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The representatives chosen for the upcoming Blazing Jewel concert have been making excellent progress in their songs. But just as they were all getting the hang of their routines, Crowley calls for a meeting between the Dorm Leaders. For once, Malleus actually showed up. And while Idia is present, he is attending via his tablet.
“The bird better have a good reason for interrupting us.” Leona groans. “I need to get back to practice.”
“How surprising.” Vil smirks. “The lazy Leona Kingscholar is actually putting in effort?”
“Shut it, Drama Queen. As if I’m going to let Savanaclaw get upstaged by the likes of you Herbivores.”
“Perhaps there’s been some changes to the concert.” Azul reasons. “It would not be out of the ordinary for changes to be made. And as Dorm Leaders, we must be made aware of them.”
Leona shifts his gaze to Azul. “Sure, but do you think the headmaster would actually tell us ahead of time?”
“Maybe it’s a good kind of change. Nothing wrong with a nice change of plans.” Kalim smiles. The others give him a deadpanned look. Naturally, the one who always makes last minute plans would see no problem.
Idia’s tablet lights up as he speaks. “Or maybe the event is getting cancelled.”
“Out of the question. After all the work we put into rehearsals, and with the concert date quickly approaching, there’s no way it would be cancelled.” Vil argues.
“Regardless, we’ll have to wait and see what it is he has to say.” Riddle interrupts. It doesn’t take long for Crowley to finally appear.
“Ah, I’m glad you all could come on such short notice. Especially you, Draconia.”
“I am most grateful for the invitation.”
“Since everyone has been preparing oh so hard for the Blazing Jewel Live Concert, I’d like to propose some extra additions.”
“Oh! New additions? Like what?” Kalim asks excitedly.
“I have 7 more songs for each of you to individually perform for the set list.”
“EHHH?!?!”
In an instant, everyone immediately receives an email on their phones. The email contains an mp3 of the song they will be singing as well as a brief video of some choreography and a file containing the lyrics. Unlike their group songs, the video provides a complete routine, so there was no need to come up with their own choreography. But they are told that they can make changes if they wish. Kalim is the most thrilled at the prospect of adding more fun music.
“At least the changes aren’t that last minute…” Vil mumbles, though still disappointed in the sudden announcement. “Very well then. If it’s another show you want from me, I will give the most perfect performance.”
“To think I have to sing twice…and ALONE?! I don’t know if I can do this…!” Idia sighs through his tablet. Though in his room, he holds his head in his hands in dread.
“Question, Headmaster,” Riddle raises his hand, “are we wearing the concert uniforms for these solos?”
“If you wish, though I would prefer it if you wear your dorm uniforms as a way to represent your dorms as individuals and leaders.”
“So we have to wear the concert outfits for our group songs, change into our dorm uniforms for our solos, and then change back into the concert clothes again?” Leona tilts his head back and runs a hand through his hair. “What a pain.”
“You think so? I believe this will add more interesting variety into the concert.” Malleus ponders. While he hasn’t heard the others practice, he’s at least aware that each dorm has its own unique musical tone.
“Yeah! If it’ll make the live more fun, I think it’s worth the effort!” Kalim adds with his usual bright smile.
“I am in agreement.” Azul pushes up his classes, already having something concocting in that head of his. “I think this will make the concert much more riveting.”
“…”
Riddle remains silent as the others discuss their thoughts on the matter. His song, “Red Heart Rage,” brings up some…unpleasant memories, for some reason, by the title alone, and he hasn’t even listened to it yet. Crowley ends the meeting by adding that he wants Vil to put on Absolutely Beautiful again as the opening song. He also wants Malleus, Azul, and Idia, to perform Make My Wish Resound in the encore. All but Malleus are annoyed at the extra work being thrown onto them. While it’s fine to squeeze in their solo with their group performances, Absolutely Beautiful and Make My Wish Resound would require getting together to practice the songs and routines again. All of this is on top of their duties as students and dorm leaders. Crowley begs them to think about the people and how happy it would make them to see such amazing performances again. Definitely not because he was told he needed more songs to fill in time.
The meeting is dismissed. On his way back to Heartslabyul, Riddle decides to listen to his song along the way. Normally, he wouldn’t condemn walking and listening to music since it’s distracting. But he really wanted to listen to the song and get a head start. But as soon as the song finished, Riddle’s earlier feeling regarding the song’s title resurfaces. When he gets back, Trey and Cater ask him about the meeting. He tells them about the solos he and the other dorm leaders were assigned and how he might have to cut his practice with them short to learn his new song.
“That’s great. I’m sure you’re looking forward to it.” Trey smiles.
“Make sure to show us the progress.” Cater winks while holding up his phone, obviously wanting to record it later. Riddle still remains silent. “Everything ok, Riddle?”
Riddle nods. “…Yeah. It’s nothing…”
“I know that look, Riddle. It’s not nothing to you.” Trey counters. Despite their long separation since childhood, their recent reunion last year, and their recent reconciliation in the beginning of the year, Trey still found it easy to tell when something was bothering his friend. Although, that was probably mostly due to him learning to read Riddle’s emotions to help quell his anger. “I’ll make you some tea. Seems like the meeting was more exhausting than usual.”
“That would be appreciated. Thank you.”
Trey signals for Cater to head off and do whatever while he takes care of their dorm leader. The diamond soldier gives a quick finger salute before going to who knows where. Riddle decides to head to his room to try and get some work done. Unfortunately, he can’t get Red Heart Rage out of his head, and not in a good way. He’s been hovering his pen over the same question for a handful of minutes before a knock on his door snaps him out of his trance.
“Come in.”
“Sorry to disturb you. Tea’s ready.”
“Ah, thank you.” Trey places the tea set next to Riddle and pours him a cup. But he can’t help but notice his friend’s unfocused look.
“Are you sure everything is fine? Is the song bothering you in anyway?” Riddle nods and shows him the song’s title on his phone. “Red Heart Rage…” Trey reads aloud. Well if that wasn’t a little too fitting for comfort, then Trey didn’t know what was. “That’s quite the title.”
“Check out the lyrics.” Riddle shows Trey a new page of his notebook, where he had absentmindedly written down the lyrics. Trey reads through them…and he’s as speechless as the red head who was meant to sing them. “I know it’s just a song, but I can’t help but feel like it’s…somewhat targeted towards who I used to be and possibly still am.”
The title alone was a statement towards his short temper and how much ‘rage’ he held in his heart for years. Rage towards his home life, the rule breakers of the past, and most of all, himself and how he treated everyone. The usage of the phrase “off with your head” in the end along with the more…tyrannical feeling in the music.
“The choreography isn’t that much better.”
Riddle shows Trey the choreography video, which includes a lot of stomping, harsh movements, and gestures mimicking decapitation, just to add insult to injury. Trey now fully understands what Riddle is feeling. No wonder he would feel hesitant about this song considering his…history.
“Riddle, you’re not like that anymore. You’ve gotten so much better, and you’re not alone like before.”
“That doesn’t erase what happened to me, what happened to you, and what I’ve done to everyone else. This song, Red Heart Rage…it feels like it’s cutting me open and letting everything be seen. I….I don’t like it. I don’t want to go back to being that kind of person again, even if it’s an act. And the second verse…”
Trey remembers the second verse’s lyrics. Calling out, but no matter how hard you try or how loud you scream, it’s futile as it will never reach the one you wish to be heard by. He can’t help but imagine a young Riddle crying to his mom as she scolded Trey and his family, his internal cry to be a kid and play with his new friends, his cry to reach out to his friends years later, and his cry to just simply be free of all the stifling rules he was forcing himself and others to follow. Wanting to help his friend, Trey kneels beside Riddle.
“Can you explain why being seen through this song is so uncomfortable to you?”
“All my life…I’ve always had to be resilient, never complaining. What I wanted wasn’t important. What I thought was right turned out to be wrong in so many ways, and I hurt so many people because of it. When I hear this song…it’s like looking into a mirror, but everything I see if everything I want to leave behind or keep buried. That reign of…MY reign of tyranny.” Trey carefully grabs Riddle by his hands.
“Riddle, listen to me. You are not and will never be that person again.…Sure, you’re still a strong follower of the rules, and that might not ever fade, but you’ve learned to be more lenient. You brought order to Heartslabyul when it was nothing but chaos. You always make sure everyone maintains steady grades and help out as much as you can. Not a single person has dropped out thanks to you. Everyone has come to respect you out of admiration rather than fear. Maybe this song is a reflection,” for some VERY strange reason, “but please don’t think that what is expected from this song is a complete reflection of who you are. You shouldn’t ignore your growth.”
Riddle looks at his Vice Dorm leader and gives him a small smile. He’s right. Yes, the song is a strong reflection of him, somehow, but it’s only one side of him that he conquered. While he’s far from proud of his tyranny, it happened and it did help shape him into his current self. Perhaps he can tap back into his more…commanding self for the sake of this performance. Just once.
“Besides, think about how cool you’ll look on stage.”
“Trey.” Riddle rolls his eyes and pulls his hands away, though not with any real annoyance. Trey laughs in response.
“But in all seriousness, please don’t worry or think too hard about it. But I do have to question who wrote the song.”
“Knowing the Headmaster, it’s probably best we don’t know.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“I suppose my only other concern is how I’m going to perform this choreography in my dorm uniform without tripping on my cape.”
“Ha ha ha! Well, that’s a problem for another day. Come on. The tea will get cold.”