Paradise City...chapter Six, part two
X X X
“Axl their earrings don’t obsess over them.”
“I’m not obsessing I’m just curious and I don’t know why it’s bugging me.”
“Something’s nagging at you?”
“Yeah and it’s to do with those earrings I’m sure.
“It's going to bug you for days isn’t it?”
“Probably.”
And it did, it wasn’t something that he could research it was within his own knowledge all he had to do was access it. Easier said than done, so it turns out. Axl had to sift through his hazy memories of his past; he knew the clue to this was amongst them just he just couldn’t find it. It had got to the point of pouring over old photographs and a stroll down memory lane. He looked through each one, taking a moment to replay the scene, old girlfriends he was sure he loved and was going to marry, raise a family with. Groupies dripped from his young, sinewy arms and he promised they were special but he called them all Candy because they were all sweet...
There was a picture of him getting his first tattoo, Izzy was there watching. Then he noticed something in each photo. In the background there was the same man. He wasn’t in the later ones when the band had signed. Axl took the album to the office and turned on a lamp, peering at with an unconscious squint most of it came flooding back. He rushed to his room, tripping over the cat as he did so. She went squealing off with her tail high and fluffy. He rummaged through a top draw. Socks and underwear was thrown onto the floor. Several hair elastics and a pair of hand cuffs joined them. At the back was a small velvet box, biting his bottom lip Axl opened it and there, winking in the late afternoon sun sat a pair of small diamond earrings. The phone rang making him jump; he snapped the box shut and went back to the office. Looking at the machine he saw it was Izzys mobile number, he picked it up.
“Axl! Oh good you’re in, I found something and it all...”
“Yeah Iz I think I got....”
“No, no you don’t understand dude, it’s all come back to me....”
“Izzy I know I found some....”
“I’m on my way to yours.”
The line went dead and Axl replaced the handset with a roll of his eyes. He was wiping down the surfaces and feeding the cat and two dogs Izzy came bounding in holding the very same black velvet box. Before he could say anything Axl took his out of his pocket and opened it, he presented the gobsmacked Izzy with the jewellery.
They sat there with both the boxes open on Axls prized glass coffee table. The T.V. was on but they weren’t really watching. They sat and sipped cappuccino each preparing mentally for the intervention of Axcelise Rose Valentine. It wasn’t long before he bounded though the door. He stopped short as he was regarded by his father’s green eyes. They had that look in them, the look that every child knows daddy means business. A quick mental scan revealed that Axl showed no signs of anger; it was just that unnerving stare that made Axcelise sink into the nearest chair, his hands tucked between his knees and his eyes lowered.
“Axcelise.”
He looked up at his father’s voice, “Where did you get those earrings?”
Axcelise touched his ear lobes where the diamonds sparkled and shrugged.
“Axcelise, where did you get those earrings?” There was more force to the question.
“Some store.” Axcelise mumbled and began to stand up...
“Sit down!” Axl barked from between his teeth getting immediate obedience from his son.
“Last time Axcelise, where did they come from?”
“They were a gift.” Axcelise replied in a very small voice.
“Yeah I thought they were.” Axl turned his back and took a cigar out of the ornate wooden box he kept them in. He clipped the end before nodding to Izzy. Izzy opened the boxes on the table. Axcelise saw the identical pair mocking him from their velvet cases.
The earrings were a calling card.
X X X
(Hold on crazy fangirls, It’s a flash back!)
The Man was a curious sort. He was always known just simply The Man. The Man had a taste for young men. It wasn’t long before he sniffed out the freshly arrived Billy Rose. Young, naive and desperate, he reeked of all three. He sidled up and ordered a drink for himself and one of the nice young man sitting next to him.
“Thanks. I’m Billy, Billy Rose.”
“Hi Billy are you new in town?”
“Yes sir I am.” Billy took the drink off the bar, “And looking for work, you know of anywhere looking?”
“As a matter of fact young Billy Rose I do.”
“Awesome, could you give me directions?”
The Man give him an address and left the bar. Billy put the piece of paper in his pocket and finished his drink. Before going back home to wash. If he was going for a job interview then he could at least smell good. Izzy wasn’t home but Billy figured he wouldn’t mind if he borrowed a shirt. He went thought his roommates draws and pulled out a small black box. Opening the box he saw a pair of diamond earrings and found himself wondering how Izzy got the money to get these.
Hair soft and clean he slicked on deodorant and sprayed on perfume. He followed the street signs and to the address. It was a hotel, confused he walked up to the front desk and asked the receptionist the address, comparing it to the address on the piece of paper he confirmed that he was in the right place and enquired about work. The receptionist denied they needed staff and the annoyed Billy turned to leave before he heard his name. Turning there was The Man standing on the stairs. Billy approached him;
“What gives dude I thought you said there was work here, I got to pay bills you know.”
“If you come upstairs I’ll show you.”
And despite his better judgement Billy followed the man upstairs to his room. Ironically the same room The Man received the services of Axcelise.
After Billy had changed his name to W. Axl Rose that story changed. Instead of The Man touching him and Axl going through with the act, being given money and coming back for more. Axls version was that he threatened the man with a straight razor.
The Man saw that concert where the boy Billy had grown into the man Axl tell this story. Axl flicked his long red hair and the man was gratified to see the glint of the earrings.
X X X
“Axcelise you don’t need to do this, anything you need, please for Gods sake come to me.” Axl pleaded with his son. He was now kneeling on the floor holding Axcelises hands in his own. He squeezed them, “Why?”
“I don’t know, I like to feel special I guess.”
“The Man used you, he probably doesn’t even remember your name. Izzy and I made the same mistake.”
“Neither of us had a father man enough to care.” Izzy interjected, “We had to do what we could to survive. It was painful and humiliating and none of us have ever spoken about it.”
“None of you?” Axcelise was more than a little shocked at the confessions.
“Yes ‘Lessy, the entire Guns...well the old Guns. We were all desperate to eat, desperate to survive and what we had to do made us desperate to get signed. You think he bought those just for you? I bet he has a whole stack of them in some big warehouse.” Axl gave his son a small smile.
Izzy remembered spending his money on things other than basic survival. “What did you spend the money on ‘Lessy?” he asked. As soon as the question was put out there Axl felt his heart beat faster, history has repeated itself enough for one day. Axcelise pulled up the long sleeve of his top and showed his forearm. Axl fought the urge to cry and examined the pale skin.
“What the hell are you doing? Smell it.” relieved that Axcelise had only bought new perfume he pulled his son into a hug.
“Dad, you’re squashing me.”
“Sorry I thought you did something else with the money is all.”
“I did, I put it in the bank the rest I gave back to Ian ‘cos I owed him.”
X X X
Later on the house was quite, Axl crept into Axcelises room, not surprised to find the bed empty he wondered into his own bedroom where a lump in the middle of the bed indicated Axcelise was there, squashed into a ball. All Axl could see was the top of his sons head, red hair, just like his. He pulled the cover down slightly and kissed Axcelise on his hot cheek. The trials of being a parent weren’t all that hard huh?