otherside | yas

[YASMIN ZARA EL FAYED]

The girls knocked back the limoncello Yas had ordered, before she waved farewell to the bar staff and shuffled Di out the door. They disapparated, appearing on a dark, London street. Yas pointed out the karaoke bar she knew well and loved - she was not a very good singer, as all her inspiration and creativity went into art. But that didn't stop her from loving the atmosphere and freedom of belting out a tune in a dark room. "Good thing they have a bar in here," Yas replied, nudging Di with her hip. She was feeling rather warm - either from the alcohol or the strange nerves that bubbled in her belly.

Yas beamed at the old Bulgarian behind the bar. He grunted at her, recgonising her at once. "You have one hour," said the man in halting English as she passed over payment. "Can we have some margaritas too please. Bogdan?" asked Yas, adding an extra twenty pound note to cover it. He grunted, before stuffing the notes in the till. "Come on, he'll bring it to our room," said Yas to Di. She led the way up the worn staircase and through a narrow corridor. Faint strains of off key singing came from various different rooms, and Yas stopped at last at the last one in the hall. She swung open the door and led the way in. It was a small, dimly lit room with coloured lights and a massive screen. There walls were lined with two leather sofas with an end table at each corner. Two microphones sat waiting for them.

"Only I will hear you sing. Oh, and Bogdan," she added, grinning at Diana. "Is this... alright?" she added after a moment, her dark eyes meeting Di's. "We can sing together too. A duet. Anything... it will be fun, I promise."

diana eoina bainbridge

[diana eoina bainbridge]

i tear it down

and its born again

March 9, 2027
YASMIN ZARA EL FAYED

Diana merely followed Yas as they walked into the bar and arranged for a room. More drinks were ordered. Had Diana been even remotely sober, she might have declined another drink. But as it were, she was feeling too good to say no. It had been so long since she’d felt so relaxed and able to participate in some innocent fun with an old friend, no less. They went up a staircase, giggling as they wobbled and struggled to turn the corners properly. Finally, they arrived, and Diana looked around the room curiously.

Her hair shifted to match the purple light. Why purple? Who knew, it was pretty, and maybe later she’d match a different light. ”Yes, it's fine. I’ve never done this before.” Diana admitted, but her face was relaxed rather than the anxious mess she’d been earlier. She wandered over to where Yas stood, leaning on her shoulder with her arm casually. ”Why don’t you pick the first song.” She suggested. At the moment, she had no idea where to start and wondered when the margaritas would arrive.

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[YASMIN ZARA EL FAYED]

Yas arranged everything easily, the effervescent, bubbly young woman showing her confident side. They were led up a well worn staircase to a private room, where Yas turned to Diana expectantly. She explained how no one would hear them, only Bogdan and he was the queen of discretion. She smiled patiently, taking Diana's hand. "That's okay. Maybe tonight will be full of firsts," she said kindly. Yas handed the second mic to Diana before turning to the screen.

Tapping her lips thoughtfully, Yas wondered what she ought to pick for a song with Di. Something fun, unexpected but well known enough for Diana to feel comfortable. She just wanted to see her friend let loose, especially after so many years separated. They had been close once, and Yas missed that proximity. Yas could tell that the alcohol was affecting her slightly, as her face was much more open and relaxed than she'd ever seen it. Yas touched Di's hair as it changed. "I like the purple. Feels... honest," she said thoughtfully, before turning to the screen to select a song.

Yas scrolled through several songs, immediately sensing a pattern of show tunes and shitty 80's pop amongst the selection. At last, she found one she thought was apt and pressed it. She turned back to Di with a grin stretching across her lips as she took her place at her side. The opening chord of When You Were Young by the Killers resounded throughout the small, black room. Yas nodded her head, her black hair swinging around her slim face as she pretended to play air guitar. "You sit there in your... heartache!" she started, her dark eyes catching on Diana's.

diana eoina bainbridge

[diana eoina bainbridge]

i tear it down

and its born again

March 9, 2027
YASMIN ZARA EL FAYED

Full of firsts. Diana’s mind drifted briefly down a sad road as she thought about all the firsts she’d already experienced. All the things she could only hope her friends and family would never experience. But she shook the thought and accepted the microphone from Yas. As she browsed the song listing, Diana’s hair distracted her. Purple and honesty, what an interesting combination. But she was used to people marveling at her hair and her ability to change it willingly and unwillingly. The physical manifestation of wearing one’s heart on their sleeve.

Diana didn’t respond but grinned slightly, looking over Yas’ shoulder at the song listing. And it didn’t take long, but Diana hadn’t been quick enough to see the selection. Yas excitedly moved as they waited the few seconds before the song began. Oh, Diana knew this one. She recalled her earlier thought in the moments after the first chord and when the lyrics lit up on a screen. Perhaps ‘All These Things That I’ve Done’ would have been a more appropriate song. She didn’t realize she was smiling, looking at Yas as she sang into the microphone. ”Waiting on some beautiful boy to!”

Her hair shifted to a darker purple. Looking at her old friend was a reminder of once what was and could never be again. But it didn’t mean it could never be. Maybe that’s what Diana had been looking for. Some kind of anchor to a time when she felt less broken. Her family had helped greatly with that, her twin back at her side. But it still hadn’t been enough. ”To save you from your old ways!” Diana continued allowing herself to simply just be.

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[YASMIN ZARA EL FAYED]

Yas made swift work of getting everything in place for their debut karaoke song. She'd long loved the Killers, with their long list of inspiring songs. Yas sang into the mic, a smile stretching across her face as she harmonised with Di, laughing their way through the song. There was a certain child-like quality of ebullience that blossomed between them, Yas beaming as Di let her inhibitions go. The restraint in her friend melted away with each verse, and when the song finally came to an end, Yas applauded and curtseyed.

"That was fantastic!" said Yas, bright eyes with excitement. She trotted over to the side table and took a long drink, letting the alcohol seep into her veins and warm her from the inside out. Yas turned back to Di and wrapped her in a tight embrace. Perhaps she should have been more wary, or more thoughtful of Di's personal space, but Yas was a bit too tipsy and a bit too excited. "You've been holding out on me," said Yas with a smirk, her face inches from her friends. "You pick the next song," she added, her voice catching as she noticed the minimal distance between them.

diana eoina bainbridge