interstellar5555 | 002 ✽ Come back! Even as a shadow, even as a dream

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002 ✽ Come back! Even as a shadow, even as a dream

Who: Everyone stuck in Virgo HQ
What: This happened, and now we're all stuck here.
When: Nov. 1 - 5
Where: Virgo HQ
Warnings: Honor system, I'm trusting everyone to put warning in the subject lines if it comes up in their threads!

So.

Press events? Not happening. Concerts? Cancelled. Going out at all? N o p e.

Everyone- well every newbie- is ball and chained to Virgo Entertainment's headquarters for the time being. What's the emergency? No one knows, but you're all stuck here regardless.

> What will you do?

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[When Doctor isn't composing in his bedroom he wanders Virgo HQ like a hamster in a cage, constantly doing something and doing it with enthusiasm and a smile.

A If you catch him at the right time he'll be cooking and you'll likely be offered a taste. There's stew, salads, chicken, fish; it varies meal to meal. (Get some before Pao-Lin eats it all!) Between rounds of chopping ingredients and standing over the stove, he sits and carves faces into apples. Eventually an entire row of them start to form along the counter where he's at work.

B When he's not on the move or focused on a task like cooking, Doctor takes a break here and there to sit in one of the lounges and read. If one stops to really look at what he's been reading, they'll find him staring starry-eyed at a toy store ad. He's very taken with the robotic dog toy that all the kids want these days. When he isn't admiring ads for the robotic dog toy, he's checking the prices on space-themed mobiles, though to an outsider it might look more like he's shopping for a baby shower.]

Please tell me you're not buying that shit for yourself.

[Here he was hoping he might be able to start a conversation about something intelligent, but once he saw what Doctor was reading, all hope of that faded. Now Yan is stuck worrying about this guy's sanity again. Where did they find him? Seriously.]

It's not "shit" it's a catalog of the latest robotic technology emulating animal behavior available to the public and this... [He gives the second ad a shake.] ...Is advertising some very stylish interior decorations.

[Doctor gives both catalogs a little shake as he gives Yan a cheeky smile, then returns his gaze towards his reading material.]

If Virgo's going to decorate my walls for me and deny my desire to own a pet then I'll decorate the ceiling and adopt a robotic dog.

You do realize you're supposed to grow out of this stuff before you hit puberty, right?

[Yan invites himself to take a seat and pulls his phone out. It's a little rude, but the phone is more or less an extension of his arm unless he's performing.]

They said no pets?

[He didn't really want one, so he hadn't asked, but it seemed a little excessive. They were adults, after all. They could probably manage a cat or two without ruining the decor.]

Oh, lighten up Yan! [Doctor waves a hand in the air.] The label on this robot says ages ten and up. I fit nicely into the 'and up' category.

[He leans forward to add] I've heard that some of the senior musicians here have pets any way. I think it's a rule they're willing to overlook if you make it big.

So focus on hitting it big instead of turning your apartment into a goddamn nursery.

[This guy is truly beyond his understanding. They should be able to have intelligent conversations, but it didn't take long to come to the conclusion that Doctor is one of those "born with genius and thus not inclined to act like he's actually intelligent" types, while Yan is the sort who's smart enough, but who's had to work his ass off to get where he is today.]

Did you not get to have a childhood or something?

[Doctor raises a brow. Yan wasn't exactly a cuddly personality but he didn't have to be rude.]

People do tend to treat you differently when you have one of the highest recorded IQs in modern history.

Intelligence doesn't always have to be accompanied by a serious atmosphere or lookout. Enthusiasm and curiosity are key to making advancements and actually using the gift of your mind.

Enthusiasm and curiosity, yeah, but not the whole arrested development thing. IQ doesn't mean a whole hell of a lot if you're not using it for much.

[As much as he hates to admit it, this conversation is giving him that strange sense of deja vu that's been creeping in more and more often now. It's like he can just barely see a face on the edges of his memory. Not one of the ones he's seen so far, so maybe that's why it isn't as clear as it could be.]

I put off law school for this shit, you know, but I can get what I want this way, too. What are you even getting out of this aside from pocket money to buy candy with?

[From rude to insults now. Doctor sighed. He hadn't gone through years of being bullied as the weird instruments kid to be accused of not taking his craft seriously.]

You're assuming an awful lot there Yan. Do you always judge people based on the decor or entertainment they enjoy? Before you accuse me of not being a true musician or someone who wants to make a difference in this world, have you actually listened to my work? Or perhaps looked into my involvement in youth art programs and anti-drug abuse campaigns?

[He chuckles dryly in his throat.] We're only acquaintances and you're going to assume the worst? Call me an idiot?

If I knew about that shit, would I have asked?

[He doesn't even seem fazed by the answer, nor does he seem hugely impressed by it. He's never really been able to get into the humanitarian stuff much. If you want to change the world, rule the world.

Actually, he's not sure he's thought of it that way before now, but it sounds right. Feels right, too.]

Now I'm almost sorry I did. One of the smartest people in the world and this is all you're doing? The same crap any artist who wants to make a splash in the headlines does? Maybe your heart's in it, but it's something anyone with some cash and a big enough name can do.

[Doctor stone faces right back at him.]

Sorry to disappoint you but I'm not going to sit here and list out my resume and things I've done for the music industry and the world. I'll leave it to you to look into if you're really that concerned with what I'm doing with my life and intelligence.

If you don't see the power and value in music and how it can indeed change people's lives then you are the one who doesn't belong in this business.

[With a crack from the papers in his hand he shakes them again and turns back to his reading material.]

You honestly believe that, don't you? That it's music that changes anything and not marketing and money?

[Yan leans back in his seat and stretches a little, like he's just settling in for this. He should probably stop taking it as a personal insult when people around him are being stupid, but leaving well enough alone would mean giving up and he's exceptionally stubborn when he wants to be.]

Blanche is all about the quality of the product, yeah, and it's not like I don't care about the integrity of my own work, but it's still product in the end.

[ Doctor pulls out his phone and begins typing on it. ]

Why don't your band mates about that? Or other Virgo employees? I imagine you'll get some interesting answers. Better yet, since you're so confident in your opinion, why not tweet it out to your fans and see what they think of your musical philosophy?

[ He stops typing and tucks his phone back in his pocket. ]

I all ready know from experience, from the words of fans, students, and other musicians, that music changes lives.

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goateeocracy - 2015-11-18 07:12 (UTC) - Expand

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trustme - 2015-11-18 08:13 (UTC) - Expand

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goateeocracy - 2015-11-20 06:11 (UTC) - Expand

I'm so sorry! I must have accidentally marked this as read in my inbox. ><

trustme - 2015-12-18 05:30 (UTC) - Expand

... Do we now have two stress cookers in the band?

[ Ivan finally decides to speak up after having watched the Doctor cook. His lyric writing is progressing well, but he had to take a break to see what the Doctor was doing with all that food. There wasn't even an occasion for it. ]

Maybe. This is 'I'm bored' cooking really.

[He slides a tray of apple slices towards Ivan.]

Lunch is almost ready. If you're hungry though have a snack to hold you over.

[He had clearly grown used to feeding Pao-Lin. From the counter nearby, the line of apples with carved faces stare at Ivan.]

[ He takes a look at the apple slices and then at the line of apples with carved faces. ]

... Halloween was a few days ago.

[ Ivan doesn't pull punches. He thinks those are a little disturbing... ]

Yes? What about it?

[It takes a moment for Doctor to figure out what Ivan is referring to. He follows Ivan's line of sight back to the row of apples and catches on.]

They're not supposed to be jack-o-lanterns if you're wondering. Just a bit of fun. I was inspired by a dream.

Ah.

[ Ivan munches on an apple slice. ]

... I can show you how to make apple slices into bunnies if you want.

Really?

[Doctor finishes his latest round of stirring off and puts a lid on the pot on the stove. He hops in excitement to across the counter from Ivan's seat and leans on the counter.]

Show me!

[ He's going to sacrifice one of the face carved apples for his example. Ivan cuts it into slices and choosing a slice that hasn't been carved, he starts to cut underneath the skin. However, he doesn't do so all the way; it's still attached by one end. Then, on the end that pulls away from the apple flesh, he cuts out a triangle which forms the long ears. ]

One apple bunny.

[ Doctor watches Ivan's steps closely and raps his fingers on the counter in excitement as the rabbit becomes more apparent. ]

Oh I see it! Yes that's a bunny all right. That's clever- do you know any other food art tricks like that? I'd like to see more.

I can make onigiri in the shape of bunnies too, but it's really not that hard.

[ It's really making a mound of rice and sticking ears on it. ]

I haven't made even regular shaped onigiri. I wouldn't mind learning about Japanese cooking sometime if you're willing to show me. [ His cooking expertise was strictly from Britannia and Europa cuisine. ]

I'll have to get more access to the kitchen.

[ There are a lot of people in the band who cook in addition to those who cook for them. (Assuming they haven't thrown in the towel with Pao-Lin's appetite. ]

[ Doctor chuckles. Ivan has a fair point. ] I'll let you take away some of my time. Only fair if you're going to be teaching me.

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sponsorigami - 2015-11-21 23:07 (UTC) - Expand

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