Stage 2
Today
Neil: *walking down the street* This better be worth it, to think I'd find myself walking down the alleys of this fallen city, overun by the scum.
Peddler: Hey tough guy! I know what your looking for, its the only reason guys like you come to a place like this. So how much do you want?
Neil: Enough to remember what this city was like before people like you showed up.
Peddler: Hey! I don't have to take that from a worthless eleven!
Neil: I'm not an Eleven, I'm an assasin.
Peddler: (nervously) Really? Well I guess I shouldn't be surprised, you certainly look the part. So might I ask what kind of bounty your going after?
Neil: Why don't you give me the stuff first, then we can shoot the sh!t
Peddler: Oh, of course. Here, that should be enough.
Neil: Excellent. Well let me ask you something my friend, do you believe in god?
Peddler: Huh, well yeah I guess. I believe in all that solidarity and values crap that my country upholds. So I guess I believe in god.
Neil: Wonderful, I couldn't have put it any better myself. Well to answer your question, I have a bounty on god's head.
Peddler: What-AGHHH!
Neil: *looking down at his body* Thanks again for the stuff good sir, real shame god didn't hear your cry for help. He seems to miss a lot of those.
*back at the palace*
Akesato: *Spotting Ragnarok* Your Majesty!
Ragnarok: Huh? Oh hello Akesato, how have you been?
Akesato: Great! I've gotten so much stronger since I last saw you, I've had some really great competition lately. Speaking of which I think you'll be really pleased with the individuals who made tyrant status, they are all exceptional warriors.
Ragnarok: I'd expect nothing less, I'm glad to hear that the combine went well. Tell everyone who made tyrant that we will be meeting tomorrow morning in the Goliath Chambers.
Akesato: Already? As you wish my lord, we are honored to be the right hand of your will. We will not disappoint you.
Ragnarok: I'm certain you won't. Its good to see you again Akesato, but there's something I need to go take care of right now, I will see you tommorow.
Akesato: Yes, of course Your Majesty
Neil: *back in his room* God, what the hell am I doing? I've become everything I've preached, I just never thought it would have to be like this.
Neil: *pulls out syringe* Forgive me my love, with this I destroy whats left of the soul you cared so deeply for. But I miss you so, and I'm too broken to feel shame.
Neil: *stabs needle into arm* I-I just wanna feel something again. *collapses*
"Company For the Lonely"
*two years ago*
Gino: ZACK! Pass me the ball you glory hog!
Zack: WHAT? no way, I got this!
Gino: Oh yeah? Look to your left!
Zack: Hu-ahhh!
Suzaku: What kind of quarterback runs with a man wide open?
Gino: HAHAHA! Only the best kind ever! Isn't that right Zack?
Zack: Shut up! Oh and thanks for the hit Suzaku, you know how I love the taste of dirt.
Suzaku: Hey, you were asking for it man. You were acting as obnoxious as Gino.
Gino: NO WAY! I'm not obnoxious! He's the show off.
Zack: Please, you have one of the biggest egos I've ever seen.
Gino: Nuhuh!
Zack: Yahuh!
Suzaku: Would you two both just give it rest! Besides, is that who I think it is?
Gino: No way, is that?
Zack: Hey Kallen!
Kallen: Huh? Oh, hey Zack! Gino, Suzaku!
Gino & Suzaku: Hey Kallen!
Zack: So where the heck have you lately? We never see you at school at all!
Kallen: Well its not like I've been skipping, I've only missed two classes all year!
Gino: Well your never around the dorms anymore, me thinks somethings been keeping you away.
Suzaku: God, could you guys stop beating around the bush and be serious for once. How is he Kallen?
Kallen: I'm assuming your referring to Neil, well he's writing right now. Held up in an apartment off campus.
Gino: Oh the ups and downs of dating an artist! Well how long has he been writing?
Kallen: Ten weeks, he says he's almost finished. I know he must be exhausted mentally, hell I'm one of the few people he even lets visit him
Zack: Well all kidding aside tell him his friends miss him and that he needs to come back to class soon.
Kallen: I'll make sure to do that when I see him tonight, but I really gotta get going now. I'll see you guys later.
Guys: Bye Kallen!
Matthew: Hey guys, was that Kallen? Has she seen Neil lately?
Gino: Yeah, the guy's writing his music, but she says he's almost done.
Matthew: Awesome, he said he'd let me engineer the album and run some equipment tech for him. Said he'd pay me top dollar too.
Zack: Well right it looks like Kallen has exclusive access to good ol Neil, but I have a feeling he'll be back. He said he was gonna teach me the guitar!
Taren: I can do that, I might not be Neil but we did take music class together and he taught me a lot of cool tricks.
Zack: Awesome! I can surprise him when he comes back, just don't tell him about it!
Everybody: HAHAHA
*at Neil's apartment*
Neil: I know the pieces fit...*knocking at the door* IT'S OPEN!
Kallen: Well if thats the way your gonna greet me I'm gonna stop bringing your food every week!
Neil: Oh god, I'm so sorry. I'm a little on edge right now, what did you bring?
Kallen: Pizza, help yourself. I can already tell you've barely eaten in days.
Neil: Yeah, but the lack of sleep balances it out for the most part. Oh yeah, remind me why you waste your time on a lunatic like me?
Kallen: Because I love you, even when you decide to go crazy genius and hold up in an apartment to work on your music. But no more games, I wanna see the songs you've come up with!
Neil: *eating* The music book is on the table over there, the song lyrics are in the folder in front.
Kallen: Good god! There's like 200 pages here, what is all this stuff?
Neil: Sheet music, tabs, notes, etc.
Kallen: *reading* This better be good buddy, for all this work it better be......great. Neil, these songs are really great! I've never seen music like this before, much less heard it.
Neil: I've written and practiced all the parts, done multiple rough mixes for each track.
Kallen: I'm sure the band will like what you've come up with, it really is great.
Neil: I sure hope they do, we're going to start recording next week.
Kallen: God Neil, your moving way too fast. I mean, you look terrible and that poor pizza never stood a chance.
Neil: Haha, I promise I'll try to get myself together. Thank you for being there for me Kallen, I really did need it.
Kallen: Your welcome, now for the love of god get some sleep. I'll see you later.
Neil: Ok
*a year later*
Reporter: They've been called one of the most controversial and prolific artists of their time, their success undeniable and their sound nothing short of indescribable. And a week from today, the band known as Prism will play the largest stadium in Area 11 for a sold out crowd of Japanese and Britannians alike. I sat down with frontman Neil Fallon to discuss his obscure world view, artistic interests and personal issues in his first ever interview with the press.
Reporter: Neil, thank you so much for joining us.
Neil: My pleasure
Reporter: First off, huge fan of your music. Its crazy for me as a married man to listen to some of the ideas, issues and concepts you touch on in your music and then realize that you yourself are only seventeen. How did you come to form such obscure ideas and observations?
Neil: Well first off congratulations on what I'm assuming is a happy marriage.
Reporter: Hahaha, thank you!
Neil: Well I really don't know how to answer that, I know the perception is that I'm some sort of mad genius hell bent on polluting the youth with independent thought or something like that. But really I'm just a naturally curious person, I always have been. So if anything I'm just putting my thoughts and ideas on paper and making music from there, no grand plan beyond that.
Reporter: Well your self titled debut album just went triple platinum, in record time no less. How does that make you feel as an artist?
Neil: I know most people would expect me to say I really don't care, but nothing could be further from the truth. I truly am humbled, because it means either people are exceedingly amused by my psychotic rantings or that the music is really resonating with peole, and thats what I really care about.
Reporter: Many of your critics accuse you of being an introvert, what do you think about that?
Neil: Haha, I love that the people who call me an introvert are my critics. I know a lot of my best friends would accuse me of the same thing here and there. I honestly don't act as closed off when I'm among friends and family, and I will absolutely talk to anybody who wants to make the effort to get a hold of me. I love and appreciate each and every one of our fans.
Reporter: Good, I think it means a lot to them to hear you say that. You've made an effort to stay outta the press for the most part, mind telling us why?
Neil: I knew this question was coming, well there are two reason. First, I really don't want my life to become a vehicle for someone to live their dreams through. I want our fans to open their minds and experience things in their own lives, not vicariously live through mine. Secondly, I'm not fond of the idea of my family and friends becoming victims of my fame. *jokingly* I already am, isn't that enough?
Reporter: Haha, fair enough. Well before we let you go would you mind telling us what to expect at the show next week.
Neil: Same thing we always do. Play good, thought provoking, emotional music while drenching the serious issues in jokes about sex and perversion. It's very 'in' right now. haha
Reporter: Neil, thank you so much for your time.
Neil: My pleasure.
Zack *at the studio with Neil*: Hey man, that was awesome! You sure don't take yourself very seriously.
Neil: I don't know if I could deal with myself if I did. Hey, I know we were gonna go and celebrate a little, but there's something I need to go take care of first. I'll catch up with you later.
Zack: C'mon! Ok, just get a hold of me. Milly said something about throwing you a party or something, and I'm suppose to drag you their if I gotta.
Neil: Alright, I'll let you know when I'm done.
*Kallen is at a graveyard*
Kallen *crying*: I miss you so much big brother, I just want my family back.
Neil *holding flowers*: Hey, sorry I'm late. You know I would never forget this, I miss him a lot too.
Kallen: Thank you for remembering, it means a lot to have someone who can help me through this.
Neil: Your the only thing keeping me sane right now, what kind of person would I be if I could do this much?
Kallen: A really crappy one...
Neil: Listen, I know I can't say I understand what your going through, but I do know that Naoto would be proud of the person you've become. You've got his hardhead you know.
Kallen *loudly*: DO NOT!
Neil: Haha, well if you say so.
Kallen: C'mon smart mouth, I'm sick of standing out in the rain and you've got an adoring public to be subjected too.
Neil: So my suffering will make you feel better?
Kallen: A little
Neil: Alright then, lets go hang my @$$ to dry.
Kallen: hahaha, ok. Promise me one thing though
Neil: Anything
Kallen: Promise you won't leave me no matter what.
Neil: That's all? I couldn't leave you if I tried.....and no I'm not trying.
*show day*
Neil: Hey dad, thanks for having lunch with me.
Maynard: It's the least I can do, I would be at your show if I wasn't working.
Neil: You really don't know when to take a break do you?
Maynard: I don't? Well now we know where you get it from.
Neil: Very funny, well if thats the case I think I might dedicate the last song of my set to you. This whole thing is apparently your fault.
Maynard: Haha, I'd like that.
Neil: Have you talked to mom lately? She's never home anymore.
Maynard: Stressed, traveling a lot. I saw her a few weeks ago but she's taking vacation next week, maybe we can try doing something as a family soon. Don't know if we remember how to.
Neil: Something tells me we don't, I think most people just travel.
Maynard: We could try that, or we could all just be lazy for once and do nothing.
Neil: HAHAHA! I like that, it sounds very stress free. Well I gotta go and get ready to perform tonight, call me when your done in Shinjuku.
Maynard: Hopefully sometime tomorrow, I'll let you know. I'll see you later son.
Neil: Bye dad.
*Neil emerged in white emptiness*
Neil: I know how it goes from here, and I'd prefer to act like it never happened. I remember the way I felt as I stood atop the world, dreams realized and at peace with it all. I remember the show, the celebration, the comfort I felt with my own strange circumstances. I remember the way we kissed that night, and fell asleep in each others arms, I remember never wanting to wake up. I remember when I heard the sound of crying in my ear, and now all I can remember is that he's gone forever.The world is now haunted by your ghost, and it guides my lifeless body to the fall. God made me a deadman that day, and now there's nothing I can lose. I want you back, I want you back, I want.....
Neil *on the phone*: Dad....why you?
NEXT TIME
Stage 3: Deadman