a/n: Uh-oh! It looks like I'm in trouble here. Not only am I not a choir aficionado (which if you couldn't tell from the first chapter, you're really about to find out throughout the rest of this story), but I didn't really fully explain what this story is. The setting of this story is completely messed up, yet most events from the game remain in tact. A very cruddy mix of the two worlds. Not completely set in modern times, but with plenty of modern conveniences (especially of the musical kind).
a/n: Any confusion this causes, I apologize, and I know this type of confusion can lead to reader frustration, but this story is really the result of writer frustration and the "fugitive mind".
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Sing With Me If It's Just for Today
by CorrosiveMidnight
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--Part 2: Cormag and Gilliam....
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As Gilliam walked into the auditorium, he heard the sound of piano scales playing softly and Knoll talking with someone about being the soloist. The black-haired General was fairly confident in his vocal talents, so why was it that their director was already assigning a soloist?
"I knew you wanted singers, but I had no idea you wanted me to be a soloist," Gilliam heard Cormag tell Knoll.
(Knoll is asking Cormag to be the soloist?) Gilliam thought upon walking down the aisle of the auditorium. (Cormag of all people?)
"Cormag, please. You're the only one of the men I asked here that I've heard sing. You have a fantastic voice and I think you should share that voice with the world," Knoll pleaded.
Cormag frowned. "I've already gone against my better judgment by joining this chorus. I would really rather not call so much more attention to myself."
"If he doesn't want the part, I'll take it," Gilliam announced once he finally made it to the foot of the stage.
The piano scales halted and all eyes were suddenly on the General.
"Ah, Gilliam, you made it," Knoll greeted. "Please come up on stage with us."
"This is already a better turnout than I expected," Artur said from his seat at the piano.
"Now, Gilliam. You said that you would like to be the soloist. Would you care to show me why I should allow you to have that position?" Knoll asked.
Without further hesitation, Gilliam belted out stunning vocals, captivating everyone in the room, including Cormag.
"What range," Knoll said. "With your vocal strength alone, you could probably carry this entire choir." He looked at Cormag. "But it would be a great contrast to the mellow and airy sound that Cormag produces." He turned to Artur. "What do you think? Would you like to have dual leads instead?"
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--a little later....
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The two lead vocalists sat in the back of the auditorium as other members auditioned for their parts.
"When I came here, I had no intention of being in the spotlight," Cormag began. "I only wanted to do something that I've secretly enjoyed for a long time."
Gilliam just looked at Cormag for a moment. "You've never even performed in front of anyone before?"
"No, I've been a soldier all my life," Cormag told him.
"Well, so have I, but when there were military banquets, I would perform. It wasn't a big deal at first, but the more I did it, the more I felt that it was my calling. I just didn't know how to go about achieving my dream. And then this opportunity came along and I just knew that this was my chance to shine," Gilliam explained.
Cormag frowned. "I had no idea. But it was only at Knoll's insistence that I became one of the lead vocalists. I had no intention of fronting a group like this. I still don't look forward to it."
Gilliam sighed. "Listen. Even though I'm more qualified, you're in this with me. All you really need is practice." He thought for a moment. "Karaoke."
"I don't know, Gilliam," Cormag mumbled.
"No, it's perfect. You just need some experience singing in front of people," Gilliam said. "We can go to a few karaoke bars and before you know it, you'll be singing in front of people like a pro."
Cormag looked doubtful. "If you say so."
"That's right. I DO say so. We'll go after we leave here," Gilliam told him.
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--at a local karaoke bar....
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Cormag looked at the stage from his seat at the bar. "I'm not going up there."
"Well, I anticipated that you'd say that," Gilliam commented. He signaled to the bartender for two beers. Once their drinks arrived, he slammed a mug down in front of Cormag. "How about it?"
Cormag finally took his eyes off the stage. "What's this?"
"It's stage-fright medicine. So make sure you take a big dose," the General said. "And once you're loosened up, you and I can go up on stage and show these people what real singing is."
--many drinks later....
Gilliam and Cormag were up on stage singing Alice in Chains' "Shame in You". While their voices were perfectly matched, the two were inebriated beyond repair and had to support each other to keep from falling over. They also couldn't really read the words and some of the song became a series of slurred speech and hums, but they were good nonetheless.
The audience cheered for both of them as they left the stage and it startled Cormag so much that he missed a step and stumbled while Gilliam was holding onto him. Unfortunately, Gilliam didn't have enough balance to keep Cormag upright, so he toppled down right on top of him. Both men laughed.
"This is a lot of fun and all, but you're really heavy, Gill," Cormag said very slowly between giggles.
Gilliam giggled as well, but didn't move. "Hey, wanna do another song? Everyone seems to love us."
"I think one is enough for one day," Cormag almost said properly. "But I have an idea. How about you get up?"
They both burst out laughing.
"Hard to breathe," Cormag added, still laughing.
"Oh! You want me to get you off," Gilliam said. He rolled off of Cormag, but stayed on the floor beside him and thought for a minute. "Did I say 'get off you' or 'get you off'?"
"I don't know," Cormag told him. "But I don't think I can get up. The room won't be still."
"You're drunk," Gilliam said, finally getting to his feet. "I'll call a cab." He stumbled a little before he helped Cormag to his feet.
"I'm not drunk," it took Cormag a while to say. "You're drunk." He put an arm around Gilliam for support.
"Yeah, I'm a little drunk. That's why I'm calling a cab instead of driving," Gilliam said slowly. He dragged Cormag out of the bar and looked around for a taxi.
"Hey, we really did it, didn't we? We were singing in front of people. It felt kinda good," Cormag said, drifting in and out of consciousness.
"Yeah. You did good," Gilliam told him as he spotted a cab.
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To be continued....
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a/n: Well, there you have it. That's the end of that chapter. But these two might be back in a later chapter. (At least I hope they will. That was really a bad place to end it.) The next will be about another pair, however. These gentlemen are also very out of character as well, but that's only to be expected when it's not really a...fact-based story. Thanks for reading and please comment.
