Wasted Time

[Sebastian Rossi]

After spending the better part of the past three years circling the globe, Sebastian Rossi had returned home to France a much different man. He was in a much better place mentally, having used the time to be truly on his own for the first time ever. He had dated rarely, not having time for attachment to women when he was apparating to a different city almost every week. He hadn't spoken much to anyone, choosing instead to depend on his own skills and ideas to get things done. He even looked different, the softness of childhood having given way to the hard lines that made him look incredibly masculine. His hair was short as ever, his preference, and he had even managed to add quite a few tattoos along his arms and back, each telling a story of his travels. It was musically though where Sebastian had changed the most. The man who had been sure of his playing skills but not of his musicality was now incredibly confident in himself as a musician, but he was also almost as sure that he would never grace the stage again. Bas was afraid of losing himself again, and with all of the time he had taken to find this self, he was in rush to do such a thing. He had long ago split ways with Ares Moon, the band he had formed with his old friends. He hadn't even kept up with them, so he had no idea if they were still performing or not, whether they had become true rockstars and relegated him to a Where are they now article. It was difficult to do such things when you weren't anywhere for very long.

Even though it hadn't been long since his return to France (he was still in his old bedroom in his Nonna's while he looked for a flat of his own), Bas knew that he didn't want to spend his birthday there. It was his 25th after all. One of the big ones. After a hearty dinner with his grandmother and her friends, Sebastian had kissed her goodnight and quickly run upstairs to get dressed. When he was done, he had left the house and quickly apparated away. To New Zealand. Why he had chosen there, he wasn't even sure. He figured that it was as good a place as any. Finding himself near a strip of shops, restaurants and bars he had not ever frequented, Bas smiled to himself and made his way into a bar that looked like it was already busy.

 

[Alyce Brown]

The reason alyce had chosen to live in New Zealand was a simple one. It was the furthest away she could live from her parents and still be close to a maxi al community. As it was she was living in a small studio apartment over a muggle shop. It was only small, and never tidy, the dishes were left in the sink until she either ran out or the smell was getting toomuch. Her clothes were spread across the floor. To be honest if anyone saw it they were more likely to think it belonged to a 20 something year old boy than a 21 year old girl. Then again she had been mistaken for a boy before especially if people just glanced at her. It was this evening that she got ready for work. It was bound to be quiet Monday nights were not popular nights to go to the bar. This was usually compensated with Mondays being student nights but as the local uni was still on break and therefore a lot of the students wee away it was bound to be slow. Ths may even mean that she may get off earlier.
She got on her motorbike and headed off to the bar she worked in.
By time she had got there there were people busy inside setting up for the night she got to her position at the bar making sure there were plenary of glasses and the drinks were all stocked up. A few charms and a trip into the back later all was ready just in time for opening. It was busier than she had thought, was it still Sunday or had the club ganged Mondays to wizard only nights she didn't have time to care soon she was busy pouring a shot of this, a cocktail of that, a drink of something else, all the time flirting and being flirted with, all meaningless. No one there was her type. That was the problem with New Zealand not many people were Europe and America were where more of her type of people were, not that that's was an absolute rule there was that one girl a few months back who had been pretty cool until she had kissed her and she had freaked out, not that she had been pushy it had been the girl who had started it. Oh well that was ages ago tonight she was busy.
Something you only notice when you work in bars is that the rush comes in waves and soon it was a little quieter. This enabled alyce to have a couple of shots herself and have a look around the bar to see if there was anyone interesting about. There wasn't many wizard bars in this area which meant that often on wizards nights there would be a quidditch player or some other celeb around not that she kept up with the sport but it was something for the girls to gossip about in the quiet times. Right now one of the girls whispered " see that boy there, I swear he is the singer of the band area moon" one of the other bar girls looked across "not e singer So, he was the guitarist" someone else looked this time one of the bouncers who had come in for a few minutes with the second girl who everyone know he had a crush on "it wasn't area moon, it was medusas dreadlocks" whoever he was it seemed he was a musician of types though no one was sure what band he was in or what he played he had caught Alice's attention when he had been pointed out as as he seemed from just how he looked to be more her type than anyone else she had seen so far tonight. A bit rough around the edges for a start, but not in a totally off putting way. She waited wondering if he would head over for a drink or if he was just going to stand in the corner sober.

Out of Character:

sorry for the slight god mod of him being inside it would just be a little awkward if he wasn't, I can remove it if you want

 

[Sebastian Rossi]

Sebastian looked around approvingly as he stepped inside the bar. This was certainly the type of place that Ares Moon would have played at, and the sort of place that he frequented when he went to bars and pubs. Even though he hadn’t seen a sign advertising it as such, Bas immediately knew that it was a wizarding bar. There was always a certain vibe about such places even without the presence of the wizarding music. He recognized the song that was playing, and for a long moment he bopped his head to the beat. He couldn’t recall the name of the group but he knew that it was a song that he had heard often over the past summer. It had a simple riff, one that he could probably play in his sleep, but it was catchy as hell. It was one of the songs that you knew the words to by the time the chorus came around for the second time. Although Bas usually liked a little more depth in his music, sometimes he didn’t mind the catchy songs.

When he realized that it was awkward for him to just stand around not drinking or joining anyone, Bas beelined for the bar, the place for loners to drink without being seen as odd. It was a good thing because a rather large group of about 4 or 5 twenty-somethings had just moved away from the bar and he could see an empty seat that they had been blocking. If he didn’t go for it now, he knew it would be snatched up by some other person in need of a drink. As he neared the bar, Sebastian could see that the bartenders there weren’t busy at the moment. Bas wondered if this was his birthday luck at work, if there was such a thing of course. He wasn’t going to question it though and seized the opportunity. “Can I get Whiskey? Single malt if you have it” he spoke to the nearest bartender, a friendly smile on his face as he finished. He’d been speaking a lot of French lately and was glad that he’d remembered to ask the question in English. He was always embarrassed when he forgot to switch and realized halfway through. The man was oblivious to the conversation that had just taken place between the staff, trying to figure out which band he’d played for. Bas settled himself onto the empty stool, jacket still on, and rested one foot on the metal of the stool while his other foot tapped the beat to the song on the floor. It was a habit he had never tried to break.

Sebastian watched as his drink was prepared, his green eyes following to see what brand of Whiskey was being put into his drink. Not that he was picky. He’d bartended here and there for a couple of quick bucks (both galleon and muggle) during his travels but he hadn’t taken it seriously at all. It had been a fun way to get to know the locals and he’d found out about a lot of hidden gems that way.

Out of Character:

That makes sense to me.

 

[Alyce Brown]

Alyce was one of the first to see the man that had drawn everyones attention head towards the bar everyone else was too busy gossiping. "you lot should finish your gossip sesh later. he is heading over and will hear you and think you are all a bunch of weirdos" she said jokingly to the other bar attendants. she looked across at the others and was sort of surprised when someone left her area of bar and he sat there. "hey there. what were you after tonight" she asked as he sat soon he ordered a whisky. she nodded. "course you can" as she got out a glass placing it on the bar and reached for the bottle behind the bar filled it with golden liquid before passing it over to him. "what brings you here tonight. all on your own?" she asked winking slightly. she was starting up conversation and flirting slightly. it was always fun to flirt and watch peoples reactions. though after a few sifts she had learned it was not good to flirt with men over ten years older than herself. and flirting with girls often got awkward remarks from them or their boyfriends which was still fun, just to see who flirted back and to see who was weirded out.
The main reason she started up conversation with him wasn't because she particularly wanted to flirt, though if he did flirt or whatever it would be great. it was because he seemed interesting especially if the gossip she had heard was even partially true even if not he certainly was hot enough to make up for it. One of those attributes alone was more so than most of the usual patrons.

 

[Sebastian Rossi]

It wasn't until he had his drink in front of him and the bartender had spoken to him again that he got a good look at her. She looked pretty tough and he was fairly certain that she was able to handle her own when it came to the drunkards and the jerks that were common to any bar. She wasn't unattractive though. Still, if it wasn't for the wink that she had given him, Sebastian might have had different conclusions about the woman. Instead, a lazy smile crossed his face as he cradled his drink in front of him. He briefly glanced over her shoulder where two other bartenders stood further back, whispering to each other.

As his green eyes rested on the woman once more, he spoke with a laugh on his lips. "Would you believe I came in for the music?" he asked as he lifted his drink to his mouth and took a sip. The whiskey burned its way down his throat, but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling. Bas definitely didn't want to admit that he was in the bar drinking alone, on his birthday no less. "Because it is pretty good" he added.

 

[Alyce Brown]

Alyce saw the boy look her over, and then glance over her shoulder to the other bar staff she seemed to be gossiping again. she rolled her eyes. "don't mind them. they seem to think you are in a band though cant decide what band it is or what you play" she said a grin on her face. maybe she should find out who was right if any of them. she cleared away a couple of classes from a couple of other patrons who had moved to the dance floor as she continued talking to the guy. it was rather quiet and there wasn't a rush or even a line. the other girls who had heard her quickly becan doing what they could checking bottles, taking used glasses into the kitchen. or talking to whatever other customers were there.
The guy said that he had come in for the music. she raised one eyebrow. "if this is the kind of music you come in for I feel sorry for the people who listened to the band, something strikes me that you are more of a guitar guy than an auto tuned one" she said joking at the beginning. "I'm Alyce" she said introducing herself winking again before running her hand through her hair. sure she was a shameless flirt, she didn't care.

 

[Sebastian Rossi]

Sebastian busied himself with his drink while he listened to the bartender speak. As she mentioned that her co-workers thought that Bas had been in a band, his green eyes moved back to the ladies in question and he put his drink down enough to answer. An amused expression crossed his face as he leaned his elbows on the bar and spoke. “ I’d be happy to settle the discussion. But first, what do you think?” he asked, raising his eyebrow. He wondered what other band they thought he might be from. As much as he wasn’t eager to step into the spotlight again, Bas was glad whenever he was recognized for the work he had done. He was in a place now where he could appreciate the work that he and his friends had put into making Ares Moon the success that it had become. He was glad to have played his part, even if he was no longer a central member.

As Alyce introduced herself, Sebastian finished his drink and placed the empty glass back on the bar. He listened to the music that was playing, admitting that he didn’t quite like it as much as the other song that had just been on. “Well, Alyce. I’ll have you know that my tastes are diverse.” He decided to let her take that comment however she wanted to. The guy rubbed the top of his head, brushing his hand through his hair before continuing. “I’m Sebastian, but most people call me Bas” he said with an easy smile. “Can I get another one?” he added, nudging the empty glass forward.

 

[Alyce Brown]

alyce saw his eyes dart towards the other girls at the bar. and they seeming to know stopped talking and smiled at him before her looked away and she could hear them giggling. as he leant forward on the bar and asked her what she thought. she pretended to think for a moment. "well" she said drawing it out. she leaned forward resting her elbow on the bar too talking as if it was a big secret that was more privet than it was. "I guess you aren't the lead singer of the weird sisters. so you must be the guitarist from ares moon" she said referring to one of the most famous wizarding bands of modern times. though modern may be slightly the wrong word as it was the music her dad listened to. she hadn't recognised him at first. as she had never been big onto music but when the lea had mentioned him it had clicked so it wasn't cheating, right?
The music changed and it was even worse some than the last song consisting of fully synthesised sugary pop music, she preferred slightly heavier rock. when he said that his tastes were diverse she let out an exhalation form her nose which could be either agreement, humour or anything in between. "whatever floats your boat" she said winking. As he introduced himself as sebastian or bas she wiped her hand on her apron and offered it to him. "well nice to meet you bas. have this drink on the house." she said refiling the empty glass and pouring some of the gold liquid into a shot glass for herself. "bottoms up" she said passing him his and picking up her own drinking it in one.

 

[Sebastian Rossi]

Bas listened to Alyce and then smiled brightly. With a quick nod, he confirmed her suspicion. "Former lead guitarist, but yea...I was in Ares Moon" he stated as he brushed his hand through his blonde hair. It was still a little odd when he was recognized by someone from the wizarding community, but Sebastian never tired of it. Being approached by some pretty girl who wanted to tell him that she just loved his guitar playing was an ego boost like no other, and although he wasn't as famous as he probably could have been had he stayed with the group, he was happy with his level of fame. The amused expression had never really left his face and it was more pronounced as Alyce continued.

"Can't turn down a free drink, now can I?" he explained as he lifted up the drink that she'd passed over. Lifting the drink to his lips, Bas took a huge gulp and then put it down. The gold liquid sloshed in the cup but he had drunk enough that it didn't spill over. "So...if you hate the music here, why don't you get them to change it up every now and then?" Bas asked. He knew that some bars had themed nights where they would play different types of music on different nights. The bar he'd worked in before he'd finally gone home to France had done that. He'd always tried to get Tuesdays off as that was Techno Tuesdays. There was only so much of that style that he could handle before he felt like he was going to explode the speakers.

 

[Alyce Brown]

Alyce made a mental note to tell Sophia that she had been right the man had once played for Ares moon. She knew that Sophia would be a little annoyed as she had been a huge fan of the band, whilst Alyve was not as much into the music, though when she was younger she had kind of had a slight crush on the lead singer Willow Paradox. She was smoking hot to say the least. Turning her attention back to the man in front of her who was also hot but not in the same way she smiled slightly flirtily ”What are you up to now you no longer play in ares moon?” she asked curious
Alyce smiled when the Bas said that they should mix the music up if she didn’t like it. "we do change it so it isn’t always this bad. Thursday is live music and Tuesday karaoke, both can be a bit of a laugh. but tonight we have a DJ in taking requests. and it seems like everybody girl from the seventeenth birthday over there has made one. Hopefully there wont be too many more" she said as one song ended. a moment later she was glad to hear the start of a classic wizard rock song. Nothing that had been made this decade but a classic that never went out of fashion, not the most popular at any time but the kind that drew everyone to the dance floor.