A/N:::
Three years ago, I saw Ice Nine Kills perform at the House of Blues in New Orleans. INK had three opening bands, one of which I became completely entranced by. This band shocked me with their sound, their performance, the way they presented themselves-- I have been an avid and active fan ever since I heard them for the first time on the night of November 15, 2021. But the point of this note is to explain that during INK's segment, after the opening bands had played already, I had to leave. It was only INK's second song that was playing when I started walking out of the building to grab my car before it got booted. The moment I reached the entrance that led me outside, I paused in my steps because all three bands were waiting in front of their buses and vans just five feet in front of me. I was overcome with such intense shock and, ridiculously, fear. I don't present myself well in front of those I admire. In fact, I don't present myself at all. Which is why, when I passed in front of the band I grew to love in just a single hour, I watched and walked slowly. To my surprise, the lead singer turned, probably having seen me in his peripheral, and he looked me straight in the eye. I looked back. He saw me and I saw him. And he waited, waited for me to do something, say something, ask for something. All I could do was smile and keep walking because I had no words. I couldn't speak. I was physically unable to say that his band was a beacon to me. So, this one shot is my way of finally telling him "Hello" and "Great job tonight." The words I regret holding hostage. I'm sorry I didn't say it before, but here it is now, Noah.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oh, damn so you drove a while to get here, then! How are you liking The Crescent City?" She leaned against the banister of the second floor, smiling over at a man that was at the adjacent corner to her, also pressed against the banister that prevented them both from falling into the pit of bodies below.
The man shrugged, sending her a tight lipped smile that reflected his ersatz emotion. She could tell he didn't care to be there-- maybe it was his wife that wanted him there. She had left a moment ago to get drinks. "It's alright," he yelled over to her. "It's just as lively as everyone says, though." Something about his expression told her New Orleans was a little too lively for him.
This made her snicker quietly as she gripped rotting wood beneath her fingertips. "Yea, no one ever lied about that, for sure," she hollered back to the man. The lights began to dim, signaling the next band who was meant to come on.
She had been frustrated all night because this last band was the one thing keeping her from Ice Nine Kills, the band she had been bingeing for days on end now in preparation for this concert. They were her favorite band, in fact. She even brought her branded cup for the occasion. But, having received a notification an hour before that said she only had limited time with her parking space was something she hadn't prepared for.
When she had walked into the House of Blues at 6pm, she hadn't imagined she'd still be here at 9pm. But she was. She was naive to assume a concert would finish in four hours. And there was still this band keeping her from her beloved Ice Nine Kills. She only hoped these next guys would perform quickly so she could hear her band before 10pm.
Wasn't their fault, but she was still salty.
She turned her attention from the man, focusing in on the darkened stage below. She could hardly make out anyone, but that was okay. She spent good money to get here and she was more than happy to view her favorite band just like this... even if everyone who walked on stage didn't have a face.
Something that wasn't quite metal started playing. It was dark, symphonic, a bit electronic. Then the stage lit up a glowing indigo color. Her eyebrows scrunched together in light wary intrigue. The two previous bands were fantastic-- heavy, screamy metal. So this band's sound completely contradicted what she had been introduced to.
