Joseph had been a roaring success, but like all roaring successes, it was a huge relief when the intense focus of a fourteen day run was over. The chorus had, as usual, decided to extend the last night well past the dropping of the curtain, spilling out of the Shanachie with hands grasping at significant others and poor unfortunate members of the crew who hadn't been quick enough to say no. One laughing, loudly chattering entity of actors, singers, and dancers too hyped up to sleep just yet descended on the nearest club to celebrate the end of their run and the promise of a couple of weeks off before the next round of rehearsals began.
Warned ahead of time that this was the plan, Dru has actually managed to dress in something that wasn't ridiculously baggy or too hot to dance in. No doubt Josh had been a little confused by the sight of her showing up to work in a dress earlier, but now it made perfect sense as they walked along with the rest of the group. She let out a low yelp of surprise as a long arm looped itself over her shoulders, another tall member of the chorus leaning down to kiss her cheek enthusiastically.
"Did good tonight, Judy," Claud informed her, grinning a little pointedly over her head at Josh as he hugged her very nearly off her feet before letting go. "Gonna get your groove on with me?"
Rumors had been circulating since opening night that Josh and Dru might be more than friends, but though the pair had been mostly inseparable, they had been discreet while in public, and it was hard to tell whether the rumors were true or just rumors. Though Josh was relieved that the run of Joseph was over, there was a certain amount of sadness that went along with the closing of a show, especially one that had been as successful and as much fun as this one had been. Still, he and Dru would have more time now to concentrate on their studies and spend some free time together, without the constant drain on their time and energy that went into the theater.
A night out to cut loose with cast and crew - most of whom were now friends - was just what Josh and Dru needed before turning their focus to matters of studies and state. Josh had planned on keeping his relationship with Dru to themselves, but now that Claud seemed to be trying to move in on his territory, he was reconsidering that plan. "Her name is Dru," Josh corrected his rival, trying to keep his jealousy under wraps.
"Dru!" Claud grinned down at the girl in question, who was wiping spittle off her face and trying not to laugh at him in case she hurt his feelings. "One syllable, like me. All the best people keep it simple, cutie." His hand lowered to pat her rear end, but that, at least, she saw coming.
Skipping out of the way, Dru dropped to walk on the other side of Josh, rolling her eyes at Claud. "Hands to yourself, Jacobsen."
The other actor laughed, and instead clapped Josh on the back - the gesture looked friendly, but there was a little more force there than was needed to be just a friendly touch. "Feisty, isn't she?"
Josh's gaze followed Dru as she moved around to the other side of him away from Claud, before turning back. He subtly reached for her hand, more for her sake than Claud's, who more than likely wouldn't notice. "If you only knew," Josh muttered back at the guy.
"Oh, I sense a story," Claud laughed, though there was an edge to the sound. Was he jealous, by any chance" As Dru's fingers curled into Josh's hand and she was drawn into conversation with Anette, he went on, fishing for details. "So you've hit that already, have you, Joshie boy' Reckon she'd go for an older man with a few things to teach her?"
Josh clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth, visibly bristling at Claud's continued remarks. The guy was really starting to get on his nerves. It didn't help when he addressed him in what Josh considered to be a condescending manner. "I reckon you're barking up the wrong tree. Why don't you go hit on someone closer to your own age? Maybe they can teach you some manners."
"Ooohoo, Pharaoh's got teeth, guys!" Claud, it seemed, wasn't going to let a little irritation get him down, but he wasn't stupid enough to goad Josh any further, releasing the other man's shoulder to rejoin others a little further ahead as they moved to enter the club.
Beside Josh, Dru squeezed his hand, glancing up with a faint smirk on her face. She hadn't heard what was said, but it seemed as though her boyfriend - and that word still made her grin like an idiot - was beginning to regret not announcing their relationship to the entire cast at the very first opportunity.
"Idiot," Josh hissed under his breath, narrowing his eyes as he watched the other man retreat, hoping he maintained his distance. There always seemed to be one jack*ss in the group, whether it was Tirisano or Rhy'Din. His gaze still watching the other man, he remarked quietly to Dru, "If he bothers you again, let me know. I'd like nothing better than to teach him a few manners." And he'd probably teach that lesson with both his fists.
"He's not really being a bother," she murmured back to Josh just as quietly, glancing toward Claud as the group settled into a line to get into the club. "You know he doesn't have a hope in hell of getting my attention."
"He seems to think otherwise," Josh replied quietly, still watching the man's back as they lined up to get into the club, starting to regret agreeing to come along, but if he hadn't, there was no telling what the guy might have said or done without Josh here to watch out for Dru.
"It isn't what he thinks that counts," she answered, taking advantage of the close knit shuffle to press her lips to the back of his hand swiftly. Thankfully, they weren't asked for ID, which could have been a little awkward, the bouncer just waving them both through along with the rest of the group. A spacious corner booth was quickly bartered for by the more flirtatious of the chorus girls, a place to put bags and jackets under the constant vigilance of whoever was sitting at the time, and a small Brownian motion took several of the group to the bar while others surveyed the dance floor.
"Trust me, Dru, I've seen guys like that before. Get a few drinks in him, and he's only going to get worse," Josh informed her, secretly promising to stick to her like glue. He appreciated the show of affection, but it didn't really do much to soothe his annoyance. He followed her inside, pausing a moment to survey their surroundings and see what groups formed.
Unfortunately for his peace of mind, Dru was naive enough not to know a bad egg when she saw one, appreciating his protectiveness but not really thinking it was particularly necessary. As he hung back, she dropped her bag and jacket with everyone else's, stretching her arms above her head as she contemplated getting a drink before heading out to dance.
Josh was generally one of the more popular among the group, which was probably why he'd been asked to come along, though Claud had set Josh's teeth on edge and ruined his mood. Josh kept his jacket on, at least for now, not really wanting to leave Dru alone, though he thought he should get them a couple of drinks. "Stay here with the girls, and I'll get us some drinks."
Warned ahead of time that this was the plan, Dru has actually managed to dress in something that wasn't ridiculously baggy or too hot to dance in. No doubt Josh had been a little confused by the sight of her showing up to work in a dress earlier, but now it made perfect sense as they walked along with the rest of the group. She let out a low yelp of surprise as a long arm looped itself over her shoulders, another tall member of the chorus leaning down to kiss her cheek enthusiastically.
"Did good tonight, Judy," Claud informed her, grinning a little pointedly over her head at Josh as he hugged her very nearly off her feet before letting go. "Gonna get your groove on with me?"
Rumors had been circulating since opening night that Josh and Dru might be more than friends, but though the pair had been mostly inseparable, they had been discreet while in public, and it was hard to tell whether the rumors were true or just rumors. Though Josh was relieved that the run of Joseph was over, there was a certain amount of sadness that went along with the closing of a show, especially one that had been as successful and as much fun as this one had been. Still, he and Dru would have more time now to concentrate on their studies and spend some free time together, without the constant drain on their time and energy that went into the theater.
A night out to cut loose with cast and crew - most of whom were now friends - was just what Josh and Dru needed before turning their focus to matters of studies and state. Josh had planned on keeping his relationship with Dru to themselves, but now that Claud seemed to be trying to move in on his territory, he was reconsidering that plan. "Her name is Dru," Josh corrected his rival, trying to keep his jealousy under wraps.
"Dru!" Claud grinned down at the girl in question, who was wiping spittle off her face and trying not to laugh at him in case she hurt his feelings. "One syllable, like me. All the best people keep it simple, cutie." His hand lowered to pat her rear end, but that, at least, she saw coming.
Skipping out of the way, Dru dropped to walk on the other side of Josh, rolling her eyes at Claud. "Hands to yourself, Jacobsen."
The other actor laughed, and instead clapped Josh on the back - the gesture looked friendly, but there was a little more force there than was needed to be just a friendly touch. "Feisty, isn't she?"
Josh's gaze followed Dru as she moved around to the other side of him away from Claud, before turning back. He subtly reached for her hand, more for her sake than Claud's, who more than likely wouldn't notice. "If you only knew," Josh muttered back at the guy.
"Oh, I sense a story," Claud laughed, though there was an edge to the sound. Was he jealous, by any chance" As Dru's fingers curled into Josh's hand and she was drawn into conversation with Anette, he went on, fishing for details. "So you've hit that already, have you, Joshie boy' Reckon she'd go for an older man with a few things to teach her?"
Josh clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth, visibly bristling at Claud's continued remarks. The guy was really starting to get on his nerves. It didn't help when he addressed him in what Josh considered to be a condescending manner. "I reckon you're barking up the wrong tree. Why don't you go hit on someone closer to your own age? Maybe they can teach you some manners."
"Ooohoo, Pharaoh's got teeth, guys!" Claud, it seemed, wasn't going to let a little irritation get him down, but he wasn't stupid enough to goad Josh any further, releasing the other man's shoulder to rejoin others a little further ahead as they moved to enter the club.
Beside Josh, Dru squeezed his hand, glancing up with a faint smirk on her face. She hadn't heard what was said, but it seemed as though her boyfriend - and that word still made her grin like an idiot - was beginning to regret not announcing their relationship to the entire cast at the very first opportunity.
"Idiot," Josh hissed under his breath, narrowing his eyes as he watched the other man retreat, hoping he maintained his distance. There always seemed to be one jack*ss in the group, whether it was Tirisano or Rhy'Din. His gaze still watching the other man, he remarked quietly to Dru, "If he bothers you again, let me know. I'd like nothing better than to teach him a few manners." And he'd probably teach that lesson with both his fists.
"He's not really being a bother," she murmured back to Josh just as quietly, glancing toward Claud as the group settled into a line to get into the club. "You know he doesn't have a hope in hell of getting my attention."
"He seems to think otherwise," Josh replied quietly, still watching the man's back as they lined up to get into the club, starting to regret agreeing to come along, but if he hadn't, there was no telling what the guy might have said or done without Josh here to watch out for Dru.
"It isn't what he thinks that counts," she answered, taking advantage of the close knit shuffle to press her lips to the back of his hand swiftly. Thankfully, they weren't asked for ID, which could have been a little awkward, the bouncer just waving them both through along with the rest of the group. A spacious corner booth was quickly bartered for by the more flirtatious of the chorus girls, a place to put bags and jackets under the constant vigilance of whoever was sitting at the time, and a small Brownian motion took several of the group to the bar while others surveyed the dance floor.
"Trust me, Dru, I've seen guys like that before. Get a few drinks in him, and he's only going to get worse," Josh informed her, secretly promising to stick to her like glue. He appreciated the show of affection, but it didn't really do much to soothe his annoyance. He followed her inside, pausing a moment to survey their surroundings and see what groups formed.
Unfortunately for his peace of mind, Dru was naive enough not to know a bad egg when she saw one, appreciating his protectiveness but not really thinking it was particularly necessary. As he hung back, she dropped her bag and jacket with everyone else's, stretching her arms above her head as she contemplated getting a drink before heading out to dance.
Josh was generally one of the more popular among the group, which was probably why he'd been asked to come along, though Claud had set Josh's teeth on edge and ruined his mood. Josh kept his jacket on, at least for now, not really wanting to leave Dru alone, though he thought he should get them a couple of drinks. "Stay here with the girls, and I'll get us some drinks."