Club Fang

Kev, back in his apartment, spent the next few hours diligently cleaning his apartment, taking pride in transforming the once-neglected space into a comfortable haven. By noon, every surface gleamed, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of lemon-scented cleaning products. He prepared a light lunch, anticipating a more extravagant meal later in the evening when the club came alive.

As he was enjoying his sandwich, a knock echoed through the apartment. He opened the door to find a middle-aged fox-man, a member of the cleaning crew, standing on the threshold. The fox man looked slightly annoyed, his bushy tail twitching impatiently.

"Amadeus is looking for you," he said gruffly, his voice laced with a hint of disapproval. "In the dressing rooms."

Kev blinked in surprise. "The dressing rooms?" he echoed, unsure where those were located in the sprawling mansion.

The fox man sighed, clearly not thrilled about the interruption to his duties. "Follow me," he grumbled, turning on his heel and heading down the hallway.

Kev quickly put down his lunch. They descended the grand staircase, bypassing the now-empty barroom and continuing through a series of dimly lit corridors. They eventually emerged into a spacious, high-ceilinged room that resembled a small concert hall. A stage, draped in velvet curtains, occupied one end, while plush chairs and couches were scattered throughout the rest of the space.

"The dressing rooms are behind the stage," the fox man said, pointing towards a discreet doorway. "Don't keep him waiting." With that, he turned and disappeared back into the labyrinth of hallways, leaving Kev to navigate the rest of the way alone.

 Kev crossed the stage, his footsteps echoing in the empty hall. He couldn't help but marvel at the grandeur of the space. He'd had no idea this concert-like room even existed within the club. It seemed there were still countless hidden corners and secrets waiting to be discovered. A thrill of anticipation ran through him, a reminder of the endless possibilities that this new world held.

He pushed open the door leading backstage, stepping into a dimly lit corridor lined with dressing rooms. The air hummed with quiet activity - the soft strumming of a guitar, the rhythmic tapping of a sewing machine, the muffled sounds of conversation. A giraffe man, perched on a stool and meticulously tuning a stand-up bass, looked down as Kev entered.

"Can I help you?" he asked, his voice slow and thoughtful.

"I'm looking for Amadeus," Kev replied, scanning the corridor for any sign of the flamboyant toucan.

The giraffe-man pointed towards a door at the far end of the hallway. "His office is back there," he said, returning his attention to his bass.

Kev thanked him and made his way towards the indicated door. He hesitated for a moment, then knocked gently.

A gruff voice echoed from within, "Go away! I'm busy!"

Kev recoiled, startled by the abruptness. "Sorry," he mumbled, turning to leave. "I'll come back another time."

But before he could take a step, the door swung open, revealing Asmodeus, his colorful plumage ruffled and a frown etched on his face. His expression froze, then melted into a delighted smile as he recognized Kev.

"Oh, it's my human friend!" he exclaimed, his voice a cheerful trill. "I thought you were someone else. Come in, come in!"

With a sweeping gesture of his winged arm, Asmodeus ushered Kev into the dressing room.

"I can come back later if you're busy," Kev offered, feeling a bit awkward.

Asmodeus laughed, his beak clicking merrily. "If it were anyone other than you, my dear, I would be busy," he declared, leading Kev to a small, plush couch nestled in a corner. "But for you, I have time."

Kev settled onto the couch, his eyes taking in the surroundings. The dressing room was surprisingly spacious, though a grand piano, its polished surface gleaming in the dim light, occupied most of the floor space. How did they even get that in here, Kev thought. 

A small desk cluttered with sheet music and a metronome sat in one corner, and a vanity mirror adorned with theatrical lights occupied another. Despite the presence of the piano, the room felt cozy and inviting, a reflection of Asmodeus's flamboyant personality.

Asmodeus disappeared for a moment, then returned with a gleaming acoustic guitar. He thrust it into Kev's hands with a flourish. "Here you go, my dear," he said, his voice filled with anticipation. "Let's hear some of that human music you mentioned."

Kev's fingers instinctively wrapped around the neck of the guitar, a familiar weight settling in his hands. It had been a month or two since he'd last played, but the muscle memory returned quickly. His hands felt the fresh steel strings, the guitar seemed like it had never been used. He picked a note, a smile spreading across his face as the music began to fill the small space.

However, his smile faltered as a discordant sound echoed through the room. He frowned, his fingers plucking at the strings experimentally. "It's in a strange tuning," he observed, his brow furrowed in concentration.

Asmodeus watched with keen interest as Kev stood up and approached the grand piano. He carefully matched the guitar's strings to the piano's keys, adjusting the tuning pegs until the instrument resonated with the familiar sounds of Earth's standard tuning. A satisfied smile returned to his face as he strummed a few more chords, the music now flowing smoothly from his fingertips.

Asmodeus listened intently, his head cocked to one side, his sharp eyes following Kev's every move. "Interesting tuning," he remarked, his voice a melodic trill. "Quite... dissonant, but intriguing nonetheless."

Kev, encouraged by Asmodeus's curiosity, began to play a song he had written back on Earth. It was a simple, fingerpicked melody, filled with melancholic chords. He closed his eyes, letting the music transport him back to his old life, to the quiet solitude of his bedroom where he'd spent countless hours crafting his songs.

Asmodeus flinched a few times as Kev stumbled over a chord or missed a note, his perfectionist tendencies momentarily overriding his appreciation for the music. But as the song progressed, a look of genuine fascination spread across his face. The toucan's eyes were closed as he focused, his beak clicking softly in time. 

When Kev finished, Asmodeus remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the guitar in Kev's hands. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, he rose from his seat and approached the grand piano. His fingers danced across the keys, tapping out a few experimental notes, as if deciphering a complex code. Then, with a flourish, he flawlessly reproduced Kev's song, the melody echoing through the room with a newfound richness and depth.

Kev's jaw dropped in astonishment. He'd witnessed Asmodeus's skill the night before, but this was on another level. The toucan had captured the essence of his song, infusing it with his own unique flair, transforming it into something even more beautiful and poignant.

"You're... incredible," Kev breathed, his voice filled with awe.

Asmodeus merely smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes. "Yes, my dear," he said, his voice a soft melody. "Your song touched my soul."

Asmodeus's eyes gleamed with excitement. "I would love to hear a few more of your human songs," he said, his voice a melodic trill. "They would be a delightful addition to my repertoire." He paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "But for now, I must transcribe this etude you've just shared. It has a certain... energy that intrigues me."

Kev blushed, a wave of embarrassment washing over him. He hadn't expected Asmodeus to take such a liking to his simple melody. If he'd known it might be played in public, he would have chosen something a bit more... complex.

Asmodeus, sensing Kev's discomfort, chuckled. "Don't worry, my dear," he reassured him. "Your song has a unique rhythm, a captivating dissonance that will undoubtedly cause chaos on the dance floor. Imagine the masses of bodies, forced to move in new and unexpected ways by my masterful interpretation." He spread his wings dramatically, his voice rising in a crescendo of excitement. "It will be a symphony of controlled chaos, a ballet of undulating umbral urges unleashed!"

Kev couldn't help but smile at Asmodeus's theatrics. "That was quite poetic," he remarked, genuinely impressed by the toucan's flair for the dramatic.

Asmodeus preened, his feathers ruffling slightly. "I've been working on my prose," he admitted, a hint of pride in his voice. "Thank you for noticing, dear."

Asmodeus, now fully engrossed in his task, sat down at the piano and began meticulously transcribing Kev's song. Kev, feeling a sense of accomplishment and a touch of nervous anticipation, carefully placed the guitar back in its case. A quick unreciprocated farewell and he returned to his apartment.

The afternoon sun filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow on the neatly arranged furniture. Kev settled onto the couch, rolled another joint, and let the soothing smoke fill his lungs. With the guitar in his hands, he began to play, the familiar melodies a comforting anchor in this strange new world. He experimented with different chords and progressions, his fingers dancing across the strings with a newfound confidence.

Time seemed to melt away as he lost himself in the music. When he finally looked up, the sun was beginning its descent towards the horizon, painting the sky in vibrant hues of orange and purple. It was time to get ready for another night at the club.

Kev showered and changed into the clothes Fang had chosen for him the night before. The black slacks and white button-down shirt, though simple, fit him decently enough. He felt a surge of confidence, a sense of belonging he hadn't experienced before.

Just as he was finishing his preparations, a knock sounded at the door. He opened it to find Horns, his usual cheerful demeanor restored after a few hours of sleep.

"Good morning, Kev!" Horns boomed, stepping into the apartment with a wide grin.

Kev chuckled, glancing at the setting sun outside the window. "Evenging, Horns," he said.

"Same thing," Horns replied with a shrug, settling comfortably onto the couch. He pulled a joint and the room was quickly filled with its sticky aroma.

Kev sat down across from him, reaching for the offered joint. "Busy day ahead?" he inquired.

Horns exhaled a cloud of smoke, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Sounds like it'll start smoothly, at least," he replied. "Fang wants to get you some more appropriate work attire. Seems like those jeans and t-shirts aren't cutting it anymore."

"I guess not," he agreed, taking a puff before passing the joint back. "I'm not exactly blending in with the crowd."

Horns took a long drag from the joint, a contemplative look in his eyes. "Take your time out there, Kev," he advised, his voice laced with a hint of mischief. "No need to have Fang rushing back here and making a fuss."

Kev chuckled, understanding the unspoken message. Horns clearly wanted Fang out of the club, away from the staff, and enjoying some much-needed relaxation.

"I'll do my best," Kev replied, taking another puff from the joint. "But ultimately, he's the one in charge."

Horns nodded, a knowing smile playing on his lips. He took the joint back from Kev and inhaled deeply. "This is the first time I can think of that he's gone out for something that's not work-related," he mused, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Not in years, at least."

"It seems like he could afford to blow off some steam more often, if he wanted to," Kev observed, watching the smoke curl lazily towards the ceiling.

"Maybe," Horns said, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. "But it seems like your presence is making him want to. That's a good thing, Kev." He chuckled. "You might just be the best thing that's happened to this club in a long time."

Horns stood up, stretching his massive frame. "Well, I should let you get ready," he said, patting Kev's shoulder gently. "Don't want to keep the boss waiting."

As he made his way to the door, he tossed a pack of cigarettes and a lighter onto the coffee table. "Figured you might be running low," he said with a wink. "Don't hesitate to ask if you need anything else."

With a final wave, Horns left the apartment, leaving Kev to prepare for his outing with Fang.

Kev had a cigarette in nervous anticipation, looking forward to seeing Fang. The fear and the loneliness of this place so far from home melted away when he was next to the charming wolf-man. As the moon began its ascent into the darkening sky, casting an ethereal glow over the mansion, a knock sounded at his door.

Fang stood on the threshold, a picture of refined elegance in a charcoal gray suit that hugged his powerful frame. His dark hair was neatly combed, his amber eyes sparkling with anticipation.