Note: This fic kept on bugging me, preventing me from writing anything else, so I decided to get rid of it once and for all. It was planned for a long time now and shouldn't have come before TSFMS was complete but at least I'm posting something XD
This fic is based on the reality TV shows Rock of Love with Bret Michaels, and Daisy of Love with Daisy Delahoya. If you don't know what they are, I suggest that you at least check it out on Wikipedia because it may help you get the fic.
The concept is pretty simple: a rockstar, a dating show, and the rockstar is supposedly doing it to find his true love among 20 contestants, all of this in front of the cameras. The contestants live in a mansion all together, they have no contact with the public during the time they spend there, and they get eliminated little by little until there is only one.
I tweaked things slightly but overall things are the same as in those shows cited above. The fic runs over 15 days.
The fic itself being quite predictable since it's a Mello x Matt fic and that one is the rockstar and the other has to end with him at some point (because otherwise I wouldn't be writing it, obviously), the main thing is writing it so although you know start and finish, I can keep you entertained in between, and give depth to the characters as well as exposing the progression in behaviour and things that are not quite what they seem, insisting on the fact that it's not all black or white. I also wanted a very indecisive Matt in here, very paradoxical in his actions (I'm explaining it now because he will seem really inconsistent in the first chapters).
And it's also a VERY good excuse for sexy moments and lemoooooons :D
I'll post one chapter a day until completed, the fic being already ahead of a good amount of chapters.
And to complete this freakingly long AN, if you want to stay updated on my writing in general and the progression with this fic in particular, join my Facebook page, link on my profile :)
Impatience was an understatement for the condition the line of more-than-handsome boys - or at least most of them were – was in: whispers, giggles, fiddling, peering up the dark alley as the sun had already set on Hollywood, plunging the mansion in a night so thick that the Venetian style lampshades punctuating the road could hardly let them see anything past a few feet away.
So it became all the more blinding when the roar of an engine resounded, quickly covered by the clamour of male voices approving the arrival, and that spotlights lit up the place as in daylight, following the tracks of a lean frame straddling a black Honda, the machine's array matching the leather attire fitted on the rider. Soon, a rock tune started playing, just as both the newcomer and the boys could be framed together on screen, marking the beginning of the show's premiere.
The motorcycle slid down to the mansion, coming to a halt right in front of the court. Half of it observed in silence, excitement painted on their faces, the rest cheering and howling as the man removed his helmet, silencing everyone for good when his eyes roamed from left to right over the line.
"Welcome babes," he said in a sufficient tone, "I'll see you later, make yourself at home."
And with this, the helmet found its right place again and the man was gone, circling around the mansion to reach his private backdoor and his apartments.
"He's so sexy!" a chestnut haired boy cooed, soon pushed aside by a black haired contestant all dressed in gothic style: "I think he knows it, dumbass!"
The boy sent him an angry look, checking him out from head to toes with a disgusted hiss.
"But go ahead, throw yourself at him! I'm sure he's not bored at all with easy little sluts..." the goth guy chuckled, walking past the other, amused by his expression.
"Are you calling me a slut?" the chestnut haired boy asked, indignation in his voice.
"Forget it sweetie, he's just the kind that will play hard to get and will get nothing at all." another competitor huffed, walking away after he had picked up his suitcase, pushing the chestnut haired boy in front of him toward the entrance, and entering the mansion that was slowly filling with all the others.
DAY ONE – 20 contestants / 5 to be eliminated
The mansion quickly became a mess as the contestants chose their rooms, sometimes fighting for the best beds and trying to figure out who they wanted to share the next weeks with. Some were careful, piling neatly folded clothes on the shelves or hanging them on racks, others left their suitcases unattended on their bed, barely giving a second look at the place that would probably see very few hours of sleep in the following days to throw a party in the living room, eager to celebrate their presence in the show.
A little more than one hour had passed and some of the boys were already pretty alcoholized in the main room, drinks in hand, chatting loudly or jumping around, while others took care of their look in the bathroom in prevision of the star's proper introduction, which could happen any time now. Every noise had the boys starting but it was only forty minutes later that the door separating the corridor from the bachelor's private apartments, which they could see from the main room, opened, revealing the one that would be the link between them and their coveted prize: Danny, all at once bodyguard, confidant, nurse and assistant of the overly famous, rock charts top accustomed, biggest venues live performer, million dollars earning singer and guitarist of Mind Pollution, the band that has fans wetting themselves for the last decade: Mello.
Danny didn't want to be here. He didn't have a choice, being under contract with Mello, and said contract stating that wherever Mello signed, he signed too, but he knew that as much as he would love to be anywhere else than here right now, even without contract he'd probably still be here, because this was all a bad idea and Mello would soon be in a mess and need him, as usual. Mello didn't bring trouble. He was trouble itself. The shitstorm kind of trouble. And Danny had lost count on how many times he had saved his ass from tricky situations with groupies, parties turned disasters and various fuck-ups that would have led straight to lawsuits, if it wasn't for the tall bodyguard's diplomacy skills.
A very, very bad idea, to accept to star in a dating show with twenty greedy young males attracted to Mello like moths to a flame, and the ones that wouldn't end up properly burnt may just want to either kill themselves or murder the musician, who wasn't exactly known for being careful of others' feelings or even acknowledging that others had feelings to begin with...
It was the first show of the genre to star a gay bachelor, and weeks prior to the premiere, it had been all over the newspapers. The audience rate tonight was going through the roof and the production was rubbing their hands, seeing that coupling something that was a sensitive topic, with all the states passing laws for gay marriage lately, to one of the most controverted rockstars was the insurance to score big at every broadcast.
Danny surveyed the little crowd quickly, one look telling him right away who would be the ones whose strategy was to bribe him, thinking that the right hand man was a quicker laissez-passer to Mello's heart. Hell, Mello probably didn't have one, and if he had, the way was tricky enough that no one had found it until now anyway.
The looks he got from a handful of boys spoke for themselves: some frankly smiled to him, some winked, some played shy with languish eyes, and he wished he was allowed to give them a few hints because that would lead them nowhere, not with him, not with Mello. But he wasn't allowed further contact with any of them besides introducing the rockstar, announcing events or giving directions, so he kept silent, hoping for the best, knowing they would probably get the worst.
"Boys." he simply said for attention, although most eyes were on him already.
The voices stopped, only the sound of a CD playing preventing the room to be dead silent all of a sudden. Danny didn't have time to inhale, readying himself to introduce Mello, that he was pushed aside by a graceful hand.
"Cut up the talking Danny, they're starving, can't you see that?"
Long blonde hair swayed as predatory blues fell on the boys, the rockstar finally appearing in full view, black leather hugging his legs like a second skin, heavy boots and a grey tee-shirt with the logo of his band completing the attire, looking away from his assistant to the ones he was ready to use and abuse to his likings. If one could make it till the end, then he'd have a winner. Not that he was serious about this dating thing, he didn't plan on finding love on a show, or anywhere else, but the prospect of having twenty guys at his feet and doing as he pleased with them was appealing enough to sign for the show.
That was going to be fun. He didn't need the extra exposure, but although Danny as well as his band's manager had tried to dissuade him to appear on a reality TV program, stating that his image could suffer from it, he just didn't give a shit. He had done everything he wanted until now and fans had never stopped following so why would it change now? He wasn't just anyone, he was Mello. The fans would worship the show just like everything he had given them until now.
"Time for your eye candy guys!" Mello yelled, grabbing himself a bottle of Jack Daniels and joining the little gathering. Danny sighed, knowing very well that the bottle wouldn't stay full very long, and that every gulp would bring Mello closer to being an asshole. Well, a total one, actually, since he was already half of one when he was sober. Good thing was, Mello never drank to oblivion or sickness, just enough to be a sarcasm-happy drunk. There wasn't a time when the rocker wasn't in control of himself, he didn't do drugs, sex tapes or shit like that, he might say he didn't care for his public image, but still, he always showed only what he intended to, nothing less, nothing more. He respected himself enough not to be seen in a shameful state. Better said, he was too full of himself for that. But his recklessness often played against that, unfortunately for Danny. Just like now. Appearing in a reality TV show wasn't exactly Danny's idea of self-respect, and really, Mello should have known better.
"Keep your distances sweeties, I never said you could touch."
Mello plopped himself in a fuzzy armchair, resting his feet on the coffee table, gesturing the boys to gather in the couches and other armchairs around him. Some sat on the floor at his feet, trying to get closer, but none of them dared to touch although they were itching to, Mello was way too intimidating for that.
The musician took a few gulps and decided to start getting to know his court one by one, he would have to do the talking sometimes for the show's purposes, as he was instructed to. The few rules he had agreed on were simple: talk to them, ask questions, build rivalries and give them a little hope sometimes. He would have so much fun raising them one against the other, and to think he could fuck any of them in his private apartments as a bonus...
"You." he simply pointed his chin briefly at a brown haired boy full of muscles.
"I'm Jake, nice to meet you Mello." the latter replied, standing up and rolling his muscles slightly in the process, trying to impress.
"Yeah yeah. Damn, you're so broad you count as two of you at least." Mello chuckled, a nasty smirk appearing on his lips as the other swelled with pride and offered him his biceps to touch, flexing it. "Never said I liked it." the singer grimaced, shooing him away with a gesture of the hand.
The cold shower sent the other back to his seat under the others' laughters.
"Too much meat, and not in the right place... Oh, I forgot to mention, five of you are going back home tonight. You're the first one." Mello said, glancing at Jake before bringing his attention to the gothic guy.
"We both like black, but that's all we're gonna have in common I'm afraid. You can pack too Cruella."
The chestnut haired boy laughed harder than the rest at this demise, bringing attention to himself unwillingly.
"What do we have here?" Mello turned his head in direction of the sound, "Now that's a hearty laughter... Come here pretty thing." he patted the coffee table for the boy to sit on it, facing him. He took a long moment to look at him, nodding in approval. "Now that's more interesting... what's your name?"
"Lou. Well, Lucas, but everyone calls me Lou." the boy beamed with the attention he was getting.
"Am I everyone?" Mello looked down at him, and Danny rolled his eyes. His boss was probably the only guy that could look down at someone who was positioned higher than him.
"No! I... That's not what I meant! I'm sorry!" the poor boy was mortified, and already his eyes were glistening.
"You'll have to make up for that. You're cute enough to make the cut... oh come on, cry baby, I'm keeping you here, you should be happy!"
Mello sighed, hoping he wouldn't have to deal with too many sissies in here, he hated tears. They were useless and annoying.
"Lesson one: be careful what you say, I'm not your buddy. Being cute will help you, but my patience is very limited, and crying will only make me want to slap you. So if you were planning on using pity with me, it will just lead you straight through the door."
Mello straightened in his armchair, took a gulp out of his bottle, and looked around once more. "Talking about being cute, you-" he pointed at a short haired blond boy, "I don't like blondes, none can compare to what I see in the mirror every morning, you're out." He stood up, walking to see some of the boys better, "You look like an ant." and gestured to the door, notifying the one he just addressed to, a tall and lanky guy, that he was timed out as well.
"That leaves us with a last one to disappoint tonight. Hmm..."
Danny brought a finger to his ear, trying to get what he was being said in his bluetooth device, the production not really agreeing on Mello cleaning the first five so fast, and made a little sign to the singer to catch his attention.
He mouthed a few words, telling him to take it easy, earning himself a grin that he knew meant that the other would do as he pleased. Not that it was surprising.
Mello sat back, still gauging the remaining contestants. "You're all cute enough, hard choice..."
Then he spotted someone who was still sat on a stool next to the bar, set back slightly from the group. He hadn't even noticed him at first. The least that could be said was that this one looked less than interested in what was happening, sipping a beer casually, half in the shade. Shade that was still unable to hide a particularity that Mello wasn't fond of, at all.
"A redhead. They fucking let a redhead in here... I guess we have a winner. Well, a loser, if anything. I don't know if you were playing mysterious staying there or if you wanted to hide that awful mop of yours but either way, bye bye. I don't do redheads."
The boy deposited his bottle of beer on the bar, slid from the stool, cigarette dangling from his lips, a slight smirk in the corner of his mouth, as he walked to the door slowly, with confidence, absolutely unfazed by the insulting way he'd just been spoken with.
Mello sustained the look that the redhead gave him all the way, his mind suddenly cramming for a way to take things a different way, as he ticked.
Extending his arm, he blocked the passage just as the redhead arrived at his armchair's level.