June town event: Fabulous Season

[bebest]

Start Your Engines
June is always a big month for LGTBQA+ people, with Pride celebrations taking centre stage in many cities across the world. Kaisou is no exception to this- the city is full of various pride parties taking place in venues across Kaisou. Naturally, there is a parade and plenty of (sometimes dubious) attempts at queer representation and merchandise to be found. There's a lot for city residents to busy themselves with if they want to enjoy pride celebrations.

I Am What I Am

♪- Born This Way

Naturally, not to be outdone, The Vogue theatre has gone ALL out for this month. The Vogue was always been made to Be The Place To Be - but that goes into overdrive in June. Pride is the most important time of year after all, and residents of Kaisou will find the theatre extremely accommodating for the season. At any time they show up, they will find the place bedecked with various flags, covering the whole LGTBQA+ spectrum. The bar and lobby have been rearranged to let more people congregate in the space- with stools and tables set to the corners of the room to allow space in the centre for a makeshift dancefloor or mingling space. After theatre performances and on the weekends, the speakers blast out queer anthems, encouraging people to take to the dancefloor and show their stuff.

The bar is serving up speciality cocktails, shots and mocktails. Perhaps the boldest of drinkers might try to drink the whole damn progress flag. Though that does come with a disclaimer that The Vogue cannot be held responsible for what happens to those who take on that challenge. A note on the bar states that the total drinks sales for June would be divided among various queer support charities in the city- so people are doing GOOD by having a night out here this month. It has a definite party atmosphere, with the theatre staying open into the early hours of the morning each day.

The Origin Of Love

♪- Ring Of Keys

It's not ALL about the night parties, however - there are early evening performances on the weekdays for a few queer-based musicals. After all, The Vogue is still a theatre, and theatre is what this place is ALL about. It has a set list put up for folks to peruse if they want to enjoy a little bit of culture before they party into the night:

5th - 9th - Fun Home - A biographical story that follows a writer looking back on her life, discovering she was a lesbian while trying to reconnect with her closeted gay father.

12th - 16th - Hedwig And The Angry Inch - A story about a genderqueer rock and roll singer dealing with life and love during the fall of the Berlin Wall.

19th - 23rd - & Juliet - A jukebox musical that looks at what might have happened if Juliet didn't stab herself at the end of Romeo and Juliet and instead set out on an adventure with her nonbinary bestie.

All the musicals are performed by The Vogue's amateur theatre troupe. App users might even recognise some of their own amongst the cast in the orchestral pit. All performances run roughly from 6pm to 8pm, with the bar opening for partygoers after the final curtain fall.

Born To Be A Queen

♪- Cover Girl

The main event comes in the final week of the month- 26th-30th- a fabulous drag competition! Drag queens and kings alike are encouraged to enter, with the promise of a $5,000 prize for winning. The dressing rooms in the theatre are decked out and ready for the contestants to use to prepare. Established drag kings and queens from the city are around to provide support and advice- though they are encouraged to help each other, too. While contestants are welcome to duck out of challenges they don't want to do, they will be awarded "Fabulous Points" for everything they take part in and score highly in. The challenges include:

Design Challenge - The drag acts need to design a fabulous outfit - while they can get help with the sewing aspect if they're not skilled in the area, the design is expected to be all of their own. The theme for this season's design challenge is Kanto Couture- an outfit inspired by the Kanto realm.
Songbird Challenge - Contestants can dress in drag of their own design while they perform a song on stage- unlike lip-synching, they are expected to win this with the power of their own pipes.
Snatch Game - A must for any drag contest. Kings and queens are expected to dress up as and impersonate a celebrity of their choice. They will be tested on their impersonation and improv skills.
Choreography Challenge - Contestants must put together a choreographed number in groups of 5 or so. They will be judged on not only individual dance skills but how well they work together as a team to put out a fabulous dance number. Theme can be anything they so wish.
Lip-Sync Battle - Kings and queens need to bring their A-Game to this final challenge. They can lip-sync to a chosen song, they are expected to act, dance and death-drop to make a show-stopping final attempt to win the crown.

The winner of the show is the drag act who has garnered the highest number of Fabulous Points at the end of the competition. OOCly, this will be decided by a dice roll. After the drag race is over, there will be one last big blow-out party to see Pride Month out. As promised, the day after The Vogue will remain closed for the first week of July, so the staff take a well-earned break.

OOC plotting post can be found here.

Comments

Zulius | Centaurworld | OTA

[bebest]

I Am What I Am

Zulius is always the life of the party and this month is absolutely no exception. Especially now, where he's hosting the damn thing. He can be found milling around every night. If he catches your sight, he'll definitely come trotting over, delighted. If you're old enough, he might even offer a drink.

"You've GOT to try this, Vash has really knocked it outta the park this time. It's AHmazing!!"

Or if you're really unfortunate, he'll grab your hands with his own, trying to pull you in the direction of the dancefloor. He's got a pretty solid centre of gravity with the four legs and all. Escape will not be easy.

"This is my jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam, come dance with me!!!"

One night, he can be found with Moxxie passed out on his back, the imp using his ass like a pillow. He doesn't pay Moxxie much mind, still milling about, checking on people, making sure things are in correct working order. Every now and again, though, he pauses to twist around and check his friend's pulse. Just to make sure he's still alive. Soon as he's content he is, he carries on. If he catches you watching him doing this, he waves his hand dismissively.

"It's fine, he's fine. He's always been a lightweight and he forgot he weighs like...the same as a bag of sugar now. He just needs to sleep it off."


The Origin Of Love

Zulius loves the goddamn theatre and he's proud of the little theatre troupe he has working in the Vogue. Most of his time is spent backstage, so workers at the Vogue will be able to find him weaving around backstage, checking on the rigging, making sure everything is perfect and in place. He might be found wandering into the orchestra pit, checking everything is ship-shape there, or soothing an anxious amateur actor, promising that they'll do FINE. Zulius is a fair boss who will love and protect his staff into any firey hell they get themselves in, but he does expect things to go as close to perfect as they possibly can. At some point, he can be found looking up at the rigging, frowning.

"Is spotlight 4 out of alignment? It looks out of alignment."

For those visiting the theatre to watch the show, they might catch a fleeting glimpse of him in the lobby as he bustles around, preparing for the evening. He might even give a little wave.

"Tonight's show is gonna be LIT, you'll love it! You sticking around for the afterparty?"

Born To Be A Queen

Despite Zulius' love for performing, he isn't actually taking to the stage for this one. That wouldn't be fair he feels. He's not even going to be judging, because he knows he will be way too biased with the people he cares a lot about. Instead, he opts to Drag Mother the hell out of all of this. So Zu Zu Electric Boogaloo is here to take care of you all. She'll be sashaying between the various workstations, picking up some wigs, holding them to your head and the like, making soft judgemental noises, maybe she'll even be here to help you with your makeup.

"Okay, I think THIS colour will work for you way better, Honey. You want me to help with your contours?"

Or maybe you've already got this and you're not worried, at which she'll still wander over for idle chitchat anyway. Gotta be there to prop people up before a show after all.

"You ready to slay that whole crowd, Babe?"

[[Open to all, will watch style! Art credit here. The Moxxie part of the prompt might sometimes include drunken Moxxie interjections for your delight. ]]

[monklookslikealady]

"Are you sure I can drink while I'm on the clock, boss?"

Libra's there to work, and mostly because Pride isn't a thing in Ylisse, he's dressed normally... and working normally. There's just so much going on..

"And, would you explain this Pride thing to me?"

the origin of love

[scryption]

[As the resident stage butch, Zero is working before the show to make Zulius's orders a reality. She's wearing a black tank top, leggings, and black leather boots. And also the hat? The hat stays. Sorry about your color advice, Zulius... at least all the lesbians and bis are getting an eyeful of Holy Shit She Lifts.]

Shall I climb up and adjust it?

[This kind of thing is a two person job, and she's happy to be the one up there. She doesn't have a fear of heights.]

party

[makura]

Ohmigod, I shouldn't – but I'm totally gonna!

[ As promised, Sei's all kitted out in her pride 'fit and is balancing surprisingly well on her stiletto heels, especially considering she's got an empty glass in one hand and a half finished drink in the other already. . . mixed drink!! An incredible invention of the modern era!!! ]

What'd he whip out with this one?

Yusuke Kitagawa "Rei Markable" | OTA

[stripartist]

Born to Be A Queen pt. 1

[Yusuke's not in full costume, mostly because once he's gets changed he doubts he'd have a chance to help out backstage. Rei's outfits and make up take forever, so until he absolutely has to he is running around half dressed with his wig cap on, here to help with the make up.

And he will help with the make up. And the wig selections. If you are not Aesthetic, he will fix that. In fact you might find yourself suddenly missing the palette or wig you were holding, only for it to be replaced with one of a different color.]

Absolutely not, that will just wash you out. Not nearly enough glitter, either.

Born to Be a Queen pt. 2

[Eventually, though, Yusuke vanishes. Rei's make up literally takes forever to do, and she's not done changing until moments before she's due out on stage to perform. She's not competing (she felt it wouldn't be fair), but she offered to perform in between contests to give the competitors a chance to change and get over their butterflies.

Something interesting happens in ger first number, a Florence + the Machine cover. Anyone in the audience who is paying attention might notice that the audience seems almost enraptured by Rei's singing, some of them even responding to the "so tell me where to put my love" line under their breath. Once the performance ends, whatever spell had been cast is broken and everyone seems to be back to normal.

Her second number, later in the evening, is a bit more classic, with a costume to match. One of the younger queens is on stage as Ariel for the number, and another interesting thing happens. At the final part, where Rei commands the younger one to sing to steal her voice...she actually sings. She wasn't meant to; the stage was supposed to go black. It's easy to improvise the rest--Rei knows the song by heart so it's not hard to recover--but after she's off stage and getting her wig and make up off for now (and after assuring "Ariel" that it was fine, bold move, wonderful idea), it's obvious that Yusuke is horribly confused.]

Wildcard

[Honestly Yusuke won't linger long after the contest is over, parties are exhausting, but if you wanna poke him hmu!]

Born to Be a Queen pt. 2

[bebest]

[Zulius has learned to accept that in the theatre things do sometimes go wrong. As much of a perfectionist as he is, it's the nature of the beast and he's learned to roll with it as best as he can. He'll come through backstage after the Little Mermaid number is finished, mostly so he can check on both of them.]

Soooooo, that was definitely ...unexpected. [That's putting it lightly, he glances between them, not really being able to hide his worry and not really wanting to.] You two okay?

born to be a queen 1

[hoshikiri]

[Takame was... out of his element here. But he was determined to try. Perhaps even excited to. But to say he knew what he was doing was a lie and he was just leaving things to his boyfriend.

In fact he wasn't looking at palettes with intent, just curiosity when Yusuke came around.]

It will? Hm. [That's a mental note made. He's learning!]

Venti | Genshin Impact | OTA!!!!

[venti_late]

A: A Ballad for the Ages

[Since Zulius is so gracious to allow Venti to go all out on being improper for how he plays certain instruments, he simply must go all out in honor of Pride month! Venti isn't in the first week's shows, but he does show up in the second half of the second week's orchestra pit, as well as the third week's. Mostly, Venti's just covering for someone who either falls sick or has a prior engagement for the night. One can see him on flute, cello, or harp. His music stand is decorated in honor of Pride by having ribbons in the colors and arrangement of the pansexual flag going around the pole.

However, that's not enough for Venti, of course! He promises a slinky, black dress and he delivers as he plays for those nights. He's flirty with the flute, a little more suggestive with the harp, and outright scandalous with the cello. Venti's clearly having fun, though. Anyone performing these nights is free to talk to him when they're not in the middle of it!

He can be found at the bar (still in the dress) after the final curtain call, too, relaxing with some kind of colorful drink in hand. Whenever Venti spots someone he recognizes, he'll wave them over with a cheerful grin.]

Heeeey! Over here, over here! How's your night going?

B: Pans Wild! (Wildcard)

[Venti can be found throughout Pride month hanging out at the Vogue in his normal streetwear. He might be helping out some of the Drag Queens/Kings so that their performances can go off without too much of a hitch, even if he's not participating himself.

On the last day of Pride, Venti will, naturally, be attempting the Progress Flag Drink Challenge from hell. He has water prepared, and he's eaten something first, so he's as ready as he'll ever be.]

Not much of a vodka guy, so I'm not necessarily looking forward to the last drink, but let's see how far we get, hmm? Oh, uh, if I get too far gone or pass out, just... call Zhongli. He'll know.

[Will he?????? Wanna be his cheerleader or try to talk him out of it as he gets started on his first drink?]

A

[lapislazily]

[Zhongli did make a promise, so he shows up for one of the shows that Venti is playing in near his birthday. The music is fantastic, but he's really just here to see his friend, and so he ignores anyone who looks at him a little too long to be polite. (Maybe Jusis was right about... naaaaaaah.) He finally spots the bard doing some unspeakable things to a cello in a dress that is scandalous. Of course. Of course he would. There's really nothing he can do or say at this point to surprise Zhongli, but he is nevertheless a man with eyes and so he has to avert his gaze at some points.

He waits up for Venti after the conclusion of the show. Though he's wearing his ornate coat from his previous life, it doesn't stand out amongst the other pride people all that much. Which is good because it's freaking comfortable. More importantly, he bears a bouquet, and it being Zhongli, there's a whole dictionary's worth of symbolism packed into this thing. White lilies form the majority of its shape and they symbolize divinity; faint purple honeysuckle sprigs appear throughout, a color and flower associated with June birthdays and bonds of love; and pale lavender roses carry the color theme as well as the expression of enchantment and splendor. It might all be lost on Venti, but he doesn't care. Zhongli is particular when it comes to everything, and sometimes that means he's not nearly so quiet as he might otherwise appear.

He's definitely catching Venti before he can teleport to the bar, as he's aware of the staff entrance/exit. Zhongli attracts a few "knowing" looks from Venti's fellow orchestra as they make their way by. Someone has an admirer, it seems.]

There you are, [he says when he sees Venti, but of course it's with a smile rather than the annoyance his words may suggest.] Congratulations on the flawless performance, as always.

A

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot had been in the orchestra pit with Venti that whole time and...honestly yeah, he wasn't even that fazed by the flirty. You been in the music world long enough, you run across many musicians like that.

After they finish playing for the night, Elliot will be heading over to enjoy a drink. Rean has anime club tonight, so there's no rush going home tonight. Unlike Venti, he's wearing a much more basic suit with a rainbow flag pin. He cannot be trusted to dress himself up more than this ]

Haha, pretty sure you know how my night's going. [What with them playing all night] You were great out there!

B

[bebest]

[Zulius definitely doesn't regret bringing Venti onto the Vogue's madness- especially after that little black number. It's clear Venti is a perfect fit for the theatre. But being as such means he falls under Zulius' dubious protection. So he's here mostly to make sure Venti doesn't do himself a mischief trying to drink this thing.]

Okay, what signs do I need to look like if you're too far gone and ALso how pissy with Zhongli be about it? I mean, I've never seen him pissy yet but even he's gotta have limits right? Is this a he can come right inside to pick you up scenario or a it'd be safe to just push you through the door into his waiting arms kind of thing?

Abasi/Alhaitham | Genshin Impact | OTA

[admonishinginstruction]

I Am What I Am

[Abasi has known his preferences since high school, but only attended Pride every once in a while. Either when he was dragged by friends in college, or when he had a break in his academics and wanted a place to just be himself. (all in all, not very often.)

But, as this seemed to be sponsored by one of the residents, he figured he would to. Arriving at The Vogue in an appropriate outfit for once.

He walks up to the bar, taking in the menu, before looking to someone nearby.]

What drink would you suggest I start with?

The Origin of Love

[He's not Kaveh, but he could be convinced to take in a good musical. Again, especially because it was more of a community scene, and not a bunch of hyped up professionals. So, he can be found at at least one performance of each of the musicals, enjoying a drink and wait... enjoying? the musicals being put on.]

Wildcard

[Hit me up with a wildcard! Nab me on Discord or Plurk, m'dudes.]

I Am What I Am

[bebest]

[Naturally, Zulius is milling around, enjoying the atmosphere, making sure everyone is having a good time, being the best host he can be. He flashes Abasi a grin.]

Well~ Vash does a Rainbow Mojito that's to die for. He's been working his adorable little butt off getting these drinks right.

[makura]

Ooohh, I haven't seen your face around here before! Hey, hey!

[ That's the, uh, strikingly dressed bartender who looks absolutely delighted to have Abasi in front of her. ]

I'm just filling in for now so our usual guy can take a breather, but I could whip up something super cute and sweet for you if you wanna try it!

Waver Velvet | fate/ servantswap au | ota

[fionnuisce]

[i am what i am]

[Admittedly Waver wasn't much of the 'party' type. But it wasn't like he was going to turn down the idea of drinks at the theatre--besides, with Zulius funding the academy it would have been in poor taste not to support the establishment in kind.]

[So while he wasn't really one to dance, he would be found sitting at the bar with a drink in hand, quietly observing the proceedings and radiating all the quiet disaster of an overworked isekai with a confused romantic life. And lest anyone accuse him of not being festive enough? It's hard to catch, but his usual hair elastic looks like it has a charming gradient color to it lately.]

[drewthetower]

[Please don't mind the two ravens swooping in with a vest the same colors as Waver's hair tie, followed shortly by their human who has decided to dye his hair the bisexual flag colors. His hair is white, he can do this.]

Hey.

[poisontippedcure]

[Surely Zulius doesn't mind his employees having a little fun on the clock, right? When Rose sees Waver at the bar, she takes the seat next to him.]

Fancy seeing you here.

Scintilla Caminus | FFXIV [WoL OC] | ota

[sunforging]

[i am what i am]

[And then there's Scintilla. Who stumbled in like she got hit by the pride parade if it were going sixty malms an hour. A little pan flag painted on her cheek, small clockwork companion trailing behind her with an equally tiny rainbow flag tied to his axe, and so much glitter. The Ninth Umbral Calamity of glitter and confetti could not be prevented, and the results were a sight to behold.]

[She flicked an ear to shake off a small paper streamer, brushed some confetti off her shirt, and looked around in some mixture of amusement and deep confusion.]

[The whole godsdamned city's turned into the Limsa aetheryte plaza, what did she miss.]

[gotbadblood]

[Velvet normally wasn't the one to hit up the social spots, but it was Pride. Not only that, but she was on mission with the Black Order to gather information. Which since they were pretty vague about how she should go about doing that, she doesn't mind taking a bit of detour to celebrate pride.

She's dressed nicely for once, and looks pretty amused at Scintilla's bewilderment from her bar seat]

First Pride?

Vash the Stampede | Trigun: Maximum : OTA

[doubledollar]

{ I am what I am }

[ in the last few months, Vash has really gotten used to his job behind zulius' bar. usually, back home, he'd been the one sitting at the front of it, drinking his weight in cheap beer and whiskey with what little money he had. it was a real gamechanger to instead be the one serving the drinks--and being the one entertaining those come to fetch one of the enormously popular mixes Zulius had on display for the festivities.

while most nights he's sporting his usual apron and stylish vest, during this month, most of the nights he's swapped out the white shirt for a rainbow one--and his usually stylish two-toned hair now comes in five tones-- the usual black at the roots as normal, but the blonde part sectioned off in blue and pink as he sports a flag he's found that suits him best.

if you're here for a drink, stay for conversation. ]

If you want something that tastes good and lasts a while, I'd suggest one of the frozen, layered drinks. They're not only good, but it gets warm while you're partying, you know?

But seriously, if you're planning the whole rainbow flight, you gotta' promise me I'm not gonna' have to carry you home.
Because while I can, I'm not too sure you'll enjoy the embarrassment the day after, yanno?

[ oh and he's got two arms again, surprise. his new one is a lot more obvious that it's a fake than his old one--especially with how it twitches and moves in a very odd fashion, as if there's something just under the seams controlling it...
]

[holeful]

[Fukuda looks a little bit out of his element, like he's not used to crowds like this, but seems to settle down a bit when he sees Vash. He knows this guy!!! Sort of!!!! And even better, Vash has no way of knowing they talked before. He's got the hood of his jacket pulled up over his head, which is a bit weird, but his smile is good natured enough so surely that's enough for Vash. It doesn't fully conceal the scarred side of his face but it at least covers up the hole.]

Haha, I'm way too much of a lightweight for something like that. I'll take whatever you reccomend, Mr Bartender.

[not_a_possum]

[I Am What I Am]

He'd been through so much in these last couple months. Dying, coming back, living in hiding afraid to do anything that might tip off Zodiac to the fact that he's not dead. That last one resulted in some extremely limited socialization. Now that he's finally decided there's no way he's missing Pride, danger or no, he decides to go all out. He's feeling super cute tonight, all dressed up in drag...and this isn't even what he'll be competing in. He's got plenty of options for this sort of thing in his teapot and he fully intends to use this month to show it all off.

He also fully intends to have a good time partying it up, even though a lot of people in the bar will think Zulius is just letting his bartender serve alcohol to a possum. It doesn't matter. He's here to have fun, and he refuses to miss out on it. Besides, the staff is made up up various misfits Zulius found on the app, so they know what he is. Despite being the epitome of a lightweight, he decides to try a drinking challenge he'd heard about.

"One negroni, please. I'm going to be doing that 'drinking the progress flag' challenge, and I want to at least get to the color changing martini."

Mostly because it's ability to change colors between pink and blue and purple makes it the 'bisexual drink' in Moxxie's mind. Of course, it's also six drinks in. For an imp that weighs about twenty pounds.

This might be a bad idea.

[Origin of Love]

Of course, Moxxie works at the Vogue and so he has to do a lot more than party this month. There are three plays being put on throughout the month, which means he has to set up the lights, check the safety chains, slide in the gels, hook up the wiring, and of course check every night to make sure everything's still in place and ready to go for the next performance.

If anyone comes by the stage in the afternoon and decides to check out the little 'tap, tap, tap' of cloven hooves against the metal catwalk, they might find a certain imp up there, working away.

[Born to be Queen]

What better way to celebrate being alive than a song that repeats the words 'I'm alive' multiple times? Absolutely nothing, which is why Moxxie...or rather, 'Miss Foxxie', is singing One Hallowe'en as his entry into the Songbird Challenge. It's a song that speaks to him on multiple levels, and once he thought about what he wanted to do he knew there was no other song he'd rather use. Of course, his voice is a bit different than the original singer's, but he sings it with his whole heart and really makes it his own.

He appears on stage, once again looking impeccable in drag and showing off the sheer versatility of looks Moxxie could pull off.

He can easily be found after the show enjoying himself in the crowd and not caring in the least that many of the people there think he's some possum that Zulius has decided to dress up.

Elliot Craig | Trails of Cold Steel | OTA

[fiddlestick]

I. Origin of Love
[With school being out this month, Elliot had a chance to engage with his passion: performing music. So throughout the month, he can be found in the orchestra pit playing. Most of the time, he's on his violin and despite all his modest claims? He's extremely skilled, frequently being a stand out performer or at least keeping up with Venti's own unique performances.

On nights when violin isn't needed, he'll switch it up and cover the piano. Much like the violin, he shows a real talent for it. He'll take requests on the quieter nights when there's no other set lined up.

The entire time, he looks like he couldn't be happier. Catch him during a show, or after a set when he'll be in the backstage, humming as he's cleaning and maintenance on his instrument. ]

II. I am What I am
[Elliot isn't foolhardy enough to take on the drinking challenge. But at times when he's not playing music, he can sometimes be found by the bar, drinking one of the many colorful drinks. If you approach him, he'll smile and greet you]

Hey! Care to join me for a drink?

[His own attire is on the simple side compared to others: just a black suit with a rainbow music tie and some rainbow cufflinks. Truly...he could not be trusted to dress in anything else.]

I

[bebest]

[Elliot really does play wonderfully and having him around helps boost the whole damn orchestra pit. If nothing else because his special brand of perfectionism doesn't give them any other choice. Not that Zulius has a leg to stand on in that particular area. He expects his theatre to be run to a certain level, after all.

He wanders over after the set with a grin.]

Fabulous as always! How's it feel to be back in the proverbial saddle?

Jun Nightroad | Tokyo Xanadu | OTA

[whiteshroud]

I. Getting Ready (Dressing Rooms)
[Jun was no stranger to dressing in drag, so entering into a drag competition for some money seemed like the obvious choice. Dress pretty, get paid, get better coffee for the PICHU program: mission accomplished.

While he's in the dressing room getting ready, he clearly knows what he's doing too. He's going for a more classy look than his usual magical girl cosplays, but it's not really out of his comfort zone. He'll even offer to help others put on their make up or get their wigs ready.

Though...if one is observant enough, they might pick up on the tells that as it gets closer and closer to his performance time, he's getting more nervous. He keeps fiddling with things, he keeps taking deep breath, he keeps zoning out. While he's good at the getting dressed part of drag, actually doing a public performance when he couldn't even get through class presentations in school?

Yeah...as time goes on, it's sinking in how maybe this mission he put himself on was not as well thought out as he first imagined.]

II. I Need A Hero
[In the final stretch of time before his performance, Jun disappeared to help August through his crisis. He only returns with just a couple minutes to spare, just enough time to finish his own make up job and rush to his stage location. Sure, he missed his final chance to rehearse his performance and last minute calming meditation - but at least he made it in time!

Zulius had been generous enough to have set up a backstage area for him to perform in front of camera rather than directly to an audience. As his time comes, a projection screen turns on for the Vogue patrons to watch. The announcer introduces the Sun Hime, along with a line about her being a a girl so beautiful her brilliance can only be safely viewed through a video feed.

Unfortunately, despite this attempt to remove him from the audience, just as the camera turns on Jun realizes one glaring flaw to his plan: while his regular eyes couldn't perceive the audience from backstage? His seal knight senses could. And those senses were telling him there were hundreds of energy readings: and they were all watching him.

Oh.

Oh no.

As the show starts, the camera feed shows Jun who while he looks beautiful, has a complete deer-in-the-headlights look as he stares into space. The music, Holding out for a Hero, starts to play and Jun's eyes go even wider and he freezes.

Oh fuck he completely forgot everything about this song.

Jun sits there wordlessly for about thirty seconds, trying desperately to remember what music is and how one is supposed to move his arms- before his survival instinct kicks in and he bolts off screen. Crashing sounds can be heard off screen as he trips into some stage equipment and the feed cuts.

Well. then. ]

III. I Am What I Am
[After that whole debacle, you'll find Jun in a corner booth of the bar area. Too young to drink, he's got a mocktail in front of him. He's still in his outfit and has his head in his hands as he slowly mentally unpacks that disaster. ]

iii

[asipofbride]

[ this is the farthest Wolfwood has ever been from his scene, but man, Vash doesn't ask for things very often--and especially not in the fragmented collection of half-thoughts and palpable emotional distress that radiated through every rapidfire text the undertaker had just received from his

buddy? buddy was a word. buddy was a weird word that probably wasn't big enough for what was going on with them, but that was future Wolfwood's problem; current Wolfwood's problem was walking into the most noise and color he'd ever been exposed to in his usual black-and-gray 'somebody's gonna die today and it's probably you' getup (sunglasses included, the idiot) with a big white box in one hand and fingers of the other tucked in the belts wrapped around the Cross Punisher because Wolfwood is fundamentally not doing okay but man he is trying, oh god, is he trying

he drifts past the bar to spot a familiar(ish) (three-toned) blond head, holding up his box offering and following the way the busy barkeeper points, ignoring how he flails and beckons Wolfwood over when he realizes that yes, the idiot brought his gun to a simple delivery mission, but that's a Vash problem as Wolfwood follows the hastily typed out description of his target and Vash's enthusiastic pointing to make his way through the crowd to find some sorry sinner with his head in his hands and the fruitiest, most inefficient way to drown one's sorrows in front of him. ]

Hey. You Jun?

Luz Noceda | The Owl House |OTA

[a_cute_batata]

I am what I am

It was hard not to have mixed feelings on Pride.

On the one hand, the one person she wanted to celebrate it more than anything was gone. She thought losing Amity in February was bad, but knowing that Amity would have been looking at everything with fascination and taking in the culture and the struggles was especially painful. Luz would have taken her to as much as she could, and at the end they could have talked about their favorite parts and what they hoped they would see again.

So not having her here just drove home how much Luz missed her.

On the other hand, it was PRIDE. It was something Luz never had been able to enjoy herself other than online forums and quietly asserting her belief that boys and girls were awesome. Now she could do as she liked in a place where it was embraced, and even with Amity being gone, she knew the witch would have wanted Luz to enjoy this in her stead.

So Luz took advantage of that! She got herself rose colored glasses (literally), dressed up and sought to let loose for a few hours!

[A]
Her Pokemon wisely decided to stay in Luca and Alberto's apartment, so Luz sought a few discotheques that would allow teens to a certain time. The music was thumping at point, which Luz loved! She bopped and swayed, moving her body to some great songs from from the past! These lifted Luz's mood, and if you happen to engage her during this time, she'll be pretty amped up!

"I know they're kinda old for my time, but there's just something about the classics, don't you think?!"

[B]
But then now and again, a song like this would come on and Luz would dance, but her eyes looked a million miles away, somewhere between wistful and revere.

The Origin of Love

So Luz had not had a chance to actually catch a decent play, and this had to be rectified! So Luz was looking through the list, and checking the names.

"Hmm. I guess of these three, I'm kinda curious about the Hedwig and the Angry Inch story? Rock and roll musical? I've got to see that!"

So if you see Luz watching the play, you might see her openly weeping at the song Origin of Love or, at the very end of the play, Luz standing up and clapping with every bit of strength she had.

"Gosh that was...that was just really good, wasn't it?!"

takame kesi | ffxiv oc

[hoshikiri]

i. i will bolide (born to be a queen)

[So yes, Takame worked here. Yes, he was going to do his job, make sure people are safe, etc etc. All that good stuff.

But also, his boyfriend dressed him up nice, did his make up, scolded him for not sleeping, and made him look simply lovely with an utterly striking dress that accented his figure even more so than usual. Heavens knew he needed to remind the entire club of his thin waist. For a mercy the heels he was given were easy to walk in. Perhaps surprising some but his outfit for battles did have high heeled thigh boots.

The problem is when he’s suddenly told he’s “on in five” and suddenly thrust into a performance for a song of this realm he did not know.

At least he got out of being judged by saying he was “from far away”.

It was a bit of a chaotic backstage scene trying to find a way for Takame to sing the right words and it was even shown as he stepped onto the stage itself and the Emcee hastily introduced “our girl the beautiful… uhhh, A-Amiko?! Amiko, yeah!” which hells, he wasn’t going to argue against.

One wouldn’t expect someone so subdued as Takame to dress in such outrageous drag, let alone to belt out the lyrics to ‘I Will Survive’ with such intensity for a relatively soft voice even while singing. Like goddamn is this even the same person? For someone who’d never heard the song before he picked the rhythm very quickly. Thanks, teleprompter!

Once all was said and done he could be found backstage again trying to process what happened, but not looking upset or anything. He almost seemed giddy.]

ii. booze is a cooldown (i am what i am)

[So after that performance, even Takame needed a little break. He wasn’t drinking very much if at all, only things prepared by Vash or Nagiko, but he had something by him that he’d just finished up.

He was passively enjoying shows, but mostly attempting to wind down and make conversation with whoever chats him up. If you want to compliment his performance, be fucking confused as to how he managed that, barely recognize him in the outfit cause you showed up late or anything else here is your chance.]

honestly this is either or but probably II

[stripartist]

Takame!

[MOVE HE'S GAY and making a beeline for his boyfriend, throwing his arms around him in a hug that is unlike Yusuke normally.]

[four_quarts]

Born to Be a Queen

[Though Ghaleon had never stood on a stage before, performing for people in a costume was nothing new. The Magic Emperor was the obvious example; all the clothes he'd worn over the years to appear one way or another to the people around him had been the same, though less obviously so. The difference with the 'Latona' persona, outfits all carefully designed to incorporate rather than hide the limbs that the less magically inclined members of the audience would interpret as fancy prosthetics, is that they feel like they're telling a truth.

Their first song of the evening, in a bold (but perhaps pragmatic, given their skillset) move, is a cover of Light of Love where they both provide the vocals and replace the guitar in the original by playing their own lute. On one hand, this is a slight disadvantage since the instrument is so large that it greatly limits any movement. On the other, it's obvious even to the casual listener that it's deeply personal. The "I wanted to get it right so badly, that I always got it wrong," line is particularly raw.

Later, Latona's second song (the lipsynced one), is a much more bombastic choice, but somehow just as personal. But then, of course it would be; what else could it be, with the song and performance being rather pointedly about being in no respect fitting into a tiny, socially acceptable box?]


Wildcard

[Ghaleon can be found at any point of the rest of the evening hanging around the Vogue, largely sticking to areas with more comfortable seating, usually with some form of beverage in a glass. Go ham.]