Conrad’s Benefit Concert for Fairefield Flood Victims
Date: 2026-01-14 18:02
(Conrad’s Benefit Concert for Fairefield Flood Victims)
[Wed Jan 14 2026]
Beneath the Towering Ferris Wheel/span/span>The ground beneath the Ferris wheel forms a rough circle of bare earth, worn
down to hardpan by decades of oil drips and the wheel’s massive weight. Four
concrete footings anchor the ride’s support structure, each one stained with
rust streaks from the bolts that secure the steel framework. The area
directly under the wheel’s center remains perpetually shadowed, where a
maintenance access panel sits flush with the ground, its metal cover secured
with a heavy padlock. Thick hydraulic hoses run from the base of the wheel to
a nearby pump housing, following shallow trenches cut into the earth and
covered with steel plates. The smell of machine grease hangs heavy in this
space, mixing with the fairground’s usual scents of fried food and generator
exhaust. During daylight hours, the wheel’s shadow rotates slowly across the
ground like a giant sundial, while at night the undercarriage lighting casts
a web of shadows through the steel support beams. Small objects lost from
riders’ pockets accumulate here, coins, keys, and carnival tickets scattered
among the bolts and washers that have worked loose from the structure over
the years. Chain-link fencing surrounds the mechanical components, though
gaps have been cut or bent open in several places, patched with wire or left
gaping./span/span>It is night, about 41F(5C) degrees, and the sky is covered by dark grey stormclouds. The mist is heaviest At High and Washington/span/span>
There is a waning crescent moon.
“Not anymore crazy than the rest of you.” Casey teases lightly. “Probably my least toxic relationship in this town.” she lets out a breath, glancing off in the distance as people trickle in, “I’m guessing people are stuck in that raid still?”
“Good work getting this together,” Victoria says to Conrad as she continues to walk toward Maise. She smiles and goes to give the blonde a hug. “Hey Sunshine.”
Maise gives Victoria a friendly hug and nods, “Didn’t he do a great job.” She waves over to Cyprian, “Hello Stranger!”
Not knowing really anyone super well, Owen keeps his position near the back of the crowd, not lingering with the group.
Cyprian shoots a cheerful wink back to Maise, saying, “Good day Maise, it’s been a bit.” He unbuttons his warmcoat and takes a seat on the folding chairs in the audience.
Casey spots Seraphina’s arrival and perks up from where she loiters by the stage. She gives a wave and says, “Hey it’s got to be illegal to look that cute.” she’s definitely the rizzler.
Maise gives Victoria a smile before nodding at Cyprian, “Lost in work, I can assume. Good to see ya.” A wave is given to Seraphina as she enters.
Daring the chillier day with out her coat, though it is draped about an arm, Seraphina strolls in through the fairgrounds, a tiny skirt bouncing along with her. She lifts a hand up to Casey when she’s called out, “Hey, Case. Break a leg out there!” Such an odd saying. But at least she didn’t say ‘good luck’.
From his vantage point on the stage, Conrad watches the crowd and gives them time to settle in before he takes the mic. He flashes a smile at Victoria, “Thanks! Ask Maise, it took me like a few minutes to put it together.” He jokes.
Victoria saunters off toward the audience section taking a seat next to Seraphina.
Eventually, Owen takes up a seat – still at the back of the audience though. Settling himself down against the cold weather, trying to keep warm.
Cyprian nods back to Maise in the affirmative. “I’ve been keeping myself plenty busy, but we’ll catch up soon. You’re playing today as well, yes? Do give us a good show.” He smiles warmly, then does a bit of a double take at Seraphina’s outfit, incredulously saying, “Miss Hawke, what have you decided to show up in? It’s nighttime in January for the love of god, you’re going to catch yourself a cold.”
Joining in with the growing group, Seraphina takes a seat at one of the folded chairs by Cyprian, and soon to be Victoria at her side. The skirt is quite short so the initial setting of her rear onto the cold chair does have her rise once, then ease down slower the second. “Oh trust me,” she tells the man at her side. “I’m well aware!” Because clearly thinking that she has her coat on her arm, she actually does not.. Ooops.
At least Seraphina has a little jacket…
Cyprian gives a good-natured roll of his eyes to Seraphina and then leans over, palming his pocketwatch in one hand and laying the other on Seraphina’s shoulder. His fingers begin to glow, and he begins to radiate warmth throughout her body, likely enough that Victoria, seated on the opposite side, can detect it. “Well we can’t have you freezing to death, that won’t do at all. Let me know if you need another warming and I’ll get it sorted.”
“Sorry folks, I probably should scheduled an indoor show!” Conrad calls out on the mic now as he rises to stand and makes his way to the center of the stage. “As some of you may already know, my name is Conrad Rothwell. Yes, one of the THOSE Rothwells, the ones that helped to found this fine city. When I’d heard about the flooding in Fairefield and all of the people who were displaced from their homes and their places of work, I figured, I should do something to make a difference as a Rothwell. So! For tonight, we have several performers lined up to lift the spirits of not only our Fairefield neighbors but for the people of New Haven as a whole! Welcome to the United for Fairefield 2026 Concert! Music for Recovery!”
Russell moves in, his hands in his jacket pockets as he wanders into the audience, looking around.
Seraphina has a little jacket, and these pair of gloves, and that’s all she needs…
Maise applauds brightly for Conrad.
Victoria waves to Russell as he arrives then to Darrow, smiling as she gestures to the seats to the side of her not occupied by Seraphina.
Casey stays near the stage but more or less in the audience. Making no move to head up when Conrad begins announcing what the event is about and introducing himself while he’s at it. There is a casual aura about her as she waits patiently with relaxed shoulders.
Darrow makes his way in, drifting up to the others and quietly sliding into a seat near Victoria when she motions toward him, giving her a little up-nod of greeting. “Hey,” he says quietly.
Russell heads over to Victoria at the wave, also sitting nearby a silent nod in greeting.
Seraphina mouths to Cyprian, a thankful smile warming her lips, that may have been turning a soft shade of blue, “Thanks.” At least she has two people seated close to her in the audience to block the wind and snow, the second of which, Victoria, is given a hug about her waist.
Cyprian claps his gloved hands together heavily for Conrad as he emcees and grins aside to Victoria across Seraphina, joking with her, “Good to know I won’t be the only one on warming duty. I question Sera’s judgment in this matter, but they do tend to say beauty knows no pain, so I’m sure she’ll be alright.”
“Our opening act and first performer tonight is a new arrival to the city.” Conrad says as he walks along the stage, his dark eyes flicker over to Maise as he speaks, “Well, a lot of us are new arrivals to the city. You might know her for her spunky sass or that she can light up a room with that Southern charm. Everyone, please welcome Maise Rowan to the stage!” He starts to clap as he makes his way to the stairs to help escort Maise up.
“Beauty is pain,” Seraphina agrees. She nods to Victoria, laughing. “I meant to grab my coat on the way out the door, but I guess I was just thinking I was late. And I would appreciate not loosing anything important.”
From the back of the audience seating, Owen zips his coat up, just a tad more – watching the stage with great interest, but keeping an ear on the conversation of the other concert-goers towards the front. Content to just be where he is for the time.
Russell shoves his hands in the pockets of his coat, sat there with impassive expression on his face, eyes flicking to various people in turn and back up to the stage to see what might be happening.
Darrow waves when he catches sight of Owen, grinning a little bit from where he’s settled himself onto a seat for the time being.
A wave is given back towards Darrow from Owen, flashing him a warm smile.
Maise moves over to the stage, guitar already settled against her hip, thumb brushing the strings in a soft, testing roll. She’s joined by a small band with a fiddle and upright bass. Glancing out over the crowd, offering almost a shy smile, she introduces herself, “Hey Sugars. Like Conrad said, I’m Maise, and I’m both honored and excited to open this fundraiser. As I look out at the crowd, with its mix of origins, I feel pretty warm seeing the community come together. So, thanks Conrad, for putting this on.” She then gives Conrad a smile before nodding once toward the band. The fiddle answers with a quiet, drawn-out note that hovers in the air before the bass and Maise join in to form a soft melody.
“The river took the low ground.
Left the streets in mud and rain.
Doors left open, windows gone.
Disaster in its wake.
We lost the quiet evenings.
Lost the bliss of easy sleep.
But we didn’t lose each other.
An’ we’ll find a way back to our feet”
Maise totally had her guitar out the whole time.
When Maise begins to speak, Seraphina/span/span>Jakem bobs his head as he listens to the melody, his knee starting to rise and fall rhytmically.
Casey remains loitering by the stage when Maise goes up to start a country song. She idly slings her guitar by the strap over her neck and begins to check that the condition is acceptable and the strings are taunt without any amplifier to make them sound. Her gaze flits up to the stage to check out the singer, but her face hardly reads a reaction.
Maise picks her strings gently, each note riding the deep, patient thrum of the bass. The fiddle stays low and close, weaving soft harmonies beneath her voice as she sings the soft bridge, voice warm and confident. Almost reassuring.
“So if you hear the floorboards creaking,
Or the walls letting out a wail.
The memory is fresh and raw,
Mmmmhmm... give it time to heal.”
Once the concert starts, and the singing begins, Owen/span/span>Seraphina hmms softly at Jakem’s response, nodding. “We don’t play enough music in the house. I will try that.” Meanwhile, her toes do get to a-tapping.
Victoria focuses intently on Maise’s performance, hands pressed together and a wide smile on her face, head bobbing slightly in time with the rhythm.
Russell is watching, focused as if trying to catch lyrics. He furrows his brow at one point and leans toward Victoria. “If who’s wailing?”
Maise straightens, shoulders rolling back as her strumming widens letting the guitar ring as the bass holds everything together, solid and sure. The fiddle swells behind her, bow pressing just enough to give the melody lift, turning the chorus into something the room can breathe with.
” Raise the roof, let the sky hear us!
Raise your hands, let it see!
We are more than what was taken,
This is our community!
Raise the roof!
For the broken, tired and the brave.
The world tried to drown us
But we won’t be swept away.”
Casey migrates from the stage over to where Seraphina is sitting to give her an amused smile then she leans in past her two windbreakers to conversationally tell her, “You know you inspired one of my songs tonight. I’ll let you guess which one.”
Jakem lets out an appreciative whistle towards Seraphina “Well that’s certainly somethin’. Inspiring a performance aint nothing to sneeze atl.”
Seraphina gasps lightly at Casey, “Oh my!” She asks the other woman, “It’s not scandalous is it?” Asks the woman who wore next to nothing on her legs, let alone anywhere else.
Conrad/span/span>Mercy checks her phone for a second, sucks her teeth, and runs off for a minute.
“It’s my music.” Casey replies to Seraphina as if that answers the question all on its own. She glances up to the stage to the singing country gal. “She’s cute but she’s got to play up the crowd a little..”
Maise smiles as the music settles again, bass returning to a gentle walk while the fiddle traces quiet lines between her words. Her voice softens, gaze dropping briefly to the guitar before lifting to catch familiar faces as she carries the melody forward,
Boots still drying by the door,
Candles burning low.
Laughter sounds a little strange,
But each day‘s easier as we go.
Every scar is a story,
Every tear has a name.
We are building from the wreckage,
Not pretending we’re the same.
Russell gives Mercy a nod as she joins, his hands still stuffed in his winter jacket.
“Oh no…” Seraphina/span/span>Maise grins openly now, her strumming confident as the bass presses forward and the fiddle sings brighter and longer. She tips the mic slightly toward the crowd on the last line, letting their voices bleed into the song if they choose.
” Raise the roof, let the sky hear us!
Raise your hands, let it see!
We are more than what was taken,
This is our community!
Raise the roof!
For the broken, tired and the brave.
The world tried to drown us
But we won’t be swept away.”
A whistle can be heard from somewhere in the audience, coming directly from Seraphina/span/span>Jakem hmmm’s at Seraphina “Dolly Parton? I dunno if she’s topheavy enough.” he comments as he rubs his chin, gaze towards the stage appraising.
Maise blushes and winks at Seraphina as she steps to the side, pointing to the fiddle and bass player, “Let’s give it up for the best duo to be on stage with.” The fiddle player steps forward, bow dancing across the strings in a clear, singing line of greeting. The bass player doesn’t move but their deep greeting resonates on the stage. The break ends, her fingers still not touching the guitar but instead clapping as she sings,
“Sing it for the ones still standing!
Sing it for the ones who fell!
Sing it soft or sing it loud! So they know we‘re doing well!
“Think she means Dolly the sheep, the one them people cloned once.” Mercy/span/span>Victoria throws her hands high and sings along with Maise’s last line, then claps enthusiastically.
Jakem nods to Mercy “Oh yeah, we should start cloning some folks.” he agrees with a statement no one made.
Maise comes back in strong, guitar ringing full. The fiddle soars now, the bass unwavering, and her voice carries clean and sure, holding the room as the song reaches its peak.
” Raise the roof, let the sky hear us!
Raise your hands, let it see!
We are more than what was taken,
This is our community!
Raise the roof!
For the broken, tired and the brave.
The world tried to drown us
But we won’t be swept away.”
Jakem lets out a loud *WOOO* and raises his hands up. Thankfully, he’s wearing some deordant.
Maise plants her feet and lets the music fade out while raising her chin to the sky,
“So raise it slow, raise it strong...
This is our town, where we belong.”
Maise waits as the final chord fades into the steady hum of the bass, the fiddle lingering on one last note before letting it go. Maise stills her strings, exhales, and offers a quiet smile toward the band and the crowd before stepping back from the mic, “Thank you New Haven! Cheers Sugars.”
Russell withdraws his hands from his pockets hesitating as the music fades, then deciding it’s the right time to clap. He smiles quickly.
Once Maise is done her song, Owen/span/span>Victoria let’s out a loud ‘woooooo!’ for Maise, applauding the performance.
Casey leans her guitar against her hip to clap with both hands in support of Maise, it’s brief and she takes up her instrument quickly as she realizes she should mosey on over to the stage, on her way up she glances to Conrad to see if he’s going to step in to say anything in the intermission.
Bringing her chilled hands together, Seraphina applauds. “Goooooo Maise.” Then with a rousing attempt, she stamps her feet, “En-core!” Surely she intends to sing more!
Maise points to Conrad and then to Casey, “Ya’ll are in for a treat as the main attraction is going to get us warmed up!.” With that she hops off the stage with her little bad.
Maise points to Conrad and then to Casey, “Ya’ll are in for a treat as the main attraction is going to get us warmed up!.” With that she hops off the stage with her little band. -fixed
Conrad‘ smile grows wider and his claps ring in louder as Maise begins to finish her set. He waits a moment, off stage, before he steps forward, passing Maise in the process, “Great job up there.” He turns to say to her. Taking the mic, he then calls out for, “Let’s give another round of applause for Maise Rowan, everyone!” As he says this, he continues to clap, himself, as he lets the audience do their thing. A glance is then given to Seraphina when she calls out for an encore, “Perhaps after the show.” He then adds, “One more thing, there are t-shirts for sale to go along with this benefit concert. If anyone would like one, come and see me after the show! Now then, for our main attraction, I’m sure that everyone knows Casey by now? Here to rock the stage is Casey Morgan!”
Seraphina beckons Maise over toward her with a crook of her finger.
Entering the crowd, Jasper claps his hands as he smiles a bit and looks up at the stage.
Victoria gives Maise a double thumbs up, still grinning. “Great job!”
Kiara limps her way closer to Darrow, glancing down at her phone both times that it beeps. She glances at the stage, glances at Maise, and blushes slightly. “I guess it kinda looks like I’m late, huh?”, she says to Darrow, smiling at him.
Russell claps for Casey as the introduction is made, giving Maise another smile of congratulations.
Darrow applauds Maise’s performance from where he sits, letting out a loud whistle for her when she’s done. When Casey is called up next he does the same for her. “Wooo Caseeeey!”
Cyprian beats his gloved hands together for Maise after the set enthusiastically, emitting a dull and heavy clap, which continues as Casey is called up to the stage.
Darrow glances over as Kiara shows up and smiles, “You’re here. Have a seat. Better late than not at all, right?”
Casey moves up behind the microphone stand and dips to find the cable laying on stage to plug in her guitar. It makes a loud crackling noise as the femme inserts the cable but then it evens out and settles. While she’s setting up Conrad has time to say his piece then she takes over the microphone. “That was nice, but lets get some energy and more importantly lets get some donations for the people of Fairefield. Come on people, open those wallets, send those transfers, send all the money to our organizer Conrad.”
The femme’s voice is amplified by the microphone and she speaks clear and with confidence now that she’s on stage and she gives her guitar a strum to let it whine through the speakers, “I’ll give you a little incentive.” she glances out to the faces in the crowd as she lets that hang, “Whoever pledges the most will get to take me out for a night on the town and I’m a whole lot of fun, I promise.”
Maise takes her seat, “Get em!” She gives Victoria a smile as she settles in the same row as someone and her.
Maise takes her seat, “Get em!” She gives Victoria a smile as she settles in the same row as Seraphina and her.
Kiara nods a few times at Darrow, before crinkling her nose a little at Casey on her next glance at the stage. “Ugh. That’s just… ech…” She peers down at her phone again and shakes her head. “I didn’t think it’d be a hooker auction too though.”
Mercy snickers quietly at something.
There’s a laugh from Owen at something in the back, and still not really interacting too much with the whole ‘donating’ portion. After all, he’s a poor colledge student.
Jakem glances to Seraphina “Where are we supposed to be pledging the money to?”
“To Conrad,” Seraphina tells Jakem.
Jakem nods over to Mercy “So you’re Conrad? You’re shorter than I remember yah.”
Casey begins to play a fast rift, it’s rather upbeat and nearly pop-music in style as the emo-goth femme grins behind the mic. She clears her throat into the microphone then draws a sharp breath all of which is caught by the sensitive device before she uses this breath to fuel her quick, clipped lyrics.
“You look so cute”
“On your knees”
“Give to me”
“Pretty please”
The femme bats her eye lashes in a very animated manner as she sings ‘Pretty please’. Her hands on the guitar slung around her neck keep playing on a steady, rather easy rift to keep her fast tempo.
“OnlyFans”
“I am your fan”
“So heres a tip”
“Send me a clip, Pretty Please”
Again, the please is drawn out and exaggerated for effect.
Victoria reaches over to give Maise’s arm a light squeeze. “I hope we’ll hear more of that singing sometime soon!”
Kiara turns her head, and when her eyes land on Jakem, she tenses up and scoots backward, until her back presses slightly to Darrow’s side.
An audible cough is heard from the crowd, specifically Seraphina.
Jakem glances to Seraphina “I think it’s this one.” He says as he removes his hooded robe.
Maise giggles at someone and nods then begins bobbing along to the song.
Maise giggles at Victoria and nods then begins bobbing along to the song.
Darrow glances over in the direction Kiara is looking when she backs into him and grins a little crookedly but makes no comment. Nope. His attention flicks back to the stage to watch Casey’s performance.
“Whoever donate the most also get a date with New Haven’s most eligible bachelor Avalon Whatley, so be generous folks.” Mercy calls out to no one in particular, then goes back to staring at her phone.
Once Casey starts singing, Owen does focus his attentions back on the stage, letting his earlier eye wandering of the crowd find it’s focus on the performer.
“This one.. what?” Seraphina asks Jakem, looking slightly confused. Her hands slip between her thighs for the warmth.
“Also let me know if you’re donating or sending me money for a t-shirt purchase.” Conrad calls out. “After the concert. Right now, Enjoy the show!”
Russell glances at Mercy, wondering openingly in a deadpan way, “Are these dates at the same time?”
“I doubt Avalon would be interested in dating me,” Jasper dryly muses in a low voice towards Mercy as he watches Casey sing.
“Pink miniskirt”
“Bright angel eyes”
“Look up to me”
“Say mommy please”
Casey gives her verse, the hook of the song is to really lay on the ‘Please’ like a child begging for a toy and this please is no different. The chick licks her lips to put a shine on the black lipstick there. When she sucks in another breath for the microphone to hear, she launches into the chorus again,
“You look so cute”
“On your knees”
“Give to me”
“Pretty please”
“Disclaimer that second date ain’ guaranteed.” Mercy says back to Jasper, greeting him with an upnod too.
Jakem nods to Teagan as she arrives “Sera got a song about her, we’re hearing it now.”
“S-Sorry!,” Kiara says over a shoulder to Darrow, keeping an eye on Jakem the whole time. “He… he’s where my bruise came from. I f- I bitchslapped him in his own bar and he… just… wrecked me…”
Victoria glances toward Seraphina, then reaches over to touch her shoulder with one hand, the other touching her pendant. “here,”
Considering she’s slightly out of breath as she arrives, Teagan’s late arrival is likely due to being on foot. In winter. Gross. She tucks her hands into the sleeves of her sweater and is likely just going to linger until Jakem speaks her way. “Hope she’s ready to hear a song all about how she gets fucked by random dudes. Pretty sure that’s the only thing Casey knows how to sing about,” she murmurs as she sidles in near him and Seraphina.
“Oh…” Seraphina says, scrunching her nose up at Jakem. “I swear I am not telling anyone else. Ever! You are young and you don’t want to work real jobs… its a part of my life that isn’t a part of my life anymore.” And yet, she sits out in the middle of winter wearing what could barely be considered an outfit.
If anything, Conrad seems to be enjoying Casey’s song. He’d better, she was the main event. There’s some toe-tapping and head bobbing going on and an amused grin at many of the lyrics.
“That’s subject to preference.” Mercy tells Russell belatedly, her eyes sliding past him to Teagan in brief acknowledgement before commenting on the performance in turn. “She do kinda.. stick to a rather specific theme.”
Casey isn’t flaunting any major guitar skills as she maintains the simple but catchy rift on her way into the next verse. If one were to critique they might tell her to pull her lips away from the mic when she breaths cause she’s always heard drawing for air before a verse but it doesn’t seem to really hinder the feel.
“Paid subscription”
“VIP”
“Promise me”
“Your loyalty”
Then the chorus returns up to the last line..
“You look so cute”
“On your knees”
“Give to me”
“—–”
she points out to the crowd and stops playing her guitar for half a second while skipping the last line of that chorus.
Seraphina smiles at Victoria, leaning in to nudge the woman’s shoulder, “Thanks, Victoria.”
Mercy says “Take a shot every time the lyrics mention bein’ on her knees.“
Jasper says “Heh. “
Jakem shrugs to Teagan “I mean it rhymes and it’s catchy. I still think Sera should take a bow at the end.”
The laugh Seraphina lets out is loud, and she shoots Jakem a little scowl. But, regardless, Seraphina brings her hands together for Casey, and said song. No clue who she means!
“Ah,” Darrow says when Kiara explains, though his attention is mostly on the stage. He lifts a hand and finger-wiggles a greeting in Teagan’s direction when she arrives.
“Pink miniskirt”
“Bright angel eyes”
“Look up to me”
“Say mommy please”
Casey resumes playing the guitar when she gives her next verse, the hook of the song is to really lay on the ‘Please’ like a child begging for a treat or toy and this please is no different. The chick licks her lips to put a shine on the black lipstick there. When she sucks in another breath for the microphone to hear, she launches into the chorus again,
“You look so cute”
“On your knees”
“Give to me”
“Pretty please”
(wiffed this one without announce apologies for the gap)
Well then, Seraphina might murmur.
Kiara gets up suddenly and sighs at her phone, glancing at Darrow. “I have to go handle something.”
Maise cheers for Casey before ducking out quietly.
There’s a lift of her chin in an upnod for Darrow in return greeting from Teagan as she settles in. There’s a slight shake of her head at the lyrics, snickering faintly. “I just had…” The snickers turn to quiet giggles as she takes out her phone and starts tapping out a message.
Victoria glances Seraphina’s way with an arched eyebrow. “Well then.”
Jasper applauds before he takes a look at his phone.
Russell folds his arms over his chest, watching Casey with a faint smile, foot tapping along.
Casey builds a slight sweat on her skin that gives her a sheen in the artificial stage lighting, her guitar picks up some tempo and the song seems to be coming to a peak as she repeats the chorus twice
“You look so cute”
“On your knees”
“Give to me”
“Pretty please”
Then she slams all the strings on her guitar to finish off the song and stands back from the microphone a foot to catch her breath.
Conrad can’t help but laugh as he claps for Casey’s performance from his place just off stage. Looking out at the audience, he is curious about how they are liking the performance. Once the song is done, his own applause grows louder from the sidelines. He doesn’t step up to the stage, though, knowing that there’s more than one song.
After a moment of letting the guitar ring out, Russell lifts his hands over his head and applauds for Casey.
As Sofia walks her way in, Owen spots her from where he sits at the back of the audience, giving her a wave.
“That was just from Dovie’s orchard, you know,” Teagan asides to Mercy without looking up from her phone. “Though was it one of the seasonal flavors? I don’t remember which one you were primarily drinking.”
Sofia beams a smile to Owen, and waves to whoever doesn’t have their attentions fixed forward towards the performance, particularly in the directions of Seraphina and Victoria, as she takes her seat among the other concertgoers.
Jakem glances to Teagan “You should introduce Mercy to that absinthe you had right before our big scrap with the Legion.”
Seraphina nods to Mercy, “One of them was quite potent. More moonshine than tea. Tea was just the name on the label to make it legal to sell.”
Victoria claps for Casey and her song, giving Sofia a wave of greeting after.
Russell lifts a hand to Sofia in greeting as well.
Seraphina wiggles her fingers at Sofia.
Those wiggling fingers then are brought together to clap, Seraphina’s cheeks rosy. Surely from the chilly evening.
Jakem gives a loud hoot from the audience as he claps.
Sofia pew pews a finger gun back at Russell as she eases her way down to sit, turning her attention back up to the performance on the stage.
“Man I gotta do some karaoke one of these days fer fun..” Mercy remarks aloud to herself while watching Casey.
“I’m not going to keep you all night so lets do one more then you can all go get warm..after you make sure you get your donations in. Seriously, you might save a puppy.” Casey cracks a joke then changes her tone to something more somber, she plays a few test cords on her guitar before settling into a rhythm, its easy a the guitar mostly whines,
“Paint my lips in cherry red”
“Dress me up, wind my head”
“Ill smile wide, do what Im told”
“Just dont drop me, or you’ll break your toy”
she effortlessly moves on to the next verse without so much as a pause to note the step,
“You can love me, you can break me”
“Either way, youre gonna take me”
“Put me high on your shelf”
“Make me the prize of your doll collection”
Mercy says “Is she the puppy?“
Seraphina shoots off a few texts here and there as the concert continues, body in movement to stave off the evening cold, along with the guitar. A little look is given Jakem, perhaps at the lyrics of -this- song.
“Considering it’s Conrad, the better comparison would be saving a kitten,” Teagan murmurs absently. She wriggles deeper into her sweater after pulling her scarf a bit more up around her neck. The lyrics have her suddenly giggling until she’s in the midst of a coughing fit.
Jakem gives a little look back to Seraphina. Innocence, in its purest form.
Seraphina nudges up to Cyprian a little for his lanky, bony warmth.
Matthew arrives late and unfashionably so, as he takes a scan over the audience until he spies a few familiar faces, making his way over toward Mercy.
Russell looks back at Mercy with a curious expression on his face, saying nothing.
Victoria rises quietly and slips off into the night.
Cyprian gives Seraphina a nudge back, only to push his left arm out of his coat and wrap the back edge of it around the woman’s back, leaning back in to silently provide warmth as he watches.
Casey makes her guitar sing a loud whine to buy her some time to take a breath then she launches into a chorus,
“I’m your porcelain plaything, baby”
“Don’t mind the cracks, you can add some more”
“Fragile is just the way you made me”
“I’m your porcelain plaything, baby”
The femme looks out into the crowd but doesn’t focus on anyone in particular, she glances faces then sings her next words,
“Twist my arm, I wont fight”
“Pull my strings, Ill sing all night”
“Every cracks a little proof”
“Ive been loved the way you do”
Darrow only seems peripherally aware that Kiara has left, noting the empty spot beside him only briefly before he chuckles at the conversations going on nearby. “Ugh, no more cats,” is all he can manage to mutter under his breath.
Sofia says “But luckily I am too lazy to hire a lawyer.“
“Ayeah, these lyrics fer sure comin’ straight from the heart.” Mercy replies back to Russell after raising her voice.
“Oh, yeah, super genuine. They say write what you know, after all,” Teagan says in a dry voice as she shifts slightly in her seat, crossing legs as she shivers. “Need to tell Conrad to find an indoor location if he does this again.”
Seraphina nods to Teagan. “Tell me…”
Russell opens his mouth as if some response was in his mind, but decides better of it. He just puts his hands in his pockets.
Conrad looks to be enjoying the performance. Perhaps, this is his vibe. He goes back to leaning against his post, just off the stage and nodding his head along to the music and vocals. He’s sure that this is the kind of sound that will open everyone’s wallets to donate to a good cause too!
Darrow glances over to someone and asks, “Would you like my coat?”
Darrow glances over toward Seraphina and asks, “Would you like my coat, Sera?”
“That what her songs are about?” Matthew asks, looking back towards the stage with perplexed interest, “honestly I’ve never really tuned in enough to listen to the lyrics.” He shrugs, glancing around, wondering the important things: “So we raising good money?” Seems politician gonna politic, kiss the babies, cus his voice picks up even louder for some nearby audience members (presumably Fairefield locals) to hear, “for the people here in Fairefield?”
Casey builds the whine and scream of her guitar with the rise of the song, it’s not nearly as energetic as the first song but this has emotion behind it and it shows in her delivery, it could in fact ‘be from the heart’ as Mercy says amongst the crowd.
“Im not here for happily-ever-after”
“Im just chasing your disaster”
“If you drop me, I wont cry”
“Dress me up in your favorite sin”
“Paint my lips where you have been”
“Swap my parts, change my name”
“Ill still play your twisted game”
The song nears it’s end with another run at the chorus that’s drawn out and accompanied by the reduction of the whine of her guitar until its silent at the end.
“Im your porcelain plaything, baby”
“Dont mind the cracks, add some more”
“Im your porcelain plaything, baby”
“Fragile is just the way you made me”
“This song is really risque,” Jasper murmurs, his hands in the pocket
A warmth radiates from Seraphina when Darrow offers up his coat. “Thank you, that is very kind. But you keep it. I rather asked for it, didn’t I?” She laughs. “I think the concert is almost done, and I will whisk away back home. Nothing a nice warm bath and a crackling fire in the fireplace won’t fix.”
Mercy glances at her phone again and looses an exceptionally loud, nasally laugh that’s as brief as it is uncharacteristic.
“This song is really risque,” Jasper murmurs, his hands in the pocket. “But I like it.”
Jakem calls back to Jasper heedless of the noise of the crowd “Risque? Whatcha mean? It’s just a doll song. Perfectly innocent.”
Russell claps for Casey after a few seconds of the guitar falling silent.
Darrow smiles a little crookedly at Seraphina and says, “Alright. Let me know if you change your mind.” But he’s not one to insist. “I could go for some pizza after this..” The pizza cravings are infectious, apparently.
Asking loudly up to the stage where Casey sings, Seraphina asks, “Do you take requests? Avril maybe? Punk up Britney?” Afterall, she did.
Casey glances off to Conrad to signal its time for him to take over, she unplugs her guitar while she gives a parting few words into her microphone, “Don’t forget to get those donations in. You can find me on myhaven At Sinner, I’m available for all sorts of gigs.”
“How much are the shirts?” Seraphina asks Owen.
Owen blinks at Seraphina. “How would I know! I didn’t host the event!
Casey sticks her tongue out at Seraphina at the suggestion then she departs the microphone for good to head off stage while slipping the strap of the guitar off her neck to simply carry the instrument by the neck.
Cyprian gives another round of applause for Casey politely at the song’s end, slamming his gloves together and bumping back sidelong into Seraphina. “You could probably use the extra layers.”
At the tongue poking out at her, Seraphina asks, “Is that a no?”
Sofia badly karaokes for the benefit of Seraphina in an awful, tone-deaf wail: “Chill out, whatcha yellin for? Lay back, it’s all been done before.”
“I don’t mind doing the occasional cover. I’ve done Avril..but I’m no Brittney.” Casey tells Seraphina to give a more honest answer.
Jakem nods to Matthew “Yeah, waitin’ for things to calm down a bit to fork over a few bucks to the cause. You got any left to give, or did you spend it all on your new special sauce recipes?”
Seraphina joins in, “Is there anybodah tryna fiond meh?”
Conrad looks to be preocupied with some texts suddenly. However, he does catch Casey’s look and he stuffs his phone into his pocket and heads on back up to the stage. “Everyone, please give Casey another round of applause for uplifting our spirits with her raw music.” A look is then given to some of the security once more, before he addresses the audience, “Thank you all for coming and showing our neighbors in Fairefield that New Haven has their back and that we are United! If you would to purchase a t-shirt for this event, I’ll be down off the stage to meet with all of your. I will also be taking any other donations and… any bids for a date with Casey! Just let me know what any money transfer is for. Once again, thank you for just being here!”
“Hey, don’t let some prick win that date.” Casey says in a hushed voice, pretending to whisper but its rather loud to Seraphina. “Save me”
“I understand,” Teagan tells Sofia. “Living with Obie has spoiled me. He’s too good of a cook.” She glances to Russell as he speaks to Mercy, a bit of curiosity on her features though it doesn’t last terribly long before she’s glancing up to the stage. Well, until the other woman whispers to her. There’s another round of giggles that leaves her coughing to catch her breath.
Matthew nods at Jakem, “Oh, I already made a donation, transferred money over the site,” he says in reply, “and of course MEGA studios made a donation as well.” A pause and then he’s looking towards the stage in Conrad’s direction, “Conrad’s handling my donation.”
Mercy snort-guffaws again.
Before singing another line from an Avril song, Seraphina brings her hands together for Conrad. But then she has to turn to Darrow. “I’m sorry, you were so nice to offer your coat, and I — recognize your face, but — what’s your name?”
Darrow gives Casey around of applause for her performance and to Conrad for the event as he gets up from his seat. He wanders over to meet up with Conrad and grins, “Nice job, man. It all came together pretty well. I’ll grab one of those t-shirts once you’re done with stuff.” But he doesn’t want to interrupt while he’s swamped. “Heya,” he says, turning to Seraphina, “Darrow Chandler-Wei, nice to meet you. And no problem. Don’t want to see anyone turn into a popsicle.”
Jakem smirks to Mercy “Hey, if you throw enough gold at a problem it always goes away one way or the other.”
Cyprian looks over to Casey from his spot leaned into Seraphina and lets out a laugh, taking a single dollar bill from a billfold and waving it in the air, announcing, “One dollar for the date with the lady, then.” He turns to Conrad expectantly. “Or is there a formal bidding war to ensue?”
Kiara comes hurriedly up to Darrow and her eyes are really wide. “Okay! Darrow! D-Do you know know Miss Remy Johnson by any chance? Cause I just fucked up and I need to meet with her to fix it!!”
Matthew catches something Mercy says and his eyes cut her way, squinting in his confusion.
Conrad hops off from the stage and goes to mingle with the audience, “Thank you all for joining us! If anyone wants a t-shirt, they are $20. Just let me know.” He then turns to someone and kind of shrugs, “Well, we have $1 for a date with Casey Morgan! Do we have any other bidders?”
Sofia glances over to Teagan and says, “You know, it’s a mixed blessing that I ended up together with a man who simply doesn’t eat food. At the very least though, means I’m never expected to cook a nightly meal when I get home after a shift.”
Conrad hops off from the stage and goes to mingle with the audience, “Thank you all for joining us! If anyone wants a t-shirt, they are $20. Just let me know.” He then turns to Cyprian and kind of shrugs, “Well, we have $1 for a date with Casey Morgan! Do we have any other bidders?”
Casey glances to Cyprian with a frown on her lips, “A dollar? Really?” there is some agitation in her voice, “Am I that cheap?”
“Five bucks to not get a date with her!” Mercy calls out to Conrad.
“If you need to make things right with Remy,” Teagan says from her seat with a brief glance up, “I know a good way. There’s this maze she needs some help solving.”
Jakem calls out to Conrad “I’m bidding for Mercy; hundred bucks.”
Mercy stares off blankly. “.. What.”
Cyprian laughs back warmly to Casey and says, “That’s what I’m figuring out. I suppose we’ll see!”
Owen rubs at his face a little bit, listening to the conversations around him. There’s a frown that forms on his features at some part of the conversation, but ultimately just pipes up. “Can I get two t-shirts?” He calls over to Conrad.
“We have $100 for a date with Casey Morgan!” Conrad calls out, his eyes looking between Jakem and Mercy now. “Any other bidders!
Mercy slips Conrad a 5 dollar bill, grumbling.
Jakem hucks a wad of bills up towards Conrad. It looks impressive, but they’re all fives.
Matthew drifts back over to Jakem, whispering to him.
“I don’t know that Thomas would appreciate if I did…” Seraphina says, at first, nipping hard at the corner of her mouth, shaking her head in a manner of thought and a bit of concern. “Though he might like it….” she says after, tapping a finger to her lips in thought. “Mostly because he might think you could have some use in a ritual.” She reports then, “You’re worth more than a dollar, Case. See!” At the call of a hundred.
Kiara chews at her bottom lip and runs a hand up into her hood, ruffling her hair under there. “Ugh! W-Well the problem is she just suspended me from college!!
Jakem nods to someone “Yeah, she had to dip a bit ago, but she was up. Maise was her name.”
Jakem nods to Matthew “Yeah, she had to dip a bit ago, but she was up. Maise was her name.”
Pulling his phone out of his pocket, Owen pulls up his banking app, to offer money towards the Rothwell, and accepting those shirts. “Thanks!” Folding them over his arm.
Casey looks immediately regretful with the bidding war and Seraphina takes any hope away from her with her words, “Well, I guess its for charity. Doesn’t really matter who it ends up being.”
“$100 for a date with our wonder performer, Casey Morgan!” Conrad calls out, “Anyone else??” As he does this, he makes the exchange with Owen, “You’re very welcome.”
After telling Casey she wouldn’t bid, Seraphina then says, “One fifty.”
Jakem grins over to Mercy lopsidedly “Don’t ever say I don’t buy you fun things.”
Darrow passes hover his $20 for a shirt while they’re being handed out. “Oh? Why?”
Matthew nods at Jakem, “Ah, got it. And now it’s about bidding for a date with the headliner?” He doesn’t bid for the date, but does call out, “What about the shirts?”
Jakem hmm’s to Mercy “Actually, you can now say I don’t buy you fun things.”
Mercy shoots Seraphina a glance then thrusts her hand up into the air. “Two hundred!”
At the bidding war, Owen chirps in now, slightly after Seraphina’s bid and Mercy’s both. “Two hundred ten!”
Mercy says “Two hundred thirty!“
Matthew nods at Jakem, “Those shirts look great,” he fishes into his pocket, “How much, I’mma buy one.”
Cyprian looks at his rather sparse bill-fold and gives little shrug, thumbing out his last twenty and handing it over to Conrad. “No need for a shirt, just a donation I suppose.”
Conrad looks at everyone who aren’t mentioning him by name, so they could be just shouting out numbers randomly. But he catches some, “Two hundred thirty! Anyone want to bid higher!”
Jakem says “I’ll add on another hundred to Mercy’s bid.“
Darrow falls back as the bidding war heats up, just watching with an amused grin. “Should have done a charity date auction, too. There’s an idea for your next event, Conrad.”
Matthew shoots Jakem a look like no, he really doesn’t want to know or care about it, but then smiles brightly. “Yeah, man. Shoot me an email about it later.”
Cyprian waves his hand at Conrad as if it’s no big deal and goes back to watching the bidding war for Casey.
Seraphina eyes Mercy as the price keeps going up. She crinkles up her nose, and lets out a huff of air.
Jakem squints at Matthew “No. That’s dull as paint drying. Enjoy the show, we’re doing an encore.”
Mercy pulls her head back in surprise at Jakem’s offer, biting down on her lower lip thoughtfully.
“OH, you gonna be auctioned off for a date?” Matthew asks Jakem, continuing to beam a grin in his direction.
“I’ll take a shirt I suppose,” Teagan says, wiggling her fingers Conrad’s way. “How much?”
Russell is watching the bidding with slightly raised eyebrows.
“Three hundred thirty!” Conrad calls out, “Three hundred and thirty dollars for a date with Casey Morgan!” He thinks.
There is almost a sense of relief on Casey’s face when the bidding war rises well above the embarrassing $1 but depending on who the top bidder is at the moment, the femme shows a range of emotions from anxiety to hope, it’s hard to tell exactly who’s getting what emotion
“I’ll take a shirt, too,” Matthew calls, passing over $20 to Conrad.
Seraphina holds her hands up in defeat.
“Probably would have helped to have some introduction first,” Owen mentions over to Jakem, “Not just.. kidnapping me in the night.”
Sofia drifts her eyes over to Casey as she watches the ongoing bidding and says, “I dunno, I think I’m too straight and not single enough to go on a date with you. Gonna need to be sold on it. Even though it’s for charity…” She squints and mutters skeptically. “…and a Hand charity at that.”
“Imagine being specially chosen out of everyone for the first official wedding at the Den of Wonders,” Teagan muses (murmuring “Thanks” to Conrad for the shirt). “What a unique and special experience that would be. One could only be so lucky to be picked out of a crowd.” She folds the shirt carefully and tucks it into her bag.
“Aw yeah cause the Order doin’ -so- much fer the community, we jus’ tryin’ our damndest to keep up with y’all.” Mercy states out to Sofia.
“Would have been a lot more special,” Owen comments over to Teagan, “If there was more preparation done for it.”
Conrad passes out shirts, accepts $20’s and looks at the crowd, “Well, I’m only at Three hundred thirty. So if anyone else bid, I didn’t get it. So three thirty going once?”
“Zero,” Owen replies to Teagan with a tilt of his head. “But I have no reason to plan one.” Gesturing towards himself and Mercy, “We’re not even married anymore.. so.. probably wanna be better prepared in the future!”
“Haven’t you ever watched .. what’s that show. First Date Marriage? Something like that. It’s not like its not done. Just tune into TLC.” Seraphina says to Owen.
Darrow says “Married at First Sight? Something like that..“
“I made my bed, I’ll have to lay in it.” Casey mentions to someone with a soft smile, “Nice to see you though. Did you get here late?”
Seraphina snaps her fingers, “Yeah, that.”
Conrad calls out, “Three thirty going twice!”
“I made my bed, I’ll have to lay in it.” Casey mentions to Sofia with a soft smile, “Nice to see you though. Did you get here late?”
Jakem lets out a woot “And thrice, cause we already paid! Congrats Mercy, you’ve got a date with destiny.”
Mercy says “.. Yay.“
Matthew upnods Sofia, “Yo Delvecchio, how’re you doing?”
Seraphina gives Casey a sympathetic smile. “At least it was more than a dollar.” She side eyes Cyprian there with that.
Matthew looks over the crowd and eventually his eyes fall on Darrow. He makes his way over to the guy, “Hey, it’s Darrow, right?” he asks, greeting him with a smile.
Sofia just gives Mercy a wide and amused smile and dips her head. “Well of course, good for you! And congratulations on your win.” Back over to Casey, she says, “I was a bit late, yes, I had some things to take care of with the dinner rush.” And then, pivoting to Matthew, she adds, “No complaints here. How’s Greg doing, did he get devoured, or is he just giggling in the fridge for now?”
“Congratulations to Mercy! And thank you, Jakem for that very generous donation.” Conrad says with a wide grin as he accepts everyone’s money. “I’m sure it will be a lot of fun and I hope we all get to hear about it once it’s done. Leave out no details.”
“I hope that I’d get more than that,” Seraphina murmurs, fishing out at least a twenty for Conrad. “A shirt please.”
Cyprian snorts a laugh back to Seraphina and tells Casey, “I was just there to start things up, always knew you’d be going for more than a dollar.”
Matthew look sback at Sofia, “Oh, we’re saving him for this weekend since everything got rescheduled,” a pause and then he says, “I have to be honest, I think that Greg is a crime against humanity…. and I love it!”
Mercy offers Sofia an overly saccharine smile in turn, gently resting a hand against her decolletage. “Well thanks darlin’, real kind of you. Feel like we finally made it in the world.” Then her eyes slink back to Jakem and she gives him a thumbs up.
Casey peers over at Mercy with a wary eye at her win but doesn’t say anything to her because Cyprian takes her attention and she gives him some attitude, “A dollar is still pretty insulting.”
Darrow smiles at Matthew and says, “Yeah. Conrad’s housemate. We met at the gift exchange thing, right? How’s it going?”
Jakem stands up, offering a wave generally “Let me know when the date is, Mercy. I’ll get the ship ready.”
Matthew nods at Darrow, “Yeah, yeah we did,” he confirms, dipping his head. “And you’re also a student at Windermere, right?”
“I had a weird nightmare about an aspic named Greg once. It chased me through the sewers,” Darrow shivers just a little involuntarily. “Yeah, I am.”
“Hey, Matthew.” Seraphina greets Matthew as the crowd begins to thin out more, and she can get a look at those who still remain. “How’s Malin? Ready to pop or have we gotten a little one yet?”
Jakem hmms to Mercy “Yeah, sure, that’s what I’ll stock it with.” He grins slyly.
Seraphina nods to Casey in agreement.
“I can’t wait for him to have his moment in the spotlight. I’ll be honest with you, I have absolutely no idea how he tastes. Or if he’ll even be safe to eat after a week refrigerated. I guess we’ll find out though,” Sofia says back to Matthew with the ever widening grin of a mad scientist.
“How about a walk in the park in broad daylight, maybe noon, next new moon?” Casey offers to Mercy with a hopeful lift in her voice.
Mercy frowns just a little at something on her phone screen, glancing aside as if anxious for a moment. Then her sights hone in on Casey and the look in them deadens. “No.”
“Who’s Greg?” Owen asks of Sofia curiously.
Cyprian gives Casey a sly look back and jokes, “Based on your songs, something tells me you might like to be insulted, given the right circumstances. Just a feeling, though.”
Getting to her feet, Teagan smooths her skirt. “Well, I have a long walk back and it sounds like Mercy has a date to plan. Let me know if you need a chaperone.” There’s a flash of a smirk. “And Darrow? If whatsherface keeps pestering you for help, just tell her to talk to a professor about it. What are you going to do? Demand a professor unsuspend her?” She scoffs absently before starting to wind her way out of the chairs. She does pause, overhearing Cyprian. There’s a bright laugh before she continues onward.
“An Eldritch horror of the deep,” Sofia explains back to Owen incredibly vaguely, as if that explanation didn’t just invite more questions.
Shaking his head, Owen settles back into his chair, pondering that, and perhaps his existence.
“Hey, Matthew.” Seraphina greets Matthew as the crowd begins to thin out more, and she can get a look at those who still remain. “How’s Malin? Ready to pop or have we gotten a little one yet?” (re, in case)
Casey frowns at Cyprian, “Sing what you know.” she tells him, possibly giving a confirmation with that. She rubs her face then and starts to head off, “I need a drink.”
Mercy upnods Teagan to acknowledge the offer, curiously listening in on her exchange with Darrow. “She was clearly suspended fer a reason, so I mean.”
Darrow gives Teagan a shrug of his shoulders, “I dunno what she thinks I could do about it, but the answer’s not a whole lot of anything. I told her where to go seek help.” He doesn’t seem overly concerned either way. “I’m sure she’ll be fine.” He nods at Mercy and says, “Yeah, I’m not super worried about it. I thinks he just glommed onto me because she turned up at the studio a few days and I talked to her for half a minute.”
Much more politely, Cyprian assures Casey, “You played quite well, by the way. Thank you for the show.”
Matthew jaws the air when Darrow delivers that story about his dream, “Wait… you know about Greg, too? Cus he’s jiggling in my fridge like, riiight now.” someone’ greeting earns a smile and an enthusiastic wave, “Hey, she’s good, you should text her, I’m sure she’d love to hear from you!” And then his attention is diverted right on back to Darrow. “I was recently looking for a book called Lux, Forma, Imperium: On Faelord Rule through Art, apparently only so many copies of it were made and given you’re family, I heard you might actually have a copy….?”
Matthew jaws the air when Darrow delivers that story about his dream, “Wait… you know about Greg, too? Cus he’s jiggling in my fridge like, riiight now.” Seraphina’s greeting earns a smile and an enthusiastic wave, “Hey, she’s good, you should text her, I’m sure she’d love to hear from you!” And then his attention is diverted right on back to Darrow. “I was recently looking for a book called Lux, Forma, Imperium: On Faelord Rule through Art, apparently only so many copies of it were made and given you’re family, I heard you might actually have a copy….?”
Mercy wrinkles her nose at Darrow in distaste. “Stalker energy. Keep yer distance from that one.”
Teagan makes her way out of the fairegrounds humming ‘If I only had a brain’ from Wizard of Oz.
“I am going to hurry on home…” Seraphina says, “But thanks for hosting, Conrad.” She rises and sways her way to Sofia, seeking to get her hug, open arms for her. She tells Matthew, “I will. Its been so long. I remember the days of just hanging on the beach… I miss them sometimes.”
Darrow shakes his head at Matthew and lifts his arms, holding them out wide. “No, the Greg I dreamed of was huge, like nightmare huge, enormous.. filled a whole tunnel almost, with a taste for flesh. Though strangely friendly at the same time. I dunno, it was a weird ass dream.” His brow furrows a little bit at the mention of the name of the book though and he says, “That sounds.. so weirdly specific and yet familiar. I might actually have a copy of that in the library at home.”
“Give my best to Hale.” Mercy distractedly calls out to Seraphina while lifting a hand to wave.
Sofia pops up to give Seraphina a tight squeeze in return, saying, “I’m probably gonna bounce too! I was just summoned. Seeya soon!”
Matthew gives Seraphina a fond look and smile, “I do too! We need to have you over for dinner or somethign, sometime,” eh says, but then he’s looking back over to Darrow again, “Please do, really hoping to get a hand on that book.” A pause and then he’s segueing into another topic, “by the way, have you met my cousin Kip?”
“It’s been quite the experience.” Conrad says with a smile, “Fun too, despite the chaos at the end. I also hope to meet all of you in a less crowded, more formal situation.”
“Oh! Speaking of that. Don’t forget the Ball on Valentines.” Seraphina reminds those who still linger.
Sofia does a doubletake as she overhears Matthew say a name, asking, “Like that guy from Napoleon Dynamite?”
Mercy says “Valentine’s ain’ a real holiday.“
“How can you say that when you just paid for a date?” Seraphina asks Mercy.
Matthew grins at Sofia, glancing her way, “I know, right? That’s exactly what I thought. Never spent a lot of time with Kip, but same name, for sure.”
“But also, it is not just for Valentines,” Seraphina adds. “Its for the movie Labyrinth. So be sure to dress up!” She remarks, “I’ll put out another notice about it because I need some one to cater.” A wink at Sofia, “Bagel bites for sure.”
“Have I got your number?” Darrow asks Matthew, “I’ll hit you up after I check the shelves.” There’s a moment’s pause and then he says, “Yeah, actually, I have. Just yesterday. I texted him to come out to the concert but I guess he must have been busy. Seems cool. He’s supposed to show me some video game sometime soon.”
“A date? Thought I was orderin’ takeout.” Mercy remarks to Seraphina with a tone that is maybe a little too flat and honest.
Cyprian stands and rights his coat, nodding to Seraphina and telling everyone else, “Good evening, until next time.”
Matthew shakes his head at Darrow, “Naw, I don’t have your number, mine is seven ten, oh, two thirty-six.” Sofia’s words do earn a small laugh and he shrugs his shoulders, “I don’t really know him, seen him like across the ballroom at one of the family benefits, but he was in highschool, maybe he got Lafawndah on speeddial though.”
Seraphina makes a face at Mercy, but only responds to her with, “I’ll send your regards to Thomas.”
Mercy flings Seraphina a two-fingered salute.
Seraphina nods to Cyprian. “I am. Seracicles are probably not very attractive.”
Darrow pulls out his phone and adds the number to his contacts, nodding. “Cool. Got it.”
As things start to settle, Darrow wanders over to Conrad and asks, “You got many t-shirts left or did they sell pretty well? Need help with cleaning anything up?”
Mercy realizes the crowd has thinned considerably, and takes this opportunity to wander off back to blessed solitude.
“There’s one more left, but Dovie said that if people want to buy more, she can sell them at her shop.” Conrad tells Darrow. He then looks at the stage and the booths and everything. “I don’t think they need any help. Unless you want to help clean up and break down the stage and everything.”
Darrow smirks just a little bit and says, “Yeah, gonna pass on that.” Then he glances over toward Matthew for a moment, curiously.
Matthew drifts towards some other audience members, taking time to smile and chat it up with them, introducing himself and being sure that they remember it was the Hand who has raised ALL THIS MONEY for their community. Afterwards he finds his way back to Conrad, “Alright, Rothwell,” he says, greeting the younger man with a nod, “sorry I was late, but looks like you got everything setup pretty well. Good work.”
“You mind if we make a detour on the way home? I gotta head over to Redstone and we’re all the way over here already,” Darrow asks Conrad. “Then we can swing back home?”
Darrow glances between Matthew and Conrad, “Edward?”
Conrad does look pretty proud of himself, “Yeah, things went pretty smoothly, even though I play things by ear and put stuff off til the last minute sometimes.” He then watches as the help start to tear everything down. They make quick work of it. “We still need to take the banners down that’s directing people to this location but that can wait.” He turns back to the others, “It was a nice crowd too. I was a little worried for a moment.”
Conrad shakes his head to Matthew, “He just felt left out as this was hosted on his turf. But in the end, he told me, he didn’t feel like crowds, so it’s all good.”
Darrow grins and says, “I wasn’t. I knew you had this thing in the bag. Even if Leslie bailed out on me last minute.” They were supposed to do a cover at some point, “So I guess it’s good we weren’t on the flyer. Nobody noticed.”
Matthew nods at Conrad, “I know how that goes,” is said about the crowds, listening to more of what is said on the loner Lieutenant with a few nods. “Well that’s good, sounds like it could have gone worse and it didn’t.” Then he’s looking over at Darrow, “Oh, you play music, too?” He nods in agreement about not having any concerns, “You did a good job pulling this off. I remember sending Beau to help out, though I heard he left town?” he seems unsure, “anyway, I was worried you might still need help but I can see you pulled it together and made it happen. Good job.”
Darrow shakes his head and clarifies, “Leslie plays guitar. I sing. But it was kind of a last minute addition, and then I didn’t hear from her again so.. no big deal.” He gives a slight roll of his shoulders. “Oh yeah, Beau. He was that guy that we met for sparring, right?” The name is familiar, anyway.
“Yeah,” Conrad nods to both Matthew and Darrow when he says this, “Beau seemed to have disappeared, or I would have had him do the t-shirt sales during the performances, but I guess it worked at the end, so there was no interruption or distraction.” He then adds, “Hopefully, this helps to give us a leg up in Fairefield as well. This is the first time that I’ve been here since my run-in with Ingrid and I haven’t heard from her in a while, because I have my end of our bargain to make to her and that’s to deliver 70 or so cats I adopted from the local shelter to her…”
“Wait…” Matthew stares at Conrad, clearly shocked by the number, “Are you telling me that as of now, you have seventy cats just livin’ at your–” his eyes slide towards Darrow to include him in the question, being his housemate and all, “house?”
Darrow snorts and shakes his head, “No fucking way I was letting seventy cats live in the house. The smell alone from that much kitty litter was not happening.” There had been a hard veto there.