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

[By this point, Luce has lost her own excitement for the party as well. She's keeping to her own self, making the bare minimum of chatter to pass so that Angel doesn't fuss again- woman holds grudges, she swears- and her eyes roam the enormous room idly for the most part.]

[The girl her eyes pass over at first doesn't seem particularly interesting, just another face in the crowd. Luce thinks she remembers some gossip putting her as one of Pride Records' lot. However, she picks up on something: the way the girl is frozen in place, her eyes even from this distance seeming not quite right, and she recalls her own experience. She'd just been standing, wondering who to try her hand at next, when...]

[Luce watches as the girl snaps out of it and retreats to the sidelines as well. After Trucy has been by the wall for a moment of two, she'll find herself being offered a small glass of water and a smile.]

Not feeling well?

I'm okay. Thanks.

[She accepts the water with a smile of her own. Whatever that weird... vision was, it probably wasn't important. Maybe she's just tired...

More importantly, she finally gets a good look at the woman she's talking to.]

Wow, you're beautiful! I hope I'm that pretty someday.

[Even brainwashing can't put up a decent brain to mouth filter it seems.]

[The sudden blunt compliment makes her laugh the worry in her right out. Maybe she was just being silly. That must be it, surely. It's been a long night for everyone, and goodness knew what kind of things could get into the food here.]

I'm charmed you think so. I have good genes. [She gives a wink to the younger girl.] Maybe I could give you some tips, when we're not all stuck about.

Really? That would be great!

[Trucy really has no sense of shame. She's said much blunter, stranger things to people she just met. She grins, her worries forgotten.]

Tiger gives me make up tips sometimes, but he mostly does this sort of glam glitter make up thing. Which is super great on stage, but I kinda don't think it'll cut it with actual boys.

The glam look only works on certain types of people, I'm afraid. Besides... the glitter can get everywhere.

[Settling herself besides her along the wall, Luce smiles brightly down to her. Things are starting to feel like they're getting back to normal.]

So, Tiger Universe, huh?

Yup! He's a great kid. Have you met him?

[Trucy turns to lean her back against the wall.]

My whole band is pretty great. I'm really lucky that way.

I've heard about him, but I've never gotten the pleasure.

[It's true for a lot of names here, honestly, and a lot of faces. Some of the newer ones she knows are just breaking into the industry like her and Flowers Over Bones, which is a mixed bag as far as knowing everyone goes.]

I understand what you mean... Why don't you tell me more about them?

Sure!

[Talk about System Crash? Yes please!]

Pinkie's our front gal, and I think she has enough energy for six bands. Kido's super quiet but she's the most solid friend you could have. And Sayaka is just really fun to hang out with.

[She really does like her band.]

Tiger is kinda like our little brother. And then there's me!

[Teenagers who are so enthusiastic about their life are such a delight to meet. Luce seems to listen attentively.]

And what would they say about you, hm?

I dunno. Good stuff, I hope.

[Trucy flashes her a slightly sheepish smile.]

I wouldn't really blame them if they thought I was pushy though.

Oh? You've seemed sweet to me so far.

[And not just because of the compliment, she swears.]

Aw, really? Thanks.

[Clearly pleased, she bounces up and down on the balls of her feet a few times.]

I don't try to be pushy, but I do get pretty excited when we start a new project.

Call it "being swept up in musical passion".

[Wink!]

Better impression that way, right?

Ohh, swept up. I like that! It's kind of pretentious but it's so cool that no one will even care!

[She's so using that the next time they discuss a new song.]

I'm from Virgo- we have "pretentious" on lock down.

[Oh yeah, she's aware of her label's reputation. The internet is full of that kind of thing. No need to take it seriously, of course.]

So you like that?

You do! You guys are like, the masters of pretentious!

[She honestly means that as a complement.]

Over at Pride we're more like the masters of 'what the heck are they gonna do next?'

[Because that's a thing that you can or would want to master...]

[Fortunately, living with three teenagers has gotten Luce more than adjusted to well meaning but awkward teenagers.]

Oh, I'v heard all about the shenanigans that Pride gets to. I think last week I heard something about someone being thrown out a window...?

Wow, I hadn't heard about that yet. I'm not really surprised though. We have some pretty crazy parties.

[Although...]

I wonder what floor they were on?

I didn't get the details. Hopefully not a particularly high floor, right?

Nah. If it were, I think I would've heard something about it. If someone actually died, everyone would know.

Definitely. So... first or second story?

[You can survive second story falls, right?]

[She nods.]

Yeah, probably. I'll have to ask around at Pride HQ tomorrow. I bet someone knows what happened.

You'll have to let me know. I don't have my phone on me, but if I told you my number, would you be able to remember it?

Sure! I can give you mine too, if you want it.

That'd be great!

[And cue number exchange! Luce repeats the one Trudy gives to her a few more times under her breath, just to make sure she has it right.]

Alright, I think I got it.

Twist

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