REMINDER: Side stories are not submitted to the editing team; some gramatical mistakes may have gone unnoticed.

The que to meet members of the Idol group Sanguine Sinners snaked back and forth through the auditorium entry hall. Daedalus Kane tightened his hold on his messenger bag strap and tried his best not to feel out of place. The majority of the fans around Dae(Vamps as they called themselves) were alternatively dressed young women. In a sea of black and red clothing, full faces of gothic makeup, and elaborate costumes, Dae’s light blue button up and jeans stuck out like a sore thumb. 

The divide between Dae and the average vamp was what’d stopped him from attending meet and greets despite being a long time fan. Tessa, Dae’s closest friend and only fellow vamp, finally got fed up with Dae’s nervousness and dragged him along. 

He’d known it was only a matter of time before she strong armed him into attending in person. It wasn’t like he could say decline, not with the debt he owed her from their first year in college. 

The two of them were part of their school's small and deeply competitive biotech department. Tessa was the only woman in their department. Dae was the only out gay man. In a foolish underestimation of prejudice, Dae assumed college would be a safe place to be honest about his identity. He quickly learned that jealousy outweighed progressiveness. 

In Dae’s first year at school he was given the opportunity to work on the development team for an implanted nerve stimulator meant to lessen pain from nerve damage. His name was even listed alongside the other developers. Instead of celebrating Dae’s accomplishment, the other members of the department decided that Dae must have slept with his academic sponsor. 

Through it all, Tessa stayed by his side. One year his senior and decades wiser, Tessa encouraged him and comforted him. Since Tessa received very similar treatment, Dae tried his best to do the same. 

Together they laughed at the ridiculousness of Dae(an eternal virgin) or Tessa(a woman whose lanyard had been sporting an aroace pin for her entire school career) could ever attempt to seduce a married man. But laughter wasn’t enough to erase the isolation both of them felt at being iced out of their department. 

So they turned to fandom. 

Tessa was the first to discover Sanguine Sinners. She was popular slash author on some social media Dae didn’t have an account on. One day she got a request to write about a certain band. A band the immediately shared with Dae. Almost overnight Tessa became one of the most popular vamps. 

Dae on the other hand-- much less outgoing than his friend --became the most dedicated collector of merchandise for the dancer of the group, Nox. Occasionally Tessa would post pictures of his collection and every time she was met with astonishment bordering on concern. 

A cloud kissing tall stone peaks

No different than ocean foam

Crashing into the rocky shore it weeps 

Of the love I wish to own 

Dae didn’t mind the alarmed comments. He knew his…interest…in the idol was far from casual. Wasn’t that the point of idols? To be adored and to inspire others. Dae certainly believed this to be true. Seeing Nox, an openly queer man, dancing and flirting while dressed as alternatively as he liked healed something in Dae. He got to live vicariously through Nox. 

His halo of bright white hair made him look angelic in the stage lights. His fluid movements turned to ritual and his voice to a prayer. His tendency to injure himself on his punk clothing turned his blood to divine sacrament. This comparison solidified when Kaspar, the lead vocalist, erotically licked blood from Nox’s finger in the middle of one of their sets. 

The chemistry Nox displayed not only with his band members, but with every person he interacted with, fed into his air of divinity. He could flirt with fans, interviewers, and strangers without ever coming across as lecherous or disrespectful. Online, fans described being in his presence as being truly and wholly seen. 

Ironically, Nox himself was an enigma. His charisma made it easy to deflect any and all questions about himself. Once an interviewer asked Nox his favorite color and Nox managed to avoid answering by discussing the color themes of the upcoming album and somehow ending up in the interviewers lap. 

Somehow Nox’s aloofness added to his approachability. He was a blank canvas and  finished painting all at once. Someone like Dae, a dorky loser in STEM, could relate to Nox just as easily as a teenager trying drag for the first time. The only thing fans knew for certain were the fact that Nox was queer and that he had a younger sister who inspired him to start performing. 

“Is the DVD creepy?” Dae looked down at his tote bag as he anxiously shifted his weight from foot to foot. Out of all of Dae’s merch he’d been forced to choose three things to bring for the signing. He’d decided on a poser with Nox at the center, his favorite Nox photocard, and a DVD that held his own compilation of Nox’s best dances. 

When he looked up Tessa was holding out a fanart poster featuring Nox and Kaspar, both shirtless, entangled with each other and a hair's breadth from kissing. Dae pressed his lips together and nodded slowly. 

“Yeah, I guess it could be worse…” 

“You still gonna say it’s for your imaginary sister?” 

Dae’s dark blush and guilty silence answered Tessa’s question. She rolled her eyes then grabbed Dae’s arm as the line moved forward. 

If I let go you could hold me 

Suspended 

Between sky and sea 

Despite the venue’s thematic gothic decor, the group interacted with their fans cheerfully. They frequently recognized fans, even going so far as to take pictures with their personal phones. Dae wondered if he could have been one of those familiar faces, if Nox would smile at him like that, if only he’d plucked up the courage to come sooner. 

The group ahead of Tessa and Dae peeled off to visit with Cas, the rapper of the group. As Tessa approached the table Kaspar narrowed his eyes, trying to place her. 

“Slash Lash Queen?” Kaspar asked. 

Tessa did a mock curtsy, “In the flesh! You also signed some art for me at the last concert!” 

Kaspar nodded as Tessa laid out her poster. He looked down at it and whistled lowly before leaning over and tugging on Nox’s shirt. Nox, who’d just finished meeting with a fan, leaned over to look at the poster. 

“Want us to pose for this one too?” 

Nox’s voice was even more enchanting in person. The gravely tone from the concerts vocal strain added an intimate quality Dae wasn’t prepared for.

“Wait!” Dae held a hand up as his mind caught up to the contents of Nox’s question, “You make them act out your ship art?” 

Both idols laughed and nodded as Tessa looked away evasively. 

“Are the two of you together?” Nox asked gently. 

“Yes!” Tessa chirped as Dae firmly said, “NO!” 

The two of them looked at each other then back at the idols. 

“We came to the concert together but we’re not romantically involved,” Tessa amended tactfully as Dae blurted out, “I’m gay and I hate her.” 

Nox lifted one hand, adorned with rings and chains, to cover his mouth as he struggled to stifle a laugh. Kaspar made no such attempt. He clutched his stomach and bent over with raucous laughter. 

I wish to be the coil unspooled in your hands 

It only takes two to pull me taut 

it’s enough to just watch you, Watch the sky 

Clouds in your eyes, Feet off the dock

Dae’s ears burned and he stared down at his feet. When he looked back up Nox and Kaspar were clutching each other. Kaspar was seated with one hand looped around Nox’s back and the other firmly grasping Nox’s thigh. Nox cupped the back of Kaspar’s head with one hand while the other rested lightly on Kaspar’s chest. Their faces were close enough to share breath and their expressions held the same longing as the artwork. 

Beside Dae, Tessa busied herself with capturing multiple angles of the scene before them. All Dae could focus on was the small gap between Nox’s parted lips. When the idols finally separated Tessa approached the table to lay out her other items. 

After signing the poster, Nox slid back into his seat and motioned for Dae to follow. As if in a trance, Dae instantly obeyed. The way Nox smiled at Dae made Dae’s heart race. He could feel the tratous organ trying its best to escape through his throat and reveal his affection. He busied himself with unpacking his bag. 

Nox hummed to himself as he signed the card and poster, tactfully filling the awkward silence Dae created between them. When Nox got to the DVD his humming stopped and he looked up at Dae questioningly. 

“This doesn’t look official. You’re not making me sign anything weird, right?” Nox’s lips were curled into a playful smile and his eyes were alight with friendliness but Dae still felt his stomach drop. 

Dae held out his hands and shook his head frantically, “NO! It’s just a compilation of your dancing- I mean that’s what my sister said! It’s um.. All this is for her.” As he trailed off he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. 

“Since when have you had a sister Daedalus?” 

Dae’s mouth fell open and he was sure he felt his heart stop as his full name left Nox’s lips. Beside him he felt Tessa still and out of the corner of his eye he saw Kaspar turn to Nox in shock. 

“Ho-how do you… Tessa did you post my name on your account?” Dae turned to Tessa, reaching for the only possible explanation for this impossible situation. 

Nox tilted his head. His eyebrows pinched and his lips tilted towards a frown, “I knew you before I knew about Tessa’s account. Actually, I didn’t know you listened to our band-” 

Kaspar reached over and grabbed Nox’s arm. While wearing a tight smile he hissed, “Dude you’re scaring our fan!” 

Nox stared at Kaspar indignantly then turned to Dae imploringly, “I’m not going to pretend not to recognize an old friend!”