Work Text:
It was the end of a long day, and Simon just wanted to get drunk and make out with a guy he won't remember. The museum had been busier than usual due to the new dinosaur exhibit they just got in, and he had been busting his ass the last few months making sure no idiot kids mess it up or touch the skeletons. So, that's what led him here today, in the downtown area of San Francisco, walking into a dingy but not dirty bar next to one of the alleys.
As he walked in the door of a place called Petrova’s, he sat down at a random table, ordering a beer and not really paying attention to what was going on around him. Some sports game was on, and there was a small stage for performers or karaoke singers. But then, he noticed someone getting up on the stage. He looked unassuming, wearing glasses and a thick fox cardigan in a bar with raucous, loud people. He looked like a librarian for fuck's sake.
“Hey,” he said, getting another patron's attention. “What's up?” The other man asked. “Who's that up onstage?” The man, who Simon would later know to be Carl, looked up towards the stage where Cardigan Guy was setting up. “Oh, Ryland? Yeah, he comes here around every week. Turns into a whole different person,” he said, smile a mix of fondness and pride.
“Different how?” Simon asked. “Well, you know how he looks like some kind of teacher or librarian?” Carl asked. “Yeah, why?” Simon asked, confused. “He does do that. Teach, I mean. But when he's up on that stage, rocking out, it's as if he has nothing to worry about. It's as if he gets possessed by some hard-core cool ghost,” Carl said, chuckling.
As they were finishing their conversation, the host/person running the bar went up to introduce Ryland, catching Simon's attention. Grace said some hellos, that he would be singing some songs from this Italian band that was apparently good, and took off his sweater and glasses and replaced them with some sunglasses. “Why is he wearing those indoors?” Simon asked nobody in particular.
His thoughts were then silenced with a piercing riff coming from Ryland’s guitar. The song was loud, fast, and the man onstage looked like nothing he'd seen before he started. This one looked different. The instrumental continued before he went up for the first verse.
I wanna be the first man you look at tonight
I wanna be stuck in your head and make you go wild
I wanna drive you till the morning light and
I wanna leave you alone in the middle of the night
The song went on, but Simon couldn't focus on the music. All he could focus on was Ryland. How confident he looked, the way he threw his sunglasses into the crowd, how much the crowd loved him. “Damn, he's kinda hot,” Simon thought before being jerked back into the chorus.
For your love, I'll do whatever you want
For your love, I'll do whatever you want
I'll do whatever you want, for your love
The song kept on, the lyrics staying the same level of raunchy they've been, Simon still staring at Ryland, a furious blush on his face. Why hadn't he been here sooner? He could've borne witness to this hotshot firecracker weeks ago. But finally, the song finished, and after a few more, Ryland thanked the audience and turned to leave.
“Wait!” Simon said as Ryland was about to head out the door. “Oh hey! What's up?” Simon stared at the floor before realizing what he had. “Oh, uh, you forgot your sunglasses,” he said quickly, handing them to the other man. “Oh, thanks! My brother would've killed me if he found out I lost these, they're kinda his favorite,” he said, smiling bright.
“Oh, by the way, you killed it up there. Never even heard of that band before,” Simon said. “Yeah, they've been my favorite for a few years now, did you know they're getting back together next year? It's so cool,” he said, getting more animated as he went on before checking the time. “Aw crap, I'm late. Welp, gotta go! Nice meeting you, um-” “Simon.” “Right, Simon! Okay, now I really have to run,” he said before shoving a Post-It into Simon's hand.
He ran out the door, waving frantically, before Simon looked at the note and realized that Ryland had given him his phone number. Now Simon knew what else he was doing tonight.