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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Sept 30, 2020 9:05:24 GMT -5
This is something I recently finished, I wrote it in two weeks after I caught lightning in a bottle and finished this weekend. Feedback is welcome
Chapter 1
Dad, you have your stuff packed?", asked Nika.
"Yeah, I'm a light packer. Luckily your side of the family likes me, it could have been a lot worse", said John.
"I know, since you were a rock star who knocked up Pepere's daughter", she quipped.
John just laughed as he helped his daughter with the bags. Her joked did have a grain of truth since her mother and him had a one night stand back in 1990. John watched as Nika did a spot check and grabbed her bags before heading out to the driveway, her curly dark hair down to her shoulders just like his and her mother's. "Dad, just put everything in the trunk", she said as she opened the doors to the black BMW.
"I don't drive at all but at least we have a nice car, not a fancy rock star one", he laughed as he got in the passenger's seat. Nika just smiled as she turned on the engine and hooked up her phone as it played vintage Artie Shaw.
"You really ought to update your tastes, I think all the music on your phone is made by dead people", he teased.
"I like what I like, I haven't heard anything modern I like. And I play the clarinet, you know. I take busman's holiday's in regard to my music", she replied before backing out of the driveway.
"When we get back we'll have rehearsals since Josh is joining us for this tour, it'll be my last so he'll need to learn our songs really good", said John.
Nika just nodded and was glad that her long hair hid the sudden warmth on her cheeks. "Uh, cool", she replied in a calm tone.
"Yeah, since this is going to be our last tour with me. I want him to get experience being in the band. And we're going to add more stuff to the album, I need to add more overdubs and he's adding more keyboard parts", said John eagerly.
Nika tried to control the blush surging through her pale skin, her heart racing at the idea of seeing Josh at their house. His good friend and musical collaborator was ten years older than her and she'd known him for as long, and had been nothing but polite to her but she couldn't help but feel like a silly teenager whenever she smiled at her.
Nika shook her head and tried to concentrate on finding the exit for I-40 East. She thought about asking Grandmere about her dilemma, as the older woman was more likely to be sympathetic than her grandfather. Soon she turned off on the exit for the interstate as they headed east, most of the traffic heading west towards the city. Past the suburban sprawl of LA and inland Orange County, the desert started to creep up on them as manicured lawns gave way to desert landscaping and the modern style ranch houses gave way to Southwestern inspired homes.
Two hours later they had arrived in Palm Springs and Nika drove to her grandparents home set on the shores of an artificial lake by a golf course. The house was in warm orange adobe with a red tiled roof, the front sandy but landscaped with different varieties of cactus as she thought how her grandfather had adjusted from growing peonies and tulips and snapdragons to desert blooms.
She parked in the driveway and the front door opened as her grandmother Maria Lacroix came over to embrace her and John. "Bonjour, lyubya. Your grandfather is having problems with his knees and he cannot come outside, perhaps later you can wheel him out to the garden", she said in her unusual French-Russian accent.
"Bonjour, Grandmere. I hope Pepere is doing better with the new carer", she said as John took their bags and followed her inside.
"Yes, Michael is a real help. But he's coming tomorrow", said Maria as she ushered them into the parlor.
"Bonjour, mon petite. And I'm glad to see you're doing well, John. I'm afraid it's that sort of day", sighed Pierre Lacroix, his accent still Oxbridge after all these years in California.
Nika embraced her grandfather and then adjusted the blanket across his knees. Pierre had steel-gray hair and wrinkles, but his trademark Lacroix purplish-blue eyes twinkled from behind his glasses. There were hints of the handsome man he had been so long ago and in his regal bearing, his eyes the same exact shade as his granddaughter's. "Maria will make you some tea, please have a seat. My knees keep bothering me, otherwise I would be in my garden", he said with a frown.
"We can take you in to the garden later, Pepere", said Nika.
"I know, but gardening is my passion. I had my garden in England but we left that behind many years ago, your cousin Basil tends it", he sighed.
"Do you want green tea, John?", asked Maria from the kitchen.
"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Lacroix", he replied.
"How many times must I tell you, please call me Maria", she chided gently.
"Sorry, but Mom and Dad always said to be polite", said John with a laugh.
"Oh, I understand. But you are my granddaughter's father and we've known each other for nearly ten years", said Maria as she placed a kettle on the stove. Even in her mid-60' and slightly plump, Maria still radiated warmth and good cheer. Her round face was dominated by large blue eyes the color of sapphires, combined with her high cheekbones and full lips which gave her a Slavic look and hinted at the beauty she had been many years ago.
"So John, I heard your latest solo album and I think it's brilliant. Normally I listen to only jazz, but I quite liked it", said Pierre.
"Thank you, sir. Josh and I did most of the songwriting and I played guitar, he played guitar but also keyboards and drums. I can play some keyboards but he's a genius at them, he plays all these different instruments and he's a great person to have in the studio", said John.
"Nika my dear, could you please put on some Parker?", asked Pierre. Nika nodded as she connected the speakers to his phone and logged into Pandora as Charlie Parker came over the speakers.
"Excellent, thank you", he replied. The older man handed his glasses to Nika and closed his eyes as he let the music wash over him. Without the glasses, the resemblance between Pierre and Nika was quite striking. Both were tall with wavy hair that was dark brown in her case and gray in his, Slavic high cheekbones and the trademark Lacroix purplish-blue eyes.
John smiled in thanks when Maria handed him a cup of green tea. He took a sip and nodded in approval as he took a bite of a soft oatmeal cookie. He thought back to his first meeting with the Lacroix family after hearing that he had a daughter...
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Post by Tim on Sept 30, 2020 11:17:58 GMT -5
Mara is about 76 now. Nice to see her again.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Oct 2, 2020 7:29:04 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback, Tim Chapter 2 Flashback
"Think about it, John. You're going to meet your daughter for the first time. That's the best feeling in the world, knowing you're a dad", said Flea, patting him on the back.
John sighed as he adjusted his tie, his long dark curly hair pulled back away from his face. "I know, but I had no idea she was pregnant. It was a one-night stand and we were both drunk. I hope her parents don't kill me and that my daughter likes me", he sighed.
"She's probably still hurting after her mom died, just be kind. And she does look a lot like you", said Flea.
"Except for the eyes", replied John with a weak chuckle.
John was still in shock when his lawyer had told him he had a daughter, suggesting he visit the law office and meet with her grandparents. His lawyer had shown him a picture of the girl and John immediately knew she was his daughter, she had reminded him of how he looked as a child except for her blue eyes. "I still can't believe I have a daughter. If I had found out years ago, I would have been in no shape to have a kid", he said.
"You're sober now, you're ready to be a dad. And we'll help", said Flea reassuringly.
John took a cab to the lawyer's office in downtown LA and waited for the receptionist at the front desk to lead him to the office. He felt as though he was having an out of body experience when he entered the office, the door shutting behind him with an audible creak. "Mr. Williams has been expecting you", said the receptionist as she left the office.
John wished he knew how to pray when he entered the book-lined office. He immediately tensed up and felt out of place in the oak-paneled office with its dark oak furniture and scent of Lemon Pledge and cigars. The sensation was only reinforced when he saw the dignified older couple in black suits, the woman seated next to a little girl in a black sailor dress with white trim. John immediately felt guilty at his own discomfort, knowing the little girl had recently lost her mother and was going to meet her new father. What struck him was her solemn expression, a miniature adult in her black dress. Her curly dark brown hair contrasted with her very fair skin and black dress, her eyes downcast. Just then she turned towards him and John was struck by her eyes. They were large in her little face and of a vivid dark blue, the color of sapphires but with striking purple highlights, like a sapphire with streaks of amythyst. He mused that they were very sad and serious eyes on such as a young child.
"Mr. Frusciante, Mr. Williams, please have a seat. We are here to discuss the last will and testament of Zoe Lacroix. Mr. Frusciante, Miss Lacroix named you as the father of her daughter in the will, which was witnessed by myself and her parents and notarized by our notary downstairs. Since the deceased had no other known partners, the probability of you being the father is very high. If you wish to undergo paternity testing, you may do so. Here is the last will and testament of Zoe Lacroix", said the lawyer as he began to read:
"If you are reading this, I am dead or have gone missing. To my parents, I bequeath my collection of Greek and Latin literature and my jazz albums on vinyl. To my brother Basil, I bequeath my daughter's old clothes as he has a young daughter. To my daughter Nika Sophia I bequeath my collection of jazz albums on CD, my books in English translation and my purple rings. I ask for her father, Mr. John Anthony Frusiciante of Los Angeles, California, have custody of our daughter. She is to educated in a manner consistent with her intelligence, either by homeschooling, private school or tutor since I do not trust the public schools with someone of her level of intelligence. This document was written while of sound mind and witnessed by my parents, lawyer and the notary".
John felt his mouth go dry and his hands were clammy as sank back into his seat. The older gentleman stood up and John rose from his chair, a dull flush on his cheeks. "Mr. Frusciante, I wish we had met under other circumstances. I am Nika's grandfather, Pierre Lacroix", he said in an upper-class English accent.
John shook his hand and raised an eyebrow. "My father was Belgian French, but I was born and raised in England", he explained. "When Zoe told us she was pregnant, we were shocked. Zoe was always a straight A student and very straight-laced, she was in the Honors Society and in Eta Sigma Phi, the honors society for Classics majors. We had no idea she would ever fall pregnant, certainly not from a one night stand. But we have a beautiful granddaughter, Nika is our first grandchild. I am aware of your, um, unusual life, Mr. Frusciante. Nika needs to know her father", he said.
Nika slid off the chair and gave him a look, cocking her head to the side and appraising him with those big dark blue eyes. "You're my father?", she asked softly.
John gave her a kindly smile . "Yes, Nika. I just found out recently and even though I don't have much experience with kids, I'm looking forward to being a dad", he said.
Nika looked at him with her big solemn eyes. "Okay. Other girls don't like me, they call me a nerd", she said matter-of-factly.
"There's nothing wrong with being smart", he exclaimed.
"Doesn't matter", she shrugged.
John frowned, hoping that his goddaughter Clara would like his daughter and wondering what sort of upbringing she'd had with her mother and grandparents. "All right, I suppose if you are my father, I ought to call you something", she said pragmatically.
"Uh, Dad, I guess", he said.
"All right, Dad. I suppose I'll be moving in with you, Pepere and Grandmere can send my stuff over", she said.
John sighed, wondering how a little girl could be so serious. "Yeah, I suppose you'd like your stuff. We got two weeks in LA and then we tour the British Isles", he said.
"Are you going to England? Pepere and Grandmere are from England", she asked, a spark of curiosity on her face.
John was glad to see that curiosity in his daughter. "Yes, we're playing shows in London, Birmingham and Manchester before going to Ireland and Scotland. We tour for two weeks and go home for two weeks", he explained.
"Good, I wish you the best of luck on your tour", said Pierre.
"Thank you, sir", he replied as they shook hands.
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Post by Tim on Oct 2, 2020 11:17:37 GMT -5
Nice to see the family Maria might have had.
Wonder where her siblings are at this point.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Oct 2, 2020 11:27:31 GMT -5
Nice to see the family Maria might have had.
Wonder where her siblings are at this point.
Thanks for the comment. Olga, Anastasia and Alexei still live in England but Jack and Tatiana have been living in Japan since the 70s. Jack and Tatiana will make a cameo appearance later on when the John’s band plays in Tokyo. Pierre and Maria have been married since the mid 60s and they had two children, Basil and Zoe, Nika’s mother. They moved to Palm Springs, California after he retired for the weather, it’s a desert resort popular with retirees.
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Post by Tim on Oct 2, 2020 11:32:38 GMT -5
Thanks for the info
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Oct 4, 2020 20:49:45 GMT -5
Chapter 3
Nika stood in front of the mirror in the guest room and watched her reflection in the mirror as she played some scales on her clarinet. Her slim fingers manipulated the keys over the holes and she blew into the mouthpiece, the reed vibrating with every blow. The familiar feels of the dense black wood under fingers soothed her nerves as she finished the practice scales and played All the Things You Are.
"Zoe did the same thing whenever she was feeling anxious", said Maria as she entered the room.
"It's better than biting my nails or smoking", she quipped.
"Is something bothering you, Nikasha?", she asked kindly.
Nika sighed as her fingertips manipulated the keys on her clarinet. "Sort of. I don't want to lose control and I'm not sure what Dad would think", said Nika with a sardonic smile.
"Let me guess, you fancy a boy. There's nothing wrong with that, Nikasha. You are a beautiful young woman and you ought to have a boyfriend", chided Maria.
"Boys are a distraction, after I finish my BA I'm going to work on my Masters. I must keep up the Lacroix family tradition", Nika protested.
Maria just shook her head. "Nika, that's exactly what Zoe said, then she slept with your father and fell pregnant. I'd want you to have a boyfriend, then I can be a great-grandmother", said Maria with a smile.
Nika blushed guiltily as her cheeks turned bright pink. "There is a guy I like, but I'm concerned about Dad", she whispered.
"Is he a college boy?", asked Maria.
"No, he's Josh. He's Dad's friend and musical collaborator, they did some albums together. He's at the house a lot, working with Dad or hanging out. Since I'm living in the dorms, I haven't seen him in a long while but he was at the house last Saturday and while I was there and he looked so hot. Dad and him are so close, and I'm afraid Josh will think I'm still a kid. He's known me since I came to live with Dad when I was ten", said Nika ruefully.
"Why would he? Is he that old?", asked Maria.
"No, he's only thirty but I'm nineteen. And he's a nice guy, and very talented. Him and Dad have written great songs together", said Nika.
Maria chuckled at her granddaughter's pink cheeks and sparkling eyes, the purple highlights in the dark blue orbs glowing. "Ah, a musician. Is he handsome?", she teased.
Nika blushed an even deeper shade of pink as she set aside her clarinet and took out her phone, searching Google and showing her grandmother a picture. "He is very good-looking, but he needs a haircut and he's skinny", she replied.
"I like his hair, it gets all in his face when he's playing. And he's just thin, Dad says when they go out for dinner Josh eats a lot", said Nika with a laugh.
"It's good to see you acting like a woman your age. When you go back to Los Angeles, you ought to ask Josh out", teased Maria.
"Grandmere!", she exclaimed.
"I am 76 years old, I want to see my oldest granddaughter have a boyfriend and perhaps give me great-grandchildren. Zoe only had that little affair with John and never had another relationship. She seemed happy with her work, but one never knew with Zoe", said Maria with a sigh.
"Mom was very reserved, I'm not the most outgoing person either. I just don't want to get Dad upset, it's been him and I for the last ten years", said Nika.
"And John ought to find someone, it's just the two of you in that big house", said Maria.
"Dad is celibate, he acted the role of the crazy rock star as a young man and got addicted to drugs. He lives for music, Grandmere. I don't think any woman can compete", said Nika ruefully.
"You never know, now help me in the kitchen", said Maria.
Downstairs the speakers still played Charlie Parker as John told Pierre about the new album. "I'm really proud of the new album, Josh is an amazing guitarist and musician. He's always coming up with different ideas for songs, sometimes completely different ones than something I would have done. We just have an amazing musical chemistry", said John.
"Excellent, even if your music is not to my taste. Perhaps my grandchildren would like it, I stopped listening to current music in the 50's after bebop mutated in that free jazz nonsense", said Pierre.
"Great-Uncle Jack is still driving you crazy with Coltrane", teased Nika.
"Yes, nothing but honking and squawking. I prefer my music to have a point, not just go on endlessly with so much honking and squawking", said Pierre dismissively.
"You and Flea can talk about jazz for hours, he's a bebop lover himself. Perhaps next time I'll bring him over and you can nerd out about jazz", teased John.
"One day, perhaps if I feel well enough to come to Los Angeles. He is a fine young man, but I still cannot believe a grown man answers to Flea", said Pierre with a chuckle.
"Yeah, I think only his mom and his wife call him Michael. And you did like the last show at Staples Center", said John.
"Yes, I was expecting something dreadfully loud like the rock music most of my grandchildren like. You really ought to play more ballads", said Pierre.
"Um, okay. Actually, this is going to be my last tour with the band. Josh is joining us on the next leg and he's coming with us for our Far East and Antipodean tour in December. Nika, you could join us since your semester will be over by then", said John.
Nika was outwardly calm but inside she felt giddy as a schoolgirl squealing at a Bieber concert. "Um, all right. Are Clara and Sunny coming along?", she asked.
"Clara is coming, Sunny is too young. It'll be fun for you girls, you work so hard", said John.
"How lovely, too bad we're too old for that sort of trip. We just talk with Jack and Tessa on Skype", said Maria.
"I know, but we're not getting any younger", teased Pierre.
"Of course please talk with Tessa and Jack", said Maria as she led Nika towards the kitchen.
"This is an opportunity to finally be with your young man", teased Maria as Nika helped her get the pot and knives.
"Grandmere, this is only a short tour. Not a holiday", she protested.
"A lot can happen in two weeks. You do know that Jack and Tessa got married after two months of knowing each other", said Maria.
"But people were more mature back then", she protested.
"That was another problem with Zoe, she was always so reluctant to do anything silly or impulsive. She never learned to follow her heart and do something for fun, she died unfulfilled. You are a beautiful, intelligent young woman, Nika Sophia Lacroix. I want you go to on tour with the band and try to have a relationship with Josh", said Maria.
"But my studies....", she stammered.
"The school term ends in December, just as they go on tour. You really ought to travel more and date boys and just have fun, like girls your age", said Maria.
"Boys and parties are a distraction", Nika replied.
"Only if you let them be, Nikasha. If you don't let yourself have fun in the little things, you'll lose control over the big things", said Maria as she began to chop up vegetables.
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Post by Tim on Oct 4, 2020 23:28:04 GMT -5
Funny to hear Maria talk about Skype. In her original time, the telephone was just over twenty years old.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Oct 5, 2020 20:41:51 GMT -5
Chapter 4
The first sound they heard when they got home the next morning where the cats as they meowed happily at their arrival. John laughed as he bent down and three cats meowed in delight and jumped atop him. "Girls, calm down", he laughed.
"The cats were fine yesterday, they had dinner and their water", said their housekeeper Mildred.
"Thanks, Mildred", said John as one of the cats, an orange tabby with green eyes, gave him a look. "Yes, Gabi. We are going to be away from you in two weeks", he said softly. Gabi just gave him a look and slinked off.
Nika laughed and watched as the other cats, Chiara and Bianca, snuggled up to her legs. Chiara was an elegant black tuxedo cat with vivid green eyes, her slim build and sharp eyes giving a look of hauteur. Bianca was her opposite, a fluffy Persian with a round face and bright blue eyes which always seemed to have a placid expression. She went upstairs to her room and unpacked her overnight bag and placed the clarinet case on top of her desk, heading downstairs just as John put a kettle on the stove. "I put in extra water, Josh just texted me saying he's on his way", said John.
Nika just nodded but her hands suddenly felt cold and clammy and her mouth went dry. "Uh, okay", she mumbled.
"He sent me a vid of the riff he came up with, it sounds amazing. I got a song idea that I think would go good with it, maybe add something else if it'll go with the song", said John eagerly.
Nika willed her face not to turn red when she knew Josh would be there very soon. There was a knock on the door and she watched the kettle with a laser intensity as a thin plume of smoke emerged from the spout. "Hey man, that was quick", said John, clapping the younger man on the back.
"I got lucky and didn't hit any traffic, rare as hen's teeth in LA", laughed Josh as he took off his black beanie and his floppy brown hair stuck out.
Nika nearly jumped when she heard the kettle whistle and poured the boiling water into three cups. Josh entered the kitchen and while his expression was neutral, his brown eyes showed interest as the gawky teen girl he'd remembered seemed to have turned into a very pretty young woman. "Hi Nika, your dad and I are going to work on some songs. We won't be too loud", he said.
Nika just nodded as she couldn't bring herself to talk, drying the inside of the kettle and placing it back on the shelf. She caught a glimpses of Josh out of the corner of her eye and was glad that her long curly hair hid her face. Josh was just as tall and slim as she had remembered and should have looked silly with his brown hair sticking out after removing his beanie and his baggy cargo pants topped by a Pink Floyd t-shirt one size too big, but she thought he looked hot and hoped he stayed down in the studio and didn't see her face.
Nika finished brewing her tea and went upstairs to her room carrying the mug. Bianca watched her with soft blue eyes and padded downstairs to get some food. She entered the room and set the mug down on a coaster on her desk before walking over to one of her bookshelves. The room's walls were painted lavender purple and three of the walls were lined with bookshelves, the exception being the wall where her daybed rested. The bed itself was topped with a puffy lavender and white quilt and matching pillows, neatly made just before she had left yesterday. She opened one of her CD wallets resting on a bookshelf above her oaken desk. With a frown, she closed it and opened up her clarinet case. She checked the reed and saw the edges were starting to fray, opening the desk drawer and taking out a box of reeds. With a critical eye, she deduced she could play the current reed for a few more days.
Just as she put away the box of reeds, her phone rang and she saw it was John's studio phone number. "Nika, we think the song could use a clarinet part. Could you come down to the studio?", he asked.
Nika drained her tea in two gulps before grabbing her clarinet and heading downstairs to his studio. "Josh, wait until you hear my daughter play clarinet", said John proudly.
Nika giggled nervously and her cheeks flamed bright red. "Oh, Dad", she mumbled.
"I'm not familiar with clarinet playing, but John thought that the song could use a touch of woodwinds", said Josh with a kind smile.
"Uh okay, can I hear the track?", she asked.
John nodded as he pressed a button on the recording console and music came over the speakers. Nika listened intently as the song played on the speakers, closing her eyes to shut out all distractions. The song was some type of rock judging from the guitars and drums, but it had a soft, almost hazy tone with the guitars playing muted in the background. Immediately, she knew what to play as she motioned for him to turn it off. "I'm going to get a spare reed, this one is starting to get ragged and it might squeak", she said.
Nika was so anxious to get her new reed that she didn't realize Josh had been watching her react to the music, his features calm but his brown eyes intense as gold highlights glowed in them. A few minutes later she came back holding the reed as she quickly and efficiently removed the old and replaced it. "I think with this song, I'm not going to blow as hard so the tone won't be so high-pitched. More like a hazy, more creamy tone which I think will suit the song", she said.
Nika checked the buttons and placed the tip of the mouthpiece against her lips before playing a few notes to test out the reed. The first few notes were higher pitched so she gentled the blowing on the mouthpiece and adjusted her fingers so more of the holes were covered, the sound more mellow and akin to a full-throated bird singing sadly. She nodded at John and played the song back as she started playing along to the track.
"Amazing! What do you think, Josh?", he asked.
"You're right, the clarinet part is perfect for the song. Play it again, and we'll add the best take to the song", said Josh.
Nika took a deep breath and John led her to the microphone and nodded in satisfaction before hitting Play and then Record. She played the clarinet part again but adjusted her tone to give it a more delicate, ethereal sound than previously. The men watched quietly as she played and then John stopped the recording. "That was great, that's the take I want", he declared.
"Really? But don't you want to do more takes?", she asked in confusion.
"Too many takes make the music sterile. With the band, I expect we're going to do a lot of takes. I prefer a more organic sound in my other music", replied John.
Nika sat on a stool in the corner and reached for John's well-worn copy of Siddhartha and began to read. The two men spent the next few hours rehearsing and recording songs as the music made for a pleasant background sound. "That's a wrap, I'll send you a copy of the song when I master it", said John.
"Okay, that's cool. I had no idea your daughter played clarinet", said Josh.
"Yeah, she started playing as a kid but she doesn't perform in public, she's very shy", said John.
"Not everyone is an extrovert, you and I are both introverted as hell offstage", Josh reminded him.
"Yeah, the stage is the one place where we can go crazy", agreed John.
Josh nodded in agreement as he picked up his guitar case and headed towards the door. John was already checking texts on his phone and Nika was still reading so neither of them saw the appraising look Josh gave her. Her curly dark brown hair provided a startling contrast to her milky pale skin which was emphasized by her dark blue jeans and plain black t-shirt, which fitted her slim build perfectly. Her head lifted up from her book and her eyes widened in surprise as a pink blush formed on her cheeks, her eyes turning a vivid purplish-blue. "Goodbye, Nika", he said before heading out the door.
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Post by Tim on Oct 5, 2020 23:33:40 GMT -5
Ah, cats. I like cats.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Oct 6, 2020 10:55:04 GMT -5
Chapter 5
"Nika Sophia Lacroix, you are going to tour and you are going to attract the attention of a certain guitarist who isn't your dad", declared Clara as she led Nika into a boutique in Silverlake.
"Shh, you're too loud", she hissed.
"Just like Dad. But seriously, you need to learn how to attract men's attention. Josh is a cool guy and he might like you, if anything, you can have a little fling with a hot guy", teased Clara.
"I don't want a fling, that's wrong", Nika protested.
"You need to let loose just a bit, you're wound tighter than Chad's drums", chided Clara.
"The one that time Mom let go, she ended up pregnant with me. Luckily, my grandparents were understanding people. I am going to finish my degree", she declared.
"Of course, but college is supposed to be fun. When was the last time you went on a date?", she asked.
"Never, I have more important things to do", said Nika proudly.
"Okay, that is going to change. You are very pretty and super-smart, guys would like you if you let your guard down", said Clara.
Nika sighed as she followed her friend inside. The boutique sold brightly-colored skirts and blouses with matching accessories, the faint scent of sandalwood incense and New Age music adding to the ambiance. "I know you like dark colors, they look good on you. With your coloring, you'd look good in darker colors but you should still wear stuff other than black or navy blue", said Clara as she searched through a rack of skirts.
Nika had been planning on reading and starting to pack when Clara had come over and demanded they go shopping. Barely a few minutes later the redhead had shown up and more or less dragged out for shopping. Part of her was annoyed by her friend's insistence but another was relieved that she got the push and excuse to go shopping. "Ah, this'll look good on you", said Clara triumphantly as she held up a long Paisley skirt. The skirt was a vivid deep purple with Paisley swirls in turquoise, jade green and bronze.
"It's nice", she replied.
"It's more than nice, it would look amazing on you. You need more skirts like this and some blouses, since it's summer in the Southern Hemisphere. And you are not going to attract Josh by dressing like a filing cabinet", Clara chided.
"I do not dress like a filing cabinet, I dress professionally", she retorted.
"No one in college dresses professionally, except for the professors. You are going on tour to Korea and Japan and the Antipodes, trying to catch the eye of a very cute guitarist. You are going to enjoy yourself and have fun even if I have to drag you. But seriously, you are going to enjoy yourself", Clara said with a laugh.
Nika smiled wanly at her friend and looked at several more skirts and blouses, choosing three Paisley skirts in a similar blue and green and purple design along with white and cream blouses to provide contrast. "As a redhead, I can wear really bold colors. If I wear black, I'll look like a vampire", said Clara as she led them to the counter to pay.
"Everyone on both sides of the family is dark-haired, except for Grandmere who was blond when she was younger. That's our genes, the Frusciante and Lacroix families", said Nika ruefully.
"You have the Snow White coloring, Nika. You could be a Goth model", said Clara.
"But that's not a popular look in LA, and I don't want to be on a constant diet or become famous. I'll stick to Herodotus", said Nika.
'You worked very hard this semester, you're on the Dean's List, Honors Society, Eta Sigma Phi. You need a break, go on vacation with your Dad and uncles, catch the eye of a certain guitarist", teased Clara.
"Maybe", replied Nika.
After paying for their purchases, the women walked out of the shop as Clara led them down the street to a Sephora. "You have to try real makeup, not that pallid pink and beige and mauve. You would look amazing with red lipstick", said Clara.
A trim, black-clad saleswoman with a chic black beret perched atop her fire-engine red hair walked over to them. "She needs makeup, and no pale pinks or mauves", Clara said.
The woman tilted her head and gave Nika an appraising look. "I like your coloring, it's very dramatic. You could cosplay as Snow White, since you're so pale with dark hair. You should use red lipstick, it'll provide contrast. For your cheeks, just a shade pinker than your complexion and smoky gray and brown for eyeshadow. Sit down, I'll show you", said the woman.
Nika sat on the stool and dubiously watched as the woman took out a group of cosmetics. "Hmm, it looks as though you have delicate skin., but it's clear. Just be still", she ordered.
Nika was still as the woman got to work, feeling the brushes and wax on her face. She hoped Clara and the woman were right as she waited for her to finish and hoped she didn't look like a clown. "Ah, you look amazing. Take a look", said the woman as she handed her a mirror.
Nika closed her eyes and counted to ten before slowly opening her eyes. Her lips parted in a gasp when she saw her reflection, looking far more glamorous than she ever had. The red lipstick made her lips full and pouty, contrasting with the her fair skin. The blush added a touch of color to her high cheekbones and smoky gray eyeshadow brought out the purple highlights in her blue eyes as she looked at her reflection from different angles.
"You look glamorous, Nika. Should I take a picture and send it to your Dad?", asked Clara.
Nika blushed deep red. "No!", she exclaimed.
"Wow, okay. But you are getting all this stuff", ordered Clara with a smile.
Nika paid for the makeup and followed Clara. "Now let's get some lunch, you deserve it", laughed Clara.
Seated at their favorite café, Clara leaned in and smiled at Nika, her green eyes full of mirth. "See, there's more to makeup than pale pink and mauve and beige. Your cousins live in Tokyo, right? You can go clubbing and have some fun, maybe Josh can come along as he isn't as old as Dad and our uncles", she laughed.
"I don't do clubbing", Nika protested.
"I don't mean you have to take Ecstasy and go to some wild club. Just go out dancing and have fun, maybe you can dance with Josh", said Clara.
"Uh, I only dance at home or with people I trust", she mumbled.
"But I've seen you dance, you got some moves. Remember at Dad's party where the DJ put on some Motown and you showed off your moves?", said Clara with admiring look.
Nika blushed. She waited until the waiter brought out their drinks and took their orders before addressing her. "Once because I was with people I know. I don't dance in front of people I don't know", she protested.
"So, you showed off some moves. Maybe you can bust some moves in front of a certain sexy guitarist", teased Clara as Nika blushed.
"You are so adorkable when you blush, Nika. But seriously, you'll never have Josh notice you unless you stand up. You are going on tour with your Dad, cool uncles and a very hot guitarist. Carpe diem, baby", said Clara as their food arrived.
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Post by Tim on Oct 6, 2020 11:38:06 GMT -5
Is Nika short for something?
Just wondering.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Oct 6, 2020 11:41:24 GMT -5
Is Nika short for something?
Just wondering.
Nika is her name, it’s the feminine form of Nike, Greek for victory. Her mother was a college professor who taught Greek history.
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Post by Tim on Oct 6, 2020 11:43:03 GMT -5
I see.
I've never seen this name before. I have seen "Nica", (usually short for Veronica), but not this version.
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Post by ladyfiaran22 on Oct 6, 2020 20:22:49 GMT -5
Chapter 6
John had just emerged from his studio when she arrived home afternoon. "Nika, you have to hear this song!", he exclaimed, hazel eyes dancing with anticipation.
Nika was amused by her father's enthusiasm as she carefully set the shopping bags on her bed and followed him into his studio. She sat on a stool and watched as John hit Play on the recording console and the music played over the speakers. The song he and Josh had played yesterday came over the speakers, except this time it had her clarinet part. The clarinet's warbling tone floated above the guitars and recalled a lazy, yet content lark singing happily from its nest. But it didn't sound the least bit saccharine or cutesy as the occasional sharper note sounded as though the lark had glimpsed something and trilled a warning. "I had to adjust the about a half tone higher, but otherwise it's the original take. Josh loved it", he said.
Nika blushed. "Uh, cool", she mumbled.
"That's better than cool, Nika. Josh isn't that impressed by many musicians. He wants you to add more clarinet parts to some of the songs", said John.
This time Nika turned the color or pickled beets, a dark red verging on purple. "Dad", she muttered.
John got up from his desk and gave her a hug. 'Don't be so modest, you're a very talented clarinetist. Josh loved your playing and wants to add more clarinet to the songs, it's a good idea. We'll give you a songwriting and royalties, you just have to write down the music for publishing credit", he said.
"Dad, that's the thing. I don't want people to know I play the clarinet, the girls in high school picked on me because I was in the school band", she whispered.
"Nika, I normally wouldn't say this, but fuck 'em. You're not in high school anymore and they were probably jealous of your talent", he said.
John turned serious. "Nika, you are a very smart, talented woman. You shouldn't sell yourself short and turn red as a beet whenever someone admires your talent. Josh has really high standards when it comes to music, he was very impressed. In fact, we're all going out for dinner. He wants to pick my brain about the tour, he opened up for us on our European tour but this is going to different since he's replacing me in the band", he said.
Nika felt her mouth go dry and a weird tingly sensation start in her lower spine and travel down her legs and then to her feet, as though she had gotten stuck with a strong shot of Novocain. "Uh, okay", she stuttered.
"Josh is going to meet us at Kiusaki, he reserved a table for us at seven", said John.
"All right, but aren't you going to get sick of sushi?", she teased.
"Nah, you know it's my favorite. Go get dressed and we'll meet him there", he said.
Nika went upstairs to change. She tried to remain calm as she looked through her closet. At first she was going to choose a little black dress or black trousers and a white shirt, but then she remembered what Clara and the lady had told her. Nika looked through her shopping bags and selected a purple silk blouse and a calf-length purple Paisley skirt with bronze, blue and green swirls, along with purple suede ankle boots and a chunky necklace with purple stones. She took a quick shower and got dressed, arranging her curly dark hair in a neat French twist before putting on some of her new makeup.
John waited downstairs, clad simply in black slacks and a buttoned-down black shirt, his own curly dark hair tied back into a ponytail. "Josh is on his way there. Is that a new outfit?", he asked.
"Yeah, I bought today when I went shopping with Clara", she replied.
"Okay, you'll have to drive", he said.
"Of course, but when are you going to learn to drive?", she teased.
"Never, since I have my own chauffeur", he joked.
Nika just shook her head as she grabbed her purse and keys. She opened the garage door and they got in her dark blue Volkswagen Passat with her in the driver's seat. "Dad, one day I am going to teach you to drive. My car isn't that hard to drive", she said as she started the engine.
"Everyone in Los Angeles drives, I prefer not to be part of the crowd. Besides, traffic in LA sucks", he replied.
"I know, but you can program the GPS so you don't end up in traffic. Like this", she explained, setting up the GPS directions on her TomTom attached to the dashboard. The screen buffered momentarily and then gave directions which had the least traffic. "See, this shows the way with the least traffic. It's easy", she said.
"I'm too old, I barely go anywhere when I'm not touring", said John.
Nika just shook her head as she backed away from the garage, then closing the door with the button on the dashboard. "You're not old, Dad. You're only 38, and you don't have gray hairs", she teased.
"I've done enough crazy stuff to last lifetimes, Nika. I feel older much of the time, that's why I want to quit touring and concentrate on my music. I never liked touring after the one we did for Mother's Milk, the arena shows freaked me out", he sighed.
"Then you ought to enjoy your last tour, Dad. We're going to Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand", she replied.
"Hmm, maybe I'll go to a Buddhist temple. You and Clara can go to clubs, maybe Josh can join you since he's the baby of the group", he laughed.
Nika kept her grip steady on the wheel and concentrated on the directions coming from the speakers, but her heart skipped a beat and a jolt of giddiness went through her. She tried to remind herself not act like a little girl at a boyband concert and turned her mind towards conjugating verbs in Latin.
They arrived at the restaurant and she parked in the adjoining lot. They were led inside by the greeter and towards a table in a corner where Josh stood up to greet them. Him and John exchanged a bro hug and then extended his hand towards Nika. She accepted his handshake and was startled when he gently squeezed it, his big hands with guitar-playing calluses so different from her slim one with its long delicate fingers. "Glad to see you, John and Nika. How does it sound to do omokase?", he asked.
Before Nika could sit down, josh pulled out a chair for her. "Oh, thanks", she said in surprise.
"You're welcome, Nika", he replied as the waiter brought over a bottle of Pellegrino and poured them each a glass.
Nika took a sip while John and Josh talked to the waiter. Josh was dressed casually yet elegantly in black jeans and a white t-shirt under a black blazer and black high-top sneakers. He had taken off his black beanie and his dark brown hair was slicked down and parted to the side, the edges just skimming his jawline which just had a hint of stubble. The jeans clung to his lean build and his brown eyes gleamed when he laughed at something John said. She wished she had something stronger than Pellegrino but knew she had to drive.
"So Nika, how long have you been playing clarinet?", asked Josh.
"Uh, I was eight. My mother's family are big jazz lovers and I grew up hearing lots of jazz. Mom played the clarinet and she got me interested, I started out with a plastic one but graduated to a wooden one. Now I have two, a Granadilla one and a hard rubber one. The Granadilla has a higher tone and the rubber a more mellow, you can say, um, creamy tone", she explained.
"Really, I didn't know that since I don't play woodwinds. I play guitar, bass, drums, some keyboards. But I really did like your playing on the song, the clarinet adds a different tone and color", he said.
'Thanks", she mumbled, a pink blush on her cheeks.
"Nika is really shy about her clarinet skills. The girls in high school used to bully in her because she was in the band", explained John.
"That sucks, I was bullied in high school too. I was super skinny and would rather play music than hang at the mall or go to parties", said Josh.
Nika was surprised by his admission but understood. "High school is only fun if you're popular and cool, otherwise it sucks", she replied as Josh nodded in agreement and the waiter set down their first course.
Conversation turned to more neutral topics during the meal. Nika was glad when her stomach decided to stop doing flip-flops and settle down so she could eat, but wondering if her father had any clue. The meal progressed and everyone was in a pleasant mood by the time the final course came over, several pastries with red bean paste. "My great aunt and uncle live in Japan, they've been there since the 70's", she said.
"Is he a diplomat?", asked Josh.
"No, he's a writer, Jack Lacroix. He's fluent in Japanese and taught Great-Aunt Tessa when they got married. I told him the band is going to play in Tokyo and Dad got the family tickets. He's the author of the Rose and Chrysanthemum series, set in Tokugawa Japan", she replied.
"Yeah, my Dad liked the miniseries when he saw it back in the 70's. Maybe I should check it out, maybe the set is on Amazon", he mused aloud.
"Or the books, I don't like most film adaptations of books", Nika suggested.
"Cool, I ought to check them out. Then again, I got so many books at home I still need to read", said Josh with a rueful chuckle.
"Same here, I have a room just for my books and so does Dad", chuckled Nika.
"Unfortunately, we have to get ready for the flight tomorrow", said John ruefully.
"All right, Dad", said Nika.
The men split the bill as Nika was pleasantly surprised when Josh held out the chair for her and then offered her his hand. "My grandma taught me manners", he chuckled.
"Thank your grandmother for me then", she teased.
"Good night and see you at the airport tomorrow", said Josh as him and John exchanged a hug. Instead of shaking her hand like earlier, Josh gave her hand a quick squeeze before kissing her cheek and getting into his black Volvo.
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