~ Charlie Nine ~


Nell: Nell never met anyone at the door. It wasn't her house and she didn't answer the door, because she didn't have to. And she was lazy. And pregnant. But the receptionist would be more than happy to show him down the hall to her broadcasting booth, or rather, what was a moderately-sized room. The brunette could be found seated with her feet up on the table in front of her, clothed in all black attire and boots, flipping through a magazine languidly.

Charlie: It had been nearly two weeks since his opal defense and Charlie was restless.

Andrea had tried to mother him the soft way at first, with gentle urging to stay in bed and she'd even gone as far as bringing food up to the apartment above the gym in an attempt to keep him still. When that failed, eventually, the tall redhead had banned him from the gym upon pain of a sound whooping. In the end, the visit to Nell had been her idea and the limping fighter had acquiesced under duress (with Jen's help) and was slowly navigating his way through the door. A Triple A MMA hoodie topped faded gray cargo pants and mismatched sneakers.

The wooden smile he'd affected for the reception widened and the warmth seeped in upon spotting Nell. His growing soft spot for her baby mama (daddy?) extended to her, despite his discomfort near pregnancy. "Hey."

Nell: Little had he known, she'd been lingering over pictures in the magazine of booze. And coffee. She was a terrible pregnant person, if it made him feel any better. Upon hearing a voice, she looked up, and it only took a moment for the smile to appear. "Hey! Come on in!" She waved a hand for the chair across from her.

Charlie: "Andrea said it would be good for the gym and the show to have an Opal Holder on," he offered by way of explanation, not quite sheepish, but with a minute level of uncertainty that said he was still feeling the situation out. Hobbling steps brought him deeper into the room, with dark eyes flitting around in an attempt to soak in as much as possible. "It's okay, right?"

Nell: You look like a virgin on her wedding night," she said with a grin, leaning back. "Don't worry, I'll be gentle."

Charlie: "Good idea." He smiled again, wider this time and with a mischievous glint in his stare. "I'd hate to think of what your insurance premiums are for fires..."

Nell: "Dude, I have no idea. Harris probably doesn't even know. So it's best we don't set anything all a-flame." A snicker and she pointed out the chair. "Take a seat before you keel over."

Charlie: "Okay." That she wasn't worried was equal parts confusing and endearing, and Charlie did as he was asked. Within moments his backpack was set aside and he was slumped down across from her, staring at everything but her belly.

Nell: Which she noticed. She was a quick one, that Nell. Just not when running, mostly because she didn't run. "It's like a freaking alien movie, isn't it?"

Charlie: "You're not going to make me touch it, are you?" He spared a glance down at it, almost blanching. "Because if it kicked me, I'd have to kick it back. Andrea would be really upset then..."

Nell: "Yeah, she'd probably slit your throat," she said without missing a beat, and then she scrunched her nose. "No, I won't make you touch it. I'd just as soon not have anyone touch it. Just cuz there's a parasite in there, you know? You wouldn't touch someone's stomach randomly for any other reason. Unless it's a strip joint." The last was added thoughtfully.

Charlie: "..."

It was decided, right then and there.

"I like you."

Nell: And that grin was certainly there. "And I like you, kid." Although she had no idea how old he was. It didn't matter. "Any friend of Apple's is one of mine. Unless you were a total douche, but I can see you're not."

Charlie: "I'm a terrible human being," Charlie admitted with a shrug. "But Apple likes me and trusted me with the gym while you two were on vacation. That likely counts for something."

Nell: ?In my book it does. And I'm not that great myself, and it's ok if everyone knows it." A small shrug. "But we're not here to judge, we're here to talk about some ******* music. Did Andrea tell you how this works?"

Charlie: "Hurriedly, yeah." He nodded. "She was preoccupied with keeping me away from the training areas. I'm supposed to be convalescing and it's annoying her that I'm not doing a good job of it. But yeah, I have songs in mind. If they hurt your ratings, um... oops?"

Nell: "I do this because I like it, not for ratings. And, plus? if your songs are total ****, at least people will get a laugh out of it, yeah?" A grin. "Alright, did you have any questions, then, before we get started?"

Charlie: "I imagine at least two of them will elicit humorous responses, maybe." One of his shoulders rolled in a shrug, but it did nothing to diminish the smile that had long since been lingering over her good humor. "One. Is there anything else I should know going into this?"

Nell: "Not in the slightest." She shook her head. Had she even brushed her hair? Who knew. "We'll chat about you a bit, if you want, present your songs, and that's about it. And then I'd say we'd do shots, but you're supposed to be getting better and me, well?" A point downward, and then a bland face.

Charlie: "I think I can handle that." And then, suddenly, he reached out to snatch up a stray sheet of paper on her desk and began to fold it meticulously. Idle hands were the devil's playground... or something like that. "I don't drink."

Well, he almost never did.

Nell: "Then that saves me from looking like a ****** host, huh?" She grinned. "Are you ok with technology and stuff?" It was always worth asking here

Charlie: "More than okay with it." He nodded.

Nell: ?Awesome, so I don't need to explain any of this to you." Gesturing about them randomly, indicating all the equipment.

Charlie: "No, I think I'll be fine." He smiled again.

Nell: "Sweet, then if you want to pop your headphones on, we'll get started."

Charlie: "Affirmative." When he was finally finished with the paper, a small origami swallow was placed on the desk before he reached for the headphones, sliding them over his ears and flipping a quick thumbs-up to the hostest with the mostest.

Nell: Hers were plunked down over her ears and then, just like that, they were off and running. "What the hell is up, peeps? Welcome to another stimulating episode of Turn Around Sound. I have a special guest tonight, a bonafide winner. But not like short bus special, real special. Charlie Nine, who is awesome at dueling but super ****** at convalescing."

Charlie: "Hey, Nell. Nell's peeps." It was as affable as FireStar's holder ever got. "It's true. I'm terrible at convalescing."

Nell: "True dat, but no judgment. Because if you were better at it then you'd be home, and not here. And that would just be a shame. For those that don't know, Charlie recently defended FireStar, a bomb**** opal, against Anubis Karos. So he's legit boss. How was that duel? Quick?"

Charlie: "Long," Charlie replied with an exhaled breath. "Anubis is considerably larger and stronger, which I don't find daunting, but I have to give him credit for being far quicker than his bulk would lead you to believe. He hurt me early, but I found my rhythm and eventually did what KC calls... 'Re-enacting the Boston Tea Party'. I'm assuming it's a reference to me jumping and landing with my reinforced steel athletic cup hitting him in the face..."

Nell: She winced, which translated in the 'oooohhh' she let out into the microphone. "Well, we applaud you here at KLIT, for killing it like a total bad***." She clapped and then continued on. "Well, since you're not going to lay down and rest, how about you tell us about your first song?"

Charlie: "Well," he cleared his throat. "I thought maybe I'd get the more mainstream, socially palatable song out of the way. Maybe it will warm your listeners up to me before I send them running away screaming... I hear it playing a lot in Andrea Anderson's Triple A MMA Gym, that's a shameless plug by the way, and I like to warm up with it. It's a song called Come With Me Now by a band called Kongos."

Nell: "I can recommend this song before I even play it," she said. "And also Andrea's skills at ***kicking. But for now, feast your earholes on this, citizens." A poke of a button and then the song was off and playing. "So," she said when it was 'just them', "how long have you been training? She talks about you from time to time."

Charlie: Trying to maintain that affable mien, Charlie smiled again and leaned in. That's what friends did, right? Without touching! "I've been training at the gym since February, back when it was still Beat Down's. Melanie, who was mentoring me in the rings, brought me there and even after the team's collapse and my ascension to Emerald, Apple welcomed me to keep training there. As far as the martial arts themselves... for longer than I can remember." He was being quite literal.

Nell: "I've never done anything that athletic in my entire life," she told him. "All joking aside, you guys are amazing, seriously. Crazy athletes for sure."

Charlie: "There's nothing quite like the Dance," he agreed. "It is an impossibly beautiful art if you allow
yourself to see it in that light."

Nell: "I can see it that way, but only because of Andrea and you guys. But I'm just a bystander, I'd get slaughtered." A chuckle and then her eyes squinted a bit. "You're not from here, are you?"

Charlie: "No." Charlie shook his head. "I'm not native. I can't even begin to imagine what growing up here would have been like."

Nell: "Pretty much unadulterated insanity," she said with a chuckle. "From experience, I can tell you that much."

Charlie: "The chaos is refreshing, the freedom... confining." Charlie shifted in his seat, the faintest trace of muted wonder in his voice.

Nell: She nodded. "You're not the first to feel that way, and certainly not the last. But it's your home for now, then?"

Charlie: "Until it's not, yeah." It was an oblique answer.

Nell: And that was ok- she was used to them, from a variety of people. She tapped her headphones and they were back on the air. "Who would have thought the accordion could be like that, right? There is no polka happening."

Charlie: "It's surprisingly good for a beat," he conceded readily. "I've found that being here, and keeping some of the company that I do, has expended my catalogue of musical tastes considerably."

Nell: ?And that's what we strive for, yeah? Ol' Rhy'Din, bringing the masses new musical tastes." A wink and she continued. "And you picked that because it's your go-to warm up song?"

Charlie: "When I want something that feels less traditional to my style, yeah." The winked was reciprocated, along with a grin. "I'm usually less... conventional?"

Nell: "Preach on, brother Charlie," she said, raising her hands in the air like a Baptist on Sunday. "Convention is a sin, or so I've heard. What is the second song you've got?"

Charlie: "Something more traditional to my style, moreso, to The Dance." Charlie used the tip of a finger to make the origami swallow dance towards her. "Zoom Zoom Zoom Capoeira, uncredited so far as I'm aware."

Nell: "Like that car commercial?" She watched a lot of internet videos, even though she'd never driven a Mazda in her life.

Charlie: "Only better." He laughed. "It is very good capoeira workout music."

Nell: "Well, then for all you fancy capoeira people out there, listen up. And I'll listen while Charlie shows me some moves. Hopefully with his pants on." A boop, then they were back to just the two of them.

Charlie: "If Andrea thinks I'm doing capoeira when I should be resting," Charlie mused, fixing Nell with a steady stare and a small smile. "She's going to call and yell at both of us, well, mostly me since you can soothe her anger with sexual gratification."

Nell: "Yes? yes I can," she said with a chuckle. "But it's all ok, I'll soothe her for the both of us. Plus, she probably knows I'm messing with you. That's sort of my jam."

Charlie: "Then I absolve myself of all responsibility!"

Nell: "And I'll take it. And this." Reaching out for the bird. "You got a girlfriend, Charlie?" Just curious.

Charlie: "..." He just stared at her. "Uh..." Curled fingers formed a scoop that quickly covered the microphone. "Is this answer going to be aired...?"

Nell: "No, it's just us," she said, and it was actually rather soothing.

Charlie: "I don't know." His shoulders rolled upwards and back down in a shrug, an idle hand falling over a particular spot along his ribs. Then his neck. "I don't know if I would call her my girlfriend. I don't know if she would call herself my girlfriend. We just... are. Her name is Jin Chae. She holds the Blue Opal."

Nell: "Aww, opal buddies." A smile. Despite her? well, sometimes crude exterior, she was a little squishy in the heart region.

Charlie: "Nobody touches a Charlie," he informed her; soft, matter of fact. "Except Jin Chae when she wants to. And sometimes Melanie. I even let Andrea feel my head for a fever without giving into the compulsion to cripple her."

He was making progress.

Nell: And she knew about progress. "Well, I promise I won't try to hug you."

Charlie: "Thank you." He smiled again at that.

Nell: "Don't mention it." And then they were back on the air. "You legit listen to this? Like just cruising down the street?"

Charlie: "I don't cruise. I walk everywhere." There was silence while Charlie shrugged and then he added quietly. "Though Andrea's trying to talk me into endorsements and product lines, which means a considerable amount of money if I were to choose to do it. But I listen to this when I train alone or when I'm warming up before a fight."

Nell: "You can still walk and cruise. I walk most places, too. Well? I used to, before I started to become gargantuan. "And how long have you been doing capoeira?"

Charlie: "For longer than I can remember," he paused. "Literally. Capoeira and goju-ryu."

Nell: "So, what you're saying is, you are not the guy to try and jump in a dark alleyway."

Charlie: "Stranger things have happened. I was stabbed in the stomach in an attempted mugging after my first Diamond Quest in the spring."

Nell: (7:34:09 PM)"Holy ****, for real?" Her eyes were wide on that.

Charlie: "Yeah." Charlie nodded, seemingly unconcerned. Even with the recollection of it. "Well, I forced him to stab me in the stomach. I think making him watch me laugh about it was more terrifying, in the end, than any physical beating I might have inflicted on him."

Nell: "Ah, so some serious head*******. I see, I see. Stone cold, Charlie? you're stone cold." A grin. "Alright, what's your last song to share with the group??

Charlie: "Well, uh..." He paused again, this time turning a fleeting look down into his hands, then to the paper swallow, then to Nell and her expectant look. Whatever he had as an offering, it appeared to be out of his comfort zone. "Um... 'Ma Boy' by Sistar19. Jin Chae likes to practice pole dancing to it. She likes it a lot..."

Nell: "Pole dancing?" Her tone was somehow both slightly humorous and completely ok with the whole thing.

Charlie: "Well, yeah." Charlie nodded. "She is an escort and by also saying she's great at pole dancing, I am again giving out another shameless plug." See that wide smile?

Nell: "Well, hell, who doesn't like pole dancers? Alright, then, here's Ma Boy, and here's a salute to Jin Chae's dancing skills."

Charlie: "Jin Chae is Best Girl." He offered back.

Nell: Off air they went! "Evidently, holy crap. Is she just an escort or does she do her pole dancing anywhere for public?"

Charlie: "I don't pry too deeply into her business affairs." He shrugged.

Nell: "Well, I was gonna give her some business, but fine." A snort and a lean back, rubbing her stomach despite the fact it might bother him.

Charlie: "I could give her your number," Charlie offered back. "Would that work?"

Nell: "I'm just saying, everyone likes a dancer, yeah? And sure, you could. Not for me, of course, but if she wants some inquiries I could hook her up."

Charlie: "She dances beautifully." He was nodding. "She also trains with me at Andrea's gym."

Nell: "Oh, yeah? ****, I need to get down there more often."

Charlie: "It is your Andrea's gym." That made it half hers, right?

Nell: Of course it did. A grin told him that, and then they were back on the air. "And that was Ode to Jin Chae. Girl, get on with your bad self. And come on my show- that's my shameless plug. And that also concludes the sharing portion, at for music. Is there anything else you want to throw out there to the masses, Charlie?"

Charlie: "Uh," That was a good question. "Everyone should come to the Outback and watch the duels. Or participate. And, uh, hello Melanie, Terry, Grace, Peaches, and KC?"

Nell: "Aww, look it you, is that your first shout out?"

Charlie: "It is, yeah."

Nell: "That's what this show is all about, those precious firsts. Well! Thank you, Charlie, for coming onto the show and sharing a bit about yourself and your musical tastes. I hope no one gives you too much shit."

Charlie: "They will or they won't." Charlie shrugged and smiled. "Thanks for indulging Andrea's desire to keep me away from the gym and inactive. I expect she will thank you appropriately later."

Nell: "If she knows what's good for her. And it ain't no thang- come by any time." A smile for him and then she addressed the microphone. "And there you have it, folks. Remember, all you have to do is type in onnnne little email address with your song choices, and if I find you worthy, you can come on the show. Easy peasy, yeah? So get those fingers typing! Peace!" Annnd? done. She took her headphones off and offered and smile. "See? That didn't hurt."

Charlie: "It didn't." Charlie even chuckled, leaning down to scoop up his backpack before rising to his feet. "And you were quite charming and engaging, Nell."

Nell: "Aww, well, that sounds much sweeter than being called lazy and irritating." A grin. "You're ok to find your own way out?"

Charlie: "I remember the way." The little paper swallow was left for her, a gift, as he turned towards the door. "Thanks again, Nell. Have a good day."

Nell: "You too, Charlie."