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The recent spell of rain traps one Byleth and one Shez at the practice hall. What should've been a one or two hour session turns into a possible sleepover, even.
It's a frustrating and agonising thing, being stuck in one place that wasn't home - but still, at least the evening wasn't entirely uneventful when the two are offered a bit of work, if only to pass the time.
Essentially, someone had to organise and take care of the equipment while staff were running low that day. The job may as well be done by the small-time band composed of only two 'patchwork' people. That's what the manager said before she dipped out for a drink and a smoke. Must've saw her opportunity for a break and took it all too soon.
But, beyond the free labour, at least it was also an opportunity for the two to grow more familiar with the space. They're not novices, but if they were going to take this gig seriously, they really needed adjustments here and there - needed one practice room to themselves, needed to familiarise with the many buttons and leads that sometimes required a bit of manhandling to untangle. Perhaps this was also an exercise in teamwork…
But, differences are quickly apparent.
Byleth is fast, efficient and calculated.
Shez is slow, nuanced and quite the ponderer.
Which makes the former more susceptible to free time, which they spend by either messing around with their bass, or stepping in and out of the many halls that composed the hall's integrity. Which eventually leads them outside, out on the balcony, just outside the studio Shez was working on.
Thus, after finishing his share of tidying up, Shez lingers by the glass sliding door.
He could join them… he could enjoy what the evening boasted, in these times of peace.
There's little else to do, anyways.
So, in escaping the suffocation of the studio, in closing the door behind himself, he props his elbows up on the metal railing. Little more than a hum of acknowledgement passes between the two.
"Byleth…"
They nod back in greeting. Then, silence settles. Byleth is comfortable with it. Shez is not.
Thus, the purple-haired begins his search - scanning for any topic worth discussion, until, his eyes land on something a bit… interesting.
"Oh, what… Hey… Look over there."
Shez points, Byleth walks up closer, just to see things from his point of view.
And the spectacle in question is the… questionable rocking of a car. Shadowed figures that pushed against one another, in a distant carpark.
"They should probably go somewhere else for that."
'We shouldn't even be looking,' Byleth signs, in their ever so plain way of responding to things.
An audible sigh, Shez deflates, and indeed, moves his eyes elsewhere.
"Yeah… Good idea…"
For a former rival who lost to him in a recent music competition, one would think someone as impulsive as Shez would be a touch more resistant against Byleth. But, they had a good point. Their business, or whatever.
So, Shez confides in the rain. Confides in a strange thought he has.
"... Have you ever been kissed in a car?"
If it caught the other off guard, it's not apparent.
They only shake their head.
"Ah… Thought so…"
That, at least, invokes an eyebrow raise from Byleth.
"H-hey, hey. Not a bad thing. Sometimes people don't have time for things like that. It's perfectly alright to not kiss anyone, even."
'Have you?'
"Once or twice, maybe. Dunno. Can't remember much, to be quite honest. I was probably black-out drunk, or something."
'That doesn't sound very good.'
"Listen, I don't judge you, you don't judge me…" Shez can't help the small nervous chuckle he lets out, even.
"... Consider it like… networking, heh."
A neutral hum from the other. But, it's back to silence.
It seems that, no matter what, they were always going to end up here, in some aimless vacuum; void of conversation. Byleth made it hard. And Shez always found it difficult to just stand around and do… nothing with his hands.
So, they rest back up on the railing. He plays a few nonsense beats on it, its echo reverberating about the damp coldness of the evening. And his eyes wander off again to that car. He can't help it. Besides the rain, the ever-persistent hum of the fluorescent balcony lights, it was the only point of interest that had a story to it.
It's at that point that Byleth departs, and makes way for the door, but not before tapping Shez's shoulder for his attention.
'You want anything to drink?'
"... Yeah, just get me like… a coffee."
That's a thumbs up from them. And off they go, back into the studio. And now, Shez is the one outside, pondering.
He hums a few lyrics, hums to pass the time.
He's been meaning to ask his partner if vocals would be a good addition to… whatever they were doing, but never found the chance to ask. Maybe now would be good.
So, turning on his heel, and abandoning the cityscape, choked by the honking of trafficked cars, light pollution and lonely college students, Shez returns to the studio. He returns to the hallways. He enters the break room.
And, as expected, there Byleth works away, deft hands pulling apart a teabag packet as the stutter of the boiling kettle shakes about.
"You need help?"
He approaches, and is just about to take a mug from one of the cupboards.
Byleth shakes their head, however, barely sparing him a glance.
"... You know… for someone who asked me to join your band, you're… awfully resistant to getting any help, huh? Just… give me something to do. I can do it."
They consider it then. And on cue, the kettle clicks to a stop. The water settles. If Byleth will not ask, Shez will do it. He goes to retrieve it, while Byleth retrieves their mug and hands him his cup of - as of now - instant coffee powder and honey.
"... How did you know?"
They turn to glance at him, expression still hard to read, but Shez is beginning to pick up on the nuances in their eyebrow. And it seems they're a bit confused with how the left one ruffles and raises ever so subtly.
"Like… how did you know I like honey in my coffee? Usually, people go for like, sugar or whatever."
'I like honey in my coffee.'
Their expression softens. It's almost a smile.
'You look like you would be the type to enjoy it too.'
"Right, right… right…"
Bonding over coffee… He's not particularly surprised, but still. Strange grounds for concrete relations to begin.
"Oh yeah, by the way," Shez turns his attention back to helping, "Did you want to add vocals to the mix? I'm… guessing you can't sing."
Byleth hesitates. Then they nod their head.
'I can't sing. But you're more than welcome to try it.'
"Alright. Sounds good. We could even practice later. I don't think the rain's gonna let up any time soon…"
Once again, Byleth nods, and attends back to their coffee and tea making. Seemingly completely unaware of the face that now begins to stare at them.
Seriously, it boggles Shez's mind, how someone so talented could be so… blank. They were genuinely lucky - not a single record of bad performances, not a hint of bad habits that had the potential to ruin their young career, and well… there's a reason why the guitarist is so intent on their eyes, their lips, the freckles that were just barely there; a privilege to see up close.
If anything, his initial obsessive need to overcome them was forgotten at times because their face was not difficult to look at. At all.
But, Shez has learned well and truly; dating within a band was a no-go. He doesn't dare let the very thought cross his mind. And it seemed this rule was especially applicable for a duo group that was already remarkably fragile.
If it could break his last stable band, then it was a certainty here. After all, Shez had no idea if this was even a 'crush', nor would he find reason for them to reciprocate.
Ah well. At least his background in dating someone in his band made for an interesting anecdote in his side gig. People tend to laugh at the romantic misfortunes of others, anyways. And tryhard stand-up comedian that he is, Shez likes to impress.
But with that, the two wait for the drinks to cool. The pitter patter of rain from above fills the air, yet again.
'Are we going to do a cover, or are you planning on writing lyrics?' Byleth finally finds the space to sign.
"Hm… That's a good question, actually. I think we should go for a cover first, though. See how that goes…?'
Byleth nods, again.
And in their satisfaction they reach for their mug and begin to drink - unphased by the heat. Shez is baffled, once again.
The mug is placed back down, however, as they go back to signing.
'If you're going to add lyrics, I should add percussion.'
"... You mean drums?"
They nod.
'I can ask my father to join our band.'
"Wait. Jeralt Eisner? The Jeralt Eisner?"
'Is something wrong?'
"N-no, no. Believe me, I'd be… so honoured to have him join. But like… didn't he quit the whole music thing?"
'I can ask him to come back."
A nervous chuckle, a shake of his head.
"You make it sound so easy. With a name like 'Blade-breaker' you'd think he'd be a little more resistant to a simple request."
'It won't be contractual. He can quit whenever he likes.'
"Oh man… Ouch. For some reason that hurts."
'We're good enough for him.'
"Yeah, well…" Shez goes for his coffee. Blowing away the waning stream of steam, he then takes a sip, "You are. Meanwhile I… still have a lot to learn."
'And he can teach you.'
"Byleth, I'm gonna be honest with you, but your dad scares me. He's a great guy and all, sure. But… he may as well be a celebrity. Only thing stopping him is the lack of any paparazzis tailing his ass."
'They don't recognise him.'
"And thank the goddess for that."
It's interesting, to say the least.
Byleth didn't seem as awkward as before, and Shez himself was quipping back.
It's a very small thing, and a very small conversation, given that Byleth chose to end it by sipping at their tea - but still, it's a sign to Shez that this band wasn't a complete lost cause. There was hope. And now, there was a possibility of a third member.
"Why didn't you bring up your dad before, though?" He does think to ask.
Their cup is put down, as they succinctly sign, 'It never crossed my mind.'
"Right…"
He supposes they also have the similarity of forgetfulness. Might not be a good thing for a band, but, whatever can one do?
"Either way, thanks for the offer. Oh, and… thanks for…" Shez holds up his mug, a sheepish grin on his face, "... this. It's nice. Especially on a rainy night."
And was that the softest of chuckles from Byleth…?
'We should make noodles too.'
"Oh… that would be soooo good…"