That was four years ago, and since then things have not gone as you expected, as you said they would when you started the band with your friends in college, eyes full of hope and head filled with dreams. You're not sure how it all turned this way, how you ended up with a boring desk job of all things and a mortgage. But life was funny like that sometimes.
Still, you’re missing something, a part of you incomplete.
But when a chance encounter with a band desperately looking for a replacement gives you a second shot at stardom, will you take it?
Highly inspired by INFAMOUS IF. Go read this masterpiece!!
✭ Customise your MC - general appearance, gender (he/she/they), personality and vaguely age (anywhere between around 25 and 35 though it will always be in comparison the other characters and not a fixed number).
✭ Choose between being the new vocalist, guitarist, bassist or drummer.
✭ Help your new rock band win America’s S Factor and keep the morale up.
✭ Survive allegations, injuries, blackmail and the stress of stardom while cameras follow you everywhere.
✭ Choose how you want the public to perceive you, a pacifist or a troublemaker.
✭ Go full Pam & Tommy and have your sex tape leaked (accidentally and optionally).
✭Was stardom all you ever thought it would be?
You can't change MC's past a lot - MC finished an unnamed college, got a good-ish unspecified desk job and has a mortgage on a studio apartment in NYC.
MC has a good relationship with parents, I AM SORRY!
Trigger warnings: This story will be rated 18+...++ for sexual themes/content, alcohol and drug consumption, violence, strong language, suicidal thoughts (not MC's).
This is a romance story firsts! There will be some friendly platonic options here and there, but you'll be forced to lock in a romance around chapter 5 (out out 10). It will be a fairly short story, pretty fast paced and generally nsfw-ish, taking place over only 6 months, from slightly before the auditions in June up to the grand Finale in December.
All the things you should expect to come with being in a rock band, thrusted into the spotlight and tasting fame.
River Jones - (M/F) customizable-ish, same age as MC
Your ex best friend that you started your old band with. They did not take well the dismantling of the band and moved across the country without a word. Four years later, will you be able to rekindle the relationship that was once there? Or will the competition between your bands ruin any chance for it?
You can customise River’s general appearance (height -short/average/tall-, body type - lean/muscular/voluptuous -, skin, eye and natural hair colour) and gender (male or female). Otherwise, they are your former college classmate, turned best friend (optionally turned lover or who you harboured a crush on). They keep their hair short and spiky, a reminder of their mohawk days, and usually dye it in some unusual colour, vibrant green, blue or pink. They like to hide behind an assortment of oddly paired and always too large clothes.
River is a talented musician, being both a song writer, vocalist and playing the keys and guitar. They are classically trained to play the cello, though it’s not something widely known. They are currently the keyboard player and backing vocalist of Vicious Lovely.
Alex “Silvertongue” Arisaka - M - 1,95cm / 6′ 5″ - 38yo
One of the judges and your eventual mentor on the show. He’s one of the biggest rock stars of his generation, a typical troublemaker that comes with the territory of his profession. Or is he? Going through a messy divorce from his highschool sweetheart and mother of his child, will he be able to resist the gruelling months of filming for the show?
Alex is half Japanese and half Dutch. Tall and broad shouldered he seems to fill the room with both his presence and his stature. He keeps his long black hair in some type of messy bun, that’s always on the brink of untying. He is covered in weird tattoos in black and red, depicting various Japanese monsters. He was discovered when he was still in highschool and has been in the spotlight ever since.
Alex is the vocalist of the famous rock band Samurai and father to a 17 year old daughter that seems to hate him.
Morgan Williams - M/F - 1,80/1,70cm/ 5′ 11″/5′ 7″ - 2 years older or younger than MC
Initially a stranger you meet at the bar (or not), they turn out to be the drummer of the band you are in direct competition with. Intimidating at first, covered in dark leather, piercings and chains, they are a charmer at heart and real sweetheart with their heart on their sleeve. You can see why they have become close friends with River over the years.
Morgan has dark skinned and warm brown eyes. They are lean and fairly tall, and keep their hair in shoulder length box braids, usually decorated with a few silver loops. They prefer dark clothes and are never missing a chain or two on their belt loops. Piercings? Yes, they challenge you to discover all of them.
Morgan is the drummer of Vicious Lovely and usually the pacemaker of the group.
Hazel Sloane King - F - 1,60cm/ 5′ 3″ - 25yo
Assistant producer and former host of the show, she is, in her own father’s words ‘an angry old man in the body of a petite woman’. Heads turn when she walks by, but she needs none of that. She’s all work and no play… unless it’s her rare day off.
Hazel is short and lean, her figure a perfect hourglass. She has luscious copper hair and vibrant green eyes, but it’s the mischievous smile that gives her an air of mystery. She’s always dressed to impress on set, not a hair out of place, in an assortment of expensive looking pantsuits and dresses.
Hazel was born into the industry and will become a full time producer like her daddy even if it kills her. Scratch that. Even if she needs to kill her way through. You better not throw a wrench in her plans!
Levi "Leviathan" Lawson - M/F - 1,90cm/ 6′ 3″ - 2 years older or younger than MC (same age as Morgan as they were classmates)
Vicious Lovely singer and de facto leader of the band. And the bane of your existence. When you first meet Levi you think they look like an angel, with an innocent baby face and charming smile. They also have the voice to back it up. You’ve never seen anyone do a 180 so fast though.
Levi has pale ivory skin and light blue eyes that look almost grey. They have luscious curly blonde hair, male Levi keeping it ear level short and female Levi letting it grow past her shoulders. They are tall, with male Levi being more athletic and female more Levi curvy. They have sharpened their canines for a more menacing look, but otherwise, their body is piercing and tattoo free. They wear eccentric outfits for their performances, but you often see them in sweatpants and a T-shirt when the cameras are not rolling. Wears glasses in their off time, contacts when on stage.
Levi is confusing and manipulative and will sacrifice anyone in the name of winning the show. Even you, darling. Don’t fool yourself.
Kai Vela - M/F - 2,06cm/ 6′ 9″ - 34
Kai is an ex-military who was honourably discharged after suffering an injury. They worked various jobs in the private security industry until they ended up as a regular bodyguard on America’s S Factor. Despite their status as a civilian, their good looks and stoic personality generated quite the fandom, with various blogs and even fanfiction written about them.
Kai is tall and muscular, with tan skin and wavy dark brown hair that barely touches their shoulders. They have hooded slightly downturned brown eyes that look stuck somewhere between bored and menacing. As per their contract, they have to wear a suit when filming, but they find it all kinds of inappropriate for the job, usually preferring black cargo pants, T-shirts and boots.
Kai is the silent and brooding type and has a no-bullshit approach to life. They enjoy being a bodyguard and the pay is definitely a bonus, but they are weirded out by the cult like following some stars have.
Bonus RO -> romanceable for female MC only, with a more choice restricted route. Read more about it here.
Seth - M - 1,85cm/ 6′ 1″ - 32yo
Born Sebastian Shaw, Seth is one of your new bandmates, who is going through a messy breakup with the band member you are replacing. He has the boyish charm of the rocker next door, always soft spoken and polite despite his dishevelled hair, leather jackets and distressed jeans. He is a rule follower to the very bone, but you sometimes wonder if there’s really no darker side of him.
Seth has lightly tanned olive skin, wavy dark brown hair styled in an undercut and piercing blue eyes. He is tall and athletic, “his body a temple” and other similar quotes that earn him a laugh from his friends. He loves his bike and will take any excuse to ride around town.
Seth is the guitarist/ vocalist of your new band, but lately he’s been thinking the spotlight is not for him.
✭Other notable characters✭
Jude - MC's current bff (she/he/they).
Zain - Seth’s brother and your band’s drummer/ vocalist (and Jude’s future husband, probably).
Dannika Brown - your new band’s bassist/ vocalist.
Mr. King - Hazel's father and the owner and producer of the show.
As a guy who prefers male ROs, I’m so disappointed Seth is limited to a female MC because he’s just my type.
This is valid, and I think it's the reason why anyone would feel this way. I imagine no one is sending asks about this purely to annoy me, but because they like Seth and want to try his route😅
But at the same time, ya'll don't even really know what I have in store for him ☠️ Like maybe he'll turn out to be a massive prick who wants to control MC and snuff out their dreams?
Idk, it's really not a hill I want to die on, but also it's something I want to try out within my story🥴
I had a very dark thought of making very different routs for male and female MC. But ya'll won't like either, they don't end well ☠️☠️
The reason I’m sad Seth is romanceable by female MCs only is because he’s the only romanceable member of MC’s band and I imagine he’s going to get a lot of ‘screen time’. I just feel like the dynamic will be different and less tense than with other possible ROs if that makes sense.
uum it might actually be the other way around 😵💫
He might get a bit more "screen time" as in he'll just be there when doing band stuff, but other than rehearsals and preparing to go on stage, it's pretty even with the other ROs. They are all in the same bootcamp, in the same Mentor's house, on the same set. Chapter 1 might be the only one where it's uneven because you'll not meet Levi at all (maybe), River only gets a flashback and Alex is just mentioned in an article. But starting with Chapter 2, it should be equal time for all.
If anything, Seth's route is one of the slowest (only kinda topped by Hazel) and angstiest (only toped by Alex) and him starting to "notice" MC, while still not over his ex and figuring his shit out (romance wise, but also career wise), will only make it more tense. I guess some ppl will be into that too...
It's only chill(-ish) if you're not romancing him😅
Morgan, even if they are in a rival band, will be a looooot chiller and fluffier (and spicier) and Kai's too if you want the healthiest, least problematic route (still spicier) 😛
River
📢Random quote: ”Would it change anything now?!”
❤️At best: Kind, Artistic, Observant, Empathetic
🚩At worst: Withdrawn, Anxious, Insecure, Envious
4 random facts:
🍕hates cooking, would only eat instant noodles and microwavable pizza if left alone
👪does not know who their real parents are
❄️favourite season is winter
💅bites nails when nervous
Alex
📢Random quote: “I’ve never told anyone.”
❤️At best: Inspiring, Passionate, Loyal, Dedicated
🚩At worst: Nihilistic, Erratic, Burned out, Unreliable
4 random facts:
💌 his ex was his first everything
🐈⬛100% cat person, has a grey Maine coon named Gandalf
🔧 car enthusiast, would have been a mechanic if music didn't pan out
🎶 hums when bored
Morgan
📢Random quote: “No one needs to know.”
❤️At best: Optimistic, Flirty, Supportive, Genuine
🚩At worst: Unreliable, Mistrustful, Impatient, Indecisive
4 random facts:
🦇had a pet snake and wants a bat next
🎁favourite holiday is Christmas
💭 spaces out completely if the conversation is boring
🥁 twiddles with things when worried, nervous or impatient
Hazel
📢Random quote: “How did I let you drag me into this??”
❤️At best: Reliable, Generous, Driven, Charismatic
🚩At worst: Pushy, Deceitful, Driven!, Confrontational
4 random facts:
📖 has listened to all the self help books on Audible
🌶️ has read some of the Kai fanfics
🛍️has shoplifted out of sheer pettiness
🚬 she becomes easily addicted to things so generally avoids a lot
Levi
📢Random quote: “Well, isn’t this an interesting turn of events?”
❤️At best: Confident, Uplifting, Alluring, Addictive, Sensual
🚩At worst: Manipulative, Troublemaker, Belligerent, Egocentric
4 random facts:
🎻enjoys classical music
🐕only movie they can't watch is Hachiko
🧒emancipated at 15 and hasn't seen parents since
👄annoyed by loud chewing
Kai
📢Random quote: “We’re gonna have to be quiet.”
❤️At best: Assertive, Loyal, Passionate, Reliable, Kind
🚩At worst: Overprotective, …and um, nope that’s it!
4 random facts:
📸has refused several offers to become a model
💍was almost married once
👪has 2 younger siblings
⛪believes in a higher power
4 random facts:
🏍️ loves his bike so much because of his father and his own passion for motorcycles
🍫has a massive sweet tooth
🐈 is allergic to animals, but still loves and plays with them
🕷️mild arachnophobia, will not run screaming, but he ain't going near it either
The fact you want to make Levi a homewrecker/ seducer is hilarious and I actually love it. 😏
Btw the moodboards look WONDERFUL!!! 😍
I hope this isn't too spoilery of an ask. But how would the ROs react to MC writing them a lovesong? 👀
Hey lovely! 🥰 Glad you liked the moodboards, I tried to make them give off the general vibe of each RO🤭💕
And hehe yes, I honestly can't wait for all the drama in the later chapters, Levi being at the center of most 😂😈
As for the question, it is a bit spoilery as some variation of it will be in the game, but the general reaction are below the cut, for those who don't mind ^^
River - Probably the one who’s moved the most by the gesture, as they see it as such a vulnerable act, a presentation of one’s most inner self. They’d be emotional, tears burning at their eyes. Are they happy tears from the confession? Sad ones for all the lost time? They’d probably share some of the things they’ve written about MC over the years, from small poem-like phrases to full length songs.
Alex - He’d probably critique it first, out of habit, from a Will-this-sell perspective and give pointers on how to market it. When he realises it’s about him, he’d be extremely moved and slightly embarrassed, seeing the song in a whole new light. In all his years as an artist, no one has ever written him something so personal! He’d hug MC tightly, face hidden and tucked against them. He’d thank MC and ask if it’s how they truly feel, almost unable to believe it.
Morgan - Oh, they’ll turn it into somethin’ sexy, “Can’t wait to make love to you while listening to it.” Deep down, they’re a ball of goo, melting into a puddle and screaming like a schoolgirl in love! They’d definitely keep a copy of it with them all the time and read it from time to time, reliving that moment.
Hazel - She’d get a little scared. MC is getting a bit too attached, and Oh no! Is Hazel herself catching ✨feelings???✨Would compliment the song, but at the same time try to distance herself from MC, all the while still replaying the lyrics in her head.
Seth - Emotions would flash across his face in quick succession, going from fear and trepidation until finally settling on pure delight. He’d listen to MC’s song with a dopey smile, unable to take his eyes off her, taking in every little detail of her face.
Levi - “Aw, that’s cute. Love it that you can’t get me out of your head.” They’d let their fingers trail your jaw, gripping your chin to make you look them in the eyes. “It’s a good song, too, you deserve a reward, MC.” Somewhere deep, deep...deep inside them, something stirs.
Kai - There’s a bearhug with MC’s name on it and they cannot escape it anytime soon! K will take their time kissing every part of MCs body, muttering things they love about MC, desperately trying to convey their own feelings in any way they can.
will there be any poly routes?
also you mention in the intro post the story will be "pretty nswf"... what exactly can we expect? if that's not too spoilery, thank you
I thought about poly routes, and honestly threesome options, but none of the ROs match that well with one another.
My first choice would have been River and Morgan since they are already friends, and Morgan would be up for it, but I'm having a hard time making River join in on the action😅I kept getting bg3 Gale vibes with the drow twins, where he initially agrees then dips out and never speaks of it again :))
Besides this, most of them are going through stuff and barely able to hold onto one relationship let alone more 😵💫🥴
As for spice levels, I almost wanna say RAFO 🤣
But just to give you an idea, you will probably be able to sleep with someone in almost every chapter, and up to around chapter 5, when you lock in the route, it doesn't have to be the same person. You can choose Fade to black or more detailed scenes. Some ROs will have more intense moments than the others (Levi being the most unhinged, lol Will probably have to put up some warnings...).
I am toying around with the idea of making Levi the only RO than can actually seduce MC out of a locked romance :)) But that's going to be more towards the ending and will most likely have ✨consequences✨
But yep, first chapter you can already have a some fun with Hazel or Morgan, and I'm still debating where I want to end Kai's scene, but there will be at least a smooch option💋 All optional ofc.
Yep!
Intentionally or not, hehe.
Most of the game will be purely choice based, but being capable of winning will depend on 2 stats, Band Morale and Public Image. Once you're able to win, you'll have some choices like perform well, crack under the pressure, sabotage your band...
