interstellar5555 | ☆TRACK I: NOTHING LEFT OF YOU

Entry tags:

☆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

[ At first, Ivan assumes that she's talking to someone else. His face is covered completely by a fox mask, hiding his puzzlement, but he lowers his head in acknowledgement of the question. (He's wearing geta to help him look taller.) ]

... Are you asking me?

[ Isn't she from the other record label? His rival? ]

[She smiles in what she imagines is a totally smooth way. It's not, but the thought is what counts?]

Well, if I'm not, then I'm kind of facing the wrong way.

[Rival labels don't count when everyone is wearing masks obviously.]

[ Oh, so she is asking him. She now has his full attention. Ivan straightens up and stops leaning on the wall. ]

I don't dance to this kind of music.

[ Right now, it's very ballroom like music. Ivan can play classical music, and he can use a classical (or traditional) instrument. However, he doesn't dance to it. ]

Aw, c'mon. This kind of music is easy to dance to. You just keep twirling around and thinking 'one-two-three, one-two-three.'

[Clearly she is an expert.]

[ He starts weighing in his options, knowing the cameras are everywhere and his image. The mask does hide his face, even if it's very obvious that he's Ivan Karelin from Flowers Over Bones. But the thing that decides the issue for him is the fact that he doesn't feel like trying to argue why he shouldn't dance. She's done nothing wrong, really.

He bows, and with a flick of his wrist he opens a cherry blossom folding fan he had hiding in his sleeve pockets. ]

All right.

[ Ivan hopes he doesn't miss a step and trip. He doesn't want to step on her feet with wooden geta; it'd hurt. ]

That's the spirit!

[Oh, so it turns out that under that mask he's that cute guy from one of her favorite bands? And now she gets to dance with him? Haha what a coincidence! Really...

Trucy gives herself a mental pat on the back for being totally smooooth.

At least she manages to be smooth enough to not trip as they sweep out onto the dance floor. The first few steps could even be called graceful. After that... sort of average. This isn't the kind of dancing she usually does.]

[ If the Japanese attire somehow didn't give him away, then the cherry blossom fan and cherry blossom hair piece (cherry blossom being his flower image) are dead ringers for anyone who's a fan. (Or at least they might be able to spot another fan of Ivan's.)

It should also be noted that Ivan is more arcing and swaying near Trucy, twirling his fan to the music. He's not even attempting to take her hand and spin around with her. He would if she insisted, but he's trying to match Japanese fan dancing with the current song.

However... Ivan is a klutz off stage, and a mishap is probably on the horizon in this crowded gala. ]

[It throws her off a little, but Trucy actually finds his dedication to his own style admirable.]

Or that works too.

[In fact, she's going to try to match his dancing aesthetic. It's more fun that way. Less graceful than she could have been with a dance she was more familiar with, but who cares about that.]

[ Once he sees that Trucy is trying to do the same (and is surprised that she is), he tries to match her in some fashion. He'll mirror her turns and sways to give the appearance that they know what the other is doing. (Or at least make it less obvious that they are making things up as they go.) ]

[Okay, now she's having a fun. It's like playing a mirror trick that you haven't rehearsed yet. And they haven't tripped, stepped on each others toes, or run into any other dancers. Yet.

Success!]

Hey, you're really good at this!

[But she supposes she shouldn't be surprised. Of course someone as graceful and polished as he is would be amazing on the dance floor.]

[ A small incline of the head is Ivan's reply to Trucy's compliment. He is not one to brag about his skills nor explain the meaning behind his nod.

However... graceful and polished? Trucy has only seen the musician on the stage. For reasons Ivan doesn't understand, once he's off of it, his coordination with his surroundings takes a huge hit. They continue without incident for a few more minutes until Ivan accidentally thwaps a gala employee in the face with his fan. Ivan stops dancing and would have stunned expression on his face if not for the mask. ]

[To make matters worse, the unfortunate employee had been carrying a tray of drinks which clatters to the ground, splashing the people nearby. Trucy gasps.]

S-sorry! We're really sorry!

[She's also pretty glad for the masks. At least people can't see how embarrassed she looks.]

[ If Trucy starts saying the apologies, then Ivan will simply bow his own apology to the unfortunate employee. He can't tell if the employee is even looking his way. There are other guests, liquid, and glasses for the employee to attend to, and Ivan's mask doesn't have the best sight. (Which only compounds the risks for tonight with his clumsiness.)

Maybe they should do a disappearing act before too much attention is drawn their way. Let the musician with the expensive suit and the singer with the extravagant gown take the media focus with their growing tantrum and outrage. ]

[Trucy is also pretty good at recognizing the time for a disappearing act. While the employee is dealing with the enraged diva, she starts backing away.]

We'll just be going.... now....

[Almost as an afterthought, she grabs Ivan's arm and tugs him along with her, into a corner away from the dance floor. Once there, she flashes him an embarrassed smile.]

That was.... awkward.

[ Being dragged around some place by a girl is commonplace for Ivan given his two "sisters." He follows quickly and only manages to bump into one other guest as they escape. (That guest luckily bumped into another person and, seeing an opportunity, asked for a dance "since she was in the neighborhood apparently.") ]

Welcome to my life.

[ It's not exactly a secret that Ivan is a bit of a klutz. The tabloids have picked on him a few times about it, but when people don't notice you so easily and your coordination is off just enough to mess with you, it spells disaster. It's not something he'd wish even on a rival band. Who knows how he manages to keep his bruising from being too visible. ]

Huh?

[Trucy is surprised that he seems genuinely upset about what happened. It makes her feel a little bad. So she's quick to try to smooth it over.]

Oh, don't even worry about that! In a room this crowded that could happen to anyone. And really they should've made the dance floor bigger in the first place.

[She offers a confident smile.]

It's really no big deal.

[ Ivan does feel upset about the ordeal, not about what others might think about him because that aspect of his personality has been greatly altered, but that he caused those people problems to begin with. If it's just himself, then it's just his problem. If he breaks something or inconveniences another, then Ivan gets frustrated at himself.

He runs a hand through his hair and gives a sigh. ]

It happens more often to me. Thanks though.

[ His voice does not sound as sad as earlier with Trucy's encouragement. ]

No way! You're always really graceful on stage!

[The surprise has Trucy accidentally admitting that she's seen him on stage. More than once.]

On stage only.

[ And he doesn't know why that is. However, admitting that fault of his is easy to do because it's nothing that can be used against his band in any way. He's a klutz. That's all there is to it. There are far worse things to be. ]

Only on stage, huh...?

[She frowns. In show business, he's probably lucky it's not the other way around. But there still ought to be a solution.]

Maybe it's the floor? Maybe you do better on whatever they make stage floors out of.

You can consider it another mystery about me.

[ He refers to the fact that he (and more importantly his label) keeps information about himself vague or quiet to help that mysterious image he portrays.

And that he hasn't solved the mystery himself. ]

Oooh, I like that!

[See now that's how you handle a flaw in show biz. You turn it into an attraction. Trucy is all for that.]

It's like 'the curse of the staaage.' So mysterious!

[Although she does have a strange way of putting her own spin on things. The spooky voice was totally necessary.]

A curse sounds like it fit your band's gimmick. You can use it.

[ He means that in a nice way, honest. Even if he doesn't explain his reasons like the hipster he is. ]

Really? Thanks!

[She would have taken it in the most positive sense either way.]

I wonder what kind of curse I should have?

[Because obviously she would be the cursed one?]

Oh! I know! It'll be the curse of the miraculous disappearing girl! I'll vanish from stage at the end of every show.

[Which is really just a magic trick. And what people do when their show is over anyway. And what kind of curse is 'miraculous?' Trucy is weird.]

The audience won't get any encores.

[ He's joking, but it would be seen as a curse by her band's fans. Who wants the show to end so quickly? ]

☆TRACK I: NOTHING LEFT OF YOU

Party

Re: Party

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

I'm so sorry I missed this. orz Feel free to ignore.

<3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)