Nobody on the road, nobody on the beach

[mildwildchild]

Who: Flashstep and YOU
What: assorted shenanigans with the Flashbabes
Where: Pride HQ and all around Vista City
When: mid-late April-ish??
Warnings: probably some manpain


The world tour looms, all of Pride Records is feeling the strain, and Flashstep is certainly no exception. There are new song and dance routines to be memorized, public appearances to be made, and promotional stunts to be undertaken, in between which the boys have to wrangle with the burgeoning reality of their situation and maybe try to have some semblance of a social life.

Life is stressful for the band, but stable, maybe even predictable - at least, until Sora's unexpected firing.

[Individual prompts below!]

Comments

[worthlesspride]

"It's cute you think I'm trying to make friends with you," Oikawa said with a roll of his eyes. "I'm not. I want to use your brain. Something tells me you're a decent strategist, and I'm usually right about these things." He gives Jamie a smile that practically screams 'I'm rethinking this.'

"In case you haven't noticed The stakes have been raised, AKA, out lives are at stake. You ever see the third season of Buffy? When the Mayor gathers all that energy to turn himself into a giant almost unbeatable demon? According to the ghosts, in which I was instrumental in their rescue by the way, Santiago and Blanche are gathering energy and have been for a long time. You know the only logical explanation for that? They want to achieve godhood, or something. Does that sound like a good time to you? I'm an asshole, not a monster, of fucking course I want to rescue people. No deserves to be used like this; as slaves and battery packs. And what do you think happens to us when they're done? My guess? Lunch."

He leans down, staring Jamie in the eyes. "I don't give a shit what you think of me. Honestly, there's a very short list of people whose opinions do matter, they're in my band, and the ones back in my world. I'm giving you the opportunity to give Santiago the middle finger and save people. You don't want that? Fine. Just stay out my way. I don't really care if I survive if I know those I love are safe, and I'm perfectly willing to drag people who are intentionally in the way of that under the bus with me. I really don't have much to loose."

Jamie is vulnerable. Oikawa knows that. Oikawa is too. Oikawa is always vulnerable, his ego and bravado are all bluster, and underneath Oikawa has a very fragile sense of self-worth. All the bullshit he says, usually a shield to protect himself. And his self-worth has been shot to hell since his knee was broken. All his dreams are as shattered as his knee. So Oikawa's a little miffed that Jamie is being obstinate. So Oikawa is going to attempt to motivate Jamie in another way. Goading.

He leans back, presses the door open button. "If you change your mind let me know." He gives Jamie another smile before turning. "You're a lot me, you know, that's why we dislike each other. Two of us would be a force to be reckoned with."

He's not sure he believes that, mostly that was one last barb for his hurting ego.

He's also aware that could be the nail in the coffin of getting Jamie to help him. Whatever, not his problem. He can drag Jamie to safety kicking and screaming later and gloat about it if it comes to that.

[mildwildchild]

Ordinarily Jamie would be delighted to know that he was irritating Oikawa, even if only a little. Ordinarily, Jamie might actually consider what Oikawa had to say despite their mutual grudge.

Ordinarily, Jamie would not be a seething mess of grief and guilt and pain with a compromised ability to think rationally.

There's absolutely nothing Oikawa's saying right now that doesn't make Jamie double down on his resolve to stay as far away from him and his plans as humanly possible. He had to throw in that he was instrumental in freeing the ghosts? Well, that's all that matters, isn't it, that Oikawa has something to brag about later. He wants to "give Santiago the middle finger" - oh, and maybe save people, as a bonus. He's willing to throw people under the bus if they get in his way? Oikawa's definition of "getting in the way" is probably extremely broad, especially where Jamie's concerned. Anger and paranoia and sheer emotional upset twist everything he says into another reason to tell Oikawa to fuck right off.

Also Jamie doesn't know or care about your demon mayor TV show, you gigantic nerd.

He meets Oikawa's gaze unblinkingly. When the elevator doors slide open, all he can say is: "Yeah, you don't care what I think of you so much you spent like ten minutes telling me about your volleyball fanfic and how important teamwork is to you. You're pathetic."

[worthlesspride]

"And you're even more so," Tooru said with every bit of sincerity and huge smile. "At least I can own up to the fact I can be ass. Meanwhile you're pretending you're not a selfish brat throwing a temper tantrum of self destruction that's not only hurting you, but it's going to hurt others in the long run."

This was beyond grief for Sora. He could mention that his behavior was disrespectful of Sora's memory. That open wound that would be so easy to poke, but he knew better. It wouldn't accomplish anything except make him feel guilty later.

He's vaguely aware that his personality might be getting in of the way of showing how genuine he was about wanting to help others. Whatever, Jamie doesn't deserve his genuine self.

He walked out of the elevator doors and hit the close button on his way out. "Anyways, have fun self destructing. Tata you little asshole, I hope you don't get eaten by the monster~."