Aaron 3- Recognising and recording
I visit the club again Saturday and Sunday night and I fall asleep again to the woman singing both
times. By the time Mondayes I am feeling well and truly refreshed and ready to face the week. But
once again, I can’t sleep. I struggle all week until Fridayes around again. and I just know that
Alpha Ryann has noticed something is up with me. She’s been watching me closely since Thursday
morning. I practically stumble into the club Friday night and I’m asleep before the woman finishes her
first song. I don’t know how I ended up so dependent on her performances to sleep, but it’s definitely
starting to be a problem.
By Sunday night I’m rested enough that I manage to stay awake for the entire set. Okay, so I maybe
dozed off a little part way through it, but only for a few minutes and I woke up before she even left the
stage. I consider that a win. I’m just contemting if I want to head home or if I want to stay curled up a
little while longer when a voice interrupts my thoughts.
“Hey Shifter. My name is Penelope, although you can call me Penny if you like. Most people do.” The
woman whose voice I have been admiring perches herself on the arm of the couch by
my feet. She doesn’t seem nervous around me at all which is unusual. Up close I can see that her hair
is definitely white, pinned up in someplicated hairstyle. I can also tell that her
eyes are dark, so dark they are nearly ck and that she smells like the ocean. I can’t see her
mark anywhere, but I doubt this woman is human. She smells different to any other human I’ve ever
met. I tilt my head curiously. I’m notining, I did want to know her name. But I can’t figure out
why Penelope has approached me. She smiles at me cheerfully.
“Oh don’t mind me. I was just thinking I wanted to know the name of the Shifter who keeps turning up
and then sleeping through all my shows. Although I suppose you can’t exactly tell me when you’re a
giant cat.” She says thoughtfully. James, who has been watching us from the door, apparently
entertained by the interaction, takes a chance to interrupt.
“Penny, his cover is paid by someone named Aaron if that helps. I’m fairly sure that’s his name.” He
adds helpfully. Penny leans forward from her spot on the arm of the couch so that she can see my face
better.
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“Aaron? Is that your name?” She asks. I give a deep nod.
“Oh, cool. Well it’s nice to meet you Aaron. I really hope you’re sleeping during my shows. because you
enjoy them, not because you’re bored to tears. Although I suppose you wouldn’t
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keeping back if you hated them. Either way, I hope you have a good night. Will I see you. next
week?” She asks. Before I can think, I find myself nodding my agreement.
“Perfect. I guess I’ll see you then. Bye!” She dashes off in a flurry of energy that leaves me baffled. I
stare after her blinking. James, who isn’t even pretending that he wasn’t watching approaches me and
bravely pats me on the shoulder.
“I know the feeling. She has that effect on most people.” He says knowingly. James has been my rm
all weekend so I suppose he’s gotten a bit morefortable with me now. Not
enjoying the implication, I retreat from the conversation and make my way home to bed.
Another week of sleepless nightster, I find myself back on that same couch and falling asleep to
Penelope’s voice. Unlike the previous times however, James isn’t the one to wake
1. me. Penelope does at the end of her set.
“You must be really tired, to be falling asleep all the time in a ce like this.” Shements. She isn’t
wrong. I give an exhausted nod.
“I
guess that’s why you’reing to hear me sing huh? I’m half–Siren so my voice does affect people
strangely sometimes. Usually it makes them just stare at me a lot. So sleeping is a kind of different
response.” I tilt my head curiously. Half Siren. I knew she wasn’t human, and it exins how her voice
is so beautiful. It’s magic. She misinterprets my look.
“You don’t need to worry. I don’t have the hypnotic powers that a full Siren has. My magic is limited to a
slight lure and a decent singing voice. Not particrly powerful but good for drawing in a crowd, thus
why I can get a regr gig here for extra cash while I work on writing my own songs.” She exins
conversationally. I have no idea why she is telling me any of this and I have no way to actually answer,
so I just nod my head to show I understand.
“This conversation is a little one–sided, huh? Although something tells me you’re not much of a people
person even when you are a person. If you managed to keep track of that, what I’m trying to say is you
probably wouldn’t be hanging around as a big scary cat if you were hoping forpany.” She
concludes. After a moment her face falls.
“Which makes me the idiot who isn’t taking the hint. I’ll let you be.” Before I can find a way to correct
her Penelope dashes off again. What is it with her ending conversations so abruptly? Or maybe she
wouldn’t end them like that if I actually participated in the
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conversation.
The next night I finish work and I use my car to drive to the club in my two legged form.
James stops me at the door and I realise that he doesn’t recognise me.
“Hey man. It’s twenty dors for a cover.” He tells me politely, but keeping his tone firm and
professional.
“Aaron.” I tell him simply. His eyes widen as he realises who I am.
“Well, it’s about damn time you introduced yourself properly. You’ve been scaring the bartender.” He
looks at me spectively.
“Although I can’t say that you aren’t intimidating like this. Still, it’s nice to have a face to go with the
name. Well, a less furry face that is. Enjoy your evening.” He lets me pass and I skip the bar and make
my way straight to my usual spot. I get a few odd looks and more than once, women try to approach
me. But they must read something in my face because they
never make it close, they scurry away the moment they make eye contact. When Penelope
starts to sing, I use my phone and record a sound clip of her first song. I know the club has a no
recording rule, but I’m not going to post it anywhere or anything. I’m just hoping it will help me sleep
during the week. Then maybe I’ll have the energy to actually stay awake when
I’m here and I can stop passing out in public ces. I put my phone away quickly not wanting to get
kicked out for breaking the rules. My task aplished, I close my eyes and focus on Penelope’s
voice.
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