interstellar5555 | 006 ✽ Get Down

Who: As many people in Virgo HQ as Luce can grab
What: The best way to get to know new people is over breakfast, didn't you know?
When: A nice cheery morning a vague time in January after everyone's newbies have met their band
Where: The Flower Over Bones penthouse
Warnings: None planned! Feel free to treat this as a mingle log

The first month Luce arrived at Virgo HQ, she didn't waste any time before establishing some sort of lunch everyone could get together at. As January drags on, it's something she finds herself thinking about as new faces fill up the gaps where she had known others.

It's part of the reasons why, one early morning, she can be found bustling to all the other band penthouses to deliver a simple invitation she makes sure everyone gets to hear: a breakfast taking place in the FoB house for all Virgo musicians.

FoB penthouse looks like a lot of the other bands, with some clutter here and there that fits its inhabitants including a small dartboard with various articles about the members pinned there with shuriken. The television is playing what seems to be an early day sci-fi movie marathon and there's already a pretty impressive spread of pancakes, waffles, french toast, and various cut up fruit for people to dig into.

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Finnick chuckles at him. "I have no idea. They probably do go to sleep on time and everything - all work and no play, you know."

Well. True or not, the seed is now planted in Dino's head, and he's going to have to hold himself back from trying to find out a truth in that supposition, offhand comment or not. "Right. It's kind of hard to sleep unless I'm really worn out. Maybe they're the same way? Getting stuff done."

"Maybe," Finnick says lightly. He hasn't been sleeping well at all lately, regardless. Strange visions and all that, not that he would tell his new band mates about those. "In any case, I'm going to need more coffee if I'm going to enjoy it properly."

"I'm going to get addicted to coffee if I keep staying up so late." Truth is... "I actually prefer just straight espresso, but I thought that might make me look like a snob. You know, not 'accessible' or whatever." Dino purses his lips and glances around. "But I got so used to it that regular coffee doesn't do much."

"Accessible isn't really what we're about, if you hadn't noticed," Finnick says, raising an eyebrow at him. "In fact, if there's one thing Alex loves, it's when we're hardly accessible to anyone. That's how you get on his good side, by the way. Just write lyrics that don't mean anything."

"I get it, I'm just saying I kind of..." Hrm. "It's probably just me. I think it's better if I seem normal." But not too normal. Just normal enough that people can identify with him and feel good with their music.

"This is hard." He chuckles.

"Mm," Finnick hums thoughtfully, setting his chin in his hand. "It's a difficult balance, isn't it? We have to sell an image of the intellectual artists but we have to be sympathetic as well. They expect us to be abstract in the music but down to earth and relatable in interviews."

Finnick has put a lot of thought into this; it's why he's so good at the whole thing. "Which is ridiculous because no one in the world is that genuine."

"Yeah." Dino lights up just a bit, seeming more alert. "You know, I feel a little underestimated."

Like there's something about him that's going to wake up someday and surprise them all.

"But at the same time, it's unreasonable. You're totally right. It's kind of a sticky place, genre-wise, too. I love it! Don't get me wrong on that one! Still, we're a weird group, don't you think?"

Finnick shrugs one shoulder lazily, pushing his food around his plate with his fork. "We're unique, which can be a blessing or a curse," he says, sounding uninterested either way. "I just do what they tell me and contribute when I can, but our entire image and sound is curated by Virgo."

He gives Dino a frustratingly neutral look, but he's trying to determine whether or not his band mate is okay with this or not. He needs to be okay with it, as Finnick plans to gently remind him in case he isn't. He's seen what Blanche and Santiago can do - Dino, August, and Kaoru have not. They need to be guided away from it.

"I mean, I, uh..." He feels spineless for a moment, taking a deep breath as his head spins just a little. "...I feel like we're kind of obligated to, right?" No, that's not right. There's a nervous edge to Dino's voice when he speaks again, but it settles into a strange, unusual certainty.

"It's basically that we're doing what we have to do to get ahead, but if they let us do what we're good at, it's going to get a better result. We're a group. Like a family, almost. That's the important thing. Working together, all of that, is what'll really get us ahead, no matter what."

Finnick stares down at his plate with a sober expression. "You're right," he says, "we have to stick together. That's the most important thing."

He looks around the room - he wonders sometimes if one of these people is on track to become the next Naomi Rivers. Who's under Blanche's thumb and who does he need to worry about keeping safe? He'll start with the other members of Hue & Cry, hoping that as long as they stay in line, they won't go the way of Yan, Toriel, and Undyne.

How... weird. Dino laughs quietly, uncomfortably, and looks Finnick over. Something's weird as hell if he's being that glum. Whatever it is, Dino's feeling a mix of responsibility for the mood, and a deeply hidden annoyance at it.

"If something's up, be honest with me. You make it sound like it's really bad around here. It's..." Terrible, he briefly thinks, like he's supposed to be somewhere else doing something else and being someone else. He shakes his head. "Help me out, Finnick."

Finnick feels guilty for worrying Dino, and he frowns up at him.

"Not now," he finally says, trying not to sound annoyed. "Not here. We can talk about it later."

His eyes go wide, and he nods, then blinks quickly. It's not right... Something's off.

"Okay. But you'll talk to me about what's wrong, won't you?" Sigh. "We only have each other. Feels like that."

"Later," Finnick says again, more insistent. He sighs down at his plate and gives the room another once-over, finally looking at Dino and conjuring up a smile.

"Now," he says, "pass the maple syrup, won't you?"

006 ✽ Get Down

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