Let’s make this day the best in the world | Valentine's Day Concert

[saxsongs]

🧙 WHO: Anyone and everyone
⚔️️ WHAT: Valentine's Day Concert
🕒 WHEN: February 14th
🗺️ WHERE: At the theater in Camelot
⚠️ WARNINGS: None that I can think of, will edit if needed.


Backstage

Backstage was a busy place during the whole concert. There were people getting ready, people helping people get ready and even just friends visiting them to wish them good luck (or to break a leg) or just help relieve some of the stage fright. Each artist or group had access to a room of their own if they needed some alone time. All they had to do was put up a sign that the room was in use.

On the stage

The theater stage was decorated with appropriate Valentine's Day decorations - roses, hearts and other simple, but meaningful things. The curtain would come down whenever someone needed time to prepare the stage to look different and there were several talented musicians helping out to bring live music to the stage.

As they say, they stage is for the performers to take as their own, one or several at a time.

In the audience

The audience has seatings for those who desire it, but there is also a space for anyone to stand and dance. There's plenty of space even if there is a section of the audience sectioned off for a... pool? Why was there a pool in the theater? Well, it certainly wasn't for just anyone to casually swim in but instead it was reserved for a special guest making an appearance at the concert.

The Lady of the Lake had been invited by Ren to watch the concert. To be fair, he had also invited King Arthur, Merlin and the Lady Morganna, but only the Lady of the Lake had accepted the invitation (although looking at Merlin's instagram afterwards may prove different, as he was there but just under a disguise).

Snacks and beverages are also being served at the theater lobby. Of course, since it was Valentine's Day, there was plenty of chocolate to go around.


After-party

While the after-party was mostly aimed at performers to celebrate a successful concert, no one was turned away from it. Anyone wanting to visit the party to congratulate on the success or to just chat with the performers was definitely welcome to.

The party was hosted at the theater too, since why not use the space you needed to clean up the next day anyway. Anyone was also welcome to join the clean up process the next day as well, but Ren certainly wouldn't force anyone to help out.

Comments

After Party

[milkmycattle]

There's no reason for Aurora to feel shy. She did so great on stage, and Crow is anxious to congratulate her. So when the blonde steps over to grab something to drink, the redhead uses this opportunity to approach her.

When she reaches for a bottle of water, Crow clumsily knocks into her hand as he goes for something else. "My bad! Go for it!"

Now that he's in front of her, he decides to burst out. "I didn't catch your name, but you've got a set of pipes on you! I loved hearing your voice! It was almost like hearing a bird sing!"

[beautyrest]

"Oh, ah- thank you. And my name is Aurora," she blushed a bit, still feeling foolish when so many had performed in much more upbeat ways and hers had been so simple. She didn't know it was meant to be terribly grand.

"You performed beautifully as well."

[milkmycattle]

Sometimes being simple is just as impactful. Although Crow is much too flashy to even implement that simplicity into his routine, he's fine with the glitz and glamor. "Nice to meet you, Aurora. I'm Crow!"

A cheesy grin spreads on Crow's face at the compliment. Of course, he knows he did well, but it's nice to hear it too! "Thank you. It was the first time I performed without my usual band, so I had to make them proud!"

[beautyrest]

"Crow? What a perfect name for you, they are such ridiculously clever birds, and quite skilled at singing. People don't realize they can sound as pretty as a songbird if they are so inclined. Your band? Ah, well then it's a first for us both. That was my first time performing in front of... anyone. Though, I must confess, it may be my last."

[milkmycattle]

Crow is certainly cheesing at the 'clever bird' comment, even though he's not a bird or smart! Though his familiar, Onyx, who's a three-legged crow perch on his shoulder just in time to absorb Aurora's compliments as well. Though the vocalist agrees with everything she says, he's certainly proud of his voice.

"Your last?! What do you mean? You were really good, you should perform again!" Crow is a little surprised that Aurora doesn't want to keep the momentum up. "Don't tell me you're really this shy!"

[beautyrest]

Aurora reached out her hand to Onyx, hoping he would find her to his liking. She turns to look back at Crow.

"I... Some of it is shyness, I suppose. But I'm really not a performer, Crow. You and the others... you danced and sang and I don't even know what it was with all those lights and scenes. I... can't do any of that. I do not know how and, to be somewhat honest, I am not comfortable with trying to imitate it, let alone try some... form of it that fits this version of me I am not."

She LOVED to sing. Her aunts said she was singing, humming, and dancing long before she could walk and talk, but she did that ALONE or in the presence of animals who did not care what she looked like.

[milkmycattle]

Aurora is a beautiful lady willing to touch his feathered head, of course, Onyx won't mind! He leans his head forward so her soft fingers brush against his dark feathers.

Crow looks at her curiously as she tries to explain her thoughts. So she's worried about the lack of glamour behind her performance? It's a part of the show, but it's not the most important thing. "Well, you don't have to be like us! We're just more accustomed to that style because that's expected to keep the audience entertained. Especially in my homeworld, music is a big deal! We have so many large concert halls, record stores, and karaoke bars, you know it! So when people pay to see us perform, we have to make sure it's an experience that can be engraved in their minds forever!"

Though, Aurora's style is certainly memorable too! "So I wouldn't be discouraged by all that flashy stuff. Your voice alone has been etched into my memory. Even if your performance was more simplistic, you made your statement with your harmonic vocals! Maybe you'll be more comfortable singing at smaller venues until you build up more confidence to perform in front of a bigger audience again."

[beautyrest]

Who is a good bird? You're a good bird! Aurora hums softly, unintentionally, as she pets Onyx head and chest, lightly scratching the area just above his beak.

Aurora loved birds. She loved all animals, honestly. Animals were simple, honest. People... well, she was still getting used to people.

Her attention came back to Crow as he mentioned her singing was etched in his memory.

"I... you felt that strongly about my singing?" she blinked. Never mind his insistence she KEEP singing. She didn't figure herself a bard, nor did she think it entirely appropriate for her to do such a thing, her love of singing aside.

[milkmycattle]

Onyx is loving the attention! He makes soft cooing sounds as Aurora scratches just above his beak. The crow craning his neck into the blonde's petting and alluring hum.

Crow is impressed. He's never seen his familiar take to someone so well. Usually Onyx can be quite overprotective of him, but at least he knows to respect pretty ladies. Aurora does seem like she loves animals, and feels at ease with them. Maybe that's why she can speak so freely with Crow since he's also an animal.

He chuckles at her astonishment."Yes! Have you never heard what you sound like? It's beautiful! And I don't just compliment anyone! I'm brutally honest, I'd tell you if you were horrible, and you were the opposite! So I definitely think you should keep singing and have more confidence in yourself!"

Even Onyx bobs his head in agreement. See? Even the crow says so!

[beautyrest]

"Well, I know it's not terrible" she offers sincerely. "But the voice we hear as an echo doesn't necessarily tell us how well we sing." She comes from a time when recording people was done in books, Crow, not digitally, she has no idea how she sounds outside of her own inner-ear.

"But thank you, and I assure you, I don't intend to stop singing, it's too much like breathing. But I think, for now, I shall hold off on any more large performances." Potentially forever, if she can help it.

[milkmycattle]

She does make a valid point, but even if she has only her own ear to judge how she sounds, Aurora is still amazing. It can be a gift and a curse to know what you sound like. Look at Crow, his ego is twice his size because of it, but he can still see talent.

"I'm glad, you won't stop singing." He says with a sigh of relief. Although he would like to hear her sing again, he understands if she wants to step away from the spotlight. "Then is there something else you're passionate about?"

Maybe the stage isn't for her, but perhaps she enjoys something else just as much as singing."You seem like you would be a graceful dancer."

[beautyrest]

"Well, it's funny you should mention dancing, I quite enjoy that too, but outside of my animal friends, my aunts were my only partners and I am much taller than them. But I know waltzes and all sorts of dances."

[milkmycattle]

"Waltzes, huh? That sounds really classy."

Crow loves to dance as well, but it's not quite as coordinated as Aurora's classical moves. He's more into more modern forms of dance.

"If you don't mind teaching others, I'm sure you could open up a dance studio! Even in my world, people are really into salsa and ballroom dancing."

[beautyrest]

"Well, it is expected, where I am headed. Do you want to learn, Crow? I've never tried teaching someone else how to dance. And I'm not sure what salsa is."

[milkmycattle]

"Where are you headed? Are you planning a trip somewhere?"

Crow doesn't get it, but there must be a reason she needs to learn these dances. Maybe it's for an upcoming show? Though she doesn't seem keen on performing again. Perhaps, it's part of a Charm School curriculum? Though, Aurora doesn't really need all that.

"And you would teach me? It would be a lot of fun, especially with such a gentle and beautiful teacher. And Salsa is a type of Latin dance and music. The music has a faster tempo, so the dance moves tend to be saucy and passionate. I'm sure there are videos on the internet."

[beautyrest]

"It's not important, not at the moment, in any case. I am here, and that is all that matters." Plus, she doesn't really want to reveal to anyone she's royalty, she doesn't see what good mentioning it here would be.

"If you would like to learn, I would be happy to teach. Latin is a language, Crow, there is nothing fast or slow about Latin, merely the one speaking it. How could it be a dance?"

[milkmycattle]

"Sure! And I think they call it a Latin dance, because of the region that originates from. Maybe the people who speak Latin also have their own dances and music? I wouldn't know." Crow doesn't know much about the language or the place, since he's never left Midi City. Though Sound Planet is pretty big with many different cultures, Crow hardly shows anything else interest unless it's music, food, or milk.

[beautyrest]

"I see..." she wonders if it's pure coincidence and the same name? It was entirely possible.

"Well, I do not know any Latin dances, but I know how to waltz."

[milkmycattle]

"Well teach me how to waltz! I don't know the dance at all, but I'll do my best to be receptive!" With such a beautiful instructor, he'll definitely stay on his toes.

"What kind of music do they use for the waltz?"

[beautyrest]

"Something with a 4 beat tempo, but really, you can waltz to anything by just adjusting your own speed. Here, I can show you right now."

[milkmycattle]

"R-right now?! Okay!" Crow's not going to deny a free lesson, although he has no idea how to position his body. In his modern world, they don't really dance while holding onto a partner, unless...they want to get closer. So everything is kind of new to Crow in terms of leading someone.

[beautyrest]

"Well, to start, you're going to put one hand just above my hip, and I'm going to hold your other hand while my other hand rests on your shoulder."

[milkmycattle]

He listens carefully to her instructions as Onyx flies off to perch somewhere else. Stepping closer to place a timid hand at her hip and then with his opposite hand, he gently grasps Aurora's hand. He realizes the blonde is taller than him. If she doesn't mind a short partner then he won't be self-conscious about it either.

He smiles, nearly bouncing on his heels. "Okay! What's next?"

[beautyrest]

Her entire life has been shorter partners until very recently. Trust her, it's fine.

"Now, you're going to lead with your left foot by taking a step forward while I step back with my right. Then, your right foot will move forward and diagonally in one movement, that is step number 2. Your left foot will come together to your right. That will be step number three. We'll start just with those three steps, alright?"

[milkmycattle]

"Okay?"

At the instructions, Crow's brow furrows with concentration. It doesn't sound as simple as he thought, and maybe he's thinking too hard about it. Probably because he doesn't want to look like an idiot in front of Aurora. Lead with left...then move right foot forward and diagonally in one motion. Then bring left foot to right, feet together.

He doesn't feel he gets it, but he's glad they are only doing three steps to start. "I think I have it."

He doesn't have it at all!