franciscoramon | riverview ∆ ic inbox ∆ @ciscodelamancha

okay, but you're paying for any collateral damage to the karaoke place, not me

[ Sylva's is, it turns out, a pretty long walk from Cisco's apartment, but he doesn't want to let the conversation flag or give Taako opportunities to think too much about sad stuff. ]

be nice to do karaoke with someone who's not an awful singer
i used to go with my friends caitlin and ronnie and i love them but like
that shit was HAUNTING

my eta's like 10 minutes you should write up a track list

worth it

how do you know im not an awful singer, maybe im TErRIBLE but im hot enough to make up for it

[He isn't, but!]

wait shit we have a problem. this place does not have karaoke but i think somewhere nearby does, i can meet you out front?

i guess i'll just have to wait and see.

naw, you can wait for me inside, i'll get a drink and slam it and then we can find a karaoke spot. i got some catching up to do.

[ Cisco isn't actually planning on getting as drunk as Taako clearly is, but he can at least get a bit of a buzz going, maintain the illusion that it's just a fun night out.

He keeps chatting at Taako, mostly embarrassing karaoke stories (which he honestly has way too many of in his arsenal), and walking quickly, and soon enough he's coming through the door to the bar Taako's at. It is, indeed, kind of a dive. Cisco's just a touch out of breath, but tries to pretend not to be as he makes his way over, hopping up onto the stool beside Taako. ]

Hey, come here often?

[Taako has, in the interest of not looking like a complete mess, ensured that the bartender cleared away the depressing collection of shot glasses that had gathered in front of him, replacing it with a glass of water that he's working his way through.

He's not about to sober up like, any time soon, but he should at least stop drinking for the moment.

When Cisco appears beside him, Taako grins, resting an elbow on the bar so he can prop his chin in his hand.]

Is that the best line you've got, darling?

[ Cisco isn't really all that surprised that, outwardly, at least, Taako doesn't look like a mess at all. He's got magic for that, and Cisco knows it's not just vanity that makes Taako conceal when he is feeling weak. But that isn't going to fool him; too many of the details from their text conversation keep replaying in his head. Cisco is worried, beneath his smile. ]

Yeah, well, you haven't taught me any of those elvish pickup lines yet, have you.

[ He asks the bartender to get him two shots of tequila, which seems like plenty to start with. Once she's walked away to get that for him, Cisco leans in closer to Taako and says in a low enough voice that he probably won't be overheard. ]

You weren't kidding about this place being a dump, geeze. How is everything sticky?!

[ Cisco wrinkles his nose melodramatically, touching his palm to the top of the bar and then pulling it away in disgust. ]

And you don't know any in English?

[He arches an eyebrow, which is kind of ruined by the fact he's got that slightly glassy-eyed, drunk person look going on.]

The trick is years of never cleaning the place, but uh, the drinks are cheap and I was puh-retty sure I wasn't gonna run into anyone I knew, so...

[It seemed like a good choice at the time.]

I don't know if you've noticed but I'm not exactly the world's suavest guy.

[ He's a little better at approaching people when he's fairly drunk, but that's neither here nor there. Cisco would much rather let Taako have a good time roasting him for his awkwardness than correct him right now. ]

Okay, I get you on the anonymity thing, that's way more important.

[ And Cisco pulls an actual honest-to-goodness wet wipe from one of his pockets, uses it to clean his hands while the bartender is pouring his shots. Once she's done, Cisco shoots her a big smile and lifts one of the glasses. ]

Down the hatch.

[ He downs the shot with a grimace, pausing for a gasp of breath before he's picking up the other and swallowing it, too. ]

God... that really, truly tastes like nail polish remover.

[Well, he can't really argue that point, as much as he usually tries to call Cisco out when he gets a bit too down on himself. He's an awkward kinda dude, sometimes, that's just life.

So instead he gives Cisco a little conciliatory pat on the arm, only ruining it slightly be laughing at the wet wipe.]

You want me to like, magic that whole area around you clean? Cause I think I can handle a cantrip without fucking anything up.

[Anything else is way beyond him, though. Casting while drunk is a bad idea.]

Naw, bro, I think it's a lost cause. Let's blow this place and find somewhere we can get our karaoke on.

[ He fishes some money from his pocket to drop on the counter. He only pulls out enough bills to cover his own drinks but, after a pause, asks the bartender how much for Taako's, as well. It's not cheap, but Cisco doesn't seem bothered at all as he counts out enough to cover it and leaves that, as well, along with a tip. Better than making Taako fuss around with money when he's this wasted, even if he's hiding it pretty well.

Then Cisco's on his feet, standing close enough that Taako can lean on him if he needs to, but doing his best to look casual about it. ]

Hey, no, hey!

[It is a very heartfelt attempt to make Cisco stop paying off his tab, while also trying to hop off the stool without seeming as drunk as he is, and by the time Taako is steady it's already too late.

He does his best to look Very Disappointed.]

Dude, c'mon, I was gonna cover your drinks, you came all the way out here for me.

[The look of disappointment is probably ruined by the fact that Taako winds his arms around one of Cisco's, because he absolutely needs to be holding onto someone to manage the whole walking thing.]

[ Cisco doesn't even acknowledge Taako's attempts to stop him from paying for both of them, acting like he can't even hear Taako til he has it squared away. Once Taako's arm is around his back, and it feels like he's steadied himself enough to walk a bit, Cisco starts walking towards the door of the bar. He rests his hand on Taako's back, ready to grab his shirt if he should stumble and need to be caught.

Taako keeps on pouting, acting like it's some huge favor Cisco is doing him. Which... is actually kind of sad, if he thinks about it, so he doesn't dwell too much. Cisco just smiles instead, soft and quiet and fond. He doesn't speak again until they're out of the bar, in the crisp air of early night. Then he says, simply: ]

Don't worry about it, alright? Look... I promise you, once of these days, it's gonna be me having a really bad night. And maybe when that happens, you'll pick up my tab for me. Kay?

[ There is a kind of sincere certainty in the way he says it - both that their situations will be reversed at some point, and that when they are Taako will have his back. ]

[Outside is... actually pretty great, actually, distracting Taako for a moment as he breathes in air that doesn't smell like stale beer and looks up the stars.

He used to figure out the constellations in each new world, sometimes, make up fake astrological signs for all of the crew, like a stupid little game they could play to ignore the fact they were living through an endless cycle of apocalypses.

When Cisco speaks again, it takes him a second to respond, but he gets there.]

I hope not. [Wait, that sounds bad.] I mean, I hope you don't have a shitty night. If it does happen I'll be there with money for your bar tab and my great singing voice for shitty karaoke, for sure.

[Taako still isn't sure exactly when it happened, but Cisco is one of his closet friends here.]

[ Cisco can't imagine what Taako's thinking, when he pauses to look up at the sky. But he waits, patiently, 'til he comes back to himself. Eventually, Taako responds - not with a joke, but honestly. And Cisco's soft smile widens into a grin. ]

Hell yeah. We can make a while tradition outta it.

[ There are worse traditions to have, than pushing awake sadness with singing. It's kind of a classic combo, honestly. Cisco asks which way they should be headed to get to the karaoke place, and together the two of them set out, making their way there. It's not too crowded out, and anyone walking near them is smart enough not to get in their way. Cisco has a high enough tolerance that two shots aren't going to get him drunk, but they're enough that he has a proper buzz started once they reach the door to the place. Hard to miss it, with the thumping of overloud music leaking out from the building. ]

So I get to pick a couple songs for you, right? That's how this works?

[Despite the unreasonable amount of alcohol that he's consumed, Taako does a pretty decent job of walking in a straight line, grateful that he had the foresight to go for boots rather than high heels when he left the apartment earlier. The walk shakes loose some of the shitty feelings clinging to him, at least, helping to clear his head.]

I'm saying yes, but if you make me regret it I'm gonna take you to some pocket dimension and leave you there.

[He's probably capable of actually doing that, but it's an empty threat regardless.]

Only good stuff, promise.

[ Cisco raises his free hand to draw a little X over his heart, just so Taako knows he's legit. Then again, he's not entirely sure the gesture will translate, but it doesn't matter, because they're pushing open the door to the bar and are immediately greeted by a very dramatically delivered, very pitchy version of Mariah Carey that has Cisco almost doubling over in silent laughter. Between giggles he manages to gasp out: ]

This... bodes... well!

[ Despite the lack of foot traffic outside, the bar is pretty full: it takes Cisco a minute of looking to spot a little two-person table in a back corner, and they wind their way around other customers to claim it. ]

I'm putting our names on the list and I'm getting you some more water, don't wander off.

[ And without waiting for a reply Cisco leaves to do those things, coming back a few minutes later with the promised water (plus a beer for himself) and a big grin. ]

I put us down for two duets and one solo song each, we'll see how we're doing after that.

[Taako immediately has to let go off Cisco in order to free up his hands to cover his mouth, not wanting to interrupt that lovely rendition with a burst of giggles.]

Fucking amazing.

[He's still laughing as they head over to a table, eyeing up the "competition" while Cisco goes off to do his thing. Maybe he should have started at a bar like this, where the energy is a little more positive than a shitty dive bar, because he already feels a whole lot better.

That might just be thanks to his company though.

When Cisco comes back, Taako matches that grin.]

So, uh, seems like the bar is set pretty low, we're gonna be totally fine.

[At least he knows Cisco can sing, after their fun truth serum adventures.]

[ They have a few songs before it is their turn, so Cisco gets comfortable, lounging in his chair, drinking his beer and listening to the people who come before them. Taako wasn't kidding, about the bar being set low. The next woman who goes doesn't have a bad voice, or anything, but she is timid, keeps shying away from really committing herself to the song, which means it really doesn't come out that great. ]

What d'you think, should I set up my phone to record us while we're up there, or is this a 'what happens in the karaoke bar stays in the karaoke bar' type situation?

I need to be at least like, fifty percent less drunk for any kinda recording to be acceptable.

[He'd be fine with it in theory, but he does not need proof that he got this fucked up and then went to sing karaoke, even if the karaoke part won't be terrible.]

[ Cisco nods without argument; Taako doesn't him to record it, he won't, even if he thinks his friend is holding up pretty damn well, all things considered.

They sit through another song, this one not half bad, and one more after it, which is a truly obnoxious overenthusiastic rendition of a particularly grating country song. Pretty much the world's easiest act to follow. Their name comes up on the 'up next' screen halfway through it, and Cisco reaches out, grabbing Taako's hand. ]

Let's do a tag team one first, c'mon.

[ And he half-leads, half-drags Taako up to the machine where they select the song they're going to be singing. Cisco scrolls through, finds 'Feeling Myself' (which he is glad they have) and glances over to Taako, eyebrows raised as if to say "you sure?". ]

[He does not need to be dragged, tyvm, but he doesn't protest at the hand holding, laughing to himself as he follows Cisco up towards the stage, matching those raised eyebrows with a challenging look of his own.]

Hey, if you wanna be a coward...

[Because obviously Taako is not.

(Debatable).]

[ Cisco's never been the type of guy who really minds being called a coward - of all the many and varied things he has insecurities about, that isn't one of them. But all he'd been waiting for was confirmation that Taako hasn't changed his mind. Clearly, he hasn't, and Cisco presses the touch screen decisively.

They wait out the last, uncomfortably intense minute or so of the guy's song and then he's hopping off the small stage to scattered, strained applause. And all at once, Cisco does feel a surge of nerves, looking at that empty stage. He hesitates, but then glances over at Taako, nods, and goes up, standing by one of the microphones.

It's a little daunting, looking out at the crowd (he's usually more drunk, when he does this), but he reminds himself that none of them know who he is, that he's doing this not just for fun but to make his friend feel better. And those thoughts have Cisco standing up straighter, flipping his hair back (an unconscious gesture that earns a brief but loud whistle from the crowd, much to Cisco's embarrassment.)

He looks over to Taako, grin a little bit wild now, and asks: ] Ready?

[Although their little foray into weird kinks during the expo established that Taako does, in fact, have a little bit of shame, it's not something that extends to situations like this. His life in Fearun might have been fake in a way, but performing is something that he's comfortable doing.]

Always, pumpkin.

[When the song starts, he throws himself into it with all the flair necessary to pull off a song like this. The singing itself is easy enough, but it's the performance where he really shines, including mimicking the brief stare and grin from the film clip (which he's pleased Cisco plays along with) as well as Nicki's trill, something he can do perfectly. Even when it's not his turn to sing, Taako keeps up the performance, either dancing or playing off whatever Cisco is doing to make the whole thing more fun.

By the end of it, he's breathless and laughing, but he's all but forgotten the whole reason he came out to get drunk in the first place, at least for a little while.]

Edited 2017-07-19 07:17 (UTC)

[ Cisco starts off with less flair than Taako, but after a few bars he loosens up, stops thinking so much and just lets himself get lost in the song. There's a screen prompting them with the words, but he doesn't even glance at it; this one he definitely knows by heart. And it would be impossible not to be energized, with Taako giving it 110% just a foot away from him, dancing and mimicking bits of the music video, all unapologetic enthusiasm and joy. It's silly, and loud, and just... fun.

It seems to last for ages, and also to be over in the blink of an eye. At the end, Cisco can't help grinning from ear to ear. He and Taako link arms and together do a ridiculous, over-the-top bow. And that's definitely not his imagination; the crowd in the bar is cheering much louder for them than they had anyone else since they came in. Hell, there's a couple people actually on their feet, and definitely more than a few whistles and whoops. He isn't thinking right then about why they came here, either.

Together the two of them stumble off the stage, wind their way over to their table, past quite a few people who are holding out hands for high fives or fistbumps. Cisco doesn't sit down so much as throw himself into his chair, laughing with sheer exhilaration and then burying his face in his hands, in mingled embarrassment and delight. ]

[A few of those people asking for high fives are treated to a little shimmy as Taako walks past, laughing the whole way, even once he's back in his seat and taking a needed sip from his glass of water.]

Fuck Carnivale, my dude, that was way more fun.

[Not that he didn't have a shitload of fun at Carnivale, but maybe this just feels better as a comparison, from how antsy and stressed he was feeling less than half an hour ago, to delighted and laughing with Cisco now.]

[ Cisco moves his hands enough that he can at least peer over them, which is worth it, to see Taako, who is looking just as flushed and giddy as Cisco is feeling. Even as the next singer goes up and starts their song, Cisco catches a few people sitting at the little tables around the stage craning their necks, looking back over at the two of them. It's flattering, and a bit scary, and wonderful. ]

Taako. Hey, Taako. Sometime when we're sober, we gotta do that again and record it and then like, full-on re-create the video. I feel like we owe it to the universe.

[ It's not something Cisco would agree to, much less suggest himself, at a regular moment. But this isn't a regular moment - he feels invincible, like he could do anything, say anything, without fear or embarrassment.

He breaks off into more giggles, actually a little shaky with happiness and the gradually fading adrenaline from performing. A man stops while walking past their table, and Cisco looks up at him, ready to answer whatever question he's got (maybe he's from a universe without Beyoncé, what a tragic thought). When the guy picks up one of the little cocktail napkins from the table and starts writing something that very much looks like a phone number on it, Cisco quickly waves a hand as if to stop him. ]

Hold up, hold up, he's taken, dude.

[ Because, obviously, this dude must be wanting to give his digits to Taako. Cisco never stops to even imagine it would be anything other than that. But the guy just keeps writing, drops the napkin right in front of Cisco, instead, then walks off with a smile and not a single word. And Cisco goes back to hiding his face in his hands. ]

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