☆TRACK I: NOTHING LEFT OF YOU

[interdimanagers]

Who: Every single one of you.
What: Interstellar's first log, and an awards ceremony for jerks you don't know!
When: October 2nd.
Where: A fancy ballroom in neutral territory.
Warnings: Could be anything.

“Oh, it's been getting so hard, Living with the things you do to me; My dreams are getting so strange, I'd like to tell you everything I see. I see a man at the back as a matter of fact, His eyes are as red as the sun. And the girl in the corner lets no one ignore her, ‘Cause she thinks she's the passionate one.” ☆NOTHING LEFT OF YOU It’s the seasonal Vista Music Industry Award Gala, and attendance is mandatory. You and your band have been touring non-stop for the last two months, hitting locations all over Americana, performing and doing press appearances. This event is set less than three days after your return home, but it’s been made clear that further rest will have to wait. Though Halloween technically isn’t until the end of the month, the gathering has a formal masquerade theme - masquerade that is, not costume. Dressing up as a mummy or a clown isn’t going to cut it. Themed formal wear is expected, and your image consultants have been pestering you about your choices for the last 48 hours. Whether or not you listen to them, how you dress feels incredibly important. At least if you let the consultants fuss over you, you can be sure it’ll be something press friendly. Various awards are being given out, but none of them are for you. The media in attendance are starting to bubble with enthusiasm for the ‘rising stars’ of the industry, however, so this could be a moment to shine. Labels besides Pride and Virgo are also in attendance, but who cares about those guys? They seem to be a mere footnote in comparison to the buzz around the heavy hitters. There’s food, alcohol, dancing, stage performances by notable musicians of both Pride and Virgo, and then the formal awards ceremony in the evening. Yes, you are expected to sit through them. Do try to look like you’re interested, the media is watching. ☆PRIDE RECORDS Lesedi Santiago doesn’t always make a big deal about introductions - or at least, that’s the impression you get when she just kind of shows up in your group limousine unannounced on your way over to the party. Deep into pre-drinking a bottle of gin, she doesn’t talk with you so much as talk at you, regaling your band with weird stories about the industry while completely ignoring the fact that her presence is more intimidating than comforting. You’re not sure if it’s intentional, but at least she’s a good story teller - her speech doesn’t seem to be at all affected by the quantity of booze she’s already consumed, which is kind of bizarre if you think about it too deeply. You’re not inclined to. You’ve all met her before, here and there, in a series of bombastic encounters. Her interest in pontificating at you and the other new label inductees seems to fade immediately upon entering the ballroom, as she quickly becomes distracted with more high profile guests. Her attention fixates on Edward Blanch from time to time, but she declines to address him specifically. If you want to get some of her one on one attention, now could be your chance - just make sure you go in ready. Handling Miss Santiago can be a bit of an...experience. Veteran Pride members are in attendance as well, but most of them are not very good company. Their reactions vary from ‘frat members greeting a new pledge’ to ‘disinterested shoulder pats’, and ultimately it will seem your attention is better received by the other newbies. Maybe even the Virgo Entertainment stiffs, at that. Because, of course, that crew is here as well. Lesedi suggested you “show them who’s boss,” but you’re not necessarily sure what that’s supposed to mean. ☆VIRGO ENTERTAINMENT Tonight's event is one of considerable speculation: it marks Edward Blanche's first public appearance after a considerable period of isolation. He's a private man, a mystery and an enigma to the public, and that just seems to make him all the more intoxicating. The Managers and security staff are out in full force, and if you know what's good for you, you'll be dressed to the nines. Your image consultant will be almost desperate to do the work for you, like they're afraid of what might happen to their careers if you embarass the label on their watch. Personal style is important, but everything in your gut tells you that your nose has got to be clean this time, or trouble is sure to follow. For many of you, this will be the first time you'll ever have seen your CEO in person, and as such, the first time he'll encounter you one on one. If you're going to brown nose, now's the time - but make sure you choose your words carefully, and don't waste his time. Blanche has little patience for it. There are veteran musicians of the Virgo label in attendance, ones with dozens of awards to their names, but they seem to have little interest in speaking with you. Some are politely avoidant while others and just rudely dismissive, but none of them really give an answer for why they just aren't interested. It's not totally surprising - Virgo's interior politics are harsh. Other notable guests include Lesedi Santiago and the rest of the Pride Records entourage. Though you may have acquaintances, or even friends, who have been snatched up by the other side, it's even more likely that you have enemies. Everything about your Virgo upbringing makes you feel like you should hold a certain contempt for their ilk - people in this label think of them as classless at best and crass maniacs at worst. Did you hear about that disgusting stunt one of their front runners pulled on stage last week? Revolting. ☆THE TWIST Some of you may remember strange events from the past few weeks. Misplaced objects, malfunctioning technology, nostalgic phantom music - it feels a lot like the last portion of your tour was haunted. Now that you're back home, all of that seems to be flaring up again. You can practically feel the otherworldly presences passing through the room, even if nobody besides your tour group seems to notice. Even though they aren't knocking glasses off tables and flickering lights like last time, their presence is somehow even more apparent. Your programming makes one thing clear: don't make a public fuss about this. Ignore it, everything's fine. The second part only goes so far. Especially when, at some point or another, you'll be shaken by the feeling that one of these ghosts has walked straight through you. For that moment, you feel like a totally different person. At this point, one of four memory regain effects will occur: ► REMEMBER LOVE: You remember a scene, image, or concept related to one of the greatest loves of your past life. Can be either romantic, platonic, or familial. It must be about a person and not a place or activity, though. ► REMEMBER DUTY: You remember a scene, image, or concept related to something you held a great sense of duty or loyalty to in your past life. It could be a person, a cause, a country, or anything in between. ► REMEMBER PASSION: You remember a scene, image, or concept related to something you were passionate about to the point of anger or determination in your past life. Not enjoyment of, but something that drove you, or one of the things most likely to make you throw a punch. ► REMEMBER HOPE: You remember a scene, image, or concept related to something you dreamed about making come true, or an important hope you had for the future in your past life. This covers any kind of positive goal or ambition for you or the world around you. The feeling will quickly fade, leaving you as the person you've been made into once again. Only now you have something new: the first fragment of a life you can't remember having lived. The CEOs and managers will react to this eventually, and you're probably going to get sent home early. This, however, will be covered with a top level further into the log. “I'm reaching out for something, Touching nothing's all I ever do. Oh, I softly call you over; When you appear there's nothing left of you.”

Comments

[consocius]

[At least it's not like Sora's going to be judging her on how she dances, so there is that. But it is clear he's a little lost whenever it gets to the slower dancing. Does swaying work? He tries swaying. But Nariko makes for a comfortable dancing partner anyway, so none of it really feels too strained.

Though being around other people on the dancefloor had helped boost his energy some, after a while of dancing the tiredness is starting to show through again. After about four or five songs, he takes Nariko's arm to kind of half-slump on her.]

Phew. Break? I'll get you a drink!

[gunslingerqueen]

[The dance pause isn't entirely unexpected, she starts to catch his weariness and so the least she can do is be leaned on. While he's got her one side her opposing arm comes around to stroke his face, kind of like an over worrying mom.]

Nah, I'll get us drinks! You look like you're about to fall over, handsome.

[There's hardly a discussion to be had about it, she's already moving to get her arm around his side so that she can walk them both back to towards the mostly empty tables.]

[consocius]

[He appreciates the worrying, even if that certainly wasn't his intention! And he laughs a little as she helps lead him off the dancefloor and back to the tables.] Man, I might! Wouldn't be the first time, though.

[Though a dancefloor nap would certainly be a first. Also dangerous. Definitely a good thing Nariko was around.] How about you, are you tired from all the touring?

[gunslingerqueen]

Kind of? [That's about the closest she'll ever get to 'yes'. When they made it to the drink table she got him - Was that punch? It sort of looked like punch. Whatever, Sora gets a big cup of it held out to him.] Mostly I'm just bored now, I hate being stuck in the bus but at least we've always got something to do.

[Now she's been granted freedom again, and she doesn't know what to do with it! That'll change tomorrow, of course, but for now she hasn't come up with any plans.] You'd better get some sleep after this.

[consocius]

Thanks! [Sora takes the punch gratefully. Looks enough like punch to him, he'll drink it. Dancing does make one thirsty, after all. He nods in response to her words, definitely getting it. Even if he'd spent a lot of time on the bus napping.

He leans against the table as he sips at the drink, and chuckles slightly.] Yeah, no worries there. I think I'm gonna collapse the instant I step into the penthouse. [...possibly even before.] I guess I'm gonna have to sit through all those awards first, though...

[gunslingerqueen]

You mean doze through them, right? [Come to think of it, why had she been worried about Sora getting any sleep? His real problem is that he can sleep anywhere, soooo! Not exactly a valid concern.

But while Sora leans, Nariko sits down and half drapes herself over the table. It's a decidedly unglamorous look that clashes with her appearance but she doesn't have to worry about that with Sora.] They won't go on all night! Soon we'll be free to enjoy our lives for a very brief, controlled period.

[... Half of that is fake, when do they ever get real free time?]

[consocius]

[Her first question gets a huge grin, because she's so right. There will be dozing. Even if he didn't want to, there would probably still be dozing.

Her dress is, well, interesting to say the least, and not in the way that Sora's suit and tie were interesting. He would have commented on it except he was afraid he'd end up stammering through his words and wasn't even sure what words to use for it. Thankfully she hadn't asked. And her casual attitude with him made it seem less like a thing, anyway. (Plus, there were plenty of other people with the same amount of skin showing at this event.)]

Yeah, I guess that's kinda what we signed up for though, right? And hey, next year or maybe even sooner, we'll be the ones getting some of these awards!

[gunslingerqueen]

[Since when does she have to ask for his opinion? It's always wonderful (and in some cases, helpful) to hear a friend's opinion! That, and Sora was cute when he stammered and she wouldn't have chosen this getup if she didn't want to make a few situations awkward. Ahh well.

The idea that they might be getting the awards in due time seems to perk her up, though! Enough that she can smile properly.] I'm all for it as long as it isn't as boring. And when I'm named best singer in the world I need enough time to thank my best friends for always supporting me.

[And judging by the overly playful way she batted her lashes at him such a speech would obviously include Sora.]

[consocius]

Yeah, I mean how can it be boring when we're the ones on stage being handed cool stuff?

[Proper smiles are always good. He's gonna sorta eye the table for nice edible things, though. If there are any. Food might help keep him awake, right? Not that talking with Nariko is ever boring or sleep-inducing. And he gives her a moderately bashful grin at her words and batted lashes.]

Your band has a cool sound, and your voice definitely helps with that. I'm sure you'd be getting awards in no time no matter what!