Post by penelope on Oct 1, 2023 21:29:05 GMT -5
Despite the fact that fall had well and truly begun, the last vestiges of Summer were still stubbornly clinging to the weather in Montana. The days they had been gorgeous, with clear blue skies and warm sunshine. The nights had just enough chill in them to make you know you needed a blanket, perfect snuggle weather, and tailor-made for a one-in-a-lifetime concert series. Defying the laws of both space and time, This Is Awesome and Kayfabe Airlines had done the impossible. As per the announcement made by Sauce Boss at the end of Leap of Faith, the Blue Team would be treated to something out of this world.
True to his word, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones at the peak of their powers, Metallica straight out of the 80s, Tupac Shakur, and Linkin Park had indeed been brought together. Most of Team Blue had danced and partied their way through the sets so far, except for Eli and Penelope, who were sitting together. The pair was far more subdued in enjoying the event than the rest. Except when Penelope glanced over, noticing Eli becoming far more animated during Metallic's set the longer it went on.
Penelope: "I didn't think you'd like this type of music."
Eli Buchanan: "WHAT?"
Penelope: "I SAID, I DIDN'T THINK YOU LIKE THIS TYPE OF MUSIC!"
Penelope yells back, struggling to be heard as James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Lark Ulrich, and Jason Newsted proceed to try and melt their brains. They had already played tracks off Kill'em All, Right The Lightning, Master of Puppets, and were working through And Justice For All.
Eli Buchanan: "WHAT MAKES YOU SAY THAT?"
Penelope: "I ALWAYS HEAR YOU PLAYING OLDER STUFF AROUND THE HOTEL! YOU GUYS NEVER PLAY ANYTHING LIKE THIS!"
Penelope could see Eli laugh but couldn't hear him. The music was so loud Penelope could feel her own chest vibrating.
Eli Buchanan: "CHARLOTTE USUALLY PICKS THE MUSIC, IF I'M BEING HONEST. HER TASTES ARE A BIT MORE REFINED THAN MY OWN. WHILE SHE ENJOYS A GOOD SONG LACED WITH SATANIC MESSAGING AS MUCH AS THE NEXT PERSON…METAL THIS HEAVY CAN BE A BIT OFF-PUTTING."
Penelope: "OH! I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE HOTEL ITSELF!"
Eli shook his head, strangely not having to struggle as much as Penelope to both hear and talk.
Eli Buchanan: "THE HOTEL IS MORE RECEPTIVE TO THINGS, THIS IS TRUE. BUT THAT GENERALLY DOESN'T TRANSLATE INTO MUSIC."
Penelope: "WHAT ABOUT THAT ONE TIME THE WALLS STARTED BLEEDING WHEN THE GUEST IN ROOM 1408 PLAYED THAT SLIM WHITMAN ALBUM?!"
Eli Buchanan: "I DID SAY GENERALLY, DID I NOT? THERE ARE ALWAYS EXCEPTIONS DEAR GIRL."
Penelope nods as Metallica finishes 'One' with a flurry, thus ending their set. Team Blue let off a surprising amount of noise, given their size. Claps and whistles abound as Metallica head off stage, their roadies starting to move their equipment off.
Penelope: "Do you think a Time Lord was involved?"
Penelope asks as Eli's head whips around, a mixture of shock and anger on his face.
Eli Buchanan: "You take that thought right out of your head! God help us all if one of those infernal bastards is involved in all this."
Eli pauses to collect himself.
Eli Buchanan: "Further to the point, must you always question things? There are times when discretion is more advantageous, Penelope."
Penelope: "Yeah, but where would the fun be in that?"
She asks with a laugh and a wink, which elicits an eye roll from the owner of The Hotel California. Penelope gets up, brushing the grass off her butt and legs as she pretends to stretch. She watches the group of Metallica stagehands removing their equipment and watching them disappear into a large tent behind the constructed stage.
Penelope: "I'll be right back, Eli. Enjoy Tupac for me."
She says with a slight wave as she quickly makes her way across the large field. Eli watches her go as he shakes his head.
Eli Buchanan: "Ah yes, West Coast gangsta rap…such fun."
The sights and sounds of the large Montana Ranch reminded Penelope of her grandparent's farm back in Texas. The location of the Ranch itself, however, had been kept hidden from the Team. A fact that irked Penelope to no end. Instead of opening up a door as she had between The Hotel California and the LMS Compound, she was forced to take the provided transport with the others. She and Eli had spent the trip conversing and strategising amongst themselves about the other members of Team Blue.
What was even more infuriating for Penelope than not knowing the location was the fact the concert was even possible. The hows and the why were never disclosed, despite Penelope asking any available crew member from the production team that she could find. It wasn't merely out of curiosity that she asked. Being able to defy the laws of physics and the mortality of life to bring any person in history, forward or back in time, had its advantages. Advantages that Penelope would have no qualms exploiting, time paradoxes be damned.
Penelope: "Little pig, little pig, let me come in…"
Penelope sang to herself as she approached the tent, taking cover behind the stacks of equipment boxes the various bands had organised upon their arrival. Creeping slowly towards the entrance flap to the tent, she pulled it back, peeking inside.
Penelope: "Holy sh-"
: "Excuse me?"
Penelope instantly freezes, her brain scrambling to devise a plausible scenario.
: "Miss? Excuse me?"
Penelope stands up stiffly and turns around to come face to face with Jimi Hendrix himself. Her mouth drops open, having expected a member of security or some other TIA staff. She puts on an awkward smile as Jimi watches her off-putting behaviour.
Penelope: "Uh…yes?"
Jimi Hendrix: "You wouldn't happen to have a light, would you?"
He asks, holding up a rolled marijuana joint in his hand. Penelope doesn't smoke but pats herself down anyway like an idiot. Then she notices the Stratocaster he had slung over his shoulder. She points to it and shrugs.
Penelope: "Didn't you…aren't you the guy with the fire guitar? Or play it while it was smoking or something?"
He looks down with a laugh.
Jimi Hendrix: "I did light it on fire, but that was after I finished playing. And the only thing smoking on stage."
Penelope: "Oh…"
Penelope sounds a bit disappointed.
Penelope: "Want to see something cool?"
Jimi shrugs, really just wanting the light.
Jimi Hendrix: "Sure, I guess."
Penelope motions for the guitar, which Jimi removes and hands to her. She places it up on one of the equipment boxes. She turns to him with a smile.
Penelope: "You wanted a light, huh?"
She turns back, pointing a finger at the guitar.
Penelope: "Ignis!"
She shouts, the lower body of the guitar suddenly bursting into flames with a pop and a small cloud of smoke.
Jimi Hendrix: "What the fuck!?"
Jimi Hendrix jumps back, taken entirely off guard. He had seen some shit in his life, but he hadn't seen anything like this before. Penelope picks up the joint off the ground and places it ever so slightly up to the flames. She pulls it away, the end smouldering warmly, and hands it to Jimi.
Jimi Hendrix: "You are one…crazy bitch…"
He takes the joint with a shaky hand, quickly taking a long drag to calm his nerves. He holds it in for an ungodly amount before exhaling slowly. He looks over at his guitar sombrely.
Jimi Hendrix: "Man…my guitar though."
Penelope giggles as she shakes her head.
Penelope: "It's okay, look."
She points again.
Penelope: "Extinguo!"
With another pop, the flames slowly die down to nothing as Penelope picks the guitar back up.
Penelope: "See? No harm, no foul."
A look of relief washes over Jimi's face as he takes back his guitar. He touches the guitar, still not believing there isn't any damage.
Jimi Hendrix: "How'd you do that?"
Penelope: "It's a long story. I could teach you if you want?"
Jimi waves her off with a smile.
Jimi Hendrix: "Nah, it's cool…people would flip their wig if I started doing that. Thanks for the light, Miss-"
Penelope: "Plimmswood. But you can call me Penelope."
Jimi Hendrix: "Thanks for the light, Penelope. You take it easy."
Jimi goes to leave, but Penelope reaches out and gently grabs his shoulder.
Penelope: "Jimi, before you go…could I ask you something? It's a bit of a philosophical question."
Jimi pauses and turns back to her, thinking for a moment.
Jimi Hendrix: "Okay, but if we're talking deep, I'm not smoking this alone, and we're sitting."
He says with a laugh as he walks over to the equipment boxes. He pats the top like a seat and hops up. He helps Penelope up next to him and hands her his J.
Jimi Hendrix: "Alright, Penelope Plimmswood, hit me with it."
~~~~~~~~~~ Sometime Later ~~~~~~~~~~
Penelope and Jimi still sit on the equipment box; however, they each now have their own joints. The haze of smoke lingered around them.
Penelope: "And so then after Brooke decides to move over Team Red, he goes, he goes…I want to make the same offer to each of you. In the next twenty-four hours, I want an answer. Will you stay or will you go? Can you believe that?"
Jimi Hendrix: "So he put you through all that and then put out that ultimatum? And you chose to stay on Team Blue, right?"
Penelope nods.
Penelope: "It seemed like a complete no-brainer. I mean, Eli was here on Team Blue…and the guys basically like a father to me, you know? It gives us an instant advantage over everyone else."
Jimi nods and takes a drag before replying.
Jimi Hendrix: "You know, everyone looks at me, right? They see Jimi Hendrix, one of the best guitar players in the world. But you know what they don't see? They don't see the rest of the guys behind me busting their asses to make me look good. They don't see my family, my friends, my teachers, and everyone else who helped push me to get to this point right here. I'm the sum of all parts, you hear me? Jimi Hendrix may be a 'one man show', but my team they're…"
Penelope: "They're the most important thing, right?"
He nods.
Jimi Hendrix: "That's it…you sucked the words right out of my head. Even if you want to do things by yourself, the fact is, there are always going to be people who surround you. It's up to you to be smart enough to use them. To get you to where you want to be."
Penelope nods back.
Jimi Hendrix: "You make sure you don't squander your opportunity, Penelope Plimmswood, you hear?"
Penelope: "I won't. And you're sure you don't remember anything?"
Jimi shakes his head.
Jimi Hendrix: "Girl, you ask me one more goddamn time about what's in that tent and how I got here, and I'm gonna-"
Penelope hops down, holding up her arms and laughing.
Penelope: "Okay, okay…forget I ask. And thanks for listening."
Jimi gives her a wave as she starts to walk away. A few moments pass before he lets out a whistle.
Jimi Hendrix: "Yo, Plimmswood?!"
Penelope stops and turns back.
Jimi Hendrix: "Anybody ever told you you look like this chick I know from a band called Fritz? Her name is Stevie Knicks…"
Penelope laughs as she flicks the end of her joint away. She turns around and starts walking back across the field to Eli. She shouts back over her shoulder with a smile.
Penelope: "I get that all the time!"
True to his word, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones at the peak of their powers, Metallica straight out of the 80s, Tupac Shakur, and Linkin Park had indeed been brought together. Most of Team Blue had danced and partied their way through the sets so far, except for Eli and Penelope, who were sitting together. The pair was far more subdued in enjoying the event than the rest. Except when Penelope glanced over, noticing Eli becoming far more animated during Metallic's set the longer it went on.
Penelope: "I didn't think you'd like this type of music."
Eli Buchanan: "WHAT?"
Penelope: "I SAID, I DIDN'T THINK YOU LIKE THIS TYPE OF MUSIC!"
Penelope yells back, struggling to be heard as James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Lark Ulrich, and Jason Newsted proceed to try and melt their brains. They had already played tracks off Kill'em All, Right The Lightning, Master of Puppets, and were working through And Justice For All.
Eli Buchanan: "WHAT MAKES YOU SAY THAT?"
Penelope: "I ALWAYS HEAR YOU PLAYING OLDER STUFF AROUND THE HOTEL! YOU GUYS NEVER PLAY ANYTHING LIKE THIS!"
Penelope could see Eli laugh but couldn't hear him. The music was so loud Penelope could feel her own chest vibrating.
Eli Buchanan: "CHARLOTTE USUALLY PICKS THE MUSIC, IF I'M BEING HONEST. HER TASTES ARE A BIT MORE REFINED THAN MY OWN. WHILE SHE ENJOYS A GOOD SONG LACED WITH SATANIC MESSAGING AS MUCH AS THE NEXT PERSON…METAL THIS HEAVY CAN BE A BIT OFF-PUTTING."
Penelope: "OH! I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE HOTEL ITSELF!"
Eli shook his head, strangely not having to struggle as much as Penelope to both hear and talk.
Eli Buchanan: "THE HOTEL IS MORE RECEPTIVE TO THINGS, THIS IS TRUE. BUT THAT GENERALLY DOESN'T TRANSLATE INTO MUSIC."
Penelope: "WHAT ABOUT THAT ONE TIME THE WALLS STARTED BLEEDING WHEN THE GUEST IN ROOM 1408 PLAYED THAT SLIM WHITMAN ALBUM?!"
Eli Buchanan: "I DID SAY GENERALLY, DID I NOT? THERE ARE ALWAYS EXCEPTIONS DEAR GIRL."
Penelope nods as Metallica finishes 'One' with a flurry, thus ending their set. Team Blue let off a surprising amount of noise, given their size. Claps and whistles abound as Metallica head off stage, their roadies starting to move their equipment off.
Penelope: "Do you think a Time Lord was involved?"
Penelope asks as Eli's head whips around, a mixture of shock and anger on his face.
Eli Buchanan: "You take that thought right out of your head! God help us all if one of those infernal bastards is involved in all this."
Eli pauses to collect himself.
Eli Buchanan: "Further to the point, must you always question things? There are times when discretion is more advantageous, Penelope."
Penelope: "Yeah, but where would the fun be in that?"
She asks with a laugh and a wink, which elicits an eye roll from the owner of The Hotel California. Penelope gets up, brushing the grass off her butt and legs as she pretends to stretch. She watches the group of Metallica stagehands removing their equipment and watching them disappear into a large tent behind the constructed stage.
Penelope: "I'll be right back, Eli. Enjoy Tupac for me."
She says with a slight wave as she quickly makes her way across the large field. Eli watches her go as he shakes his head.
Eli Buchanan: "Ah yes, West Coast gangsta rap…such fun."
The sights and sounds of the large Montana Ranch reminded Penelope of her grandparent's farm back in Texas. The location of the Ranch itself, however, had been kept hidden from the Team. A fact that irked Penelope to no end. Instead of opening up a door as she had between The Hotel California and the LMS Compound, she was forced to take the provided transport with the others. She and Eli had spent the trip conversing and strategising amongst themselves about the other members of Team Blue.
What was even more infuriating for Penelope than not knowing the location was the fact the concert was even possible. The hows and the why were never disclosed, despite Penelope asking any available crew member from the production team that she could find. It wasn't merely out of curiosity that she asked. Being able to defy the laws of physics and the mortality of life to bring any person in history, forward or back in time, had its advantages. Advantages that Penelope would have no qualms exploiting, time paradoxes be damned.
Penelope: "Little pig, little pig, let me come in…"
Penelope sang to herself as she approached the tent, taking cover behind the stacks of equipment boxes the various bands had organised upon their arrival. Creeping slowly towards the entrance flap to the tent, she pulled it back, peeking inside.
Penelope: "Holy sh-"
: "Excuse me?"
Penelope instantly freezes, her brain scrambling to devise a plausible scenario.
: "Miss? Excuse me?"
Penelope stands up stiffly and turns around to come face to face with Jimi Hendrix himself. Her mouth drops open, having expected a member of security or some other TIA staff. She puts on an awkward smile as Jimi watches her off-putting behaviour.
Penelope: "Uh…yes?"
Jimi Hendrix: "You wouldn't happen to have a light, would you?"
He asks, holding up a rolled marijuana joint in his hand. Penelope doesn't smoke but pats herself down anyway like an idiot. Then she notices the Stratocaster he had slung over his shoulder. She points to it and shrugs.
Penelope: "Didn't you…aren't you the guy with the fire guitar? Or play it while it was smoking or something?"
He looks down with a laugh.
Jimi Hendrix: "I did light it on fire, but that was after I finished playing. And the only thing smoking on stage."
Penelope: "Oh…"
Penelope sounds a bit disappointed.
Penelope: "Want to see something cool?"
Jimi shrugs, really just wanting the light.
Jimi Hendrix: "Sure, I guess."
Penelope motions for the guitar, which Jimi removes and hands to her. She places it up on one of the equipment boxes. She turns to him with a smile.
Penelope: "You wanted a light, huh?"
She turns back, pointing a finger at the guitar.
Penelope: "Ignis!"
She shouts, the lower body of the guitar suddenly bursting into flames with a pop and a small cloud of smoke.
Jimi Hendrix: "What the fuck!?"
Jimi Hendrix jumps back, taken entirely off guard. He had seen some shit in his life, but he hadn't seen anything like this before. Penelope picks up the joint off the ground and places it ever so slightly up to the flames. She pulls it away, the end smouldering warmly, and hands it to Jimi.
Jimi Hendrix: "You are one…crazy bitch…"
He takes the joint with a shaky hand, quickly taking a long drag to calm his nerves. He holds it in for an ungodly amount before exhaling slowly. He looks over at his guitar sombrely.
Jimi Hendrix: "Man…my guitar though."
Penelope giggles as she shakes her head.
Penelope: "It's okay, look."
She points again.
Penelope: "Extinguo!"
With another pop, the flames slowly die down to nothing as Penelope picks the guitar back up.
Penelope: "See? No harm, no foul."
A look of relief washes over Jimi's face as he takes back his guitar. He touches the guitar, still not believing there isn't any damage.
Jimi Hendrix: "How'd you do that?"
Penelope: "It's a long story. I could teach you if you want?"
Jimi waves her off with a smile.
Jimi Hendrix: "Nah, it's cool…people would flip their wig if I started doing that. Thanks for the light, Miss-"
Penelope: "Plimmswood. But you can call me Penelope."
Jimi Hendrix: "Thanks for the light, Penelope. You take it easy."
Jimi goes to leave, but Penelope reaches out and gently grabs his shoulder.
Penelope: "Jimi, before you go…could I ask you something? It's a bit of a philosophical question."
Jimi pauses and turns back to her, thinking for a moment.
Jimi Hendrix: "Okay, but if we're talking deep, I'm not smoking this alone, and we're sitting."
He says with a laugh as he walks over to the equipment boxes. He pats the top like a seat and hops up. He helps Penelope up next to him and hands her his J.
Jimi Hendrix: "Alright, Penelope Plimmswood, hit me with it."
~~~~~~~~~~ Sometime Later ~~~~~~~~~~
Penelope and Jimi still sit on the equipment box; however, they each now have their own joints. The haze of smoke lingered around them.
Penelope: "And so then after Brooke decides to move over Team Red, he goes, he goes…I want to make the same offer to each of you. In the next twenty-four hours, I want an answer. Will you stay or will you go? Can you believe that?"
Jimi Hendrix: "So he put you through all that and then put out that ultimatum? And you chose to stay on Team Blue, right?"
Penelope nods.
Penelope: "It seemed like a complete no-brainer. I mean, Eli was here on Team Blue…and the guys basically like a father to me, you know? It gives us an instant advantage over everyone else."
Jimi nods and takes a drag before replying.
Jimi Hendrix: "You know, everyone looks at me, right? They see Jimi Hendrix, one of the best guitar players in the world. But you know what they don't see? They don't see the rest of the guys behind me busting their asses to make me look good. They don't see my family, my friends, my teachers, and everyone else who helped push me to get to this point right here. I'm the sum of all parts, you hear me? Jimi Hendrix may be a 'one man show', but my team they're…"
Penelope: "They're the most important thing, right?"
He nods.
Jimi Hendrix: "That's it…you sucked the words right out of my head. Even if you want to do things by yourself, the fact is, there are always going to be people who surround you. It's up to you to be smart enough to use them. To get you to where you want to be."
Penelope nods back.
Jimi Hendrix: "You make sure you don't squander your opportunity, Penelope Plimmswood, you hear?"
Penelope: "I won't. And you're sure you don't remember anything?"
Jimi shakes his head.
Jimi Hendrix: "Girl, you ask me one more goddamn time about what's in that tent and how I got here, and I'm gonna-"
Penelope hops down, holding up her arms and laughing.
Penelope: "Okay, okay…forget I ask. And thanks for listening."
Jimi gives her a wave as she starts to walk away. A few moments pass before he lets out a whistle.
Jimi Hendrix: "Yo, Plimmswood?!"
Penelope stops and turns back.
Jimi Hendrix: "Anybody ever told you you look like this chick I know from a band called Fritz? Her name is Stevie Knicks…"
Penelope laughs as she flicks the end of her joint away. She turns around and starts walking back across the field to Eli. She shouts back over her shoulder with a smile.
Penelope: "I get that all the time!"