R1 DEADLAND

[Well. After a.. very unsuccessful.. conversation yesterday... 2-D decided he needed a little bit of alone time. And honestly, the best thing he can do to cheer himself up is sing. Now, he hasn't done it.. even once since his execution, but as he said himself: Entertainment is needed when things look so bleak. So he heads to the simulation room for a little while. This time, he simulates an entire concert.

There's a stage, a crowd of passionately yelling fans, and his band members playing by his side. Everything sounds good, music wise.. too perfect, almost. Which makes his scratchy, worn out voice stand out even more. But despite it he just sings. And sings. Every single song on the three albums he remembers, until he's completely lost his voice from going at it for too long.

Sometimes you just need to do that, though. Sometimes you just need to scream or cry when something's wrong, and this is 2-D's version of that.

After he sings his heart out, he takes a break in the garden, where he sits on the ground with a couple of packs of cigarettes. There's a few butts laying around him, and he's got one in his mouth, lit, as he writes in a notebook in his lap. He's jotting down words -- lyrics, if you look over his shoulder. Sometimes doodling. Members of his band, people he's met here (maybe even you!), zombies, ghosts, computers.. just a lot. Getting his thoughts on paper definitely feels nice.]

[ Mishima doesn't really have much to say to 2-D most of the time when they're not on cat quests, and he's not really planning to disrupt him now, but when he gets close enough to see the cigarette butts...

FROWNS ]

You're going to clean those up before you go back inside, right?

[2-D looks up when Mishima addresses him, with a very tired looking expression on his features.]

Uh.. yeah. Yeah, I will. Sorry.

[He gives him a little apologetic smile, and picks up a halfway empty pack, so he can pick up the scattered litter and put them in it for now.]

I wasn't even thinkin' about it, honestly.

Okay, good.

[ He feels a little bad after seeing that expression, though, and he softens his tone a bit. ]

Thanks.

[ ... ]

What are you working on out here?

Oh, this?

[2-D motions towards the notebook in his lap. He pulls the cigarette from his mouth, letting out a steam of smoke (away from Mishima because he's polite) and then holds it out for him to see. Right now on the page is just some doodles of Vivenne, mostly. Pretty bad ones.]

I'm just uh... writin' out stuff that makes me feel happy, you know? Er.. I guess drawing, actually.

[ The thought is appreciated, thank you. (He actually doesn't mind the smell too much, at least. It kind of reminds him of his dad.) ]

That's pretty cool, I didn't know you did visual art too.

[ Tilts his head to look............... squints. ]

Huh.

[2D is your dad now its fine]

Thank you, I didn't know I was good at it until just now.

[Now you've done it, with your compliments. He smiles up at Mishima, and he flips the page to an empty one.]

Do you want me to draw you?

[ Yeah okay, maybe Hank is a fake fan but he's totally here for a free concert. He can tell 2D's out there doing this for catharsis' sake though, so he just hangs out in the crowd (for like the last hour, for real,) and hangs out like a groupie because.

Look, that was pretty rad. ]

Shit, I forgot how good you guys sound.

[Hank. Hank is good, actually.

Once the concert is over and Hank approaches 2-D to tell him that, the singer moves to sit on the edge of the stage with a small grin on his face, sweat beading down his forehead.]

It ain't the same without my mates-- but thanks.

[He wipes his brow with his arm, and lets out a small sigh.]

Can you sing, Mister Anderson?

Hey, I got a free show. I ain't complaining.

[ Hank smirks. He's doing his job if he can make people take a load off for a bit. ]

Nah, no way. Don't got the voice for it.

[ It's low as hell, but he still sang for Connor, so you know this is a lie. ]

[Despite saying that, 2-D grins mischievously and holds his mic out near Hank's face.]

Lemme hear somethin'! I won't believe it 'till I hear it.

Aw, shit, no fucking way. I just told you—I can't just sing on the spot.

[ Hank raises his hands, refusing to accept the mic. Gotta try harder than that, 2D. ]

There's no one else around here! It's just a bunch of numbers -- including me!

[2-D pushes the mic cloooooooser]

I'll have 'em play Feel Good Inc. again.

[ Hank groans. It's one he actually knows, so of course he can't say no. ]

....Fine. One song. And I can't do the rap.

[The musician practically jumps up to his feet, excitedly pumping the mic into the air.]

I can do it!

[He's awful at rapping but it's fine.]

Come on-- come up on stage with me!

[ I mean, he is getting to sing a song with the leader of Gorillaz. He shouldn't complain. ]

Alright, alright... but you don't say one word about this to anybody, got it? They're gonna start thinking I like doing shit like this.

[ Oooh yes, Hank, you're a big grump for sure. And yet he's still climbing onstage... funny how that works. ]

My lips are sealed.

[hes telling everyone]

Though I dunno why it's a problem if people think you like performing on stage. It's quite fun!

They don't. This ain't my kinda shit at all.

[ And yet, here he is. On stage. With the lead singer from Gorillaz. Dude. It's a little cool. ]

Alright, whenever you wanna get this over with...

[Yeah, 2-D has this little shit eating grin, despite Hank acting like a huge grump. The stage comes to life, and 2-D gives a cue to his fake band members to start, the audience starting to cheer and clap along.

Luckily for Hank it starts with 2-D's rap, and he starts it with a chilling charisma he very much doesn't show off stage. And to condense it down so I'm not just writing a bunch of paragraphs about him performing -- it's pretty freakin' cool. Once the rap ends and the first chorus comes up, he walks over to Hank with an in-character pout and passes off the mic, giving him a few seconds before his cue.]

[ God, I'm not even gonna pretend Hank is any good. I mean he's not bad but this song is a little out of his range and he's forcing it a little first before he really gets into it.

Because he does get into it after a few lines. Sure, the people are fake and the venue is empty, but fuck it. They're on stage. It's a concert. This is the actual lead singer for Gorillaz and they're just jamming and.... yeah, okay, by the end of it Hank might even have enjoyed himself. A little.

Don't tell anyone!!! He's just catching his breath now that the song is over. ]

So, what'd I tell you? I'm shit, right?

[By the time the song is over, 2-D just has the most excited, and pleased looking grin on his face. There's nothing more fun than performing with friends, and it's been.. a while since he was able to do that last. It was exactly what he needed after how stressful and awful everything had been lately, and he just looks very, genuinely happy.]

Yeah, you gave me a real fright when you started, mate. Way off key.

[But he playfully punches Hank's arm, feeling comfortable around him enough now that they've sung together.]

But when the second chorus hit... wow! You got a grasp on it and banged it out like a natural!

[ Hank snorts. He's definitely feeling pretty good after belting it out on stage, and he has to admit it's nice to see 2D crack a smile too. ]

Told ya. Singing ain't my thing.

[ Somehow the praise embarrasses him more than the criticism though, and Hank finds himself blushing and shoving 2D right back. ]

Don't gotta sugarcoat it for me. I'll stick to rhythm guitar and backup vocals from here on in.

[The shove knocks 2-D back a little bit, being a twig and all and he stumbles a little with a laugh. He straightens himself back up, with a very excited look in his eyes.]

You can play?

[youve done it now hank youve shown your hand]

[ Aw, fuck, he's stepped in it now. ]

Eh, a little I guess. I know a couple of chords, that's about it.

[ He'll be sure to knock you down next time, 2D, don't try him!! No one must find out that Hank is actually a nice, sensitive dad!! ]

Some of the best songs are made with just a couple of chords! It's all 'bout how you use 'em.

[He's not about to throw a guitar at Hank though if he doesn't want to play, but he still definitely looks very excited.]

R1 DEADLAND

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garden - i'm sorry

MISHIMA.... what a good boy

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simulation room

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