Secrets Are Ba(n)d

Part 22: Behind the Scenes

"I..I don't know a-about this Sans, what if he refuses to tell you?"
"he's going to."
"Y-you say that, but we don't know anything about-"
"he'll talk."

"And you're sure no one will spot us?" Papyrus inquired for the umpteenth time, following his ghostly pal through winding tunnels that hardly seemed well trodden.

"Well.. mostly. No one's.. found me before," they responded with an echo, Papyrus humming contently at the answer. The way was dark, but soon the tight squeezes opened up into a cave of sorts, echo flowers illuminating the dripping walls in thick blankets.

"Wowie," was all Papyrus could mutter, taking in the damp air of the untouched area.

"It's not much.. but I think it's soundproof enough to practice-"
"It's perfect!!" Papyrus cheered, his voice echoing on the flowers that surrounded them.
"This is going to be our best show yet, I can feel it!" He said with a giddy smile, though not noticing Blooky looking away with uncertainty until it was too late to question.

"Yeah.. let's get to practicing."

The cave wasn't gigantic by any means, but it had large enough practice stage that they could use, Papyrus and Napstablook setting up their cheap MTT brand speakers on the raised ledge. They'd already talked about potential costumes, though the options now being limitless made it difficult, and they eventually landed on a rugged zombie/cyborg-esc theme. Rugged and edgy, at least to match the vibe of some of their new songs. Some kinks still needed to be ironed out, but so far the costumes rivaled even Mettaton's in design, with scratched metal plates, rusted bolts, and enough spikes to fill a tile puzzle.

It took a moment to focus enough to conjure the costume, but after giggling at the echo flowers for long enough, the two were standing in position.

Fog filled the small space, just as planned, and the speakers started to play the music.

(That means you! the song is "Dead!" by My Chemical Romance, because I'm a stereotype)

The song was loud and aggressive compared to the last ones, but they sang with their souls nonetheless, there was no one to stop them there. It was more fun that way, playing air guitars and pressing pretend tracks like real musicians on stage would.

"And if your 'heart' stops beating, I'll be here wondering: did you get what you deserve?"

The lyrics were a challenge to sing aloud, especially with the subject matter, but the two wanted to send a message while they had the platform to do so. It was their gift to those who supported because they could relate, and a warning to all who fit the boot of who they sang about. When they said it like that, they felt like the coolest monsters in the underground.

"Have you heard the news that you're 'dead?'" Papyrus winced, "No one ever had much nice to say, I think they never liked you anyway!" They sang together with soured memories, angry at the underground that rejected them. More than rejected; ridiculed, mocked, ignored, silenced.

"Wouldn't it be grand? It ain't exactly what you planned. And, wouldn't it be great if we.. were.. dead."

"..oh, dead."

"Tongue tied and oh so squeamish, you never fell in love, did you get what you deserved? The ending of your life!" They played on, smiles growing as the music became a part of them, colours now bouncing off the dark walls of the cavern. Every time was a new pattern, new ripples in the magic forming delicate lightshows, an imperfect display for an imperfect duo.

"And if your life won't wait, then your heart can't take this! 'Have you heard the news that you're dead?' No one ever had much nice to say, I think they never liked you anyway!" Papyrus sang louder, Blook noticing the lights that surrounded them burning brighter now, making jagged twitching motions as Papyrus mimicked holding the microphone with an iron grip.

"Wouldn't it be grand to take a pistol by the hand, and wouldn't it be great if we.. were.." he hesitated slightly, voice lowering.

"And in my honest observation, during this operation found a complication in your 'heart.' So long! Cause now you've got.."
"Now you've got.."
"..Maybe just two weeks to live, I said 'is that the most the two of you can give?'" He ended, only to be shocked by the sudden guitar solo Napstablook was pretending to play beside him, costume swaying and face full of concentration. Papyrus mostly helped with the choruses, so the sudden guitar solo was as pleasant as surprises could be.
With a smile, he gazed onto the crowd of flowers looking back at him, a newfound  determination and pride fueling his lyrics.

"One two, one two three four! La la la la la," they both sang, the echo flowers soon repeating until the chorus rang loud in their 'ears,' repeating as the last few lines started.

"Motherfucker, if life ain't just a joke, then why are we laughing?"
"If life isn't just a joke.. then why are we laughing?"
"If life ain't just a joke, then why are we laughing? If life ain't just a joke, then why am I-
'Dead?"
"Dead?"

The two gathered their thoughts as the speakers stopped, as the last notes gently humming through the flowers.

They took a few minutes to catch their breaths, large smiles plastered across their faces.

"That was amazing!! Your guitar solo was the perfect touch, everyone is going to love it!" Papyrus cheered as he sat, taking a long sip from a water bottle he'd brought.

Napstablook smiled bashfully, floating to 'sit' on the ground with him.

"You.. think we'll win?"
"I have no doubt about it! Well, maybe one or two, who did you say we were against?"

"Someone named.. 'not a tteM?"
"Strange name!"
"..yeah, but.. isn't it familiar somehow?" "Not that I noticed, now how about we practice the other song?"
"..yeah.. alright."

1061 words
(Another song chapter, here's a song I really wanted to play in the finale! It won't play again in the same way so don't worry about having to read the lyrics all again, but I'm sure the reactions of it are gonna be just as fun:3 And hey, I wonder who that 'Not a ttem' is? Happy figuring it out folks!)