I don't own Hetalia okay? I know it's been a little while since I updated this one, well in comparison to some of my other fics, maybe not as bad, but hey I can't help inspiration for what fic happens when. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!
"Well, here goes nothing..." Lien said as they stood outside the headquarters of A and E Record Labels with anxious hearts. All this was was an audition, so they had not come up with anything new yet, but when with Leon's idea of just doing a song cover in their style. Which because it was his idea, he picked it, and it was Lose Yourself, one of his favorite songs. After much protest from Roderich, they agreed as Emma just wanted a display of their skills, did not ask for anything original. It had been a long month and many sleepless nights where Lien was keeping up with the schoolwork and restaurant work that she had promised her Auntie in exchange for letting her stay at her house. Ever since she found out about the second chance the band had, she had gotten stricter on those two previous requirements. She had told Lien it was to make sure that if this failed, which sounded to Lien like her auntie had already written it off like the same thing would happen. Which in Lien's more logical side of her mind, did admit was a very good possibility and that she did indeed need a good back up plan.
"We should do fine." Leon said confidently. "It's all business after all. We show them we are a viable act, one that is good at what we do and can make them money, they'll sign us on and your auntie and my xian shen will stop thinking this stuff is worthless and will let us do what we want."
"I hope so..." Lien nodded.
"Well let's go get this over with." Lukas said. "Do I dare rekindle my rock star dreams or should I just be happy at the docks?"
"No matter how this goes, I will still have a career in music." Roderich said haughtily. Lien looked at him skeptically. "I still will."
"You're ready to piss your pants from nerves?" Christensen laughed.
"No." Roderich said back.
"You are." Christensen smiled back.
"I'm not." Roderich said as Lien rolled her eyes.
"Stop lying." Lien said. "We all know so much better."
I also bet that you would replace Leon with Alfred if he were to come crawling back. But he's not. Alfred moved on from this. Maybe for the best, maybe we all should Roderich thought as they headed into the lobby to see Emma standing there with her brother standing by the wall. Noticing Lukas, she ran over waving.
"Lukas!" Emma said shaking his hand.
"Yes, that's me..." He said as he looked around.
"I cannot wait to hear your audition." Emma said. "I am sure we can do something to get you guys a career in the biz." She looked around at the members of the bad. "I know that it won't be quite the same as before but at the same time, this kind of thing is common in the music industry. It's not for everyone."
If only you guys had gotten to us before that other agency did... Lien thought tapping her drum sticks together in her hand. He would still be here with the band and then I would have my chance. He wouldn't be chasing some Russian who left him and is trying to do it 'long distance' yeah I saw how well that worked when you tried it last time... Lien thought as they followed Emma to the recording studio. No, forget it. He's moved on you should too...She told herself as they were shown the studio. "Wow..." She said looking at the equipment.
"Yeah, it may not be what you are used to, but I figured we could try this. I was even able to get the electric violin that you requested. I am interesting to see how you work it into your chosen cover."
"Yes, we decided to audition with a cover. You didn't say you wanted new original work, so I figured to try and show our well, new style that we do it that way." Lukas explained.
"Sure, sure and it will give me a baseline to see what we can do with you. I love this sound you have, I just wish you could get your old lead back, but well, business is business..." Emma said as Leon looked annoyed. If Alfred hadn't decided not to come back, then Leon wouldn't have a chance at this and he'd just be doing rap battles on his campus... Lien thought. He wouldn't have his chance.
"Alright you guys, let me know when you are ready to start." Emma said as she headed into the booth with the sound engineer waiting for them. Lien, Leon, Roderich, Lukas and Christensen grabbed their instruments of choice and after taking a few practice bars to get used to the equipment nodded and then Emma smiled. "Great. Start." She said as they began to play. I will be able to make these people famous. Make them and us money. She smiled as they began to play and she nodded to the beat.
Meanwhile, Alfred was standing in the post office with a nervous tap. It had been a long time for him to find the perfect Valentine's gift for Ivan. They had been in contact regularly. By the time Ivan had gotten off work was when Alfred's day was beginning and when Ivan would be getting up for the day was when Alfred was finishing up his homework. Both had agreed that it was nothing like the real thing, to really hold the other one in each other's arms, but it was the best they could do. Looking at the box, Alfred smiled. I will be with him for my birthday. Best present he could ever give me, himself. He had finally gotten the date of Matthew's wedding and that was July 15th. With this Alfred booked a flight to Moscow on June 15th for Katyusha to meet him at the airport. She had taken to calling him as well to get to know him better herself. Alfred didn't mind this, and thought she was very nice and could understand why. Ivan was her little brother after all, she wanted to make sure whoever who was involved with him was a good person. But during one of these calls, she mentioned that Ivan had told her about his plan to visit but was waiting for the date of his brother's wedding to be able to juggle both of them and have Ivan be his guest. With this the two came up with an idea to surprise him. Alfred and Katyusha would obtain him the ticket to America and back without telling him the date Alfred was coming to visit nor if it would be before the wedding or after. But they had planned to meet up at the airport and then Katyusha would drive him to Ivan's house and then he would be there waiting for him when he got home. How dressed depended on if Katyusha and her boyfriend would be there as well. Alfred had spoken with the wheat farmer a few times when Katyusha was with him and he seemed like a honest hard working guy and couldn't see how Ivan could object to him.
Sighing, the line moved up a little bit and Alfred rolled his eyes. I wanted to give him a fresh bouquet but god knows that won't make it to Moscow... He thought thinking of the bear holding a large bouquet of faux sunflowers and a large box of candy. It seemed cliched, horribly so in Alfred's mind but at the same time it was because it was with Ivan that it wasn't so. He had asked his papa about just what to give someone on Valentines, which had caused Francis to fawn all over him.
"oooooooh my little boy, finding someone he cares about so dearly. I do admire your commitment to it," Francis said as he poured Alfred a glass of wine and began to give him the lecture on love. "But if you feel one is your soul mate you must make them feel that way and give them things they would like because you want to. Be spontaious but at the same time do not feel like you can ignore romantic holidays either."
"Is that why you always take Dad out to a fancy place on Valentine's day even though he complains there's too many people?" Alfred asked.
"One year I did not, and he was more upset then than when I took him out despite his objections." Francis said.
"But I don't even know if they think of Valentines day as a big thing in Russia." Alfred said. "I mean he told me that birthdays aren't celebrated normally, at least not as much as I want to do for him..."
"I do not know much about Russian customs myself." Francis said. "But love is universal. Think what he likes and do something along those lines. I am sure that no matter what you do, he would love that it is from you."
"You're right Papa." Alfred said as he finished his glass of wine and went up to prepare for the shopping the next day. The trip that now led him to this line at the post office. On top of the box was a good luck card for Lien and the old band, even Leon. He had told Matthew about their second chance and he had wanted to do the best he could to preserve the friendship he had with Lien and maybe some of the others and he had suggested at least sending them the card. Okay hopefully they won't be mad it's a little late. I mean I forgot to go to the post office until today. Sue me! He thought as the clerk called "NEXT!"
"Hi!" Alfred said placing the box down and smiling. "A card to California and a package to Moscow"
"I see that..." The clerk said as she quickly rang up the postage for the card and placed it in the box and started entering in the information for the package.
"I know it's going to be kind of expensive to ship stuff internationally but it's important to me." Alfred said trying to keep conversation with the jaded employee. She ignored him and placed the package on the scale. "Will it get there by Valentine's Day?"
"What the card or the box?" The clerk said. "Card, yes box...eh...maybe?"
"Box and what do you mean maybe?" Alfred asked.
"It usually is about 7-12 days but international shipping can take longer. Ever wonder why those Wish ads say 'if you can wait 2 weeks' That's it. You know that crap comes directly from China. So if you wanted your mail order bride to get this on Valentines or at least by Valentines, next year try getting it to her either shipping from Russia to her house directly or earlier Casanova." The clerk sighed. "There's your total."
"I was expecting that..." Alfred said as he paid her, ignoring her rude and indifferent comments. "Have a nice day." He said simply back.
"Whatever dude. Just think a guy like you could snag a girl without having to get one from overseas." She said chewing her gum. "NEXT!" She yelled.
Meanwhile, Lien sat at her bed at her auntie's house a few days after the audition. Emma seemed excited but could not quite say she was going to sign them just yet. Her aunt said that that may be a sign that they weren't going to get signed again and that they should just give up on the dreams they had. But Lien knew things sometimes took awhile for someone to make a decision on and this was one of them. While she had hoped to hear back the next day from Emma or Lukas as she seemed to be going to him more often than not when it came to communications on the band and the decisions she made, Lien couldn't forget how excited she looked to hear them after the audition. She liked our sound, even if Alfred was not there with us. That should mean something. And she did say that she had some discussions to make and there's likely contracts that need to be drafted, that takes time... She thought as she lay back on the bed and read over some of her textbook. As much as she didn't like for her aunt to be right, it was good for her to have a back up plan. No need to throw away it all for a chance.
"Mail." Lien's aunt said as she opened the door.
"Who's it from?" She asked.
"Alfred actually." She said as Lien took the card and opened it up. "Looks like he's wishing you guys good luck."
Lien took the card and read Sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner, I guess we've both been rather busy. I had remembered that today was your guy's audition at the new record label. So I guess I'm wishing you luck after the fact but if you recall our first go around those record company execs loved to sit on their ass on decisions but HATED it if we had to take some time to do the same. So yeah you may still need luck by the time this comes. Part of me wishes I could be there with you but I made my choice and stand by it. Doesn't mean that I won't wish you all the best. Even that prissy asshole Roderich. Although if you make it big and come by on tour I want a concert ticket. Front row. Deal? And if he gets snobby then I will punch him. Promise. Anyway, good luck and let me know what happens. I still want to hear from my best sister from another mother... Alfred F Jones... "That's so nice." Lien smiled. Her aunt looked on. "He's wishing us luck with the band anyway. Just wants front row tickets if we go on tour." She laughed.
"See, he still cares about you and respects your decision." Her auntie said. "Maybe you should his, even if it isn't what you wanted."
Lien rolled her eyes and turned back to her studying. She does have a point. And even if nothing happens, I don't want to lose the best friend I had ever had...
Lukas came home from his day at the docks and sighed. It had indeed been long hard work learning how to use the crane and load the items onto the waiting trucks, but it felt satisfying. Good honest work for an honest day's pay. A job where he could come home and play his guitar for fun, not because they needed money. Fame wasn't that big a deal to him anymore. He lay back on the couch and pulled his guitar out and strummed it. Christensen came up with some ramen and smiled. "Is this it?" Lukas asked.
"What, we haven't gotten paid yet Mr. Big bucks..." Christensen sighed. "It's still a few days till anyone's payday."
"True." Lukas said as he looked at the noodles. "You ate the last roast chicken didn't you?"
"What?" Christensen asked as Lukas rolled his eyes.
"You can be so rude sometimes." He sighed as he slurped the familiar food and watched TV. As the Spanish soap opera played, his phone rang. "Hello?" Lukas asked in a mouth full of noodle.
"Great news!" Emma said. "I want you and your band to come back for a meeting between my brother and I and some of our other members of our company. You're signed on once we get the paperwork done. Make it all nice and legal."
"Wow...Thanks..." Lukas said. It was the only thing that came to his mind. He had not expected it all to go well. But it did. "I'll let everyone know..." He said.
"Good. Call me with a date you all can meet up." Emma said hanging up.
"What was that?" Christensen asked dribbling noodle on his face.
"We're official." Lukas replied. "Just have to sign the contracts." He looked around. "Where's Roderich."
"The gym. Think he thinks he can look like Lestat..." Christensen said as Lukas laughed slightly. "I'll let everyone know after I finish eating..." He smiled.
So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. Don't have much to say so remember to read, well you just did, and review. Ciao for now,
otherrealmwriter
aka
Realm.
