoot. I shit you not."

[bloodyrockgod]

Charlie blinks at him.

"Bigfoot."

He slips a hand into Darien's front pocket. "Have you been smoking the good crack, puppy?"

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

He leans into the hand.

"I got licked by it, babe," he says, a little put out. "It was trying to horn in on your territory."

[bothbutneither.livejournal.com]

"Hi, Charlie."

There's a certain kinship musicians share, whether they're in the same band or not, whether they play the same type of music or not. Charlie's one of the few people here he'd consider a friend, even though they don't spend a lot of time together.

He... doesn't spend much time with anyone, really, except maybe Faye. He's always drawn comfort from the past, even when the past doesn't merit that kind of sentimentality.

[bloodyrockgod]

Charlie beams at him. "Hey, Gren. Been a while--how are you doing?"

[bothbutneither.livejournal.com]

"Pretty well. I like that song of yours."

He doesn't know it, but he doesn't know a great many Earth songs, especially songs of the non-jazz variety. It's funny, though: he really hasn't spent much time here lately, and he's without his sax -- not so strange -- but also without the ever-present cup of tea. There's nothing at all for his hands to do, and he notices it belatedly.

If his pockets weren't empty, he'd offer to buy Charlie a cup of tea or a shot of whiskey or whatever he wants, but he's about as poor as he's ever been and there's not a lot he can do about that now.

"How about you? How have you been?" Last they talked, Charlie was going to get married, he thinks.

It has been an awfully long time.

[bloodyrockgod]

"Thanks--it's by a blues master Ben E. King. Though John Lennon's cover is lovely, too.

"Oh--you know. The same as always. Making music, talking to whomever'll listen, playing with babies when I have the chance, kissing the husband often. You?"

[bothbutneither.livejournal.com]

The picture Charlie paints makes him smile.

"Writing music, talking to whoever wants to hear my voice. No playing with babies or kissing any husbands, though." He's done a little different kind of playing, but that's still so new he doesn't even want to share it yet. "You sound like you're having fun."

[bloodyrockgod]

"Sounds grand.

"I was nannying for a bit. The pay was good and I liked the kids. It was a good gig."

His smile grows a little wistful. "It's been fun."

[bothbutneither.livejournal.com]

He knows that wistfulness pretty well: so many things have seemed so far out of his reach for so long that he's gotten used to feeling that way.

"I like kids." He won't ever have any. There's the whole dead thing, for one, and the fact that it's just not in the cards -- he's sure of that -- for another. "But it sounds like a fun job. How many kids were you caring for?"

[bloodyrockgod]

"Just two. I've still got a picture--" He takes it out of his notebook and hands it over. It's of two red-haired babies, rosy-cheeked and smiling. "Georgia and Keiran. The son and daughter of nature gods, if you can believe that."

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

And then he has a big brother, leaning on his shoulder and ruffling his hair.

[bloodyrockgod]

Charlie leans back to grin at him. "Hey."

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

He grins back, settling on the grass.

"Hey. How're you, baby brother?"

[bloodyrockgod]

"Oh, same as ever." He leans his head on his hand. "I'm going to have to go back to the island for a bit. Just a bit."

No point in beating around the bush with his brother.

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

Liam stills, looking at him carefully.

"Back to the island?"

[bloodyrockgod]

"Yeah." He adds, "Don't look at me like that."

[youalleverybody.livejournal.com]

"Sorry. I just... you know it scares the hell out of me when you go back there."

[bloodyrockgod]

Charlie drapes his arms over Liam's shoulders. "Oh, for god's sake, Lee.

"The only way to ever get away is to go back and let time pass. You know that. And I've always come back, haven't I?