- ear candy. -

how does that old saying go? the show must go on? you never understood the meaning of it, until now. 

you’re the drummer in the world’s newest pop-rock sensation, SECOND RATE. fresh off a grammy win for best new artist, the band is riding high. your life has never been better, and things are only looking up from here.

how does that other saying go? with great power comes great responsibility? with your newfound fame, your life is more public than it’s ever been. hounded by cameras wherever you go, approached by fans no matter the situation. 

so the real question is, will you sink... or swim?

ear candy is rated 18+ for language and potential sexual content.

fully customize your MC, including appearance, gender and personality.

travel the world and leave your mark on the music industry.

bond with your bandmates... or don’t. 

public image is everything. dictate how the world sees you.

don’t let fame go to your head... or become the kind of person you hate the most. 

winslow montgomery (m, 26) - second rate’s frontman. carries himself with the swagger of a 70s rock star. incredibly talented, and knows it. a laid-back man with the reputation for being a bit of a flirt, you can’t help but think there’s something more melancholic hidden beneath the surface.

margot zhang (f, 27) - second rate’s manager. a tactful, hardworking woman, with little patience for the messes some of the band members often find themselves in. despite her difficult job, she truly cares about you and all of the other band members.

elijah bowden (m, 26) - your best friend since forever, he’s been your number one fan since the days of you banging on a second-hand drum set in your basement. a kind man with a special interest in botany and photography.

ciara gould (f, 25) - a journalist whose taken a special interest in second rate. the kind of woman who could make or break a career with just one article. a mystery shrouded in accolades for her writing, you can’t help but wonder what exactly she wants with you.

noel sanford (nb, 25) - second rate’s bassist. always a smile on their face, they’re full of enthusiasm and terrible ideas alike. 

kenzie graham (f, 28) - second rate’s guitarist, and responsible for writing the majority of the songs.  

A beauty in the moonlight

Jude POV

(Mini flashback to Jude and Winslow are sat in a park watching the moonlit night sky)

"You're beautiful" Jude says without thinking, too in awe of how the moonlight was illuminating Winslow's every feature hidden in the night's silk of darkness.

Jude's eyes widen at the sudden realisation of what they have just said. They want to change the topic, to play it off as a joke and pretend not to care like they have always done with Winslow.

But today was different, they were tongue-tied, too speechless to say anything. They couldn't look at Winslow in the face, not after this.

In embarrassment Jude pulls the hood of their sepia coat over their head in hopes that the ground swallows them.

Having heard those words, Winslow raises a dark brow in amusement, his lips curling into a mischievous smile.

"Oh am I now?" he asks, shuffling closer towards Jude.

Winslow slowly pulls down Jude's hoodie, raising Jude's chin with the palm of his hands, as if examining Jude's face. As Winslow looked into Jude's eyes, they could have sworn they saw his chestnut brown eyes soften slightly, even if for the split of a second .

With his other hand Winslow tucks a loose strand of their inky black hair behind their ear.

"Well, I guess I can't argue with that can I angel ?" Winslow softly whispers in Jude's ear.

Winslow POV

Winslow is sat in the corner of the studio booth, frequent sighs leaving his lips.

“You’re beautiful”

Those two words echo on Winslow's mind like a broken record, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest, in hopes of something more, of anything more. However, knowing Jude he knew that it would take time for them to open their heart to him, but he is willing to wait, he knows that Jude is someone worth the wait, they always have been.

Winslow humms to the rhythm of the beat that he previously recorded on a whim when playing around on the piano trying to come up with a melody for Second Rate's upcoming valentine special single.

He taps the record button on his phone closes his eyes, a soft melody leaving his lips as he thinks of Jude, the words seamlessly spewing out like a light breeze.

The song (please don't come for me I'm not not a song writer, this is for fun. 💀)

Do you know?

Oh You're beautiful, you once said with that honey voice of yours.

Do you know you're on my mind 24/7 like a broken record that won't stop playin'?

Do you know your touch sends my heart to the beat of the drums?

Ooh do you know?

Oh how I would have loved to tell you that I'm obsessed with the feel of your skin on mine

Every touch sending my heart racing to infinity, coming and goin' hot waves yeah.

Do you know that I would die just to tell you that I can't stop thinking about you babe?

Every night I would hold my hand out to the moon hoping that someday my feelings would reach the strings of your guarded heart.

Oh how I would love to show you how much of a fool my love for you has made me become.

Do you know how I would die just hold you in my arms for the first time and tell you that I love you, that I will hold forever you in my heart even if you don't.

Oh do you know, know, know?

Yeah, do you know?

" You're beautiful" you once said

Oh how I would have loved to tell you to not taint me with those sweet words of yours my angel, for they have become my greatest undoing, for you are my angel and I am your devil.