The Clandestine Candelabra was wreathed in fog or mist or some kind of dry ice-powered smokiness that shrouded the dark band on stage in an aura of blossoming color. Barm and his date entered the ballroom slowly, taking its measure and looking around at the collection of strangely clad revelers and wondering how they were going to fit in. Wouldn’t be hard. It was dark, moody, and full of blinking lives.

“Marpo said he was coming soon,” he said to Alenia, his date, who could not hear him under the wailing drones of the band. “Not sure when.”

Alenia just nodded. “Maybe we can get a drink?” she suggested.

“Sure that sounds good.”

They pushed their way through the crowd and up to the bar where a harried bartender was busy catching the orders of a dozen or so people at a time. Barm looked around at the costumed guests. Some wild imaginations at play in the Clandestine Candelabra, and he felt conspicuously self-conscious that all he had mustered was a pair of dragon’s horns and a mask. Alenia fit in more: her psychedelic bodysuit shimmered in the black lights. A crown of flashing LED leaves announced her presence wherever she looked. Barm liked this girl. She had character, personality plus.

“Yeah just two glasses of Catterman’s, neat please,” he said to the bartender, dropping a pair of worn bills on the counter.

“No Marpo yet?” asked Alenia at his side. She had not seemed all that interested in meeting him or Harley, his on-and-off girlfriend, but it was an opportunity to expand their social circle and it seemed like their interests aligned. These nightlife events brought out attractive qualities in everyone. She scanned the milling crowd and noticed with relief the average age skewed older. More controlled then, more subtle ecstasies to be found in between the music.

Barm shrugged. “Let’s dance.”

“How are you feeling?” Alenia asked as they left the bar with their Catterman’s.

“Nothing yet.” His wink was lost in the dark. It was early. The night was beginning. This window of time was always tense and ripping with expectation, like a rocket on the launchpad.

The singer on the stage at the other end of the high-ceilinged dance floor was moaning in her low, dulcet notes, accompanied by a mournful flutist and dolorous keys player who leaned heavily into his long synth tones. Some manner of rhythm section behind them was doing something or another. It was a vibe, that’s for sure. Part of the vibe. Barm and Alenia squeezed into the crowd and carved a space of their own to sway gently with the rest of the bodies. The lights and fog and costumes completed the portal into some timeless dimension into which all the revelers were slowing passing. They loved it.

“Whoa it’s Marpo!” exclaimed Barm! Right there! Just a few yards away, Marpo was talking animatedly into a woman’s ear. That was probably Harley, but Barm had only met her once and couldn’t recognize her from behind. “Why didn’t he tell me he was here? Let’s go say hi.” He grasped Alenia’s hand and they wended their way through.

“Marpo! Hey man!” Barm raised his hands in a high five.

Marpo’s eyes lit up and he embraced Barm in a warm hug. “How ya doin’ buddy! You remember Harley!”

“‘Course I do, great to see you again, Harley. Hey this is Alenia.” Hugs and nods and handshakes and smiles, all the awkward social contracts had to be signed in a specific order. None of these people knew each other very well.

“Didn’t know you were here already,” Barm said.

“Got here a while ago,” Marpo proclaimed. “So!” His eyes were expectant. He was wearing a shotgun’s blast worth of strange makeup that made him look fierce. Barm wasn’t sure what he was supposed to be but it didn’t matter because he didn’t even know what he was supposed to be.

Barm felt a couple of needles poke at his teeth and then rise up to his eyebrows. He warded it off. “Ah man, I tried. I did. No luck.”

“Ah bummer, mate!” Marpo’s body deflated for a moment but returned just as quickly. “Not to worry, we’ll find something here. Harley! Let’s go get a drink!” They peeled off.

“We’ll stay here so you can find us,” Barm called. Marpo nodded absently as he and Harley disintegrated into the mass of costumed maniacs in the opposite direction of the bar. Barm had a strange feeling in his gut that darkened with each moment. Something about that did not go quite so well. He turned to Alenia, who was swaying at his side with her eyes closed in time to some imagined beat. “You good?” he asked.

Her eyes opened slowly and she gave him a slow grin and a slow nod. She squeezed his hand. “I didn’t like them.”

Barm remained quiet, replaying the last few minutes in his head.

“Hey.” Alenia reached up and put her arms around Barm’s neck. Her eyes glinted. “We’re here.”