002 ┼ THEY LEFT US ALONE / KIDS IN THE DARK / TO BURN OUT FOREVER / OR LIGHT UP A SPARK

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Who: Cosmic Indulgence, Flashstep, Junkyard Carnival, & System Shock + Any Virgo Onlookers
What: The Revenge EP is debuting in a flashmob-style performance. Four bands, four never before heard songs, one massive social media frenzy.
When: November 7th
Where: Sinammon
Warnings: ......sigh. Carnies.

The second the lockdown is lifted, Luci springs into action. She's mass texting everyone involved:

It's time. Tomorrow night, we ride at 7PM for an 8PM start. Get your best shit dry cleaned.

There's already an exodus happening out of Pride HQ given they weren't the only ones on lockdown either, so slipping out is easy enough. They converge on the location, Luci makes good on her suggestion and hands the techbooth a wad of money to stop playing recorded dance mixes and let them take over the stage. She can already see one guy frantically texting into his lap as she explains what's about to happen. Perfect.

"You should tell your manager to call in more bouncers and remove some of the tables, this place is about to be packed."


((OOC: Welcome to the culmination of the EP plot! Not much else to say but here's a description of the stage setup courtesy of Garnet for anyone curious, and LET'S ROCK!))

Comments

[mildwildchild]

Jamie's starting to get all bristly at Maxxie's tone - being dismissed and talked down to is the sort of thing that pushes all his buttons in the worst way - but he tries to rein himself in. He doesn't want to go into a performance with that kind of tension between the two of them, especially not this performance, and especially not when he and Maxxie have just gotten over their last spate of drama.

He regards Maxxie for a few moments, takes in his gentler tone and expression, and takes a deep breath, trying to form something resembling a smile. "Right. Fun. I'm calm. Totally calm."

Jamie shifts a little, looking back toward their bandmates and the other performers milling around backstage. "Just - getting everything right is part of what makes it for me, y'know? Knowing that we nailed it, that nobody can look at the way we performed and say we didn't do everything right." He's being...unusually frank, and he's not even really sure Maxxie cares, but it's like his mouth has to keep moving if his body isn't.

[notahobby]

Maxxie can't do much other than offer a blank stare, surprised at all of this coming from Jamie right now. Of course, he usually puts up with Jamie's nitpicking without saying anything, but it's been feeling more and more at odds with what he wants out of all this and now here's the result.

He frowns in concentration for a moment, trying to figure out what to say. Finally, he looks up at Jamie, earnest expression on his face. "I get it, dude. I really do. But it just comes off like you're trying to control us or that you expect us to fuck it up."

[mildwildchild]

Jamie at least has the grace to look chagrined by this. "I...yeah. I know." He gets that his unsolicited advice isn't always appreciated, has suspected for a while that the other guys resent him for it. He sighs through his nose, shrugging.

"I mean, I know you guys aren't bad at this or anything. I just...sometimes I notice little stuff that I dunno if you see, and I think, man, if I notice it then everyone in the audience can too and they're gonna think we all suck." He chuffs a humorless little laugh and runs one hand through his hair. "I know it's kind of stupid. I try not to get so obsessive over it but I just - can't help it, sometimes."

[notahobby]

Maxxie shrugs. "We're not robots, dude. Besides, it's the little stuff that makes it interesting, right? It's not art if it's perfect."

He looks up and the nods in the direction of the stage. "Almost time to go on."

[mildwildchild]

Excuse you some of your bandmates have robot dads.

Following Maxxie's gaze toward the stage, Jamie feels another little thrill of excitement run through him like an electrical current and can't help bouncing on the balls of his feet a little. He settles long enough to look back at Maxxie, pensively.

"Look, I know you weren't super excited about this whole thing, but...it'll be worth it. You'll see." Also he appreciates you doing it despite your reservations and he is grateful for your dedication to the band, but he's bared his soul enough here tonight.

[notahobby]

Maxxie gives him a soft look. It's almost grateful, and it is nice that Jamie recognizes that he had reservations about this, and that he seems to be respecting them even if things worked out for Jamie in the end.

"I know," he says, tone matching his expression. "Let's just go get out there and kick some ass, alright?"

[mildwildchild]

"Yeah! That's what I like to hear." Jamie gives Maxxie a light little punch in the shoulder. He noticed the look and the tone, and knows they're Important, but dealing with emotions isn't his strongest suit. He's just glad Maxxie is on board now.

"I'll go round up the guys. Give it all you got, all right?" It's less a naggy thing now and more a friendly exhortation. Jamie can do those sometimes.