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

[There's a difference between antisocial and just unwilling to put any effort into socializing, which means Meril doesn't respond with a glare or harsh words. She's met people who just want to be friendly before... she thinks.]

I am surprised they trust some people to behave themselves around it. Perhaps it is a test, to see who cannot.

Oh! You really think so? [Pinkie glances down to make sure she hasn't got any on her dress.] They probably just wanted to look all fancy and stuff. It doesn't get much fancier than that!

Hey, I like your wings! Are they heavy?

[The answer is, objectively, yes, but Meril glances at them with the mildest of surprise, as the girl asks a question she had not even considered yet.] I have not noticed them. That is their one grace, I suppose. I certainly do not dare get near the chocolate fountain with them.

Awwwwwww. I'll bring you some chocolate-covered stuff if you want!

I am not particularly used to sweet things, but if there is any dark chocolate...

[This is a tidbit she's let slip before in social media -- that she has a hard time enjoying sweets, because she is not used to them. It leads to all sorts of speculation over her young life, whether her family was poor or strict or just weird, none of which Meril ever weighed in on. But unlike many such tidbits, this one is true.]

I'll check! Wait right here!

[And she scurries off into the crowd.]

[Some people she might worry about in this situation. Considering the air of enigmatic mystery around Meril is intended to have a distinct fanservice appeal, the notion of another person fetching her sweets and treats while she sits in queenly disinterest might ordinarily carry a sort of master/servant vibe that the tabloids and fanfiction sites might run wild with.]

[From what she's heard and seen, though, Pinkie is about as immune to such insinuations as anyone can be. Might as well try to pour water on Teflon and get it to stick. So she actually manages to relax just a bit.]

[After a little bit, Pinkie returns with a napkin bundle.]

Here! [She thrusts it into Meril's hands - it's full of little dark chocolate truffles.] These are really good! I tried some of the milk chocolate ones!

[This is better than Meril hoped. These are small and portable, something she can keep unobtrusively tucked in a hand (because heaven forbid her dress have a pocket that might spoil a curve by a millimeter) while she absorbs the taste in measured doses.]

[Her smile is a sad, sorry little thing by most standards, but unlike most she offers, it reaches her eyes.] Thank you. This is much better than a fountain... especially given the damage it could cause. [To her dress, to her wings.]

No problem! It WOULD be pretty bad if you messed all that up, it must've taken AGES to get right!

Doesn't mean you shouldn't get to eat though, right?

I was fortunate. These are simply on a harness -- the majority of the work was done long before I ever donned them. Though the harness itself is more complicated than anyone would guess.

[Meril touches her collarbone briefly, the pressure on her dress flattening it enough to reveal the slim line of a strap that barely raises above her skin.]

I believe that given a choice between looking my best and eating, I was expected to choose the former.

[Pinkie's stylists probably understood the futility of forcing a choice like that on her.]

That sucks. I mean, it's not even a "everybody wear giant wings" party - don't get me wrong, they're super cool! But you're just gonna get cranky and headachy if you don't eat, and that's no fun for anybody!

This is not exactly an event at which 'fun' is the purpose and the order of the day.

[Hoo boy, talk about not knowing your audience.]

Sure it is! It's a party, right?

[Meril blinks once, very slowly.]

And that obligates fun?

...why would you have a party if it wasn't gonna be fun? That's what parties ARE!

Do you think so?

[Meril lifts a hand palm-up, splaying her fingers out to encompass the gathering.]

Then tell me who here is having actual fun.

I'm having fun! And I bet lots of other people are too! It's just a different kind of party, that's all!

[Meril shrugs, a gesture which luckily doesn't send those costume wings flailing about -- they're attached at her back, rather than her shoulders, for a small break.] Then I wish you the best of it. But it is not for everyone to have fun here.

Right...

[Seems like it's not that great a party then. She probably shouldn't say so though.]

Well, it'll be more fun when we're all the ones up for awards!

Some people take those very seriously. A loss, or even an unworthy challenger, will engender far more anger than it does 'fun'.

And for those of us who personally care little about victory alone, we still must answer to our managers if we fail.

They're not that big a deal...

[She sounds a little doubtful though. Would THEIR manager be mad if they didn't win?]

[Meril looks at Pinkie a moment, before pointedly lifting her gaze to their surroundings. So many industry people gathered, dressed to their best and on their best behavior, all for one awards ceremony.]

[Getting the message?]

It'd be a lot more fun if everyone would just chill.

Perhaps, but this is also about gain. Therefore, the first person to lower their guard will be taken advantage of for that gain. Everyone knows that, and so none will be the first.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

☆TRACK I: NOTHING LEFT OF YOU

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