All your bass (OPEN)

[variaboss]

Who: Various Bassists from Various bands and onlookers
What: Interstellar's first annual BassOff
When: Backdated to Friday the 9th
Where a local rock club with a nice stage, before opening
Warnings: Because Xanxus in involved, language, will add as needed


The contest had started off because of a group of tweets between Xanxus and Ryota, the "First Annual BassOFF" is now officially a thing. The bassists of both Pride and Virgo have been contacted. The instructions are easy. If you want to show your stuff and compete for the best bass player in the music industry, arrive at Club VoTeQ and bring your A Game. Fame and fortune and bragging rights are on the line.

Club VoTeQ itself is like many other rock clubs. There are pictures of famous bands on the walls. Bands that made their debuts here. There are tables and booths with semi-decent chairs and benches. The tables are as clean as they need to be to pass health code and the bar is fully stocked. There is a bartender there that can get you whatever you want.

There is a simple stage at the front of the club. It's set up with an amplifier as well as a headphones set up, in case the bassist needs to hear the background melody to their lines. The rules are easy. Each bassist is to take the stage and play one bass line or bass solo. When they are done, the winner will be crowned and the looser will have to wallow in their shame.

Comments

Mingling before the contest

[variaboss]

This is a great time for bassists and the audience to hang around. Perhaps get to know one another in a setting that isn't a boring old awards party. Feel free to hang out.

Xanxus for his part will most likely be chilling at the bar. Does that man have a glass of whiskey surgically attached to his hand? Probably. He also seems deep in thought, as if he's trying to decide what to play. He has some idea. But what it is. Well, you'll just all have to see.

ota

[giglio_madonna]

With some gin and elderflower, Luce is sitting pretty over at the bar as well. If she should be stressed, she's not showing it. Instead, she's just smiling and generally having a good time. Maybe she'll give a wave if she sees you looking her way.

Don't worry, she has her little routine all figured out in her head. As far as Luce is concerned, this is just a game.

[yellowcopycat]

"You look very nice Luce," Ryouta said as he walked up to the bar to order a coke.

"I can't believe the took some bullshitting between me and Xanxus and made it something serious! It's actually pretty exciting!"

If only because competitions like this were what drove Ryouta. He liked having rival in something, liked knowing where he stood with his peers. He had Sora for fun things; dancing, karaoke. But today, he was going to find out just how good he really was. And if anyone did better than him, he was going to make it his mission to become better than they were.

[gunslingerqueen]

Vocalists don't have any place in a bass off, so Nariko's just a regular audience member this time around and for the moment it's not a bad way to be. Of course it would be better if she had a drink, which is why Nariko can be found leaning against the bar, trying to flag down basically anyone behind it.

"Hey!! Can I get an old fashioned over here?" And considering that anyone with enough sense, and ability to look at at her face rather than other parts of her anatomy, would see that Nariko wasn't quite twenty-one. But stupid legalities wouldn't stop her from flirting her way past the rules.

Hopefully no one else at the bar would get in her way.

[giglio_madonna]

"Always here for a party, hm?"

And there's Luce, looking vaguely amused now that Nariko has shown up. By this point, her dear manager has told her the exact thing that would break her interest away from this particular Pride star, so alas: no flirting. Still, she's still smiling. It'd been a nice night regardless.

[variaboss]

Well, look who it is. He doesn't know if she looks better with her cloths on or off. Both are pretty hot and it's nice to see her around, even if all she is at the moment is an audience member. And he doesn't give a damn if she's not old enough to drink. He's just going to plop himself down next to her. "It's on me so give her whatever." He seemed to be at least somewhat friendly with the bartender.

Which of course means that her old fashioned will appear along with his usual whiskey.

[defenceservice]

[Now this is more Kenneth's kind of scene. He's at the bar with a beer, looking cheerful and relaxed, watching the action. While he does play bass when needed, his first love is singing so he's decided against competing himself. He's content to sit back and see what the real bassists can do.]

[tanteiotaku]

[But Shotaro was not going to pass up an opportunity when it presents itself. He's brought along a banjo case, but the round end is definitely bigger than normal. And he's got that cat that caught the mouse grin on his face as he works on his usual whiskey.] I think it's time to show these kids a thing or two, don't you think?

[giglio_madonna]

Sitting in the background this time around, huh?

[Luce is over at the bar as well, beaming at him with her own gin and tonic.]

ota!

[notahobby]

One might ask... why is Maxxie here? His band doesn't even feature a bassist and he's not that close with anyone in the actual competition. Well, the answer is simple: Maxxie never likes to miss a party. He likes the music too but he's really here for the alcohol and the socializing. He's being his usual personable self, a drink always in hand as he flits around the bar making friends. Once the competition starts he'll find a seat and settle down, but for now he's always on his feet.

Before the competition

[yellowcopycat]

"Oh, hey!" Ryouta beamed when he saw Maxxie. "I didn't expect to see you here."

He walks up. He has a coke in hand. He hasn't had any alcohol yet. He's waiting until afterwards to drink.

[giglio_madonna]

"So just here to have fun, huh?"

Because yeah, Luce has been idly wondering why Maxxie is here. Some of the others- especially those bands whose bassist is up to bat- are explainable. Maxxie not so much. So Luce has just been idly watching as she's been waiting for everything to start up to figure it out. It seems like she's finally figured it out, judging by how she's smiling over to him as she speaks.

The Contest

[variaboss]

The stage lights go on and the stage techs help with equipment if you let them. There are mics and bass stands. There is even a stool if you need it. The audience is eager. What are you going to play?

[Each Bassist can have their own special tag in this and audience members can react if they wish]

Xanxus

[variaboss]

The punk rocker hops on stage. He looks like he usually does when he's about to preform. His shirt has found it's way somewhere else. Probably on the barstool he just left. His glass of whiskey is sat at his feet and he pulls his bass from it's case, slinging the instrument over his shoulder and adjusting the strap so that it sits suggestively low over his hips.

His eyes sweep over the audience and he lingers on the other bassists for a moment and then he smirks. He's certain they're expecting him to play something from Junkyard Carnival. But he's bringing something else. Something from his past. Once upon a time, before he had been in that stage accident, he had been the bassist for a Death Metal band.

He doesn't sit. Instead, he puts one heavy boot on the stool so he can brace himself. Set up, he begins the riff. By the time he's halfway through, he's kicked over the stool and is walking the stage like he owns it. But the time he's done, he's actually smiling. He's actually happy for once and he's not even drunk yet.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Luci doesn't scream or yell or cheer with the crowd while Xanxus takes the stage apart piece by piece-- but she is capturing the entire thing on her phone. Every chord, every swell from the audience, and she's just grinning like the evillest of canary-eating cats because she stands next to that unbelievable motherfucker on stage.

When he's done, Luci stops the recording after an exorbitant amount of vocal worship, then throws Xanxus some metal. The group around her is thick, but no doubt the white sleeve in the crowd will tip him off if he sees it.

If not, well... there's the appearance of the entire set, broken down into 15 second clips, uploaded to Instagram and tagged #carniesdoitbetter.

Ryouta Kise

[yellowcopycat]

Ryouta is a little nervous. He looks like he always does; like he walked out of a spread in a fashion magazine for casual fashion with maroon jeans, a black and white t-shirt with cross designs, and a gray hooded, long cardigan. He gives the audience a smile. Moment of truth. He slings his four string bass and says, playing up his nervousness a little, "This is called 'Run of the Angels' hope you like it. It's the first time I'm playing it in public."

Like Xanxus, he wasn't using anything from his band. This was something he wrote as a bass solo back before he joined Virgo, while he was competing on iDol, but never got to show it off on that show. He doesn't use the stool provided, as he prefers to play standing and mentally does a last minuter pep talk.

He takes a breath, and begins to play it starts a little slow, sensual, but picks up about a minute in. He's incorporating a little bit of the slap bass style, and he's smiling through out it. You can tell he loves this piece of music he wrote, and that he's happy to be sharing it with the world. When he finishes he smiles out at the audience.

[giglio_madonna]

To the surprise of absolutely no one, Luce is cheering Ryouta on in the crowd. Why shouldn't she? If anything, she might be one of his more vocal supporters despite being a part of the competition herself.

Enjoy that, Ryouta.

[variaboss]

Since this was the guy that helped to start this whole thing, the least he could do was listen. Listen and ignore the fact that the kid looked like something right out of fucking GQ.

He expects something more like what Surviving Friday plays, but instead he gets that. It's actually pretty good. Really damn good. Especially for something the guy wrote and never played in public.

He listens to the end and waits for Ryouta to get off the stage before speaking to him. "Hey... That thing you played... You should put fucking lyrics to that shit. You might have a hit on your hands." It's a nice as he's getting, probably due to the fact that he'd played earlier and had gotten a bit of alcohol in his system, making him a bit more tolerable.

Luce

[giglio_madonna]

When it's finally her turn to go up, Luce pulls herself away from chatting quietly with Angel Ramsey. There's a confidence in the click of her heels up there, adjusting her bass against her. Her sweet voice pours into the mic.

"There's so many of us here, let's not waste anytime, shall we?"

And she kicks off right into it.

It's a straightforward and beautiful sound that's brought forth from her fingertips, nothing flashy about it just short and sweet. With her eyes closed, Luce looks like she's tapping into her own private bit of heaven in the amazingly quick piece.

Short doesn't seem to keep the audience from loving it, however.

Weasel

[yuruse]

Black shirt covered in fishnet, torn jeans, bracelets, rings, painted nails and eyeliner - Weasel looks back in his element. No more suits for a while, hopefully.

Unfortunately what isn't his element is performing solo on stage. He doesn't mind being outshone by the other members of his band. In fact he often prefers it. Being the center of attention, representing the rest of them here in this competition, that makes him a little nervous. It shows in his playing.

He'd meant to do something else, something he'd put together fairly recently, but as he gets up in front of the audience the arrangement escapes him. He second guesses himself and chooses to play another tune instead, something he's more familiar with.

[giglio_madonna]

Oh dear. Weasel hides it well, but unfortunately Luce has always been empathetic to an alarming degree. She taps her lip just a little in worry when he comes up on stage. Her concern eases back when he starts to play proper, and she starts to beam. She whistles and cheers along with some of the rest of the crowd, encouraging as always.

Kido walks in late with starbucks?

[blindfoldcode]

As far as pride goes (haha pride) Kido has little being risked in the competition personally. It would just seem like quitting if she didn't at least show up and play something. So she's comfortable in a zip up hoodie and jeans on stage. Really if anyone expected more of her they were in for so much disappointment all day every day. She slips the headphones on her ears as she adjusts her bass, less to hear anything through them and more to block out everything else that's there.

She's absolutely sure at least one of her bandmates would kill her for showing up with her hair hanging over her face so her makeup is barely visible. Sorry, guys. If she's gonna compete, she's gonna compete in comfort.

And she's at least very prepared as she wastes no time in playing. On the bright side, for at least once in her life Kido looks like she's enjoying something. When she's done her face is a little red but she's grinning enough to be clear. Win or lose, honestly she doesn't care. She just likes playing. She flashes a peace sign before she vacates the stage (making sure the headphones are NOT ON HER HEAD Kido at least remembers to detach herself from everything attached to the stage).

Shotaro Hidari

[tanteiotaku]

Every show needs a good heretic. Something to keep the audience on their toes. Gotta keep them coming back for more, after all.

Shotaro is casual as he comes up on stage, whistling a little tune as he carries a case with the characteristic silhouette of a banjo. But keen eyes will notice the round end is a bit larger than normal. And the neck was longer too. He's wearing jeans, a leather belt with a big buckle, a light colored plaid shirt rolled up at the sleeves, a bolo tie, and a cowboy hat with an Ace of spades stuck in the ribbon.

When he opens the case, he grins and pulls out the bass banjo. He didn't waste any time after plugging it in and tossing the strap across his back. What he plays is a twist on some fairly standard rock bass picking, but since it's still a banjo, it's not too far out of his wheelhouse.

The Results

[variaboss]

The judges sit, heads together. There's whispering between them and looks. The discussion is hushed but vigorous. All the bassists (including the banjo) had performed amazingly well. Finally, the manager of the club, Carlos Rodriguez, comes up the mic on stage. He taps it for a moment before speaking in a booming voice.

"None of you made it easy for us. You should all be proud of your skills. However, the decision has been made. The winner of the contest, the best bassist and the recipeint of the golden pick is Virgo Record's very own Luce. You really are the Holy Mother of Bass, Luce."

He then continues. "The runner up is Xanxus. Third place goes to Kido and fourth goes to Weasel. Last place goes to Ryouta. And an honorable mention for the man with the brass balls to bring a banjo to a guitar fight. Keep doing what you do, Shotaro."

"Now that the awards and titles are done, enjoy my club."

[yellowcopycat]

Ryouta sits at his seat. More than a little stunned. What the fuck?

Okay, he tells himself calm down. This was competition and someone had to loose. Except why him? He didn't even second guess himself on stage like Weasel did.

He takes a deep breath and quickly drains his beer. Okay, Luce won, that's good, he can deal with that. Luce was really good. Everyone was. He just thought he did better than most.

"It's just a contest," he whispered softly. He then ordered another drink. Something stronger. A pineapple upside down cake. Yes. Something sweet to help ease the bite of defeat. He wants to cry. He hates loosing. Hates it, hates it, hates it. He wishes this just stayed between him and Xanxus, wishes their companies didn't get involved and made it a big deal. That way if he lost it would just be between him and Xanxus, and then, well, if Xanxus had won the prize he was planning on giving him was really win-win. And Xanxus still beat him out, so he could still give Xanxus that prize. And Maxxie did say he'd comfort him if he did badly.

He took his drink to the bathroom, quickly draining it and setting it aside before entering the men's room. He knew he probably got a little teary. He's emotional. He knows that. He can't help it. He's just really honest with his feelings. And right now he's upset and resenting Weasel a bit.

He checked himself out in the mirror. Okay, he didn't cry, so he's not red eyed. Time to find Xanxus or Maxxie. Congratulate Luce if he sees her. And Kido. And Weasel he guesses. Ugh. If Weasel hadn't second guessed himself on stage, had just played like it was nothing, he would have felt better about this loss. Not much better, but still better. What did he do wrong?

"Stop it," he tells his reflection. "Just make sure you kick his ass next time. All their asses."