selfburn | Open RP Post

It's a favorite of your fans.

Something of a love song.

oh—

i wasn’t expecting you to be knowledgeable of my fan base. but you aren’t wrong. it is a love song.

I read twitter.

you catch new attention of mine with everything you say, caleb. i enjoy it.

join me on my bus? i’m making drinks, but my band went to bed early.

Scanlan said I had to.

I'll bring some tea with me.

[ Because after how he ruined his life the first time Caleb doesn't drink anymore. ]

essek closes his phone and makes a mental note not to bring up drinking again. he knows what caleb has been through, and mentioning it to him so casually is likely not a good idea. he leaves the rest of the drinks in the small fridge, opting instead to take a thermos of his own cold tea in it’s place. drinks can wait until caleb isn’t present.

essek makes his way to the door of his tour bus, popping it open and seating himself on the stairs to wait for caleb.

The temptation will always be there but Caleb simply has the willpower to refuse now. His parents names are tattoed on his forearms as a reminder of what his addictions cost him. He'll never do that again.

He brings a hot ginger lemon tea and some chocolate cookies with him as he leaves the tour bus and walks the few feet to Essek's.

"You didn't have to wait for me." He stops in front of Essek with a slight smile.

essek is lost in his own thoughts, of the looming record label that continues to pressure him, even now. his phone rings with texts that he ignores, instead opting to rise to his feet and greet caleb with a small smile.

“i know i didn’t,” he murmurs, “but i’ve never had a tour bus before. i’ve only ever had vans i’ve been crammed into... and i haven’t necessarily adjusted yet. but it’s nice to have space all to myself.”

he rises to his feet and welcomes caleb inside, closing the door behind him.

“how has tour treated you so far? this is your first one since...” and he trails away, eyes glancing up to caleb.

His smile is a little tight. It's... difficult to talk about the accident and all that came after it but since reporters have asked him the same question again and again and again he's getting used to it.

"I forgot how much I like the travel." Caleb sits in one of the plush couches along the side and with his tea held in both hands. "Watching the road go by is... soothing. Inspiring too."

He's just started figuring out a new song, after all.

essek can feel caleb’s mild discomfort is palpable in the air, and he hisses a breath in through his teeth. he wants to diffuse this, but...

“i can understand,” he finally says, seating himself next to caleb. maybe a little closer than he intended. “sleeping on a bus has been hard to get used to. i’m used to awkward sleeping positions in the back of a van being driven by someone who barely has a license.” he chuckles, cradling his own drink to his chest. “i... don’t think i’ve thanked you properly yet for having me out on this tour. i think it’ll be huge for me.”

"It wasn't just my decision but after hearing lovely I thought you'd be a great fit." He is used to being crammed tight with his band on the bus so he doesn't mind Essek sitting closer than is probably polite. "Molly also really likes you music so it was an easy decision."

He sipped at his tea and smiled a little. He's better at this socializing thing especially when talking about music. "How did your sound check go? Everything work for you? Beau had some trouble with her drums for us."

But they got it all working. They'll be ready for the performance tomorrow night.

essek has to laugh out loud when caleb compliments his song, a faint blush crawling to his cheeks. and! molly! likes his music too! mollymauk! THE mollymauk! he covers his mouth with one hand, dropping his eyes to the ground as he smiles widely.

“caleb! you’re making trouble for my ego. um— yes. i had to adjust my in-ear monitors a little, as always, but the sound guys are wonderful. i brought them a bottle of wine. um— thank you for that. truly. it was a a fun collaboration and it’s a fan favorite. i’ve been working on something new, though, something i can debut on this tour and record when we’re done. i hope you’ll come and see it when i perform it.”

"It's nice to do something outside my style now and then." Caleb is not great at the haunting, breathy style that Essek is the master of. The collaboration was a real test for him but that's what made it exciting. "You should be proud of the hard work you've done to get here. I know it's not easy."

Well, it was easier the second time when people already knew the name Caleb Widogast and freaked out about him coming out of hiding.

"Of course. Do you know when you'll have it done?" Caleb isn't sure he'll finish the song he's working on. The melody is good but that's the most bare bones. It needs a lot of work.

"i'm shooting for the next few shows or so. it feels better to get a crowd response when i can." he smiles a little, feeling a little shy when it comes to discussing his own music. it's really emotional for him, and he has no trouble serenading a crowd, but when in close quarters like this...

essek blushes and sits up a little straighter, then he suddenly has a though occur to him, one that gives him reason to stand.

"i'll be right back," he promises, then disappears into the back of the bus to retrieve his guitar and return with it.

"i could show you what i have thus far."

Caleb sits up a little bit as Essek leaves, trying to see where he's going. He relaxes a bit when he returns with his guitar.

"I should've brought mine," he muses. "We could've played together."

But he'll listen to what Essek has done. Though... if he has a second guitar Caleb could join in but he doesn't ask since clearly Essek wants to share this with him.

Open RP Post

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i used to exclusively write band aus so this is sparking some ollllld memories

ha ha I've never done one before

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