[color=9e0b0f][centre][h1]Marcus Ainsworth[/h1][/centre][/color]
[centre][h2]Club Aether[/h2][/centre]
[@Silver Fox][@Almalthia][@PrinceAlexus][@Majoras End]
[hr]
Marcus smiled widely as Rei rattled off a short list of band, most of which Marcus knew and liked to some degree. [color=9e0b0f]“Lindsey Stirling is so talented. And Paramore has always been one of my favourites. Their first three albums are still in heavy rotation for me.”[/color] He replied with a smile, taking another sip of his beer. [color=9e0b0f]“I haven’t heard of The Hush Sound, though… What are they like?”[/color] He asked, seeming genuinely interested, because he was. It felt good to have a conversation with someone that wasn’t Chris or his mom for the first time in several weeks. It was not as scary as he thought it would be at all, not at all feeling awkward with Rei, which was good.

Suddenly, his calmer, happier mood was tainted as his attention was caught by some rather harsh words. His head snapped around and he saw this mass of girls surrounding a table of two others. He recognised the two women as the short one who he had been caught staring at, and her friend who had gotten up to sang. Marcus felt sick to his stomach as he heard the words coming from who seemed like the ringleader of this mass of women. They were venomous and completely uncalled for. As far as Marcus noticed, it was completely unprovoked too. He didn’t understand how people could be so cruel, especially to strangers that they don’t know from a bar of soap. There was too much hate in this world, and there was no place for it. Especially at a bar where people are just trying to have some fun.

An hour ago, Marcus would have frozen up and tried his best to ignore the situation or get away from it. But, this night was different. He’d taken a leap of faith by getting up on stage, and again when approaching Reya. And it felt good to be out of his shell. So he wasn’t going to lose his nerve and retreat back into his shell now. He looked to Rei with an apologetic, yet driven expression on his face, and stood from his seat.[color=9e0b0f] “I’m sorry, I’ll be right back.”[/color] His heart was beating like a bass drum at one hundred miles per hour as he stared at the ringleader girl with anger burning in his eyes. 

[color=9e0b0f]“Hey!”[/color] He called out as he walked over to the group. His hands were shaking so hard he had to keep them clenched to try to stop it, and he was screaming at himself in his mind to turn around and not get involved, but there was no turning back now. [color=9e0b0f]“There’s no place for hate like that here! It’s fucked that you think it’s okay to treat someone else like that. I don’t know what kind of fucked up things you’ve gone through to make you this insecure, but don’t take it out on others. If you feel the need to shit on other people’s nights, then get the fuck out and go somewhere else. The world is fucked up enough, without people like you making it worse, when we’re all just trying to enjoy ourselves!”[/color] He kept his voice as calm as he could, trying hard not to let the trembling show, but it was obvious he was furious. He was terrified, but he felt a rush of adrenaline that helped boost his courage. He’d never stood up to a bully before, and it felt great. For the first time ever, he felt powerful. He felt like he was doing something worthwhile. 

After Marcus had interjected with his rant, a rather tall woman stepped in, and wasn't saying much, if anything, just trying to calme things down before it escalated, seemingly. Well, that definitely didn't work, as she got a bottle to the side of the head. [color=9e0b0f]"Oh shit!"[/color] Marcus exclaimed, shocked at the sudden burst of violence. He rushed to the tall girl's side, to attempt to catch her is she were to fall over. But, she seemed unaffected, as if it were just a tap to the head. Marcus turned back to the perpetrator with a furious gaze. [color=9e0b0f]"What the fuck is wrong with you?! Back the fuck up!!"[/color] He was shaking with anger. The only reason why he didn't lash out violently himself, was that he would never hit a girl, no matter how angry he was. That's something his dad always taught him.