Scandinavian Heartstrings, in Drop D.

Chapter 8.2 Cocaine Counterstrike

Rockso tried in vain to hide behind a lamp post in the setting sun as the two black hoods pulled up on the curb. One of them got out, spotted the mass of bluey-purple hair and strode towards it. Rockso glanced quickly in their direction, the shoulders and biceps of the footman bulged and flexed as it made a V line straight for him. 'Oh sweet Mary Jane!' The clown thought to himself. 'This one's an assassin! 'n' he come to kill Doktor Rockso!'. He slipped a switchblade out from his furry boot and waited for the shadow to come closer. He turned, screamed, and planted the knife right in between the eyes of the hood.

"Rockso?!" Toki yelped in surprise as the black hood he had just removed was impaled on the lamppost, his hand still clutched the top.

"Toki?" The clown blinked at him. "Why tha hell you dressed like an assassin?!"

"Oh Rockso, you always know hows to make me laughs." Toki chuckled.

"Oh, arrrrh, yeah, Yeah Baby! Rockso's just yankin' ya ch-ch-chain again. You know how it is." The clown forced a few laughs to solidify the facade. "But seriously, what's wid the get up?"

"I sneaks out of the grounds in this. It ams a disguise! Pretty smart, huh?" Toki said, beaming with pride.

"Well b-b-baby, looks like you gone to a lot o' trouble to get out o' there." Rockso had an agonising flashback to some of his experiences in that haus. He dropped his voice. "They ain't keeping you there against your will, are they? Like a hostage?"

"No, nots like that. I just..." Toki tried to find the correct words but Rockso was distracting him by examining every millimetre of his face for even the faintest hint of a lie. "I just didn't wants anyone else whats to know where I was goings." Toki said, diverting eye contact. "I really am needings a drink. Where can we goes where no one woulds look for me?"

Rockso finished scanning his face; From the look of him, Toki needed his special goods again. Those two always seemed to find each other when they had hit rock bottom, so rocking at the bottom seemed the correct course of action.

"Oh B-b-baby! If you feel like disappearin' then I know a place where everyone tryin' to be someone else." He said.

They walked for a few blocks through the backstreets and alleyways to stay out of sight. Rockso did a dance number around a sleeping homeless man and Toki chased after about three alley cats before they arrived at Palamino's tribute band emporium. The bouncer didn't look twice at them and they found themselves a reasonable spot at the bar. Toki ordered them some beers with a side of vodka and a vodka chaser. He looked around at the other patrons. There were so many people dressed to look like other people. There was one guy dressed like the singer from 'Judas Archbishop', a few lookalikes of 'Ozzy Ozzbirth' at various stages of his life, a number of glam rock guys who made up the complete 'Steel Kitten' outfit and finally;

"Oh, fucks me." Toki said to himself.

"What's wr-r-rong, baby?"

"Not'ings, just..." Toki pointed over to the Dethklok cover band.

"Ha ha, oh yeah baby. At feust, it like lookin' at yourself if you pumped gas for a livin'. Then you realise you are lookin' at yo self if you pumped gas for a livin'. An' then you do this!" He produced a fat bag of white powder like a magician's rabbit, "Cocaine!"

Toki looked over at the Dethklok knock offs and wondered as the soft, relaxing vodka coursed through him, if a life like theirs would really be so bad. He watched them laugh together and share a beer amongst three of them. They seemed to really enjoy each others' company and playing to this (tiny) crowd was a treat, not a chore.

He remembered years and years ago when Dethklok used to play venues like this, but that was only for about six months. Then it was the larger music venues, music halls, theatres, convention centres, stadiums; after a while they just held huge outdoor concerts. He thought back to his very first show, peeking out through the curtains every two seconds; how nervous he had been, how naive. He heard the man in white say "Don't worry, little Toki. Just follow my lead." And place a reassuring hand on his thin shoulder...