Clive Nasty was still an icon who would not be broken. With his relatively superior intelligence and acidic wit, he could crush any greasy record executive, jealous musician, or unwitting rock critic who dared to step in his way with a flick of his well- oiled tongue. His malicious comments, still quoted on MTV and in all the rock magazines twenty years later, never failed to bring gleeful laughter to Talya's lips. He was an icon for iconoclasts.
Talya insinuated herself into the adoring crowd huddling at the master's feet and threw Clive a crooked grin. Clive paused in mid-sentence, perhaps thrown off-balance by the obvious intent of Talya's smile. He continued, weaving incriminating tales of the early days of punk and spewing out his opinions, his glance continually straying back to Talya.
After the crowd thinned out, Talya slid up to Clive and offered her hand.
"Talya Greco," she introduced herself, allowing a lewd grin to slither onto her face.
Clive grinned in recognition and shook her hand. "Clive Barrett."
"Oh, using your real name tonight?"
"I like to keep the masses on their toes."
"Indeed. It was a very good show tonight."
"As I intended."
Talya chuckled knowingly. "I have been a great fan of yours for a long time."
"A long time? How old are you?"
"Twenty-three."
"You were barely out of your shitty nappies when Filthy Lucre broke up."
"True."
Clive eyed Talya, rubbed his chin, then borrowed Talya's lewd grin.
"I guess I could shag you anyway," he said.
"That's what I'm here for," Talya replied, not missing a beat.
"I'm not going to have to pay for this, am I?"
"What kind of a girl do you think I am?" Talya asked with mock innocence.
Clive threw his head back with laughter.
"Would you like to join me in my hotel room?" Clive asked.
"Well, I certainly don't want to do it here on the floor."
"Right this way," he said, with a flourish of his arms.
Clive rested his hand on the small of Talya's back and led her out the back and into an awaiting limo.
"Would you like a drink?" Clive asked once the limo began rolling toward its destination.
"Certainly. What's the best thing you have?"
Clive smiled. "I like your attitude."
He withdrew two glasses and a bottle of champagne from the mini bar and poured their drinks. After handing Talya her glass, Clive held his up for a toast.
"To having the best."
"Cheers."