The artist in thee
- Thread starter Labyrinth
- Start date
Hey Lab, do you know if there is any way to link a video from your Facebook page to here? I'd like to contribute to this thread but putting up some videos of myself playing the piano (recorded off a mobile phone so the sound quality is shot, but hey) and I'd rather not go to the hassle of creating a youtube account for it. I doubt there is, but if you know of one, that'd be great.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Um, not an artist myself, but I've followed this thread just to see all the pretty artwork and love the stuff you guys do.
And now I wonder if you guys might be able to help me out?
I have an idea for the Escapist Film Festival. I have most everything for my idea cept for a good artist. The style I'd be looking for is that of old 1960's and 1940's cartoon commercials and educational films.
The video would not be a full animation, but instead a series of pictures that go with the "Education" of the film.
I'm seeing what I can do with the artwork, but I don't have much skill in it. So if you want to know more or help me out, please PM me. THANK YOU!
{And if you guys don't want me posting requests here, just ask and I'll delete this.}
And now I wonder if you guys might be able to help me out?
I have an idea for the Escapist Film Festival. I have most everything for my idea cept for a good artist. The style I'd be looking for is that of old 1960's and 1940's cartoon commercials and educational films.
I'm seeing what I can do with the artwork, but I don't have much skill in it. So if you want to know more or help me out, please PM me. THANK YOU!
{And if you guys don't want me posting requests here, just ask and I'll delete this.}
That's alright! Not your fault! Looks like I'll have to create a youtube account then... and record some better videos with less mistakes... Give me a little while!Labyrinth said:
From a set of school assignments, I bring you:
Hope you found something there enjoyable.
An old man, sitting alone on his stoop,
Rocked in his chair, and thought of his past.
In his youth, he fondly remembered a sizeable sloop
And the days he spent on it, thinking they would last
Forever, and allow him to sail to the edges of the map
And back again, bringing a seafarer's tale
Of storms, wind and rain unforeseen, and gusts that could snap
A mast in two during a mighty gale.
With a wistful sigh, and a faraway look,
The man continues thinking of his past. Suddenly he recalls
The reality of it all. The sicknesses, the lack of food, and not even a book
Deal came out of his life! He was glad to have a grounded roof and four walls.
When he really thought about it, he was happy that part of his life was done,
And he was expected to do nothing but watch for those damn kids with his shotgun.
Rocked in his chair, and thought of his past.
In his youth, he fondly remembered a sizeable sloop
And the days he spent on it, thinking they would last
Forever, and allow him to sail to the edges of the map
And back again, bringing a seafarer's tale
Of storms, wind and rain unforeseen, and gusts that could snap
A mast in two during a mighty gale.
With a wistful sigh, and a faraway look,
The man continues thinking of his past. Suddenly he recalls
The reality of it all. The sicknesses, the lack of food, and not even a book
Deal came out of his life! He was glad to have a grounded roof and four walls.
When he really thought about it, he was happy that part of his life was done,
And he was expected to do nothing but watch for those damn kids with his shotgun.
Insulting readers
May be inappropriate
But it is funny.
May be inappropriate
But it is funny.
A loud tone is heard
A flopping hand flails about
And the alarm ends.
A flopping hand flails about
And the alarm ends.
Are we there yet?
My son is sitting in the back seat,
Watching the dotted lines on the road.
How many times is he going to ask?
My son is sitting in the back seat,
Once more he opens his mouth.
How many times is he going to ask?
No matter how I answer, he is not satisfied.
Once more he opens his mouth.
I wait for the words to begin again.
No matter how I answer, he is not satisfied.
How I wish I could swear right now.
I wait for the words to begin again,
Watching the dotted lines on the road.
How I wish I could swear right now.
Are we there yet?
My son is sitting in the back seat,
Watching the dotted lines on the road.
How many times is he going to ask?
My son is sitting in the back seat,
Once more he opens his mouth.
How many times is he going to ask?
No matter how I answer, he is not satisfied.
Once more he opens his mouth.
I wait for the words to begin again.
No matter how I answer, he is not satisfied.
How I wish I could swear right now.
I wait for the words to begin again,
Watching the dotted lines on the road.
How I wish I could swear right now.
Are we there yet?
Part 11 has arrived. Only incredibly late! Apologies for the shortness. This shouldn't happen again. (Part 10 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.72805.3469238].)
(Part 12 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.72805.3511157].)
The next one should be longer. "Should" being the operative word.
I am an arms dealer, fittin' yooou, with weapons in the form of woooooooooords!
When I woke, my headache was mostly gone. Which is a good sign. I let the helicopter lob itself joyously around the room, crawling over to it only when it landed.
'An I don't really care which side wins, as long as the room keeps si-
The music muffled as I pressed the "Cease Alarm" button and returned the helicopter to its dock. Someone must've changed my alarm's setting to 'Radio.' I frowned, bitterly. Probably Neezilla. As much as I'd like to believe it was haphazardly on my least favorite radio station, I wasn't convinced.
After my shower, I got dressed for work and left early. By the time I got to the cafe, I still had a good half-hour until my shift. Not that it mattered, because as soon as I walked in, I saw Erana behind the counter talking to Neosage. They paused their conversation long enough to tell me that Puppet needed to see me in the backroom. Crap.
When I got to the store room, Puppet was across the room, writing quietly on a clipboard. "Hey Puppet, what do y-"
"Sit."
I sat, he had never cut me off like that. "Look, Puppet, hear me o-"
"You're fired, Nuke. Even after what I did yesterday, this business is co-owned by Kari and I can't call all the shots. We talked about it, and your walking out proved not only that you don't partake in conflict resolution, but also that you're unwilling to work under duress, something that is proving more fatal to the business than my attraction to you.
"Honestly, after Kari heard about yesterday, she was going to fire you anyway. Nothing personal, but I'm a liability to the function of business like this. The real problem is that you're part-time, expendable, I'm not. If it were a question of me or you, Kari is cutting you. I wish it could be different Nuke, but that's how it is. You can have all of your normal checks this month, but that's all I can afford, and that's coming out of my own pocket. And...
"Screw it, I can't see you anymore. Not here in the cafe, nor out there. I was wrong, I was lying to myself. I still love you, and I can't have that. So... Just... Go. Maybe I'll call you in a few months back under control. But as it is, if I weren't staring at this paperwork, I'd be unable to have this talk with you. Now, hun-bunz, please leave before I look up and see you. It's better for everyone. Your checks will be in the mail."
I got up, floundered a bit, and tried a smile. "I... understand. I guess... Goodbye Puppet."
"G'bye hun."
I left the cafe, and frowned. What the hell was I supposed to do with myself? I called Neesa, but the call cut off before the second ring finished. Rejected... Damn... I started walking down the block, exploring the downtown. I stopped in random stores, and talked to the workers. I traded a lot of names, shared a lot of stories, but probably wouldn't remember them by the end of the day.
At noon, I settled down for lunch at a local bistro. The mid-afternoon breeze was just perfect, and it was settling down to be a comfortable mid-afternoon temperature. Although I'm something of a picky eater, I found a turkey sandwich that looked pretty good, and tried to clear my mind of the day's events. I was finally starting to clear my head when my phone rang, Neesa.
"Look Nuke, I guess it was wrong of me to jump to conclusions like that. You've always been the flirtatious type, and it's the reason I didn't ask you out a long time ago. I guess I was afraid something like this would happen. I... After Baby Tea, I'm no so sure I can handle this kind of thing. I don't hate you for it, and I can't say I'm specifically mad at you. Just that this sort of thing happens to you a lot. I'm going to let you keep flirting with whoever. I just can't be here for it. Not like this. G'bye Nuke."
She hung up the phone, and I just stared blankly. "But... I liked what we had. More than any amount of flirting." The disconnected line offered nothing but silence. I sighed, and tried calling back. Nothing.
Tried again, with similar results.
I gave up, and headed back to my apartment. The walk there was long, lazy, and I couldn't bring myself to meet anyone in the eyes. I had a sunken feeling in the pit of my stomach, and was certain that this was only going to get worse before it would get better.
Back at my apartment, I fired up my computer and shot off an e-mail to an old friend. It wasn't likely that I'd have the time to get this done, or the money, but at least it's an idea. I tried my hand at writing an article. It came out alright, and I fired off a draft to the website, and started on another one. It didn't come out at all like the other one, so I resigned on that pursuit for the night and shut down the computer.
The television wasn't really holding my interest, so I tried in vain to call Neesa back. Nothing. Damn. I shook my head, and gave up for the night. Maybe, just maybe, tomorrow would be better.
When I woke, my headache was mostly gone. Which is a good sign. I let the helicopter lob itself joyously around the room, crawling over to it only when it landed.
'An I don't really care which side wins, as long as the room keeps si-
The music muffled as I pressed the "Cease Alarm" button and returned the helicopter to its dock. Someone must've changed my alarm's setting to 'Radio.' I frowned, bitterly. Probably Neezilla. As much as I'd like to believe it was haphazardly on my least favorite radio station, I wasn't convinced.
After my shower, I got dressed for work and left early. By the time I got to the cafe, I still had a good half-hour until my shift. Not that it mattered, because as soon as I walked in, I saw Erana behind the counter talking to Neosage. They paused their conversation long enough to tell me that Puppet needed to see me in the backroom. Crap.
When I got to the store room, Puppet was across the room, writing quietly on a clipboard. "Hey Puppet, what do y-"
"Sit."
I sat, he had never cut me off like that. "Look, Puppet, hear me o-"
"You're fired, Nuke. Even after what I did yesterday, this business is co-owned by Kari and I can't call all the shots. We talked about it, and your walking out proved not only that you don't partake in conflict resolution, but also that you're unwilling to work under duress, something that is proving more fatal to the business than my attraction to you.
"Honestly, after Kari heard about yesterday, she was going to fire you anyway. Nothing personal, but I'm a liability to the function of business like this. The real problem is that you're part-time, expendable, I'm not. If it were a question of me or you, Kari is cutting you. I wish it could be different Nuke, but that's how it is. You can have all of your normal checks this month, but that's all I can afford, and that's coming out of my own pocket. And...
"Screw it, I can't see you anymore. Not here in the cafe, nor out there. I was wrong, I was lying to myself. I still love you, and I can't have that. So... Just... Go. Maybe I'll call you in a few months back under control. But as it is, if I weren't staring at this paperwork, I'd be unable to have this talk with you. Now, hun-bunz, please leave before I look up and see you. It's better for everyone. Your checks will be in the mail."
I got up, floundered a bit, and tried a smile. "I... understand. I guess... Goodbye Puppet."
"G'bye hun."
I left the cafe, and frowned. What the hell was I supposed to do with myself? I called Neesa, but the call cut off before the second ring finished. Rejected... Damn... I started walking down the block, exploring the downtown. I stopped in random stores, and talked to the workers. I traded a lot of names, shared a lot of stories, but probably wouldn't remember them by the end of the day.
At noon, I settled down for lunch at a local bistro. The mid-afternoon breeze was just perfect, and it was settling down to be a comfortable mid-afternoon temperature. Although I'm something of a picky eater, I found a turkey sandwich that looked pretty good, and tried to clear my mind of the day's events. I was finally starting to clear my head when my phone rang, Neesa.
"Look Nuke, I guess it was wrong of me to jump to conclusions like that. You've always been the flirtatious type, and it's the reason I didn't ask you out a long time ago. I guess I was afraid something like this would happen. I... After Baby Tea, I'm no so sure I can handle this kind of thing. I don't hate you for it, and I can't say I'm specifically mad at you. Just that this sort of thing happens to you a lot. I'm going to let you keep flirting with whoever. I just can't be here for it. Not like this. G'bye Nuke."
She hung up the phone, and I just stared blankly. "But... I liked what we had. More than any amount of flirting." The disconnected line offered nothing but silence. I sighed, and tried calling back. Nothing.
Tried again, with similar results.
I gave up, and headed back to my apartment. The walk there was long, lazy, and I couldn't bring myself to meet anyone in the eyes. I had a sunken feeling in the pit of my stomach, and was certain that this was only going to get worse before it would get better.
Back at my apartment, I fired up my computer and shot off an e-mail to an old friend. It wasn't likely that I'd have the time to get this done, or the money, but at least it's an idea. I tried my hand at writing an article. It came out alright, and I fired off a draft to the website, and started on another one. It didn't come out at all like the other one, so I resigned on that pursuit for the night and shut down the computer.
The television wasn't really holding my interest, so I tried in vain to call Neesa back. Nothing. Damn. I shook my head, and gave up for the night. Maybe, just maybe, tomorrow would be better.
(Part 12 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.72805.3511157].)
The next one should be longer. "Should" being the operative word.
Since we're open to video/movies here too, I figured I'd share my first efforts at a movie which consisted of me and my mate Will (Swinehouse to those on the internet, don't bother looking on here, he's not on here.) in our first few weeks of college were asked to make a video of anything we wanted, as we were late joining the course and didn't have as much time as everyone to think of a really good silent movie concept.
So instead we both went for a take on something we know enough about to be comfortable with, Superpowers.
We walked around for a while, quickly brainstorming some ideasand before we knew it, we were out in the field behind College shooting a 1950's style instructional video.
My friend Will, ended up being the Professor, X. Ingrid (Yes, a poor play on Professor X.)
And I ended up being the nerdy failure, Eugene.
The opening logo by the way is Swinehouse's and all this was made before BrainBolt's (my production "company") conception, so I had no say in the Kamehameha suond... I'm not even into DBZ... This is the only video of Swinehouse's that I was actually a starring role in. But it was fun as hell, creating our first video that kicked dirt in the eyes of all the other group's videos.
Man I had such long hair back then... And a really dorky face... Good times.
So instead we both went for a take on something we know enough about to be comfortable with, Superpowers.
We walked around for a while, quickly brainstorming some ideasand before we knew it, we were out in the field behind College shooting a 1950's style instructional video.
My friend Will, ended up being the Professor, X. Ingrid (Yes, a poor play on Professor X.)
And I ended up being the nerdy failure, Eugene.
[link]http://www.dailymotion.com/user/swinehouse/video/xahemp_how-to-be-a-super-hero_fun[/link]
The opening logo by the way is Swinehouse's and all this was made before BrainBolt's (my production "company") conception, so I had no say in the Kamehameha suond... I'm not even into DBZ... This is the only video of Swinehouse's that I was actually a starring role in. But it was fun as hell, creating our first video that kicked dirt in the eyes of all the other group's videos.
Man I had such long hair back then... And a really dorky face... Good times.
Part 12's written and ready for you. Feel free to comment or pass a PM if you liked the story, I always like to know who my readers are. (Part 11 can be found here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.72805.3498027] for anyone who needs catching up.)
(Part 13 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.72805.3536378] available now for an unlimited time!) [small]Void where prohibited, not valid wherever Escapist Magazine is unavailable. See store for details.[/small]
Incidentally, anyone wanna go clubbing with me?
As a general rule of thumb, I don't go to dance clubs with Higurashi. It's nothing personal, considering I love the guy, but there are just some things my fragile ego can't take. I've never understood it, but the guy can show up to a club in a ratty t-shirt and jeans coming apart at the seems, flanked by the complete employee roster of the male strip club dressed in tuxedos, and somehow Higurashi has most of the dates by the time the party leaves the club. Hell, most days, he converts the dates of the strippers.
Either way, when I got a call this morning, I figured it'd be better than moping around my apartment all day with nothing to do. Higs was even "nice" enough to take my phone from me so I'd stop calling Neesa. Who still wasn't answering.
Either way, MrLS had a unique club. Most dance clubs open at late-as-hell and close down at sun up. LS preferred a more twenty-four hour approach. If anything, it just meant customers stuck around longer. The club, a warehouse near the port, has always been one of the usual flirts for troubles. The Mods were there ten days out of nine, usually looking for people on the lam, but occasionally keeping an eye on the import/export businesses that deal in things several shades more illegal than trinkets. Either way, not the neighborhood I would commit myself to if I had the choice.
Still, Higs was the host for the evening, so I was a victim of both the time of day and the locale of other's choosing. The outside was quiet, in an industrial kind of way, still hand the undercurrent of the kind of place no one really went but dock-workers and drug dealers. The inside, however, was dark, covered in a haze that only too much heat and humidity can bring. The warehouse pulsed with the sound of really loud music and the stomp of hundreds of bodies.
I couldn't hardly hear myself think, but the flashing lights and curving bodies around me were directing my subconscious somewhere, even if I had no idea where I was going. "Enjoy yourself," Higs said, clapping me on the back and gliding into the crowd. I watched him as he made it halfway to the bar and already had a young woman on his arm.
"You can always spot the beasts of the club," LS said from beside me, eyes following Higs' progress. "But that's like anyone in their element. Calm, collected, cool. Professional."
"Working for the club's changed you, LS. Given how much body-traffic I see in here, you must be making bank."
"Enough to keep an income, that's really all anyone needs."
"I hear you. I'm going to go work the club."
"Don't work too hard," LS replied, heading through the crowd as if they weren't there. I frowned, and headed into the mess of bodies. Acid techno's never been my thing, but that seemed to be the lifeblood of this club. I wasn't up for dancing, so I settled on the bar instead. The bartender was another face I recognized, Fraught. "What can I get y- Whoa, hey Nuke."
"Heya," I answered, screaming over the club music. "How've you been?"
"Business as usual. Working. Pay is good, though."
"Wish I could empathize."
"Jobless?"
"And dejected." I answered honestly. "Anyone I would know around here?"
"Possibly. All I see are faces, names don't stick with me. They're wallets to me, professionally speaking."
"Eh, I know what it's like. Customers are just customers. Cogs in the machine."
"Yep. If there's anything I can get you, let me know."
"Roy Rogers, on the rocks."
"Ha ha, I haven't had someone order that on me before. You the driver?"
"'Fraid not. I'm here with Higs though."
"Oh God, he's going to have a ride tonight."
"In more ways than one."
He chuckled, "Heh, no kidding. It'll be on the house, since he'll be drinking."
"Thanks much."
"No problem, have fun man."
I listen to lots of music in my apartment, and I my car if I ever drive, but it'll never match hearing it done in concert with the press of bodies everywhere. Clubs have big, high-bass sound systems, and are the next closest things. Sometimes louder. I found myself lost in the press of bodies, and naturally twitching with the populous.
People naturally group up, and I ended up in another group. The music was too loud for conversation, so we danced instead. It's pretty easy to get lost in time when at a dance club, and it gets hard to tell the difference between 1 AM and 1 PM in the right setting. No windows, synthetic lights, and the disorienting music made me lose track of how long I was out dancing. However long it was, I had made a few friends on the dance floor.
The tracks were switching, though it was hard to tell, and I felt myself being jarred away from the pulse of the crowd. Instinctively, I checked my watch, 3 PM. We'd been here at least five hours. I hadn't noticed, and the worst part, I still felt like dancing. "Huh?" I looked around, and caught sight of the hand dragging my arm. It was attached to a beautiful woman with red hair, smiling easily at me. I tried not to notice her smooth skin, sweat-glistened body, or heaving chest. Didn't help a bit, but I tried. E for effort.
"Hey there, I'm Blaze."
"Nuke." I responded, yelling over the roar of music and bodies. She was with another group, but I was happy she had her attention on me.
"Hey Nuke, pleasure to meet you. This is Var." She indicated a tall man with a well-cropped goatee. He looked good, and I smiled naturally at him. I had the feeling I'd like this guy. "And this is Mariena," she continued, indicating a short girl with an easy smile and too-few clothes, "and Higurashi." She said, pointing to my friend from this morning.
"I know Higs," I said, feeling my hopes sink. "You here with him?"
"No," she answered honestly. "You looked a little lonely out there. Figured more is merrier."
"Lonely's right, you could've done a far cry better."
"Don't start talking like that," she said, shaking her head. Did nice things with her hair, but I didn't dwell on that. "I could've left you out on the floor. No point in being a pessimist. We're all friends here. C'mon, I'll get you a drink."
"Alright, I guess."
We ended up back at the bar, and Fraught caught my eye and smiled, "Same drink, Nuke?"
"Yeah."
"Cool, rest of you guys?"
They ordered, and we found ourselves a wall space relatively uncluttered by dancers. Didn't stop me, though, I bobbed with the music as we talked. "So, Blaze, tell me a bit about yourself."
"Eh... Not a lot to tell. Got through college, found a nice job, kept my favorite hobby from my college days."
She was through college? Damn, I figured her for twenty, maybe twenty-one on the outside. "Clubbing?"
"Firedancing."
"Pyromancy," I said, mostly to myself. "You have the look for it." Body too, but I wouldn't go admitting that out loud.
"Thanks," she said, rewarding me with a smile, "I enjoy it."
"Let me know if you're ever doing anything, I'd love to see it."
"I think I could arrange a private showing later." I gawked for a moment, but her smile was solid.
"Really now?"
"Yeah, Var and I are new in town, so I've got nothing against making new friends."
I managed to keep my eyes on hers, just barely, "You won't have any trouble with it."
"You're sweet," she said. She leaned against Var a lot closer than was necessary. "Var and I are going to go. We've been here since yesterday, and we're a little tired. I hope to see you around some more. C'mon love." She lead Var away by the hand, and I watched her go thinking about how good those she made those jeans look.
I looked at Higs. "Man, she's hot."
"Yep. Shame she's loyal to Var."
"You asked?"
"Didn't need to." He said, looking at them leave the club, "I know these things."
Mariena watched her leave as much as we did, "Yep. Shame she's straight."
"I have enough trouble with women in this town, Mari. Do you really have to make my life this much harder."
She turned to me, offended, "Would you go for other guys?"
I thought about Puppet. "No." Not anymore.
"Then why ask me to do the same?"
"Eh, point."
"We probably won't cross. I don't go for the straight ones. Much."
"Much?"
She smiled, and headed back out to the dance floor. I finished my drink, left the cup on the bar, and followed suit. A few hours later, I bumped into Mari, grinding against a beautiful young thing with hair all the colors of cotton candy. Despite being out there another several hours, I never ended up catching onto another group like I did with Blaze, but I had a lot of fun regardless.
At around eight, I was dead tired. I found my way to the bar, and asked Fraught if he'd seen Higs. Predictably, he nodded and pointed at the largest mass of girls in the room. I thanked him, went to go catch up with Higs. He was in the middle of the group, being flanked by beautiful women.
Somehow, his buttoned shirt had come mostly undone, and his hair was the type of tousled you can only manage with hours of sweat and hands in them. He looked happy, and the girls were all too happy to be devouring him with their eyes. I didn't have to ask how his shirt got unbuttoned, or where his undershirt had gone.
"Higs, I'm dead. I'm going to head out, will you need a ride?"
"What do you think, ladies?" Hands held onto him, practically holding him up. I lost count of how many were under his clothes, "Can one of you give me a ride later?"
They all nodded enthusiastically, and I wondered how many would have had boyfriends who would protest that decision. It didn't matter, Higs could've had them all in bed within a few hours. Not that it mattered to me.
I left the club, a high-pitched thrum still hurting my ears. The ground was shaking around the warehouse, probably from the rush of bodies inside. I cleared my head, and felt my body trying to decline further work on principle. My muscles burned, but no rest for the weary. I willed myself to start a jog, and managed to clear myself of the warehouse, and the port side of town. By the time I was approaching the city proper, there were enough cabs to catch one back to my apartment. I found my cat on the windowsill, mrowling at me.
I scratched his ears, "Hey Veru. We're going to find a kitten for you to play with tomorrow. You interested?"
He rubbed his face against my hand, which I took for a yes, and settled into bed. Even though it couldn't have been any later than nine, I passed out as soon as I hit the pillow. I dreamed about bass drives, lights, and tropical-looking drinks.
Either way, when I got a call this morning, I figured it'd be better than moping around my apartment all day with nothing to do. Higs was even "nice" enough to take my phone from me so I'd stop calling Neesa. Who still wasn't answering.
Either way, MrLS had a unique club. Most dance clubs open at late-as-hell and close down at sun up. LS preferred a more twenty-four hour approach. If anything, it just meant customers stuck around longer. The club, a warehouse near the port, has always been one of the usual flirts for troubles. The Mods were there ten days out of nine, usually looking for people on the lam, but occasionally keeping an eye on the import/export businesses that deal in things several shades more illegal than trinkets. Either way, not the neighborhood I would commit myself to if I had the choice.
Still, Higs was the host for the evening, so I was a victim of both the time of day and the locale of other's choosing. The outside was quiet, in an industrial kind of way, still hand the undercurrent of the kind of place no one really went but dock-workers and drug dealers. The inside, however, was dark, covered in a haze that only too much heat and humidity can bring. The warehouse pulsed with the sound of really loud music and the stomp of hundreds of bodies.
I couldn't hardly hear myself think, but the flashing lights and curving bodies around me were directing my subconscious somewhere, even if I had no idea where I was going. "Enjoy yourself," Higs said, clapping me on the back and gliding into the crowd. I watched him as he made it halfway to the bar and already had a young woman on his arm.
"You can always spot the beasts of the club," LS said from beside me, eyes following Higs' progress. "But that's like anyone in their element. Calm, collected, cool. Professional."
"Working for the club's changed you, LS. Given how much body-traffic I see in here, you must be making bank."
"Enough to keep an income, that's really all anyone needs."
"I hear you. I'm going to go work the club."
"Don't work too hard," LS replied, heading through the crowd as if they weren't there. I frowned, and headed into the mess of bodies. Acid techno's never been my thing, but that seemed to be the lifeblood of this club. I wasn't up for dancing, so I settled on the bar instead. The bartender was another face I recognized, Fraught. "What can I get y- Whoa, hey Nuke."
"Heya," I answered, screaming over the club music. "How've you been?"
"Business as usual. Working. Pay is good, though."
"Wish I could empathize."
"Jobless?"
"And dejected." I answered honestly. "Anyone I would know around here?"
"Possibly. All I see are faces, names don't stick with me. They're wallets to me, professionally speaking."
"Eh, I know what it's like. Customers are just customers. Cogs in the machine."
"Yep. If there's anything I can get you, let me know."
"Roy Rogers, on the rocks."
"Ha ha, I haven't had someone order that on me before. You the driver?"
"'Fraid not. I'm here with Higs though."
"Oh God, he's going to have a ride tonight."
"In more ways than one."
He chuckled, "Heh, no kidding. It'll be on the house, since he'll be drinking."
"Thanks much."
"No problem, have fun man."
I listen to lots of music in my apartment, and I my car if I ever drive, but it'll never match hearing it done in concert with the press of bodies everywhere. Clubs have big, high-bass sound systems, and are the next closest things. Sometimes louder. I found myself lost in the press of bodies, and naturally twitching with the populous.
People naturally group up, and I ended up in another group. The music was too loud for conversation, so we danced instead. It's pretty easy to get lost in time when at a dance club, and it gets hard to tell the difference between 1 AM and 1 PM in the right setting. No windows, synthetic lights, and the disorienting music made me lose track of how long I was out dancing. However long it was, I had made a few friends on the dance floor.
The tracks were switching, though it was hard to tell, and I felt myself being jarred away from the pulse of the crowd. Instinctively, I checked my watch, 3 PM. We'd been here at least five hours. I hadn't noticed, and the worst part, I still felt like dancing. "Huh?" I looked around, and caught sight of the hand dragging my arm. It was attached to a beautiful woman with red hair, smiling easily at me. I tried not to notice her smooth skin, sweat-glistened body, or heaving chest. Didn't help a bit, but I tried. E for effort.
"Hey there, I'm Blaze."
"Nuke." I responded, yelling over the roar of music and bodies. She was with another group, but I was happy she had her attention on me.
"Hey Nuke, pleasure to meet you. This is Var." She indicated a tall man with a well-cropped goatee. He looked good, and I smiled naturally at him. I had the feeling I'd like this guy. "And this is Mariena," she continued, indicating a short girl with an easy smile and too-few clothes, "and Higurashi." She said, pointing to my friend from this morning.
"I know Higs," I said, feeling my hopes sink. "You here with him?"
"No," she answered honestly. "You looked a little lonely out there. Figured more is merrier."
"Lonely's right, you could've done a far cry better."
"Don't start talking like that," she said, shaking her head. Did nice things with her hair, but I didn't dwell on that. "I could've left you out on the floor. No point in being a pessimist. We're all friends here. C'mon, I'll get you a drink."
"Alright, I guess."
We ended up back at the bar, and Fraught caught my eye and smiled, "Same drink, Nuke?"
"Yeah."
"Cool, rest of you guys?"
They ordered, and we found ourselves a wall space relatively uncluttered by dancers. Didn't stop me, though, I bobbed with the music as we talked. "So, Blaze, tell me a bit about yourself."
"Eh... Not a lot to tell. Got through college, found a nice job, kept my favorite hobby from my college days."
She was through college? Damn, I figured her for twenty, maybe twenty-one on the outside. "Clubbing?"
"Firedancing."
"Pyromancy," I said, mostly to myself. "You have the look for it." Body too, but I wouldn't go admitting that out loud.
"Thanks," she said, rewarding me with a smile, "I enjoy it."
"Let me know if you're ever doing anything, I'd love to see it."
"I think I could arrange a private showing later." I gawked for a moment, but her smile was solid.
"Really now?"
"Yeah, Var and I are new in town, so I've got nothing against making new friends."
I managed to keep my eyes on hers, just barely, "You won't have any trouble with it."
"You're sweet," she said. She leaned against Var a lot closer than was necessary. "Var and I are going to go. We've been here since yesterday, and we're a little tired. I hope to see you around some more. C'mon love." She lead Var away by the hand, and I watched her go thinking about how good those she made those jeans look.
I looked at Higs. "Man, she's hot."
"Yep. Shame she's loyal to Var."
"You asked?"
"Didn't need to." He said, looking at them leave the club, "I know these things."
Mariena watched her leave as much as we did, "Yep. Shame she's straight."
"I have enough trouble with women in this town, Mari. Do you really have to make my life this much harder."
She turned to me, offended, "Would you go for other guys?"
I thought about Puppet. "No." Not anymore.
"Then why ask me to do the same?"
"Eh, point."
"We probably won't cross. I don't go for the straight ones. Much."
"Much?"
She smiled, and headed back out to the dance floor. I finished my drink, left the cup on the bar, and followed suit. A few hours later, I bumped into Mari, grinding against a beautiful young thing with hair all the colors of cotton candy. Despite being out there another several hours, I never ended up catching onto another group like I did with Blaze, but I had a lot of fun regardless.
At around eight, I was dead tired. I found my way to the bar, and asked Fraught if he'd seen Higs. Predictably, he nodded and pointed at the largest mass of girls in the room. I thanked him, went to go catch up with Higs. He was in the middle of the group, being flanked by beautiful women.
Somehow, his buttoned shirt had come mostly undone, and his hair was the type of tousled you can only manage with hours of sweat and hands in them. He looked happy, and the girls were all too happy to be devouring him with their eyes. I didn't have to ask how his shirt got unbuttoned, or where his undershirt had gone.
"Higs, I'm dead. I'm going to head out, will you need a ride?"
"What do you think, ladies?" Hands held onto him, practically holding him up. I lost count of how many were under his clothes, "Can one of you give me a ride later?"
They all nodded enthusiastically, and I wondered how many would have had boyfriends who would protest that decision. It didn't matter, Higs could've had them all in bed within a few hours. Not that it mattered to me.
I left the club, a high-pitched thrum still hurting my ears. The ground was shaking around the warehouse, probably from the rush of bodies inside. I cleared my head, and felt my body trying to decline further work on principle. My muscles burned, but no rest for the weary. I willed myself to start a jog, and managed to clear myself of the warehouse, and the port side of town. By the time I was approaching the city proper, there were enough cabs to catch one back to my apartment. I found my cat on the windowsill, mrowling at me.
I scratched his ears, "Hey Veru. We're going to find a kitten for you to play with tomorrow. You interested?"
He rubbed his face against my hand, which I took for a yes, and settled into bed. Even though it couldn't have been any later than nine, I passed out as soon as I hit the pillow. I dreamed about bass drives, lights, and tropical-looking drinks.
(Part 13 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/18.72805.3536378] available now for an unlimited time!) [small]Void where prohibited, not valid wherever Escapist Magazine is unavailable. See store for details.[/small]
Incidentally, anyone wanna go clubbing with me?
I guess I could try my hand at this.
The Bargain, by me. [http://EcoEclipse.deviantart.com/art/The-Bargain-139225425]
It's my second short story, currently writing the third, at the very moment. The first one is stored on my other computer, so I can't put it up here right now.
The Bargain, by me. [http://EcoEclipse.deviantart.com/art/The-Bargain-139225425]
It's my second short story, currently writing the third, at the very moment. The first one is stored on my other computer, so I can't put it up here right now.
Some more artwork I've been doing.
The first...I'm not sure who she is. All I know is that she's a painted elf: the explanation of that term should be evident upon seeing her. Aside from the character, I think I did the jungle-ish background pretty well.
This one isn't quite done yet. I think it might become a piece of sequential art, pulling out frame-by-frame to reveal the entire picture.
The first...I'm not sure who she is. All I know is that she's a painted elf: the explanation of that term should be evident upon seeing her. Aside from the character, I think I did the jungle-ish background pretty well.
This one isn't quite done yet. I think it might become a piece of sequential art, pulling out frame-by-frame to reveal the entire picture.
Greetings friends =D
I am once again calling on the great artists of the Escapist to draw one of my D&D characters. I've been playing this guy for awhile (started at level 3, now he is level 8) and have only just started to realise how fun he is to play.
Vee is a Swashbuckler/Rogue, halfway between dashing hero and cheating scoundrel. He tries to avoid a fair fight, always flanking or sneaking up on his foes. Vee is quite tall and slender but still quite strong, he weilds two Kukri (google images has some cool stuff for those unsure) and has a small crossbow just incase. He wears a chain shirt with some colourful clothing and some dull clothing.
I've been so happy with the other drawings that have been done, the first one of my wizard is attached to his character sheet in my "retired characters" folder and one of the pictures of Cruxx may one day end up tattood on me somewhere.
Thanks in advance guys, if you need any more infomation, let me know =D
I am once again calling on the great artists of the Escapist to draw one of my D&D characters. I've been playing this guy for awhile (started at level 3, now he is level 8) and have only just started to realise how fun he is to play.
Vee is a Swashbuckler/Rogue, halfway between dashing hero and cheating scoundrel. He tries to avoid a fair fight, always flanking or sneaking up on his foes. Vee is quite tall and slender but still quite strong, he weilds two Kukri (google images has some cool stuff for those unsure) and has a small crossbow just incase. He wears a chain shirt with some colourful clothing and some dull clothing.
I've been so happy with the other drawings that have been done, the first one of my wizard is attached to his character sheet in my "retired characters" folder and one of the pictures of Cruxx may one day end up tattood on me somewhere.
Thanks in advance guys, if you need any more infomation, let me know =D
Y'know what? I haven't drawn a D&D character since I did Cornelius, my singing Cleric, So I think I'll give this a shot.zen5887 said: