005 ✽ We be all night

[giglio_madonna]

Who: The willing from Pride and Virgo
What: Want to know what party sucked? The solstice party. Want to know what party won't suck? Luci and Luce's.
When: Jan 8th
Where: The basement of the club Blue Heist
Warnings: None planned besides possible/probably intoxication




A little while after the disaster at Naomi's, those who had attended might find themselves approached- by Luce on Virgo's side, by Luci on Pride's, or perhaps by someone who had heard about it from either of them. The subject of conversation?

Another party. One that involves another mingle of both labels, without being used for any ulterior motives.

Those who seem up to it are given a time and place. Blue Heist is one of the clubs around town that has what could be called a "basement level", for private renting and parties available to anyone who has the cash to spend on it. It's a pretty simple set up, nothing extravagant like the party at Naomi's... Which is absolutely on purpose, let no one tell you otherwise. There's a reason any mics or karaoke equipment has been pointedly removed. All the music is on the system already.

Nope, tonight it's just dancing and drinking, with a couple of rooms to the side that have cheesy movies playing in case you're tired out. No closed doors, no poison at the bar, no murder.

And if you want to take a moment to maybe have a talk to someone on the opposite label to discuss or apologize for the events of the prior night... That's fine too.

Just be careful. Both labels are still under watch, it seems, with a few bodyguards from both sides around the perimeter here and there.

Comments

[nibelungvalesti]

Neither was Meril -- who despite her petite frame could put away a startling amount of alcohol, and had no problem picking up a mug of some dark beer that looked like it could hold her for a while.

"That is a disturbing prospect indeed. Still... we do not know what will become of us now."

[maipokerface]

"If you want my opinion... well, even if you don't, I guess I'm saying it anyhow."

It's idle talk and she's not really afraid to voice it aloud.

"Whatever it is, it's not exactly going to end with any of us dying. I mean beyond the fact we're celebrities and that would bring just a little bad press. We're also celebrities who our record labels need."

[nibelungvalesti]

"I wonder about that. After all, did not some people come close?" On the Pride side, at least. Certainly Meril knew nothing had been holding her back, at least for a few minutes there. Mai was not the only one she had attacked, either.

[maipokerface]

"They came close but they didn't exactly die, right? Or not anyone I know of but then again I'm not friends with most of the people in Pride."

She's not friends with much of anyone really.

[nibelungvalesti]

"I have not heard of anyone. I think one or two people would have told me, if anything that dire had happened." Maybe not, but -- despite everything -- Meril trusted Nariko, if no one else. "I think we would also never be able to mingle like this if anyone had."

[maipokerface]

"Pretty much."

By now she's found a convenient place to sit a bit away from everyone else. She sits down with some grace, placing her drink on the table top before her.

"Not that any of that is great but it does show that they aren't that keen on just letting us all die. Now if we accept that, the next question is why bother with it in the first place."

[nibelungvalesti]

Meril claimed a seat with unconscious, imperious ease. Even after everything she had been through, some habits and quirks remained ingrained. "Money and fame are the most obvious answers. Many people have performed extreme acts to acquire one or both."

[maipokerface]

"I guess that's true enough. Where's the money and fame in trying to make people fight one another?"

There was no media coverage of the event itself. Maybe the tension between the labels lends to gossip and the interest of inter-label fighting but...

[nibelungvalesti]

"It could be as simple as market share. Fewer Pride musicians means more exposure and time for Virgo ones." She wanted to believe it was that simple, but Meril couldn't hide the skepticism in her voice.

[maipokerface]

"Wouldn't Pride just go out and find a few more? It's not like there's a shortage of bands out there that wouldn't love to hit it big. Or just individuals for that matter."

Mai is curious here. Her questions aren't harsh but she's trying to feel this situation out.

"And for that matter why would you use your own musicians. I mean if Virgo wanted more time and to get some Pride musicians out of the business, you'd think they'd do the good old fashioned Americana thing and turn public opinion against Pride. This thing would work if it weren't for it being kept quiet."

[nibelungvalesti]

"Established bands are easier to draw attention to than new bands, and form a platform that can be used to leverage attention to newer ones in turn... but I have no answers at all to your second question, except that we were in place and completely suspicious." And, apparently, susceptible. Though Meril didn't understand that at all, any more than she understood what had prompted her to violent anger in the first place.

"Perhaps it was intended to destroy any friendship between us."

[maipokerface]

"I'd definitely buy that second idea. I mean, the two of us aren't exactly close buddies but then again I don't really do close friends." There's something about having close friends that just doesn't gel well with her. It's like memories of having close friends and missing them make her completely unable to really consider making other close friends.

[nibelungvalesti]

"Certainly some members of the labels have become good friends despite the divide between us." Maybe Meril herself had to be listed among them, though ordinarily she would say much the same as Mai. "I am certain they do not look on this fact favorably."

[maipokerface]

"Well that's a pretty shitty reason." Not that that much needs to be said but the annoyed vehemence that comes with it may be either surprising or entertaining, considering how apathetic and snarky this ice queen seems to be.

[nibelungvalesti]

"And I suspect a personal one. Did you notice, at any point, that the executives appear particularly hostile to each other? Beyond any professional rivalry." And even saying that, she felt she might be understating the animosity.

[maipokerface]

"I guess. They've never seemed to get along though." From what attention Mai's paid to them anyhow.

[nibelungvalesti]

"It seemed... personal. Far beyond rivalry or professional enmity, they truly seemed to be hostile." To the point that the musicians were being moved like pawns on a board. Human lives were tokens in this fight.

She wouldn't say any of this out loud, but she didn't think she needed to.

[maipokerface]

"... Huh. Why do you think that is?" Did they have a fight over something? Likely.

[nibelungvalesti]

"For that level of anger, it is almost as if..."

Meril shook her head abruptly. Whatever speculations she had, they were outrageous and founded too much on those inexplicable visions and experiences she'd been through in the past months. Mai would think she was crazy.

"Well, if I understood, I would probably understand a large number of things."

[maipokerface]

Mai watches the other woman a moment, waiting to see if she'll say more. And when she doesn't, Mai settles back into her seat with a long sigh.

"You and me both honestly."

[nibelungvalesti]

"At least know that I hold no personal animosity to you or anyone else." Meril could safely say that. She didn't hate anyone and barely had the wherewithal to dislike them beyond mild annoyance. "And should I ever develop any, I will not express it with violence in that fashion."

[maipokerface]

"I definitely hope not." That said, she smiles vaguely. "I'm not going to hold a grudge over it though. Enough people have talked about how weird it was to keep me from that. Well, and your apology helps.]

[nibelungvalesti]

"It is more than an apology. It is also a warning -- should I behave like that in the future, then something is wrong." She considered what she had just said, and then amended, "More wrong than the obvious."

[maipokerface]

"I'll keep that in mind then."