☆TRACK I: NOTHING LEFT OF YOU

[interdimanagers]

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.”

Comments

2

[traumatizing]

[This kid is unbelievably bored. Terry's been doing a good job of looking like he gives a shit for most of the event, but after a while he loses the ability to even keep that up. Every now and then his eyes wander around the room to see what everyone else is up to. When he catches Luci's eye, he rolls his eyes to express just how much he's had enough.]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Hm, wasn't that kid in Cosmic Indulgence? Yeah, Luci's pretty sure Yuffie's show her pictures of this kid, but damn can he roll his eyes. Luci grins, sharkish, and nods up to the stage to indicate the speaker. Then she leans back in her chair so Terry has a view of her lap and starts motioning like she's wanking off. Please G-O-D let her never sound like such a self-indulgent sap-- better yet, maybe he could make sure Luci was mysteriously unavailable if she ever had to thank someone for a bullshit award.]

[traumatizing]

[Terry's shoulders shake in a barely contained laugh and he nods, raising his eyebrows in a sort of "can you believe this shit?" expression. If Yuffie's anything to judge her bandmates by, he already knows the answer to that. If the subtle suggestion that the guy on stage is a wanker isn't enough to go by, that is.]

[There's not much more to get across with eye contact about his opinion on this affair, and a gentle nudge gets him giving his attention back to the stage. Though Luci might get a chuckle out of the way he looks like he's going to explode when the umpteenth statement of the night about being so blessed is made. Thank fuck he's not gonna be the one at the mic if they ever have any awards to accept down the road.]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Luci grins as Terry laughs and gets nudged back to attention. She imagines Camila is attempting to do the same for her and the rest of the carnies, but it's a losing battle.]

[Aw, but good little boy's going to look back at the stage. Oh well, not everybody was as irreverent as Luci. Once the mind-numbing speeches are over, she immediately leaves her table and makes a beeline for Terry. She's seen Yuffie with him, but aside from rumor she doesn't know him. Time to change that.]

Hey, let's hit the bar before the line gets ridiculous.

[traumatizing]

[Good god he almost jumps out of his skin, half expecting the voice to be someone pulling him aside to tell him to "act appropriately" or whatever. The word 'bar' gets him moving though, he could do with drink or three after sitting through all that.]

What a great idea.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Luci grins, pleased by his agreement. She playfully grabs him by the back of his shirt collar to haul him off to the bar.]

Saw you selfie-ing with Yuffie earlier.

[traumatizing]

[Well that gets a definitive 'ugh' from him.] She loves instagram, that one.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[The teenaged disdain is so thick, she just might squee.]

So you follow her on it?

[traumatizing]

I'd never hear the end of it if I didn't.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Mm... [There's something distinctly smug in how she hums.] She does have her ways.

C'mon kid, let's get you so blitzed, you say something that makes my night.

[traumatizing]

["Kid." How dare, they're practically the same age. He laughs instead of puffing up like he usually would though; drunk Terry is more likely to tiredly ramble about sound art then do or say anything interesting.]

Good luck with that.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[How dare indeed, Terry's actually a year older than Luci. But she dares all the time, that's nothing new. And really, Terry should watch out for the day she refers to him as an adult. It might mean she's lost respect for him.]

[Luci cuts a path through to the bar--] What's your poison? [--she shouts over her shoulder. Rambly or gossipy, everybody tended to be more honest with some alcohol in them. Luci is curious what Terry might say, no matter what that is.]

[traumatizing]

Anything. Surprise me.

[Is he going to regret this 20 minutes from now, that is the question.]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Oh that's just not sporting, Terry. Luci comes back with two glasses of the same thing and hands one to him.]

Cheers, darling.

[traumatizing]

[He's just very chill about booze. Though he might not be after getting his ass kicked by this fireball stuff. He gives the drink a cautious look, but it smells good, so he holds it up in a cheers gesture and takes a sip.]

[Holy good god there's a kick to that stuff. Wow. Terry puts a hand over his mouth to stifle a cough or two. What a weenie.]

It's good. [Ahem.] Except for the part where it hurts.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Luci laughs and pats him encouragingly on the back.]

That's how you know it's working! You seemed like you didn't want me to treat you like a potted petunia, was I right?

[traumatizing]

You were right. [He tries another sip and coughs again, less this time though. It's like smoking, by the end he'll be fine with it.] Most people work their way up to trying to choke me though.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Surely you don't think I'm 'most people', do you Terrance?

[Damning with faint praise, that's what this is.]

[traumatizing]

You obviously aren't.

[And thank god tbh]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Glad to know there's some sparks running around in there-- [She smirks and gently flicks his forehead.] So, no social media, what d'you do for fun?

[traumatizing]

[What is with this band and all the poking and flicking and whatever-else-have-you? He waves off Luci's hand, even if it's too late to stop the flicking, and scratches his head. Because he's a huge nerd and it's embarrassing.]

Honestly? I spend almost all my time on music.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[They're way too touchy-feely-grabby-handsy. Probably comes from fistfights and passing out in a heap.]

Mm, work and pleasure. You don't think you're going to burn out that way, do you?

[traumatizing]

I hope not. [He's going for a smirk but it comes out more of a bashful smile.] I don't know what else I'd do.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

...I think that's true of all of us, honestly. [She takes a long pull at her drink and, unsurprisingly, doesn't shudder. A Devil's Advocate is clearly one of her usuals.]

But seriously-- you gotta get out. Unsolicited advice, but trust me, it helps the work.

[traumatizing]

[Music is all he knows. When he tries to think of anything else- anything he might've enjoyed enough before he got signed... Hell, even before he picked up his first instrument. It's all background noise. A fog of barely-there memories. Yeah, yeah, get out more. He doesn't know how.]

[Let's not dwell on that though. He knocks back of the rest of his drink - which proves to be a mistake, given the coughing and the way it brings a tear to his eye - and shrugs all that off.]

Well for now, I need another drink.