☆MINGLE LOG: SOUTH VISTA MUSIC FEST

[interdimanagers]

Who: Everyone!
What: An open mingle log for everyone from everywhere.
When: November 18th-24th, 2054
Where: South Vista
Warnings: Could be anything!

☆THE FESTIVAL Welcome to the South Vista Music Fest! An enormous, weeklong festival with hundreds of bands performing nearly 24/7, the Music Fest is a quarter annual event that celebrates all manners of local talent, both big time and small time. Every band from Pride Records and Virgo Entertainment will have performances to do, including the freshly recruited – you better have your act together, because now is your time to shine! Player bands will be performing roughly once a day, with bands from the first app round predominantly with evening slots and the newest bands with predominantly afternoon slots. There is definitely a hierarchy to the scheduling - Pride and Virgo claim almost all of the prime performance times, while other labels are forced to deal with the leftovers. You've definitely been chosen by the winners of the music industry in these parts, that's for sure. Shuttles will be available to take people back to their relative HQs in their downtime, but they're also allowed to hang out and enjoy the festivities if that's what they prefer. Stuff is happening all day and night, so it's really just a question of how much you can party while still being conscious for your own show. Your managers will tell you that the company CEOs pay extra close attention to this event, so that you need to be on your best behaviour. The festival takes up a massive amount of floor area with multiple stages of various sizes and a large amount of glowy display screens. It's set up on the ground floor of the cityscape, meaning that the suspension roads and walkways above have been programmed to add to the ambient lighting all day and night. ► TRAILER PARK KIDS: For those that just want to chill, there is a massive VIP area reserved for labels to park various trailers for their musicians to hang out in during downtime - one for each band. They aren't quite as big as the tour buses, but they are comfortable and well stocked. Each is equipped with two beds and a bathroom/shower. Pretty much every local band you know of is here, including the notorious Predator. Nose around their trailer at your own risk. ► IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With at least six performances in a span of six days, there is plenty of time for shenanigans to go down both back and center stage. Time to show your mettle, and to hope that some asshole doesn't take all the best food items from the backstage catering tables before you can get to them. ► ATMOSPHERIC NOISE: If you dare brave the storm, there is a massive quantity of merch, vendor, and food booths available for your perusal. Many fans endeavor to spend as much time at Music Fest as possible, and so the space is very lived in, with large groups of people hanging out in well populated lounge areas. Depending on how popular you are, it may be difficult to get around without getting swarmed by your fans. ► DON'T FORGET TO REMEMBER: And all the while, the strange memories continue. The label's newest members will have started to feel strange as of November 6th, and by the time of the Fest almost all of them will be discovering their first memories regains. The first one should be based on the alignment you chose, but the rest can be whatever you want. New character may regain up to 4 memories between their arrival and the end of November.

Comments

[faithfulflame]

[Rei cannot help but giggle, practically beaming at the blushing Molly.]

I'm so glad to hear it. That means a lot coming from you, Molly. I know how seriously you take music.

[nandemonai]

Well, you do, too, don't you? [Molly sits back again, drinking her soda] I can tell all of you are really into it, and each other. I only hope I can get as close to my teammates.

[faithfulflame]

Always. You know that. [Beaming, Rei reaches under the bed to pull out one of her other instruments, a guzheng.] We work well together, and place well together because we all feel that way.

And we share the burden like friends do. [Setting her soda aside a moment, she starts putting on the finger-caps.]

I'm sure you guys will work just fine. I know it's scary at first, even I got jittery. And if you ever need to talk, you can always call me.

[nandemonai]

[oh boy! Rei is going to play for her! she taps her hands together eagerly, a light clapping]

that'd be great! I've really missed you.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei watches that reaction and runs her fingers along the zither, trying to puzzle out which song to play...]

I missed you too, Molly. It's been too long.

[And all of a sudden a song just...comes to her. Mad World, she thinks to herself. Appropriate for entering the insanity that is this industry!

Her fingers begin to glide along the surface, the old pop song ringing through the room. And Rei started to sing, low and quiet. It wasn't quite the lyrics she associated with the song, but for some reason, they just...called...to her. Her eyes grow distant, fingers never faltering.]

All around me are gleaming spaces
Worn out faces, born with graces
Down and dirty with broken gazes
Seeking somewhere, finding nowhere

[As she sings, her mind's eye sees something else, her shoulders shake and it's almost like she's having a fit while continuing to play. She's taken back to a familiar place, a place she's never been before. That crystal hall, on her knees...a shadowy ball hanging high in the sky. Her cheeks begin to burn with tears...both real and in the dream. A man's voice shouts out: Nemesis! That's Nemesis! This...this is the end! and her heart quails, terror filling her. A mad world, truly, a death in flames for her home.]

Their tears are burning up like acid
No cessation, just cremation
Hide my eyes I wanna choke back sorrow
Find tomorrow, seek tomorrow

[And someone steps into the foreground, an elegant woman, her voice commanding cessation. A spark of hope fills Rei, like there really might be a tomorrow...and she chokes out a cry very much audible to Molly and ending the song.]

...Pluto!

[nandemonai]

[it's so strange. at first, Molly is listening to Rei sing, and enjoying it a lot. but then... Rei shudders and starts to cry. puzzled, Molly continues to watch her, all up until her shout at the end. then Molly quickly goes to her side, reaches for her shoulders and starts to shake her]

Rei? Rei!

[faithfulflame]

[The shaking breaks up Rei's train of thought, but she does continue to sing in a slow, faltering voice for another few bars without playing.]

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you,
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it's a very, very
Mad world, mad world

[And finally, finally something seems to snap in her reverie and she slumps backwards, the zither rolling away onto the bed. Blinking, she looks up at her old friend...]

M-Molly...? Molly. [She repeats.] Molly...are you...?

[nandemonai]

Rei, are you okay? [she's so concerned] You were crying!

[faithfulflame]

[Rei reaches up and smears a hand along her cheek, surprised to find it coming away wet.]

Molly. Can you do me a favor and get me a rag from the bathroom? [Give her a second to process, okay?]

[nandemonai]

[Molly nods and gently pulls away. it seemed like Rei was even surprised by her emotions. maybe she was just really getting into the song?

regardless, Molly gets up and goes to the bathroom. she finds a washcloth and gets a corner of it damp with warm water. then she brings it back to Rei and sits across from her in the chair again, to give her some space]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei takes the time that Molly's out of the room to steady herself. Closing her eyes, she puts away the instrument and starts breathing in and out, in and out, and it's in that position that Molly will find her when she returns.

Calmly, she takes the cloth and starts wiping down her face.]

Sorry. I just lost myself. I had an...idea...for how to change the song, but it didn't work.

[It's a lie, but she's not going to talk about having strange visions to Molly. That's...not what a newbie needs right now.]

I'm okay. Really. Sometimes stuff like that happens.

[nandemonai]

It does? [Molly isn't sure what to do with that information. she would rather not start crying out of nowhere!]

[faithfulflame]

I...[She smiles weakly.] It's complicated, but I'm not completely well.

[She taps her head.] I've been stressed lately and it's starting to get to me, that's all. Forgive me. I didn't mean to make you uneasy, but it's definitely a me thing.

[Once her face is cleaned, she seems to brighten a little bit.]

Just a lot on my mind. Not stuff I can talk about with everyone. But you? [She smiles.] Can I tell you a big secret?

[nandemonai]

[ah, so Rei was stressed! Molly can understand that. this whole lifestyle was a big change for anyone.

and now Rei wants to tell her something else? she nods and scoots forward in her chair, so they're a bit closer. if it's a secret, Rei can count on her to keep her mouth shut!]

[faithfulflame]

[Oh. good. She's not pressing...so let's just distract her.]

I'm going on a date tonight.

[nandemonai]

[at that, Molly's eyes widen, and all her worry gives way into an excited grin]

What? Really? [was that part of the reason Rei was stressed?] With who?

[faithfulflame]

Yosuke Hanamura, from Flashstep.

[So...other label! That's why it's a secret!]

[nandemonai]

[Flashstep... Molly's sure she heard that name before. that band was from Pride Records!

of course, the fact that Rei and Yosuke are from different labels should mean something more to Molly. wasn't there something about people from different labels not being allowed to mingle?]

Another band? Oh my gosh! That's so cool!

[faithfulflame]

Well a band in Pride. So if we get found out, we may end up in trouble.

[Which she supposes...]

That's part of the appeal I think. He's so cute.

[nandemonai]

[oh, hang on a second... that whole thing about labels mingling? it is coming back to her. suddenly, she's worried again, and her brows knit together in thought]

...Aren't you worried about getting caught?

[faithfulflame]

[Rei looks a little sly.]

Well, that's why it's a secret. We're doing our best to cover our tracks, and nobody has said anything just yet. Honestly it only just started being more than just hanging out.

[nandemonai]

[it's got this whole Romeo and Juliet vibe going on, and Molly is trying to be positive for Rei, but she can't help shake the feeling that something bad will happen.

it's not her decision, though. as Rei's friend, she has to be supportive! besides, they're not close enough for Molly to voice her concerns. at least she thinks so. so she offers Rei a tiny, hesitant smile] And you said he's cute?

[faithfulflame]

Absolutely. And sweet. I'd say it's worth the potential hassle.

[She digs into her pocket for her phone and flips it to show a picture of the two of them at the zoo. They're in front of a panda exhibit, and smiling side by side.]

Thoughts?

[nandemonai]

[oh wow! she already has pictures! Molly takes the phone to look at it]

...Yeah, he is pretty cute. And you two look great together. [SUPPORTIVE]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei beams, proudly at that. She'd managed to pull this off on her own.]

You think so? Thank you!