interstellar5555 | ☆TRACK I: NOTHING LEFT OF YOU

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☆TRACK I: NOTHING LEFT OF YOU

Who: Every single one of you.
What: Interstellar's first log, and an awards ceremony for jerks you don't know!
When: October 2nd.
Where: A fancy ballroom in neutral territory.
Warnings: Could be anything.

“Oh, it's been getting so hard,
Living with the things you do to me;
My dreams are getting so strange,
I'd like to tell you everything I see.

I see a man at the back as a matter of fact,
His eyes are as red as the sun.
And the girl in the corner lets no one ignore her,
‘Cause she thinks she's the passionate one.”

☆NOTHING LEFT OF YOU

It’s the seasonal Vista Music Industry Award Gala, and attendance is mandatory. You and your band have been touring non-stop for the last two months, hitting locations all over Americana, performing and doing press appearances. This event is set less than three days after your return home, but it’s been made clear that further rest will have to wait.

Though Halloween technically isn’t until the end of the month, the gathering has a formal masquerade theme - masquerade that is, not costume. Dressing up as a mummy or a clown isn’t going to cut it. Themed formal wear is expected, and your image consultants have been pestering you about your choices for the last 48 hours. Whether or not you listen to them, how you dress feels incredibly important. At least if you let the consultants fuss over you, you can be sure it’ll be something press friendly.

Various awards are being given out, but none of them are for you. The media in attendance are starting to bubble with enthusiasm for the ‘rising stars’ of the industry, however, so this could be a moment to shine. Labels besides Pride and Virgo are also in attendance, but who cares about those guys? They seem to be a mere footnote in comparison to the buzz around the heavy hitters.

There’s food, alcohol, dancing, stage performances by notable musicians of both Pride and Virgo, and then the formal awards ceremony in the evening. Yes, you are expected to sit through them. Do try to look like you’re interested, the media is watching.

☆PRIDE RECORDS

Lesedi Santiago doesn’t always make a big deal about introductions - or at least, that’s the impression you get when she just kind of shows up in your group limousine unannounced on your way over to the party. Deep into pre-drinking a bottle of gin, she doesn’t talk with you so much as talk at you, regaling your band with weird stories about the industry while completely ignoring the fact that her presence is more intimidating than comforting. You’re not sure if it’s intentional, but at least she’s a good story teller - her speech doesn’t seem to be at all affected by the quantity of booze she’s already consumed, which is kind of bizarre if you think about it too deeply. You’re not inclined to.

You’ve all met her before, here and there, in a series of bombastic encounters. Her interest in pontificating at you and the other new label inductees seems to fade immediately upon entering the ballroom, as she quickly becomes distracted with more high profile guests. Her attention fixates on Edward Blanch from time to time, but she declines to address him specifically. If you want to get some of her one on one attention, now could be your chance - just make sure you go in ready. Handling Miss Santiago can be a bit of an...experience.

Veteran Pride members are in attendance as well, but most of them are not very good company. Their reactions vary from ‘frat members greeting a new pledge’ to ‘disinterested shoulder pats’, and ultimately it will seem your attention is better received by the other newbies. Maybe even the Virgo Entertainment stiffs, at that.

Because, of course, that crew is here as well. Lesedi suggested you “show them who’s boss,” but you’re not necessarily sure what that’s supposed to mean.

☆VIRGO ENTERTAINMENT

Tonight's event is one of considerable speculation: it marks Edward Blanche's first public appearance after a considerable period of isolation. He's a private man, a mystery and an enigma to the public, and that just seems to make him all the more intoxicating. The Managers and security staff are out in full force, and if you know what's good for you, you'll be dressed to the nines. Your image consultant will be almost desperate to do the work for you, like they're afraid of what might happen to their careers if you embarass the label on their watch.

Personal style is important, but everything in your gut tells you that your nose has got to be clean this time, or trouble is sure to follow. For many of you, this will be the first time you'll ever have seen your CEO in person, and as such, the first time he'll encounter you one on one. If you're going to brown nose, now's the time - but make sure you choose your words carefully, and don't waste his time. Blanche has little patience for it.

There are veteran musicians of the Virgo label in attendance, ones with dozens of awards to their names, but they seem to have little interest in speaking with you. Some are politely avoidant while others and just rudely dismissive, but none of them really give an answer for why they just aren't interested. It's not totally surprising - Virgo's interior politics are harsh.

Other notable guests include Lesedi Santiago and the rest of the Pride Records entourage. Though you may have acquaintances, or even friends, who have been snatched up by the other side, it's even more likely that you have enemies. Everything about your Virgo upbringing makes you feel like you should hold a certain contempt for their ilk - people in this label think of them as classless at best and crass maniacs at worst.

Did you hear about that disgusting stunt one of their front runners pulled on stage last week? Revolting.

☆THE TWIST

Some of you may remember strange events from the past few weeks. Misplaced objects, malfunctioning technology, nostalgic phantom music - it feels a lot like the last portion of your tour was haunted. Now that you're back home, all of that seems to be flaring up again. You can practically feel the otherworldly presences passing through the room, even if nobody besides your tour group seems to notice. Even though they aren't knocking glasses off tables and flickering lights like last time, their presence is somehow even more apparent.

Your programming makes one thing clear: don't make a public fuss about this. Ignore it, everything's fine. The second part only goes so far. Especially when, at some point or another, you'll be shaken by the feeling that one of these ghosts has walked straight through you. For that moment, you feel like a totally different person. At this point, one of four memory regain effects will occur:

► REMEMBER LOVE: You remember a scene, image, or concept related to one of the greatest loves of your past life. Can be either romantic, platonic, or familial. It must be about a person and not a place or activity, though.

► REMEMBER DUTY: You remember a scene, image, or concept related to something you held a great sense of duty or loyalty to in your past life. It could be a person, a cause, a country, or anything in between.

► REMEMBER PASSION: You remember a scene, image, or concept related to something you were passionate about to the point of anger or determination in your past life. Not enjoyment of, but something that drove you, or one of the things most likely to make you throw a punch.

► REMEMBER HOPE: You remember a scene, image, or concept related to something you dreamed about making come true, or an important hope you had for the future in your past life. This covers any kind of positive goal or ambition for you or the world around you.

The feeling will quickly fade, leaving you as the person you've been made into once again. Only now you have something new: the first fragment of a life you can't remember having lived. The CEOs and managers will react to this eventually, and you're probably going to get sent home early. This, however, will be covered with a top level further into the log.

“I'm reaching out for something,
Touching nothing's all I ever do.
Oh, I softly call you over;
When you appear there's nothing left of you.”

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

one > arrival/mingling

[You can tell Sora "formal dress" all you like, but overly formal stuff he's just not gonna be comfortable in. However, he has donned a suit jacket and tie. But they have a silly pumpkin print. At least the black dress shirt and slacks speak of formal wear, even if the added LED light-up shoes do not.

His mask is pretty fancy though, so there is that. But it also happens to be pushed up onto the top of his head, tilted at an angle, rather than actually on his face. Kind of missing the whole "masquerade" concept, or maybe he just doesn't really care too much for being disguised. He had to pretend to be someone else too much already in his previous acting career, being disguised doesn't really sound like that much fun now.

He seems fairly comfortable in this attire, happy and friendly to everyone he bumps into, though there is an air of tiredness bordering on exhaustion just from all the touring he's been through. But then so has everyone else, so he's not going to be complaining. There's not much time or room to complain now anyway, he's too excited about meeting new people and talking to them. The exhaustion, however, may lead to him literally bumping into a few people! He'll apologize and introduce himself to anyone this happens with, of course. Here's hoping he just doesn't cause anyone to spill a drink, eep.]

two > dancing

[Asking people to dance is not something Sora has any experience with whatsoever. Not in the sense of one-on-one dancing, anyway. Though if he's asked, he'll probably say yes to be kind. But if this is a slow dance he may also look at you like a deer in headlights once you get out on the dance floor. Some instructions for him here would be good. And likely necessary.

Otherwise, casual dancing he's game for, especially as a distraction to keep him from wanting to take a nap somewhere. So he may be on the dance floor already, by himself or somewhere in the crowd. Given his boyband status and lots of practice, he's certainly not a bad dancer, at least not when there's a song with a good beat to move to.]

three > awards

[Partying and dancing and in general just talking to everyone had pushed Sora's exhaustion to the back of his mind, he hadn't felt the least bit tired anymore! Except then the awards started, and everyone was sitting, and hearing name after name being called was not enough of a distraction to keep him from realizing how tired he is.

In fact, he may just be nodding off onto the table or a person sitting next to him. Nudging him back into full wakefulness might be a good idea, and much appreciated since it would help him avoid possible embarrassment! Orrrr you could just let him sleep until the next round of applause or rowdy performance. Which will cause him to jolt awake and rattle some of the cutlery on the table. Feel free to laugh at this.]

four > remember hope

[It's during one of his almost-not-quite-asleep moments that he's startled back into awareness by the absolute strangest feeling he's probably ever experienced. It would leave him really weirded out in and of itself but he doesn't have time to dwell on it because with the feeling comes a strange flash of... something... a scene, in his head...

People. Two people. He's sitting on a weird bent tree and a girl is talking. Now a guy is talking. There's a lovely sunset view from here and the sound of ocean waves and it's all completely unfamiliar yet familiar at the same time. It feels like it happened a hundred years ago, but also like he's experiencing it for the first time. The words that are spoken filter in one ear and out the other and he can't seem to hold onto them, but there's a feeling that remains: hope and wonder, a new beginning. The start of a grand adventure with friends. There were other worlds out there to see, and they were going to see them together.

Then it fades. And he's awake. The experience has left him confused and feeling almost a little lost, like there's somewhere else he's supposed to be maybe? But at least he's wide awake.]

Woah... I think I just had a really weird dream. [This is just stated aloud, directed toward no one in particular. But hey, if you can relate, feel free to say so!]

Edited 2015-10-03 01:58 (UTC)

[Terry's feeling kind of absent for similar reasons, so it's really no surprise that he doesn't notice Sora until the last second. It's too late to stop the collision and rescue his drink, but he can at least angle it so hopefully neither of them will end up with any on their clothes.]

Shit- sorry. I didn't get any on your... [Sora what are you wearing] On you, did I?

[It was probably equally Sora's fault. He may have been mid-yawn with his eyes closed right before the collision happened. Still, he attempts to help rescue Terry's drink himself, but this just results in his hand getting wet. Which is of no concern to him, really, he shakes it off while apologizing.]

Woah-- Sorry! Uh.. [At the question asked of him, he takes a quick glance over his own outfit. Nah, looks fine.] Nope! Sorry you lost your drink, though... [And now he gets a good look at the guy he's talking to and realizes he recognizes him.] Hey, you're in Cosmic Indulgence! [There is no hint of rivalry or anything here though, just a friendly grin.]

Yeah. [Terry squints at Sora, trying to figure out if he should know him. Flashstep isn't really his thing, so it takes a moment, but it's hard not to have seen the label's darling boyband.] Flashstep, right?

Sora | Pride Records | Flashstep (OTA)

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One! I'll let you decide if this is their first meeting or not

yyy...essss.... maybe? i'm very decisive u see.