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Rio Vidal was a fucking amazing drummer, if you asked her. She had played for Marianas Trench, when they were in a pinch. She was mentored by Lars Ulrich (Yes, THE Lars Ulrich of Metallica). She’d taught young aspiring drummers to play like Phil Collins.
She could handle pressure. She’d been called late in the day to cover for My Chemical Romance’s Bob Bryer (may he rest in peace), and had to mediate the tense atmosphere by playing her heart out.
She’d handled arrogant bastards, extra dramatic singers (We love you Josh, but 5 costume changes in an two hour set, and a glow in the dark trench coat, is hilarious), and panicked stage managers. The one thing she couldn’t handle, was that diva Agatha Harkness.
They’d met years ago. Her band The Road had been in desperate need of a drummer, when Alice Wu Gulliver had fallen ill on tour, and their band manager, Jennifer Kale, called Rio’s.
If looks could kill, Rio would’ve been killed thirty times over, every time Harkness glared at her. Despite her polite smile, you’d think Rio had purposefully poisoned Alice or something.
When another call came from her manager, and adopted mom, Lilia Calderu, asking her to cover for Alice again, Rio straight up refused.
“Lils, she literally throws off my whole vibe!”
“Rio, mi vida, nothing throws off your ‘whole vibe’. Try again.”
“I feel like she might stab me at a moments notice because I coughed too hard or something.”
Rio could just see Lilia’s eye roll from behind the phone. Known for her dramatics, Lady Death sighed and fell onto the dark leather couch in her apartment.
“Stop sighing, and grow up. You have never had any issues with a musician, so why start now?” Silence settled over the phone. “Plus, I’m pretty sure this time, Agatha asked Alice to step back for you to come in.”
“So she can murder me faster!”
“Rio Vidal. Have you ever, I don’t know, considered that maybe she likes you?”
“How could she like me? She doesn’t know me.”
“Do you remember going to school with Agnes O’Connor?”
“Yeah, that nerdy pian- oh.”
“Yes, dear. Oh.”
Rio had had a crush on an older girl she went to school with back in high school. She’d never acted on it, because Evanora O’Connor was known to be an absolute nightmare, and just when she was about to ask Agnes to the Winter Formal, she’d turned 18 and all trace of her had disappeared.
“So you’re gonna go, and you’re gonna be professional, isn’t that right, mi amour?”
“Yes.”
That’s how Rio found herself standing outside of the Rock Fest New Jersey, with a pair of drum sticks in hand, and looking terrified.
She fidgeted with her sticks and stared at the entrance to the trailer that The Road was meeting in, prior to sound check.
“You okay?” A slightly teasing voice suddenly appeared, and a presence was made known beside her. “For someone who’s played with the greats, you look terrified to play for this small group.”
“Good to see you, Agatha.”
“You as well, dear. You look a little tense…”
“Oh fuck you.”
“Do it yourself.” And she was prancing up the steps, leaving Rio in her wake. This is why she found her absolutely infuriating.
She could get under her skin with little more than a breath. Rio thought back to the girl she remembered growing up, and followed behind her.
While the band was getting ready on stage, Rio hunted for Agatha. A London fog in one hand for herself, and a caramel machiatto in the other. An olive branch, she reminded herself.
“Hey, Ags!”
The older girl spun around at the nickname, and her gaze locked on Rio’s. What was usually filled with fire, there was a soft recognition.
“I got you a coffee.” Rio awkwardly walked up to Agatha and handed it to her.
“I didn’t think you remembered.”
“I didn’t recognize you, until Lilia reminded me.”
“That’s lovely.”
“You’ve changed, that’s why. You own the room now, Ags. It’s beautiful. I didn’t recognize your aura.”
“Still a sweet talker.”
“Well, I was gonna ask you to Formal back in the day. I was practising.”
Their gaze met, and a huge grin crinkled around deep blue eyes. “Really?”
“Yeah. You turned 18 and disappeared, and I couldn’t find you… but I was gonna.”
“I left because I was finally free to leave my mother.”
“I don’t blame you. She scared me.”
“I know.”
“I’d still ask you.”
“Pardon?”
“If we did it all over again, and I remembered all this, I’d ask you to go with me.”
“Are you skating around asking me on a date?”
“… yes. Is it working?”
“Yes.”
“Kay. Cool.”
“Harkness, Vidal! Stop your flirting! Sound check!” The two giggled, and Agatha took a swig of her drink.
“Oh my God, you really remembered!”
“Of course. How could I forget the most beautiful being in the world?”
They walked on stage, and went into places, praying for soundcheck to finish faster.