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

[It's starting to get to be a long night, and Luce knows it's not even remotely over yet.]

[She'd wanted it to be over when she'd felt strange and uncomfortable, like the tour bus all over again. She'd wanted it to be over after that, with that little poem stuck in her head. She's wanted it to be over with how many times she's seen people she knows and others she doesn't quite know act strangely.]

[More strangely than usual for celebrities, anyway.]

[It's taken a bit of work to energize herself into wandering around again, faking a social nature when she just wants to keep an eye out for anyone else acting strange. Not even to find out, just out of concern.]

[When she sees a short figure suddenly bolt away from the crowd, Luce goes through motions that are starting to become automatic now.]

[After a minute or two on the stairwell, the click of heels will announce Luce's presence before she's smiling down towards the young boy. There are two cups in her hand.]

Tiger Universe, right?

[The look on his face seems to suggest he thinks that just glowering at her super hard will conceal the fact that he has tears in his eyes. It doesn't really. Instead it just makes him look sort of miserable and ridiculous.]

Duh. The one and only.

[Wow that didn't come out as sassily as he wanted it to.]

[She'll ignore that it wasn't the most sassy thing ever.]

I've heard quite a bit about you. Trucy says you're a star with makeup.

[A bit of a stretch, but whatever. She offers a cup.]

Water? Sorry it's nothing interesting, but I was out dancing.

[Oh yeah here we go. She's totally trying to work him over like she knows what's best or something. He crosses his arms, and stares downward, pouting.]

I don't need any.

Alright, if you say so.

[But she's totally going to put it on the metaphorical table by setting it between them when she sits down herself, taking a sip of her own water.]

Getting bored of the party?

Yeah. It's stupid.

[He doesn't look up, but he also doesn't tell her to go away immediately, so that's something.]

Everybody here is a jerk and way older than me so who even cares.

[He wipes at his eyes, and tries to put his mask back on.]

[Uh oh. Teenage-adult thing going on here. It's practically written in neon over Tiger's head.]

Oh, tell me about it. It's like... Listen, you may be a big shot with all these awards, but you're still wearing those shoes with that belt, so I don't really think you can brush me off.

[This is legitimate complaint, for the record. Luce is less than impressed with most of her senior musicians.]

That kind of thing, and so on. At least, certainly for me. What about you?

[He huffs softly, more or less in agreement. Though it's not just with the more experienced musicians. More like everyone who isn't in his band...and sometimes even them, too.

He always feels so at war with himself. He hates it.]

It's not just those guys. But...I'm not crying about that stuff, okay?

[He knows she saw, and it's important that she know that he's not crying over something dumb like that.]

Of course. [Luce agrees easily and her shrugs seems to fall into the same line.]

So... Is it alright if I ask who else is bothering you? [A slight smile.] Besides myself right now.

[He does mind, some part of him screams, and if she knows she's bothering him why doesn't she leave? Why doesn't he tell her to leave? Why does he even care?

He wants to go home, he thinks very pointedly, but he doesn't know that he's considered any one place home for a very long time.]

Why are you even talking to me right now? [His temper flares, fueled by his own inner turmoil. He stands up.] You're...you're not even with Pride, are you?

No, I'm not.

[Luce doesn't try to hide it, and she doesn't lose her cool. She lets Tiger stand if he wants, but she stays sitting.]

I don't think I need to be a part of Pride to be concerned about you. Especially since you're not the only one who's had a rough night from what I've seen.

[Tiger clenches his fists at his sides. This is dumb. She's dumb! But where is he going to go?]

They don't have anything to do with me, I'm my own guy!

You are. And I'm worried about just you right now.

[Look at that caring. What now, Tiger.]

You don't have to answer my questions if you don't want to. I won't be offended.

[He has no idea what, none at all.]

Then how about HECK NO?!

[He turns and starts to stomp up the stairs, his mask in hand. A moment later he stomps back down to Luce.]

Where's the bathroom, I have to do my face.

[...Well this has happened.]

[Somehow Luce avoids laughing or even looking like she might laugh even as she rises up to her feet.]

Hmm, it's this way. There's so many people around, it'd be easier to just show you.

[It's admiral that she manages to stay straight faced through these antics. At very least, her lack of disrespect means that he's willing to give her that chance.]

...Okay, fine. Only because this is a total mess, and I'm not taking any detours.

[He puts his mask back on, for now.]

[It is truly a talent.]

Of course. Makeup in our business isn't anything one should take lightly.

[With Tiger's mask in place, she starts to guide him along to the restrooms. It really does seem pretty straight forward.]

[Tiger watches her the whole way, like he's trying to glean something from her actions. Like he's unsure if this is some attempt to assassinate him. When they get to the bathroom uneventfully, he lingers around the door uncomfortably.]

Do you have kids?

[He asks this apropos of nothing.]

[If not for his lingering, Luce would be already on her way. With how he's been, it seemed like he'd take offense if she stuck around after all. However, she takes note and waits with her patience rewarding her.]

[Although, she supposes such a question could be considered a rather strange reward.]

No, even if the media likes to joke about my band being such. [There's just the briefest of pauses as her hand curls over her heart. The poem is in her mind again.] ...I wish I did, however.

I suppose if I wait much longer, I'll run out of time...

[He pauses. He had been asking because she obviously seemed to feel the need to bother him about stuff that way, so he'd thought maybe it has something to do with maternal instincts. When she phrases it like that, though, he can't really manage the jab about her having her own kids so she didn't have to keep bugging him.

Instead he just exhales, and moves to go into the bathroom.]

I wouldn't bother. [He crosses his arms over his body.] Parenting doesn't seem like much fun, anyway.

[He pauses in the doorway before continuing.]

Nobody ever sticks around to do it.

Even if it isn't fun, it's still something I want to do.

[That, she's sure of. She doesn't know why the poem in her head makes that feeling more steadfast in contradiction to her flirtatious nature.]

And I'll stick around.

[His shoulders sink. Her asserting really isn't all that comforting, considering his own personal experience. His stomach twists in his gut.]

Mine didn't. ...But it wasn't really her choice.

[And immediately, he's thinking of that memory all over again, of the woman he'd never met but wanted nothing more to be like. He'd never known her, and he never would.

He just ends up making himself cry again.]

Whatever.

[He darts into the bathroom.]

[He can spend as long as he likes in the bathroom.]

[However, when he leaves, he'll find Luce still waiting outside patiently nearby, toying with a slip of paper in her fingers. She smiles when she sees him again.]

I wanted to give you something, so I hope it's not too much trouble if I waited.

[He comes out about fifteen minutes later with his make up redone and is...completely shocked to see Luce still standing there. So shocked that he actually physically startles and jumps back a bit with a yelp.

Her...why?! WHY STILL HERE.]

Wha-i...uh...what?

[Child you are too high strung, you need something calming]

[maybe with honey]

[Luce just waits for him to speak instead of yelping, and then she holds out the paper. The numbers are written in an elegant hand befitting of her general image: 1-517-151-2420]

It's my phone number. If you ever want to text or call for whatever reason, here it is.

You don't have to keep it. It's just an offer.

[She smiles.]

But if you ever call, I'll always pick up.

☆TRACK I: NOTHING LEFT OF YOU

can I steal the maternal spot before it's too late, let's find out

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