interstellar5555 | ☆TRACK VII: IN REACHING OUT PT. 1

Who: Everyone in Pride and Virgo HQ.
What: Ghosts need your help.
When: The evening of January 30th, 2055
Where: Pride and Virgo HQ.
Warnings: Phantasmal violence, possibly some real violence.

“Hold your colours against the wall,
When they take everything away,
Hold your colours against the wall,
With me (soaking through)”

☆IN REACHING OUT

Starting around the 20th of January, the heavy lockdown and supervision of the musicians of both labels will begin to fade. While they still require escorts to be out and about, the guards that have been routinely stalking them around their own homes and HQs will be gradually phased out, until it is just the regular managers and security remaining. Sweet deal, right? Over a month after the hysteria of the ill-fated solstice party, things seem to be finally letting up a little. Whether because you've played nice for long enough, or whether their attentions are being directed elsewhere, it isn't clear.

Either way, this is the also the start of some increasingly familiar paranormal activity. All the way back to the first tour of this generation of musicians, members of both Pride and Virgo have found themselves haunted by strange and inexplicable happenings. Starting on the 23rd, these happenings begin to flare up again - lights switching on and off, TVs starting on their own, and even things falling off of shelves unprovoked. (These minor happenings can be made up by you and don't need to be mod designated - however, they should not be anything that would be threatening or dangerous to the characters.) For some people this will be completely new, and for others it may even be faintly nostalgic.

This will continue until the night of the 30th, when things finally seem to come into swing. The hauntings will become more pointed and explicit. The details are specific to each HQ, and there and you can make yourself open to an NPC haunting down below.

☆PRIDE RECORDS

About halfway through the evening on the 30th, Predator will begin prowling the halls of Pride HQ. At first it won't be clear for what, but after catching a few snippets of conversation (this can be handwaved) characters will have a change to realize that they are looking for the ghosts that have been causing a fuss recently. How crazy this will sound to you will probably depend on how new you are. They will actively shake down random musicians they meet for information about what they've seen the last couple days. As usual, Jenny is leading the pack, with Cass and Donny (nsfw) providing back up muscle.

Provided you lie well or tell them the truth, they will move along fairly quickly. If you start shit with them, they will probably rough you up a little. Any major confrontations with them will be handled on the companion OOC post, and a few top levels may appear over here that can be tagged into in limited amounts.

Beyond those activities, Pride members will feel various effects based on their EMOTIONAL ALIGNMENTS:

► ALL: Their connection and desire to create music will be especially heightened. They will find themselves subconsciously beginning to tap out rhythms, hum, peck at instruments, or straight up sing things even when it would otherwise be totally inappropriate. Strong emotions will cause them to want to sing and play to each other. They may also feel very strongly that they want to dance, to a particularly addictive beat that seems to emanate from the air. It may shift and change as the night goes on, but at any given moment everyone will hear the same rhythm. It sounds like particularly great percussion.

► LOVE & DUTY: They will have no extra special effects, but they will feel this urge to create music even more strongly than the rest, as it seems to be focused on them as they are not being directly targeted by any other sensations. When Hope and Passion musicians hear music made by these characters, they will feel stronger, like energy is being gifted to them.

► HOPE: Characters of this alignment will feel increasingly like they are being drawn somewhere, or like someone is calling for them, but they can't quite make out the direction it's coming from. The aspect of hope will be empowered within them, and they will find themselves unusually trusting towards the other characters, as if they only have the most optimistic outcomes in mind. Beyond this, they may feel dazed or confused by the sensations they are feeling. They may also experience strange visions, or the sensation of being another person they are not (and not just their true self this time, someone else completely).

► PASSION: Characters of passion will be targeted by the 'hauntings' much more directly than the others. More than random acts, the hauntings around them seem like someone is actively trying to communicate with them. Sometimes it will even feel like someone is trying to speak in their heads, though they won't quite be able to make it out. Passion characters who request haunting instances will get the most major effects.

☆VIRGO ENTERTAINMENT

Soon after things start to get extra weird on the 30th, Juno and a couple Virgo veterans (Anansi and a man you recognize as a popular folk artist named Brett Hogan) will start wandering the halls. They will pull individuals aside for questioning in private rooms, asking about the strange occurrences. They will not attempt to rough anyone up, but excessively resistance or attempts at violence towards them may result in characters being locked in their rooms for the rest of the night.

All three of them seem particularly hard to lie to for some reason, tonight. It's possible, but while you make the effort to do so, the words seem to be on the verge of falling out of your mouth. Juno seems to have something very particular in mind as she searches the HQ, like she can see something you can't. There will also be top levels for these guys appearing.

Beyond those activities, Pride members will feel various effects based on their EMOTIONAL ALIGNMENTS:

► ALL: Their connection and desire to create music will be especially heightened. They will find themselves subconsciously beginning to tap out rhythms, hum, peck at instruments, or straight up sing things even when it would otherwise be totally inappropriate. Strong emotions will cause them to want to sing and play to each other. They may also feel very strongly that they want to dance, to a particularly addictive tune that seems to emanate from the air. It may shift and change as the night goes on, but at any given moment everyone will hear the same song. It sounds like someone riffing expertly on a guitar.

► HOPE & PASSION: They will have no extra special effects, but they will feel this urge to create music even more strongly than the rest, as it seems to be focused on them as they are not being directly targeted by any other sensations. When Love and Duty musicians hear music made by these characters, they will feel stronger, like energy is being gifted to them.

► LOVE: Characters of this alignment will feel increasingly like they are being drawn somewhere, or like someone is calling for them, but they can't quite make out the direction it's coming from. The aspect of love will be empowered within them, and they will find themselves unusually loving, connected, and emotionally open to others, even if this would usually be out of character. (This can also mean they are more inclined to get physically intimate, if you want to.) Beyond this, they may feel dazed or confused by the sensations they are feeling. They may also experience strange visions, or the sensation of being another person they are not (and not just their true self this time, someone else completely).

► DUTY: Characters of duty will be targeted by the 'hauntings' much more directly than the others. More than random acts, the hauntings around them seem like someone is actively trying to communicate with them. Sometimes it will even feel like someone is trying to speak in their heads, though they won't quite be able to make it out. Duty characters who request haunting instances will get the most major effects.

☆PLOT NOTE

This will be a two part event, and the second part will be posted in a few days and will only include those that choose to help the spirits. This can be discussed OOC. Any alignment can assist, though the Passions from Pride and the Duties from Virgo will be the most directly pursued because they will be the easiest for the spirits to communicate with. Realize that participating is serious business, though: there are good odds the characters will be caught eventually, and there will be consequences. Do not volunteer your characters for this plot if you don't want them to suffer potential physical or mental trauma.

“Fading gently, soaking through,
And starting not to show at all.
In reaching out and into you, 
nothing else could touch me.”

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She looks POINTEDLY BACK AT THAT CAMERA ROY DO YOU SEE WHAT SHE IS LOOKING AT? WOW LOOK AT THAT CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE.]

It doesn't have anything to do with malfunctioning electric.

[ Roy is subtle thankfully and spots the camera out of the corner of his eye. A reason to be paranoid? He wants to- needs to know more.

He fakes a yawn and turns like he's going to walk away. ]

I need a breath of fresh air- and some coffee. I was up late last night writing. Would you like to come along? You look like you could use a cup of tea to calm your nerves.

[She shrugs as casually as she can.]

Yeah, that sounds kinda nice. You're the new guy in Genos's band?

That's right. I'm taking over lead guitar since Orion left. MANTICORE has been a... wild ride so far.

[ He leads the way towards the elevator so they can head down and out. ]

I can imagine. But I can probably say for a fact Genos is the tamest person up there. [She chuckles lightly. It's stressed, but a laugh indeed.]

Has he baked yet? You've gotta try it if he does. It blew me out of the water.

The initiation ceremony made it clear Genos is the tamest. All I had to do for his challenge was get my ears pierced. That same night I was punched, searched through dirty laundry, and had to kiss a fish.

He hasn't baked. I had no idea he does. I'll have to bother him about that. Squalo has been doing most of the cooking out of us.

What, no! I thought you knew! I promised him I wouldn't tell--don't bring it up.

[ When they reach the elevator Roy makes sure the doors stay open for Kido to get on with him. ]

It's a secret? Why would he want to keep baking a secret? If he's good at it he should be proud.

It doesn't exactly fit his image does it? The guy could probably be making more money with a bakery than he is in music.

He could do both. Entertainers come out with cook books and side shows all the time. His fan base would love it.

He just asked me not to tell.

Don't worry, I won't let him know that you spilled to me. I might imply to him that I'm craving baked goods though.

[The elevator doors open again at ground level and Roy heads out into the lobby.]

Tell me more about your band- we should talk about more than just MANTICORE.

About System Crash? [There's a pause where she follows, stuffing her hands in her pockets, and smiles fondly.]

They're good kids. I know Tiger has this diva label but he's just a little kid--a lot nicer than he seems. And Trucy can get a little weird but she's the nicest person you'll ever meet. I don't know Molly as well, but she seems nice, and Pinkie... Pinkie's an experience.

I met Pinkie. She's a talented baker too isn't she? I couldn't remember the last time I ate a cupcake before she offered me one. I haven't had the pleasure of meeting the others yet. That's what I get for staying in the studio all day.

[ He does his best keeping it casual with security, waving to them and explaining that they're simply going to get a bite to eat down the street. 'We'll call you if there's trouble.' Thankfully the story passes, and the doors are opened for them to exit the building. ]

Does Pinkie always have so much energy?

Always. It can be exhausting. [She chuckles softly.] It's hard living in that penthouse when you really just want to be alone.

I can relate. Sometimes I lock myself in my room so I can read in peace. It doesn't always work so well though. I still hear Squalo's voice- he's like a foghorn. [ It's not the easiest thing to relax to, just saying. ]

[There's a snort of laughter.]

I can see that. I can hear him whenever I'm over.

☆TRACK VII: IN REACHING OUT PT. 1

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