A/N: Another day, another Fandom. Now I've reared my ugly ass in the world of Skullgirls. At least I know I'm not gonna tank it. Let's go!
Currently listening to Baby be Mine by MJ
New Meridian. A city of debauchery, malice, and business. Not a place to be fond of.
Yet, here you are as an upcoming Bassist. You and your ragtag quintet of musicians have made New Meridian your home for a while now. This concocted crew grew up as friends from the small town of Maplecrest, originally a quartet in need of a Jazz Bassist. Since you were in the neighborhood, you went and practically dominated the audition. That made you a stranger to these guys and lone girl. Bud, the pianist, and second in command when you're not around. Morello, the lofty drummer, Page, the silver-tongued guitarist. And Sonny, a multi-instrumentalist with a heart of gold.
And you are... "Shaggy!"
You stopped your Bass exercises and looked at Sonny, annoyed that your concentration was shattered. "What is it, Sonny? Can't you see I'm warming up here?"
Sonny wore a black suit and tie, as you all are at a show at Medici Tower. Or, you're getting ready for a show no one has really shown up yet. You pulled a lot of strings to get the group up here. If everything goes well here, who knows what opportunities await? At any rate, you started your warm-ups again, but at a pace where you can still hold a conversation.
"Sorry, Boss. We were just wonderin' on the setlist for tonight. Didn't really discuss it, y'know?" Sonny mentioned in concern.
You nod in realization. But if you five have anything, it's chemistry. This group understood how to play off one another, which you really admire and appreciate.
"How about that tune you were writing back at our apartment, Boss?" Page chimed in. "What's it called again?"
A chuckle left you as you continued warming up. "Uptown - Downtown?"
She nodded excitedly. "Yeah, Uptown - Downtown! That's a bad track, Boss!"
You shake your head. "Yea, the bassline may sound great, but we never rehearsed it." You finished your first exercise before swiftly moving to the next one. "We'll see how the show goes, and if the crowd is on board, we'll try it out."
Everyone agreed with your compromise as You played a string, realizing it's slightly out of tune. "Hey, Bud. You mind giving me a Bb?"
"Sure thing, Shaggy," he answered before playing middle Bb on his piano.
You play the same string and tune it, so it no longer sounded wonky. A fire setlist is needed for tonight. Uptown - Downtown was tossed up by Page, and you took it into consideration. But what else can be played before closing up the show? It had to bring down the house.
"How much time do we have? I forgot to ask the joint's owner." You embarrassingly inquired.
Bud Always one step ahead, Bud knew the answer. "You forgot again, Shaggy? The owner said: 'Till I say you got one more! Then you play one more, we pay ya, and ya beat it!' He sounded a lot more aggressive when he told me, by the way. The guy lacked manners and spit all over my suit. So we have an indefinite amount of time. That meant so long as you don't suck (a high improbability), you can play for as long as you want. And remember, Shaggy. Eliza will be coming right after us. I suggest we book it as soon as we finish our last tune to avoid a confrontation with Horace and Albus."
Ugh, Eliza.
A drama queen, attention whore, and diva. Just her name earned a groan from everyone from the group, yourself included. But, Eliza can sing a siren to sleep. In all honesty, she isn't the reason why you and your team don't like being around her. It's her bodyguards. Horace and Albus always pissed you and your group off. Territorial doesn't even begin to describe your disdain for that damned bird and wolf. In fact, you can think of about fifty words to describe them, none safe for work. But that's between you and me.
"Ok. Instead of thinking of specific tunes, we can have certain feels in mind. Let's think of a waltz, ballad, standard, blues, and something unique. For a waltz, I was thinking of Footprints or Aida. I have Body and Soul for ballads," you stated.
"How about, Cry me a River? Or Summertime?" Morello suggested while adjusting his glasses.
"Those are good suggestions. Someone has done some listening, I see," you thanked. "What about standards? Nita, Circus, or Celia all come to mind."
"What about Evidence? Or Sweet and Lovely?" Sonny requested.
He always had a thing for playing standards with intricate melodies. Then again, you're the one who mentioned Nita and Celia, both of which are complex in their own ways.
You nodded. "Those will do. Now, blues. Tenor Madness, Blue Monk, Equinox. Any other ideas?"
"Knot the Blues?" Morello brought up.
You raise an eyebrow. "Knot the Blues isn't a blues, Morello."
The others laugh at his blunder. "Oh. Heh, oops." He continued tuning his kit.
"Eh, doesn't matter anyway. Blues are so last year anyway." You remarked. "Now, the fun stuff. Originals. What do we have?"
"How about Seat of Power? Or Moonlit Melee? Unisphere, Three to get Ready, Watch Out!?" Page all suggested.
You all nod in agreement. "And there you have it. I think we're good for tonight."
After everyone agreed, you pick up speed in your exercise before the patrons come in. The whole crew is talented at their respective instruments. But you? Your skill with the Bass is near inhumane. No song is too slow or too fast. No feel is alien, no avenue hasn't been explored. So, why do people call you Shaggy? Simple really. You have hair like an Old English SheepDog. Unless you move it, no one can see your eyes. Plus, you tend to remain calm at all times, even when it comes time to do your profession. It's bewildering to most, but your group has gotten used to it by now. After finishing your exercises on time, people start filling in the seats, a full crowd for tonight.
"Alright, everyone. Let's stop the noodling," you suggested.
Bud countered, "Shaggy, you're still playing your Bass."
He was right as you were still blazing on your Bass. "Sorry," you say cheekily as you start wiping it down.
Soon after, the owner of the floor walked up to your group. "Alright, guys and gal. S'long as you don't do bad, you can stay 'till Eliza shows then ya got one more and then ya get lost. I'll pay ya all when ya leave the buildin'," he explained. "Questions?"
"Nope," you said while cleaning the Bass.
"Cool. You're on five. Knock 'em dead, kid!" the owner told you before walking to the bar.
More and more people walk in as our performance time crept closer. From here, You could tell there were about a hundred or so people here
"Whoa. This is a lot of people," Morello quietly noticed.
"Sure is," Page commented. "Hey, Boss. Did a lot of people come here when you were still freelance?"
Before you auditioned and became a part of the Maplecrest Quintet, you played freelance, commissioned by other quartets or triplets who needed a bassist for a show. Most of those gigs ended up being in this very venue.
"Yeah, sometimes. Attendees would vary depending on who was playing. But since most of the people who come to these shows know you already, they must've heard that you run your own group and that's why so many people showed. And to further reinforce that reasoning, when some of the people started coming in, they noticed you and greeted you," you explained.
"Hey, Shaggy!" a passerby said. I waved to them.
"Wow, Boss. I didn't know you were famous," Sonny mentioned. You shrug at the observation.
You merely shrugged. "Believe me. If you think that was cool, wait until Eliza shows up."
Looking at the owner, he gives the ok to start the performance. You clear your throat to get everyone's attention. All eyes are on you and the crew.
Good Luck.
"How's everyone doing tonight?" you announced.
Murmurs of excitement sounded across the room, even among the bouncers and security. "Awesome, awesome. We're the Maplecrest Quintet. With me are the coolest cats on this side of New Meridian. On the kit, we have the Lofty Morello!" You introduce Morello as he played a basic drum fill.
"On the six-string, we have Silver Tongue Page!" she played The Lick on her guitar, earning a couple of laughs.
"Our multi-instrumentalist, Jack of all Trades, Master of All, Sonny!" Sonny winked at some of the ladies in the audience, earning whistles from them. The smooth dog he is.
"On Piano is the Second in Command, The Gold to my Platinum, the Dizzy to my Bird, Bud!" he played a II-V-I turnaround.
Before you can finish off, someone from the crowd yelled, "And who are you fam?"
"I'm the Ringleader, the Big Cheese, the Head Honcho. But you can call me Shaggy," you introduced yourself as the audience roared in response. "But enough about us! I hope y'all are ready for some great music tonight!" You joke.
They all cheered in response. "Alright, let's get to work! Enjoy yourselves!"
You turn to your group. "Nita. You're all ready?" Everyone nodded. "Morello, you got seven upfront. And Sonny, play a pick up that'll lead us into the melody. Alright, 1. 2. 1,2,3,4."
(Play Nita by John Coltrane)
Morello played a burning seven bars before Sonny got on his trumpet. The rest of the band came in as smooth as butter as you walked the changes while Sonny burned through the melody. You get to the bridge where things calm a little before heading to the final eight bars. You finished the melody, and Sonny boldly took the first solo. You and Bud cut back on the changes as you were playing a little too loud, but the balance returned swiftly. You look to the crowd and see that they're digging your choice of tune. Starting off with a Standard was the right call.
After taking two choruses, he passed the baton to Page, who quickly picked up where Sonny left off. Her fingers slid across the fretboard like it was nothing, and what she was playing sounded appealing to the crowd. She started her third chorus, and you noticed Sonny setting up his Tenor Sax. He didn't do that before the show began? It was so like him. But he made it on time just as Page finished.
When Page finished up, Sonny came back in on his Sax with the Courage of a Stunt Driver. This is where he really shines since he can play nearly any instrument you put in front of him but is especially good with a woodwind. The crowd gives a collective "Ooooooh." at his return to the solo format. He starts his second chorus. You give Bud a quick look to signal he's next. He noticed and nodded. Sonny finished before giving the spotlight up.
Bud is a monster on the piano and the way he began the solo set the tone for the rest of the night. His fingers flew all across those keys as if his hands were flying. He kept the crowd in suspense as he left open spaces in his playing. Sure, Page and Sonny did too, but not as much. He enjoyed teasing the crowd before trapping them with a false sense of security. An excellent job on his behalf, as he glanced at Morello, his way of saying it's his turn to take it home.
Being a drummer, Morello can build tension easier than anyone in the group, his awareness of what to play next violently outshined by his hi-hat. No matter how wild or concentrated his playing is, you always hear the hi-hat cymbal going up and down. It built an unknown around his style. You noticed the crowd is leaning in to see what would happen next. He played the final bars of his solo before you all bring it back in. The crowd roared in applause as you all effortlessly transitioned back into the melody. Sonny moved back to his trumpet as he played while the rest of the group serving as his pseudo hypemen. Sonny finished the song by extension. You expected love from the crowd but not a standing ovation, on the first song no less!
Look at you, Shaggy!
"Thank you. Thank you. That was Nita, a composition made by our very own Sonny here," you gave credit while the crowd continued praising the performance. "For this next tune, we suggest you find a partner, cause we're slowing things down for this one. And if you can't waltz, then don't bother." You turned to the group. "Aida. Bud, play us in."
"You got it, Shaggy," he complied.
(Play Aida by Rene McLean)
Bud started an impressive run of notes before leading the crowd on with repeats. His hands played a quick sixteenth-note chain before pausing briefly, beginning a slow, unpredictable set of keys. Out of the corner of your eye, Sonny has his flute ready.
Playing a couple of stray notes to finish the setup, Sonny started playing the melody. Aida is a waltz, meaning it's in ¾, and while not one you can dance to, every time the group played Aida, some couples (mostly elder ones) find a way to dance to it anyway. An incredible sight as it never failed to put a smile on the group's face.
Aida had a twenty measure melody that repeated, placing a bassline that accompanied it, which Bud wrote. The second time Sonny ran through the tune, you spice up the bassline to keep the crowd on their toes. A few of them noticed, and some didn't, but it's nothing worth losing sleepover. The melody is done, and Sonny took the helm as the first soloist, and the crowd sat impressed. You did mention that Sonny was a master instrumentalist, and it wasn't a joke.
Sonny's attack on the solo was pretty simple, deciding to build tension and have it steadily increase as he kept going into the second and third runaround. As the piece finished, he started releasing a bit but not all of it, becoming the theme of the song tonight.
Page took the mantle, albeit not for long. She did nicely in keeping the tension present, playing short licks, and didn't resolve. Morello's decision to use brushes for this song was smart as he did a fantastic job keeping everyone up to speed. After finishing her chorus, Page gave Bud a signal that he's next. He, in turn, glanced at you. Ah, he wants to share a chorus. You comply, as doing this will definitely keep the crowd interested.
You played a smooth lick to construct the illusion; it was your turn. Still, immediately after, Bud came in, and you took a sneaky backseat as he played his chorus. Playing off of you, the joint solo sounded beautiful, adding to the song's mystique. The melody was ready to reset, and he looked at you. It's your turn now. And you definitely didn't disappoint. Bud strung together a run of block chords to end his solo.
You finally get the spotlight and do so by playing a short line on that resonates with the crowd, earning some 'ooohs.' Then, you played the same path but with your bow strumming on the strings, grabbing the audience's attention. What a way to continue the theme of building tension! In the middle of the form, Morello made a shaking sound on his snare with his brush, creating something similar to that of hard rain hitting a window that spawned mysticism. He continued until you were halfway through your second chorus until he stopped. After finishing the second chorus, you put your bow away to start playing your final chorus. This was where you were going to let all the tension go. But not after filling the room with more to the point where it spilled over. Your tugs and pulls become harder on your strings, reinforcing the uneasy feeling. Then the form was ready to repeat, and you play your final notes softly, which released the tension as the group jumped back in for the melody.
Snaps, claps, whistles, and more were used to congratulate you all as Sonny kept the melody going. The applause didn't stop until you were all halfway through the first time around. After he finished a second time, you all drum the same note to build momentum before releasing it off, ending Aida. Another standing ovation from the performance, fantastic job! You expected to do well, but not this well! This is definitely a feeling you all could get used to. As you wiped the sweat off your brow, you start to talk again.
"Thank you very much," you spoke as the applause died down.
They all sat down as you see Eliza, Horace, and Albus entered the building. You would introduce them, but you needed to get Aida out of the way first. "That was Aida, a Waltz written by our very own Bud. It's a nice tune, don't you think?" Everyone murmured in a collective agreement. "Good, good. You've been an amazing audience. I apologize if my solo wasn't up to par-"
"What are you talking about, Shaggy? You had the best one in the track!" An audience member yelled, earning more applause from the crowd.
Playing along, you bowed as the other members of the group laughed. "Thank you, thank you. Before we play our final tune because the owner of the floor is giving us the death stare," that got another laughter from the crowd.
You point at Eliza and her bodyguards. "We have a lovely guest in the house. The one and only, Eliza!"
The audience, along with the owner, Page, and Morello, clapping like crazy. You do the same as a sign of respect. Bud played the opening bars of Alone Together but stopped after the first A section ended. "After we all clear out, she'll definitely give you another earth-shattering performance. Whether or not she'll be better than us is up for debate, however."
Morello immediately played a ba-dum-tss after you finished. The crowd laughed in response, some even agreeing through murmurs that didn't go unnoticed by Eliza. "It's all in good fun. Now, what oh what should we play last?"
Page pulled on your coat to get your attention as she's been sitting the entire time. "C'mon, Boss! Uptown-Downtown! We're ready for it!" she insisted with a whisper.
"We don't have a melody written for it yet, Page," you countered.
"We actually do, Boss," Sonny then pitched in. "Morello and I co-wrote it, and it works wonders with the bassline changes you put together."
Your expression said it all. "Morello. Is this true?"
He nodded. "Yup. I heard you hum an entire A section back at the apartment the other day, so I brought it to Sonny, and we built the entire melody around it. We all practiced it while you were finalizing the gig! We all know the form, the changes, and the melody. We're ready, Boss."
"Y'all are awesome," you said with pride before turning your attention to the crowd. "We got one more song for you all tonight! And," You said, motioning for the fans to lean in. "This is the first time we're playing this live. Consider yourselves special. This is a song we all had a hand in writing. I wrote the bassline and changes. Sonny, Morello, and Bud came up with the melody while Page did the backgrounds. This has been in the making for a long time, and I'm proud to finally have it ready for you all tonight. This song is called Uptown - Downtown."
An ovation erupted right from the start. Wow, the people are really into it tonight. You glanced at Morello. "How fast did you want it?"
"Up," was his answer, and that's all you really needed to hear.
You nodded before counting it off. Gazing into the crowd, you see Eliza, her staring at you as you get comfortable. Then, she gave off an alluring wink, and a blow kiss. Luckily no one can see your eyes so you roll them, brushing it off before focusing your attention on the crowd.
"Alright, it's been a blast, everyone. See you on the other side. Uptown - Downtown! 1,2,1,2,3,4!"
(Play Uptown - Downtown by Rene McLean)
The melody began without any type of pickup. The reason why you called it Uptown - Downtown was because you wanted to insert a form of chaos. And Morello and Sonny did a fantastic job of incorporating that feeling.
When the group played through the beginning of the melody, it felt well constructed, if not linear. It sounded like we were in uptown New Meridian which is what the song is based off. But oh boy, when you got to the next section, the complete construction gave way to controlled chaos, like we were in the slums. Then the final half of the form seemed like you were heading right back up to Uptown. When you all ran through the melody again, you picked up speed just a hair, and dare I say a little less controlled. You all finished, and Bud decided to take charge, being the first to play the changes.
Bud played some beautiful lines to start off, taking the track's theme and incorporating it into his playing. He got to the second half of the song before playing longer lines, even putting in a couple of nutty runs. When the form was ready to loop, Bud built the control back up, making his theme incorporation more apparent. The second section of the form sounded chaotic, a wicked line discordant with the changes that worked beautifully, ending with a pseudo piano roll. He kept playing the same notes until the melody was ready to loop again, complimenting the start of the song that capped off his magnificent solo.
Sonny was next, and he left nothing on the table. He blazed with lines, licks, and runs from his first measure. What he brought was intensity while his solo kept going, the tempo steadily increasing. Usually, this would be bad, but in this case, it worked. Everything the group did was intense as the heat rose continuously. He took a quick break to let the rhythm section do their thing before coming back into it without missing a beat. He started his final chorus, and the tune was nearly flying off the hinges, the crowd getting into it. They were all snapping and stomping with your group, whistling in amazement. Sonny was finishing his last chorus, turning to look at you. He wants you to play through the changes? Well, you never did it before, but here goes nothing.
Your solo started slow, playing little compared to Bud and Sonny, but still incredible to hear. You enforced its chaotic nature, creating tension and releasing it at different levels as the choruses were building. Into your second chorus, the chaotic side came out sooner and stayed longer but disappeared in the same spot as your last. Your third chorus, you decide to be chaotic for nearly the entire form. While Bud chose to keep the chords contained, Morello followed you through the buildup with no hesitation. You reached the final four bars and cap it off by playing the same eight-note run a few times before playing the last lick, which brought the melody back to the forefront.
As Sonny started playing the melody, the tempo considerably faster, the crowd enjoyed every bit of what you were doing, all bobbing their heads in rhythm. As you all got ready for the second time through the melody, you change up the bassline. As you did so, Morello switched the backbeat, so it matched your rhythm, and it sounded absolutely genius. As the melody concluded, Morello played a bunch of hits in conjunction with the last few lines, and Page played a quick solo to take it out. Sweat was over all of you, the heat finally catching up as the song came to a brilliant end.
The crowd absolutely exploded with applause, another standing ovation as Page, Bud, and Morello stood up. You all bowed at the same time before saying your goodbyes.
"We're the Maplecrest Quintet, Ladies and Gentlemen! Thank you so much for having us! Until next time!" you bid farewell with gratitude as the crowd didn't stop applauding the performance.
If they didn't stop soon, the owner would blow a gasket. (much to the group's delight) He didn't (much to the group's disappointment), calmly asking the crowd to give your group another round of applause, which they happily did.
"Alright, we're going to give the Maplecrest Quintet ten to safely pack up, then we can get to Lady Eliza. How does that sound?" the owner asked the audience, to which they perked up.
The group took a minute to catch their breath, Uptown - Downtown definitely tired the group out, yourself included.
"Good work, everyone," you ended the silence before wiping yourself off with a towel. "I think we definitely earned our paychecks."
"Say, Boss," Morello got your attention. "What are you doing after this? Jean wants to go out for dinner." Morello asks. You raise an eyebrow, suspicious.
"Is Jean trying to set me up with another blind date? I told her to stop doing that. Plus, I'm not going anywhere, save for my apartment. After what just happened, I'm going to be taking the longest shower in recorded history," you said definitively.
"Boss, you need some lovin' too. You spend too much time practicing your bass, you need a girlfriend!" Morello responded.
"I can look for romance on my time. Not tonight," you stated.
"C'mon, Morello. We all know that Boss's first love is the bass he's carrying," Page came to your defense. "Besides, I've seen the women Jean pairs him up with. Not the prettiest women I've seen." Bud and Sonny started snickering at that comment.
"Hey, that's my wife!" Morello nearly yelled.
"Yeah, a horrible matchmaker. C'mon, we gotta finish packing, so Little Miss High Class over there can take the stage," Page stated about Eliza.
You all got your things packed, Sonny's many instruments taking a chunk of the time before heading to the elevators. The owner of the floor managed to pull you all aside, the others waiting.
"You did a kick-ass job tonight, Shaggy! Your group sounded killin', especially that last song. Uptown - Downtown, right?" he inquired.
"Yeah. It definitely was a burner." You got straight to the point. "So, when are we getting paid?"
"Don't get your panties in a bunch. I got all your paychecks right here," he said before pulling out separate checks for our work tonight, handing it to each individual. "And I even through a couple extra hundred dollars for bringing the audience to their knees."
It was at that moment, you all compared each other's payments and notice something peculiar. Everyone received equal pay, but your own check was significantly more than the others.
"Hey, what's up with my check? Mine has a lot more money than the others do!" you pointed out, annoyed at what you initially thought was leader bias.
However, the owner broke it down for you. "Eliza put an extra 300 in your check specifically. She also said, and I quote: 'To call me later.' A lucky bastard is what you are, Shaggy. To pique the interest of the hottest singer in New Meridian? Luck I'd say. That's why your check has more money on it. She insisted."
You ruffled your shaggy hair and took a deep breath before your eyes looked back at Eliza sitting at her table with Horace and Albus. That familiar smirk of hers wasn't fooling you after everything she put you through. She noticed your stare and winked playfully at you again. Though no one could see it, your eyes rolled at her flirty nature.
"C'mon guys. Let's get the hell out of here," you bluntly ordered. "Thanks again, Barkeep. Hopefully, you'll hire us again, eh?"
"After tonight? You bet your ass! Now get lost," he said before pushing you all to leave.
As you all entered the elevator going to the first floor, the talk amongst the group revolved at what just happened as we were departing.
"So, are you going to keep the extra money, Boss?" Sonny asked you.
"What? No! I'm splitting it with all of you," you immediately declared. "There will be no bias in this group."
"But how are we going to split 300 dollars among five people?" Morello asked.
A blank expression graced your face at the question."We each get 60 dollars. 60x5 is 300.".
"Oh, right! Huh, I must be more tired than I thought. My brain must've turned off," he responded.
"Wait, you can turn your brain on?" Page shot, earning laughter from everyone.
"It's odd, Shaggy." Bud got your attention. "Eliza has been trying to get your attention a lot lately. What's up with that?"
"Yeah. That is a little odd, eh?" Page interjected.
You take a deep breath, knowing this was going to take a while to explain. "Eliza's trying hard to get my attention because she wants me to be her bassist."
Everyone couldn't believe what I just said. "Whoa, Boss. How come you didn't do that?" Morello was first to speak after that. "You could've been raking in boatloads of cash."
All eyes were on you after you revealed that tidbit of info. "I used to be Eliza's Bassist."
Gasps resonated within the tight space, which wasn't surprising. "I was hired by Eliza when my hair didn't cover my eyes, my skill nowhere near where it is now. She fired me, which was why I started focusing more on my craft."
"How long ago was that?" Sonny asked.
"Two years ago. Being Eliza's sideman is not a fun job. The experience nearly made me quit being a musician altogether. She ditched me, thinking I was no good. A few months after I started doing freelance jobs, being Eliza's former sideman was enough to get me decent employment. But you know you've improved a lot when even the crowd notices the difference. I was making headlines. After I started making the news, Eliza tried getting me to come back, but I refused multiple times," you gave the full story.
"Wow, Boss. That's some story," Page remarked. "I imagined that working for Eliza is hell, but now hearing it from you? I definitely believe in every word. So, you were freelance for two years before you joined us?" You nodded. "And landed enough gigs to make a comfortable living?"
You explained that working for Eliza opened a lot of doors, as hellish time spent with her was. So when you became a freelancer, you had plenty of opportunities. And when people started noticing how good you were, the work and money really piled up. You could've made a career of not being a part of a group.
"Then why join up with us then? You for sure could have a career being freelance." Bud pointed out.
"Because," you started. "You four are the first group who actually care for the craft. None of the other musicians I played with shared the same amount of passion you four do. So I want to see you all do big things. And with me being here, the only way we can go is up."
"Damn, Boss. you're gonna make me cry." Sonny said as he checked his eyes.
*DING*
The elevator reached the first floor and came open.
"Well, everyone. Thanks for listening to my elevator pitch," you joked, gaining a laugh from the others.
Everyone cleared out of the elevator so others could get in, and you all make it outside. It's a little chilly you should've brought an actual coat. Luckily, your place isn't too far from the establishment.
"You guys should get to Maplecrest before the streets clear out. We'll talk tomorrow," you instructed.
As everyone went their separate ways, the four heading back to the hotel they were staying at, you start walking to your apartment. A job well done, Shaggy! You should be proud of yourself.
After making it back to your apartment and taking a well-deserved shower, you head to bed.
The next day came rather quickly. When you wake up, as you were doing warmups on your bass, your phone started ringing. You pick it up, the caller ID indicating it's Sonny.
"Hello?" you answered the call.
"Boss, Boss, Boss!" he yelled, causing you to push the phone away temporarily.
That was going to sting for a while. Sonny was still loud on the mic, so you put the phone on speaker mode. "Sonny! It is 9 A.M.! Aren't there still people sleeping in your condo?"
Momentary silence occurred until Sonny responded. "Oops. But I'll apologize later! We made the radio!"
"Wait... What?" you stood stunned.
"You heard me, Boss! We made the radio! Every station in New Meridian is talking about the gig we played last night! People are losing their minds! Some are even saying that the performance was worthy for album of the year!" he said.
"But we don't have an album," you protested.
"I know! Turn your radio on, and call me or the others back!" Sonny instructed before abruptly hanging up the phone.
Seeing as you had nothing else to do, you turn on your radio. Much to your surprise, Sonny was right. They were talking about the Maplecrest Quintet.
"Good morning, all you listeners. I'm personally still recovering from one of the greatest live performances I've ever attended. At River King Casino inside Medici Tower, the Maplecrest Quintet gave one wicked performance. While their set was short with only three tunes, they carried themselves last night as opening acts though it felt as if they were the main attraction."
Honestly, the way you and the others were talking about potential songs to play, you could've gone for hours.
"The first track the group was a composition called Nita, which followed a simple AABA song format. The solo players took command from the start. Sonny played two solos with different instruments blew. That alone blew my mind as well as the audience. Not to undermine Page, Bud, and Morello's solos. They were all great. In fact, the only gripe I have with Nita was the fact Shaggy didn't take one," the radio host complimented.
You don't like playing over Nita's changes. The others knew this fact, and it was the reason why they didn't give you one.
"The next track was a beautiful waltz made by Bud, Aida its called. The melody, while simple, was mesmerizing as Shaggy played a gorgeous bassline and changed it the second time. I had a feeling it flew over some of the crowd's heads. But Shaggy, if you're listening, I noticed," he said. Glad to see someone did. "But as euphoric as the melody was, the solos were the true highlight, Shaggy's especially. He never really ceased to amaze the crowd. It takes tanuki sized balls to play changes with a bow, but they both sounded wonderful. The tension throughout gave me goosebumps and made my hair stand on end. Looking into the crowd, I think Aida spawned some sexual tension too. Couples who attended the show got busy when they got back to their homes."
Honestly, he could've skipped the fucking part, but praise is praise regardless.
"But the final tune they played was essentially a team project. The quality, feel, and mood on point. Uptown - Downtown, a song the entire group worked on, became the highlight of the entire show. How the group encapsulated that utopian suburban side only for it to descend into chaos so seamlessly and smoothly made it feel like we were all driving from Uptown to Downtown. The solos taken reinforced the feeling this song portrayed, the audience entranced throughout. I wish the song could've gone on forever. Luckily I didn't cry tears in the joint. All three songs received a standing ovation. Still, Uptown - Downtown truly brought the house down, and the set itself arguably outshined Eliza's entire performance. Goes to show that having authentic knowledge of the craft and having people who can express it can go a long way. The River King Casino gig will definitely be unforgettable for the right, or if you're an Eliza fan, the wrong reasons. More on the performance later," the radio host concluded before commercials came onto the air.
"What the hell?" You had to sit down after hearing all of that.
Putting your bass on the floor softly, you sit down on your couch. This was a lot to take in. I mean, you alone made the radio plenty of times. But after only one major gig, the Maplecrest Quintet was the talk of the town all morning. Plus, people have been saying that you all outperformed Eliza? She must not be too happy to hear all this on the airwaves. All the praise is making you uneasy.
"I need to get out of here," you mumbled to yourself as you grabbed a hoodie, your wallet, and phone before leaving your apartment.
As you walked the streets of New Meridian, your stomach began to rumble. It's noon, and you haven't eaten anything of great sustenance.
"I've walked for three hours already? Well, time for me to go get lunch," you said to no one. Or did you?
Nevermind. Since you're in Little Innsmouth, a Dagonian section of Downtown New Meridian, there should be a lot of places to eat. You scanned the surroundings, and you were right. Restaurants lined the streets as far as you could see. To your left was a small restaurant. In your time as a freelancer (who can't cook for shit), you realize that small eateries meant authentic cuisine for fair prices. You go inside to see what's going on.
Entering the little establishment, you saw a couple of tables to your left, an elongated table with revolving seats on the right. Not a huge crowd here, a few people eating, not paying any attention to you. Not that you're seeking it in the first place. The guy in the open kitchen you assumed was the head chef noticed your arrival and greeted you like a Downtown Dagonian who so happened to run a restaurant would.
"Ay, a new face! Welcome to my shop!" he greeted you. "Grab a seat! I'll send Minette to ya in a minute!"
He was a Catfish Dagonian (Human & Aquatic Animal Hybrid), so you assumed the food he made is oriental. Anyway, you take a seat at one of the tables and get comfortable, the seat's cushion doing an excellent job easing the noise from the radio report.
As you continued getting comfortable, a voice caught your attention. "Hi, what can I get for you?"
Looking to your left, you see another Dagonian, a female one. You can't make out what Dagonian precisely, but she had fish-like qualities. Jumping to conclusions, you presume this is Minette.
"Hey. This is my first time here, so I'll just have whatever the chef recommends," you said, loud enough for the chef to hear.
He laughed heartily. "Ha! I love it! Don't worry, buddy! I'll serve up somethin' real nice for ya!" You nodded before laying back in your seat as he went to work.
"Uhm, excuse me," Minette decided to make small talk, catching your attention. "Are you Shaggy, the bassist by any chance?"
Great. Now the few patrons here are gawking at you, mini conversations going on at different tables. You take a deep breath, cursing God inwardly for putting you in this situation.
"Yes, I am. Don't tell anyone. I'm just here for some food then heading right back to my apartment," you said.
Minette gasped, but before she can become a fangirl, the chef butted in. "Ay! Don't bug him, eh? He doesn't want the attention, so don't give him any! Go serve the other customers."
You planned on showing thanks by eating his food, even if it tasted terrible.
She bowed at the chef. "Yes, Yu-Wan." Minette then turned to you. "I'm sorry, Shaggy. I'm a big fan of yours and didn't mean to draw unwanted attention."
A shake of the head was your response."It's okay. You didn't mean any harm. But you should get back to work since your Boss is givin' you the stink eye."
Bowing again, Minette left me to serve another patron. Through your hair, you notice a feline Feral giving you a small nod in respect.
Yu-Wan, while cooking your meal, decided to chat you up. "So, Shaggy!" He started. "What brought ya out to Little Innsmouth?"
"Apparently, my group's performance at the River King Casino did so well that it became the talk of the radio all morning. I felt uncomfortable in my apartment, so I left to get some air. Ten minutes turned into three hours, and I got hungry," you answered honestly.
"Yeah, I was tunin' in myself! But that wasn't the first time you made the radio!" He eyed me curiously. "So why unsettled now?"
"Because it was the first gig we played and we're already on the radio. People keep saying we outperformed Eliza, who was the main attraction last night, which might lead to trouble down the road." You shrugged your shoulders. "Besides, me being a canine Feral, Human hybrid, I was bound to make headlines. But the others are from Maplecrest. So no one in New Meridian knows them. Well, now they do."
"You're a hybrid?" Yu-Wan inquired.
"What? Do you think my hair is like this normally? Oh no, it's because my pop is a Sheepdog Feral, and my ma is a human. I got most of my looks from her, but I got Pa's hair and facial hair. It doesn't look like it, but a few weeks ago, I had a Fu Man Chu," you describe yourself before lifting your hair so Yu-Wan, Minette, and the Feline feral can see your eyes. They were bright gold. So now they had perspective on how thick your hair really is. You let it fall back down, covering your eyes completely.
Sinking back into the chair, you loosen up a little more. Everyone else watched contently before going back to their business. Finally, having the spotlight away, you were looking forward to the great smelling food.
The time is now 12:30. You should head back to your apartment afterward and call Sonny again. A knocking sound caught your attention. Thinking it was your meal, you turn at the table, but you didn't see food. Instead, it was the feline feral from the other side of the room, now sitting across from you. She showed a pleasant smile.
"Hello," you spoke first. "And you are?"
"Nadia," she extended her hand.
You shook hands. Nadia had light tan skin and a white bob while black ears sprouted out. On her person was a black coat similar to your brown one. Her hands were clawed, which made sense she's part cat. And her canine tooth was more pronounced, extending past her lips.
"I heard your performance at the River King Casino last night. It was purr-fect," Nadia slurred.
That got a laugh out of you. "Glad you liked it. I guess even this dog's got some tricks."
She returned my laughter. "I think we're gonna get along just fine. So, how does it feel to be famous?"
You shrugged. "I'm not famous. Well-known is better in my case. People in New Meridian know me, but I can make a safe assumption that not a soul knows of me in Maplecrest, or in the rest of the world."
Minette came back and served your food. You, Nadia (known in the neighborhood as Ms. Fortune), Yu-Wan, and Minette all made conversation as you ate, and everyone got along well. You made a mental note to come back here when you weren't busy.
After eating and saying goodbye, you head back for your apartment, realizing it was late afternoon after spending the entire day at Little Innsmouth. Where did the time go? A ring from your phone notified you of an incoming call. As the last call, it was Sonny.
Oh crap! You forgot to call him back! You quickly answered the phone. "Sonny! I'm sorry I didn't call you back! I was eating at Little Innsmouth, and I lost track of time!"
"Forget about that, Boss! You need to get to Maplecrest ASAP!" Sonny frantically told you.
"Huh? Why?" You asked worriedly.
"I can't explain it now! Just come quickly!" he said before ending the call, leaving no time to accurately assess the situation.
You have no choice but to head to Maplecrest. Running as fast as you can to Downtown New Meridian, you managed to catch the next bus to Maplecrest. Sitting down, you grow uneasy. What could've happened in Maplecrest that made Sonny act up? Luckily, no one recognized you as you didn't want to deal with the extra attention. When the bus reached your destination, you jolt out of the bus, making a beeline for Sonny's apartment.
On the way, you encounter Page, who was on her knees in tears. She saw you and gave you a big hug. You softly grasped her shoulders while making eye contact, at least attempted to. Her eyes are red and puffy, indicating she must've been crying for quite some time.
"Page. What happened? Where's Sonny?" you asked her.
She sniffed a few times before trying to say something but couldn't. Immediately, you start thinking the worst yet refuse to show it. Instead, you comfort Page to settle her down. No doubt she's taking it the worst out of the others.
"It's okay. It's okay. Go to your apartment and try to relax. I'll see be there soon. Okay?" I instructed.
Page nodded frantically. "Okay. I'll see you soon, Boss." She then took off to her apartment.
You continued toward Sonny's apartment, your mind in a near panic. On the way, you see... oh no.
Numerous police cars and ambulances surrounded the vicinity. You book it faster and faster before finally making it to Sonny's apartment. Amongst the crowd, you finally see him and call for him.
He ran over to you, frantic and worried. "Boss! This is bad, man!"
"What happened? Where's Bud?" you inquired.
"He's at his house with his wife." His delirious behavior is concerning. "This is not good. This is not good."
"Sonny, calm down! What happened!?" You grabbed both his shoulders. "Sonny, calm down! What happened!?"
Before he could answer, a paramedic approached you two. "Are you Shaggy?" You nodded. "Come with me. There is something that you must see, unfortunately."
You follow him to the scene of the crime. Why did he say, unfortunately? Your heartbeat went faster than average. As you two draw nearer, three strands of police tape block off the area. Some of the cops seen, you recognized them as corrupt, bought out by the Medicis. Among them is Irvin, the only officer who actually upheld the law in a just way, a good friend with plans on becoming a PI soon. Godspeed to him. He doesn't look happy, his expression etched in sorrow. Inside the adjacent apartment laid the reason why Sonny was so frantic and Page balling her eyes out.
Morello and Jean... were murdered in cold blood.
Your eyes widened in horror, the corpses of your drummer and his wife strewn across the floor, deep cuts at their necks and arms. Morello also had a bullet wound in his skull. The scene shook you to the core, a chill running up your spine.
"They were killed a few hours ago. No one knows who committed these killings, and between you and me," the paramedic leaned into your ear. "The New Meridian isn't going to do shit since the Medicis have them in their pocket. There were signs of struggle from both victims, especially Morello. That's when the perpetrator decided to shoot him. Jean was next, fewer signs of a struggle between her and the killer."
You fluctuated between sadness, anger, and disgust. Grief because they were both only twenty-five years old. Anger, since the police's unwillingness to do their job, meant the Medicis had a hand in this tragedy. And disgust that you, Sonny, Page, and Bud were powerless to do anything.
The paramedic grasped your shoulder. "I'm not going to lie and say I know what you and the others are going through. But I'm deeply sorry for all your losses. We should clear the scene before the cops call in favors." He left after those words.
You kneeled down and take a final look at your now deceased friend, rage threatening to consume you. Neither Morello or Jean deserved this horrid fate. He was a great musician, but they were better people. Who could do such a thing, and why?
"I'm going to find who did this to you two. They will pay for this," you swore before standing up and leaving the scene straight for Page's apartment.
However, Irvin pulled you aside. "Hey."
"Sup, Irvin," you replied.
"I'm deeply sorry for your loss. We were all close, but Morello and the crew were even closer than Ben and I," he gave his condolences.
A deep breath left you, still shocked that one of your closest friends is gone alongside his wife. "Thanks, Irvin. You and Ben were really close to the Quintet, so you feel this pain too. But why would someone do something so heinous?"
"I do not know as of right now. But I plan on looking into it, even if the rest of the Department won't," Irvin confirmed.
You gave off a stern look. "If you need any help-"
"You'll be the first person I'll call. I'll see if I can get Ben in on it too." Irvin turned around and began walking away. "Safe travels back to New Meridian."
"Later, Irvin," you said before heading to Page's apartment.
When you get to her part of the complex, you knocked. "Page, it's Shaggy. Open the door."
To your surprise, Sonny was the one to greet you at the door. He came out and closed the door behind him. That alone meant that Page was still pretty torn up about the murders tonight.
"Is Page gonna be okay?" you asked.
He slowly nodded. "It took a while, but Page's finally asleep. What about you, Boss? You can crash here for the night if you want."
You shook your head. "No, we all need some alone time so we can cope with the loss. Call Bud tomorrow when you get a chance. I need to get back to New Meridian."
Sonny accepted. "We'll talk tomorrow, Boss." He says as he moved to go back inside.
"Sleep well, Sonny," you said your goodbye before Sonny moved back inside to comfort Page.
Taking the last bus back to New Meridian, all sorts of thoughts roamed your mind. Why would anyone come after Morello and Jean? Did a drug deal go bad? Was any money involved? There were too many possible scenarios in play and not a lot of facts and details surrounding this event.
You finally got back to your apartment, moving your bass out of the way before sitting on the couch, losing yourself in the news. Morello and his wife are dead. It's nearly impossible to believe but a harsh reality. You placed your hands over your face in disbelief.
"A shame," an unknown voice said.
Jerking your head up, you see no one. Great, now you're starting to hallucinate in your own space. Sleep will probably be hard to come by.
"Morello's death was tragic, Shaggy. No one will help you, and Irvin can only investigate so much before finding nothing but dead ends. Only you can solve his murder. Let me help you," the voice continued.
"I must be losing it," you mumbled to yourself, both hands shaking. Calm down, Shaggy. Nuttier things have happened in this world.
"You are not hallucinating, Shaggy. Look up," the voice requested.
Complying, you see a Vermillion colored Bird on one of the beams before it flew down, landing on your lap. "Greetings. My name is Suzaku."
You raised an eyebrow. "Like the Bird?"
"So you are familiar with the Four Symbols of Taoism. The Azure Dragon, Vermillion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise?" Suzaku mused.
"I know now," you admitted. "But what is a symbol of Tao doing in my apartment?"
"Are you familiar with Parasites?" she queried.
"Like, Ticks?" you asked again.
"Not that parasite. More aptly named Theons. Until a certain Parasite ruined our good name," Suzaku explained.
"Now, most who know of our existence call us Parasites," a smooth, masculine voice interjected from behind you. Turning around, you see a White Tiger lying on the couch. "I am Byakko."
"Are you all real?" You asked as you touched Suzaku's head, your hand not phasing through her body.
"We are very real, Shaggy," an older voice responded before revealing itself as a Black Tortoise. "Genbu's my name. Nice to meet you. We can give you the strength and positive energy needed to pursue Morello's murder."
You really had to question your sanity now. "Can anyone else see you three?"
"No, and there are four of us," another voice answered.
Wrapping around Suzaku was an Azure Dragon. "And now, the Four Paths of Tao are here. I am called Seiryu. Allow us to lend you a hand. Morello's death was wrong, and we wish to help you gain justice."
While not opposed to having help, you weren't sure if this was a good idea. "But wouldn't that mean possessing me? And wouldn't being host to four Parasites kill me outright?"
"Normally. But we all count as one Parasite. Therefore, if you agree, we won't kill you," Byakko said.
That didn't do much to convince you. "Why help me? How long have you been watching me?"
"Since you became a freelance Bassist to be specific," Genbu answered. "We're all big fans of your work. And we are all devout followers of altruism. You are a fair and a just man, Shaggy, and we can all benefit from this partnership. You become our host, and we'll all assist you in finding Morello and Jean's killer."
"And I won't be handicapped in any way?" you ask, still skeptical about this ordeal.
"Not at all. Otherwise, we wouldn't be having this conversation and would've possessed you without asking," Byakko answered bluntly.
You need to find Morello's and Jean's murderer, or else you will never rest easy again. If the Four Paths of Tao offered to help and all you need to do is become a Host, no detriment to your health (from them anyway), this was quite the offer.
You took a deep breath, only this was the only way to attain justice for close friends. "Alright. I'll be your host."
"You won't regret this, Shaggy. We are yours from now on," Suzaku assured before the Four Paths of Tao rushed and enter your body.
You could feel their power and wisdom swell within your body and soul. This was better than you could imagine. Tonight had brought an influx of emotions, both good and bad. However, despite this, you need to rest for tomorrow and tell the others of this meeting. There's no turning back. You'll do anything to gain justice for Morello. Now you have the power to get it. Best of luck, Shaggy.
You're gonna need it.
A/N: And that concludes the first chapter of this test story, Through the Eyes of a Musician!
What do you guys think? Did you like it? Did you not? Let me know with a Review and or a PM. And while you're at it, check out my Profile and give my other stories a read, eh? I suggest the TLAD reboot or Gone, but Not Forgotten, as those are my most recent works. With that being said, I'm gone.
Bye!