[Idol TF, Punk TF]
"So those three are the ones we're facing off against, huh? Damn, I thought we'd actually face a challenge."
"Don't get too cocky, Death. You never know when their songs might stab you through the heart. Remember what happened to Oblivion?"
"Damn. You're right, Misery. OI! ENVY! YOU READY TO ROCK!?"
"Not yet. Still need to finetune the drum."
"HOW THE HELL DO YOU FINE TUNE A DRUM!?"
"I DUNNO, GENIUS, HOW DO YOU TUNE A BASS?"
A collection of three punks were gathered in a waiting room. They had come a long way since they were just jamming out in an alleyway. Once, there were four. Then they were reduced to three. Their name? End of the Line. And their stage persona, as well as part of their actual character, represented some of the emotions and feelings that one would feel at the end of it all.
The leader of the group, Death, had long black hair with red highlights on the inside. Combine that with the skull that had been tattooed onto her face, and the decorative spikes that were meant to dig into her wrists and her neck, and she looked the most hardcore. Back in the day, when they were only starting out, she was Violence. Back then, her spikes pointed outward as she could use them to inflict her namesake. But after losing Oblivion, she pointed that pain inward. Even if the pain was actually rather miniscule because the spikes were duller than one might immediately imagine.
The calmer of the trio, Misery, had been with Death the longest. The two were the founders of the band, so to speak. And while she let Death take the wheel, she was always there to support the girls in her own way. Even if you could barely see her face behind the veil of hair that had grown so long that it was threatening to reach her knees.
Finally, there was the band's drummer. Envy. Compared to her long-haired partners, she had short yet spiky hair that dotted her scalp, with no real pattern to be made out of them. She had picked up on Death's former schtick, and took it to another extreme. It was part of why she was so loud, because she had learned everything about being a punk from her. So if anything, her and Death's constant spats were because they were far too alike. Too bullheaded, even.
Misery watched Death and Envy keep on butting heads with one another, while she gazed at the brochure that had more information on their upcoming gig. A battle of the bands, where they were invited to play their track against one of the most popular groups of idols. All because they had been rising too fast, and somebody had taken notice and wanted them to be knocked down a peg.
The idol group in question was the Happy Hearts. It consisted of Aromatic Amber, Beautiful Betty and Charity Clair. And Clair... She had once been part of their group. As the guitarist, Oblivion...
Even now, her heart ached as she looked at the new form of Oblivion. Because despite how much she had changed, she was still the pretty punk that she had always been. At least, that's what she was to Misery. She couldn't really believe that Oblivion would fall prey to such processed tunes, and such fake words. When Idols sang on stage, they didn't really mean what they were singing. They were just following the script that had been written for them, for the sake of making more and more people gaze their way...
Even so, it prompted Misery to look up at her fellow punks. "...What if Oblivion gets through to us, and we end up just like her?" She asked, a surprisingly somber and worried expression on her face. "What if we end up nothing more than processed garbage, spat out by society for the sake of entertaining and charming the masses?"
Both Death and Envy paused, prompting Envy to pull back slightly so she wasn't about to poke an eye out or anything with those surprisingly sharp spikes on her head. And both of them couldn't help but chuckle a little at the sound of their somber member's worries.
"It's not like you to be worried, Misery." Death said, as she carefully brushed her hair over one side, leaving one side of her hair basically bald while covering up more of her other side. "Don't worry. I'll get through to her. By the time we're done here, Oblivion will sing with us again. And they'll all understand. They all will!"
"Yeaaaaah! YEAH!" Envy shouted as she slammed her drumsticks into her drum, only for the sticks to practically explode on impact. Which caused her to briefly pause as she gazed at them, stunned by the sheer strength she had amassed. Guess being a drummer meant that she built a lot more power than she ever would've if she remained a nobody.
Misery gazed upon her partners, before softly chuckling and nodding. They were right. They were completely right. "My mistake." She said, as she reached for her bass. Letting her fingers very briefly drag across them, gritting her teeth as she felt them dig in... and draw the slightest bit of blood in the process. "Then let's swear an oath. Today, we take back our Oblivion."
Normally, Death would call her dramatic. But in this case, that drama was warranted. So she grabbed her wrist and squeezed down on the bracelet she wore, causing the spikes to dig in ever slightly and draw a small bit of blood as well. Letting that blood drip towards the floor, like Misery's was. "Today, we defeat those Happy Hearts!"
"TODAY!" Envy didn't have anything to easily draw blood with, so she just raised her broken drumsticks. "Today, we rock their world and make them see just how fake they've been all this time! And the audience too, we'll show them what a twisted world they're cheering for!"
The three members of End of the Line grinned together, as they steeled themselves. It was time to play their hearts out...
---
The lights were shining down on the stage, as a layer of smoke billowed forth. A layer that was intended to draw more suspense. Blanketing the stage and making it impossible to see who was up there.
And even as End of the Line got into position, with Death grabbing the microphone as her guitar hung by her waist so she could lead them towards a punk-fueled victory, they couldn't see the competition. Not that it mattered. The less that she focused on their enemies, the better. She was going to charm them, and she was going to get Oblivion back...
Then, the smoke started to clear, and the lights shone down on those three in particular. Prompting them to introduce themselves. Prompting them to take over and control their narrative.
"LISTEN UP, SHITHEADS!" Death shouted into the microphone, her voice echoing across the crowd. "THIS IS THE END OF THE LINE! AND NOW YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE IT ALL! THE RUSH OF DEATH! THE MISERY OF DEFEAT! AND THE EVER-CRUSHING ENVY!" She screamed, introducing her members as each of them emphasized themselves with a respective musical sting.
And the crowd that they had been building over the last while, after Oblivion left them, was cheering as loud as they possibly could. All of them totally engrossed, totally enamored by their act and their energy. "END OF THE LINE! END OF THE LINE! END OF THE LINE!" The cheers were loud. The cheers were what fueled them. And what drove them to strive for ever greater hearts, through battling more and more bands...
But before they had a chance to start playing a tune as a nice little warm up, a sharp light cut through the smoke. And there they stood. The duo that had been rising just as quickly as they had, and the member of End of the Line that they had managed to poach using their tunes. And suffice to say, even now that they were this close to them...
...Damnit, they were pretty. Sure, they only wore white uniforms with a heart woven into their shirts, but that mostly white coloring was supplemented by countless amounts of glammy and glitzy accessories that brought out their inner beauty, complete with the three of them wearing a crystal heart on a necklace, matching the heart printed on their uniforms.
The first to draw their attention was definitely Charity Clair. Of course the three couldn't help but gaze towards the girl that had once been their Oblivion. Compared to before, when she donned an exceptionally sharp mohawk that represented the blade that would cut their lives short, she now had soft blue hair that radiated such a warm and welcoming vibe. Combine that with her much gentler posture, and the fact she was on backup vocals instead of on instrument duty, and she looked so... neutered... And yet so cute at the same time...
It's not like the others weren't beautiful either. It's just that they held the former Oblivion so near and dear to their hearts. But as their eyes drifted to Beautiful Betty, they felt their hearts tremble. Was this how Oblivion felt? She had such long beautiful green locks, and it was like they lost themselves in that ocean of green. And as she winked towards them, they could feel their hearts trembling. They... They were falling in love with her, from nothing more than a single glance towards her? So strong...
Finally, there was the leader of the Happy Hearts. Aromatic Amber. Out of the three idols, she was the oldest. Which was surprising, considering idols tended to stick to younger bodies that could still grow outward, so the fans had something else to obsess over. And yet she was mature, and most importantly... That 'aromatic' nickname wasn't just for show. It was like they felt her scent fill their hearts, which just made them tremble even more in response. They...
Amber smiled in their direction. And it was like they were about to fall onto their knees from how good it felt. And out of the corner of their eyes, they could see the crowd that had gathered here for them. Slowly submitting to the beautiful and happy idols that now laid claim to their hearts...
"So adorable. You really think your music will be able to fill their hearts? When they can take a good long huff of this? You silly, silly girls..."
Amber's voice echoed through their ears. Partly due to her microphone. Partly because she had already set up shop inside their heads due to the smell. And yet they... They shouldn't submit. No matter how good it felt. No matter what..!
Death panted as she tightened her grip on her microphone. She wasn't going to quit. "SO WHAT IF WE'RE SILLY? SO WHAT IF WE'RE STARTING TO FALL FOR YOU!? WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS SONG COUNT, AND WE'RE GOING TO PLAY UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND!" She shouted from the very depths of her heart, slamming her hand against her guitar. "THIS IS THE END OF THE LINE! AND YOU WILL HEAR IT ALL!"
Thanks to Death's inspiring screams, both Misery and Envy were able to break from their trances. All while Amber chuckled in response, with Betty leaning up against her as she grinned as well. "My my. So these are your girls, Clair? No wonder you ended up falling for us, they look like they're about to break at any moment."
"They really do, don't they?" Clair chimed, as she tightly grasped her personalized heart. All while watching those girls. She... She really did still care for them. She knew that much. But she was going to make sure that they fell in love with their song as well. They were already giving Amber so many good looks. It was only a matter of time... Before they'd be just like her, trembling in Amber's presence...
It was time for the battle to begin. And as the challengers, the End of the Line was up first. All they had to do was make sure that they played the right track. Then...
Death took a deep breath, as she gazed one more time towards Amber. Then it hit her. Of course. Of course, that was the way to win. Why hadn't she thought of that when Oblivion first left them? Yeah. Duh. Alright. She could do that.
Amber raised her eyebrow as she watched the leading punk shift her posture slightly. And she couldn't help but smile a little herself. That sneaky girl was trying something. And she had a faint idea of what. So instead of letting her opponent start all on their own... It was time to break a rule. Just this once.
"I LOVE YOU!" "I love you!"
To the audience's surprise, the End of the Line and the Happy Hearts started performing at the same time. The really rough sound of the punk band's instruments immediately clashed against the extra processed beat that started playing for the idols. And yet, the clashing sounds that shouldn't sound like they fit together...
They matched perfectly..? It was a phenomenon that started to fill the audience with so much energy that it was hard to tell what band was truly able to convince them. Who were they supposed to love? Who were they supposed to root for?!
Death could feel her heart slamming against her chest as that first 'I love you' from Amber started to hit her. She could feel the darker colors draining from her torn clothes, and the skull on her face turning into a heart. She would stand her ground. After all, if she truly did love her, as her song implied... Then she would love her in her own way!
Amber licked her lips a little as those pale pillows deepened in color, with a bit of black eyeshadow forming under her eyes. She could feel the violent vibrations in their music. So this was her gameplan. She wanted to play a duet instead. Leave it to the punks to go against the grain and do something much more fun...
Unlike Amber, Betty was slammed by the intensity of that music. Her beautiful blue locks drifted to the ground bit by bit, as a tear of blood seemed to tattoo its way onto her cheek. "S-Such... Such emotion..!" She couldn't believe it. This was... This was what a set of easily seduced punks were able to do..?!
Misery was in the same camp. Her more controlled emotions meant that she could feel the bubbly tunes pour through her, rapidly making her long hair tie itself into a long braid. And yet her eyes remained hidden, keeping her somewhat safe. All while her heart cried out for her idol. Crying out for the Happy Hearts, even as she tried her best to keep pace with Death..!
Envy was drumming her heart out. All to try and block out the happiness that she felt from drumming alongside such beautiful idols. She couldn't believe that Oblivion... N-No, she couldn't believe that Clair could be so pretty. Ahhh... This envy that filled her heart wasn't the good kind of envy where she was able to control herself. If this kept going, if this kept going..!
Clair smiled as she felt her heart blacken. She knew that Violence would understand. This was why she had given herself to the Happy Hearts. Because they needed to understand. Both of them did. Their societal rebellion wouldn't be strong enough on its own. But if both Amber and Violence started to understand each other...
The tunes kept pouring out, and the fans of both bands... The fans that would've begun to fight against each other if they were made to listen to two competing sounds, they were now being overwhelmed by the wonderful melody that was made from the sounds working together. Filling them with rebellious bubbles that gave them a black, red and white makeover, cracked hearts laid over top of their chests as they began to cheer..!
"HAPPY END! HAPPY END! HAPPY END!"
Amber grinned as she heard that. Indeed. If they kept on singing like this. If they kept singing about their love, and how it overlapped, it truly would be a happy end. And in the end, wasn't that part of what any punk wanted? They wanted a happy end for their message. And the happiest end...
Death grinned in turn. She never really did think too much about the bubbly happiness that was meant to pour its way through her once she got what she wanted. But now that she could hear Amber's love... No, as she could hear the happiness in Happy Heart's song... Maybe it wasn't too bad. Maybe this wicked plan, which she honestly hadn't trusted too much, was really as potent as it seemed...
Bit by bit, the punks got closer to the idols. The Happy Hearts approaching the End of the Line. Bit by bit, the punks grew a little brighter. Bit by bit, the idols grew a little darker. All while the hearts started to crack, all while the punks' outfits grew less and less disheveled. Their respective aesthetics were being imparted on one another...
"She really is so beautiful..!" Misery cried out as she devoted herself to the bass solo that came as part of the piece. Shredding as much as she could, vocalizing her growing feelings. Misery, at being unable to realize this kind of love until the moment she locked eyes with Betty..!
Betty wanted the comfort of an instrument, like the one that Misery held. Because as a mere idol, she couldn't do anything except sing. "LOOOOOOOVE!" She screamed, in a tone that was more like the punks' own. She wanted to make her emotions clear, and this was the only way forward..!
"LOOOOOOOOVE!" Envy didn't care if it wasn't her turn to scream. She didn't care if they didn't hear her. Her emotions were welling forth. How come it was only idols that got to sing at any moment!? She wanted to sing about her feelings, she wanted to sing! Even as her spiky hair was undone and reverted to mob-like hair that hid away her self, which was more reflective of how she had been before she had joined together with Death and the others, she still sang from her heart!
"LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE!" And Clair met those emotions. All while tears ran down her cheeks. This... This was what she had been hoping for. She didn't know how Violence had managed to understand. But she wasn't going to dwell on it. She was going to get swept up in this rebellious tornado of feelings. And the questions that came after that... Those would matter after everything was said and done!
The band got closer and closer to the idols. Their aesthetics merging bit by bit. Until it looked like the punks were wearing tattered idol uniforms, even if those tatters weren't too defined. More performative than anything. Which was why the idols had the same tears, letting the two groups match as they got closer and closer...
"HAPPY! END! HAPPY! END! HAPPY! END!" The crowd full of fans was cheering. There was no longer a split between them. There was just a cacophony of noise. A delightful onslaught that reached straight to the heart. They replicated what they had heard... And they wanted more. They wanted to reach that Happy End that was about to dawn!
Amber and Death got close enough that they were practically pushing up against each other. The older and aromatic woman, with her smaller rival not flinching in her presence. "It's been so long since I've heard such a passionate performance... Tell me, is that love true or not?" Amber asked, as she brought a single finger under the shorter girl's chin. All while her crystal heart continued to crack a bit more...
"As true as yours." Death said in turn, before she reached up and grabbed the taller woman by the cheeks, forcing her into a kiss. If she was going to play coy, then she was going to take the first step so she damn well understood exactly what it was that she wanted.
Misery trembled as Betty came closer. All while she tried to gaze away, despite the fact that her hair was still long enough to keep her eyes hidden. "Y-You... You wouldn't-" Despite the love inside her, she wasn't able to properly convey it. Even in such a situation, where everyone's emotions were spilling out, she couldn't...
Which was why Betty took the first step, a bloody tear forming on Misery's cheek as soon as Betty kissed her right on those lips. Their big beautiful black lips meet for the first time, with the idol pulling back and grinning before wrapping her arms around the punk. "I would. To think a punk could be so damn cute..." Even her words had been tainted... Yet, the cracked heart remained whole. Just enough that these emotions could echo out.
"LOOOOOOOOVE!" "LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE!"
Clair stood at Envy's side, as both of them screamed as loud as they could. Letting their emotions rise deep into the sky, as both of them wanted nothing more than to let their emotions out. They had been together before, and the fact that their love still hadn't been put out despite the betrayal was a wonder. No... It wasn't just their love. It was the love that had always been within End of the Line. It's just that it finally got to be unleashed, and it resonated with the love within Happy Hearts...
The cries from the audience reached a feverish pitch, as they started joining in. Screaming about love. Drowning each other out, as their cheers became completely incomprehensible. And yet the joy they felt, the happiness, that was still so real...
And when the songs finally came to an end, thanks to Amber and Death pulling back after their deeply intimate kiss, the two leaders of their respective groups stepped forward, lights shining down on them...
"Everyone! Thank you so much for coming here today!" Amber cried out, waving happily to the audience. "Happy Hearts wouldn't be here without you!"
"And without you joining us at the End of the Line, we would never be able to rock out as much as we have!" Death cried out as well, the cheers in the audience growing even louder. "It's why it's a fuckin' shame to announce that we've reached our own End!"
Gasps echoed from the crowd. Gasps that only grew louder as Amber and Death let their hands weave together, the two grasping each others' hands as tightly as possible.
"As has Happy Hearts! We've reached the End of the Line! And together, we've reached our Happy End! So, for the first fucking time, I DEMAND you keep listening!" Amber's tone grew rougher, as she grinned and looked down at her opponent... No, at her brand new partner. She always did think that shorties like her were rather cute...
"Keep listening and keep our love in your hearts! Together, we've reached our Happy End! And we'll keep playing until you all reach it too!" Death cried out, accepting the rebranding as the lights shone down on all six members of the brand new band...
First, on Amber. "Annihilating Amber!"
Then, on Death. "Deadly Dahlia!"
Next, on Misery. "Miserable Melody!"
After that, on Betty. "Breaker Betty!"
Following that, on Clair. "Oblivion Olivia!"
Finally, on Envy. "Envious Emily!"
All six now had names that reflected their punk half, while cuter names also arose whenever they wanted to tap into the idol side of their appeal. And together, they were going to do what they couldn't when they were apart. They would let their emotions bleed out on stage, as idols were rumored to do. All while raging against society, inciting rebellion through their emotional songs...
All while standing side by side. Through a bond that neither could've ever imagined...