☆TRACK X: PLAY ALONG

[interdimanagers]

Who: Everyone!
What: Vista City amps up for Pride and Virgo's WORLD TOUR with HYPE WEEK.
When: May 1st - May 5th 2055
Where: Various places in Vista City
Warnings: Could be anything.

“Try to make it look like it's all somehow getting better, 'Cause I know how to play it pretty good against the measure. Everyone started out a little insane, But we learn pretty quick how to fake it for the game.” ☆PLAY ALONG Hype Week is less an official label event, and more something that the media has created in response to a particularly odd situation. Pride and Virgo appear to be functioning in unison - launching separate world tours on practically the same date, launching vast quantities of new material and media events, and making a point of never mentioning or acknowledging the actions of the other. Could this be some kind of collaborative event? A viral marketing campaign? No one is really sure, but the local economy is happy to capitalize on it in order to make it as big of a city-wide ordeal as possible. For musicians, this means all kinds of event that they have to attend and cooperate with - everything from photo shoots, to signing, to music video premiers. For rescuers, this means one last opportunity to track down those still trapped before they are whisked away on a world spanning journey. Events that will be happening: ► NEW SINGLES: Hot new singles are getting released by bands all over the place. While actual concerts and performances are not actually happening much during the hype period, each band is probably releasing at least one new single and hyping it all to hell with one song performances here and there on TV and the like. You can have fun defining that single for your band, or leave it ambiguous! Up to you. ► PANELS AND INTERVIEWS: Musicians will get carted all over to various talk shows and public question panel events - a lot of questions will be asked about the World Tour and its specifics, of which the musicians themselves seem to know very little. This goes for the veterans as much as it does the fledglings. ► MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERS: In which a bunch of fancy music people go to fancy theaters and watch all the new music videos for the new singles, and then write articles about this. This is also something you are welcome to create specifics for. ► SIGNINGS AND PUBLIC APPEARANCES: While many of the veterans and doing things like autobiographical books signings and what not, the newer musicians are more likely to just be signing millions of World Tour specific posters and CD releases. Its quite likely that they are going to be totally run down after all these appearances and preparations - try to stay awake at the table! ► WORLD TOUR PREMIER: This will be covered in a second log a few days from now. For now, the musicians are just being prepped for a music festival to end all music festivals, that will start May 5th and cover the entire weekend. They've been practicing rigorously all month - they'll have to hope they have the stamina to make it to the actual performance. All the while, Gold and Silver have been mysteriously absent. Silver has been here and there, handing out supplies and necessary tech, but guidance for rescuers has been minimal. Gold hasn't been seen at all. Part way into the week, at least, Shep will return with a new batch of rescuers, just in time for the premier! New musicians and band combinations will slowly be announced over this week as well, with some of them being saved for the premier festival itself. That is, any OOC changes made to bands and last minute new members are going to get announced like they are big exciting unveilings, because spin doctoring is what the labels do! ☆SINGULARITY Everyone hearing the new singles will be able to tell that they seem especially ear wormy - extra hip, extra catchy, like the best examples of each bands radio popularity. Rescuers in particular, though, will notice something sort of strange about them. It's more than just song being catchy. People who are not musicians themselves will find themselves being unnaturally charmed by them, as if each time they hear these singles they are being slowly brainwashed into becoming more and more fixated on the artists performing. Of course, this can be stopped by just not listening to them for a few days, but it's hard to avoid when pretty much every public location has been playing these singles non stop. Along with this effect, there are some particulars: ► PREDATOR DREAMS: The Pride band Predator is the same as the others, in that it has a particularly intrusive single that's just been introduced. There is one difference. It may take a while to notice, but it can be noted that one starts to feel somewhat tired and dazed after listening to it repeatedly, like they are somehow drained. The single is called The Spaces In Between and it is somewhat unusual that Cass, the member who usually primarily focuses on instrumentals and back up singing, is now performing lead. If your character hears this song several times, they may suffer some weird DREAMS - especially if they received a dose of Gold's magic powder in the Better To Pretend event. If you'd like to receive a dream, please write "DREAM PLEASE" in your subject line, along with a written section describing an instance of your character having regular dreams that I can manipulate. Anywhere else and I might miss it. ► ESCAPED MUSICIANS: Musicians that have escaped and are now in hiding will find themselves particularly mentally manipulated by the singles released by their home label. They will find their minds unusually filled with thoughts of returning to their labels, as well as increased paranoia about being caught. Any remaining programming will be particularly triggered and brought to the surface. They'll be able to push it down with self control and assistance from other characters, but the thoughts will become more invasive the more they listen to it. “'Cause everybody's so scared, We don't wanna go there. We don't wanna make a move, We got all our lives to lose. Screaming in the dark while we just play our part out. I play along, Like I don't know what's going on.”

Comments

D? um if you're okay with more heartbreak ahaha

[trustme]

[ Without a word a man Greg wouldn't recognize holds out a bottle of water. Doctor is using one of the disguise generators and has chosen one of his old faces to use, as they feel more correct. Despite the illusion, Greg might feel his familiar presence from the music power that's been growing more rapidly in him since he left Virgo.

Doctor had been told to take it easy and avoid most of the events in case Virgo's programming tried to pull him back yet again but he decided it was worth risking it to quickly check on Greg. If only they had been able to take him along... Seeing Greg looking so exhausted and unlike himself has him regretting all over again that he left without him. ]

always

[panspermia]

[ If it were as simple as a stranger offering Mr. Universe water, he'd be too bitter over being seen when he was trying to find a moment alone and likely end up swatting the offering aside. What makes the difference... is that power.

It's strong, and obvious. He's only felt it from a spare few on both sides of the labels, at least among those who have been here around the same time. He's even made some small effort to remember the faces from higher up the chain, where relevant. But this guy...

Mr. Universe clenches his hands, instantly on edge and suspicious, making no move to take the water bottle. ]

Who the hell're you supposed to be?

[trustme]

[ Doctor gives Greg the benefit of the doubt and assumes that the unfamiliar face has him acting defensive. He offers him a smile. ]

Your friend in disguise. You could say I'm supposed to be a ghost, according to Virgo.

I've been worried about you. Has Blanche revealed anything about the real reasons behind this World Tour?

[panspermia]

[ Whatever Doctor might have expected from that little reveal, surely Mr. Universe's reaction lands far, far from it. He bristles, and a furious, hungry gleam lights in his eye. ]

You're kidding.

[ He tries to straighten up, but the spiritual cramping discourages too much movement. The hissing in his teeth could be just as much from discomfort as threat. ]

You... you think you can go and run off on your own... and just come back to me like this? You think you can get away with that?

[trustme]

[ Frustration is understandable but Doctor doesn't think he's ever seen Greg this angry before. ]

I'm sorry Greg. I really want for everyone to escape Virgo but it's a miracle Sans could get even this many of us out. I thought that you would want me to escape if I had the chance. Isn't that what you wanted for Rarity?

[panspermia]

A miracle, sure.

[ He'd roll his eyes, but he doesn't plan on looking away from Doctor for a second. Power ripples around him as he draws in his energy. ]

But I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about you, Doc.

[trustme]

I hardly thought it would be wise to stick around for Blanche to realize I had gained powers. I understand if you're... upset that I left as one of your friends and your fellow "music-magician." I hate that I left you behind but I'm here now. We'll figure out a way for you and Meril to escape next!

[ Doctor raises his hands when he feels the energy building around Greg. But he wouldn't do anything with that energy, right? This is Gregory Universe he's talking to. ]

[panspermia]

You still don't get it.

[ What was that about not doing anything with the energy, Doctor? Surely the gravity around you is getting stronger all by itself. ]

You think you can take all that power away from the label? You ungrateful little weasel.

[trustme]

Greg? [ He steps back from him. The energy just keeps swelling- it's hard to believe but- no. ] Greg, please, tell me this is an act. Blanche is the reason so many of your loved ones are in danger- he took you from your home. You remember that don't you? Remember Steven?

[panspermia]

[ And Mr. Universe steps forward. Ohhhh no, you came to him, so you ought to stay a while. ]

He's the reason I've got this power, too. There's no point fighting him. So I went in with the winning team, and cut out everything weighing me down.

[ The gravity keeps increasing, trying to bring Doctor to the floor. ]

[trustme]

[ Doctor bends forward and fights to stay on his feet but his knees start to get shaky under the growing weight pulling down on him. ]

What did he do to you? No no no. Greg, you must still be in there somewhere.

[ He reaches out to his would be friend with one arm but as he gets closer to Greg the gravity gets stronger. Doctor is pulled to his knees as he reaches out with a strained groan to try touching Greg's leg in front of him. He calls out to him with his mind as he did once in the past to show him his telepathy. Greg! Can't you hear me? If he can touch him the chances of him connecting will be greater though the gravity spell is making it much harder to say the least. ]

[panspermia]

What, you think I'm trapped in here?

[ He scoffs and taps at his temple, but stops moving forward. For all his cocky posturing, he doesn't want to underestimate Doctor. Even if the man never got to train his magical ability much, he could be capable of any sort of things Mr. Universe doesn't know about, and letting him touch could be inviting pain.

The thought puts him on edge, and his attention begins to split between the task at hand and preparing a defense against whatever task is at hand. Gravity stops increasing.

Your therapy shtick, huh. Like old times! he mocks with the thought, but inside his head the confidence isn't there. It's wavering, a tremulous echo. ]

[trustme]

Greg, it's the programming talking! What did Blanche do? Did he threaten your son or your band to force you into becoming this?

[ Greg sounds less sure on the inside. Surely it means that the true Greg Universe is still present even just a little. He tries to remind him with images of Steven, Meril, Rarity, Marty, and the bandmates Greg lost earlier. ]

Don't let Blanche make you forget yourself!

[panspermia]

Stop trying to worm your way out of this. I've made my choice.

[ He doesn't care about those images, those faces, those people. All they represent is things that would slow him down, that got in the way of his climb to the top. Blanche didn't need to threaten them; the connection isn't there.

What is there, however, is the bout of illness that sent Mr. Universe for some fresh air in the first place, and it's flaring up worse at these niggling, incessant reminders. He takes a shuddering breath. Doctor has to be making him feel like this, that's the explanation. He puts up stronger walls against the apparent mental attack, weakening their connection but further leeching away from the gravity assault. ]

[trustme]

[ Whatever Blanche had done to him it doesn't look like it left Greg in good shape. Freaky villainous meanie behavior aside, he looked like he really needed a drink of water and maybe his temperature taken.

Doctor drops the mental connection and tries to get back on his feet as the gravity spell weakens. Clearly saving Greg will need more than one person- Doctor realizes he's in over his head. He has to run. Distraction. Distraction!

Two can play at the music magic game. Perhaps if Greg thinks for a moment that his loved ones are actually there he'll react more than he did to the mental pictures. Doctor hopes the illusion of Steven coming around the corner will do the trick. He rouses up his powers with a barely audible song. ]

Hello Mr. My Yesterday
Get in your time machine
Would the person that I was before
Be proud of the new me?

They call me a shining star
They shout hero across the age
New struggles appear left and right
I keep dreaming of other days

[panspermia]

[ Even with such a soft song, Mr. Universe can sense the rising power thrumming in the air. His panic and anger redouble, expecting an assault of power, and sparks flash around him in angry starlight.

At no point does he manage to think that illusions are at play, however. The sight of the kid walking onto this scene makes Mr. Universe stiffen and snarl. ]

I told you to leave me alone!

[ He can't fend off Doctor's attack and deal with the kid crying at the same time, dammit. ]

[trustme]

[ "Steven" doesn't budge. Doctor takes this chance to crawl away from Greg and pull himself back on his feet with a little help from the closest door handle in the hallway. It's a tiny relief that Greg still has some sort of strong feelings for his son.

Now to escape! ]