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The Spirit of Radio. (Drabble)
004. ``` The spirit of radio.Play that song that's so elusive.www.aniroleplay.com/Lightfall
Vaggie was ready to scream. The chaos in the hotel was driving her nuts. It wasn't enough that these people were trashing the place. But the fact Alastor was seemingly just enjoying the madness.
And, finally. She had enough. "Out. I can't put up with this anymore! Angel, sweetie. Please. Just take the others out. I don't care where. I need a few bit of peace!"
Of course, when they all left, including the staff. It meant Vaggie was stuck alone, but, since the battle she felt isolated. Left alone by the others or, simply shunned for what she was? She wasn't sure. Was she just imagining it, her self loathing simply conjuring another demon to battle with? Or, was it reality. With the chaos they'd left her with though. Vaggie had to clean. Usually, Niffty's job. But. . . Perhaps she'd simply use the chance to get the frustration out of her system.
Vaggie breathed out. It was time to get to work but she needed something else. Something loud. Anything to just. Get ger mind off things. Off the deal. Off everything. She headed upstairs, grabbing a record. The one positive of Als own specific musical and stylistic tastes, the vinyls she had in her room were easy to play pretty much anywhere. And there was a decent record player downstairs. Al would likely not approve of the musical selection but, he was gone like the rest. Slipping the record out of its sleeve as she arrived on the main floor, she placed it on the player, let the needle touch the record, and the roar of Neal Pearts drums and the guitar of Alex Lifeson roared out,
as she began to clean. Geddy Lees vocals echoing in her mind and reminding her of better times.
"Know your place in life is where you want to be
Don't let them tell you that you owe it all to me
Keep on looking forward, no use in looking 'round
Hold your head above the crowd
and they won't bring you down"
Vaggie's hands moved as she picked up garbage left by angel and fat nuggets. She couldn't get too mad at those two. She was glad for the change in Angel, becoming less fake around them. He still gave her plenty of sh*t, but in the sweetest way he was capable of. And, she had begun to appreciate his charm.
'You can tell me that I got no class
Look around, you'll see who's laughin' last
Don't give me speeches 'cause they're oh so droll
Leave me alone, let me rock and roll'
As Vaggie moved, her body swaying lightly as the music carried her through the work, she remembered Adam, and Lute, she was glad that they weren't in her life. With the passing of time the way they treated her was more obviously abusive at the best of times. Cruel at the worst. But there were happy moments too. Laying around after a day of training with the two, Adam selecting an album like London Calling or Screaming For Vengeance. Whatever they needed, he seemed to know the songs for the occasion. And they always put Vaggie in a good mood, she could tell the same was true for Lute. In another world the three would have been as close as she was with Charlie. But that wasn't the reality.
'The guns replace the plow
Facades are tarnished now
The principles have been betrayed
Would dreams gone stale but still let hope prevail
History's debt won't be repaid'
Vaggie moved to the next task, getting rid of the bottles strewn about husks bar. He had a bad habit of storing the old ones, and as she moved her hands, the erratic guitar of the next track made her move faster. It was almost jazzy in its composition. But more modern jazz than what Alastor would have been used to. And as she finished side 1, and moved to flip the record, she felt a shiver at that thought. Like eyes were on her. But, this was typical in the hotel. When one was alone, it seemed everyone felt eyes on them. Sir Pentious had made that clear himself. And as she put the other side of the album on, and heard the opening riff to Fly By Night. . . Her memories of the past flooded back again.
'Why try? I know why
This feeling inside me says it's time I was gone
Clear head, new life ahead
It's time I was king now, not just one more pawn'
Vaggie had listened to this album two days before the most fateful extermination she'd participate in. The one she'd lose her eye, and her status as an angel in. And as the lyrics Lee was singing came to her, as she continued cleaning, her voice began singing along, at first quietly, but growing loud, and proud. Her wings expanding as she took to the roof,
"Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye, my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend"
To anyone listening, it almost sounded like Vaggie was planning on bolting. On ditching it all. That had been her mood, the last time she'd given this record a spin. A desire to flee. To leave heaven behind, but where could she go? She felt trapped. It was in the moments after she'd landed in hell her mind had been made up, she'd not go back up when the cleansing was done. She'd abandon her uniform and hide among the sinners, she couldn't do it anymore. She'd have to put on a show. . . She'd lost, of course. She wasn't an entertainer or actor like Adam or Alastor. She was a fighter. And then, the words to that second verse came from her lips
"Moon rise, thoughtful eyes
Staring back at me from the window beside
No fright or hindsight
Leaving behind that empty feeling inside
Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye, my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend"
Charlie had been the thoughtful, and kind eyes that looked back at her, and gave her that fearless feeling, where hindsight no longer mattered. She'd felt empty, before she'd come to hell. She was full of friends. Of joy of laughter and of love. She'd long finished the cleaning, but the song hasn't ended, neither had her singing.
"Start a new chapter, I find what I'm after
It's changing every day
The change of a season's enough of a reason
To want to get away
Quiet and pensive, my thoughts apprehensive
The hours drift away
Leaving my homeland, playing a lone hand
My life begins today" I will choose a path thats clear, I will choose free will ```
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