003 ✽ I'll be with you again

[giglio_madonna]

Who: Various Virgos and Priders
What: What's that? Mall trip? MALL TRIP. A mingle log for party clothes and holiday gifts of all sorts.
When: Before the inter-label party
Where: The Wave Boulevard Mega Mall
Warnings:

Luce hits her fellow Virgo musicians like a hurricane. A loving, maternal hurricane.

For the lucky ones whose numbers she has, it's simply a ring up that morning inquiring if they'd like to go to the WBMM that day for some holiday shopping, or to pick out any clothes for the inter-label party if nothing in their closet is satisfying them. "Or if you just want some fresh air while we still have it," she jokes, even if the more empathetic can taste a hint of sharpness in that line. My, whatever could she be referring to?

For the unlucky ones... She makes a personal visit, practically sweeping some people off their feet. It's a rush of friendly chatter that's almost overwhelming, and some people might find themselves agreeing without realizing what they've done until Luce simply beams as she says she'll pick them up in an hour. "Oh, and you might want to wear a hoodie or something like that. Don't want the paparazzi bothering you too much!"

Congratulations, all of you: You've just agreed to the great mall trip whether you meant to or not.

The Wave Boulevard Mega Mall, or the Double M as it's known to locals, is the largest mall both in Vista City and this side of Americana. Considering things, that's an impressive feat. It's an enormous multi-level building filled to the brim with practically anything your little capitalist heart could desire. Various department stores, a movie theater dominating an entire two floors, an arcade somewhere, proper restaurants and food courts both.... It's called a "mega mall" for a damn good reason.

Once everyone gets there, they're let loose to their own devices.

As for Pride Records? Well. Maybe some of you are just at the mall for your own reasons. Maybe you got a call from Luce or another Virgo friend talking about the place. You don't need much of a reason to be there. Double M is that kind of place.

Comments

[iitrebel]

Housekeeping keeps throwing them away. I don't think they appreciate being surprised by sudden fish singing, the heathens.

[giglio_madonna]

It'd be interesting, at least.

[And maybe kind of fun... But she digresses.]

Want me to walk you there?

[iitrebel]

"Well, red's cool, but it goes best with blue, you know." It doesn't really make sense, but that's Artolo's two centers. It's like an... opposite thing, he thinks. Good contrast. There's a sneaking suspicion that that's not how color theory works, just from listening to An, but he doesn't care.

"Anyway, she got contacts? What, she can't see or something?"

[goateeocracy]

[He pulls out a red sweater with a pattern of white and black bears across the chest and, inexplicably, flames up the sleeves and holds it up. The smart thing to do, of course, would be to try it on, but he seems content to just eyeball it.]

If there's anything conclusive, I'll make sure everyone knows. It's just going to make people paranoid to share all the speculation.

[sponsorigami]

[ Still, Ivan likes a level playing field. It'll give them the chance to truly let their skills do the talking. He selects the song and hits start. ]

Here we go!

[ Perhaps as a warm up for players, the song and steps start slow and uncomplicated. Ivan steps on them without problem. ]

[sailorlaughter]

Pinkie shrugs. She likes the red best still. Blue would just add one more color to everything Kido's got going on up top; green hair, red eyes, and all that. Maybe a darker shade of green would look nice though?

"Nah, they're not prescription or anything," she says dismissively. "They just look neat. Y'know, like the ones people wear for costumes and stuff?"

She knows that's not really what it is. But she doesn't want to spread it around - and anyway, what's she gonna say? Her bandmate's eyes just turned red and she doesn't know why or how?

[costumechange]

{Now it's Haru's turn to laugh, uproariously, at the way his long limbs wave around a bit like spaghetti on his way down.}

Ahahaha--Ohohoho--Your face!!! You were being such an ass I just wanted you to--Ahahahah!

[sponsorigami]

[ He doesn't say more on the matter, but the truth is, his home life fell apart at an early age. Ivan really wishes he could have grown up with a loving family by his side.

But she's right. She's here now, and he has that family he wanted for so long. ]

Yeah. Um... just don't give me any stuffed bears.

[ Unless he gets to up them on the bad publicity cork board and throw darts at them. ... But better to let them go to someone less traumatized by their image. ]

[giglio_madonna]

And sometimes you need someone to bounce ideas off of... Although I suppose you have that covered.

[Something to talk to Koumei about later, she supposes. For now, she starts to nudge Koumei not so subtly towards the changing rooms.]

SORRY I SPACED HARD ON THIS THREAD

[panspermia]

I can't resist an offer like that, can I.

[ Greg hops up on the stage, grabbing the cheap microphone as the music starts to play. The smile may well pass for genuine. ]

Won't you come see about me?
I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby
Tell me your troubles and doubts
Giving me everything inside and out and

Love's strange so real in the dark
Think of the tender things that we were working on
Slow change may pull us apart
When the light gets into your heart, baby

Don't you, forget about me
Don't, don't, don't, don't
Don't you, forget about me

[It's not a song that's musically complex, but boy is he putting his all into it.]

[panspermia]

Welcome to the dark side, Luce. From here on out, it's no-holds-barred sample testing and demo samples. C'mon, this one's even got a leg massager.

[giglio_madonna]

I don't think you're really the stuffed animal sort of person anyway, and I'm not certain how much bears were a motif of ninjas, so no need to worry.

[giglio_madonna]

This is how I fall to the dark side: leg massaging temptation.

[Because you bet it's exhausting to walk around in am all of this size.]

Alright, the deal is sealed. Now to find the perfect chair. Think this is the only one with a leg massager?

[costumechange]

{Haru is happy and warm, but at the same time looking at this boy makes her incredibly sad, like she could cry and ocean and still not be finished. She ignores it and smiles.}

Ahaha, what are you apologizing for? You came to rescue me!

[costumechange]

But how hard do you want to think when you're craving dessert?

{It's a serious question.}

Are you sure you have the time? I've seen you carrying a lot of things back and forth...

[nibelungvalesti]

[Greg always puts his all into it. That is what she admires about him, even likes about him, so much. Meril doesn't cheer or anything so uncharacteristic, but she does have a real smile on her face as she sits and listens to his song.]

[maipokerface]

You know just how to tell me what I want to hear.

[variaboss]

Never. I'm always number one.

[ He grins more at the insisting that he was good looking. He supposed sitting on that amp, Squalo does look pretty good. But he wants to hear the asshole sing. ]

Of course. It's always best to start with an old familiar one.

[ And Squalo's voice is really nostalgic. It's like he's back with Dehumanizer God he's missed metal so damn much. he doesn't even give a fuck if it's the right lyrics or not because that scream. That fucking scream is the best thing ever. ]

[ He comes in under the screaming. A dark snarling sound, all low and rumbling. The chorus below the amazing scream followed by the next lines. Sort of.. ]

This one had it coming, because he failed the game
this one was on purpose, and I'll do it all again
These are from my father, all the ones you normally can't see
This one had me laughing out loud
Because you should have just killed me

YEEEEEAAAAAAH.
[ He grins maniacally at Squalo ]

[scalpedsociety]

They never have a appreciation for your uniqueness.

[dame_tsuna]

Er...

[Okay, 'I'm sorry I was staring at you like an idiot' sounds silly. Especially because it looks like she didn't notice the staring. Awkward...]

It's nothing.

[Subject change? The only thing around is yarn, so lets go for that.]

So... what are you going to do with all the yarn? Do you knit?

[In the back of his mind, Tsuna is still trying to place where he's seen her before.]

[sponsorigami]

Bears aren't really stealthy... though some of these are close.

[ He motions to the wintry display that's nice and pleasant until SURPRISE GHOST BEAR pops out from behind the bushes. Ivan may have thrown a paper shuriken at it already.

Maybe they should go to the food court for coffee or crepes or anything. ]

[costumechange]

I do! Knit, crochet, weave, felt...it's incredibly versatile!

{She struggles the rest of the way free from the pile, sending a few skeins flying with her legs.}

I'm trying to get the right colors to make things for my band mates!

[goateeocracy]

[He makes a disgruntled noise as she starts steering him.]

I don't need to try it on. It's the right size.

[Spoken like someone who hardly ever buys something off the rack. And someone who wears pajamas whenever he's not dressed to the nines. And someone whose sleeves never seem to be quite long enough.]

[panspermia]

[And as happens when he starts putting his all in, unconscious power starts leaking out. The song's a melancholy plea for affection, and before long the audience, though meager, is enraptured.

By the time Greg's finished, a few passersby have been drawn in to listen. The applause is reinvigorating, and he doesn't hesitate in treating it the same as a full blown concert.]

Thank you, and good night!

[He laughs, and winks at Meril, holding up the microphone. He's warmed them up for you.]

[panspermia]

We'll have to try them all to find out. [ Does his moochery know no bounds?! ] Or ask a clerk.

[ He finally drops out of the dark, edgy hunch, flopping into a chair and squinting at the control buttons. ] It's pretty bananas, looking at one of these things and realizing you could actually buy it. Always thought just standing in stores like this were closest I'd get to luxury.