nicole nini (baciocchi) wrote in allegro,
@ 2008-12-26 23:24:00

WHO :: wolfe and nicole
WHAT :: a concert?
WHERE :: Rick's Cafe
WHEN :: tonight

Her damn B string wouldn't tune. Completely normal for her guitar. She just made everything else just as sharp, and thought it was a bonus that it'd piss off anyone with perfect pitch. Benny's set was wrapping up, and Nicole would be next on the small stage of Rick's Cafe, playing for the same know-nothings that usually graced Rick's. She never felt nervous performing here. No one knew a damn thing about music. She did it for $100 and the free tea.

Benny was finished, so Nicole jumped onto the stage after he climbed down and just dove into a song. No introduction, no hesitation. She just strummed and sang. Lonely men built lonely cities. Her voice just sang.

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wolfgang
2008-12-27 06:44 am UTC (link)

To be fair, Wolfe legitimately liked coffee. No, no really. He did. And Rick's Cafe happened to have the best coffee around. Sort of. Except for that gourmet place two blocks closer to campus and ten cents cheaper. You know. At his usual place. At not Rick's.

He didn't even have the excuse of catfood with him today, although don't doubt that he considered stocking up just to have the scapegoat. And he briefly (briefly) considered coming back to complain about the shoddy sign placement and demand his dry cleaning to be paid after last time.

But if Wolfe were to be really honest with himself (a rarity, to be sure), he'd have to admit that the reason he was there was perhaps just maybe to see some strange Alaskan girl again. Rick's seemed like her sort of place. And he wasn't disappointed.

He was, however, surprised to see her up on the stage with her guitar. Wolfe stopped in his tracks, stared just a moment before remembering himself and stepping into line. Wolfe affected disinterest as he ordered coffee for himself and found a place to stand in the back, listening to her sing. He was sort of blown away.

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baciocchi
2008-12-27 06:53 am UTC (link)

She got a few claps at the end of her set and gave a head nod in recognition and thanks. Off the stage she went, letting whatever lazy faux-musician was next take over. Lord have mercy, he was setting up an electric keyboard. She sensed epic failure in this guy's near future.

During the process of an eye-roll, she caught sight of a familiar face. To be honest, she'd looked for him since their meeting, but never held up much hope that he'd return. But here he was. Had he seen her play? He must've. Immediately her face burned red and she concentrated very hard on putting her guitar back in its case.

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	wolfgang 2008-12-27 06:58 am UTC (link)
	"Hey hey hey, move," Wolfe commanded, pushing his way (CASUALLY. NO RUSH.) through the rest of the crowds over towards Nicole at the corner of stage. He checked subtly for signs warning of wet paint, before leaning against the wall next to her. "So," Wolfe said casually, focused on his coffee cup. "Come here often?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	baciocchi 2008-12-27 07:02 am UTC (link)
	"I do. And for future reference," she smirked, looking up at him, "that line is worse than your haircut." She closed her case quickly, not wanting him to notice how insanely crappy her guitar actually was. "What're you doin' here, York?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	wolfgang 2008-12-27 07:08 am UTC (link)
	Wolfe frowned greatly, puzzledly, at her quip about his haircut. His haircut was fine...wasn't it? Rather than give in to the urge to pick for split ends, he shrugged. "Figured I'd stop by for a cup of coffee," he said casually, exactly the way he'd rehearsed. "Nice set, Alaska. Plan on quitting your day job anytime soon?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	baciocchi 2008-12-27 07:10 am UTC (link)
	Nicole hated games. She hated the whole dating scene, she hated boys, and she hated how Wolfe thought she couldn't see through him. "Knock it off," she sighed, dragging her case back to her favorite seat in the corner. "What are you dong here?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	wolfgang 2008-12-27 07:17 am UTC (link)
	"Coffee," Wolfe repeated slowly, bristling at her tone and shaking his cup in front of her. "That and the pleasant conversation. What the fuck's gotten into you today, Alaska? Rabies flaring up? Too much time spent around the fucking...wolverines and shit?" He followed her, of course, annoyed as he might be with her less than stellar hellos. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	baciocchi 2008-12-27 07:21 am UTC (link)
	Nicole shrugged and flopped into her seat. "Yes. My rabies is flaring up. How did you know." She rolled her eyes and leaned back on two legs on the chair. "And I prefer polar bears, not wolverines. Seriously, wolverines? Seriously?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	wolfgang 2008-12-27 07:28 am UTC (link)
	"Yes seriously," Wolfe said, rolling his eyes right back. "It could happen. I don't know what you do with your spare time. Well." He gestured towards her guitar. "Except that. Too bad you're not shit at it like your attitude is tonight." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	baciocchi 2008-12-27 07:32 am UTC (link)
	Stop it, she told herself. Stop resent him for what other boys have done to you, stop resenting him for taking so long to come back. "Sorry," she mumbled at her lap, fiddling with her fingernails. She felt her cheeks grow slightly warm and she fought a smile. "I wasn't shit, eh? Is that a kind of compliment?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	wolfgang 2008-12-27 07:34 am UTC (link)
	"Kind of," Wolfe agreed, shrugging one shoulder. "Close as you're gonna come, I guess, so take it while you can. What is this, like, you're regular gig? Or a one night thing?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	baciocchi 2008-12-27 07:38 am UTC (link)
	"In that case, thank you," she nodded appreciatively, like she did on stage. "And yes, it's a regular gig. They let me play, give me $100 for a full set in exchange that I clean some dishes once in a while. It's a good deal." She nodded at his cup. "What'cha get?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	wolfgang 2008-12-27 07:43 am UTC (link)
	Wolfe followed her glance towards his mug. "My usual," he replied casually. "Ah, black coffee with a shot of caramel." Bitter, with a kick of sweet. "Hundred bucks a night's not bad. They're probably getting a pretty good deal, too, if you're washing dishes. I'd charge more, 'f'I were you." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

baciocchi
2008-12-27 07:49 am UTC (link)

She grinned. "Excellent choice. Mostly straight with a little bit of gay. Suits you." Sitting up straighter, Nicole looked at him seriously. "You think so? I should charge this sweet little place even more money? Even though they let me practice here and loiter here and give me free teas and not even worry that it's not even like I have a lot of talent to begin with? Golly, you think that's a good idea?"

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	wolfgang 2008-12-27 07:53 am UTC (link)
	"You've got talent," Wolfe insisted, rolling his eyes at her obvious ignorance of it. "Maybe not a lot, but you've got it. You're letting this sweet little place walk all over you. Fine, though, hey, it's your business if you get swindled or not. I'm just saying. I'd charge a fair price. Then again, I know when I'm good and when I'm not. Educated ear." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	baciocchi 2008-12-27 07:57 am UTC (link)
	After giving him a long, cold stare (and Nicole knows tons about things being cold), she shook her head and muttered to herself. "Arrogant fucker." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	wolfgang 2008-12-27 08:00 am UTC (link)
	"Jesus fuck you're moody tonight," Wolfe sighed, shaking his head. He took a sip of his coffee, casually scanning the rest of the cafe. "Should I leave while you get some rabies shots? Because I'm not looking forward to catching it myself when you bite my head off again." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

baciocchi
2008-12-27 08:04 am UTC (link)

"For your information, you're a prime example of why I'd rather spend my time in a place like this than mingling around Allegro. You're all such unbelievable assholes. Guess what." She leaned forward, like she was sharing a secret. "Someone out there is better than you. In fact, a lot of people are better than you."

To be honest, being told she didn't have a "lot" of talent stung more than she'd ever, ever care to admit.

She stood up and sighed. "I'm getting something to drink. You want a refill? On me?"

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	wolfgang 2008-12-27 08:07 am UTC (link)
	His lips pursed dangerously, entirely unamused at being told he was not as great as he knew he was. "Sure," Wolfe answered after a moment of stony silence. He nudged his empty mug across the table for her. "And some fucking rabies shots," he muttered to himself. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

baciocchi
2008-12-27 08:11 am UTC (link)

After grabbing his cup, she nudged him lightly as she passed. "I heard that," she smirked over her shoulder.

She got his black coffee with a shot of caramel ("Do you offer shots of kindness? No? Okay, then just the caramel."), got her own chai, and took a deep breath before heading back to Wolfe, and starting over.

"Hey!" she exclaimed, overly excited and with a large grin. "How nice it is to see you again! Here, have a coffee. What have you been up to, York? How's life?"

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	wolfgang 2008-12-27 08:14 am UTC (link)
	He laughed for a minute, a little bit at her but mostly with her, before sighing and playing along. "Not bad, Alaska, not bad. Thought I'd stop by for a coffee and ended up hearing this really cool girl playing guitar. Did you miss her? Too bad, she rocked up there." Wolfe reached for his coffee, blowing on it to cool it. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	baciocchi 2008-12-27 08:16 am UTC (link)
	"This place is bitchin'," Nicole smiled, taking her seat. "And nah, the talent here blows. I'd rather hear some talented violist play me a few concertos or something. You know. Good stuff." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	wolfgang 2008-12-27 08:19 am UTC (link)
	He laughed all over again, shaking his head. "You are so full of shit, Alaska. Only instruments people want to hear played are the ones they wish they could play themselves. You don't care that bad about the violin." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	baciocchi 2008-12-27 08:22 am UTC (link)
	"True," she conceded. "It's why I quit playing it. But still, come on." She nodded at the guy who had so much trouble setting up his keyboard, who now banged out bad chords with even worse lyrics. "Seriously. The talent here. More terrifying than Sarah Palin in a helicopter shootin' wolves." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	wolfgang 2008-12-27 08:27 am UTC (link)
	"This guy? Yeah he's crap," Wolfe agreed. He grinned suddenly, boyish, and cupping his mouth, shouted at the stage, "PIANO IS NOT FOR EMOS." Ignoring the glare sent from the current musician, Wolfe turned casually back to Nicole. "Seriously, I'm about to start a riot to get that last girl up there again." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)