anthophilia: (Default)
[personal profile] anthophilia posting in [community profile] fourstrings


[ Wolfwood’s worked in private security for a while, but never in a role as public as for a pop star. This is probably thanks to his… occasionally shady past; little bits here and there in his history that make him ideal for, say, Saudi royalty who believe (rightly or otherwise) that every corner they turn is potentially hiding someone ready to make an attempt on their life, who’ll need to be taken out expediently. So it’s kind of a surprise to get a call from an annoyingly silky-voiced PA about working daily with one of the biggest names in music. Wolfwood’s honest about his history, and surprised to learn that they know exactly what kind of things he’s been up to and that it’s exactly why they want him. Apparently there’d been a credible threat against their golden goose and the previous security had responded in a way they found… lacking. So Wolfwood had met with the PA, and the met with the producer, and now he’s in an elevator on his way to meet with the star himself. The last hurdle, because as the producer in question had put it, he needs to trust you, and I need to trust you with him.

It's a job. It’s just a job. But there’s a part of Wolfwood that’s screaming internally to keep it cool, because although likes to think he’s too jaded to have favourites, he definitely had a favourite artist when he was about 19. He’d spent countless hours laying on his bed with the best headphones he could afford, eyes closed, soaking up the music. A tangle of discordant melodies and arrhythmic beats all layered one on top of the other until they somehow made a glorious, perfect whole, all laid over with grim and cutting lyrics sung in such a sweet voice it was like poetry. And the singer himself was a perfect reflection of the music – a long red coat made up of so many straps and buckles and strips of leather that it evoked an avant-garde straightjacket, chunky black boots that came so high up the singer’s long, long legs that they must have been about crotch-height on an average person. Blond hair spiked vertically, like a warning, and in the middle of all that a face as sweetly beautiful as an angel’s. Wolfwood had also thought he was too cool for crushes, but he’d definitely been nursing one on that singer. Vash. Vash had released two poorly-selling albums of the best music Wolfwood had ever heard - Stampede and Typhoon - and then promptly vanished off the face of the music industry.

Vanished until he’d come back years later, with a softer coat and softer hair and the same sharp lyrics but set to the kind of pop beats that make Wolfwood begrudge the way he taps his foot, and put said industry in a chokehold. Now his music is playing on tv and radio everywhere Wolfwood goes. Teens dance to his music all over tiktok and pack out stadiums where the tickets are in such demand they’re sold by lottery, and still at prices that make Wolfwood wince. Even the producer and co-writer has had an image makeover – it almost startled Wolfwood to recognise the slick music mogul Nai was the same man who’d been credited as the (unhinged-sounding) Knives on the albums Wolfwood had loved so much. All in all, it’s pretty embarrassing – but nowhere near embarrassing enough to put him off the pay they’re offering.

The elevator dings its arrival, and the blue-haired PA rolls his eyes at the way Wolfwood adjusts his very best suit and leads him into the biggest, fanciest penthouse suite Wolfwood’s ever laid eyes on – Saudi royalty included – and murmurs I’ll let you two get acquainted before installing himself at the back of the room and making a very poor show of being focused on his ipad, not the other two men in the room. Vash is leaned in close to a laptop, headphones on, focused on something so deeply that it puts a little furrow in his brow, so Wolfwood awkwardly tries to edge into his field of view and… waits. It’s probably gonna fuck this whole deal to demand his attention, right? ]

Date: 2024-07-04 04:47 am (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
Well! So far you don't give off any creepy vibes.

[ which puts him heads above legato when it comes to babysitting, as far as vash is concerned. ]

But -- oh! Did you want a coffee or anything? They usually keep the kitchen pretty stocked, and I think Nai has a coffee maker?

[ it's a stupidly fancy monstrosity that vash isn't allowed to touch under any circumstances, but nai regularly conducts esoteric rituals on it and obtains coffee somehow, so... ]

Date: 2024-07-04 05:18 am (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
[ oh!!! he lights up with interest at the first bit, because that sounds cool. sure, maybe it's just a grass is greener thing, but how many times has he sat around just wishing he could be a regular person working a regular job? it's been years since he's even been able to go in a coffee shop without the place getting swarmed, and --

but the next part catches him off-guard, startled enough for it to show in his expression. almost like what you want is a foreign concept, some bold new idea wolfwood came up with on the spot. ]
I --?

Oh, I mean... [ flustered! ] ... I don't really...

I'm pretty boring!

Date: 2024-07-04 01:42 pm (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
[ there it is again. the distinct feeling that wolfwood has reached out to grab at the edge of the mask vash has gotten so used to wearing and given it a yank, and vash is left unbalanced and reeling in the aftermath. ]

I --

[ it should be easy to shut this down, to say something vague and upbeat and then pivot away from the topic entirely. but. ] ... you don't have to worry about that part.

The tolerable part, I mean. [ with a little laugh, reaching up to rub at his arm just above the port for the prosthetic. ] Pretty sure we'd have to pay you way more if that was in the job description.

Date: 2024-07-06 04:29 pm (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
Oooh!

[ and now he’s grinning, leaning back a little like he’s adding the lambo as a new variable into some old equation. ] How do you feel about kidnapping? You could even chuck me in the trunk and tie my hands up to make it look real!

[ but it’s an airy, playful thing with no real weight behind it. a daydream, not a plan. ]

Date: 2024-07-06 10:10 pm (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
[ a little head shake and a laugh. ]

Nooooo! Pretty obvious they haven't shown you the schedule yet, if you think there's time to squeeze that in.

[ which is why he reaches over to grab his phone, tapping away at it for a moment before he reaches out to pass it over to wolfwood. and there it is! The Schedule -- every day and seemingly every minute crammed with practice, interviews, studio time, meetings with designers and technicians and producers, and endless, dizzying list. ]

Date: 2024-07-06 10:31 pm (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
That's where you come in, right? To watch my back!

[ taking the phone back from him, only to lay it facedown again on the table nearby. ]

A lot of people are counting on me. Not just the fans, but the whole team here. So... I'm counting on you!

Date: 2024-07-06 11:25 pm (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
[ vash does know the story, but there's a difference between having legato rattle off something in someone's file and hearing it straight from wolfwood's mouth. so he stays quiet through the whole thing, smile gone, expression intent, eyes focused on wolfwood's face.

but then: ]


Thank you. For telling me. [ but then he leans forward a little. ] But if it comes down to it, no matter what my brother says, I don't want you to kill anyone because of me.

I -- [ he hesitates for a moment, breaking eye contact. ] ... I wanted to do this to make people happy. [ it sounds like the sort of cheesy answer you give the tabloids, but it's always been anything but. maybe because it feels like atonement. ] I think sometimes music does that better than anything else. And I'm lucky. People tell me that my songs have gotten them through stuff, picked them up when they were feeling down, helped them make a change.

I think you're a good person, Wolfwood. [ softly. ] I can tell.

So I'm asking -- [ looking back at him again. ] If someone gets hurt, gets killed, everything I've done won't mean anything anymore.

Please don't take that away.

Date: 2024-07-07 12:00 am (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
[ a blink! that is rude. but it's also... true, and the first time anyone else has ever... noticed? it catches him off-guard; he's caught between feeling oddly exposed and vulnerable, but also... it's... nice? it feels like wolfwood is the first person in a long time looking at him and trying to see him. ]

... deal!

[ offering up his hand to shake. ] It can be our contract.

Date: 2024-07-07 12:24 am (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
Oh! I can help!

[ letting go of wolfwood's hand just so he can go fumbling for his phone again, and there's a few minutes of furious tapping. then he looks up, beaming like he's just accomplished something great. ] There! I told 'em you had a bunch of really strict security protocols you're putting in place and I had to clear my schedule for the rest of the week to get it all done. We already had to delay the next couple of concerts until my arm gets fixed, so it was just interviews and stuff.

[ ... a little thoughtful. ] I guess my brother might yell at you, but probably just a little bit.

Date: 2024-07-07 12:41 am (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
[ oh. that laugh is enough to make his heart do a stupid flip-flop flutter in his chest, and it takes him a second or two before he recovers enough to flash wolfwood a peace sign and another grin.

but!! ]
Yeah! We might as well earn the yelling, right?

Date: 2024-07-07 01:17 am (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
[ thinking hard about this!

... and then there's a little wiggle, almost like a kid working themselves up to ask for something they know is against the rules. ]


... donuts? [ his team outlawed them, saying sweets would be awful for his figure and his complexion, but if he and wolfwood are having a Rebellion Day... ]

Date: 2024-07-07 01:34 am (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
-- Wait, we can go out and get some?

[ it's obvious that the suggestion nearly bowls him right over, almost like wolfwood had suggested skydiving off the roof!! he was just expecting to order some in! but... going out??? for donuts??? ] Really?

Date: 2024-07-07 01:50 am (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
[ that's all it takes! just the prospect of a quick trip through a drive-through is enough to make him get more hype than a golden retriever over a game of fetch. he jumps to his feet, practically vibrating with excitement, looking like there's a high likelihood that he'll start chasing his tail at any moment. ]

Yay! Let's do it! Wow, I can't believe we're really gonna go through a drive-through! It's almost like we're spies on a secret mission! Except the secret mission is donuts!

Date: 2024-07-07 02:03 am (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
[ settling the sunglasses on his nose! they're darker than the glasses he's used to, but the upside? vash is 100% convinced they make him look cool! ]

I wanna wear yours! It's more like a disguise that way!

Date: 2024-07-07 02:32 am (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
[ vash is happy enough just to follow along at wolfwood's heels like a duckling, trying not to let too much excitement bleed through until they're out of sight of the regular penthouse security.

but! then he's sliding into wolfwood's car, eagerly opening up the glovebox and pulling out the beanie within like it's treasure. of course, tugging it out is enough to make one of the CDs go tumbling down to the floorboard of the car, and vash promptly chirps out a whoops, sorry! and dips down to retrieve it.

... of course, once he picks it up and sees what it is? there's a long moment of silence before he swallows and manages a little: ]
... wow, haha, you really did your research before you took this job, huh?

Date: 2024-07-07 02:47 am (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
Wh --?

[ a blink, turning an almost startled look in wolfwood's direction. ]

You were a fan? Of... this?

Date: 2024-07-07 02:57 am (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
I --

[ looking back at the jewel case in his hands, speechless for another long moment. ]

Really? This isn't -- I mean, you've already got the job, I promise!

Date: 2024-07-07 03:09 am (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
Oh! No, it doesn't ruin anything, just --

[ shaking his head, a crooked little smile tugging at one corner of his mouth as he reaches out to trace the letters of the album title. ] ... I didn't know anyone really liked these.

[ they hadn't been widely circulated, critics had been fairly scathing, and it had led to vash being dropped from the little indie label who'd taken a chance on him. almost enough to end his career before it ever started. ]

Date: 2024-07-07 04:13 pm (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
We didn't have any marketing.

[ with a little laugh, his voice low and fond. ] Couldn't afford it, not back then. I used to perform at some clubs here and there, and I thought selling some CDs after the show might help get the music out. Nai and I pooled together everything we had just to record the first run.

[ and it had worked, at first. they'd only made a couple hundred of the CDs, but they'd cleared out all their stock after the next couple of shows, and one of them had made it into the hands of the label that ended up signing vash. the label had paid for another run of the first album and even produced the second, but... it was all just a flash in the pan. a cult following, and that had slowly died off after a handful of scathing reviews and some scattered internet controversy. ]

I never really expected to stumble across one of these again. Not like this, at least.

Date: 2024-07-07 07:34 pm (UTC)
spiculatus: (Default)
From: [personal profile] spiculatus
I'm glad it meant something to someone.

[ and then he's tucking the CD carefully back in the glovebox before shutting it again and starting to work on the not-so-easy task of hiding all of his hair up under wolfwood's beanie.

a little laugh, though. ]


I don't know if this counts. [ it's not really putting yourself out there if what's out there isn't really yourself, right? ]

Profile

fourstrings

May 2025

S M T W T F S
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Page Summary

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Dec. 22nd, 2025 08:56 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios