Realistic or Modern 𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨

[s e v e n]

"Life is a journey, not a destination ."
A 1970s Classic Rock story by s e v e n and milkette ​

 

[milkette]

ANDY!
he / him. twenty-three. 6'2. aquarius. main character.
❛ there's a starman waiting in the sky ... ❜

✦ ANDERSON GARDINI ✦​

Those who know Anderson - or Andy, as he prefers - would consider him to be a lovable person who is easy to get along with. He's humble and down to earth, as well as easy-going. Nobody dislikes him as he's not really the type to put up a fight, and doesn't always stick up for himself, but he's still very stubborn in certain situations. Andy goes with the flow for the most part and sometimes does things impulsively without thinking. He's not the type to have a whole plan like some people, he'd rather just go - no matter the consequences. Which isn't always a good thing. Other than that, friends would consider him free-spirited, a deep thinker, trustworthy, creative, and insightful. On the other hand, he can also be overly sensitive at times, too reserved, appears aloof (don't worry - he's not!), and sometimes even competitive.

As for interests and hobbies, Andy likes many things and has dabbled into a lot of different hobbies, such as painting and soccer, though he isn't great at either. One thing he most definitely is great at, though, is music. He not only knows how to play many instruments (some better than others), but also is a decent singer. Overall, he really just loves music, whether it be playing it or listening to it!

Appearance wise, Andy is good-looking. Standing at a tall 6'2, he appears on the more lanky side and is quite thin but not so much so that he looks unhealthy. His eyes are a greenish-blue color, though they are more green than blue. His hair is almost always quite messy and he doesn't really do anything special with it. It's a dark brown color and goes to his mid-neck. Some might consider it wavy, but in reality, it's quite straight, it just appears that way because he doesn't often brush it. For some reason, he likes the "messy" look. As for style, Andy is quite fashionable and always likes to see what his favorite rockstars are wearing so he can try and copy it. More often than not he dresses somewhat fancily, often wearing bell-bottoms, a matching blazer, and a turtleneck. Other times he goes for a more casual look, like a tie-dye shirt and jean shorts. Andy also sometimes puts on a bit of makeup, like eyeliner or a little bit of glitter, nothing too noticeable. He learned from the best: Bowie.

code by valen t.

JIMMY!
he / him. twenty-two. 6'0. gemini. side character.
❛ sun is shinin' in the sky, there ain't a cloud in sight ... ❜

✦ JAMES WESTON ✦​

James - or Jimmy, as he definitely prefers - is the type of guy you won't ever forget. He's incredibly talkative and chatty; you can decide whether that's a bad thing or not. He always is chattering about something rather, but whatever he's talking about is always intriguing, something you'd want to listen to and won't get annoyed by. Since he's an outgoing person, it's hard to tell whether or not he considers you a friend or not, because he's... friendly with everyone. Jimmy is also very energetic and enthusiastic, understanding, affectionate, and charming. As for negative traits, though, he can be inconsistent, unreliable, obnoxious at times, and sometimes even vain. It's easy to overlook these traits though because his positive traits overpower them.

Jimmy likes many things and has a bunch of different hobbies and interests but gives up quite easily. Some of these interests include swimming, tarot card reading, and jewelry making. One thing he is great at though, like Andy, is music. He not only loves it but is also quite good at playing instruments, the main one being drums. Jimmy's been playing and practicing the drums since he was young and has never gotten sick of it.

Appearance wise, Jimmy is quite attractive. He stands at exactly 6 feet and has an average figure. He could be considered lanky but is more buff than skinny. Jimmy has blonde hair that's somewhat wavy, but is overall quite straight, and has a bit of a mullet. His eyes are hazel but look more brown than green. As for style, Jimmy is quite fashionable, the same as Andy, though he likes to bling it up a little bit by wearing rings and such. Earrings sometimes, too. Opposite of Andy, he has a more "edgy" looking style, wearing leather jackets and anything denim. Jimmy also has a few tattoos here and there - done by himself. They're basic and nothing special, but he still likes them and prides himself on doing them himself.

code by valen t.

 

[s e v e n]

KANE!
he/him, twenty-five, 5'9 , virgo , main character
❛ when you wished on the wrong star ❜

✦ KANE STARLING ✦​

...is of course not his real name. A mysterious man with backgrounds unknown, rumor has it that Kane had not always been so, well, "Kane-y". There was a time he had a family, or a place to call home. A shelter from the rain and a dollar to his name. There was no exact moment when "Kane" was born, nor an exact reason. Perhaps life was simply too short, perhaps there was simply a flickering flame deep within him that he could not vanquish, but one day a new name had simply entered the streets.

A lover of penchant and dramatics, seemingly high 24/7, there is very little chance that an event would go so smoothly when Kane is around. Whether a dumpster set "accidentally" on fire, or the whole zoo breaking lose (don't even ask), whenever Kane goes, trouble follows. Some may call him mad- he prefers the term visionary. Progressive. Unpredictable. The spark that the world so dastardly needs, a red ink over black and white.

For this, there is no telling nor a box that could ever contain Kane's true fashion sense. Anything and everything, he might say, though perhaps in the eyes of norm, "anything that gets one kicked directly out of any chapel". Whether a stark pink fur coat, seven-inches high heeled platforms, or peacock for a tail- Kane got it all.

code by valen t.

MIKA!
he/him, twenty-one, 5'10 , cancer , side character
❛ melodious, harmonious, a symphony of the lost ❜

✦ MICHAEL FLYNN ✦​

Not your typical good boy gone bad story, neither is he your generic bad boy. In-fact, it is much more so the opposite. Despite stage appearances, Mika is soft-spoken, polite if not a little shy on encounter. It is evident that he was not much used to this part of the world, and one would question his presence in its first place.

There is no other reason to this other than music being his passion. It calls him, and he could not resist. Growing up in a large, yet close, family, they were quick to shoot down his ideas. There was no telling how many nights he had spent sneaking out, shoving his guitar in places tucked away from prying eyes. But the voice inside sings a different song, and the chains that bound him only grew firmer by day, and there was nothing that could stop it.

When the opportunity calls, he took it. Even if it means being in a place with three other men, none the same yet all intimidating. Wave father goodbye, kiss mother while she sleeps- there was no turning back.

code by valen t.

 

[s e v e n]

KANE STARLING

the fallen star - lead singer

“The usual, darling. Please.”

A mad scribble of the pen, followed by a much too aggressive click, a large huff of breath. The dark skinned woman shot her eyes back up somewhat menacingly, slipping the pad and pen down the front-pocket of her apron. Then, she slammed a piece of paper down the table. “You better not mess about this time if you know what’s good for you, boy.”

What followed this had only been laughter from the man, a dismissal waves of hand that only baited yet another glare from the older woman. A single roll of the eye, she left, muttering words under her breath. One hand sprawled against the back of the seat, the other fiddling down his pockets, he fished out a single silver lighter. Click, click- fwoosh!

Kane Starling tilted his head back as he allowed smoke to seep through his lips. White over pale red, swirling and twisting of invisible dancers indulged in blind ecstasy. For a while he had allowed his eyes to close, tasting the bitterness of burnt tobacco consuming his lungs. The diner had been vibrant that night, welcoming citizens of all backgrounds and status. The age of discrimination is at rise, though damn if it had not fallen a shameful defeat in the face of Dellah’s and their magical triple deck cheeseburger. A minute or so had perhaps passed, Kane tapped the end of his cigarette by the table’s edge. A pair of dark eyes stared back.

“So you’re paying, right?”

“That’s right, sir!”

Before him sat another man- or perhaps no more than a stuttering little boy. Curls of chocolate brown locks tied behind his head, not a single piercing nor body-art visible from hind sight. Fiddling his fingers, eyes that dart up and down from the floor. Kane watched him across the seat, and a brief malefic grin crept up his lips. A chuckle escaped his lips, he shook his head as he leaned over to press the cigarette butt by the ashtray. “Don’t call me sir. I’m sure I’m not much older than yourself.”

Dejectedly, the boy looked down and subtly nodded. The woman has once more returned, a large tray in hand that she simply threw upon the table. Enjoy, he had heard her murmur, and soon she was once again out of sight. Honey glazed sandwich, dripping bacon and half-done eggs shoved in the middle. Reaching for the ketchup, Kane smacked the end of the bottle, pouring out just a lot much ketchup than any sane man could ever eat in one sitting. And when he ate, it was as though he had not eaten a single bite for an entire week.

“Tell me,” Kane licked his upper moustache, then sucked on his sauce covered fingers. Perhaps it was not as noticeable before, yet when he spoke now, a foreign accent underlined his words. “What’s your name?”

“Michael,” the boy answered. “Michael Flynn.”

“Bollocks.” Kane took yet another bite. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and finally he had turned his focus entirely to his partner for the first time that night. Waving his index finger, shortly trimmed black paint over his nails, he pointed at him. “Absolute bollocks that was. No one goes far with a name like ‘Michael’- who named you, a Christian devoted woman in her late forties?”

“Actually no, don’t answer that, spare me the lecture,” Kane cut in as ‘not-Michael’ opened his mouth to reply. “From now on you are called Mika. Has a nicer ring to it, don’t you think?”

Now-Mika furrowed his brows, and even if he had said no, it was not as though Kane was open to criticism at the moment- or any time at all actually. Then the woman had returned, carrying a large glass of vanilla smoothie, and a plate of waffles topped with assortment of ice cream. Kane had finished eating in the short time they were talking, and now he was mid-way pouring ketchup on the waffles, too. A quick look of panic crossed Mika’s eyes.

“Um, sir- I mean, Mr. Starling,” Mika batted his eyes, uncomfortably shifting in his seat. Kane looked up, popping up his brows in question. “I don’t want to bother- “

“Then don’t bother.”

Another moment of silent proceeds, filled with only noises of munching and those of slurping. Eventually, the bells to the front door rang, followed by a row of footsteps. Tapping a napkin to his mouth, Kane waved his hand towards the men.

“You see, kid,” Kane plopped back down in his seat. Then he smiled. “I like you. If it were just me, I’d have accepted you on the spot, really. But it’s not just me- and I hate that. So let me introduce you to my peers.”

code: s e v e n

 

[milkette]

ANDERSON GARDINI

❛ THE BASSIST ❜

Andy had known Jimmy since they were kids and they'd grown up together; done everything together. They were best friends at one point, though broke apart at different times throughout their lives to be with other people. Their interests didn't always align, especially so in high school. Although they were in different friend groups at the time, they still hung out once in a while but it never was much fun. Jimmy always seemed to have something better to do than hang out with him, Andy could just tell from the way he spoke and moved about. But now in the present time, in their early twenties, they were here together, friends yet again. The two had begun speaking again just a few months ago after realizing they had a mutual friend - Kane. It was a surprise to both of them upon seeing the other, but it was a lovely coincidence nonetheless, and they went right back to being friends. It was easy to talk to Jimmy, they'd known each other for so long, after all. Kane on the other hand was one of Andy's newer friends, he'd only known him for about a year, and even then they didn't hang out all too much. Jimmy had known Kane longer than he had and the two seemed to be pretty good friends, which made Andy a bit of a third wheel whenever they hung out together. But it didn't bother him that much.

About a month earlier, on a warm Friday night, the three had been casually hanging out together, when all of a sudden an idea came - Andy couldn't even remember who it was from - that they should begin a band. It wasn't a bad idea, I mean they all were good at instruments or singing, and Andy wasn't sure why they hadn't thought of it sooner. Maybe it was because they needed another member, though. Having only a drummer (Jimmy), bass player (him), and lead singer (Kane) wasn't enough. They needed a guitarist, and maybe even a keyboardist, too.

So now here they were, in a small taxi, zipping through the crowded city streets to find the diner Kane had invited them to meet a new, possible member. Andy didn't know a thing about him, and neither did Jimmy, but they went with it, trusting Kane. He already seemed to be making himself the head of the band, which wasn't surprising; he had a domineering and controlling personality. That was fine with Andy though, it wasn't like he'd fight it. He always went with the flow of things. Though, he also liked singing and would've made a fantastic lead singer as well. But fighting with Kane was something he didn't exactly want to deal with. So, when the man had mentioned he wanted to be the lead singer, Jimmy and Andy agreed.

The diner wasn't that far away from their previous whereabouts, but it was a Friday night and traffic was awful, especially in the Marina Del Rey area. The taxi was stuffy, even more so with Jimmy smoking next to him. "Cigarette?" he had asked, but Andy politely declined. He didn't smoke. At least not often. Jimmy had only chuckled at this, sticking a cigarette between his lips and lighting it, the smell of patchouli and smoke filling the air - JImmy's signature scent. The drive from there on out was quiet and they didn't talk to each other, only a few mumbles here and there. It wasn't an awkward silence though, and Andy was comfortable, curious as to who this new member was and if they'd accept him to join them. If Kane had the choice, he would've probably made all the decisions himself, but he knew he couldn't do that. Andy and Jimmy wanted a say too. But, honestly, Andy didn't care much if the new kid was going to be in their band or not. He really had no preference for a new member, as long as they weren't too serious about it. This was just something fun to do, and he didn't think they'd get big. Definitely not.

The two made their way to the diner soon enough, dropped off by the taxi driver just a few blocks away. Jimmy throws his cigarette butt to the ground, stepping on it before continuing on their way. Andy looks at him with a rise of a brow, "Littering?" he laughs, to which Jimmy just shrugs.

As they make their way into the diner, Andy spots Kane right away, and they make their way over to him. The other man seems to notice them as well, gesturing wildly for them to come over. Once they come closer, Andy looks at the kid sitting across from Kane, who looks timid and shy, not a day over nineteen. He couldn't be much older; he had such a babyface. The boy had nice features, curly hair surrounding his face, though it was pulled back into a small ponytail, revealing a surprisingly strong jawline. Jimmy and Andy look at him with curiosity and sit down. It's a booth, so someone has to sit next to the new kid - and of course, Andy is just in luck as he watches his blonde friend sit next to Kane. Internally he grimaces, but sits next to the kid anyway, who looks... uncomfortable. Why the hell was Kane interested in this timid little boy? He didn't seem the type to catch Kane's eye, but whatever, Andy was sure that he'd be fine. Maybe he just needed some time to warm up, that had to be it.

"Kane, this poor kid looks terrified," Jimmy begins with a smirk, and turns his attention to the boy, "What'd Kane say to you? Was he mean? I'll have a word with him." he laughs.

Andy doesn't say anything just yet, only rolls his eyes, ignoring Jimmy who always seemed to be joking around. "What's your name? I'm Andy." he asks nonchalantly, not wanting to scare the kid any more than he already seemed to be. "Kane didn't tell us," he glances over at the other man for a moment before turning his attention back to the curly-headed boy next to him.

location: dellah’s diner

feeling: neutral

wearing: this

coded by natasha.

 

[s e v e n]

KANE STARLING

the fallen star - lead singer

Last year’s summer, as the east wind blows a bit too hard, or perhaps the universe had aligned in such a way that a star crooked in the skies. Or perhaps it was only an off-string of coincidence pricked from the fabrics of life that gave birth to a man named Kane Starling, bringing together yet two other individuals that could not have been more differently so. And now the third sat right across them.

Kane does not remember –or perhaps refuses to- anything before that day, yet the night in the club had imprinted in the back of his mind unlike any other. Strobing of lights, the ground that rattled under his steps. Scents of sorts lingered in the air, of alcohol, love making, all within the devil’s lair. Deserted souls brought together in a chain of sins, searching for a purpose that has long melded in darkness. A fool’s fata morgana.

Yet the tales of fates work in ways none can comprehend. One event leads to another, the ripples of a butterfly effect. Who would have known that the boy he had stumbled upon that night was also friends with one other he had interestingly encountered in the streets? Two people who knew music, and patient enough to tolerate him. And here they were: a group of misfits, united by the same desire. Or at least, that is how Kane thought of it.

Kane scooted over his seat as his companions made their way towards them, Mika anxiously followed suit. He blinked at Jimmy’s statement, then released a loud snort. “Me? Mean?” He wrapped one of his arms over the blonde’s shoulder, then poked the other by the side of his cheek teasingly. “Impossible. I’d like to see you try baby-sitting for a change.”

There was a brief perplexity that crossed Mika’s expression, though quickly had it dissipated all the same when Andy shot him a question. Then there was a sudden relief- for Lord knows whatever reason, as Kane hadn’t. “Do you actually think I’m that mean?” he asked quickly and turned his attention towards Jimmy, furrowing his brows.

“Mich-“ Mika caught his tongue, wide eyes snapped to Kane for a second before looking back to Andy. “Um…Mika?”

The statement came out more similar to a question than a statement, so he cleared his throat and repeated himself. “Mika Flynn. It is so nice to meet you,” he smiled politely, rising from his seat to shake Andy’s hand. Then he looked at Jimmy, hesitated, but still took his hand. “I’ve heard many great things, sir.”

At this Kane had laughed, slamming his hand to the table that caused the things to rattle on top. From the distance, the waitress hushed at them aggressively. “He calls us sir! I told you! Oh my-” Kane giggled to himself, spinning the straw in the glass before tossing it aside, tilting his head back as he gulped down the remnants of the beverage. “Like we’re some bloody pretentious knights from the Great Britain or sorts.”

“Alright alright, I’ll talk.” Kane stashed all the plates aside, then rested his elbows down the table, his chin just on top. “I know I’ve kept you guys in the dark for so long but believe me: this kid is more than just a pretty face- he is brilliant.”

Mika lowered his gaze, a tint of pink blooming by his cheeks. For once, at least it was true. Though Kane is very much more than capable of fooling someone just for a free dinner, he actually had faith in the boy. They have met not so long ago, at midnight strolls on cold pavements. A lonesome boy sitting cross-legged by the bench, a solemn look casted down as locks of curls shrouded his face. And in his hand, a simple wooden acoustic guitar bearing no mark nor brand.

Thin long fingers picked through the strings, and from it a sorrowful bohemian rhapsody. Kane had asked him of the song, and it was his own, as he claimed. Then, driven by curiosity, he had sat down next to him. ‘Play me some more,’ he had told him. And so he did.

The streets became filled in melodious harmony, invisible figures would dance under the street lights, tucking by the embrace of the night’s symphony. They have remained there almost all night, until the birds had all slept and the last car drove through, with no further words shared by the world other than the gentle rustle of wind. The clock then strikes twelve, and the boy went home, joy in his heart and a name card in hand.

“I believe with our proper guidance; he will go places. And I am not talking of gigs- I am talking of records. Concerts. Hell, world tours!” Kane beamed, drumming the surface of the table enthusiastically. “You know how picky I am with personnel, but I can assure you that this is what we’re looking for. This marks our turning point.”

Kane stood up, stepping over Jimmy then made his way to the opposite table where Mika sat. He slid in the couch, then cupped each side of Mika’s face in his hands. Then he squished his cheeks. “Sure, he may look like this, but home-boy ran from his family to join us and I don’t know anything more hardcore than that- isn’t that right, my dear?”

Mika muffled an answer that could not be heard clear enough. Kane lets go of him, then turned towards both Jimmy and Andy. “I say we give it a final shot.” That’s also what he said last time.

“And so, I already booked us a spot in the studio tomorrow morning at nine sharp. We need better amps than ones in the garage and for now renting sounds like a better idea. So?” He grinned. “What do you think?”

code: s e v e n

 

[milkette]

ANDERSON GARDINI

❛ THE BASSIST ❜

Andy takes in his surroundings: a simple, boring looking diner, nothing extraordinary about it. Checkered flooring, beige-colored walls that looked dirty, and your stereotypical red diner booths. He'd never been here before, it wasn't the type of place that would catch his eye. He wonders if this was Kane's first time here, or if he frequented the place a lot. From his mannerisms, though, it seemed to be the latter, he was talking so loud and extravagantly, something no other place would've been okay with. Even now the waitresses were glaring but not really doing much about him. It was just Kane's personality, he probably couldn't help being so... over the top? But Andy wouldn't know if he was always like this, they'd only known each other for a small amount of time, after all. Jimmy was closer to Kane than he was, their personalities just went along together better. Thinking of it, he and Kane didn't really spend much time with just each other... they weren't that close yet. There was always someone else with them, normally Jimmy. It wasn't that he disliked the male, definitely not - he wouldn't be starting a band with him if he didn't like him. But Andy just supposed their personalities didn't really go together. Kane was on the more energetic side, whereas Andy wasn't as much. Maybe as they continued playing together as a band, they'd get to know each other better. Either way, Andy didn't care much.

Upon hearing what Jimmy said, Kane pipes up, throwing a playful statement right back at him, to which Jimmy just chuckles at, rolling his eyes when the other puts his arm around him. His demeanor all but changes just a few moments later, though, asking the question 'do you actually think I'm that mean?' and Andy notices that there's some insecurity laced in his voice for whatever reason. Jimmy sighs, pushing the other male's arm off of him, "No comment," he says in a joking manner and laughs.

Andy leans back, listening to the boy - now known as Mika - as he awkwardly introduces himself. "That's an interesting name," he comments. He'd never heard a name like that before, maybe it stood for something? Andy shakes the boy's clammy hand, snorting when he does the same to Jimmy and calls him 'sir.' That was probably the first time in the blonde's life that he'd ever been called 'sir.' Andy still didn't understand what Kane saw in Mika... he really didn't. He seemed so quiet and docile, the opposite of their group. If they ever played live, would he even be able to play in front of a crowd? He seemed too timid for that. Well, he probably shouldn't judge too harshly. Andy would have to see for himself what the guy truly was like. It was hard to not make assumptions though.

He grins when Kane laughs at the curly-headed boy's usage of 'sir', and Andy watches Jimmy crack a smile too, "You don't have to call me 'sir'. Jimmy, y'know, my name, is just fine." God, they were bullying the hell out of this kid. In a playful manner of course, but Mika still seemed uncomfortable with it. The two buggers in front of him were always joking around, he never saw either of them take anything seriously. Not even Jimmy, and he'd known him for years. Andy learned that the hard way, years ago, when he tried to express his emotions only to be playfully bullied by Jimmy for doing so. From that moment on he knew the guy wasn't the one he would go to to talk about his problems. Andy wondered why he was like that, and if he ever felt any other emotion besides playful. Even after knowing him for so long, he hadn't seen much else from him.

Finally, and I mean finally, Kane calmed down and began to talk about what they were there for: recruiting this new member. Though Andy had the feeling that Kane already was going to recruit him no matter what, and his suspicions are confirmed when he gives Mika a compliment, to which the boy blushes. 'Oh my Godddd' he thinks to himself, giving Jimmy a glance which the other returns with a grin. "Are you guys dating or something?" the blonde says with a snort, and Andy can't help but laugh as well, covering his mouth. He really shouldn't be laughing, he can already tell Mika will be flustered out of his mind. Kane probably wouldn't care, maybe he'd even go along with it.

At the mention of concerts and world tours, Andy can't help but roll his eyes. "Really? You think we'll get that far?" Now look, Andy was the type to be optimistic about things. But this? Becoming famous? That would never happen, I mean come on now. "We've hardly started making music!" he exclaims, but then sighs, "But okay, continue." Normally he wasn't this stuck up, but he seriously just didn't have high hopes for the band. It was for fun, that was all. He didn't expect them to get big. It was just some fun to have... nothing more. Right?

Andy and Jimmy give each other another glance when Kane comes 'round to his side of the booth, cupping Mika's face in his hand, exclaiming that he was in fact the perfect fit. "You guys are just pushing it now," Jimmy adds on, to which Andy gives him a kick under the table and a 'be nice' look, though he himself can't help but chuckle. The blonde only childishly sticks out his tongue and kicks him back, to which Andy only rolls his eyes, not wanting to start some stupid childish game with him.

When he hears Kane mention that he booked a spot in the studio tomorrow, Andy perks up, "Well, we don't have much choice, do we?" he chuckles, already knowing for a fact that Kane had planned something without really asking them if they were okay with it. Andy was cool with it, though. He didn't care much. "Alright, sounds good," he shrugs, but there's a ghost of a smile on his face. Andy couldn't help but be somewhat excited... he loved music. Jimmy nods in agreement as well.

location: dellah’s diner

feeling: neutral

wearing: this

coded by natasha.

 

[s e v e n]

MIKA FLYNN

the lonesome artist - guitarist

A thousand and one questions ran in the back of Mika’s mind, yet none had shown in his expression as he lifted a smile in their direction. If he was nervous, perhaps even beginning to regret his decisions, Kane could not tell. There is all the reason to be anxious before a trial audition, whether or not the people that would have watched him would have only been the three of them. Yet perhaps they have all misjudged him, for the moment he looked back up, there was nothing but pure enthusiasm glowing in his pair of wide doe eyes.

“Oh yes, thank you, thank you!” He leaned forward, perhaps to shake their hands again before hesitating and simply remaining in his seat. The waitress came around, the bill in hand and without a word she placed it on the table. Her gaze had slowly traced the rest of their faces, narrowing her eyes at especially the curly haired boy, an unfamiliar face amongst the familiars. No mischief is all she asks for, a quick end to her shift so she could go back home and visit her cats. It should not have been beyond them- right?

“I won’t let you down, I promise you!” Pulling out his wallet, he placed a few dollar bills along with an extra tip, even when his expression had mildly twitched over seeing the number jotted down at the bottom of the bill. After all, whatever it takes to please them, Mika felt lucky they even spotted him in the first place. The idea of records, concerts, and world tours- oh, is it really possible? It sounded too much of wishful thinking, and deep inside he knew it was too much, even for Mr. Kane and his friends. But there is no fault in having high hopes, a dream that could only be reached in the furthest skies. In fact, just days ago he felt utterly hopeless, ready to embark the path of life set before him. And yet the strings of fate had yet to disappoint him, so blame him all you want for feeling naively optimistic. It will be a brand new start for him, away from his old life, truly an adventure of a life time with nothing but blind trust in his hands.

“Yea, okay,” Kane stepped away from the couch, gesturing a mock salute with his hand. “I’m afraid our meeting ends here tonight, I have some- er, things to catch. Will meet you all tomorrow, ‘aight?” He then waved, but something settled wrongly within Mika. He could not help but eye the dark haired male as he paced down the aisle, cheekily waving at the waitress who could have used so much rest, and exited the door once more with a ring of the bell, and just like that the man drifted from their view.

Mika- Michael, Michael, exhaled a large puff of breath he had not known to be holding, wiping the sweat off his forehead with the back of hand. Kane was definitely an eccentric one- even in their world, he supposed. At first he was not quite sure, and immediately jump into the conclusion that that was simply how most musicians were, but upon meeting Andy and Jimmy, he understood that that might not be the case. But it had not mattered- everyone was unique in their own ways after all. He was sure Kane was not a bad person behind his extravagant tastes in fashion and superfluous hand gestures when speaking. Judging a person by the cover only gets someone so far, even if it would have stamped him as a naïve trusting fool. He’d like to believe he can take care of himself just fine, thanks.

“Thank you again though,” he turned his attention to the two other men. “For the opportunity, I mean. It means a lot, I hope to not disappoint. Would you also like to order something? It’s my treat, I promised Mr. Starling, so I thought it would be only fair…” His voice trailed off and made a sheepish smile, this time all to himself. He was actually one step closer to his dreams, and he had yet wrapped his head around the whole idea. It simply felt much surreal; the scenarios he could only dream of one day, it is finally happening. And there was no turning back. Is he regretting it? Not at all. But even if he would have one day, it would have hurt more to remember back that he had never even tried in the first place. Whatever goes from now, it is all in his hands and those of ones above.

The engines of the motorbike roared loudly outside the diner, and he only figured Kane had actually left. For a while he wondered what matter could he have probably needed to attend, but it should not have been his business. Surely he had other things that he does besides jamming in bands, they were professionals after all. At least he claimed to be. But suddenly, his expression dropped and his heart sunk when he finally remembered: they both came in a cab.

“Hey!” A heavily tattooed man with a beard that can only be comparable to that of a dwarf coming from a fantasy book stood from his seat in the counter, subconsciously still holding a fork in his hand. He tapped around his pockets quickly, then after realizing his keys had not been present, he stormed outside. Quickly Michael shifted in his seat to peer outside the windows, where as he had expected so, there was none other than Kane Starling sitting on the seat, no helmet on his head. Eyes opened widely, Kane briefly caught his eye. Saying nothing than blowing a kiss at their direction, he twisted the handle and the bike went up in a wheelie. Mika slowly looked away, burying his face in his hands. At this point it was better to appear unassociated. Maybe it is a bad idea after all.

code: s e v e n

 

[milkette]

JIMMY WESTON

❛ THE DRUMMER ❜

Now look, Jimmy wasn't the type to invite friends - or anyone for that matter - to his house all that often. Some people didn't even know he lived with his mom still; it was a bit embarrassing for him but at least he got a hot meal and a place to sleep every night. He loved his mother, yes, but she was overbearing sometimes, hence why he was always trying to get out of the house. When he was a child, she was extremely strict and still was, though not as much anymore because she was older and worn-down after all of his shenanigans throughout the years. Plus, he was over the age of eighteen, she didn't have control over him anymore... right? Well, not in her mind. If Jimmy was under her roof, then he had to listen to her rules, whether he liked them or not. Hopefully, he would be able to move out soon... though he wasn't sure how much his mother would want her little boy going out into the "real world." 'Ma, I'm twenty-two' he would exclaim, though secretly he didn't want to move out either. He wasn't a mama's boy... no, definitely not....

Their home was tiny - living in California was expensive - but it was a nice little place nonetheless. Perfect for just the two of them; he had no siblings. The place was always spick-and-span, not a mess anywhere to be seen. Jimmy's mother was a clean freak... him on the other hand? Absolutely not. Honestly, he isn't even sure how they're related - they're really nothing alike. Other than that, it was a cute place, color-coordinated nicely. A little old-lady-esque but still cute, especially with their little garden in the back... that was slowly dying from the heat. Jimmy was supposed to be taking care of it but things happened and he forgot. She hadn't noticed yet. Along with their home came a very small garage that could only fit so many things. Initially, it had been for his old bicycles, toys, and such... but now? It was his own little studio of sorts. Still needed some work, but as long as he had the instruments he was happy with it.

Today the band was coming over, which he wasn't that fond of, but he was the only one with a garage and there wasn't any other place they could go to practice. So, his home - or rather, his mother's home - was where it was happening. Jimmy couldn't help but feel a bit nervous, unsure of how the others would react to him still living with his mother. God, it'd just be like middle school again if she embarrassed him in front of his friends, calling him stupid nicknames and pinching his cheeks. Andy was the only one out of the group who had been to his home - they were childhood friends. He wasn't the type to judge, and his mother absolutely adored the other male for whatever reason. 'Your mom likes me better than she likes you,' Andy would comment with a laugh.

Anyway, they were coming over now - late afternoon - and he tried to calm his nerves down, cursing himself for being like this. Normally he didn't care what people thought at all, but... when his mother was involved, that was different. The blonde walks out of his room, watching as his mother pulls out some cookies from the oven, even though he specifically told her she didn't have to make anything. "Mom, you know you didn't have to bake cookies..." he begins, walking over to her with a smile, taking a cookie for himself. "I want to leave a good first impression on your new friends, James," she replies, swatting his hand away when he tries to take another cookie. Jimmy rolls his eyes and groans, "Pleaseee don't call me James..." his mother only tuts at this, "I'll call you whatever I please, I birthed you after all. And James is your name, you know. In case you forgot." His mom was so sassy, Jimmy can't help but laugh a little. "Okay, okay, but not in front of my friends, alright?" she doesn't answer him, so he takes that as a 'yes' and goes to flop on the couch and wait.

Fiddling with his fingers, he looks up at the ceiling, the smell of chocolate-chip cookies entering the room. This was one of their first sessions with the new kid... whatever his name was. Mika or something like that. Hopefully he was as good as Kane made him out to be, but Jimmy was still wary. Even in the beginning, he wasn't all too sure about getting a new member. He knew he wouldn't be able to change Kane's mind if he found a guitarist - which he did - so he just went along with it, even if he wasn't so confident in this new member. Who knows, though, maybe he'd be some magnificent guitarist.

The doorbell rings, a few minutes earlier than the time they agreed to meet, and he's not surprised when he only sees Andy. 'Guess they're all coming separately, then?' he thinks to himself, leaning against the doorway. "Hey." The two greet each other and flop on the couch. Jimmy had almost forgotten his mother until she comes waltzing in with a large smile on her face, a plate of cookies in her hands that she sets on the table. "Hello Anderson, haven't seen you in a while, honey! Both of us missed you coming over," she begins, sitting next to him. Jimmy grimaces. "You can call me Andy, Ms. Weston," he replies, and she nods, but Jimmy knows she always forgets. After all these years she still couldn't get it. The two go about talking, chit-chatting with smiles on their faces. All he can do is sit awkwardly until she leaves. Andy is exceptionally good at talking to her, hence why she loves him so much. 'Oh, he's just such a sweet boy! So quiet but such a darling!' she used to say when he was younger, and he couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous.

Once she's up and gone, Jimmy turns to Andy with a smirk on his face, "You have a crush on my mom?" to which the brunette only rolls his eyes, "Oh my God..." he snorts, "Maybe I do, but you'll never know." he jokes, and they laugh as if they're in middle school again. "So, how do you feel about the new kid?" Jimmy asks after a moment, watching Andy furrows his brows a bit and thinks. "He's okay I guess. I mean, we don't know much about him. Kane loves the kid, though." The blonde nods, leaning back on the couch with the other male. They sit together until the doorbell rings, eating cookies and chatting. Jimmy gets up and goes to open the door, looking back at Andy before opening it.

"Hey guys."

location: his home

feeling: slightly nervous

wearing: this

coded by natasha.

 

[s e v e n]

KANE STARLING

the fallen star - lead singer

First things first: there was a matter of making a good impression or a memorable one. While being yourself is more often than not the best advice anyone could have ever given, it simply should not be allowed to apply to a singular man being Kane. After further discussion done over the phone, they have established that it is perhaps better to have done their little unofficial audition in Jimmy’s garage- his mother’s house to be exact. There is a part of him that felt much amused at the idea, yet perhaps, even if it shall kill him to admit, a tinge of envy in between it all.

Kane was very much a morning person, so there is little to no reason for him to be late for a meeting, yet it became a principle of his to never arrive on time. Either purposely walking slower than normal, or stopping by a local coffee shop- after all, there is just so much a punctual person could ever achieve, and time is much more valuable in comparison. To top it off, there is a million reason to justify being fashionably late- though fashion justifies most things anyway. Had he not set another alarm, surely he would have forgotten about the whole deal entirely.

So ten to nine, Kane stumbled down the stairs of his apartment, the heels of his boots clicking against the ceramic floors. Dark eyes hidden behind shades that were just as dark, tight leather pants paired with loose bright maroon sweater. On a hot day? Yes, definitely. Keys resting nicely in his pockets, Kane adjusted the collar of his outfit, sliding his glasses up his head. By a very quick look, he seemed much out of place from the walls that loomed behind him, shadows of an old apartment ruin. The doors itself made a noise when pushed upon, he turned his nose up when his name was called behind him. Rent is the least of his concerns as of now.

The bike he had so conveniently borrowed for an indefinite time-frame within the act of complete impromptu now parks just by their small driveway. The gates he had to push by himself, and the scene opened up to an alley, rather than immediately the streets. Its body is now spray-painted in bright red, the plates now replaced with one he had gotten quite illegally. A set of keys hung by the chains around his belt, sparing him from needing to hot-wire the vehicle every time he needed to head to the convenience store. Hopping on it, turning it on, the engine roared. Kane smiled in satisfaction to himself.

The streets now he knew like the back of his hand, driving much faster than speed limit should be a natural thrill of life. Traffic-lights mattered not, neither do cross-walks and their daily dose of slow old women in stupid bonnets. If his phone had vibrated from the insane amount of missed calls he must have been getting from Mika, he had not known. The address should have been clear enough, and surely the streets would be up and running for him to not struggle with fetching a sudden ride to Jimmy’s.

And surely enough, their roads have already been filled with multitudes of transportations, tightly bristling with morning activities. As he maneuvered through cars, honking could be heard behind him. Kane lifted his middle finger with one hand on his steering. This lasted for perhaps another set of twenty minutes until he skidded to an immediate halt right by the slightly raised platform in front of Jimmy’s place. Hopping off his bike, he shot his eyes up, whistling at the sight before him. A house like this- should he be mistaken, but he must have still live with his parents. No one has time to tend to a garden like that if one is not very old.

Not a route many would frequent, Kane looked over his shoulders when he heard a rush of wheels behind him. A bright yellow cab had taken off, and by the road, it left a single young boy, eyes wide in evident confusion as his hands went to twirl the ends of his shirt nervously. He had looked back up and down to the notes he had in hand, making sure if he were in the right place. And of course, the idiot had to be their idiot.

“Hey,” Kane called out, then louder again once he was not responded to. This seemed to successfully gather Mika’s attention, and bashfully he scurried towards his side, though the relief appeared clear in their expression as well. “Are you for real?” Kane jestered with a light chuckle. “Still lost after all these years?”

“Yeah,” Mika coughed out a shy laugh, scratching the back of his head. Strapped by his shoulder was what he could only assume to be a guitar, though he was not sure what kind. It better not be the one he had seen him playing the other night. “I- I guess I’m just nervous so my mind sort of blanks out this morning.”

“Hm,” Kane nodded, scowling slightly. It was not fun to tease someone who would have caved in so easily. Imagine Andy. “In any case, let’s.”

The two walked towards the front door, then he knocked. One second, two seconds. Kane was so nearly ready to kick the door down when it had opened instead, greeted by the familiar face as it gone ajar. “Hello, Jiminy,” Kane grinned. “Hope you don’t miss me so much since last night. Andy,” he greeted from outside, before he invited himself inside with no further words. Perhaps he should be lucky that his mother is currently not present, and his current attire covered his tattoos- at least most of the more striking ones. Mika had walked in, following suit and waving timidly with his head mostly down. Kane had made himself comfortable on the couch, lifting his legs and crossing them on top of Anderson’s lap. “Nice place Weston,” he snickered, poking the nearest vase with the tip of his finger. “Never thought you were much of the vintage enthusiast.”

code: s e v e n

 

[milkette]

ANDERSON GARDINI

❛ THE BASSIST ❜

He'd been to Jimmy's place a thousand times before, so this was nothing new to him. They'd never really practiced in his garage, though, so Andy wondered what that would be like - it couldn't be that big. From the outside the garage looked small, so it must be the same on the inside.

Andy wasn't particularly excited about meeting up with the band but he wasn't against it either. They didn't have much of a plan so he wasn't sure what they'd be doing... practicing? Coming up with lyrics? Making the new guy - Mika - show his skills to them? Who knew. He'd just go with it and follow along with the others. Kane would likely be the one in charge, but at the same time, maybe it'd be Jimmy... it was his house, after all. Well, his mother's house. She was a sweet lady and had always loved Andy, and the two always made jokes up about how she was so in love with him. He could tell it was a bit of a jealousy thing on Jimmy's part, but it's not like he'd say anything. Nor would he say anything about him still living with his mother. Honestly, their house was nice as hell. Maybe a bit old lady-ish but what else would you expect? It seemed better than living in an apartment with only one room - the bathroom. That was his situation right now. It was a nice place, and he designed it with what he pleased, but it was small. You walked in and were immediately greeted to the living room which was just some old couch he had gotten at a flea market, a lamp, and a coffee table where a tiny TV sat. Then to the left was his bed, shoved into a corner right next to the kitchen which was, again, small. After that was the bathroom and then that was it. Tiny. Living almost anywhere in California was expensive and he couldn't afford anything better. It was still nice, though, and after Andy had gotten used to how small it was, he really started to love it.

Once he arrives at Jimmy's house, he knocks on the door, which is immediately opened by the blonde who looks relatively... nervous? Very unlike him. Andy doesn't say anything and after chatting for a bit, they wait for the other two who are supposed to be coming soon, and it's not long before there's a knock at the door, which Jimmy opens with a, "hey". The two males come in, and Kane makes himself comfortable, sitting on the couch, jokingly making a comment about the... old lady decor.

"Definitely, kinda surprised you didn't know that, Kane," Jimmy replies, a grin on his face, "Bu--" he begins, but before he can finish, his mother interrupts, peeking into the living room from the kitchen.

"So these are your little friends?" she asks with a smile, looking at Mika and Kane with curiosity before turning her attention back to her son.

"Um, yes," he gets up, "This is Kane and the one next to him is... Mika," he gestures toward them when he says their name so she knows who is who.

"Nice to meet you, boys. If you need anything I'll be in the kitchen!" she says, giving Jimmy a kiss on the cheek before leaving the room, to which he looks mortified.

"Okay, uh, well -"

"Aw, you're a little mommy's boy," Andy comments with a grin, "How cute." Jimmy only shoots him a glare but doesn't deny it, "Alright... lemme just show you guys to the garage..." he says, and begins walking, gesturing for the three to follow, which they do.

"So this is it," he begins as they make their way to the garage door, and he opens it, revealing a small but clean looking garage. There's his signature drum set in the corner as well as a bass guitar and microphone. They didn't have the money for much more, but this was good for now for just practicing and perhaps even coming up with songs, though both Andy and Jimmy were both curious to see how Mika played the guitar before they started anything.

"Why don't you show us how you play?" Andy asks, turning to Mika, but it's more of a statement rather than a question, "If you're okay with that," he adds on, to which Jimmy just snorts, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Forget nice guy over here, let's just see how you play, yeah?" he says it jokingly, but is serious about seeing how Mika plays... they hadn't really seen him in action.

location: jimmy's home

feeling: neutral

wearing: this

coded by natasha.

 

[s e v e n]

KANE STARLING

the fallen star - lead singer

Having Kane keep his mouth shut for ten whole seconds would be proven a whole chore, but the moment the woman’s voice had entered the room, his attention immediately snapped away from the rest of the band members, his jaw nearly hanging ajar if he had not remembered to press his lips together. Instantly he had thought of Jimmy’s girlfriend, then thought that was unlikely. Some moments he had assumed that Anderson and James were a thing- and perhaps that theory was not so out of the window yet. Upon further inspection, the woman might have been a slight too old for Jimmy, unless he was into that, of course. Sometimes he forgets that some people have mothers.

How adorable.

“Awww,” he gushed, pinching Jimmy’s cheek. “Wasn’t that just so precious. Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Weston,” Kane called out a bit louder, then lowered his voice when he sneered mischievously towards the boy. “Damn, your mom’s hot. Is she by any chance…single?”

Of course, he was merely joking, and by now perhaps they all could tell. After all, he wasn’t always the one pulling out jests as such. His eyes fluttered the last time towards the kitchen doorways, before rising from his seat, tugging Mika by the back of his shirt, whom had earlier simply waved nervously at Jimmy’s mother. The boy needed to grow some balls before he could be officially initiated- Kane knew of that. At this moment he simply hoped he would not disappoint. Kane would honestly not hesitate to kill- that garage would prove a decent enough spot to hide a corpse.

“My trust better not be misplaced with you, boy,” Kane leaned shortly towards Mika as they began walking. Mika had flinched, eyes widen as though a deer struck in headlights. Quickly he had shaken his head, though his shoulders had visibly tensed, and he had adjusted the straps of his guitar holder. Great. The boy was too much of a pussy that his fear had slowly infected Kane himself, the man who was known to bear no fear. Call him the man that draws the line between brave and plain suicidal.

The garage door made a noise at it opened, a mixture of rusting handles and old metal. Light poured within the darkened space; dust danced within the natural spotlight. A click of the side latch and the room illuminated, where their instruments had lied. Many great things had been known to come out of garages in their time of year, whether inventions, music, or generally uncalled for disastrous events. Kane felt the sudden urge to get high.

Kane took a seat by the drum set, bouncing his index finger against the cymbals absent mindedly. Mika looked over to Andy, then to Jimmy respectively when ushered to play. There was the tensing once more, and Kane began to wonder if he were entirely sober when he heard Mika play the first time. Maybe this boy could not play after all- oh, ruins were his reputation. At this he resorted to simply fish over his pockets, lighting up a cigarette. He caught Mika’s eyes for a second. Kane nodded towards him.

“O-kay,” Mika then said. He propped the case down, unzipping it from the sides then all the way around. The same guitar Kane had remembered, dark-wood, unbranded beside a set of ink-marked scribbles by its very top. Mika peered around, then he decided to sit himself on-top of a nearly worn down shelf. Kane should’ve known better and move for the guitarist, but fuck that, really. Upon his uncalled for insensitivity of circumstance, he simply shrugged and mouthed a ‘what?’. It was sad that he had not a strap for the guitar, even sadder that the guitar had not even an extension for said strap. Mika tapped his knuckles against the body of the instrument, and it was only now that Kane actually noticed that the boy was left-handed. Then he played.



And Kane regretted the time he doubted him. The chills that he had experienced the first time he heard him on that quiet somber night returned, not slowly, yet all at once. It was even more terrifying to understand that the kid was entirely auto-deduct, no lessons on neither pentatonic nor diatonic scales. The way the curly haired male sunk in his own state, an invisible barrier of him and the real world emerged. A true musician at the making, no longer was the stuttering mess of a doe-eyed boy. That was a rock star. Through the performance, Kane leaned forward in his seat, eyes nearly unblinking as he observed the brunette. What would have happened were the boy given proper education, guidance from the oh-so great Kane Starling?

The moment he finished, Mika swept his hair back, cracking his knuckles the next second. His cheeks had flushed, and there was a natural smile set upon his face. The nervousness began to resurface once again, yet the tension that was there significantly diminished. “How was it?” he had asked, shifting his gaze around the room.

code: s e v e n

 

[milkette]

JIMMY WESTON

❛ THE DRUMMER ❜

There was still a nervous energy surrounding Jimmy, though there wasn't a reason why he should feel this way. He never felt all too anxious in the first place. It was just weird letting the guys into his house (well, his mother's house). Andy was nothing new, but Kane and Mika? Now that was a change, neither of them had ever stepped foot in his house, especially not Mika. Jimmy just didn't want a ton of judgement to be thrown at him for living with his mom - as far as he knew he was the only one out of all of them who still lived at home. Normally he didn't care much about other people's opinions, but when it was his mom, that was different. Surprisingly nobody had said anything, though, not even Kane really, except for his usual... comments. "Nah, my mom isn't single," he had replied to Kane, smirking at Andy who knew what was coming, "She and Andy have a little thing going on, so you'll have to get through him first." It was a joke, but Jimmy still knew that Andy hated it - hence why he kept it going. He loved to annoy him, as immature as that was.

Anyway, things were going pretty smoothly; he actually was feeling alright now and was curious as to what Mika sounded like. He hoped that all this hyping up that Kane had initiated would prove to be true... Jimmy did not want a shitty guitarist. Honestly, who in the band would want that? None of them. Though Kane seemed to have a special liking for the boy, for whatever reason. So hopefully he was good, or else things might be...awkward. Jimmy would probably straight up tell him he wasn't great, whereas Andy might act differently - he was always the nicer one out of the two.

As everyone gets situated, getting ready to watch Mika play, Jimmy notices Kane lights up a cigarette, to which he frowns. If his mom saw that, she would never let any one of them in the house ever again - she hated smoking. He doesn't say anything, though, not wanting to start something. It wasn't that serious considering she probably wouldn't even come downstairs to see them. He had specifically told her to stay out, and although she was stubborn, she respected his privacy for the most part. Thank God. If not, he would've had to find a way to move out, because there was no way in hell he would want her eyes on him 24/7. Jimmy wasn't particularly rebellious, at least not as much as someone like Kane, but he still smoked once in awhile, something his mother would have had a heart-attack over if she found out. She was a very traditional woman and thought that women smoking was quite trashy and disgusting. Anyone who she said this to would only laugh, saying something along the lines of, "Everyone does it! It's not that bad."

With a bored sounding sigh, he leans against the wall of the garage, which is crumbling slightly, leaving some sort of dusty residue on the back of his top. They all wait in silence, and he glances at Mika who seems to be gathering the courage to actually start. And Jimmy almost felt bad for him.

The curly-haired boy begins to play after another moment of silence, and the three listen intently, not interrupting. Jimmy stares at him, watching his hands move gracefully as he plucks at the strings. 'He's really not bad...' Jimmy thinks to himself, 'At all.' He glances at Andy who seems to be slightly surprised too. Although he hadn't entirely doubted the boy, he still didn't expect him to be this good. He's perfect, really, at playing the guitar. The shyness stuff they'd have to work on, because if they wanted to be rockstars? Well, Mika wasn't rockstar material. Maybe the way he played was, but everything else? Not really. He was too shy and awkward... something a rockstar wasn't. Now of course Jimmy wasn't totally rockstar material either - whatever that meant - but at least he didn't act like a shy little boy. He can't remember if he ever even had a phase like that as a child... honestly, he had always been a peppy, outgoing kid. The "class clown" if you will. Andy on the other hand - who he had known for years now - was the total opposite as a kid. He was more social now, but definitely not as much as Jimmy. Andy had been very reserved in elementary school especially, and Jimmy wonders what he ever saw in him... he wasn't the type to get on with the shy kids. But he guessed Andy was an exception.

After Mika finishes, he looks up quickly, a blush on his face, still looking nervous. Andy surprisingly speaks up first, "You're really amazing, man!" he exclaims, to which Jimmy nods nonchalantly. "Yeah. You're good," he adds on, not wanting to be rude. The kid truly was quite magnificent, though. He's just not as enthusiatic or nice as Andy, that just wasn't him. "Why were you so nervous?" Andy wonders aloud, curious, "You're not bad at all!"

location: the garage

feeling: neutral

wearing: this

coded by natasha.

 

[s e v e n]

KANE STARLING

the fallen star - lead singer

For a while, Kane had only sat there. Fingers intertwined, he pressed against the back of his hand, pressed lips and narrowed eyes. Moments like these, perhaps a slow clap is appreciated, and even expected. But the boy was faced with empty stares, until Jimmy and Andy began to speak. At least he did not disappoint, which proves he was sober enough that night to know so. The boy was in fact a hidden miracle. Kane found it difficult to hide his smile, as though a proud parent watching over his child. He huffed, rising from his seat and squishing the end of his cigarette at a little tray- for sure that was not an ashtray, but it would have done.

Leaning against the wall, he watched as Mika bashfully looked down, a sheepish smile followed by a small gesture of his fingers idly playing by his curled hair. “Thank you,” he had said. “I-I have never really played much for anyone before. And I-I-“ he looked up, and this time his eyes had sparked. The same spark they have possessed when his fingers plucked against the nylon strings, tapping against wood along the frets. A snap of confidence, a hidden expression behind locked doors where the key is melody.

“I’m honored,” he finally said, and grinned. Little did Kane know what it had truly meant for the young boy. Jumping out the windows as the sun sets the sky, playing through creaking doors. The burden that lies in his heart, the guilt that weighed on him to undergo such a selfish desire. Reverse all the life that has been dictated to him, a flightless bird that jumps off the roof. Wishing to a star that stayed silent. All until now.

There was a pang in his heart. Something that reminded him of his own life. How much has he left behind, and all for what? But whatever it was, he had decided that long ago, the day he became Kane Starling was the day that his past name died, along with its history and its name. He was born a year ago, and there was no more to it. If a concrete wall were to be plastered so solidly, would there be a reason to tear it down? He was happier. Should that not matter? But why does it still hurt to breathe?

Kane walked past the rest of the gang, towards Mika, who only stared up at him wide-eyed and hopeful. As though a dog who fetched its stick, waiting for a treat and a pat to the head. No conversation went on between them, and their eye contact did not waver for a while. When he reached for the guitar, there was a small tug of resistance, but just immediately so Mika’s fingers removed from its grip. Kane took a close examination of it, observing how the strings are all worn, the neck of the fretboard all curved. While it seemed obvious that it had been taken care of well, poured with ounces of love every single day- this boy has no idea what he’s doing, huh?

“No, Mr. Starling, WAIT-”

Mika rose from his seat, eyes wide in sheer terror. But before he could stop anyone, wooden chunks flew across the floor, a loud resonating crack from its body. Comically you could almost see as though the poor instrument’s soul left its flesh- wood. At the same time, everything had drained off Mika’s expression. Just a single swing, and all there was no longer there.

Mouth hung ajar, his eyes were glued to the remnants of sound boards and wood cluttered against the floor. In Kane’s hand was the guitar’s neck, now unattached from the rest of its body. He let it fall down before brushing his palms together, eyes cold with apathy. From the shock, Mika had fallen to his knees, looking back up and down towards the man and what was left of his dearest-

“Why would you do that?!”

“You can’t expect to go far with that piece of trash you call a guitar,” Kane replied, turning his nose towards him. “Relax, we’ll get you a new one-“

“My sister got that for me!”

Why, of course Kane, of all people, would not have anticipated. Kane appeared perplexed by this sudden outburst, he cocked up one eyebrow at the other boy, blinking a few times. He took a glance at the rest of the bandmates, and for once he thought he must have already fucked up by now. But why? He should apologize.

“Don’t be such a sissy,” Kane rolled his eyes, kicking away the rest of the debris with the edge of his feet. “That sort of mentality won’t last in a band. Do you want to play or not?”

At this Mika seemed taken aback. Nonetheless, however, he subtly nodded, lowering his gaze dejectedly towards the floor. It remained silent for a while, then Kane groaned, stubbornly shoving his hands down the pockets of his trousers. “I’m getting some air.” And with that announcement, he moved past the garage door, shutting it back when he went out.

code: s e v e n

 

[milkette]

ANDERSON GARDINI

❛ THE BASSIST ❜

Andy notices that there's a sparkle in Mika's eye after he compliments him - he looks proud of himself, relieved even. Although Andy wasn't the most reserved person - definitely not as much as Mika seemed to be - he still understood how... nervewracking that must have been. Especially in front of the three of them, who he seemed greatly intimidated by. Andy notices that Jimmy looks impressed as well, even offering a compliment. "Dude, I didn't even know you were capable of giving compliments," the brunette says to the other with a snort, giving him a playful push on the shoulder. Jimmy only rolls his eyes, "I'm not that heartless, you arse." and dismisses him with a dramatic wave of his hand. Andy only laughs at him, and then decides to glance over at Kane, see what he thought. But there's not much of a response from the other man, and he couldn't place what his facial expression meant. "...Kane?" Jimmy wonders aloud, but the other doesn't spare them a glance. Instead, he walks over to the curly-haired boy, and takes the instrument from him. Andy looks at him in mild confusion, not sure what the hell he's doing.

Mika, at first, looks at him, and there's still that gleam in his eye; it looks like he's wishing for Kane to praise him. But his facial expression changes into one of pure confusion when Kane takes his precious guitar. It looked worn down, something he'd probably had for a while now. Probably something that was special to him. At least that's what Andy thought, and he too felt the same way about his own possessions. There's a silence that comes over the entire room, and Andy's still not sure what's going on. He opens his mouth to speak - to ask Kane what he's doing - but before he can do so, the other lifts Mika's instrument into the air. Before either of the boys can do anything to stop him, the poor guitar is thrown, making a cringe-worthy sound as it hits the ground. The splinters of the guitar go flying, and it's as if it happens in slow-motion. Andy covers his mouth, and doesn't even react for a moment. What the hell? Mika seems absolutely heartbroken as it hits the floor.

Jimmy is the first one who speaks, "What the fuck, Kane?" Even him, the jokester, seems surprised. Upset, almost. Andy can't help but feel the same, that truly came out of nowhere. What was his problem? Maybe Jimmy knew, he'd known him for longer than Andy had. But that didn't matter - who in their right mind would do that? Obviously, the guitar meant a lot to Mika, and he hadn't done anything wrong. So... why? Andy has no damn clue.

Kane doesn't seem bothered. At least outwardly he doesn't and dismisses what he did with a wave of his hand, "Don't be such a sissy," Nobody knows what to say. What were they supposed to say? It was obvious the other didn't care, so what much would their words or anger do? Although Andy didn't know Mika like that, that was still such an asshole move. He can tell Jimmy feels the same.

The awkward tension is broken by frantic footsteps, and Andy can see Jimmy's look of horror when his mother comes into the garage, confusion spread across her features just like the rest of them. She looks at the scene in front of her - a guitar broken into pieces, a boy who looks almost in tears, and then the two of them standing around, frozen. And then of course there was Kane, who doesn't seem to realize what he did was very much wrong.

"What's going on down here?!" she asks, walking down the small set of stairs to get on ground-level, "Jimmy?" she looks at him with an expression that says, 'explain...NOW''. Jimmy looks like a deer caught in headlights. It's not like he could lie; the evidence was right there. "Um... it was just.. a little accident," he says quietly, to which Ms. Weston just rolls her eyes. "Little?" she sighs and places a hand on her forehead, looking at each of the boys, disappointment evident on her face. Especially for Jimmy. "It was so loud, I could hear it from all the way in the house!" she says between gritted teeth. There's a long pause before she speaks again, this time in a more calm tone, "I'm going to ask you boys to leave now, please. Clean up this mess before you go, though," and with that she walks off, leaving the four men by themselves again. Once she's out of earshot, Jimmy gives Kane the glare of a lifetime. "Seriously? What's your problem?" he asks bitterly, but it doesn't seem like he's looking for answers, "Let's clean up then," he sighs, and gives Mika a glance. "Unless you, uh, need a moment to... mourn,"

Andy can sense that Jimmy's upset, it's quite obvious. He knew, from the years and years they'd been friends, that he absolutely hated getting yelled by his mom. Especially in front of friends, it was always really embarrassing for him. And on top of that, there's no way in hell any of them would be allowed into the Weston home for a loooong time after this incident. Which sucked. Where would they practice? Would Mika still want to even be in the band? I mean, come on now, why in the hell would he stay after that? There's a million questions swirling in his mind. He puts a hand through his hair, looking at Mika sympathetically. He didn't want to say anything.

Andy ignores Kane for now, not exactly wanting to deal with him at this moment. Hopefully he'd help in cleaning up... or else that would definitely push Jimmy over the edge.

location: the garage

feeling: shocked

wearing: this

coded by natasha.

 

[s e v e n]

MIKA FLYNN

the lonesome artist - guitarist

Never had Mika known of such a feeling. Extreme joy, drifted- no, crashed upon the suddenness that no one could ever had anticipated. Like tearing off a candy from a child, or perhaps more so, a child from its mother’s clutches. The smile that had not only faded off his face, a blatant lie cracked upon the silver mirror. There was nothing he could have done to prepare himself of such a shocking moment. He had trembled, then his knees felt weak.

Brown locks fell over his face as he dropped upon the ground. What he had heard next, the words that rolled off his tongue, the faces that blurred in the dim light of the garage room. He then heard the rickety noise of a door opened, shut. Then it opened once more.

Jimmy had said something. Then there was the woman. Then Andy. Where was Mr. Starling?

He was right. It was nothing but an old guitar, after all. One with no value placed on a price tag. He doubted he could even score himself a plate of warm meal in trade of the instrument. Yet beneath the chipped wood, now cracked and shattered, lies the soul of a girl. As he plucked on the strings, that girl sung. The smile that could warm the coldest of hearts, oh, his dearest sister. Golden flowers, dandelions, a field of green grass and meadows. The only place he could call home.

“No, it’s alright.” He spoke before he could stop himself. If playing pretend had been all he could do, then so be it. After all, he should have been used to it all this time, right? “Don’t give him such a hard time, he probably has something going on, too. Can’t really judge a person by their cover now, can we?”

The smile that became much too natural for him, too convincing of an act for anyone’s own good. Be kind. The words that echoed at the back of his mind, ones that guided him all his life. He wondered how much truth to value it could possibly possess. Where do we draw the line?

“And besides,” he shrugged, reaching over to one of the larger pieces. He turned the wood over. A small drawing of a flower, inked with dried dark blue marker. Slightly smudged at its ends. He pocketed it. “Kane did promise me a new one, didn’t he? I’ll make sure to get something good out of that deal.”

He turned his attention towards Jimmy, giving him a weak smile. “And I’m sorry about the noise. I’m sure it’s uncomfortable-”

The starting of an engine. A motorcycle. Did that boy honestly just…ditched? Again? For a split moment, a spiteful thought came inside his head. Mika quickly removed that from his mind. Anger gets no one anywhere. Another split second passed and he found himself wondering. What is up with that man? Definitely the most eccentric of an already uncommon bunch, he had thought. And all this time he had assumed that most acts of a rock band had been nothing but publicity schemes done by their managers. Seems like this one would not be needing one any time soon.

But then he looked at Jimmy and Andy. Nice people, they both were. When had been the last time anyone stood up for him the way they did? And they barely even knew him. Had the tensions always been this high with Kane? Images flashed of yesterday, back at the diner. This morning on the couch. The smiles they had, the jokes they had cracked with each other. Does not seem as so. But then he found himself envious, almost longing. The friendship they had with each other...he wanted that. Is there such a perfect life, to spend it with people one laughs with, do what one loves every waking hour. Must he wake up from such a beautiful, yet deceiving, fantasy? Suddenly he found a name to the feeling he had felt for a while, and Lord forbid he should ever.

He just hoped his chances of getting accepted is still on the table.

code: s e v e n

 

[milkette]

JIMMY WESTON

❛ THE DRUMMER ❜

There's a long pause before the boys begin to clean things up as best as they could. No doubt someone would be getting a splinter, but if this wasn't cleaned up before the evening, his mother would be absolutely pissed. Welp, guess he wouldn't be inviting friends over any time soon.

Kane...Jimmy still couldn't wrap his head around the man. What the hell had that been for? It just gets him irritated thinking about it, though, so he tries to push it out of his mind for now.

It isn't long before the blonde is feeling a bit better, considering he's naturally a pretty happy-go-lucky person, and the awkwardness and tension seem to have floated away. Alright, Kane was an asshole, and who knew how Mika really felt, but this would be a one-time thing, right? Kane was unpredictable, yeah, but he had never done something this out of hand... at least he hadn't throughout the time Jimmy had known him.

A sigh leaves his lips, and he wonders how Mika is feeling. There's no doubt in Jimmy's mind that the boy no longer wants to be apart of their band - why would he? If he was in Mika's place, God he'd be pissed off. He would've never wanted to see Kane's face again. But, who knew, perhaps the curly-haired boy was different. From the time Jimmy had known him - the very short time - he had been very quiet and compliant. So maybe he would let this go. Jimmy on the other hand was the complete opposite. If anyone ever did this to him, they would not see the light of day ever again. Even Andy. Well...

The garage is deadly quiet, with the exception of the shuffle of someone's feet once in a while, so when they hear the engine of a motorcycle roar, they all know it's Kane. Seriously? He was just going to leave? Not help clean up the mess that he made? Jimmy wasn't a goody-two-shoes by any means, but c'mon now, that was just common decency cleaning up for yourself.

Mika begins speaking, and Jimmy looks at him as he speaks. There's no malice in his voice at all. No anger or sadness. He just seemed...neutral. Completely fine. As if nothing had happened. Huh? Jimmy couldn't believe his ears.

"You're joking," he lets out an awkward laugh, but when there's no laugh in return, he grimaces. "Ok... so you aren't. Really? I mean come on, that was a dick move you've got to admit that," Jimmy pauses, "No offense or anything, but if I were you, I'd never want to see Kane's face again but, I mean, I'm not you so..." he shrugs, "welcome to the band I guess?" That was probably the most he'd ever said to Mika the entire time he'd known him.

"Yeah..." Andy adds on, "That guitar was special to you, right? I'm not trying to sway your opinion or anything but..." he trails off, seemingly not knowing what to say next. "Jimmy's right. Total dick move. But you do you." the brunette clears his throat, and throws Jimmy a glance, "Kane didn't say anything about you not being accepted into the band so I think you're in? I dunno. This is an odd situation. Either way, you're still a rad guitar player."

location: the garage

feeling: distressed

wearing: this

coded by natasha.

 

[s e v e n]

MIKA FLYNN

the lonesome artist - guitarist

In truth, yes. And of course, they could tell as much, if anything, Kane perhaps realized just as much how he messed things up. It would have been nice if the man had owned up to it instead of running away. Mika had been patient, he realized that. He knew that Andy was right, that he had every right to be angry. What was stopping him exactly? Is he that desperate to get accepted in a band- any band at all for that matter- or was it his own conscience that keeps speaking to him? Some conscience that was.

Regardless, there was no helping it. What was done is done. He could at most apologize later, though perhaps that itself would not have been the best idea. Simply imagining how he could possibly explain his situation to her- suddenly the idea of his guitar breaking did not feel as bad anymore. At least he was thankful that the rest of his peers were not as, well, unapproachable.

“Thanks guys. I appreciate it, I really do,” he smiled towards the rest of what is now he supposes were his new band members. It still felt surreal, how a little leap of faith got him all the way here. Did he regret it? No. Even if he did, he would not be able to turn back. And he knew that Kane had boasted of him before, yet to hear the validation from two other people- my, Mika almost allowed himself to be slightly cocky. The young man flushed slightly in embarrassment, for surely Andy and Jimmy were just being humble.

“Um-” For a split second, Mika’s eyes darted behind the duo’s back, where the instrument sets sat nicely by the edge of the room. He stared back, then back and forth, evidently in hesitation. He patted his hands awkwardly over the front of his shirt, dusting it off the wood dust from cleaning the floor earlier. His heart ached when he saw the remnant of wooden chunks stacked at the corner, what once was his dearest possession reduced to nothing but waste. He tried not to look at it, yet instead his attention was directed back towards the two.

“Can I see you both play?” Mika asked, but quickly added “Only if that’s alright with you two!”

The mood of the room had definitely lightened, gradually yet surely. Mika slowly made his way towards the instrument sets, past the drums and the speakers. It was not too grand, yet in his eyes, they were everything he could ever wish for. As he passed, he trailed the tip of his finger at the rims of the devices, he observed the knobs around the amps, though he did not understand what for.

“How long have you all been doing this anyway?” he looked up from the drum sets. “Do- er,” he flushed slightly again, his gaze averted. It was yet another question that has been bothering him. Everyone kept insisting otherwise, yet Mika had always been firm in his ideals. Somedays, however, he thought: maybe they were right. After all, everyone and their mothers wanted to be a musician. An escape of reality, some might call it. As he sees it, a burst of passion. But in a million of dreamers, how many became Mick Jagger? How many ended up in a ditch, homeless with no penny to their names?

“So do you guys do this for a living? Only music?”

code: s e v e n