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-"Momma. Just calling to check on you.
I don't know why your phone is out of service, never happened before.
How are you doing? I'm coming to visit you and surprise you with something in a few days."
Location: Jude's Livingroom/Time: 10:00 AM
Jude spoke lowly into his phone, his morning voice was a more expressive version of his normal one.
But today was extra.
"..Please reply as soon as you can."
Voice message delivered.
Everyone changes, the coldest of killers thaw out and become the most vibrant of artists, and Jude was no exception.
The last few days had taken a large toll on his whole null character. Meeting the entire HoloLiveEN cast was something that altered his mind and caused a snowballing effect that was currently increasing in size by the minute.
But he left the buildings, deciding to sleep at home for the time being to get time to part with his community and have a good farewell. His neighborhood was a very close knit one, everyone supporting each other through all the storms.
The other reason he decided to stay home, was to invite his Mother over to break the news to her and prepare her to move.
But she hasn't been picking up.
Not yesterday, not before that.
His resolve was steeled, he's taking a trip down to the city he left home from, the city where he was raised by her.
But Yagoo wouldn't let him go alone, not ever.
So he sent someone, someone he felt capable enough.
Even if Jude had lived in public his entire life, once bound to HoloCorp, you're no longer let unleashed.
-"Kikkerikiiiiii!!!! Iuuuudeeex!! Open the door!"
Loud. She's louder than the dog-girls.
"Iuiuuu!!"
-"Coming. Give me a second."
He ties up the bandana around his right eye as customary and opens the door.
Takanshi Kiara. Phoenix.
Entrepreneur and franchise owner if the rumors are right.
-"You took too long! Open faster next time! Time is money!"
-"Then stop idling at my front door and get inside already."
-"..Touché."
She strutted inside, Jude shutting the door behind her.
-"And stop yelling 'Iudex!', even if you're suppressing yourself, it's annoying.
Out of work you call me by actual name. I don't want to don the moniker Iudex forever."
-"Ja ja, say what you want, do what you want, yadda yadda."
-"No? What the fuck does that even mean Takanshi Kiara?"
She giggled to herself as she plopped down on the largest couch, kicking her foot up on the table in front of her, her shoes still on.
Her attire consisted of jean shorts and an orange T-shirt, the outfit making Jude shiver because of the rather.. lower than warm temperatures.
"Aren't you cold..? Or does your phoenix heart just give you the heat of a thousand suns at all times?"
-"You answered your own question, what's the point if you're going to leave no room for a response."
-"Have I sinned, dear God almighty?
Do I need to bathe in holy water once again to erase the demons of today, so that I may rejoice tomorrow?"
Kiara laughed, the sound of it was so nice to the ears.
The idea of "God" to Kiara was really funny considering Jude's case.
He's seen literal gods and still chooses to believe in that faith.
-"Y'know.. you've seen actual, living breathing beings that are basically gods. Why don't you pray to them instead?"
-"Because I'll be damned before I submit my life in the name of 'Time'! Or devote my faith to 'Chaos'!"
-"Something tells me it's more of a pride issue.."
-"I'm only human after all."
-"Increase the 'You're a human, Jude' counter by one."
They kept on with that for a few minutes.
Kiara was a person who liked fun, yes, but standing in Jude's house, she wasn't trying to be herself.
She was trying to lighten the mood.
Anybody could see it. His eye was vulnerably, extremely so.
Trails were lined very dimly on his face.
Tears.
From the few days she had spent with Jude, Kiara knew not to comment on everything she sees. Jude was already hard enough to crack into let alone drill.
Whatever was weighing on his mind was weighing on hers too. She would've patched it up to pre-debut stress, it was so common to fall into it, she did too.
But that wasn't it. Jude was fully confident and ready to go a day ago.
What could've changed it? Why was he on his wit's end?
-"You know what a good song once said, Kiara?"
-"Hm?"
-"After the laughter, comes tears."
-"..."
-"Okay that was.. Nevermind.
Scrapping that song then. Down to one."
-"Wait no don't use my reaction to know what to choose! I was just-"
-"You're the most responsive member I've seen. If you don't react no one will."
That's not why she didn't reply..
-"Ugh you're too logical for your own good. Stop taking things like derivatives may never occur!"
She pouted, lowering her legs back to the floor as she sat up straight.
"What's the song? I want to hear it, can I?"
-"..I don't think you're into that kind of music."
-"Aslong as it's not something that will give me permanent ear damage, then it's fine!"
-"..Okay."
Jude presses play on his phone.
-"Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst? That's a name of all time, for sure."
-"Just.. Keep quiet and listen."
As the first beat began, the sombre and melancholic vibe of the song said everything that needed to be said.
Jude was twiddling his thumbs once more, his head moving slowly to the rhythm of the song.
'When the lights shut off, and it's my turn to settle down, my main concern,
Promise that you will, sing, about me,
Promise that you will, sing, about me,
I said when the lights shut off, and it's my turn to settle down, my main concern,
Promise that you will, sing, about me,
Promise that you will, sing, about me,
I woke up this morning and figured I'd call you in case I'm here tomorrow
I'm hoping that I can borrow a peace of mind I'm behind on what's really important
My mind is really distorted
I find nothing but trouble in my life.'
Kiara took the phone from his hand and paused the song, demolishing the sad mood instantaneously.
Her words came on insistent, her eyebrows knitted together in worry.
-"Okay.. Jude, bro, what's bothering you? You can confide in someone, you gotta do that much atleast, I don't want you doing something to yourself later."
It was surprising that she could sense emotion this well, considering she isn't human and might've not went through the same things to gain instincts like this.
Makes you wonder how hard she's had it in her endless rebirths.
-"Hm? Nothing. It's just a good song that I feel will strike true with viewers."
-"Yeah Jude, I'm not buying it."
Kiara holds his face in her hands, her thumb brushing over the damp lines from his eyes.
-"You never get teary eyed for no reason?"
-"How convenient you knew I was referring to your tears before I even spoke. What if I'm just trying to hit on you."
-"I'm fine."
She can't push on him. His shell will break like an egg.
But Kiara hated being in the dark about crucial information like this, she was the sort of person who would throw herself in front of a bullet for her friends even if there were other ways to save them.
The silence stretched for a few minutes, the colorful Kiara's look clashing with the quiet Jude's demeanor.
"Nah.. Now that I'm listening more and more.. This song is too sad. Have to hype it up.
If I'm not even singing, I have to bring some shock value."
-"Whatcha have in mind?"
-"I'll.. Let you listen on the day of."
-"Maaane.. Fine."
His phone alarm rang, it was time to go.
"Shotgun!!"
-"It's literally me and you, why would you call shotgun."
-"Shit! I ruined the pop out.."
As if she didn't ruin it by stating that she did so.
-"Pop out?"
HONK! HONK! HONK!
"Who the fu-"
-"Last to the car is paying for food."
-"Stop it- Hey!"
He ran after her as she swung the door open.
Obviously he lost, definitely not because he was slower and because he had to lock the doors and fix up everything.
It took him ten minutes, the obsessive perfectionist in him couldn't leave without shutting every window, light, curtain, closing every door, making sure the gas pipes aren't open. Packing water bottles so he wouldn't have to pay for overpriced water.
-"He really wants to pay so bad..?"
Kiara pondered, usually humans would do anything to not waste money, now Jude was taking extra time to just come.
-"No, Tenchou, you just have no ability to recognize ownership.
It's his house, he's not going to run out after you and leave it open."
-"If he's going to stay in HoloHQ, what's the point of keeping a house, eh?"
-"...Disappear amongst the sea of butterflies, Kiara."
The passenger door opened as the unlocked noise blared through the car, the car light turning on.
-"Are you two going to explain to me why did Mr. Yagoo send two people and why is he not letting me use my car."
He kept the door open, giving them a heavy stare.
-"Because we're not going to tag along with you in your untinted car."
-"Who asked either of you to tag along?!"
The driver reached out a hand and grabbed Jude, pushing him into the car and driving off right after.
"My head- Ow ow ow..!"
Jude held his forehead as he folded slightly, rubbing the spot where he hit his face, the spot reddening briefly after.
-"Fickle."
-"C'mon Jude! Live a little, you never backdoored?"
-"I never WHAT?!"
-"Kiara, never use that word in your life again."
The driver smacked Kiara square in the nose, retribution for her misuse of internet terminology.
Kiara's fans were not.. The most elegant or the most polite. No fanbase is truly sane, but hers was a little.. cuckoo.
-"Backdooring.. Like, sneaking out of the backdoor for fun with friends?"
So close, yet so far.
-"Never. Again."
Location: ??? Highway/Time: 11:00 AM
-"Aux battles?"
-"AUX BATTLESS!!"
-"I'll pass."
On the way to see his Mother, Jude was being "Accompanied" by Kiara and everyone's dear, dear Enma-Chan.
What are aux battles? Aux battles are a showdown that takes place whenever two or more friends are in a road trip together.
The rules of aux battles are the following:
1- You put a bad song, you have your music privileges revoked for a duration decided by the winner.
2- The rounds are decided by the first going member.
3- Optional, but you can have a third member to act as tiebreaker.
Enma-Chan was going to go head to head with Takanshi Kiara.
-"Since I brought it up, I'll go first."
-"Bring it on, Enma-Chan! Jude, watch as I body her."
-"Mhhhmm.."
Enma-Chan put up her phone and took her hands off the wheel, it's just a highway so it's all safe.
Not like there's a literal phoenix-woman and a real life edgelord anime character in the same car as her and if they get pulled over it's definitely going nationwide.
-"First round. Midnight vibe."
-"Good choice, I'll probably whoop your ass in this game, get ready!"
-"Focus on the roa- WOAAAAAH---"
Enma-Chan was swerving right and left.
-"Am I in a Final Destination movie? Daily near-deaths? Tragedies?"
-"Enma-Chan here is an experienced driver, just sit tight and hold on Jude!"
-"The words hold on do not make me feel safe in this vehicle. I request to be deposited and I'll walk the highway."
The locks of the doors clicked. And Jude just ducked behind the driver seat and covered his ears.
All sorts of songs played, "Die With a Smile", "Coffee", even some meme-like songs, "Despacito" for a 2010s nostalgia round.
Jude couldn't see the road as he kept ducked the entire road, but they definitely had to have had passed some patrols.
Did they cover the car as well? If they did, then that's the most stupidly overpowered ability ever.
The aux shut off as the car screeched to a halt at a gas station.
-"We there yet? Say yes. Say it."
-"Refilling."
The car wasn't covered. They, well, Kiara and Enma-Chan, possessed luck beyond measure.
Convenient, all of it.
"We're fifteen minutes apart from the city. So it's not that far."
Jude survived another wild ride at the end, the skyline of the city appearing in sight as they zoomed closer by the second.
It's time, the first time he'd see his Mother directly in three years.
One day left for debut.
AT.LONG.LAST.IUDEX