ArchivedLogs:Who is Alison Blaire?

Who is Alison Blaire?
Fun fact: Sereia is Siren in Portuguese.
Dramatis Personae Alison, Cage, Gabriel, Lucia, Mel
In Absentia	2013-08-08 Open-Mic night at SPIN takes a sour turn.
Location <NYC> Spin - Harlem
Half record store, half music shop, Spin is a music lovers' haven. The record side of the store holds everything from vintage vinyl to the newest releases, both new and secondhand, with miscellaneous paraphernalia -- posters, t-shirts, pins -- held in bins along one wall. On the other side of the store, dedicated musicians can find a wealth of sheet music, from modern rock guitar tabs to classical violin and piano pieces. Behind the counter, higher priced rare items are secured away behind the glass. In a departure from the usual bent of this type of store, the shelves are kept meticulously organized. It's Thursday night at SPIN which makes it their version of open mic night. You have to reserve it in advance, but anyone can do it. No one gets paid, but SPIN does just for the foot traffic and the fun of it. Sometimes it's awesome, and sometimes it's terrible. Tonight is already looking positive though. DJ Spinster has been on the calendar to come back for a couple weeks now. She's getting some play on indie stations, and more than a little buzz on the hip-hop blogosphere. Her first break on the scene was a wicked dance mix of Daft Punk's 'Instant Crush', which sent a local rave into hysterics. So far she seems to have decent DJ cred, and she's back at SPIN to keep the momentum going. She's African-American, in her mid-twenties, maybe 5'8" or 5'9", and long black braids are pulled back in a thick ponytail. She's wearing a black tank top, olive green cargo pants, and black converse. She's also got an expensive-looking pair of serious ear-goggles dangling around her neck while she moves about, sorting through her milk crates of records. In another part of the store is neighborhood regular. Luke Cage is seen in this part of town often, and he makes no secret about Harlem still being his home of homes. He's in a white t-shirt, dark jeans, and his regular biker boots. Head and face are shaved clean, but he's wearing sunglasses in doors, not doing the kind of glad-handing he normally does at events like this. All told, he looks like someone who had to force himself to leave the house tonight, but now he's here, and he's damn-well gonna stick it out. He's got a coffee cup he brought with him from a local place down the street, and he's leaning up against a well, watching as people filter in for the show. Among those entering is a face that gets a couple of double-takes. Alison Blair is /not/ in the neighborhood often, and she definitely looks it. Dressed in jeans and sneakers, with a snug-fitting concert shirt emblazoned with 'Mojo World Tour '06' emblazoned on the front. Her hair is is a mass of curls that catches the low light and seems to reflect it back in a glowing halo. It's easy to see why this local celebrity would turn heads. Of course, it could also be the man entering behind her -- a towering hulk with shoulders wide enough that he actually has to turn a bit as he ducks to enter. He's dressed similarly to Alison, in jeans and a very snug shirt that reads 'ROADIE' across the chest. As they enter, Alison immediately begins to bounce to the beat of the music, her hips beginning to sway a bit. "Oh, Anton wasn't joking," she says, flashing a bright smile up at the big man. "This is incredible." The big man grunts, and lifts his shoulders. "Anton's a dumbass, but he knows music," he grunts. "Just don't forget where we are." To which Alison makes a dismissive noise, floating away from the big man and in the direction of Cage. "Oh, Mel. With you around, I barely miss my mother." Mel just grunts, folding his arms across his chest as he moves in the other direction, edging carefully among the bins. Unlike the others, the next group to enter gets no looks at all, most likely due to Lucia's strange lack of blindfold. Gabriel and Lucia are unmistakenly related, especially when up-close. The two hispanics are dressed similarly, with Gabriel wearing his denim jacket with blue jeans and boots, while Lucia is wearing a black jacket with white stries, a mid-length grey skirt, and pink converse. Over her ears are a pair of red and white earphones, and in her hands is a brown cane, with the head fashioned uniquely in the shape of a cobra springing it's head up. Her fingers rest underneath the cobra's chin, as she walks forward. In Gabriel's hands is a carton of records, as he approaches Alison, trying to speak over the music. "Hey miss-do you-work here? My sister-is scheduled-to perform-tonight!". He is occasionally muffled by the music, requiring him to repeat himself, unable to speak calmly as usual. DJ Spinster has begun her set, and its already clear she loves her work. She bobs and weaves to her own beats, and even kicks in a little upper body pop-n-lock when one of the grooves takes off. It's just for a moment though, then she's back to business, setting up new drops, prepping each turntable, and letting loose - on time, every time. She's having a tight set, and it looks like she both knows it, and is enjoying herself thoroughly, even if it is just a packed record store with only a couple hundred people inside. Famous as he is, Cage is not immune to being star struck himself. He does a double take when the local pop star enters, just to make sure he's seeing what he thinks he's seeing. Then he picks up on the fact that she's headed straight for him. He doesn't un-lean yet, but he does reach to perch his sunglasses on top of his head, and follows the woman with a curious half-smile gaze. Not his usual crowd-engaging, million-watt smile, but it's a spark at least. The pair trailing Alison don't catch his eye yet. Loud music doesn't seem to bother Alison, so when the young man addresses her, she turns immediately to flash a smile at him. "Oh, gosh, I don't work here," she says, eyes tracking briefly to Mel's bulk as the big man's attention snaps to watch the exchange. "I'm just here to enjoy the music." She wrinkles her nose, hopping up on her toes to look through the crowd. "I think you'd need to speak to one of the people over there," she says, indicating the counter, where two employees in SPIN shirts sit with a clipboard and a watch. Then she's back on flat feet, and offering another bright smile. "I hope your sister has a good set," she offers, then looks at the girl. "What do you work with?" Gabriel looks over to the staff, and then back to Alison. "I do too!". He begins tapping at his arm, as well. When she begins speaking to Lucia, he then taps his arm again, and speaks. "Oh, uh..she's deaf. She can't hear you. But she uses classical music. Vivaldi, Mozart, the likes.". He smiles. "Over there, right? Thanks! Hope you like it!". He then taps again, and she turns her attention to him, grabbing his arm, as they walk through the crowd towards the members. They're informed that she is next, and so they wait close to the stage. He taps something on her arm from there, which she signs something back to him. "This is going to be great...". The staff indeed confirm Lucia's spot, and can't fully conceal their curiosity about her ability to mix. It's nothing rude, but they are definitely curious to see how it goes. Cage visibly relaxes when Alison is distracted. She probably wasn't coming over to him anyway. Phew. He turns his attention back to Spinster, actually starting to bob his head a little. His mood still looks pretty dark, but everyone knows music soothes the savage beast. Watching the stage again, he's able to pick up on the brother and sister checking in with staff. He didn't catch anything about her disability, and can't see that well from back here anyway, but he gives the pair a curious glance. You get all types at SPIN's open mic night! Alison waggles her fingers, eyebrows lifting a bit at the information on the girl's deafness. "Oh, wow! I bet that's interesting!" She flashes another smile, and lifts a hand to sign 'good luck' roughly. "Good luck to you!" she says for Gabriel's benefit, and offers another flutter of fingers before she turns to resume her path. As she gets closer to Cage, though, she slows and peers at the man. "Sunglasses indoors is so 1985," she declares with an impish crinkle of her nose and a small, bright smile. "How can you even see anything in here with those?" Lucia is rocking slowly, back and forth, in Gabriel's arms. Gabriel taps his arm slowly, and holds his hands out. She reaches towards his hand, and grabs a pair of goggles with blackened lens, which she puts on, and also a pair of gloves, which he slowly helps her put over her hands. She takes a deep breath, as he taps again. "You'll be fine out there. Trust me.". She slowly approaches the stage, waiting for her turn. She signs something back to him. "I know, I'll be fantastic, you ass.". She smiles, as she taps again. "Be. great.". She speaks out a little for his benefit, as she smiles, feeling the vibrations. "Can't. wait.". As Spinster reaches the end of an admittedly tight set, she gives the newcomers a friendly smile. She's got a few minutes left, but she seems like a good sport. Cage starts a little when Alison is suddenly next to him, then he pulls himself together. "Yeah, well, I /liked/ 1985," he says with a shrug. "And besides, I don't come here to see. I come to listen." It's a weak joke, and his expression says he knows it. Finally, he sighs and pushes himself upright. "So, you're really her, huh? Nice ta meetcha." He extends his enormous hand to shake with the woman. Alison wrinkles her nose. "I guess I liked 1985, too," she says. "Life was pretty sweet, back then. At least for a three year old." She nods at the identification, taking the offered hand and shaking it with a well-practiced warmth. "Guilty as charged," she says lightly. "I am /she/. Of scream queen and fleeting pop star fame." Slender eyebrows furrow as she regards the big man, and she tips her head to one side. "And you're Luke Cage," she says, closing one eye slowly. "Ex-con turned neighborhood hero and private detective. Right?" As they wait patiently, Spinster's set ends. Gabriel helps Lucia up, setting up her first record for her, Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. As she slowly begins to set up, she concentrates on her good thoughts. One of the staff members announces her as Lady Sereia, as she begins her set. At first, she seems a bit panicked, but slowly gets over this panicked feeling. The set starts off slowly before getting into a faster pace, and for her condition, she's relatively good at this, using the vibrations as her sense of what to do. Watching her, Gabriel slowly approaches Alison and Cage, smiling. "I told you she's pretty good.". Cage actually perks up a little when it sounds like the conversation might be turning to business. "Uh yeah, mostly. Although, I was acquitted after the retrial. So I'm not actually an ex-con, because the conviction was overturned." He projects a little smugness, like a comic book geek who's able to trump a friend with some little tidbit of esoteric knowledge. "You lookin' for a PI?" When Sereia's set begins, he looks openly impressed. "Well, you don't see that every day..." he says, in response to Gabriel making it through the crowded room. "How long as she been mixing?" "Fair point," Alison says, fluttering her fingers. "So, just neighborhood hero and private detective. Still impressive." The question gets a small shake of her head. "Oh, no. I have a guy, when I need one," she says apologetically. "But if you ever want to do my show, we can certainly talk about that. My viewers would love your story." She tucks her hands in her back pockets, and watches the set-change, lifting her chin to get a better look at the DJ booth. When the music starts, she looks as impressed as Cage, and she nods when Gabriel approaches. "She's really good," she says enthusiastically, her smile brightening just a bit. Cage asks her next question, so she falls silent, bobbing to the beat gently as she listens. Gabriel looks up at Sereia, who is getting a bit pale and woozy, but still going on, swapping to Mozart after the song is over. "Well..this is her first time, I guess. She's always been interested in music and had a good feel to it, so I reserved for her to try it out. I guess she's a natural.". He smiles, but bites his lip, slightly worried for her. He mutters slowly. "she'll be okay she can do this". He then looks back up at that. "PI? Wait, you're one of those guys over at Heroes for Hires, right? Some sort of..vigilante?". He then looks over Alison. "You seem familiar..have I met you before?". He smiles, completely unknowing of who she is. "Maybe I've seen you at the Lofts?". "Yeah, you know, that might be really good," Luke says, to wrap his earlier conversation with Alison. "Lets have lunch and talk it out sometime." He fishes in a pocket to produce his HfH business, two in fact. He hands one each to Gabriel and Alison. "Yeah bud," he says to Gabe. "I'm the owner, actually. Luke Cage. But I'm not a vigilante. That would be illegal. I'm just a regular, licensed private detective. Although I have my body guard certs too." Cage shrugs. "/Excellent/!" Alison says, and flutters her fingers in the air. Then Mel is just THERE, looming over Alison and handing over a business card in exchange, grunting something before he fades back into the background. Alison nods. "I will definitely call you this week," she promises. "I'm certain we can come to some sort of agreement." Gabriel's explanation of his sister's ability gets a wide smile. "She's very good at it," she agrees. "For her first time. I'd be interested in hearing more of her work." At the question, she stares for a moment, and then laughs -- a silvery, tinkling sort of sound. "Oh, my goodness," she says, shaking her head. "/You/ are a treasure." She giggles a bit more, and shrugs. "I suppose I /would/ look familiar, though." Lucia is getting woozier, as she changes to another Mozart track. Gabriel's biting his lip deeper. "Wait...maybe you went to the Institute? Or were a teacher? I'm sorry, if I'm supposed to know you, then I truly apologize for my forgetfulness.". He laughs a bit. "But I can't remember you at all, I guess.". He looks over to Cage. "Yeah, I guess it is illegal. It'd be cool if we could have superheroes like the comics, I guess. Like Superman, or Batman, or even Green Hornet. But alas.". He looks towards his sister again. "I'm Gabriel, by the way.". Luke nods to Alison and Mel in turn, and then extends his hand to Gabriel. "Luke Cage." Apparently Cage's empathy, and compulsive desire to help even ekes over into situations like these. He leans over and says quietly, "She's on TV, man. Don't bust her out in front of everyone here, ok? Just be cool." Cage claps the smaller man gently on the shoulder and nods. "But for the record, Superman's a douche. Just sayin." He shrugs. Alison rolls her eyes at Luke's explanation, and frowns. "Shoot. There goes that bit of anonymity," she says with a playful grin. "I'm Alison Blair," she says, motioning to Cage. "It's like he says. You probably know me from television," she offers. "Or maybe you've seen one of my movies on late night T.V. They're really bad." Cage's comment about Superman gets another laugh. "Oh, gosh. He really is. And Lois Lane is the world's worst reporter. At least, she was until the last film." "Nope, never heard of you. Then again, I don't watch much TV or many movies, so, it's not your fault.". He laughs a bit, but this quickly dies out. Up on stage, Lucia is playing another Beethoven. She slowly raises the volume..and gets even dizzier. Suddenly..thud. The vibrations are too much for her, and she blacks out, falling backwards. Gabriel's eyes widen, and he's suddenly pushing through the crowd, running up stage. "Lucia..LUCIA!". He's tapping on his arm to get her attention, to no avail. He grabs her, and is rocking her. "Fuck, I knew this was a bad idea...LUCIA!". "Oh shit..." Luke says, his attention moving swiftly from the amusement at Alison's remark, to Lucia's distress. Luke cups his hands around his mouth, and uses his full outside voice. "Move back, people!" He eyes the SPIN staff running up with the first aid kit, and notes most of the crowd actually going along with his suggestion. Cage sighs, and then nods to Alison. "Sorry Ms. Blaire, I'm gonna make sure these people don't trample each other getting out. I hope to talk to you soon." An apologetic nod, and then he's off, herding people to make room for any possible paramedics, or quick exits that need to be made. At least he's easy to hear. "Oh, /gosh/," Alison says, her eyes widening as things suddenly erupt in confusion. "Mel!" The big man appears again, and pushes ahead of Gabriel, clearing a path for the man. Alison nods at Cage's apology, and offers a quick smile. "Do be careful," she urges the detective. "You owe me a lunch, remember." Then she's moving towards the counter, already fishing out her phone to call 911. But she'll stay until everyone is gone and Lucia is safely escorted away, or until Mel hauls her off. Whichever comes first.