Charles Patricius

Once again, a moment most would expect to conclude a concert was building up in the first minutes of the performance. Iino Miko's scowling had no effect; Dreameater was too deep into the performance to even register it. Right here, right now, only four existed: Ai, Kaguya, himself... and the music. At times, it seemed Dreameater didn't even realize he was performing for an audience. He was a nameless individual, floating in a sea of sounds that echoed into his body and reverberated outward into his surroundings. As it happened, he sometimes had another catalyst for those reverberations. Now, that catalyst was Ai.

""Tell me when I'm gonna live again~♪
Tell me when this fear will end~♪
Tell me when I'm gonna feel inside!♪
Tell me when I'll feel AA-LIIIII-HIIIIIIIIVE~♫"

Finally, two voices were active at once. In that same moment, Ai and Dreameater were facing one another again. They were so close, they could have embraced. They were so close, they could have kissed. They were so close, he could feel the music leaving her mouth. They were so close, and then... he leaned back.

"RE-BIIIIRTHING NOW!
I wanna live for love,
Wanna live... for YOOOU AND MEEEEEE~♫
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RE-BIIIIRTHING NOW!
I wanna live my life,
Wanna give... you EEEVERYTHIIIIIIIING~♫
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RIGHT NOW!♫
RIGHT NOOOOOOOOoOoOoOoOoOoOw~"

Of course, perhaps it should have been expected that Dreameater would decide going above and beyond was a good idea. Just at the final line, where Ai would be delivering the last background notes, Dreameater chose to fully extend his vocal range. His voice rose and fell throughout one extended 'now', hitting high notes and low notes in quick succession while a long guitar riff brought the song to a close. When it was all over, he'd be looking into Ai's face and muting the microphones again. "Whew~! See? I said you'd be great. Thanks to both of you. We up for another?" he asked the pair.

There was so much reverberating around the trio on stage. It was such an interesting sensation and it felt so good for everyone in the audience as well. The stage show itself was also way beyond what anyone would have expected. It seemed so perfectly choreographed that every interaction, the dances and even that vocal duet were too good to belong to amateurs just pulled from the crowd. It was really stunning and the timing were pure perfection. As the pair stared at each other and gave the last of the chorus, in a build up that once again could have ended a show, but instead was only the second number.

"-
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Breeeeeathe♪ for the first time now♪~
I come alive somehoooow♪~
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Breeeeeathe♪ for the first time now♪~
I come alive somehoooow♪~"

The last lines after the most enticing ones were delivered by Ai as well. They would be sung to end everything before the trio convened again.

"I come aaaa-live somehoow♫!~" and just like that.... it was over.

All the while, one Iino Miko had reached a moment of pure fury. The full extension of Dreameater's vocal range was something she fully recognized for what it was. A reckless use of his ability. Her brows were down turned her eyes were nearly blazing behind their brown coloration and her reddned face as her with one puffy cheek as she chewed the inside of her mouth. 'He's gonna fucking break it. Why? Why would you do that, right now. ARE YOU TRYING TO RUIN MY FAVORITE THING!' she was practically shouting in her mind. In fact, she knew the lad probably couldn't see her, he never did when he was lost in the music. She didn't blame him for this, but she wished he'd at least heed her warnings. His voice was such a precious and perfect thing, she didn't want to see it fall to ruin, just for him to share it with others. Meanwhile, Ai, realized she was all done and breathed a huge sigh of relief. How oddly invigorating as a thing to do. Microphones off she handed hers over with a bashful smile. "Hai hai, it was pretty fun. Thanks for that... still I don't have another one in me. I'm happy with my singular experience, and maybe a couple photos and an autograph later if you aren't too busy," Ai said. She had no desire to continue. Kaguya for her part danced up to the pair and grinned happily. "Hai hai, I have to agree with Ai-nee, I'm going to bow out too. We do actually want to see the concert, it's our first one after all~" she said in her usual flirting and teasing manner. "Besides, it looks like someone earned a punish and I have to make sure it's not me~" she said flicking her eyes over so Ai would look towards the still scowling Iino Miko.

By the end of the song, Ai was content to return his extra microphone. He could tell she was content with her performance, and her own words kindly rejected the idea of continuing. That was fine; Dreameater was satisfied enough to have someone join him at all. The fact that there were two accompanying him this time was a boon. "That's understandable. I'm glad you two were willing to go along with this. Here," he said, reaching into his oversized pocket to produce a pair of passes featuring the Dreameater insignia. There was one for Ai, and one for Kaguya. "As one show of gratitude, you can both catch me easily after the show with these. Photos, autographs ─ whatever you want then, let me know~♪"

Ah, there was a hiccup. Kaguya spoke of someone earning some sort of punishment, and gestured into the crowd. Dreameater's eyes followed her line of sight, spotting Miko looking about how he should expect after that recent show. "Yikes. It's supposed to be a happy show~" he said with an air of teasing, or perhaps sheer amusement. Regardless, Dreameater supposed it was time to start the next song. Would he be taking that obvious hint? Well... he'd already decided the next song, based solely on his interaction with Ai. He stepped away, strumming that guitar and enabling his microphone again.

"Heeeere IIIII stand~
Helpless and leeeeft foOoOor dead~"

For a superstar, Dreameater seemed to be a very friendly guy and more down to earth than either of the girls would have expected. It was great from the perspective of a couple of fans getting to live out a dream with one of their idols. He even took the polite rejection of continued performing well, handing a backstage pass to both Ai and Kaguya. Interesting, Kaguya had definitely seen one of these in Miko's possession. She could almost set it aside given she came to these events often enough to immerse in them. "Hai, that's all great, thanks, ja,~" Ai managed happily. "Yep, see you at the end for photos and stuff~" Kaguya mentioned. With backstage passes they could have a pretty good time. Oddly enough though, the look being given by Iino Miko was acknowledged not immediately by Ai but instead by Dreameater himself. He seemed, amused and playfully responded to the obvious anger streaking that girl's face. "Damn, I haven't seen that since Mi-tan's whistle days," Ai commented also secretly hoping she wasn't the one about to get chewed up.

But the cogs in Kaguya's mind were too busy turning as they exited the stage passed being tucked into pockets. 'That's a weird reaction. He seems to care a bit too much about fans to let that kind of discontent slide... his reaction in this case, is more like ours...' she thought as they made their way down and back to Shutara and Miko. Just the same the show continued on and the starting tone was enough to make Miko's brow crinkle. 'He's doing it on purpose!' she decided, firmer and firmer was her desire to punish. Still, there was such an interesting vibration to the sound of his voice, that she couldn't help but be trapped by it. It was an odd place for Miko to be as her friends joined her and realized that she was still frowning. Shutara for her part in this greeted the girls with wide grins and thumbs up. "You two did great!~" she complimented them both before looking to see the discontent on Miko's face and having a knowing smirk cross her face. Backstage was going to be very interesting today. "Sankyuu~" Kaguya managed, feeling a bit of relief knowing that she hadn't done anything too crazy but also wondering what Miko was so upset about. Ai for her part, blushed quite a bit, getting a compliment from her favorite artists was likely quite a bit more than she expected for the day, "I really might be dreaming. It's great to get a compliment like that, arigatou~" she managed finally. She could swim on cloud nine for the rest of her life receiving that kind of compliment from Dreameater and Senjumaru Shutara. "You two definitely did great. I'm really proud of both of you... you sounded great and looked like you were having loads of fun!~" Miko managed though her face was still upset the compliments were genuine.

A very short intro was all Dreameater needed for much of the crowd to identify his third song. This particular number was a favorite of many. In terms of braving the unknown, it ranked top 3 minimum. Those few words were followed by an intense guitar solo and background music with heavy drums.

"Cloooose yoooour eyes~
So many daaaays gooOoOo by~
Easy to fiiiiind whaaaat's wrong~
Harder to fiiiind whaaaat's right~♪"

Of course, Miko knew this one was on purpose. She knew the song better than most, after all. If she had enough of an issue with his vocal stretching to pout about it mid-show... he'd give her something to pout about.

"I BELIEVE IN YOU!
I CAN SHO-OW YOU THAT,
I CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH...
ALL YOUR EMPTY LIES,
I WOOOON'T STAAAAY LONG~
IN THIS WOOOORLD SOOOOO WROOONG!♫"

Once again, lights were ablaze throughout the stadium. This time, they seemed almost... spiteful. It seemed Dreameater was lashing out at the planet itself.
Soon, there were prop cannons rising from the stage and pointing toward the ceiling. The showmanship for this song would be a little different, almost dangerous. Still... what was a show without a bit of danger?

That voice of the Dreameater was penetrating. Everyone could feel it to varying degrees, but Miko always felt it... like it was attached to the strings of her very soul. Here and now his first few bars were normal, though this song was an interesting choice, she wasn't upset with it though she was still a bit pouty. It was firmly obvious to everyone around her that she was not mad with either of her friends. Kaguya would even be seen resting against the other girl's side trying to break the deathstare she was giving the man on stage. "Mi-chan do you know him or something? You seem awful upset, I thought I was going to get a punish at first~" Kaguya managed in light humor as the next song started up. "Yes, and he knows what he's doing..." she said as if that explained everything. Except only thousands more questions popped into Kaguya's head. She was glad her instincts weren't so bad that she couldn't tell when people had some sort of relationship but how had this not come up in conversation. "I can tell you're really into this, so I am not going to interrupt you... but I have so many fucking questions!~" Kaguya announced with extreme excitement. "Yeah, I figured you would..." Miko said. All the while Shutara was able to piece together something important these friends of hers, had no idea about their shy friend's secret identity. 'Backstage is really going to be interesting!' she thought with a pleasant smile plastered on her face.

Just the same, that same angry twitch would continue in Miko's brow. That song didn't need that kind of vocal stressing. It sounded so good, but it was so reckless. She wanted to be more upset but... 'Don't talk to me in songs, you already understand me better than most! And I don't lie...' she thought angrily at the man. Still, something about those words he sang now, radiated differently to her after three hundred years. She could feel them so far inside herself and she knew her sound based kink had gone nowhere. She found herself chewing her bottom lip to mediate her bodily sensations, and mentally boxing the oddities of those words. "GAH! It sounds so good it's hard to be mad!" she said... and thus she pouted. Caught somewhere between her desire for this lad to protect one of his most precious assets and her desire to hear him sing and feel it the way she always did, or currently even better! The showmanship was also not to be understated. Was it too much to ask him to take care of himself a bit better while he did these things... and why did she like watching him throw his everything into well... everything. Miko was starting to consider what she liked and what frustrated her about certain people were the same things.

Those rising cannons were props, but they were not useless. Just before the chorus of Dreameater's third song began, the cannons were loosed in sequence. The timing was perfect enough for those shots to burst as fireworks just below the ceiling, and just as the hook's first line sounded.

"SAY GOODBYE~!
AS WE DANCE WITH THE DEVIL TONI-IGHT!♪
DON'T YOU DARE LOOK AT HIM IN THE EYE~!
AS WE DANCE WITH THE DEVIL TOONIIII-HIIII-HIIIIIGHT~!♫"

And so, there was a fireworks show and another guitar solo. The fireworks themselves were crimson and blood orange, as if to replicate hellfire. Smaller bursts were even a deep purple shot just a bit higher than the others. All the while, strobes spread across the crowd and Dreameater himself. He was back to centerstage now. Though he was normally one to be very interactive with the audience via at least consistent movement, he was now staring down Miko with a shit-eating grin upon his face.

"Treeem-buuuh-ling~
Crawling acrooooss myyyy skin~
Feeling your cOoOold, deEeEead eyes~
Stealing the liiife oOoOof mine~♫"

That voice was all over the place and Miko was caught between her own desire to hear him sing and her reaction to him pushing so many vocal boundaries. Between the voice, the fireworks and the strobe lightly, Miko was... as always transfixed. Her face frustrated but her eyes alight with pure joy. What a contradiction this man always created in her. It was like he was poking at her purposefully... 'Keep it up, when I completely lose it, it's your fault...' she thought. Just the same Shutara couldn't help but smirk happily. To her, it appeared that Miko finally realized that Dreameater wasn't merely singing to Shutara when they were in a crowd together. There was a twitch though, Miko's right hand seemed to want to do something as it twitched into a fist only to release and have her fingers shift around a little.

Such a thing would only get worse as Dreameater looked down at the girl in question with a grin on his face that said he knew exactly how effective his form of protest was. And then there were the words, words which seemed to call directly to Miko herself. "UGH!" she let out her own distaste audibly. "Mi-chan is looking like she wants to choke someone~" Kaguya teased as she always would. She was an instigator at her core. 'I'm going to show you dead eyes... keep grinning at me like that, I'm going to show you something,' she thought still biting her own bottom lip. One day, probably soon, she would understand how often she missed certain signs and right now she was sure he was talking directly to her, but it was more in the way she'd so recently gotten used to, not in the way she expected. They always butted heads about certain things involving his performances... like all the strain on his voice. Even so, when hearing the sounds herself combined with those words, she was finally coming to a greater understanding.

Some might say an argument was taking place during this performance. Miko insisted that Dreameater preserve his voice. In exchange, he demanded that it be set free to do as it pleased. In the end, he'd be the one winning regardless. After all... he was the performer. His range would only be further stretched in the next few moments. In terms of lyrics alone, this song was a bit less extensive than others he performed. Even so, certain parts of most Dreameater songs were vocally... quite powerful.

"I BELIEVE IN YOU!
I CAN SHO-OW YOU THAT,
I CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH...
ALL YOUR EMPTY LIES,
I WOOOON'T STAAAAY LONG~
IN THIS WOoOoORLD SoOo-OoOo WROOOOONG!♫

SAY GOODBYE~!
AS WE DANCE WITH THE DEVIL TONI-IGHT!♪
DON'T YOU DARE LOOK AT HIM IN THE EYE~!
AS WE DANCE WITH THE DEVIL TOONIIII-HIIII-HIIIIIGHT~!♫"

All throughout the hook, Dreameater never broke eye contact with that brunette in the crowd for longer than a few seconds. In those seconds, it seemed he only did so because his eyes were closed ─ all during more intense vocalizations. Whether spiteful or simply challenging, he was sending a message to Miko and everyone else in the crowd. Perhaps he was even on his way to developing a new single. That sort of thing did happen more often than not during Dreameater's performances; it was usually just a matter of time.

Was there an argument taking place? Yes, and it was as old as the relationship between Miko and Dreameater, however long that had been. As friends, she worried about him and he in turn was content to push boundaries with his voice and performances every time. When Miko went to his shows she was always somewhere between elated and furious. In her youth she would have blamed it on her anxiety. Every time she heard his voice stretch it touched her deeply. It was warm and soothing but given this, it wasn't something she wanted lost to her. No, like everything she adored Miko wanted to indulge fully, deeply and with no foreseeable limits. Well, that last bit was something she'd only come to understand recently. Even now, without many words to work with a song she'd not heard in 300 years, was brushing against her like an old friend. Stirring her emotions that she wouldn't have been capable of even naming before... because she was sure he wasn't talking to her before. Now, however... 'Fucking damn it all! Do you have any idea how fucked up it is to do this sort of thing to me now? Are you really going to push me like this now?' she wanted to question him directly but the sound of his voice was lulling her quite a bit. Those twitches in her face and hands were intensifying but mellowing.

Those eyes of Miko's weren't dead, they were dancing and her body was completely still. Kaguya for her part in this, would not be interfering with her friend's domestic. "So does this happen often?" Kaguya asked of Shutara and Ai nodded her head as well, noting the very direct eye contact between this man and her friend and thinking it a level of intimate that was well beyond normally acceptable. "Yes, pretty normal. Usually doesn't happen so early in the show, but I like to think this is one of the ways they love each other~" Shutara said as if it was a perfectly normal way to think about it. "Sou sou..." Was all Kaguya said aloud. 'I wonder if this whole concert is going to be a domestic. I wonder if Mi-chan knows he's talking to her. I want to know if she knows Museion and if she can get me an autograph!?' Kaguya's mind was alight with dozens of questions. So many that she was missing an obvious potential connection. Just the same unwavering eye contact while he sang made it so Miko could thoroughly say that ASMR was spiritual... feeling him sing, felt to her like what it felt like when she was healing people.