Author's Note: Hi all. It's been well over 1 year since I've written anything palpable, and I don't think this will qualify as palpable but it's a start. This idea is a bit silly, but I enjoy the aesthetic so I wanted to write it. It's in the same line as my last fic from 2022/2023 and my drawing project-related-to-cosplay. It's a feel good fic with the help of good metal music. Enjoy.

Note at the end has several music recs and references.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters here, but I do own the idea for this verse.

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"So, P, excited?" Rikku asked with a big grin.

Paine didn't even pretend like she didn't know exactly what she meant. "A little bit scared, not gonna lie."

"Seriously, Lulu is amazing," Yuna reassured her. "She's going to love meeting you."

"Yeah, right on!" Tidus supported. "You have a lot in common, seriously."

Paine nodded. Well, it wasn't like it was gonna be the first time they were going to talk with each other; Yuna had told her she knew Lulu (like, the Lulu from fucking Ultima) several months ago, and when she gave Paine her Insta Paine had had a slight heartstop that only years of nonchanlant expression training helped maintain mostly hidden. They had exchanged several messages already, but hadn't yet met in person because Lulu lived on Besaid Island. Today's concert was the perfect excuse to finally do that. Although Paine didn't want to feel like she was delusional and projecting, they did have a lot in common indeed, especially when it came to music and aesthetics, and to be given the chance to actually meet someone like Lulu, who had her own Black Metal project, was a dream come true.

So yeah. Paine was slightly excited. 'Don't meet your heroes' and all that, but... this did feel like it would be different.

Also, it was Paine's first time seeing any of the bands, too. It was an almost exclusive female-bands show, which was pretty cool and exciting in its own right.

"Say, this isn't a Black Metal concert, is it?" Tidus said all of a sudden, scrolling his phone to make sure he had the tickets. "I wanna mosh! Black Metal is just dudes with arms crossed nodding their heads."

Paine snickered. From what she had seen in her first and only concert, he wasn't wrong.

"Don't worry, you'll have plenty of mosh to go around," she told him. Clearly, he didn't know the bands like Paine did. Pathetic Clown was a Depressive Black Metal project alright (which was pretty cool they'd got a chance to open for a big band), but Les Têtes de Sang Bleu would have plenty of good times for Tidus if he was in a moshpit mood. Then there were the headliners, Fleshmade Kills, whose name alone should be an indication there would be a wall of death happening sometime during the night.

Yuna's phone rang and Paine felt her heart stupidly skip a beat. She answered with a, "Hi, Lulu! Yeah, we're here already. Have you guys eaten anything? Want to grab a bite before we go in?" They talked for a bit before she hung up. "They'll be here in about fifteen minutes. Let's go wait for them at O'aka's?"

O'aka XXIII was a fast-food restaurant chain nearby that they went on ocasion, very close to the venue. To no surprise, it had some clear metalheads grabbing a bite before the show. They were all dressed for the occasion too. Rikku had shorts so short she was basically only wearing an oversized black t-shirt of Têtes of a blonde woman covered in blood and loose combat boots. She did look even younger than she was, but that shouldn't be a problem. Yuna was wearing a corset with a draping, long and asymetrical black skirt with knee-high boots, and Tidus was matching with asymetrical pants, wearing a Scars Ablaze t-shirt (good taste) and with a chain necklace identical to Yuna's. The clothes had enough similarities in the asymmetry to be deliberate, and even their hairstyles were similar now. Lame, but cute. Paine was the only who was dressed exactly the same as any other day, only she had rested the high heels over comfortable combat boots.

They grabbed a seat and picked a couple of pizzas to split between themselves, and soon after, a couple entered the restaurant. The guy almost grabbed all the attention with his completely wild orange hairdo, even by mohawk standards, dressed in shocking yellow pants and wearing a white t-shirt with a leather harness on top. But it was impossible to steal the thunder from the woman who was with him. Wearing an impressive skirt made of belts, a see-through loose sleeved shirt and a comfortable top underneath with a huge cleavage, complete with necklaces, piercings, makeup and an impressive hair with dangling chains. You heard her approach before you even saw her.

Paine wasn't lesbian (as far as she knew; she was still figuring that part out) but she didn't need to be in order to feel flustered by Lulu. The woman was a goddess.

"Hi guys!" Yuna greeted them from their table.

"Hiya!" the man greeted back. They exchanged hugs between themselves and Paine suddenly felt like she was in a place she didn't belong. They all knew each other for ages and she was the newcomer in what was practically a family gathering. But then Lulu looked at her and smiled.

"And you must be Paine."

"Hey."

"Yeah! She's a big big fan!" Rikku said happily, much to Paine's irkness.

"Stop that."

"It's a pleasure," Lulu told her.

"Oh, Paine! I've hear a lot about ya!" the guy with the orange hair, who she was quickly introduced to as Wakka, greeted her as well. "You're a mini Lu!"

For what it was worth, the feeling of not belonging didn't last much. The conversation was light hearted and while Paine tried to remain mostly silent listening to them, she found herself being brought to the conversation. It was slightly more comfortable to talk about music, and she soon learned that Lulu actually knew all the artists playing on the show tonight.

"Seriously?" Paine caught herself saying, though she should have guessed. Ultima was quite well known.

"I did a show with Marie once," Lulu said, talking about the vocalist of Têtes. "Lovely girl. I love the rage of her music."

"Me too," Paine replied, not wanting to sound too childish but it was the truth. She had to rely on Youtube video translations of her lyrics, but still, they were amazing.

"Is it true that she used to dissect animals as a child?" Rikku asked Lulu.

"I never asked her, but I wouldn't be surprised."

"Eerie...!"

"Says the one wearing a t-shirt of her covered in blood," Tidus laughed.

"Come now, you should know there's a difference between the people and the aesthetic," Yuna commented.

"Speaking of shows and interesting people, there's this promising project called Jinxed, have you heard of it?" Pained shook her head. "It's really interesting. The girl is about your age, and we've been in talks for her to open one of my shows someday."

"That's so cool."

"Sinistral Arts is welcome too," Lulu added with a smile, and Paine felt herself blush.

"I- I don't yet have enough material to do a show."

"You sound like her. Have confidence in yourself. I really like what you showed me, and I'm not trying to be polite."

"Oh yeah, if Lu didn't like your stuff, ya'd know," Wakka agreed. "So, Sinistral Arts is ya project?"

"Yeah," she said, fighting an inner battle against her teenager self who was freaking out over talking about her music in front of the musician of Ultima. It's not like they hadn't already messaged about it, but it's different to do it in person. "I kind of came up with back in high school, you know, sketched the logo on my notebook like Ultima's. Her- your music was really inspiring to me these past years," she added directly to Lulu.

"That makes me very happy to hear."

"I mean- no offence, but you guys come from a very small town. It mustn't have been easy to accept the type of music you do."

"It probably wasn't as hard as you think it was, but simply because while its a small island, Besaid has a very tightly knit community."

"Really?"

"I am actually quite blessed over the fact that people accepted my strangeness since early on," Lulu told her, and Paine was surprised to hear that. Lulu seemed to pick on that. "You find it odd?"

"No, I mean... normally the type of stuff you hear about metal artists is always..."

"Not my personal experience. As you can see by my husband," Lulu nodded towards Wakka, who was laughing out loud over something Tidus had said in the parallel conversation that was forming. Indeed, Wakka and Lulu couldn't be more different, but they seemed like a close couple, so Paine supposed that was a good thing. "I've found more attrition outside than in our island. What about you?"

"Me?"

"Have you encountered a lot of animosity towards the music you create?"

"Well, I had some bad experiences, yes."

"What inspires you most? You once told me if was your life and your emotions, correct?"

Sounded lame when heard said outloud. "Uh, yeah. My rage comes a lot from stuff from my youth, failed friendships and the general state of our world."

"I understand," Lulu nodded. "My second album was a concept album, but especially on the first one, I wanted to get rid of a lot of my sorrow and that's why the lyrics are so visual."

"I decided not post some of my lyrics online because I find them too personal. Do you think that's lame?"

"Not at all."

"What about you?" Paine asked her. "I mean, out of everything that entails being an artist, what do you like the most? The shows? The creative process?"

"Although I do love the shows, and I love my guys for helping me with them, to me it's really the creative process. I love to write, and it's my catharsis. But then when you actually find a voice to the words, that brings forth such a sense of accomplishment. Plus being a single person to comand the whole process, I have all the freedom I need."

Paine nodded. She could relate to that.

"Sorry to interrupt, ladies, but shouldn't we get going?" Tidus said.

"Right, the show! What time is it?" Yuna checked her phone. "We best get going."

They left the restaurant and headed to the venue. The doors had already opened and queue had dwindled inside, meaning they only took about twenty minutes to get inside. The merch outside was really pricey, but Paine bought patches for all three bands (at least she saved a kidney's worth of expenses) while Tidus bought a t-shirt and changed to it.

They followed the sea of black inside; a big queue for the coat room had formed, but neither of them had any goods to store and they just kept climbing down the stairs until they reached the big dark room where the bands would be playing. A nice metal background song was playing while everyone got inside and navigated towards their prefered spots.

"Drinks, ladies?" Tidus asked them.

"Yes, please," Yuna replied.

"Bring me a lemon juice, please, Wakka."

"You don't drink alcohol?" Paine asked Lulu.

"No, I'm pregnant."

"Oh, congratulations!" Paine told them.

"Thank you. Little fella up in the oven!" Wakka said with a big grin while they went to buy the beers at the bar. Someone couldn't wait to be a dad, clearly. His joy was somewhat contageous, and Paine smiled. Though it didn't stop it from being strange, the idea that the creator of Ultima, who wrote so much in very graphic detail about ways the world was wrong and what she would like to do to it, was taking that step in life.

"So, as I was saying," Rikku continued where she had left off. "She was so cool! My brother got all flustered 'cause he can't see a pretty girl, but seriously, after you talk a bit with Leblanc, she's-"

"Hello, Yuna."

Yuna turned at the sound of her name, and her smile fell. A tall guy with long hair dyed blue wearing makeup was standing behind them. Paine blinked. She recognized him because of the hair; Seymour Guado. He had a project called Garden of Pain. She followed his work and his social media pages.

Rikku and Lulu seemed to recognize him too, but for entirely different reasons.

"What are you doing here?" Rikku spat, putting her tiny frame in front of Yuna like she was going to keep her from harm. "Get lost, you creep."

"Nice meeting you here," he continued, ignoring Rikku. "How have you been doing?"

"I'm fine, thank you," Yuna replied, looking uncomfortable.

"Yunie, cut it! Don't answer this loser."

"I think you should go, Seymour," Lulu joined in too.

"I'm not doing anything," he replied, addressing Lulu but still dismissing Rikku. "We're all grown ups, aren't we?"

"Can't you get a hint, pal?" Paine didn't know what was going on, but she knew which side to take.

The guy was about to say something when he was interrupted by a loud "Hey!"

Tidus and Wakka had returned with the beers, but Tidus lowered his batch on the floor (quite the self control to not just throw them aside. Tidus had done a lot of self growth since meeting Yuna, Rikku had once told Paine) and stomped closer.

"The fuck you doing here, Seymour?"

"And, of course, there you are," the guy Seymour said, unimpressed.

"Let's not ruin a perfectly good night," Lulu said, placing herself in front of Tidus as he was about to make a go at Seymour. Wakka had his hands full with the beers and juice, and Rikku wasn't going to help calm things down. Lulu turned and said simply but sharply, clear over the background music: "You're not welcomed here."

"Very well." The guy made a mock of a bow and disappeared into the crowd.

"What was that about?" Paine asked after he was gone.

"A creepy loser bastard, that's what," Rikku was quite vocal.

"Remember when I told you I once had a stalker?" Paine nodded, as did Yuna. "That was him."

"Wait, Seymour Guado was your stalker?"

"You know him?"

"No, but I know his stuff." She glanced at the guy again. And his music was good, too. What a disappointment. "Had no idea he was like that."

"It's in the past," Yuna declared, trying to convince Tidus mostly, who had returned to pick the beers (one had been kicked over) and had red on his eyes. "Leave him. It's like Lulu said, I don't want him to ruin the mood."

"Then let's not," Lulu agreed, taking her lemon juice.

Despite the interruption, they did have a good night. The first artist came on stage soon after, with what was practically a theatrical performance of their music. It was slow and the sound was thick with despair, which Tidus didn't really enjoy much, but Paine found was quite interesting. Especially when there were fry screams involved. She wondered what Lulu thought of it.

Instead of bothering her with the question, she decided to stay quiet and enjoy the rest of the twenty minute short performance. With the appetizer sampled and ready for more, the crowd soon welcomed the second band, and Tidus then disappeared out of sight in search of the place where the mostpit would eventually form. The band was really good, and had powerful riffs, but the voice was what made Les Têtes de Sang Bleu a great band for Paine; they gave a great show.

The interruption for the headliner was longer, and while Yuna and Rikku went to search for Tidus and assess the damage he had sustained in the pit, Wakka went to be restroom after two beers, Paine was left alone with Lulu.

"What are you thinking so far?" she asked Paine, removing her earplugs for a moment. Paine had none, but she supposed that after a few shows, you'd really start needing them.

"It's been great. I never watched any of them live. I love Marie's vocals."

"You'll love Fleshmade too. They put on a great show."

"Uh, Lulu."

"Yes?"

"That thing earlier... with the Seymour guy."

"Yes."

"It made me think... I had no idea. I follow him online for years now, and I figured he was a lonely guy and everything, but I had no idea he would stalk someone. From what Yuna told me, it was bad."

"Yes, it was."

"Do you know his music?"

"You want to ask me about art versus artist debate?"

Paine nodded. "Uh, well, yes."

Lulu pondered for a moment. "I find it heavily depends. Music is music. You shouldn't have to do a background check on every artist you listen to, otherwise you run out of things to listen to. Especially in the metal scene. Some of what is done is controversial, sometimes purposefully so, and there are people with sketchy morals, like it is everywhere. I'm sure you can think of some examples, as can I. Should that dictate the music you listen to? Perhaps the simplest course of action would be to not financially support an artist you find out has a stance you are firmly against. Other than that, listen to what you want to. I think Seymour is a medium artist, but I am very intimally affected by his actions in order to be able to separate art from artist in his case. I can think of much better bands to recommend than his."

There was another question nagging at Paine, and she found it crossing her lips before she realized it properly. "Uh, another thing..."

"Yes?"

"If you don't mind me asking... How do you handle the idea of a baby in the world we're living in?" Paine realized as soon as she said it how way too personal that question was. "Uh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't..."

"It's alright. I understand where you're coming from, especially with some of the lyrics I write." Lulu finished her juice for a moment of pause. "I find it's an act of defiance against the world and what they want to make us feel. It's as much about love as it is about rage. I feel a renewed sense of hatred for the world as it is and a will to change it for the better now I will make a child be born in it."

Paine nodded. She didn't have anywhere near an experience like that to compare the words to, but she wanted to understand the feelings behind it.

"It's a very transformative experience, I will tell you that," she continued. "It'll make for an awesome album."

"I bet. Can't wait to hear it."

"'Swallowed by the womb of death'. What do you think of it?"

"That's nice!"

By the time everyone was reunited (Tidus had remained for the next round of moshpit), Fleshmade Kills had already come on stage. Their show was brutal. Filthy gutturals, unstoppable drums, heavy guitars and a powerful bass, plus pyrotechnics to create the perfect hellscape; Paine was amazed. It was such an inspiration to hear to women sing and play like that.

After one hour and a half, the final concert ended. They took a moment to find Tidus, who returned looking like he had been run over a truck but with a satisfied grin on his face, and they started to drift their way out of the venue with the sea of waving black. They stopped at the merch booth again for Lulu to buy some goodies. Paine noticed how some people looked towards Lulu, some even turning their head twice, and smiled. The woman really was gorgeous.

"This was great!" Rikku was saying very loudly. "You guys need to bring me more often!"

"Did you guys enjoy it?" Yuna asked, to a choir positive feedback.

"Thank ya for the company!" Wakka said. "We need to do this more often."

"Now with the baby, won't it be harder to get around?"

"I'm not an invalid. I have concerts up to my last trimester."

"Oh, ok then!"

Lulu and Wakka had rented a room in a hotel nearby, they had told them, and were the first to leave the group with heartfelt hugs. Paine felt awkward at the idea, but when Lulu approached her, she let herself be guided towards a quick embrace.

"It was nice meeting you, Paine."

"You too, Lulu," She cleared her voice when they separated. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it. I will let you know how the new album is going, if you share some more of your music with me?"

"Sure thing."

"Good."

Rikku was giddily waiting for them to be alone to jump at Paine.

"How was that, huh, P? Imagine, you opening for a Ultima show one of these days!"

"Don't get ahead of yourself."

"I'm not! You heard her! You even got a hug! You know how long I had to wait to get a hug?"

Paine smiled. It had been a good night indeed.

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the end

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Author's Note: So, lots of recs:

- 'Ultima' is if Lulu had a Black Metal one-woman band, named after the strongest black magic of the game. I imagine a sound like Ilikim Oulanem.
- 'Sinistral Arts' is if Paine had one, named after her attack on Full Throttle dressphere. I imagine a sound like Asagraum.
- 'Garden of Pain' is if Seymour had Atmospheric Black Metal project. I imagine a sound like Beleriand.
- 'Scars Ablaze' is if Mello from Death Note had a deathcore band. My friend came up with the name. I imagine a sound like Deviloof.
- 'Jinxed' is if Jinx from Arcane had a metal one-woman band. It's the central part of my last big fic 'Love's a fucked up thing'. Her sound is a metal spectrum, but a good one is - 'Life Sentence' by Chelsea Grin.
- 'Pathetic Clown' is if Belial from Angel Sanctuary had a Depressive Black Metal one-person band. I imagine a sound like Thy Light.
- 'Les Têtes de Sang Bleu' is if Marie-Josèphe from Innocent had a Nu Metal/metalcore band. I imagine a sound like Eths.
- 'Fleshmade Kills' is if Orin from Baldur's Gate 3 and Alcina Dimitrescu and daughters from Resident Evil 8 had a Blackened Death Metal band. I imagine a sound like Okkultist.

I almost named this fic 'Daughters of the Night' from Nocturna's song but I thought it would be too silly. So here's the nod to that.

I made a metalhead cospoor of Lulu's version.

I've been creating band names and logos for a future idea of a metalhead cospoor wearing a battle vest made of patches of these bands. I still have a long way to go.

The line about not sharing lyrics due to being too personal comes from my Black Metal colleague and what he once told me.

Thank you for reading

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