Serenade (Mick, Josef, Beth, OC; G) 2011

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Tam
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Serenade (Mick, Josef, Beth, OC; G) 2011

Post by Tam »

I promised my next fic would be more cheerful than the last :yes:

Title: Serenade
Rating: G
Characters: Mick, Josef, Beth, OC
Spoilers: none
Summary: Josef never sings in public – or so he says (humour)
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine, no money is being made and no infringement is intended.

Serenade



The City of Angels was spread out beneath him, her lights winking up at him, whispering to him like a temptress. Down there, thousands of eager pulses beat for him, hammering his name in human Morse Code. But he was stronger than his nature now. He resisted its pull, ignored the burn in his gums aching to release his fangs. He would not give in. He was the city's protector, its shadow hunter. He was--
"Mick!"
Mick frowned and ignored the voice from the balcony. He concentrated on the city again. He was the city's protector. He rid the streets of dangers worse than himself, saving those very necks he ached to-
"Mick, I know you're up there. Stop playing with yourself and get down."
Mick growled and tore his eyes away from the view.

"I'm not playing with myself!" he called back, "It's called 'private time', Josef, and it's supposed to be private."
"That's what I said. Private time," his friend replied from the balcony, "personally, I don't get why you need to jump onto your rooftop for that when a bathroom mirror and a box of tissues-"

In a flash, Mick jumped down from his favourite thinking spot on the edge of the roof and landed right in front of Josef, cutting off his words with bared fangs and bright steely eyes.
"What do you want?" he growled.
"To sing and dance!" Josef replied cheerfully, unperturbed by his friend's anger. "Well, or just to sing, for starters. Come on, let's go!"
"Go where?" Mick asked, his eyes melting back to their mortal hue, his anger fading. Despite himself, he was curious.

"To the Thai Oasis, my friend." Josef grinned. "I know what you're thinking," he said, shaking his head as if Mick had just suggested something naughty, "I have to admit, when I first heard of it, I thought we were going for Asian food too, you know – nice hot-blooded Thai freshies? Or maybe a good massage-" One look at Mick told him he'd better get to the point, soon. "It's a karaoke bar. A couple of girls invited me. Drinks are on them, if you know what I mean."

"What?" Mick exclaimed. "No. No, no, no, I'm not going to be singing in public!"
"Why not? You have before! You were in a band, and everything! And this time you won't even have to dress up like a pineapple surprise-" Josef cut off quickly and tried to control his smirk.

Mick sighed. Most humans had one decade of bad fashion sense. If there was one downside about living forever, it was that you got multiple. He was still getting over the Hawaiian shirts of the 50s when the suits of the 80s came along.

Josef was giving him a long look. "You can ask Beth to come. It could be an actual date, without the murders and the crime scenes. I heard women like that sort of thing."

Mick cocked his head and thought about it. The idea had merits. "Alright. I'll ask her. But I'm not singing!"

Josef beamed him a knowing smile.

**

"Tell me again why I am here," Mick said petulantly, staring up at the neon sign of the bar. Now that they could hear the muted singing from inside, he was having second thoughts.

"Because my freshies like karaoke."

"Yes, that's why you're here. But why am I here?" Mick snapped.

Josef also looked up at the neon sign and groaned. "Because you're my best friend, and shared suffering is half the suffering." He was about to add something about usually preferring his pain dealt out by women dressed like the Cleaners, but decided against it as he saw Beth walk up.

Out of nowhere, he conjured a charming smile to go with Mick's honest one at seeing his girlfriend. What were a few hours against the 400 years he had lived? And how bad could this really be?

Half an hour later, Mick and Josef knew how bad. They were listening to a redheaded woman screeching her lungs out to an 80s power ballad that sounded like it was never going to end. The sound was grating on their nerves, even more so because of their well-tuned vampire hearing.
"Someone ought to silence that woman," Josef muttered. "I know I always say I like them vocal, but this is really pushing it."
"Then why don't you sing something, Josef?" Beth suggested, her cheeks flushed from excitement. She had just given her version of "Material Girl", which, Josef had been surprised to note, was rather good. Now if only she'd been wearing one of those pointy bras...
"No thanks, I don't sing," he replied politely, dispelling the image of Beth dressed up as Madonna. "I'm just here for the easy women."
Beth rolled her eyes. Ignoring his last comment, she concentrated on his statement about singing. "Ever?" she asked.
"Ever," Josef confirmed. Mick snorted.
Josef raised his eyebrow. "Do you have something to say, Mick?" he asked.

"Just that," Mick started, wiping invisible tears of laughter from his eyes, "you say you don't sing, when only weeks ago, you serenaded Simone."
Josef narrowed his eyes. "No, I didn't," he replied testily. Mick really needed to learn to keep some things to himself!
"Not unless you don't call singing love-songs at the top of your lungs at somebody's balcony serenading you didn't!" Mick continued merrily, pretending to be unaware of Josef's lidded silver look.
"What? Simone never told me about this," Beth said eagerly.
"That's because I told her I'd kill her if she did," Josef tried.
"Yeah, right." Beth rolled her eyes again, bringing another snigger from Mick. Her old Buzzwire scoop-instincts were triggered. Josef knew she'd never let it go now.

"So what happened? I thought the great Josef Kostan always got what he wanted? But if you had to stoop to singing..." Beth didn't even try to conceal her amusement. Josef glared at his friend for encouraging her. How he longed back to the days when people still feared vampires! He sighed defeatedly.
"If you must know," Josef started, trying to ignore Mick's smug grin, "All of it was Mick's fault, anyway. If he hadn't suggested I'd join him on a stake-out..."

[4 weeks earlier]

"Why would I want that? These things are always incredibly boring, I remember the last time-"
Mick produced a picture of a beautiful young blonde.
"You may get to spy on her having sex."
"Okay, I'm in," Josef corrected swiftly.
Mick grinned. After 60 years, he knew exactly what to say to convince his friend. And stake-outs were really more fun if you had someone along. And so, half an hour later, they were sitting in his car with the lights out, watching an office exit from across the street. Mick knew Josef was getting bored by the way he fidgeted, checking his watch and wetting his lips to speak and then deciding against it, every few minutes. Finally, he spoke, turning to face Mick and taking his eyes off the office.
"So when is she-?"
"Now. Duck!" Mick replied curtly, having noticed the automatic doors opening and a woman stepping out to walk to her car. They scooted down in their seats so she wouldn't see them as she passed. Mick studied the backlights in his rear-view mirror and waited until she was at the end of the street before sitting up and starting his car. Josef was satisfied for now, his eyes glittering like a schoolboy's.

They followed the woman to a gas station, where she picked up a pack of cigarettes and lit one in her car.

"I thought humans smoked afterwards," Josef remarked drily.
"Maybe she's nervous," Mick replied, studying her. She was looking for something in her purse.
Josef sat back in his seat, glancing up at the roof of Mick's convertible idly.
"You know, it's a pity you don't smoke anymore, I have this box of Cubans at my office, and there's something immensely satisfying about knowing someone hand-rolled--"
"Josef- I'm trying to concentrate."
"Oh. Sorry."
The woman had taken out her phone and was talking quietly, her car window slightly opened to let out the smoke and to allow her to tip the ashes from her cigarette. The distance was no barrier to their vampire hearing.

"Hey honey. I'm still at work. I know, we've ordered in pizza. It's gonna be late. I'm sorry. Okay, see you then. Don't wait up."


The woman dropped her cigarette out of the window and started her car. So did Mick. Josef grinned, the small-talk about cigars forgotten. They followed the woman's car to a block of restaurants. Mick drove by slowly, watching her get a table for two on the terrace before he parked in a side street.

"I figure if we got onto that roof," he said quietly, nodding at the building opposite of the restaurant, "we can see everything."
"Why don't we just take the table next to hers?“ Josef asked.

"Well, we don't eat," Mick replied, "and I need to take pictures for her husband. It would draw too much attention to us." Josef shrugged. It wasn't as if they couldn't see just as well from across the street.

Mick reached for the camera bag on the back seat. It was Coraline's - Mick had gone back to her apartment after Lance took her, and decided to take it with him. It would be a shame to waste a professional camera, he had told himself. It had nothing to do with the fact that it was hers, and the last time she used it, they had kissed- It had nothing to do with that at all.

The woman ordered a drink and sipped it, looking around.
"Waiting for someone?" Mick muttered as he adjusted the camera on the tripod, focusing in on her. Josef stood by, leaning on the railing. His eyes scanned the street. No one came to join her. After a while, the woman took out a small notebook and started writing something down, occasionally looking up to check the coming and goings on the restaurant terrace.

"I guess vampires make good private eyes, being natural lurkers and all," Josef commented casually after a while.
"I'm not lurking," Mick replied quietly. "I'm observing."
"How about earlier on your roof? Where you observing too?"
Mick kept his eye on the lens, but he could hear his friend's smirk. "Yes."
"Ah."

Another fifteen minutes passed. The woman was still writing, and had ordered another drink.
"So...if you don't get the pictures, do you get paid?"
"Yeah."
"So technically you could just slack off and tell him she's innocent."
Mick paused. "I guess I could, but-"
"Yeah yeah, I know. Morals, scruples. That stuff."
"Yeah. That stuff."
"But your employer is more interested in the money shot, right? I mean, hiring a P.I. already means he doesn't trust her."
"Mmm."
"And when she finds out, their relationship is shot anyway, whether she did it or not."
"Probably, yes."
"So it'd be better for you if you got the shot."
"Is this leading somewhere, Josef?"
"Just asking."

Twenty minutes passed in silence.

"I'm bored," Josef stated.
"You don't say." Mick had to admit he was getting restless too. Maybe her date wasn't showing up. They had been watching her for over an hour. "I guess it's time to pack up and-- Josef?" Mick looked around on the rooftop. Josef was gone. Did he really just leave? Mick sighed and turned back to his lens. Then he blinked. Josef was crossing the street, hands casually in his pockets. He looked up over his shoulder and winked. He knew Mick was watching.

"Excuse me, do you mind if I sit down?" he asked politely. The woman didn't look up from her notes.
"Actually, I'm waiting for someone," she said dismissively.
"Well, would you mind if I waited with you? Just to keep the womanisers off you, of course."
The woman looked up, frowning a little, seemingly unsure whether to feel flattered or threatened. Josef was smiling his boyish smile, his amber eyes glittering mischievously. The woman hesitated. Then she offered him a smile and gestured at the empty seat.
"Why not. Hi, I'm Helen."
Josef's smile grew. "Nice to meet you, Helen. My name is Josef." He sat down at her table and studied her empty glass for a moment, pretending to hesitate.
"You already finished your drink. It must have been a fine wine, or maybe you were very thirsty. Either way, I am ordering you another." He signalled for a waiter.
Helen breathed in to protest, and then changed her mind. "Actually...I've been here for a while. But you're right, it's a nice wine."
Josef smiled. "We'll have two more of the...pinot noir?"
The waiter nodded and Helen looked at him, astounded. "How did you know that?"
Josef shrugged. "You seemed like the type," he said.

Mick snorted. Josef had heard her order it earlier. The guy was really pushing it. She would never go for that!

Helen smiled. "Really? And what type is that?" she asked, her voice considerably lower than before, warmer, and a little flirty. Mick shook his head in disbelief. Josef paused for dramatic tension.
"Complex," he said quizzically, "a little hedonistic...curious. Maybe you like danger."
Helen laughed.
"I think you like danger, Josef," she replied, leaning towards him. "How do you know the person I am waiting for isn't a professional boxer or an ice hockey player?"
"Oh, I hope so," he replied smoothly. "It means they've got good health insurance. They'll need that when I kick their ass for letting you wait here all alone."
Helen giggled.
"I'm sorry, Helen," Josef offered, "I'm not usually the aggressive sort – I guess you bring out my competitive nature. I hope you don't think I'm too forward, but I would never keep a beautiful woman like you waiting."
Helen shook her head. "It's okay. Besides...I'm not waiting here alone anymore."
Josef sat back in his chair. "No. I guess you're not."

Mick stepped away from the camera and rolled his shoulders. Josef was impossible. He had only taken him along for company – not to seduce the woman and produce the actual shot! But Josef was right – he would probably get more money if he took pictures... and maybe it didn't matter with whom the woman cheated. If she was in a good relationship, she wouldn't be shopping around at all.
With a pang of guilt, he thought about the kiss with Coraline again. It still doesn't mean anything, he told himself again. And besides, Beth was with Josh. If Coraline was here right now, it would leave him cold. Wouldn't it?

And speaking of cheating, what exactly was Josef thinking, anyway? What about Simone? Last time Mick had heard about it, things had been getting rather serious between his friend and the freshie lawyer. So why was he doing this? Just out of boredom, or to prove he could?

Mick looked back at the couple. The waiter had brought them their wine and a complimentary basket of fresh bread and olive oil to enjoy with it. Josef was still talking, working his charm, and Helen was listening raptly. With something between envy and annoyance, Mick watched as Josef dipped a piece of bread in the oil and held it out for the woman, who leaned over the table to take a bite, steadying his hand with her own. Mick sighed and got back to his camera, snapping a few pictures. Maybe he could signal Josef before this went too far. He didn't want his friend to get girl-trouble over this.

"Josef, I have to confess something to you," Helen said, swirling the dregs of her wine in her glass. She looked away for a moment, pausing before she glanced back at him. "I'm married."
"I know," Josef replied.
"You do?"
"Mm. To the professional ice hockey player who boxes in his spare time. Or was it the boxer who skates, I don't remember. Either way. The one without a watch."
Helen smiled. "Right. No, he's...he's an accountant, actually, and he has a watch...I'm just not meeting him here today."
Josef raised his eyebrows but said nothing, waiting for her to confess the rest of the story. Mick perked up – a witness statement was just as good as pictures. If she told Josef whom she was meeting in secret...

"I...told him I'm still at work. I came here to- well, you might think it's silly, but--"
"I don't mind silly, go on," Josef encouraged her.
"I am actually writing a book. John thinks it's a waste of time, but it makes me happy and I think I have a real chance at making this work. Being here inspires me. Watching these people, strangers, imagining what they are like, what kind of lives they have. Sometimes I write one of them into a story."

Mick saw Josef glance up at his rooftop. He knew the darkness hid him well enough for human eyes, but he still took a step back. Helen's husband had grown suspicious of the secrecy, the long hours at work...while she was just getting inspiration for a novel?

"Do I get to be in the story?" Josef asked, not giving up his game just yet.
Helen smiled, clearly glad he hadn't mocked her for her confession. "Maybe," she replied coyly. "But I should go now. John will be wondering what's taking so long."
"Okay, Helen. Tell him to keep his health insurance, though," Josef replied, getting up.

Mick started packing away the camera, and looked down onto the street for an opening to jump down unnoticed. That was when he saw her.

Simone. Driving down the street in her convertible. What were the odds? Mick glanced at Josef, who was helping Helen into her coat. Please just drive along, he thought fervently. Of course, the traffic light went to red. Simone stopped right next to the terrace, and idly glanced over to it as she waited. Mick could see her stiffen in her seat. It's nothing, he whispered to himself. Come on, Simone, drive on.

Helen laughed loudly at something Josef whispered into her ear while his hands brushed down the sleeves of her coat, and she leaned to him, kissing him on the cheek. Simone's car tyres screeched as she wrenched the steering wheel to the side, changing lanes and parking her car haphazardly across the sidewalk. She slammed the door as she got out.

Mick quickly jumped down from the roof and hurried across the street, but it was already too late. Simone had taken what was left in Josef wine glass and had thrown it into his face, paying no heed to the flushed woman who called after her as she stalked back to her car – Helen, trying to explain. Josef stood in the middle of the terrace, looking down on the pink stain spreading on his beige shirt, a puzzled expression on his face. Helen started dabbing his chest with her napkin while she muttered apologies. Mick walked up to them, paid off the angry-looking waiter, and escorted Josef out, leaving Helen with a wet napkin and a head full of interesting new strangers for her book.

Several hours and several drinks later, Josef picked up his cell phone again.
"Still no reply," he mumbled, his voice a little fuzzy. "I don't get it, I wasn't doing anything!"
Mick nodded sympathetically, almost as intoxicated as his friend was. Josef had been trying to call Simone all evening, and when her voice mailbox was full, sent her several text messages. He had already been to her house, but she wasn't answering her door. Feeling guilty, Mick had offered to stay up with him in a nearby bar.

"All women are the same," Josef slurred.
"Yeah," Mick agreed vaguely.
"They all make eyes at you, and then when you look back, they dump your drink in your face."
"Yeah, or they stake your friends," Mick chimed in. "Even if it was just a kiss..."
"Yeah, on the cheek," Josef continued.
"...no, I kissed her on the--- what?" Mick shook himself out of his thoughts and found Josef staring at him.
"What are you talking about?" Mick asked.
"Helen! What are you talking about?"
Mick frowned. "Nothing! Oh look, the lights in Simone's apartment went on!" he quickly said, diverting Josef's attention.

Josef rose and brushed down his stained shirt. "Okay, that means she's home. Here goes nothing."
Mick blinked. "What are you gonna do? You think she'll let you in?"
"She doesn't need to. I have a plan," Josef mumbled, and with a determined look, stepped up to her balcony.

**

Josef finished his story and waited for Beth to start laughing. Mick was still grinning smugly. After a few seconds of bracing himself, Josef opened his eyes. Beth's eyes had gone a little glassy.
"That's so romantic," she whispered.
Mick frowned. "He almost cheated on her. You think that's romantic?"
Josef said nothing. He was just as puzzled as his friend.
"But he didn't! It was a misunderstanding! And then he sang a Bon Jovi song..."
Beth's voice almost melted with longing – and Mick wondered if she would ever speak his name in the same way. Maybe there was a chance. He rose from his seat and squared his jaw, glaring at the man behind the bar, who was in charge of the karaoke system.

"Okay. How about Bed of Roses?"

Half an hour and a hurried exit from the bar later, Mick was back on his rooftop – but not alone. Josef was in his car, humming to himself, and making his way to Simone. His idea had worked, and he deserved a special reward.

--The End--
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francis
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Re: Serenade (Mick, Josef, Beth, OC; G) 2011

Post by francis »

:rolling: :rolling: :rolling:
Somehow, I detected some double entendre in this story. Who cheated almost on whom? I guess telling this story helped Josef and Mick out of some tight situation.

I loved this:
Mick sighed. Most humans had one decade of bad fashion sense. If there was one downside about living forever, it was that you got multiple. He was still getting over the Hawaiian shirts of the 50s when the suits of the 80s came along.
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Tam
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Re: Serenade (Mick, Josef, Beth, OC; G) 2011

Post by Tam »

:curtesy: thanks for the comments!

The 'pineapple surprise' wasn't really a good look for Mick :snicker:
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Re: Serenade (Mick, Josef, Beth, OC; G) 2011

Post by fairytoes »

Oh Tam! What a wonderful story! While the image of Josef singing makes me :giggle: . (sorry) the image of Mick singing (and a love song as well) makes me all :melts: !

Thank you for this funny and wonderful story. :flowers:
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Re: Serenade (Mick, Josef, Beth, OC; G) 2011

Post by Kylara »

:rolling: :rolling: Tam, this is great. You write Joesf so well.....
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Re: Serenade (Mick, Josef, Beth, OC; G) 2011

Post by jen »

Tam

That is absolutely delightful!

You have the relaxed friendship between Mick and Josef down perfectly. Josef does delight in torturing Mick and when he saw a way out of a boring situation, he jumped right in.

Then a fabulous case of unintended consequences when Simone came driving by.

Try as I might, thought, I am having a hard time visualizing Josef serenading or singing. At all.

Thank you!

Jenna

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Re: Serenade (Mick, Josef, Beth, OC; G) 2011

Post by Tam »

:rose: Thanks!

I can't really see Josef singing either (unless he's really, really drunk) so I think Simone may have just taken him back (and inside) to stop him torturing her neighbours :snicker:
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