10176/Sneak Peek

Sneak Peek
Date of Scene:	24 November 2019
Location:	A closed down warehouse in New York
Synopsis:	Roxy sneaks into the closed practice session of Five Times Novel
Cast of Characters:	Phantasm (Drago), Freefall

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Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Well, what to say about New York? It is still cold. And it is raining. Cold, cold COLD rain. So there's more than enough reason to want to be indoors than outdoors. However, there are not that many options around this area. With a bit more spacing than normal, there are some gaps between the buildings and a number of the buildings are surrounded by fences, gates locked shut. One warehouse in the area, while maintaining appearances, upon closer look is a bit different. The gate surrounding the mostly windowless brick building is not locked and there is the slight muffle of sound coming from within. Through the course of the morning, the occasional person has stepped in. The last pair of persons stepped in a few hours ago.

As for inside, the warehouse is definitely not abandoned. Other than the storage crates that have made permanent residence here, be it through a favor with the building owner, the lower floor has been temporarily fitted with sound proofing materials. A mockup of a dual level stage set is also in place, Guitar stands on the lower level with percussion instruments on the upper level. To far left side of the upper level, a traditional sit-down drum set. To the far right side, keyboards. In between the to types of sets is a standing drumkit and a stand for a keytar.

Despite the musical setup, there seems to be a very minimal amount of persons in the area. Other than the two men behind the guitars, Nick at the drums, a woman behind the microphone and another one behind the keyboard, a security type person standing off the side keeping a stern eye upon the ensemble, and a man seated behind a soundboard. There's not much going on in terms of people there. Which is understandable. This is a closed practice session after all.

Freefall has posed:
THE OUTFIT: A bubblegum-pink turtleneck sweater, tight black leggings, and a pair of fur-lined calf-boots. Roxy's not above rocking the White Girl Fall Ensemble, especially when it's damn cold out. For the rain, she's got a water-resistant jacket on, black, with purple cat-ears sewed onto the hood. It's extremely cute. She's a professional. Her hair? Also professional - those two-toned locks have been done back in a pair of pink-and-black pigtails, colors corkscrewing where her bangs are pulled away from her face.

THE SITUATION: She's just walking into this place. No problems at all! Since the last group of band members had entered, nobody's really given the place a second-glance, but Roxanne's walked past it THREE times, always checking and double-checking her phone (a brand-new sPhone, latest edition! It even has a FaceID security system which has failed every single time Roxy's done her hair differently.) On it, a text conversation:

AUBREY(?): ya babe place is a warehouse in a depot off of seventh and hartley XD
ROXY: dude this is gonna be so LIT i didnt know u were in a band thanks for the invite to the sesh <3 <3 <3
AUBREY(?): ya just push real hard on the door its tricky.

SURE, she spelled his name wrong. SURE, he got kicked out of the band for blabbing, and SURE she's just going to see what kind of music they do. She's bored, and she's *here*. That's the important thing. So when Roxanne finally does hear some muted beats pumping out of a door in one of the warehouses, all it takes is a little push, a little... well, a big push.

A kick.

*BOOM* goes the door, admitting a very flustered girl. She hops in, pushes the thing closed behind her, and immediately pulls her hood down to get a better look at things. She is NOT supposed to be here, but it's clear that she's enchanted by what she's seeing.

"OH holy CRAP! He wasn't lyin'! You guys are the band Obri's in? That's so cool!"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
There is a rapid beat of the drums as Nick is positioned behind the sit down drum kit. Hair let lose, several strands of his longish hair are plastered to his face from the accumulated glow of the practice session that has already been going on. This does give him one advantage as the uninvited attendee comes in, the sheer size of this kit is obscuring his face from the doorway but that is also giving him the disadvantage of not seeing her come in. The 'bang' that was not of his making is the only indication of what is going on. Well, that and that the other band members have stopped playing and are scrambling to turn away from from Roxy, while grabbing their masks to hide their faces. Shit. He ducks down, reaching for his own. The ring of the abandoned cymbal reverberates around the room

Bob the guard (agent?) shifts from his spot, looking not all that intimidating in his Drago-issued sweatshirt and jeans as he moves towards Roxy. "Can I help you?"

Freefall has posed:
Intimidating? Bob *is* intimidating, Drago-sweatshirt or no. Roxy's half his weight. She gives the guy a sunny smile while the band scrambles for their masks, and it's clear that she's got no interest in putting faces to names, or even in remembering faces. She's just trying to figure out where Obri went.

"Hey! Yeah. I met, uh. Obri? He's in the band and like, stopped returning my calls." IS ROXANNE A STALKER? She pulls her hood down, and starts pulling that jacket off - it's not raining in here, and her jacket's miserable.

"So I came here 'cuz he said he practiced here and I wanted to make sure he didn't, like, lose his phone or something! I did that once. It's THE WORST." Roxanne frowns as she speaks, just now putting some other possibilities through their paces. Is it possible that Obri just isn't into her? Could such a thing even be?

Roxy tries to think about something else, and pops up onto her tiptoes to peek over Bob's shoulder. Who ARE these frantically-trying-to-be-masked musicmakers?

"Oh my god. Is this like a Daft Punk thing?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The agent shifts, seemingly to block Roxy's view but he only goes as far to blocking the left side of the stage.

"OBri is no longer part of us." A female voice speaks up, turning around once the Tigress mask is in place. Due to the short notice, the chin jutting out from under the snout is lacking in any stage makeup that goes with the mask. "Mostly for pulling shit like this." The wolf masked, somewhat muscular, man chimes up, setting his guitar in the stand.

The bassist and keyboardest, male lion and female white owl don't say anything, instead quitetly tending to their instruments. While a hand reaches up from behind the drumset to stop the cymbal from ringing. Seems someone is having trouble with their mask. A thumbs up peeks up from behind the kit. Yes. EXACTLY like a daft punk thing.

Freefall has posed:
Above Bob's shoulder, Roxanne frowns thoughtfully. Her attention's focused on the female of the group, considering she's the one talking. 'No longer part of us' isn't exactly what she's used to out of musicians - it's a little high and mighty for her, rings with a sort of judiciary tone that sits awkwardly, but she's not about to pass judgment. Music's music, man. Bob gets a little hand on his chest, a miniscule *push* that probably doesn't do much to dissuade him. Roxy's just trying to get through.

"Oh," she replies, lamely. "Maybe Obri's all depressed, then? Though I don't know what kinda depression knocks a guy down so much a lil' Roxy doesn't pep him back up. Blegh." Roxanne *PUSHES* against Bob, at this point hopping up to try to see further past him. The drummer doesn't have his mask on yet! This is a rare chance to see Daft Punk -- unmasked!

She finds something else instead, hop-hop-HOPPING and using Bob as leverage to yank herself up even higher mid-hop. Eyes light up.

"Oh MAN! Is that a KEYTAR! You guys are so LEGIT! Why're you wearing animal masks? What kinda music do you do?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"We tried working with him. He chose to leave us." The Tigress points out, voice even paced. Even when talking, the singer seems to have control over the tempo of her words, "That is his doing."

The other players have opted not to continue speaking, minding their own areas while the owl moves over to duck behind the drum kit with the drummer. Likely to help the player with his attire.

As Roxy starts to hop, Bob reaches up, trying to keep Roxy from jumping. The task made a little harder from the pre-emptive shove from Roxy.

From behind the kit, the purplish black face of a raven peeks out with a long strand of brown hair draped over the face. Missing the rest of the outfit, the longish brown hair acts as the back of the mask while the jeans and Tee cover the rest of the body. Like the owl, this bird does not speak, allowing for a bit of confusion to the gender underneath the mask of the lean framed person. The raven just gives a nod at the question regarding the Keytar's existence. Yes indeed. That is a Keytar.

Freefall has posed:
Gawd. Roxy's NEVER seen somebody in a band act like such a zombie. Trippy. Are these Animorphs on drugs or something? She keeps trying to hop up and down against Bob, but frankly the guy's got a hamfist on her shoulder in half a second, and she's sort of restrained to her original spot. It means she gets an eyeful of uggo sweatshirt and Agent Smith as Tigra.

"You're talkin' weird, lady. Like, all..." Roxy doesn't know how to put her thoughts into words. She does know that she's stuck against this stupid security guard! As there's really nowhere she's able to go right now, she kinda... relaxes, takes a step back, and crosses arms over her slender chest. Frowns at the guard.

"I'm not -GOING- anywhere. You can stand there forever, and I'm gonna be here! Obri bein' a flake is fine, but now I wanna know more about the band. When are you guys playin' next? Why's the tiger girl talk like she's taking a language test?" She's unable to see much beyond that, and the drum kit is unfortunately out of her field of vision.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The mouth under the Tigresses mouth forms into a frown, and likely if it wasn't for the mask, there probably would be a visible narrowing of the eyes to accompany the expression. "I'm -"

Mask secured and seeing the tense situation from his *ahem* perch, the raven gets up from behind the kit and starts to make his way down from the second level.

The owl's head turns, watching the other bird descend before standing up from the kit, a soft but audible voice coming out from behind the mask, "The band's Five Times Novel and we're on a brief hiatus before we continue on our tour but you can check the website to find out where we'll be. Could you, not upset Kip, please?"

Freefall has posed:
Roxy's still stuck behind Bob. In a fit, she *pushes* against his arm from the side, which is a lot like trying to move a cement pillar. God, he's not strong but he IS big. 'Kip' will get to watch the young woman's head poke out from the side of their *extremely effective* guardsman, lavender eyes narrowed in unending suspicion.

"So your name's Kip! And this band's Five Times Novel? Sounds like an indie rock group, but your whole scene's way mellow for it." She sniffs a few times, but doesn't... push it. Well. She pushes Bob, but Bob's in her damn way.

"Why're you guys wearin' masks? You never answered my question. And like, why are the masks -animal- masks?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The tigress lets out a low growl of frustration as she brings up a p-HAND up to the side of her covered head. "Will! Can you just-?" She makes a gesture to Roxy before she walks back to the stage.

Despite the call to another, none of the band members move towards Roxy as Owl seems more concerned with following after the Raven who has finished its climb down from the upper level of the stage, heading over to a table set up a water cooler. With the delay to practice, might as well get some water.

Instead, the man seated over at the sound table gets up, walking over towards where Roxy is. Unlike the band, he is not wearing a mask but instead is wearing some well tailored dress pants and a deep purple dress shirt with sleeves rolled up and the top button undone. There is a black tie around his neck but it has been losened considerably. But other than the relaxed manner he is wearing the dress clothes, his hair is fully set in place. A short hairstyle with the back of the dark hair cutting off an inch below the bottom of the ears. He looks to be in his mid twenties.

He gives Roxy a warm smile, "Hello there. I'm William."

Freefall has posed:
Bob remains an inescapable wall of minimum-wage, donuts, and cheap cologne. Roxy just can't push past the guy. He's impossible to budge! She remains on the OTHER SIDE of the guard while Kip and William argue it out. The two birdfolk do their bird things together, as birds do, and William approaches Bob and Roxy, all suave and debonair and totally rocking his Orlando Bloom/Johnny Depp blend. It makes an impression.

"Roxanne," smiles Roxy, who's doing her best to look like she knows what's up, trapped as she is. "Sorry I busted up your practice. I was really just lookin' for Orbi. Aubrey." She can't remember his name. It's OK. It wasn't meant to be.

"Why're you all dressed up like you're on the cover of Vogue? This whole band's -weird-, man. Is it like, New-Age-Old-Age? I'm WAY confused."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
William chuckles, "Well, one of the perks of being behind the scenes and being good at what I do is that I get to wear what I want." He gestures to the visible part of band as they all start to gather at the break table, "They're primarily a rock group but it is very hard to peg a band into just one genre. Sometimes you just have to try something different." He gestures in the direction of the sound table, "Would you like a seat? Now that they're covered up, I don't think they'd mind if you observed quietly. So long as you don't share this location with others."

Freefall has posed:
Take that, Bob! Roxanne gives the security guard a smug little sneer as William's gratuity implies that she's welcome in the warehouse - presumably, the guard steps aside and admits her.

"Wait. So Obri takes off, ditches me, and I get a private showing of some hot up-and-comin' band's practice sesh? Sounds -wicked-. Just makes me wish I brought popcorn." Roxanne's step is light as she moves past Bob, and she wiggles fingers Kip's - the Tigress - way. Soon she's at the sound table, kicked back, hands behind her head, eyes to the band while they make themselves comfortable around the break table.

"I'll keep this place a secret. No problems there. Actually just came to see if anybody knew where Obri went, but I guess if you guys REALLY cut ties..." She frowns, and observes. William gets an especially critical eye. He's just too -formal-, suave, hot for this sort of thing.

"Are you some kinda Hollywood guy?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
With William taking over the plight of the Roxy, Tigress simply gives a slight nod to the now welcomed intruder's wave. She turns back towards the rest of the group while Bob seems to linger closer to their side of the room than the side the soundboard is.

"I wouldn't worry about Kip. She and O'Bri were a thing. You just managed to kick into a rather nasty bruise by bringing his name up." William's warm smile remains strong as he sits back at the soundboard, looking back to Roxy, "We wouldn't know where he is. After O'Bri said he was quitting, he just dropped all communication with us. For all we know, you might have been the last one to talk to him." The smile fades a bit as he glances over to the break table, "Oh, I'm not the Hollywood guy. I prefer staying out of the spotlight."

Freefall has posed:
Roxanne watches the band linger around the break table, yuk it up with Bob, and otherwise go about their business. She doesn't seem too terribly enthused by any of this - on the bright side, she's not the sort that's going to blow the group's cover. On the other hand, she's not exactly a raving fan. Really, the place strikes her as more of a weird animal-enthuiast group or some other sort of niche interest. So her attention loiters on William, who's pouring on the ol' mega-charm. Except here, it DOES come off as a little greasy. But like, expensive grease.

Dangerous grease, maybe. Roxanne's Creep Factor goes up to 10, which is unfortunately also enough to pique her interest.

"Oh it's pronounced O'Bri? That's so wicked! It's like an Irish thing, huh?" Roxanne never learned how to -say- his name, and he didn't bother correcting her during their hangout at a club the other night. She traces a fingernail over an earlobe, thoughtfully.

"Your whole BAND prefers stayin' out of the spotlight. Surprised you're not in a mask. You got two birds, a tigress... It's like the Lion King up here. You could be a BABOON or whatever and it'd make total sense."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
William snickers at the comment, shaking his head. "A baboon I am not." He leans over to the mic, pressing a button, "Ready when you are." His voice carries over to the other side of the room through the speakers. Yes, he could have yelled but, well, sound guy. He turns to look back to Roxy as the band members move towards the set, "It's not the Lion King but the mask theme is more a play on the band's name."

As the masked members get back into place and the wolf and lion are satisfied with the condition of their string instruments, Kip gives a nod towards the raven. "Through the Robe."

The beak tilts up and down as the long haired raven lifts up his sticks, clacking off the countdown before kicking off into a heartbeat like sound, the owl looks over to the Raven before kicking off into her part.