interstellar5555 | ☆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

[Let's be real here, there's a lot of people at this ceremony and some of them are just really cutting loose. Yosuke stands off to the side for the moment, arms crossed and with his mouth turned up. He sees Maxxie, elbows him, and says quickly-]

You see those people from Virgo over there? We're gunna show them up!

[Maxxie turns to look at him, then in the direction of said people from Virgo, then back at Yosuke with a devilish grin.]

Not unless you start really dancing, yeah? Step up your game a bit!

[And thus, Maxxie dances, indicating how one must step up one's game.]

And what the hell is that supposed to mean?! Come on.

[He steps out onto the dance floor, making sure he winks and waves at the crowd on the way, even further out than Maxxie was. He gestures to his bandmate to follow, and takes a pose.]

You ready?

[He waits for the beat to fall, striking a pose before starting to let loose himself.]

[Maxxie laughs, because he's just spent two months on a bus with this guy, but in the three days he managed to forget everything that was slightly annoying about his bandmates and now he finds them totally cool and charming again.]

[So he joins right in, busting out all the moves he has. It's fun just letting loose with his bandmates now that they're not on the clock 24/7.]

[Yosuke's out here with the intention of making heads turn. After having performed with Maxxie this long, and at their talent level, they make a great duo. Yosuke isn't so arrogant that he's trying to make this a solo act- he's syncing himself with his bandmate so that their moves compliment each other, giving Maxxie the spotlight sometimes and then taking it for himself in moments.

And they make heads turn. From girls and guys.

As they dance, Yosuke says semi-quitely:]

Duuuuuude! This is working better than expected!

[Maxxie just grins and keeps dancing along. It can only last so long, though and after a few minutes he slows and taps Yosuke's arm to get his attention.]

You want anything to drink? I'm gonna head to the bar.

[Yosuke's not exactly old enough to drink, but he figures that it won't stop Maxxie from getting him anything at all.]

No thanks, I'm not really that huge into drinking. [Except under peer pressure.] But you might wanna come back with an extra one anyway, I'm pretty sure I saw some dude checking you out a minute ago! He's right there. [He whispers, his eyes going towards the crowd to indicate the general area of said hot guy.]

[Maxxie glances over in the direction that Yosuke's looking, but then he turns back and shrugs.]

He's alright. Maybe I'll have a chat with him later. I'll be right back, yeah?

[He turns to go, wandering off toward the bar. A minute later he returns, drink in hand. He smiles as he joins Yosuke on the dance floor again.]

So since when are you trying to match me up with guys at parties?

[He continues to enjoy himself until Maxxie comes back, wearily eyeing in the direction he'd indicated earlier.]

You know! [He says nervously.] I thought I'd help you out! Since you sorta try to do the same for us...

[He's lying and he's so bad at it. So after a moment's hesitation, he spills.]

Okay, okay! I thought that dude was checking me out so I wanted you to go over there and distract him or something. [He shivers. It's creepy.]

[Maxxie looks over there again, trying to see who would have such such poor taste as to have been checking out Yosuke instead of himself. He frowns.]

Well, he's probably figured out you're not interested by now, unless you were checking him out too.

Hell no! [He exclaims instantly, looking a little repulsed by the idea.]

Why would you even say something like that???!!!

[Maxxie rolls his eyes and takes a drink.]

Whatever. Looks like he's gone, and I'm leaving too, alright?

[And with that he turns and walks away from Yosuke again, his body language significantly less peppy than a couple minutes ago.]

[He notices that, and instantly feels bad. He did it again...]

Yo, Maxxie, hold up! [He catches up.] Sorry...

[He rubs the back of his head. He's been on tour with the guy for a few months, and he knows better.]

[Maxxie shrugs and keeps walking, looking for something to distract him.]

Whatever, dude. You think I'm gross, I get it.

[The fact that he is drunk does not help this situation. He looks to find something other than the bar that he could direct his attention to, instead of waiting for Yosuke to say the wrong thing and start a fight at this terribly fancy event.]

Man, don't drive the stake in further!

[That makes him feel even worse about it. He blinks a few times, his mouth hanging open to find words to say, but he really did it this time.]

Listen, it's not that I think you're gross. It's just I can't picture it for myself, okay?

[Incredulous face.]

Do I act like it's disgusting when you talk about girls, or how girls look at me sometimes? I can't picture that for myself, can I?

[His face goes from desperate to completely taken aback and unsure of what to say. No, he doesn't act like that at all. And while he's still trying to get used to this whole idea of being in a close proximity to someone else who didn't share the same orientation as him ~~until Narukami shows up~~, Maxxie's been cool.

He stands, speechless.]

I...

I didn't mean it like that. Sorry. [He looks away in shame, as Maxxie's got his point across.]

[Maxxie shakes his head, sighing. He still looks hurt and angry but it fades a little.]

Whatever, just... leave me alone for a bit, yeah? I can't fucking deal with this right now.

Edited 2015-10-06 01:29 (UTC)

Yeah. Sure.

[He gives a small wave to him, turning to go. Granted, he knew Maxxie was a little drunk, but he hadn't meant for this to go that far. One day he'll learn...]

☆TRACK I: NOTHING LEFT OF YOU

dancefloor!

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