Addeline: The Darkness at the Heart of My Love [Papa Emeritus IV]

Drink Me, Eat Me, Then You'll See The Light

The next day arrived, and the band felt the weight of showtime approaching, with only a few hours left before they hit the stage. Addeline felt a mix of nervousness and anticipation as she approached the tour bus. She knew she needed Swiss's help for the upcoming show, but after their unexpected kiss, things felt a bit awkward between them. When she greeted him with a simple "Hey," she could sense the tension in the air.

Swiss returned the greeting gracelessly, both of them unsure of how to address what had happened.

Addeline shook away the nerves and confronted him with the task at hand, "Um... you have to help me practice. I haven't even seen the setlist."

Swiss snapped out of his forgetfulness, realizing he had neglected to give her the song she would be singing for the last part of the concert, "Right!" he exclaimed. "Let's sit down over here and go over it really quick, and then we'll practice at sound check."

They sat at a table, and Swiss grabbed some paper to jot down the encore song he had in mind for her. As he placed the lyrics in front of her, he knew he had to point out the elephant in the room, "Listen, Addy, about yesterday..."

Addeline cut him off before he could finish, reassuring him, "It's fine. We don't have to talk about it."

"I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable," he apologized, ignoring her request to drop it.

"You didn't make me uncomfortable, Swiss," the woman paused between the confession, looking down as she scratched at her brow, "You confused me."

Curiosity got the better of him, "Confused you? I don't catch your drift?"

Addeline looked away, her fingers fidgeting in her lap. With a slight smile, she admitted, "I think I enjoyed it more than I should have. And I'm married. And pregnant... so... you confused me."

Surprised by the admission, Swiss realized that he had misunderstood the situation. He had thought he had crossed a line, only to discover that Addeline might have wanted it too.

However, she quickly changed the subject, requesting, "Can we just not talk about it right now?"

The ghoul tucked his own feelings away, respecting her wishes. "Sure, yeah. If that's what you want."

*

The stage was set for the band's first show of the tour. Papa was always very nervous before their kick off gig but as he took to the spotlight, his performance was nothing short of mesmerizing. With each note he sang, each note the band played, the crowd's energy surged, captivated by their talent and charisma. Addeline seemed to draw strength from the music as well, able to keep her energy, allowing her to deliver a flawless performance. As the last song ended, cheers and applause filled the venue, a testament to the band's unforgettable performance and the unforgettable night.

*

The month passed in a whirlwind of perfect performances, each night filled with Papa's captivating presence on stage and the crowd's unwavering adoration. Despite his love for the stage and the energy of the performances, those off days provided a precious opportunity to recharge

The evening was unusually quiet as Addeline stepped out of her hotel room, the door clicking shut behind her. The cool night air wrapped around her like a comforting shawl, a stark contrast to the vibrant energy of the stage.

As she turned the corner, she caught sight of Mountain, Swiss, Sodo, Aether and Rain strolling down the hallway, each of them holding guitar cases. They were all dressed to the nines in tuxedos, their hair perfectly styled. Addeline couldn't help but wonder where they were off to,
looking so fancy.