musical interlude

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee is dressed as usual -- white sleeveless shirt, trousers with suspenders, impeccable makeup -- when he fetches some sheet music from the Bar and sits down at the piano. Laying his fingers on the keys, he practices a few chords and scales, warming up, finding the right notes.

It's how he clears his mind and focuses. It's how he returns to who he once was.

Softly and with earnest feeling, he begins to play and sing:

"I am what I am,
I am my own special creation...
So come take a look,
Give me the hook or the ovation...

It's my world that I want to have a little pride in,
My world and it's not a place I have to hide in--
Life's not worth a damn,
'Til you can say: hey world, I am what I am."



He pauses for dramatic effect, and then launches into a bouncy, upbeat tempo, throwing his whole voice and body into the song. This is the sort of liberating performance Emcee was made for.

"I am what I am
I don't want praise, I don't want pity,
I bang my own drum
Some think it's noise, I think it's pretty!

And so what if I love each feather and each spangle?
Why not try to see things from a different angle?
Your life is a sham,
'Til you can shout out, I am what I am!

I am what I am
And what I am needs no excuses,
I deal my own deck
Sometimes the ace, sometimes the deuces

It's one life and there's no return and no deposit,
One life, so it's time to open up your closet--
Life's not worth a damn,
'Til you can say: hey world, I am what I am!"



Oh, yes. Definitely feeling like himself today.


[OOC: Link leads to Youtube video of John Barrowman performing this song in concert.]

tiny tag: cassian andor

Comments

[childofrebellion]

Cassian's been more on edge in Milliways since that uncomfortable conversation but he's still not on active duty and its a good place to work. When Emcee starts singing, he watches in a little bit of awe at how boldly Emcee proclaims himself.

Cassian knows who he is and what he does and all of that succeeds if he can properly disappear into the shadows and only the Rebellion is known. When the song finishes, he applauds with a slightly bittersweet smile.

[i_am_your_host]

Feeling exhilarated, Emcee turns to look toward the applause with an appreciative grin.

"Cassian, thank you!" he says beaming, as he stands to give a theatrical bow.

"I'm so glad you enjoyed that. You look as if you needed something a bit uplifting today."

[childofrebellion]

"I've had a couple of long days but nothing too bad. You're looking well,"

This is only a partial lies, he's had some bad days.

[i_am_your_host]

"Oh, you're just saying that," he purrs wryly, as he flags down a passing waitrat.

"I hope you've found some respite here at Milliways, at least. Would you like to order a drink?"

[childofrebellion]

"I have, but Milliways is complicated. If you'll let me get you one for that song,"

The extra time is useful but the different times from his world make him wary in new ways.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee smiles at that. "Thank you, you're too kind, mein Herr. I'll have a glass of gin, please," he tells the waitrat, before turning back to Cassian.

"Have you run into-- complications?"

[childofrebellion]

"People from various times but still from my galaxy and a mission that didn't go as planned. A Corellian whiskey, please,"

He's having to rethink how to react and what to ask with each person he meets.

[i_am_your_host]

When the waitrat scuttles off to fetch their drinks, Emcee comes over to sit with Cassian.

"Hopefully it wasn't too disorienting, for lack of a better word. Sometimes it's difficult enough to know your place in your own world, let alone different timelines."

[childofrebellion]

Cassian stretches his hand as opposed to answering, the marks from his nails are still on his palm, they'll heal and they're a reminder,

"No, that's a good word. I'm constantly readjusting here, its like flying through a stormy atmosphere or an asteroid belt."

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric applauds from his spot by the fire, his strapped ankle resting on a footstool. He waves down a rat and asked them to order Emcee a drink. Whatever he would like.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee turns toward the applause, and his expression lights up at the sight of his friend, his mirror. Before he approaches, he asks the rat for a glass of gin, and then continues on his way to Sinric.

"Darling, thank you," he says gushingly, and he leans down to hug Sinric and kiss him on the cheek. "But what has happened to your foot?"

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric returns the kiss gladly, his hands warm through Emcee's shirt as they embrace. "Well played and deeply felt." He smiles.

At the question, he shrugs self-deprecatingly. "A moment of gracelessness in the bath house. To my eternal shame." He smiles, making room for Emcee at his side. "Hannibal has promised to show me how to strengthen it."

[i_am_your_host]

"You are kind to say so," he says appreciatively. "I'm glad you felt it as well."

He flops onto the couch close beside him, tucking a foot underneath himself and draping an arm across the cushions at Sinric's back.

"Graceless? You? Perish the thought! How long before you can dance again?"

[thewidewideworld]

"The words were the defiant declaration of otherness I wish we could cry out more often." He rests his head on Emcee's shoulder. "I should Translate it into a tongue no-one around me speaks and sing it anyway."

"Alas, there were two I'm wary of splashing about in one of the other baths. I was watching them more carefully then I was watching my step." He shrugs, "Another week and then I'm sure I could dance again." He grins at Emcee. "Given the right partner."

[i_am_your_host]

"Oh, yes, you definitely ought to translate it and take it back to your world," he agrees. "It's a good song to know. Sort of an anthem for ourselves."

He plays with Sinric's hair, idly combing his fingers through the flaxen strands.

"You know I'm always a ready and willing partner, darling." He returns the grin. "But who are these two that have you on guard? And I didn't even know that there was a public bath here..."

(No, he is not getting ideas about how to get into trouble.)

[thewidewideworld]

He sings softly, translating it to Greek as he sings. It needs work, and he frowns accordingly. "Will you sing the words for me again, when you're ready? So I can be sure I have them right." He leans into the touch with clear enjoyment.

"Two who are new here. Who came together after their deaths. I tried to help one of them who said he was injured but it was a teasing ruse. A joke he liked to play on others. I used the seeing to help him but it would appear such things are taboo on his world. Both he and his companion grew very angry over it."

It's clear it upset him but he's trying to shrug it off.

"Indeed there is. I didn't know either, and only found it by chance. It has hot and cold pools, just like the bath houses of my childhood."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee hears the Greek, and he tips his head like a cat listening to an intriguing sound. And then he smiles and nods, "Oh, of course. We can work on it together some time." There really is nothing like working with someone who shares your musical sensibilities. Emcee has missed that.

"It sounds to me," he then says with a thoughtful frown, "that there was a misunderstanding there, on both sides. If he was new, he wouldn't have known not to pull that trick, because people here have all sorts of powers they can use, for good or bad. And you--well, you simply didn't know. But you have such a powerful gift. And I know that you know that it's important to use discretion, especially with strangers here. Even with those in distress. They may have powers, too, and who knows how things may clash."

He shrugs and rubs Sinric's arm. "I'm sure they will get over it. A pair, though? I met a pair recently. I wonder if they're the same ones."

Milliways can sometimes be very small, in terms of circles of people.

"I may have to investigate these baths. There were baths in Berlin, too, which I used to frequent, but they were shut down, of course. Nobody knows how to have fun anymore..."

[runningred]

Jay lingers at the back of the bar, keeping out of the way. If Emcee happens to look his way, he'll smile and flick him a salute but unless Emcee wants his attention, Jay won't impose.

[i_am_your_host]

Of course Emcee wants attention from Jay! It's one of his favorite kinds of attention!

So upon seeing him from across the room, Emcee hops to his feet, skips his way, and plops down onto his lap.

"Hallo, darling, it's me again," he says as he loops his arms around his neck.

He's well aware that the last time they spoke, Emcee was...not himself, to say the least.

[runningred]

Jay wraps his arms around Emcee's waist and kisses him firmly. "So I see. Just when I don't think you can't get any sexier."

[i_am_your_host]

He gladly accepts that kiss with an appreciative purr against his lips.

"Did I really get sexier?" he says playfully, sweeping a fingertip back and forth across Jay's chest. "Sometimes I wonder if I've passed my prime, and then oops, there goes someone's pants because of me."

[runningred]

"Darling, when you're fifty and grey, all you'll have to do is smile and oops, there goes someone's pants." Jay assures him. "And when you sing, oh man!"

[i_am_your_host]

He laughs and puts his hands to his face.

"Fifty and grey? Oh, no, I can't bear the thought!" (Mostly because he can't see himself living that long, but he won't dwell on that.) "I shall have to start dyeing my hair the moment it starts turning," he huffs, flicking an ink-black lock out of his face.

"But thank you, darling. I can't begin to tell you how relieved I am that I haven't lost my voice."

[runningred]

"Don't do that." Jay laughs, "Don't hide how beautiful you are." He touches Emcee's chin and draws him up to kiss him again.

Every fibre of his being wants to tell Emcee how much Jay loves him. But he knows that never works. "You haven't lost your voice. Not in the slightest. You can still bring a room to tears. Or turn them on!"

[i_am_your_host]

This kiss lingers a little longer, and is warm with affection.

He smiles a bit resignedly and sighs, "I miss my nightly audience. I miss making people feel things with a song. I miss connecting. It's difficult to be sure when I no longer have anything from my former life, but at least by doing this, I can find those missing bits and pieces of myself."

A pause.

"And speaking of being myself, I must apologize if I said anything rude to you while I was ill. That Eli Gold weaseled his way into my head again."