Rekindling Life

//Top Blogger baybee, lessgo December, 2018, Vanhoover. Life has not been kind to Asuka this year. Her schoolwork has been massively stressful, she broke up with her boyfriend at the beginning of the year, and worst of all, she won't be able to visit her parents for Hearth's Warming this year. Ever since her breakup, Asuka feels like she's lost all purpose in life. Roy used to be the one person Asuka ever thought about when her schoolwork started getting to her. 'Just one more year, and things will get better. One more year, and Roy will be waiting for you. One more year, and you can finally show him how much you love him.' Now she knows that those feelings were empty, and one sided. She should have noticed Roy's changing sooner. It was like the moment he arrived in Vanhoover, he stopped caring about anything but the band. He pushed them all far too hard, chasing dreams of stardom that would never come. They weren't even a D-list band, and Roy wanted to shoot for the Equestrian music charts. He was so wrapped up in the delusions of fame, that he neglected his friends, and their needs. He'd only ever thought of himself after the move. There were so many signs that Asuka just didn't see because she was blinded by love. At first, Ruby had tried to swoop in to cushion the fall of Asuka's break up. She'd put forth the offer for the two to go on casual dates, as a way for Asuka to get out, and keep her mind off of Roy. They'd only gotten a few dates in before Asuka realized she just wasn't enjoying it. It wasn't that she didn't like Ruby. It's just that every time they went out, it made Asuka think about Roy, and how they didn't go on dates after the move. It just made her feel like a terrible person. The two stopped their dates, but they remained good friends. They likely would have moved into an apartment together after graduation if it weren't for... Roy. Apparently, after the breakup, Roy had turned his attention towards Ruby. According to Ruby, she believed he was just trying to get back at Asuka by getting with her roommate first, but it got really creepy, really fast. At first, he just randomly showed up in public places where Ruby happened to be. He'd try to chat her up, get turned away, and sulk off. Then Ruby started noticing him while she was on campus, and eventually, she started seeing him when she went for walks. She'd kept this all a secret from the others for quite some time. Which is why it was such a surprise when Ruby told them she was moving a few months back. Another band from halfway across the world had scouted her, and she'd accepted a position as their lead vocalist. Well, it wasn't too surprising, considering that Attack on Mango practically stopped doing anything the moment Roy was kicked out. He was practically the only reason the band made time to practice. If he hadn't been forcing them all to practice on Thursdays, the band would never have done so anyway. Which, is exactly what happened when he was kicked out. Without his constant hounding, the others just, stopped scheduling practices, and stopped playing gigs. They were all too busy with school, or work anyway. Asuka's schoolwork had been soul-crushing this year, but at the very least, it was finally over. After 2 difficult years, Asuka finally got her certification as a Primary Care Paramedic. It's only been a week since she'd gotten her certification, but she was already getting job offers from EMS companies all over the city. Though, for now, she just wanted to take a break from it all, and get her head straight. Her brother has already agreed to sign a lease for an apartment with her, while Juno will be staying in their crummy hole. The place they'll be moving into is made specifically for young adults freshly out of college, as a 'first apartment.' It's a nice complex, in a nice part of the city, which explains the fairly steep rent. Not to mention the pool, and the myriad of stores within walking distance. Currently, Asuka is sitting behind her unused drumset in the middle of Nar and Juno's crummy hole. She'd come over a few hours ago, and the three had spent the time playing games, and watching movies to celebrate Asuka's certification, but now she was alone. Juno was out picking up a pizza they'd ordered, and Nar was outside taking an important call. He'd been out there for quite a while now, and Asuka was not liking being left alone with her thoughts. Sure, there were a few small things to be happy about for Asuka, but for the most part, life just kept throwing more, and more crap onto her, and it was really starting to get to her. Thankfully for Asuka, before her mind wandered to places too dark, the apartment's front door opens, and Nar strolls back inside. Though for some reason, he doesn't say anything to Asuka. Instead, Nar wordlessly sits on the couch across from her, and picks his bass up off of it's stand nearby. There's a few seconds of horribly out of tune twangs from the bass before Nar is able to start getting it in tune. Asuka isn't quite sure why he's tuning his bass, but she doesn't question it. Maybe he's just trying to keep busy until the pizza arrives. Then, Nar starts to pluck one of the strings. He repeats the same note, over, and over, without any words. Yet, for some reason, Asuka finds herself tapping her foot. After a few seconds, Asuka picks up her drumsticks. If Nar's going to just sit there plucking his bass, she might as well do the same with her drums. (https://youtu.be/Krn4w_xdFg0?si=zl5uSoBH92l4pNeA) It only takes a few seconds of tapping one of her cymbals before Asuka begins to add to the beat. Slowly, but surely, Asuka adds more to her drumming. First, it's the kick, and snare drum, then it's the toms, and eventually, more cymbals. In response, Nar begins to pluck other notes, eventually leading to an impromptu jam session between the two. For some time, Asuka loses herself in her drumming. For the first time in months, genuine joy fills Asuka, and she begins to feel just a little less crap. For just a few moments, it's as if nothing else matters. It's just Asuka, Nar, and their instruments in a world of their own. Then, just as quickly as it started, it's over. Silence falls over the apartment again, but only for a brief moment. "Woah." Comes Juno's voice from the door. "That was awesome." The three all share glances before the other two get up. It's pizza time. The warmth of the pizza inside the box is a welcome reprieve from the barely-above-freezing air of the apartment. It was as if the three were the first of ponykind, and the pizza was the gift of fire from the gods. Except, you could eat this gift too. The three plop down onto the couch, and begin to devour their gift with a hunger than only 3 young adults in a near-freezing apartment could have. With hot cheese still stuck to his tongue, Nar begins to speak. "Yooh know guysh, I think we shoul' think abouw restar'ing tha band." Asuka shares a look with Juno, then, they both nod. "Yeah. Been a while since we've really done anything though." "And I really don't want to play any of the songs Roy wrote for us." That was a problem, considering Roy wrote ALL of the songs for the band. "Well." Nar begins. "What if we switched genres, and wrote our own songs? Preferably without vocals." Two more nods. "But what would we switch to?" "How about ska?" "Fuck no." "Pop punk?" "Pass." Silence falls over the band as they begin a deep contemplation. "What about... Chiptune rock?" "That could be fun." "Yeah, why not?"