Higher Learning Part 3
Title: Higher Learning part 3
Beta: jadziadrgnrdr
Rating: PG 13
Pairing: Lupe Fiasco/Tyga, Bishop/Kayne Jay Z/Lupe, Travis/Pete
Disclaimer: I am making this up. Please don't mock on MySpace. Googling yourself is bad, so just listen to Mikeyway already.
AN/Warning:I have been writing this since September. Oh dear god. Lupe's preformed with FOB multiple times, FOB fanboys Jay Z, and Tyga is Travie's cousin, if you don't know. They are a part of Pete's harem. Bishop is Lupe's BFF since highschool. Kanye is fanboyed by everyone.
and wake up in Tokyo.
Have a dream in New Orleans,
Fall in love in Chicago'>
*&*
Lupe knows that he screwed up. He’s just not sure what to do to fix it.
*&*
When he walks into his apartment, Bishop G is sitting on his couch, flipping through a back issue of National Geographic. Lupe’s become used to having people in his place when he isn’t but its still an odd thing to walk into.
Lupe pours himself a glass of water. He’s known Bishop since they were in high school together. It’s less weird with more time.
“So I get back from working with Kanye and its Jay Z of all people who’s the one to tell me about your boy. Wanna let me know why you couldn’t spare five minutes for a phone call?” Bishop hasn’t looked up from the magazine yet. He sounds calm. Even keel. Lupe's heard Kanye can do that for people. He's glad one of them is happy at least.
“I didn’t want to talk about something I was so unsure of to you. And Jay and Patrick knew about it because they were part of the project.” He tires.
Bishop rolls his eyes. The set of his shoulders is relaxed.
“I’ll forgive you wanting to keep your moping away from me, but I want to meet him, see just what has gotten you all up in knots.” Bishop isn’t necessarily giving him a rock and a hard place, but Lupe is still wary of letting Bishop meet Tyga when Tyga is still angry at him.
“Besides, someone has to let this kid know how bad you have it for him before he convinces Patrick to let all of that touchy feely label roll on you.” Bishop has a point.
*&*
He’s working on a set of lyrics that have been giving him trouble when the phone rings. At least, he thinks they might be lyrics. Sometimes he doesn’t know until after he’s had other ideas for them.
“Dude. Stop licking your wounds and talk to the kid. There’s only so much that Travie and I can do with him before he starts getting all ADD on us.” Pete sounds unimpressed when Lupe picks up.
“I will, but I’m waiting until he doesn’t want me to die by seppuku first. So when did you and Travie hook up, anyway?” Lupe wonders.
“I knew there was a reason I didn’t have the elite emo ninjas of the world off you. And to answer that oh so smooth change of subject, we’ve been together for a while. Travie is surprisingly calm about this whole thing and doesn’t want to kill you on sight. Consider yourself lucky.” Pete laughs bullhorn loud and hangs up.
Lupe stares at the phone for a few minutes, taking that particular conversation in. He’s glad he held back saying things about Vibe articles and Eminem. Small favors.
*&*
Lupe still has to work on Tyga’s album, since Patrick still wants Lupe to work on it with him.
The atmosphere at the studio is tense and crackling.
Lupe had been expecting this.
They go over Tyga’s prerecorded vocals, lay down sound, seeing what fits with what. Tyga is listless and withdrawn, barely speaks to him or anyone else in the room for that matter.
It’s Patrick that ends the day early. Lupe doesn’t know whether to thank him or fear him for the gesture.
*&*
“You really think a lunch date is gonna help anything?” It’s asked neutrally, but Bishop is looking at him with a particularly skeptical look.
“If you choose to put it like that, then no. Besides, it can’t get any worse than it already is.” He says. Pessimism is an easy out.
Bishop laughs at that. He always calls Lupe on his idiocy. “It can always get worse. Remember that.” He’s not serious, and there’s an edge here that is new.
“Worse before better. You taught me that.” Lupe says wryly. Bishop taught him a lot of things.
He asked Bishop to come in and lay some new tracks, ideas. And to help plan his next move. He would have asked Jay, but Jay’s easy company is why he needs help in the first place. That, and Bishop has always come first in his emotional Rolodex.
“Are you sure Pete has his cousin cooled down?” This seems to be a sticking point for Bishop. There’s actual worry in his voice, for one thing.
He knows Pete has kept Travis busy. Busy with what is none of his business. He keeps telling as much to Bishop, but Bishop is protective of him. Knowing each other for years can do that.
The lunch is a way for them to all break the ice, and he needs to talk with both Patrick and Tyga without being glared at through the conversation. Food, and good food especially, has a way of doing just that.
“Look at it this way, kid. That Patrick was pissed because you hurt his new boy’s feelings is a good sign, it means there was something for you to hurt in the first place. If he didn’t like you, what he saw wouldn’t have rattled him. And if he was grossed out, Patrick would be pissed at him, not you.” Bishop has a point and he knows it. It’s a good point.
He’s more or less sure that once he explains himself to Tyga that they’ll get together, that they can really work. He can hope, at least Lupe accepts he has it bad for the kid. Now is time to do something.
It’s the actual relationship he’s unsure of. There’s the age difference, the fact Tyga is still at the age where people are in high school. They’re at radically different places in their lives. Lupe was alive for the ’80s, for instance. He’s not sure he’s ready to settle down and be with one person forever just yet. (This part is a lie. He only lies to himself when he’s terrified of the outcome.)
He’s sure that this is Tyga’s first real stumble into an actual relationship. He’s sure that the kid will want more from life than what Lupe can give him. He’s sure that Tyga still wants to go to clubs and sleep with lots of people. Still wants to be a party animal.
Wildly different places in their lives and all that.
He’s getting ahead of himself, though. They’re not together just yet.
“Kid? I’m four months older than you. And Patrick has his own problems to worry about. Pete’s MTV thing is becoming a hydra.” Lupe fires back playfully.
Bishop rolls his eyes. Bishop knows all his tells, can read Lupe like a dog eared book. He picked up the book early, eagerly when he was a teenager, was an avid reader. Lupe sometimes feels like Bishop is the only one who can truly read his font.
“What food were you thinking?” Bishop says, snapping Lupe out of his sulk with practiced ease.
Lupe feels a grin slip on his face like butter. “I’ve been waiting for a good time to try this new vegan deep dish pizza place I’ve heard good things about.”
Bishop just laughs at that.
*&*
Travis is grinning in front of him. Tyga is sitting next to Travis and on his other side is Patrick, who is studying the menu intently.
The tiles under his feet are red and white checkers. Bishop is to his left and Pete is slouching to his right. They’re all slotted into a corner booth that is huge and has squishy red vinyl cushions. Lupe feels like he can taste the atmosphere. He can see why this place gets good press, for being so new and hidden.
It occurs to Lupe that maybe this isn’t the best strategy he’s ever come up with to fix a problem of his. Bishop probably realized it the minute it was suggested to him. Bishop still is teaching Lupe about himself like this, little tests that make Lupe realize he hasn’t gotten to the next level yet. Make him keep trying.
Jay saunters into the shop, over to their mammoth booth, slides in next to Pete, all easy confidence, like a lion.
Between them all right now, Lupe figures that if this goes badly, he’ll have to release his next album on another label or independently.
Lupe decides he needs new friends.
“How’s your album coming along, kid?” Jay asks Tyga. Lupe forces himself to keep his hand steady on his water glass as he drinks from it. Jay usually knows what he’s doing. Usually.
Tyga looks up, and for a split second, Lupe can see just what Tyga could, will, should become if Lupe can be forgiven enough to help guide and shape him. Tyga looked strong of character and will. He’s calm and collected. Then it snaps out of sight like a rubber band and everyone is back to normal. Tyga is still just a teen maturing into an adult.
Tyga looks over to Jay. “We’ve had some minor interruptions but its going well. The day we spent at your studio was an especially enlightening experience for me.” Tyga eviscerates Lupe so smoothly Lupe almost enjoyed hearing it.
Lupe knows he is going to regret this; for any number of reason. Like Travis out for his blood, Patrick never working with him again, the look on Tyga’s clear fresh face.
“It was enlightening for me as well.” He says bell clear.
The pizzas come out then, sizzling and steamy. Eating your feelings is easy when it tastes like guilt free cheese and whole wheat. Lupe can still see Tyga flinch slightly. Bishop loves being right about things, and usually Lupe is too. Right now, Lupe hates it.
The conversation meanders safely after that and Lupe is going to be forever grateful for that fact. Patrick draws Bishop and not so surprisingly Tyga into a heated conversation about Miles Davis and Aretha Franklin, while Pete, Travis and Jay talk about MTV and Lupe takes easy shots at TRL.
As they’re all leaving, Patrick pulls him aside and stops him. “I said fix this not screw it up beyond all hope of repair.” He tells Lupe.
“I have a plan, trust me please. Just have him in the studio the day after tomorrow before noon.” Lupe tells him and then leaves. He has some things to prepare.
TBC in Part 4
Beta: jadziadrgnrdr
Rating: PG 13
Pairing: Lupe Fiasco/Tyga, Bishop/Kayne Jay Z/Lupe, Travis/Pete
Disclaimer: I am making this up. Please don't mock on MySpace. Googling yourself is bad, so just listen to Mikeyway already.
AN/Warning:I have been writing this since September. Oh dear god. Lupe's preformed with FOB multiple times, FOB fanboys Jay Z, and Tyga is Travie's cousin, if you don't know. They are a part of Pete's harem. Bishop is Lupe's BFF since highschool. Kanye is fanboyed by everyone.
and wake up in Tokyo.
Have a dream in New Orleans,
Fall in love in Chicago'>
*&*
Lupe knows that he screwed up. He’s just not sure what to do to fix it.
*&*
When he walks into his apartment, Bishop G is sitting on his couch, flipping through a back issue of National Geographic. Lupe’s become used to having people in his place when he isn’t but its still an odd thing to walk into.
Lupe pours himself a glass of water. He’s known Bishop since they were in high school together. It’s less weird with more time.
“So I get back from working with Kanye and its Jay Z of all people who’s the one to tell me about your boy. Wanna let me know why you couldn’t spare five minutes for a phone call?” Bishop hasn’t looked up from the magazine yet. He sounds calm. Even keel. Lupe's heard Kanye can do that for people. He's glad one of them is happy at least.
“I didn’t want to talk about something I was so unsure of to you. And Jay and Patrick knew about it because they were part of the project.” He tires.
Bishop rolls his eyes. The set of his shoulders is relaxed.
“I’ll forgive you wanting to keep your moping away from me, but I want to meet him, see just what has gotten you all up in knots.” Bishop isn’t necessarily giving him a rock and a hard place, but Lupe is still wary of letting Bishop meet Tyga when Tyga is still angry at him.
“Besides, someone has to let this kid know how bad you have it for him before he convinces Patrick to let all of that touchy feely label roll on you.” Bishop has a point.
*&*
He’s working on a set of lyrics that have been giving him trouble when the phone rings. At least, he thinks they might be lyrics. Sometimes he doesn’t know until after he’s had other ideas for them.
“Dude. Stop licking your wounds and talk to the kid. There’s only so much that Travie and I can do with him before he starts getting all ADD on us.” Pete sounds unimpressed when Lupe picks up.
“I will, but I’m waiting until he doesn’t want me to die by seppuku first. So when did you and Travie hook up, anyway?” Lupe wonders.
“I knew there was a reason I didn’t have the elite emo ninjas of the world off you. And to answer that oh so smooth change of subject, we’ve been together for a while. Travie is surprisingly calm about this whole thing and doesn’t want to kill you on sight. Consider yourself lucky.” Pete laughs bullhorn loud and hangs up.
Lupe stares at the phone for a few minutes, taking that particular conversation in. He’s glad he held back saying things about Vibe articles and Eminem. Small favors.
*&*
Lupe still has to work on Tyga’s album, since Patrick still wants Lupe to work on it with him.
The atmosphere at the studio is tense and crackling.
Lupe had been expecting this.
They go over Tyga’s prerecorded vocals, lay down sound, seeing what fits with what. Tyga is listless and withdrawn, barely speaks to him or anyone else in the room for that matter.
It’s Patrick that ends the day early. Lupe doesn’t know whether to thank him or fear him for the gesture.
*&*
“You really think a lunch date is gonna help anything?” It’s asked neutrally, but Bishop is looking at him with a particularly skeptical look.
“If you choose to put it like that, then no. Besides, it can’t get any worse than it already is.” He says. Pessimism is an easy out.
Bishop laughs at that. He always calls Lupe on his idiocy. “It can always get worse. Remember that.” He’s not serious, and there’s an edge here that is new.
“Worse before better. You taught me that.” Lupe says wryly. Bishop taught him a lot of things.
He asked Bishop to come in and lay some new tracks, ideas. And to help plan his next move. He would have asked Jay, but Jay’s easy company is why he needs help in the first place. That, and Bishop has always come first in his emotional Rolodex.
“Are you sure Pete has his cousin cooled down?” This seems to be a sticking point for Bishop. There’s actual worry in his voice, for one thing.
He knows Pete has kept Travis busy. Busy with what is none of his business. He keeps telling as much to Bishop, but Bishop is protective of him. Knowing each other for years can do that.
The lunch is a way for them to all break the ice, and he needs to talk with both Patrick and Tyga without being glared at through the conversation. Food, and good food especially, has a way of doing just that.
“Look at it this way, kid. That Patrick was pissed because you hurt his new boy’s feelings is a good sign, it means there was something for you to hurt in the first place. If he didn’t like you, what he saw wouldn’t have rattled him. And if he was grossed out, Patrick would be pissed at him, not you.” Bishop has a point and he knows it. It’s a good point.
He’s more or less sure that once he explains himself to Tyga that they’ll get together, that they can really work. He can hope, at least Lupe accepts he has it bad for the kid. Now is time to do something.
It’s the actual relationship he’s unsure of. There’s the age difference, the fact Tyga is still at the age where people are in high school. They’re at radically different places in their lives. Lupe was alive for the ’80s, for instance. He’s not sure he’s ready to settle down and be with one person forever just yet. (This part is a lie. He only lies to himself when he’s terrified of the outcome.)
He’s sure that this is Tyga’s first real stumble into an actual relationship. He’s sure that the kid will want more from life than what Lupe can give him. He’s sure that Tyga still wants to go to clubs and sleep with lots of people. Still wants to be a party animal.
Wildly different places in their lives and all that.
He’s getting ahead of himself, though. They’re not together just yet.
“Kid? I’m four months older than you. And Patrick has his own problems to worry about. Pete’s MTV thing is becoming a hydra.” Lupe fires back playfully.
Bishop rolls his eyes. Bishop knows all his tells, can read Lupe like a dog eared book. He picked up the book early, eagerly when he was a teenager, was an avid reader. Lupe sometimes feels like Bishop is the only one who can truly read his font.
“What food were you thinking?” Bishop says, snapping Lupe out of his sulk with practiced ease.
Lupe feels a grin slip on his face like butter. “I’ve been waiting for a good time to try this new vegan deep dish pizza place I’ve heard good things about.”
Bishop just laughs at that.
*&*
Travis is grinning in front of him. Tyga is sitting next to Travis and on his other side is Patrick, who is studying the menu intently.
The tiles under his feet are red and white checkers. Bishop is to his left and Pete is slouching to his right. They’re all slotted into a corner booth that is huge and has squishy red vinyl cushions. Lupe feels like he can taste the atmosphere. He can see why this place gets good press, for being so new and hidden.
It occurs to Lupe that maybe this isn’t the best strategy he’s ever come up with to fix a problem of his. Bishop probably realized it the minute it was suggested to him. Bishop still is teaching Lupe about himself like this, little tests that make Lupe realize he hasn’t gotten to the next level yet. Make him keep trying.
Jay saunters into the shop, over to their mammoth booth, slides in next to Pete, all easy confidence, like a lion.
Between them all right now, Lupe figures that if this goes badly, he’ll have to release his next album on another label or independently.
Lupe decides he needs new friends.
“How’s your album coming along, kid?” Jay asks Tyga. Lupe forces himself to keep his hand steady on his water glass as he drinks from it. Jay usually knows what he’s doing. Usually.
Tyga looks up, and for a split second, Lupe can see just what Tyga could, will, should become if Lupe can be forgiven enough to help guide and shape him. Tyga looked strong of character and will. He’s calm and collected. Then it snaps out of sight like a rubber band and everyone is back to normal. Tyga is still just a teen maturing into an adult.
Tyga looks over to Jay. “We’ve had some minor interruptions but its going well. The day we spent at your studio was an especially enlightening experience for me.” Tyga eviscerates Lupe so smoothly Lupe almost enjoyed hearing it.
Lupe knows he is going to regret this; for any number of reason. Like Travis out for his blood, Patrick never working with him again, the look on Tyga’s clear fresh face.
“It was enlightening for me as well.” He says bell clear.
The pizzas come out then, sizzling and steamy. Eating your feelings is easy when it tastes like guilt free cheese and whole wheat. Lupe can still see Tyga flinch slightly. Bishop loves being right about things, and usually Lupe is too. Right now, Lupe hates it.
The conversation meanders safely after that and Lupe is going to be forever grateful for that fact. Patrick draws Bishop and not so surprisingly Tyga into a heated conversation about Miles Davis and Aretha Franklin, while Pete, Travis and Jay talk about MTV and Lupe takes easy shots at TRL.
As they’re all leaving, Patrick pulls him aside and stops him. “I said fix this not screw it up beyond all hope of repair.” He tells Lupe.
“I have a plan, trust me please. Just have him in the studio the day after tomorrow before noon.” Lupe tells him and then leaves. He has some things to prepare.
TBC in Part 4