001 ┼ AND TURNING ALL AGAINST THE ONE

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Who: The Hazed Pride Bands
What: Don't get even, get ahead.
When: October 26th
Where: Pink (inside Pride headquarters)
Warnings: Carnies.

For the rest of the week, Luci was uncharacteristically silent on her social media and in the suite. She smoked a lot, thought a lot, ground her teeth a lot, and eventually decided that thinking about shit like this wouldn't answer any goddamn question. She'd have to go straight to the source.

In the morning, there's a mildly crazy-looking note shoved under the door of each of the bands caught up in Predator's spree. It looks a lot like this:



Nothing to worry about, obviously. She signed it-- that's practically courteous.



Luci is in a back room of Pink well before seven, but refuses to say anything or even stop smoking until seven sharp. At which point she gently pinches her cigarette out and stands up. "Anybody who's late will just have to get filled in later or figure it out as we go-- we start talking about this now.

"The only reason Predator was able to pull the shit they did last week was because one, we weren't ready, and two, they have seniority. I'm sure all of us would gladly stand up and shove their fancy award ceremony trophy right up the arses for all we care about seniority dictating talent. My suggestion is we remind them of that fact.

"But even I'm not arrogant enough to ignore when our numbers don't match theirs. We can talk all we like about surpassing them, growing to be better eventually, but unless we do something significant, something unprecedented, they will always be chuckling smugly behind their stun batons.

"What I'm talking about is a joint EP. Each group produces one song about last Sunday, we compile them, create an album that sells five times as many copies as when we release individually. Everyone's listening base grows instantly, Pride is making money, maybe one of us calls in their favor from Predator and asks them to plug their band's new song. Not a lot to ask, they probably won't even realize the entire damn album is a collective middle finger until it's sold out everywhere.

"If we're going to do this, it depends on two things. First-- we are a collective front. If you're going to be a wuss or whine about being on the same collection of data as someone else in this room, you can put your tail right back between your legs and piss off. This is bigger than band lines, this is three assholes thinking they're safe at the top and we're going to pull them down together or not at all. If anybody needs a reality check on how feasible it is to take down a veteran group when you're the new kid on the block, see me after class. Second-- if any of you motherfuckers breathe a word of this to Predator, or anyone who would pass it up the line before we're ready... Well if I don't find you, at least four other people know where you sleep."

Luci lets that hang for a moment-- that's really the key flaw in all of this. She trusts the Carnies well enough, it's everybody else in the room who's a wildcard to her. "Questions? Lay them on me. Otherwise, discuss with your mates if you're in and let me know. We want this out quick, a week turnaround max so the rumor mill doesn't catch up with us." She leans down onto the table in front of her, arms wide, a smirk that embodied mischief and rebellion on her lips. "Come on you bastards-- you really going to turn down the chance to make them sweat instead of us?"


((OOC: Create individual/band toplevels to discuss! Badger Luci! Or, idk, just have a drink and watch. 8]b S'all good~ If a band decides they're in on the plan, either get Luci's attention on her toplevel or shoot me a PM to get added to the list! Depending on how this goes, more logistical-shakedown later.))

Comments

LUCI

[stylistic_disloyalty]

((Questions, outbursts, skepticism, and especially scheming accepted here.))

[twoscompany]

"Hell no."

Her response was towards the last question. This was the first time she'd felt so...so...angry about the competitive nonsense. What Predator did wasn't healthy. It was bullying. Plain and simple. There were members of her band still recovering from what happened, including herself.

Already she could think of a couple of song ideas. And she had the feeling her band mates would be more than happy to play them.

"My band will have your back on this, you can count on that. We can be in the studio tonight."

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Dang. She is really starting to get a fuzzy spot for these Cosmic Indulgence guys. Of course, she has a fuzzy spot for anybody who dabbles in her kind of mayhem, but that's not really the point right now. The point is Luci herself is also sporting some not-attractive bruising on her lip and face, and she's pissed as hell too. She smiles at Garnet and nods, clearly happy that someone has their head on straight.

"That's the kind of enthusiasm I like to see. Make it good though, nobody likes music made overnight on nothing but rage and energy drinks."

[twoscompany]

Garnet didn't smile back. Nothing personal towards Luci, of course.

"You don't have to worry about that. I don't make bad music. I'm simply incapable of it."

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Luci does bark a laugh at that, but in a delighted kind of way. "I'd hope that after what we all went through, we'd all have something worth turning into good music. I don't think I'm worried at all."

If she'd had any reason to think the EP would suck, she wouldn't have initiated this after all.

[twoscompany]

"Nor am I." Garnet was clearly ready, like a dog wanting off of her leash. "And if your band needs it for their songs? You've got my keytar."

[tigermillionaire]

It's not really clear if Tiger came on his own on not - he certainly isn't huddling with the rest of System Crash at the moment. Honestly, a big part of him didn't want to come at all. Most of the Carnies straight up scare him, and after what happened with Xanxus and Wakana...well, he doesn't know if he wants to see those two ever again.

But he's driven by the simple fact that he wants to know what's going on, out of paranoid fear more than anything else. He hasn't been fairing well at all since that weekend, and the dark circles under his eyes are covered with particularly garish makeup.

"I kind of thought you were going to try beating them up," is all he can really think to say afterwards. Whether or not he's disappointed isn't really clear.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Luci arches an eyebrow at Tiger. Well, he had spent the night with Xanxus and Wakana, she can honestly understand where he'd gotten that impression.

"I don't think anybody here would believe me if I said I didn't wish they'd all walk down a dark alley sometime soon, but that thrill only lasts so long. If we pull this off, it sticks around. Potentially for months.

"Come on Tiger," she grins. "You think I call myself 'Lucifer' because I never use my words?"

[tigermillionaire]

Tiger...isn't really sure. Lucifer is like a fancy word for Satan, right, and Tiger isn't actually very clued in on the whole mythology behind that. It's like...what she calls herself because she's trying to sound like a badass, right? That's what he assumes.

"I thought it was because you wanted to sound tough," he says. He's not exactly attempting to dig at her, but he's defensive and uncertain enough that it sounds that way.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

'Sound tough', that's a good one. Luci almost laughs and reaches for the reason why she left 'Eleanor' behind years ago--

--and it's not there. There's a very awkward moment where Luci isn't sure what she's trying to say, and the beat drags on in silence. When had she made the decision? What other names had she considered? Why Lucifer?

The thought pattern dissipates quickly, and Luci decides that it's not important right now. Focus on the discussion, it's not about her.

"I don't need to 'sound tough', pretenses are for teenagers in cliques and people who can't deliver," she says, recovering quickly. "The point is, we're not playing games here. They were, we're using their fuckup to push back."

[tigermillionaire]

Well...okay. He kind of assumes she is dissing him with the 'teenagers in cliques' comment, even though he doesn't really have a clique, unless you count thousands of nebulous teenagers online. But none of them actually know him and he isn't really allowed to talk to them too much, so...they don't really count for much at all, do they?

"...I don't think you're going to hurt their feelings by being successful at them," he says, wrapping his arms around his torso. "They already basically gave you their approval so you're pretty much just proving them right."

[cleartranquil]

Yuffie sits next to Luci during her speech, collecting pictures on her phone and taking a list of the people who actually showed up. It's a pretty good turn out, and it makes her grin. She likes when a plan comes together, okay? And Luci makes great plans. It's also nice to see her actually talking again. She's been mostly quiet, and a quiet carnie means someone is going to get their shit wrecked.

Once Lucifer becomes less busy, Yuffie gets her attention.

"I think I got some nice 'making of' photos for after we reveal ourselves to the assholes." She's sliding through photos as she talks with one hand and is holding her drink with the other.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Luci looks over Yuffie's shoulder, enjoying the slideshow. She hasn't picked up a drink of her own yet, but she has more important things to take care of right now.

"That right there is a terrifying sight," she says, tapping her nail on a picture of her audience looking grim and determined for the most part. Luci smiles, her expression softening a little. It's nice that things seem to be going along well, but now that it's out of her brain and onto the floor, she's refocusing.

"...sorry I've been quiet. You doing okay?"

[cleartranquil]

"I'll name it.... Lucifer leading her flock or something. I bet it'll go viral." Yuffie is keeping all sorts of behind the scenes stuff for once they send this out on the world. It's going to blow up if it takes ever bit of skill she has as as a networking goddess.

"I'm looking forward to ripping them three or four new ones." Yuffie says with a grin that is more baring teeth than anything else. She's not happy with this whole situation and Yuffie may or may not have looked at how to get out of ropes over the internet for the past couple days. She's been a little laid up, because walking on her ankle has been a terrible idea, and between that and the rope burns she's been building a fiery sort of anger that makes her want to hit something. Instead, she'll happily help build all their careers in one big show of brilliance. "They're gonna be knocked down so far they wont even know how to get back up."

[stylistic_disloyalty]

"Amen to that," Luci snorts a short laugh and wonders briefly if she should really paint a target on her back like this. Not only was the EP not really meant to be 'hers', but it did give Predator a point of origin.

...well. No one better to take the heat, probably. Picking on a Carnie would turn out alright for the Carnie, probably not so much for any other band.

"Without a doubt-- we were easy targets when they drugged us, now they have to deal with us alert and pissed." And Luci had a lot of anger to give. It wasn't just Yuffie's situation that had her seeing red, it was seeing Xanxus and Wakana in that cage too. Lucifer is many things, and above all she's loyal to those who rebel alongside her. Screwing with her tribe was unwise, Predator was about to find that out.

"You'll keep your ear to the ground, right? Make sure this doesn't get out on social media before we're ready? I trust us, not so sure about the other twitchy twitter-fingers in here."

[cleartranquil]

She hates being a a target. She hates the fact that someone was able to take all of them, and more importantly she hates the fact that she considers her friends are all kinds of upset because of this. Her own injuries are one thing. Then there's the fact that all the new kids got tossed to the wolves and used and abused. And Yuffie doesn't do well with that sort of thing...well, when the Carnies aren't the ones doing it.

She remembers the looks on all of their faces when they got out of the cages and trudged back, and Yuffie's not going to be forgetting that any time soon. She wants more than anything to wreck Predator, but that wont get them anywhere, yet.

Yuffie grins slowly. She's the best when it comes to keeping a handle on the social media of Pride, it's her specialty. She likes to think herself something of an information hub and she may or may not be right. Either way, she believes it and acts on it frequently so there is that much.

"I'll keep an eye on it. If anyone lets loose early then I'll run distraction. There's got to be somebody I can trash." She waves her hand dramatically as she says so.

[dishevelment]

"Give me some time, and I can find a way to augment your plan. Your idea is sound, but I have a feeling that the subtle approach won't work on them."

Koumei approached Luci separately from Garnet and her pledge of Cosmic Indulgence's support of her plan. Though his manner was as unassuming and mild as ever, there was no doubting the stillness of his posture, or the steel in his eyes.

"It is, however, an excellent start. I'll personally help with anything you need as it comes up.

"...also, I wanted to thank you." He reached up with a hand to tug uneasily at his thick ponytail, looking for a moment like a shamed teenager. "P.E. Was my worst subject in school. Apologies if I caused you any problems back there."

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Luci feels something twitch at the back of her mind, insisting that anyone claiming her idea isn't fully formed is ludicrous, but she's on her best behavior tonight. Rejecting the suggestion outright isn't going to get them what they want, they have to work together.

"Hey, I had no idea what to do with that bomb-thing. Even if it wasn't actually fatal, you pulled us through on that front." She can, at least, give honest credit where it's due. "I'd appreciate any thoughts you have, but know that I didn't dream this up just to get at Predator. Ultimately we can't control how they react to this, but obviously I want it to make a clear enough point."

[dishevelment]

"It was a practice of probability and daring, but thank you. We wouldn't have gotten Yuffie out if not for working together."

Even if the threat wasn't real, it felt like it was-- and the relief at bringing Yuffie to safety was just as real.

"Your point will doubtless be heard, but we can't hazard any guess work until we see how our opening gambit plays out. A few of us in Cosmic Indulgence write for writing's sake. That, and our understanding of various genres, should be a help.

"But, we may need to keep Mr. Xanxus and Princess Wakana from doing anything too wild"

Rumors had gone around about their swimming escapades. He could only imagine what the two of them could cook up when left alone.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

"You can leave Xan and Princess to me and Yuffie-- we can circle the wagons if it looks like they're planning something stupid. But really, I think they're just as willing as anybody else in this room to channel how pissed they are into music. Don't forget, Xanxus took the highest award Pride got in the BassOff, he got there by putting his soul into that. And I only put up with Wakana demanding to be called 'Princess' because she's Junkyard Carnival's heartbeat and damn good at it, not because I think she's actually royalty."

Luci looks over at Yuffie and the rest of the Carnival-- she needs a cigarette. "We've earned our reputation, it's true, but that's not all we are."

[dishevelment]

Recognizing that look-- and the need behind it-- Koumei is quick to offer a cigarette from his own stash. Neither Page's nor Garnet's disapproval of this habit was enough to deter him from continuing.

"I know. We'd be horribly boring on stage if our stage presence was all we were."

He offered a sly smile of understanding. Everyone in the room was willing to do whatever it took to get some of their pride back....which is why they were all a part of Pride.

Re: LUCI

[magic_to_do]

Wow, that's a great idea!

[Trucy had come to this meeting with a certain amount of trepidation, but it looks like all her worries were unfounded. Worries she should probably keep to herself.

But it's Trucy so she won't]

And here I thought you were gonna tell us to light their stuff on fire or fill their bedrooms with scorpions or something!

[Sorry, Junkyard Carnival, these are the kind of things you do in Trucy's head.]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

...Look. [Luci sighs heavily, exasperation is the name of the game.] We did that roadie a favor-- he wouldn't do his laundry, so we just encouraged him to go buy some new shirts. And we used a park barbecue, it was safe. [As safe as park barbecues are, at least.] And it was one scorpion in that band's bus, and we didn't even put it there.

[...Yuffie probably did, but that's their story and they're sticking to it.]

[sailorlaughter]

[Pinkie raises a hand, though it's more to draw attention than to ask for permission.]

Did you really steal all the wheels off some other band's tour bus?

[magic_to_do]

I guess that makes sense. Fire safety is important.

[Trucy makes missing the point into an art form. But then she's excitedly sidetracked by Pinkie's input.]

Ooh, I heard about that one! And then you guys rode on ahead and played their next show, right?

[The legend grows. Seriously where does she even hear this stuff?]