Welcome to Gaia! ::

Verdant and Ellandra ran into the dressing room and shut the door behind them. Verdant felt like he was going to puke if he didn't rid himself of that godawful stench. He almost undressed right then and there, but remembered that he wasn't alone and ran into the bathroom. Immediately after, the sound of the water pouring from the shower head and the rustling of clothes could be heard over Verdant's whimpering voice.

"Get it off, get it off, get it off!" cried Verdant as he grabbed a bar of soap and scrubbed his skin until it was softer than a baby's bottom. "Ugh, it's on the soap now!!!"

"N-no, it's fine! I'll just stop touching it now!"

A few minutes (and some heavy use of industrial-strength shampoo and conditioner) later, Verdant emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his head. He had already decided to change in the bathroom ("I don't want to give her an eyefull or something") and was dressed to kill. A black bolero with red tribal thorns and vines, a corset with the same design, a flowy black overskirt with little red hearts at the hems, black dress pants, and high-heeled boots constituted his new wardrobe.

"Well, what do you think?" Verdant spun around so that she could check out his clothes from all angles. "This is my stage outfit; I made it myself." Verdant stepped aside and motioned for Ellandra to go into the bathroom.

"You can go ahead and wash your hands now. I'm just going to fix myself up a bit." He strode over to the vanity mirror and took off the towel, allowing his semi-wet hair to flop onto his shoulders. "Hey, Ellandra? Thanks for sticking up for me back there."

As Verdant applied his dark eyeshadow and traced his eyes with red eyeliner, he replied to Ellandra, "It did take a lot of work, but when you love something, you put all your heart into it and make it worthwhile. It's the same with my singing and, I'm quite certain, your writing."

He finished putting on the make-up and grinned. His reflection was both scary and elegant- just what he had hoped for! He heard his new friend explaining her amazing reaction towards his ex-drummer's bonehead move and smiled wide.

"That's true. Offstage, they do have me beat; I'm not the sort of man who revels in confrontation. I'd much rather let their words bounce off me, then show them up onstage. When we're playing, I blow those jerks out of the water." He stood up and walked over to the bathroom door, knocking on it to let her know he was there.

"Are you completely sure that there isn't a song you'd like me to play? It's really the least I could do and I'd really enjoy doing it for you."

"Well, if you say so," Verdant chuckled. "Hey, you're stuttering less than you used to. I knew this place would help you be less nervous." He puffed out his chest and bore a triumphant smile, then started laughing once more.

There was a sudden knock on the dressing room door and a cute blonde-haired boy entered the room. He had an earpiece that concealed his earring and a clipboard in hand. "Verdant Lindstrom, you're up next. The last band just finished their set. You'll be on in ten minutes." The boy looked at his watch. "Nine minutes now." He turned on his heel and left the room, not bothering to close the door behind him.

"Well, it's showtime, Ellandra. I gotta go onstage now; hope you like the show!" He led her out of the room and climbed up the steps to the stage. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched over Ellandra to make sure she got to her seat safely. Once she was seated and comfortable, Verdant plugged in his ornate electric guitar (hammerspace sure is nifty!) into his amp and began tuning it. He hummed a soft melody into the microphone the whole time, hoping maybe a few people would listen to him play. He continued tinkering with a drum machine and some other technological advancements in musical equipment before finally being ready.

Verdant closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It was time for the Prince of the Flowers to appear. He bloomed once more as he opened his eyes and spoke roughly into the microphone.

"Welcome, one and all, to Apollo's Hyacinth! Here is your haven, your sanctuary, our asylum." He smiled and his voice softened up a bit. "I'd like to dedicate my performance tonight to a new friend who will hopefully gain some inpiration for her writing- or at least have a good time." He cleared his throat and cried, "This song goes out to all you lovebirds out there in the audience!" People cheered and moved chairs and tables so that they could dance to the music.

Sunlight warms my face only in dreams of you,
I know you'll wait for me... it's been too long.
Beautiful eyes, beautiful lies to dull the pain.
Beautiful eyes, beautiful lies... you're killing me
I would wait for years just to feel you again
I will die without you... would you my love?
Beautiful eyes, beautiful lies pour from your mouth
As you scream his name... you're killing me
Cries escape your sweet voice as I kiss you one last time
...one last time...

Verdant smiled and closed his eyes as the chorus came up:



He let loose with heavy, throat-lacerating screams:

Ice runs through my veins as I stand face to face with
The one who stole it all
Compassion is not an option!
Cries escape your sweet voice as I kiss you one last time
...One Last Time...

His eyes began to well up with tears, but he held them back; he always got emotional during this part:

As Verdant kept on playing, he watched Ellandra's reactions. She was enjoying herself, he could tell, and she was truly listening to the music. That made his blooms release more fragrance into the air as the song came to a close.

"This next song is called 'The Night' by Disturbed; enjoy!" He began to play a metal song that was slow, but enthralling at the same time. As he sang, he began to sway a bit, dancing to the rythmic beat of the drum machine.

What has come over me?
What madness taken hold of my heart
To run away, the only answer
Pulling me away
To fall upon (the night)
The source of my recovery
Sweet shadow taking hold of the light
Another day has been devoured
Calling me away, begging the question
Why?

Verdant began to worry it when a short, slender boy, perhaps a bit younger than him, nervously began to approach Ellandra. He'd met the boy before; he was sweet and very polite, but also very shy. He wasn't sure what he was worried about more: the boy's reaction to Ellandra's possible rejection or Ellandra's reaction to the boy's possible flirtations.



'Oh, crap! Here it comes!' Verdant thought with dread as the boy hesitantly tapped her shoulder. 'He's going to ask her to dance!'

Had Verdant's hands not been on his guitar and mic, he'd have been chewing his nails in a panic. The song was halfway over; maybe Ellandra wouldn't mind dancing for just a few minutes?

"U-um, would... would you mind, that is... do you want to... dance... with me?" The boy was blushing with a ferocity he wished he didn't have and he looked like he was on the verge of bolting. His hands trembled with nervousness and he seemed to be trying very hard to keep eye contact. "Uh, um, w-would you like to?"

The song ended, but the way Verdant followed it up no one probably noticed the change from the somber metal to the almost bubbly Goth song he started to play. It wasn't what he was originally going ot play, but he was so proud and overjoye when he saw Ellandra get up and join the boy in a dance that he couldn't help himself.

"Alright, everyone! Last song of the night, so let's make it count!"

As Verdant played "This Celluloid Dream", the boy gave Ellandra brilliantly white smile, sheepish as it was. "Th-thank you!" He led her to a spot on the dancefloor where few people would bump into them and started dancing a bit awkwardly, trying his best to get the feel of the rhythm.

"M-my name's... my name's Jay, by the way. What's.. um, what's yours?"

To the lovely dancing lights, I begged, "May I cut in?"
But they never stopped playing "their song"
Of a joyous song the sing, I've heard whispers
On a freezing note, I resonate

Verdant grinned as he watched the two of them dancing and letting loose. He had never felt more happy for someone in his four years of sentient life.