2021.05.19: Karaoke Kuei-Jin and Friends

Karaoke Kuei-Jin and Friends
Kwan Seong meets Alina and an Obfuscated Jodessa at Utahime Karaoke Lounge
IC Date	2021.05.19
IC Time	10:00PM PST
Players	Alina, Jodessa as Rieko, and Kwan Seong
Storyteller	None
Location	Utahime Karaoke
Spheres	Kuei-jin, Vampire, Possessed
Theme Song	Dina Shore's "I'll Walk Alone" and theStart's "Fix"

It is evening and Utahime Karaoke lounge is hopping. The Chinatown native to tourist ratio is almost four to one with the former group consisting of mainly Chinese with a smaller majority of Japenese.

One woman of mixed heritage sits alone at the thickly padded sofa along the side wall closest to the stage. Kwan Seong is of mixed Korean and Nepalese descent though she seems to fit well enough. She is dressed in an outfit that blends high-end fashion with urban style, with a dashing black lamb-skin leather biker's jacket worn over a crisp, yellow blouse and paired with tight-fitting designer jeans and expensive Prada pumps.

The Korean sips Scotch from a fancy tumbler glass as she watches the crowd.

Alina has pushed her luck tonight and won. She is slipping off of a seat at the bar with a drink in hand, waving her fingers good bye to one of the bartenders. The glass contains some poisonous looking concoction of radioactive green in crushed ice and a decorative umbrella sticking out of it. She is wearing a short, black punk-rock jacket and a shoulderless wide-necked and dark-red dress with short sleeves, as well as high heeled ankle pumps, studded in the front and with thin beltings in the back. Not a regular at this place at all, she's playing with her phone in one hand and taking a photo of the stage. Bouncing on her heels excited and sipping on her drink, she nibbles on some ice as she tap-tap-taps with her thumb.

Reiko is a tired look waitress of Japanese descent who is drinking a scotch on the rocks, with a perfect sphere of ice in her glass. She sits down and joins Kwan, looking the woman over appreciatively. Setting the drink on the table in front of them and looking at the song menu.

"Are you any good with the microphone?", Reiko asks while peering back at the current singer. A bit hesitant and trying to relax a little. Eye's catching Alina and her toxic drink, "What is that?", she asks with laughter. "I kind of want a taste even if it will kill my liver.", sticking with her scotch for now. Eyes going back to the song menu. She had no idea what to sing but was trying to prepare as her anxiety was a bit obvious.

Reiko is a very happy and tired looking Japanese waitress. She probably worked one too many shifts and is looking to relax and cut back. Dressed in a little black dress, white leather jacket, with neon chopsticks in her hair -- the woman looks rather ordinary and friendly.

Kwan glances over when Reiko joins her on the sofa and she regards the woman with calm curiosity before she directs her gaze back toward the stage. Her Japanese is fluent when she replies to the woman. Brown eyes turn toward Alina when the toxic-green drink is mentioned and she adopts a curious express, as if she shared Reiko's question.

Kwan says in Japanese, "I've been known to sing a good ballard. I'm a victim to the old American classics of the 30's and 40's."

Alina moves her hips to the song currently being interpreted on stage before spinning and looking over at Reiko with a softly questioned, "Hm?" She lifts her eyebrows and her gaze up and to the side, then holds the drink up and makes a cheesecake pose, selling in in some imaginary photo commercial. Her face bursts into a smile and she wanders closer to where you both are seated, "It's a mint cream, of sorts." She jerks her thumb over her shoulder towards the general vicinity of the bar, "The cute bartender explained it. It's not bad. Very, very sweet. Grasshopper or something, I think."

Reiko beams a tired smile, "Sounds yummy. Makes me almost want to try it. But I'm so plain, it's hard for me to step out of my comfort zone at times and try new things.", picking up her regular scotch and taking a sip. "Would you like to join us?", Reiko asked Alina as they had the space. Eyes turning to Kwan, as she spoke back in Japanese. <J> "Oh, sing for us then! I'd love to hear your voice.", cheering for Kwan and ecstatic to be entertained. The tired waitress had forgotten to introduce herself, oh well. Another sip of scotch. Maybe it was her weekend?

Kwan's gaze drops to Reiko's own scotch and she studies the glass as she swirls her own. The bartender offered her a fancier glass. Perhaps she bought top shelf, so 'Take that'!

"Only if you go after." She says, switching to English as Alina draws close. The new arrival receives a polite nod before Kwan directs her gaze outward again. She steals a sip from her own Scotch and then lifts her free hand toward a passing waitress, beckoning her close so she can whisper something. The waitress steps back after listening and offers a hasty bow before she hurries off to notify the DJ of something.

Alina sets the glass down onto the table, pouting her lips overly thoughtfully and suggests for Reiko, "You could totally do the sexy thing with the umbrella and your tongue and get a taste of it. I think that move totally overrides any social codes." She smiles a smaller smile at Kwan and offers a soft, "Hi.", then slips into the booth seated on one of her legs. She plants her elbows on the table and drapes her cheeks with her fingers, looking after the waitress leaving the table, "That was sort of impressive."

Reiko didn't seem to mind or care that Kwan could afford better scotch and nicer glasses, the waitress wasn't trying to impress with money expenditures. "I promise to go after you.", she tells Kwan about singing next. Eyes slowly moving to Alina, as she leans forward and takes the umbrella from Alina's glass and puts it delicately on her tongue. Closing her eyes and mouth to savor it. "Hmm...", she whispers. Slowly opening her eyes. "... very tasty.", looking to Kwan happily. "What did you tell the DJ?"

"My song choice." Kwan replies in English again. She has a faint Colonial British accent when she speaks and her pronunciation is otherwise fluid and precise. "She will return for yours during my song." The words are for Reiko, though the Korean woman offers Alina a warm smile. "I'm Kwan Seong. Do you live in Chinatown, Miss...?"

Alina tips her head one way and the other, then shakes it with a punctuating, "Nuh." She takes the umbrella back and dips the end into the drink. She sticks her tongue out and curves the end, running the stick-side of the umbrella from left to right, and then right to left across it slowly. She makes a 'mmm'-sounding smile and the tongue vanish into her mouth, "I'm telling you, if the waitress was a waiter, he'd be totally into that." With her drink-demonstration over and done with, she lifts her hands to the side of her face and claps them by drumming her fingers lightly together at Kwan, "You're so gonna burn the stage down." She actually looks a little surprised at the niceties, and offers, "Oh. Um... I'm Alina. Ahn. Nono, I live out west-harbor. I'm pretty new to Prospect."

Reiko laughs and blushes at Alina's tongue dexterity, "Quite impressive.", scrunching her nose in delight with the umbrella rolling. She wasn't going to comment how waitresses might enjoy it as well... her teeth showing with a smile as Reiko looked to Kwan. "Reiko Iwata, I'm here on a work visa and visiting family. America is cool, but I want to go home at some point.", looking to the stage. "Go break a leg, Kwan.", rooting her on and whispering to Alina. "Maybe we should get Kwan to buy the drinks tonight.", chuckling at that and watching the Korean.

'Kwan Seong' is called to the stage in her native Korean by the DJ who repeats the request for the benefit of the English-speaking tourists. The woman smirks as she overhears Reiko's comment. "Order what you want on my tab. My treat, ladies."

She rises and weaves her way through the tables like a predator sultry stalking toward a fallen prey that she had already wounded. Except that prey is the stage, I guess? And the wounding her song choice? Anyway...

The slender Korean climbs onto the stage and ignores the playful catcalls and wolf-whistles from some of the more inebriated working-class Chinese and Japanese residents and she accepts the microphone from the DJ before stepping in to wait for the song to start.

Alina hooks her hands around one of Reiko's arms and leans into the woman, "So we'll be visitors to Prospect together. It'll be fun." She waits for Kwan to get up from the table before she lifts her chin and eyes the glass left behind across the table, "It looks a little bitter and way too expensive. Maybe something sweet and... red." And, well some of those sounds following Kwan comes from Alina as she lifts her hands up over her head and cheers, "You go!" She smiles a big smile, her heart one hundred percent into it, "Oh I bet this is going to be great no matter what it sounds like."

Reiko runs her tongue over her teeth and obfuscated fangs when Alina mentions drinking something red and sweet. Eyes locked on the woman, "I'm game.", allowing the close proximity of interlocked arms with a relative stranger. Reiko certainly felt warm and alive; as she lifts her head and becomes one of those Japanese residents to catcall after the much desired Kwan. The sultry way the Korean heads towards the stage with such a dominating presence, it was a sight to behold.

Returning back to Reiko, "Well are you hungry? They do have small snacks here like gyoza?", biting her bottom lip and nodding. "It's nice having friends. We should all exchange numbers later. I've been wanting to go visit the Buddhist temple."

The music begins to swell. The recording quality is analog rather than stereo and a 1940s era American lounge band begins with a female vocal acapella backtrack. It is a slower ballard, a classic from Dinah Shore called I'll Walk Alone.

       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKxH0X7DaVY
       

Kwan's voice is high, tone quivering in that controlled manner that offers a soft vibrator to the notes as she begins to slowly sing...

       "They call, no date..."
       "I promised you I'd wait..."
       "I want them all to know..."
       "I'm strictly single old..."

And the music swells up ever slightly, almost perfectly timed with the rising hoots from the working-class Chinatown residents who quickly become entranced by the singing beauty.

       "I'll walk alone,"
       Because, to tell you the truth, I'll be lonely"
       "I don't mind being lonely"
       "When my heart tells me you are lonely, too"
       "I'll walk alone"
       "They'll ask me why and I'll tell them I'd rather"
       "There are dreams I must gather"
       "Dreams we fashioned the night you held me tight"

Alina moves her pouting lips in a circle, in what might as well have been, 'I could eat', but instead she whispers to Reiko, "She's so fancy. I think I wanna stick to drinking." She waits to meet a waitress eyes, then leans slightly to the side to place an order for a love potion cocktail. Something red and sweet. She turns her attention back to the stage. And her eyebrows furrow a little. When the sinking starts, it's not at all what she expected. So she pulls her other leg gently onto the seat as well to hold onto both her ankles, knees jutting out to the sides. And she listens, which is rare enough with her mind usually shooting with all cylinders. She draws a little breath and smiles, "Wow."

Reiko nods and replies with, "You're probably right.", in just sticking to drinks and not ordering food. Kwan was spellbinding and damn near mystical as she sang. All eyes on her as the room grew silent from all corners. Time almost dilates, as patrons lose themselves in watching... being the observer. A small head nod given to Alina, when she says wow. "I'm totally fucked.", Reiko whispers under her breath - knowing she would have to go next. Promises, promises. She hadn't even finished picking a song yet. "Hey, Alina. Order me one of those red drinks, please.", unbuttoning her waitress blouse a little. The room felt warmer.

Indeed the room did go quiet. The catcalls faded by the middle of that main chorus. One old businessman dabbed his eyes with a napkin. In a way, it was a bit much...

But Kwan's not finished. She levels a random tourist with her brown-eyed gaze as her voice carries the song into the second verse...

       "I'll always be near you wherever you are"
       "Each night in every prayer"
       "Just whisper, I'll hear you no matter where you are"
       "So close your eyes and I'll be there"

The Korean's eyes move on throughout the crowd before honing in on the women on the sofa. One corner of her mouth tilts upward in a sultry little smile before she brings the song into the second, shorter chorus and then into it's outro...

       "Please walk alone"
       But send your love and your kisses to guide me"
       "Till you're walking beside me"
       "I'll walk alone"

The female acapella singers in the background echo that final 'Alone' as the song and music fade. The microphone is unceremoniously dropped onto the stage and Kwan descends without waiting for the congratulations from the DJ. She weaves her way through the tables, ignoring the claps, hoots, and hand-reaches from their occupants and returns to the sofa, reclaiming her seat.

Alina offers the soft comforting words of, "Well...", to Reiko. And, yeah, that's it. It's followed by a, "Oh, good idea, work what you've got.", maybe misinterpreting the unbuttoning of the blouse. And then the song fades and comes to and end. She scoots a little to the side to give room, clapping her hands. Slipping her legs down, she stands for a second when Kwan approaches, before catching herself and feeling a little foolish, sitting back down. It's just that the song was so good, and she let's her know it as soon as she gets close enough, "That was /so/ fucking good.", and she places her hand against her heart and can't help but to release a chortle, tilting her head to the side and smiling, "It was almost a bit cruel, honestly."

Reiko eyes the sultry Kwan, "I'm not sure I can follow up ... especially after you brought down the house.", rubbing a hand over her own face and shaking her head in exaggerated fear. "So... are you a famous singer? Or just practice a lot to make fun of waitresses?", finishing her drink in one gulp, Reiko then orders whatever love potion drink thing Alina was having. Soon eyeing, Alina over the unbuttoning comment. "Well, at least I'll have one fan.", Reiko chuckles.

Rummaging through her purse to pull out her cosmetic mirror and make sure her face hadn't fallen off. The Japanese woman tries to primp herself into looking good, but she was still rather plain looking.

Kwan sinks back into the couch cushion and picks up the fancy glass she has left behind. She gives it a careful study before holding it up toward a passing waitress, shaking it ever-slightly. It's still half-full! Something must be wrong with it apparently?

Setting the glass down on the edge of the coffee table, the Korean turns her attention back toward her companions. "Oh, but you must. It's only fair, isn't it? And no. I'm a criminal lawyer. I just love the classics, as I said before." Brown-eyes move on to Alina, expression softening, "Seoul?"

Alina pushes one leg back underneath herself to get a little height over Reiko, "Mm-hm, I think you made a lawyery and legally binding contract back there." She places her hands gently to cup Reiko's face, "Don't worry about it. You're gorgeous.", then reaches down to pull a little at the blouse to accentuate the cleavage, "There. Perfect." She strokes the arm of the waitress as if preparing to send her to slaughter, shaking her head no to Kwan, "My parents were from, Busan, but I was born here. I never saw other than in pictures Korea." She pushes her shoulders close to her ears, and does looking a tiny bit regretful, "Which sucks. I wish I had been born there, honestly."

Reiko allows Alina to help accentuate her uniform with a small grimace, but it's easily brushed past. Standing up, the Japanese woman looks back to Kwan and Alina -- nervously walking to the stage. Along the way she bumps into a patron who promptly spills a few drinks at their table. To remedy this, Reiko buys them a new round... pointing back at Kwan to cover the charges.

Once handled, Reiko heads on stage. Alcohol dripping down her uniform and on her shoes. She uses the moment to let down her hair and roll up her sleeves, ready to sing as she stepped up to the microphone. But the song wasn't ready and the good has to get it loaded with the DJ. At least she was entertaining.

"You should go, sometime. It is beautiful this time of year." Kwan offers casually as she watches Reiko move through the tables. Her lips slide into a smirk when she sees the other woman bump into the table and she leans in toward Alina and quietly murmurs, "She seems very nervous. Poor thing."

Alina lifts her arms, hands balled into small fists, cheering and whistling for Reiko, little stumble and all. When Reiko finally gets onto stage, she presses her hands against the seat and scoots herself closer to Kwan, "I bet this'll be awesome, too." She smiles, and if Reiko looks her way, claps her hands over her head. She tilts her head closer to Kwan and says in a quieter tone of voice, "I would, I really would if I could. I was a little lost a while back and... well, got scouted. Like, um, a fresh out of college thing. Sort of. And I've got to fulfill a bunch of work obligations before I get to travel anywhere."

Reiko grabs the microphone and begins to sing song that wasn't known by all. It wasn't a classic and had to be downloaded, but when the girl gets on center stage...

        "I'm no good. Do you want me to be?" 
        "I'm not new. I have never been clean." 

Reiko looks back to her table and dances subtly, swaying her hips and pointing at her table as if serenading them. "...I need you to purify my endless sin. Wash away the poison. Buried in this skin."

The Japanese waitress focusing on her table and raising the standing microphone between her legs, as if seductively straddling it. "I learned the hard way. I couldn't do it my way."

        "You're no good. You're not new, you have never been. --- I need you, oh yeah. I need you to fix this mess I'm in.", fingers tracing up and down the microphone stand as if channeling some old lounge singer, scorned by time.

Kwan's curiosity is peaked. "What sort of work prevents you from traveling abroad, Alina? And do you speak Korean?" She studies the woman curiously for a moment before looking toward the stage as when the song finally starts.

Brown-eyes hone in on Reiko and a fond, appreciative smile lingers on the Korean woman's face as she watches the start of the performance. "See? She's good." She offers to Alina while never taking her gaze off of Reiko on stage. Her smile widens as the first of the wolf whistles and cat-calls commences from the crowd.

Alina chirps pleasantly, "Oh", when what's coming from the stage turns out to be really, really good. And she gets a big smile on her face, groaning and tilting her head back to have hair spill from her shoulders, "I'm so happy for her." She claps the tip of her fingers, making a pleased, 'mmm' sound as if not being able to contain herself. To Kwan she says without taking her eyes off of the stage, "It's... you know how the police isn't suppose to say that they work at the police on social media? 'cuz... I don't know, bribes or something. I'm not suppose to say where I work. It's a... I don't know, research and development kind of thing, I think."

Reiko keeps singing, shifting weight between her feet, "No control. Keep repeating the lie. One more time. I could never deny. It seems as if these limbs belong to someone else. If I could only keep this all inside myself.", rocking the microphone stand and biting her bottom lip. Looking at the audience and their whistles and catcalls while blushing.

Looking at the men and then examining some of the female patrons, "This'll be the last time.... It's what I said the last time.", giving a flirty wink to them all.

"You're no good. You're not new, you have never been. I need you, oh yeah. I need you to fix this.", reaching up to her heart and showing that wet cleavage as she clapped over her chest and heart.

     	"My heart, it beats so hard... It beats so hard... It beats for you...", the vampire in disguise wasn't singing lies.

Kwan doesn't join the cat calls or wolf-whistles though her expression does betray her enjoyment in the performance. She almost doesn't notice when the waitress sets her fresh drink down in front of her and hurriedly bows. Almost.

Kwan takes the drinking glass and swirls it under her nose, inhaling it's scent before taking a sip. The liquor lingers in her mouth as she savors it's taste, eyes never leaving the woman on stage.

Alina smiles at Reiko and presses both hands to her chest, "Oh it's so sweet.", she taps the tip of her fingers together a few more times, then lifts them high and forms a heart symbol to Reiko, laughing lightly, "You guys are so awesome at this. It's not at all what I imagined." She leans forward with an elbow against the table, drawing a long nail against the surface of her drink, catching a little of the sugar on the rim of the glass to lick off, "Is like you guys are a pair of hustlers.

Reiko steps down from the stage, rushing quickly back to Kwan and Alina. She's a bit giddy and excited, "I didn't know I had it in me.", she gushes and looks to Kwan and Alina. "Hey, can you watch my purse. I need to use the restroom real quick. But I saw they have a casino here. Want to gamble?", giving a big bright smile to them both. Pointing out the door to Kwan and Alina.

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