#hoping you dont notice boudreauxs flame motif

[stinkyhyena9000]

Literally me today

[everything here is hc btw]

So basically on my walk home today, I had a very vivid idea of Clay and Boudreaux's band. Three Day's Grace's "I Hate Everything About You" perfectly shows off my voice HC for how young Clay sounded, as well as their band's overall sound.

Other bands that also work are the Foo Fighters, Taking Back Sundays, and Sleeping With Sirens. (Yes these are all popular emo/rock bands ik)

At the time, Clay was also dyeing his mane and tail black, or atleast the small bit of hair he could call his mane. He was already a good ~5years on testerone, but his mane was taking a long while to grow in, which is why he takes such good care of it and takes a lot of pride in it now. Also he no longer dyes his mane black now, but he still does dye his tail, as a fun little memory of the past.

Oh yeah did I also mention I'm putting my trans Clay headcanon in this? Yeah.

Anyways his band "Crimson Car Fire" advertised themselves a bit as a couple of hotties. Clay was into the idea too, even though he's definitely demi. He even went far enough to wear a fishnet tank with nothing under it to most of their shows.

He was terrified at first to try this though, since had much more recently gotten top surgery. Yes, we're back to that headcanon. Anyways, he was worried because his scars would show through his fishnet tank. Luckily (mostly) everyone was supportive, so he kept sporting it!

What else he would wear is some black cargo pants, with some chains. He also had some black leather fingerless gloves of course, black leather boots, and for necklaces he had a cross necklace and a necklace of his first guitar pic from his (late) father. He still wears these to do this day.

If he's not wearing only his fishnet tank, he's always wearing some tshirt from bands he went to concerts for. He also wears these to this day, and Ash and Johnny likes to refer to them as vintage. Although correct, Clay always insists that they're not vintage! (they definitely are).

Oh yeah back to the band. Clay is the main singer and playing some bass, with Boudreux (peacock) being the main guitarist, ane Julie (finch) fronting the drums and sometimes vocals. They're actually from the Sing equivalent of New Orleans (They did move to Calatonia and play most of their shows there, though).

As you can imagine, Clay was definitely shocked to see Calatonia again when he finally went to live their again with the Moon Crew. And to think they didn't keep a single drive-in movie theatre! (Will get back that with Clay and Ruby dates.)

Speaking of Ruby, she actually met Clay through the band. Was she a fan? No, actually, she though their music was too cheesy. She was just dragged there to one of Clay's bands shows by her friend. Clay may have winked at her and Ruby may have felt that.

The real crushing began outside of the show, though. They bumped into each other and Ruby recognized him from the show. I'll go more into this later, but yeah.

Now I did mention to other band mates, Boudreux and Julie. Boudreux was a hot shot peacock who played guitar, and him and Clay met at the end of highschool. There was a lot of unresolved romantic tension between the two, although it's gone now after they split up. He was definitely jealous when Clay and Ruby started hanging out, but what reason would he have to stop them? Him and Clay were never actually a thing, just a few in-the-moment instances.

(Oh yeah incase it needed to be stated, Clay is demiromantic, demisexual, and bi. Boudreux is a demiboy and flaming homosexual, and Julie liked girl in red. She also had a partner too who always supported her and came to her shows. They were definitely a colorful cast).

Anyways eventually the band split it. Julie had to move out of state to stay with her partner, and there was a little drama between Boudreux and Clay about Ruby.

Cut back to present-day, with Clay living with Rosita back in Calatonia, Clay likes to watch Ash's concerts, since it makes him nostalgic for his band days. (Picture Clay wearing an Ash concert t-shirt btw).

At one of her concert's his eyes actually catch someone familiar among the sea of heads. The impossible, unforgettable plumage of the one and only Boudreux.

Clay catches him after the show. Boudreux is surprised to see him again and gives the big lion an even bigger hug. Despite everything, they're still best friends, and they had a lot of catching up to do. I need you to realize, this is like 30-40 years later.

Boudreaux comments on how they both seemed to have grayed, and Clay can't help but give of a hearty laugh. They apologize for the rough ending back then, and some tears are shed. Boudreux asks about Ruby. "That girl was always at your side, where she at?" Clay is stuck, unable to speak. Lion's caught his tongue.

That's when Ash finally makes it ouside to meet back up with Clay. She notices that familiar grimace, and swiftenes to ask him what's wrong, "and who's this?"

Clay, seeing her daughter, that bright shining star, he gets back together again. He introduces him as an old friend. And then he continues "Boudreux, she's gone now. I'm so sorry."

Boudreux's usual snarky front immediately softens, and he quicky replies "No, no, why are you apologing. Stop crying this isn't your fault" and he begins to tear up, too.

Also yes, Ash is just standing their confused.

After a couple of minutes of silent sobbing, conversation starts back up again.

"Y'know, did you hear about Julie?" Boudreux begins.

"Oh my god, Julie. What happened" Clay responds in a hushed, weak tone, still recovering from the news he just gave.

"She, uhm. She was found somewhere in the upper states. Sam rushed her to the hospital. She uh, passed from a heart attack, I think."

Clay begins to smile a bit, despite the news. "That Sam of her was always there for, wasn't they?" He word out through his waterworks.

"Damn right they were. Perfect couple I'd say," the peacock answers.

Another silence passes.

Ash is on the side of them furiously texting her phone. Clay and Boudreaux forgot about her, actually. Ash is texting Buster and Rosita, saying they're gonna be a while, before putting back down her phone, out of courtesy.