Owner Pose
Hella Rokkurdisardottir     The fairgrounds visit didn't exactly end with the decision to visit a karaoke bar, because there was so much food to still sample! Hella made sure to try at least one of practically /everything/ offered. As she ate, perhaps surprising Alex with the sheer amount of consumption, she explained to him that she burns calories really quickly. As a result, she usually has to eat often, and in considerable quantity, to maintain her weight and physique, especially considering her very active lifestyle.

    Once she'd exhausted Coney Island for everything it had to offer, though, the sun was sinking in the background and it was time for them to part ways. Not before exchanging numbers and making firm plans to meet up again, soon. Hella went on her way, Alex went his, and life resumed as per usual. She pulled a 48h shift, fought fires, saved lives, and gave kids a fun time as they rode on her firetruck. Then, she passed out for about 12 hours. 'Cause, as a firefighter, she works two days on, two days off. And, she still has schooling to do, which is rough, but she manages!

    On the third day after the Coney Island trip, Alex sends her the address to the karaoke club and, with a big grin on her face, Hella heads out of her place, triple-locking the door, and heads to meet him. She's fully prepared! She spent some time researching karaoke songs, to have options. She's got some good ones in mind, and is hoping the bar will have them available!

    This evening, Hella's hair is pulled back into an immaculate, tight, high ponytail, leaving her white blonde locks to spill down her back and swish attractively as she moves. She's wearing a longsleeved white turtleneck bodysuit that definitely displays her physique nicely. She sports a pair of regular fit -- not too baggy, not super clingy -- jeans that have a well-worn look to them, though they don't have any holes or rips in them. Just comfy. Again, on her feet, she's gone for blindingly white sneakers, but of a different brand and style than before. She has a little silver necklace with a tiny pendant at its center, and she wears a silver watch that looks more masculine than most watches made for women.

    When she arrives at The Sing Sing, she looks at her surroundings dubiously. It might not look very welcoming, but the vibe in there is nice enough that she isn't too concerned. There are people there, chatting, laughing, drinking. Someone is singing an Elvis song. She looks around for Alex, wondering if she got there too early.
Alexander Aaron     This time of night and this day of the week, it's before the tourists come into the city, before people fill the bar and laugh and hoot. Oh there's a vibe, a happy warm one just from the nature of the place. Something about hunkering down against the cold, sharing a drink, and enjoying song even if the singers aren't the best. It's a community thing, rarely experienced, and tonight the feeling in the air isn't quite electric. But it's palpable, friendly, and whenever laughter rises it almost feels infectious.
    She enters, and she cuts a fine silhouette, eyes drawn, second glances. First that realization of beauty. Then that second look as her physique, her form draws a question unspoken. But there's little judgment it seems for one of the hostesses walks on up,
    "Just seat yourself, darling, I'll be right with you." And as quick as that the hostess is away, carrying a pair of drinks for one of the tables near the stage.
    No sign of Alexander, however. Not at the bar, nor on the tables and lanes leading around the room.
    Until she takes a second glance at the stage as she hears a voice that might sound familiar, though it's raised, electronically modulated a bit by the microphone. And crooning that Elvis song.

    "I'm leaving town, baby."
    "I'm leavin' town for sure."
    "Well, then you won't be bothered with me hangin' around your door."

    And he's got a presence. Not a rock star, but a smile, a wry amused smile as he's holding the microphone and looking at the scroll on the small monitor near. And so many people when they try to sing Elvis they try to imitate Elvis, and Alexander... is just singing in his rumbly hint of a baritone. Standing on stage in loose blue jeans and white sneakers that hold no comparison to the brilliance of her own. And that black t-shirt has no riled kitten on the front of it, but instead a rather irate looking flamingo for some reason.

    "That's all right now mama, any way you doooo."

    The song ends and with the lights in his eyes he can't rightly see the crowd, but he smiles and holds the microphone up. "Thank you, Manhattan, you've been a lovely audience."
    The mike fwumpfs a little with sound as he hooks it in its holder and then /hops/ off the side of the stage, making his way toward his side table where looks like he's got a pitcher of beer already and two mugs.
Hella Rokkurdisardottir     Hella doesn't take it personally, the way the waitress gives her the brush-off. She's kinda used to it. Being judged, and also interacting with New Yorkers. At least the lady told her she could sit wherever she likes, and didn't leave her standing there, wondering. That's something, at least! Hella smiles and nods, murmuring a brief, "Thank you." She steps in a bit further and looks around, craning her head this way and that, seeking...seeking... And, there! On the stage. Alex is the one crooning an Elvis tune! Hella isn't super educated in Elvis' vast catalog of songs, but she does recognize the music for this one. She grins broadly, watching from where she stands, ensuring she's out of the footpath of others as she crosses her arms and watches him finish up the song.

    When he finishes, and is saying his goodbyes, he will hear, /very loudly/, Hella hooting for him, "WOO, ALEX, YEAH! WOO!" She's clapping hard, her hands popping together with loud explosions of applause for him as he climbs down from the stage and makes his way toward his table. Hella is making her way there, too, now! Target acquired, she is a heat-seeking missile, bobbing and weaving through the people and tables to get there.

    She drops herself in the seat with a big grin, "Well, hello, there! Fancy meeting you here~" The accompanying woosh of air following her movements brings the scent of something warm and softly sweet, vanilla and coconut, inoffensive and nice, if one isn't against scents! "You did good job! I only caught last bit, but wow! I like!" she grins broadly.
Alexander Aaron     There is no disguising the presence of one Hella Rokkurdisardottir. For she announces her presence with such open aplomb that as soon as he hears the clapping and the 'WOO!' he shakes his head, smile broadening and his cheeks coloring very slightly.
    He's down, out of the spotlights back toward his table and she's /swoooping/ in to take her seat on the bench seat they have against the wall. She greets him and he replies, "Hello, yourself, lady." So very New Yorker but though the words might seem sharp, the smile and amusement in them steals the sting.
    He leans in and /pulls/ her in for a hug the likes of which she'd be proud, /thump-thump-thumping/ her back and then leaning back to look in her eyes. He bites his lower lip, lifts his gaze, grins. "This is cute." He says as he lightly brushes a hand over her hair... then tugs on the pony tail oh so presumptively.
    "I like it," And then he turns away and takes up the pitcher. "Beer?" He asks, though already assuming she'll want one as he's refilling his own and pouring for her as well.
    "Any trouble finding the place?"
Hella Rokkurdisardottir     Hella's grin is as genuine and bright as it ever is when Alex returns her greeting in that playfully snarky way, but even more due to the fact that he can't keep the smile off his face. Then, the hug! OOH! What a good hug! She returns it, adjusting to bearhug him as hard as he hugs her, and thumping his back, too! It's very reminiscent of a Rokkurdisarson hug, and that gives her a warm fuzzy feeling. Her cheeks are a little flushed when she draws back and sits more properly in her seat.

    However! Alex is complimenting her, touching her hair, and even pulling her ponytail, and Hella's stomach starts doing some weird-ass somersaulting, yo! The flush on her cheeks deepens just a tinge and she can't help but laugh a little in surprise. "Well, thank you! Glad you like it. Accomplished in one minute flat," she replies, trying to sound SUPER NORMAL. She clears her throat and nods vigorously to the offer of beer, her ponytail bobbing that silky, soft, shiny white-blonde hair. "Beer good, yes!" she says, sliding her mug over so he can more easily fill it from the pitcher. Something she can focus on that doesn't make her blush more!

    Hella nearly drains her first mug of beer, but stops herself just short of it, 'cause she doesn't want to come off like some sort of lush. Her family's ways are different, and she's been drinking like a champ since she was 12! Thank goodness their physiology works in a way that avoids stunted growth when imbibing alcohol! Or, since she's only 5'10", maybe it did a little. Who knows! She laughs as these thoughts race through her head. Abruptly, she realizes Alexander's asked her a question, so she tries to recall what it was. "Ah, no! No problem. Took Uber and they knew exactly where to go," she grins. "Still learning my way around, but I learn quickly because so many fires, on the truck a lot," she nods her head.
Alexander Aaron     The Olympian's smile is open, amused even as he's leaning forward and takes up the black bound tablet that's on the table and sliiiides it over to her. "Here is the song list," The small LED flickers to life when it feels the haptic contact from Alex's fingertips as he presents it before Hella as he tells her lightly, "Pick something fun since it's totally your turn."
    That grin disappears behind the mug of beer as he takes a sip, tilting the mug back and settling back into his seat. He nudges her with his knee, "But it is /important/." He says, leaning a little to the side so he can meet her eyes evenly, "That we pace ourselves."
    That small nugget of wisdom delivered one of the other patrons walks up and steps on stage as the karaoke DJ grins and claps for her, then announces. "Let's hear it for Carol, Carol on the microphone singing, 'Danke Schoen'."
    Which has Alexander turning back and nudging Hella a little, like she /wasn't/ going to clap for good Carol. "Woo, Carol! Let's go!" He shouts, clapping loudly a few times even as he shoots a wry sidelong smile toward Hella.
    Then distantly he espies something toward the bar and tilts his head, "Oh hey, think our wings are up." Since the waitress is rather busy he hops up and out of that bench seat, sliiiiding past her and giving her a grin. "Pick the song!" As he heads on off to the bar.
Hella Rokkurdisardottir     Hella looks down as Alex slides over the tablet with the song lit, her brows lifting and her expression shifting to a more relaxed look. She grins broadly and accepts the tablet, nodding her head at the suggestion. "I have perfect song in mind!" she says with a note of anticipation as she begins to tap the screen, searching for the right artist. "AH, PERFECT," she squeaks happily. "Sia! She is one of my favorites!" she bounces a bit in her seat. The energy just seems to bubble inside her when she gets excited, it's hard for her to sit still.

    Thankfully, Alex bade her choose her song and left to get the wings before she has the opportunity to spoil the whole thing right away. She's not sure he has listened to Sia, as she's infinitely more popular with women and gay men, but it's likely he knows of her -- or, at the very least, has heard some of her more popular singles! The song she's decided on might be a little more obscure, but she hopes he knows it. And, doesn't hate Sia. Then, her stomach is all wobbly with nerves, but Alexander's already making his way back and sets the wings on the table. "OMG, blue cheese?" she groans almost wantonly, lifting her pale blue eyes up to Alex's face in a questioning fashion. She's really looking forward to munching on these after her first song!

    When he takes his seat and gets comfortable, she grins and shows him the screen. It reads: "Sia - CHEAP THRILLS." It has a picture of the album's cover art: a woman with blonde hair as pale as Hella's, cut in a blunt page-boy bob, with bangs that usually cover the upper half of her face, though in this image, she's wearing some sort of ruffle that obscures the majority of her face, leaving only her mouth and chin visible. "Do you know it?" she asks excitedly, her eyes sparkling in the half-light of the bar.
Alexander Aaron     He wasn't gone long at all, just a few minutes roughly as the Muspel gal swept her finger across the tablet in search of a song which he could tell even from over by the bar that she had found one that she liked. It was the way she seemed to bounce in her seat or just exhibited such energy.
    Then his attention was grabbed, "Heya, are these our wings?" He asks the harried waitress in passing as she starts to ring up a bill.
    "One sec, sir." The waitress says. Leaving him there for a little bit. A brief moment to draw his cell out of his jeans pocket and check it... nothing. A small faint frown, then he slips the phone away.
    Another moment, the waitress bobs her head, "Ok sorry about that, hon." She looks to make sure she's understanding what he's asking, then reiterates, "Yeah those are yours. Knock yourself out."
    Which has him smiling and thanking her as he takes those wings with double blue cheese and starting to wend his way back toward the table, stepping around a group of four people who only just arrived. It's back to the table as he laughs at the abrupt /enthusiasm/ for such blue cheese.
    Then he is shown the face of Sia and that curious image. "She's pretty..." But then she asks if he knows her and he shakes his head, "I do not, you can show me." His smile widens, "Go on up there, I'll save... one or two of these wings for you." He teases.
Hella Rokkurdisardottir     Hella's smile is brilliant as Alex laughs at her desire for blue cheese dip with her wings. It's just one of those things~ Where she ends up being amusing without trying. She's truly lucky in so many ways! She beams anew as he compliments Sia, despite the fact that he can't see more than the lower bit of her face. "I think she is beautiful, too. Her music is so inspiring to me. I listen to her songs for hours and hours. When I work out, especially. She's not only artist I love, though," she reassures Alex, in case he gets nervous about her apparent obsession with Sia.

    "There better be at least four of them, two drums and two flats!" she says firmly, pointing an emphasizing finger as she gets up and jogs over to the DJ to begin her song. She nods her head a couple of times, answering the DJ's questions, then she climbs up on stage.

    Many people would be nervous to get on stage in front of bunches of strangers. Alex could probably taste their fear. But, with Hella, there is /none/ of that. No, she looks like she's about to enjoy the hell out of herself. She wriggles the mic free of the stand and moves the stand aside, so it won't get in her way. 'Cause, yes, she's definitely gonna be dancing a bit during this song! Her hip starts bopping to one side as the plucky opening strains begin filtering through the crowd. There are quite a few excited whoops coming from the crowd, fellow fans of Sia, and a few groans, too. Hella, though, can only hear the music!

    Her voice, as she begins singing, takes on a melodic quality that is present in her regular speaking voice, but softened a bit by musicality. Her accent isn't /as/ thick when she sings, as she's practiced pronouncing the words very similarly to Sia's pronunciation over the many times she's binged-listened to it. She's on key, her expressions are engaging, her voice is...lovely! She waves a hand in an encouraging gesture as she sings the opening refrain:
     "Come on, come on, turn the radio on
    It's Friday night, and it won't be long
    Gotta do my hair, put my make-up on
    It's Friday night, and it won't be long--"

    Her dance movements emphasize the lyrics and sometimes echo a hint of the choreography from the music video and live performances, such as patting her hair when she sings about it. Speaking of make-up, is she even wearing any? Her face glows, but it usually does? She does seem to be wearing some kind of gloss or lip balm, maybe! And, then, she gets to a part that she really likes!

    Her hips pop and sway as she sings:
    "'Til I...hit the dance floor!
    Hit the dance floor!
    I got all I need~
    No, I ain't got cash, ain't got cash,
    But, I got you, baby~!

    She's jumping a bit, now, dancing, hopping from one foot to the other. It all seems so natural and fluid, coming from her. Not a hint of self-consciousness. She's giving a /performance/ and, while she may not be professionally honed, it's still pretty darned good for karaoke!

    She continues, waving her hands encouragingly to the crowd, to get those who are willing to call out the reply-calls as she sings the chorus, dancing happily.
    "Baby, I don't need dollar bills to have fun, tonight!"
    She puts a hand to her ear, prompting: (I love cheap thrills!)
    "Baby, I don't need dollar bills to have fun, tonight!"
    (I love cheap thrills!)
    "But, I don't need no mooooooneyyyyy~
    As long as I can feel the beee-eeat!
    I don't need no mooooooneyyyy~
    As long as I keep daaaaaaaancing!"

    And, so she goes. Never losing energy, but also not going overboard. She sings all the verses, all the choruses. She dances and beams the whole way through, wriggling her hips and just getting her whole body into it as her ponytail spins around wildly in time. She finishes the song with an energized, "WOO! Thank you for hearing me!" Slightly breathless -- not from exertion, but from being pumped up! -- she returns to the table and flops down to grin at Alex. "Well? What you think, mmmh?"
Alexander Aaron     The Child of Giants demands. Two Drummies. Two Flats!
    The answer she is given from the spawn of Olympus is given with some solemnity and dire portent.
    "No promises,"
    But his smirk is playful even as he meets her demands with challenge, apparently unafraid of the woman and enjoying their occasional fun clashes of humor. But then she's off. Taking to the stage. When poor Carol had been up there he could feel that tingle, that subtle jangle of the world's way whispering to him that there was a rush of adrenalin, the product of fear. Not as heady as their trip to Coney Island. There, at times, there was such flashes of terror that it had been a heady thing. Which may have explained his exuberance to a degree.
    But here it was almost all her.
    The Deejay gives her the thumbs up and keys the song to life. Which seems to bring Hella along with it.
    On the benchseat, settled there with his arms on the table. Alexander watches with an open smile on his face. Features bright and amused as he ponders, teeth lightly nibbling on the corner of his mouth as he listens. Then starts to bob in time with the music.
    Then he laughs when she makes those dance moves in time with it, not in mockery but in joy. Amusement. Because he can tell that there is such strong connection between her and the music. She's spent so much time listening to it, watching the video, likely lifting weights and straining herself happily to the voice and the sounds.
    Then she's in the latter portion of the song, hollering to the crowd for them to join her. To be fair, Alexander misses the first, being unfamiliar with the song, but on the second and later he calls out loudly, but not loud enough to overbear.
    Until she returns and fwumpfs on down which has him smiling as he pushes the plate of wings. Untouched. Toward her and he says, "You deserve 'em." He can always get another plate.
    Then the Deejay raises his voice on his own microphone, "That was Alex or Hella, over there at table 7. I bet it's probably Hella. Let's hear it for her, guys!" Which causes some applause and laughter.
Hella Rokkurdisardottir     Hella is stoked to see the entire plate of wings has been set aside for her, her eyes going wide and her hands lifted in splayed excitement! "No way! You saved all for me?!" she says in a hushed voice of disbelief. "How you managed that?!" she laughs, nudging at your knee with her own beneath the table. That's just when the DJ announces someone's bought them an entirely fresh plate of wings!

    "WHA!" she exclaims in surprise and laughs. When the DJ calls for people to applaud her, she stands up briefly to raise clasped hands and shake them to one side of her head, then the other, in true champion style! She gives another laugh and waves her hand before sitting back down and grinning across the table at Alex. "Don't worry, Alexander. Not all songs make me want to dance like that!" She pauses, adding in that coy, sly way of hers, "But, no promises."
Alexander Aaron     "There's nothing wrong with dancing," Alexander says with a casual side-smile as he looks at her and then across the room, watching as the Deejay starts to go through the requests from other tables as other people start to get up and take a song for themselves.
    Tonight from Genesis starts playing and provides a nice background to the moment as an older business man gets up and gives it a shy effort, but at least he's up there and he's trying. So Alex gives a nudge to Hella and he claps loudly for the guy, "You got this, man!"
    Alex grins and there's a moment where his eyes flicker with a subtle white light, very subdued that one would have to be looking straight at him to see. And instantly the man starts to sing louder, more poignantly. Taking those higher notes, carrying the long extended lyrics, as he feels that fear of being up front of people fade away...
    Which makes the music that much better.
    The youth then turns back to Hella and /steals/ one of her wings, pulling it over onto his small serving plate and crinkles his nose at her. "Did you decide what you want me to sing for my comeuppance. For /daring/ to defy Hella Rokkurdisardottir in competition?" He pronounces her last name so well, with such weight of language, rolling those 'r's so nicely.
    "Or going to let me pick my own?"
Hella Rokkurdisardottir     Hella laughs at that side-smile and lifts her shoulders, saying in a too-cool-for-school tone, "I just thought maybe you feel a little...envious. Because I get free plate of wings for my performance. I want to assure you, not all songs will get us free food, so don't feel bad. That is all." She grins wryly as she teases him, gentle needling at him. Alex's singing was very good, even if she didn't know the song! He has nothing to worry about!

    Hella doesn't even need to be nudged, though she accepts it with a grin. "WOO! YES, MISTER BUSINESS SUiT! YOU WILL BE GREAT!" she bellows, the picture of femininity and grace with her half-devoured drumstick in her hand, waving it up high! Unfortunately for her, Hella is looking at the poor guy trying to swallow his anxiety as he sings nervously, and she doesn't see the super-cool white light flash over Alex's eyes. Dang it, Hella. Missing out on important things, ya doof! Still, as the man gets more confident, somehow, Hella whoops it up for him, clapping loudly.

    Then, she spies a sneaking, thief-y Alexander hand taking one of her wings! "AH! You have whole fresh plate I earned for us!" she says, laughing incredulously! "You dare?!" she steals the extra bowl of blue cheese dressing and hoards it on her side of the table, wrinkling her nose and sticking her tongue out. Then, of course there is the question of his loser consequence song! Hella's grin gets big, again, leaning back casually in her booth seat. "Wellllll, I have two options for you," she says, waggling her brows briefly. "One is ABBA song, and one is song by Cheap Trick! Both good songs. Songs I like. Do you know any songs by Cheap Trick?" she asks innocently, eating more wings while she waits. She also surreptitiously nudges her mug closer to the beer pitcher. If he doesn't notice, she'll pour for herself and offer to top his off, too!
Alexander Aaron     "I totally dare, I double dare." He says as he meets her riled eyes and narrows his own leaning towards her as he /bares/ fangs. Or really just one canine that isn't longer than normal. But still she can hear the grrrr.
    "I have heard of this Cheap Trick, indeed." Is the answer she's given. And he stole /her/ wings purely because they were /hers/. But he does at least eat that one, picking at it a bit and not exactly snarfing it down, but he takes his time with it. Enjoying.
    He then sees the ever so subtle motion and tilts the pitcher on its side to refill her drink, and his as well before setting it back down. He pushes himself to his feet and gives a nod, "Pick whichever you like, and I'll do it." He casually boots her sneaker with his own as if punishing her for defying him in turn.
    Then he turns to look at the stage as the other man finishes up the Genesis song. He takes a deep breath and then tells Hella sidelong as he leans against the bench seat divider next to her. "It's warm in here."
    As he says that he lifts the collar of his t-shirt up to wipe at his brow, just a small sheen of sweat there from the night, the wings, or other intemperate things. A small gesture. But she may have noticed that Alexander tends to wear baggy clothes. Usually some do so to hide their form out of embarrassment or the like. Yet she had seen the way the t-shirt hung to his broad chest, he had a large frame, wide shoulders.
    But with that small gesture the fabric lifts as he brushes his brow with the shirt, and it reveals the marked contours of his abdomen. Sharply defined, firm physique, a set of hard abs lightly tensed leading downward to a supple V of muscle that disappears beneath the waist of those loose jeans, and with the firm curve of obliques showing that he's someone who has trained, and trained hard in the past.
    Very brief as the t-shirt settles back, then he pushes off from the divider. "Ok, my turn!"
    And with that he heads on up.
Hella Rokkurdisardottir     Hella's brows raise at the exposed fang in that sexy sneer, an expression she uses herself without even realizing it -- usually when she's feelin' herself and high on power. The canine is her favorite tooth, if she had to pick one, too. She likes when people have kinda prominent canines, like that Timothy Olyphant actor man! Whenever he's on screen, she can't not stare at his mouth. So, this little peek is enticing to Hella, who is caught off-guard by the vibe she gets from Alexander. If she could feel hot, this would be one of those moments where she said something similar to...what Alex says next.

    As he lifts his shirt to dab at his brow, her icy eyes fall down to see the newly bared flesh and the shapely contours it offers. Hella's heartrate jumps up and Alex can be reasonably certain he feels a pulse in temperature coming from her side of the booth. Her expression is one of fascination blended seamlessly with open appreciation. Her lips parted, her eyelids hooded, her own pretty white teeth making an appearance as she bites at the fullness of her lower lip on the left side.

    She's only freed of her entranced state with the crisp delivery of his words, her body jolting slightly in the shock of it! "Uhhhhh, yes!" she says, nodding her head firmly, waving him off and taking another huge gulp of her beer. Whoa. What?! No. No, Hella, bad! She shakes her head to clear her mind of any unwelcome thoughts or sensations, and tries to focus on the task of picking the right song. Unfortunately, it seems her brain is still stuck in that gear, 'cause the song that queues up for Alexander to sing... is Cheap Trick's timeless classic: I Want You to Want Me!

    She tapped the option before she had a chance to change her mind and, now, she's kinda regretting it. But, also not. Maybe. It's really complex over here in the hot little corner that Hella occupies! People are starting to complain that the heater's too high in the surrounding area.
Alexander Aaron     The Deejay's miked up voice dominates the room for a moment as he calls out, "Alright folks, we got Alex again he's up here to do a little Cheap Trick for your entertainment, let's hear it for Alex!" Which causes a few of the patrons to clap, and even Carol calls out, "Woo hoo!"
    Though the Olympian is all smiles as he climbs back up that small stage, grinning a little as he shields his eyes from the big lights that give such prominence to whomever is there performing. He takes up the microphone, looks at the monitor.
    He had fully been expecting to see Dancing Queen when he looked at it, but no. Cheap Trick, I Want You to Want Me. Which has his eyes widening a little with a snort and a faux sour expression as he gestures in Hella's direction across the room. As if telling her that she'll get hers yet.
    But then the music starts up. The drums pick up the tempo, the guitar comes in, and then those small words start to go across the monitor in front of him even as he shakes his head, glances in Hella's direction again.
    But when it comes time he's on.

"I waaant you to want me."
"I neeed you to need me."
"I'd loove you to love me."

    She can hear the song in those words, but the tone Alexander uses, it isn't the same almost plaintive tone that Robin Zander uses. His voice is lower, deeper, and almost a growl as he sings. Not as if asking. As if challenging.

"I'm begging you to beg me."

    He moves across the small stage as he shifts grip on the microphone, pointing over at Carol who laughs and ribs her tablemate in the side causing her to laugh as well. He spins around after a bit more and gives some enthusiasm when he kicks it up,

"Didn't I, Didn't I, Didn't I see you cryin'?"
"Oh didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'!"

    Yet it's when they reach the end of the song that he repeats the title of it several times. Those same six words, giving voice to such desire. Or perhaps even a demand. As he looks across the way toward where Hella sits. Not able to see her, but singing to her.
    Then the music ends and Carol's table at least claps as well as a whistle from someone at the bar. All in good fun, and the room definitely does seem warmer as he's hopping off the stage, one step, the other, then across the room as he walks wiping a forearm over his brow and then /sliiiiding/ into the seat next to Hella as he leans over against her shoulder and /steals/ another wing. This time, however, he just _bites_ it. Chews and crinkles his nose at her. Defiant!
Hella Rokkurdisardottir     Hella's heart rate is /kickin'/ right now! She can't help but call out in excitement and encouragement when the DJ announces Alex. The expression on his face when he hears the title is just...PRICELESS. That's why she's so damned glad she's RECORDING IT ON HER CELL PHONE FOR POSTERITY! She's set it up on the table, angled perfectly to capture him on stage, and give her room to jump up to dance. 'Cause she's definitely gonna do that! She just can't help it. This song is such a bop!!

    When Alex points at her, delivering an unspoken promise of revenge, she screams all the louder and jumps up and down! He probably can't see her, but it doesn't matter! The fact is, she's his biggest fan, in this very moment. And, she shows it by bouncing on her heels in time with the beat, bopping her head this way and that, her ponytail whipping all around as she takes in his performance.

    She can't help but swoon a little at the growl in his voice, his natural singing range deeper than the lead singer of Cheap Trick. But, she's not the only one! Carol and her friend are /definitely/ tittering in delight at the song and the direct attention Alex gives them with his performance. Hella is teeny-bopping it up for him the whole song, calling out excited whoops, and yelling his name. "GO, ALEX, YEAH!!!" she yells, doing some shadow boxing in time to the music! She's always careful, though, to stay away from the table and out of the line of the phone's camera. She must own this memory for forever!

    Then, the last lines are happening. Alex is looking in her direction. He's demanding. Commanding. Her heart is doing all kinds of insane stuff inside her chest. She has to sit down, clutching at it as her temperature spikes up even higher. 113 degrees, anyone? Yeah, it's getting HOT in here.

    When the performance is over, she quickly stops the recording and slips her phone back in her pocket, like nothing ever happened~ INNOCENT FACE. However... Alex is much more preoccupied with leaning so very close and stealing another one of her wings. As he makes contact with her, being so up close and personal, he can /feel/ the heat radiating from her. It feels like he's brought his face up close to a space heater. Her scent is much stronger, too -- her shampoo? Some body lotion? It's a clean and nice smell. Hella's heart is pounding like crazy, and her face is just kinda...glowing, flushed! She grins shyly, almost, at the biting of the wing! She can't help but giggle a little. "Can I get your autograph?" she asks in an adoring way, batting her eyelashes.
Alexander Aaron     "Sure, honeh." Alexander says at the request for an autograph, and /that/ is when he perhaps sounds like Elvis. He grins and nudges her shoulder again while he chews and chews, then sets the bones down, taking up a napkin to wipe at his cheek where some smeared just above the hint of stubble there.
    But then his eyes meet hers and he reaches a hand out to rest a fingertip on the back of her wrist, his brow furrowing. He has some insight into her nature, but not all of it, though he knows when she gets into things her temperature goes up. So he asks again, "You sure you're alright?" His hazel irises flit back and forth looking into her own pale blue ones, as if trying to see what's behind them. As he checks and lightly touches, leaning so close, with each breath she'll taste that subtle scent. That hint of the young man beside her. Masculine, a tinge of sweat and exertion, touched with a hint of something clean. Shampoo perhaps. And something sharp, iron or steel or...blood perhaps.
    "You're really warm," He tells her, as if she didn't know. But he then eases the beer toward her and murmurs, "Here, drink a bit." Then he lifts the back of his hand lightly to her brow and he asks. "I imagine I shouldn't be concerned, right?"
Hella Rokkurdisardottir     Hella grins at the response, bumping her shoulder back against his in a back-and-forth playfulness. Matching bump for bump! Hella's already finished her plate of chicken, her plate holding nothing but cleanly stripped bones. She even ate the cartilage! Now, she's just focused on drinking her beer and trying to calm down a little. She's nowhere near drunk, though she does have a tiny little buzz. It takes a decent amount of strong alcohol to get her drunk, so the beer is a-okay. But. Alexander being so close. Looking into her eyes. Touching her. Her heart is jigging and juking inside her chest like she's rarely felt before, if ever. Of course, her temp has spiked. Dang it. Stupid body, giving her away.

    She smiles shyly at the concerned question, his gentle checking on her well-being. She shakes her head and smiles, "No, is okay. Am just pumped. Good music, good fun, good food...good company." She looks away at the last, trying not to look at his pretty hazel eyes. She can't be doing this, feeling these things. She has to get it together! Stop it, stupid! What did he say? Oh, right!

    She shakes her head, "No, no worries. I take care of it." She holds up a single finger as she says, "Wait one sec. I be back very soon. Just need to step outside for moment." And, then, she's up. And, walking briskly toward the exit. She does her best to weave around all the people in there, but it's not that easy to do, since it's getting more crowded, now. And, some people recognize her, too, and want to stop her to say something. She waves them off politely and makes excuses, heading for the stairwell up to the ground level.

    Once she's outside, she walks to the nearest trash can, grips its rim, takes a deep-ass breath...and just...lets the metal trash can have it. She expels a column of flame that'd make any dragon proud! She just keeps that gout going for as long as she has breath. Then, she pauses for a second, checking to make sure she's not creating a hazard. She's burnt the contents to, well, ashes. Nothing is left to burn inside it. But, the metal's starting to get malleable. Ah, well. She might have gone for a second gout, but she doesn't want to melt the trashcan. She was holding back, too. It has, at least, taken the edge off and she's considerably less radiate-y. She turns to make her way back inside, dusting her hands off.
Alexander Aaron     When she had explained all the reasons she was pumped up and terribly warm, he nods along with her. Good music, good fun, good food. He smiles and looks toward the stage, the deejay, the room in general. Then she says 'good company' and his smile broadens as he looks back at her and confesses. "Yeah, this is fun."
    Which is true.
    But then she's hopping up and heading on out as she leaves him alone with at least /some/ hot wings, so he takes up another and picks it apart. Occasionally taking a sip of beer.
    While she's out another couple take to the stage to sing a duet of a Tina Turner song which is nice and peaceful, a shift of tone to the night. Relaxed and at ease. So when she comes back into the room she sees the crowd a bit subdued with the couple singing 'What's Love Got to Do With It.'
    She reappears and he lifts his mug to her in greeting as he scooches over to give her room to retake her seat. "Hey, things ok?" He asks with a quirked eyebrow.
Hella Rokkurdisardottir     Hella returns to her seat feeling a decent bit better, and she doesn't look ask flushed as before. She smiles and nods to Alex's question, "Yes, better. Just had to let off some steam. Safely." She grins lopsidedly, then reaches for the beer pitcher...only to realize it's empty. Dang. She drops her hand to the table. "So, you sang your consequence song. Was perfect. Memory I will cherish forever," she says with a dreamy smile. "But. I did say I would sing a song of your choice. Do you know what you want me to sing?" she asks curiously. "Am nervous I won't know it. My music knowlege is weird mix, due to upbringing," she admits.
Alexander Aaron     "Ok one last song," Alexander says as he /reaches/ across her to grab the tablet and slides it before himself. He eases back and slouches in the seat next to her, one leg crossed with his sneaker resting on his knee. Brow knit with thought and consideration, he flicks through page after page. A few more. Another.
    Then he stops and tilts his head to the side, eyes distancing. His lips close, tighten, then he looks over at her with a wan smile and brings back a touch of cheer to his gaze. "Think I got it, are you ready?" He lightly taps the screen and flicks the selection over 'toward' the deejay.
    He then sets the tablet on the tabletop and then waves a hand for the waitress when she passes by. Those pale eyes return to Hella and he gives a nod. "If you don't know it at all, just gimme a high sign and I'll pick another. Ok? Ok."
    That said he gives her a nod of encouragement.
Hella Rokkurdisardottir     Hella holds her breath as Alex reaches across her, being so close! She closes her eyes tight for just a second and reminds herself that he's off-limits! No, no, no. No! Don't smell his scent, don't feel his heat, don't! Her eyes are open, again, though, as Alexander sits back and begins to look through the very extensive catalog. "But, I wanted to sing one more Sia song. And, maybe an ABBA one with you," she says plaintively. Though, she can't deny that she might be hogging the stage with their requests. If only they were at a private-roomed karaoke place, like she's seen in Asian TV shows! (She ends up watching the strangest things, sometimes.)

    She nods her head and stands from the bench, making her way to the stage and climbing up. The DJ announces her, again, and there are a couple of excited claps and hoots from audience members who remember her first performance. "Hey, everybody!" she says cheerfully into the mic. "I have no idea what this song will be. Alex picked it," she points in his direction, grinning. "But, I will do my best to make it entertaining!" she promises and gives a fist pump.

    When the opening strains filter through, Hella is a little confused. Looks like she might not be very familiar with it. But, the words on the screen kinda help her figure it out. She holds up a T sign for a brief time-out. "One sec, everyone!" she says into the mic, then leans over to ask the DJ something. He nods his head and, when the music resumes, it's at a slower pace and has a more acoustic, unplugged feel to it. It's always struck Hella as a sad song, so she's gonna lean into that.

    She centers herself on the stage, leaving the mic in the stand, letting one hand lift to touch the mic's body, and the other lightly grips the mic stand's length as she begins to sing.

    Her eyes are closed, at first, her voice soft and intimate, poignent. Her accent is all but gone, when she sings, but a tiny bit remains. Just enough to let it feel like it's Hella. As she sings, her eyes open, the hot lights shining into them, making them sparkle, seem wet, almost as though she were on the verge of tears as she puts a considerable amount of emotion into her singing.

"I could feel at the time
There was no way of knowing
Fallen leaves in the night
Who can say where they're blowing?

As free as the wind
Hopefully learning
Why the sea on the tide
Has no way of turning...."


    Then, her gaze turns to Alex, her body shifting subtly, so she's singing to him, as he sang to her. Her passion, poured into the words, evokes emotion within her. She is sad for no reason she can put her finger on, at first. Then, maybe she does find a reason that fits, but she doesn't want to think about it. She just harnesses the sadness and sings it to him in a lovely, heart-breaking voice, backed by acoustic guitar:

"More than this...
You know there's...nothing
More than this.
Tell me one thing...
More than nothing...
Ooh...there's nothing."

    She turns her attention back to the center-mass of the room, singing the next few stanzas, looking in each direction. She makes it through the whole song, thanks to the lyrics on the screen. Her voice is sweet, bittersweet, intimate, and caressing...but, also distanced, unattainable, unrelenting in her message of sorrow.

    Her head turns to Alexander's direction, once more, as she sings the end of the song, still holding the mic stand tentatively, as one might touch a lover they fear will disappear forever.

"More than this," she breathes mournfully.
"Nothing...
More than this....
More than this...
Nothing."

    When the song winds to a close, she smiles to the crowd and gives a little bow before she hops off-stage and heads back to the table. Her mood is definitely a bit somber, now. The song's emotion really sobered her up. "I hope that was okay," she says with a soft smile. "I'm not super familiar with it, but I've heard it before. So, I gave it a shot."
Alexander Aaron     The lights gift her with little insight. And could she see beyond she would be given little more from the expression on the young man's features as he watches her on the stage. Listens to the music. She took that brief moment to tell the deejay what she needed for the song and it fit perfectly in its own way.
    She was mournful and gentle. The lyrics painted a picture of loss and grief in some ways. But it also spoke of life having been lived. Been experienced. None of it reaches his eyes, however. None of it can be seen on his face as he watches. It's as if he were looking past her. Past that stage. The wall behind with its peeling paint. Time has its boundaries. The world its limits. And as she gives him those words, the realization of loss, of times being as they are...
    Eventually the only sign that he feels is a slight sad lift of one corner of his mouth. His lips parting faintly. A breath drawn. Held.
    Even as the music ends.
    Then she heads down from the stage, her footsteps light and somber. She gets near and he smiles up to her, raises a hand to squeeze hers gently as he moves to the side to make room again.
    Quietly he tells her, "Let's eat, drink a little more. And in half an hour... we can sing a little Sia. And a little Abba. Then go. Deal?"
Hella Rokkurdisardottir     Hella smiles at the hand squeeze, giving him a gentle return-squeeze before letting go. And, despite Alex giving her permission to continue singing later, she suddenly knows she can't sing more, tonight. Not the ones she wants to sing. Well, maybe the Sia one, but... She's just not in the right mood, now. She's very, very sober. Probably more serious, quieter, and less smiley than Alexander's ever seen her.

    She waits for a beat, takes in a deep breath, holds it...then, exhales, deflating a little. "Actually, let's do raincheck on those songs, mmh? I should get home, feed and walk Brimmy, do homework. Take a bath, watch a sad movie, have a good cry," she says with a half-grin. "I have had so much fun, tonight, truly. Thank you for showing me this place, and for singing for me. I will treasure this memory," she says with a genuine smile, though her eyes are a little sad, too. She gives him another hug -- this one different, somehow. It's firm, but not jockular in nature. And, it lingers a little longer than her usual hugs. It also lacks the accompanying back-thumps. "Good night, Alexander," she says in his ear just as she withdraws from the hug. "Talk to you soon."
Alexander Aaron     She says so many things. Several things. And he meets her gaze, though she's not smiley. And though she thinks of having a good cry and watching a sad movie. He nods and squeezes her hand again before he rises with her as she gathers to go.
    "It was a lot of fun," He murmurs quietly, then she takes him into her arms and his own drift around her. It's a nice embrace, lingers, then a final squeeze to signal its end. Which has him drawing back, but turning his head just enough to touch a small featherlight kiss to her cheek as he eases away to meet her eyes. Hands on her shoulders he smiles gently. "Definitely soon, I'm going to stay here for a bit I think."
    A look is given to the door, then back to her, "Take care, Hella."