Work Text:
DaAIDS, of course, knew his life would be short, given the recent news that his HIV had developed into AIDS. He decided to change his name from Lil Estrogen to DaAIDS as a sort of tribute, embracing this reality and choosing to use humor as an escape from his horrific and anticipated death.
DaAIDS didn’t realize, however, how short a friend’s life would be as well. He expected raccoon_guy10 to live for years, inspiring people far into the future. But the US government had other plans.
AIDS was working on “My Name Is Thomas” when he found out. It was supposed to be a great day; he would show raccoon his progress and be praised by his beloved mentor, just as always. He remembers it clearly, and the moment replays in his head constantly.
He remembers sitting at his computer, looking at SoundCloud, excited to see how far he would get on his song, when raccoon’s “close friend,” possum_girl10, called. Her voice was shaking. AIDS knew this would be bad.
“AIDS,” she cried, shuddering. “It’s raccoon—he’s…” She couldn’t finish at first. A million things ran through his mind. What happened? Was he okay? Did he win an Emmy? The moment seemed to last forever until she finally finished her sentence. “AIDS, he’s dead. They killed him.”
DaAIDS remembers how it felt as if the entire world had paused. He didn’t know how much time had passed when he finally muttered in his high-pitched voice, “What?”
He remembers how she explained, through tears, what had happened to his mentor: shortly after “Buddy Laden” was released, Navy SEALs burst through his doors and shot him dead.
There seemed to be a blank space between that moment and the funeral. He doesn’t remember much from this time, only the grief that consumed him. He remembers how Lil Binkle and He/They Deric, along with a few unnamed people, stood with him at raccoon’s closed casket, crying and saying their final goodbyes. He remembers the trip to raccoon’s final resting place, Madison Square Garden. He remembers how eerily quiet it was.
DaAIDS decided to dedicate his entire career to his mentor. Every song he made was for him. Raccoon inspired him, and he was the reason DaAIDS had gotten to where he was today. Each concert, each conversation, each collaboration; everything was for raccoon_guy10: the man, the myth, the javi.