“I really want you to do it in that dress. What if I got some boots? Like platform boots?”
Yes, Andy thought. He knew his face was saying the same thing. “I personally would fucking love that. You would need to get them, like, immediately. Practice night and day. They’re going to feel really heavy. You won’t be able to feel the floor the same way.”
“But there’s not a ton of complex footwork for me. Nowhere near what we had last time. Where would I go? To find that shit?”
“I know a place. We can go tomorrow. Get you straight to work. Then if you absolutely hate them after a week, we can revisit. Because I can lose the dress.”
“No,” Victor said. “If I can’t get the hang of the boots, I’ll just have to
look really mean.”
“You can do that.” Andy kissed him. “Wow, honey, maybe someday I’ll get you into some fishnets.” He got his phone out and sent a quick text to Rory: We had a thought for our number next time, we’re going to work out the getting on stage part. And I think don’t announce us, okay? He knew she was stage-managing ‘Spy Games.’
The reply was immediate. She was undoubtedly backstage right now, getting ready to perform. You want to surprise people?
With any luck it’ll take them a minute to even realize it’s us OK I’ll do the usual sit your asses down and prepare to enjoy thing, then we’ll take the house lights down so you can get in position. I’ll ask Terry to let you change in the office and make sure they keep a seat open at the bar Thanks chica
You realize second night is going to be a fucking madhouse Eh well the price of fame
LOL enjoy the show TTYL. Andy showed the exchange to Victor, then put the phone away. “I’m looking forward to seeing what the fuck she does with ‘Paint it Black.’ She wouldn’t tell me if it was jazz or striptease.” The lights dimmed, giving people a chance to organize last-minute drinks and their seats, and then the show started. They thoroughly enjoyed the first act, joining the standing ovation for Stacey in her comeback number on the aerial silk. There were a few friends in the house to chat with during intermission.
Then the lights went down again for Act II. Rory was opening the act.
“Wait one goddamned minute,” said Victor, very softly, when the vocal came in. He turned his head; Andy was staring back at him with a very ‘what the fuck’ expression. It was definitely Andy’s voice. He shook his head a little, like ‘I have no idea,’ and they both turned back to the stage. It was a jazz routine, and it was tricky. Nasty, growly, something they hadn’t seen from Rory before. They both loved it. So did everybody else, apparently; there was another standing ovation.
As soon as they sat down Andy had his phone out again, texting: WTFF!
Cool as hell but how?
Her reply took a few minutes. Andy watched the next number and waited for the phone to buzz in his hand. How is more like ow I am getting too old for that shit. Tanith had video of you at Springbok karaoke that time. Danny
peeled you out of there somehow and remixed it for me You are all sneaky fuckers. Also don’t say old you’re the same age as V
Yes I know and you don’t see him doing that shit do you Andy snorted. He wasn’t a gymnast missy. Great job TTYL. He handed the phone to his husband, who also snorted at the exchange before handing the phone back. There were two more numbers, and then the finale. The cabaret team entered while the stage was black; each woman was hit with a mini spot as the song’s intro began. Then Victor’s voice came in with the new lyrics for ‘Speak No Evil,’ still a boogie-woogie hymn of non-repentance. There was a perfectly-synchronized first verse, using cabaret chairs. On the second verse, the dancers blended cha-cha and jazz. They were making the most of their costumes, fringed bodysuits over fishnets and lace-up mesh dance boots. On the bridge they went into a stepping section that got the audience worked up. The last verse was a return to tricky, trampy cabaret jazz. Most of the people in the club had probably never heard the song before, but judging from the standing ovation, they liked it. “That,” said Andy after the curtain call, as the applause died down and he turned to Victor, “was objectively cool as fuck. I almost forgive Tanith for the last-minute recording session.”
Victor grinned. “It’s so much better now,” he said. “If we ever do a little jazz set here again, I’m totally doing that.” Somebody overheard that, and asked them about the song. Victor explained that it hadn’t been released yet.
There was some discussion with a growing number of other audience members; people had recognized them now. Before it got too intense, Terry was there with another Chrome employee, quietly suggesting that these two celebrities should be given some space. Before long, the shoveling-out procedure was underway for the afterparty. Victor got his phone out to text Tanith: Hey chica I don’t know if you’re here tonight it’s kind of a mob scene but new Speak No Evil went over big. People want to download. If Val can get you produced and released you can probably make a buck to spend on that movie
I’m upstairs and they only want it because you sang it. I’ll talk to Val.
Btw rewriting In The Night too and I’ll want a version from each of you because leitmotif for every one of your scenes. Shared calendar will be a thing within next ten days TYVM can’t stay for afterparty but talk soon.
Victor put his phone away because the performers were out in the house, and
the party was
