Over the next few days Allen had worked on her art project. Most of her classes had given small amounts of in-class work that everyone finished with half of the class time to spare. For some reason the project made her somewhat uneasy especially if she had to explain it to the entire class. But she had managed to finish her painting within the week. At the same time she had to write some more songs for the summer concert that was currently being planned. Not to mention the studio wanted to get people to start listening to her music so she could have a fanbase before she began the concert.
Over the weekend she would record Lie, Worst Carnival, Soundless Voice, Heart Rate, Karakuri Pierrot, Jitter Doll, and Snow Kiss. To admit that she was nervous about recording would take at least 10 years. She just hoped she wouldn't regret this decision later on.
It was now Friday and the lunch bell had rang. She met Lavi and Kanda at their usual indoor spot underneath the stairs where she saw they were already eating. "Thanks for waiting." She said sarcastically. Lavi snapped up to hug her petite for. She had a long cream sweater and burgundy jeans on and brown ankle boots. Her hair had been braided, by Anita, to where it appeared as a headband. Her bangs left to cover part of her scar and face with the rest of the hair falling in small waves behind her.
"Moyashi-chan you look adorable!" Lavi said crushing her face against his chest in an attempt to smother her. "Lavi I can't breathe." She attempted to push him back so she could regain her breath. "Sorry."
Lavi had let her go and she took her place on the steps and started eating as well. Lavi being the chatterbox that he is started up the conversation. "So Allen" he looked around to see if anyone was near "When do you start recording and stuff?" he whispered excitedly. "You know we're not supposed to talk about that here, Lavi." she half-heartedly scolded. "But if you must know, I go in tomorrow to start recording. It'll probably take all day since I'm doing six different songs."
"That's amazing, Allen!" Lavi exclaimed "How many songs do you have written?" Allen took a moment to think "Maybe 10 songs. But I may be recording those at a later date." she said thoughtfully. "Wow so many before you've even started. Incredible! Right Yuu?" A glare was aimed at him and he was answered with a grunt.
"You seem grumpier than usual." Allen started chewing on her favorite dessert. "What happened to you Bakanda?" "If you must know, annoying Moyashi." Allen smirked, she had gotten him to speak after all. "I was enlisted to be your bodyguard, again. And attend that stupid art gallery in a couple weeks."
"You mean the Order's biannual art gallery?" Lavi asked. "Wait bodyguard? Again?" Lavi looked between Allen and Kanda. "When I first went to meet my agent, my uncle hired Kanda to escort me. He's rather paranoid about some things and wanted to make sure I was safe." She shrugged before looking at Kanda. "I'm guessing you have to escort me again to the studio, right?"
A growl answered her question. "Yeah but this time Tiedoll told me to. He heard from your damn uncle about you recording this weekend and wanted me to babysit you again." "Okay one: we are about three years apart so this no babysitting ." Allen retorted. "Two: you get reimbursed and easy money so quit complaining Bakanda." She popped another sweet treat in her mouth. "Besides it's not like you're the greatest company in the world. So suck it up and take it like a man."
Kanda glared at her for that last comment. "Lavi tried to hold in his laughter but it sounded like a choked cough. "I bet you'll have a great time at the studio Allen. It'll be good to have someone familiar there with you."
"Then why don't you take her?" Kanda demanded, Lavi smiled sheepishly. "Other than the fact that Tiedoll told you to do it, I've got to help out the old panda this weekend. The school is getting a new shipment of books and I have to help scan 'em in and shelve them."
"Sounds like a lot of work for just two people Lavi." Allen commented. "Well another student will be helping too. His name is Wisely, he's Road's brother." "I didn't know she had a brother." "Yeah their family doesn't talk about it a lot because he's almost always sick. Don't know what he's got though." "Well I hope it's nothing too serious."
Saturday came by faster than they expected. Cross dropped both Allen and Kanda off at Millennium Records after they had eaten breakfast at their house. "Call me when you guys are done." was all Cross said before he drove off.
Tara greeted them at the door and led them toward the elevator. Taking it to the top floor, the doors opened to reveal a large walkway with linoleum floors. At the end of the hall was an even larger office with a tall chair facing the window.
They walked silently towards the office, taking note of the many gold, platinum and even a few diamond records that were hung on the wall. A guitar with an unreadable signature and a bookshelf cover top to bottom in CDs. No doubt they were of Millennium Records's artists.
The chair turned around and showed a middle aged man, in a black suit and tan trench coat, similar to the one Neah always seemed to wear. The man gave off an air of an aristocratic Victorian gentlemen, yet there was something strange about the look in his eyes. When he set the phone down Tara spoke "Millennium Earl." he turned his attention to her "I'd like to introduce you to Allen Walker and her friend Kanda. Allen, Kanda this is our producer Adam Millennium, but everyone calls him-" "The Millennium Earl." he finished, while standing.
He walked around his mahogany wood desk towards the trio, stopping in front of Allen and Kanda. He held his hand out. "It's a pleasure to finally meet the famous Allen Walker. I've heard many great things about you, Ms. Allen. Is it okay if I call you that?" Allen took the offered hand in a firm grasp. "Yes it's okay, but what should I call you?" "The Earl or even Millennium will be just fine. Being called 'Mister' makes me feel old."
He looked at kanda for a moment before speaking again. "Are you Ms. Allen's boyfriend by any chance?" Kanda choked on spit and Allen had a small tint of pink on her face. It was hardly noticeable but it was still there. "No I am not her boyfriend!" he yelled. Tara giggled behind her hand at their reactions. The Earl looked at him in confusion before Allen cut in.
"My uncle hired him as a bodyguard for me, he's rather paranoid and doesn't like me to go places alone. Kanda and I actually attend the same school and he's the son of an old friend of his." The Earl hummed in understanding. "I see, well please forgive me and my misjudgement. It just seemed that you two are rather close."
'Me and Bakanda/ the Moyashi close?' they both thought. 'As if.' "Lulubell are any of the studios open?" "Studio 5 is open." "Perfect then if you could please follow me."
He led them back to the elevator and going down at least eight floors they were greeted by the sight of a hallway filled with numbered doors on each side. Door number nine further down opened to reveal Road. "Millenni! And Allen and Kanda wow are you here to record already?" She said jumping to hug the Earl. "Hello Road, I'd forgotten that you were down here, why don't you join us." "of course I'll join you guys!"
Inside the studio it was just as Allen had imagined, the glass that was soundproof from the inside with a large dashboard of buttons. the stool, the microphone and headphones hanging from it, all of it was just as she had imagined.
"I was told that you are also a music prodigy so you also have music for your songs already?" "Yes I do, I store them in Timcampy." The yellow bird made an appearance by flying out of Allen's coat pocket and onto her shoulder. "He's a robotic bird, so he can record and store things." "How interesting, can we plug him in and see if we can play your music?" Allen nodded handing Timcampy over to Tara.
Allen walked into the actual recording area put the headphones on and sat down patiently. Luckily Tara knew how to work the mechanical bird to some degree. She held up a thumb for Allen to let her know that he was connected. "Allen Walker performing 'Jitter Doll'." The music started playing.
A drop of rain falling quietly disappears along with the storm
Plug into sight so seamlessly take a look at this world and more
Disarray disarray
How much heat can I take?
All I had has been melted away
Fly away fly away
To a desolate place
To where this hologram may be saved
But they are messing with my head now
They're all just messing with my head now
Watching from far away
What do you think you see?
It's so loud just can't focus with this latent this buzzing sound
What's the word again? They call it love, oh yes, that a human feels so deep
So if this is love then why are born alone bringing all love to existence
With these tears you swear to not be afraid when all I wanted was
Install the app on the right brain side, history will echo again
Blue lightning strikes as it rips so bright, it's noise will shatter the air
Tie it in, tie it in
With a cord to connect, such a world ruled by nothing but fear
Dye it in, dye it in
Red, the color of love, such a parasite unto the world
What can you see with eyes wide open?
But can you see with eyes wide open?
Suddenly skies are broken with a flash of light
It's so bright, I can't see the meaning in this craziness
What's that word again? They call it life, oh yes, that a human feels so deep
So if this is life then why don't we cry when anguish is tearing all our hearts out
With these tears you swear to not be afraid when all I wanted was
to keep this faith
What follows after rainy days: Find hope in rainbows
What glimmers in a puddle deep: Find hope in afterglow
Open your eyes, open your eyes
Then a rusted gear jittering my ear starting low to hear
Try and connect
Why do these people keep trying to cling to love?
What's the word again? They call it man, oh yes,
It's that thing that feels so deep
So if this is man then why don't they cry when anguish is tearing all their hearts out
With their tears they swear to not be afraid when all they wanted was
It's so loud just can't focus with this latent buzzing sound
What's that word again? They call him "god", oh yes,
It's that thing that runs so deep
So if this is god then don't you cry when anguish is tearing all your hearts out
With these tears you swear to not be afraid when all you wanted was
To keep this faith
"Well done Allen, I can see why Tara and the others wanted to have you join so badly." The Earl said with a strange smile. "Now how about we start with the next song?" Allen nodded. She saw Tara give her a thumbs up, while Road was jumping with a huge smile. Kanda, as usual was indifferent. However Allen could tell that he was somewhat interested in the recording process.
"Allen Walker recording Karakuri Pierrot."
I wait alone for you
an hour, maybe two
The minutes stretching on
as I pass the time and sing along
The clouds above my head
the people in my stead
They turned to laugh at me
they've seen it all before
It was an easy thing to see
What made it difficult for me
My hesitation kept me rooted, I was scared to walk away
And I was starting to give in
To all the worries deep within
I wanted you to show
I couldn't let you go
I wasn't ready for it yet
Let's, spin around
spin around
spin til we're exhausted
I, Breathe you in
Breathe you in
and out again
So, is this it?
Is this all, that we are fated to be?
I can't accept it, so I'll wait an hour more
The planet spins around
I think I'm losing ground
I can't keep holding on
My anchor floats away again
I take a second step,
I take a deeper breath
I move to clear my mind, but it's working overtime
It was an accidental truth
A bit of luck to meet with you
I thought it all to much to take at once, I tried to back away
The warming graces of your hand
Will pull me up from all the sand
That's filling up my brain,
I know I can't abstain
From thinking about you day in and day out
Let's, spin around
spin around
spin til we're exhausted
(echo)
I, Breathe you in
Breathe you in
Breathe you in, and out again
(echo)
I'm, diving in
diving in
diving in and changing
It's, not enough,
not enough to quell my fear
I've had enough,
It's been tough, waiting all this time,
but I can't help it, the alternative is bleak
Let's, spin around
spin around
spin til we're exhausted
I, Breathe you in
Breathe you in
and out again
Call, me a clown, call me dumb,
just call me what you want to
Just promise me that you will keep on, keep pulling all my strings
Road seemed to really enjoy that song and the Earl seemed impressed. "It seems as though I won't need to make any changes to your music Ms. Allen. I suppose this will make working together easier. The only thing we need now is to come up with a stage name for you." The Earl explained through the microphone. "A stage name?" "Yes so people won't be tempted to get close to you in order to get things from you."
Allen thought for a moment. A name like that should be something that relates to her in some capacity, but not overly obvious. Perhaps something simple, Timcampy sat in her hair and then she got an idea.
"Red. I want to be called Red."
A/N: Hey Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday to Allen. Hope you liked my present to you all. Have safe winter breaks and enjoy your holidays and New Years. Jitter Doll lyrics are by Jubyphonic once again and Karakuri Pierrot lyrics are by RO D. If you read the manga, the Earl will look exactly his human form in here. Hope you all liked it. -Sinful V.