Chapter 5

Red Winder

Beatrice Santello wakes to another droning alarm and a her blank-walled bedroom. She huffs and stares at her ceiling for a few moments. A lot of nights and mornings, she wishes it were closer. She hasn't had a proper bed frame in years. Just a shitty mattress on a shitty floor.

She could get a frame. A new mattress. She could get a lot. But that would slow down the whole process of getting the hell out of here. She'd rather suffer now and be free of it sooner.

After another cold shower to wake up faster and a cup of black coffee, she's back in her rusting icebox of a car and headed to work. It's barely above freezing in there before she arrives and finds Mae already at the door, wide awake… writing something in a notepad? She shakes it off and unlocks the store. "What're you working on this early?"

Mae jumps and closes her notepad. "Oh, um… trying to write down the bass part for a new song I've been working on. W-When I have it done, I'll bring it up to work on the rest."

"Really?" She raises an eyebrow. "Well, can't wait to hear it. But try not to let it distract you too much today. No salt to heave today, but another storm blowing in tomorrow morning, so plenty of it to sell." She leads the way in and locks up behind Mae to prep for the morning.

The morning shift is quite busy, and at one point Bea is almost certain she's served a member of every family in town at some point with a fresh bag of salt to prep for tomorrow. A few sets of tire chains as well, the amount of ice this year has really worn those down lately. Mae manages to do most of the running and hefting while she handles the register, but at a few points they have to open both registers and split the heavy-lifting. But once that lunch break rolls around, the moment Mae is back with their tacos, she's right back to writing that bass sheet with one hand and a taco in the other. It's almost obsessive, and proves as much whenever there's a lull in customers and nothing to clean. She's just right back to writing it. There's not much actual writing going on, mostly fine-tuning what she has, erasing and replacing notes.

And finally, all activity slows to a stop and the 2nd shift clerk arrives. Bea hands off the keys and says she'll be back in a few hours to assist with closing, heading out with Mae for practice that evening. It's just a tad warmer, but still being below freezing, it makes little difference. Bea shudders and tucks herself deeper into her old and worn coat, wishing she had the warmth of a cigarette to mitigate the bitter cold. But after a few moments, Mae steps closer and puts an arm around her. "You really need to get a better coat, Bea. But whatever, I'm warm enough for two, right?"

If Bea were still smoking, she'd have dropped her cigarette. "Um… yeah, I guess you are. Thanks, Mayday."

Mae is immediately thankful for her thick, dark fur hiding her blush. In reality, she had finished the song last night, her part at least, but for once in her life she's become a perfectionist and just keeps fiddling with it, only to decide it was better before. It had to be perfect, and it had to be soon. Today, in fact. Gregg already swore her that he'd delay Angus and Selma long enough for her to perform.

Oh cruel gods, she doesn't feel ready. Her mind is reeling, her heart is racing, she feels like she's down in those damned mines again. But… it's sort of a mix of every emotion she felt down there at once, with something new. The dread and anxiety, a bit of the depression, but also the hope and warmth on the way out, the rush of epiphany, and… god, she's absolutely certain she's in love now, the way she feels just cuddled up to Bea on a simple walk to band practice. Yeah, she planned for this practice to be a lot more, but it's still just practice to Bea, it's such a simple moment, and yet it feels so tender. Every time Bea calls her Mayday lately, she feels like she's about to spiral out of control and need to call that out herself!

It has to be today. It has to be now. She takes a deep breath to prepare herself as she forces the hefty doors open and approaches the bass Gregg left there for her. "S-So, uh… Bea… You know I've been working on a song for a bit, and I… I think it's as ready as it can be without everyone else's involvement. Although, uh… I think yours is most important for this one." She chuckles nervously, slinging her bass onto her shoulders. "You up for hearing it? I've even got lyrics and a title figured out, and I've been working on my vocals." She always had good backup vocals. Her range is higher than Angus's, but it's been expanding upwards and downwards with a good deal of work. Years of screaming for no reason when hanging with Gregg helped with that.

Bea pauses as she peeks up from her keyboard. "Wow, really? You've put a lot of work into that. You sure you don't wanna wait for the others?"

Mae bites her lip as she plays a few notes and does some quick tuning. "N-No, I uh… I want you to hear it first, for… a lot of reasons." She fidgets for a moment and takes a deep breath to steel herself. "Ok, I uh… I call this one…" One more deep breath to calm herself, thinking back to that night that inspired this very song. "… Red Winder."

Bea's eyes widen as the meaning behind that title sinks in, before the lyrics can begin. Every solemn note Mae plays echoes through the nearly empty room and reverberates through her very being. It's slow and gentle, purposeful.

Mae finally starts to sing.

"No matter where I go

These waters will lead me back here.

No matter what I see

It's always your eyes that drown my fear."

Bea loses her senses enough to lean into her keyboard and play a rather loud note accidentally, causing them both to jump. Bea blushes a bit deeply, but plays it off by lowering the volume and playing some long, calming chords to accompany Mae's bass and lyrics. Mae can't help but giggle at that awkward but charming recovery as she continues to play.

"Had no clue what to do

So long I was running from myself

You once said "I hate you"

But now I can't see me with someone else"

Bea freezes on a note a bit longer than she intends to the moment that lyric sinks in. Does Mae?... Oh god, she does. She must. Bea barely manages to recover and keep playing, feeling a heat building beneath the scales across her face, knowing she must be blushing like a crushing schoolgirl from this startlingly heartfelt confession. Since when was Mae capable of this? No, it… it has to be because she inspired and motivated her to put this much effort in.

Mae's vocals remain soft, but grow just a tad louder for the chorus.

"Our paths were winding

Our worlds colliding

Together we found we were both home

Our hearts were breaking

But no more faking

These waters showed us we're not alone"

Silence falls for a moment as Bea lingers on a chord and nothing accompanies it, but suddenly Mae's strums faster, and her voice picks up to match. She sounds powerful in this moment, yet there's a shake of uncertainty beneath it.

"Is this just proximity

Or are we becoming something more?

What do you see in me?

The future or just some living chore?"

For a moment, Bea flashes back to all their arguments earlier in the fall, the fights in her car, after the party, in her room after dinner… and she regrets all of it. She wishes she'd said that instead of just making up for it since.

"I don't know who I am

How could you see me as something good?

But then I just think back

To that unfamiliar neighborhood!"

Mae steps up to Gregg's pedalboard across the stage and stomps on a button- setting off a pre-recorded riff and drums for just this occasion. Gregg and Selma must have known, helped- and then disappeared to keep this moment personal.

"Our paths were winding

Our worlds colliding

Together we found we were both home

Our hearts were breaking

But no more faking

These waters showed us we're not alone

This winding river

It led me to you

I watched the stars fade and fell in loooove!"

Mae rears her head back and holds that bellowing note far longer than Bea thought her capable of. In that moment, she swears she can see a few tears leaking through Mae's clenched eyes. Just after, she hunches and breaks into a bass solo, nearly playing it more like a guitar, going for higher notes and flexing the strings. She plays her heart out even into the upcoming vocal bridge.

"I only knew fear

Had to get out of here

Then you found me and life had new meaning again

Took so damn long to see

You're always there for me

Now I'm falling and you're much more than just a friend!"

Mae bellows out as the solo ends and the final chorus marches in with heavier, nearly explosive drums.

"Our paths were winding

Our worlds colliding

Together we found we were both home

Our hearts were breaking

But no more faking

These waters showed us we're not alone

So just sit with me

We'll watch the water

And feel our pain drift away in love

It's time we break free

Let's go make history!

Take my hand and we'll rise abooooooove!"

That final note starts high and loud, slowly descending as the song ends and peters out. Mea keeps her back turned, too scared to face Bea, terrified of the rejection she's certain is coming. It couldn't be anything else. Bea's silence speaks volumes to her, her heart races more than ever, she's starting to see shapes-

Bae takes her hand. Mae jumps and slowly looks up to her, a few tears in her eyes, slightly dilated from the onset of derealization, but… Bea doesn't break apart. She feels too real, she looks whole, and that grounds her in seconds. In that short time, she manages to take in something… shocking.

There's a few tears in Bea's eyes too, and she's clearly blushing. It's so rare to see her like this. And that smile… could she possibly-

Mae's racing mind comes to a screeching halt as Bea pulls her into a tender, but overwhelming kiss. A moment later, she closes her eyes and leans into Bea as her heart races in her mind's place. She has to tilt her head back and raise her chin for the croc to get a good angle, while Mae wraps her arms around Bea's waist. Bea gets hers around Mae's neck.

They're not sure how long it takes for their lips to part. It feels like it both lasted forever, and yet ended far too soon.

Mae stares into Bea's dark, glimmering eyes as she starts to grin. "I-I wasn't sure you swung my way."

Bae shrugs. "I wasn't sure either, but… I can't think of anyone who brightens my day more. Am I sure? Not entirely… but after a show like that, I've gotta give this a shot."

Mae giggles nervously, but smiles wider. "So we're really doing this? We're uh.. w-we're girlfriends now?"

Bea gently scratches the tops of Mae's head, running her claws through that tuft of auburn atop all the fur she's grown fond of. "You got it, Mayday."

Mae slowly leans in and rests her head on Bea's chest. "… I-I can't thank you enough, BeaBea…"

"Mmmm... thank me by never getting as distracted at work as you were today again."

Mae giggles. "Ok, ok, deal."

"WOOOOOO!" Both girls jump as Gregg slides in through the back door. "CALLED IT! Told you it'd work, Mae!"

Angus shakes his head as he follows Gregg in, but smiles widely as he adjusts his glasses. "Congratulations, ladies. I hope you two have a very long and fulfilling relationship." He looks to Gregg. "Also, bug, you owe me fifty bucks."

"SHIT!"

Bea's jaw drops open. "Wait, you bet on me being gay?" She looks to Gregg with a glare. "You bet against it and still helped Mae with this?"

Gregg's ears flatten and he chuckles nervously, while Angus steps ahead to speak. "Well, I guess I'm just a bit better at this than him."

"You apparently knew before even I did." Bea huffs. "You're some kinda wizard at this shit."

"Magic isn't real, but…" Angus grins. "Being a gay wizard does sound appealing."

"Aren't half your characters in rpgs gay wizards, Cap'n?"

"Touché."

Lori giggles a bit as she approaches. "H-honestly, you two make a r-really cute couple!"

Mae blushes deeply, but forces a glare. "Hey, I'm cute, she's a gorgeous badass."

Bea smirks and poses. "Oh, so you noticed?"

"Great work on the song, Mae."

Both girls jump as they wheel around to see Germ behind them. Bea speaks up first. "Germ, when the hell did you get here?"

"I got here before you did."

Mae freezes. "Wait, so you were here for-"

"Every beautiful second of it."

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A.N.: Ah, I'm honestly really proud of this song. If only I personally knew any musicians and vocalists in the NitW fandom to try and make it real. But for now, I'll be satisfied with whatever hype it develops in the comments. So, on that note, what do you guys think? Was I good enough as describing inflection, volume, pitch, pace, etc? In the meantime, I'm playing Inscryption now that it's out, and it's just as creepy as I'd hoped. Potentially creepier than Metroid Dread was, which was plenty! I'mma go back to recording more of that now. Later, guys!