Chapter Text
Marceline was on again tonight, for an outdoor show which meant more people were about to see her perform than ever before. She was terrified, frankly but she refused to let it show. Where would the fun in that be, coming all this way just to chicken out when things started to get scary. That was why she stood backstage, hyping herself up. This time she was the only opener, which meant she’d get thirty minutes of playing time, though to be honest Marceline wasn’t sure she had thirty minutes of songs.
Sure, she could drag it out with some noodling on her bass and ad-libing, but she really needed to think about writing more material. The thing was, she didn’t want to write new material until she felt like she had something to say, and Marceline wasn’t sure that she did yet. She’d outgrown the days of writing songs about whatever was directly happening to and around her, and now she needed actual inspiration to write. But, as of the moment nothing had inspired her so she was out of luck.
“And now, Marceline the Vampire Queen,” the announcer said, and there was a smattering of light applause in the crowd, the few people who’d seen her play before seemingly invested enough to come to her next show. The more she heard that name and got used to it, the more Marceline got annoyed that Billy was completely right. It really did have a ring to it that her name by itself just didn’t. As she began to walk on stage, Marceline looked down at her bass, crafted by her parents out of a shovel, and smiled thinking about them.
“This is the theme song to an old tv show my parents liked,” Marceline said of her opening performance, before launching into an electric version of the theme song from Cheers. It made her smile to think that two nights in a row she’d opened her shows with some sort of tribute to her parents, considering they were in large part the reason she was even here. They’d always encouraged her musical proclivates, they’d made her this guitar, and most importantly they’d hummed and muttered and belted this theme song so often the lyrics were etched into Marceline’s brain forever.
“Another good one out there kid, and the audience is loving those little stories you put before your songs,” the human who Marceline had learned was named Brian said. “I’ve got to go announce the main act but stick around after the show, the stage manager wants to talk to you,” Brian noted before heading on stage to announce their headliner, and Marceline hoped she was in for good news. After all, these two shows had filled her with a need to perform that she was sure she’d die without now that she’d gotten a taste.
“So, what did you want to talk to me about?” Marceline asked as she leaned against the outdoor stage. Roadies who were mostly fish people were packing everything up, and the crowd had long since departed. She felt knots in her stomach she did her best to ignore as she waited for an explanation. In front of her there was Brian, and Brian’s boss whose name Marceline had not yet learned. Though even if she did learn it Marceline wasn’t sure she’d be able to pronounce it considering he was a fish person. He spoke in his lanague and Brian translated.
“He says the last few concerts we’ve had have been big hits, and he wants to make this a traveling show, take it all around Ooo,” he began and Marceline considered that she had no idea what Ooo was, whether a country, a state, or whatever else. It was funny for her to think about the fact that her mother while homeschooling her had done her best to ensure Marceline knew all about the proper place names and countries, only for none of it to matter shortly after. Well, it was funny in a sort of sad way.
“What’s Ooo?” Marceline asked because she figured she might as well if she was going to be touring it. This too was evidence of just how sheltered she’d been by Betty and Simon, and just how little she’d come to know about the world she inhabited. Brian looked at her a little confused for a moment, before realizing that perhaps not everyone was as well versed in this apocalypse as him, including what exactly everything was called. He scratched the back of his neck as he seemingly tried to formulate an answer.
“Oh, that’s just what everyone has been calling the piece of land we’re on, you know, the continent?” he offered. “After the bombs some crazy stuff hapened with the water levels and everything smashing together, so it felt wrong to keep calling it by the same name,” Brian said and when he sensed Marceline was satisfied he continued. “Anyway, like I said we want to take this show on the road, but our headliner won’t be able to join us until night two. We were wondering if you’d like to headline the first stop of the tour,” he asked.
“Are you serious?” Marceline asked, half expecting that she was being pranked and was about to be laughed at. Brian nodded while the fish-man stared at her blankly but gave a thumbs up, and Marceline felt like flying around in the air out of joy. “Yes! Absolutely,” she said, completely energized and excited. Brian and the fish person both gave her a nod and Marceline tried to keep her cool, and think about how now she definitely needed to start writing more songs if she ever hoped to fill the length of being the main act.
“One thing though,” Brian said. “We’re going to need you to do something about those clothes, you lookn like your parents dressed you,” he said and Marceline felt embarssed, because while they hadn’t dressed her, all the clothes she had were made by her parents, and as such they were sensible. Flowing, long sleeved shirts to help keep her from burning in the sun while not being too heavy and constricting, and similarly styled skirts with the same reasoning. Marceline had never really thought about her clothes before, but now she was very conscious of them.
“Where can I get some better clothes?” Marceline asked hopefully, even though she knew it probably made seem even more sheltered and sad. After all, what kind of young woman who was trying to become a rock star didn’t know where to find some decent clothes. Still, Marceline didn’t think she had many other options, and it was better than trying and failing to find something fashionable and being chastised by the audience and her bosses. Brian seemed to think for a moment before giving his answer.
“I’d say go down to Beautopia and see if any of the wrecked stores have anything nice,” Brian offered and the fish man made a gurgling sound Marceline assumed was agreement. “Just make yourself look presentable, and be back here in the morning so we can leave,” he offered and that was that. Marceline made her way down to the old mall, looking for anything which wasn’t water damaged or utterly destroyed, and managed to find some ripped jeans, a cool looking t-shirt, and a few other fashionable clothing items.
“I’m here!” Marceline said when she arrived at the caravan to their first show, a bit late and of course wearing the sunhat her parents had sent her with. After all, she was showing a lot more of her arms and legs than usual, and it was important that she not get all burned up before her show. If she did, she wouldn’t have Betty and Simon to take care of her after. She loaded up into the wagon-like vehicle being pulled by a creature Marceline didn’t recongize, along with the everyone else on the tour and their stuff.
The rest of the day was uneventful, most of it being taken up by Marceline quietly playing guitar to herself and trying to figure out some new songs quickly before she had to perform her show. They stopped a few times, once to let their beast of burden rest, and the other time to rest themselves. Marceline impressed the people in the wagon with her by drinking the red out of the playing cards they were using as entertainment, though the loss of that color certainly made the game much harder afterwards.
“Alright kid, everything’s being set up so be ready. You’ve never headlined before, so let me give you some advice,” Brian offered that night, and Marceline listened closely, because though she wouldn’t trust his opinion on music, he seemed earnest enough. “Forget about music for a second, forget about songs and lyrics and talent. You need to first and foremost act like a headliner. Be cool, be confident, the type of person that makes people go crazy. Be good at that, and worry about the other stuff later,” he said before going on stage to announce the opener.
Marceline didn’t know how she felt about the advice despite herself. She knew it certainly felt wrong to not focus on her art as the most important thing, but she also knew that she wouldn’t be exactly invested in an artist that didn’t seem interesting and cool even if their music was okay. She had the look now, all she needed to do was project the power. As the first performer played Marceline thought about how she’d play it cool, as if she was already a star instead of someone trying and failing to be one.
“How’s everyone doing tonight?” Marceline asked as she walked on stage and the crowd let out a cheer which invigorated her. “Is everyone ready to rock?” she asked and the crowd went wild. It was a bigger audience than her last two shows but not by much. The way the lights were set up on this particular stage, Marceline could actually see the faces of the audience, and she scanned them over, fish people and humaniods, one or two humans and some talking animals dotted the crowd. And then Marceline saw her for the first time.
She was candy pink, with messy shoulder length hair and dark eyes which seemed to sparkle under the stage lights, and she was looking at her. Of course, Marceline was performing on stage so everyone was looking at her but this girl was different. She seemed to actually see her, and that was something Marceline was completely unprepared for. She did her electric guitar cover of the Cheers theme song and the crowd liked it, but all she could do at the moment was stare at her and no one else.
“Is it hot in here, or is it just me?” Marceline asked in between songs, bantering with the audience, and she got an idea suddenly, as she stripped off her shirt much to the delight of the crowd. She held it aloft above her head, and made direct eye contact with the pretty pink girl in the crowd, before speaking ostensibly to everyone, though her words were only for her. “You want it?” she asked and everyone in the crowd screamed excitedly. She needed to make sure this shirt got to the girl, and luckily she had a foolproof plan.
She chucked the shirt into the crowd, and while it looked like it sailed naturally, using the telekinetic powers she was just now getting used to, she made sure it flew right into the pink girl’s range, and she caught it. Marceline figured it must be a good sign if she wanted her shirt, figured maybe that meant she had a shot. With that exercise over, she decided to go back to performing, though making sure to keep her eyes on the pink girl the entire time, seeing the way she clutched the shirt to her chest like a prize.
“Hey, can you do me a favor?” Marceline asked as soon as she went backstage, having finished her set. She knew if she wanted to get what she was asking for, she’d have to ask quickly before the crowd left and she lost her chance forever. The roadie looked at her curiously as she gave her explanation. “Could one of you guys please bring the pink girl from the crowd backstage? The one who caught my shirt?” Marceline questioned and the man looked at her, slightly amused.
“What, do you want the shirt back?” he asked and Marceline looked away, not wanting anyone to see her blushing but especially not her roadies. Unfortunately he seemed to piece things together, and he gave her a light slap on the back. “You’re the headliner, what you say goes,” he offered and Marceline nodded, and walked back to the small waiting area where she’d asked to have the pink girl brought. Unfortunately, that spot was already occupied by Brian and his boss, the fish man, who were currently making out.
“What? You’ve got a problem with me dating a fish-person?” Brian asked upon seeing her standing there shocked. “It's a new world Marceline, don’t be closed minded,” he insisted and Marceline simply rolled her eyes because that was the last thing on her mind. Mostly she just wanted the two of them to move so she could privately talk to that girl, and they did leave just in the nick of time as she arrived backstage. She was even more pretty up close and suddenly Marceline felt terrified.
“Wow, I can’t believe I’m meeting you,” the girl said and Marceline realized with a start that the feeling she had in her chest was one she’d felt before, a crush. The last time she’d had a crush she’d been utterly humiliated, and she refused to have that happen again, not after things had just started to go well. But then again the girl was looking at her with those gorgeous eyes and that soft pink skin, and that light, sweet smelling perfume and Marceline decided that she was an adult and should be allowed a little leeway.
“What’s your name?” Marceline asked, trying to come off as cool and suave instead of completely embarrassed, not wanting a repeat of the past. But, much to her surprise, the pink girl looked nervous at her. She realized at that moment that despite her utter terror she was the one with the power here. Marceline was a singer who’d just called this girl backstage, and that meant she held all the sway. She vowed not to be like Jason and hurt someone who liked her just because she wanted to.
“Bonnibel, Bonnibel Bubblegum,” she said, still clearly nervous about the situation and giving Marceline that same cute smile. Marceline supposed that the reason for her being so cute and pink was because she was made of bubble gum, and that was certainly something to consider. She wondered if she just naturally smelled that sweet because of what she was made of, and Marceline resistsed the urge to get far too close to her and take her in. “I really like the shirt,” Bonnibel mentioned, starting to hand it back.
“It's all yours,” Marceline said before adding something. “Bonnibel is a really pretty name, by the way,” she said leaning in slightly closer, hoping she was giving off the correct air of coolness. Bonnibel pushed her hair to the side, seemingly trying to distract herself. “Tell me about yourself Bonnie. Can I call you Bonnie?” Marceline asked, immediately embarrassing herself as she asked about calling her a nickname after having already used it. Bonnie for her credit didn’t seem to mind at all as she nodded.
“I’m a scientist.” she said and Marceline wanted to facepalm herself as she’d apparently inherited her parents taste in academics. “But, I’m working on some big plans. I’m going to rule my own kingdom, with my own citizens,” Bonnie added and Marceline loved the way her face looked when she talked about her future plans, how excited she seemed to get about the subject. She could see that behind those eyes was a spark that desired power, control, to steer her own destiny and Marceline liked it. “I’m going to be a princess,” Bonnie added.
“Well, princess,” Marceline said, trying not to cringe at the fact that she sounded like her dad. “I hope you’re not too busy to come to another one of my shows. I’d feel honored to have royalty in the crowd again,” she said, adding a wink and Bonnibel blushed, waving Marceline off as if to say that she was just kidding. Marceline desperately wanted to make a move, but she wouldn’t, not yet. She didn’t want to end up hurt again, even though her heart was telling her what she wanted. Marceline looked at Bonnie and heard a million new songs she wanted to write, and it excited her to the point of fear.