The Life of an Empath

She could tell he was nervous. He certainly wasn't the only persona that was auditioning that day that was just a bundle of nerves. Despite this, his playing was impressive. She did notice a couple of mistakes, but she assumed it was due to aforementioned nerves. Other than that, she thought he was the best person she had seen all day.

However, the decision wasn't entirely up to her.

"What do you guys think?" Verosika whispered to the two other judges sitting on each side of her. "He's pretty good, right?"

"Hmmm," The Envy producer on her right hummed, staring intensely at Matt during the whole performance. Looking for any perceivable flaws. "He's obviously unpolished...but not awful."

He'd set down his drumsticks after the song was over, and pensively waited for the 'judgment'. The comment about being unpolished hurt a little, but these were critics looking for the best of the best, and that wasn't something he could fault them for.

If he wanted to be big time, he had to put his best foot forward, after all. Show business was no joke, and those that fall off do so in the hardest way. They essentially cease to exist, so to speak.

"I appreciate the feedback... Though, I admittedly picked a more recognizable song. If you'd be willing to indulge me, I bet I could knock your socks off with a more... difficult track."

" Hey, none of my mess was your fault, my guy!" Ribbit said, trying to be reassuring. " And, to be honest? Since no one heard or seen you before, I thought you were just a figment of my imagination that manifested into an NPC only I could see, heh..." she awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck at her confession. " Nice to see that wasn't the case though!"

"I totally understand why you'd think I was an NPC. You remember I mentioned I was hiding from Caine all that time? I figured if I hid long enough, he wouldn't remember me. But uh... he recently lost his cool, and found me and... Well, I'm just glad you're back!"

He almost started to approach for a hug, but then stopped when he saw that surge. He'd witnessed first hand with Pomni what could happen if a regular member of the Circus touched someone who was abstracted...

" Well... That was an embarrassingly long emotional break down. What'd I miss?"

"Ribbit? RIBBIT?!"

And there he goes, all over this situation immediately. Once upon a time, they were friends, right after Jax started giving her the cold shoulder. He still remembered the day he made his presence known to her, being that silent someone that she could confide in.

Of course, that proved to not be enough, because once the arguments she had with Jax got too aggressive, she abstracted. But here she was again, looking a bit worse for wear, if the strange black dress with glowing eyeballs wasn't a dead giveaway.

𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄 :

➔ you're gonna be okay , just keep your eyes on me. ➔ don't move - you're going to make it worse. ➔ it's not that bad. ➔ you saved me once before , now it's my turn. ➔ you fucking idiot , you weren't supposed to take the hit for me. ➔ i told you not to do that! now look! ➔ you're lucky that i know basic first aid , or you'd be dead! ➔ stay with me, okay? stay awake. ➔ i'll be as gentle as i can be , i promise. ➔ you're bleeding - oh my god , you're bleeding. ➔ you told me it was a scratch , this is not a fucking scratch! ➔ there's so much blood. ➔ next time you want to play here , just don't. ➔ stop fighting me and let me help! ➔ you're banned from doing anything remotely dangerous. ➔ you could have died , what were you thinking? ➔ if you die on me , i'm going to be pissed off. ➔ you didn't have to be so reckless just to prove a fucking point. ➔ the wound will heal but you'll have a scar.

𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 :