Never Going Back (Open)

[Jana (DELETED 5000)]

I know the song’s a bit overwrought now, but it’s what she decided to sing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moSFlvxnbgk
I have a YouTube playlist to work off of, and this happens to be in it. It is a lovely song and I just couldn’t resist it.

Jana had brushed her hair out thoroughly, letting it sweep down around her even as she pulled the red hood over her flame-colored hair. She had a bottle of perfume in one pocket, to combat the scent of sewage that would undoubtedly follow her as she climbed out in Gullsborough. Living in the quarantined district had its drawbacks.

But today, she had a plan, and a reason to be out on her own.

She was planning to try to get a job of some sort, no matter how hard she had to try.

“Deborah, you should go the traditional route,” her grandmother insisted as she climbed up and settled in at a street corner.

“This is the old-fashioned way,” she muttered. “The way that singers would seek out work in days gone by. This is how I’ll seek work.”

She didn’t have a stereo, or anyone to back her up with the rest of the song, but as she started to sing, she figured she didn’t need it. She began slowly, following the emotion of the lyrics. It had taken her several hours to memorize the lyrics, even fighting zombies while she had listened to the song to drill it into her mind.

She was Jana Walker, a risk-taker. Singing in such cold weather wasn’t something she was used to, but she would do it. Risks were a normal part of who she was, and she wasn’t about to give them up.

Appearance (with jeans)

[nashoba8199 (DELETED 2415)]

Walking through the town, Nashoba was heading into the sewers, getting ready to find a place to sleep. His once favorite entrance, however, was seemingly inaccessible due to a woman standing nearby and singing. He was about to turn, and walk away, perhaps even sprinting across the water as he had done so long ago, when he heard the lyrics to the song she was singing. it was a plain song, no musical accompaniment, but Nashoba could admit, the girl had pipes.

As the singer sang on, Nashoba felt a deep pull in his chest towards this song. How could he not?

He had been hunted down twice for being seen by humans feeding, so they knew. He had tried to be the perfect model vampire fledgeling, but he had fallen short somehow. his year and a half sabbatical into the Shadow Realm had given him stronger powers, enabling his to enter, and even reshape parts of the shadowy after-world.

And didn't he just long to let everything go? he wanted to be free more than anything. as the singer stopped, Nashoba realized that the song was over, and he was still leaning on a wall, waiting as if he wanted to hear more. Pulling out his wallet, he looked for a hat, or container of some sort, but not seeing one, he pressed a pair of hundreds into the girls hands, before nodding and turning to walk away, still humming the lines under his breath.

[Jana (DELETED 5000)]

Jana had been about to break into Sally's Song, one of her particular favorites from the Nightmare Before Christmas, when the man approached and handed her money. This wasn't what she'd intended to happen, but money was helpful. Money was always helpful. She slipped the money into her pocket and said a soft thank you as he turned and walked away.

With the confidence his generosity suddenly added to her, she pulled her hood back, letting her hair spill over her back before she began that next song. Her voice seemed stronger, just a little. She didn't fully understand why he'd given her so much. Most people gave street singers a five at the absolute most, especially when they didn't have instrumental accompaniment. The more people she could attract, the better.

The more people she attracted, the more business owners might notice her, and that was what she really wanted. She probably should've written out a sign or something. She wasn't panhandling. She was jobseeking.

"I could have told you this wouldn't be what you wanted," her gandmother's voice advised.

I don't need your advise right now. This will work, Grandma. I swear it'll work. It's either this or search for open mic night in various clubs, she thought at her grandmother.

She didn't know why, but she felt more at ease with her grandmother's voice in her ear, giving her bits of advice. It reminded her more of home.