"So you're not from Ninjago city?" Jeremy asked softly, his voice vibrating her very soul. The tall woman shook her head, watching him take a sip at the glass.
"No, my family lives out by Jamanakai. It's a very peaceful town, and our visitors are scarce, but it would be an honor if you could arrange a way to perform there. Oh.." she looked down at her own glass, sliding her finger over the rim, "But.. we aren't a very rich village. I understand if you could not make it happen, I know it must be *very* expensive traveling so far.." She trailed off and smiled when Jeremy took a napkin from the middle table, laying it out flat and digging in his pocket.
He pulled out a pen and began to write on it, "What date and what time do you wish?"
"In a week if you could, and, around noon?" Jeremy nodded, finishing up and clicking the pen. Folding the napkin and putting both in his pocket, he stood up and pushed his chair in. She looked at him, startled. "I will make sure Lou sees this." He bowed his head, and she smiled.

"Y'think Lou hates us yet?" Ollie stared out the window of the car. "Because we keep ditching him n' stuff?" There was a break of silence filled with the sound of the rumbling car. "Welp, guess I'm talking to myself again." He sighed.
The orange lights gently passed over. Driving through the city at this time of night felt almost unreal. Not another car drove on the street, nor a pedestrian walked or a stray crept; it was as if the whole town has fallen into a deep restful slumber. The clouds rolled overhead, threatening to cast rain. Jeremy lightly snored in the back seat while Roger held the wheel steady.

Lou slowly picked his head up off the pillow. Someone was cooking something, the smell of french toast and sausages caused his stomach to respond. He pulled himself from bed, stepping out and into the kitchen.
"Goood morning, son!" Lou's father heartily stated, "Long night, huh? Didn't even get your bow undone." Raising his eyebrows, lou looked down at himself, who was still wearing the suit from last night.
"Yeah, got home and crashed.. Didn't expect to see you today."
"Crashed huh? You're not the only one." His father pointed a spatula towards the living room, in which Dareth was sloppily passed out on the couch. "I tried to wake him, but he's as dead as a rock." Lou sat down at the table where his father set a plate of breakfast down, joining him. "So, how have you been? I was notified that the budget issue was fixed, and I'm so proud of you, figuring it out on your own."
"Well, you know the routine, go around, schedule, perform, have a good time," Lou shrugged, "How about you?"
"My men and I have split off. I think I'm getting close to retirement, especially now that I'm not in debt to everyone." Lou looked surprised. "Though, the only reason why I'm home is because your mother wanted me to spend time with you." Aaand no longer surprised. The table shook a bit. Lou looked up from his plate, seeing Dareth plop himself in a seat. He looked.. Well, like a trainwreck; hair in his face, tie crooked and undershirt barely buttoned. Dareth barely opened his eyes, taking in the area around slowly, grunting and deflating a bit into the seat. Lou looked at his father, who looked curious and somewhat annoyed.
"Ah, Dad, this is my Manager, Dareth. He's the one who fixed the back end of all of this." He suddenly regretted stating that, hearing his father let out a dry chuckle.
"Well son, You've done goofed." He gave his son a pat on the back, obviously not believing him. Lou knit his eyebrows at this gesture and squinted at his father.
"Hmph. Don't believe me? Dareth, give me a rehash of the performances from last month." Dareth inhaled slowly, exhaling and leaning on the table, holding his head. There was a pause, Dareth scrunching his eyebrows and staring outward, thinking.
"There were… 5 performances.. All located in Ninjago City. The first one was… the 5th, then another the day after because of a reschedule. Third one was.. The 11th, which we had an influx of donations that went into literally nowhere, which was put into the bank account for the emergency reserve-" as Dareth carried on, Lou cockily watched the look on his father's face shift to one of genuine surprise.
"Well, perhaps I thought wrong!" His father laughed, cutting Dareth's groggy ramble off.
"Normally he looks better than this, but he had a little too much last night. I had to take him home– well, which is here, now." His father raised an eyebrow, and Lou carried on explaining the situation. Dareth just about fell asleep again, covering his ears. That wasn't something he wanted to think about, not on top of this screaming headache.

He was awoken by a rather vigorous shake from Lou. Looking up, he saw the excitement gleaming in his eyes. Looking back down, he noticed a napkin with short-fonted writing on it that stated an invitation to perform at Jamanakai of all places. Dareth rubbed his face, slowly blinking, "You want me to set this up?" Lou shook his head, smiling pleasantly. "Alright… hey wait a sec before you run off on me, you said," he let out a yawn, "you said you took me home.. Which is here.."
"Yeah. what, did you think you'd wake up a-"
"Where's my bike?" Lou looked confused at that statement. "Bike. Motorcycle. Loud, two wheels, has my entire life on it?" Then it hit him, it was probably still at the show building from last night.
"How about this, you get that situated, and I'll go grab your bike." Dareth, as if on queue, tossed the keys over.
"Sounds good, I don't want to go out today anyway." He sunk his head back into his arms, as Lou ran out the door, and slowly dozed off once more.