April System Mingle

[thespaceopera]

Who: Everyone!
Broadcast: Possibly!
Action: April System
When: Month of April!


[Welcome to the Belt, a huge asteroid belt that's been terraformed for life. Here you can explore the different asteroids, become a rock star, race on some ATVs, enjoy not being underwater.

In other words, it's a mingle! Get in everyone!

> System Info ]

Comments

Misty Day | OTA

[mistyday]

a. just like the white winged dove sings a song

[Finally, Misty's encyclopedic knowledge of Stevie Nicks is earning her some money. Slowly, at first, as she starts simply by playing some shamisen covers in local restaurants and on small stages - even sometimes in the street. Admittedly, there are more songs she knows how to sing than how to play, as she has nowhere near the skills of Makie, but it’s new enough and unusual enough to attract a decent amount of attention. Any friend that wants to join in with their own music or instruments is greeted with a big smile. Of course they can play with her! The important part, after all, is the music itself. The money’s mostly a nice bonus.

(And naturally, she is effusive in both her praise of Stevie and of Makie for teaching her, when people ask. Sorry, Makie, you might catch her bragging about you to strangers.)]


b. rock on, gold dust woman
[When she’s not performing herself, Misty spends a lot of nights at various concert venues, exploring everywhere from tiny coffee shops on Meston to giant concert halls on Telluria to “underground” dance halls on Vingloria. Though her look more Bohemian than punk or glam, she still fits in easily with the crowds here, rocking out and generally having the time of her life. If she recognizes anyone from the fleet, she’s quick to pull them into dancing with her. Or maybe she’s already dragged you along with her.]


c. i run around like a spirit in flight
[Other times, Misty can be found in the nice parks and gardens on Meston, exploring the glowing forests and lakes. On this particular evening, as she walks through an orchard, vaguely wondering if these luminescent fruits are safe to eat, she hears a tiny, distressed squeaking noise coming from nearby. She follows the sound to the base of one of the trees where a little bat lies on its back with one wing looking decidedly out of place. Misty gasps in sympathy and immediately crouches down beside the bat to get a better look.]

You poor sweet thing.

[Gently, oh so gently, she scoops it up and hums softly to calm it down. Now, though, she’s got to figure out what to do. She’s got the potions to help it, but they’re all the way back on the Paisley. So she’s very relieved when she sees another member of the fleet come walking by. She calls out:]

Hey! Could you help me?

a.

[therewerefifty]

[Woman what are you doing--

Makie isn't going to stop or interrupt said conversations because she's gotten slightly better at the self deprecation thing. But she is going to give Misty her spotlight and retire away to sit on a stage corner, fingers running through her strings experimentally with her face ducked away. She's here to jam play with friends, she'd rather not talk to the crowds, too.]

[mistyday]

[What??? Misty just thinks you're the best!!!

But it won't take her long to realize her friend has snuck of to be more alone, so Misty makes her excuses and manages to escape the little crowd gathered around the stage with promises that she'll come back soon.

She slides over next to Makie.]

Hey. Sorry. That was too much wasn't it?

[therewerefifty]

I don't mind. [Sincerely, even.]

I'm just not used to such large crowds, I suppose. I always played to a handful of people in comparison before this.

[mistyday]

Well, they really like you!

[therewerefifty]

I'm glad they enjoy our music so much. Their tastes often run heavier, it seems. [Wryly. Some of the music she's heard doesn't really, uh. Classify as music. To her.]

[ a ]

[shamisens]

[ Kubo pauses, listening to the strange tunes being played. It's unlike the traditional shamisen playing he's used to and already he's listening carefully and even taking out his shamisen to imitate some of the notes. ]

[mistyday]

[Misty has found a particular favorite place to play, kneeling on a pillow in a little gazebo in one of the nicer parks on Meston. A lot of people walk by here: couples strolling hand in hand or families coming to play with their kids or street artists setting up their canvases. But the boy with a shamisen like hers easily stands out - as far as she knows, no one here plays that instrument, so he must be from the fleet. As he starts to copy her she smiles encouragingly at him, though she doesn't speak until she finishes out this song. A few people place credit chips in her hat that she's set out. She nods her thanks at them before waving Kubo over.]

Hey kid, what's your name?

[shamisens]

[ He approaches hesitantly. ]

It's Kubo. You're . . . part of Makie's shamisen group, right?

[mistyday]

That's right! My name's Misty, pleased to meet you, Kubo!

[shamisens]

[ His smile is tentative but genuine. ]

Uhm, same here.

You're not Japanese though. Where did you learn how to play?

b

[bythewaves]

It is open mic night, at this particular little den, and Misty has mildly protesting (and highly confused) company.

"But Misty, why do I have to dress like this to attend?"

[mistyday]

"'Cause it's the culture! You don't want to be disrespectful now, do you?" She grins up at him. "Besides, you look real good, no one's gonna think it's weird at all - long as you stop tugging on everything, that is."

[bythewaves]

"But it's tight!" Maglor protests, still tugging at the jacket.

"And why are there all these....metal bits."

[mistyday]

"Quit fussin' so!" She gives his hands a gentle push away from his jacket. "They're decoration, like wearing jewelry."

And since when have elves ever complained about bling?

[bythewaves]

"But they are buttons, not jewellry, and spikes!"

But he takes his hands away from the jacket and tugs a bit at the pants.

"It just feels restrictive..."

b

[passingthrough]

[One minute she's crossing the crowd. The next minute she's dancing with Misty. She's not even sure which of them initiated it seemed so instantly mutual when they spotted each other. She doesn't even try to say anything until the band settles into a softer song, but she's still swaying along to it.] So far I approve of this system. How are you doing?

[mistyday]

I love it here! If there was just a little more sunlight, it'd be perfect!

[passingthrough]

Yeah? You don't miss the feeling on the last planet like any minute the breathing might stop working and you'll drown? [Or was just how it felt to Kitty?]

[mistyday]

It was the ghost towns that worried me more than anything.

[passingthrough]

Mmm...understandable. [She's never sure what to feel about the worlds they visit and the people there. It seems extremely self centered to believe this, but part of her still thinks it's all orchestrated by the Atroma and maybe there's just in a shared virtual environment like the one she was in at the prison. Maybe she never left it. Or maybe things are genuine. Is it better to assume that and act accordingly or does it just lead you right into your captor's game. It's her constant struggle.] This one is definitely higher on my list. Not at the top though.

option a.

[collegedropout]

[Misty may notice a taller figure in the crowd as she finishes a song on one of the small local stages -- he's got a pleased and fond smile, clapping his approval with a dimpled grin; congratulations on actually getting to be taller than him, looking down from a stage. He enjoys being part of your fanbase down here.

And maybe, being a colossal dork deep down, he may very well just give her a thumbs up.

You're crushing it, A+.]

[mistyday]

[What a fucking nerd. Good thing she likes him so much: she beams back at him and gives him a little wave before launching into her last song.

Afterwards, once she's all packed up and cleared the stage for the next performer, she comes to find Sam in the crowd.]

Hey! Thanks for comin' to watch me play!

[collegedropout]

[He's playfully grinning, hands shoved in his jacket pockets. He's got quite a rocker look going himself; flannel traded for a more acceptable fashion.]

You kidding? Once I heard you were performing around here, I had to come.

You seem like you really love it up there.

[mistyday]

I do! I mean I'm not as good as Makie and definitely not as good as Stevie but it's a lot of fun!