17127/Karaoke Or Death

Karaoke Or Death
Date of Scene:	19 February 2024
Location:	Boho Karaoke
Synopsis:	Bachlorette parties are deadly!
Cast of Characters:	Clea, Luca Bandoni, Olivia Gaudin, Caleb Dykstra

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Clea has posed:
There are a lot more folks out and about given that it is President's Day and a lot of folks had the day or evening off from work. But not if you work in a bar! The tips were going to be good this evening. The bouncers have checked ID's and made sure that the crowd is at least going to say at a sane size tonight. There's at least two Bachlorette parties packed into this place.

And everyone knows what that means.

Yes, there are tipsy veil wearing ladies with penis straws running around giggling and trying to pick songs for each other. There's already a group that is singing along to a spirited rendition of 'Baby Got Back' by Sir Mix A Lot.

Towards the end of the bar there is a tall white haired woman that floats just a little above the stool that she was supposed to be sitting on and next to her is a Nepali man dressed in red and gold robes. "This is what you do on your nights off?" she whispers to him.

Luca Bandoni has posed:
What in God's name would bring Luca to a Karaoke bar? Well, probably the too many drinks he had at the bar before this one? Him and a few of his buddies from FDNY Rescue 1 are actually cheering the tipsy ladies on.

"Put some more wiggle in those backsides! Can't sing about havin' it if you aren't using it!" That would be Luca. A few of the others are wolf whistling and one is standing to give his own demonstration of wigglin' that butt. It's the most frightening display of twerking to ever be seen anywhere on the planet.

When a waitress walks by, Luca flags her down and makes a round about motion with his finger. It's the universal bar signal for 'another round for the table'.

FDNY is busy saving lives on shift, but when they're off? Well it's no holds barred, them boys need to blow off some steam from the stress of last shift.

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    Olivia generally spends Monday nights at home, recovering from a weekend packed with Broadway shows. However, something unprecedented happened. She took the weekend off. Okay, she was forced to by the director. She was told to give her voice a rest, not overdue it, but keep it warm. You know. Sing casual.

    That's why she is here, getting into the place for the low price of several autographs, selfies, and huh, did that one bouncer grab her ass? It's all smiles though, she kind of baited him with very, uh, direct flirting that she has no intention of going further with.

    Then in she goes, cutting through the crowd in a little black dress, fishnets, and high heels. The bar is her first destination. Does she get attention? Possibly. People would not recognize her so easily from her current musical, but to those who saw her work in Moulin Rouge, her almost predatory walk-and legs-are very familiar.

    "A blue arrow, please," she will call out, when a bartender takes note of her. She will then do the thing where she puts her back to the bar and surveys. And wow, it is quite a crowd tonight.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Caleb wanted to see if he could have some fun, wanted to see if he could get his mind off things. And his searching for a distraction led him to something he once enjoyed doing, namely music.

So, why not reconnect with his old life, just this once?

Already inside, Caleb is holding onto a root beer, sitting on a stool at the bar; quietly, he observes the goings on, eyes lingering every now-and-then to the bachelorettes.

Clea has posed:
Since people are cheering and wolf whistling the ladies are putting on a show, but the song eventually does come to an end. The sadness is palpable though. The waitress delivers another round to Luca's table in quick fashion though. And Olivia is served at the bar by a big guy that gives her a dip of his head before he's back to serving others.

There is a gaggle of Bachlorettes that are currently standing around the song selection machine as a line forms behind them. "I want to sing Lady Marmalade!" one whines. Oh god. It was going to be one of those nights.

The people behind them look very drunk and not overly amused.

Luca Bandoni has posed:
Luca's never one to miss a long cool woman in a black dress come walking into a bar, even one that's this crowded. He nudges one of his buddies and nods in Olivia's direction. But he doesn't go there, not yet.

The boys put their name - well Luca's name - on the list about five songs ago and it seems they're up. Sorry ladies. That's right, all of them. There's five including Luca. Of course, on the way up, they're joking with, and at, one another. Few friendly shoulder shoves - just boys being boys.

Once up there on that lil' stage, all five of them start out facing away from the crowd. When the song starts, it's....

....probably not what /anyone/ expected. Disco Inferno by the Trammps.

It's Luca holding the mic, Luca singing the lead and the others providing back up vocals. They're not half bad either! Luca actually has really good voice, unpolished, no formal training but still impressive.

The show doesn't stop with just vocals though, every one of them is dancing like they think they're Travolta himself. During instrumental bits, they all separate to get their boogie on, only to come back to center when the singing starts again. They've done this before.

It's all pretty much what a person might expect from a group of off duty firefighters. They have to find some way to leave the work behind when they walk out the door, if not they'd flame out well before retirement.

Right as the song is about to come to an end, Luca actually strips off his damned shirt, twirls it around his head and tosses it into the midst of the bachelorette party. Its even an 'official' FDNY t-shirt? He's not feeling that yet.

Should he be asked to re-clothe himself, he run to the car to fetch another shirt.

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    It's rare for Olivia to sink into the mindset she had on stage, but in this moment, knowing she is being watched, she rather laps it up and winds 'Nini' around her like a magical spell. When she notices the firemen take to the stage, though, they have her attention. Utterly.

    Her drink is cradled, sipped, then rather ignored. The voices she appreciates. The performance, though? That she loves. Her eyes are glowing with pleasure at the way they rise to the occasion. And then that shirt goes flying.

    "Shit, if this is going to be that kind of a party, I really cannot hold back."

    Oh, she heard the girls whining about Lady Marmalade. It is enough to make the performer ponder ways to steal that song for herself. It is, in a way, a claim she has every right to make.

    With a toss of her hair she makes her way to enter her own request. She'll have to see what she can do about getting her choice in. How far is she willing to abuse her fame tonight? Pretty far, honestly. Along the way, though, she will whistle at Luca. A true two finger in the mouth whistle that blasts out from her lips. "Nice work, handsome!" she calls out.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Ayup. It's one of those nights.

Caleb drops his head against the table at the bachelorettes' choice of music, and shakes his head. "There's no justice in this world, is there..."

Luca's performance, now that makes him crack a smirk - talk about putting on a show for the ladies.

He looks at the whistling woman, Olivia, and that's when he recognizes her. He moves to greet, "Hey there."

Clea has posed:
"This..." Clea waves a hand around, "Doesn't seem productive." she tells Wong. With that, the white haired woman stands, gathers her things and heads for the door. Wong just gives her a roll of his eyes, "My dear Master Clea that is because you are far too serious since your breakup with that archer." he points out. "I'll see you tomorrow though." he dips his head to her. Then he settles back into watching the performers, clapping along as he does.

Luca's performance causes quite a stir with the ladies that are unwed...and some of the wed ones. Down ladies! There are things thrown at him, mainly penis beaded necklaces, but still.

There is a heated argument that starts at the song selection machine and carries over until people are separated by friends.

Though a few songs pass before there is the familiar sound of 'Lady Marmalade' from the speakers. This is accompanied by a Banshee's wail of anger that sees the group on stage being ran at from the lady that was trying to get the song earlier. And of course her friends have to jump in.

"BAR FIGHT!" someone shouts.

Luca Bandoni has posed:
Of course, Olivia's reaction to the performance has his crew all acting like teenage boys at a school dance as they head back to their table. There's a whole lot of 'go for it, Bandoni' and 'nah man, she's way out of your league'. More friendly shoving and back slapping. These guys are all about six sheets to the wind. Good thing they have a designated that owns a van to call later.

But Luca? He just flashes Olivia a big old grin. If there's one thing that can get Luca Bandoni noticed even more than him on a stage shirtless, it's that brilliant smile. It just lights up his entire face and causes the faintest little laugh lines at the corners of his eyes. But it's a genuine smile. He tosses in a wink and a playful 'gunfinger' point in her direction before miming drinking something. Basically, the universal bar sign for 'buy you a drink'?

...and then the shit hits it /again/. Man just cannot catch a break.

"I got the screamin' demon, Roscoe, you and the others tag the rest of them?" In all his shirtless glory, Luca is dodging and shoving his way through the crowd to try and get his hands around the instigator. Cut the head off the snake and all that. He's not aiming to hurt her, just wrap her in a bear hold until she chills the fuck out.

"Someone call 911!" he yells. Before this gets even more out of hand.

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    Olivia had just finished picking her song. Sure, they are going to do Moulin Rouge, but in the ten songs that will follow everyone would forget, anyway! And once she does what she has planned, at least half the bar won't care. Probably more than half, honestly. Plus with lungs like hers, well.... double meaning intended.

    Caleb gets a look and a little wave, "Hey back at you!" But her attention is, understandably, divided.

    She was just going to strut her way over to Luca when he grins at her. Dammit but that almost loses her cool entirely! Steady, Liv! Still, her nod is far too eager for her to play hard to get. An apologetic look at Caleb, but hey, nobody can fault her, right? She's on a mission here!

    ... and then everything just goes to hell in a handbasket. She will quickly backpedal away from the heart of the action. She is not a fighter!

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
When Olivia moves over to Luca and gets that apologetic look, he shrugs. There'll be other times to talk, surely.

And then, discussion starts over who should be singing what, and his face loses whatever smile it had. "Okay, /now/ it's getting lively", Caleb comments, preparing himself to move out of the way should any shit hit the proverbial fan - well, at least hit him. He finishes his root beer in one gulp, observing the tussle's progress from the corner of his eye...

Clea has posed:
"I'm having that fucking song removed from the catalog!" one of the bartenders shouts as the fight breaks out. Glass breaking and general panic in a place like that. Some of the women spill drinks, throw glasses. Generally it is good to let them just swing it out, but there are people coming in to break it up. Luca gets bitten by one of the ladies that are trying to release their friend.

Which leaves the mic and the stage clear at least.

People are video taping the altercation and there are people calling 911 since blood has been seen.

So much for a relaxing sing-a-long night!

Luca Bandoni has posed:
"OW!" Luca complains, but he doesn't let go of the one he's got hands on. With what he does for a living, a little bite isn't going to deter him. "Careful guys! They bite!" he warns the rest of his crew. One, Roscoe actually, calls back, "Think they have their shots?!"

His grip around the instigator tightens a little, just enough to make her take notice. "You need to /stop it/ right now." He's busting out the commanding voice now. Unless you /want/ to go to jail."

It's one of the rest of the bunch that stands up on a table and whistle the mother of all whistles before he bellows, "ENOUGH!" He must be their go to crowd control dude at scenes, because man that tone and that voice could cower Thor.

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    *ZIIIIIIIPPPPPP* roars over the speakers as the mic is held behind Olivia's back. When did she take the stage? When it was there for the taking, that's when. As for that sound? Her dress tumbles to the floor.

    Under that little dress is the same set of lingerie she wore on stage when she played Nini in Moulin Rouge. She kicks it to the side with something like disdain. The mic comes up and her voice comes out in a perfect purr.


        Where's all my soul sistas?
        Lemme hear ya'll flow, sistas


    Not only can she sing, she can dance. It's not standard choreography from Broadway. She's ... enhanced it for the environment. It may not be a roar or whistle, but it screams for attention from pretty much anyone who enjoys a great voice or, quite frankly, the female form.

    What was that about having this song removed?

Clea has posed:
Clea did not make it to the door and someone runs into her before she can turn around. The bellow though makes her turn to the man who did it, "Alright that was worth the trip out." she points to him. Then she straightens and floats out the door. This wasn't an Avenger's situation so she wasn't going to block the incoming medical professionals from their jobs.

"Lady put your clothes on! Jaysus, Mary and Joseph!" someone yells.

But all the attention is now on Olivia! That is calming the fighting down to almost none!

Luca Bandoni has posed:
Once the wildcat in his arm's settles, Luca lets her go and immediately turns toward the stage. All his crew do the same. "Yeah man, WAY out of your league, Bandoni," one of the guys comments.

Luca just watches, that same wide grin on his face as before. His fellow firefighter is halfway back to their table before Luca says, "We'll see about that," from where he stands.

"Guys, we might as well wrap it up and call that ride in, we've just lost Bandoni for the night," Roscoe barks out the words with a laugh at the end. Leaving him behind in a fire is one thing, but leaving him behind in a bar with a beautiful woman? They don't have a problem with that - other than maybe wishing they were him. So, Luca ends up left to find his own way back home.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Caleb watches the exchange with narrowed eyes. "Seriously, some people shouldn't be allowed to drink - at all." He smirks, "And they said no minors. So why do I feel like I'm the adult here...?"

Then, his eyes dart to the source of the zipping, to catch Olivia going into a state of undress - yeah, looks like it's that kind of night.

He waves the bartender for the check, though asking, "...Was this striptease night and you forgot to change the sign, or something? Because I could line up a mean 'You Can Leave Your Hat On' that'd make Joe Cocker proud, if we're being conciliatory..."

And then his brain deadpans at the thought that he could get a piec or underwear thrown at him - and, with his luck, it wouldn't even be woman's... *shudder*

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    All eyes on her? Olivia does that several nights a week! Seeing her reprise this role is something that people would usually throw down good money for. Tonight it's free! When she finishes the song, though, she has something to add.

    "Let's hear it for New York's bravest! And please, everyone, play nice for the rest of the evening," she calls out, aiming that brilliant smile at the men of the FDNY. What self-respecting girl doesn't give credit where it is due?

    On her way from the stage, she slips a toe under her dress and lazily flicks it up into her grasp. Where is she heading? Straight for Luca, with a focus that makes one wonder if she even sees the rest of the room.

    "So, about that drink..."