Langour ・❥・Joost Klein・❥・

36.

'Do you think we should tell him that Hugo and Nanda are here, tonight?'

'Nah.'

Joost was unaware of the discussion between Fenne and Stuntje. While he scrolled through his phone, Joost wore his black-rimmed glasses and usual attire. His 'FUCK YOU' belt buckle stood against his white singlet and black jeans. His patchwork tattoos were on display and his hair had been ruffled from the countless times he had ran his hands through it.

'Maybe we should tell Teun to take Jackass out of the set?' Fenne suggested.

'Nah.'

Fenne huffed at Stuntje's lack of urgency and enthusiasm. Joost's older brother and sister were going to be in the crowd tonight and Joost was going to explicitly say how he really wants to marry a Russian woman. Hugo wasn't the cause of concern, as the man would have most likely heard all of his brother's songs before. But Nanda, a mother of a now 4-year-old, would be horrified to hear about how Joost wanted Russian babies.

The collaboration with CMH, the Russian rapper, had been a good business decision. It got Joost's name into the Russian-speaking countries and satisfied his desire to collaborate with one of his favourite artists. But back in Amsterdam, in the local venues, Jackass was one of the more intense songs to perform.

'Alright, Joost. You're on!' a worker for the venue stated and Joost turned his phone off. He held it out to Fenne to put in her pocket before he ran out with his microphone to his lips.

'What the fuck is up, Amsterdam?!'

'Oh, god,' Fenne mumbled and imagined Nanda's face in the crowd. Stuntje snickered before he headed out to stand with Teun. Fenne followed with her camera filming, her feed linked to the large screen across the back of the stage.

While following Joost throughout the set, Fenne spotted his siblings in the crowd. They were towards the back as to not get involved in the tight moshpit. With drinks in hand, Nanda and Hugo nodded their heads along to the music. Fenne assumed that Nanda's husband was at home with Annalise, while the woman was enjoying her first night out in years.

Joost had already taken his singlet off, leaving him in his jeans and his Monster Energy sweatband. This was a common occurence, but Fenne prayed that he wouldn't decide that his jeans were also an unnecessary commodity tonight. He already had the waistband of his underwear exposed, which read 'Polo Ralph Lauren' along his hair-lined stomach. Although it was a pleasant sight to Fenne, she was sure that Nanda and Hugo would be rolling their eyes.

A shot from over Joost's right shoulder took over the visuals on the big screen. Fenne held her camera at chest level, getting a shot of Joost emmerced in Offline's second last verse. He rapped the crowd and focused on the lyrics while swaying to every beat.

'I've been waiting for years and months.

But I keep standing like ovations.

I like to draw on fogged windows.

She wants my C-O-C-K like Baantjer, whut!'

Fenne's gaze shot up from her camera screen as Joost turned and pointed a finger at her. Her eyes widened at the sight of his wide grin and crinkled eyes. His obvious direction of his lyrics made heat rise to her cheeks and the crowd screamed as the last chorus played on the back track.

Joost let the rest of Offline play as he made his way over to where Fenne stood. She shook her head in offence and went to circle around to avoid his consoling. Her embarrassment was genuine but she knew that he meant no harm. However, knowing that Hugo and Nanda were watching from the back row, Fenne played chicken as Joost tried to reach her.