Painting Counties Blue! ○ Wilbur Soot × Reader

𝚏𝚒𝚟𝚎.

· · ──────·ピシビ·────── · ·

𝟹/𝟻 𝟷𝟸:𝟸𝟻𝙿𝙼

I'm overwhelmed by the enthusiastic applause. I run a hand through my hair as I huff.

"Thank you all, I hope you enjoyed this. Unfortunately my time is up because the next person has to set up" I laugh awkwardly through the loud yelling, they don't give up. I giggle, bowing.

"Thank you, thank you" I show a small smile as I unplug all my things and put them away, setting them to the the side next to Wil's guitar.

I stumble down the shallow stairs towards the bar and Wilbur immediately asks me if I'm okay.

"Yeah, haha. Just not used to all that" I laugh awkwardly, my lack of social experience making itself known again.

"And you're the only people that I'm briefly acquainted with. So I came here instead of awkwardly finding a place to sit alone amongst the crowd. I hope that's okay" I slump down on the stool, trying to catch up with my swirling mind. I'm having a panic attack. It's not a big one, so hopefully neither of them will notice.

"Of course! Where's your water?" Lee asks, worried as she straightens my hair with her fingers. I attempt not to flinch at the touch I'm so unused to.

"I-I finished it" I mutter, glancing up at the stage at the next performer as he begins to set his stuff up. Wilbur nods at Lee, to which she responds by rushing back through the staff only door. Wil, on the other hand, shuffles around and suddenly something is held out in front of me.

"Here." He shakes the object slightly in front of me, snapping me out my daze. He holds his water bottle in his outstretched hand. It rattles, telling me that it's full of ice. I huff, smiling slightly. I lift my hand to softly push away the offering.

"No, it's okay, that's your-" he takes this opportunity to take the hand I used to push his away, forcing the cold bottle into it.

"Drink. You need it" He insists, going as far as to unscrew the lid for me, before leaning against the counter beside me, turning his gaze towards the next performer.

This is a fucking bar. Yet he's forcing his water at me. What an idiot.

I hesitantly sip at the water, also looking towards the stage again, his flask clutched in my grip. The guy stands in front of the mic stand, picking out a complex tune on his acoustic.

"Howdy everyone!!" He grins. "How are you all today?" There's a chorus of indecipherable replies.

"My name is Mike Solocahv, and I'll be performing for you on various occasions this evening. And here it is. I hope you enjoy" He breaks into a strumming pattern that I already hate. He's disgustingly over friendly.

"This dude's annoying" Wilbur mutters.

"I completely agree" I admit, crossing my arms, taking another sip from his water. He chuckles at my response as he continues to pin 'Mike' under a judgemental glare.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn to see Lee, placing a glass on the bar top.

"On the house" she smiles.

"Awh, Lee, you're so sweet. Thank you" I gratefully take the glass of what I assume to be coke. Lee blushes, sending a pointed glance towards Wil who just smiles at her knowingly. I place Wil's bottle in front of him.

"Thanks Wil" I grin. He just frisks my hair with a smile. I sit, idly sipping my coke.

"When are you performing?" I turn to Wilbur, who looks back at me.

"After this dude. And a couple times later on" He pulls an open book towards us from the other side of the counter. The one Lee had been scribbling in earlier. He shows me the list of names that had been written down. Mine and Mike's have been checked and crossed out. William Gold is the next name. That's Wilbur. He's also playing at 5:30 and 5:50.

"Ah. Alright then." I mumble, slightly nudging the book back towards him. Struggling not to giggle at the notes that are scratched out down the side of the page.

"Yeah. You don't have to stay. You could come pick up your amp at six or something" He fiddles with the pages of the book.

"I would say he could give it to me and I'd hold onto it until you come for it, but my shift ends at four and it's my turn to cook dinner tonight" Lee rubs the side of her neck.

"No, no that's okay" I smile. "I'll come pick it up later."

"Alright. When are you going then? That is if you're going at all" Wil screws and unscrews his bottle lid, waiting for my response. He seems to be tensed, for some reason.

"I'll go after your first thing" I reply. His shoulders seem to relax after he processes my reply. He smiles.

"Sounds good" Wil stands, also taking his drink bottle. Wils turn is signaled when the man up front says thanks and starts to tidy his things.

"Good luck" I look up at the giant from my seat as I sip at my glass of coke.

"Thanks!" He exclaims. I grin back at him as he turns and leaves with a wave. I watch him unzip his guitar case, pulling out the cord that he plugs into my amp, then plugs the amp into the speakers. He glances up at me, catching my stare. He smirks, now sitting at the stool with his guitar. I huff, looking away, embarrassed. Still staring straight at me, he clears his throat into the mic.

"Good evening, everybody. My name is William Gold. Though if you were to know me from anywhere, you'd most likely know me as Wilbur Soot." No one seems to know him, but after a moment's hesitation, people break into cheering. He still stares right back at me. I try not to crack a grin, and it's hard.

"Over the course of five hours—from now until the end of my last performance—I'll be playing a few covers, and scattered songs from my album; Your City Gave Me Asthma. I hope you enjoy. Thanks." He adjusts his guitar strap and immediately starts his song.

"Darling," He winks at me before finally moving his gaze elsewhere. "And if they die then it is on my head. They follow paw prints in the snow, to my throne, to my bed. You're pouting in your sleep, I'm waking still yawning. We're proving to eachother that romance is boring" He nods to the rhythmic strumming of his guitar, I can tell that he's really enjoying himself.

"Romance is boring!" He playfully tilts his head at the high note. I detain a giggle, looking away. My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and unlock it.

Letting out a disappointed sigh, I shove it back into my pocket.

Messages: Mandy Hookins.

♪ ───☆彡★彡☆─── ♪