The boys filed into backstage, followed by the cheers of their audience. The gig had been a huge success, what with Alec's new-found happiness that spread infectiously to the others, the performance had radiated enjoyment, and the audience had responded loudly and excitedly to this new electric-like vibe. Plucky had picked Alec up and carried him fireman style off the stage, the bassist laughing and trying to keep a firm grip on his instrument. Tai was chuckling at his friends fooling around, Kitchzy and Cassie joining in just as they arrived in. Vorn stood silently in the corner, waiting.
"Okay guys, go take five, an' I'll see you back here later an' we'll go home, 'kay? Just hang with some fans while I sort some stuff out" Kitchzy grinned encouragingly and left.
"I will meet some of my friends too, have fun" Cassie smiled at them and exchanged a brief personal smile with Alec, before leaving.
"Wonderful, some time to unwind and socialise" Alec said, stretching his arms over his head, clicking his fingers.
"Dude, we, like, totally do that after shows anyway" Tai chuckled.
"Yes, well, I'm feeling better these days" He grinned widely "So put me down already, Plucky."
The guitarist grabbed firmly onto the elf's waist and held him up high.
"Lightssakepummedown!" Alec squeaked, trying to free himself.
Tai chuckled and leaned over, pulling his friend from Plucky's hands easily and lowering him "There you go, dude."
"Thanks a lot, Tai. By the light, just because I'm short..." Alec flicked Plucky's hair playfully, before ducking outside and joining some fans.
Plucky shrugged lightly and followed him, mingling into a gang of pretty girls.
Just as Tai was about to follow them into the crowd, a hand lay on his shoulder, stopping him. He turned to look at Vorn, who'd approached him silently. There was a moment of silence where Tai stared in confusion at his friend, and the drummer stared back silently. Vorn inclined his head slightly and began to move away, with Tai following obediently.
Kitchzy flopped down outside, letting out a short sigh. Everything had gone perfectly and for once everything was running smoothly. She smiled lightly to herself and closed her eyes for a moment. She caught the light hints of smoke on the air and wondered for a moment if Plucky had stepped outside, then remembered he was currently surrounded by girls. A smile crossed her face slowly as she realised who it would be.
"Didn't think I'd see you again" she said, her eyes still shut.
"I didn' think you'd get a job" came the deep, gravely reply.
She opened her eyes and turned her head to look at her companion. He was only slightly taller than her, with deep earth-green skin and large pointed ears, one of which had a small clip taken out of it. A wide-brimmed leopard-printed hat hid most of his face, but the long pointed nose pokes out prominently and two locks of pastel red hair hung down both sides of his face, weighed down with large metal nuts. He wore a brown leather jacket over a white shirt and deep black trousers and worn black boots. Poking out of his mouth was a slightly grey and crumpled cigarette.
"We gotta lotta catchin' up to do" Kitchzy chuckled lightly and patted the floor next to her.
"Then you start with tellin' me how you got here" He said, sitting beside her.
Vorn lead them into the changing room and carefully shut the door, making sure that no one was looking heir way or walking past. He carefully locked the door quietly and turned to the singer, who was stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, clearly confused and uncomfortable with the situation.
He remembered seeing Tai like this once before, many years ago when he was very young and the two had met for the first time. Vorn had been a refugee from a village that had been raided by humans and his leg had been crushed under a fallen building. The Matron had introduced them, hoping that somehow their relatively close ages would form a friendship between them. Tai had been somewhat confused and uncomfortable, and had explained, in a strong, exotic accent, that he'd never been with anyone his age or seen any other race close up apart from Goblins. He barely even remembered what his own tribe had looked like. Vorn remembered barely understanding the troll's Goblin slang and makeshift accent, but had not minded because the boy had told him stories of strange and wonderful places he knew he'd never see. The troll had enchanted him from the moment they met, from his spiky, unruly beetle black hair to his unending tales of the world in his own self-invented accent. They'd formed a close friendship on that day that had never been broken, no matter the things they disagreed on.
"So, uh, dude, uh, what did you, like, want and stuff?" Tai questioned, tilting his head slightly, bringing Vorn back to the real world.
"You need to start acting more seriously, Tai" Vorn said bluntly.
"Dude, like, what?"
"If you don't, you'll start a war."
"Don't worry, we, like, have Cassie on our side and her Alliance friends."
"Bad idea" Vorn deadpanned.
"Dude, like, cheer up or something..." Ti started weakly.
"No. I'm warning you so that you don't make any rash decisions. Whether you like it or not, you have become the band leader."
"Dude, like, chill out" Tai frowned slightly.
Vorn let out a sigh, knowing that this could take a while.
Alec chuckled as he pulled away from a gang of new friends. He had to get out of the dress soon before he either tripped over the skirt or before it broke or was stained by something. He slipped out backstage, avoiding a few more fans, and carefully made his way towards the changing room. He'd noticed his brother talking with some pretty women and wondered if he was showing himself off and trying to impress them, and then wondered if his younger sibling would have a girlfriend before he did. He decided he didn't really care that much. Antherin had never been much of a good brother.
He started loosening the corset on the dress. The gig had been a huge success in his eyes and he'd had a good time talking to fans. Most of them had left about an hour after the gig but a small group had stuck around to chat with him and enjoy a drink at the bar. He'd even bumped into a few people who he'd known long before the band had formed and a few he'd carefully avoided. But after a while the dress had become a huge nuisance to him and he'd decided to get away, and also to have some time to himself to think.
He reached the door to the changing room and stopped, hand hovering over the doorknob. He could hear shouting from the other side of the door. And suddenly, he was deaf and blind all at the same time, a chill was running down his spine and his mouth was dry. His heart beat in his chest painfully. And he sank to the floor.
Plucky strolled down backstage in a bored manner, trying to light a cigarette. The gang of girls he'd been with before had slowly dispersed and he'd waved off the last few, having noticed that the rest of the band were no longer with their fans. As he neared the changing room he spotted a girl huddled up on the floor, face buried into her knees and hands held tightly over her ears. Her dress was hanging loosely off her thin frame and ribbons and strings that had been unlaced from the corseting were lying untidily on the floor. Her platinum blonde hair was unwinding from a long ponytail and splayed out over her back, shoulders and on the floor. It wasn't until he drew closer that he realised it was Alec, and that he was crying.
Alec was curled up in a tiny ball under the stairs, his hair falling from its ponytail. His house-robe, normally too large for him, was wrapped tightly around his tiny frame, digging into his skin, clutched tightly in his small fingers. The sounds of shouting echoed from down the hall, each syllable beating against his ear as his parents screamed at each other. There was the crashing sound of expensive crockery shattering and a loud thud of heavy furniture being knocked over. The sounds of fast moving footsteps began as the screaming grew louder. His mother wailed and smashed vases and his father shouted loudly, knocking over more furniture. There was a loud thud and his mother's screams were cut short, and a long silence followed. Alec curled up tighter and wept silently, feeling for the first time in his life fully, and completely alone.
Plucky wrapped an arm carefully around the bassist and pulled the elf closer comfortingly. It had come naturally to him in the moment, as soon as he'd crouched down to his friend's level. It was a familiar feeling, holding a smaller frame in his arms as the boy cried. A wave of nausea rushed over him as he remembered a glimpse of his life before, the fragments of memory he had left.
A young boy was running towards him, short blonde hair fluttering in the wind as he sped along the grand hallway. Just before he reached him, the child tripped and fell forwards, letting out a short cry, which was muffled in his arms as he caught the young boy.
"H-hugh I.." The young child trailed off, staring at him with wide eyes, shining with tears.
He knelt down next to the boy and held him carefully by the shoulders, putting their eye levels at exact heights.
"I th-think of the rabbits are dead, Hugh, it won't wake up" the young boy hiccupped sadly.
Hugh pulled a cloth from the pocket of his black waistcoat and wiped the boys eyes, listening with a kind look on his face.
"I was feeding them their food, and one wouldn't wake up, and I tried moving him but it just stays still. Everyone only said it was a shame and that I shouldn't cry over it but.. but" The young boy snuffled and looked at his feet miserably.
Hugh carefully put away his cloth and waited calmly for the boy to continue.
"H-huugh, I don't want it t-to be dead but I want to bury it if he is" the boy looked up sadly "Make a funeral for it, if it is dead, Hugh" he said quietly.
Hugh carefully stood up and held out his hand and the boy took it. He smiled kindly at him and opened his mouth; then spoke "Yes, my lord."
Vorn left the room, slamming the door behind him. He glanced down at Alec and Plucky, and for a moment the undead and Orc stared at each other squarely, the air thickening between them, the silence deafening. Eventually, Vorn's expression became a scowl and he stalked away wordlessly. Alec was curled up tightly, no longer sobbing, clutching at Plucky's front, face buried against his chest. As Vorn left the building, ignoring everything around him, the faint sounds of hopeless crying came from the other side of the door, and Plucky was aware, for the first time, that his friends were still no more than children.