OblivionX

-2-

Rockstar

It was obnoxiously warm and cheery, if dark, outside the cafe. Dulor pulled up his hood and slid on his sunglasses (everyone in The Bizz wore them) just to be contrary. He turned and walked slowly back toward his hotel, looking forward only to Axel raving drunkenly, Roxas screaming at him to stop whatever insanity he was attempting, and Xaldin shutting himself in his room so often that then only saw him at mealtimes, on the bus, and at shows anymore. After the lights finally went out he could then look forward to muffled sounds from Zexion's room as he had fun with his lead groupie, Yazoo. At least he didn't have to deal with Marluxia demanding baths of strange substances 'good for the skin' to his room at one in the morning anymore.

Dulor swerved on his feet like a drunk man to avoid being run over by a fast taxi which honked at him. It occurred to the manager then that sunglasses weren't really practical at night. He might actually get run over, thus ending all of his problems. Chuckling at this relieving prospect, he nearly missed the biggest event of his life as he walked past it.

But he heard it anyways.

"I'm in the business of misery, let's take it from the top

She's got a body like an hourglass it's tickin' like a clock"

The entire street was empty because of it- they were all inside the club to his left, drawn inside by the soft melody and sweet tenor voice that sent his mind into brief shock and his feet immediately making another seemingly drunken turn towards the door. He stepped inside, looked up, and found his new vocalist waiting for him.

"It's a matter of time before we all run out...

When I thought he was mine, she caught him by the mouth"

He looked like a rockstar, alright. Punk clothes, bright colored eye makeup, and spray color in his hair. He was leaning on the microphone stand, balancing precariously over the edge of the stage. His eyes were bright as he stared into the crowd at no one in particular.

"Second chances they don't ever matter, people never change

Once a whore, you're nothing more, I'm sorry that'll never change

And about forgiveness, we're both supposed to have exchanged

I'm sorry honey, but I'm passing up, now look this way!"

He snapped his fingers as he ended the song, flicking a loose strand of hair behind his ear before turning to walk backstage without another word.

He had to sit down. He did so. He had to talk to that boy, no matter how young he appeared. He couldn't think enough to move. People were chattering excitedly around him, suddenly remembering prior engagements and rushing out the building or staying to exclaim about the boy with everyone else. It was then that he learned the kid's name.

"Did you see-"

"Medy is soo talented!"

"That kid'll be famous one day."

"I heard he doesn't have a mother, poor kid-"

"Medy can sing anything to sleep-"

"He's a prodigy-"

"Yeah, like Jesus that kid-"

"I wonder when he's coming back on?"

The manager flapped out of the back room, shooing people back from the stage.

"Get back, get back, no one's allowed back here. He's not coming on again tonight, he's been on for hours for god's sake. He's not a rockstar!"

"Not yet."

Dulor stood up, making most of the room's eyes turn toward him as he approached the manager.

"No, you can't see him either. I'm sorry, you'll have to come back tom-"

"I'm afraid I'd like to see him right now, please."

"I am the manager, sir-"

"So am I. Of OblivionX. Dulor Leblanc." He held out his hand to shake formally.

Everyone in the club stared.

"Preferably now, before I am mobbed."

And as he heard the whispers of OblivionX and Marluxia erupt behind him, and people crowd after him, he followed the manager through the door and to the backstage.

Medy was in the dressing room backstage, wiping off his stage makeup. He was barefoot; the boots he had been wearing previously had been the first thing off. They now lay in a pile next to the wall. Damn those boots. They looked GREAT, but they absolutely killed after wearing them for more than an hour.

Hearing the door open startled him so much he fell off the little wooden bench he had been sitting on and smacked his forehead on the mirror that took up one wall. He jumped back to his feet, rubbing his forehead as stars danced in front of his eyes.

The manager stuck his head in, looking flustered. "Medy. There's someone here to see you. He's waiting for a minute, but impatient. Get something nice on, ok? I know I said I'd never let you go after what you do for the business in this place, but... You know how you always wanted to meet OblivionX?" The manager grinned- he was a nice man, and very fond of his lead entertainment.

"O-OblivionX!?" Medy shouted, dropping the towel he'd been using to remove his makeup. "What're you talking about? They can't be /here/!?"

The manager took in the state of his bare feet and half-off makeup pointedly, then said mystically, "No, but someone else you adore is. Try to wear something other than the ducky shirt, please. Although I'm sure he already saw it on stage. You have two minutes." He withdrew his head and waited.

Medy spent these two minutes wiping off the rest of his makeup. His heart was pounding in his chest and he swore he could hear a clock ticking. He pulled another shirt from the rack of clothing he kept there for shows and pulled it on on top of the other one, then glanced at the boots. No way in hell was he putting /those/ back on. He dubbed himself presentable and flung the door open, using all of his focus to keep from running down the hall.

Dulor looked up from pacing as the door opened, and was confronted with an image of Medy without makeup or shoes. He chose to look as though he was considering the strangeness of this while he really thought about how he was going to phrase his first words. Medy looked just as good without his makeup, or the killer (probably literally, judging by Marluxia's former wardrobe and the complaints that followed) boots that he'd worn on stage. He looked extremely nervous, and jumpy, and slightly confused before he recognized who he was talking to. Then it dawned on his face, and Dulor abruptly smiled.

"You sing pretty well, Medy. Do you really not have a mother?"

"I- I- Th-thank you, I-" Medy flushed pink, biting his tongue to calm himself down. A little too hard, he tasted blood. "I- Well, of course I have a mother, I mean... She's dead, but, yeah... Uh..." The manager of OblivionX was standing right in front of him.

He knew his name. Was talking to him. Was complimenting his singing. What was all this about?

Dulor somehow managed to examine his nails idly, mentioning, "I'm assuming you've heard of Marluxia by now, if you know who I am. I mean-" He laughed a little. "- the manger isn't usually that well known. You do know who I am, right?"

"Well of course I know who /you/ are. You're Dulor Leblanc." He could feel himself shaking. He felt like he was going to fall over at any minute. He just might. "I'm sorry about Marluxia, by the way."

Dulor gave a gay wave in subtle mockery of his ex-vocalist. "It's fine. He was a jackass in person anyways." The manager considered going a step closer, but took in the state of Medy's nerves and decided not to. The boy was shaking.

"The point is, now I need a new singer. How old are you, Medy?"

"Y-y-you're asking ME?" He nearly fainted. He barely managed to gather himself enough to answer the man's question. "S-s-s-seventeen."

Dulor chuckled, hoping to put Medy at ease. "And are you free to leave your job here at any time? Would your father object to you not being at home as much? Are you still in school?" He wished faintly that he hadn't asked so many questions, but they needed to be answered if he was going to accomplish this at all.

"I-I'd have to t-talk to the m-manager, but h-hes a nice guy... And my dad won't give a damn, he disowned me. I've been living in my own apartment for almost a year, now. Working two jobs to do it, so I had to drop out of high school..."

Dulor smoothly interrupted him, not needing to hear it all now, just satisfied that his plan was working. "I already asked him. He said he hoped you had a good time and would visit, as he is going to miss you. He also asks if you can bring the band over sometime to play. Do you have your stuff or can I call a cab?"

"I- I- Where are we going?"

Dulor hesitated, not wanting to freak the kid out. He told Medy anyways. "... To my hotel, or course. To meet the rest of the band. I'm hiring you as our lead singer."

"To- To- I-" It was too much to process. His brain blanked out and he fell over right into Dulor.

"Oh dear..." That was what Dulor started to say, until Medy was in his arms. He was almost surprised, but not quite. Still, it was a little... strange. The kid was so light, thin, as though he didn't eat much (which he probably didn't) and... soft. Gods, Zexion was rubbing off on him. Dulor twitched ironically and dragged Medy over to a nearby bench, where he lay the boy before going to speak with the manager.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX