☆MINGLE LOG: SOUTH VISTA MUSIC FEST

[interdimanagers]

Who: Everyone!
What: An open mingle log for everyone from everywhere.
When: November 18th-24th, 2054
Where: South Vista
Warnings: Could be anything!

☆THE FESTIVAL Welcome to the South Vista Music Fest! An enormous, weeklong festival with hundreds of bands performing nearly 24/7, the Music Fest is a quarter annual event that celebrates all manners of local talent, both big time and small time. Every band from Pride Records and Virgo Entertainment will have performances to do, including the freshly recruited – you better have your act together, because now is your time to shine! Player bands will be performing roughly once a day, with bands from the first app round predominantly with evening slots and the newest bands with predominantly afternoon slots. There is definitely a hierarchy to the scheduling - Pride and Virgo claim almost all of the prime performance times, while other labels are forced to deal with the leftovers. You've definitely been chosen by the winners of the music industry in these parts, that's for sure. Shuttles will be available to take people back to their relative HQs in their downtime, but they're also allowed to hang out and enjoy the festivities if that's what they prefer. Stuff is happening all day and night, so it's really just a question of how much you can party while still being conscious for your own show. Your managers will tell you that the company CEOs pay extra close attention to this event, so that you need to be on your best behaviour. The festival takes up a massive amount of floor area with multiple stages of various sizes and a large amount of glowy display screens. It's set up on the ground floor of the cityscape, meaning that the suspension roads and walkways above have been programmed to add to the ambient lighting all day and night. ► TRAILER PARK KIDS: For those that just want to chill, there is a massive VIP area reserved for labels to park various trailers for their musicians to hang out in during downtime - one for each band. They aren't quite as big as the tour buses, but they are comfortable and well stocked. Each is equipped with two beds and a bathroom/shower. Pretty much every local band you know of is here, including the notorious Predator. Nose around their trailer at your own risk. ► IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With at least six performances in a span of six days, there is plenty of time for shenanigans to go down both back and center stage. Time to show your mettle, and to hope that some asshole doesn't take all the best food items from the backstage catering tables before you can get to them. ► ATMOSPHERIC NOISE: If you dare brave the storm, there is a massive quantity of merch, vendor, and food booths available for your perusal. Many fans endeavor to spend as much time at Music Fest as possible, and so the space is very lived in, with large groups of people hanging out in well populated lounge areas. Depending on how popular you are, it may be difficult to get around without getting swarmed by your fans. ► DON'T FORGET TO REMEMBER: And all the while, the strange memories continue. The label's newest members will have started to feel strange as of November 6th, and by the time of the Fest almost all of them will be discovering their first memories regains. The first one should be based on the alignment you chose, but the rest can be whatever you want. New character may regain up to 4 memories between their arrival and the end of November.

Comments

Superbia Squalo // MÄNTICORE // cello // Pride Records // OTA

[sharktrash]

-- A

[ All is well within the MÄNTICORE trailer. If by well you mean that nobody needs to use the bathroom, because it has been occupied way longer than anyone could reasonably need to take a tinkle. What is he doing in there? Brushing his teeth? Snorting coke? Checking himself out in the mirror? All guesses are as good as any... ]


-- B

[ Just like some of the others seem to let loose when on stage, Squalo looks a little different when he's performing. More serious and focused, that is, though he still manages to headbang while forcing out low, gravely, metal melodies you probably didn't expect a cello could make. Often he lets it stay in the background as a secondary, eerie bass backup, but occasionally there are higher notes. At some point, when there's a piece without vocals, there's even a play-off between him and the lead guitarist; he flawlessly mimics the solo phrase by phrase, as if the two instruments are having a conversation. Admiring him yet? ]

[ Feel free to wait for him when the band goes offstage and tell him how much you loved it. Seriously. Don't hold back. ]


-- B+

[ So, you're in the crowd and looking at him... and he might actually look up long enough to notice that. Are you relatively hot and not like twelve? Because in that case, there's every chance that he's going to shamelessly keep eye contact and casually tongue the cello's neck while still flawlessly playing his part. ]


-- B++

[ Backstage and free food! Were you going to grab that last fish cake? Because this dude will tear it out of your hand if he has to. ]

Oh hell no!


-- C

[ And when he's not performing, he's everywhere, loud and intense. Checking out some other bands' stuff and merch one moment, giving out autographs another, chugging vodka whatever alcohol he can get his hands on with a few dedicated fans or even other musicians next. If there's anything going on, chances are you'll find him there. ]


-- C+

[ He'll also gladly teach anyone MÄNTICORE's (technically, Squalo's and Genos's, apparently) patented version of "Spin the Bottle". Which is using a full bottle of alcohol, the stronger the better, and the person it lands on having to drink the whole thing without throwing up or passing out, otherwise they lose. Last one standing wins. Fun, right? ]


-- C++

[ But wait, haven't you seen him running around the night before? And then performing during the day, rinse and repeat? How many days has it been? Has he been sleeping at all? If anything, he only looks even more manic today. ]

[ Is he trying to start a fight? Set the equipment on fire? Running away when you suggest sitting down for a bit while screaming 'YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE'? This can't possibly be only the black espresso's fault. Maybe it's a cause for concern? ]


-- D

[ And it's right there in the middle of everything, maybe in the crowd, maybe at a bar, maybe in the final rehearsal before climbing to the stage -- something hits him, like a flash of lightning with sounds and churning images. ]

[ 'Before that plan is realized, I'm not gonna cut my hair. That's a wish I've made, and now I'm making it a promise to you. Hey, you should--' ]

[ He can't make out a face, a name, a reason - the only other thing he remembers next to those words is a presence. Dangerous, passionate to the point of burning... and an ache in his left wrist. And then it's all gone. ]

[ For the first time in... probably ever, Squalo falls quiet. Just sitting there, spaced out, absently twirling a strand of his long white hair around his fingers. ]

[ It's important. But why? More importantly, what kind of a fucking oath is that?! ]

C+

[wounds]

[He's settled nearby. If anybody wants a challenge he's the defending champion.]

Think anybody's gonna bite?

[He knows he could drink anybody under the table.]

AW YEAH

[sharktrash]

Shit, I hope they do.

[ Squalo knows this too. A big part of the reason why he bothers with it, really. It's extra lovely when someone decides to bet against Genos. He's already scanning the crowd with his eyes, his usual sharky "I'm-up-to-no-good" grin in place. ]

Riled up some guy who thinks he can drink earlier. I'd bet he'll show up any moment now.

[ You're welcome. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ]

[wounds]

[If this guy really can drink, he gets to be vaguely worried about Squalo. He's definitely lost a few rounds.]

Yeah? Hope he puts up a fight.

B+

[dishevelment]

[Bedecked in dark sunglasses and the shabbiest coat in his closet, and with his immensly long hair bundled high up in a messy bun, Koumei felt comfortable enough to sneak away from the fans for a few moments to take a peek at this new metal band that was breaking into the scene. The fact that they had a cellist on board was what intrigued him-- and, indeed, he was glad he had come. The cellist's wild shredding on the strings was a sight to behold.

While he had taken some cello classes in school, his love was always the piano; he could never hope to be as masterful as this.

--It was enough for him to take off his shades so he could get a better view.... and he hadn't expected to be watched back with the searing eyes of a feral beast.

Though he normally wasn't one to fluster easily, he felt his ears burning under the intensity of that stare. He wanted to reach for his paper fan, but that would be a dead give-away of his presence if his hair hadn't already done him in.

He couldn't look away.]

i am sorry but you brought it on yourself

[sharktrash]

[ Comes with being considered a musical prodigy from teenage years. While he did try out quite a few instruments and even singing, evidently cello was where most of his talent was concentrated. It was what finally got him a contract with a big label, after all. ]

[ And he can probably smell the admiration from afar. Or maybe that red Rapunzel hair stands out in the crowd. Or he's just really good at sensing someone looking at him. Either way, yeah, the beast has caught on. This probably counts as onstage sexual harassment, to be honest, but that's never stopped him before. ]

[ The change in the color of the guy's face is amusing, and Squalo is pleased to see him still watching him. Gotta reward such admiration, right? ]

[ He grins, a toothy expression that looks like it belongs on a shark, and brushes his cheek against the side of the instrument's neck before pressing his lips to it, his fretting hand sliding up in an expressive, stroke-like manner for a smooth drop in pitch. ]

[ You know, almost as if he's handling something else. ]

I know, and it's lovely

[dishevelment]

[Oh. My. God.

There was no way that Koumei could look away from that no, not when the man was handling his instrument so delicately-- so sensually-- and watching him with the eyes of a hungry creature.

The drop in pitch stirred something deep within.

He would need to make a date with his bunk later.]

B+

[gunslingerqueen]

[She … Raises one brow and looks faintly amused at that move. He’s an arrogant kind of guy, isn’t he? But he also doesn’t falter for a second and that’s what really endears her. For a second or two there Nariko just keeps that eye contact, head tilted. But if he’s patient enough he’ll catch the way she unbuttons her top, tailoring the motions to his playing and not that of the overall song.

Now it’s just a question of how far they’ll go before it’s ended.]

my apologies for his existence

[sharktrash]

[ Oh, he is. He's also pretty much the kind of guy who wolf-whistles on the street and shouts things like 'Nice tits!' for everyone to hear. The good(?) news is, at least he actually does have something to back that arrogance up with; his playing skills seem to be mad. ]

[ Which also means he doesn't need to glance at the fingerboard. And there's a hot (if vaguely familiar) chick looking at him, so there's no reason to look away. Especially once she starts flirting back -- sure, let's call it that, though it's probably something more like harassment on his part. ]

[ His toothy smirk spreads wider. A pleased shark, that's what it looks like. He lets his head fall back for a moment, half-lidded gaze still on her, and a moment later he's mimicking kissing the instrument up to the tuning pegs, the way his hand moves over the strings now looking just like a caress. Then he grins wickedly in her direction and finally looks away, sinking to one knee to finish shredding that solo in a more dramatic pose with extreme vigor, the end of it echoing off Genos's and Orion's rhythms. The crowd's going crazy. ]

C++

[iitrebel]

[Well]

[It's not any of Artolo's shit.]

[So, because he's brilliant like that, he cups his hands around his mouth and yells-]

SET SOMETHING ELSE ON FIRE!

[sharktrash]

WORKING ON IT!!

[ For now, no, it's not. Squalo is evidently using his band pass to get where he shouldn't be -- in this case on stage while it's getting prepared for some other performers. Is it that band nobody likes, apparently? Just some unsuspecting solo artist? Who knows, but he's pouring something over one of the speakers... ]

[ And turning back to the guy he doesn't even know but apparently they're buds now. ]

You got a fucking pole?

[ ??? ]

B+

[worthlesspride]

[In the crowd, Tooru Oikawa is watching with interest. He had heard that MÄNTICORE, another band recently hired by Pride Records had a cellist. One that some sources on the internet had said was a 'genius' so obviously Tooru had to find out. dressed in simple and elegant black Tooru watches the performance with professional interest.

Superbia Squalo is good. He knows a little about him. Knows his own band mate, Tamara, had tutored him once. He knows that this.

He also knows this is the man he wants to crush the most.]

[sharktrash]

[ Some sources on the Internet were obviously right. Too bad it hadn't been that well known otherwise. Squalo's little "break" which consisted of him mostly dumping the cello and trying to sing in a small scale metal band for a couple of years could probably be blamed for it. He'd still take it out on occasion, though, and that's how he hadn't gotten rusty. It even got him this contract, after all. ]

[ Now, he probably wouldn't even notice the guy in a crowd that mostly dressed in all black. But it's much easier when someone is looking right at you. He grins widely in that direction, arching a brow a little, almost as if inquiring 'What?' and then he's closing his eyes to feel the music... and he still doesn't make a single mistake in the complicated little solo he slips in right before the lead guitar takes over. ]

[ When he's looking at the crowd again, it's with fucking triumph. You'd think he'd just been crowned king of the world. ]

C+

[mildwildchild]

"The entire bottle?" Jamie looks both intrigued and a little skeptical.

[sharktrash]

"That's right." But shit, the guy looks pretty young and Squalo isn't sure he wants to be blamed for his inevitable hospital visit later. Maybe he could pin it on someone else, though. "Do you want a girl handicap?"

joins the cosmic indulgence b+ party

[traumatizing]

[It's not often you see a cello in a metal band, and that's part of why Squalo's keeping Terry's interest so intently. The whole band is good, but this is unusual and very well done, and that's Terry's jam.]

[He's watching Squalo's hands when he notices the guy's eyes on him, and then he licks the neck of the cello-- god. Ew. Admittedly it's kind of impressive, but wow dude. Gross. He wrinkles his noses in disgust, but he's still watching so. Take that as you will.]

omg you guys there's literally seven other prompts aksdhas

[sharktrash]

[ Exactly. And unusual tends to sell, so here they are. ]

[ Squalo does take note that the gothic looking fellow doesn't seem too into it, so he just sticks his tongue at him and sends him a sharky grin, and then he's looking away into the rest of the crowd. He even closes his eyes for a few moments, actually, but there's not a single misstep on the fingerboard even then. He must really know it inside and out. ]

B+/C+ (would that just be a B-?)

[agains]

[ Even an innocent Keith would recognize the innuendo. One that's more inclined to womanize -- or at least bar crawl and pretend to womanize -- is surprisingly okay with it. It... makes the band's set all the more interesting. Something like that.

Backstage, he finally manages to track down the man of everyone's dreams. ]

What a captivating performance! And mesmerizing. [ He's not sure why he's complimenting a rival label. But he can't not, either, because he has eyes.

Eyes that are quickly drawn to the bottle in Squalo's hand. ] Might I join?

haha it's okay i do that every time when i try to respond to anything that's not present tense <_<

[sharktrash]

[ There's no shame, Keith. Just take Genos up on that offer to accompany you to a bar of your tastes if you're too shy to go alone. ]

[ Squalo sorts his cellos into cases first -- of course he has an electric one in addition to the normal set -- and then they're done for the day. Considering those earlier episodes of... he's not sure what it was, clearly that means time for drinking. ]

[ So there he is, sitting on the floor in some quieter corner with a few more guys, a third cello case pretty much filled with hard alcohol bottles, apparenly playing a game when someone else approaches. He looks up at him with an arched eyebrow at first, but his expression quickly shifts into a pleased smirk at the compliments. ]

Damn right. Still nice to hear people say it, though.

[ He sets the (noticeably) full bottle on the ground in the middle of that small circle and pauses with his hand on it. ]

Sure. Take a seat. Ever played before?

B++ and a reference to B+ eventually because what were you doing to your cello?

[trustme]

[ Doctor had been in his trailer writing all day but his manager reminded him that he had to eat SOMETHING before the band's performance later so he finally wandered out to have a late lunch.

It occurs to him as he fills a plate from the little buffet table that fish cakes with custard sounds really delicious. He had never tried it before but something instinctual seemed to tell him that yes, these flavors would harmonize beautifully. Why not listen to his gut?

He's aware of a presence beside him as he takes the last fish cake and just as he's about to turn and greet the person beside him he catches sight of a hand darting out to grab the fish cake right off of his plate.

Doctor jumps back from the stranger, surprised. Did he just-?! It's that fellow cellist from the new metal band. But before he gets caught up in thoughts about Manticore's performance yesterday, Doctor has an urgent priority.

He reaches out fast and grabs the fishcake back from Squalo's plate and tosses it directly into the custard bowl sitting on the table. ]

Fish and custard! A delicious combination, I'm sure! [ He announces with a smile and goes to fish it out and place it on his plate. ] If you really really want this fishcake, then I'll cut it in half. -If you ask nicely good sir. [How about some manners Squalo?]

making his audience doubt their sexualities obviously

[sharktrash]

[ Squalo tries to intercept, unfortunately it's not successful and in the end he watches the fishcake sink into the gross white mass with a horrified expression. ]

There go my hopes and dreams, [ he says dryly, his nose scrunched slightly, before turning back to Doctor. Who is now fishing (heh heh) the obviously ruined cake out of the bowl. Squalo looks visibly annoyed, but not dangerously so (yet). ] What the fuck's your fucking problem?!

[ MANNERS ARE FOR CHUMPS. ]

D-In the crowd

[magic_to_do]

[Spacing out in a crowd this big is no good, and Trucy is pretty sure she recognizes that guy as one of Pride newbies, so she feels obligated to make sure he's alright.]

Hello?

[Waving a hand in front of his face to get his attention.]

Are you okay?

[sharktrash]

[ It's very sweet of her. Too bad she probably won't get any thanks in return. ]

[ Squalo shakes his head a bit and blinks a couple of time before his eyes focus on that hand in front of him, and there's an immediate frown on his face. Damn it, he had to look fucking out of it if some stranger was checking on him. ]

Yeah. [ He sounds like he's in a hurry to end the encounter. ] Yeah, fine.

B-C+ Room for one more? (because this prompt cracked me up) I can always try again if you're full up

[liarmonstersnappydresser]

[Bill likes noise, he likes energy. Vandalism in Progress might draw a somewhat classier crowd than Manticore's audience knew but Bill can respect anything that is unapologetically loud and in your face; like the cello player who Bill is fairly certain has gotten to first base with his instrument.

Cipher seriously doubts the display is meant for him, but with his top hat, eye patch and bright gold coat with a giant eye on it, he isn't surprised that he might stick out in a crowd enough to get accidental eye contact. Well, accidental for them, Bill always intends to be the center of attention.

Backstage he can be found in the breakroom with everyone else, nursing a bottle of whatever someone handed him. You want praise Squalo, you got it.]

"Quite the show you put on; it's not often you see a cellist with that kind of range."

[He’s talking about the music. Mostly.]

NAW IT GOOD (which one)

[sharktrash]

[ Loud and in your face is an excellent description, to be honest. One that is even more true once he gets off the stage, too, except for the couple of times where he provided backing vocals. The sound operators already knew to leave his microphone turned off for that by now, or it would've probably drowned out everything else even at MANTICORE'S volumes. ]

[ The questionable relationship with his cello is just the icing on the cake. ]

[ But the guy in a yellow coat certainly stands out in a crowd. Squalo doesn't feel satisfied with simply harrassing him visually, so of course he'll be making his way near him once the gig is over. Praise only makes it better. ]

And you won't see another one like that any time soon.

[ He's smirking smugly, and raises his own alcohol at him in a mock toast. And then his eyes narrow and his grin widens a bit. ]

Heeeey, you're Bill Cipher, aren't you? I've read about you.