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

[mayoninofukucho]

Hey, now. Don't just decide on your own that I'm a part of your herd now! I already have a banner to follow.

[Still, he totally did project his feelings about his Shinsengumi onto Flare - how he doesn't want his men to be changed by the changing times, how he wants them to continue living as samurai and help lead the way into the strange new era they live in back home -, but that doesn't mean he's a groupie now, okay!!

Ugh, crud, he may just buy Crow's... CD? What data carriers is music stored on in Avalon? Oh, actually he can even work with the 'hearts dyed crimson' metaphor, given how much bloodshed the Shinsengumi is involved in as Edo's special police... wait, no, why is he getting even more into it?! Okay, at least his focus is on his actual world again now rather that on his stint on Prismatica.]

To be fair, my men aren't here with me... and neither is your band, hm? I could have sworn you were a solo artist, given your show.

[Now this was a proper compliment!]

[milkmycattle]

[Crow just bares a toothy grin at Hijikata's denial. He knows when he's enticed someone to his apocalyptic revolution. His soul must be echoing those crimson lyrics from the previous night, there's no doubt!

Though the spunky singer seems interested when the other man mentions following another banner. Like a cause or as a symbol? He did mention something about his job earlier.]

Oh? And what do you follow? You said you were satisfied with the life you led, so is it something like that?

[ He empathizes with Hijikata not having his men. He must be some high-ranking official. Even though his band is full of knuckleheads (himself included), he really does miss them. Even though he smirks at the compliment, he can't help and think how would it be like if they were on stage with him.]

Yeah? Well, I am the most popular member of the group for a reason! [He's the lead singer and the mascot of his band, so he's a big deal!] But even if I did well, together, we would have blown the whole audience away! Even if I am pretty good on my own, I really couldn't have gotten so far without them! That's why we have to make it to the top of the charts as a band!

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata is a high-ranking official, but at the same time he's a knucklehead too, and so are his men. They're pretty much Edo's biggest frat house, with all that entails. By now he can't help but find Crow's spunk a little endearing. He clearly is incredibly passionate about what he's doing, and that's always nice to see.]

Well, after witnessing your performance I have no doubt that you guys will achieve that.

[One more reason to work hard on undoing this whole time freeze thing: so Crow can go home and reunite with his bandmates!]

Me, though, I follow the code of the Shinsengumi. That's the samurai code plus some extra rules.

["Some", he says, when he actually put 45 rules in place that everybody keeps adding random stuff like "All warriors following the path of bushido must achieve enlightenment upon death and are forbidden to turn into ghosts" on to. He pats the sheathed sword at his belt for emphasis.]

As for whether I'm satisfied with my life... yeah, I'd say so. There's always room for improvement in the world, but I wouldn't change any of the choices I made.

[Even though some of them were pretty damn hard.]

[milkmycattle]

[Crow hears Hijikata say, samurai, he's already thinking about Yaiba. Now that the other man points it out, he does see the sword on his hip. His bandmate always carries his Ryukenden with him too. He's such a fanatic he even had his bass guitar customized to look like a sword.]

Then you and Yaiba will get along just fine. He's a total sword nerd. Always blabbering about following the ways of the Ryukomuso Kamui. Whenever he gets a chance, he says...

[Crow stands up tall, crossing his arms over his chest and using one hand to cooly push imaginary glasses up his nose.]

'Legend of the First Impression', or some shit! He's so lame! Though, I guess he ain't so bad with the sword.

[Crow nods his head understanding everything the dark-haired man says.]

Yes, there's always room for improvement, but I'm glad you have no regrets! What exactly is the Shinsengumi? Like the police?

[mayoninofukucho]

Yeah, we're a police force. Just one that's serving directly under the shogunate.

[So Crow can imagine that he's from an older era... unless his world never had that kind of history in the first place. But at least it had samurai!]

I'd like to meet Yaiba.

[It's always nice to be able to impress samurai fans and not be called "dogs of the shogunate" or "tax thieves"! Crow's little impersonation was enough to give him the impression that Yaiba is a cool and serious glasses character, and while Hijikata usually doesn't gel well with those the common interest would make for good bonding material.

He's about to suggest going back to collecting garbage, which they've totally been neglecting, when he notices that the other volunteers have pretty much cleaned up the entire theatre while they were having their little face-off.]

Ah... I guess we weren't all that useful here, were we.

[milkmycattle]

[ The city that Crow currently lives in is similar to Tokyo, almost like a direct copy in a lot of ways, but there's still a lot of differences. The history probably matches up, but since his world revolves around music, the Samurai probably fought their wars with music along with swords or other weapons.]

Shogunate? Is that something they taught in school?

[ It sounds ancient, and he probably fell asleep in class when the teacher was going over it. He clearly wasn't that good at school, and his main focus was on becoming a singer, so his education suffered.]

I'm sure you both would get along. He might seem strict and serious, but he's a total nerd. He's really into video games and collectibles, but he works earnestly since he's worked a lot of part-time jobs. His bass is out of this world!

[Even though Crow calls Yaiba a nerd he says it with a lot of tenderness. He's his friend and bandmate. Even if they don't see eye to eye sometimes, he still treasures him. Though, he'll never say it to his face!]

Huh?!

[Now that Hijikata points it out, he does see the other workers have taken care of everything. There wasn't really too much to clean, but Crow does feel a little bad for not doing his part. His round ears droop a little, this is a result of him running his mouth again. He could almost hear Rom's rebuking voice in his head.]

Oh? I guess we weren't. [Oops. He lets out a laugh as he runs a hand through his two-tone hair.] Well, it's about time for a second breakfast anyway! You wanna come?

[mayoninofukucho]

[So basically Bakumatsu Rock, but with cute animal traits! Hijikata shakes his head at Crow's suggestion.]

Thanks, but one breakfast was enough for me. I want to see what's going on in the city; chances are somebody's going to need some help somewhere.

[He's just a hopeless workaholic. Moreso than being super altruistic he's just obsessed with keeping things in order... at least to a degree; at a certain level of chaos even he will give up.]

We can have breakfast some other time, though. Are you also staying at the hotel?

[As they head back to where they picked up their garbage collecting sticks and buckets he finds himself kind of hoping that Yaiba does show up here. Hijikata won't admit it, but between his collection of mayonnaise paraphernalia and shoujo manga merchandise (the latter stemming from his unfortunate otaku phase) he really is a nerd too, and having yet another hard-working person to carry out quests and other tasks with would be nice. For the time being, though, he can only somewhat stand in for him and keep half an eye on Crow.]

[milkmycattle]

[At the refusal to eat breakfast for work, Crow scrunches up his eyebrows. Is there something going on? Or is this some personal obligation? Crow doesn't get it, but it reminds him a lot of Rom's and Yaiba's work ethic.]

So, you do this type of patrolling for...free?

[The redhead is trying to wrap his head around this concept. Yet, he kind of gets it. He's a man of uniform, so they have a sense of duty that a rockstar like him can't understand. Though in a way, they are both providing a public service.

He follows Hijikata over to return their janitorial tools. It's a shame to put them away after doing nothing to assist. He nods his head at the question.]

Yeah! There's no reason to move! I don't need so much space and I feel a sense of community being there! Almost like living in school dorms, right?

[Crow has gotten into a few shouting matches with his neighbors for playing his music/practicing his singing in the room. It's all good though. He grins at the older man.]

We'll definitely cross paths again!

[mayoninofukucho]

[Crow is so endearingly energetic about everything, even just about them meeting again... Hijikata can't help but smile.]

I've never lived in a school dorm, but I can imagine. Back home I live in barracks with the other men of the force.

[The Shinsengumi is pretty much a big frat house. At least here at the hotel there's personnel to do the cooking and the cleaning!]

As for going on patrol, someone's got to sort things out, right? And people generally pay, so it's a win-win.

[He mainly takes care of matters posted on QuestBoard, be it the main attractions of the month or minor issues and errands, but if he takes note of anything amiss while out and about he'll help with that, too. Usually he at least gets some gold coins or even a hot meal out of it, or an item from the stock if he's helping out a merchant. It's not a bad life so far.]

If you give another performance, let me know. My AOL name is 'hijikata', just send me a message.

[milkmycattle]

Me either! That's why I'm excited to live out my fantasy!

[He always went to public schools, and since there's no way he was going to go to college, he started to do deliveries for his parent's dairy business until he got an opportunity at a music agency. Even with his bandmates, they all live in different apartments. The only time they room together is during training camps.]

Barracks? So you have a building to yourselves? That's really cool!

[Since the barracks houses military men, he's sure it's pretty strict. Though it must be one hell of a bonding experience too.

As for preserving the order, he gets that someone has to be out there to maintain the peace. If there's a monetary gain or a sense of purpose that drives Hijikata, then Crow couldn't knock him...too much.]

Oh? Are you aiming to be a knight, too? Then that makes you a rival!

[ He spares the officer a cheeky grin as he notes the username. It can't be too hard to remember, right? Nah, he better input it into his phone, because he will forget!]

I'll let you know. Just expect a message from me in the near future.

[Crow looks at the time with alarm. Shit! The hotel is about to close up for breakfast soon, he better hurry or he's going to miss out on seconds! He starts running off toward the direction of the inn, before turning around to wave bye to Hijikata.]

Gotta go! See you around!

[mayoninofukucho]

[Seems like Crow really wants to experience something close to the fabled Japanese high school life here... well, why not? If people enjoy living at the hotel, all the better. If Hijikata knew how dedicated he's been to supporting his parents he'd understand him all the more. He has no complaints about the accommodation himself, his only concern is that they might eventually run out of space for the new arrivals if the current residents don't move out at fast enough a rate.

He simply nods at Crow's remark about the barracks being cool... yeah, sure, he'll let him have that illusion. It probably wouldn't seem so cool anymore if he knew that they have to clean up after themselves all the time, which isn't always great with about 300 men in the complex. it does make for close-knit bonds, though, that he can't deny. He returns Crow's grin as he declares them rivals, about to make a remark - but then the spiky singer takes off to catch his second meal of the morning. Hijikata lifts his arm in return to his wave.]

See you, rival!

[So competitive... how about being comrades-in-arms?! But if this helps Crow do his best Hijikata won't argue, at least not this time. Besides it can't hurt to have a sparring partner... though they have pretty different focus areas, and pitching a guitar against a sword would hardly be fair. But perhaps they can have some competitive magic training one of these days.

He heads off towards the downtown area, checking QuestBoard for any major or minor problems that may have cropped up and humming 'Flare''s melody to himself. what can he say, it's pretty inspirational!]