➸ viva la vida (arthur fleck x oc) ✅

↳ v. lovers in japan

author's note: just so we're clear on timelines, i've switched things up a little. arthur's pogo's routine is in *this* chapter, meaning that he gets beat up/fired/shoots 3 a-holes in a *later* chapter. otherwise nothing's really changed.

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I run to the bus stop once I'm out of Arthur's line of sight. My heart thuds against my chest, like it's trying to jump out of me. When I get there, I plug my earbuds into my phone and crank the volume way higher than it needs to be. I'm slumping into my usual seat as the same old lady from before glares at me- she can probably hear the music through the earbuds. I don't care.

The entire situation has left me confused, a little pissed off, and yet somehow giddy like a little girl. I'm happy Arthur kissed me- of course I am. But what I like a little less is being used to figure out if he likes guys. I don't think that was his intent- but it makes me uneasy. I shake my head. I'm being stupid. I have a show tonight, and when I'm feeling like shit I channel that energy into adrenaline. Sometimes those are my best performances. I just lean back into the seat and close my eyes.

My stop comes quicker than I thought it would. I'm about ten minutes early, which means I'll get to watch some of the comics, which should be fun.

When I walk in, I'm immediately accosted by JJ. He's got a cigarette in hand and is waving it around as he starts to talk very quickly.

"JJ, calm down," I hiss. "Dude. Slow down. What are you talkin' about?"

"Charlie's pissed, man," he says. "But he knows from other people that you put on a good show, so he's lettin' it slide. On one condition, though," he says.

I raise an eyebrow. "What's the condition?"

"One of the dancers. She's got a good voice, y'know, said she could play keys and sing. Turns out," he takes a drag from the cig. "She can only play, like, one song. And it's not even shit you can dance to."

"I have a feeling I know where this is going," I mutter.

"Yeah," JJ smirks. "So I put her on a different song, but we need someone to play for it. I'm not about to go to the fuckin' hassle of downloading a track if someone can just play it."

"So what's the song?" I ask.

"Fuckin'-" he laughs. "Britney Spears shit. You know?"

I laugh along with him. "The one where-" and I pretend to play the three note melody that starts Baby One More Time. JJ has to smother a loud cackle.

"Yeah!" he says, grinning. "So can you play it? Char said he'd pay extra if you could."

"Yeah, I can," I say, thinking a little. It's a pretty iconic song, I shouldn't have any trouble with it.

"'Kay. Well, you play your songs, or whatever, and then we'll have her walk out, you know?" JJ gestures. "Although he said you might only play one song by yourself, y'know."

"Yeah, can do," I tell him.

"Oh, and by the way," he smirks. "It's open mic night."

"Oh shit," I grin. "You got all the un-funny newbies comin' up, don't ya?"

"Damn straight," he says, taking another drag. "Knock-knock jokes and shit. Man."

I elbow him lightly. "They don't do knock-knock jokes. Do they?"

"Sometimes!" JJ complains. "Sometimes some dumbass walks up with 'knock knock' and expects the crowd to be all-" he makes jazz hands and adopts a high falsetto, "'who's there'?" I double over laughing.