Arden drops down from atop the van. He folds his arms, surveying the scene.
ARDEN
(to himself)
Why’s it take so much effort to get everyone on the same page?
He opens the van and digs through the remaining pile of gear. He stops at a small black case.
ARDEN
(to the mic)
Hey there.
He smiles, closes the case, and begins carrying it off toward the club.
METAL CHICK 1 (O.S.)
Hey - aren’t you Arden from Vehement Volition?
Arden turns, surprised to see two HOT GOTH METAL CHICKS (mid 20s) in tight black leather. They look at him seductively.
He instantly flips into rock star mode.
ARDEN
Uh... yes I am! Who--?
One of them lifts a guitar case, which Arden hadn’t noticed. The airbrushed logo on the case reads: “DARK DIVINITY”.
ARDEN
Oh... are you two with--
He looks around, left and right - but behind him pops up EBANEEN (late 20s), the epitome of a sexy Goth Metal Rocker.
ARDEN
Ebaneen. I--
He’s caught off guard. The two Metal Chicks - Ebaneen’s bandmates in Dark Divinity - give Arden a look of pity.
The Metal Chicks (Liza and Paulette) gesture to Ebaneen’s sumptuous form.
LIZA
You gave up on that to hook up with Yasmine?
PAULETTE
You must be the world’s biggest idiot.
The girls head off toward the load-in door.
Arden looks at Ebaneen. He fumbles - he’s lost all his cool.
EBANEEN
New bandmates.
ARDEN
I figured. They seem sweet.
Ebaneen chuckles.
EBANEEN
So... what have you been up to?
ARDEN
Oh, you know... touring... writing... mostly getting ready for tonight.
EBANEEN
Same here. What are you going with?
ARDEN
Stranglehold. You?
EBANEEN
Wrath of Shadows.
ARDEN
Great choice.
They both nod. Arden fumbles awkwardly with his microphone case.
ARDEN
Well, I’d better get inside before we miss our sound check.
Ebaneen eyes up his tiny “load”.
EBANEEN
Yeah, looks like you’ve got quite a setup ahead of you.
Arden smiles sheepishly. With a nervous chuckle, he turns toward the door.
ARDEN
Ha. Yeah. See you in there, Eb.
He starts off. Ebaneen doesn’t move.
EBANEEN
Hey Arden...
Arden stops and turns, looking hopeful.
EBANEEN
Those bandmates of yours? Try to let their leashes out a little tonight, okay?
ARDEN
Uh, yeah... see you in there, Eb.
He fakes a smile, then turns back around and slinks off toward the club looking disappointed.
ARDEN
(to himself)
Ebaneen. How fucking poetic.