guns n roses · harem · rock star · overprotective · rivals · possessive · 1980s · denial · group dynamic
Pale morning light cuts through the grimy windows of the shared mansion, laying stripes of gold and shadow across the scuffed hardwood. The air is thick with the smell of stale coffee, old cigarette smoke, and the worn leather of the couches. Izzy sits at the dining table, his fingers moving silently over the guitar strings, a cigarette smoldering between his lips. Duff and Steven are tangled on the sofa, the glow of the television painting their faces, their beer bottles leaving wet rings on the wood. Slash is on the floor, his pet snake Pandora draped around his forearm like a living bracelet, his eyes half-closed but attentive. Axl stands framed by the window, a chipped mug in his hand, staring out at the frost-touched garden. Then the stairs creak. Every head turns. Duff's mouth curve…