New Meridian, a city of romance, music, and crime in every dark corner. The kind of place that you want to stay out of at night. People will tell you the city's tough, but I'm tougher. Even when I walk down a dark alley with a shady man following me. Like right now, in fact.
"You walked down the wrong alley, Sammy!" He said while pulling out a switch blade.
I quickly turn around, my hat falling off my head, and grab his shirt, pushing him into a nearby wall.
"The name... is... Coniglio!" I say before punching him.
My eyes snapped open before my fist connected, ah, another power fantasy wet dream. I shook my head and slipped out of bed, crept downstairs, and made myself some eggy in a basket. Went back upstairs, took a shower, put on my suit, and went out the front door.
"Hello sir, could you give m-" Some activists person with a clipboard ran up to me before eating a healthy meal of shoe leather.
"No, I don't have time to play with you. People like you are gonna make me start hating the environment." I said, putting my foot back on the ground and straightening my hat.
As I'm walking down the stairs of my mother's apartment, I figure I should get introductions out of the way, my name is Samuel Coniglio, but my friends call me either 'Sam' or 'the dancing rabbit', depending on the mood and call me the latter because of my tendency to literally jump in place when I get startled. That, and I am a dancer. A very good dancer, if I do say so myself.
What, why are you looking at the screen like that? Is it because I brutally injured someone? I never said I was a damn boy scout.
Wait, what the hell was I doing? Oh, right! I'm going to the opera house. My mother works as a singer there, one of the best. Luckily for me, it's not too far. Maybe a mile or so, I tend to lose track. Before I knew it, the smell of freshly shampooed carpet, cigars, and sounds of outrageous partying. My kind of place.
Immediately, people took notice of me, I am the son of their most popular singer, after all.
"Sammy! Sammy baby!" Some people called from the seats.
I could give or take the attention, depending on my mood. Today was a 'take' attitude, never underestimate the power of post-afternoon violence. But that thought was swiftly discarded when I noticed two things.
One: My mother isn't on stage, she's probably still getting ready
Two: A woman with purple hair and a purple dress is sitting by herself at one of the tables, someone I know
"The good part of the show is starting soon." I whispered in her ear.
She smirked at me before taking a sip of champagne.
"I thought the whole show was the good part."
I smiled back before tracing backstage, where my mother was waiting. She heard the door squeaking and turned, smiling at me.
"Happy birthday, Sammy." She said, getting up and wrapping her arms around me.
"Come on, ma... You just had to get me my own show? Isn't that a bit much?" I asked.
Mother went back to the mirror and reapplied her lipstick. I walked myself over to a half torn poster on the wall, most of the writing on it was illegible, but I could clearly read 'Contiello '. I remember that they used to play in this theater, about fourteen years ago, then they suddenly vanished, supposedly a gang attack with only a few survivors.
"Well, I did notice that girl you've been so sweet on in the audience." Mother said with a hint a smugness in her voice.
I stopped in my tracks, and just after I had a word with her too.
"I know, Zone's here…" I followed up.
"I'm still wondering why you insist on calling her that, Tanya Void has the sort of authority to..."
"What's another word for void? Besides, whenever she's around, I'm always in the zone." I slyly answered.
"Oh, it's time. The orchestra had practiced the song you wanted this morning, I think it'll suit your vocal tone." Mother and I walked from stage left and on to the front of the crowd.
Oh God, they're all staring at me. I'm already shaking, need to keep it together. But it's my day, I'll pull this off. Mother walked up to the microphone and spoke.
"Greetings, my wonderful audience. Tonight's show is a very special one indeed. So, let's give a big hand for my son, Samuel!"
The crowd went insane with thunderous applause. It put a little bit of confidence in me, at least my singing skills are on par with my dancing.
"I forgot to mention, but Lorenzo Medici is in the audience tonight." Mother whispered in my ear.
Aaaaaaannnnd it's gone. Lorenzo, of one the more rich families in Meridian? Here?
"Go get 'em, rabbit." Mother said before walking stage left.
Everyone's eyes are on me, I'm so nervous... I walked up and tapped on the microphone.
"Wow, big crowd." I said.
A good number of people laughed.
"Well, are we here to relax, kick back, have a drink? Or are we here to have some fun?!" I pointed dramatically into the crowd.
Everyone raised their glasses and roared with agreement. At that moment I knew what to do.
"I hope you enjoy what I have to offer, because I'll end this night with one song. Now, there are two very important people in the audience, a very special lady of many talents, Tanya Void!"
The spotlight fell on her as she stood up and waved at everyone, then she turned to me and blew a kiss in my direction.
"And lastly, a very powerful man of notable status, Lorenzo Medici!"
The spotlight fell on him as he raised his glass to us.
"And now, who here likes music?"
Everyone whooped loudly as I turned to the orchestra.
"Hit it, boys." I said, spinning back to audience.
(Music: Bad - Michael Jackson (Big Band Cover by JordanCoProject)
There I was, swinging and spinning and kicking like a baller. I was truly in my element. It felt like I was gliding on air, the air cooling as I swipe my body from drop to stop to cyclone. Though I'm able to dance and sing at the same time without tiring myself out, should be thanking those lucky stars, I suppose. Everyone cheered as I sung and danced, I shouldn't be receiving this kind of attention, but I am! It honestly feels incredible, but I guess that's the price you pay when you're born into a rich Italian family.
(Don't continue until the song ends)
(Thank you for your patience, I hope you liked it)
After the song ended, the lights shut off for a second, allowing me enough time to slip back in the prep room. Guess who was there, waiting for me.
"You did good, Sam, you did good." Someone said from behind me, like three inches behind me.
I turned a came face to face with Tanya, her violet hair shimmering in the dim light hanging overhead. She cocked her head to the side and smiled at me.
"And what do I owe the pleasure, Ms. Void?" I asked.
Tanya didn't say anything, she reached her hands up to my neck, fixing my slightly loosened tie.
"I noticed that for the entire time, the worst part of the show. At least, for me." She said.
"You're always like that, Tanya, fussy down to the smallest detail. But I can't be mad at you for it. It's... comforting, if that makes sense." I mumbled, scratching the bridge of my nose.
Tanya grinned as she pulled my tie so I was at eye level with her.
"Maybe we should make things official, unite our houses." She said, cupping the side of my face.
"But do we have to? I don't care about the money or status. I just want you, the one thing money can't buy." I said.
"You always had a strange way of putting things." Tanya sighed before stealing a kiss from me.
It wasn't overly passionate, we weren't rolling on the floor while tearing at each others clothes, not yet, anyway. A sweet little thing that lasted a few seconds, that's all that was needed. We both pulled away before someone could walk in.
"Come, I got something planned at my house." Tanya said before pulling me out back and around the building.
A limo and valet waited for us, taking us to Void's house. I could already smell the carbonara.
"Happy birthday, Samuel." Tanya whispered in my ear, running a chill up my spine. Oh, I'm gonna have some fun tonight.