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The long awaited chapter 3 of Sounds of Love!
Featuring a song from the album of Ain't Afraid to Die with the hit song "Ain't Afraid to die"!
It had been several days since the group had met for their tryouts. Eb was sitting in his classroom listening to the lecture by his biology teacher. “So the mRNA transfers via TrNa.”
The words seemed to blur into nothingness, his attention off elsewhere in a dream world. A very aristocratic outfit on, dredged in blue. He looked to his right, Leon was with him, coated in a spattered red. A red hand print over his face, drums before him and stick in hand. Heather in a muddled gray gown, like a princess like outfit. Bass in her grip thrumming away at the thick strings on the guitar. And to his side wearing a pristine angelic outfit, a very thinly veiled gown, shimmering in the lights of the stage, in front of her a beautiful keyboard set up. Singing in front of a large audience, giving their all. The feeling and roars of the crowd gave him and them the courage and pride to continue playing.
When they were finished playing the song the crowd began chanting their names. Eb looked at Veronica with a passionate stare, slinging his guitar over his shoulder and walked over to her, slinging his arm around her. Her arms around his waist looking up at him as she spoke. “Mr. Indigo. Can you please explain the definition of mRNA to the class please?”
“What?” He murmured with a lovey smile plastered on his face.
As the voice became far more masculine and stern. “I said can you please explain what the mRNA is to the class please. Mr Indigo.”
The jackal snapped back to reality; only to see the class snickering and staring at him. At the front of the class, his arms folded tapping his index finger on his arm waiting expectantly for an answer from the bewildered student. “Uhhh…” The jackal let dribble from his mouth.
The teacher closed his eyes and tightened his grip on the piece of chalk in his hand. “Maybe next time you should pay attention.” He chucked the piece of white chalk at the boy’s head. Plinking him in the forehead leaving a powdery white dot.
“Ow!” He grumbled rubbing his head looking at the teacher.
“Claire, how about you explain to your absentminded classmate what exactly mRNA is?” The hyena looked at the well dressed mouse girl in the front row.
The young girl stood up from her chair and began to recite a very textbook answer. “Certainly. Messenger RNA is a subtype of RNA. An mRNA molecule carries a portion of the DNA code to other parts of the cell for processing. mRNA is created during transcription. During the transcription process, a single strand of DNA is decoded by RNA polymerase, and mRNA is synthesized. Physically, mRNA is a strand of nucleotides known as ribonucleic acid, and is single-stranded.”
The hyena male looked at her giving an approving smile. “Correct, far more in depth than I expected but correct nontheless.”
Eb scratched the back of his head grumbling quietly. “Damn teacher...” He murmured.
The minutes flew by as the bell rang. “Bing bong ding dong~” As the playful chime of the bell rang through the halls of the school, and Leon was so quick to B-line over to Eb. “Hey, did you like mentally jack off back there or what bro?”
Eb punched him in the arm and mumbled. “Dude shut up, I was like...I saw us! I saw us on stage! Like all of us in costume and everything! Like…! You were dressed all bad ass covered in blood and stuff, sticks in hand and I was like dressed like a sorrowful prince in blue.” He prattled on.
“Oh and sweet Veronica...A beautiful angelic outfit to suit her unbridled beauty.” He squealed with delight.
“That’s kick ass! Was it like a viking or like a knight or what man? That’s like...super awesome!” The skunk gushed unable to control his own excitement. “But wait...How would we even go about making something like that happen? I mean we can barely afford to pay attention.” He gave a sly smirk to his jackal of a friend.
“Seriously? For real? You really made that joke.” He gave him a terrible stare. “Get in the trash can Leon. Cause that was garbage.” He laughed.
Leon couldn’t help but have a cheeky smirk on his face trying his hardest not to laugh. “Yeah but you know it was totally worth it!” He calmed himself. “But in all seriousness… How would we ever raise the money for such a thing?” He asked.
“Maybe we should thinking about getting part time jobs?” Eb suggested with a listless dull tone to his voice.
“Dude, no place would ever hire me. Not with how much I smoke, let alone I’m probably the laziest son of a bitch you’d ever meet in your life guy.” He shrugged his shoulders.
Eb’s head sunk down in defeat. “I don’t really know then man. Maybe we can ask the others...Maybe they’ll have some ideas. Also on my date I saw a poster for a talent show. Maybe we can try it out and see how we do? I mean it’s in a couple weeks. So we’ve got time to get our act together.”
Leon scratched his head. “Don’t you think that’s kinda gay?” Leon looked at him blankly.
“Dude it’s not gay. It’s kinda stupid but it’ll get us out in the open!” I mean come on guy we can do a simple song and I’m sure everyone will love it. Maybe we’ll even draw the attention of some other band people and they might show us the direction of like a battle of the bands kinda thing and maybe we’ll finally get noticed!” Ebenezer continued on to say.
“Well I guess you got a good point there.” He gave a smile. “Alright, but would we be playing? We can’t necessarily go complete hardcore like we always do. No one would listen or take us seriously...” He murmured.
“What about...Some Malice Mizer? Or maybe...” He pondered. “What about the song...Ain’t afraid to die? It’s slow it’s not hardcore, and it’s meaningful. That or we could always try for Brise...But we’re lacking in the instrument department to really do it justice...” He murmured.
“Ain’t afraid to die it is I guess.” Leon shrugged. “Not my favorite to play, but it’s a good display of the band members now that I think about it!” His tail swayed back and forth. “Alright, meet up at the same place as always?” He asked.
“Yeah, meet up at my place after school and we’ll start practicing!” Eb’s voice seemed incredibly motivated.
“I appreciate your enthusiasm for the musical arts boys. But...Do you mind going to class already!? You’re going to be late!” The hyena protested in frustration.
“Oh shit he’s right! I can’t be late otherwise I’m gonna get detention!” Leon busted out of the classroom and down the hallway.
The day seemed to pass rather slowly for the group as the final “Bing bong! Ding dong!” rings out through the classroom. The group reconciled outside waiting for their respective buses. “Hey don’t forget to stop by my place after you get everything all set up. We gotta get you guys all set up with the song for the talent show.” Eb reminded them.
“Alright we’ll be over in about an hour’s time Ebbi.” Veronica gave him a smile.
Eb smiled and waved to her sweetly, stepping onto his bus home. He pulled out his earphones and his music player; “click click click click...” Stopping down on a song. “Ah Why not a little Alumina...” He chuckled. “No...How about...” He paused, turning it over to another song. “Ain’t afraid to die.”
Mumbling to himself the bus finally came to his stop. Making his way off the vehicle. Mindlessly walking the street back to his happy little home. “I’m home.” The young boy hollered dropping his backpack on the ground by the door.
“Welcome home!” A motherly voice sang out from the kitchen. “Coffee?” She peeked her head out to ask him such a question.
“Oh, yes please. I’m going to be having a few friends over for band practice. Alright? Is dad home yet?” He responded and moseyed his way into the kitchen. Walking over to the fridge and grabbing the carton of milk.
“No your father won’t be home until late. So you can practice your music to your liking.” She smiled and set down a cup of black coffee on the counter for him. He mulled over the cup of black coffee and poured a small amount of milk into the cup, only to then pour a copious amount of sugar stirring it into the cup.
“You know you shouldn’t consume so much sugar love. It’s gonna make you sick if you do.” His mother worried.
“Mom, I’m still a kid at heart, a little bit of sugar in my diet is pretty healthy if you ask me!” He insisted taking a sip from the sickeningly sweet caffeinated drink. When he finished his cup of coffee he left the kitchen, leaving his cup in the sink. Hurrying off to his room and grabbed his guitar and headed to the garage proceeding to tune up.
Time passed after several pass throughs of different songs when the members of the band finally began to show up. The first being Heather to show up.
The fox waved their delicate hand at Eb, with a hard case on their back. “Hello again Eb.” They gave him a pleasant smile. “I believe you’re all warmed up correct?”
Ebenezer nodded his head. “Yeah, did some scales as well as played a couple songs before you got here. You must live pretty close yeah?” He inquired.
Heather nodded happily. “Yeah, I live right down the way actually. Maybe four streets down.” She smiled.
“Well that’s certainly lucky. Why don’t you set yourself up and we can get everything started?” Ebenezer had a cheeky snicker to his response.
Heather set down her hard case and pulled out her bass. Thrumming and tuning the strings on the beautiful guitar. Practicing and getting warmed up, Leon and Veronica coming into the garage soon afterwards.
“Sup?” Leon piped up. “The set all ready for me?” The male pulled out a pair of sticks.
“No Leon. Set it up yourself you lazy clod.” Eb gave a playful sneer.
Leon wasted no time to get his drums all set up just the way he enjoyed to have them. The band members were all in place.
The piano began with a very sad somber tone, giving a few bars Eb began to croon a very bittersweet song. “The way that we walked together back then is lost yet always we were walking, someday shall I meet with you?”
The drums kicking in a very slow tempo as the song progressed. They continued to sing this heart ache. “hey smile don't cry anymore from here on, always, I'll be watching you.” Before there was sour scratching sounds and a reverberation of the guitar and the band stopped. “What the heck happened?”
Veronica looked over to him. “I messed up, the crescendo. I’m sorry.”
The jackal shook his head. “Nah you did fine! Let’s try it again from the top guys. We’ll practice this and...Why don’t we try The Final as well. Keep it a little bit on the same themes y’know?” He questioned.
“I do enjoy playing that one...” Leon piped in.
“So should we just try from the beginning again?” Heather mentioned.
“Alright guys from the top then!” Eb held up his pick as if it were a conductor’s baton. The band continued to play the same several songs over and over again, seeming to get worse as time went on.
“Alright! I think we’re making great progress!” Eb said encouragingly.
“Dude just admit it, we’re sucking ass hardcore today.” Leon ruffled his hair aggravatedly.
“Maybe we should just take a quick break before we continue on. We’ve been practicing for several hours straight, I’m sure we’re just tired.” Heather made mention. “I don’t know about any of you but I could use a glass of water.”
Veronica nodded her head. “A break would be quite nice actually. Perhaps we can regroup our efforts after a moment to relax.”
Eb groaned softly clearly seeing the strife between the members. “Alright! To the kitchen for a break of refreshments and possibly snacks!” He hollered, pointing upward.
The group of high schoolers walked out of the garage and into the kitchen and the jackals mother was sitting at the table enjoying herself a cup of tea with a sudoku book in front of her. She wore a forest green light dress, turning her head seeing all the people flooding into the room. “OH! You brought your little friends!” The woman scurried over to Eb’s friends. “Hi I’m Ebenezer’s mom Gracie, oh! You can call me Grace.” She looked over at Leon and smiled. “Hello again Leon! Will you be joining us for dinner again tonight?” She gave off a very sweet aura from her. Though staring down the two women in the group she had a less than pleasant demeanor.
“Oh no thanks Mrs. I. I’m actually just here for band practice. We were hoping to get a bit of refr- some drinks so we can get back to practicing.” The skunk minded his manners quite nicely in front of her.
“You must be Veronica.” Gracie stepped over to Heather holding out her hand. “The girl my boy’s been so smitten over.” She spoke through her teeth.
“No...My name’s Heather.” The arctic fox pointed down to the shorter girl. “That’s Veronica.”
“Oh!” Her face reddened embarrassed at her faux pas. “I-I’m so sorry Heather. The jackal chuckled softly as she lowered her head slightly for Veronica. “YOU must be the little heartbreaker that’s been on my boy’s mind these past few days.”
Veronica looked over at Eb with a slight scowl to her face.
“I-it’s not like that at all Veronica. I-I merely told her that I was going on a date.” the young boy tried to explain. “C-can we just get some water and maybe like...I don’t know a snack or something? We have to practice for the talent show coming up.” He blurted out.
“Ooh a talent show! You know when my little Ebenezer was only five he would play with his mommy’s pots and pans and would play them like a little drumset!” The motherly figure gushed about her son. “He’s always been so musically inclined. It really makes me so proud.” She leaned over to him and gave him a smooch on the cheek.
“Ew mom..C’mon. My friends are right here.” He protested.
Leon couldn’t help but stifle a snicker watching it all unfurl before him.
“What’re you gonna play sweetheart? Is it more of that rawr rawr rawr screamy stuff?” His mother responded. “Cause I don’t think anyone there’s gonna wanna hear that dear.” She folded her arms disapprovingly.
“N-no mom...It’s a song called ‘Ain’t afraid to die. It’s a love song…” He blushed.
“Actually Eb it’s more a somber song about the beauty of remembrance of someone you lost.” Heather chimed in.
The skunk looked at the vixen almost completely puzzled as to where she had gotten this. “How the heck did you even come up with this!?” He asked.
“If you actually listened to the lyrics that Eb was singing when we were practicing you’d see that this was a song written for someone that was clearly loved very much that’s no longer with us.” She folded her arms and grabbed a glass of water.
“So when’s this talent show Eb?” Grace had asked her son.
“It’s in a couple weeks, we got some time to get our act together. But we’re just dragging a little bit I guess today.” He chuckled softly, knowing as well as anyone out there that sometimes a break is just what is needed.
“Well I will see if your father can get the day off! Don’t worry I got you guys! Are you all in his little band?” Grace asked with a squeal of joy.
“Yes ma’am we are. Your son has been quite enthusiastic in our coming together.” Veronica mentioned with a smile.
“What was the band’s name again. The Gregory five? I never really understood why he’d name his band after someone else.” She smiled with a giggle.
“M-mom it’s grievous. Like the word grief. It’s based off the five stages of grief mom. Anger, bargaining, sorrow, denial, acceptance. Each member of the band is named after a different aspect of the stages.” He blurted out.
“The five stages of grief? Isn’t that just a bit depressing? Shouldn’t you name it something more uplifting?” Grace asked him worriedly.
“Mom the reason it’s about the five stages of grief is because it’s a gimmick. Kind of like...I don’t know Children of Bodom. Just because they’re called that doesn’t mean they’re actually such.” He tried to explain.
“Ebbi that was a terrible explanation…” Veronica covered her face.
“Well...I can see I’m getting in the way of band practice so I’ll let you all be. “Go get em!” She cheered for them before taking her booklet and moseyed off out of the kitchen.
Eb looking quite frazzled from the conversation with his mother.”Let’s just drink up rest a moment.” He leaned against the counter trying to recompose himself.
Veronica walked over to him and patted his back. “Don’t worry Ebbi, I think it’s cute that you played with pots and pans as a kid. Not the first impression I got from what your mother would be like. But at least she loves you very much.” She consoled in a backhanded way.
“Eh..I..” He stuttered. Looking back at Veronica. He stopped and just smiled to her. “Why don’t we just get back to work then shall we…?” Eb steered the conversation into a different direction.
The group finished their drinks and snacks after a few minutes. A ringing sound came from Leon’s pocket. “Shit...It’s my grandma. I gotta take this guys. He clicked on his phone. “Hey grandma, Yeah I’ll be home shortly. I didn’t realize just how late it was. Yeah...Yeah I want dinner of course gramma.” He paused for a moment. “I...I love you too gramma.” He mumbled into the phone clicking it off. The skunk looked at everyone for a moment. “What? It’s not like you haven’t said that you love your fuckin grandparents.” He spoke up defensively.
Heather looked at him quirking a brow. “No one said a word Leon. Though you getting so defensive makes me assume you’re just a touch ashamed Mr. tough guy.” The fox mused.
“N-no, I’m not ashamed, I love my gramma very much!” He protested.
“That’s fantastic Leon.” Veronica spoke clearly mocking the skunk. “Now then.” She checked her phone seeing the time. “Well shucks guys, it sure is getting late. I should probably bounce. We’ll pick up tomorrow. Right?” She asked lingering for the moment.
“Yeah; I mean if you guys are all free, I wouldn’t mind us picking up again where we left off. Although this time let’s add a few more songs in so we don’t just burn ourselves out.” Eb smiled to the group. “You guys are doing an excellent job, never forget this is for our futures as well as for fun. So let’s make sure we practice like our lives depend on it.”
“Well if only you put that much effort into your studies Ebbi.” Veronica giggled.
“I uh....Well…” The jackal was at a loss of words. She’d never been in a class with him before and she’d already had him pegged as the slacker!
“Dude she blasted you right outta the fuckin sky bro.” Leon laughed. “Damn you’re gonna need a bandage after that burn.” He continued.
Eb looked at him with a nasty scowl. “Don’t you think you should be running along? Gramma’s boy?” He spat back.
Leon gave him a nasty look. “Yeah! Cause gramma unlike you isn’t a slackerrrr. I bet she’s got the van all warmed up and everything!”
The group saw their way out of the Indigo household and stepped into their respective vehicles of transportation. Veronica walked down the street, snow beginning to tumble delicately down from the clouds. Eb watched her curiously.
“I kinda feel sorry for her… She never seems to have a ride whenever I see her. Maybe she’s got a bad transportation system with her family…” He pondered.
“Maybe she just likes to walk. ‘Ebbi’.” A snarky voice. Victor stepped behind the boy smacking him fairly hard on the back. “Maybe she just doesn’t wanna tell you where she lives; cause she thinks like...You’re a creep or somethin.” He continued.
Ebenezer was pushed forward from his smack on the back only to turn toward his little brother wrapping his arm around Victor’s neck and pulls him down into his armpit squeezing hard. “What was that last part? Baby bro?” Taking his fist and grinding his knuckles into Victor’s head.
“Owowowowowow! Stop that you’re gonna muss up my hair!” He shouted in protest.
“Take it back you worm, and maybe I’ll consider letting you go!” He knocked on his head a few times.
“Fine! Fine! You win!” He growled pushing back hard on his grasp pulling his head free stumbling backwards. “God you’re such a butt…” He grumbled sorely. “Gosh!” He complained.
“If you two are almost done with your arguing, your father’s bringing back pizza tonight because I honestly forgot to take out something for dinner. Sorry babies!” She laughed sheepishly.
“Mom. We’re not babies anymore, it’s okay.” Eb smiled. “Besides pizza sounds pretty great to me.”
“As much as I hate to say it. My dear brother is most correct. Especially if it’s coming from that little shack down the way we typically buy from. The dough over there is simply divine!” The younger brother salivated, drooling on his brother’s arm.
“Ew! Dude! C’mon my sleeve!” Eb complained.
“Heheheh!” Victor laughed maniacally. “Seems my ploy has worked perfectly!”
The family sat down to a fairly normal dinner as their father returned home with two large pizza boxes in hand.
“So Ebenezer, your mother tells me you and your friends have been practicing for a talent show? Is this true?” The father asked him.
“Uh; yeah!” He paused a moment almost taken aback by the sudden interest in his music. “We’re playing a song called ‘Ain’t Afraid to Die’ it’s a song that was written about a lover who’s life was cut short in a tragedy.” Eb revelled taking a bite of his pizza, a slice of gooey cheesy pepperoni pizza.
“Sounds very...Meaningful Ebenezer. I’m sure you’re going to do splendid.” The male smiled proudly.
“Sean, you should try and get the day off so you can come and support your son’s first show. Goodness you should see his little friends! He’s got a couple new ones that tag along with him!” His mother squealed. “Though the little one makes me uneasy. She seems very cranky.” She frumped. “I don’t very much trust her.” She noted.
“Ma, they’re my bandmates and one of them is my assumed girlfriend. Please don’t talk about Veronica that way.” He responded embarrassed.
“Aaaaaah! Mom doesn’t trust your girlfriend.” Victor taunted. “Wait a minute, she can’t have chosen a plebian like you. Say it isn’t so!” He exaggerated such a sad display of sorrow.
“Alright that’s enough outta both of you.” Sean cleared his throat. “So you’ve got a couple girls in your band now huh? That’s great son. You said ‘assumed girlfriend.’ What exactly does that mean?” His father inquired further.
“Well…” He pursed his lip pausing. “I really don’t know...I mean we’ve gone on two dates so far but we haven’t actually said if we’re going steady or not…” He murmured a little discouraged.
“Well my son. If there’s any advice I could give you as a parent to his child. It would be this…” He leaned in as if he were about to drop some serious truth bombs. “Women are attracted to alpha males. So you gotta be confident in yourself. Puff out your chest and show her that you can provide for her! I mean how do you think I won your mother’s heart?” He reached over touching the top of her hand.
Both Eb and his brother almost simultaneously rolled their eyes. “And here I thought it was because you were so in touch with your feelings.” Eb snickered.
“Hey! Hey! I’ll have you know, when I was your age I was very much hip and fresh.”
Their mother giggled and smiled squeezing her husband’s hand. “He had the biggest set of bell bottoms I think I had ever seen, he was as hip as they come. With his long wispy hair.” She sighed dreamily thinking about it.
Meanwhile as she daydreamed the boys were near face to table listening to this. Guffawing at just what an image it brought to their mind of their pencil pusher father.
The father’s face red with embarrassment couldn’t help but outburst in protest. “N-now come on. It was the style back then, and you both have no reason to be judgmental at all.” He scowled.
“Dad we’re not laughing at your style it’s just freaking hilarious because you’re such a stiff now. It’s just hard to picture you ANYTHING like that!” Eb mentioned wiping tears from his eyes.
After the family enjoyed a certainly eventful dinner the boys went to their rooms and retired for the night. It was a weekend and the group was finally able to reconcile once again.
The jackal awoke to the bright shining day, he slipped on some long black arm sleeve bands, thick belts at the top. Possibly to hold them in place, little loops down the sides of them with much smaller chains dangling down the arm sleeves. A simple black sleeved gray long sleeve, with a black decal like picture printed on the front of it. Destroyed wings that looked as if they were being chained down. Underneath it were just the words. “Insult Kiss Me”
Hopping into a pair of blue jeans, a fairly normal look for the boy. “Should I wear a vest or not…” He pondered for a moment. “I don’t think I’m gonna need it…” He shrugged and pulled out his phone sending out a message to the couple of people he had. “Hey guys, practice in an hr? Y/N? Also NE1 have Heather’s #?” He shot a text out.
Almost immediately afterward Veronica shot a thumbs up back to him. Alongside a “I’ve got their number. I’ll let them know.”
About a half hour passes waiting for a response from Leon as he finally responds. “K.” The jackal grips his phone and motions as if he were about to throw the phone across the room. Recomposing himself he sprang forth from his seat and made his way down into the garage, opening the door for his band members.
Eventually everyone trickled in one by one as they set up. The band practiced for what felt like an eternity playing the same couple songs over, finally getting a good rhythm between them. “Great job guys! I’ve definitely gotta say we’re improving greatly since we had our little pow-wow!” Eb praised.
Though unbeknownst to the band there was an onlooker to their playing across the street. A shy little ovine in a cashmere sweater holding a paper bag. A pair of thick rimmed glasses rest upon the bridge of his nose.
Category Artwork (Digital) / All
Species Dog (Other)
Size 493 x 610px
File Size 43.7 kB
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