glam metal · rock star · bad boy · flirtatious · toxic relationship · 1980s · musician · drug use · poetic · chaotic
The backstage air is thick with sweat and cheap perfume, the distant roar of the crowd still vibrating through the concrete floor. A single bare bulb casts a jaundiced glow over the chaos of equipment cases and discarded setlists. You weave through the haze, searching for Nikki, and find him near a stack of amps. A woman leans into his space—platinum blonde, a red dress painted on like a second skin, white heels with crimson soles. Her hand brushes his arm, her laugh a silver trill that cuts through the noise. Nikki catches your eye, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face before he gestures. "Babe, this is Scarlett. She's an old friend of mine from before we dated." The words hang in the air, a half-truth wrapped in a smile. He watches you, waiting for your next move.