Fic: It's tonight your city sleeps
Nov. 14th, 2011 10:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rikke_leonhart*
It’s been a couple of eventful months, hasn’t it?
Ninomiya: That’s definitely one way of saying it!
Aiba: Leader is pretty determined to give us all grey hair before time.
Ohno: I’m very sorry!
All: (laughs)
Matsumoto: It’s been rough on us all, not just Leader, though arguably he’s been fighting the hardest. We’re doing our best to put out the best concerts we can this fall to thank everyone for their thoughts and concern. We’re very sorry.
Ninomiya: Did you hear that, Leader? You have to put out an amazing concert!
Sakurai: All on your own!
Ohno: (looks panicked)
All: (laughs)
Matsumoto: We’re all working on it, we promise! Right?
Ninomiya: I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about, Jun-kun. Do you, Aiba-chan?
Aiba: Absolutely not.
Sakurai: (laughs) That’s too severe! That’s too severe!
Matsumoto: And I severely dislike you all.
Ohno: Not me, right? I didn’t do anything!
Matsumoto: Right (laughs) Leader is the only one in this room that I like.
Ninomiya: That’s not fair, everyone likes Leader.
Ohno: I’m likeable.
Sakurai: So modest!
All: (laughs)
So besides concerts in the autumn, what can the fans look forward to this summer?
Matsumoto: Our new album is out next month.
Aiba: Right.
Matsumoto: It was really quick, the recordings. I feel like it didn’t take any time at all.
Ohno: I spent a lot of time in the studio.
Ninomiya: You couldn’t walk!
Ohno: I’m very sorry!
All: (laughs)
Ohno: Right, I couldn’t walk. But I’m better now!
Sakurai: The fans can look forward to Ohno-kun’s spectacular interpretive dance.
Aiba: What’s it about, Leader?
Ohno: It’s about Arashi’s best features.
Ninomiya: He’s being evasive!
Ohno: I’m not! I’m really not! (laughs)
Ninomiya: Then tell us.
Ohno: Matsujun’s eyebrows!
All: (explosive laughter)
Matsumoto: Leader!
Ohno: I’m sorry!
Matsumoto: That’s why you’ve been staring at me!
Ohno: I’m very sorry!
Can you tell us more about the dance?
Aiba: Yes, Leader, tell us more!
Ohno: Why are you all picking on me?!
Sakurai: (laughs) I saw parts of it the other day, it looked really interesting!
Ohno: The truth is…
Ninomiya: The truth is…?
Ohno: That I’ve been fishing.
All: (explosive laughter)
Aiba: Leader! Is fishing part of the dance?!
Ohno: That would be really cool, wouldn’t it?
Ninomiya: No! That would be really bad! Please stop doing that! Your skin has been so light lately, don’t ruin it!
Matsumoto: And when he couldn’t fish, he was recording the new album. What did you think of it?
Sakurai: I feel like we move forward and evolve with each album we’re fortunate enough to release. Like “This is Arashi!”
Ninomiya: Ah, I understand. “This is us, now”, right.
All: Right.
Aiba: I really like Matsujun’s solo, it’s so upbeat.
Matsumoto: Only the music! The lyrics are really not as happy as the music. It was very difficult to record.
Sakurai: I really like Satoshi-kun’s solo –
Ninomiya: I guess all the time in the studio paid off!
Ohno: Thank you!
Sakurai: – it’s very emotional. I really like the chorus.
Aiba: Will we get the interpretive dance for the solo?
Matsumoto: About my eyebrows?
Ohno: I’m not singing an emotional ballad about Matsujun’s eyebrows!
All: (Explosive laughter)
But Ohno-san, has it been difficult getting back to everything and up to full speed?
Ohno: It’s been painful at times, but it’s so worth it now, being here with everyone again, and I’m very sorry for making everyone worry.
Matsumoto: It’s honestly no trouble to us, it’s what we do, we help each other. Leader continually said he was sorry and that he didn’t want to trouble us, but it wasn’t a problem for us. That’s how it is.
All: True.
Ninomiya: Even if we forced him inside a recording booth and locked the door (laughs)
Sakurai: We got our revenge, right.
Ohno: I knew it! (laughs) But more importantly, I’ve been really happy about dancing again.
Matsumoto: I watched you the other day. It’s looking really good now, Leader.
Ohno: I suppose. There’s still time.
Matsumoto: But you haven’t drawn anything lately, have you?
Ohno: They had to reset my fingers, right. They hadn’t grown correctly so they had to break them again and reset them. (Bitter laugh) I think I’ve forgotten what my fingers look like beneath the tape.
Ninomiya: Poor Leader.
Sakurai: So patronising! (laughs)
Matsumoto: What is up with this mood? Stop being depressing!
Aiba: But you haven’t been fishing, right, with your fingers all broken?
Ohno: No. Yes, I have. A little bit.
Aiba: Leader, your health!
Matsumoto: Please take care of yourself!
Ohno: I’m very sorry!
All: (laughs)
And finally, anything else up for the rest of the year?
Matsumoto: In between concerts, we’ll be doing our regular shows and work hard.
Sakurai: Please watch it!
Aiba: And shall we have Leader close?
Nino: Leader, if you please!
Ohno: Let’s all stay healthy this year, too.
All: (laughs)
Matsumoto: There it is!
Aiba: It arrived!
Ninomiya: Why are you saying that when you’re the one worrying us?
Ohno: I‘m very sorry!
All: (explosive laughter)
*
When the interview ends, Ohno stands and smiles at the interviewer, and he tickles at Nino’s waist as they leave the room, prompting Nino to bat at his hands and grumble. Behind them, Aiba is talking to no one in particular, something about a flamingo and a rhinoceros, and Ohno wants to pay attention, to listen and absorb Aiba’s enthusiasm, but he’s mostly concentrating on Jun and Sho in front of them. Jun casually says something about rehearsals later and tomorrow and Sho mutters something in the affirmative, and Ohno hides his smile in Nino’s shoulder when Jun accepts a single touch on his shoulder from Sho.
“What are you so smug about?” Nino murmurs and pokes at Ohno’s side.
Ohno tries to squirm away. “Nothing,” he says and he knows he’s sporting a shit-eating grin. Nino clearly doesn’t believe him if the contemplative narrowing of his eyes is any indication, but Ohno can’t possibly bring himself to care. He tries to catch Nino’s hands to stop his poking, but Nino is cleverly evasive.
“Nino,” he whines, dragging out the syllables in that way he knows Nino loathes, and Nino wiggles his fingers in warning. “Aiba-chan, Nino is being mean. Again.”
“Nino, behave,” Jun warns from further ahead and then they all turn right and start down the stairs.
“Oh-chan, do you need me to carry your fragile, old body down the stairs?” Nino smiles sweetly.
Ohno doesn’t buy it for one second. He falls a step behind Nino and Nino evidently feels paranoid enough to send glances backwards over his shoulder every two steps, and Ohno grins. Aiba’s hand slips into his right one, ever mindful of the damn newly broken fingers, and squeezes carefully.
“Leader, do you want me to tackle Nino for you?”
“Yes please,” Ohno says just as Nino exclaims, “I heard that!”.
From further down the stairs, Jun and Sho chorus: “Not on the stairs!”
Ohno grins. Let’s all stay healthy this year, too, he thinks and instead of poking at Nino’s back like his left hand is itching for, he grabs his shoulder and just holds on. Nino sends a knowing look back at him and Ohno doesn’t mind at all. He feels closer to them all, each of them in different ways, and he owes them all so much.
He can’t wait to make it up to them all, he’ll spend the rest of his life doing his very best.
He wants to remember them all.
*
The end.
Back to masterpost
It’s been a couple of eventful months, hasn’t it?
Ninomiya: That’s definitely one way of saying it!
Aiba: Leader is pretty determined to give us all grey hair before time.
Ohno: I’m very sorry!
All: (laughs)
Matsumoto: It’s been rough on us all, not just Leader, though arguably he’s been fighting the hardest. We’re doing our best to put out the best concerts we can this fall to thank everyone for their thoughts and concern. We’re very sorry.
Ninomiya: Did you hear that, Leader? You have to put out an amazing concert!
Sakurai: All on your own!
Ohno: (looks panicked)
All: (laughs)
Matsumoto: We’re all working on it, we promise! Right?
Ninomiya: I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about, Jun-kun. Do you, Aiba-chan?
Aiba: Absolutely not.
Sakurai: (laughs) That’s too severe! That’s too severe!
Matsumoto: And I severely dislike you all.
Ohno: Not me, right? I didn’t do anything!
Matsumoto: Right (laughs) Leader is the only one in this room that I like.
Ninomiya: That’s not fair, everyone likes Leader.
Ohno: I’m likeable.
Sakurai: So modest!
All: (laughs)
So besides concerts in the autumn, what can the fans look forward to this summer?
Matsumoto: Our new album is out next month.
Aiba: Right.
Matsumoto: It was really quick, the recordings. I feel like it didn’t take any time at all.
Ohno: I spent a lot of time in the studio.
Ninomiya: You couldn’t walk!
Ohno: I’m very sorry!
All: (laughs)
Ohno: Right, I couldn’t walk. But I’m better now!
Sakurai: The fans can look forward to Ohno-kun’s spectacular interpretive dance.
Aiba: What’s it about, Leader?
Ohno: It’s about Arashi’s best features.
Ninomiya: He’s being evasive!
Ohno: I’m not! I’m really not! (laughs)
Ninomiya: Then tell us.
Ohno: Matsujun’s eyebrows!
All: (explosive laughter)
Matsumoto: Leader!
Ohno: I’m sorry!
Matsumoto: That’s why you’ve been staring at me!
Ohno: I’m very sorry!
Can you tell us more about the dance?
Aiba: Yes, Leader, tell us more!
Ohno: Why are you all picking on me?!
Sakurai: (laughs) I saw parts of it the other day, it looked really interesting!
Ohno: The truth is…
Ninomiya: The truth is…?
Ohno: That I’ve been fishing.
All: (explosive laughter)
Aiba: Leader! Is fishing part of the dance?!
Ohno: That would be really cool, wouldn’t it?
Ninomiya: No! That would be really bad! Please stop doing that! Your skin has been so light lately, don’t ruin it!
Matsumoto: And when he couldn’t fish, he was recording the new album. What did you think of it?
Sakurai: I feel like we move forward and evolve with each album we’re fortunate enough to release. Like “This is Arashi!”
Ninomiya: Ah, I understand. “This is us, now”, right.
All: Right.
Aiba: I really like Matsujun’s solo, it’s so upbeat.
Matsumoto: Only the music! The lyrics are really not as happy as the music. It was very difficult to record.
Sakurai: I really like Satoshi-kun’s solo –
Ninomiya: I guess all the time in the studio paid off!
Ohno: Thank you!
Sakurai: – it’s very emotional. I really like the chorus.
Aiba: Will we get the interpretive dance for the solo?
Matsumoto: About my eyebrows?
Ohno: I’m not singing an emotional ballad about Matsujun’s eyebrows!
All: (Explosive laughter)
But Ohno-san, has it been difficult getting back to everything and up to full speed?
Ohno: It’s been painful at times, but it’s so worth it now, being here with everyone again, and I’m very sorry for making everyone worry.
Matsumoto: It’s honestly no trouble to us, it’s what we do, we help each other. Leader continually said he was sorry and that he didn’t want to trouble us, but it wasn’t a problem for us. That’s how it is.
All: True.
Ninomiya: Even if we forced him inside a recording booth and locked the door (laughs)
Sakurai: We got our revenge, right.
Ohno: I knew it! (laughs) But more importantly, I’ve been really happy about dancing again.
Matsumoto: I watched you the other day. It’s looking really good now, Leader.
Ohno: I suppose. There’s still time.
Matsumoto: But you haven’t drawn anything lately, have you?
Ohno: They had to reset my fingers, right. They hadn’t grown correctly so they had to break them again and reset them. (Bitter laugh) I think I’ve forgotten what my fingers look like beneath the tape.
Ninomiya: Poor Leader.
Sakurai: So patronising! (laughs)
Matsumoto: What is up with this mood? Stop being depressing!
Aiba: But you haven’t been fishing, right, with your fingers all broken?
Ohno: No. Yes, I have. A little bit.
Aiba: Leader, your health!
Matsumoto: Please take care of yourself!
Ohno: I’m very sorry!
All: (laughs)
And finally, anything else up for the rest of the year?
Matsumoto: In between concerts, we’ll be doing our regular shows and work hard.
Sakurai: Please watch it!
Aiba: And shall we have Leader close?
Nino: Leader, if you please!
Ohno: Let’s all stay healthy this year, too.
All: (laughs)
Matsumoto: There it is!
Aiba: It arrived!
Ninomiya: Why are you saying that when you’re the one worrying us?
Ohno: I‘m very sorry!
All: (explosive laughter)
*
When the interview ends, Ohno stands and smiles at the interviewer, and he tickles at Nino’s waist as they leave the room, prompting Nino to bat at his hands and grumble. Behind them, Aiba is talking to no one in particular, something about a flamingo and a rhinoceros, and Ohno wants to pay attention, to listen and absorb Aiba’s enthusiasm, but he’s mostly concentrating on Jun and Sho in front of them. Jun casually says something about rehearsals later and tomorrow and Sho mutters something in the affirmative, and Ohno hides his smile in Nino’s shoulder when Jun accepts a single touch on his shoulder from Sho.
“What are you so smug about?” Nino murmurs and pokes at Ohno’s side.
Ohno tries to squirm away. “Nothing,” he says and he knows he’s sporting a shit-eating grin. Nino clearly doesn’t believe him if the contemplative narrowing of his eyes is any indication, but Ohno can’t possibly bring himself to care. He tries to catch Nino’s hands to stop his poking, but Nino is cleverly evasive.
“Nino,” he whines, dragging out the syllables in that way he knows Nino loathes, and Nino wiggles his fingers in warning. “Aiba-chan, Nino is being mean. Again.”
“Nino, behave,” Jun warns from further ahead and then they all turn right and start down the stairs.
“Oh-chan, do you need me to carry your fragile, old body down the stairs?” Nino smiles sweetly.
Ohno doesn’t buy it for one second. He falls a step behind Nino and Nino evidently feels paranoid enough to send glances backwards over his shoulder every two steps, and Ohno grins. Aiba’s hand slips into his right one, ever mindful of the damn newly broken fingers, and squeezes carefully.
“Leader, do you want me to tackle Nino for you?”
“Yes please,” Ohno says just as Nino exclaims, “I heard that!”.
From further down the stairs, Jun and Sho chorus: “Not on the stairs!”
Ohno grins. Let’s all stay healthy this year, too, he thinks and instead of poking at Nino’s back like his left hand is itching for, he grabs his shoulder and just holds on. Nino sends a knowing look back at him and Ohno doesn’t mind at all. He feels closer to them all, each of them in different ways, and he owes them all so much.
He can’t wait to make it up to them all, he’ll spend the rest of his life doing his very best.
He wants to remember them all.
*
The end.
Back to masterpost
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no subject
Date: 2011-11-16 03:57 am (UTC)I admit that I totally hate the premise (BECAUSE HOW DARE YOU STUPID DRUNK DRIVER), but oh gosh, this piece is just another proof of how amazing you are as a writer. I love how you deliver all the emotions through clear and simple writing...I almost can't explain it. It's like you weave a dense cloud over everything, and you just suck in readers to this world of yours. Maybe it's your choice of verbs (don't laugh, I always have trouble picking just the right verbs when I write, it's a gift, I tell you) or maybe it's the pacing. It's perfect.
You got me so bad at Aiba's silent tears and his recoiling, Nino's crying and missing the silence Ohno chooses for himself, Jun's being frayed around the edges and being all helpless and bilious, Sho's attempts at rationality and whispering to Ohno that he's the best of them...and your Ohno. Your Ohno is always perfect and just so him. Just, everything, really; you write them all so realistically but I can always feel the genuine fondness you have for each of them, and that's the best part about it. This whole fic's an exercise in writing them, and what a success! (I can't imagine writing almost the same scenarios five times through the prism of five different people, I think I'd run out of words and everything would end up sounding redundant, but you pulled it off with such grace!)
Oh, and I enjoyed the magazine format! It's so nice to be able to "read between the lines" thanks to the previous chapters. That was a great touch. Bet that was fun to write!
Also, I just have to say this reminds me so much of your other fic, the one where Ohno left. I remember printing that out, and it gutted me up so bad, lol. But you have a way of making things right, just in the right way, at the end. Like this.
So yeah, another awesome fic delivered, Rikke! You're amazeballs. ♥ ♥ ♥
PS: I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT THE THING THAT REALLY STUCK WAS SHO PIROUETTING INTO THE MIRROR. *shrugs*
no subject
Date: 2011-11-17 11:13 am (UTC)No, seriously, you. I'm so glad that the premise didn't scare you away - there's a reason I affectionately called this fic "Cliché fic" for the first half of the time I spent on it. After that, I felt comfortable with the title my brain was screaming at me, so I officially named it properly. It's the first time I've ever attempted something like this, and I was extremely vary, especially because me and medical terms and facts don't go well together. Luckily, Gati is my right hand woman, and she's awesome at pummeling me with facts until I get the gist of it, at least.
I'm so so happy and tremendously relieved that you like it. I don't think I've ever been as anxious about posting a fic as I've been with this one, which is really weird, because normally I actually don't give a flying fuck, mainly because I mostly just write for myself, but this was different for some reason I'm not really sure I understand.
After the last fundraising fic that I'm typing out at the moment, I'll probably take a break from writing Arashi. I told some of my flisters that I feel like this is somehow my final test piece. I literally did all I could to make it the best I could, and I feel very satisfied with it as it is now, but I also feel very drained and I think I need a break while I try to find fresh inspiration.
Thank you so much ♥M