ONE NIGHT ONLY

[construing]

CHARACTERS: everyone (including new characters!)
LOCATION: ximusic + common room
DATE: night, october 1st
CONTENT: come by for a night of good music, good food, and better drinks
WARNINGS: none for now, will warn as needed

I love rock 'n' roll

An announcement goes up the day before: Murderface: The Band: The Show. Location and time are printed beneath along with a promise of a "special surprise." Arrive early and you can catch the current members of the band warming up or happy to talk someone's ear off. At the promised time, the lights dim but for those on the stage. Gwen's drumming gets inside one's bones; Wei Wuxian's dizi belongs on a stage with Lizzo; Lan Xichen alternately opens with the deep, tranquility of a guqin or arms himself with a xiao; and Newt…Newt is Newt, tearing the stage on his electric guitar. As a treat, he also provides the vocals to a few songs. There is even space left for the band's honorary member should he choose to join in.

The band plays a mix of covers and original music. Even after their show ends, the music doesn't. Gwen and Newt rigged a music player and the playlist—curated to include something for every taste—plays into the early morning. The music room's instruments are available for anyone who fancies a turn. And for those who do not have or should not be trusted with instruments, clap, stomp, dance, sing along—and enjoy the night.

Pour some sugar on me

In the common room, just outside the Ximusic room, courtesy of their ever enterprising (and not-so-artificial) AI comes the promised "surprise": food and drinks, each hailing from an Orber's home world. Even the new Orbers are represented! This might be their favorite treat, a famous dish, a representative drink… What they have in common: each one says "home" to someone.

There is enough to share with friends (or hoard for yourself if this is you.) So eat, drink, and be merry (though maybe not too merry; the alcohol proof of a few bottles can double as fuel.)

Comments

[construing]

〈 nope, not yet.

like an answer suddenly started flashing across the mustache, a slow grin crosses gwen's face. 〉

Aw, no, see, I knew it! What's up, man?

〈 playfully, she punches his arm. despite his being metal and her being not that, she does not flinch. she aims finger guns his way. 〉

You still owe me most of that playlist, you know.

〈 —and that is how minimus met a zillennial. 〉

[legalcy]

[He rubs the spot where she punched him. There's not damage, obviously, but it's a habit that doesn't go away.]

If you are hosting auditions, I can assist. [But not offer to sing. This is a hobby only meant for private audiences.] I'm only offering suggestions.

[He's adopted a millenial centuries ago, but this zillenial is different from her. Only a few years, and the youth already change.]

[construing]

〈 sliding her hands into her dress pockets (silver lining to designing all of her own clothing—pockets in everything), she shrugs. 〉

Suggestions are welcome, but I don't think we'll be holding auditions. Obviously, I'm not gonna stick someone on stage who can't play, 〈 aside from the obvious, she's not big on embarrassing someone who hadn't been asking for it, 〉 but this is more "getting together to have fun" than anything else.

Besides, with how often people leave, it's better to have multiples. We had a main vocalist and a second guitar. 〈 she makes a little moue. 〉 Both gone.

[legalcy]

I see. [They can still write music without a main vocalist, but it's more fun when there are lyrics set to the music.] What about folk songs meant for dancing? That will account for the lack of a traditional popular band structure.

[His hand twitched by his subspace compartment - the nice thing about being a robot is that pockets are built into you - and pulls out a small music player.]

I....can offer inspiration for such music.

[construing]

〈 her smile spreads slow and bright across her face. if one thing is true for this gwen stacy: she lives and breathes music. 〉

Yeah. That sounds like a good challenge. How about we plan for tomorrow? You can share what you have since— 〈 she waves a hand in the speakers' general direction. 〉 Yeah.

[legalcy]

I agree. [He folds his arms behind his back, as if standing to attention for a formal ceremony.]

...What band is playing now?

[He has his playlist....what if he added some more music to his collection?]

[construing]

〈 she shakes her head. 〉

Not a band. Shishido Kavka. Solo artist. Sings and plays the drums.

[legalcy]

Hm.

[Minimus stands still to focus on the rhythm and voice of the song.]

Would you consider doing covers?

[construing]

〈 the corner of her mouth turns up. 〉

We played covers.

[legalcy]

But of songs like this, too. It will give the individual members of your band a chance to showcase their skills. A variety of music is safer for the success of a group.

[construing]

〈 she arches an eyebrow. 〉 We already do.

We draw from multiple influences, and play from various genres. Some are original; some are covers we adapt to our present instruments and sound.

That was a showcase of our individual skills.

〈 wei wuxian, newt, lan xichen, degar, even gwen. the boys largely handled the melody, and had their moments to shine; the rhythm was gwen’s responsibility. her job throughout: to keep the beat, and to make it sound good.

and no matter the ’stache, no one is going to minimize what her friends did where she can hear. 〉

[legalcy]

[His attempts at constructive advice in general tend to go this well.]

Hm. Then you have done well for your first performance. [In his opinion, they have far to go before they create something Minimus will download for his library, but at least they are taking Good Measures in their practice.] I'm curious to see in which direction you develop, once your influences have solidified.

[construing]

〈 gwen raises a middle finger. 〉 Backhanded compliments is why we do what we do.

〈 she moves her hand so she can keep flipping him off as she strides away. 〉