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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. ]

Blood pact, right now, we're fucking doing it.

[Taako is entirely serious about re-creating the entire video from start to finish, including sexy back up dancers (Lup would be down) and he does not want Cisco to back down when he's feeling less of that post-performance adrenaline.

The blood pact would probably be a little too much, though, which is why it's good that there's an interruption, and Taako's expression goes from pleased to absolutely fucking delighted as he realizes what's happening. When the dude is gone, he gives Cisco a congratulatory punch in the arm. It's a very dude bro thing. Please forgive him.]

You better keep that or I will keep it for you.

[ They might not have gotten a chance to do a blood pact (is that even a real thing? a real magical thing?), but while Taako is proposing it, Cisco looks totally on board. He even nods, and that could be taken as a kind of promise or contract, couldn't it? Taako will have ample evidence to draw on, if he wants to convince Cisco later that it's a done deal and he's already agreed.

Cisco doesn't even respond to the arm punch. When he surfaces again his face is even more flushed than it had been before. Maybe the guy wouldn't have looked twice at Cisco if Taako hadn't been on stage with him in the first place, and maybe he'd been writing the number for Taako at first and then given it to Cisco as a smooth recovery, a second-best option. But also... maybe not. ]

I can't believe that just happened.

[ Cisco peers over towards the bar, where the guy had wandered after passing their table. His timing is terrible, because he manages to look, very obviously, just as the guy has turned to be facing them. The bar isn't exactly brightly lit, but that was definitely a wink, definitely at Cisco, who looks away immediately.

He reaches out for the napkin, shoves it into the pocket of his jeans without ceremony. Cisco isn't about to go setting anything up without checking the guy out, first (Lisa Snart can feel proud somewhere for that extra layer of caution), but he's not going to throw it away, either. Especially not when Taako saw the whole thing and seems like he is more than willing to play matchmaker if he has to. ]

You should totally pick my solo song, if I'm picking yours.

Oh, I can.

[He's still grinning and delighted, but he genuinely means that, rather than it just being an extension of his slight incredulity of how this whole night is shaping up.]

Are we limiting songs to shit we both know?

[While Cisco was scrolling through the songs, Taako noticed a couple that he was actually familiar with, from before coming here.]

[ Cisco can feel the sincerity in it, that Taako is almost more excited by a guy giving Cisco his number than Cisco himself is, because he's just that kind of friend. He shakes his head a little, grinning from ear to ear, and lets it go. ]

Seems fair, I mean, neither of us wanna get up there and not know the tune.

[ He knows exactly what he is going to pick, and knows that it's a song Taako is familiar with (he'd made a joke about the music video once, weeks and weeks ago, but Cisco had remembered). And now that he's actually seen how much effort Taako had put into their dual performance, well. He's pretty excited to see how it's going to turn out ]

You wanna go next, or should I?

I'll go, but I'm buying you another drink first, only seems fair.

[He's not sure how that's fair exactly but it seems like a reasonable deal, since Cisco needs to catch up a little more than he already has. He's not expecting Cisco to totally catch up, but there's nothing wrong with getting a little more tipsy.

He also needs time to think about a song to pick for Cisco, since he's fairly well versed in Earth media by this point, but a couple extra minutes won't hurt.]

[ In response to that, Cisco finishes the last of the mostly-empty beer that was in front of him, beaming at Taako as he heads to the bar for the drink. He watches him go, thinks back to earlier, to how miserable Taako had sounded in his texts. Maybe he'll be able to convince Taako to crash at his place, just for the night. They've got drunken karaoke as their excuse, after all. And if the situation really is so tense in his own house, Cisco doesn't want to just abandon him to it, especially now that Taako's managed to shake off the gloom for a little while.

Cisco pulls a pen from his pocket and writes out YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT: TOXIC BY THE ONE AND ONLY BRITNEY on a napkin, folds it up and scoots it over to Taako's side of the table. Not really necessary, no, but might as well add a little suspense to the situation. ]

[Things Taako comes back with: two drinks, and a number for their table because apparently he ordered food while at the bar (looking at the menu was a Mistake but one he's willing to live with). The beer is set down in front of Cisco, while the colourful drink in a martini glass is for himself, and he holds up a hand as if expecting the protest.]

It's a mocktail, promise.

[He just got bored with water.

And then the napkin catches his attention; Taako opens it up with a suspicious look at Cisco, as if unsure what it might be, before promptly grinning once he's read the contents.]

You sure you can handle this? You sure they can handle this?

[It's gonna be a lot.]

[ Cisco had even opened his mouth to comment that Taako probably did not need any more alcohol in his system, but before he can get the words out, Taako has anticipated them and cut him off. Cisco laughs, feeling predictable, but also grateful. He can't help but fuss, sometimes. It's just in his nature.

He waits eagerly as Taako looks at the song written on the napkin, but it's clear that as soon as he sees it, he's happy with it. Cisco grins, eyebrows raising as he nods: ]

I don't know about all of them, but I, for one, was born ready for this.

[ It's fun, to hype Taako up; Cisco is quite certain that his performance will not disappoint. ]

[This is either the best or worst decision that Cisco has ever made, because Taako takes a little sip of his super non-alcoholic drink, then delicately sets it down on the table before practically skipping up to the stage. He puts the song in as he waits for the person before him to finish, chatting idly to someone at a nearby table because apparently he can't go thirty seconds without having a conversation.

And then he's ready to go, and this is where Cisco gets to decide whether or not he regrets this, cause Taako immediately casts minor illusion, changing his outfit to, well, that little airline hostess number from the video. At least he's got the legs for it, although the hat looks a little silly.

Looking a little silly isn't going to stop him, once the music kicks in and he starts singing along. A handful of the people in the front row get thoroughly eye-fucked through the performance, because that's the only way to sing Toxic. He doesn't get quite as into it as he did with the duet, since it was fun to play off Cisco, but he still gives it a pretty good shot, enough to earn another round of applause once he's done.

Taako curtseys, blows a kiss to someone, and then ambles his way back to Cisco looking appropriately smug.]

[ Cisco is already smiling as Taako makes his way onto the stage, but as soon as he casts the illusion, Cisco claps both hands over his mouth, trying to silence the laughter that he cannot hold back. He can't even see properly for the first few seconds of the song; his eyes are swimming with tears. He wipes them away, though, biting his bottom lip hard to hold back giggles. He gets control of himself about halfway through the song, but he is beaming at Taako the whole time.

When the song ends he is the first one to applaud. Hell, he gets to his feet and cheers, bouncing up and down in glee. When Taako comes sauntering back, Cisco greets him with a single, exuberant: ]

Dude!

[ He takes his seat again, but just barely perches on the edge of it, leaning over the table to say: ]

You were fantastic!

[That reaction just makes him even more smug, but also just kind of stupidly happy that Cisco is also having a good time, because even if Taako was the one that needed cheering up, it'd suck if Cisco came all the way out here for him just to not enjoy himself.

Taako is still "wearing" the costume, apparently having zero plans to drop the illusion.]

You didn't forget I used to be a performer, right?

[It wasn't quite like this, but his cooking show was at least 50/50 on the actual cooking to the flashy magic and Taako putting on a show.]

How could I!

[ It's one thing, knowing that Taako had had a cooking show and experiencing how charming he can be in person. But it's really something else entirely, seeing him turn things up to 11 like that and just perform. Cisco wishes he could have seen one of his old cooking shows - before Sazed had ruined things, which is information that Cisco is going to have to get used to.

All that laughing and cheering has gotten him a bit parched, and Cisco takes a long drink from the drink Taako had bought him. He's feeling properly tipsy now, which is good, considering he's going to be on the stage alone, next time. ]

Seriously, I'm glad I'm not going right after you. You're a pretty tough act to follow.

You're absolutely right, that poor asshole up there must be struggling.

[He makes a point to look Sad and Dramatic towards the stage, and the person who's actually doing a pretty decent job of a power ballad from some other universe, but it's hardly the little show that Taako put on.

He's about to add something more, when a waiter comes over to trade their table number for a basket of fries, covered in cheese and bacon, and Taako puts his hand very solemnly on the waiter's arm in thanks, before he turns his attention back to Cisco, still looking far too serious.]

I need you to not judge the things I'm about to do to these fries.

[He's very hungry and they're very greasy.]

[ Cisco laughs at Taako's treatment of the waiter, and his grave expression and tone of voice as he delivers his half-plea half-warning. ]

No judgment, man, long as I can have a couple.

[ And they spend the next few minutes very contentedly devouring the fries: well, Taako does most of the devouring and Cisco steals a few off the edges. As Taako chows down, Cisco chatters away (he's tipsy enough that his verbal filter is a bit shot and he's even more talkative than normal) about french fries and their startling availability in Central City and his world more generally.

Taako polishes off the food in a pretty impressively short amount of time, and shortly after, Cisco sees his name come up on the board indicating who is next. That sets off a momentary spike of alarm, and he quickly takes another gulp of two of his drink. ]

Uh, so. Me next, I guess. What am I singing?

[He's content to share, if only out of sheer bribery so that Cisco doesn't tell anyone that Taako ever wants to sleep with about what happened here tonight, with the plate of fries. He's also glad that Cisco seems willing to chatter away while he eats, because Taako at least has the shame not to talk with his mouth full of cheesy fries.

As Cisco's name comes up and he asks about his song, Taako holds up a finger in a wait gesture so he can go skipping up to the song selection, pop the choice in, then come back to reclaim his seat.]

It's a secret, you gotta just roll with it.

[get ready to be rickrolled.]

[ Despite the fact that he had also been a bit mysterious in revealing what song he wanted Taako to sing, Cisco feels a momentary twinge of worry when Taako goes to input it without even letting Cisco know what it is. He narrows his eyes a little, dubious, but gets to his feet once Taako returns.

Cisco makes his way up to the stage right as the guy before him is finishing, heartrate picking up a little. He shouldn't feel nervous. It's stupid to feel nervous. But Taako's solo act had just been so charming, had looked so effortless and fun. What if he picked something that's way out of Cisco's range, or something he hasn't heard of, or...

He gets onto the stage, taking the mic between his two hands, nervously waiting for the lyrics to come onto the prompter. Before they do, however, the background music kicks in, and it doesn't even take a full second for Cisco to recognize it. And then he is bent double, hanging onto the mic stand to keep from falling over, laughing so hard he almost can't breathe. Just roll with it. And he hadn't even realized...

He straightens up, gasps back giggles and fans a hand in front of his face, trying to get hold of himself before the singing part starts. Cisco sounds a little choked for the first few words, clearly barely keeping himself from bursting into laughs again. There is scattered laughter in the crowd, too - at least half of them seem to know what is happening, why this is funny.

Cisco settles into the song, belting it out in a pretty serviceable impersonation of the great Astley himself. In a way, it was the perfect selection for Taako to make; Cisco doesn't worry about singing beautifully, about acting sexy or like a diva or any of that. He can just be funny, and being funny is something Cisco is good at. He replicates some of the sillier dance moves from the music video, laughing as a few members of the crowd stand up to join in.

When the song ends, Cisco goes bounding off the stage and back to Taako. ]

That's gonna be stuck in my head forever, now, I hope you're happy.

[ By which he clearly means: that was wonderful, thank you. ]

Edited 2017-07-21 02:02 (UTC)

[Th reaction is even better than what Taako expected, and he's so pleased with himself for having realized the potential for the joke, while Cisco had been scrolling through songs earlier.

Taako is applauding very loudly by the time Cisco gets back, caught between the urge to laugh and wanting to look totally cool and smug. The former wins out, really.]

Very happy, bubbale. You look like you had fun.

[And that's what's important, really.]

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