43
(Panic! At The Disco- LA Devotee)
Desmond
“Charmed to see you again so soon, boys!” Madam Diona strode through the front door of Good Moaning and into the afternoon streets of the Hallax Quarter. “My, my! Such a new look! How adorable!” Brenden helped her up into the shotgun seat of the wagon and we set off.
“So,” Brenden started, “Madam Diona, are we gonna be introduced to these nobles, or just go off of looks? And how should we deal with Lord Amien if we can’t get his attention or he doesn’t like us?”
“Dear, don’t worry about that one little bit. That’s why I’m here as your manager. I'll convince him to let you perform, ah, I won’t need to because your playing will do all the speaking. But I did bring him. The Lord was going to stay back to fight an illness had I not been at his ear convincing him to tough it out.”
Her perfume wafted back to me, a floral scent with undertones I couldn’t place, yet oddly familiar. Our venue was north of Vehfirn in a theater hall of the Count, the one who oversaw Hallax and Amien directly. That, and the Duke would be there to watch. The Duke oversaw the Count, and apparently had no business going to the meeting aside from attending our short concert.
Just north of the city, in a small wealthy village beyond farmland, a trio of towers joined together by bridges at varying levels rose high above the surrounding hills. Offshooting branches were rampant and interconnected. The center tower the shortest, and the right highest. The three great ivory pine trees with silver needles stood like an out of place faux Christmas tree display against the fiery autumn hills.
The guards were in similar armor, stark white with sharp silver points and helmets with tall white horns. Past them and inside the walls, the building was bright with whites and blues, but we were not inside long. We loaded our instruments and gear onto a platform with giant ropes tied to each corner. It was a rudimentary elevator raised by pulleys up to near the top of the middle tower.
Brenden and I didn’t say anything to each other, but we both caught ourselves leaning on the railing and staring out over the city. The sun was falling in the sky and its orange glow slowly encompassed the horizon.
“Look at that,” Brenden said. “Hallax Hall, Amien Manor, the other one. You can see it all from up here. The city itself, too. The Hallax Quarter looks like it’s covered in Christmas lights.”
“And we say Adam is tacky for keeping that God-awful wreath in his bathroom.”
“I’ve got a good feeling about today for some reason. First time in a long time I’ve had a good feeling about a show.”
“Well don’t jinx it. There’s only so much luck and good feelings to go around.”
Our conversation was brought to an abrupt stop as the lift reached its destination.
“Hi!” A squeaky woman’s anxiety-filled voice called to us. “Uh- um- hello Alex and Eddie- um- van- of- um Clan Halen! I am Brina.”
We turned around and I patted Brenden’s back. At the receiving end of the platform was a short and skinny stark white woman with four arms and four eyes. She had a cat-like nose with small floppy ears on the sides of her head. Her hair was snow-white, short, and tied back loosely to show off her equally white eyes. The extra eyes were on her temples. Her extra arms, though shorter, were protruding from the sides of her ribcage. They emerged from under a curtain-like cloth that fell over her shoulders and chest, just to her mid-stomach, which had short white fur covering it. She couldn’t have been more than 4 feet tall, which made it a little awkward to talk and follow her as we were brought into the circular performance hall.
“Not that I should- um… ask… but are- are- are you going to sell tokens of your songs?” She held the door open and stared at the ground as we wheeled the instruments in.
“Tokens?” I dug into my memory. Hallax had mentioned them to me, but never went into detail. Just a “You will make me some,” in his usual boisterous way. But I was way too hungover to disagree or ask questions.
“Oh!” She started waving with all of her hands as she closed the door and led us in. “If you’re not, then I don’t want to bother, please don’t think I’m trying to force you, I would never do such a thing, I am just a really big fan, me and my kids and we wanted to purchase one or two when we could but you don’t have to answer if you’re not making them-”
Brenden accidentally banged the uisukaifo on the railing and the woman screamed.
“I’m so sorry Alex! I’m so sorry I should have been guiding you and not rambling, I’m a terrible servant and a worse fan! Oh, i’ the eyes, I’m a failure to you!”
Brenden stepped away from the uisukaifo, a little overwhelmed by her. “Brina,” he leaned down and put his hands on her shoulders, “you’re doing fine. I think it would be very easy to put some tokens together for you if you tell us which songs you want. We don’t know pricing yet, but you’d be the first one to ask, so we can make an exception.”
“What?” Her small eyes somehow widened even more. “I can’t take any exceptions, those are for the lords and I’m not a lord, I only have a little extra money from my position to be able to pay for them, but only if you’re making them and-
“We’re making them. By order. You said you and your kids are fans. Are you coming to this show tonight?”
“Yes- YES! Yes, of course! We will be here- um- I will. They won’t, they’re not here and they won’t be here. That would be against protocol which I would never break, and-”
“If your kids can find a way in, we’d be happy to meet them. Seems like you’re our biggest fan so far, so that’s the least we can do.”
Her eyes were practically bulging out of her head. “You mean that? You would meet my kids and you wouldn’t tell if they came to listen even though they’re not supposed to? Wait, no! I can’t! It wouldn’t be right! And what if I got caught?! Oh no no no, I can’t, I’m so sorry I lied to you!”
As she was rambling, I noticed her top was being slowly, expertly raised up from the front, and three tiny heads peaked out at Brenden and I. Brina’s face only became more panicked as her lower arms wrestled them down, trying to lower the shirt drape in front of them. She was no match for the three tiny versions of her that were wrestling their way up in her pouch.
“Miss Brina,” I said. “Nobody’s in here right now. If your kids are so eager to get out, then we’d be happy to meet them.”
Just then, three tiny squeaking voices whispered their way up her shirt and Brina covered her face.
“I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! I wasn’t trying to do anything bad! They’re just past nursing age, so I thought I might be able to sn-sneak them in and see you!”
She stammered wildly and the three kids climbed out of her marsupial pouch into her lower arms, where she held them up to see us while still covering her face with her upper hands. They had these big eyes on their little heads and for as alien as they looked, they were adorable little things. They spoke in a different language, which sounded like how cats coo and meow at each other.
“This is Merrow, Brinarow, and Pukurrow. I told them about your first show I saw and they wanted to see it too, so I snuck them in… and I’ve been doing that at all the other ones…”
The kids were all trying to climb out of her arms toward us.
“It’s great to meet the three of you and your mother,” Brenden leaned down and patted each of their heads, then backed away from the brightly smiling, but slightly disappointed mother.
I crouched down and patted each of the kids. “Hey! Can’t wait for you to hear our music tonight.”
“Oh, they’ll love it, I’m sure!” She turned to me with a beaming smile.
“Don’t forget to enjoy yourself, too. You’re our number one fan.” I straightened up and gave her head a quick pat and a rub. As her face turned beet red, she smiled brightly. I heard two sets of boots entering the room and tapped Brina’s shoulder, pointing, and the kids scurried back into her pouch.
“Wen Brina? I presume you have acclimated the guests. Please leave them be so they may rehearse. The lords will be convening here at dusk.”
I raised a hand to excuse her. “Oh it’s fine, she was asking about song token pricing. Catch us after the show and tell us which ones you want, Brina.”
She went to the other members of the Count’s court and quickly saluted us before leaving.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Rehearsal or not, we’re ready. We’re at a good point where we can split the songs we’re singing, and I can amplify Brenden’s voice between songs like I do mine.
After maybe an hour, the lights went onto us and the audience was lost in the darkness. They were using some kind of spotlights of sigils and mirrors that made it impossible to see up by them, where the nobles were seated. I wanted to get a good look at the Amien motherfucker. The clicking of boots and heels was the only thing I sensed from the lords as they filled those booths. There was a small audience of servants and local villagers on the floor as well.
Madam Diona waltzed onto stage like she was walking the red carpet.
“Lords, Ladies, and people of the Triala, we humbly thank you for inviting us into your esteemed tower! Though the two men before you are new to the locale, they create some of the finest music you will hear on Peturi. I present to you, the Van Halen Brothers!”
Madam Diona bowed off the stage as our audience gave a light golf clap. Sure enough, it was time for the show to start. The reception for the first few songs was good. With some new songs and splitting the singing, we had it down. Brenden chose a couple songs to adjust the lyrics so we could add them, and they sounded fine enough. They weren’t exactly good, and the lyrics didn’t make much sense in Triali, but it was passable as long as we let our playing do most of the carrying. There was that same light clapping after every song, which was honestly more than we were expecting, so we acted way more reserved than usual. I also learned that Hallax doesn’t seem to shut the fuck up during shows. I couldn’t always hear, but he was talking his entire way through the show. I felt bad for whoever was seated next to him.
It was always comments like “Oh, I love this one! It’s so great because-” and then he would say why it’s so good while the part was happening. Then, while Brenden was singing “That Smell,” Hallax changed subject.
“Count Wey, for your own preparedness, Lady Simira has provided me with a written and sealed confirmation of…” Brenden’s singing muffled him, “official commitment receipt from Tarynn. The final pieces are in place…”
I couldn’t hear the Count’s low voice very well. “...before then, you should consider your debt to Madam Diona, Olori.” His voice got really low again, “newly accrued.”
“What? That is preposterous. What did she say she wants? I beseech you, Count, I owe her nothing more.”
“...ra is not enough for loaning you those mines…your daughter is close to pledging… undoing your repayment. Your heiress as a servant of Diona…”
“You are correct, Count Wey.”
“...you be sure Diona will not have hold over two noble hou…”
“...difficult woman to work with, but it is because of her… uproot the hold Diona has in her house… knows the danger she poses to all of us.”
“...”
“Yes, Count Wey?”
“...and you are too weak to win… Fera’s death myself. Muria is in political strife with the influx of refugees…cannot allow Diona to buy the Duke’s…”
Hallax didn’t respond and their conversation ended with the song. Then I was onto singing some more. I couldn’t pay attention to what any of them were saying while singing, so I missed some exchanges between the nobles. As the show approached its end, Brenden and I began “Hotel California,” one of his songs to sing. The nobles were mostly quiet, but then I heard Madam Diona talking to somebody. It was a lighter song, so I could hear Diona well, but not her counterpart.
“Tell me, Hazjiken. How are you enjoying my boys?”
“They are delightful… less reputable peoples, their music is of high quality… paraded around like jesters? You’ve found more good pets, Madam… have them at my house for one of your nights.”
“Isn’t hilarious? Their lyrics make no sense and their instruments are shoddy, but nobody knows the better. Even you call them high quality.”
“I yearn to know the music you’ve heard in your… have been splendid.”
“Perhaps to you, it would be. An old revolutionary once debated with me, crying out that music, and art, carries the soul of people. I don’t see the emotional appeal, but I admit the time they practice to perfect it is dangerous. You may use these two whenever.”
“Then the day after tomorrow. Spirits must be raised after… The sigil has made her useless… my daughter was the one urging me to use slow treatment…”
“Oh dear, did the poor girl die?”
“...I haven’t seen one live since that bumbling idiot… her mind has turned cur, worse than Eulin.”
“How unfortunate for her. Perfect for me. Well, if her mind won’t work, but her body will, then I will gladly buy her from you. An exchange, perhaps. One of my suppliers tells me a regenerator is on the way. But, since your cur girl is a low-value item, she will only cover a price reduction on this new one.”
“Accepted.”
“And… dear Hazjiken. I have received word that the animals have seen a rise in commitments. My business is suffering. Have them work more, then only give reprieve on my nights.”
“...undone the penalty of death on adultery. I can do little more without push back… daughter’s employ. She supports servant commit… And the results do not disagree.”
“You’re too quick, Hazjiken. But this is good time for a lesson, so listen closely. If a law is written on paper, you may burn it. If a law is written in wood, you must char it until it is fundamentally different. If a law is set in stone, you must chisel until the people do not know it existed. If a law is written upon the sky, you must guide their eyes down. If a law is written in the heart, convince them they do not need their heart.”
“I do not have the agelessness…” I missed a pretty important sounding bit. “...feebleness of my race?”
“Perhaps, but Hazjiken, you cannot hide from me. I see cracks. How your mind still stoops to think of these animals as your own.”
“...as one of them. Thus their words, ideas seep… unfortunately built into me. But I am learning. If they are…”
“Then I will gratify, and you will employ. What good is it for us if they start trusting each other? Muria is fighting back. And his people are petitioning for him to fund education. It’s absurd.”
“...disgusts me.”
“As it does me… I worry such sentiments may seep into your quarter should the people go undistracted. Work them more. I’ll push more fluff into the alleys.”
“...causing issues with my deliveries. The merchants are declining to bring your … being arrested upon the discovery of that fluff you’re sneaking in with them… too hasty… outnumber the majority by winter, then you must ease…”
“Your extreme maneuver destroyed the bridges I once used for that very thing. Now there is one bridge. You hold power to change. Quietly decriminalize fluff next time there is a disaster and then we’ll flood the streets with it. The citizens will be too distracted by their own fear to protest.”
“...nature to act soon and I cannot create another, Diona… turned to me for the last two… pressing the limit… the yeffen and we can do more with that.”
“If we step on those filthy cubbins anymore, then Gossam and the Elysians will peak their heads in. I cannot have that. I know someone disposable with enough hatred to commit a grave, city-shaking murder if given the opportunity. That threat, that fear, should keep those animals in their cages. Everything after will fall exactly into place as I’ve planned. It is as good as done. So do not worry. You have enough to worry about managing your manor and your herd. And that daughter of yours is becoming awfully bold. A real pack leader who does everything I need her to. Have Rezyn watch her much more closely, though. I have noticed some oddities surrounding her as of late.”
“...that Hallax is persuading Muria’s guards to seize the fluff… legalizes fluff, then our quarters can… and remind your debtor of his master.”
“But how, I wonder.” A sick smile slithered through her words. “Hazjiken, wouldn’t it be just delicious threatening to whore his daughter to you? Imagine the groveling such a prideful creature would do to prevent that act. How delightful it would be.”
“I have no interest in…”
“It’s the threat, darling. Hallax doesn’t know of your finer tastes or how little time his daughter has left.”
Hazjiken sighed, some wishfulness in his voice. “To lack the burden of children. … I’d gift her to you for only a ‘thanks’ in return… watchful eyes and inflated sense of righteousness disgust…”
“Oh, Hazjiken, I have plans to depose her, don’t you worry.”
“...but don’t tell me… must come naturally if I am to play the role of a mourning father.”
“Soon, Hazjiken. Soon. You focus your work on Muria. Once we have his domain, I will have bought the city from the Count and I will use the power to claim the farmland, the last piece of Vehfirn, and you will be my proxy ruler while Tarynn is trained. I have it all planned, so sit back and enjoy the show. Oh, I truly love having a pet who understands my philosophy so well. And now, should my little Desmond have heard me through sigils-”
My salufo playing stuttered upon hearing my own name. I recovered as quickly as I could, but she definitely noticed.
FUCK! FUCK FUCK FUCK! She knows I know. She knows I heard.
She chuckled gleefully, reveling in her discovery. “Oh this is quite delightful. I love when I’m right. Ahem. Dear Desmond, as you are apparently listening, know that should any of this reach the common ear, or should you disobey me under this new, one-sided contract of ours, those dear to you will suddenly begin to dwindle and you will notice, but you will not be able to stop it without putting them in more danger. You already know there’s no one to challenge me, so be a good, loyal pet and I will release you and your friend once I am done with you. Sincerely, your loving new owner, Madam Diona.”
I pulled my hearing away, just trying to focus on the music from there.
If we make one wrong move, we’re gonna be in deep over our heads. I just have to go along. They’re making plays on each other at the same table they dine at, right over the people’s heads, and our best bet for survival is to get out of dodge. But why is Diona working with Amien? Isn’t she working with Hallax? Unless she’s the one working them both?
We finished off the show, keeping my ears on my own playing for the rest of the performance. Diona descended and bid all the lords a good night. The lights went off after they had left.
“Well, boys, I must say you put on a marvelous performance! Bravo!”
“Thanks,” I said rather bluntly, not hiding my newfound disdain for her well.
“What about the gig? Did you get it?” Brenden eagerly awaited her answer.
“The night after tomorrow! Congratulations!”
Brenden beamed at me, beyond overjoyed. “Yeah! We got it!”
I tried to turn away. “Yeah. We did. I’m tired as all shit right now, though, so we should get outta here.”
Diona walked right up to me. “Oh, sleep well now. You put your heart into that show. Don’t wait for me, either. I’ll be traveling back to town tomorrow.” She gave me a smug, pitying stare, and then kissed the air at me.
Fuck it. Not worth.
I smiled in tired concession. “It’s a pleasure working with you, Madam.”
Brenden saluted her casually. “Bye, and thanks for all the help.”
“Of course, dear.” She rested her hand on his neck and petted him like he was a cat or a dog, kissed him on the cheek, then waved and smiled her way out of sight.
My legs wouldn’t move as my mind caught up to the moment. The odor of death wafting through the strong perfume which caught my nose after she strutted off. Sulfur.
“Come on, Brenden.”
Off to the bar to forget I ever heard anything at all. If she thinks I’m just a drunk asshole singer, that’s safer for all of us.