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Defying Atmosphere drummer Krieg Bleier hospitalized after altercation with manager
by Steph Cage

The metal world is rocked once again by Defying Atmosphere. As of the morning of November 26th, reports from Sacred Saint Hospital state that Krieg Bleier was rushed to the emergency room with broken ribs, internal hemorrhaging, and a concussion, after instigating a physical instigation with Defying Atmosphere manager, Kimiko Fukui.

Although the latest reports say Krieg is in stable condition as of this afternoon, DMF has been unable to get a statement from Krieg or Ms. Fukui, leaving us only with speculation. It may be likely that this is the aftermath of the termination of mix artist Gaige, after which Krieg has cut back on much of his social media activity. The day of news coming out that bassist Weasel was also fired, Krieg broke character with his still-latest tweet:

KRIEG @kriegthepsycho Nov 25

this is bullshit.

We can only hope that this is only his reaction to the loss of his bandmates and not an indication of addiction rebound. Additionally, one can only wonder how a man of Krieg's stature could sustain such damage from a slight young woman like Ms. Fukui. I want whatever self-defense classes she's taking. \m/

Updates as they become available. If you have information, e-mail Steph Cage at cosmonaut@dailymetalfeed.net or tweet her at @misscage.

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[Boy, hospital stays sure are fun.

He's here while the hospital does an extensive drug screening and psych evaluations, because no one believes him when he says he's clean. In the meantime, he's trying to distract himself from his frustration by playing games on his tablet. It's only half-working.

By pretty much legal requirement, any Virgo employee is welcome to visit him, but he's gone out of his way to add some Pride members to his guest list. You know who you are.]

Edited 2015-11-27 23:24 (UTC)

[You have to get used to people coming and going. That's what Greg keeps telling himself. It's all he can really do, with the both of them leaving so suddenly, one after the other. It's something they have to get used to. What other option is there?

Well, Krieg found an alternative. Nothing if not for trying.]

So. How many pieces did she leave you in?

[If only it was even remotely cathartic.]

More than she has the right to.

[Does Krieg think he's in the right to have attempted to punch Kimiko in the face? Not really. But he doesn't think Kimiko has the right to have done as much damage as she did to him--though she wouldn't have if he kept going at her--when he keeps being given grief after grief without an opportunity to recover from the last.]

[ Greg won't argue that. Even if he were here to scold Krieg over conflict with their manager, there's no way he could possibly justify her leaving him in this condition. ]

She's broken us up enough already.

[ It's not even an attempt at humor. ]

I couldn't get enough information out of her to tell if it was even her idea. It'd be like her to cover up for Blanche or Juno.

[He practically spits their names out with venom.]

Not knowing is the worst. Is it because of what we've been putting out? And if that's the case, why them?

They were coming down sort of hard on Weasel after that Bass Off last month. [ That bizarre sequestering in the basement sure had looked bad. It doesn't add up, though; the competition was too long ago, and too small really, to justify this sort of reaction.

Then again, here Krieg is in the hospital. Appropriate reactions are not Virgo's forte. Greg shakes his head, aggravated. ]

It can't just be about the music. I'd've been the one under fire for that.

He opted to be in that.

[Krieg looks away, and after a beat, he heaves out a sigh. Without remaking eye contact, he speaks lowly, as if their conversation risked being overheard:]

...I want us to go indie, Greg. Back before all this label bullshit.

[He knows that's not an option, even though he hasn't seen the contract with his own eyes.

...What contact?

Is there even a contract?

Without voicing his internal dialogue, Krieg's face pulls into something of grim realization. Where's the paper trail?]

[ That statement catches Greg off guard. It shouldn't, somehow--he's already become tired of all the drama and red tape that comes with signing to Virgo--but to be so forward about it catches him entirely off guard. ]

Krieg--that's not...

[ His face screws up, and he speaks quietly as well. ]

That's not possible. You know that.

[ Because they signed. They did, and Virgo would never let them leave. Except Virgo just let two of their friends leave. But that's not the same. Is it? No, it's not. He tried going indie before, sure, but-- the reasoning spirals around in his head, before it catches onto a solid idea. ]

Even if we could, they--they'd never let us get anywhere. They'd find a way to crush us.

[ It may as well be solid fact. After coming this far, there's no possible chance Virgo would let them go without crushing any possible career they'd have. ]

Edited 2015-11-30 09:50 (UTC)

Crush us? What the hell do you call what they're doing already? What they did to Gaige and Weasel? In fact, I can think of several more words for what happened to them that would be a hell of a lot more apt than crush.

[And not just because his violent vocabulary is lavish.]

At least--at least we'd go down with our pride intact. Get to make what we want without someone crawling up our ass.

[ The more Krieg speaks, the more Greg shrinks in his chair. His eyes dart around, anxious, as if someone could be lurking to overhear this sort of talk. The dread is deep and gnawing, something more visceral than his usual nervousness about such matters. ]

Krieg... come on man... be serious, I mean...

[ The problem isn't the notion, but how reasonable and right it sounds, how they would be better off somewhere else.

But they can't, they couldn't, if they try, they'll... Greg can't make eye contact, anymore. ]

I am serious!

[Damn it, Greg. Krieg growls.]

I know you're the kind of person that hates putting people in bad positions, but I never thought you'd do it in the name of saving your own ass.

[Wow. Talk about inflammatory accusations. Krieg backs off, though, before he really goes down a path neither of them want.]

Just--draw a line in the sand somewhere. This can't keep happening. Because if all of us get pruned and you get to go solo under the label...[Krieg gives him a sharp glare.] You're gonna wish it was them that crushed you.

[ok, maybe "backing off" was an overstatement.]

[ Boy. Hopefully, Krieg's intent wasn't to get Greg more on his side. Greg stares at Krieg, completely stunned by the accusation and threat. ]

Solo? [ His brow furrows, bewildered. Somehow, their musical career had completely slipped from his mind as a factor. ] Man, that's not... I don't care about...

[ He's too shocked to figure out what to say. It's distressing to realize Krieg thinks so little of him, but then again, he's not giving him a lot of reason to think any higher right now. He really is being a coward. ]

Really? You're just going to sit there and blubber?

[This is, after all, something important enough to Krieg to put himself in harm's way just to get answers. Not to get even, not to get justice, just answers.]

Say something, damn it.

[ Greg sits back in his chair. He runs a hand through his hair, then cups it over his mouth, thinking. Why is this so hard? ]

Krieg, do you have any connections out there?

[ He's staring hard at his lap. ]

I'm not talking musical, I'm talking like... a place to live. Or a bank account Virgo doesn't own, or... anything.

[ Literally the only thing Greg can think of owning that didn't belong to Virgo was his car. And he doesn't know where even that is, anymore. ]

This isn't me saying no, man, I don't care about having a cushy life or whatever. But it's something we gotta do with a plan.

[Finally, something to work with. Plans aren't exactly Krieg's style, but...working towards a goal will make him feel a little bit better about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.]

I used to. Had to leave it all behind when we signed on. [A beat.] I'll see what I can do. Just...help me to keep on schedule so I don't fixate on it.

[The label wants them to make music, and they'll have to keep it up to keep them off his tail.]

[ Probably not on the list, but when has he ever ever paid attention to those sort of things. He's going to visit. And surprisingly not to give Krieg crap. He's actually trying hard to be a decent person here for once. It might just be the end of the world

He's just going to peek in first, his wonderfully thoughtful gift basket in one hand and a much smaller more traditional fruit one from the hospital gift shop in the other.]

Hey. So I heard fruit was traditional...

[ A for effort? ]

[Krieg gives him a double-take when Xanxus, of all people, shows up. Security must be a joke, but if it's Xanxus getting through as opposed to, say, hecklers, journalists, and fans, he'll take it.

He's not exactly a fan of beer--too many carbs--but he figures it's probably the better-end stuff, suited for a night where he feels like trying something different.]

Hops count as flowers.

[You know, if either of them were the kind to appreciate floral arrangements as gifts.]

The hell possessed you to come visit me? Close the door, I don't want people seeing us hanging out.

[Normally he doesn't give a shit, but he's trying to be on his best behavior so he doesn't end up in the psych ward by night's end.]

[ He totally deserves that look. Because yeah. He's probably the very very last person Krieg would ever expect. But whatever, Xanxus does what he wants. And really, all the booze in the booze basket is top notch stuff. Xanxus doesn't believe in giving shit alcohol as gifts. He has standards ]

Fuck if I know man. Just heard through the grapevine that your ass was here. I guess it's cause you're my rival or something and shit will get boring without you. [ Xanxus code for "I think of you as a maybe sort of friend and I wanted to check in on you". ]

[ Definitely heading on in and closing the door behind him because he really doesn't want anyone seeing him here. Plus... beer basket needs to be delivered. And then there's a small actual fruit basket that goes next to it. ]

So, feel like you look?

I feel fine. Great, actually; I'm not even on painkillers right now.

[Because he doesn't need them with his ridiculous pain tolerance.]

So who's talking about me behind my back?

That's good at least.

[ He's going to drag a chair over to sit down. It's weird. A much as he gives this guy crap, when they're not surrounded by people, Xanxus is pretty normal with him. ]

Some chick named Steph Cage. Let me show you.

[ Enjoy the tabloid. ]

And you know, you don't usually believe bullshit like this, but with some of the crap that's been happening, I guess I just had to check it out for myself. If you weren't here then welp, more beer for me.

Steph Cage, Steph Cage...

[He repeats it as he looks over the article.]

Oh, right, I know her. She's a good girl, but you can't trust her with a secret.

[A pause...]

She has it right, you know. About my injuries. Kimiko did it all--bare-handed.

[Against Krieg. If anyone would find this fishy by default, it'd be Xanxus.]

[ An incredulous look because how could such a little thing put some wall like Krieg in the hospital with her bare freaking hands ]

You're not fucking with me, right? There's no fucking way. Not unless she was pulling some sort of bullshit. She didn't like...I don't know...drug you first or something?

Dead serious. If she drugged me, I would've known. It's not like she used some super-technical martial arts, either. She overpowered me by strength alone.

[A beat.]

Has anyone told you what Juno put us through a few weeks ago?

[ He knows he's looking at Krieg like the dude grew a second head. Because it's simply unbelievable to hear that some little girl did this to such a huge guy. A guy even Xanxus didn't really want to actually tangle with. ]

...No. I haven't heard. I only know a few people from your label and we don't talk shop. Did you guys get hazed too or something?

No, it was a lot weirder than hazing. Blanche's right-hand dragged a bunch of us to the basement and did some weird seance thing, complete with soul-sucking bullshit and everything.

I don't know if they put experimental drugs in the air or whatever, but we haven't gotten a single explanation about what it was or even why.

Soul...sucking bullshit. [ Just when he thought he'd heard everything. But he doesn't not believe Krieg. This guy doesn't look like someone who just makes shit up. ]

I doubt you'll get one. The powers that be aren't very open about shit. I mean the fucktards that kidnapped us haven't even gotten punished for it. There's some real fucked up shit going on, man. And unless we grab someone in power and put a gun to their heads, I doubt they're going to talk.

Given what just happened? I think bringing a gun would be to our own disadvantage.

[Hate to be a downer, but here he is, recovering from internal bleeding just from a few overpowered elbow jabs. It'd be easy street to disarm them, even easier to do whatever fucked-up witchcraft that happened that night.]

We've still got each other...to commiserate with, at least. [Oh, right--] So Predator got to you too?

[ He makes a thoughtful humming noise. The guy's got a point. And it would blow to get shot with his own gun if he owned one. ]

Yeah. They got us. The whole Fam-damnily. Kidnapped us. Dragged us out to some county fair somewhere and fucked with us. It was some real bullshit but I'll get those assholes back.

[ Only doing so is going to end badly for him. ]

[Hospitals are bullshit. First of all they argue with her, and then throw a fit when she's understandably worried about her friend! Did she have to accuse them of not giving him the absolute best? Probably not. But a lot of shit can be said when a droll, bored nurse decides to be a little bitch and put Nariko through five hundred different fucking questions. Is she with Virgo? Is she a family member? Is she ready to rip the woman's head off of her shoulders and bowl with it if she didn't shut the fuck up?

'Yes' was the only correct answer to the only relevant question.

But one way or another Nariko comes running down the hall, practically throwing Krieg's door open. Her clothes are mussed and her hair is kind of plastered to her face.]

I'm going to kill her. [His manager, the mikomiko-whatever-the-fuck chick.] Krieg ...

[She's not -- Nariko came all this way but she's really not prepared to see him in a hospital. He's a big dude! And it kind of seemed like nothing should be able to yank him to this point.]

[After having to listen to the relative silence of the hospital for the last umpteen hours, Noriko bursting in without warning gives him a jolt. He stares at her like a deer in headlights.]

Noriko? You--

[He looks her over, appearing as if she'd ran across the entire city on foot just to get here.]

--I'm fine. Really.

You're not!

[She practically whines it out like a petulant child whose been forced to see their parent in a vulnerable state.] You're in a fucking hospital! I know managers are kind of rough but this is bullshit!

[It wasn't as if Nariko had ended up with a smack or two herself, though her band was genuinely quite good at keeping her shielded from her own stupidity.] Have they been taking good care of you? If they've even so much as blinked at you wrong I'm going to have them fired!

You know I started it, right? [He wishes he could say the same about ending it.

This is weird, being the calm one in the situation for once. He's not sure he likes it. Krieg sighs softly, and beckons Noriko closer with a gesture of his fingers.]

Come here.

I don't care, it's not like I haven't been smacked before but even Mr. Kim's not going to get away with breaking bones, for goodness sake! If she had enough strength to do this to you then she could have ended it without causing this much damage!

[He ... Would, actually, and this disobedience, even though it's only being spoken, feels incredibly wrong and she does want to take it back as soon as she's said the words but - but this is Krieg!

All the same, she can't really ignore him beckoning her over, especially since Nariko had wanted to all but throw herself onto hugging him. Even though getting any closer just seems to make her that much more emotional she's at his bedside quickly enough.]

[Too bad, Noriko. You're getting conscripted into a hug anyway. His massive arm comes around her upper back and he pulls her in over the recliner-oriented bed, tucking her head under his chin.]

I'm okay. I just sought for answers I couldn't get. That's all it is.

[For all of her attempts to remain strong she can't deny the need for the hug and the emotion that comes with it. At least this way there's absolutely solid proof that he's breathing, here, that her worst nightmare hasn't actually come true. It's a miracle that she remembers not to squeeze too tight, but she does wish she was the bigger, more comforting one here.]

It's bullshit. [He can probably hear that even if it's half spoken against his hospital getup, right?] But I'm glad you're still here.

[One day, Noriko, you will grow big and strong like Krieg. In the meantime, however...]

It wasn't worth getting myself killed over.

[He says that now, but it's not what he was thinking at the time.]

I should be glad that I'm still able to be here, making music, but being under Kimiko's thumb...it's taking the joy out of it. We'd probably still be together if it wasn't for this damn contract.

[In the meantime she has to try and be just big enough for him to feel some measure of comfort from.]

But it was back then, right? [And she ... Gets it. She does. Which is why he doesn't need to say as much but she feels like she has to.]

Can't you ask Blanche for another manager? She's more than a little out of hand!

[And even putting aside the morality of it they couldn't possibly have a manager that would harm them, and leave them unable to perform! ]

[He scoffs.]

I'd have a better chance having a Chubby for supper. [...a what? Krieg has no idea what he just said, yet it just rolled out of his mouth like common vernacular.]

...uh.

Anyway, the guy's impossible to get a hold of.

[UH.]

Well, I guess that makes sense, he is kind of weird. [But it's also - what he said is --]

And as far as the other problem! It's good that it isn't common I mean, not there's anything wrong with it [although she always figured him the type that didn't have much of a drive for that kind of thing.] but if it happens then I'm here for you! The nurses aren't cute enough here and you can't break something again dealing with your - with that.

[She's very serious about her Friend Duties, here.

... She's also kind of flustered. This is a weird conversation so she shifts gears a little.] Want me to sneak food in for you?

[s q u i n t. Even though he has no idea what he just said, apparently Noriko does. Unfortunately, her rambling doesn't clear any of his confusion.]

...what the hell are you talking about?

[WHY ARE YOU ASKING HER ABOUT THIS YOU ARE A MAN. Oh god.]

I mean it's - y'know. Erections. They're a problem. In the morning. For dudes.

[Kill her.]

So I'm just saying that it's going to be difficult to handle, banged up and all. So. Yeah.

[She's here for you Krieg. Incredibly, way to here for you.]

[There's a half-second more of blank staring before he lets out a huff of a laugh. Okay, he gets it now. Chub. He's pretty sure that's not what he meant, but hey, if the shoe fits...especially with how flustered it's made her--]

You're cute, Riko.

[What is her life. What's going on. She doesn't know how to respond to that other than to toy with her hair, to smile nervously and then awkwardly attempt to squash that reaction. She likes being called cute! It's always nice, no matter who it comes from.]

Come on, you don't have to sweet talk me through it or whatever!

[.... Don't let her fool you Krieg, she's kind of happy right now even if this is obnoxiously embarrassing overall. But something else does occur to her.]

At least it got you to laugh.

[That'd be worth even more total mortification.]

S. Cage @misscage · Nov 26

Don’t let Quatrine be their swan song! #BlessTheAtmosphere

Edited 2015-11-27 23:35 (UTC)

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here have a drama queen because his life isn't hard enough rn

still better than his canon life

... Damn, Krieg.

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Steph Cage