[ OPEN ] my only wish this year

[constellates]

WHO: anyone and everyone who's willing to help out with a Winter Live! ♥
WHERE: all around Recollé, eventually on a stage set up in Recollé Plaza!
WHEN: assorted prompts from the beginning of December to the live taking place on December 22nd!
WHAT: Spotty connection to the outside world have led to a few outside hands being needed to assist with Blue Star Live: A Holiday Celebration. It's just gratuitous idol shit, my guys.
WARNINGS: nothing! if this changes, please let me know so I can lock it down

i. attention please...!
PREPARATIONS, BUSY WORK, WHAT HAVE YOU -

There were a couple of different ways to hear about it: maybe you read about the event in dire need of help somewhere in the paper, maybe you heard whispers about it through word of mouth, maybe you encountered Anya herself fretting over not having enough hands and bodies to be able to support the event. Either way, it seems like the Holiday Live has been rather... short-staffed.

Yet even with that, it's hard to believe when you arrive at the stage that's being built or at the studio where the main preparations are being put together. There are plenty of bodies milling about and they're going to put you to work. Could you carry these boxes of mistletoe? Careful, there might be some of the bat variety floating around too. Know anything about sewing? Well you better learn and get to work on these costumes! Everyone needs help - lighting, decorating, painting the set, not to mention the fact that there are some people who desperately need you to be on stage. Haha, what? Did you sign up for that? Well good luck saying no!

ii. five, six, seven, eight...!
DANCING, SINGING, YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS -

Every great show requires some preparation beforehand, doesn't it? No one sees all the effort that goes into it, but it's not like anyone wakes up one day and suddenly has the dance skills of a god, right? .... or maybe you do, thanks to Retrospec! Either way, dance rooms have been booked at the Dancinerate Studio for practice for all sorts of sets and practice rooms at the University Music Department have been borrowed for the same purpose. It's okay, we all have some trouble with nailing those difficult steps and high notes. Here's the time to iron out all those little wrinkles.

Maybe it's even dress rehearsal and you're all in costume, been set up with your mic, and you're ready to go show them what you've got! How does it go? Well? Are you a born nature? Or is it a little rough? Trip over some wires? Blinded by the lights? At least that's... uh, what rehearsal's for...?

iii. the show must go on...!
CONCERT NIGHT IS HERE -

The night of December 22nd comes swiftly indeed. It's the real deal. Welcome to the Holiday Live! The stage somehow managed to come together in time, beautiful snowy landscape sets painted alongside a makeshift ice castle. The tech crew and stagehands are both hard at work to make those transitions seamless, picture perfect after hours of rehearsal. Everything is ready to set you - yes, you - up for success, regardless of how you're participating in the live tonight. Go out there and break a leg!

For anyone who finds themselves in the audience tonight, don't forget to drop some extra cash on that merchandise. There are endless pen lights available being sold and while there are some official ones for the celebrities present, there are also more customized pen lights, banners, and signs that were made at the hands of Anya to thank everyone who volunteered to join in. Please help yourself to showing support to everyone who came through tonight!

Right by the merch booth, there also appears to be a little prop mailbox present. Write a letter to Santa's Helpers it prompts. Why not indulge in a little bit of fanmail?

[ OOC: Hello, hello! Welcome to the log set up for winter idol shenanigans, also known as Blue Star Live set ICly on December 22nd. Please take these prompts strictly as set-ups for ideas and locations, not anything binding at all. Let your heart go crazy! Even if you didn't make OOC plans to participate, feel free to drop in and use this as a mingle that lasts through the whole month. The more, the merrier! And what a merry time of year, right?

If you have any questions at all, feel free to contact me by PMing this journal or my plurk at evergrace. Thanks! ]

Comments

ota

[adoringpast]

[ at first sena didn't want to do this. it's ridiculous and ironic, but he knows all too well that he owes anya a Very Big favor and now here he is, actually doing something that he'd rather want to avoid.

well. let's see what he's up to. ]

ii.

[ practicing is... tiring, to say the least, but sena's all but used to it. he frequents the uni's music conservatory anyway, and on the afternoons one can hear his voice waft out of one of the rooms, only to stop and start over. seems that he can't get this particular octave right? or you can find him by the piano, tapping a pen on his cheek while staring long and hard at the crumpled music sheet and notebook with unfinished lyrics in it, clearly in very deep thought. best not disturb him when he's like this.

or you can see him at the dance studio, attempting to master this one dance step for a while now. dancing while singing is pretty hard, so he pants and turns to whatever's watching: ]

Well? Did I... Did I do it right...?

iii.

[ the fated day, and sena''s already dressed up and ready to go but... he actually seems nervous?? it's an unfamiliar feeling for him in a place like this and he tries not to show it to virtually anyone, but if you do try to console him, all you can get is a roll of his eyes and a - ]

I'm not nervous, Christ. I'll be fine.

[ and he will be! because once he's out there he'll be singing the lyrics he wrote with the composition that leo gave him a couple of months ago - and as he sings and stares at the audiences with the largest smiles on their faces this Christmas Eve's eve, he can't help but grin hugely as he does his performance smoothly.

just... what is this feeling?

after the performance he's ushered back into the stage, face flushed and still smiling as he catches his breath. it's surreal sight and an actual christmas miracle, tbh. ]

bonus

[ after the concert you can still see him around the plaza, thanking anyone who watched the live. if you do approach him though, so do the bats, and the merry look on sena's face all but vanishes. ]

...Are you kidding me.

wildcard
[ ive provided all the prompts i can think up so far, but if you want to throw something else at me, feel free! ]

II;

[originallutece]

[why is she in the dance studio? Never you mind why. She's here, and maybe she was here for herself and maybe she was here to make out with her hotass boyfriend, who can say? No one, because Ros isn't going to discuss it. The point is she's here, hips leaning against the door frame, watching him as he sings and moves.

He's good at it, she has to admit. She's graceful herself, and she can carry a tune quite well, but this is more than just mere talent. He's clearly worked at this.]

The dancing was fluid.

[She lifts up off the doorway, entering the studio proper.]

You were flat on a note or two, but that's nothing that can't be corrected.

A question for a question, now: what are you practicing for?

bonus tbh

[twostringsonebow]

[Of course Goro's here? He loves idols himself, but seeing them perform... Seeing it with his own two eyes -- well, it's something incredible, especially seeing Sena who'd once told him that he wasn't sure if he'd like to be an idol like his counterpart be so... happy. So exhilarated.

... It's a similar feeling to what he gets when he works on cases, mysteries, things of that sort; it's fun to figure them out, satisfaction in every fiber of his being, and... if Sena can still find something in it, maybe it is worth exploring more himself, past life aside.

That said: Goro is aware of the bats and he isn't sure how to feel about them, but at least they're festive..? And he's taking Sena's hands, beaming despite their cherry presence. He does have a headband with Sena's name on it. You'll pry it out of my cold dead hands.]

I won't stay long enough for them to become a problem to you, my friend, I just... I wanted to tell you how absolutely stunning you were on stage. Honestly, this is the first time I've ever gone to any sort of concert, and I'm truly glad it was something you were a part of; you shown so brightly, I thought you were one of the stars in the sky.

[did you call for poetic compliments, sena,]

And your clothes! It's expected that you'd look good in them, as a model you look good in everything you wear, but they're fantastic! Very sexy, I think.

[i'm sorry]

ii gives you a long-awaited liz thread first

[elevelvetor]

[ well, she's also frequently in the conservatory, albeit for piano practice... though she can't help but pause in the hall, tilting her head as she listen to a voice stop and start over.

...she understands completely, though she's still going to peek in and oh my!! oh. ]

You've got quite the fetching voice, Mizuki. [ elizabeth is so cheered by this, she doesn't have enough singing friends. don't mind if she comes in, hello. ] Good afternoon as well.

iii

[goen]

[ When Sena's part is done for good and he makes his way offstage, Yato will be milling about nearby in a rare suit and tie and watching the proceedings. He looks at Sena as he approaches with a sly grin, having seen the full blast smile on Sena's face during the performance. Imagine that, after all the cynicism about idolhood he tried to dump on Yato. ]

Enjoy yourself out there?

...actually he's ii too sorry blair--

[stressweets]

[ not a day goes by where he doesn't regret agreeing to be a dancer for anya. sure, he'll just be her background noise, but he's nervous every time he thinks about it, and he isn't sure it's in a good way. doki doki, she said.

sure, but what about hara hara? he's feeling increasingly hara hara... sena's a welcome distraction, though this has managed to be the first time they're in the same practice room. pretty face, pretty voice, pretty step, pretty much asking him for his opinion oh god the last time they talked wasn't that great.

tsukasa's. determined. to make sure that anya has a good time though, so... he'll try to get along with people... even ill-tempered ones. ]

Um... You were a little slow on that one, compared to your other times, but it looked nice. [ he doesn't have an eye for this stuff though, considering his first time dancing was like, not that long ago? and it was a waltz? so. he goes back to stretching, even if he's probably stretched enough at this point. hara hara, hara hara... ] Why not take a break? You won't get anywhere pushing yourself...

i don't care i'm going to multi-tag this, this is ii btw

[runwaying]

[ despite not being a student, sometimes, the university campus (especially since it's started snowing by now) is used as a backdrop for some of his own personal and otherwise more casual shoots, separate from the gigs that he has from the agency.

that's the only reason why he's on campus, actually.

the other reason is because the dance studios in the university campus happen to be attached to the theatre department's makeup and dressing rooms , so it's in between shoots when he catches a glimpse of sena's silver hair in one of the studios, and well.

that's kind of why he's kind of leaning against the door, casually, just watching, expression unreadable. there doesn't seem to be any answer forthcoming to sena's earlier question. ]

also, for later in the month, bonus;

[originallutece]

[She'd honestly intended to come up and congratulate him, as you do when one of your students turns pop idol. Admittedly, she'd only ended up catching the tail end of the performance, but she's pretty sure she's caught him practicing enough times that she can fake it. And hey, what bits she did see? Were pretty damn good.

But turns out it doesn't even matter, because the moment she comes up to him his smile drops, right at the same time she hears that familiar squeaking.]

Oh, absolutely not--

[The glare she levels up at them is savage.]

also ii

[pronounces]

[ the dance studio at recolle u is a bit nostalgic for nazuna--he spent much of his childhood in these rooms, shuffled in by dance trainer after dance trainer--and he's only come by today to put up posters advertising the summer live. there will be plenty of people who would like to come support dancers, so it's a perfect way to advertise, but, hearing the music of sena's dance practice makes him pause.

he looks in the window of the studio door before he opens it. it's a poppy dance move, a step ball change into an isolation. it's a difficult move, but there's a trick to it, and nazuna stares at the wooden floor of the dance room for a moment like he's building up the courage to step inside, and when sena addresses him, it seems to startle him.

he blinks, then steps inside. sena's...asking for his opinion? he seems really, really invested in this, in the dancing and singing he was doing, and it warms nazuna's heart just a little. his original assessment of sena-as-idol had been sort of impossible, but now, he thinks with fondness, it doesn't seem quite so far fetched.

so, it brings a little bit of a smile to his face as he steps forward, dropping his bag. it's weird to be back in the dance hall, but he comes to stand next to sena, imitating the move. ] 5, 6... [ pop-pop-pop! he pulls it off fairly easily, toes pointed, able to isolate his shoulders without much struggle. ] It's like that, right?

bonus

[odapologist]

[ Hey Sena, guess who got you a fancy-ass bouquet for your debut? ...Takumi actually. Yanagi just offered to deliver it because he's so busy managing Charity Drive things. It has a card in it that says it's from the pineapple, so don't worry.

Okay maybe worry about the bats, but Yanagi keeps a distance, previously wanting to wait. Ah, might as well.
]

Se—na—!

[ Thanks baritone regain, it's good at getting attention. Also he isn't getting near with those bat's, so he throws the bouquet

right at Sena's face. That's for the finger flick. ]

They're from nii-chan! ...I guess singing bats would appreciate you after that, wouldn't they?

ii

[strayknight]

[This whole preforming thing is really new to Ritsu and as time goes on he starts to have more second thoughts. Sure, it was what memories shows but was he cut out for it? Needless to say actually singing himself is still up in the air for him...but he can help right?

With his shoulder bag on, one sleeve of his 'knights' uniform showing inside the zipper, he soon finds himself near the conservatory. Ritsu was going to take some time to try and write some kind of song for now or future use, that is until he sees Sena at the piano. Not too surprised he does take note of the mess of papers. Approaching he picks up one sheet and hums over the lines before shaking his head.]

Try the next note up...here.

[Ritsu speaks in his usual calm voice though he has his own nerves and doesn't even want to think about performing. As always he is ready for Sena to snap at him...it was part of the others charm.]

also this is bonus because why not

[runwaying]

[ to be honest, arashi's probably leaving by this point? vague handwaving over how arashi actually ends up at the backstage area but it's honestly not because of sena, probably someone else who was performing, maybe, so--

--seeing mizuki sena actually smile and something that's more genuine than his photoshoot smirks or what have yous actually causes arashi to kind of. stop in his tracks a bit.

of course that's a perfect time for the bats to descend, and by this time arashi is definitely used to this whole thing by now.

so. actually, it's kind of hilarious. ]

Apparently not~ [ this is said way too cheerfully and with the most obvious grin ever. he's enjoying sena looking this pissed off? for some reason? ] Is the idea of kissing me that repulsive, Mizuki-chan?

iii

[constellates]

[Anya's ready to go because of course she is. Full costume, hair, make-up - and there's a sparkle in her eyes. Her heart's already beating faster in her chest but it only comes with a rush of excitement. Backstage before the show starts she'll reach for Sena's hands and give him an encouraging smile.]

Удивительно! Better than fine - do not worry. You will shine. I am sure of it.

[she's happy to give little peptalks as she goes.]

ii-bonus

[lecturehall]

[keito stares at the bat with equal distaste. he's still wearing his STAFF shirt and holding his clipboard–remnants of his purely administrative contribution to the whole concert.]

Do you think it knows?

[about them.]

slides into your inbox with another thread as promised-- iii

[stressweets]

[ thankfully, sena won't be hearing any consoling from tsukasa, largely because he's too nervous himself to take notice of much of anything...

though it abates just long enough for him to take notice of his outfit and blinks owlishly. well, sena always looks frustratingly good, but... ]

You look very cool in that, Sena-senpai. [ ...ugh, he meant it as a joke at first, but he can't stop saying it anyway. ] It's going to be cold though, isn't it? Are you going to be okay?

[ shhh tsukasa idol outfits are coolness over functionality ]

iii, i'm sorry this is so late

[chuusai]

[ Because he can't just hang out and be still at a time like this, Mao's taken up a position in the wings handing out bottles of water to the performers when they come off if they want them. They're not terribly cold but that's supposed to be better in cold weather and it means he's able to hold an armful of them at once if he needs to.

For this performance, though, he only needed one, and he offers it with a smile of his own. If Mizuki's is all satisfaction and pride, Mao's is pure admiration. ]

That was incredible.

back for that sweet bonus... i think i tagged this in my dreams last night

[pronounces]

[ nazuna's got a big box in his arms when he approaches sena for the second time; the show had been a smashing success, and he's come to show sena some of the good news. he's clearly been popular enough that all of his goods sold out, and hey, he can imagine it might give mizukichin that little bit of encouragement to keep pursuing this. he'd seemed awfully happy on stage, after all, and so, he makes his way over with a spring in his step, holding the empty box (and, of course, the proceeds from the sales.) ]

Mizukichin-- [ but, he doesn't get very far before sena stops him. he blinks once, twice, then looks up.

and then immediately pales like three shades. ] Oh no.

ota

[pronounces]

IA. painting chaos

[ it's only been a week or two since nazuna found out, apparently, he used to be an idol. it's not that far of a stretch, considering, and though nazuna has long since committed to never stepping onto a stage ever again, he's all to willing to throw himself into the work for it. enough of his friends are participating that nazuna immediately volunteers himself in anything and everything to help out.

at one point, he can be found carrying a ladder that's disproportionately large to his tiny stature, wobbling just a little bit as he makes his way over towards the stage to help paint anya's beautiful stage craft design. the ladder doesn't swing around or anything, but he looks like he might topple over carrying it at any given time... a little help?

(just be warned: you may be helping paint, after, whether you want to or not.) ]

IB: get fitted

[ idol costumes are really beautiful. nazuna's not great at sewing at all, and has been kicked out of the seamstresses' area at least three times since the show started, but he wants to help at least a little, which is why he's currently sitting on the floor cross legged next to a mirror. there's a little box for someone to stand on right next to him, and he pats the spot for whoever's coming up with a cheerful smile. ]

C'mon, ish yer turn, righ'? [ the slurred words aren't from embarrassment or excitement or anything of the like: rather, he has three or four pins sticking out of his mouth, and he waves the person getting costumed over. he has a very specific set of directions next to him on how to hem, and he'll help you get into your costume so it fits just right. granted, he's got zero experience, but nazuna nito hasn't met a challenge he wasn't willing to cheerfully take on in a long, long time. ]

II. a little rabbit tune

it's just after dress rehearsal. the lights of the rehearsal space have been dimmed, decorations have been put down, mics put away. it's just nazuna, now, with a checklist of things to do before they can shut the doors and move on to the next day.

standing up on a stage like this is nostalgic. he'd been in a few concerts back in his old days, but things were always recorded, and his only job was to smile and make other kids in the audience happy. it'd been fun for a long time, but...artificial.

there were parts of being an "idol" that he would have liked, maybe. he stands at the stage, holding his clipboard to his chest, and shuts his eyes, trying to close out the images of screaming fans and his manager standing behind the curtains.

he inhales, and starts to sing a little song. his voice wavers, and cracks occasionally, but as far as nazuna knows, he's alone, so there's no worry he might be caught, as he takes a moment to lose himself in the one single thing he enjoyed about his life before recolle u, before teaching programs and class and throwing himself into everything he possibly could--the soft, choral arrangements he used to sing. ]

III. lights, camera, action!

[ now this? this is more in his element. nazuna's the emcee for the entire blue star live: outfitted with a blue santa hat and a microphone, he looks the part as he strides on stage. all confidence, all smiles, he throws a hand in the air and starts to talk. ]

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to Recolle's first annual Blue Star Live! Thank you so much for coming out to support our local celebrities, and our rising stars! I'm Nazuna, and I'll be the big brother guiding you through our event today... ★ Let's hear it for the performers!

[ and so, he leads the live with aplomb, bantering with idols, leading pen light cheers, and clearly loving it. on a break, he makes his way to the backstage and pulls his headset mic off, grinning breathlessly at whoever's nearby. ] Sorry, do you have any water? We're halfway through!

[ when the show is over, he can be found at the merch booth too, cheerfully passing out paper and pens to clamoring, excited fans. it seems like he hasn't taken a break once in the past...72 hours, but nazuna's glowing with it all, and he'll hand you a pen if you ask for it, prompting you to write a good one! ]

IV. WILDCARD.

[ did i miss anything? feel free to write your own prompt! ]

ib

[stressweets]

[ tsukasa's idling (ha) nearby, but when nazuna speaks to him, he jerks a little. he glances at him, then where he's supposed to be going... and steps closer, fidgeting with his clothing. idol outfits are too pretty, and he isn't really sure it'll really suit him, anyway—

but he's just going to be backup for anya. it's fine. this is fine. he's been practicing, right? and it's not like this is gonna be hard to move in. it's okay. ]

Thank you for the help. [ he steps up, still reserved despite his smile. ] Is there a reason you're not with the other seamstresses...?

ii

[adoringpast]

[ sena was about to call it a day as usual, but a singing voice interrupts his way out and he peeks in to see how it is. nazuna... he has a pretty voice, sena can give him that, but there are some cracks here and there that sena can just tell that he's not used to singing like this at all.

so he stands there, watching him belt out an old christmas jingle, and when nazuna wraps it up: ]

You're supposed to do Christmas caroling on people's doorsteps, do you know that?

[ a wry smile as he walks toward him, a bag over his shoulder. ]

ii

[strayknight]

[While he was going to work on a few things for music he stops when he enters and sees Nazuna up on the stage. Listening he notices a few wavers in his voice but over all it wasn't bad. When he just about finished Ritsu offers a few claps of his hand as he approaches the stage.]

You practicing hm~?

ib: a proper tag this time

[creepycute]

[ Mika looks less than amused. Part of the reason the seamstress has been kicking poor Nazuna out is because she does have help, strictly speaking. She took on some extra hands from the design department, particularly those who frequented the sewing room for classes. This is where Mika might yell at him to not take his job, but he's too tired to, frankly. It's way too bustling for him, and he's not as into the idol part so much as the costuming. ]

...Help me baste the two parts together so I'm ready when the sewing machine's available. They're just loose stitches to keep it in place more, the top piece is so slippery that just pinnin' it down doesn't help.

[ He pulls up the part with an example of such basting stitches, done within the lines of where the final seams will go, marked with faint white lines. His face probably warns not to put thos anywhere near that line. Mika sits beside him, giving him the part he wants done while he hand-sews another garment, probably something with stars. Mika's surprisingly good at making silvery bias tape do what he wants, forming borders and trim for some of the designs. ]

There's so much reflective and shiny fabric, my eyes kinda hurt.

ota

[stressweets]

ii.

[ Fall down seven times, get up eight. The way to success is through failure.

At least he's not doing too bad; he's found he's surprisingly less hopeless at dance than he originally thought, and while technically he should be practicing with the other backup dancers... He still takes sometime after group practice to put in a little more effort. Sure, he should be taking a break, but if he can just master this one part first...!

His parents demand perfection from him in grades, and it's only transferred into demanding perfection from himself in anything he tries. This is the natural course of things. Please make him take a break before he hurts himself or something though—

when he's finally talked into taking one, he'll be against one of the walls with a notebook in his hands, towel hanging around his neck and a bottle of water in his mouth. He seems hard at work writing something, pausing every so often to take a drink before he resumes. If asked, he'll just glance up and smile slightly: ] It's just... poetry. Homework.

[ ...not entirely a lie, he sort of does have to do this for his mom—? ]

iii-a.

[ Doki doki, she said. It still feels hara hara to him. Before the show starts, he's counting down from ten to calm himself backstage, and when that doesn't work, he's tugging off a glove and drawing the character for "person" on it, pressing it against his mouth, and swallowing. That's supposed to help with nerves, too.

...It doesn't really. Someone please help this poor boy who's way out of his element, dance skills or not.

After he's been on though, he seems... better. Yes, he's limp in a chair with his eyes closed and looking like he's absolutely a dead body? That may be a little concerning? He probably did in fact just drop there as soon as possible? But there's a smile on his face, and he definitely looks happier than he did before the show started. Kind of out of breath, but he can see why Anya really likes this stuff.

Even if he's not sure it's for him. ]

iii-b.

[ Being part of the performance doesn't stop him from going down after his part is done to take a look at the merchandise. It's after the show, so there's not a lot left over, but he doesn't mind—what's left is good enough. Maybe it's a little weird to want merch of the girl you got to be a backup dancer to.......

When he's not perusing that though, he can be found by the little prop mailbox, busy writing something. It's not hard to look over his shoulder though—he isn't that attentive.

Dear Anya,

The show was wonderful. My heart was beating so fast, I thought I was going to going to die... but I had a lot of fun. You looked so radiant, I couldn't help but be inspired...

Thank you.

...he seems caught on how to sign it though. His name? Secret admirer? A fan? Hum... ]

wildcard

[ if you got any other ideas/prompts/whatever you wanna do w/tsukasa, put 'em here!! feel free, it's totally cool ]

iii-b i can't resist

[adoringpast]

[ sena's up and about, also perusing the merch at this side of the plaza. he also didn't expect merch of himself since he didn't really announce that he'd be performing in anya's live outside of twitter and instagram -

but he certainly didn't expect tsukasa here either, furiously scribbling on something. it's hard not to take a peek over his shoulder, and the sight of anya's name just tugs at his lips and form a rather wicked grin, but it's nothing too malicious.

maybe. ]

You should get your heart rate checked in this case, Kasa-kuuun~ ♪

[ using his old nickame... yep, he's going there. ]

ota!

[amodelidol]

[I.]

[Makoto is already busy trying to get everything ready for his first finals in college, but when he heard the idol show needed help he couldn't resist. Especially with Anya fretting about trying to put the show together. He wanted to help his new friend! So when Makoto finished studying he would head over to help. He doesn't know how to sew very well, but he can move boxes and paint too! Makoto is busy painting a set when someone comes over to him with an offer that makes him stop.]

Huh? Me? On the stage!? I don't know how to dance or sing at all. I can help spread the word about the live though!

[Even if he did get up on the stage he doubt he would be able to follow along with everyone.]

[II.]

[Makoto can't believe he got roped into performing as a background dancer. Why can't he say no!? Oh well, at least he has some time to practice before it. He got to explore a new area in the University too. He'll take some time to explore it a little later when he doesn't have to practice. Makoto is trying to remember the videos of the idols he saw online. He has to keep smiling while doing these dance moves right?

After the third time Makoto misses the step in the routine he decides to take a break. This is much harder than he thought, thank goodness he'll be in the back. He hasn't even tried singing he's worried that he's going to sound tone deaf. Maybe once he calms down from dancing he can try singing next.

He hopes he doesn't sound too bad.]

[III.]

[It's here. The night of the live is here. All of Makoto's hard work will pay off with everyone getting to enjoy the music! However, Makoto isn't as excited for the live to start. He can be found trying to calm his nerves in his dressing room, though many things don't seem to be working. On one hand he wishes he could watch everything to see the hard work everyone put in. On the other hand he can't believe that so many people are going to watch them! Every time he thinks about that his nerves build up again and he has to take a seat.

All those people...out there...

He'll just take a little break now. He'll be better once the live starts!

That's the goal anyway.]

[IV. Wildcard!]

[If you have a prompt you would like to do with Makoto hit me up! You can throw a prompt here or tell me about it on sunnycrow!]

ii

[stressweets]

[ Background solidarity......

Tsukasa's watching him do the routine, clapping his hands in time with the beat soft enough that it's not actually audible, and by the time Makoto gives up? He's getting up, though he still hangs back. How does he advise without being rude...? He's pretty sure he's one of the younger people here too, so he should do his best to be extra polite... ]

You're overthinking that step. [ ...ah, well, not as polite as his parents would've liked, but not rude, either. Tsukasa scratches his cheek and glances away. ] It's not as small as you think it is? We'll have plenty of stage to cover too, so make it a little wider. I was struggling with the same thing before myself, so...

[ He sort of gets it. ]

ota!

[chuusai]

i

[ Mao had immediately said yes when Anya reached out to him for help. He'd never be able to say no to her regardless but the chance to participate in a proper idol live, even just a little... sure, he'd helped with her debut at ReCon but this felt so much bigger in scale. Is this what it used to be like?

Right now, he kind of hopes not. He's picking his way along the parts of the stage's fly system that have been lowered to nearly stage height, attaching beautiful and delicate snowflakes one by one with fishing line. His hands are freezing from working on the cold metal and it seems like everybody else has found a more glamorous task to work on, so he's got his earbuds on and is bobbing his head at he works. From the look of things, though, he's going to need a really long playlist to get through all this without at least one more set of hands. ]

ii

[ Mao still hasn't found a way to tell Anya about his idol past and since he's pretty sure no one else has, he's not confident in the middle of planning for a huge performance like this is the right time to do it. That's why if he has anything to say about it, he's just going to be providing his guitar skills to back up anyone who wants live music instead of something recorded. That is, until someone sets a mic stand up in front of him and tells him the musicians are going to provide backing vocals, too, unless they're absolutely terrible. Despite his best attempts to protest, it's discovered that Mao is not terrible, so now he's standing at a piano on one of the university's practice rooms with a bunch of other relative amateurs, working their way through some harmonies. Are you one of the lucky ones there with him? Are you eavesdropping and going to catch him on the way out? Or are you going to let him live his life in peace, pretending he's not enjoying this? ]

iii

[ Mao hasn't exactly made a big deal out of the fact that he's performing tonight, so seeing a few pieces of merchandise with his name on it at the booth on the way in tonight was something of a shock. It means he's searching the crowd now as he performs, though, trying to see if there's a familiar face out there with a lightstick or paper fan just for him. He's not getting his hopes up, though, so anybody out there who isn't his mother is going to get a huge grin from him. How did you know?

Otherwise, despite his best efforts to stay and help with the stage breakdown at the end of the night, he'll be shooed away by people who are far more prepared and far less exhausted, so Mao will be easy to find on the plaza, sitting somewhere with the snow brushed off, his guitar at his feet and a bottle of water in his hand. He's just not ready to go home yet. ]

ii

[adoringpast]

[ sena's going to eavesdrop, of course. he knows that mao is gonna be at the live at some point, but he certainly didn't expect the singing like in a choir. isn't he more of a rockstar?

but anyways. when mao steps out of the music conservatory after a long day of vocal practice, sena's going to grab him by the collar of his shirt all of a sudden and pulls him down the hall wordlessly. welp, sorry mao. it's really nothing personal. ]