forum las vegas lights // oxo // closed

Started January 22, 2022 by @larcenistarsonist group

tune

(sorry for the short response–do we want to do a time-skip to the day of the concert perhaps?? also!!! happy 500 posts!!)

Felix nudges his elbow into Damian's side. "Oh I'm sure you won't be talking to anybody incredibly dangerous. If anything, you're just going to have to avoid the hoard of college students that get a kick out of those kind of gigs. Oh, also, don't mention that you're a cop. That's the one way to kill the mood and get a target on your back." He tilts his head and does one last survey of the maps before reaching to roll them up. He doesn't want to look at them any longer. He's already memorized every nook and cranny of the warehouse; he's practically lived there for the past, god, three years? Felix has to take a moment to recall exactly how old he is. Oh, his birthday is coming up. He'll be thirty and thriving without having done a signal significant thing other than swindle and win severely hundred-thousand dollars from Vegas's most elite. "And we don't have to have any special sort of meeting thing. Just send me, like, the sunglasses emoji if something comes up and we can meet by the bar." It's a subtle enough meeting place, one that won't draw too much attention if they have to sneak away to a quieter spot.

With a check of his watch, Felix sets the rolled maps down on Damian's counter. "I should get going, doll. I got a roommate to pester and some beauty rest to obtain." He smiles and winks. "Not that I need any." He laughs softly at his own joke and makes his way to the front door. "I'm just a call away if you have any burning desires to speak with me." He waves his hand dramatically as he smoothly opens the front door. "I'll see you Saturday," and then he adds with a smirk. "Or before then, if you'd like." He swings his key ring in his left hand and ducks out the door, unlocking his car from the distance.

(Happy 500 posts! Yeah, I think a time skip would be good.)

He sighed, "Right." The last thing he'd want to do his blow his cover and ultimately ruin this case. On the other hand, Felix had a point. It's true. There's only going to be people there you just want to drink, listen to music, and have a good time. And he's interviewing Braxton Dane, not some mafioso. Although for all he knew, Braxton could have some sort of involvement in this case. Still, they had to consider every single possibility. "Sunglasses, bar, got it." Damian nodded. It was a subtle meeting place. Not to mention it will be crowded with people and no one would pay attention them because they're not completely sober. Perfect. Rest assured though, he most definitely will be sober for the whole night.

Slowly, Damian got up from his seat. His knees quietly cracked, though he chose to ignore it. Looking back at Felix, he couldn't resist the urge to roll his eyes. His face blushed yet he decided to ignore that as well. With his left hand slightly up, he gave the man a small wave. "Alright, see you then. Drive safe." When Felix closed the door, he strolled over to the counter. He took one glance down at the maps, went to lock the front door, then sat down on the end of the couch. Even though he tried to follow along with the SpongeBob episode his twins were watching, all he could think about Saturday. Despite his mind getting anxious about how soon it was, he knew that it would over soon enough.

Felix makes it home without problem, catches Rhyda right in the act of stealing his food, and then quickly changes into his favorite set of overly-expensive pajamas. Of course, he doesn't go to bed right away, instead busying himself with the wormhole of short videos curated on his phone. By the time it's two in the morning, he calls it quits and powers off his phone, curling up on his bed with Jackpot sharing his pillow. He wakes up well past noon, but that's okay–he has nothing to do until Saturday.

When the day finally rolls around, Felix and Rhyda take turns shoving each other away from the mirror. Felix argues that she doesn't even need to see herself, Rhyda responds with a counterpoint that Felix spends way too long fixing his stupid hair in his stupider reflection. Felix believes those are bold words for a woman who doesn't even know what color her hair is. Regardless, they manage to finish preparing themselves for the night and pile into Felix's sedan as they make their way towards the warehouse.

"Really, you need to get a mini-van or something to lug all of your stuff around in," Felix notes as he struggles to check his rear-view mirror around Rhyda's endless concert supplies. None of the luggage is even an instrument either, which just leaves Felix more confused than anything.

"Oh yeah, sure, lemme just buy one and use my very real drivers license to bus myself around," Rhyda answers with a snort. She has her muddy boots up on Felix's dashboard and has one earbud in as she listens to texts sent by her soon-to-be-wife. Felix rolls his eyes and scoffs (just so Rhyda can hear the action). "You know that's not what I meant. Get yourself a band van. You can plaster your band name on the side in cheap acrylic if you want." Felix sweeps his hand as he imagines the corny logo. "Initiative– you could have like a city skyline spelling it out with some edgy spray painting in the back or something."

"That sounds like a terrible idea."

"Please, you love my terrible ideas." Rhyda laughs, basically saying yeah, right, but luckily, Felix doesn't have to deal with her much longer, for they're pulling off the freeway and into the tiny exit just outside of the Vegas City limits. There's a race track that isn't used much granted it's the off-season and a couple of teenagers horsing around in the desert with some dirt bikes. Felix recognizes Shea and Abel's cars already pulled up to the back of the warehouse. Shea is leaning against the back wall with one foot kicked up, talking to somebody on the phone with a smile. Felix parks and steps out, basking in the warm setting sun before pulling all of the junk out of the back of his car.

Before he goes in to help set up, he sends Damian a quick text, telling him that he's arrived at the scene and looking forward to seeing him later. Felix shuts off his phone and tries not to be too excited at the idea of seeing the other man in something a little less formal than his uniform slacks and tie.

Saturday couldn't have come any quicker. Seriously. Damian dreaded the day by wasting through all the ones that came before it. If he wasn't catching up on case work then he was looking after the twins or doing whatever else he could to occupy his attention. As long as the activity prevented him from thinking about his anxiety which made his anxiety even worse, then it was a win. One day he volunteered to help with filing in the forensic department. He sure did miss being in forensics. It was oddly calm in there.

Early in the morning, he dropped the little demons off at Areum's aunt's house. Even though Areum and her brothers were adopted by their aunt, Sunja, and uncle, they still considered them as their parents. Mina and Adonis called Sunja "Nana" even though they often switched between that and "Halmeoni" or "Oehalmeoni." The two rascals took off their shoes before running into the house gleefully screaming. It was a miracle neither Damian or Sunja's ears exploded. Before he left, she gave him some food to take home.

Everything he needed for the night was laid out on his bed. He had the jacket hung up on the edge of the closet door. Somehow he was able to find some earrings he had bought ages ago. His shoulders tensed up while he thought about the last time he worn them for a long time. It felt like ages ago.

Damian tried to look nice. His goal was to not look like the tired grim reaper he always thought he appeared to be. One way he tried to look more alive and awake was by putting on some makeup. Not anything special. No eye shadow or lipstick or anything like that, but concealer, foundation, and so on. Even with basic makeup stuff, he still had to call his sister for help.

By the time Felix texted him, he was standing in front of the mirror looking at the jacket he just put on. It definitely felt weird to be wearing something that wasn't his usual dress shirt and slacks. At least he looked more alive. He looked different.

Once he convinced himself that he looked fine, he picked up his phone. His eyes scanned the message a few times. Eventually he sent a text saying that he would be on his way shortly. After stuffing his phone in a pocket, he went out and got in the car. The whole time he kept trying to convince himself that everything was going to be okay. He gets to interview Braxton Dane, potentially get some clues, and go home. Doesn't sound too bad to him.

The set-up is grueling and obviously Felix's least favorite part of these concert weekends. Rhyda isn't much help, but she's happy to soundcheck anything. Shea and Abel get sidetracked and so does Felix and they're entirely without a brain cell to keep them on task. Felix supposes this is exactly why they meet up four hours beforehand to ensure the band starts as on time as a band can start. Another thing about the warehouse is that there's no opener, no encore–just one act and they're responsible for all the energy in the room. Luckily, they've never had an issue bringing up the morale and the addition of the bar doesn't exactly harm their chances.

When the first bit of guests begin to line up outside, Felix excuses himself to grab his change of clothes from his car before retreating to the gender-neutral bathroom to switch out of his day outfit. His pants, true to his word, are solid gold and are absolutely nothing short of dazzling. He's wearing a mesh crop top with a black and white denim jacket loosely hanging off of his shoulders. He's a full six-feet four-inches tall thanks to the four-inch lifts on his leather platforms. He runs his hands through his hair, palms coated in some subtle glitter that'll make him just that more delicious. (So what? Sue him. Felix enjoys dressing up from time to time. The attention is thrilling.) Wearing eyeliner that makes his eyes look nearly gold, Felix steps out of the bathroom and right into the crowd accumulating by the bar. Felix's most favorite bartender, Raymond, is manning the cocktails tonight. He offers a two-fingered salute to the man behind the counter. He smiles and offers a nod in return.

The band hasn't started yet, but the lights have been dimmed, colorful spotlights roaming the floor and occasionally pausing on a well-dressed individual. Felix ducks out of the main area to one of the many hallways that loop around the perimeter. One of the paths take him to a side door that lead straight up to the VIP section. There's a burly bouncer sitting in front of the iron stairs, hands crossed in front of his wide-shouldered stance. Felix smiles, putting on a small act as he pointedly stumbles into the bouncer. Unfazed, it allows Felix a brief glance at the VIP list that confirms that, yes, Braxton Dane is upstairs and one Damian Mae has not arrived yet. Soon. Felix practically giggles as he rolls away from the man and back into the main area, sobering up instantly as he weaves through the large groups of people. He checks the watch that he slipped from the bouncer's wrist and notes that it's almost party time.

The drive to the venue was not as bad as he thought. Sure Las Vegas traffic never seemed to sleep, but he had his 80s new wave playlist to keep his anxieties at bay. Hell, the detective was even reclined back in the driver's seat while tapping his index and middle fingers against the steering wheel. He knew this whole situation was going to leave him drained for at least a day or so.

As he pulled into a parking spot, he looked out to see a line forming near the entrance of the warehouse. The detective sighed as he gazed uo into the rearview mirror. God, he really did look bizarre. Damian could not figure out whether he looked like a background character for Queen of the Damned or not. Being dressed like this made him feel out of place. It was too casual. Too informal. And he thought wearing long sleeve crewnecks and shorts to the grocery store was already scandalous. Was he really going to blend in even dressed like this? Wouldn't it make him stand out?

Fuck it. He shoved his keys into a pocket then stepped outside. Despite making the effort to get out of the car, he stood still once he did. Damian fluffed the back of his hair while staring at the warehouse. His teeth bit the inner right corner of his mouth. Pulling out his phone, he sent Felix another text saying that he was here. Once it went through, he put his phone back then finally gave himself the courage to make his way over.