The living room of the mansion was filled with the low instrumental loop from Blueprint Rebellion's track list. The members scattered out, working on various projects pertaining to the album.
"Hey, Cas, take a look at this." Rylan lifted his journal from where he lay sprawled across the couch to angle it over the side to Casen, who was lying down beside him on the floor with his legs kicked up behind him. "Whatcha think?"
Casen reached up, taking the journal to read over the lyrics written. He set them in front of his tablet, looking between them. "I think it could fit with Dissonance, I mean…" He clicked his tongue. "Show it to Lucian."
Rylan nodded, scooping up the journal as he stepped over Casen, "Yo, boss, got something."
Lucian looked up from his armchair, where his laptop was balancing on his knee, and reached out a hand to take Rylan's journal. Rylan slid it into his hand before wandering around to check what Enzo was working on. Lucian hummed, looking over the lyrics.
"Casen, you said Dissonance, yeah?"
"Yes, sir," Casen confirmed.
Lucian bit his bottom lip in thought, nodding as he pulled up the file for Dissonance on his laptop screen. Looking between them with his elbow resting on the arm of his chair.
Rylan tilted his head at the lyrics Enzo was writing before looking at Luca, who was sitting with his legs crossed on the opposite couch. "Yo, Luca. You working on another cryptic masterpiece?"
"Notes for the next track," Luca murmured without looking up.
Casen kicked his legs, grinning. "Translation: emotions and mystery."
"He's allowed to have a process, Casen," Lucian murmured, glancing up over the journal and laptop.
"Still," Rylan gave a mischievous smile, silently circling the room to look at the journal sitting next to Luca. "What… No way!"
Luca's gaze shot up, snapping his journal closed. "Rylan, what the hell?"
"What's going on?" Lucian quickly looked up, looking between the two before gently setting his laptop on the table next to him upon seeing Luca's expression.
Rylan stepped back, grinning like an idiot. "He's got a new track called Crossroads in there. Tell me that's not-"
"Don't." Luca's voice dropped low, cutting in sharply.
Rylan blinked, still smiling. "Oh, come on, man, it's good! I'm saying it like-"
Luca stood up, causing everyone else to get up simultaneously as he cut Rylan off again. "You don't get to say anything about it."
"Whoa, okay," Casen raised his hands, laughing nervously, "Let's maybe not-"
Rylan stared at Luca. "I didn't mean-"
Luca's eyes narrowed, "You don't touch my stuff. You don't read it. You don't talk about it. Got it?" He hissed.
"It was open-"
"You think that gives you permission?" Luca stepped forward.
Rylan blinked, standing still, though his brows furrowed, "Man, chill-"
"Say that again," Luca growled.
"Enough," Lucian interjected, firmly. "Both of you."
Rylan glanced toward Lucian and Enzo, refocusing back on Luca before slightly taking a step back. "It was just a title-"
"That title isn't yours."
"Luca!" Enzo charged forward, catching Luca's arms before his fist could raise, and pinned them behind his back.
Rylan flinched, nearly tripping as he sidestepped away from Lucian.
"Let go!" Luca snapped, only to have his legs trapped by one of Enzo's.
"Not until you calm down," Enzo murmured.
"Rylan. Casen." Lucian turned to them, pointing down the hall, "Out."
"But-"
"Out. Now!" Lucian snapped.
Casen grabbed Rylan's arm, tugging him towards his room down the hall, leaving the room in a tense silence. Enzo kept a hold of Luca's arms, glancing atLucian, who rounded in front of them.
"You good?"
"No." Luca glared at him.
"This isn't helping," Lucian murmured.
"You think I care what helps?" Luca growled.
"I think you care more than you want to admit," Lucian sighed.
Luca's gaze flicked between the two, "Save your psychoanalysis for your mirror, Lucian."
Lucian let out a sharp exhale through his nose, his jaw tightening.
"Man, get off!" Luca snapped, abruptly yanking his arms free and shoving Enzo backward, making him lose his balance and fall onto the couch. He stormed off down the hall before his bedroom door slammed shut.
"Shit." Enzo let out a sharp exhale, dragging his hands through his hair. "Man, I hate seeing him like that."
"Yeah. Me too." Lucian slowly sat next to him with a sigh, leaning back against the pillows. Lifting Luca's closed journal, shaking his head as he pulled the strap around the cover.
"He's been like this for a while… Have you noticed?" Enzo sighed, "That silence right before he snaps… It's getting shorter."
"He's been carrying more than he'll say." Lucian sighed.
Enzo tilted his head back, staring at the ceiling. "And he won't let anyone close enough to help…"
"He will…" Lucian sighed, "He has to."
"Yeah…" Enzo turned his head, looking at him silently before giving a small nod. "I hope you're right."
Lucian lifted a hand, pushing his hair out of his face. "You don't sound convinced."
"I'm not," Enzo admitted. "I've seen what happens when people shut everyone out."
"And yet," Lucian glanced at him, "You still try."
"Yeah." Enzo sighed, "Guess I'm a hypocrite."
"Or just human," Lucian murmured, turning his head to face him.
Enzo stared at him for a moment, cracking a small, reluctant smile with a snort, "Get out of here, man."
He tapped Lucian's chest with the back of his hand, and Lucian caught it, half-grinning. "What? No heartfelt thank you?"
"For what?" Enzo deadpanned, "The therapy session or the moral lecture?"
"Both?" Lucian shrugged, smirking. "I multitask."
"Yeah, yeah." Enzo rolled his eyes, pulling his hand free. "Go multitask somewhere else before I start charging you rent."
Lucian chuckled, patting him on the shoulder as he stood up, passing the journal to Enzo. "I think you should be the one to take this to him."
"Why, because I hit back?"
"No." Lucian snorted, "Because you can probably help him a bit more than I can. Also, for the love of everything… Don't throw hands with Luca."
Enzo sighed, taking the journal as he stood up, waving it as he walked towards Luca's room, "No promises, Ever."