Work Text:
Song: Champagne Supernova — Oasis
He was in… a void. There was a red armchair, and a small table with a radio on top. He saw nothing else in this white room, so he sat down on the chair. He didn't sink fully into the chair, in case he was going to be called up for something. But since there was no one here… maybe he could wait in this limbo.
Luka turned on the radio, and he heard the sound of water splashing and a gentle guitar instrumental. The station seemed nice, it wasn't broadcasting news about human terrorism or his comeback, like so many others were.
Then he could hear a male voice singing.
Even with the undertones of radio static, he could hear the words of the first verse clearly.
How many special people change? How many lives are living strange?
He paused for a moment, a subtle crack of glass.
He took a sip of tea, hoping to ease his nerves. Besides, he shouldn't be getting this worked up anyways.
He reached to put the cup back on the table, but his hand trembled slightly.
But he would be lying if he said he didn't indulge in 'fantasies' every now and then. Other timelines… where things might've worked out.
Where were you while we were getting high?
He sighed. Of course the one song that sounds somewhat peaceful has to end up being about drugs. Heperu made sure he couldn't get his hands on any of them, so that they wouldn't be scandalized on the newspaper.
Slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannonball
He gave up on not paying attention to the song as soon as it started, and he regretted it.
Maybe some things weren't meant to have a meaning that could be expressed in words. That was his excuse for not understanding what that lyric could possibly mean. He also questioned why he was even paying attention in the first place. It was meant to be background music, for a rare time when he could actually relax.
Someday you will find me, caught beneath the landslide
Luka stiffened completely. Was this song about death? If so, then he'd have to turn off the radio.
In a champagne supernova in the sky.
He relaxed slightly. Just nonsensical words, arranged to sound pleasing. They might have meaning to some, but not for him. The song did evoke an… atmosphere, so to speak. It was like a fever dream that made no sense, yet you still understood it.
It was only a repeat of the first chorus after that.
A champagne supernova in the sky.
Luka didn't dwell on it for too long, but he did ponder about possible meanings. After all, there's always dirty secrets behind the brightest headlines.
Wake up the dawn and ask her why / a dreamer dreams, she never dies
Luka felt his nose getting stuffy, and his vision was getting blurry.
Wipe that tear away now from your eye
He did as told, and wiped his face with his sleeve. It didn't stop the tears. They only kept coming with renewed vigor every time he wiped his face.
They attacked viciously, leaving behind trails as they slithered down his face.
He almost missed the next verse, but it was only a repeat.
Slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannonball.
Where were you while we were getting high?
No one came out of the corners after that mess, which was weird. He then realized that he truly was in limbo, and that this wasn't some weird hallucination or fever dream.
He knocked on the table once with his free hand, and the sound reverberated through the room.
There was an instrumental break, and he listened to the electric guitar riff, trying not to think about his competitors in Alien Stage. It's gone, and he has other worries as an idol. Other worries.
And still he couldn't stop thinking about the way that he reached out to that pink-haired girl in the crowd, stealing his line and losing. Losing right when their hands were about to touch.
It was just a repeat of the chorus after that, and he prepared to hear loud grumbling soon.
He knew that there must be a catch if he was allowed to be unsupervised for this long. So who took care of his guardian?
Better to be safe than sorry, he thought.
'Cause people believe, that they're gonna get away for the summer,
He paid attention to this part, since this was a new verse.
But you and I, we live and die—
What is it with this song and reminding him of… them? Why did she have to sacrifice herself for someone like him…?
And his vision was getting blurry again, his nose was stuffy, and somehow he ended up curled into a ball trying to be as quiet as possible, although he didn't know how much time had passed.
Was time even a concept here?
The world's still spinning around, and we don't know why-—
Maybe he could understand this song more than he thought he could.
It was faint compared to the noise he made, but he still picked up enough to form a conclusion.
Why, why, why, why?
If he was being honest—which he rarely was—he could say that the lyrics resonated with him. It was an unspoken admission, but an admission nonetheless.
And still, no one had come to tell him about an upcoming show, or scold him further for a minuscule flaw in a performance.
Maybe he could have a semblance of peace here in this limbo.
Another instrumental break, and he knew that was just being optimistic. He'd return back soon, maybe after this song ends.
How many special people change? How many lives are living strange?
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. The absence of the guitar was noticeable, but it certainly changed the tone.
Where were you while we were getting high?
He let out a small huff, and he even dared to release a small smile. It was… ironic.
That was the only way to describe it.
Slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannonball
Where were you while we were getting high?
And Luka found himself humming along. He could listen to it, with little worries.
'Cause people believe, that they're gonna get away for the summer / But you and I, we live and die, the world keeps spinning around and we don't know why—
Luka felt like this song was made specifically for him. Although he knew that wasn't the case, he could forgive himself for indulging in fantasy just this once.
Why, why, why, why.
Another instrumental break. This song seemed to have quite a lot of them, he thought.
Still, he had a feeling that he was going to overstay his welcome in limbo soon.
How many special people change? How many lives are living strange?
Where were you while we were getting high?
And then it was just the last line repeated over and over, until it faded out into static.
Then the radio host spoke up.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for listening to the radio this evening! I know you didn't regret it~
Static engulfed the room once more.