Who: Kat and Skylar and Brandie Where: Full Moon Records When: Backdated to June 22nd What: Kat brings by her music, gets to meet Skylar's daughter in the process
It had been a happy and exciting reunion when Ben brought Brandie and the little kids home. This meant that the kids were with her and safe, which Skylar had been worried about as soon as she had shown up here. Most everybody said that people didn't know when you were gone, but a few that showed up later *did* seem to know that people had been missing in their worlds. Brandie didn't experience anything like that, thankfully, but Skylar had been not so secretly terrified. Luckily, she didn't have to worry about that anymore.
Which meant that, today, she felt extra happy when she went into the studio. Brandie had wanted to see the set up that they had created here, asking if any 'future technology' was involved, so Skylar brought her along. Musical talent seemed to run in their family, so Skylar wasn't terribly surprised that her daughter wanted to see what they had to offer here on Galador.
This was honestly one of the coolest things Kat had ever done. She'd loved music since she was a toddler, and had become practically a walking encyclopedia of rock music as she became a teenager. But she NEVER thought she'd be inside a studio, recording her OWN music. But there she was, in one of the recording booths at Full Moon Studios, bopping lightly to the beat of the music she'd written with her synth and computers, singing into the microphone.
"You're a story that I hoped I'd never have to tell You're a lesson that I wish I'd never learned so well After all my years of giving up and letting go All I wanted was to give you what you've never known I know now You can only hurt me cuz I let you get to know me so well I know now I love you cuz only you can turn my heaven to hell I know now I want out from under your spell..."
She stopped when she saw the two women walk into the studio, waving at them with a big grin.
Skylar smiled and waved back to Kat. She'd been upfront in her interests in being a judge on The Masked Singer: she wanted to find new, untapped talent. She knew that Matthew was mulling it over, but she figured she would get him in the end. Luckily, Kat had expressed interest as well. She likely wouldn't ever do a full blown tour or anything of the like, but getting her music alone was more than worth it.
Plus, listening to her sing was just damn fun. Skylar needed more fun in her life.
Skylar motioned Kat to come out of the booth when she had a chance, figuring she'd introduce the young woman to her daughter. Her and Brandie were about the same age, so why not let the two meet?
Despite how abrasive Kat could be at times (like father like daughter...), she was a genuinely sweet and gentle soul at heart. The smile that beamed from her when Skylar beckoned her out? Was so precious it could melt the coldest of hearts. She skipped out of the booth, grinning to both ladies. "Hi, Ms. Bale! I hope that sounded ok. Like I said.... it's mostly stuff I cobbled together myself, so I know it can use a flarkin' TON of work."
"Just because it needs some polish doesn't mean that it's not good work," Skylar pointed out. She'd gotten quite good at spotting talented musicians and singers over the years. She was more than happy to put that same good instinct to work in Galador like she had back home. "You sounded great." She looked over at Brandie. "By the way, I wanted to introduce you to my daughter, Brandie. She just arrived right after the show ended. She wanted to come in and see our set up here on Galador."
Brandie had mostly been in awe of the new Full Moon Records here on Galador. The place was insanely high tech. Not that the old one hadn't been, but this place had stuff that just wasn't possible at home! She stepped forward when her mom introduced her. "Hi! I'm Brandie," she said, offering Kat her hand.
"Oh, wow!" Kat said, eagerly shaking the girl's hand. "I'm Katarina, but everyone just calls me Kat. Wow, your family's got some amazing d'ast genes...." She laughed, a little in awe of what a knockout Brandie was. "I bet your dad was relieved to see you..." She said, remembering how heartbreaking the clues about her were on the show.
Brandie just giggled when Kat complimented the family's genes. It wasn't like she hadn't heard it before! "Yeah, he came and picked me up at the Welcome Center. It was a big, emotional thing for both of us. I was kind of freaked out when I first showed up with my brother and sister." It was strange to think of herself as a 'big' sister to them, but she'd mostly gotten used to it. "So, you were on the show, too?"
"Yeah..." Kat said with a laugh, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Just kinda did it as a gag, really. Thought it'd make my dad and the rest of the Guardians have a "flarkin' hell!" moment when they saw me get unmasked. I wasn't expecting anyone to actually think I was any good."
"Well, my mom has an ear for good singers. If she says that you're good, then you're definitely good," Brandie said. "I've only went and watched clips of my dad's performance so far. Kind of bummed that he didn't win, even though I wasn't there to cheer him on or anything." Then again, Tony freaking Stark had decided to enter and apparently had talent, too, so who really had a chance? Yeah, even Brandie knew who Tony Stark was before coming here. That was unavoidable, apparently.
"My dad said the same thing about me." Kat admitted with a chuckle. "I didn't have the heart to disagree with him. He looked too adorable, his fur getting all bristly while he complained. Still... Tony did AMAZING. I really thought either he, your dad, or Dr. Robbins would win."
Skylar had told her who Kat's dad was, and, while different, Brandie didn't think much of it. Heck, sometimes she had fur, too! No big! "Well, I'll make sure to go watch your performances next. You were the Poodle, right?" She'd just been watching individual performances on the internet instead of full episodes.
"Yep. Thought it would be funny, since Uncle Pete used to call me a poodle back home. Said I was a tiny little pup with a great big mouth." She laughed, eyes widening as she remembered something. "OMG! Weren't you in Ginny Callaway's band back in your world? I love her voice SO much..."
Brandie blushed a little and nodded. "I was. Mere Delany helped me learn guitar well enough that I even could do anything like that. I need to talk to her to see if she still has a spot for me here." For all Brandie knew, she might have gotten another guitarist by now.
"She's over on Queen Shiklah's label now. Ginny wasn't happy about having to replace her, but you shoulda seen Meredith on Universal Idol. All the stories I've heard about her? NOTHING like the woman we saw. She was charming, sweet, nurturing..." Kat told her, clearly a little in awe of the woman.
"People really don't give Mere enough credit. She's SO sweet," Brandie agreed. If only Brandie knew just how much respect Mere had started to earn here, despite Chelle's best efforts with the nicknames. "Guess I need to look that up, too, huh?"
"Definitely. She was like the heart of the judges last season." Kat said, clearly a fan. "There was this gorgeous doctor that sang on there, and Meredith like, cried when he sang. It was SO adorable."
Brandie nodded. "That really does sound like her. She's not just the party girl that people think she is." Once she fully realized Mere's transformation here, Brandie was going to be thrilled, even if her taste in men was still oh so predictable. "Who was the doctor?"
"His name was Brian. I forget his last name. Very sad voice." She said, "Hey... you should come hang out with me at Stark Tower sometime! I could show you all the cool shit me and my dad have been building!"
The name Brian was faintly familiar, but it could be someone from a different universe, too, so Brandie didn't think much on it. "I'd like that! What sort of things do you guys build?" she asked.
"All KINDS of weird shit." Kat laughed, as you could pretty her up, but you couldn't take the tomboy out of her. "When I first met my girlfriend, I made her a bracelet that can turn into a shield and a vibranium glove to knock someone on their ASS."
"Now THAT sounds freaking awesome! I need to see something like that in action." And when Brandie found out that Kat was dating her old classmate Tori? All the freaking better. The girls weren't super close in school, but they liked and respected one another. (Plus, they both understood the suckitude of people trying to cozy up to you because you had a famous relative.)
"Fair warning, there's a decent chance either my girlfriend Tori or my best friend Ellie will pop up. I have them coming over all the time to check new stuff out as I work on it." Kat laughed,cracking her knuckles proudly.
"Pretty sure I'll survive meeting new people," Brandie said with a grin. She couldn't help it. She was excited!
"Hopefully you like metal. I have it playing pretty much any time I'm in the workshop." Kat told her, smirking. "My parents constantly think I'm torturing someone in there when they hear all the screaming."
"You've seen who my parents are, right?" Brandie joked. "I'm pretty sure I came out of the womb holding up the devil horns." All kidding aside, there was likely no chance in hell that Brandie would have grown up in the Bale home without at least some appreciation for metal.
"Ok, point made." Kat laughed, hiding a giggle behind her hand. "I wish I could do that kinda stuff, but... I don't have the voice for it. So I'm doing a more dark/goth/emo kinda thing. But wait until you see how I'm making it LOOK." Kat beamed, clearly proud of herself. "Taking the best parts from the looks of Ghost, Slipknot, Mushroomhead, and GWAR."
"Well, THAT sounds like an interesting mix! I'm looking forward to getting to hear it," Brandie replied. She knew her mom wouldn't go after an artist unless she believed in them, so she knew that Kat's stuff had to be amazing.
"Yeah... hang on." Kat started looking through pictures in her phone, to show Brandie her ideas. "It's really... just me. Like, a one-man-band. But when I play shows, I'll need a full band, so those temporary members will all have costumes and stuff. Here's mine." She said, holding up the phone to show a makeup design somewhere between Jack Skellington and a zombie witch.
Brandie looked over the picture and grinned. "Now THAT is freaking awesome. Also, if you need someone to play guitar, let me know. I'd love to play live with you." Music was a great way to make friends, wasn't it?
"Really?" Kat asked excitedly, eyes wide. "I mean, I do need someone to help me more with the actual music. I've written like... three full songs but after that I'm getting stuck. We could be partners and everything if you're really interested."
"Yeah, I'm definitely interested. Getting Mom to play her guitar in public is like pulling teeth out of an angry tiger, but I love it. I'd be happy to help!" Brandie said excitedly.
"YAY! I made a new friend, AND brought a second member into Scarlet Gospel!" Kat said, pumping her fist happily. "Ms. Bale?" Kat asked, looking at Skylar with a big grin. "Thank you for bringing Brandie here! You' ended up really helping me here!"