Forums » General Roleplay » [Closed] Summer Soirée - 🎤Karaoke on the Beach🏖

Clapping as the music started Ellen was delighted, she loved this song and the film Frozen. She was a bit of a child at heart and watched most of the Disney movies, she preferred "Encanto" herself but Frozen songs were a good choice as everyone knew them.

Joining in with the Anna parts she encouraged the guys around her to sing along with the Hans lyrics which bounced across a big screen behind Vic and Opie, they lacked any kind of proficiency and Ellen's voice was untrained and discordant next to Opie's, but they tried hard and everyone was smiling and laughing.

Ellen felt a little woozy. She never drunk much and she had downed that cocktail like a glass of water, she felt a little dizzy, and happy, a little more confident than usual too.

Then Vic who had made the stage come alive with Opie and their silly antics, pranced across the stage right in front of Ellen who's mouth dropped wide-open.

"Can I say something crazy?" He dropped to one knee in front of her and Ellen's face turned deep crimson red.

"Will you marry me?"

She paused for a few seconds, the urge to flee surged through her and her heart raced but then Kali's speech about her "barefoot Cinderella moment" popped into her head. She leaned forwards and took his hand holding the microphone in both of hers and leaned in. The timing was perfect with the music.

"Can I say something even crazier?" She paused and took a breath.

"Yes!"

A cheer went up around her and people were patting her on the shoulder, two men lifted her up onto the stage and she threw her arms around the giant man, not able to get her arms completely around his waist, she then stood on tiptoe to kiss him.

The atmosphere was amazing! Dancing and singing a silly Disney song with Vic, never once missing a beat and perfectly on time.

What she hadn't been prepared for was when Vic dropped to one knee in front of Ellen. She blinked in surprise, a slow smile curling her full lips. She took her bow and hopped off the stage. She grabbed her drink, went to Kali, and clinked their glasses together. "Talk about a whirlwind romance!"

She thought it was rather sweet - in a silly, drunken sort of way. And besides, she thought Vic and Ellen looked adorable together!

Ophelia, on the other hand, she had her eyes already set on someone. A tall, mysterious stranger who looked like he'd rather be anywhere than at the party. She assumed that was his whole schtick, though. He looked bored so people would either leave him alone or a fellow loner would keep him company. She went and sat next to him. "Ophelia Arden. You can call me Opie." She held out her hand to him.

The stranger looked at her hand, then at her. Her pale, freckled face. Her emerald eyes. Her flaming curls. "Arden. Like the five star hotel resorts?"

"The one and the same. My family's business. Drinks are on me for everyone. You gotta order something they actually serve, though."

His lips lifted into a small smirk. "Name's Nathaniel. You can call me Nate. I'd like to do a duet with you, too."

Victor had more fun than he had anticipated. Singing wasn't something he normally did in front of people, but the song and having a strong partner like Ophelia had made it easier. Now that he was up on the stage and in the middle of the song, he was glad he had reconsidered.

Victor and Ophelia played along with scenes from the movie as best they could when it came to how they oriented themselves around each other. There might not have been a romantic spark between them, but Vic hoped he had earned the start of a friendship.

As the song neared the end, Victor made the quick, playful decision to 'propose' to Ellen instead of Ophelia who was playing the role of Anna for the song. It was impulsive but Ellen seemed to get a kick out of it. So much, Ellen was lifted onto the stage by other audience members.

Victor opened his arms for Ellen to receive her and give her a big hug.He looked down to check on her and was met with an unexpected kiss. He paused as he realized what was happening. The touch of her lips against his felt quite nice, he hadn't been kissed in an extremely long time.

Victor lifted one of his hands from her back and slid his fingers under her hair and around the back of her neck. He followed her lead with the kiss - keeping it light and flirty or even deepening it a little.

When the kiss came to a natural end he pulled back slowly, his eyes opening. "Wag-a-doo," he said slowly and for Ellen alone.

Eventually, Vic set the microphone on a nearby speaker and hopped off the stage. If Ellen allowed, he would assist her down to free up the stage for the next singer.

Those arms, those massive powerful arms were wrapped around her lithe little body, she could've died in that moment a happy girl. But then he leaned down and kissed her as well. A cheer went up, and Ellen who usually fled from public displays of affection, bent a knee and lifted her leg, pointing her toes up as she stood on one foot while their lips pressed together.

He tasted of alcohol, salt and man. Not musk or sweat but that musky and dusky mysterious strength that flowed through men who were truly free. Ellen lost herself in the kiss, parting her lips and brushing his lips with her tongue before tickling the tip of his tongue. Some of the crowd hooted, others cheered, one called "get a room you two!"

Ellen giggled at that and pulled away.

"I think we're creating a scene." She giggled, but he just replied "wag-a-doo" which she thought was a song as well. He turned and put the microphone on the karaoke machine and climbed down then helped her down off the stage as well, lifting her by her hips and setting her down as easily as if she was a small child.

Back on terra-firma she nervously pushed her hair back. The crowd had lost interest and several had gone to the bar.

"I'd like to get to know you a little better before we marry properly Vic." She giggled at her own joke. "I can see a log over there by the fire, can you get some drinks please? I don't want to go to the bar or Vinnie will drag me back behind there."

She pointed to a spot on a log by the fire and made her way over towards it, snapping a smile back over her shoulder at Vic. She felt giddy, happy and a little sick with joy. Her heart was thundering still, butterflies were holding a protest march in her belly and she felt like she could walk on air. As she move towards a place to sit, she caught sight of Kali by the fire and mouthed over to her.

"Thank you!"

Tom lingered near the edge of the firelight, content to blend into the shadows while the evening pulsed with energy. The warm hum of music mixed with the scent of salt and smoke, and he let it settle into his bones. His hands stayed tucked in the pockets of his hoodie, thumbs rubbing absently against the worn seams as he watched her.

Kali.

She had that kind of presence that didn’t ask for attention—it just happened. The way the firelight kissed her skin, the way her laughter curled out into the night air like it belonged there. That red mic in her hand, the carefree spin of her steps—it was a kind of freedom Tom hadn’t felt in a long time.

He didn’t move closer, didn’t need to. He just watched, quietly, like a man soaking in something rare and a little unreal. There was no press, no crowd screaming her name. Just her, barefoot and effortless beneath the fading sun, reminding people how to let go.

And maybe she wasn’t performing, not officially—but to Tom, it still felt like a show meant for someone who needed the reminder.

He gave a small shake of his head and exhaled, a faint smile ghosting across his lips. No stage for him tonight. He was just a shadow in the crowd, letting the fire crackle and the stars crawl into view, grateful to be part of it. Grateful to have found his way here.

Kali watched the scene unfold from the edge of the firelight like a sun-dappled dream. The moment Vic dropped to one knee, she clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes sparkling with disbelief and delight. It was the exact kind of beautiful chaos she’d hoped this party would stir up.

And then came Ellen’s answer. “YES!”

Kali shouted it right alongside the crowd, both fists in the air, her laughter bubbling up as Ellen was hoisted onto the stage like some barefoot, blushing beach queen.

She cheered through the kiss, whistled through the leg lift, and nearly screamed when Vic pulled her in deeper, the pair of them lit by the stage lights like the climax of a romantic comedy no one had seen coming.

When Opie joined her with a clink of glasses, Kali turned to her with a wide grin, eyes still misty from emotion and laughter. “Whirlwind romance?” she echoed. “More like hurricane-level adorableness. I don’t even know what’s happening anymore, but I want it to never stop. Hey, you actually are very talented. If you ever want to do backup, or maybe even a duet with me, while I’m on tour, I’d love that.”

She watched as Opie made her smooth exit toward someone new, and couldn’t help but admire the grace of it all—these women, these moments, unfolding like poetry on sand.

Then she saw Ellen again—barefoot, glowing, glancing her way with a mouthed thank you that cracked something soft in Kali’s chest. She pressed a hand to her heart in response, smiling gently, then whispered to the flames,
“You did that, El. I just lit the spark.”

As Vic helped Ellen down from the stage like she weighed nothing at all, Kali blew her a kiss and called out, just loud enough to reach them, “First comes karaoke, then comes love. I swear, if there’s a beach wedding at sunrise, I will DJ it!”

That’s when she felt it.

The weight of someone watching, not like a camera, not like a stranger. Like… someone seeing. Her gaze drifted across the firelight’s edge, soft and searching until she found him.

He hadn’t moved. That quiet stillness of his wasn’t absence—it was presence in its purest form. He was watching without demanding and witnessing with intent.

Their eyes met for a second. The flicker of the flames between them like a shared secret. She didn’t call out or wave.

Instead, she lifted the cherry-red mic in her hand just to hold it up in his direction like a silent toast. With a half-smile tugging at the corner of her lips, she lowered it and mouthed across the fire, “Stay awhile.”

She didn’t know if he would. That wasn’t the point. The night was a love letter written in music, heat and sand-stirred laughter, and every person who showed up was a part of it. Especially the ones in the shadows.

Then, lifting her drink high in toast to the night, the ocean, the magic she’d tossed out in bottles, Kali let the music wrap around her and stepped back into the rhythm of her perfect, messy, midsummer dream.

Ophelia spoke with Nathaniel, all the while considering Kali's offer. It sounded fun. She'd be sure to give the girl her number!

But... she was a bit embarrassed to admit she'd never heard any of Kali's songs.

When she and Nathan exchanged numbers and decided to leave to get a hotel together, she found her way to Kali after closing out her tab with the bartender that had relieved Ellen. "Thanks for a lovely time, Kali!" She handed over a napkin. "This is my cell. I'd love to sing back up or even duet with you sometime!"

Her cheeks blushed slightly. "But I should be honest... I've not heard any of your songs. I didn't even know you were an artist! I know it doesn't look like it—which is why I'm a firm believer in not judging books by their covers—but I rarely listen to new songs unless it's rock. And I don't mean soft rock, I mean the screaming rock. The heavy metal, the deathcore. My new fella and I are gonna go. We've decided to continue our bonding session with less of a crowd."

Victor’s smile was warm and gentle as he looked at Ellen. He hadn’t expected attraction or even a flirtation, much less a kiss and an invitation to hang out and talk. Victor followed the length of her arm and spotted the log by the fire she indicated. He then glanced towards the bar and then back to Ellen. “Go claim our spots. I’ll get the drinks and meet ya over there.”

Ellen was still in Victor’s arm from when he lowered her off the stage. He held her loosely but kept her close as they made their plans to meet by the fire. He wasn’t usually someone who attracted attention he was used to being friend zoned almost immediately. So, Ellen finding him attractive to the point of kissing him confused him but not in a negative way – it was merely surprising.

He parted with Ellen to head towards the bar to get the drinks. As he headed to the bar, he looked over his shoulder to watch Ellen choose the log and take a seat. He had to wait for a few groups to get their drinks before he was able to request two Sex on the Beaches. Vinny seemed to recognize him from his moment on the stage and possibly his kiss with Ellen. Victor was passed the two drinks with a wink and a nod.

Drinks in hand, Victor made his way over to Ellen and the log by the fire. He took his seat next to Ellen and passed her one of the drinks. He offered her a shy grin and asked, “With nuptials pending, what would ya like ta know, Ellen?” Victor was an interesting guy if anyone ever wanted to learn about him. His mood and aura read as open and ready to share.

Kali had responded by putting a hand to her her heart that made Ellen smile. Kali was one of her oldest friends. They had known each other since school and although Kali was a pop-star and she just a schoolteacher they had never lost touch. Sometimes Kali just came back to the small town where Ellen lived and worked just to de-fragment, spending some time with a kind person who had no expectations her. She meant it when she said she loved her, they were like sisters sometimes and had laughed and cried together through a lot of awful situations for both of them.

She almost danced over to the log where she had collapsed earlier and sat down primly, her legs together and watched as people cavorted and danced by the fire. She laughed and clapped and looked over to where Vic was patiently getting their drinks. She saw him come back with two of her favourite cocktail and sat down passing one to her.

"Thank you." She smiled awkwardly, her eyes lowered, looking up through her long lashes at him, the perfect blend of demure awkwardness and girlishly cute. She turned her knees towards him and smoothed the folds of her dress as he spoke then reached out with fingertips to touch his knee.

"I'd ask what brought you to the party but I heard you talking to my friend earlier. You just came in from the tide and saw a "Rager". But I mean,... Well - I guess I'd like to know what you do, what you like and..." She blushed and turned her head slightly away as her heart started racing. "I was hoping... Maybe... Maybe later, perhaps more kissing?"

She blushed crimson and wished she still had her hat to hide under, she was useless at flirting.

The glitter crusted bottle had been sitting in the driver's seat of his car one morning when he was heading to the store on an errand for lingerie and shoes for his beloved. He had picked up the bottle carefully, glitter was not his favorite thing – Thanks Twilight for the stigma. Holding the bottle gingerly between his thumb and forefinger he carried into the building and carried it up to his penthouse apartment. He placed the bottle on the kitchen counter to discuss with his love later that evening. He then departed to complete his errands.

The next morning was the next time Gandrell remembered the bottle and called his girlfriend’s attention to it. They opened it together and discovered the invitation. This was the type of thing that Charlie adored doing and Gand knew they would be making a trip to the beach soon. Gand had a knack for picking out very cute outfits for Charlie and he just saw this as an opportunity to doll her up.

The night of the event arrived, and the couple prepared themselves to go make an appearance and sing a song or two. Gand dressed in designer Affliction boardshorts in black and blue with a fleur de lis on the right thigh. He wore black Reef flip flops, which he planned on leaving in the car so he could feel the sand under his feet. He finished off his look with a form fitting black cotton tank top.

His hair, white blonde, short and messy like he had just crawled out of bed was just its natural state. Since the wind at the beach would mess up any style he tried, he didn’t put any more effort into the locks than just running his fingers through it as he went to find Charlie as she got ready. “Do you think they will card me?” he asked her playfully. Gand was over five hundred years old, but his face still looked as though he was barely over the age of eighteen. He had gotten used to being carded and questioned everywhere he went. It was a testament to his patience and self-control that he was able to navigate those kinds of situations with grace and politeness.

Once Charlie was ready to go, they departed from their home and headed towards the waiting karaoke party on the beach. He parked the car and collected his love so they could walk in together, hand-in-hand.

The bar was busy, the music was playing, the fire was crackling, and the vibe was welcoming. Gandrell leaned over and whispered a question to Charlie, “Would you like a drink before we take the stage, my dear?”

He spotted Kali then. He didn’t know her personally but recognized her from her videos and her multi-platinum albums. “Let’s go greet our hostess first,” he said as he guided Charlie over to Kali. With a smile that was known to stun, “Quite the turn out, you got here.” He glanced around at the crowd. “Nothing but good vibes, I like it.” He introduced his love and himself to Kali. “Your invitation showed up in my car. Kudos for getting past the alarm. This is my girlfriend, Charlie, and I am Gandrell – Gand for short.”

Charlie had been sold the second she read the note.

Well, technically Gand had read it to her, holding that glittery bottle like it was radioactive. She was halfway into her iced coffee and a new playlist when he walked into the room twirling it between two fingers with a look that said this is your brand of chaos, and I know it.

He was right. Of course he was right. “Beach karaoke party?” she’d said, already grinning. “It’s like someone manifested my brain on vacation.”

_______

Now, walking hand-in-hand with him down a moon-washed stretch of sand, that same smile still curled her lips. The firelight ahead crackled like it knew something she didn’t. Music was bouncing lazily out from the stage speakers, the sound of a hundred different conversations weaving in and out like waves. It smelled like salt, citrus, and sing-your-heart-out energy. Perfect.

Charlie’s outfit, Gand’s pick because he loved dressing her up, was a black velvet crop top and high-waisted shorts under a sheer gold wrap that shimmered like stardust. Her hair was loose and wild, her feet already bare, her eyes alive with that hungry, restless kind of joy.

They stepped past a group dancing near the tiki torches, and she twirled once, laughing, letting the sea breeze chase the hem of her wrap. She felt free.

Gand leaned close and murmured about drinks, but she caught his glance veer toward a woman near the fire. Charlie followed his gaze landing on a striking brunette whose presence had a quiet pull. Charlie tilted her head. That her? she whispered. He nodded.

Charlie followed Gand’s lead, but her curiosity bubbled to the surface the moment they stopped near Kali. This girl, no, woman, had the look of someone who’d been in the spotlight and somehow hadn’t let it rot her from the inside. She glowed, but not in the desperate way people did when they wanted to be seen. She glowed like she wasn’t trying. Charlie liked that.

“Charlie,” she said with a smile, offering her hand as Gand made the introductions. “This party is absolutely unhinged in the best way. You’ve got great taste in chaos.”

She looked around at the fire, the dancing, and the glitter that still clung to a few guests like seafoam. Her expression softened. “Also… thanks for the bottle. I don’t know how it got into his car, but I’m glad it did. It’s been a hell of a week, and this?” She gestured to the party. “This is the kind of strange magic I didn’t know I needed.”

Charlie leaned into Gand’s side with casual affection, but her eyes were still on Kali. “You just go around hosting wild beach nights and summon people like a karaoke siren?”

A beat, then a grin. “I’m so into it.”

Kali had just taken the napkin from Ophelia and foldied it delicately when she heard the voice behind her. A new one. Lush, playful, confident. Her gaze lifted from the dying embers of the fire to meet the approaching couple.

They were a vision, both of them striking in that movie-scene kind of way. Gandrell looked like trouble that had gone through finishing school, and Charlie? She looked like midnight had decided to try sunlight for the night and found it fit just fine. Her gold wrap glittered in the firelight, and that grin? Contagious.

Kali gave Gand a small salute as he complimented the party. Her eyes flicked curiously between the two of them as he introduced Charlie.

Then Charlie spoke, and Kali actually laughed, warm and low in her throat. “You had me at ‘taste in chaos.’”

She reached out and took Charlie’s hand with a firm, easy squeeze. Her rings caught the firelight just for a second. “Charlie and Gandrell. That sounds like the kind of names that arrive in matching thunderclouds, and then steal the spotlight without even trying.”

She grinned, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, then nodded toward the glitter-speckled bottle Charlie had mentioned. “You’re not the first to say they don’t know how the invite got there. That’s sort of the point. This night…” she gestured loosely to the dance floor, the stage, the starlit chaos of it all, “was meant to be found by the right people. And you two?” She smirked. “You’re very much the right people.”

Ophelia’s parting words drifted back into Kali’s memory and she turned slightly, calling after her friend with a warm laugh. “I’ll take you up on that duet, Opie. And I love that you’re a metal girl. When I drop my rock-influenced set in August, you’ll at least pretend to know it, yeah?”

She waved the napkin again in farewell, then turned her attention fully back to Charlie. “As for the siren thing…” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “Not technically wrong. But I prefer ‘vibe curator.’ It sounds less dangerous.”. A playful wink.

“You sing?” Her gaze flicked from Charlie to Gand and back again. “Please tell me you two are about to get up there and set the stage on fire. I’ve got glow sticks, two fog machines, and zero shame.”

The fire crackled behind her as she stepped aside, extending one arm like a queen making way for royalty. “Show me what strange magic you’re bringing tonight, Charlie.”

Victor got comfortable on the log – feet shoulder width apart and forearms resting on his knees except for when one lifted so he could take a drink. His body was leaning forward but his head was turned towards Ellen as she asked about his profession and hobbies. He blushed a little when she requested more kissing. He thought he would start off with the simple facts and work towards more kissing.

Victor took a long pull of the drink before starting. “Ah, well, those questions aren’t too bad.” He chuckled softly as he sat up a little so he could look her in the eyes as he answered. “Well, since I can remember, I have been a cook.” He was trying to be modest, hastiness was an unattractive trait, and he was simplicity personified. “I worked on me baby brotha’s ship for ages in the gally. I learned from more experienced chefs and picked up tons of tricks and talents.” He offered her a shy smile, “For now, I’m working at some fancy wine resort as the chef.”

He downplayed the importance of his role at the resort because that wasn’t the most important part of his life. Victor was the kind of guy that might have a nice apartment, but he would rather sling a hammock on the beach and sway in the breeze than sleep in a cozy bed. He was a minimalist and, living most of his life on a ship, he learned to survive with very few personal possessions.
Now, when it came to hobbies Victor was a lot more animated. “Now for the fun stuff. I like to surf,” he looked down at himself, “obviously. But I also like ta hand carve me own boards. An’ not with power tools. But with the power of me own hands.” Victor thought for a moment and then went on. “I like ta hike. I don’t get to do it much, but I like it. Swimming. Sailing. That’s all I can think of right now.”

He turned his attention onto Ellen. “Now it’s your turn. What do you do for fun and money?” He lifted his drink and took another solid pull as he waited to find out more about this woman who he had unexpectedly captured her attention. If he was being honest, she had captured his just as much.

Gandrell was the approach, the starter, and then he was known to fade behind his partner and let her shine. He listened to the conversation between Charlie and Kali before he stepped away from the pair for a brief moment and made his way to the bar.

He ordered Charlie her favorite drink, and got a refill of whatever Kali had been drinking. The bartender was quick to serve him, and he tipped extremely well. He carried both the drinks back to the ladies, presenting the first drink to his love and the second to Kali. He didn’t neglect to get himself a drink, there just was nothing he was able to consume here. But he was good at playing off his empty hands – designated driver excuse worked the best.

As he rejoined the pair as said smoothly, “I would love nothing more than to sing a song tonight with my lovely Charlie.” The way he looked at Charlie made it clear that he was entirely smitten. “However,” he said gently as he turned to face Kali, “I don’t mind singing a song. Even I have to go up there by myself.” He placed a gentle kiss on Charlie’s cheek and strolled over to the stage. He took the few steps to get to the platform and started to scroll through the options.

He kept his eyes open for songs he thought would be good for both solos and duets, in case Charlie decided to join him. He wasn’t in a rush, his motions measured and almost lazy – that was his act. He worked very hard to appear human, he had to, he hadn’t told Charlie yet about his true nature and this was certainly not the time or the place he wanted her to get suspicious

Charlie took the drink with a delighted grin, her fingers brushing Gandrell’s as she accepted the glass. ImGand always remembered the details. “You spoil me,” she said softly, a twinkle in her eye as she leaned in for a quick kiss to his cheek in return.

Then he was off to the stage like it was just another moonlit stroll. Charlie watched him go, lips still curved, watching the way the firelight flickered along his broad shoulders, the languid ease in his step. He looked casual. Effortless. But she knew better. There was always more going on under the surface with Gand.

She turned back to Kali, lifting her glass in a mini-toast before taking a slow sip. It was perfect. “You’re good,” she said, glancing sidelong at the retreating figure of her man. “You threw a beach party, summoned a crowd, and now you’ve got my man scrolling your karaoke screen like it’s Tinder.”

Her laughter was light, but there was warmth behind it—respect, even admiration. “Thanks for the welcome, Kali. You’ve got a good energy. I don’t know if I’m gonna burn down the stage or bomb it, but either way, it’s gonna be fun finding out.”

She gave Kali a final smile and touched her forearm in parting. Then she turned, barefoot and glitter-lit, and sauntered after Gand, her wrap fluttering around her like stardust in motion.

The fire was behind her now, the crowd melting into background noise. Her focus narrowed to the familiar figure on the stage, scrolling through song titles like a cat choosing its next stretch of sun.

Charlie hopped up onto the stage beside him, barely a bounce in her step. “So,” she murmured, standing just behind him, her hand slipping lightly across the small of his back. “What are we singing, my love? Please don’t say Nickelback. Or My Heart Will Go On. I might actually combust.”

She tilted her head, squinting at the glowing screen. “We doing something dramatic and romantic, or are we going full chaos goblins and throwing glitter at the audience?”

Her smile was a challenge. She was ready either way.

He felt his beloved’s presence as she climbed the stairs and joined him on the stage. He turned and welcomed her by turning to the side and wrapping one of his arms around her, tucking her in front of him so they could look through the songs together.

If he saw a song he liked, he would point at it and wait for her acceptance or veto. They had to have been looking for more than five minutes when they finally both touched the same song at the same time. Their fingers collided just before they both touched the screen. Gand leaned over Charlie’s shoulder and laughed softly as he hugged his girlfriend against him. “That was easy,” he said as he pressed a loving kiss to her cheek.

He let Charlie make the selection of the song they had both agreed on. They chose the Paula Abdul and Wild Pair song Opposites Attract.

Gandrell grabbed both the microphones and offered one to Charlie with a wink. He then moved to the front of the stage to start the song off. He watched the screen for the countdown so he would know when to start singing.

“I'm M.C. Kat Gand on the rap so mic it
Here's a little story and you're sure to like it
Swift and sly and I'm playing it cool
With my home girl, Paula Abdul Charlie Summers” He waved to his love, introing her and moving closer to her as she took over the song.

“I take things serious and you take 'em light” Gandrell got a good beat going and some playful dance moves that complimented Charlie's as they sang together.

“…and I party all night.
Our friends are sayin' we ain't gonna last…
…and baby I'm fast” He slid in and place a kiss on Charlie’s shoulder followed by an endearing grin.

“…and I love to shout.
But when we get together, it just all works out.
…I take two steps back
We come together 'cuz opposites attract
And you know it ain't fiction just a natural fact
We come together 'cuz opposites attract”

“…we could be lovers?
She makes the bed…
She likes it neat…
Gand slipped behind Charlie and wrapped his arms around her middle, pulling her close as he sang. “…baby, I get obsessed” Keeping one arm around her, he slide up beside her.

“She's got the money…
…I like to smoke.
Things in common, there just ain't a one
But when we get together, we have nothin' but fun.”
…I take two steps back
We come together 'cuz opposites attract
And you know it ain't fiction just a natural fact
We come together 'cuz opposites attract”
You know it baby, baby “

Gand stepped to the front of the stage and took control of the song with confidence and owned the rap part of the song.
“Nothing in common but this trust
I'm like a minus, she's like a plus
One going up, one coming down
But we seem to land on common ground
When things go wrong we make corrections
To keep things moving in the right direction
Try to fight it but I'm telling you Jack
It's useless, opposites attract.”

…You and me provin' everyone wrong…
…Don't really matter 'cuz we're perfectly matched…
…I take two steps back
We come together 'cuz opposites attract
And you know it ain't fiction just a natural fact
We come together 'cuz opposites attract.”

They repeated the chorus two more times and then ended the song right together. Gandrell was all smiled and glee standing next to Charlie on that stage.

The firelight flickered off Ellen's downturned face as she nervously played with her glass, she noticed Vic had blushed as she'd mentioned kissing which gave her a little more courage, but she didn't want to push it either and scare him off. She lifted the drink and took a deep sip through her straw as he grinned that big easy grin and told her about his job as a cook, he played down his job at the nearby wine resort which was the playground of millionaires.

"That's amazing, I like to cook myself but it's just standard stuff like pot roast. That must be so glamorous and working on a ship must have been fun! Hard though, especially as you're so... Y'know... Well vast."

He moved onto his hobbies and she sat just looking into his big, kind and slightly wild face, playing with either her glass or her hair and actively listening to him. She moved to sit sideways on the log, curling her shapely legs and absently brushing the sand from her dainty feet as he regaled her about his surfing, swimming, sailing and how he made his own boards by hand.

"Wow, you are talented, I bet you're very good with your hands." She almost purred the statement, the Sex on the Beach was starting to destroy her inhibitions and honestly sat this close to so much muscle and testosterone she was starting to feel a little antsy. Her eyes flicked down to his crotch several times while he talked.

He turned the tables on her and asked her about herself. Ellen was more used to guys talking about themselves than her, she'd always been a little mousey and honestly her life was a little boring by comparison.

"I teach. I'm a teacher, history at the local Elementary. I'm working the bar tonight because I agreed to help my friend out as the bar was short staffed and I worked a bar to pay my way at college. Oh plus I'm an amateur mixologist, I like mixing cocktails, well as you saw." She smiled and lowered her eyes, she really wasn't very brave at all. She picked her drink up and took another deep drink and realised she'd drained it in record time again. That or a passing bear was swigging her drinks.

"For fun? Well the mixology, reading, bowling, y'know..." She played absently with the hem of her skirt. "My life's dull as dishwater next to yours. I-I-I'm just a simple girl. Kali's the most interesting thing in my life I guess and she likes that I'm boring, keeps her grounded."

She heard the Karaoke fire up again, so she looked over and saw a couple she hadn't noticed before singing "Opposites attract". She didn't know the song very well either, so she smiled and turned back to Vic.

"Would you like to go for a walk in the breakers? My heads starting to ring a little and some fresh air would do me good, plus the moons out, it'll be really pretty tonight."

Charlie took the mic from Gand with an exaggerated curtsy, her bare feet sinking slightly into the sand-dusted stage. The crowd cheered as the beat kicked in, and she grinned wickedly as Gand dropped the intro rap with more swagger than anyone that good-looking had a right to.

When he waved to her and passed the baton, she stepped forward with a playful little strut, twirling once under the stage lights before nailing her line with mock-serious sass.

“I take things serious and you take ’em light…”

They played off each other like they’d been doing it for years—Gand tossing in a wink, Charlie throwing it right back with a shake of her hips. The crowd was into it, laughing, cheering, moving with the music.

She leaned into him on the “party all night” line, and when he kissed her shoulder, her smile turned radiant. She turned her head slightly, just enough to catch his gaze.

“And I love to shout…” she belted joyfully. “But when we get together, it just all works out.”

Charlie matched his steps with her own playful rhythm, shaking her wrap like it was part of the choreography. She giggled when he wrapped her from behind and sang into her ear, leaning into the moment, into him. Their chemistry wasn’t just romantic—it was electric. Musical. Like they were performing for no one and everyone at once.

As Gandrell took the rap verse and commanded the stage, Charlie danced around him, popping and spinning and clapping along with the beat like a proud hype girl. When he nailed the final line—“It’s useless, opposites attract!”—she cheered along with the crowd, then slid in beside him for the closing chorus.

Together, they repeated the final lines in perfect sync, their voices blending as if the song had been written just for them.

When the final beat dropped and the lights dimmed, Charlie struck a dramatic pose with one hand on her hip and the other extended toward Gand. As the crowd erupted into cheers and whistles, she dropped her hand and laughed breathlessly, high on adrenaline and affection.

“Okay, that was absurdly fun,” she said, stepping in close and tossing an arm around his waist.

She handed her mic off to a waiting volunteer and turned to him, brushing a bit of glitter from his collarbone. “How do we follow that? Should we retire now and preserve our legacy?”

Her tone was teasing, but her eyes were still lit with something warmer, something real. She kissed him, soft and smiling, before tugging gently at his hand.

“C’mon, M.C. Gand. Let’s grab a drink before someone makes us sing ‘Islands in the Stream.’”

And with that, she hopped off the stage, barefoot and laughing, fingers still twined in his.

Kali stood just off to the side of the crowd, the rim of her glass brushing her lower lip but forgotten there. The firelight danced across her features, throwing flickers of gold and shadow as her gaze swept between the stage and the shoreline, catching moments like snapshots in her mind.

Charlie and Gand were electric together—wild and strange and seamless. The way they moved, teased, synced up in rhythm and cheek. Kali found herself laughing out loud when Charlie spun on a lyric and Gand swept dramatically in behind her, playing up the lines with perfect, exaggerated charm. It was theater. It was chemistry. It was magic. She clapped along, lips parting in an easy grin.

“Damn,” she murmured to herself. “That’s a tough act to follow.”

Then her eyes shifted, pulled toward a quieter kind of spark—Victor and Ellen, sitting close, their bodies turned inward, lost in some soft rhythm of their own. Ellen’s hand rested shyly on his knee, and even from a distance Kali could feel the flutter of something blooming there. A tenderness. Maybe even a beginning.

Her smile softened. Ellen deserved sweetness. Deserved someone who looked at her like that—like she wasn’t just safe, but radiant. Grounding. Real.

Kali’s heart squeezed. Not with envy, but something adjacent to it. A wistful ache.

She turned slightly to take another sip of her drink—and that was when she saw him. Tom.

He wasn’t part of the crowd. He wasn’t clapping or drinking or even leaning toward the fire. He was just standing there, in the shadows beyond the tiki torches, one shoulder propped casually against a palm, his face unreadable, eyes fixed not on her but on the scene as a whole.

Her pulse ticked up. Not out of fear—but wariness. Awareness. She held his gaze from across the distance, just for a moment. A long, unblinking second.

Then she turned her body back toward the fire and the laughter and the songs. Deliberate. Dismissive. Her hand tightened slightly around her glass. “Alright,” she whispered to the night, a flicker of resolve in her voice. “Let’s see how this plays out.”

Though Vic was looking at her while they talked, he did miss that it was his crotch her eyes flickered to when she looked away from his face. As for the business under the shorts, Victor wasn't a small guy - six foot, seven inches and muscled like he had known a life of manual labor. This said, other parts of him could be assumed to be just as proportionate and 'beefy' if you will. The shorts showed subtle signs of this, but nothing vulgar or inappropriate for a public beach. Now, lose the board shorts and leave him in just his banana hammock and that might be a different story.

Victor's expression softened a little more. "I love history. Especially, the sixteen to seventeen hundreds. Ya know, the whole golden age of piracy an' all." Victor had been a pirate in those days. He hadn't lied about being a cook on his little brother's ship - he just hadn't mentioned it was a pirate ship. Or that he had millions in treasure stashed away in hidey holes all over the world. "I like that your a teacha. Think it's admirable. Kids can be a nightmare."

Ellen then invited him to go for a walk in the surf. Victor's eyes lit up and he jumped up from the log. He offered to take her empty glass to the bar for her. If she allowed, Victor would take the empty glasses and return them to the bar. He would then go collect Ellen and offer her his hand to walk with her to where the tide was rushing up to meet the sand. "I can bring me board, if ya want?" But he wouldn't grab it unless she wanted it.

At the edge of the ocean, Victor led Ellen into the water as the tide rushed over their feet. "How deep ya wanna go?" Her comfort level with the ocean might be very different than his and he wasn't the type to push.