So What's The Damage?
Title: So What’s The Damage?
Rating: PG 13? I suck at rating. I used the "F" word.
Disclaimer: The boys still belong to each other. Seriously.
Summary: The boys examine the fans reactions to Blake’s latest interview.
“How bad is it?” Blake asked wearily, entering the room he shared with Chris and flopping down on the bed.
Chris glanced up from his computer screen and sighed. “People are a little pissed.”
“How many links did Gina send you?”
“Three.”
Blake was afraid to ask, but knew he had to. “So what’s the overall verdict? Did it work or not?”
Chris looked back at the screen. “Depends on which message board you read. Some fans are ready to throw you to the wolves. Others are rejoicing in the news you’re straight. Some think you’ve morphed into a total asshole. And some still don’t believe you.”
Blake ground the heels of his hands into his eyes. He was running on less than 2 hours sleep a night. Tour rehearsals all day and heading into the studio afterwards, working until the wee hours of the morning. The producers all over him, telling him he had to get as much of the album done as possible before the tour actually started. Trying to do telephone and magazine interviews in between. Giving the same tired answers over and over. Hiding who he really was and so completely sick of doing it.
“I know I went overboard, Chris, but I just snapped. Why can’t these people ask about my music? My original songs? The upcoming CD? These idiots didn’t even realize the tour hadn’t started. Why is it so important to know who I’m fucking?”
Chris gave him a sympathetic smile, reaching out a hand to caress Blake’s cheek. “You know how it is. Sex sells. The powers that be need you to be straight, and available. That image sells records to all the fangirls who are half in love with you.”
“So tell me what you’ve read online. Give me the good and the bad. I can handle it.”
“Are you sure you want to know? We don’t have to do this now. Let’s go get something to eat first.”
Blake looks over Chris’ shoulder and stares at the screen.” No, I can’t wait. I have to know.”
“Well, this group here” Chris gestures to the screen “thinks you sounded like a complete ass. They can’t believe your attitude. They say they’ll never buy any music you make and they regret ever voting for you.”
“God, that’s fucking harsh.” Blake closes his eyes. “Tell me the rest of it.”
“This group can’t believe you denied the Blordin rumors. They think Jordin is wonderful and they can’t understand why you want to hide the fact you’re dating her. They think you’re ashamed to admit it. And they’re pissed off that you’ve taken her virginity when she was supposed to be saving herself for marriage.”
Blake’s eyes snapped back open. “Are you serious? They really think I’m screwing around with a minor? That wears a purity ring? Jesus. What kind of man do they think I am?”
“Blake, these people are idiots. You’ve got to push all this to the back of your brain and forget about it. You’re spreading yourself too thin as it is. You don’t need the additional worry.”
Blake smiled and rubbed his hand across Chris’ head, coming to rest on his neck. “Do you realize you just called my fans ‘idiots’?”
“If they’re talking this kind of shit, they were never really a true fan to begin with. Forget them.”
Blake sighed. “Is there anything good at all?”
Chris turned the laptop around so Blake could see the screen. “Actually, yes. Check out these people.”
Blake looked at the screen. “Wait, is this Livejournal?”
“Yep. That fan room Gina hangs out in. The one with all the stories about us. Apparently they aren’t ready to give up on us yet.”
Blake scanned the comments, smiling at a few and laughing out loud at others. “Hey! This girl wants to hug me. And this girl wants to squeeze my ass!”
“I think that one is a guy.”
“Either way, this is fantastic!”
Blake’s eyes lit up as he continued to scroll and read. “They don’t believe me! They still think we’re a couple!”
Chris laughed. “Gina was right. That site does have the most intelligent fans. Let’s just bookmark that one and ignore the rest. But Blake, you’ve got to be more careful of what you say and how you say it. I know the producers and management are pushing you to squash the rumors, but try not to get so frustrated.”
“You’re right. I’ll just smile, laugh, and deny. Then I’ll come back to you and let you make it all better.”
Chris grinned. “That’s the spirit. Now turn off that computer and let’s have some fun. How about we reenact one of those stories they wrote about us?”
Blake practically bounced over to the bed. “Which one?”
“How about my new favorite?” Chris picked up Blake’s glasses and handed them to him. “Here. Put these on and pretend to read.”
Rating: PG 13? I suck at rating. I used the "F" word.
Disclaimer: The boys still belong to each other. Seriously.
Summary: The boys examine the fans reactions to Blake’s latest interview.
“How bad is it?” Blake asked wearily, entering the room he shared with Chris and flopping down on the bed.
Chris glanced up from his computer screen and sighed. “People are a little pissed.”
“How many links did Gina send you?”
“Three.”
Blake was afraid to ask, but knew he had to. “So what’s the overall verdict? Did it work or not?”
Chris looked back at the screen. “Depends on which message board you read. Some fans are ready to throw you to the wolves. Others are rejoicing in the news you’re straight. Some think you’ve morphed into a total asshole. And some still don’t believe you.”
Blake ground the heels of his hands into his eyes. He was running on less than 2 hours sleep a night. Tour rehearsals all day and heading into the studio afterwards, working until the wee hours of the morning. The producers all over him, telling him he had to get as much of the album done as possible before the tour actually started. Trying to do telephone and magazine interviews in between. Giving the same tired answers over and over. Hiding who he really was and so completely sick of doing it.
“I know I went overboard, Chris, but I just snapped. Why can’t these people ask about my music? My original songs? The upcoming CD? These idiots didn’t even realize the tour hadn’t started. Why is it so important to know who I’m fucking?”
Chris gave him a sympathetic smile, reaching out a hand to caress Blake’s cheek. “You know how it is. Sex sells. The powers that be need you to be straight, and available. That image sells records to all the fangirls who are half in love with you.”
“So tell me what you’ve read online. Give me the good and the bad. I can handle it.”
“Are you sure you want to know? We don’t have to do this now. Let’s go get something to eat first.”
Blake looks over Chris’ shoulder and stares at the screen.” No, I can’t wait. I have to know.”
“Well, this group here” Chris gestures to the screen “thinks you sounded like a complete ass. They can’t believe your attitude. They say they’ll never buy any music you make and they regret ever voting for you.”
“God, that’s fucking harsh.” Blake closes his eyes. “Tell me the rest of it.”
“This group can’t believe you denied the Blordin rumors. They think Jordin is wonderful and they can’t understand why you want to hide the fact you’re dating her. They think you’re ashamed to admit it. And they’re pissed off that you’ve taken her virginity when she was supposed to be saving herself for marriage.”
Blake’s eyes snapped back open. “Are you serious? They really think I’m screwing around with a minor? That wears a purity ring? Jesus. What kind of man do they think I am?”
“Blake, these people are idiots. You’ve got to push all this to the back of your brain and forget about it. You’re spreading yourself too thin as it is. You don’t need the additional worry.”
Blake smiled and rubbed his hand across Chris’ head, coming to rest on his neck. “Do you realize you just called my fans ‘idiots’?”
“If they’re talking this kind of shit, they were never really a true fan to begin with. Forget them.”
Blake sighed. “Is there anything good at all?”
Chris turned the laptop around so Blake could see the screen. “Actually, yes. Check out these people.”
Blake looked at the screen. “Wait, is this Livejournal?”
“Yep. That fan room Gina hangs out in. The one with all the stories about us. Apparently they aren’t ready to give up on us yet.”
Blake scanned the comments, smiling at a few and laughing out loud at others. “Hey! This girl wants to hug me. And this girl wants to squeeze my ass!”
“I think that one is a guy.”
“Either way, this is fantastic!”
Blake’s eyes lit up as he continued to scroll and read. “They don’t believe me! They still think we’re a couple!”
Chris laughed. “Gina was right. That site does have the most intelligent fans. Let’s just bookmark that one and ignore the rest. But Blake, you’ve got to be more careful of what you say and how you say it. I know the producers and management are pushing you to squash the rumors, but try not to get so frustrated.”
“You’re right. I’ll just smile, laugh, and deny. Then I’ll come back to you and let you make it all better.”
Chris grinned. “That’s the spirit. Now turn off that computer and let’s have some fun. How about we reenact one of those stories they wrote about us?”
Blake practically bounced over to the bed. “Which one?”
“How about my new favorite?” Chris picked up Blake’s glasses and handed them to him. “Here. Put these on and pretend to read.”