reality_crossroads | (no subject)

[Marty thanks the bartender and heads over to the general area of the karaoke machine, waving at any curious patrons] Hey folks! Got an oldie here for you -- well, it's an oldie where I come from. [he moves the guitar around to the front, strums a couple of practice chords, then launches into "Johnny B. Goode."]

[And it quickly becomes apparent that, if anything, Doc was underselling his musical talents. He plays that guitar like he was born with one in his hands]

*Mr. Nancy sits back and enjoys the show.*

[As does Doc, who applauds along with the rest of the patrons as Marty wraps up the song, takes a bow, then vacates the "stage" for the next person] Bravo!

[Marty grins] Yeah, guess they liked me, eh Doc?

I certainly liked it. You're very good, young man.

[Marty nods] Thanks. I've had a -- [flexes his hand, his smile turning a touch brittle around the edges] a lot of practice.

More than you might like? *He's a canny old god, is Mr. Nancy.*

[Marty sighs] Yeah -- and without anybody even really appreciating it.

[Doc pats his shoulder] Those days are behind us now. These people know what you're worth.

I certainly appreciate it. There can never be enough music in the would.

[That gets another genuine smile out of Marty] Yeah -- I've wanted to be a musician for years. And I refuse to let that bastard who took me and pretended to give me everything I wanted ruin it for me.

[Doc nods, expression serious as steam hisses out from under his coat] Hear hear.

*He nods and has another drink.* Don't let the bastards get you down.

[Marty, with a little nod of his own] I try not to. [then he smirks] Helps to imagine just how pissed off the asshole must have been after I booked it -- and now he can't even get to me at all. [Unless The Agent somehow shows up in the Nexus. . .a continual fear, but one that has become much less worrisome as the years have passed and there's still no sign of him]

I imagine that helps rather a lot.

[Marty grins, rather meanly] It does. [He leans on the bar] So, what's your story?

[Doc, with a laugh] You're going to have to specify which one, Marty.

*Nancy laughs as well.* I have several thousand just off the top of my head.

[Marty's eyebrows shoot up] Damn. Lead an exciting life, huh?

And a very long one, although not all my stories are about me. My family has their share as well.

[Doc nods] He was just telling one about his son.

[Marty nods back] Yeah, I guess if you and yours have been around the block a few times, you're gonna have some stories. [glances over at Doc] We've got a few of our own, don't we?

So I've heard.

[Doc, chuckling] I attempted to explain our familial situation and even he found it confusing.

[Marty, deadpan] Great -- we're weird even to immortals. Yay us.

Congratulations. *A chuckle.*

[Doc, now a bit thoughtful] To be fair, we've packed a lot of odd events into -- er, I suppose it's a normal human lifetime. It's hard to be sure when time acts so differently in Arcadia. . .

Most people take a longer time to have so many oddities happen, yes.

[Marty, nodding] Yeah, but as is probably obvious, we ain't most people. I think the most "normal" one among us is Victor, and even he woke up the dead once.

That's not so hard to do. *A moment of thought.* Probably harder for mortals, admittedly.

[Marty snorts] Yeah, for most of us, dead is dead. And Victor brought Emily back by accident, so. . .

[Doc, figuring he can provide some context] He was arranged to be married and was out in the woods to practice his vows -- and upon putting the ring on a hand-shaped branch, discovered it was actually a skeletal hand. Belonging to a murdered bride who rose to accept what she thought was a proposal.