interstellar5555 | ☆TRACK I: NOTHING LEFT OF YOU

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.”

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Maxxie laughs out loud this time.]

Who says you can't start here? I've been drinking all night.

[He shakes his head again, but there's a bit of a smile there this time.]

You know, I don't think I've ever heard my manager raise their voice before, but this feels like as good a reason as any.

Mine'd love it if I made a scene, I think. He never says it out loud, but....

[Maxxie slips both hands into the pockets of his pants, shrugging. He's looking down at his feet - he knows he should be going back inside, but he'll take any excuse not to be there right now.]

[There's a feeling Terry is deeply attuned to. He frowns thoughtfully, considering Maxxie, and then abruptly holds out his half-smoked cigarette for Maxxie to take.]

I think we both need another drink.

[Maxxie takes the cigarette, looking stunned.]

What - are you gonna...?

[He knows if he goes inside he'll probably feel obliged to meet back up with his band, but he'd like a few more minutes to himself if possible. Those few minutes would be made all the better if Terry brought out a drink for him.]

I'll be back in a minute.

[And off he goes! No one really expects Terry to be overly social, so it's not as difficult for him as it might be for Maxxie to just slip in, get a couple of beers, and bring them back out. He gets stopped a few times, but it's just a bit of polite small talk. It does take a bit longer than a minute for him to return with the drinks, but that's just life.]

[Maxxie smiles when he sees Terry come back out with the beer. This boy is officially a godsend.]

Thanks.

[He takes his beer and then digs through his pocket for his pack of cigarettes again.] Sorry, I finished your smoke... did you want another one, or...?

If it's alright.

[If they're sticking around out here he's gonna sit down, he takes one and leans back against the wall, sinking to the floor with a grunt.]

[Max wouldn't dare risk messing up his pants, so he stands and leans against the wall, pulling out his lighter and handing that to Terry as well. The beer helps a bit, though at this he's somewhat numb to the bite of alcohol.]

Did you have fun on the tour? You guys were out there long as we were, weren't you?

[He lights up and looks up at Maxxie with a bit of a dreamy look in his eyes when he passes he lighter back. The couple of days off (and ample sleep) means that all the stresses of touring are already fading into the backdrop of his memories. Mostly now he remembers the thrill of being on stage, the roar of the crowd, meeting fans after the show.]

It was amazing. There's really nothing like it, you know?

Yeah, it's... something else. I had no idea how fun it could be.

[He takes a long swig of beer.]

And the parties, shit. I think I may have still been drunk when I got here today from that last one.

[He laughs] Don't tell anyone, but I'm not much of a party guy.

Shit, really?

[Maxxie laughs.]

I'd say don't tell anyone that I am, but I think the cat's out of the bag on that front.

Well, I promise not to fan the flames.

Thanks. That probably makes you my manager's favourite so far.

I might be bad for your rep in other ways. [A shrug] Maybe I'll get you hooked on experimental music.

[He laughs again, quietly, grinning down at Terry on the ground.]

I'll never say no to a bit of experimentation.

[Sorry Max it went right over his head.]

You say that now, but it's a dark road. Starts with a bit of Philip Glass, maybe some Darreg. Then before you know it, it's three in the morning and you're drunkenly weeping about the genius of four and a half minutes of silence.

[Not that that... happened to him... At all. Ever.]

I'll have to take your word for it, for now.

[He takes another long swig of beer and pushes off the wall, sighing in regret.]

I should probably go back in. Patil's probably wondering where I've got to, and I'm the one that's got to keep the peace in my band... [This is 100% untrue but Terry doesn't have to know that.]

I'll see you around, alright? Probably around Pride. Heard they've got wicked parties all the time, maybe you'll find out you really are a party guy after all.

[Ugh, parties.] Yeah, maybe.

[He raises his eyebrows in sympathy and waves Maxxie off.] Good luck in there.

Later. And thanks again for getting me the drink.

[He holds up his bottle as he walks away, back to the door and into the bustling party again.]

☆TRACK I: NOTHING LEFT OF YOU

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