Gotta leave my mark, I want you to remember me.

[Brody Rogers]

Brody was never worried before a performance.

Calm, relaxed, and maybe even arrogant. Being in front of crowds, performing for strangers, hearing them cheering, it all came naturally. And maybe she didn't quite pack the house like the Random Comment shows did, filling all of Seneca Falls with rowdy teenagers and boosting coffee sales through the roof, but she had her handful of faithful fans, and she enjoyed playing for them. It was almost nice to have a calm crowd, sometimes.

Some people preferred an acoustic jam instead of loud rock shows. She counted on those people.

It was almost like being at home, practicing in her room, like she did almost every day, as she had always done. It was relaxing, and enjoyable.

Random Comment got the big crowds, all of the fans, and all of the big nights, but she didn't mind picking up a bit of their slack. She wasn't much for sloppy seconds, but it wasn't like she'd ever admit that these shows were just that.

Sipping on her own cup of coffee, the light-haired girl settled it down onto the stage, as she sat gently onto the stool that they had placed out there for her to play from. She already had Hal slung over her shoulder, complete with the new set of strings she had bought, and all tuned up and ready to go. Her hand was a little sore, still wrapped in the bandages from Thanksgiving, but she was willing to play through the pain.

It only made a better performer, music was serious.

Shifting her guitar to settle it into her lap, she reached over to pull the mic stand closer, bending it to lean to her level, so that she could sing into it without standing from her stool. "Hey guys, how you doing? You know me, I know you, and this is the Brody Rogers Experience."

Clearing her throat, she began.

"I leave the gas on, walk the alleys in the dark. Sleep with candles burning, I leave the door unlocked. I'm weaving a rope, and running all the red lights.

Did I get your attention? Cause I'm sending all the signs that, the clock is ticking, and I'll be giving my two weeks.

Pick your favorite shade of black, you best prepare a speech, say something funny, say something sweet, but don't say that you loved me.."

[Leigh O'Conner]

Leigh watched from behind the counter as Brody took the stage and begun singing. She loved when Random Comment played, of course, and being friends with those in the band certainly affected her view of them. But there were some nights when she preferred Brody, all alone with her guitar, when the cafe was quiet and you could really hear the music as opposed to fans singing along to covers or cheering at the original songs.

Leigh might have not been super-excited about Brody's attitude towards Jude, but at the same time, she was glad that not everybody treated him like he was going to break in half for no reason. And frankly, Leigh liked Brody as well as she liked anyone. The blonde leaned comfortably against the counter and closed her eyes and allowed the (however arrogantly named) Brody Rogers Experience carry her away.

[Brody Rogers]

When she sang, and when she played, Brody usually allowed herself to be carried away a bit as well. It sometimes felt like an out of body experience, like she was watching and listening, and it was some other girl sitting there and entertaining the crowd. There was no better feeling, the heady experience of attention, belting out the words, and the feeling of the strings under her strained fingers.

Strumming the tune out steadily, Brody closed her eyes as she continued to sing, moving onto her chorus.

"I'm still breathing, but we've been dead for a while. This sickness has no cure, we're going down for sure, already left a grip, best abandon ship.

Maybe I was too pale, maybe I was too fat, maybe you had better, better luck in the sack, no formal education, I swore way too much, I swear you didn't care, cause oh, you were in love.

So as I write this letter, and shed my last tear, know it's all for the better.."

[Johnny Wainwright]

Jude wasn't one of those artists who was too stuck up to see other peoples shows. In fact, he'd gone to most of Brody's shows, enjoying the soft tones of the girls voice as she sang. He often sat in one of the corners, aware that Brody would probably blow a gasket if she knew he listened to her play, but the cafe was public, and he often came to her shows to write, whether it be a new song or the novel he seemed to be writing whenever he could escape Ophelia. He sat currently near the stage, his song book open on the table as he worked on his newest song, The Picture of Dorian Grey open in his lap.

[Marianne Peters]

Lucy felt like the world's shittiest "manager" when she blew into the Seneca Falls Cafe half-way through her client's first song. Brody was onstage, singing her little heart out. Lucy couldn't help but smile. She had texted her friend several times, explaining that she was at work, that she had the family's Pursuit and would be driving like a lunatic to make it there on time. She hoped Brody had gotten the messages. However, she was probably too worried about the show to notice a lack of so-called "management". Lucy brushed past a few scenesters who seemed in their own little world listening to The Brody Rogers Experience. She noted, surprised, that even Jude Wainwright was in attendance, clearly trying not to be seen in a corner. Lucy didn't have to hide; she took a seat near the front.

"That's her!" Marianne said in an excited whisper. "That's the girl I was telling you about! The one who's parents named her after a Beatles song!" the redhead was pulling on her brother's sleeves as she said this, shaking him a little.

"Shhh," Jackson hushed his sister, as he looked for a seat that wouldn't be too obvious. "Besides the fact you're being extremely creepy, that's not why we're here," he reminded Marianne, who was staring at the back of this girl's head. "Look up a little," he said, grinning and indicating Brody. "She is why we're here."

"I've been here before, you know," Marianne replied, raising an eyebrow. "She's a lovely guitar player, lovely voice too," she said, smiling. "Can't we sit closer?"

"Yeah, when I dye my hair black and buy skinny jeans," he said, sighing as he took a seat far from the stage. Jackson pulled out the chair next to him and motioned to his sister. "You can sit wherever you want," he said, "They don't look at you weird. Or you can chill we me? Since I did drive you here," he reminded her gently. He eyed Marianne, with her curly red hair and peasant skirt over birkenstocks. She fit right in. He looked at his own A&E sweater and cordouroys, and found himself hunching over a bit at the table.

[Leigh O'Conner]

After taking care of one of the rare customers who ordered mid-show (as most waited for the artist or group to take a break, and this one, like most, was one who had merely walked in, ordered their coffee, and bustled off on their way), Leigh took a brief glimpse around the cafe to see how it was going. It wasn't as crowded as the Random Comment shows, but it seemed that people were trickling in and staying. Brody would like that. And Lucy had arrived sometime in the interim, but Leigh took no notice of exactly when.

Johnny, as usual when at one of Brody's shows, was skulking about in the shadows, reading and being mostly unnoticeable. Leigh also took note that Marianna was staring at the back of Lucy's quite excitedly, although the barista had no idea why she would be doing so. Jackson was sitting next to her, looking a trifle uncomfortable. Leigh knew him from the guys' soccer team, and besides that only really knew they were academic opposites, but had similar attitudes insofar as generally being peacekeepers when one was necessary. There was definitely an assortment of attendees tonight. And while Tatum or Ophelia would be appreciated for at least a hello, all that Leigh was officially missing was Sera to make the night complete.

[Seraphim Donnelly-Rousseau]

Quite absorbed in her music, Brody was oblivious to the individual attention she was receiving, or even the presence of Jude Wainwright in the Seneca Falls cafe that evening. It wasn't even until she had finished her first song, that she even noticed Lucy had arrived at all. She had received the texts, but hadn't expected her to even make it for the first half of the set, since their work had a way of keeping them much more ridiculously than required at any given time. She was happy to see her though, and gave her a little smile, as she shifted Hal in her lap, and leaned a bit closer to the microphone.

She also noticed a rather cute redhead sitting behind Lucy, more or less staring at her head, but she wasn't sure who the girl was, or what the deal was. Knowing Lucy, she probably reeked of pot smoke or something; that got them looks, on occasion. Clearing her throat a bit, Brody decided her next song on a whim. "And this next one, I'm sure you all know it, is for my lovely manager, missus Lucy Hartigan. I'm not fond of covers, but life will go on.."

Starting to strum out the beginning of the tune, she was more or less winging it, knowing she'd figure it out as she went. There would be nothing better than embarrassing her best friend, after all. She could hardly contain the smirk as she began to sing;

"Oh, I need you love, babe, guess you know it's true.
Hope you need my love babe, just like I need you.
Hold me, love me, hold me, love me.
I ain't got nothing but love, babe, eight days a week.
Love you every day girl, always on my mind.
One thing I can say girl, love you all the time.."

Just was Brody was beginning her second song, Seraphim was finally arriving. She'd been planning to show up sooner, since Leigh had been working all afternoon, but she really had been unable to put down her book. Before she knew it, the time was nearly eight o'clock, and she'd been pulling on a sweater and more or less scrambling to the bus stop, cursing living so far out of the way of the main portion of the city.

Pushing her way through the doors, she was glad to see the crowd wasn't too insane; there was a decent bit of an audience, but not the amount that Random Comment always drew in during their nights. Sera, personally, much preferred a singular acoustic show, much more relaxing and easy to listen to. All of the hard rock music and thrashing scenesters got under her skin more than anything else.

The brunette was arriving at the counter just as Leigh was sizing up the cafe patrons, and the shorter girl gave one of her trade-mark arrogant smirks, leaning her elbows onto the counter top. "Excuse me, could I get some service? I've been here for ages already, I want to see a manager."

[Leigh O'Conner]

Leigh couldn't stop the huge grin from blossoming as the familiar tones of her girlfriend broke through her thoughts, and didn't bother trying to. "I'm sorry, ma'am," Leigh replied, "but right now, the only boss I have available can't talk right now." She assumed the occupants of the cafe to be absorbed in Brody (or the back of Lucy's head, anyway) enough that she could hop up and lean over the counter, and with one hand playing at the nape of Sera's neck, pull the brunette girl closer to drop a kiss on her lips. "You can leave comment if you want, though," she added after pulling away and then taking her feet again. "Would you like the usual monstrosity, miss?" Leigh asked with the same perfect attention she treated every customer that came her way.

[Seraphim Donnelly-Rousseau]

Sera couldn't help but laugh, a grin breaking out onto her own lips as she listened to the 'explanation' she received, as well as the kiss, which she leaned forward slightly to return to the blonde. She almost felt herself pouting when Leigh leaned back to her own side of the counter, putting that distance between them again. "Of course I will, I've only come here for my drink.. it isn't as if I came to see you or anything, don't flatter yourself. I've brought my true love with me."

Lowering just one hand, she fished into the pocket of her hooded sweater, before pulling out a small and rather worn looking paperback novel, another smirk on her lips. "See?"

[Leigh O'Conner]

"You keep talkin' about that true love, boss lady, and you're going to meet some delicious raspberry goodness," Leigh replied, and stuck out her tongue. "I'm the jealous-type, didn't I tell you?" She kept an eye on Sera as she began methodically making the mocha-from-hell, and a spare bit of attention in case anyone else came to the counter demanding she split her attention away from Sera. Which she definitely hoped wouldn't happen.

[Seraphim Donnelly-Rousseau]

"At least she listens," Seraphim replied, a little dramatically, and with her best air of bitterness accenting the statement. She stuffed the book back into her sweater, leaning back onto the counter, to watch Leigh preparing the drink. It was specific, and delicious, and watching the blonde prepare it was a bit like watching some incredibly complicated dance, except with more caffeine and steam.

If given the chance [or if forced into the opportunity], Sera was ninety percent sure that she wouldn't even be able to make her own drink. She stuck her own tongue out right back, before replying further.

"Sleeping with you is like taking a deaf mute to bed. Would it kill you to move a bit? A little noise? Something?"

[Leigh O'Conner]

Leigh smirked at the tease, and relaxed a little. Usually at work Leigh was somehow inherently a little tense, and especially as she knew she'd be alone closing for several days, she was concentrated to fixing large number of drinks in short order, trying to get them right, quickly, and still be pleasant to people. Pretending, just for the moment, that she had no responsibilities outside of Sera and herself, she listened to Brody's singing, and allowed herself to react naturally, hips swaying and dipping and mouthing the words in time with the chorus.

Brody's music was usually her own, but she didn't have an infinite number of songs, and if anyone knew them well at all (aside from Lucy), it would be Leigh. Partially due to her memory, and the rest because she worked at almost all of the nightly shows. Leigh's movements were smooth, subtle, and weren't at all distracted by the fact that in between lines of the song and small movements, she was defoaming the steamed milk and pouring the espresso, and mixing the liquids and mocha syrup. Before she had to grab the raw sugar, she, in fact, leaned again over the counter and, knowing she had the moments to spare, captured Sera in a more lingering kiss. "On the upside," she whispered, "I know I'm a better kisser than your true love. Now, of course, if you want noise boss lady, I could always just start moaning and screaming back here, but when Brody murders one of us for disrupting her show, I will point the finger at you. But if I'm going to be screaming and moaning back here, I'm going to need some help on that account. And therein we'll find some movement as well," she gave Sera a significant look and a wink. "I promise."

[Seraphim Donnelly-Rousseau]

That was one thing that Sera had always enjoyed about their friendship, and she was glad that it hadn't disappeared when friendship had suddenly become relationship. They had teased and picked on each other all of their lives, in varying degrees of cruelty, and never ended up getting upset or hurt by it, knowing perfectly well that it was all in good fun. She was glad the blonde was tough, and mature enough to keep up with her ever witty banter. It was a nice change from her brother who never listened, and her sister who always took everything to heart, even if she did smile and pretend to know it was all a joke. Too sensitive, that one. She had been very content in watching the blonde move behind her counter, the movements of her hands with the drink, and the movements of her hips with the music, both equally captivating. As Leigh bestowed a second kiss onto her, this one a little longer, and less subtle than the first, Seraphim smiled against it, keeping her elbows planted onto the counter as she leaned into Leigh's direction.

"Peppermints again," she said simply, as they pulled apart, and Seraphim closed her eyes for just a moment, listening to what Leigh said next. It was almost enough to make her blush, and she thought maybe she was a little, though it was thankfully difficult to see in the currently dim cafe. Reaching up to run her thumb thoughtfully over her lower lip, she opened one eye, her brown one, to peer over at her girlfriend. She caught the wink, and giggled a little, shaking her head. "Brody can go and shove it, frankly. As lovely as her music might be, I do have other things I'd rather be listening to, and I must say that your suggestions are topping my list. But is that a suggestion, or a genuine promise? Think you'd be able to make coffee without spilling it everywhere if I ducked under that counter for a minute?"

[Leigh O'Conner]

Leigh blushed and grinned, "I guarantee nothing. Except possibly the loss of my job, boss lady. And then you'd have to find a permanent position for me. Possibly paying, since I may or may not have kept a supply of peppermints on-hand since you mentioned them on the bus," she added innocently. "And I need to get paid to continue to keep them on-hand."

[Seraphim Donnelly-Rousseau]

"I'll be a gentle lady then, and just wait for you to get off of your shift before I get around to all of that screaming and moaning business. It must be soon, right? Another couple of hours?" Seraphim asked, as she turned her head and glanced up toward the stage, where Brody was switching her song again. It was another of her original ones, and Sera wasn't quite as familiar with it, though she thought she must have heard it once or twice in past visits.

"How's my drink coming, anyway? I might have to call management again, if you take any longer.."