bohemian_mark: (OOC: Dish and Spoon)
(Click here to post your own answers for this meme.)

I miss somebody right now. I don't watch much TV these days.  (It's on a lot, but I don't pay attention.) × I own lots of books.
I wear glasses or contact lenses.  (Can't see without 'em.) × I love to play video games. I've tried marijuana.  (*cough* Pot tea is... interesting. And pot brownies.)
I've watched porn movies.  (Oh, come on. I dated Maureen.) × I have been the psycho-ex in a past relationship. × I believe honesty is usually the best policy.
I curse sometimes.  (Only sometimes?) I have changed a lot mentally over the last year.  (I kinda had to.) × I carry my knife/razor everywhere with me.
it goes on... )
bohemian_mark: (Mark-Roger Dork)
This just isn't working. The bar seemed to have some strange overhanging gloom to it, people were off saving the world, and, in Mark's opinion, half of Today for You, not necissarily just the female half, was having a really damn bad case of PMS. There comes a time in the lives of filmmakers and men, in Mark's opinion, that something had to be done. And then it hit him. There might be a way to change the mood slightly.

Surrepticiously, he set up his spare camera and tripod in the corner of the room, pointing it toward the sofa, from where strains of Musetta's Waltz were yet again filling the room. He stood back for a moment, just watching the scene. How typical. Smirking, he opened a desk drawer and pulled out two balloons, which gyrated to their own beat, a very different one than played by the hunched figure on the couch. Carefully, he set up a shot, and pitches one of the balloons at Roger.

Blinking for a moment, Roger stared at the pink goo now covering him. "What the....." Before he could finish the sentance, Roger cracked up loudly. "Hey, Mark, I'm covered in pink goo. Do you know what this stuff looks like?"

Mark was about to throw another balloon at Roger, but as Roger laughed, it was somehow infectious, and instead of throwing the balloon, Mark lost control of it, and it smashed all over him. Snorting, Mark cracked up even more. "Hey, I didn't think of that. That's hilarious. Never knew you'd be into that kind of thing."

"Not exactly, Mark." Roger laughed again, picking up his guitar. "Damn, I feel like playing something." Plucking out a chord, he launched into a rather rousing rendition of La Vida Loca, tossing Mark a flashlight for a microphone in the process.

For a couple minutes, they jammed, Mark mentally gleeing that it was all in front of the camera. Eventually, Roger collapsed on the couch, laughing. "That is so awesome. I love music, I love you, man!" Roger stood up again and glomped Mark rather thouroughly.

"I love you too, man!" Mark glomped right back, cheerily.

"Alright, so I knew that two of you act gay sometimes, but this is a bit over the top. And what the hell's with the pink goo?" Adam walked in, staring at the pink, gooey scene. "And if that stuff is what it looks like, you both are taking a shower right now."

Mark grinned at his assistant, a bit innocently. "Why, Adam. Whatever do you mean? This is not the stuff you are looking for, Please move along." He waved his hand a bit idly.

Roger cracked up again. "There you go, Mark's being a geek. All's right with the world."

"Only you two would get high off of moodslime from a bar at the end of the universe. Just... next time, Mark, tell Venkman to keep the moodslime to himself. We could hear you all the way down on the fourth floor. And seriously, take a shower." Shaking his head, Adam left the room.

Mark and Roger took one look at each other and cracked up. This was a good way to lighten the mood, Mark mused while watching Roger launch into yet another song. And the film showing at the staff meeting tomorrow would be even better.
bohemian_mark: (Alone with camera)
Something didn't feel right. Mark was walking along the alley, or at least he thought he was walking along the alley, when he felt an oddly sharp pain in his chest. He looked up to see the barrel of a gun pointed at him, and a masked figure speaking. "Why don't you corrupt our kids -now-, kike?" Before Mark could do anything, or say anything, the black-clad figure ran out of the alley.

He fell to the ground, wincing, and clutching his bag. If he could only crawl to the door halfway down the alley, he could get to the bar. And there had to be someone there who could help. They'd helped before. Before he could get any further, however, he suddenly felt lighter, standing up.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET FAR TRYING THAT, YOU KNOW. A voice came to Mark's ears, and he turned, only to see what was seemingly impossible. A tall, thin, skeletal figure in a black robe with shining blue eyes.

"Wait. You're Death. The one from Discworld. What the hell're you doing in my world?" Mark stared, finally managing a glance down to his feet. He was lying at his own feet. And then it hit him, just as Death spoke.

I AM HERE BY WHAT YOU HUMANS CALL A 'SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT' Death stood there, almost amusedly.

Mark stares. "I need to get film of this." He leans over, and his hands pass through his bag airily. "Damnit. I need that camera."

THERE IS ANOTHER SAYING YOU HUMANS HAVE. 'YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU'. Death pulled out the scythe. WHERE YOU'RE GOING, YOU WILL SEE IT AGAIN SOON ENOUGH. DO SAY HELLO TO THAT SKIRT-WEARING FRIEND OF YOURS. I AM CERTAIN SHE WILL BE GLAD TO SEE YOU.

Mark looked down and saw the thin blue line connecting himself with... well, himself. As Death cut it, and Mark started to fade, for a milli-second, Mark thought he saw one of the lights in Death's eye socket blink, and the last thing he heard, before a door loomed in his face, was three words. THAT'S ALL FOLKS.
bohemian_mark: (Mark-Roger Dork)
Note on the bathroom mirror:

Roger,

I'm negative. Stop angsting.

~Mark

---

Four hours later, when Mark actually does get home from the filming he was overseeing, Roger is leaning back on the couch with a brown paper bag on the table in front of him, and an actual smile on his face. "So. Mimi has to go dance for some bachelorette party thing for someone, and Collins is, as usual in Santa Fe, so we've got this place to ourselves for once. Rather like old times."

Mark cracks up, putting his bag down on his desk chair. "Old times with a bit more food, and solid electricity."

"Well, I could throw the breaker if you really wanted, but I was thinking more along the lines of a celebration being in order." Roger pulls two bottles of Stoli and another of Kahula out of the bag with a bit of a smirk. "Traditional celebration."

"Hey, I can't argue with that." Mark grabs glasses, and plunks in his chair.

---

An hour later...

"Oh, come on. You can't tell me that she's not hot."

"Well, she is, but she's no Mimi."

"Duh, Roger. I'm thinking significant others aside here."

"Just because your girlfriend moos at you..."

"Hey, in some cultures, cows are sacred, so mooing is the expression of the female sacred..."

"Now that's one I haven't heard before."

---

Two hours later...

"You would have about died, Roger. Veternari, the young one, not the Patrician, dropped from the ceiling, and gave rings to the bride and groom."

"Wait. So you're telling me that two blue people got married, with Ford Prefect as one of the groomsmen, in a bunch of blue people, and Vetenari was there? Are you sure you weren't high?"

"Fucking Milliways, man. That's all I can say about it. But, seriously, the bride was hot, and she's nice. And she's a Slayer."

"Hold on. A -Slayer-? Like on that TV show Mimi likes? Fluffy or something like that?"

"Hell if I know. I haven't seen it."

"You're drunk, Mark."

"So are you. But that doesn't change the truth. How the hell do you think I got the purple hair?"

"I wasn't going to ask."

---

Three hours later...

"You shure about thish shutuff?"

"It's Stoli, Mark. We've had it for ages."

"I think I need to go shee the porschelain God. I'm coming, Bilious!"

"You really scare me."

---

Five hours later...

Coming into the room from the party she was dancing, Mimi looked around with rather wide eyes. Roger was lying back on the couch, his Fender on his stomach, passed out drunk. Mark, on the other hand, was slouched in his armchair, curled around a book.

She couldn't help but grin. Guess Mark got good news from the test.
bohemian_mark: (Mark inna dark)
Mark's been planning for about three weeks. Most of everything he wants to film is done. He just has to get a few shots of things on Coruscant. And spend time with Geena. Because he wants to.

He's already all packed, even a couple secrets hidden in his bag. The day's come, and he's arranged for everything. So now all he has to do is knock on Geena's door and pick her up.

So that's what he's doing. He has a couple bags over his shoulders, and a grin on his face.
bohemian_mark: (Cleans up well)
It's a lovely day on Ossus. The sun's shining, and the plants and trees are gently blowing in a breeze. In fact, it's a wonderful day for filming of various things.

Mark is sitting on a rock in one of the Academy's gardens, filming anything and anyone in his path.
bohemian_mark: (Schunard Foundation)
"Hey, I was thinking, we should go out to the Life Cafe tonight, get something to eat."

"I dunno. I'm not exactly hungry. Think I'll just stay here"

"You've been staying inside for the past week. Come on, man, you have to get out sometime."

"I'll get out eventually. You go."

"No. You're coming with me whether you like it or not. Now, do I have to pull your ass off of that couch?"

"No, Roger. I'll come."

"That's good, Mark. You really need it."

---

There's only us, there's only this, forget regret, or life is yours to miss

Life Support never changes, it seems to Mark. If it's not the exact people he remembers, it's someone else. However, it's the same problems, perhaps with a different angle. Today, though, for once, Mark wasn't sitting back and supportively listening. He actually spoke up, telling of his AIDS scare, and actually for once explaining his feelings. The rest of the group was surprised, but as always supportive. He recieved no less than ten offers of ears or shoulders if he needed them.

Right before he left, however, Paul pulled him aside. "You're channelling Roger, you know that, right?"

Mark just blinked at Paul. Yes, he knew that on some level, but he hadn't really thought about it. Before he could say anything, however, Paul shook his head.

"Mark, seriously. You of all people shouldn't do that."

Blinking, Mark finally found his tongue. "What do you mean by that?"

"There has been, in all my years of running Life Support, one person with the best attitude toward being sick. She realized she didn't have much time left and she used that time, not only for herself, but to help others." Paul just looked at Mark, raising an eyebrow. "And she, of all people would kick your ass into next week if she knew how you were acting."

"Angel." Mark sighed. "I know. I really do."

"Then do something about it, Mark. You've changed the worlds of a lot of people around here. If you don't have much time left, use it to the best that you can."

Finally, Mark cracked what might have been his first smile in about two weeks. "It's what Angel would have done."

---

He'd known what he had to do, that he had to finish it. Sure, it took him a week and a half, but considering he'd been working on it off and on for four months, that was rather speedy.

Taking a deep breath, he put it in an envelope, found the address, added a letter that he hoped didn't make him sound like an idiot, and sent it off. He pulled out some other paper and started scribbling again. If that didn't work, he needed a plan B. Mark certainly wasn't going to let this be the end.
bohemian_mark: (Mark-Roger Living in America)
Like Kurosawa, I make films, ok, I don't make films, but if they did, they'd have a samurai.

Coming out of his room wincing, Mark cracked up. "Oh, come on, Roger. Why the hell're you the one singing about filmmaking in this Loft?"

"Gotta have appreciation for the BNL, man." Roger laughed, waving a chopping knife at Mark.

"What the hell're you doing chopping carrots anyway?" Mark blinked, and walked over to the sink, washing his hands. His usual cuts and acid burns from film developing were somehow worse today. He blamed not being able to sleep.

"Mimi dared me to actually cook dinner for once. I'm just attempting to give here a ... fuck." Starting, Roger looked at his hand. Blood was coming out of the palm at a rather high rate. Swearing, he walked over to the sink and started to wash his hands as well.

A moment went by. Later, Mark would maintain that the moment was longer than he'd intended. Swearing loudly, Roger pulled his hands back. "Oh, fuck me with a stick. Mark, you have -cuts- on your hands, and now you have my blood on you and...."

Mark stared at his hands, and went starkly pale. "Fuck. Uh." He just stood there for a moment, at the sink, staring, not even knowing what to do.

"Fuck it, Mark, get your ass into the bathroom, and wash that off. With a lot of soap." Roger went pale as well, staring blankly at the blood in the sink and his own bleeding hands.

Mark walked into the bathroom, stunned, and washed his hands, returning a few moments later. Roger and Mark stared at each other for a long time before Roger sighed. "It's going to be one fucking long month."

Staring out the windows, Mark nodded. "That's the understatement of the millenium."
bohemian_mark: (The Witness)
A man who has had his house broken into only a bare week before should probably not wander around the streets of New York City at night. But then again, Mark's never really worked with 'shoulds' or 'should nots'
In the evening, I've gotta roam, can't sleep in the city of neon and chrome
The city at night is a fascinating study in humanity, with or without a camera lens in front of one's face. For the present, Mark's content to walk, in the same black trench coat, and black clothes he's worn for the past couple days, and observe.
New York City. Centre of the universe.
It's strange, the difference between walking around in a corduroy coat, khakis, and geeky glasses, and striding along the street like he owned the place. Then again, he probably could if he really wanted to.
Find glory, beyond the cheap coloured lights...
By now, the sun's coming up, over the top of the buildings, streaming down onto the street, shining off of the now-opening stores, illuminating the commuters just starting their workdays. Somewhere around twentieth, there's a flower vendor, peddling his wares to people starting their day. One transaction later, Mark's in a cab, a boquet of wildflowers in his lap.
Pan left, close on the steeple of the church.
He used to spend time here, in those few cold months before he made a discovery at the end of the universe. Lying the flowers on a certain gravestone, he's thinking. Quietly thinking, in that peaceful place, where once an argument rang out, an argument that tore a family apart.
I can't believe you're going, I can't believe this family must die.
It's almost noon before he moves, wiping his eyes, and standing, brushing the dirt off of his pants and coat. A short stop at a coffee store later, he's home again, at his desk, writing. He knows what he has to do. Now more than ever.

At least now if you try, Angel's death won't be in vain.
bohemian_mark: (Greatness thrust upon him)
Lettie347: After a brief moment of consideration, he gave a slight nod.

"I believe a drink would be a rather welcome thing, yes." He eyes the filmmaker again, unable to shake the feeling that he looks terribly familiar. It's almost staring.

conservegirl: Mark smiles, rubbing the bandage on one of his palms. "What specifically would you like? I was about to go get a refill on my tea myself." Mark as well is thinking there's something familiar about the man he's speaking to, but he can't place it. Not just yet.

Lettie347: Schindler's memory, to be fair, is probably much more recent than Mark's. He blinks, thinking. "Anything with a high alcohol content, if you please." Oskar Schindler was a womanizer and a drunk. With the arrival of his divorce, he is likely to become only the latter.

"But..." He trails off, hand waving vaguely. "I must ask you a question first, I am afraid."

conservegirl: "Really, coming here for the first time does rather warrant a strong drink." He smiles, but trails off, with a bit of a confused shrug. "Oh, sure. Ask away."

Lettie347: A smirk. "I should think so." But then there is a thoughtful pause. "Are you related to ... ? A cousin, or a sister..?" It doesn't occur to him in his mind (at the moment, at least) that Mark is from a different time than her.

conservegirl: Mark blinks for a moment, and then it hits him like a ton of bricks. Biting his lip, he nods, then looks the man in the eyes. "She was my grandmother." He pauses. "That probably doesn't make any sense to you, so perhaps I can explain. This bar brings people from all places and all times. I am from, well, about sixty or so years in your future, most likely." He trails off, fiddling with the bandage on his hand again. He has -no- clue how to say what he wants to.

Lettie347: "You have her eyes." It is more of a statement than a compliment, but hey. At least he's trying. His brow lofts while Mark speaks, however. "Other ... times, you say. Well, that is rather odd indeed." He watches Mark fiddle with the bandage, half-wondering if he should make some sort of attempt at apology or ... something. Instead, he simply coughs. Yes, that's helpful.

conservegirl: Mark blinks for a moment, biting his lip again. There probably was very little that Schindler could have said that would have meant more to Mark. Eyes are the soul of a filmmaker, and to this boy, who always almost hero-worshipped his grandmother, it was as if he was just given the world. A smile crosses his face, but he doesn't mention anything for the moment. He does, however, hold out a handadged hand. "Er, I probably should actually introduce myself. I'm Mark Cohen."

Lettie347: "Ah, of course." He thinks that if this boy is related to her, it is safe for him to give his full name. "Oskar Schindler. A pleasure to meet you, Mark Cohen." He shakes firmly as possible while still being mindful of the bandage on Mark's hand. "I perhaps should have introduced myself earlier as well, but this entire ordeal has proven itself distracting to my manners."

conservegirl: "Arriving here would really mess with anyone's manners, sir.. It's a pleasure to meet you as well. My grandmother always spoke quite highly of you." A rather odd look crosses his face, but he shrugs it off. It might be slightly odd that in a situation where Mark should be flailing, he's simply quietly awkward.

Lettie347: He fiddles with the ring around his finger quietly for a moment. It replaced his wedding band long ago, really. "That is fortunate. She always was a very sweet young woman. And a hard worker, as well." It's possible that she was married in the factory -- he did have several marriages, but that part of his memory is foggy at best.

conservegirl: "I always admired her. She had a quiet determination about her. She didn't let people put her down or get to her because of who she was." He cracks a smile. "One of the greatest compliments I ever got was when she told me I reminded her of herself when she was young."

Lettie347: "From what I've seen, that is entirely possible." His own smile is perhaps a little more fleeting. He remembers just what he traded for her, for every person on that list. If only he'd .. done more. "I can only be glad that there were many like her." That survived.

conservegirl: There's a pause, and a fiddle at the bandage before Mark speaks. "Thank you, sir." That almost idle comment means more to Mark than any gold statue ever. "I think we can all be glad for that." He really does mean that in the best way possible. "So, can I get you that drink now, and perhaps we can talk not standing up?"

Lettie347: And he laughs a moment later. "Ah, of course. How absent-minded I must be to forget a drink." His brow furrows, however. "Do at least call me Oskar. Or Schindler." 'Sir' and 'Herr' always sounded so ... ominous.

conservegirl: "I can certainly do that." He points to his table, where his camera is still sitting, along with his notebook. "I'll go grab something to drink, and will be back in a moment. Have a seat, if you'd like." He wanders over to Bar, getting a strong drink for Schindler, and a strong tea for himself, returning and handing the drink to the other man. "There you are." Mark doesn't skimp on his drinks. The one Schindler has is probably one of the best the bar has to offer.

Lettie347: Schindler is at least vaguely aware of this. "Ah, thank you." He does take a seat with the camera and eyes it curiously, wondering perhaps what is on the reel. It looks ... old. After a tip of his drink towards Mark, he downs a good portion of it but has the sense to at least not drink it all at once. Not to say that he couldn't, however. "Tell me ... where did your grandmother go, after Brinnlitz?"

conservegirl: Mark has never been one for changing a good thing. Thus the reason his camera is more than three times his age. He takes a sip of his tea then smiles. "She moved to America, when she found out that her husband and all the rest of her family had died." He pauses for a moment, then goes on. "She re-married not long after she arrived in New York, and had my mother. They moved out of New York City to a suburb called Scarsdale, where she lived for the rest of her life."

Lettie347: He looks upset over this for a moment -- moreso the fact that they'd all died. He had always held out hope, although he'd told them -- tomorrow you will go looking for the rest of your family. The majority of you will not find them -- that they wouldn't find them. He takes another sip of the drink, a longer one this time. "It is good that she re-married. Children are important."

conservegirl: "She did well for herself." Really well, if Mark's memory serves. He pauses, looking thoughtful for a long moment. "Sometimes, as shitty as things are, they happen for a reason." He chooses his words carefully. He's not making excuses, just attempting to move on. "It does suck watching one's family die, though." This said with the tone of someone who has. And wishes he hadn't.

Lettie347: "There are many types of deaths." If the divorce papers in front of him mean anything, of course. Deserted by his wife, his accountant, his mistress - by extension of his wife, in a way- he was, for all apparent devices, alone. Although Oskar finds his word choice a bit peculiar, he chocks it up to the fact that Mark is from a different time than himself.

conservegirl: "There are. Even if it is not a physical death, it can be really similar." Even sometimes knowing that someone is going to die can be painful, as Mark knows perhaps a bit too well. Roger said it best once to Mark. For someone who longs for a community of his own, who's with his camera, alone? He smiles a bit oddly.

Lettie347: His own smile is perhaps just as odd. Mark seems like someone who can understand, and that is ... something that should be looked after, in Oskar Schindler's world. Brotherhood -- any sort of relationship with a person who understands - was something that he had not had in a long time. The closest he had come was Goeth, and Goeth was certainly no brother of his. He hated him, but he had needed him.

conservegirl: Mark's not usually one to discuss his personal life. But every so often, someone comes along who understands, who knows what it's like to lose people, not just immidiately, but watch them fade until there is nothing left. Swallowing, he makes an attempt at explanation. "In my time, there is a disease called AIDS. It is basically a death sentance to those who get it. My best friend died from that about a year ago, and three of my five other friends, inclusing one person I consider my brother have it." He pauses. "Watching someone die is really the worst thing ever."

Lettie347: He nods. "It is something that one does not get used to." Which was not to say that he hadn't seen countless killed. Goeth, the dogs... the worst part was the dogs, he was sure. There is something horrifying about watching them tear flesh from flesh until movement stopped. A little girl, the red coat in the pile of liquidated bodies.."I am sorry for your friends, Mark." There is little, he thinks, that he can tell the young man to make it better.

conservegirl: "It's just something that I have to live with, unfortunately." Mark bites his lip and shrugs a tiny bit. "I hate it, but really, life's like that. I've found that all I can do sometimes is just be there for the people I care about, and do what I can to help them."

Lettie347: "You," He announces, taking a last drink from his glass, "Are a very clever young man to have figured this out at your age." Perhaps if he had figured such things out, he would have saved more people. But he can't think on that too long or he starts staring at his gun barrel.

conservegirl: Mark turns vaguely pink about the ears. "Er, thanks. A couple people have tried to tell me that, but, well, I don't feel all that clever most of the time. I just do what I can." He looks a bit wistful however. He's always wondering what would have happened if he could have done more for Angel, if he could have somehow made things better for his friend.

Lettie347: It is a feeling, Oskar would tell Mark if he could, that does not ever quite disappear. If he had only sold the car, the pin .. eleven more people. He could have had eleven more. The pinkness amuses him, however, and he gives a slight laugh towards Mark before he leans forward, conspiratorally deciding this is the best time to tell Mark this. "Your grandmother, you know, was a very attractive young woman. Why, I was put into prison on my birthday because of her."

conservegirl: Mark actually chuckles a bit at that. "She told me that story many times, actually. It was always something she felt a bit guilty about." He pauses, and cracks a smile. "But then again, she would remind us that you picked her out of all that girls there to single out. Or, well, that's how she liked to tell it."

Lettie347: He laughs good-naturedly. "Yes, I suppose so. It was far from her fault, though. I nearly startled her out of her wits, I think. In front of all the SS." His grin fades a bit at that memory. She'd looked terrified, but ... at least the story was good for her, later on. "She was very pretty, you must understand."

conservegirl: "It was more than likely one of those moments that was more amusing later on than it was at the moment." He laughs as well. "I have had more than a few of those myself." Like a certain Life Support meeting that he rather loudly crashed. "I have always thought she was a beautiful woman from the pictures I saw. And even when she was older."

Lettie347: A slight nod. "I cannot see her aging anything but beautifully, you see." Most of the women at the factory had been beautiful. He'd shared his bed with many of them - not the married ones, out of respect for them. But others, particularly the women in their early 20s. It didn't make him a bad man. He never forced them -- no, he was not like that. "And yes, I suppose that it might have been."

conservegirl: "There are just some people who, no matter how old they become, will always be beautiful." A certain actress comes to Mark's mind with a bit of an accompanying smile. Yes, he'll always find Maureen lovely, as insane as that might be. Angel too, really. But, then again, Angel will never get older, due to the bar. Strange, to have one's best friend preserved in such a way.

Lettie347: Very strange indeed. Having Stern preserved like that -- not that he'd ever admit that Stern was his best friend -- would surely have boggled his mind. "I think perhaps that you are right." He nods, eyeing the empty drink ruefully and ordering a refill to be put on his tab from the nearby waitrat. He has had just enough alcohol that the fact his waiter is a rat does not bother him.

conservegirl: Mark signals the rat as well, but it brings him an alcoholic beverage this time, which he sips a bit thoughtfully. "I guess I'm used to that perhaps a bit too much. Most of what I do is preserving certain moments in time, certain images so that they can be seen again and again as they were."

Lettie347: He arches an amused brow. "Perhaps. But the mind does the same thing, often." Night. Packing up, changing into the uniforms. Dropping the ring because his hands had been shaking so badly...
conservegirl: Mark chuckles. "Sometimes the mind's even clearer than film." Single frames of one magic night forever flicker in close-up on the three-D Imax of my mind.

Lettie347: "Very true." He sips the drink that the rat gives him perhaps a bit too intently.

conservegirl: Mark sips his drink as well, lapsing into his usual bit of awkward. Strange how comfortable that feels sometimes.

Lettie347: Oskar is accustomed to long silences. So it does not bother him much when Mark slips into quiet.
bohemian_mark: (Mark sings)
"Oh, come on, Mark. Kevin broke a string halfway through the third set. How could you think that.... oh fuck." Roger opened the Loft door to... chaos.
I mean, what does one wear to a party that's also a crime?
Mark stepped around him, and paled. In front of him was the Loft, but nothing like he knew or loved it. Every wall had obscenities and curses written on it, the large windows were smashed, glass strewn across the floor, things broken. He stepped in, kneeling down to pick up the remains of what was once a lamp, standing it upright. "I don't even think I can -swear-, Roger."

"I can't either, man. This is just... They've gone too far. I'm calling Joanne. Someone has to fucking pay for this." Roger stalked over to the phone.

"Call the police too, Roger. I can take some shit, but they're not trashing my home and getting away with it." Mark sighed, sitting down on a small bit of bare floor.

Two hours later, when the police had finally left, Mark started to clean some of the glass up from the broken window. Everything was numb, his emotions, his physical pain. So much so, in fact, that he didn't even feel the cuts that the glass was making on his hands ans he cleaned it into a trash bag.

"Mark! What the fuck do you think you're doing, dumbass? You shouldn't be bleeding in here. Go wash that off, and let me clean up." Roger laughed rather darkly. "If there's one thing I know by now, it's how to make sure that blood's cleaned up well enough."

Mark nodded, standing and wiping the blood on his khakis, which were already torn and dirtied beyond repair. "I'll just... go clean up."

He shuffled into the bathroom, trying not to think about the pile of slashed film and camera equipment in the corner.
bohemian_mark: (Mark-Roger Got Your Back)
If there's one thing that Mark's certain about, it is that he most certainly does not want kids. At the very least, he doesn't want kids for a long-ass while.
Without you, the ground thaws, the rain falls, the grass grows. Without you, the seeds root, the flowers bloom, the children play,
Getting back to the Loft, the darkness and quiet seemed almost overwhelming. The only thing Mark could do was plop down on the couch and turn on the TV.
The stars gleam, the poets dream, the eagles fly, without you. The earth turns the sun burn, but I die without you
The news is, as always, violent, barren. People getting robbed, shot, raped, along with the usual political shit. Shaking his head and swearing, Mark turns off the TV.
Without you, the breeze warms, the girl smiles, the cloud moves. Without you, the tides change, the boys run, the oceans crash
Standing, he walks over to the table, where a copy of the Village Voice was lying on the table. The front page was an article about Roger's band, and its new gigs. Grabbing the paper, Mark stares at it for a long moment, then collapses back on the couch.
The crowds roar, the days soar, the babies cry. Without you, the moon glows, the river flows, but I die, Without you.
A few moments pass, before Mark wipes his eyes, and goes to his desk, scribbling something down on a paper, changing into a suit and tie, then grabbing his bag and camera, a determined expression on his face.
The world revives, colors renew. But I know blue. Only blue, lonely blue, within me, blue. Without you.
He grabs a taxi to the club, and stands in the back while Roger and his band played. Between sets, he gets out his camera setting up a shot for the next set.
Without you, the hand gropes, the ear hears the pulse beats. Without you, the eyes gaze, the legs walk the lungs breathe
Halfway through the set, Roger notices Mark. Turning to the band, Roger whispered a few things to them, then turns back to the assembled crows. "We have a surprise for you, folks. It would seem that we're going have a surprise duet here. Mark, get your ass up here." For the first time in about a week, Mark cracks a smile, walking up to the stage, and stashing his camera in his bag. Roger laughs, eyeing Mark. "Damn, the Oscar-winning director's dressing the part tonight."
The mind churns, the heart yearns the tears dry, without you. Life goes on, but I'm gone, cause I die, Without you.
Mark laughs, shrugging. "Well, I might as well announce this in front of people. Today For You is opening a music recording studio and, as the head of that studio, I want to offer Roger Davis and his band the first recording contract." A cheer goes up from the crowd, Roger just boggling at Mark, then after a moment, glomping his friend.

"Dork, you didn't have to offer me a contract to get me home, but I'll take it." Roger pulls back, then shakes Mark's hand. "On behaf of my band, I accept. Now, sing with me?"

The band starts up the first strains of a song from the film. Mark grins at Roger, taking a deep breath and singing.

Don't breathe too deep, don't think all day, dive into work, drive the other way...

The song goes on, Roger and Mark more singing at each other than the assembled crowd. When the last notes die away, Mark and Roger hug each other tightly.

"I'm sorry, Mark. I overreacted."

"I should have been paying attention, Roger."

"I'll be home after the gig tonight."

"Good."

[ooc: Whitetext Without You from Rent.]
bohemian_mark: (Mark-Roger Living in America)
"Where're you going?" Mark looked up from his desk, as Roger grabbed his guitar.

"Don't you know?"

"No, I actually don't have any clue where you're going, Roger. Care to enlighten me?"

"I'm going to my gig, dumbass." Roger rolled his eyes, grabbing a bag of music along with his Fender.

"A -gig-? When'd you get a gig?" Mark turned around in his chair, puzzled. Pleasant surprise, but a surprise nonetheless.

Roger glared at his roommate, putting down the guitar to cross his arms. "Oh, I see how it is. You're so caught up in everything, in your movie work, in that damned bar of yours, in Maureen, that you haven't even taken the time to realize what's going on right in front of your face. I started up the band again, Mark. Four fucking months ago."

Mark stared, gaping for a moment. "Roger, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize I'd been that oblivious, that's wonderful. Where're you.."

"Shove it, Mark. You haven't cared up till now, and why should you start? I'm tired of you being so caught up in your work, and cutting yourself off from everyone else. You never stopped doing it."

"Yes, I have, Roger. I've tried to..."

"No you haven't, Mark, and you know it. You're just as isolated now as you were two years ago. It's just now you're fucking famous for being isolated."

"Roger, I'm sorry..."

"No you're not, Mark. If you were sorry, you'd change what you're doing. Nothing changes around here. Sure, there's money floating around now, but that's just trimmings." Roger grabs the guitar and the bag. "I'm moving out, Mark. I've got enough money from gigs that I don't have to hang around here anymore."

Mark dropped his notebook and stared at his roommate. "Roger... no. You don't have to move out. I'll be around more, I'll realize what's going on."

"Shove it, Mark. Nothing fucking changes with you. Ever." With that, Roger stalked out the door, and Mark closeted himself in his room, with camera and notebook.

The next morning, when Mark woke up, Roger was gone, along with most of his clothes, and his guitar and music. No note, nothing. It was going to be a very long day.

For someone who longs for a community of his own, who's with his camera, alone?
bohemian_mark: (OOC: Mark-Roger forget)
So. Ask people questions. They'll answer. People include:

Mark Cohen and Joanne Jefferson from Rent

Valentine Wiggin-Skywalker from Ender's Game

Qui-Gon Jinn and Biggs Darklighter from Star Wars.
bohemian_mark: (Schunard Foundation)
Everyone wanted to speak to the newly-released Oscar nominee. Adam's phone was ringing off the hook. Oprah, David Letterman, Regis and Kathie Lee, Jay Leno, Good Morning America, just about every talk show in the country wanted Mark to appear. Between all of the interviews, however, Mark found time to do what he really wanted.
Life Support's a group for people coping with life.
"There's only us, there's only this, forget regret, or life is yours to miss. No other road, no other way, no day but today." Mark wandered into the meeting, late as usual. He blamed the fans. And the press. Pulling up a chair to the circle, Mark settled in, mumbling an apology to the rest of the group.
Sit down, Mark. We'll continue the affirmation.
The meeting continued fairly as usual, then broke up cheerily. Before Mark left, however, he handed Paul a sealed envelope, then collected his things, getting ready to leave. Before he got to the door, however, Paul called out to him.

"Mark! Wait!" There was a shaky tone to his voice, as if the man was so shocked that he didn't know what to say. Mark turned around, blinking. Paul just stared at the check from the envelope. "Mark. I... um. think there might be too many zeroes in this check. A hundred thousand dollars from the Schunard Foundation? I don't even know where to begin to use this."

Mark cracked a smile. "Well, I'm sure that you'll find something. Hell, Paul. You know better than I do about who really needs help in this town. Get people AZT, er, legally, of course, get people food, heat, whatever."

Paul just stuttered, then gave Mark a huge hug. "I'll put it to good use, I promise."

"I know you will." With that, Mark left the community center, feeling perhaps better than he had in a long while.
bohemian_mark: (New York)
The door opens on a back alley in New York City. There's graffiti on the opposite wall, and some garbage strewn on the ground. Mark turns a bit pink, as he steps out. "Sorry it's a bit dingy around here. Alphabet City's not the prettiest place sometimes."
bohemian_mark: (New York)
The door from Milliways opens on a back alley off of Avenue C. Not the best place to be in New York City, but it could be one hell of a lot worse.

Mark leads Jack through the alley, and through a bit of the chaos of Alphabet City to stand in front of a building on the corner of eleventh and Avenue B. "Welcome to the Building, Jack." He's grinning.
bohemian_mark: (New York)
It's a jail. Which, really, isn't all that interesting. However, if one wished to visit one Mark Cohen, this is where one would have to talk to guards.
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