location: The Hard Times
date: July 24th 2020
time: 7pm + later
availability: open !! @thecatastrophicstarters
other: event para that can take place any time in the night
The Hard Times was alive with energy, and Ray felt it thrumming under his skin. The flyers, with Livia’s help, had turned out gorgeous. Ray hung them around town with the help of some of Fairvale’ citizens, and the hope that someone would turn up for the party. They had the machines dusted off, the guitars tuned, the tables re-arranged, and a brand new beer ready for debut.
Even Ray himself was all shiny and new. He had a successful haircut with Addy, who shaved the sides down so smooth that Ray could feel whenever a gust of wind blew by. Ray also trimmed his beard to be less caveman. The white button down shirt was his last clean top, his jeans and boots were dusted off, and his cowboy hat was out in full effect.
The Hard Times had never looked so full of live and Ray beamed with joy at the turnout. He would never take full credit for anything, but Ray had a hand in planning all of this, and helping it come together, and there was pride in what they had accomplished. Ray had hoped that the town could finish its mourning and turn over a new page, and the residents seemed to agree with him.
It would be wrong to have anyone else start off the night on karaoke. Ray held the mic up to his mouth, just far enough away to avoid feedback, and waited for the crowd to simmer down.
“Good evening, everyone. For those of y’all who don’t know me, I’m Ray. Consider me one of your hosts for the night.” If Fairvale ran off of solar power completely, Ray’s smile could fuel the entire town for tonight. “Thank all y’all for being here tonight to celebrate with us. I’ll be takin’ feedback of the beer, too. Unless it’s negative. That can wait for tomorrow.”
I’ve Got Friends In Low Places was an oldie. Ray loved the simple twang, the ridiculous lyrics, and the general mood of the song. It was a southern karaoke classic and a Garth Brooks masterpiece.
“I figured I’d get us started off on karaoke tonight with an old classic.”
Ray sang his heart out, of course. He had had the song memorized by the age of twelve and didn’t need any screen to assist him with the words. Ray could carry a tune, and a country classic was right in his wheelhouse. He emphasized lyrics, raising his homemade beer glass when the line “and the beer chases my blues away” hits at the chorus and makes a whole performance out of it. By the end of his song there was a flush on his face, a slight sheen of sweat from nerves and all of his moving, and a warm feeling in his chest. This was exactly what he wanted when he arrived to Fairvale, and he can’t help but feel like it was good to go be true, still.
Ray handed off the microphone to the next in line. As much as he loved socializing, Ray didn’t want or need to be in the spotlight for very long. Ray grinned over at the next face he saw, taking a long pull from his beer - his beer, not some old stale ale stuffed away and flat - and let out a happy noise.
Addy hadn’t had a chance all night to grab Ray. When she first got to the bar she planned on trying to grab him right from the start but he was busy starting off the night and then Addy quickly got lost in the events of the evening. Any time it felt like she tried to make her way to the bar to get his attention he was either busy or someone grabbed her attention and Addy was, most the time quite literally, pulled away.
Still she was determined to at least get his attention for a few seconds to tell him how great the beer was and try to con him into closing out the night with a song just like he opened it. Addy pushed her way through the crowd and forced herself to the end of the bar and sat there staring holes into the back of Ray’s head as he served out drinks to a few others.
Addy likes to think her psychic powers are what willed him to look in her direction after she spent a good five minutes just staring at him hoping it would get his attention. Addy flashed a huge smile and waved him over. “I know everyone wants their ten seconds with the host but I am clearly the most important person here so it’s my turn.”