#to see what Snare could use in his arguement

[reincarnated70sbaby]

star crossed

-chapter four-

*disclaimer: this work is entirely fiction, all scenes with real life people presented in this work are entirely fictitious.*

word count : 2.4k

warnings : angst! (af!) swearing ?  charlie watts being unbothered as ever, did i mention angst?

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After a couple drinks in, the conversation of recording a track started up. Jimmy was actually quite excited, a Rolling Stones and Jimmy Page track was bound to happen sometime. Sure, Jimmy had played with them in his session days, but not anything to the extent of actually being featured and credited for the track. They decided to come back tomorrow to Bill’s home studio to record a track that might feature on the upcoming Goats Head Soup album. Two nights previous, he finished up the English leg of the 72/73 tour. In a couple weeks, Led Zeppelin would be embarking on their biggest tour yet - the 73 North American tour. There was plans to record a concert film and album, and Jimmy was really hopeful everything would work out.

“Lads I’m about to fucking pass out here, I’m out, see you all tomorrow yeah?”

“All right Jim, see y’a tomorrow, not to early mate right?”

After agreeing to come in the early afternoon with Bill , he bid goodnight to the rest of crew there, Charlie and the pianist for the album, Nicky. Sure, they weren’t as wild as the Toxic Twins, but they were still good company - better than getting drunk in his hotel room alone.

Walking back to his hotel room, the walk felt much longer than 10 minutes. Even though it was the beginning of February, and therefore the start of spring, he had to wrap his arms around himself to preserve body heat.

Reaching the hotel lobby, he was met with the warm air of the large room. Red carpets and gold accents adorned the room. It was quite late in the night - or early in the morning, so he decided to skip going to the bar in hopes of picking up a partner and instead, head straight to his room. On his way into the elevator, he passed two women, both wearing sunglasses. He thought that peculiar, and even more peculiar, he thought he recognised the woman with short brunette hair. After attempting to place the woman, he concluded he was in no state of mind to try.

Laying down on his bed, his thoughts wondered to Alice. He hadn’t heard anything about her since they were last together. He wasn’t even sure if she was still in the music business. He wondered would he ever see her again. He hoped he would, but a feeling in his gut told him it would happen eventually. Sooner, or later, he thought.

Waking up slightly hungover, he showered and prepared for the day of recording ahead. It wasn’t to be a serious session, more of a jam of sorts and hopefully produce a track in the process.

Strolling casually into Bill’s recording studio, he noticed that, as per usual, everybody was there expect Mick. On second look he noticed that Mick Taylor was not there either.

“Where are the Mick’s?”

“I think Jagger is just late, but oh, theres Taylor there now!”

Just as Keith finished speaking, Mick Taylor walked in, guitar case in hand. This would be the first time Jimmy and Mick played together, and he hoped they would get on well.

“Jimmy, great to see you again, ready to play?”

“Nice to see you too, lets get down to it shall we boys?”

Mick Jagger had finally arrived, so he and Keith were working on lyrics, while Charlie and Bill were working on rhythms and riffs, leaving Jimmy and Mick Taylor to work out the main guitar melody. They worked really well together, as they both had the same blues origins and both loved incorporating it into new material.

“So who's the sound tech here anyway” Jimmy asked, while in the process of tuning his guitar down.

“Allie, she's been with us for the album, she's great, have you met her before?”

“Hmm, the name doesn't sound familiar I don't think”

“Well she had an appointment, so she’ll probably be here within the next hour” Mick commented, a shy smile coming onto his face when mentioning her.

After around half an hour of messing around, the boys were finally ready to start the recording tapes. All that stopped then was the missing sound tech.

“Good afternoon boys, I, being your guardian angel have brought lunch for all of us” Alice said cheerily, bursting through the door with a bright smile.

Jimmy’s head shot up at the sound of her voice, suddenly connecting all the dots. The feeling in his gut about meeting her, the woman in the hotel, and the ‘Allie’ nickname.

“Oh thank you Alice, forgot to mention we invited a special guest to join our entourage, last night at Bill’s after you and Taylor left” spoke Mick Jagger with his usual eloquence.

“Alice!”

“Jimmy” Alice replied curtly, a hint of sourness in her blank expression. Jimmy was now in front of Alice, greeting her.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, its been what, nearly four years! I didn’t even know if you were still an audio tech” Jimmy said warmly, excited to see her again

“I would say it’s a pleasure to see you too, but its not, so I wont” Alice casually said, blanking him, and moving further into the room. She set the bags of fresh food on the table, in the back of the recording section of the large hall. Jimmy watched her walk away casually, totally taken off guard by her coldness. The rest of the Stones all caught this too, extremely confused, but a little entertained by their encounter.

“Wait, you guys know each other?” Keith asked, a small smirk on his lips, pointing between the two.

“I would say used to know, I was on of the engineers on Zeppelin II in 69”

“Hold on, I didn’t know you worked Zeppelin II? That means you must have been a teenager when you worked on it. Blimey” Mick, asked, all of this coming news to him, as well to the others. 

“I suppose you wouldn’t, after all I wasn’t even credited, nor my boss Tom” Alice said coolly, still not turning away from setting up the various soups and sandwiches. 

Obviously, the teenage Alice that Jimmy once knew was long gone. 

“God, Allie you look so old, what are you now? Twenty four, twenty five” Jimmy asked, sampling the new nickname, trying to break the stifling awkwardness that now infected the room.

“Still getting my age wrong I see, Jimmy. Im surprised you still know my name, after all the stunts you pulled over the last four years” Alice replied, walking directly towards Jimmy, accompanied with razor sharp glare. She now stood directly on front of him, slightly invading his personal space. She has grown taller and her face matured, loosing the slight roundness to her cheeks she once possessed. She apparently had cut off her long wavy crimson locks, in favour of a modern, dark brown bob.

“Uh, what’re you talking about?” Jimmy asked chuckling nervously as he scratched his head, hoping she wouldn’t notice his feigned innocence.

“Oh I’m sure you know, as does everyone else in this room. I don't really have the energy to continue this irrelevant conversation, or frankly, any conversation in general with you at this point. Also, it’s Alice to you” Alice stated sternly with a finger pointed to his chest. Jimmy could practically see the ice swirling in her cool blue eyes, the eyes he had come to miss over the years. He had never had encountered her true, red headed temperament. Now that he was on the receiving end, he desperately wanted to stay away from it.

“I’m not really hungry anyway, so I’ll be in the mod room if you guys need me” Alice said, directing her words to everyone but Jimmy, before leaving and entering the conjoining mod room. Mick Taylor quickly set his down his burnt orange Les Paul, then followed Alice out of the room.

“Woah, I haven’t seen drama like this since the last time Mick and Bowie had an arguement - which was last week, I think hmm” Keith remarked with a sarcastic finger on his chin, before moving to serve himself some soup.

“Actually Keef, I think this charade is a lot more entertaining than David’s and I’s little tiffs, as this is bit more of a lovers quarrel”

“Better not let Taylor hear that, or he’ll have to have a word with you Pagey” Bill commented, wide grin now on his face.

Jimmy was now the confused one. He turned to Charlie, silently asking him about Alice and Mick with the point of his finger. Charlie simply shrugged his shrugged his shoulders in response before going back to drumming a riff with the hi-hats and snare drums.

After everybody had ate or, cooled off, recording was finally underway. After a couple of takes, Alice interrupted to give some pointers.

“Look boys, I’m gonna be candid with you all. It sounds shit” Alice said into the mic. Ever since she had gotten more experience under belt, she became renowned for her no bullshit opinions. In turn, people valued her honestly and knew what she said was, more often than not, right.

“Yeah, boys let’s not sugarcoat it, we’re not exactly gelling as one” Keith commented, starting to become fed up with having to balance not only Mick Jaggers usual dramatics, but another egotistical lead guitarist in the mix.

“Okay, what do you think love?” Mick Taylor asked softly, trying to keep the peace before something erupted. He wasn’t wrong, the Stones, along with a quarter of Led Zeppelin, and a hot headed tech was a bit of a lethal cocktail. Fights often combusted quickly between the Stones and Alice, as all members were just as stubborn as each other.

“Well it sounds like there’s 5 Stones, and 25% Led Zeppelin playing. What I want, and what fans want to hear is The Stones featuring Jimmy Page. You five need to change your usual routine of recording for once and mix it up. And you” she looked to Jimmy “need to stop pretending you’re with the other boys. You both need to work with each others strengths and quit overcompensating. Stop pretending you’re something you’re not”

Everybody in the entire house probably could pick up that the last sentence was a direct jab to Jimmy. Another awkward silence passed, ultimately stemming from a staring contest between Alice and the famed guitarist.

“Oh my fucking god, kill me now” Mick muttered, pinching his nose, while Charlie just rolled his eyes and started drumming the start of the song. Eventually Keith started the riff with Mick Taylor,along with Bill and Charlie carrying the bass and percussion, and Mick Jagger singing the lyrics. Only when they reached the solo part, did Jimmy break eye contact with Alice and begin playing.

Finishing up recording, the boys all started to leave. Mick and Jimmy were the last to pack up their stuff, and an uncomfortable air fell over them. Obviously they both either had history, or were making history with Alice. Eventually Mick realised he should probably let the pair talk it out, so, as Jimmy toward the mod room door, Mick moved toward the hallway door.

“Alice, can we talk? Obviously things have become a bit strained between us, and I don’t want it to stay like this” Jimmy started softly. It was probably his choice of words that set Alice off, as immediately after his finished she whipped around from the sound board and kicked off.

“ 'Strained' Jimmy, are you serious?! Strained?! First of all, you didn’t even tell me you weren’t mixing the album with us, and then you just left after our night together. Then- don’t try to interrupt me James. Then, you barely even credit Tom for his songwriting tips on the album. You didn’t even mention me once, even whenever anyone brings up that Theremin part in ‘Whole Lotta Love’! You blush and go on to explain how it was your own fantastic brain that thought of it. The you had the audacity to diss Mystic studios in the papers! What was it you said again? Oh yeah, 'Mystic Studios was far from mystical and closer to meagre, and as a result, the workers were too.” Alice snarled, stream practically blowing out her ears.

“Okay, I agree that comment about Mystics’s capabilities was definitely wrong, I was extremely out of it in that interview- hell I even jibed Atlantic Records!” Jimmy was now getting frustrated too. Normally, no one put him in his place, or gave out to him.

“And then how cold you were about Tom!”

“Wait what happened with Tom?” Jimmy inquired, now serious.

“Oh my fucking god Jimmy” Alice shouted at him “you don’t even remember to you?” She said with a laugh. She searched his face, but all she saw was confusion in his light grey eyes.

“Tom had a fucking stroke last year. Peter told you, and don’t you dare deny it, as he told me he informed you all when I spoke to him on the phone. For Christ’s sake even Bonzo rang to see how he was doing! He didn’t even have my number, but he found it anyway! Robert and John joined the call after he finished speaking. When I asked for you, they said you were in a closet fucking a groupie!”

“Look Alice, I’m sorry, I don’t know what to sa-”

“I’m not surprised Jimmy, it’s a marvel you can play guitar at all, with having no fucking sense in your thick head”

“Stop being so fucking rude to me, you’re not perfect either! Don’t act so high and mighty! I know what went on in Geffen records! I’m mates with David Geffen” Jimmy was no shouting too. At the mention of David Geffen, Alice’s face immediately switched from red to a pale white.

“You do not know what happened between myself and David, if you did, you wouldn’t speak to him ever again” Alice spoke low and slowly, her face now white as a sheet.

Unbeknownst to the pair, all of the Stones were listening outside. When they heard Jimmy shouting about Geffen, Mick Taylor had enough and burst in. The rest of the boys tried to stop him, but he broke free.

“Jimmy, stop it. You don’t know anything about the Geffen incident. You don’t know Alice anymore. I suggest you leave her alone before I step in more. Al, let’s go, our driver is outside.” Mick stretched his hand out to Alice, her eyes now watery, trying to bite down her quivering lip.

Alice immediately joined Mick, and left without a second look to Jimmy.

Jimmy, now alone in the mod room, felt his gut twist with guilt. Had something bad happened with David Geffen and Alice? His mind wondered to Mick’s choice of words -‘incident’. He had heard rumours that were more damaging on David’s behalf, but being friendly with him, he thought he knew him better than all the tabloids and industry gossip.

Jimmy realised that both he and Alice had changed drastically in the last four years, how could he have expected everything to go back to how it was in the summer of ‘69? Now, they were even more distant than ever before.

Maybe they had missed their chance at eternity. Maybe the stars had uncrossed.

His heart nearly broke at the revelation.

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ok so chapter four !!!

I wanna write angst more often it’s my guilty pleasure

anyway, I think this is my favourite piece I’ve written 😌

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tag list : @rebel-without-a-zeppelin @princesspagey @dreamersdrowse

[spenceraugust]

PLEASE TELL US THE OTHER INSTRUMENTS YOU THINK THE BIRDS WOULD PLAY

OH I WAS SO HOPING YOU’D ASK

First off, Magnus

Obviously percussion, probably insists on being on snare in every song. The other percussionists hate him because he refuses to play the bell parts. Is only willing to go off snare to play bass drum, and timpani (OCCASIONALLY, if it POPS OFF). Proof: Loud boy, probably joined because he wanted to hit things and realized it would be fun. Still not entirely sure how to hella focus in on the music, but so long as you hit the drum regularly and on beat you can get by.

Taako

Trumpet. I have never seen the personification of a trumpet player so clearly demonstrated. In my experience with trumpet players, they have no fucking clue what song they’re playing, what the tempo is supposed to be, or even how loud- there’s one fucking volume and it’s UNBEARABLE. I fucking LOVE trumpets, they’re the best. Proof: Lup probably joined orchestra and he didn’t want to be without her so he joined too. Picked trumpet because it’s the smallest (easy to carry) brass (few buttons) and then was hit with a fucking tidal wave when he learned about lip slurs and air control. Sits last chair, and fucking loves it. People expect little from him and he sits close enough to the percussion to fuck with Magnus when the conductor is doing technical work with the flutes, clarinets, saxes, etc.

Merle

Saxophone, because (hot take) it’s the sexiest instrument and he’s a gross ass little man. He plays alto because it’s smaller and easier to hold/ reach the fingerings for. He’s not that bad, but Merle NEVER practices, meaning that he’s always playing catch up. The conductor hates him. All he needs to do is practice and he’d be fine. Why did he pick a technical instrument if he wasn’t wanting to put the work in. Proof: (see sexiest instrument & gross ass little man) and, personality wise, (in my experience) Sax players LOVE TO TALK! They’re in the center of the orchestra, meaning that if they yell loud enough they can chat with pretty much anyone during warm ups (this is another reason the conductor hates Merle.... all they can hear while trying to do technical work in small groups is him laughing with Davenport)

And speaking of Davenport

Probably euphonium/tuba ! I tossed back and forth for a while between this and clarinet, but he’s DEFFO a euph/tuba (I know they’re different instruments, but you can usually swap them out depending on what is available) player. Occasionally it has some technical bits, but as lower brass, Davvy is usually just holding long ass notes and waiting for shit to be over. Requires extreme focus & patience to not lose count, and keeps him close enough to Merle to chat about old people things and still relatively close to all the other birds to keep an eye on them (sans Barry, but he’s one of the more adult-adjacent players, so he can handle being off on the side on piano). He can play both (they’re pretty much the exact same) but prefers euphonium because it’s lighter and smaller. Proof: We all know Dav & Merle are buds and I bet they’d want to sit together, plus this instrument works both pre/post voidfish. I sat fourish rows in front of the euphoniums in my band and let me tell you... they are strange creatures. They should be studied because they do not have normal brains. Sometimes, they are like the trumpets (minus the part about counting, see: usually sustained notes). They are dazed and unaware and have a tendency of hitting people and stands with their instruments. OR, they’re incredibly competent. They will pick up another brass instrument in a day, and will be playing grade six stuff on it without blinking an eye. We had a euph player named Alvin, and the conductor would call his name and he’d just blink at her. repeatedly. until the trombone player nudged him. and then he learned clarinet (I know it’s not low. brass but still, technical and impressive) and was playing our grade six piece on it by week’s end. An anomaly. Incredibly confusing specimen. I cannot put my confusion into words as to how little I understand the brains of og brass players, despite playing a secondary brass instrument myself.

(The arguement for clarinet is that it is, again, a technical instrument, and we all KNOW Davenport is good with motor skills {see S&S flying the starblaster} but clarinets are just way too meek and timid and afraid for Davvy to be one)

Finally, Lucretia

At the beginning of story and song, she would have played clarinet (see above: technical, requires strong motor skills, meek and timid and usually very afraid of everything). She would have sat in head chair, so she would be used to speaking to the conductor and would have lost her general fear of existence (clarinets are another strange anomaly... if you sit front row you’re pretty cool, but second row and onwards? Don’t think I’ve ever heard any of them speak. They never make eye contact. I know I’m ranting but I cannot stress how much the clarinets do not want to be acknowledged). BUT HERE’S THE PLOT TWIST BOYS! Lucretia DEFINITELY started on clarinet. But she didn’t STAY on clarinet, oh no no. When Lucretia becomes “Madam Director” vis a vis that one cycle where she’s alone on the star blaster, she picks up bass clarinet. Oh, a small difference, you say. Same instrument, but larger, you say. How could that change a personality?

I do not know why, but the bass clarinets are VERY different from the reg. clar. Bass clarinets talk a lot more, but are usually a lot quieter than the other low people. They talk pretty frequently, usually not to the conductor or to the whole band, but they do talk. They are well-liked, if a bit reclusive at times. Usually the boyfriend or sibling of someone popular (I don’t know why this always happens but it does, and it’s probably either Davenport or Taako that is her special link that makes her well liked {I would say Magnus, but see: unwilling to play bells}). Still technical like the clarinet, but now sometimes has prolonged notes that requires focus and counting. Easy to carry, relatively small case. Powerful instrument. Proof: Lucy is a business lady with lots of shit to do, can’t have a huge ass instrument, and if that personality bit wasn’t enough for you, then like... Lucy needs a strong ass, versatile instrument because she is a powerful, versatile woman.

Tldr: Magnus plays percussion (specifically snare, bass drum and timpani), Taako plays trumpet, Merle plays alto sax, Davenport plays euphonium, and Lucretia started on clarinet and then moved to bass clarinet. 

Based off of this post I made, about how Barry and Lup’s instruments suit their personalities well: link