So I was rewatching Tonight You're Mine/You Instead and was randomly reminded that there's actually a very minor subplot about The Dirty Pinks guitarist and bassist getting together but it's done in a very blink and you'll miss it way (although you do see the two Dirty Pinks chicks make out in the movie trailer). I always thought that kind of sucked that they didn't make it like the legit B plot of the movie because why not have the movie center on two rock and roll love stories. Like so much could've been done with that but nope.
In this fic I've been touching on things like pandering to the media, celebrity culture and a bit on respecting privacy in terms of fandom, but the movie never even goes into those things which I feel is another missed opportunity because this movie could've given some commentary on those subjects in a really interesting way and in a really interesting setting, but again, nope.
X
For the next hour or so Santana and Brittany sat around the campfire with the group of concert goers who had goaded the two into having a little impromptu live performance together.
The group would randomly shout out names of popular songs and the two would laugh and scramble to find the chords on the guitar, fudging their way through cover after cover as they tried to find it by ear.
Prince's I Would Die 4 U, they did it. Love Fool from The Cardigans, they rocked it. No Scrubs by TLC, in the bag. George Michael's Faith, easy. It all culminated in a random and totally unrequested Alanis Morissette medley for some unknown reason. Finding the chords and the rhythms and the flow with each other wasn't as hard as one would imagine it to be given the handcuffs and given the fact that they were basically playing the same instrument at the same time they actually didn't sound half bad together. Especially when they slowed it way down when someone in the group shouted out Landslide.
''Do you know it?'' Brittany looked to Santana.
Santana pulled a face. ''I'm insulted that you even thought to ask that.''
Brittany smiled at that and then looked to their new acquaintances. ''I'm going to need to borrow someone's capo for this.''
Joe leaned forward and gently tossed Brittany the small accessory which she then adjusted onto the neck of the guitar. Santana strummed a handful of times as Brittany went about working out the notes, making sure she had the right progression before she settled into her seat and said she was ready.
And then they began, as Brittany handled the chords and timed her transitions out properly Santana began to finger pick a very soft almost sleepy rendition of the classic Fleetwood Mac song. All of the other songs they had worked their way through were fun or sexy, it was easy for both of them to grin and goof their way through each of those covers, but this song was different. It was tender.
''I took my love and I took it down…'' Santana sang first as she stared deeply into the fire in front of her, focusing intently on the words coming out of her mouth.
''Climbed a mountain and I turned around…'' Brittany came in with her soft, delicate voice.
It seemed the chemistry they shared was obvious to anyone really paying attention and it was only magnified even more when they played together. They were two people from two different genres who on paper might not have made the most sense but in reality up close and face to face there was some kind of magic there that couldn't be denied.
Perfect opposites who were perfectly in sync.
They could do silly but this cover showed that they could also do stripped.
After a few moments as they gradually made their way through the song their eyes began to drift to each other as they continued to sing and play side by side. It was silent, it was profound, it was...intimacy. It was more intense than a kiss, more passionate than any quickie. They were sharing something in that moment, between the lyrics, between the notes that no one else but the two of them could hear. As their voices rang out and found one another, that's what it was, intimacy of the purest kind. Sympatico.
Right then and there, everything else went out of focus. Nothing else seemed to matter, not the other people sitting around the fire with them, not the uncomfortable log they were sitting on, not even the handcuffs, it was just them and their voices and the guitar and an unspoken understanding.
Before they knew it they were finishing the song and coming to a gentle halt, they received applause from their tiny audience who seemed to appreciate the quiet tenderness of the cover.
''You two seem to get along really well…'' Kitty observed with a sly twinkle in her eye once everything had quieted down.
Santana and Brittany smiled but stiffened slightly.
Even though all of this was very evident to everyone around that fire, they weren't about to admit this to their new acquaintances. This thing between them, well it was still new and they were still exploring it and figuring it out themselves and the last thing they wanted to do was put it out there. Not when so much of their public personas had already been put under the microscope and dissected by the public. This, them, here, it wasn't something either of them wanted to give away just yet. Whatever was growing between them needed to be nurtured and protected. Guarded. They wanted this, whatever it was, to be theirs before it was anyone else's.
''I guess you could say that,'' Santana said as she and Brittany set the guitar aside.
Brittany tried to play their connection down as well. ''We sound okay together,'' she said with a simple shrug.
''So I take it that means we shouldn't expect a real collab from The Dirty Pinks and The Make,'' an intrigued Elliot gently prodded.
''Cause that would be pretty awesome,'' said Joe.
Lauren nodded in agreement. ''Right. Like Santana's sound is all sexy and glossy and Brittany, your sound is gritty and real. Both of you together though? I could totally see you two making something unique.''
''Who knows,'' Brittany left the matter at that.
Kitty began constructing a s'more for herself. ''You know I've always thought that making music with someone was just as intimate of an act as making love with someone.'' The rest of her friends laughed at the notion.
''Yeah I gotta disagree with on that one Kitty,'' Jake said lightly.
''Me too girl,'' Elliot said with a silly shake of his head.
Kitty though just shushed her friends as she started to explain herself further. ''No but listen, hear me out okay. Making love, or rather sex, that can happen between anyone. You don't have to know the person or even like them and you certainly don't have to understand them to achieve...ya know. You don't necessarily have to have a real emotional attachment to the person to have it off with someone.''
The group murmured amongst themselves, that they could understand and concede.
''But making music together? That's different,'' Kitty said. ''You just can't do that with strangers. At least not well anyway. In order to make beautiful music together, you have to have chemistry. You have to have some kind of real and intense connection.''
''Like the Jonas Brothers?'' Jake teased and Lauren high fived him as she chuckled nearby.
''Sort of,'' Kitty continued with her theory. ''It can be brother-sister chemistry, it can be best friend chemistry, it can be romantic partner chemistry, whatever the case, there just has to be real chemistry there. Like I know that when I play with you guys…'' Kitty motioned to her friends. ''I'm a better musician because we're all best friends. Because you know me and I know you. I know Jake's drumming style, I know when he's going to make a rush of cymbals before he even does it. I know that Elliot loves playing in a minor key. I know when Joe is gonna throw in some soulful run in the background. When you have a real connection with someone, you know where they're going to go before they even go there. You know what they're going to do before they even do it. And that in turn just elevates your abilities. When that happens there's just some kind of magic hidden between the notes. But if I were to walk into some random studio and start jamming with random people - it wouldn't be same. Even if they were awesome musicians it wouldn't matter because I wouldn't know them, I wouldn't have musical chemistry with them. When you don't have a real and honest connection with someone you can play all the right notes and sing all the right parts, you could get everything technically right - but you won't hear magic.''
Everyone digested this quietly and thoughtfully and with a few mumbles came to agree she had a point. In a strange but roundabout way.
''You know, I have to agree with that,'' Santana spoke up. ''I think I'm with Kitty on this one.''
''Me too,'' said Brittany. ''Musical chemistry, it doesn't just happen. Not with strangers. Me and my girls, we can predict each other's every move on stage. We know each other inside and out.''
''It's the same with Sam and myself,'' Santana said in agreement. ''He knows my style, he knows my sound, I don't think we would have that musical chemistry if we weren't really good friends.''
''With that said how long have you and Brittany known each other?'' Jake pointedly asked them. ''Cause if you ask me, you two sound like you've been making music together for a very long time.''
Brittany squirmed in her seat a tad. ''How long have we known each other?'' she repeated his question.
Santana bobbed her head from side to side. ''Around ten hours or so.''
''Ten really eventful hours,'' Brittany added helpfully.
''Ten really ridiculously eventful hours.''
''Must've been,'' Kitty chimed in. ''Because you certainly don't sound like strangers when you sing together. You must've made fast friends because you definitely have musical chemistry.''
''Fast friends,'' Brittany said in a funny but stilted tone. ''Totally.''
''That's us. Just friends,'' said Santana with a forced smile.
The group didn't quite look like they all believed that 'just friends' line but they left it at that and didn't push for details or pry. They were just amused and happy and in awe to be sitting along with two relatively well known musicians who on the surface of things seemed to have everything going for them. They didn't want to rock the boat or scare Santana or Brittany away by getting invasive.
Even when Brittany and Santana began to stand up and thank them for their hospitality and make good on their promise to exchange selfies and autographs for a bite to eat Elliot and his buddies decided that it really wasn't necessary. They didn't want to be a bother he explained on their behalf. He said getting to watch their little jam session together was more than enough payment for the food. They didn't really care about getting selfies, all they really cared about at the moment was brainstorming ways in which he and his band could scrape enough money together to record and distribute a proper demo for their band. He said they would be forever grateful if either one of them would post a link to their GoFundMe page.
He said it casually and in passing and Santana could tell he wasn't asking for a handout or fishing for anything which was why as she and Brittany prepared to depart the area Santana stepped up face to face with Elliot and whispered something into his ear. Something Brittany couldn't quite catch.
''You'd really do that for us?'' Elliot asked backing away and looking over Santana's features, wanting to make sure she wasn't joking about what she had just offered him.
''Provided you and you friends successfully complete the task I just asked of you, yes,'' Santana answered. ''You have my word.''
''You can count on us then.'' Elliot assured her eagerly, his face breaking out with a huge delighted grin.
Brittany didn't question their exchange or the strange and secretive deal Santana made with Elliot, she just thanked them all for the food and the chance to have a rest for a moment before they continued on their trek. Soon she and Santana were off.
''What was that back there?'' Brittany asked eventually once they were far enough away from the group. ''What'd you whisper to him?''
''Let's just say I made him an offer he couldn't afford to turn down,'' Santana replied rather cryptically. ''I'll tell you later. I want it to be a surprise.''
Brittany left it at that and let it be. She had enough on her mind as she and Santana started off again, this time however the sun was starting to break.
Together they walked hand in hand as they watched the sun rise. The had quite literally been walking the festival for hours and while their time together had been eventful it had also been physically draining. It hadn't really hit them how long they had been out and about until they saw the sun come out and large flocks of birds gracefully zoom across the sky in flight.
Their never ending night had without them even realizing turned into a brand new day.
Unfortunately they were still as lost as ever as they tried to navigate themselves back towards the artists quarters where both of their star trailers were located. Even as vendors and food trucks began to open and prepare for business all around them they kept getting turned around, taking unnecessary detours or inadvertently walking in circles, even after asking multiple people for directions.
Somehow, someway after another half hour of wandering about the festival they came to stop when they found themselves quite literally walking into the mud grounds.
It hadn't rained at all during the festival but a large section had been taped off and purposely flooded with water to create a thoroughly muddy space of land for festival goers to let loose in and even in the wee hours of the morning there were dozens upon dozens of people littering the space. Some were sitting about around strategically placed fire pits relaxing and resting about with others but there were a handful of full blown parties taking place, drinks were being had and music was blasting from personal speakers. There were even a few strange spots where groups of people were out dancing in thick dark sludgy mud which clumped all around their shoes.
''Gross,'' grumbled Santana. ''Okay, we have to find a way around this section because I am so not walking through here.''
Brittany surveyed the area but with less disgust. ''Yeah but according to the directions we just got - walking through this area is the most direct path back to the trailers.''
''I'm sure it is,'' Santana began with a laugh. ''But there's no way I'm walking through any of this. Look at me.'' She made a large and dramatic wave to herself, gesturing to her clothes. ''These are two thousand dollar boots.''
''That's ridiculous,'' Brittany snickered.
''My stylist picked them out for me.''
Again Brittany was tickled. ''You have a stylist?''
''What? Sam and I share one.''
Brittany gave her another amused look.
''My label insisted,'' Santana said in her defense.
Brittany adorably poked at one of Santana's dimples. ''You're such a princess.''
''Princess?'' Santana laugh-shouted in mock outrage. ''Who are you calling princess?''
''The girl who's scared of ruining her designer boots with a little mud.'' Brittany's tone was light and playful, she wasn't making a harsh judgement, she was simply teasing. ''It's fine, if you want to find another route back we can do that. Anything to protect your delicate sensibilities.''
''Delicate?'' Santana hollered again.
''I should've figured this would be a little too messy for someone like you.''
''Someone like me huh?''
Brittany nodded slyly. ''You, Sam, The Make in general have always come across as a little glossy. Even when you two are trying to be rock it's still a really polished style of rock. That's like what glam rock is, right. Polished. I know I can but I don't know if you have it in you to get really down and dirty.''
And like a stubborn little kid Santana fell for it. ''I can get down and dirty.''
''Sure,'' Brittany said as if humoring her.
''Not but I can. I can get gritty and dirty.''
''Uh huh'' Brittany reached forward to take Santana's hand which she then tugged on in order to begin leading them away from the gross muddy grounds. ''Come on princess, let's find another way to the trailers.''
''What? No,'' Santana snatched her hand away and with a sudden fire began tugging them both forward into the thick yucky mud. Intent on showing Brittany she could handle getting a little messy. ''I'll prove it to you. Santana Lopez can rough it, boots be damned.''
Pretty soon they began stomping their way, with each step the mud began to get thicker, caking their footwear, forcing them to trudge through it awkwardly and at a snail slow pace as the mud started to become ankle deep. It began a sort of work out as the mud continued to accumulate on their shoes sticking to and staining them beyond repair.
The entire time though Santana was sporting a pleased and smug smile. She wasn't that delicate and after the ferris wheel ride she had a little bit to prove in terms of being badass. Sure every few steps she winced at how awful her boots were looking but hey, she was loaded and she could always buy herself another pair she told herself. Besides what was a little mud if it was going to get her one step closer towards her trailer and towards her bed where she and Brittany could finally-
''Ahhh!'' Brittany let out a hilarious high pitched yelp.
Santana turned to her side just in time to see Brittany go down face first into the mud. Thankfully her spill hadn't managed to take Santana down as well, but it was still a rather unflattering splatter. Brittany's face, hands, knees and legs were practically submerged into the thick sludgy mud.
Santana couldn't contain herself as her body began to vibrate with silent laughter at the scene. It was beautiful.
''Are you okay?'' she asked between gasps for air.
''I'm dandy,'' Brittany said as she lifted her head and lightly spat mud out of her mouth. ''Thank you for laughing by the way.''
''I'm not laughing.'' Santana tried to keep a straight face but failed. ''This is me not laughing.''
''Oh my god I feel so disgusting,'' Brittany whimpered as she slowly began to pick herself up. She kind of looked like a weird swamp monster, dripping mud from her limbs. ''Look at me. Ughhhhh, blerrghhh, peeeewwww.'' She made a series of icky sputtering noises as if completely grossed out. It was one thing to walk through mud but to be covered in it? Not pleasant.
''Now who's the princess huh?'' Santana asked, still giggling at the turn of events.
''I'm glad this is all so amusing to you,'' Brittany said, lightening up.
''What? Hey, you said you could handle getting down and dirty in mud. You didn't think I could but you don't see me falling on my face do ya now?'' Santana playfully sassed. ''Don't worry, you're still cute. You kinda have this hot swamp monster thing going on. Super sexy. It's working for me I gotta say.''
''Oh it is, is it?'' Brittany questioned with a raised brow before taking a clump of mud in her hand and pushing it right into Santana's face.
''What the!'' Santana screamed, coughed and laughed as she realized what Brittany had done. She wiped at her face, wiping the mud out of her eyes, alarmed, amused and ready to tumble. ''Why did you do that?''
''Not so funny now, is it?'' Brittany smarted.
''Oh it's on!'' Santana bent down and collected a goop of mud in her own hands and threw it at Brittany's shoulder where it hit and splattered her.
Brittany comically gasped and then went down to grab more mud, this time pushing it onto the front of Santana's shirt, painting it all over her.
They both screamed and then just like that they went down and started a giggly mud ball fight that had them tumbling on the ground, rolling in circles, over and under each other, slinging it at each other with squeals and squeaks. Between screeches and shouts and grunts they tried dominating each other. Winning wasn't the end goal though as their screams turned into giggles and laughter. Because of the handcuffs it wasn't like either of them could run and hide from each other so splat after splat, they went at it. Brittany successfully managed to get a glob of mud into Santana's hair. Santana aimed and flicked a mud ball at Brittany's butt, staining her skirt with mud in the most hilarious way.
''I'm not a princess, princess,'' Brittany declared triumphantly as she toppled Santana over and playfully held her down by her wrists.
''Well I'm not a princess either.''
''Says the girl on the bottom.''
Santana scoffed lightheartedly. ''I'm not a bottom.''
''You're totally a bottom!''
''I've never bottomed.''
''Really? Cause you kinda come across like the bottomiest bottom to ever bottom in the history of bottoms.''
''Stop saying bottom.''
They both snorted and laughed into a mud-tinged kiss that made them both pull away and splutter. And then after a long moment they just stopped and stared at each other, studying the other's face as they came down from the adrenaline high of a down and dirty mud fight.
It was all over them and they were all over each other.
''You're really beautiful you know that,'' Brittany said as she looked down at Santana.
''You're saying this now...when my face and hair are covered in mud?''
''Yep. I'm saying it now. Yesterday when we met I never thought I would see you like this.''
''Like what? In mud?''
''Silly and open and vulnerable,'' Brittany clarified softly. ''It's beautiful, you're beautiful. The Santana I met yesterday, I thought she would be much too conceited and concerned with her image to do any of the things we did earlier. The mini golf and the silly 80's foam party and the ferris wheel. But getting to know you I've realized that you're not afraid to make a fool of yourself, you're just really careful about who you let see that part of you and that part of you is beautiful...even when you're covered head to toe in mud.''
''I'm not like this with everyone. I don't just do these kinds of things with girls but you're different.''
''How?''
''You're real,'' said Santana in a quiet but serious tone. ''I barely know you but I know enough that I trust that you'd never run off to sell a story to a tabloid about me or try to get a get a boost in popularity by posting an unflattering picture to Twitter. I know you don't give a shit about my fame, I know it doesn't impress you...and that in turn is what impresses me, that you don't care about any of that stuff. Because music is in your bones just like it's mine. I might not know a lot of other things about you but I know that and that alone makes me think...''
''...Think?''
''I want you. What if this could be real? What if we could? Cause when I'm with you I finally understand what all those love songs on the radio are about. I get it. Finally. Because of you.''
Brittany leaned down to give her a tender peck and smiled with slightly watery eyes.
It was then and there that Brittany knew, they really really really needed to find the trailers.
It took them a few minutes to gather themselves and find their footing but with a renewed determination they continued on, despite the fact that they both looked like spooky mud monsters. If anything it probably aided them though because it wasn't likely either of them would be recognized. After several more paths and turn arounds they finally found the front entrance to the artists accommodations around 7am. They ran towards it like it was an ice cream truck they were so relieved. They were both giddy and elated that they didn't even notice the security guard stationed at the gate made a yucky face when they both presented their mud splattered passes to the VIP area.
He waved them through and once they were inside the gates they breathed a sigh of relief.
''Your trailer or mine?'' Santana asked.
Brittany looked over herself and then Santana. ''Either works for me but we should probably get cleaned up first.''
In silent agreement Santana began to follow Brittany's lead as she started walking them off to a half dozen rows of smaller trailers that were roughly half the size of the star trailers they had been assigned by the event organizers. Each of these smaller trailers contained a fully functional bathroom, complete with single shower stalls inside of them. They weren't just dinky little outhouses, because they were catering to the artists performing each of these shower trailers were newly built and perfectly pristine.
Or rather they were before Brittany and Santana walked into one and locked the door behind them and then proceeded to make a gross muddy mess of the area.
''Alright, how are we doing this here,'' Santana said as they stared at the single shower stall.
''I don't think we have a choice.''
Santana was quietly pleased. ''So we have to shower together huh?''
X
Things are uh, gonna get a little adult next chapter yo. Also, does anyone wanna take a wild guess at what Santana asked Elliot and his band to do? I feel like it's obvious but maybe not, I'm not sure.