Something to Talk About (Alejandro)

[Sitara Mehti]

"Yeah, I hear they're really good live, actually," Sitara replied. "Anyway, it could be fun. But if they hang around after the set, I can't be responsible for what might happen between me and the guitarist. I have a thing for hot guys who play guitar, and if I've had a few drinks.... well, it'll be a good idea to have you with me to keep me in line."

She laughed at the mere idea of her hooking up with a rock star. Yeah, that'd be a big way to defy her father... But deep down she knew it wouldn't happen. She just wasn't the girl who got drunk and went home with men she didn't know. Or anyone at all. This weekly outing with Alejandro was pretty much the extent of her social life.

[Alejandro Benavides]

Alejandro laughed. It would really floor him if Sitara actually went off with one of them. Although, he knew she wouldn't. Besides, Alejandro wouldn't let her. More than likely if that happened then Sitara might end up in a mess and that wouldn't be good at all.

"It's what I'm here for. I have to keep the wildness in check." He winked at her. Alejandro wished that one night, just one night, Sitara would just let go. One night wouldn't hurt anything at all. Maybe he could get her to just let go one night in the future. "See, if you did end up sneaking by me and going to the guitarist, it would hurt my feelings. After all, I'm much more better looking."

[Sitara Mehti]

Sitara had to laugh at the idea of her being some sort of wild girl. She was anything but wild, and yet, there was a part of her that wished she could be, even if for just a little while. One day, she really was going to break out of her shell, and when she did, it would be explosive. Somehow, deep down, she knew it. It felt like her whole life was building up to it.

"Right, I'm so wild," she joked. "But don't worry... I wouldn't want to hurt your feelings. And you're definitely better looking than he is. Just promise me, when you're a big star--and I know you will be one day--you won't forget about me."

[Alejandro Benavides]

"I'm glad that we both agree," he said with a smile. "As for becoming a big star, there is no way that I could forget about my best friend. After all, you're the one that has been helping. Maybe you could come along with me or something. I could get you backstage stuff, front row, all that good stuff for nothing. You'll always get into my shows for free, and then after the shows, we could go out and celebrate."

Alejandro would make sure that Sitara would come out, even if that meant he personally went to go get her. She was the one that encouraged him and there was no way he could forget about her.

[Sitara Mehti]

Sitara took a sip from her drink, then looked at him proudly. If she really thought about it, she might have realized that she loved Alejandro. Maybe it wasn't a romantic kind of love... it was more like she loved her brother, but more so. There were a lot of things she would never tell Raj, but she could easily tell Alejandro.

"You better not," she teased. "Because I am always going to be your biggest fan. In fact, I should be the president of your fan club. I'm officially forming it right now... the president and only member of the Alejandro Benavides fan club. Maybe I should get a T-shirt printed."

[Sylvia Lambert]

Sylvia never planned to be a music manager. It was one of those things that she had just fallen into, and it turned out that she was quite good at it. Initially, she had just started out booking the Wrackspurts on their first gigs. Then she managed to get them a record deal. And then she was managing their tours, interviews... everything. Nigel said there was no one he trusted to handle these things more than her, and for her part, she always made sure to run everything by the guys before she made any major decisions. It was their band, after all, and she was just helping them out.

But because of her work with the Wrackspurts, she had a lot of important contacts, and she'd developed quite an ear for talent. She also managed two other acts, including a solo female singer she'd spotted in Paris, and a group of three sisters that called themselves The Fates... she had been mesmerized by their unearthly harmonies. Neither group was as successful as the Wrackspurts, but they were just starting out.

Sometimes, on her nights off, Sylvia would go out to the local clubs and check out karaoke bars and open-mic nights, just on the off-chance that she might discover some unpolished gem that she could shine up and make sparkle. Tonight happened to be one of those nights, and she happened to wander into Stu's.

She was unimpressed with the decor, or the old man caterwauling on the stage, but it wasn't enough to make her leave. Yet. She ordered a drink and sat at the bar, taking a casual look around.

[Alejandro Benavides]

"Although this shirt can't have my face all over the front, or the back. I think that might be just a little strange," Alejandro said with a laugh. Sitara had always been his biggest fan. His mother wasn't exactly sure he was doing the right thing by just attempting to get a musical career. She thought he should just go work in the Ministry where he was guaranteed a job. There was none of the hit and miss. However, Alejandro preferred to work for his job, not just go and apply somewhere and then get a job that he didn't like.

"You could travel the world with me and persuade others to join the fan club," he said jokingly. "However, you will always be my favorite." The last part was said with a little seriousness. Alejandro would just take Sitara with him, no questions asked. She could get away from her parents that way.

He smiled again. "So what song shall I sing so I can relieve that poor guy's misery?"

[Sitara Mehti]

Sitara laughed. "Oh, come on, your face would look great on a shirt," she teased, reaching up to pinch his cheeks. "It's your best feature, you know. I'm sure the girls would just go crazy over you."

She was teasing him, but she wasn't really joking. In show business--whether it was acting or music--appearance was an important part of the package. Sure, it was possible for musicians to be ugly and still be popular (the Rolling Stones, for example), but the good-looking ones had a definite advantage. Often, if a performer was attractive enough, he or she didn't even need talent. Alejandro had both.

"Traveling the world sounds great. Especially if I don't have to work while doing it." For her job in the Department of International Magical Cooperation, Sitara sometimes had to travel to different countries for meetings and conferences.

"As for a song... I think you should do a little Elvis. That's always a big crowd pleaser..."

[Alejandro Benavides]

Alejandro laughed when Sitara pinched his cheeks. He honestly didn't really care for the women in the sense of them fawning over him. He liked to talk to women, that wasn't something he was going to deny.

"Exactly, you wouldn't really have to work. You could just enjoy yourself, especially if we stay in those really fancy hotels with everything in the hotel room. Then there's also the fact that we could always go sightseeing." Alejandro had been to a few places before, but Spain was always going to be his favorite place.

"A little Elvis uh," he said with a smile. "with all the hip movements and everything?" Alejandro winked. "I think I might do A Little Less Conversation and Burnin' Love." He grinned widely and stood from his chair. "I expect a little bit of dancing from you," he teased.

Alejandro made his way up on stage and tapped the poor guy who was still bellowing out a note off key. The guy stopped and Alejandro whispered to him that he should probably go sit down. The man nodded and smiled as he stumbled off stage.

Once the man made it back to his seat, Alejandro picked up the microphone and then looked at Sitara with a grin before starting his first song.

[Sitara Mehti]

It was a lovely thought, traveling the world with Alejandro and not having to work at her miserable job. But it was just a dream, one that would probably never come true. Even if Alejandro managed to find his "big break," Sitara doubted that she would be able to go with him. Somehow, her father would find a way to guilt her into staying and being the dutiful daughter. It was really a sad thought.

But right now, she had her drink, and Alejandro was about to sing. She could forget about all the stress and worries on her mind and just have a good time. "If you're up for a third song, you know I Can't Help Falling in Love with You always makes me melt!" she teased. The faster songs were the crowd pleasers, and would get everyone dancing... but she loved when Alejandro sang the slow songs, too.

As he got up to the stage, she returned his smile and got to her feet, getting ready to dance.

[Alejandro Benavides]

Of course Alejandro would sing one of the slower songs. He would sing Sitara's request as usual. There wasn't anything wrong with the slow songs and he would sing it in between the fast songs, just to balance things out.

Being on stage was a place that Alejandro felt most comfortable, yet the most vulnerable at the same time. He knew that he was open on the stage and he never held anything back. Walking up on stage, he took a deep breath and his eyes found Sitara. He grinned and then started with his first song, A Little Less Conversation. Since he was most comfortable on stage, he knew how to have fun on stage. As he sang he started dancing and moving around on stage.

Once the first one was over, he announced that the next song was a favorite of his really good friend and he promised that he would sing it for her. During all three of Alejandro's performances, he knew how to keep the crowd going, even through the slower song.

During his third performance, he jumped out into the crowd and started dancing along side the ones that were already dancing. He liked to see any audience have fun during a performance. At the end of performance, Alejandro returned to the stage and bowed as he thanked the crowd and promised that he would return later. Of course, there were probably a few people that wouldn't even remember his second time going up on stage but then again there were probably some people that wouldn't remember his first time, but that was just fine.

He jumped off the stage and started to make his way back to his table.

[Sylvia Lambert]

From the minute the young man stepped onto the stage, Sylvia sat a little straighter in her seat. He didn't even have to sing a note, and she was already intrigued. But once he did start singing, Sylvia was transfixed. He was not just some drunken sod bellowing out his pain. He was sober, he was attractive, and he was good. He not only had a good voice and a good amount of versatility, but he also had stage presence. He commanded the crowd with an ease that reminded her of Nigel.

By the end of his performance, Sylvia was on her feet, clapping with the rest of them. She had to talk to this man, to find out who he was. She watched as he walked over to a woman, who was cheering loudly, and she headed toward him.

"Excuse me," she said. "I hope you don't mind my saying so, but that was quite a performance."

[Alejandro Benavides]

Before Alejandro could take his seat, or say anything to Sitara, he was stopped by a blonde woman. He was slightly confused as to why she approached him, but he smiled at her nevertheless. “Thank you,” he said. Ever since Alejandro started singing in Stu’s, he hadn’t noticed any blonde hair like the woman that was standing there talking to him. He gave a glance toward Sitara, then back to the woman. “I do it on occasion whenever I come in for a few drinks. I figure the drunks should actually have more fun than just causing a bar fight.” Alejandro laughed. “I’m glad you liked the performance though. Usually Sitara and myself are the soberest people here by the time I get up there.”

The woman coming up to him and complimenting him on his performance did make his self-esteem rise a bit, like it did when he saw the crowd clapping, or Sitara complimenting as well. “I’m Alejandro,” he said holding out his hand.

[Sitara Mehti]

Sitara was about to run to Alejandro and hug him when the blonde woman seemed to come out of nowhere, praising his performance. And rightly so. He was fantastic, but then Sitara always thought he was. She was usually the only one around sober enough to notice it.

The woman wasn't just an idle admirer, Sitara realized as she looked her up and down. She meant business. There was a flair about the woman, with her sparkly, stylish clothes and flowing blonde hair. She was someone. Sitara's breath caught in her throat and she stood back to watch quietly, ready to step in if Alejandro needed her.

[Sylvia Lambert]

Sylvia took his hand in a firm grip. "It's nice to meet you, Alejandro," she replied.

One thing most people noticed about Sylvia was that she was very direct and honest, and didn't take a long time to get to the point. After all, if she was going to take up a person's time, she wanted to make sure she wasn't wasting it. She didn't like when people wasted her time, so she wouldn't do it to anyone else.

"My name is Sylvia Lambert, and I'm the manager for the Wrackspurts. I was really impressed with your performance just now, and I think you've got what it takes to be a star. Are you interested?"

[Alejandro Benavides]

He also noticed that she seemed to be about business. The woman stuck out more than just her blond hair and being sober. She was definitely straight and to the point. As she said who she was, Alejandro's stomach fell to his feet and his eyes widened just a little. Sitara had said something earlier about the Wrackspurts being in town. As long as he had been singing in bars, and as much as he spoke about it, Alejandro never imagined that it would happen this fast. The woman standing in front of him was offering him the opportunity that he had been waiting for for a long time.

Alejandro looked from Sylvia to Sitara. Things always happened when they were least expected. He looked back to Sylvia, the question still fresh. "En serio? Sí, estoy muy interesado," he said. "I'm very interested." Alejandro's tone said that he was completely surprised by the question asked.

[Sylvia Lambert]

Sylvia smiled and nodded at him. "Good," she said. "I really do think you've got something special. The Wrackspurts are going to be extending their gig at Enchanted for a few more weeks, and I actually need an opening act for a few of the nights. I'm thinking we could give that a try first... you know, a short set.... maybe 10 songs or so... and see how it goes. If it goes well, we might be able to sign you to a recording contract, but I'm going to have to talk to the label first. But I really think that if you can sing like that for a large audience, the label's going to want to sign you right away."

She nodded to the table where he had been sitting earlier with Sitara. "Why don't we sit down for a few minutes and talk about this? Your friend can come, too. She doesn't sing or anything, does she? And do you play an instrument, or do you just sing?"

[Alejandro Benavides]

At first, Alejandro had no idea what to say. Everything he had been working toward had started coming together. He just couldn't really wrap his mind around the fact that she wanted him to open for the Wrackspurts. He supposed that meant he should probably listen to a little bit more of their music.

His eyes drifted to Sitara as Sylvia asked the question of could Sitara sing. Alejandro wanted to say yes, but he knew if he said anything, Sitara might get mad at him and he didn't want his best friend mad at him.

"We can sit down," he finally spoke up. "I can play a little guitar and a little piano, that's about it as far as instruments."

[Sitara Mehti]

Sitara couldn't have been happier for Alejandro. This was the break he'd been waiting for, and he deserved it. Even though her initial thought had been to demand some kind of proof that this woman really was who she said she was and that it wasn't some kind of scam, there was something about the woman that seemed legit to Sitara. She would still insist on making sure before letting Alejandro sign anything, but she had a good feeling about this.

And then the woman was asking about her. Sitara froze... the moment seemed suspended, like a slow-motion scene in a movie. And yet, it actually happened very fast.

"I can sing," she found herself saying. "I mean, only if he needs backup, or if he wants to do a duet."

[Sylvia Lambert]

Sylvia sat down at the table, reaching into her pocket to pull out one of her business cards. She set this on the table in front of Alejandro, then leaned forward in her chair, looking first at Alejandro, then at Sitara. She was also very beautiful, and together she and Alejandro would be a very attractive pair. She wondered if they were a couple, but didn't ask.

"This is good. I'd like to hear you sing, too... maybe the two of you could do a duet later? Just as a test. But I think you'll be a good opening act... I'll see if I can get some backup players to fill in the other instruments. I think the guitar would probably work better for you... you'll be able to move around a lot more than if you played piano. Do you happen to write songs? It's OK if you don't... I have some connections there, too."

She rambled a little, sort of thinking out loud. She sometimes got this way when the ideas were flowing through her mind.