Chapter Text
Zanka Pov:
On:
Zanka clocked in exactly at 8:00, went to the office and started work, a few minutes later Riyo arrived, "Mornin' Zanka, Geez I don't got how early you could get, man." Riyo said before going to her desk.
"It's just your late all the time, Riyo." Zanka rolled his eyes while drinking his coffee. "Oh, come on! I’m only ‘Riyo-time’ late, which is basically on time if you adjust for traffic and my need for a decent bagel," Riyo replied, dropping her bag with a heavy *thud* that made Zanka’s monitor wobble slightly. She spun her chair around to face him, already reaching for her keyboard. "Besides, being the first one in just means you’re the first one Enjin calls when the printer starts acting possessed."
Zanka set his coffee mug down, a frown fell on his face. "The printer isn't possessed, Riyo. It just requires someone to actually read the error messages instead of hitting it like a tambourine."
"Hey, the 'Fonz' method is a legitimate troubleshooting technique!" she shot back, finally getting her screen to flicker to life. She glanced over at his desk, noticing the stack of folders already neatly organized. "Seriously though, did you even sleep? Or do you just plug yourself into a wall charger at night?"
Zanka sighed, clicking through a spreadsheet with practiced precision. "Some of us enjoy the peace and quiet before the 'tambourine' players arrive. Now, are you actually going to open the quarterly report, or are you going to keep narrating my morning?"
Riyo let out a dramatic gasp, clutching her heart. "Cold, Zanka. Ice cold. I’m opening it! But if I find a typo on page ten, I’m telling everyone you’re a secret robot."
"Page ten is fine," Zanka muttered, though he couldn't hide the small, amused huff that escaped him. "Just get to work, Riyo."
A while later Rudo arrived, Zanka sees Enjin sledding him papers. Rudo is an intern who started working for them just not long ago. It was not long after lunch and Riyo went out with Eishia, leaving him in the office. He was just eating peacefully until a certain long dreaded hair freak appeared in his face.
"What do you want, Jabber?" Zanka said in an annoyed tone.
"Come on, Mr. Bad Attitude, You don't need to be like that with me, y'know~?" Jabber grinned, and before Zanka could say anything else, Jabber took a piece of Zanka's lunch and ate it.
"What the hell was that for asshole!?" Zanka glared at him and the two continued to argue until Enjin had to pull Zanka away before they get to go on another fight.
Off:
'Jabber is so annoying.' Zanka thought to himself while getting a coffee. Everyone at the coffee shop was staring at him, I mean it was hard not to stare. He was wearing a white loose tank top with a leather jacket, baggy pants with studded belt hugging his waist, and a guitar bag on his back. It was paired with some vivienne westwood jewelry dangling under his neck while also wearing heavy Vkei make up.
He got out of the shop to see Riyo wearing a black tank top featuring the name of the band 'Malice Mizer' paired with several necklaces with cross pendants. A short layered plaid red skirt worn with a studded belt with fishnet tights covering the legs ending in black warmers with tied details. "Hey, Z what took ya so long??"
"Sorry, the waitress took so long to make it, Did Enjin text you?" Zanka replied with coffee in hand.
"Duh, He's been calling me nonstop earlier and said that we should go by the studio later, You coming?" Riyo said while taking the coffee from Zanka's hand. Zanka watched as Riyo took a reckless gulp of his coffee, her black lipstick leaving a sharp, dark crescent on the rim of the cup. He sighed, adjusting the heavy leather jacket that was already beginning to trap the morning heat.
"Don't just go drinking people's drinks, I paid for that get your own." Zanka muttered, taking his coffee away from Riyo.
Riyo laughed, the sound bright and cutting through the muffled city traffic. She adjusted the heavy cross pendants clinking against her chest. "Enjin's vibrating out of his skin. He mentioned something about the 'visual direction' for the next show. You know how he gets—he probably wants to coordinate lace and leather until we look like a Victorian funeral gone wrong."
They started walking down the narrow alleyway that served as a shortcut to the rehearsal space. The contrast between them and the morning commuters in their beige suits was comical; it was like two dark ink blots moving across a blank canvas.
Zanka was checking his reflection in a shop window, poking at a stray silver hair extension that had gone rogue. While Riyo was busy checking her phone, her platform boots clicking rhythmically against the pavement.
"He's at the studio already," Riyo said, flipping her phone shut with a snap. "Apparently, the 'vibe' is urgent. He’s been tweaking that one bridge for three hours."
"If he asks me to play that riff any slower, I’m going to fall asleep standing up," Zanka joked, though they both knew he’d stay there until midnight if the song needed it.
As they reached the heavy steel door of the studio, the muffled, distorted hum of a bass guitar vibrated through the concrete walls. It was a familiar, grounding pulse. Riyo leaned against the doorframe for a second, looking at Zanka.
"You ready for his 'visionary' lecture?"
Zanka adjusted his studded belt and grabbed the door handle. "Only if you're buying the next round of coffee."
He kicked the door open, the smell of stale cigarettes and warm amplifiers hitting them instantly. Enjin was hunched over a mixing board, his hair a frantic mess, looking like he hadn't slept since the band's last rehearsal.
When they arrived, Rudo was already there wearing a baggy red shirt, jorts, some accessories dangling around his neck, paired with a Vivienne Westwood Beanie on his head. While Enjin wore an outfit that looked like it was based on 90's streetwear outfit.
Enjin started a lectured them for being late and they just nodded along before proceeding. Zanka took out his lovely blue and white electric guitar with a name placed on it called 'Lovely Assistaff'.
"Alright, guys let's lock in and start already."