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tickle-bugs · 7 months

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The Ol' Kentucky Welcome

Summary: Eggsy’s attitude gets him into trouble at Statesman HQ. Whiskey and Tequila show him how they handle mouthy recruits with too much pride.

Anon: Hey! Love your work. I was trying to think of something I haven't read. So, kingsman and golden circle. Maybe eggsy, whiskey, and Tatum s characters get real drunk one night, start teasing each other and a full out brawl of a tickle fight happens!!! You can do it!!! Thanks!

Loose handwaving at and spoilers for Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

Becoming a Kingsman had done wonders for Eggsy’s impulse control and sense of self. He’s got restraint now, and better judgement—he doesn’t blindly chase a whim without considering the consequences first.

This is what he tells himself as he poaches a bottle of premium Statesman Reserve whiskey from a supply closet rather ominously labeled ‘This Ain’t For Sharing, Friend’. He makes sure to shuffle the bottles to disguise the large gap left behind on the shelf.

He settles in at the Statesman briefing room table, loosening his tie and shirt collar. He unbuttons his jacket and, in a rare flash of bad manners, kicks his feet up onto one of the nearby chairs.

The thought of Harry scolding him for it tugs at chest.

“Now what do we have here?” Whiskey whistles lowly, ducking into the doorway. Tequila fits in beside him. Eggsy gives a mocking salute before popping the cork on the bottle. He grabs a polished crystal glass from a platter on the table and pours himself a hefty bit.

“Looks to me like we’ve got a thief, Whiskey.” Tequila arches his brow. “Y’ain’t learned your lesson yet, Galahad?”

“Gentlemen.” Eggsy smirks and lifts his glass. The sharp kiss of the liquor burns his tongue, but it washes back with a smoky smoothness unlike anything he'd ever tried. He smacks his lips loudly, enjoying the slight twitch of Whiskey’s eyebrow in response.

“Thought you fancy-types were supposed to be polite.” Whiskey puts his hands on his hips.

“And I thought you brutish types couldn’t make something so delicious.” Eggsy angles the glass in the light. The liquid seems to glow.

Tequila ducks past Whiskey and takes a seat at the table, helping himself to a glass. He clinks glasses with Eggsy and they share another sip. Both of them sigh in unison, sinking deeper into their chairs. Whiskey throws Eggsy’s feet off his chair and takes a seat.

“You’re lucky I ain’t reportin’ you to Ginger Ale for theft.” Whiskey fixes himself a glass. He takes off his hat and rests it on the table. He shrugs off his jacket, draping it over the back of the chair.

“Report me for what?” Eggsy cocks his head. “You fine, upstanding gentlemen cracked open a bottle of your own reserve to share with your guest and I just had to say yes. Would hate to be impolite.”

Whiskey glares. Eggsy sips innocently.

“I like this motherfucker, Whiskey.” Tequila laughs, muffling himself in his fist. Whiskey shifts his glare.

“‘Course you do. You can’t keep your mug outta trouble to save your life.”

“Least my mug ain’t ugly,” Tequila grumbles. Eggsy snorts. Whiskey turns to fish for a pack of cigarettes in his jacket pocket. As he leans forward, a silver shine peeks out of his pants pocket. Eggsy gently plucks a shiny lighter from Whiskey’s pocket and tucks it into his own.

“Champagne mentioned you’re a cheeky bugger.” Eggsy knocks shoulders with Tequila and winks.

“I dunno what that means.” Tequila frowns. They both watch Whiskey fumble around for the lost lighter and keep smooth, straight expressions.

“You get into shit. He’s fond of you?” Eggsy gestures at him. Tequila nods.

“Yeah, well…he wasn’t always. I’ve always been a bit of a firecracker. Didn’t make the best choices. Got people hurt. Built up a reputation for bein’ a problem, and Champagne started makin’ me own it.” Tequila watches his whiskey swirl in his glass. Eggsy hums thoughtfully.

“Sounds like Harry. He didn’t let me get away with shit. If I did something reckless, it was my arse on the line. But sometimes it paid off.” Eggsy smiles and thinks of stealing Harry’s cab on his way out of initiation.

“To good mentors.” Tequila inclines his head respectfully and raises his glass. Eggsy clinks their glasses together.

The three of them pass the time draining the bottle and looking out over the twinkling lights of the distillery buildings. A boyish mischief settles into Tequila, one that grows as the liquor in the bottle sinks. Whiskey starts to slur his words, but he maintains a hunter’s focus.

“Tell me somethin’, Eggsy. What brought you to Kingsman?” Whiskey watches him over the rim of his glass. His stare is piercing.

“Hm. Harry did. Not so different from Tequila, I reckon. I’d made a right fuckin’ mess and Harry saved me from it. Gave me a job. He saw something in me that no one else did.” Eggsy traces his fingers along the edge of his cup. He glances absently towards Harry’s cell and sighs quickly. Whiskey follows his gaze.

“Did your lepidopterist friend teach you to have sticky fingers, or do you just like causin’ problems?” Whiskey holds his hand out. Eggsy rolls his eyes and hands over the stolen lighter.

“I’ve always been good at nicking things. S’fun.” Eggsy grins and produces Whiskey’s wallet. Whiskey grumbles under his breath and snatches it.

“Feels like you’re the only one of your people that ain’t all hoity-toity. What other secrets are you hiding?” Tequila leans forward. The question grates against Eggsy’s better instincts. He searches Tequila’s face for the slightest bit of ill will. All that sticks is the way light catches softly on his eyes. Eggsy hums and turns his eyes to the ceiling to think.

“Well, my girlfriend bein’ a princess isn’t much of a secret anymore, so…I was a gymnast for a bit.” Eggsy grins. Tequila’s eyes light up and he starts snapping in Whiskey’s direction. For each snap, Whiskey gives a disgruntled hm until eventually they’re just swatting at each other.

“Whiskey, don’t we have them flippy bars down in the gym?” Tequila sniffs, blinking as the liquor hits his sinuses. Eggsy perks up. A spark of excitement picks up atop the warm flush of liquor in his stomach.

“We do. For Statesman agents. Y’know Rum and Cognac get real touchy ‘bout their stuff.” Whiskey raises an eyebrow.

“Well, we’re workin’ together now, ain’t we? ‘Sides, Rum and Cognac ain’t here. Let’s walk him down there. I wanna see what he can do.” Tequila claps Eggsy on the shoulder. Eggsy gives his best winning smile. Whiskey grumbles, then downs the rest of his glass.

“Fuck it. Fine. Five minutes.”

…

They stumble down to the Statesman training facility, passing by a very tired Ginger Ale who opts not to ask why Eggsy’s wearing Tequila’s hat (pretty simple, it’s ‘cause he nicked it). Whiskey puts his thumb to a scanner and the wall unfolds for them.

The lights click on in rows, lighting the industrial space. Eggsy gasps like a kid on Christmas morning.

Sophisticated weight training and combat equipment sit in neat rows. Eggsy locks in directly past that, drifting unconsciously towards a heaping pile of chalk bags. Pommel horses, beams, bars, and hanging rings sprawl out on a spring mat, all in pristine condition. A few launchpads and trampolines lay near the equipment. Eggsy laughs incredulously as he takes it in. Nostalgia flutters in his chest.

Eggsy immediately unbuttons his shirt, folding it cleanly and crisply. He shoves it and the cowboy hat into Tequila’s arms, adjusts his tank top, then works to unlace his shoes. The moment his feet are free, he sprints for one of the springboards. He hits it clean, just like he’d learned, and pushes off the vault, twisting through the air. His landing is a bit messy, but it’s functional, and he takes off to the parallel bars next.

The alcohol writhes in his system, but he doesn’t care. How can he? It’s been years. Coach’d told him he was good enough for the fucking Olympics and he hadn’t touched a set of bars since. The flex of the bars is a comfort to him. He flips and twirls, holding crisp handstands and tucks through muscle memory alone.

He dismounts beautifully from the parallel bars to the pleasant thrum of adrenaline and a smattering of applause.

“Hoowee, that was somethin’!” Tequila ruffles Eggsy’s hair, destroying the last hold of the gel on his head. Eggsy laughs and swats him away.

“Hats off to you, kid. Takes a lot of skill to pull that off.” Whiskey nods in respect. Eggsy returns it.

“I ain’t gonna lie, I thought you were gonna fall on your ass. I’m impressed.” Tequila slugs his shoulder with a brassy laugh.

“Thanks, Tequila.” Eggsy grins roguishly. “Mind givin’ me a boost?”

“Sure.” Tequila follows Eggsy over to the high bar. Whiskey loudly clears his throat.

“Boys, this has been…eye-openin’, but we really should get goin’. Early start tomorrow, I imagine. And this one’ll be fit to collapse when the time difference catches up.” Whiskey inclines his head towards Eggsy.

“Sorry, bruv? Can’t hear you all the way over there.” Eggsy gestures to his ear with a cheeky grin.

“I said—“

“No, no. If you have something to say, come whisper it in my fucking ear.” Eggsy snickers, hearing Merlin’s voice in his head. Whiskey rolls his eyes and saunters over.

“Look, I respect you ‘cause Champagne respects you. Other than that, you’re still a brat that oughta fall into line. Let’s turn in for the night. Both of you.” Whiskey raises his eyebrow. The honey tones of his voice make his annoyance all the more amusing.

“What’re you gonna do about it? Get me with your skipping rope?” Eggsy smirks. Tequila mutters a quiet aw hell and takes a step back.

“Maybe I will, you little shit.”

Eggsy comes to terms with a number of things about himself in that moment, and he puts them all away to process sober. Instead, he gestures for Tequila to give him a hand and reaches up for the bar.

Tequila picks him up by the waist, and it’s not the smooth, assisted lift he’s used to. It’s the clumsy grip of a drunk surprised by weight. Tequila does lift Eggsy up to the bar, but at the cost of his dignity— he spasms and makes a high-pitched noise when Tequila’s fingers press into his waist.

In hindsight, he should’ve seen the way Whiskey’s eyes narrowed at that.

“What the hell was that?” Tequila squints up at him.

“Nothin’. Thought you were gonna drop me. Bugger off.” Eggsy kicks weakly in Tequila’s direction. He backs up, hands raised. Whiskey steps in, hands on his belt.

“Get off the bar, Eggsy.” Whiskey sniffs authoritatively. The logical Kingsman agent buried in Eggsy’s brain sets off warning bells, but Drunk Eggsy, who is obviously of much sounder mind, ignores it.

“Make me, Whiskey.” Eggsy starts to swing in the space he has. Not enough to kick anyone, but enough to look like he will. He manages to rotate clumsily around the bar once, then hangs back down in front of Whiskey.

“You want me to embarrass you in front of your new friend? Okay.” Whiskey steps up to Eggsy and makes a show of sizing him up. Then, quicker than the draw of his pistols, his hands latch onto Eggsy’s sides and squeeze until he’s screaming and plummeting off the bar. Eggsy’s short life flashes before his eyes as he falls bodily into Tequila’s arms.

“Are you fucking mental?” Eggsy goes to shove Whiskey, but Tequila holds him back.

“Woah, watch that mouth of yours!” Whiskey laughs, eyes glittering. “You told me to make you. Your wish is my command, friend.”

Eggsy kicks, trying to break Tequila's hold, and he catches Whiskey right in the balls. He makes a noise like a wounded donkey and folds over. Eggsy snickers. Whiskey whips his reddening face up and glares.

“Now you’ve done it. Tequila!” Whiskey tosses something his way and he catches it. Eggsy barely has time to react before his arms are bound and hoisted in the air above his head. His toes brush the ground. The bar above him creaks in protest but does not give.

Whiskey puts his hands on his hips again. Eggsy wonders if that’s a cowboy thing or an American one.

“Skippin’ rope, bitch.” Whiskey grins, sharklike. “Now…you done with the whole insubordination routine or am I gonna have to give you the ol’ Kentucky Welcome?”

Eggsy snorts derisively. He tests his bindings. They hold steady. Fear starts to pierce through his liquid courage.

“I’m honored, bruv, but I’m in a committed relationship—“

Whiskey clicks his tongue and crowds into Eggsy’s space. He immediately steels himself for violence—what else would there be besides violence? He’s been jumped before. He’s no stranger to the predatory tilt of Whiskey’s head. He sets his jaw and glares.

“When Tequila first joined up, he carried a bit of them clownin’ instincts with him. That didn’t fly with Champagne. We had to figure out a way to take him down a few pegs without hurtin’ him. So, the Kentucky Welcome was born.”

“Aw, fuck you, Whiskey. Seriously, man.” Tequila pipes up from behind Eggsy.

“What does this have to do with me? I know you Americans love to hear yourself talk, but I’m not interested.” Eggsy tries to pull free. Nothing. Whiskey’s gaze gets softer, more mischievous. The change is deeply unnerving.

“Well, you remind me of Tequila. You’ve clearly got a good head on your shoulders, but you’re a little shit. So I’m gonna deal with you the same way we used to deal with him. Last chance, kid. You comin’ quietly or are we gonna have to drag you?”

Eggsy flinches when Whiskey reaches for him—years of habit die hard—and prepares himself for the hard crunch of knuckles into his ribs. Instead, he’s met with a gentle and persistent scritching.

A confused noise bubbles up at the back of Eggsy’s throat, quickly chased by a wobbly smile. He ducks his head and bites his lip.

Oh what the fuck?

Kingsman had taught him to resist the most painful and stressful of scenarios, but they’d never taught him what to do about this. Tilde’s maybe the only person who knows that he’s ticklish, and even then…he can convince her to let him go by kissing her senseless. Eggsy doubts that’ll work here.

“Uh oh, Galahad. Don’t tell me something’s botherin’ you?” Whiskey presses an insincere hand to his heart. Eggsy’s brain stutters for a moment as he realizes that Tequila’s the one scratching at his ribs.

“Fffffuck you.” Eggsy exhales sharply through his nose and closes his eyes--nope, that’s worse. So much worse.

Whiskey tickles under his arms and Eggsy yelps, bright laughter tumbling after. It shouldn’t be this bad—Tilde’s done far worse to him in jest, but somehow the teasing grin of his begrudging allies gets under his skin. His arms flex as he tries to pull himself up and away, but his strength collapses with every breath.

“Aw, y’all are twins.” Whiskey leans around Eggsy to smirk at Tequila.

“Whiskey.” Tequila’s languished tone being hilarious really doesn’t help things. Eggsy’s entire face scrunches as he tries to find his way back towards composure. A hiccup sneaks into his chest, and then he’s giggling incessantly. His chest feels like the sparklers he’d run around with as a kid, bright and fizzling and dissolving with every breath.

“Y’know, I wish I had tried this when I first caught y’all. Prolly woulda gone a hell of a lot faster.” Tequila’s voice floats past Eggsy’s ear. Eggsy manages a giggly growl and a halfhearted headbutt in his direction. Tequila tuts at him and folds his fingers into Eggsy’s waistline.

He makes a noise at a pitch that threatens to shatter every lightbulb in the room. Tequila’s calloused fingers strum Eggsy’s nerves like guitar strings and it tickles, fucking shit—

Tequila hooks his fingers just so and Eggsy kicks. Whiskey snags his ankle before a second devastating impact can occur. They make tortuous eye contact.

“Whiskey—“ Eggsy attempts to appeal to the cowboy’s humanity with what Merlin fondly calls his nuclear puppy eyes.

Grinning wickedly, Whiskey shakes his head and reaches for his trapped foot.

Eggsy’s eyes bug out of his head.

He wrenches his leg free, twists his hands, and flips upwards. Managing a gold-worthy handstand into a dismount, he frees his wrists and lands smoothly. Eggsy playfully curtsies. Tequila starts to clap. Whiskey smacks him upside the head.

“Alright, I’m done playin’ around. Grab him. If we’re caught down here at this hour it’ll be my hide.” Whiskey gestures for Tequila to step in. He does so, still a little off-kilter from the liquor.

Eggsy rushes in, expecting a clumsier rendition of the fighting style he’d been so painfully introduced to. Instead, Tequila smoothly blocks his blows and hoists Eggsy over his shoulder like a sack of fucking potatoes. One of his arms locks behind Eggsy’s thighs as they start to walk for the door. It takes him a moment to even process being upside-down. The sway of Tequila’s gait shakes some blood into his brain.

“Aw, y’all are twins.”

“—deal with you the same way we used to deal with him—“

A lightbulb clicks on in Eggsy’s head. He shouldn’t…but he could…but he shouldn’t—

He shoves his hands under Tequila’s arms. Before he can blink or breathe, they’re in a heap on the ground. Tequila’s cackling dead weight presses the air from Eggsy’s chest.

“Thought you’d put up more of a fight, bruv.” Eggsy’s eyebrows raise. Tequila shrieks at him in response. Eggsy manages to wiggle free and hop lightly to his feet as Tequila gathers his wits.

“There’s one of you and two of us. Be wise.” Whiskey cracks his neck. Eggsy looks over at Tequila and smirks devilishly. Tequila pales.

“I like those odds.”

The flurry of motion as they charge each other sets off the ‘fight’ center in his brain, but there is some comfort in knowing no harm is on the table. Eggsy flips and twists out of their grasp, taking advantage of his flexibility to pull off increasingly ridiculous dodges. He neatly sweeps both Whiskey and Tequila’s legs out from under them.

“Little help?” Whiskey gestures lamely at Tequila.

“Nah, I’m done. Y’all are nuts.” Tequila lays on his back, putting his hat down over his face. He folds his arms behind his head. Whiskey curses at him. Tequila gives him the finger.

Whiskey grabs Eggsy by the back of the shirt--really, he should know better--and Eggsy sweeps him again. Whiskey’s ready for it this time, though, and he manages a pin faster than Eggsy can roll away. Whiskey plants himself on Eggsy’s back like he’s settling on a bull.

“Aren’t you tired? Goddamn.” Whiskey sighs. Eggsy winces at the texture of the mat against his cheek.

It reminds him of Roxy and agonizing training sessions, of hours of sweat and bruising and his face stinging from being slammed into the mat. Even past the wave of grief, he remembers the shape of her smile when she would lecture him about letting her pin him on his stomach.

“Indefensible,” she’d say, prodding the back of his ribs. “You’re a sitting duck like this.”

And every time he’d roll his eyes, hooking his fingers behind her knees--

Oh. Hm.

As best as he can, he reaches back and latches onto Whiskey’s thigh, squeezing just above his knee. Whiskey hollers and tries to phase right through the floor. Eggsy rolls them over and pursues, squeezing and squeezing until Whiskey is a wheezing pile on the floor.

Eggsy flips onto his feet. He knows he’s imagining the fond, ghostly squeeze on his shoulder, but he puts his hand on the spot anyways.

“Now I’m tired. Goodnight, fellas.” Eggsy salutes with a wide grin, stepping over both cowboys. He gathers his belongings and saunters for the door, whistling pleasantly.

Whiskey rubs a hand over his face as he stares up at the ceiling.

“Kid’s fuckin’ lucky I like him,” Whiskey grumbles, pushing himself up onto his elbows.

“Might not wanna speak too soon. He took your hat.” Tequila puts his own ten-gallon back on his head and gestures towards the door with a whistle. Whiskey growls and shoots to his feet.

“Motherfucker! Eggsy!”

#my fics #this fic truly wrote itself. i blacked out and it just happened #and then i realized i didnt properly read the prompt and then rewrote it lol #is this good? *vague mumbling and shrugging*. did i have fun? absolutely #kingsman #ticklish!eggsy #eggsy unwin #ticklish!whiskey #agent whiskey #ticklish!tequila #agent tequila #<- contenders for some of my silliest tags #theres an au in my head where roxy merlin eggsy and harry play cowboy with the statesman agents for a while #mostly bc i want cowboy roxy...#anyways ive wanted to write kingsman forever! thx for the prompt hope you enjoy <3 #also anon 'you can do it!!! thanks!!!' has been in my head since you sent the prompt. like yea i CAN do it!!! thank YOU!!!!

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darby-drabbles · 7 years

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In cowboy au, have any of them broken out of jail (if any of them were ever in jail ?) Or even band au, anyone spend a night in jail over a fight ? (I guess this can apply to any setting lmao) @dystant37

GOsh thank you so much! Aaa well, to start things off, we’ll just stick with cowboy town. NAthan would probably know the ins and outs of the jail pretty well and yes he’s tried and occasionally succeed to break out of ~being grounded~ by his sister, while she was distracted. Izzy probably has escaped, but in a different town’s jail. I think Laur trusts her to some small extent and Izzy just kinda, played nice and stayed in the cell until they let her leave.

Andre? Has spent the night in jail probably at least once, for a drunken brawl. Prooobably pre-Leia? Maybe it’s happened more than once though. He wouldn’t really bother trying to break out or anything,, it’s got a cot and a roof over his head so he’s fine there.. A simple boy with simple needs. If anything someone in his family managed to talk Sheriff Roxy into letting him out but, I don’t think he’d be all that eager to accept that favor from them. They’re just gonna hold it over his head and shame him for it, he’d rather just, sleep it off in the cell and not talk to them for a while, tbh. I mean if Leia was here he’d be more eager to get out but, Ev or someone probably already would’ve been watching her so??? It’s somewhat under control?

Honestly I hadn’t really thought about cowboy Andre in jail before, but the thing is. I think in every story (well, excluding baby au, but including the regular universe) Andre has spent at least one (1) night in jail so it’s already kinda been laid out. Probably happened a liiil more in the punk au if I’m being honest but I hadn’t thought too deeply about that one either. The regular story though! This was just once and technically wasn’t a full night, it was originally for a fight but hm, the drug possession also didn’t really help him out. He was still relatively young, under 21, so this is pre Delilah. (I mean! She was Zahra’s robot at the time so he gets to see her in this story, but! Yeah!)

He’d snuck into a bar and got high and a lil drunk, fucked a stranger and got into a fight with that stranger’s boyfriend he wasn’t aware of. :,))) The fight happened outside and when the cops got there they prooobably would’ve let Andre off with a warning for it, I mean,, someone might’ve recognized him/his last name bc of his sister, so he has some sort of status,, he hadn’t been arrested before and he didn’t seem to be the one to start the fight. (He got his ass kicked Pretty Bad.) But, he was on drugs and had more on him for later so... Busted for that.

Andre tried to act really calm about it because he’s just thinking this is his own damn fault he got himself into this mess so he should tough it out and face the consequences. But, god,, it was really hard to not get upset. He was sore and ashamed and tired and high and everything pretty much hurt and he didn’t want to be alone. Andre absolutely refused to call his parents and as much as he didn’t want to owe her husband anything, he knew he could at least trust Zahra, so he didn’t have much choice but to call her. So they came to bail him out late at night and let him clean up and crash at their place.

I know I’ve mentioned before, but he doesn’t really get along with his brother in law. Andre’s sister and her husband are pretty well known and influential and higher class, and bro-in-law always just saw him as a bratty little delinquent and didn’t want to be closely connected to him because it just seemed,, bad for business so to speak? Zee doesn’t realize he feels That STrongly, he keeps it to himself for the most part but she knows they don’t get along. She also knows her brother drinking, getting into big fights, and using drugs probably isn’t The Best publicity, sure, but, he is family. She's more accepting of her brother, but that’s not to say she’s always totally forgiving of his behavior or that she doesn’t agree with her husband on the subject sometimes.

Anyway at the jail, the cops managed to overlook the drug charges sooomehoww (a gentle,, wink nudge from a certain sibling hmm) and he was released. Zahra was pretty upset, but mostly (mostly) out of worry, and husband was upset, because he feels like he’s “sticking his neck out for [Andre]” who's “just a worthless little fuck up!” and a “fuckin’ delinquent.” And since this was, a pretty big thing he really didn’t, feel bad for admitting that out loud anymore. Andre was overwhelmed and very upset about it all and spent most of the car ride home either trying to ignore her husband while crying or attempting to argue with him, depending on his Mood while the drugs and everything was finally wearing off. I think Zahra does hold it over his head for a bit, she’s pretty upset with him, though, she tries to be gentle and understanding that first night just because he looked so upset and hurt. It’s just. A Lot to deal with for a lil while, but it’s fine. Well.. It still comes up every now and then in family arguments. But not too often!!!

In punk au he’s definitely not as close with his family and if friends/bandmates couldn’t bail him out he just stayed there for the night.

[more]

#anyway :'))#hadn't talked about that yet' huh?#i feel like i could talk about this more sometime later? so feel free to ask if curious #original characters #oc facts #cowboy au #androids #drug mention /

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onestowatch · 6 years

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Q&A: The Night Game Releases “Do You Think About Us” From Forthcoming Album - And It’s About a Real Girl

Last year around this time, I headed to the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood to catch a show for a band called The Night Game. Admittedly, I didn’t really know who The Night Game was at the time, but I ran into several of my hard-to-impress music friends during the opening act, who filled me in that this mysterious musician was the best thing they’d seen in a while. Chatterings of Mr. Night Game spread through the audience while we awaited his set, hearing mention of “He’s best friends with John Mayer,” to “He used to be in an emo band, but not sure which one...”

Looking around, I wondered how someone I’d never heard of could sell the place out and manage to bring all the hipster musicians boys to Hollywood all the way from Silverlake — this dude must be something special.

The stage was covered in a thick haze, and when The Night Game finally took the stage, he was only lit in silhouette and appeared to be a tall, slender guy with a mullet. His guitar player was sporting a nascar jacket and a cowboy hat, and he was legitimately one of the best guitar players I’d ever seen. For a moment, I wondered if this was a Bruce Springsteen tribute band, but just then, they started to play their single, “The Outfield,” and my friend leaned in and said, “You know that’s Martin Johnson from Boys Like Girls, right?”

Over the next few months, I would listen to the new singles by The Night Game, “Kids in Love,” “American Nights,” never fully making the connection to the former Boys Like Girls vocalist in terms of recognizability. I would later find out that this was done on purpose — since the brand’s aesthetic was initially born out of trying to trick people into NOT knowing it was him, in an effort to simply let the music speak for itself.

After almost a year of ultimately confusing most listeners, and having fully knocked his mid-2000’s “affected emo vocals” of the past, The Night Game unknowingly created one of music’s best executed identity coos ever — and the mysterious one will release his debut album on Sept. 7, followed by a hefty tour in both the US and Europe. Today, he released one of the stand out tracks from the album titled, “Do You Think About Us?” featuring Caroline Polachek from Chairlift. If you’re at all a sap, this song will definitely make you cry for the boyfriend (or girlfriend) you don’t even have.

The new single is rumored to be about a real girl in young MJ’s life — who also makes lyrical appearances in various other songs throughout the album. As far as the connection between the old “emo Martin” and the new “Night Game” Martin, there’s no doubt that there’s obvious musical growth in every way possible — and we’re loving all of it. In the end, MJ claims his return to the spotlight was because he wanted to sing again but mostly it was a way to “see if I could love music again…” If that statement doesn’t break your heart, you’re likely not human.

Take a listen to “Do You Think About Us?” and peep our Q&A with Martin Johnson of The Night Game below.

OTW: The sonic vibe of "Do You Think About Us" is still in the same ‘80s vein as all your other songs so far — but with slightly more synth production. How did you land on the production you've used in the final version?

Martin: It’s funny — a lot of journalists are talking about this “80’s vein.” I suppose it was the choice to make most of the album’s sounds with analog synths and drum machines as opposed to simulations in the box with midi. The choices were less about finding the right sonic brand and more about how the song makes you feel...like, “Is that guitar part saying something or is it just filling space?” Francois (the albums’ co-producer) and myself wanted to put in the time to be respectful to the stories. On “Do You Think About Us?” the verses are a bit sad and melancholy; the vocal is wet in reverb and it feels like another time — Maybe in the past, with a bit of longing and nostalgia. Then the hook dries up and gets a lot louder, and almost feels like a BPM jump — which sort of makes it go into the “Now;” [it] jumps out of the fantasy of what could have been, and becomes a direct question to a lost lover.

OTW: How does the song tie into some of your previous songs like "The Outfield" and "American Nights"?

Martin: I suppose there are some big broad stroke themes on this album: sports, sex, nostalgia, loneliness and searching for love/lost love (sometimes in the wrong places); searching for the American dream (what is it exactly? is it just a mirage?). I think this song fits into the sex, nostalgia, and searching “boxes,” but could probably also fit into the sports box depending on what type of sex you’re having.

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OTW: We were lucky enough to preview the album which comes out on Sept. 7. There are references to remembering "being 18" in other songs on the album.... is there a specific person this song is about?

Martin: Depending on the day, it’s more the “being 18” than it is the girl, but yes, there is a specific girl for this one. She just had her second kid and is very in love with her husband — I’m happy for her. “Do You Think About Us?” is less an “I want you back” and more of a “sliding doors” type fantasy. What would it have been like if I went with her to that college instead of getting in a 15 passenger van with some boys back in ‘04?

OTW: Caroline Polachek is featured on this track and has a great voice, what made you decide to feature her on the track?

Martin: I tried a couple different features on this song but believability and vulnerability were both really important to me. I needed the right voice to tell the story. I had been working with a version of the song where I was temp singing the female part for months when Caroline and I met in Eastside LA with a group of people and became fast friends. We went for a hike the next day and were talking about writing together, and I played her the song in my car. She said “I like this. Do you want me to try to sing it?” — it was as simple as that. I’m really grateful to have her a part of it — she’s an incredible vocalist and performer both in the booth and on stage.

OTW: What are you most excited/nervous about for when the album comes out?

Martin: You know that feeling when you’re a kid: it’s sunday night at 10:30pm and you have an essay due the next day that you haven’t started yet, and you’ve had a week to work on it? I’ve had that feeling for four years. I think the thing I’m the most excited about is just actually being done with it. I’ve been picking at it for quite a while. Once it comes out, I can’t work on it anymore — it just is what it is. I’m doing my best to disconnect from the immediate results. I didn’t make this album for financial gain or to earn praise, I made it to see if i could love music again. I’m still not sure about that one, but I’m hoping the answer is out on the road.

OTW: Speaking of which, you’re about to go on a pretty big tour starting around the time of album release. What are you most excited about for the new tour?

Martin: I’m hoping they put some ice backstage in Europe. usually It's pretty hard to get ice in Europe.I like cold beverages. Sue me, I’m American.

EUROPEAN & FESTIVAL DATES 9/8 Berlin, DE 9/10 Vienna, AT - Flex 9/11 Zurich, CH - Plaza 9/12 Dresden, DE - Beatpol 9/14 Gottingen, DE - NDR 2 Radio Festival 9/15 Baden Baden, DE - SWR 3 Radio Festival 9/16 Munich, DE - Strom 9/18 Frankfurt, DE - Zoom 9/20 Hamburg, DE - Reeperbahn 9/22 Cologne, DE - Gebaeude 9 9/24 Amsterdam, NL - Melkweg Upstairs 9/27 London, UK – Electrowerkz

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES 10/8 Vancouver, BC - Vogue Theatre* 10/9 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom* 10/10 Seattle, WA - The SHowbox* 10/13 Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades* 10/14 San Francisco, CA - August Hall* 10/17 San Diego, CA The Observatory North Park* 10/19 Los Angeles, CA - The Novo* 10/20 Anaheim, CA - House of Blues* 10/31 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge 11/2 Chicago, IL - Chop Shop 11/3 Pontiac, MI - Pike Room 11/4 Cleveland, OH - HoB Cambridge Room 11/7 Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw 11/8 Boston, MA - Great Scott 11/9 Washington, DC - Rock n Roll Hotel 11/10 Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theater 11/12 Nashville, TN - Basement East 11/13 Atlanta, GA - The Loft 11/14 New Orleans, LA - Gasa Gasa 11/15 Houston, TX - The Studio at Warehouse Live 11/16 Dallas, TX - Trees 11/17 Austin, TX - The Parish 11/20 Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar * Supporting St Lucia

#the night game #alternative #pop #interview

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darby-drabbles · 7 years

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I think Josie and Andre eventually become unlikely (?) friends in the cowboy au. Josie’s a teacher,, and, she will teach Leia eventually. I generally still imagine her being just a bit too young for that though, except when I specifically picture her being in school. But regardless, Andre’s a single parent forrr, a lil while before Kriss and he isn’t very open about Leia at first in this au. ((he’s scared his family will look down on him for having a baby out of wedlock, he’s already not makin his parents incredibly proud of his life choices ahhhha. :0 And, he doesn’t want random townspeople to gossip and look down on him aND his family bc of it?? Bein part of the mayor’s family put him sorta in th spotlight with some big shoes to fill. He already feels unsuccessful and like they judge him and he’s not good enough. He just wants people 2 leave him an his new baby alooone...)) So, he doesn’t have a TOn of people he can turn to. His only friend with kid experience is Avery and he doesn’t wanna rely on them Constantly. So he gets in touch with a few others for help, before like,,, the majority of people actually start finding out about her. He knows about Josie, she’s the newish teacher at the school, she generally keeps to herself,, though recently she may have a thing with the sheriff,,,, she likes kids and she seems shy but very nice,, she could probably keep a secret and give babby advice.

So one day he comes to her after she’s done teaching. He seems really nervous like he’s hiding something. Josie’s nervous at first too, and kinda wishes Roxy would be here, but he quickly reveals that he just,,,,, has a secret baby daughter staying with a friend right now and he has no idea what he’s doing or who to turn to and he’s terrified pls help. Josie’s a lil surprised but it’s not bad or anything, she doesn’t think less of him or w/e he was nervous about. I just think, based on what little she knew about him and any gossip she’s heard, she saw Andre as sorta,,, rough and intimidating and wasn’t expecting him to be so worried and protective about a baby. So it’s, kinda a relief really?

She’s actually not too familiar with caring for BABY babies and hasn’t been around them much, but she’d love to try and help anyway!! She’d also love,,, to hold? Blease let her hold the small lil bean for a while. :,)c SO The two of them go back and Josie gets to meet Leia and coo at her and hold her while they talk a lil bit before Josie has to head home, but they make plans to have more conversations!

One day they have the time to talk for A Long Time,, and I think Andre would offer to buy her a drink. (CASUALLY..) He likes drinkin so that seems like the polite thing to do and Josie accepts because THat seems like the polite thing to do. SHe’s immediately grossed out by it an he laughs and apologizes,,, but, it’s fine they keep talking for a while after that. (Andre,,, she’s so obviously not a drinker what were u thinking....) They have a lot to discuss! Despite not normally being very talkative and still mostly keeping to herself, Josie doesn’t actually mind this because he’s not really asking things about her*, which is normally what starts to draw her away from conversations,, even if she knows it’s just casual pleasantries. He’s just, genuinely wanting help and advice for th sake of the baby. She doesn’t mind that at all, she wants to help! (*I mean he might ask some things casually to be polite but he drops it quickly when she doesn’t rly respond, he relates to that very much. Oh u don’t wanna talk about your family? BIG MOOD I’m sorry lemme change the subject..)

Most of th story I picture Leia as a toddler so I mean the town knows about her by now, but, I think Andre and Josie just bonded over that earlier on when she’s just a baby, and they still get together and talk now! Josie wants to keep updated about lil Leia before she gets old enough to really learn things in her class regularly!!! :,)c Soon. Very soon!! Until then, she probably watches over her sometimes for her dad, when she’s not too busy!

#cowboy au #i almost typed cowbaby and honestly??? yeah #baby au #hh i feel like this is a lil bit of a mess i'm still very tired :0c #but the facts are Still Cute!!!#so enjoy

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