It’s only conjuncture on my part that Darren would/will be using Olympic studios to record his album but if he’s recording in London it’s a pretty good contender. Placebo did record at least part of ‘Black Market Music’ there. (though I am not sure whether or not they have post-prod facilities there.) And yes I know they recorded it and starting touring last year therefore making the timescales out of whack (SG themselves were touring at the time, blah, blah) – but hey work with me on this one. Please?

Okay – I’ve since been proved wrong, cos the little darling has decided to record a bit closer to home. (can’t say I blame him, not that there is anything wrong with Barnes.)

This fic is purely the product of my over-active, and some would say twisted, mind. I’m not implying that D&D do drugs or that Brian eats copious amounts of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches when he’s stoned! – Just thought I would make that clear!

'Remind me again why we are here?' Daniel shouted above the roar of the crowd as they made their way to the backstage door.

‘Because Brian invited us.’ Darren yelled back flashing his laminated pass to the surly bouncer stationed there.

Dan did the same and followed Darren into the relative peace of the corridor beyond. ‘Besides,’ Darren went on, ‘the music ain’t bad either.’

Ain’t? Daniel smiled to himself. Darren hadn’t been in England three months and already he was talking like a native. Considering that Placebo had been using the same studios as Darren was using to record his solo album, to tinker around with the post-production on their latest offering, it had been inevitable that the two singers would ‘bump’ into each other. For some unknown reason they had hit it off immediately resulting in Darren spending a lot of what little free time he had hanging out with the band, Brian in particular. Now the two Australians had been invited to the opening gig of their current tour.

The encore ended and to much screaming and stomping of feet the band came running down the stage steps to where Darren and Daniel stood.

Brian spotted them first. ‘Darren, you made it,’ and the petit singer flung his arms round his Savage counterpart, planting a noisy kiss on his cheek as he did so.’

‘Brian, this is Daniel.’ Darren disentangled himself and made the introduction.

‘Daniel, pleased to meet you. Darren has told me soooo much about you.’ And he winked lewdly.

Daniel rolled his eyes, he knew this was a bad idea when Darren suggested it. They only had a week together and the last thing he wanted was to spend it in the company of another diva.

The dark haired man standing behind Brian saw his expression and smiled. ‘Hi, I’m Steve and that,’ he indicated a blond haired man disappearing into a room further down the passageway ‘is Stefan. Come on I’ll get you a drink and we can leave the two princesses to catch up.’

‘Hey who you calling a princess?’ Brian shouted at the retreating figures.

The two men just laughed, they knew their singers too well.

‘Is he always like that?’ Daniel asked when he was seated in Placebo’s dressing room.

‘No,’ came the simultaneous reply from Stefan seated in front of the mirror and Steve behind the shower curtain. ‘Sometimes he’s worse.’

Daniel laughed and took a drink of his beer. Ok, maybe this evening wasn’t going to be so bad afterall.

‘Here Daniel, make yourself useful.’ Steve re-emerged, a towel wrapped round his waist and began rummaging in his holdall. Finding what he was seeking he threw a cigarette tin across to the sofa where Dan sat.

Putting down his beer Daniel picked up the tin and opened it. The contents were much as he suspected and smiling to himself he pulled out a paper. He was just inserting a roach when the door was flung open and Brian and Darren entered.

‘Hey, good call Dan. A friend indeed.’ Brian said indicating the near complete joint in Daniel’s hand before stripping off his dress and heading for the shower.

‘So where have you been?’ Dan asked Darren as he flopped down next to him, ‘on second thoughts I don’t want to know.’ He concluded looking at the tell-tale flush on his band mate's face.

‘Just renewing our acquaintance.’ Darren said.

‘Is that what you call it?’ Stefan snorted.

Darren blushed. ‘Jealous?’ he asked.

‘Of you, never,’ the bassist retorted.

‘Jealous?’ Darren asked Daniel softly.

‘No. Should I be?’ Dan replied

‘No,’ Darren replied snaking his hand between Daniel’s legs ‘Your still my number one guy. Brian is just A CHEAP WHORE.’

‘I heard that.’ An indignant voice shouted back causing the whole group to dissolve into laughter. The object of their derision stepped out of the shower stark naked and proceeded to shake his hair dog-like showering the others in droplets of water.

‘Oi, Molko cut it out.’ Steve commanded.

Brian ignored him, giving his head one last shake for good measure before grabbing his drummer’s discarded towel and drying himself off. ‘So Danny boy, you gonna just sit there and stare at that all night or put it to good use?’ he asked pulling on a pair of trousers.

Daniel took the hint. Putting the joint to his lips, he lit it and took a good long drag.

‘Watch it, that’s good stuff.’ Steve advised as he reached over and took it from between Dan’s fingers.

‘Darren?’ he offered it across. Darren shook his head and smiled. ‘Got a much better way.’ And taking Daniel’s face between his hands he drew him down for a kiss. Dan exhaled slowly allowing the smoke to enter Darren’s mouth.

‘Neat trick,’ Brian commented, ‘Hey Steve wanna try?’

‘Fuck off.’ Steve took a toke of his own, holding it in his lungs before blowing out a thin line of blue smoke.

Stefan picked up the tin and rolled another. Very soon the room was resounding to the sound of inane giggling.

‘I take it you are coming back with us?’ Brian enquired when he finally caught his breath.

‘Sure,’ Darren replied.

‘Good, ‘cause I need something to eat badly.’

‘Huh oh,’ Stefan warned ‘Bri’s got the munchies. Lock up your peanut butter and jelly.’

For some reason they all found that incredibly funny except Brian and Daniel.

‘I’m not that bad.’ Brian whined.

‘You are too.’ Steve told him.

Daniel shot Darren a puzzled look. ‘You’ll see.’ Darren said cryptically.

Still laughing the group moved to the corridor. ‘You two go on,’ Steve suggested ‘We’ve got to run the gauntlet of our adoring fans. Make sure pretty boy here doesn’t get completely mobbed,’ and he gave Brian a none too gentle prod in the back. ‘Come on your majesty, your public awaits.’

‘What is this? Pick on Brian night?’ the singer grumbled.

‘Yes, now move it.’ Another prod.

‘Wait for us by the service door.’ Stefan instructed, ‘We’ll be as quick as we can.’

Leaving the others to their arguing, Daniel and Darren slipped out of the arena and made their way round to the back of the building. It was deserted, most of the concert goers already in the long snaking queue for the tube. A die hard core lingered by the stage door and it was their screams that heralded Placebo’s exit.

‘So Jonesy,’ Darren said drawing Daniel to him. ‘What do you think of Brian?’