Raise Hell
Demo was a Rock Troll who was surprisingly easy to talk to. Poppy had been right and once Branch gathered the courage to go properly introduce himself, he was unexpectedly pulled into hours of conversation about music, life at Volcano Rock City and how deep and full of emotions rock and roll could be.
The two males instantly became friends and Branch found himself enjoying jam sections every week. It became a great tension outlet and the songs were always meaningful with the coolest guitar solos. It took him several days to come to the conclusion that he loved Hard Rock. It was the culture he felt most attached to. Techno was cool, Funk was interesting, Country was fun, Classical merely brushed his curiosity so far, but - by all that is troll-y - Hard Rock made his soul crave for more.
Hard Rock hit home quickly and Branch wondered what the Pop Queen would say once she found out that his birth music style was falling behind.
Thinking about his girlfriend made Branch blush. She hadn't slept at the bunker since the sleepover accident. Bravely, she dropped by regularly to check on him and to engage in some random conversation, but that was it. Poppy always seemed stunningly put together when they met, like she had accepted that they were stuck in a limbo where skin contact couldn't go further than hugs to spare him an anxiety attack.
"Jeez, man, are you going to stand there forever?" Demo said, stepping out of his shelter inside Hard Rock Hollow. Branch hadn't realized he had been standing there like a statue, holding his guitar case for the past half hour.
"Ah… sorry… I spaced out for a minute." Branch laughed humorously, following his friend inside.
"No harm done; Val didn't show up, yet." Demo grinned, "So I had time to practice some old rock songs that she thinks are too mushy for her vibe."
"Is there such a thing as mushy rock songs?" Branch asked with curiosity as he set his guitar case aside.
"Dude, you have no idea!" Without having to be asked, Demo immediately sat on the couch and pulled out his classical guitar. "I'll give you an example before she shows up."
Demo's fingers professionally played the chords, causing Branch to sit down in front of him and watch the peculiar display of Rock culture. It was true what Poppy had said. The rock manager was indeed a good guy and he was profoundly touched by music to a poetic level that Val wasn't capable of reaching.
"Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you?"
Branch immediately recognized the sparkle on Demo's eyes, having seen that kind of gleam many times in the mirror. It wasn't just a song. It meant to feed a hidden feeling.
"Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you"
Demo was in love, Branch concluded, and that song fit perfectly to the survivalist as well. That longing face, the dreamy eyes. There was no way he was mistaken. Demo had fallen for someone and he hadn't confessed. Jeez… he could feel the struggle.
"Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to beTake my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you
For I can't help falling in love with you"
"You're in love with Val." Branch blurted out, without a second thought and Demo yelled in surprise, almost dropping his beloved guitar on the ground.
"Are you pop trolls wizards?!" The poor rock troll looked around frantically, afraid that someone might have heard them. The curtains and couches randomly placed around the room could easily hide an eavesdropper. Branch merely raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Okay, fine, I love her. Just don't say it so loud!"
"Sorry," Branch chuckled, dropping the smug attitude and actually feeling sympathy towards his new friend. "I was in the same situation not long ago. I understand you're nervous."
"Really?" It was Demo's turn to smirk at him. "You? In love with a real troll or with your remote?"
The mockery quickly buzzed an alert on Branch. It seemed nobody knew he was dating. Was it actually out of character of him to actually love someone who didn't live inside an underground fortress? Or was it surprising that he had enough social skills to develop genuine romantic feelings?
"Demo…" Branch said quietly, studying his friend's expressions as he revealed the truth, "I've been with Poppy for months now."
"The adorable pink queen?!" Demo's eyes grew as wide as saucers. "Dude, no way!"
"Why is it so surprising?" Branch should be offended, but he only felt a ridiculous curiosity towards the fact that his relationship status caused such astonishment.
"Oh my hair, you're serious!" with a shrill, Demo put his hands on his face. "I'm sorry, but… are you keeping it a secret or something? Dude, nobody knows!"
"It's not a secret… I guess…" Come to think of it… Poppy had never publicly announced that they were together. And nothing really changed in the way they acted with one another, except less teasing and more support of each other's ideas…
"I get it," Demo continued talking, adding to Branch's thoughts. "She is the Queen; she's supposed to treat everybody equally. It wouldn't be cool for others to know she favors one troll," and that comment just made Branch think that it was true in some way. Trolls might not like to know there were favorites, after all, he witnessed how they fought for her attention all the time, "but you should at least hold hands in public, because there are trolls lining up to ask her out."
"Lining... up?!" Branch freaked, standing up abruptly and pacing around the room. "This is ridiculous, nobody ever mentioned…"
"Relax, man. Just come out officially and everybody will back off," crossing his arms smartly, Demo immediately changed the subject and made Branch sit down closer once more, "Now tell me, how did you confess? Any advice?"
"Oh…" right… it was about Demo's love problems, Branch swallowed nervously, remembering how he stuttered like a kid just to try to tell the queen how he felt. "... it wasn't easy, to tell you the truth. I mean, my situation with Poppy was very different from yours. First, she's the queen and I'm the village's grump." Branch expected a compliment about how he wasn't socially awkward anymore, but nothing but a hum of agreement came from Demo, "and she's incredibly happy all the time and I usually am the voice of dissent..."
Thinking about Poppy made Branch's uncomfortable talk suddenly melt into a loving and caring speech. His eyes focused on the classical guitar on his side, with his thoughts playing the sound of her bright laughter that made him warm inside.
"... but I couldn't keep my feelings to myself. It was bigger than me. I just…" Branch's voice trailed off for a second, causing Demo to smile and understand where he was coming from. "... I realized Poppy was my best friend. My only true friend. It's very complicated to talk to other trolls, you know, but with Poppy the words come easy. Even if we don't always agree, I feel I can tell her anything," his teal fingers played the chords, getting a light tune. "And then it hit me that my best friend was the most beautiful girl in the world and I… I don't know… it just hit me that I was – am - in love with her."
When Branch lifted his eyes to look at Demo, he found the rock trolls holding a tissue and blowing his nose.
"Man… you are in love," sniffing a few more times and causing Branch to blush, Demo seemed to get inspired by the speech, "I wish I could ever say things like that to Val without getting a guitar smashed to my face."
"Well…" Branch had to agree that Demo might be in a slightly more dangerous situation. "...if you don't try, you'll never know."
"Hair, man… you're so lucky your girl is sweet and harmonious…"
"Gotta raise a little hell"
"Did you hear that?" Demo asked Branch who frowned at the rising hard rock song. "Sounded like Val…"
"Are there people clapping?"
"Young blood, run like a river
Young blood, never get chained
Young blood, heaven need a sinner
You can't raise hell with a saint"
"Yep, definitely Val." Demo nervously stood up, marching towards the other neighbor's shelter. A crowd gathered in front of the door, trying to look inside.
"Young blood, came to start a riot
Don't care what your old man say
Young blood, heaven hate a sinner
But we gonna raise hell anyway"
Branch tried to look inside as well, but not even Val's manager was able to push his way in. Val had never made it to the jam section because she was already playing with a different band. Her rebellious side completely overlooked the fact that she had to at least tell them not to wait for her. So little consideration…
"Raise hell
Yeah
Raise hell
Somebody gotta, gotta raise a little hell"
To date Val was certainly going to be challenging for Demo. Branch couldn't be more thankful for falling for a sweet, well-behaved, lovely queen as Poppy.
A not so timid back vocal caught Branch's attention.
"Baby drop them bones
Baby sell that soul
Baby fare thee well
Somebody gotta, gotta raise a little hell"
"Dude, Poppy is playing with Val!" Demo managed to pull them inside by squeezing on a tiny space against the walls.
Indeed, there was no mistake.
Branch gulped.
His girlfriend was savagely singing and jumping around, with a wide reckless smile and with her hard rock outfit partially thrown off. Both girls were glistening with sweat, raging the song like they were exorcising their own demons.
"(Oh my my, oh hell yeah)
Somebody gotta, gotta raise a little hell
(Oh my my, oh hell yeah)
Somebody gotta, gotta raise a little hell"
And Branch knew precisely what demon she needed to get rid of.
"Young blood, stand and deliver
No need for a queen affair
Young blood, gotta pull the trigger
When the whole world running scared
Raise hell"
"Who would have thought that the modest pop queen had it in her?!" Someone said right next to Branch, causing him to want to get out of there soon.
"Popsqueak, you rock so hard when you want to!" Val cackled, finishing the song with one abrupt solo.
"I feel so alive!" Poppy squealed before dropping on the ground, exhausted. "We gotta raise hell more often!"
As they continued their conversation, the crowd called out for more, getting the girls to grin at each other. The jam section became one massive improvised performance.
Branch was flabbergasted. His girlfriend was unsuspicious of his presence and looked so incredibly hot. He couldn't blink away from her. He was ridiculously turned on.
"So…" Branch heard Demo snickering by his side, "not as sweet as I thought."
"Nope…"
Notes: Hello, everybody! Just returned from a lovely and refreshing silent retreat. It was amazing and inspiring!
At first, I felt little conflicted that the message this chapter sounds a little contrasted from the message of treating people kindly and with gratitude I've got there, but hey, it's not the case at all! We do need an anger outlet to wash our frustrations and bad vibes so we can find balance back to socialize in harmony!
Mindfullness, silence and nature watching. Everything a big city person like me usually can't have.
Thank you all for waiting for me. I needed this time to get myself together. Didn't think I was going to re-think my whole life, but, hey, that's a new cycle starting!
Oh, by the way, more Bridgerton inspired scenes in this chapter because I'm crushing on the Duke.