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

[Rei had spent a fair bit of time this evening hovering near the edges of the party as well, generally sticking near to her bandmates and trying to enjoy the evening. The dancing, the music? That was all fine, but socializing with strangers left her anxious, and she had to do that in spurts, moving away and recharging before returning.

Which is why she was standing so near to Ivan when...whatever it was...made him go stiff. It wouldn't have been easy for most people to tell, but when the relaxed way he carried himself most of the time shifted into that tense posture? She took note. How could she not?

Rei's hand reached out, a warm weight on his shoulder, and squeezed lightly.]

Hey, Ivan? What's wrong?

[ The echo of that feeling of desperation and urgency and protectiveness sticks, but he shakes his head and takes another sip of water. ]

I... I think I must have dozed off.

[ That had to be the reason. He woke to his own screaming in a dream, right? His confidence is a little shaken, and he pulls his mask down on his face again. The public's here. There are cameras everywhere. That thought has him looking at Blanche again. Did he see? ]

Did you?

[Rei lowers her eyes, but the hand stays on his shoulder. It was more than that, she knew. But there were people here. lots of them. And they were being watched. The last thing they wanted to do was to make a scene. Slowly, she pulled her own mask over her face and whispered so that only he could hear.]

There's a balcony in the next hall. Let's go get some air, okay? Away from the cameras.

[ With a final glance at Blanche, Ivan nods and starts to make his way to the balcony. The walls dampen the music, and though the bass can be felt through their feet still, it's a blessing to give his ears a break. ]

I-I don't know...

[ He's never fallen asleep standing up in the middle of a noisy and packed gala. Ivan feels like something is wrong, but something else inside of him insists that it's nothing to worry about, not to think too much of it. ]

Maybe I'm sick...

[Once out of the room, Rei's demeanor changes a bit, going from mildly concerned to openly worried. She walks quickly, a few steps ahead of Ivan, a nervous, furtive look to her.]

Sick? I mean...maybe? Do you have a fever? Or chills?

[She doubts it's that on the one hand, rationally. But something's telling her it's probably that, on the other...]

[ Ivan's demeanor also changes. He's no longer trying to keep that cool and mysterious image. Instead, he goes to the railing and rests his arms on it, leaving over them. He hangs his head down and lets his hair fan over his face. ]

No, I don't. Not the kind that feel like a cold.

[Rei walks up beside him, putting a hand on his back and studying his face, extremely bothered by this.]

You mean like...I dunno, mental stuff?

Yeah, that's one way of putting it. I felt like every cell of my body lit up and that I needed to protect someone right now.

[ But there had been absolutely no danger at all. Edward Blanche was and is perfectly fine. ]

To protect somebody?

[Her hand begins to rub around his back, concentric circles all along it.]

Who? And from what?

I think it was from a gunshot. It was like I was challenging someone to do it because I'd protect him no matter what.

[ Some of the tension in his shoulders relaxes, and he tries to will away the rest of his concern. ]

I said the name Edward, and I only know one Edward.

[ The CEO of Virgo Entertainment, Edward Blanche. ]

Wait. You...

[She pauses, drumming her fingers along the railing.]

That just seems a bit much, I think. Not that I don't think you're capable of being pretty heroic, but I don't see you taking a bullet for the CEO. Or anyone being stupid enough to try and shoot him.

It sure sounded like me yelling.

[ And his heart had raced. For a few seconds, he felt like the danger was very real. ]

Why would I even say that?

I...don't know? I mean, didn't you just meet him today?

[Had they even spoken?]

I did. Before today, Mr. Blanche hadn't been seen in public, and we didn't have a chance to meet him before our tour either.

[ There is no logical reason why Ivan would... care so much about Mr. Blanche beyond CEO to musician. ]

Right. So...maybe it was just a daydream? Or you saw it in a movie?

[Mundane explanations...those are best.]

Except for the ones I watch with the band, I normally watch movies in Japanese.

[ And he wasn't yelling in Japanese. He's fairly sure about that. ]

So, that leaves a very random daydream, and I haven't had anything weird to drink.

[ He is an organic flower. No using questionable substances. ]

Fair enough.

[It's sort of the same for her, she's not much of a movie person to begin with but she is very Japanese.]

Maybe you're just tired. That might be it.

[We won't touch drinks. She does drink, at parties, sometimes.]

Or it could be just more of that weirdness getting to you. I don't know.

I hope one of those is the case.

[ They just had a successful tour. They don't need one of their members suffering some random mental breakdown. His music is his life. Ivan begins to turn his head as if he wants to look back across the balcony to try and spot Blanche. However, there's no way to catch a glimpse. ]

I should...

[ What? Stay away from Blanche the rest of the evening? Stay close to him? What is he thinking? He can't stay near Blanche, a lowly musician like himself... ]

You should stay here, with me, and not worry about him.

[She reaches over and rather firmly takes her 'brother's hand. Her long fingers grip tightly, and she gives him her most stern 'you will meditate now' look.]

If there's trouble? Then the security guards will handle it. You will not. And I will put you in a lock if I have to.

[She's only half joking...]

[ Oh. He knows that look, even if this is hardly a place that is conducive to meditation. Too loud and crowded.

Still... It'd be better for everyone if this is just a one time thing, and nothing comes of it. ]

I don't think you'll have to resort to that.

[Rei nods then, sharpness softening as she takes Ivan's arm.]

I certainly hope not. So, let's go find the others and get to bed, hmm?

[ A bed would be nice. They still have to last the rest of night, but it can't go on for that much longer, could it? ]

No after parties?

[ He doesn't want to go to any. It's bad enough that he had to go to this award party... No, he shouldn't say that. They could have won something. Could of. ]

Don't tell me you actually want to go...

[Rei laughs, batting his arm playfully.]

I know you better than that.

I'd hope so. How long have we been in a band together?

[ Once he says that he realizes that he doesn't know the answer, but that just means that they'very been in the band for so long, it doesn't matter anymore. ]

A...few months now?

[That's as good a guess as any.]

☆TRACK I: NOTHING LEFT OF YOU

B

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

jad;lfkja Rei!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)