Arcana Life: The Magician
Aug. 30th, 2015 11:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madimpossibledreamerSO MANY YOSUKES AND XANDERS HOW DO YOU EVEN KEEP TRACK. HOW DO YOU EVEN.
Main Points: Persona 4 AU
Chapter Summary: Rise asks what Souji's favorite idol is, and he can't bring himself to admit it's actually The Magician...
Word Count: 2,700
Rating: T
Note: Very mild spoilers for P4, mostly about who's on your team. The souji/yosuke tag is mostly just for stuff that may or may not be flirting. It's hard to tell with those two. And it's definitely not anything stronger than their interactions in the game.
“So, Senpai, who’s your favoritist idol?” Rise smiles, and it’s a question that could be just harmless flirting. It’d be ignored, just like Teddie’s hitting on the girls, except for the point when stoic Souji Seta actually drops his drink and it goes everywhere.
He’s quickly apologizing and grabbing any and all napkins to clean it up, ignoring the tingle on the back of his neck that suggests someone’s watching thoughtfully. Kanji decides to help out, which he appreciates, and the guy doesn’t even ask any questions. It’s nice.
“Are you okay, Souji?” Chie asks, which is less nice. Not that it’s not a great thing to actually have friends who are caring and supportive in their own ways, but he’d prefer to just forget the question entirely.
He goes and drops what’s left of his cup and the soggy mass of napkins in the trash and returns, shoulders scrunched and looking like he’d rather be just about anywhere else.
“Aww, is it little ol’ me?” Rise looks more amused at his blush than anything.
He doesn’t answer, just looks away.
“Aww, come on, with a reaction like that there has to be some kinda story behind it!” Chie nudges him, and, well, it hurts, but it seems like a lot of the time she just doesn’t know her own strength.
“It’s not Risette,” he states firmly, hoping that the ground swallows him or Nanako-chan shows up. Any minute now would be nice.
He can hear the frown in her words as she considers his next possible answer. “Kanamin?” she asks, and this time it’s a bit of catty jealousy.
“It’s not her either. I’m very sorry, but I should run—I’ve been skipping out on my daycare job too often.” He bows, fairly formally, and then runs.
“W-wait, dude, you should at least change your pants before—” Unfortunately, Kanji didn’t get to finish his sentence before their grey-haired leader is out of sight.
“That was super strange.” Chie frowns in concentration, staring after Seta.
“Hmm,” is Naoto’s only contribution as he joins the group.
Souji gets out of sight and realizes that he’s sweating. He’s hot and sticky and definitely needs a change before going to work, since he doesn’t look anywhere near the cool, collected persona he likes to project. Luckily, he always takes a spare change of clothes, just in case. He wipes off sweat and heads in to Shiroku. She won’t mind him using the back, even as she stares and raises an eyebrow. The shrug she gets in return makes her cackle, but she nods as he passes by.
He wipes his brow and remembers his first and only concert…
Souji’s terrified to be here, but it’s worth every moment. He managed to obtain a glowstick from somewhere, and he’s waving it just as enthusiastically as everyone else. He’s also half-convinced this is just some beautiful dream that’s going to fade at any moment, although the fact that he’s gotten a few strange looks about being here, clip on earrings and, horror of horrors, leather bracer at his wrist notwithstanding, is a pretty good clue that he’s not. He wouldn’t stand out this much if this was just a dream.
It’s a little warm, a little loud from the speakers, but that’s The Magician up there on stage, Priestess currently on violin, Wheel of Fortune on keyboard, Hanged Man on drums, and Judgement on second guitar. Priestess occasionally serves as backup singer, and Judgement as anything else that’s needed at the moment. The Magician’s currently belting out lyrics with enthusiasm, dancing like he could keep moving for days without getting even a little tired. The Prince of Junes has his signature headphones tucked around his neck, and they bounce around a little with him.
It’s amazing seeing all of them. They’re not like the other idols. If his parents could approve of any rock bands, they might approve of this one, but unfortunately this isn’t the life he’s living in.
The outfits aren’t skimpy, even though they’re a little flashy. Tasteful fun, he remembers one reviewer saying, after the initial ‘it’s just a Junes publicity stunt’ wariness. They’re all wearing the glasses like usual. Today the Prince of Junes is just wearing a shiny gold handkerchief tied around his neck. As usual, he’s got an orange thing going, except for the handkerchief. They’re all wearing fingerless gloves today.
They’re not the most beautiful or handsome of the groups, but they’re approachable without being tacky. Souji hadn’t realized until a few months ago that it wasn’t just the violin or the intelligent lyrics that had caught his attention. Now here he is, having snuck out late at night because his parents are working and probably won’t come home for a few days, just to go to a concert.
They’re playing ‘Empty Infinite Possibility’, one of Souji’s favorites, despite the fact that he finds it a little sad and can’t explain why.
Most of his classmates go on and on about an idol named Risette. He’d have dismissed that as just a matter of looks if she hadn’t been performing later at the same venue. She was considered on the same level as Arcana Life, and that meant she couldn’t be all bad. Still, he wasn’t especially interested. Besides, if he leaves after Arcana Life finish, he can get home before anything goes especially wrong.
The band’s performance goes far too fast. Usually, Souji has complete sense of the passage of time, but right now it feels like it’s going ten times faster than normal. He’s probably a bit too loud with his polite clapping, too, but then, he already stands out. Most probably think he’s here for Priestess, and he’s not about to argue with that impression.
He stands for a little after they finish, shocked, maybe, but shakes his head and begins making his way through the crowd.
“Hey, wait!” It’s definitely louder now that the band is off the stage and the audience isn’t in danger of being rude to the performers, so Souji nearly misses hearing the voice. When he does, he assumes that it’s talking to someone else, until there’s a feather-light touch at his shoulder.
He turns, just a little, and gawps. It’s definitely rude, but he’d never expected the Magician of all people to be trying to get his attention. He definitely feels a little disconnected as the flirty Prince of Junes throws a wink his way.
“Hey! You’re in a hurry to leave. Hopefully the songs didn’t offend you, haha.” Despite the grin that he knows so well, in the street clothes nobody’s throwing anything more than the headphones a second glance. It’s not like there aren’t fans who dye their hair and dress like their idols here, after all.
It takes Souji a moment to find his words, and in the meantime he shakes his head emphatically, which amuses the guy.
The silence apparently lingers a little too long, though. Now there’s a frown, and the arms cross. “Dude, are you okay?”
“It’s my first time.” Instantly, Souji inwardly scolds himself for his wording, but at least it makes the smile reappear.
“I hope it wasn’t too bad, then!” Someone bumps into the Prince of Junes, and although they apologize it leaves the two of them closer together than Souji is really comfortable with. Then again, the same can be said of all of the personal space invasion at the concert. On the whole, it’s worth it. The brunet seems entirely unfazed. “Do you want to talk more, or maybe check out the backstage? If I’m not keeping you, that is.”
Instantly, Souji’s brain deserts him again. He shivers and bites his lip, staring at some spot far off before looking back into concerned brown eyes. This isn’t like him, but then, none of this is. “It was as amazing as it is on the radio,” he answers softly, honestly. The Prince’s camera smile falters slightly before changing to something more honest. “I wouldn’t like to be in the way, though.”
“You won’t be,” he’s quickly assured. “If I know the rest of the band, they’re not in the dressing rooms right after a concert, and the only other people around would be the other bands performing tonight.”
He should leave. He doesn’t. He nods and follows a grinning brunet backstage. They’re accosted by nobody. No one even gives them a second glance. He must be getting reckless.
They slip into the dressing room, and as promised, it’s completely empty. Honestly, Souji isn’t sure whether to feel relieved or even more nervous. The Magician heads over to a fridge and grabs a Natural soda. “Want anything?” he asks over his shoulder.
Souji quickly shakes his head, but then, oh yes. Verbal reply. “No, thank you.” He stands, polite and awkward, near the door.
The Prince glances over and snorts. “You’re really a formal guy, aren’t you? Make yourself at home.” He heads over to one of the tables and sits, letting out a long sigh. “Don’t get me wrong; I love doing this stuff, but after a while standing, let alone dancing, you get worn out.” He pops open the soda and gulps it down really quickly.
Souji eventually sits, very properly, in one of the chairs. For what seems like the first time, he notices that it actually isn’t that comfortable.
It seems like the Magician isn’t even looking at Souji, which is why he starts a little when the brunet addresses him. “Don’t force yourself or anything. You look like you’re sitting on something really spiky. Seriously, if I’m keeping you…”
“I’m not supposed to be here.” The words slip out of his mouth before he’s ready for them, but he feels better now that they’ve been said.
That earns a blink, before a look of concern that’s both more genuine and more touching than the stuff he gets from his supposed friends at school appears on the Prince of Junes’ face. “I don’t wanna get you in trouble!”
It’s not the response he expected, is, in fact, so much the complete opposite of what he would’ve expected from the lead singer of a rock band that it earns a slight chuckle. “It probably won’t. My parents are out of town at the moment, and in any case it’s what I chose. I wanted to do this.” He’s not sure what ‘this’ refers to, exactly. Attend the concert? Come with a guy whose real name he doesn’t even know to the backstage?
The concern’s still there, but whatever the brown eyes see in his face, it’s enough to get the star to back off. “Well, I guess I’m glad you like our music that much. I mean, no, I shouldn’t be saying that either…nobody needs to know how I feel on the subject of the dangerous lengths our fans are willing to go to attend a concert.” It’s accompanied by a wink, and this time Souji laughs out loud. The musician is looking distinctly pleased, and that makes a warmth settle in Seta-kun’s stomach. Is this really the closest he’s come to having a real friend?
“Hey, how’d you find Arcana Life, anyway?” The tone is curious. “I mean, don’t take this personally or anything, but you don’t seem like the kind of guy who likes rock.”
Souji flushes a little, but he gives an honest answer. “I only really listen to classical music. Occasionally, though, I’ll want to listen to something different, so I turn on the radio. Usually I get sick of it and turn it off, but…I admit it was the violin that captured my attention.”
The Prince of Junes looks amused if sheepish. “Priestess said something to the effect, but I didn’t believe her. That’s on me, I guess.”
“I really like the lyrics, though.” Again, that startles the grin off the Prince’s face for a few moments. He continues, suddenly bolder. “I like all the tarot meanings. I like all the hidden references to Jung and the fact that even though the lyrics seem simple and well-written and direct, there’s a lot more below the surface.”
The Magician sighs and fiddles with his gloves before leaning forward. “Okay, I’m going to tell you something. It sounds crazy and I’ve never told anyone, so don’t tell anyone or I’ll end up in the insane asylum, okay?”
Souji finds himself nodding aimlessly.
“All of my lyrics are written after I have a dream. It’s of a Blue Room. There’s a blindfolded man playing piano there.” The grey-haired student blinks several times—it’s not a commonly known fact that The Prince of Junes of all people writes the lyrics, and he finds his respect for the other teen grow. The guy doesn’t seem like the intellectual type that the thought put into the lyrics shows, despite the few Junes-granted interviews that speak to how much The Magician cares about music. And then he actually considers the rest of the contents of what the idol said, and that takes a little more time to process.
“It doesn’t sound that crazy,” he offers eventually.
The response is a head buried in hands. “You don’t have to lie to try to make me feel better. I know how weird it sounds.”
“In Greek times, most artists thought the gods spoke to them and that’s where they got their ideas from,” Souji explains.
It startles out a laugh, and the genuine smile is nice to see. “I managed to find an actual nerd in my audience. I didn’t think they liked pop music.” For a second, the grey-haired student is perfectly ready to take offense before he studies The Magician’s expression closer and realizes that he’s being teased.
“Until you said you wrote the lyrics, I didn’t think idols could be smart,” Souji states honestly, and gets another laugh.
The Prince of Junes stands reluctantly. “I kind of have to be there for the other acts, which are probably starting soon,” he explains regretfully. “My friend Katsuragi and his brother are coming and picking up a lot of the equipment, seeing as we’re high school students and all. Can’t be picking up backstage too late. If you want, I can ask him whether he minds giving you a ride.”
It’s something that Souji doesn’t ever plan on repeating, but he accepts and is soon hauling a bunch of equipment and his own bike into a car. Someday, he'll warn Nanako against doing anything like this, but that's not now. He’d gotten to talk a little more with the Prince of Junes, but the guy had to hurry off for the next act.
“It’s rude if they don’t attend the next act,” Katsuragi explains out of the blue as they tote bundles of outfits out to the car. “Like they think they’re so much better than anyone else performing.”
Souji hadn’t asked, but he had wondered, and he nods. He’s beginning to feel a little lightheaded, and the feeling that he’s in the middle of a dream hasn’t gone away, but talking to The Magician made it feel real and gives it a grounding that had been missing.
Katsuragi and his brother do speak normally, like they’re in a classroom rather than at night when Souji’s somewhere he shouldn’t be, but they’re definitely not as talkative as the Magician, even if they are friendly. Neither of them are in awe of The Magician at all.
He falls asleep on the way back, but surprisingly he does make it back without mishap, and Katsuragi and his brother, at least for the moment, don’t seem like serial killers. He gets a smile and a wave as he heads back, yawning, into the house, and surprisingly everything is as he left it and there are no parents waiting in the kitchen to lecture him.
When he dreams, he doesn’t remember much, but there’s a blue room and a guy on the piano that turns out to be a certain smiling Prince of Junes. And it’s good for him, because like with the Arcana Life music, his heart suddenly stops yearning for something he can’t even name, if only for a while.
