Support Conversations

C Rank

Stal: Fffff...

Gray: Rough day?

Stal: This damn song just... won't come together, for some reason.

Gray: I could write some stuff for you, if you want...

Stal: Thanks, but no. You've helped me to write half the songs on this album already. I appreciate it, but... if I can't do this myself, then I'm no good for anything.

Gray: Asking for help doesn't mean you're bad at doing something. I mean, look at all the songs you have written on your own. They're incredible.

Stal: And if I can't continue to write them on my own, I'll lose my touch. I'll forget what makes a song good.

Gray: You can still ask me for help if you need it. Don't forget that.

Stal: Yeah, I know. Thanks, man.

---

B Rank

Stal: What rhymes with 'lucid'?

Gray: Uhh...

Stal: ...

Gray: I dunno.

Stal: Exactly. I can't think of a single thing. I guess I'll have to scrap that line and rewrite it all...

Gray: Having trouble again?

Stal: When am I not? I just can't seem to put my thoughts into words. I know what I want this song to be like, but...

Gray: Give me that bit of paper. I'll read through it and try to come up with some ideas.

Stal: Urgh... here, take it.

Gray: Thanks. Go and do something else for a bit. I'll see what I can do about the lyrics, but in the meantime, you need to chill. You've been stressing over this song for days, and that's not good for you.

Stal: How come you always know how I'm feeling?

Gray: It's been ten years, dude. I'd be disappointed if I hadn't learned how to read you in all that time.

Stal: Guess I could say the same about you. Everyone else says how hard it is to tell what you're thinking, but to me, you're like an open book. I always know when you feel like crap or there's something on your mind.

Gray: It's like having superpowers.

Stal: *chuckles*

---

A Rank

Gray: How's that song coming along?

Stal: Which one?

Gray: The one you've been working on for ages! What was it called... Killing the Voices or something like that?

Stal: Oh, that one. Yeah, I actually finished it late last night and forgot to tell anyone.

Gray: And are you happy with how it came out?

Stal: Yeah... mostly... I think. I mean, it's far from perfect. It'll never be perfect. But I think I finally managed to get across what I was trying to say. Now we just have to play it, all of us together. I need to know how it sounds with a full band.

Gray: See, I told you you'd get it eventually!

Stal: *laughs* I always believed you. Even when I didn't believe in myself.

Gray: This song's pretty personal to you, isn't it? When I read through the older version of the lyrics, it seemed... Well, it seemed like it was talking about your struggles with perfectionism.

Stal: Ironic, isn't it? The very thing the song is about nearly stopped me from finishing it.

Gray: But it must feel pretty great to finally have it done, right?

Stal: Yeah, it does. And I should probably thank you, too – for supporting me. Even when all I wanted was to scrap the damn thing and never look at it again.

Gray: I knew it would be an amazing song if only you could finish it. So I had to make sure you did.

Stal: Still, thanks. Dunno where I'd be now if it wasn't for you. I almost definitely wouldn't be a songwriter.

Gray: Even if I wasn't here, you'd still have the skill and desire to write songs. It's what you love.

Stal: Look, Gray, just – just let me be grateful to you for a second? Maybe you're right, but I really feel like I'd be nothing without you. This band would be nothing without you. You're a lot more important than you seem to think.

Gray: *smiles* I'm glad to hear that. I'm just doing what I love, same as you.