The StaticLine studio was bright enough to make even the boldest of sunglasses seem like a practical choice. Lucian adjusted his jacket collar, squinting toward the overhead rig. "I swear these lights were designed by someone who hates pores."
Casen bounced behind him, holding a half-eaten muffin they'd gotten from a cafe nearby. "I love pores! That's how your skin breathes!"
Luca, Lucian, and Enzo's expressions contorted into a level of utter disgust while Rylan side-eyed him with nearly the same expression. "Dude… Please stop talking."
"And never say that again," Luca added, wiping a hand over his face.
The production team chuckled from behind the cameras. The usual. Laughter always came easily around Premise of Design.
"Alright, gentlemen," the host, Melanie, spoke brightly, "Go ahead and take a seat. We will be playing a round of twenty questions. No filter, just answer honestly."
Lucian shot her a smile that was equal parts charming and dangerous. "Honesty's subjective," he replied smoothly. "But we'll do our best."
As soon as they took their seats and got situated, the cameraman nodded. "Rolling in three… two…"
Lucian leaned forward, smiling. "Hey, everyone," he began, his tone dripping with his usual confidence. "We're Premise of Design, and we're here with StaticLine today for a special twenty-question session." He leaned back, grinning. "Let's get to it."
Luca flipped one of the cards over in his hand, reading it off. "Who spends the most time getting ready?"
"Lucian," Casen answered immediately. "He moisturizes like his life depends on it."
"It does," Lucian replied. "The camera is cruel."
"He travels with more skincare products than clothes," Luca added.
"And he likes staring at his reflection," Enzo pointed out.
"Okay, okay," Lucian chuckled, "I have to be presentable for the fans."
Luca shook his head, and Rylan flipped a card as directed by Melanie. "Who's most likely to start a fight?"
"Depends," Luca nodded, "Verbal or physical?"
"Either way," Lucian hummed, "Still you."
"Actually…" Enzo blinked, then nodded, "Yeah, that's right."
"He once argued with a vending machine," Casen chirped.
"To be fair," Rylan mused, "That vending machine had it coming."
The host laughed quietly, nodding to Casen, who flipped a card. "Who's the biggest flirt?"
"Lucian," everyone answered without missing a beat.
"Guilty," Lucian grinned, winking at Luca, who rolled his eyes.
Enzo flipped one of his cards, reading it off. "Who's the most likely to leave the group chat on read? …Yeah, that'd be me."
"He does it constantly," Rylan added. "We could ask him a question, and he just doesn't respond."
Lucian turned his card over, smiling as he nodded. "What's one thing Enzo does that drives everyone insane?"
"He thinks before he speaks," Rylan spoke up.
"Yes," Casen nodded in agreement, "For so long!"
"Sorry for practicing discernment," Enzo said calmly.
Rylan turned in his chair, looking at Enzo, "Stop using big words, I don't understand!"
The group rippled with laughter as Luca flipped the next card, reading it off once the laughter died down. "Who gives the best advice? …Enzo, hands down."
"He may give the best advice, but does he take it?" Casen grinned. "No."
Lucian chuckled, nodding. "He's like the human equivalent of a plot twist."
"That's…" Enzo pursed his lips for a moment, then sighed, "Not untrue."
Rylan flipped over the next card. "Who's the most dramatic?"
Without missing a beat, everyone answered in unison, "Lucian."
"...I prefer the term expressive, but okay."
Casen chuckled, flipping another card. "Which song's choreography hits different live?"
"Ooh," Luca nodded, tilting his head, "That's a tough one."
Enzo nodded in agreement, "I'd have to say it's a draw between Flicker // Fade and Burn."
"Nah," Rylan shook his head, "It'd have to be Dreamcatcher, hands down."
"Right," Lucian agreed.
"That choreography was the hardest to learn," Casen nodded, "But once we locked it, it was stunning! The fans loved it."
"I mean, yeah," Rylan laughed, "Luca basically trust falls off a platform."
"I have a harness," Luca snorted, "But yeah, Dreamcatcher is definitely one of the ones that hits different live."
Enzo flipped the next card, taking a moment before reading it off. "Out of every song you've ever performed, which one would you perform again?"
"Quiet," everyone answered, nodding with grins.
"Quiet just hits different," Rylan said, leaning back, "The choreography is a blast and the crowd always goes wild."
Lucian nodded, flipping his card over with a grin. "What's the weirdest fan gift you've received?"
"Tiny coffin!" Casen and Rylan said in unison. "The tiny coffin."
Lucian leaned forward, laughing, "I still have that, actually."
Luca blinked, turning his head to look at him. "You what?"
"It was a gift," Lucian snickered. "And it makes a good conversation piece."
Lucian gestured to Luca, who flipped the next card over, shaking his head before reading it off. "What's your favorite lyric that you've ever written?" He paused, pondering it before speaking, "'You can't unsee the ghosts you name.' From Ghost Signal."
"Oof. Yeah," Casen nodded, "That one hits different."
"That was a good night in the studio," Lucian hummed.
Rylan nodded in agreement, reading off the next card. "What's one random skill no one expects you to have?" He smirked, laughing slightly, "Knitting."
"Wait, wait, wait," Casen whipped around, "You can knit?"
"I can make scarves," Rylan chuckled.
Casen blinked a few times before recovering, "I did not know that." He gave an odd look before reading the next question. "What's your go-to karaoke song? …Disaster Darling by Heatstroke City."
"He screams it more than he sings it," Rylan chuckled.
Enzo shook his head, reading the next question. "What's your biggest stage mishap?" He paused for a moment. "Ah… It had to be during the Hollow Frame tour… We were doing the choreography for Drownproof, I missed my mark, tripped Luca, and fell off the stage."
Lucian leaned forward, laughing, "I remember that."
"Ah, yes…" Luca nodded, "Casen yelled 'Man down' then tripped over literally nothing."
Lucian chuckled, shaking his head, "The whole band malfunctioned because of Enzo. It was fun." He flipped the next card in the same motion, snickering as he read it. "Who's most likely to get lost in a hotel?"
"Luca!" Casen immediately shouted. "He's always getting lost."
"I swear, the hallways move," Luca defended.
"No," Enzo shook his head, smiling. "You're sense of direction doesn't exist."
Luca gave a humorous roll of his eyes, flipping the next card. "Who's most likely to oversleep and miss call time? …Casen."
Casen whipped around to face him. "Excuse me?"
"Bro, you wake up, but you don't move," Rylan pointed out.
"He stares into space for fifteen minutes like he's buffering," Lucian snickered.
"...Touché."
Rylan chuckled, reading off the next one. "If you weren't in music, what would you be doing? …Construction, I like to work with my hands."
Everyone nodded, Casen flipping the next card. "If you could switch roles with one member for a week, who would it be?" He turned in his chair, squinting at everyone before turning back dramatically. "Lucian. I want to know what it's like to care too much."
"You could try therapy," Lucian quipped back.
Enzo snorted, reading off the next question. "Which song has had the biggest impact on everyone?"
"Really making us think, huh?" Luca chuckled, leaning back slightly.
"Biggest impact…" Lucian hummed, looking at Enzo, who was leaning forward, thinking. "Let's see…"
"Would it be Paper Halo?" Rylan questioned.
"Or Replica Hearts?" Casen suggested.
Enzo gave a faint smile, leaning back, "Midnight Kiss."
"Oh, I agree," Luca nodded, pointing to him, "That song has double meanings behind the lyrics."
"Oh yeah!" Rylan and Casen nodded.
Lucian nodded in agreement, holding up the last card, "Alright, boys, last one." He turned it, reading it off. "What's something you'd all like to say to your fans?"
"Thank you for letting us be weird in public," Casen started it off.
"And for sticking around when the weird got louder," Rylan added.
"That we mean it. Every single word," Luca smiled.
"You remind us daily why we write," Enzo said.
"Keep listening, keep feeling," Lucian smiled, "It's about to get loud. We're not done yet."
Luca smiled, leaning back to straighten his posture. "A big thanks to StaticLine for having us. It's been a blast. Remember to hydrate and treat yourselves kindly. We are-"
"Premise of Design!" The five spoke in unison, giving a small bow as they stood. Casen and Rylan bounced up to the camera, both making hearts with their hands, "We love you guys!"