Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Today's the so called "big day". Not only is it Open House day for Nockfell's College but it's also Concert day.

Sal contemplates silently, sitting at the farthest table from a little cafe's cash registers and holding his ticket up to his face. He then takes another look at the concert's schedule while his step-brother is still waiting in line for their drinks. Larry got pretty grumpy when his blue-haired half-sibling "barged" into his room to wake him up at "ungodly hours." Sally snickers silently at the memory. It's not his fault the tall metalhead didn't look up the hours to see that the event would take place in the morning. Larry demanded a coffee on the way to the school, not giving a single fuck if they missed the first few songs because of it and Sal had to relent. They both agreed the most interesting bits would be later anyway. 

Speak of the devil as he arrives with beverages. Sally tucks his papers back into his pocket and quickly rises to his feet, grabbing his drink as it's handed to him and the two boys promptly head out. 

Walking the rest of the way to the school, the bluette unclasps the lower buckle to his mask to drink. The taller edgelord takes a few sips of his dark coffee before pulling a face at the strong taste. It's only after he looses a few wrinkles in between his eyebrows that the man turns to his stepbrother. 

"Hey dude, did you see what that singer looked like? There was an update to the webpage this morning, they posted group pictures of the artists."

"Nope, I didn't even know actually."

Larry snorts, pulling out his phone. "It's pretty hilarious if you ask me dude, shit's ironic as hell."

The taller man gives his phone to the smaller, said picture taking the entirety of the screen. There's a whole crew of people, ranging from nerdish to the stereotypical hot chicks and dudes all the way to gothics and rapper-like. He then points a finger to one of the farthest corner, where the "darker-styled" members are. 

"Those are our guys. D'you see him? Here, just swipe left."

Sal does as told and is now looking at what appears to be a group of pictures with more segregated styles banded together. He enlarges the Rock/Metal related group and Larry points to the picture's side once more with a little snicker. 

"Ah."

Between a few other people stands Larry's latest object of interest. This guy is wearing an admittedly comfortable-looking flannel shirt over a plain black tank top, his messy  hair is tied in a lazy bun, some strands falling on his face as he looks to the side. What realy catches his eyes though is the partial mask covering the visible side of his face. It's completely white and, much like his own prosthetic, holds a really blank expression. You can really only see this guy's lips and lower jaw when he strikes that kind of pose. 

"He looks like a strange mix between you and me doesn't he?" Larry chuckles out. 

Sal nods in agreeance, handing back the device. "He has his diffrences here and there still."

The two of them soon change subject, debating over other matters the rest of the way.

Todd's latest experiments and discoveries, little Soda, the latest social media trends, Ash's latest messages, the appartment's ghosts and, of course, the damn cult, what they're gonna chose as majors for college, when will Larry finaly make his mind and follow Sal to Todd and his boyfriend's future appartement, if Sanity Falls' latest drop really was that good or not and whatever else comes through their brain at the moment. 

They set foot on college ground, finally able to get rid of their empty drinks by feeding it to the trash can, and head for the lobby. Once inside, they're rapidly directed to an Auditorium, music already blarring beyond the doors. They're let in and promptly abandoned to "fight" their way through the applauding crowd so they can find a spot. With Sal being on the smaller side, it takes them a good time to reach the rows closer to the front and by the time they do, another songs finishes. They applaud with the crowd. 

A lady comes to the stage, obviously belonging to the back crew. Smiling at the crowd, she lifts a microphone to her lips. 

"Everybody's still enjoying the show?!" 

Everyone shouts and whistles their answer, Larry joins in in no time while Sal prefers to simply applaud for now. The lady chuckles before continuing. 

"Well, I promise you, there's even more of it to come! But before that, here is the obligatory disclaimer I am sure you're already well aware of. The next songs will, for the most part, hold much darker subjects that may be shocking to some of you. If you were unaware of this or feel uncomfortable in any way, we welcome you to exit the auditorium and we'll show you to another room where we can keep you entertained during the period of time when these songs will be played..." 

"Right on time." The tall metalhead smirks to his friend. 

_____________________________________

You watch from behind the curtains as the last members of the Country groups play their piece. You breath in slowly, closing your eyes to the world around you. You can feel your heart running laps in your chest as you grip the handle to your guitar tighter.

"Feeling nervous?" You hear a taunting voice behind you. 

You smile, opening your eyes and looking over your shoulder. "Excited."

The owner of said voice steps in front of you, turning to face you with a little smile of their own. You add, your tone almost inquisitive. 

"I thought you'd be long gone by the time it's my turn."

She now grins, reaching to readjust your mask "I've still got some time to make sure you don't blow things too far out of proportions."

You groan, taking a hold of her hand before she starts fumbling again. "Emma..." You warn lightly. "Still acting like a big sister, eh?"

You see another member of the back crew walk on stage and know it wont be too long now before you do too. 

"Just- don't make a scene this time. Please? It's already a miracle I managed to get the okay for you today, don't make me regret it." Emma grumbles. 

You snort "No promises." A little pout makes you reconsider. "Alright alright, I'll try."

It successfully brings her smile back and she dislodges her hand from your grasp to make sure one last time that your mask is well fixed. 

You fight back the expression threatening to break on your face, her nervous treatment really starting to rub you the wrong way. 

'Just leave it be!' Your mind hisses. 

Not a moment later, the crew member on stage calls out to you and your team member's names, inviting you on stage. The others head out first, one even nudging you on the shoulder as you dislodge yourself from Emma's hold. 

Irked and ready, you strut out from behind the blinds, waving at the crowd clapping and screaming. Honestly, so what if you did make a little scene? It's just part of the show. Hell sake, it is literally a show! 

... Damn right. 

This is a fucking show! 

Before you really take the time to think it through. You grab the offensive white lie on your face and lift it off of your head. With it goes a good few hair stuck in the straps as you fling it towards your original point of arrival.

Directly to Emma's feet. 

You look on to the slightly suprised, but mostly overjoyed and cheering crowd. This'll get the edge off for now. With your left eye finally free, feeling the heavy warm air of the room, and exposing to the world the deep scars digging grooves into your skin, you honestly feel... free. There won't be any deception, no mask between you and everything else!

And fuck those who think you should hide because they don't like how you look! 

You salute your audience before turning to your group, making sure everything's good and ready. You wait for people to quiet down a bit before starting your well rehearsed play of the instruments. The drum does it's magic. You sneer softly.