thenearshore | Sparkle Motion mingle log!

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Sparkle Motion mingle log!

Who: Barry Goodman, Maria Cadenzavna Eve, Yuuri Katsuki, Elise, You Watanabe, Demyx
What: Sparkle Motion meet and greet
When: Backdated to July 11th
Where: Sparkle Motion dance studio, Near Shore

[They've got the approval from Suijin for the Obon show and two new members, so Barry's decided it's high time to get everyone together at the studio. It's a good chance to introduce the newbies, and an even better chance for an idea session and group rehearsal. So after he makes sure Demyx and You know where they're going, Barry heads off to the studio bright and early so he can meet everybody.]

Awright, everybody! We got the approval for the big Obon show, and two new members! This is You Watanabe and Demyx. You wants to be an idol, so I'm gonna have her work with Maria on singin' and dancin'. And Demyx here is already a pretty great guitarist, so I figure he can help us write some songs. We got a lotta work to do gettin' ready for the show, so I thought we could all throw our best ideas against the wall today and see what sticks. And of course, I'm gonna put ya all through your paces with the usual exercise routine, too. We had some good time off for the festival, but today it's back to work!

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[ Unlike elsewhere, here Demyx gets to jam on an actual, real-life electric guitar -- complete with amp! So even though he should probably be mingling and making friends, he clearly has some priorities. He’ll be in another area jamming on something he stumbled upon on some obscure medium. (Hint: it’s Boston’s “Long Time”.) After a blistering solo opening, with a rather nasal tenor voice, he starts to sing: ]

It’s been such a long time, I think I should be going;
Time doesn’t wait for me, it keeps on rollin’~

[ ...Of course, he’s... not quite nailed the art of singing while playing yet; this is just a practice run. So the lyrics are out-of-sync with the music and rather disjointed overall, but it’s clear where his talent lies -- he hasn’t missed a note.

When he sees he has an audience, however, he stops short on the start of the next verse, letting his guitar chord play out before he mutes the strings. ]

Ah, you! [ He takes the edge of his pick and slides it down a string before strumming a power chord that sounds so much better on electric than acoustic, trust him. ] Pretty awesome, right?

[ Muting the strings again. ]

So, what’s up?

[Being the other leading member of Sparkle Motion, Maria's taking it upon herself to meet the one of their new members she hadn't already met. While Demyx's singing is way off and Maria has to restrain the urge to cringe a bit at it, his playing is marvellous, and Maria can pick out easily that he hasn't so much as fumbled on a note so far.

Once he addresses her, Maria smiles a little and offers a bit of polite clapping.]

Oh, I just wanted to hear you play. You're the only one here I haven't met already, and since I have as much a hand in training everyone as Barry, I thought I should introduce myself. [With that, she offers a short, graceful bow.] Maria Cadenzavna Eve, incarnation of Nuada Airgetlám.

[And here's Barry with a big thumbs up when Demyx is finished.]

Soundin' better every day!

[The guitar, anyway.]

Maria can help ya out with the singin' part, too.

Training

Okay, time to get to work! I'm really gonna put you guys through the ringer today, so you better be ready!

[Barry's demeanor when acting as a trainer is a rather sharp contrast to his usual mood. His regimen is difficult and physically taxing, and he's very strict with his students - no shortcuts, and extra training if they complain. But his passion definitely shines through while he's working, and he's got nothing but glowing praise for the ones who make it through.]

Auditions/Practice

[At some point during the day, Barry decides to let everyone showcase their talents. He pulls up a chair in the corner of the room, sitting and crossing his arms.]

Awright, time to show me your stuff! Gimme your best performance!

Discussions

We got about a month to go 'till the big Obon show, so we need to start comin' up with some ideas. I've got a few, but lemme hear what you guys wanna do and we can start puttin' together a schedule.

[ The bow is met with a series of blinks, simply because how many people have bowed to him before this point? None. Definitely none. But it’s nice to meet her, no less!

In fact, since these people are new to him and important for him to remember, he’s taken a page from D2’s book -- literally: Demyx pulls a small notepad and stubby lead pencil from his coat pocket and scrawls out her name, just in case he forgets-- ] M-a-r-i-a. Got it! Good to meet you!

[ Which, he will; it’s almost a certainty. The only thing he really remembers, (or makes a great effort to in any case), is music.

And he’s very, very good at that.

Looking to her: ]

So, didja like it? What’d you think?

[ Barry seems to answer that. He needs work on his own voice; he’s no singer. And coordination of voice and strumming? It’s going to take practice, and lots of it. But he didn’t come here to sing, thankfully; and that other part he’s definitely got nailed.

And, looking to Barry: ]

Wait a sec -- she can?

[ Yes, but she can't magically gift Demyx coordination. ]

[You feels her heart fluttering at her introduction. There was her nerves. Of course she had told Luna all about where she was going and when she might be back, and hopefully she would have all sorts of fun things to tell her god.

But first she has to make a good impression. So she's humming a song she heard on the radio and making up her own moves to it till Maria was able to get to her. She's sticking to the beat very well, and there's a big smile on her face. Just what an idol needs, right?

Otherwise, she is watching the others do their own thing, taking a break from her own practice. You feels inspired to work as hard as she can now, and hopes that any shows they have in the future will be a success.]

[Barry shows up at some point while she's taking a break, coming around to check on her.]

Well? How do ya like the place?

I like it a lot!

[She's very happy to have taken you up on your offer, Barry. Can't you tell with how much she's gotten into it?]

Heheh, thanks! It's just small now, but that's kinda nice, don't ya think? If we're gonna be working' together, it's good to have a place where everyone can practice together.

[He grins, folding his arms.]

It's not gonna be easy, though! The path of the idol is long and hard! You up for the challenge?

It's bigger than I thought it'd be! I didn't know how many other people would be here with us.

[She nods with determination.]

Yes! I am!

Takes a lot of stars to light up the heavens!

[Barry laughs, clearly in a good mood.]

Good! I like that enthusiasm! Let's start with some ab crunches, then!

[That sounds pretty cool and corny at the same time to You.]

I know how to do those! I make sure to train every morning.

[She's... not sure why she started it. It just seemed like the right thing to do.]

[Cool and corny is Barry's aesthetic.]

You're halfway there already, then! Idols gotta have good form and stamina, y'know! So let's see yours!

[Okay! She can do this! You gets down on the ground and decides to... go for 100. It takes a few minutes, but afterwards, she gets up, still energetic.]

What next?

Wow, you weren't kiddin'! You're not even winded!

[You is moving up in the idol rankings already.]

Okay, time to get the blood pumpin' a little bit, then! Jumping jacks! Do as many as ya can in five minutes!

[Barry takes out a stopwatch, clicking it.]

Go!

[She beams at that compliment. You takes pride in her physical endurance.

Nodding, she starts up on jumping jacks... but loses count after about 75. But she keeps going. This will leave her a little more worn down in the end than the crunches, yet it's nothing she can't recover from easily.

LET HER KNOW WHEN FIVE MINUTES IS UP]

Aaaaaaaand that's five!

[Barry walks over to give You an encouraging pat on the shoulder.]

Good job. I'd say you've definitely earned a break. Hell, I could probably put you in charge of the trainin'!

[Yuuri starts a little bit when Demyx calls out to him, looking a little bit flustered about being noticed listening. He's rather quieter than most of the others at Sparkle Motion, and a little bit jumpy at the best of times...]

Oh... yes, it sounded very... very moving!

[It's not at all the kind of music he usually chooses to dance to, but he does like to listen to a variety of things.]

I wanted to make sure to welcome you to the group and say hello.

[Yuuri sits down near Barry, wiping his brow with a small towel. He worked hard during training without complaint, and then practiced until his feet hurt, and it was satisfying, but he's earned a little rest.]

I thought it might be fun to do some traditional Bon-odori... I know a few of the dances, and they'd be fairly simple to teach to the others, if anyone's interested in that.

Oh, yeah! You gotta have the Bon dance! We can get the whole crowd into it, too!

[Barry is all for that. It'll be fun for everyone and get them some good exposure.]

[Barry's enthusiasm is a little bit infectious, and Yuuri finds himself getting a little more excitable, too.]

It's designed for a crowd to be able to learn, really, so that shouldn't be too much of a problem!

What about sort of combining traditional and modern elements? We could play the traditional songs, but with more rock-style instrumentation, or get a little bit creative about accessorizing with our yukata...

Well, if it's rock you're lookin' for, Demyx can definitely help with that!

[Barry grins, thumbing over in his direction.]

Not that I mind playin' a little backup if the occasion calls for it.

I think it could be a fun change of pace.

[For the usual O-bon crowd, and for him. Rock isn't usually the sort of thing he dances to, so why not shake things up a bit?]

It's important to keep surprising your audience, after all, isn't it?

Ya got that right! Gotta stay two steps ahead of the game.

[And two steps ahead of CelePara. But he's not mentioning that.]

Think ya can handle the choreography with Maria?

Absolutely.

[He might not know quite what he's doing as a shinki, and might get a little anxious about... most things, really, but if there's one thing Yuuri knows he knows how to do, it's choreograph things.]

I'm sure we can work something good out, between the two of us.

[Barry folds his arms, grinning and nodding approvingly.]

Good. That's the kinda confidence I like to see! I'll leave it up to you two, then.

Is there anything in particular you'd like us to keep in mind while we're working on that?

Mmm... Suijin's shinki said to do our homework. I guess each region celebrates Obon a little differently, so we need to be sure we're playin' to our audience. As long as we balance the really lively stuff with somethin' a little slower either before or after, we oughta be okay.

[For a second, Yuuri finds himself wondering what region the version of the dance he knows is from, but that makes him feel really anxious all of a sudden, so he drops it in a hurry.]

Then we'll do our best to keep a good balance!

Don't worry too much about it. As long as everybody has fun, that's all that matters.

["Not worrying" isn't really his strong point...]

I'll try.

Edited 2017-06-01 03:19 (UTC)

[Barry laughs, clapping him on the shoulder.]

Try half as hard out there as ya do in here, and we'll be just fine.

[Briefly, Yuuri's eyes widen, and he looks up at Barry as if unsure how to process what he just heard, his cheeks going faintly red.]

[(Someone probably ought to say nice things to him more often.)]

I will, don't worry.

That's better.

[Big smiles all around! Barry may not be good at much, but inspiring people is something he excels at.]

Now take five and get some water. Good hustle tonight.

Yes, sir!

[And off he goes to get some water.]

[ There’s no need to be shy, Yuuri! Demyx is all smiles. ]

Right!

[ He has no idea that this observer might be a little lost for descriptive words, or that this music might not be exactly to his taste, of course.

He’ll resettle the guitar strap around his shoulders and adjust his whammy bar before aimlessly toying with his ~~ridiculous~~ gravity-defying dirty-blond hair. ]

Awesome! Name’s Demyx! [ And he’s Sparkle Motion’s new (perhaps unnecessary) guitarist and resident music addict. In case that wasn’t 120% obvious already. ]

What’s yours?

[ It’s... probably been given to him before, at some point. Just bear with him, please – he’s terrible with these things! ]

[There are times when Yuuri feels sort of intimidated around people who are too cheerful or too outgoing, but on the whole, he's found that it's good for him to be around people with more naturally extroverted personalities at least some of the time. It keeps him from getting too wrapped up in himself too easily.]

[So he smiles back, if a little bit more cautiously and politely, toying a little bit with the mostly-empty water bottle in his hands.]

I'm Yuuri. I'm one of Bastet's shinki, and I work here as a dancer.

[ Need an extrovert? Look no further! Your friendly neighborhood Demyx is here to help!

In all seriousness, Yuuri has caught him at a good time. There are two places this Nobody feels completely at-home here, and that’s in the water, and anywhere with a musical instrument for him to try out. Having a guitar strapped to him just means he’s extra sunshiny at the moment. ]

Ah, right! So you know how to keep to the beat!

[ There’s a happy little trill on his guitar there.

He won’t get into the whole matter of gods and shinki at the moment, as he’s kind of... between things. Whoops. ]

So what kinda dancing do you do?

A few different kinds.

[He doesn't exactly know what kind of background he has, but the steps that come naturally to him at least give him some kind of vague guess.]

I sort of end up falling back on ballet-based choreography when I'm working alone, but I know a little bit about ballroom dance and more modern, popular styles, too.

[He's being a little modest, honestly. He's hesitant about showing off, but he's got some idea of how to dance to just about anything.]

[ Well he certainly got Yuuri talking, at least! Even if Demyx has all of zero idea what all is being said. Honestly, what is ballet, anyway? ]

So whadda they have you dancing to here?

[ He more means how, as in which style, but his question is still valid. ]

Here? Most of the musicians with our group seem to specialize in pop, so I've been trying to adapt to that.

[The whole idol thing isn't really his scene, exactly, but he tries to be useful anyway. (He feels like "tried to be useful, anyway" is probably what's written on his grave somewhere on the Near Shore, honestly.)]

[ Most of them? Well, Demyx doesn't account for 'most', but... ]

Not me!

[ He strums a power chord then, as if providing proof that really isn't necessary. After a moment, he'll mute the strings with one hand, tilting his head to one side in thought. ]

Huh... If everyone else does pop music, where's my guitar gonna fit in?

[ Don't tell Demyx he's got to learn to dance and/or sing. No, really -- don't. ]

[That's a good point. Yuuri tilts his head for a moment, thinking it over.]

I don't think it should be that much of a problem. I mean... it isn't like there's a really firm line between the genres. Plenty of pop songs have guitar backing, and maybe you could help the others here branch out a little more towards rock, too?

[ Demyx brightens immediately. ]

You really think so?!

[A break sounded wonderful right now. You feels she should start working more on her cardio while training. Maybe running will do?]

T-Thank you! [She straightens up with a nervous laugh.] I don't know if I'd be any good at it.

Heheh, it's okay! If I put you in charge of it, I'd be out of a job!

[Barry lets out another happy laugh.]

Seriously, though, you're doin' great. Keep it up.

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Sparkle Motion mingle log!

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Barry - OTA

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You Watanabe | OTA

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