interstellar5555 | 002 ┼ THEY LEFT US ALONE / KIDS IN THE DARK / TO BURN OUT FOREVER / OR LIGHT UP A SPARK

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

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!))

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[Is your manager miffed? Pre-show jitters? Group huddle? Text your Virgo friends that something badass is going down?]

[Plug in, it's time to get back to what they all do best and send a loud and clear message to Predator.]

[The social media call has drawn so many thrilled fans to the club, there's literally no room for anyone to move. Speculation is flying online as to where the new songs come from, why all four bands played together-- some fans who came for one band are interested in the others now. All in all, the reception is positive.]

[Do you pack up your stuff and run? Do you bask in the fandom and walk amongst the adoring/find your Pride friends and fellows? Either way, the energy is high in the club and it's sure to be a night that goes on for a while.]

A (closed to Cosmic Indulgence)

[Thank goodness those strange things were gone. At least for the most part. She still had...lingering thoughts and feelings. However, for tonight, there was something important to be done, and she put those aside.

Predator was going to get what was coming to them, and it starts at Sinammon. Of course, Page was protesting a bit about going out so quickly after the lockdown.]

Don't worry. It'll be worth it.

Are you really sure?

It'll be pure art. Pure Pride.

[Well. His eyes lit up at that.]

Art...

Call some security in, then, please. Trust me, it'll be worth it.

[She turns to her group. What are they doing to prepare? Maybe...Maybe she should talk to them.]

B (OPEN)

[Otherwise, Garnet's getting her keytar in tune, drinking some water. The calm before the storm. Let's talk, everyone.]

The Bass tunes and he's reaching forward to adjust the mic. He had promised Luci. He had promised her. She was family. Famiglia. They all were. As much as he acted like he didn't care, when he was on stage with them, this was close to anyone Xanxus has allowed himself to be.

He looks at the rest of the Carnies and gives a nod. He's ready to kick this into high gear. He just waits for the drummers count off and there's Junkyard Carnivals blazing vigorous bassline.

[1]

Outwardly, there's no sign of Luci feeling the least bit anxious or concerned. She's hyper-focused, her eyes fixed seemingly on nothing, but she's boring holes in 'nothing' with her stare. She paces backstage like a caged animal, waiting for 8PM, waiting for Junkyard Carnival's turn, waiting to finally perform again.

[2]

In reality, every time she thinks she sees someone who looks like Camila or Lesedi, she almost loses her lunch. She's already decided that if somebody comes down on them for this, she has to be the one at the front of the line to get her balls cut off-- figuratively speaking. No guts no glory, but she wasn't about to let anybody else take credit for their flagrant disobedience. They'd all been through enough with Predator already.

Eventually, she decides her nerves are shot and she needs a cigarette. She steps out to have one, quickly.

[3]

"Alright--" Luci shouts over the announcing of the next band to play, the screaming that ensues after. "You ready to tear this place down?!"

Yeah, she's giving pep talks at the stage entrance. Especially if it looks like someone needs one.

[4]

L U C ┼ F E R @lightbringer

You miss us? #priderecords #sinammon #junkyardcarnival #cosmicindulgence #flashstep #systemcrash #happeningrightnow

Edited 2015-11-13 01:06 (UTC)

When first discussing the idea, Luci had suggested they all pack up and get the hell out after the set-- but that idea has proven too tame for her now that performing has amped her up. She actually enters the crowd, heading for the bar, signing things when they're handed to her, leaving nude lipstick on one CD case when it was held out with no sharpie attached. Yes, yes, this was what she lived for. This was the point.

She gets a drink and holds court at the bar, talking with fans but only barely teasing where 'Bumpercar Bondage' came from. A new single? A new Junkyard Carnival album? She just grins and says they'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Fortunately, the Carnies fanbase isn't the squealing/clingy type, they like to get their fix standing close, then spin off onto the dance floor to bask in the feeling. She's occupied, but makes herself available to people approaching her.

A (OTA)
You'd think that Jamie would be used to public performances by now, but he's still new enough to this to have a healthy amount of nervous energy to burn off. His pre-show warmup includes a lot of fidgeting - fist-clenching, shoulder-rolling, bouncing from foot to foot like a boxer preparing for a bout - that looks completely aimless and random but conceals a mind that's feverishly reciting lyrics and going through choreography step-by-step before they set foot onstage.

He takes a swig from a water bottle, swishes it around in his mouth before swallowing, runs his tongue along his teeth as he stretches his arms high over his head; lowers them in front of him so his spine forms a tight arch, muttering under his breath in a rapid-fire patter:

"...left slide ankle cross right spin knee pop left point right point fist pump pause, for three, beats..."

B (for Flashstep)
Jamie's pre-show routine also involves micromanaging his bandmates. He watches each of them out of the corner of his eye during his own warmup and periodically paces around before their set, ostensibly to keep his muscles limbered up but also to offer unsolicited advice to the other guys.

"Watch your timing on the new piece, it's a one-and-a-half beat pause between the bridge and the chorus. You've been having trouble with that all week."

"Remember it's two steps to the left, one to the right, pelvic thrust, cross, stomp. Don't hesitate, you've been trying to do two to the right the entire time we've been practicing."

"Enunciate. Everyone can hear you slushing when you get distracted."

"...yes."

It comes out tight and distracted at first, but then something seems to catch fire inside him, as though from a stray spark of manic energy spiralling off of Luci. His eyes come sharply into focus, boring into hers, for once, without a hint of hesitation; through flared nostrils he draws in a breath that he releases almost in a growl, lips peeling back from his teeth in an animal grin. When he speaks again, it's in a sort of controlled roar.

"YES!"

[Terry takes a photo of the sign out front before he goes in, throwing the picture up on twitter without any context before he goes in. After that? He's taking a picture of the stage mid-setup and this one does get a bit of context. His phone starts blowing up immediately with replies and retweets, and that certainly puts a bounce in his step.]

T R A U M A @52spades
8PM. Told you we'd make it up to you. #cosmicindulgence #junyardcarnival #flashstep #systemcrash

[Attached: A surprisingly (read: accidentally) beautiful photo of the stage with a techie looking somewhat stressed by what's just happened.]

[There's not really enough time for a soundcheck, but as much as he enjoys the lo-fi aesthetic? This has gotta be right. Which means what starts as Terry being an annoying backseat sound tech eventually ends up with him filling in as a second pair of hands. He knows his own band's requirements like the back of his hand, and he knows enough about the others to make judgement calls when the person in charge looks stumped.]

[It also means he's kind of acting as a go-between, so. Got any questions or fancy tech needs? He's your guy.]

[A far cry from the guy who's spent the last week mostly drunk and looking like hell; Terry's dressed up, made up, and ready to go. Obsessively checking the settings on all his stuff backstage to make sure nothing's gonna fuck up once they're out there. There's a calmness to him here, now he's back in his element. He loves this. Probably more than he could ever love anything. Sticking it to Predator is almost an afterthought as he gears up - throwing on his jewellery and changing shirts for something more stage worthy - right now he's all about the crowd. About giving the fans everything they deserve and more.]

[Catch his eye and there's an intensity to his expression that speaks volumes about how much he's looking forward to getting out there.]

[Terry mostly seems to be drinking all the water in the world at the moment. The past week has left him drained, and he needs to be sure he's not gonna just pass out once he gets up there. It's not much of a risk - he looks fine and feels better than he has recently - but it's still a worry.]

[Still. He looks pretty pumped about all this.]

How're we looking?

[Kido's sure she knows this guy. She keeps squinting at him from behind her flashy makeup (thanks band) but it takes her a good portion of the night to realize she's seen him before. And how many times she probably has. Man she's so shitty with people but she feels the need to comment on it.

So instead of being a normal human being she approaches with a book of matches held out. She asked for a light, before, maybe he'll realize it. Or maybe she's just stupid.]

Didn't realize you worked for Pride.

[Pinkie seems to have been acting a bit more like a mother hen than usual, keeping an anxious eye out for her younger bandmates. At some point, though, she finds time to slip over to Garnet.]

Hey, Garnet! This is gonna be pretty cool, right?

I hope so.

[Nodding towards Pinkie.]

Hey, which songs are you guys planning on singing?

"GOOD!" Luci catches on to Jamie's energy, feeding off of it like she's starving. She puts her forehead just inches from his, almost like she's got some kind of animal energy too and it's pushing her to get in his face as a sign of support.

"Get the fuck out there, and don't come back unless you've got some underwear somebody threw on the stage!"

...which arguably could be gross, but she hopes the point is there. Flashstep is a boyband for a reason, they were supposed to ooze sex appeal in a patchwork of different ways that covered most of the bases. Somebody's panties or boxers had to go flying tonight, right?

...that wasn't just a Carnie thing, was it?

Luci looks out at the crowd-- soon the lights will come up and she won't be able to see them at all. But they were there. So many faces looking at her, focused on the stage, waiting to hear what the band had done in their absence. She looks back at Xanxus, grinning as he adjusts the mic. This was about to be epic, if only because Xanxus was backing up her vocals with a little male baritone she couldn't really achieve. She looks back at Wakana, nods as the beat gets counted off, and then the lights go up as the band starts vamping the opening.

"GOOD EVENING, VISTA CITY!" Luci screams into the mic, pacing the stage and working the crowd. "Or is it 'good morning'? We can't tell-- We've been locked in a closet for the past week--!

"They're gonna wait 'till you blink,
And the next thing you think
Will be 'Why did I wake up here?'
Because they're dressed up for fun,
They've got some toys that'll stun,
But they're new at this, that much is clear--

Because the bruises they hurt,
They think that they're just a flirt,
That we all love a real scary trap.
But if you abduct us first,
When we could just be coerced--
Well can you handle a sub that just snaps?

I said these amateur doms, they scare the shit out of me
They could care less as long as someone'll bleed
Just give them their way, they call this 'dues to pay',
You want a safeword? Just pray."

[It takes a moment, Terry takes the matches slowly and squints at Kido. She looks (and sounds) familiar, but its hard to place. But that and the matches, it triggers his memory soon enough and he laughs in recognition.]

Yeah, Cosmic Indulgence. [He raises an eyebrow.] You look different without the shades and... Everything.

System Crash. [She rubs the back of her head with a tired sigh.] That's kinda the point, isn't it? [She laughs a little, but it's a tired laugh.]

... I've seen you before that, too, haven't I? Probably the gala, but you know what they say about meeting three times.

Maybe. [Hard to say at this point, his memory isn't quite that good.] What do they say?

You meet someone three times, there's a reason. [She shrugs. She doesn't put much weight to it.]

Predator fucked with you guys, too?

Yeah. Fun times. [He wrinkles his nose.] Don't know how much this is going to do about that whole thing, but it's nice to have an outlet.

It might get our names out there more. Success is the best even revenge. [A beat.]

Aside from maybe a punch in the face.

God I'd love to punch them all in the face.

I think we all would. [She shakes her head. She can't get in more trouble.]

Yuffie's answer to things is a little simpler, she shrieks to get the crowd going in response to Lucifer's 'good evening'. They always respond well to the tiny girl with a guitar and more attitude than most, and she strikes up the first chord. When Luci starts it's like watching fucking art or something, and all of them can't help but follow along, making things even crazier.

She knows when the guitar break is coming, and during that she sidles her way to the back of the stage, before stepping up on top of the amp they've got going. Yuffie's tricks come with a couple adjustments, she always has her cords labeled separately and they're longer than usual for one very very good reason.

That reason is because while she is very good at what she does, she travels the most of any Carnie and most people don't try backflipping while still holding on to an instrument plugged into a board. But then, they're always a little different. And her sound checks are almost always hilariously complicated. But it's all worth it when she kick flips off the amp and lands in time to catch up with Alec and play the secondary guitar line.

So the Carnival is more of a spectacle than anything else. What of it?

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

PRESHOW

DURING THE SHOW

AFTER THE SHOW

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Luci - OTA

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Jamie | Flashstep

3

Terry - OTA

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C

B

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CW: Dysfunctional BDSM Relationship

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