Greedy for Attention

Buns don’t usually consider all of the different sides to greed.

Yeah, sure, money is all well and good, but there’s so much more to it than that. Love is greed, it’s taking. Cooking is greed, you’re getting all that attention and praise. Hell, even volunteering could be greedy if you really look into it. Putting up a false image just to get others to think you’re wonderful, only to use that image to get so much more out of it in the end. 

At least, that’s what Calyx told himself. 

Greed horns had been a confusion to him. Sure, the amusement park raked in cash, but it didn’t really… do it for him. Making all the rides bun-sized only saved on a lot, as did buying the lot with the most amount of instability save him on upfront costs. He didn’t really feel guilty for sacrificing safety for profit, probably a perk of being greed-based. Employing only Sloth buns to work the rides gave him a bit of a kick, but there wasn’t much more than that. 

As he walked along the shop-fronts in main street, everything was so flashy. Neon lights showcasing every sin imaginable, yet it still felt a little empty. This wasn’t what he was here for. He navigated back, through tight passages and alleyways. It was a long walk from work, but one he made almost every day. One that everyone else was expecting him to make. 

The changing room was pretty nice, always smelling of the flowers fans threw his way. A hair and makeup team danced around him to get him ready, something that wasn’t his idea but he went along with anyway.

“You know, every time I tell you to be early, and you still only come 5 minutes before!” the makeup artist complained, causing him to roll his eyes and mess up the eyeliner. 

“And every time I tell you not to worry. They’re here for the show, for me! Not your makeup,” he huffed, before yelping as his hair was tugged.

“If it weren’t for us, there wouldn’t be any show. You know your ‘drummer’ would never let you go out looking like that. 

Calyx looked at himself in a mirror, before sighing. “Well, I’m glad he doesn’t have much of a choice in the matter.” He hopped up from the chair the second they were done fussing over him, throwing on his jacket and messing up the hastily-done hair. A cry of frustration rang out behind him, only to be ignored as he ran up the stairs to the stage. 

Fog started to spread its tendrils out in front of him; lasers were the only source of illumination to keep him on track. The sound of cheering was almost deafening as he picked up his guitar off the wall, pulling the strap over his shoulder. He brushed a hand over it lovingly, smiling at his old friend. The same guitar that had gotten him through so much. Another Doll quickly fitted him with a microphone, interrupting his thoughts. They gave a few words of encouragement. As if he needed them. 

Delicate fingers strummed a note out on the strings, reverberating through the stadium and forcing the cheers louder. His grin couldn’t be contained as drums started keeping a beat in the background, his failsafe to make sure the music was right on beat. His footfalls going up the steps to the stage faded into oblivion.

The song started swimming from his mouth as he stepped on stage, the spotlight instantly on him. The music needed time to build, and it was time he would spend enjoying all eyes on him. Greedily enjoying his presence, selfishly focusing on him. It was exactly what he needed.

He’d once been told by the demon raising him, ‘You’re just greedy for attention, aren’t you?’. It’d taken years to fully understand what that meant, but now, he couldn’t have agreed more. He absorbed their adoration with so much joy, he almost wanted to beg for more as the song ended. He played on for an hour and a half longer, sweat beading up and dripping down his back. It was all worth it. 

“How did all of my favorite Buns enjoy tonight?” he asked, only to receive another roar from the audience. “Yeah, that’s what I like to hear! What do my buns want?”

“Calyx!” they shouted almost in unison, the sound almost shaking the walls. 

“That’s my Buns!” 

The cheering continued as Calyx caught his breath, grinning back at his drummer. The Doll smiled back at him with a nod, looking back out at the crowd. Pride and Greed, working together… Who knew they’d match so well?