sing me something soft, sad, and delicate

[gogglicious]

[ Though it'd been surprising to learn that Norman had the voice of an angel-- and Raz would say it every single time, regardless of how flustered the medium ever got over the whole thing-- it wasn't particularly surprising to learn that he had a major case of stage fright. Hell, you didn't even have to stick him in front of a lot of people to know that he was more of a wallflower than Dipper, just watch him in a smaller setting and watch how he gravitated away from most people.

So while they'd had difficulties getting Norman to even do vocals for their 'band' when it was just the two of them, it didn't even hold a candle to trying to talk him into performing on a stage. Even a little one.

Which lead to the brainstorming session where he and Dipper had opted to take him out to a karaoke bar.

That was proving pretty difficult to accomplish, too. ]

Seriously Norman, it'll be fine. We'll have our own little corner, we won't even have to go out into the like. Main area with all the people.

Comments

[mysterytwin]

[Dipper had been over the moon when Neil had introduced them to his roommate and he did not regret listening in on Norman singing in the shower. The stage fright thing wasn't even a big deal to him, he completely understood it. It was all a matter of curing him of his stage fright, just like Mabel had cured their Great Uncle of his fear of heights!

...well, maybe not exactly like that.

Dragging Norman to the karaoke bar was a task and a half. He slung an arm around Norman's shoulders, adjusting his glasses with a friendly smile.]

Raz is right. Nobody will bother us. They'll all be too busy listening to their own harping to worry about what we're doing.

[alittlecynical]

[Norman honestly stopped keeping track of what was even going on. He felt like he was just kind of swept up in this current of bands and hipster coffee joints and sleazy college bars. All he knew is that Neil had betrayed him and he was going to pay for it later.

Also he was apparently the lead singer in a band now.

Yeah he's still trying to figure that one out.

The only problem with this gig that he'd found himself helplessly recruited for is that, despite his proclaimed Voice of an Angel, he was damn near useless in a crowd. He clammed up every single time it was more than just himself and a mirror. (Hence why Neil had to sneak the other bandmembers a private listen while he was in the shower.)

He was kind of hoping that would be the end of it. Sorry, guys your singer is in another castle. But no.

Dipper Pines ad Razputin Aquato would not be goddamned deterred.

So here he was at a kareoke bar looking none-to-comfortable. He knew they wanted to get him to loosen up. It was going to take more than a drink to get him on the table. ]

I really don't think its going to make a difference.

[So may people...]

[gogglicious]

[ At the very least the manhandling been kept to a ... mild minimum-- slinging people over ones shoulder and all was totally a minimum, right-- in the process of getting Norman to actually go along with the whole idea. But actually getting him to sing was proving ineffective.

Understandable, if mildly exasperating. Raz sighed, arms crossed and feet kicked up onto the table as he considered the newly collected bandmate and his dormmate for a moment. ]

... [ And then a lightbulb almost visibly appeared over his head, followed shortly by a Cheshire grin before he hopped up and actually over the table to amble towards the bar. ]

Back in a minute, I have an idea! Keep at him, Dip. Don't let him run off.

[mysterytwin]

[Dipper rolled his eyes and quietly sighed into his hand as he watched Raz move off, calling out to him as he slid closer to where Norman was sitting, practically in his lap. If there was one way to stop someone from running off, it was sitting on them. He'd had plenty of practice with Mabel and Raz.]

I'm cutting you off if you start throwing fireballs again! I don't want to get banned from another karaoke bar.

[Still, it was probably a good idea. Alcohol would loosen Norman up in theory, but would it work in practice? It would only be known with time. Studies showed a lot of people lost their inhibitions after a certain amount was consumed, and living with Raz he knew that first hand.]

[alittlecynical]

[Norman was about to ask what the hell did that mean? when he'd suddenly been sat upon.

Now, let it be said that Norman had come a long way from what he was like in middle school. He wasn't nearly as stubborn about interaction, no longer he shut himself off as a loner. Neil had seen to him opening up a bit more, and while he was still very much a wallflower, preferring quiet and solitude over ...everything else, he was much more open minded now that he was in college.

That didn't mean Dipper sitting on him was okay.

So Norman jolted and tried to scoot back, despite being trapped under the hipster's ass.]

You- You're sitting on me.

[gogglicious]

Yeah yeah!

[ Raz disappeared into the main area of the bar, leaving Norman to his hipster ass filled fate. ]

[mysterytwin]

[Dipper blinked at the question before wincing a little. Sure he'd opened up a lot to the idea of being touched by people other than friends and family since he was a kid but there was a familiarity about the way Norman was reacting. He slid off just a bit and just sat next to him really close.]

Sorry, sorry. Can't let you get away and all that.

[alittlecynical]

[Okay, good, he got off of him. Norman tapped at the table somewhat nervously and looked around anywhere but at Dipper.]

I won't. I still think you should probably find someone else. I won't do you any good if I can't even step onto a stage.

[mysterytwin]

[He shifted a little, crossing one leg over the other as he peered around their booth to try spotting Raz before looking back at Norman. He gave a small shrug, leaning back in his seat.]

Well you never know. I mean Raz pretty much looses his inhibitions when he gets drunk so some liquid courage might be the thing you need.

[alittlecynical]

Don't you have to have inhibitions to lose them? [He gave Raz at the bar a quick glance.]

What was it you said about fireballs?

[mysterytwin]

Everyone has inhibitions, even if you don't know you do.

[He scratches his cheek with a little chuckle, remembering they didn't know much about each other.]

Raz is...kind of a psychic.

[alittlecynical]

[The sort of casual bold-faced way Dipper said that made Norman pause, blinking with surprise.]

Psychic? He can read minds and melt brains kind of psychic?

[gogglicious]

Among other things.

[ Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

With a tray full of drinks balanced on one hand. ]

[mysterytwin]

[Dipper pumps his fists into the air with a bit of a whoop before he picks up the song list, flicking through it a little absentmindedly.]

We were kind of banned from the last karaoke bar because he decided it'd be a good idea to juggle fireballs -- oooh, they've got BABBA listed.

[alittlecynical]

I can't really say I blame them, if that's the case.

[He glances at the tray suspiciously. Did he really want to trust drinks from this guy who's proven to be all but insane. Also yes, he's thinking that and you can read it too, if you want.]

[For now he takes the glass and just kind of holds it between his hands.]

[He has to raise an eyebrow at Dipper, though, because really.]

BABBA?

[gogglicious]

You don't have to take any, if you don't want to.

[ Raz's expression remained a perfectly calm little grin, no actual words coming out of his mouth as he projected his thoughts outwards. He's mostly gathering Norman's thoughts from a surface read and just his expression, but idly sets the tray on the table before he reaches to take the song list from Dipper. ]

We're not subjecting him to BABBA. You already subject me to it.

[mysterytwin]

[Dipper made a noise that sounded almost like a groan of exasperation, holding the song list as far out of Raz's reach as he could even though it would probably be in vain.]

I gave you those earplugs for Christmas for a reason.

[alittlecynical]

[Norman chokes on the tentative first sip of his drink.]

[gogglicious]

You project really loudly when you get songs stuck in your head! Earplugs only work for so much, Dipper!

[ Raz made to snatch the list away from him, but paused when Norman started to choke and blinked once, twice, at him. ]

You okay there dude?

[mysterytwin]

[Dipper stops in his reply when Norman choked, reaching to gently pat his back and tilt his head to see his face.]

First sip's a doozy there, ain't it?

[alittlecynical]

[He was choking because of you two dipshits. But he waves off their concern. He's fine, his nose just burns like the surface of the sun, that's all.]

Fine.

[Weeze. He waiting before knocking back an actual swallow of ...whatever he'd grabbed.]

[Okay, so Raz really was psychic, they were both loons, he was drinking in a bar he'd never seen before, and they were arguing over BABBA. Okay.]

...So, this band of yours.

[gogglicious]

[ Well he's not about to argue with that thought. Or, well. Those thoughts. Because they are pretty loony, no matter how much Dipper might deny it, and they are pretty big dipshits.

Welcome to the band, Norman. ]

Dipper plays keyboard and I play... prrrrretty much anything, but I like the drums.

[mysterytwin]

[Dipper was a normal boy until he roomed with you, Raz, thank you very much. Then you screwed with him. Literally. He gives a small shrug, pulling his hand away from Norman's back and crossing it across his lap, still holding the song list away from Raz.]

Neither of us can sing though, which is where you come in.

[alittlecynical]

[He still looked pretty skeptical.]

And you really think I'm the guy for your band.

[gogglicious]

Voice of an angel, and all.

[ Raz said it almost conversationally, but his smile widened easily as he spoke. For the time being, he let Dipper hold onto the song list-- but he had it in mind to just use telekinesis to yoink it from him. ]

But even if you wind up not joining, I'd still be down for hanging out more often. You seem like a pretty cool guy.