Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Larry wouldn’t call himself emotionless.

Sure, he knows that robots are often classed as such given their lack of understanding of them. But he believes that there’s a difference between understanding, and having.

He doesn’t understand them, but if he can’t define the heating of his body or the lack of ability to piece together words in the presence of her, that doesn’t mean he lacks them.

Larry hums as he waits for the next patron. Ticket sales are something that comes and goes over the day. Sometimes he’s absolutely flooded, and other times (like now), there’s nearly nothing to do.

Larry knows his brother wasn’t currently around, tackling an issue in a separate area. He knows, he was originally asked to assist there, but unfortunately at that moment, he was actually busy.

He regrets not letting Lawrie take over sales. Because one could even say he was bored. Today was a day where it was mainly Park work, and there were no Brawls lined up for him during Park hours.

He resists leaning against the pillar behind him. He must stay attentive in the occasion that there is a guest. A late guest? Not many people want to come to the Starr Park during the mid-afternoon, provided it’s a day visit. Not enough time to visit all the attractions.

What isn’t too shocking though, is seeing a handful of guests leaving. Larry pays no mind to any footsteps approaching from behind him. He smiles and waves goodbye to any of the guests that choose to say something, but generally, he’s ignored.

Again, still fair enough. He knows that people are still off put by the various robotics the Park “employs”, given their origins. Or they don’t believe they have such autonomy to be greeted. It’s whatever.

So what shocks him is the sudden register of arms around his shoulders, and a warm body on him. It takes a brief moment, but the pink gloves and golden bracelets are enough of an identifier.

“Melodie… don’t you have somewhere to go?”

The popstar disregards his words, resting her weight upon him. She’s significantly taller than him, logically it shouldn’t have been comfortable.

“You’re cool.”

Cool?

“As in excellent or temperature?”

Melodie lets out a puff of amusement.

“As in temperature. You do not know how bad it is in the Stunt Show area.”

Must have been today’s selected arena. Larry doesn’t quite get it, but theoretically with the fireworks and flames it should be hot there.

“Thank you? It means that my fans are doing its job.”

A bit of a laugh from Melodie. Larry didn’t even realise the double meaning of the word.

“I would be horrified if my fans tried to cool me off. What would they do? Fling water? That is an entire mess I would not want to have to sort out.”

As Melodie leans more into him, Larry dares to feel. Cuddling toys is one thing, but the touch and affection from a living being, with warm skin and flowing blood brings an entirely new feeling for him.

It’s beautiful. It’s a sign of life. Larry treasures this moment, just like all other moments with Melodie. Touch feels like such an intimate event.

“Are you sure you wish to remain here, Melodie? We are in the public eye.”

Larry wishes they weren’t. Because then this moment could last so much longer without others, and he wants it to. Yet he knows how much Melodie values her reputation and appearance. She surely wouldn’t want to damage her image.

Melodie, on the other hand, leans more into him.

“I can do what I want. You think that’s the worse PR crisis I’ve dealt with? Just stand here and let me hug you.”

Larry is more than willing to do as she says.

Chapter Text

Melodie was fine on her island. No competition. No nothing. Just her and her flock of harpies. Sure, the flock is only made up of fledglings. But they’re her fledglings. And hers to care for.

It’s how she notices when her hunts are disrupted. It starts small. Extra strain on some branches. Less prey in the usual areas. Some extra talon scratches around rocks. But it keeps happening, and it is irritating.

There is someone else here. On her land. Her turf. She ignores the fact that this is technically the land of Hades. She and her flock watch the entrance. The entrance of the Underworld, domain of Hades.

Still her turf. And she does not accept intruders, mortal or not.

Days pass. Weeks. Months. And the intruders are still here. Her fledglings chitter of creatures of bone, twisted, deathly imitations of their kind. Nocturnal, that’s what they are. They wait for the harpies to finish their hunt, and swoop in to take over their food sources.

Vultures, that’s what she said they were. Her fledglings are still young. They have wild imaginations. The results of what they found were vultures. Could only be. Neither she nor the Underworld residents appreciated addition monsters around.

That is, until Heracles arrives. He storms through Orcus uninvited. Her flock scattered, avoiding the stray arrows.

“Stymphs!”, he had called them. This fool. They are spirits of the wind, not some… man-eating pets. Melodie gathers what remained with her, and hid. The “hero” seemed to accept the win, and no more arrows came for them.

He descends into the Underworld and leaves with Cerberus in tow. At least he got what he came for, and good riddance. But her flock is lost and scattered. She has to find them. To bring them back.

It’s disheartening, seeing the unlucky few that were slain in the crossfire. Carcasses of children she cherished. She scours her turf, looking for her lost fledglings.

“…this yours?”

Melodie whirls around to the unknown voice. It’s quiet, from someone unfamiliar with simply talking. The intruder. And they would dare show their presence here after what they’ve done? What they’ve taken? She bets that they lead the “hero” here, and for that she will tear their l-

Excited chirps distract her. The stranger is sitting on a branch above her, bony wings rattling. Perhaps her fledglings were not lying when they said the intruder was a skeletal copy. Hardly any feathers remain on their wings, the orange plumes hanging on my hopes and prayers. Legs are thin, ending in pure bone claws. Their fingers are tipped with bronze, though the points worn. Their face is covered with an avian skull, but two blue pinpricks shine through the holes. The corners of the mouth are up, leaving the stranger smiling.

However, sitting around them, even having some perching on their wings, are some of her missing fledglings. They chirp and titter and sing, hopping down from their ledge to join her.

“Didn’t know you had chicks… we’ll leave alone.”

“There’s more of you?”

Ugh, more competition. If it was just this one she might have let it pass, but there’s the possibility of an entire other group of competitors now.

“Just me and brother.”

Two of these copycats. How delightful. But manageable for her.

“Just stay out of our way, and we will do the same.”

The intruder perks up, smile looking genuine.

“Gratitude!”

With the farewell, they flew off. How they managed with wings like those, Melodie had no idea. But her remaining flock has been found, and the identity of the intruders uncovered.

If Melodie found additional carcasses left around that meeting location in the upcoming months, and heard a rattle of bones and a rustle of leaves. Or maybe at night seeing pinpricks of blue that dart of out sight when they see her. Or maybe if her hunts are more flashy, more show-offish to any possible audiences.

That wasn’t anything between the two. Absolutely not.

Chapter Text

If you asked him, Lawrie would not say his relationship with his brother is poor. They resolve arguments with each other perfectly normally, they care for each other, they have matching catchphrases, they are most things that stereotypical twin brothers are.

Yet, he would follow up with, it is strained.

Being given full autonomy was certainly a new experience, and everyone treated it differently. Lawrie found himself throwing himself into further work. He upheld every rule and law, and ensured that everyone did the same. It did nothing to improve his reputation, but Lawrie didn’t care.

On the other hand…

“If we don’t hurry, we’ll be late. And being late means lower credibility.”

Larry snaps to attention from the child he was chatting with. Good. Lawrie has his attention.

“Sorry kid! My brother and I have to go for an important meeting, but enjoy your time at Starr Park!”

Larry waves the kid off before a tug from Lawrie drags him away.

“What is wrong with you?” Lawrie hissed out, “We were supposed to meet the new Brawler today to discuss her security details.”

Larry rolls his eyes and takes the lead for the walk.

“Simply doing my part of an officer of the law and comforting civilians that we will not let injustices go unpunished. Now, Tune Town! Lets go!”

As Larry continues on with a skip in the step, Lawrie resists the urge to drag a hand across his face. With the way his brother acts, you would have thought that he belongs with Max and her squad. Except even unlike them, he despises how his brother acts so much more like a figure than actually doing his job.

“Trust us with your safety!” As the phrase Larry so often says. He knows that the Park only trusts one of them. The “nice” one.

He’s glad that they were only in the Town Square, it makes for a short walk to the newly opened “Tune Town”. Specifically, the new karaoke bar. They were informed that the latest Brawler wanted their services? Their phrasing, not his. Sometimes it was better if people would be more direct, rather than vaguely stating that something was needed and expect others to magically know.

“Oh? You require my assistance in-“

Stars.

“Larry!”

“Right, sorry, you know how Lawrie is, all work no play~!”

“This was a waste of tiime, she’s not coming.”

Lawrie really needed Larry to hush. It has hardly been three minutes. And he hears sound from inside the building, so clearly from workers within.

Another minute and a—wow she’s tall—woman open the door for them.

“안녕, hello! My name is Melodie. Apologies, you know how it is having to pass messages down verbally when someone is somewhere, pur security system is not functional yet. I had to organise some files and folders for the two of you! Need to make sure that everything is prepared and ready for the meeting to go smoothly— How long have you been waiting there?”

Oh Stars. She was a talker. This is not going to be a fun conversation.

“No worries, Ms Melodie! In fact, we had only just gotten here!”

“No the f-“

Lawrie felt Larry kick him.

“Perfect, right on time! Come on in, we need to discuss the security details of the Park with regard to the bar, and then my concerts.”

The twins follow Melodie in, Larry easily catching up to the pop-star and starting a conversation.

The following meeting could not have worse for Lawrie. It was productive, yes, but never ask him to sit in a room with just the two of them ever again.

“…she’s so pretty and her attitude to order is incredible! You would have thought with so many performers and their ‘artistic license’ we’d be dealing with someone who would discuss the world in abstract terms and there would be so much interpretation involved, but no! I have to go check out some of her songs, I know that K-pop isn’t your thing but if we’re working with her more we definitely need to understand what her field includes. Her full debut as a brawler is in a week, that’s enough time to know more— Oh! Hello, is there something you need?”

This is going to be such a headache.

R-T’s messenger app pings.

From: Lawrie

Three gems please, Larry’s already flirting with the new kpop idol.

(5:17pm)

Chapter Text

Why is the phone of all things so intimidating right now? It is just a phone. An electronic device made for communication over distances.

So why can’t she, Melodie, the Fearless, the Karoake Queen of Starr Park, dial just one person. One number. It’s so easy.

Melodie muffles her frustrated scream with her pillow. It is not the act of calling him, it is the issue of calling him. How is she supposed to approach the topic? Start passively? Flirtatiously? Bluntly?

She has fans for goodness sake, they all love her, and she can interact with them perfectly normally. But she doesn’t think that he would appreciate that tone with her, it’s too fake.

She knows his friend opens their calls to him with an insult, but that’s simply rude, and does not set the tone for the conversation she’s expecting to carry out.

She picks up her phone and looks at his contact page. You can wing it Melodie. You’re a natural at it, you’ve done this so many times—

The device slips from her grasp and she has to not-so-gracefully fumble with it.

Brring—

Oh crap. Melodie wonders if she can just quickly close the call and pretend it never happened.

“Hey?”

Just her luck, her phone’s gone ahead and ringed Larry, the one being she was trying not to call. What is she supposed to say?

“So I’ve got something to tell you~”

Did that come out wrongly.

“Hmm? Let me hear it then!”

Hopefully not, if he’s responding so positively! Melodie takes a breath, ready to release her thoughts.

“I-uh-I-I really wanted to-“

Why is she getting flustered?! This is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous.

“Spit it out baby!”

Spit it out? Spit it out?! Now she’s very certain she did something wrong, despite his jolly tone. But Larry’s always chipper and smiling, so who can tell if he really meant it by “spit it out” or not!

Wait. Pause. Rewind. Did he just call her baby? What? Communication gets so much harder when there’s emotions involved, unfortunately.

“Well, we- you know we- we should really!”

“Really..?”

The hesitation and confusion in his tone is throwing Melodie off.

“You make me..!”

“Mel? Huh?”

She can’t do this. No. She can do this. She is the best of best, she’s everyone’s idol, everyone loves her, there’s no reason that he will be different.

“Melodie? Is there an issue with your connection? Should we send someone to investigate? You’ve been buffering a lot this conversation.”

Melodie can’t believe how unaware he is sometimes. But it adds to his charm. Somehow.

“I really want to, be a thing. A romantic relationship, if you understand that?”

Complete silence.

Then the call ends.

Melodie’s heart breaks before the screen lights up with a call.

From Larry.

She still picks it up.

“I dropped my phone- Apologies for that!”

He sounded bright as always. It doesn’t answer her question, the whirlwind of uncertainty still spinning.

“I’d love to be your- uh- partner? Boyfriend? Are you not worried about what your boss or manager would think? Or your fans?”

She smiles.

“I will deal with it when it comes to that. Wednesday lunch?”

“Definitely! I can clear, see you Mel!”

And a couple more beats.

“I… love you?”

He sounds so unsure, it only makes sense, no one is willing to teach them how communication in some relationships work. It’s endearing.

“Love you too.”

Chapter Text

“I never took you to like the Good Randoms.”

Larry laughs at that.

“You’d be shocked at my playlists then, Mel. Might even find Dragonforge or two.”

When Larry suggested the two of them sneak away from his brother to go to a concert, Melodie will admit that she was not expecting this place.

“Aren’t you rivals? You and the Good Randoms for the boy band vs Karaoke King?”

“Oh? Are you challenging me?”

The first few bars of “The One” begins to play.

“If I can slip away from my brother, trust me Melodie. Winning against the Good Randoms next song awards is going to be the easiest thing ever. Just remember, in it for the arts, not the fame!”

Melodie shakes her head, focusing back on the boy band.

She doesn’t concern herself with Larry’s squeak as she leans on him, her taller height making for a bit of a comedic scene. But she doesn’t hear him complain, not that she knows he would.

The screen swaps to a camera. It highlights a random pair in the crowd to which everyone cheers to, and the pair— couple kiss. How fitting for the romantic undertones of this song.

“Oh. A kisscam. Me personally, would not want to get caught dead on that.”

The rather annoyed tone from Larry was a switch up. Melodie opens her mouth, about to ask why, when Larry teasingly pokes her.

“I don’t need any camera to want to kiss you though!”

She wonders how Larry is so easily able to switch up on a whim. Performer’s talent? Being on stage all the time? She barely reacts to being pulled down by her jacket to his level—when did she stand standing normally?—and there’s pressure on her lips.

The crowd goes wild, Melodie assumes that the song’s finished. But they aren’t even halfway? She watches the concert out of the corner of her eye.

It’s the TV. Oh god. She breaks away from the kiss, much to the confusion of Larry. They’re still embracing each other, but he looks hurt. It soon switches up to confusion.

“What’s wrong?! Did something happen? Assassin on the loose, need your expertise in capturing? Was it Lawrie? How the hell did he find us then-?”

Melodie points at the screen.

The large screen showing them.

Larry panics immediately, pulling the hood of his sweatshirt over his head and running off— did he just backflip over the rails?!

Melodie stands in her place in shock for a second before her habits kick in.

“Do NOT get lost in the crowd La- love!”

Local rodent

@.rat_rattington

[Gif attached: Larry at a concert doing a backflip over the railings to escape the camera.]

What a madlad

10:18pm • 24/1/25 • Twitter Web App

198 reposts 637 likes

      I CANT RUN FROM HADES @Gh0StK1ng • 10h

      Lmao??

      Bread dogs ftw @PoisonedVictorianChild • 10h

      let’s be fr don’t we all want to do that

      TOADAL TIME @sludge_but_weirder • 10h

      hey hold on.

Pumpkin not forsaken edition

@sereneflowers

what are good randoms and why are they trending

9:42am • 25/1/25 • Twitter Web App

72 reposts 209 likes

      ･:*+.\(( Rosen ))/.+*:･@tenth_ninokuruwa • 1h

      Behold a rare specimen of someone who doesn’t play games which require matchmaking!

      Pumpkin not forsaken edition @sereneflowers • 52m

      ???

8-Ball kisser

@gamemalpractice

GUY TELL ME IM NOT JNSAEN SHANNNSHUJA IS THAT LARRY?? ANDHIS BODYGUARD??? THE TALL PINK QUEENCc,,??

6:19am • 25/1/25 • Twitter Web App

3 reposts 5 likes

      I got a bucket of chicken @cookiefan64c • 3h

      Malpractice…. We’re all worried for you…

      Gourdy 🧡🎃🧡 @gamingwithevie • 2h

      Malpractice the asylum’s calling you can’t kee p breaking out

      8-Ball kisser @gamemalpractice • 2h

      GUYS PLAESE NO I SWEAR🙏🙏🙏💔💔💔💔🥀🥀

Starr News ✅

@StarrParkNews

Latest clip from the Good Randoms concert going viral! K-Pop idol’s secret relationship exposed? Who is his partner?

[Link ID: An image of the short snippet of Melodie and Larry kissing before they panicked.]

7:30pm • 24/1/25 • Twitter Web App

2197 reposts 9493 likes

Larry~⭐️💫  ✅

@LarryKPopOfficial

why do I have so many people tagging me

8:30am • 25/1/25 • Twitter Web App

10288 reposts 34838 likes

      🚀Janet 🚀  ✅ @RocketGirl • 9m

      what do you mean you don’t know why

      Larry~⭐️💫  ✅ @LarryKPopOfficial • 8m

      girl I’m serious

im not ur grandma guys st

@sydscooshifu

You know, @LarryKPopOfficial ‘s PR team should get a raise

7:10pm • 24/1/25 • Twitter Web App

73 reposts 106 likes

      ♠️Genni♠️ @genniraptor • 5h

      oh his bodyguard’s definitely getting a raise given that stunt

NO PASS NO KILL

@ThrashAss

Punishment for listening to Good Randoms

12:01am • 25/1/25 • Twitter Web App

3729 reposts 52 likes

      All I All I All I wanted @wasalittlebread • 9h

      you’re literally quoting the Bad Randoms its the same people in both bands

Peakest Artist

@Wonderhoy111

Rip Larry simps

[Image ID: The stereotypical yaoi pair meme where Larry is drawn as the soft one and Melodie as the triangular one]

12:13am • 25/1/25 • Twitter Web App

825 reposts 1987 likes

      Bailey Ampersand [RP!!] @LarrysThirdTwin • 11h

      KILL YOURSELF

      Peakest Artist @Wonderhoy111 • 3h

      Okay well fuck you too ig

Lawrie looks at his brother and coworker, exasperated.

“Your stunt at that concert is trending second on social media right now.”

Larry shrugs.

“K-pop don’t stop ‘till I reach the top?”

Melodie bonks him over his head.

“You and I both know that’s not how that works.”

Chapter Text

Lynn (F!Larry) and Lawrie:

• The prompt was just between the ship, so Lawrie remains the same (good for him?)
• They aren’t even identical twins they can be opposite genders /silly
• I personally headcanon that the robots are by default non-binary, they just vibe with whatever pronouns they want.
• Larry is short form of “Lawrence”, Lynn can be a nickname for “Lorelyn”, and if you squint “Lore” sounds like “Law”
• Nothing changed too much visually, but if I was stylised drawing I would change the eye shape a bit
• If human/had hair, probably would have a short braid (like probably just past shoulders, and yes you can make a braid with that length—my sister does.)
• She has perfected that airplane announcement voice. It’s her usual “ticket selling” voice

Dae (M!Melodie):

• I don’t know enough about kpop let alone kpop boy bands to do this. my only experience and exposure is Luna Snow edits, KPop Demon Hunters and whatever Melodie content we get so expect it to be sad and depressing
• I honestly just spent like half an hour googling kpop boy band names 💀
• It means talented or smth. The idea was for a music themed name but couldn’t find one that made sense
• Instead of a large bow, he has a long belt which results in a “tail” behind him (the excess fabric)
• Skirt also replaced with belts
• Black parachute pants instead of knee high socks.
• Hair is still bright pink, just shorter and a bit spiky-er
• The fur accessory has been swapped to a sleeveless jacket
• Gloves have been shortened, and arm warmer sleeves added. The ends of the arm warmers closest to the shoulders has fluff
• Fang body type probably

Gacha mockup/concept for Dae, cuz idk how exactly to describe it?