2022-04-08: Live at Macross City!

• Log: Live at Macross City!
• Cast: Sheryl Nome, Sho Muramoto, Rena Lancaster, Grace O'Connor, Riika Sheder, Serinas Nikola, Zurvan Zevarist, Mitsuba Greyvalley, Alto Saotome, C.C., Rikka Takarada, Ruri Hoshino, Emilia Eschonbach, Arriety Hearn, Ranka Lee, Kallen Kozuki, Lucine Azul, Roux Louka
• Where: Macross City, South Ataria Island
• OOC - IC Date: April 8th, 0096 (2022)
• Summary: Sheryl Nome's first Earth concert, and the beginning of her Earth Sphere tour. (Lyric translations are either by Ayu or sourced from Anime Lyrics and edited by Ayu.)

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<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        Macross City is as close to a neutral city as one can find within the Federation. Not aligned to any particular bloc, it is the original site of where the first Macross ship crash-landed on Earth and then was restored and rebuilt for the Earth's own purposes. The original ship is still there, even--transformed into its humanoid form, it looms over the city waist-deep in a central lake, seeming to watch over the civilization that's been built around it. It's as iconic a sight as the Eiffel Tower is in Paris or Buckingham Palace is in London.
        
        So the theatre in which Sheryl Nome, the Galactic Fairy, is to perform tonight for the start of her Earth Sphere global tour is naturally in view of the massive spaceship. This same theatre hosted Sharon Apple some five years back for that ill-fated debut concert--people familiar with their pop culture history would know that some criminal (it's a mystery to this day who it was) hacked the Super AI to get to the Macross's defensive systems. Fortunately, order was reclaimed in short order with few casualties, and the concert-goers were unharmed to the point where they'd thought it was all part of the show, but the system on which Sharon's AI was stored was destroyed in the process. The incident brought a crackdown on Super AIs in general, too, so she couldn't be restored from back-ups.
        
        Speaking of pop music history, Sheryl herself has had a rough time of it, as some more informed fans might be. The Earth Sphere tour was on the plan regardless thanks to the Emperor's recall order to the Macross fleets, but while on the way back, the Galaxy fleet--Sheryl's home--was attacked by aliens called the Vajra. Not much is known beyond that, and probably not many folks are thinking about it. After all, surely the Vajra wouldn't come *here*, to *Earth*... or so the official word goes.
        
        Either way, the concert hall itself remains, and it's *packed* in anticipation for Sheryl Nome's live. Tickets sold out, ranging from 'ridiculously expensive' (right up next to the central stage) to 'actually quite affordable, even on a high schooler's budget' (significantly further up and back). However, all tickets have been entered into a lottery, and winners of it will get a chance to go backstage and meet Sheryl in person. All kinds of merch is available for sale, from fashionable apparel to a variety of Sheryl's singles and CDs to limited edition tour posters to 8x10 glossies and much, much more. There's also plain autograph cards available for free--they aren't much use if you don't win the ticket lottery, after all--but even those are getting snatched up fast. Hope springs eternal.
        
        For a while, the dome overhead had been open to the sky, granting a great view of the Macross to concert-goers as they filled in. As the concert itself reaches go time, though, it's closing up, providing better lighting for the massive holographic screen equipment at the back of the stage. Ushers help guide concert-goers to their seats, and a sense of excitement fills the air.

<Pose Tracker> Sho Muramoto has posed.

Sho has decided to go to the second concert even after the first. He's unaccompanied mostly, or if he was then they are somewhere else. As it is, the young man's by himself wearing a simple slacks and t-shirt combo.

And slowly moving his way towards his seat with the help of the ushers. It's a sure cry from school, at least, and definitely a far cry from anything else. The young man is keeping an eye out to see if he can spot some he knows from school or other such encounters to try to at least have someone he can talk to during this, however.

The only sign he's a fan is that he's actually bought a few of the CDs to listen to back at home or at the Ashford Academy on his down time.

He was still pleasantly surprised by having acquaintances there.

What really draws his attention as he's moved along, however, is the Macross itself. That definitely has him looking up on occasion when he has to stop thanks to the ushers.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

Rena Lancaster is in Macross City, which is a novel experience. It's like any famous skyline: she knows it by heart, despite never coming here. She has still caught herself staring at the venerable docked SDF-1 Macross from time-to-time, even after they piled into the stadium.

Now, she watches the dome close up...

Rena is wearing a black button-up shirt, dark blue slacks, and has some makeup on -- including glitter dusted across her cheeks and a pair of glittery stars pressed into the skin under her right eye. She sighs, as she watches the dome close, then glances to the seat next to her.

She flashes a grin at Arriety. "Hard to believe we're in Macross City, isn't it?"

<Pose Tracker> Grace O'Connor has posed.

        Sometimes it is nice to have a day off...

        Which would be an odd thing to think seeing Grace as she runs through the last minute checklist for the concert. She's busy making last minute arrangements with the stage crew to ensure that everything goes off with a hitch while at the same time coordinating with the merch booth vendors to ensure they know where ot pick up more supplies should they risk selling out. Meanwhile she's also got a line to the backstage staff regarding the security detail for the winner of the ticket lottery. Even for someone with as many implants as Grace O'Connor, it's a lot that's going on both in her head and outside of it... certainly it wouldn't seem like some sort of break.

And that isn't nearly all of what she's doing.

        Within the green tinted realm of Grace's cybernetic OS, she is spending her time casually running domain name searches for a carefully calibrated list of aliases and pseudonyms that may be used by Ranka Lee as her manager, Elmo, attempts to get her career off the ground. Lately she has had to dedicate more resources than she is comfortable. First there was an intrustion from Nergal Industries servers to try and build a firewall to and provide filtering algorithms to regional ISPs to try and weed out and restrict IPs utilized in DDoS attacks.

        Now there is another entity, this time from from the Tokyo 3 area, intruding on her efforts. Behind the scenes there has been an epic battle between the three - both over trying to keep Ranka's promotional websites up as well as trying to narrow down the ringleader of the assault on the up and coming idol's websites. Were it not for the fact that said ringleader has intrusion points across networks both within the Earth sphere as well as deep space, it might well be impossible for her to keep up with the counterhack attempts...

But that's in the background.

        And at least for tonight, while the hum and furor for Sheryl's next performance is at a fever pitch, Grace doesn't have to worry as much about keeping the promotional websites and streams of the up and coming star down. Sheryl's song will reveberate through both space and cyberspace, drowning out whatever small echoes Elmo manages to place on the web. She also doesn't have to worry about any... outside interference during this performance. At least not from certain corners.

        As the dome begins to close, Grace looks up and gives a slight smile. "And that's all the updates for tonight's performance. If anything changes I'll route you updates through your headpieces. Please excuse me." She gives a polite bow of her head to the stage crew before heading towards the dressing room. Both to check on her real quick, and also to give her a thumbs-up indicating that her requested changes has been taken care of.

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

Riika Sheder probably shouldn't be here.

This did not stop her from showing up. She has leave, even though she is entirely sure that ZAFT command did not expect her to use it in this way at all; she has a ticket, obtained with difficulty and at expense even though it's kind of midrange; and she has no intention of causing any problems.

Even ZAFT is not going to attack a concert. Not without a good reason, anyway.

So for all intents, Riika is a perfectly normal 19-year-old concertgoer, who showed up early and actually got some merch (she has a CD tucked into her bag, and an autograph card because you can't win if you don't play). She is dressed normally, too, or at least not in uniform. Green top, a skirt that would be dangerously short if she hadn't been wearing black leggings under it, a pair of low-heeled shoes.

She'd never been to Macross City before, either - well, that's not a surprise, the number of cities Riika has been to on Earth, she can count on one hand. It was striking, and frankly she would have come for that even if she hadn't been able to get into the concert. She spent some time earlier today playing tourist.

But she did get into the concert! Which is why she's in her seat. Nobody knows who she is here (she didn't tell ZAFT where she was going) and so she is relatively relaxed. Nobody seems like they're going to call her out, and it's not like she stands out as a space invader much as long as she doesn't say anything weird.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        And so two weeks of unexpected Japanese vacation come to an end. It... actually didn't seem so short, even in retrospect. Vacations can just be nice sometimes! The event being in Macross City works out nicely, too -- it's not at all suspicious for tourists to go there, and they can book a flight to Orb and from there Serinas can return to wherever ZAFT needs her.

        But... The vacation isn't over yet! There's still one more day... Mother and daughter are dressed casually this time; Serinas in a Sheryl Nome babydoll T with black jeans and fashion boots and a Sheryl Nome purse, and Lani in a matching T-shirt with a long black skirt, fingerless gloves, and sneakers with light makeup and a blue messenger bag that has room for drinks and snacks, dammit.

        The pair do share a quiet moment of awe looking at the Macross in the distance. It's a piece of history. They've seen Do You Remember Love, they've seen it in pictures, but Serinas at least has never been here. A reminder of the war before even Lani was born, and yet also, a reminder of the hope for Humanity's future, reaching out towards the stars. After the past couple decades of conflict, will Earth ever reach for that promised future again?

        Lani doesn't look especially happy to be someplace so loud and crowded, but can't help smiling every time she sees how excited her daughter is. She's a bit relieved though when things quiet down for the show to begin, nonetheless. Serinas is practically bursting with teenage excitement, unable to stand still, jabbering "Do you think we'll win the lottery and get to meet her? Ooh I've never met a singer before, what do I say? I've never met a *famous* person before, what do I do?!"

        The older woman is thinking 'don't count your chickens before they're hatched' but responds with a pat on the shoulder, "Don't worry about it and be yourself. For you it's the day you meet Sheryl Nome, but for her it's Tuesday." "But it's Friday." "...Yes, well, my point is I'm sure she's met plenty of fans from promotions like this. You're already ahead by not being one of the creepy ones."

        There is a gasp from behind Riika, and "Riika, is that you?!" If she turns around, Serinas adds, "Fancy running into you here!" She does, at least, have the sense to not mention how they know eachother, aside from a quick aside of 'She's a coworker.' in response to her mother's questioning look.

<Pose Tracker> Zurvan Zevarist has posed.

         "Is mom glad?"

         Zurvan Zevarist is in Macross city. It's not the first time he's been in here but it is the first time that he's at this particular concert from this very specific artist! He's in one of the many people running on an 'affordable' budget. Good side: he's taller than most people around him! That's great! he get a good view.

         Bad side: he's surrounded by highschoolers. VERY enthusiastic high schoolers.

         Zurvan can't hear the reply immediatedly coming from his father on the phone, the teenagers near him screamings really loudly in excitement at the incoming concert. "What was that?"

         "I said," His father, a gruff man's voice, "She's elated. Your younger sisters and brothers are all sitting and watching the show. A beautiful late mother's day present."

         Behind him, a pack of teenagers are trying very hard to see around Zurvan, as he tries to shrink down at least a bit down to offer SOME accomodations. With little success. "Yeah, trust me, if I could've had changed the ticket to you two, I would've. Now, shut this thing off and go be with them, and tell them hi from me!"

         Zurvan shuts off his headphone, shaking his head, looking behind him, giving the annoyed teenagers a thumbs up(making them even more annoyed) as he turn his attention back forward.

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuba Greyvalley has posed.

It's a bit of an undertaking to get Mitsuba Greyvalley to take a break. You don't *quite* have to bribe her, but you do have to surprise her with it and wrap the pill in peanut butter, a bit. She's a little on the obsessive side -- and it's for that reason that she finds herself placed on a 48 hour break, handed tickets to a concert, and told:

'Actually, we need you to straighten out an issue with your request for VF-171 Nightmare Pluses. Apparently there's an issue that'd be better handled with a face-to-face meeting.'

With the issue straightened out, she has the better part of a day before she's expected back at the Dreisstrager... why *not* use those tickets actually?

She's... in uniform. She really is that stiff, and that incapable of getting herself to fully casual. Then again, it's not as bad as all that -- she's got a... large... bag of Sheryl merchandise. Sheryl isn't her *preferred* style of idol -- she prefers cute to sexy by a fairly large margin -- but then again, free concert is free concert and she *does* enjoy idols.

Right now, she's trying to find her seat; it's at the upper end of middling.

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        Alto makes his way through the crowds as they file into the stadium. This is a bit of a novel experience for him. While this will be his third live Sheryl concert, it's the first where he's actually there as an audience member. But man, there sure is a lot of people all trying to get in. It's a lot easier going through staff entrances!

        Alto is not wearing anything particularly special, just a somewhat nice shirt and pants, which surprisingly are NOT his school uniform, and a jacket, which surprisingly is NOT his SMS jacket. Though the expression of mild annoyance he wears is definitely a familiar one as he tries to navigate the throngs of people.

        Occasionally, Alto glances to the side to make sure the companions he's arrived with are still there and haven't been swept away. Something he would not be surprised about, given their small statures and one's ability to somehow wind up in the weirdest places. That thought does amuse him a little, a small smirk appearing on Alto's face as he says to Ranka, "Make sure not to get lost this time. I'm not staff today so won't be able to rescue you."

<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.

C.C. remembers the ill-fated Sharon Apple concert like it was yesterday. Or perhaps by absolute compare of time-span, closer to 'a few weeks ago'. How quickly humans are to return to cursed circumstances as though the past holds no sway. Perhaps it is because all they can do is grasp towards what future they have left - that which grows more and more valuable the closer they are to the end of it. . .

She's remarkably able to multitask those thoughts while she arranges her schemes to unite familiar faces into similar orbits, phoning in one of her myriad favors to get just enough access to the ticketing system...so that the Black Knights who are students of Ashford all wind up in roughly the same row. It's a strategic reason, promise.

"It's quite a sight, isn't it?" C.C. remarks as paths naturally converge near to Sho on their way to the concert - just as planned. Of course, at this exact juncture...she isn't the enigmatic aide who seems to hover near Zero. No, she's...an equally enigmatic transfer student from Zaftra, Cyzarine Chizhikova, that ever distinctive lime green hair tied in heavily decorated twintails. Between them, a muted brown beret, a comfy gray pocketed blouse, and a plaid skirt maximize cute casualness.

"The Macross, of course. Seeing this thing that crashed down from the beyond turned into a beacon of hope and diplomacy for humankind..." -A beat, as C.C. remembers, oh right, that happened about forty years ago, and she clarifies, "Ehehe, I'm a big fan of 'Do You Remember Love', after all, so I just had to come see a concert in front of the real thing..."

Once seating is found - it is in a somewhat near-ish section to the one Mitsuba is at, and C.C. does give a teasy little flat-faced peace sign just in the corner of Mitsuba's perception, even if a bit of a crowd's in the way. Maybe letting off a brief little targeted psychic 'yeah, look that-aways' suggestion. She's probably only made her incredibly suspicious ultra-dedicated deliverygirl incident even -more- suspicious.

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

Macross City is a little far from home, but not too far. Its story is famous even in Tsutsujidai, being one of the points in recent history that still lines up with history as they know it. So naturally Rikka is a little star-struck right now - she's made sure to take a picture of the Macross ship itself, of course. But as big a deal as that is, that's not why she's here today.

She's here... for a concert!

One of Rikka's first orders of business back when she left Tsutsujidai for the first time was checking out the what the music was like. That's when she first fell in love with Sheryl's, so when she heard she was holding a concert on Earth in a place she could feasibly reach Rikka definitely had to grab a ticket. And they're surprisingly affordable - Rikka's budget is squarely 'high-school student' range, but working for her own mom does have its benefits as she's found herself with enough extra budget to score some of the merchandise, too.

And so, she takes her seat at the stadium, waiting eagerly for the show to begin. It is... just a little hollow, though. Concerts are best viewed with others. Hass and Namiko probably would've loved this, but for obvious reasons actually inviting them along would be... complicated. So she's here alone, but she's still determined to have a good time.

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        The last time Ruri came to one of these, it didn't go very well.

        Anyway, since then, she has been -- distinctly not talking to Ranka, which might seem an awful lot like she doesn't want to talk to Ranka, especially since Ruri doesn't offer any explanations about the matter. Someone else has been talking to Ranka, though: Omoikane, who was happy to explain that Ruri wasn't feeling mad as much as guilty, in the wake of that event.

        (Of course, Ruri has still been helping with Ranka's technological woes, quietly, in the background.)

        And after a little encouragement from another white-haired friend, Ruri did venture a message to Ranka, finally. She expressed that it was too bad they wouldn't be able to go to this concert, since everyone had brought all the tickets already...

        ... which is when Omoikane piped up with his revelation that he'd already entered a design-a-costume-for-Sheryl competition and won tickets through the astounding power of AI predictive design. (The costume he proposed is legally distinct from Natural Lychee's, but there's a definite resemblance.)

        Out of excuses, Ruri's here to try again, or something like that.

        She's here in a light blue sundress, fancy enough not to raise too many eyebrows. Particularly not given the absolute oak tree of a man behind them: Goat Hoary himself is chaperoning this trip, after all the excitement last time. He is easily twice Ruri's size, towering over just about everyone else who isn't macronised right now. He is, of course, wearing his typical tan suit...

        ... and a headband with an extremely recognisable Sheryl-style hair dec on it, as his single concession to the excitement.

        (Somehow, he knew just what to wear to blend in.)

        Goat has, apparently, immediately identified Alto as a fellow security-provider, because he gave the boy one (1) firm nod as they came together; he's been pretty quiet, since. That's normal. Ruri being taciturn is pretty normal, too; she's checked her communicator, but apparently it was just a message from Omoikane about the SQL injections quieting down, whatever THAT means.

        "... it's very busy," she says, finally, when Alto speaks up. It's a perfectly stoic observation, so it's hard to guess there's nervousness at its roots. "And everyone's being quite foolish... it would be easy to get lost."

        Maybe that's why she's staying so close to the pack, even though she does sight Rena and Arriety over there and wave to them, a touch hesitantly. Zurvan, too, though he's easier to see, because like Goat, he's quite tall.

        (She also sees Mitsuba, but elects not to try to get her attention.)

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.

        Emilia hadn't, frankly, expected to be here. When she had checked ticket prices on her new phone, even the affordable tickets had been a bit of a stretch for her personal funds even before travel, and the ticketing site wasn't whitelisted on her card. Hardly surprising. She had just assumed that this was another thing out of her reach, and just to be happy with the small bit of happiness the concert had brought her.

        Cut to yesterday, when a certain Student Council President/Chaos Witch had offered Emilia hers. The explanation for why went a little over her head, but it boiled down too- she was buried in bureaucracy regarding her plan to host an open student council meeting in the Cherry Blossom gardens. Visas were a nightmare, etc. After a little bit of shock, and confirming if Milly was sure, Emilia took the ticket graciously and excitedly.

        Today, nervous as she is in crowds, Emilia had arrived early. She was wearing the Sheryl t-shirt Milly had bought her last time, with a pastel pink denim jacket, a shortish skirt in the same colour, sneakers and white kneesocks. They're mostly thrift shop buys, but they're nice for what she owns. The poster and minidisc that had been bought for her before the last concert were safe and secure in a satchel bag- the poster in a postal tube but you take what you can get. She even makes her way through to snag one of those autograph cards- a rare admission of hope. Sh must be really excited. She's careful not to bump into any concert goers this time, too. This time it's really going to be the experience she shouldn't have.

        She tracks attendees- she's not sure if anyone else she knows is here, and the ticket is... rather further forward than she had expected. A lot further, it's a quality ticket. She clings to her bag tightly, not wanting to lose anything, as she makes her way to the seat- only to find a familiar face. "Ah, Miss Cyzarine!?" She didn't even realize the Zaftran exchange student liked idols.

        Admittedly, Emilia didn't know she liked idols until recently.

        She takes her seat, looking around. This is a much, much bigger crowd. She takes a few breaths, to steady herself. She hasn't even really taken in the wonder of Macross City, as others have. She has only one thing on her mind today, and wasn't courageous enough to explore.

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        Arriety's here to... well, pushing herself is perhaps not quite the right word for it. She doesn't deal well with crowds, especially a crowd as big as this, but she's got the most powerful thing in the world:

        Benzodiazepines--

        Er, I mean, a date, a date! The benzos help too, though. She's in one of her turtleneck sweaters, with a big oversized jacket to drown herself in and the usual skirt and leggings combo. ... she's not expecting Rena to play with some makeup, though, and looks a little fond of it with a smile.

        "Y-yeah..."

        She looks up. Mostly she's here because... well, she felt like the last time ended up being chaotic and a dud, so she wanted to appreciate a Sheryl concert for what it is.

        ... she kinda wanted to say she's glad Sheryl's safe in person, too. Maybe if that lottery came in handy...

        A pause, as she senses something before she spots someone waving -- oh, it's Ruri! She's here too? Hooray...! She waves back, though she knows even if she calls out she'd be drowned out by the crowds...

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

Ranka Lee knows her pop music history well. The elation of being here in Macross City on Earth cut with the somber realization that they're here at the site of Sharon Apple's retirement. She's not trying to think about it too hard, but... it's there. Speaking of a complicated mixture of emotions though, she's here today with Ruri, to try again.

>thx again omoikane-san

She types on her Salamander plush of a phone casually, utterly oblivious about the several front digital war being fought in her name. She's certain nothing malicious is going on. Why would anyone be sabotaging her? It's just some complicated and obscure network problem she wouldn't know anything about.

She's also here with Alto Saotome, whom she more casually invited with an extra ticket that Omoikane won them, because she's at about eighty percent wanting to spend time with him at the concert... twenty percent terrified something else could happen.

More casual than the luxury liner and with the mild weather, today Ranka's come in a pink sleeveless ruffled top with an attached Galactic Fairy Button (Official Merchandise Naturally), and a pair of jean shorts, her feet sporting a pair of pink pumps and a matching ribbon near the nape of her neck. Around her neck is a heart choker, and she has a messenger bag she's carrying at her side. It's quite big for her, what is she carrying inside of it???

Ranka's hair rises on one side as Alto starts to speak, as he takes her off guard with unexpected but not that unexpected teasing, "Mean!" She says with only a small level of partially play-acted indignation as her green hair falls back into place. "Are you saying you'd be too busy watching Sheryl-san to come look for me?" She says with a light-hearted tease that may obfuscate some jealousy, but only a tiny amount. "I'm surprised at you Alto-kun. I didn't think you were the type."

As Ruri comments on how easy it'd be to get lost though, Ranka just says with a small smile - no longer taking on that teasing tone, "It would be. Which is why I think us all coming together was the best this time. You and me and Alto-kun and Hoary-san..." Ranka's eyes wander up to Hoary's headband. "Hoary-san are you... another fan of Sheryl-san?" She says in wonder, though not judgmentally perhaps. The man has many layers.


POT: Zurvan Zevarist is no longer set observer.

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

While the previous concert had gone questionably, there were doubtless many for whom it left a powerful impact. Both long-time fans, and those new to the Experience of witnessing the Galactic Fairy in action. And really, live music just hits differently than a CD or other form of recording. This time, Kallen's plan to attend had been purely her own idea, born from the simple desire to find more songs that stir her heart and awaken her soul. Maybe she's getting a bit too sentimental. Too distracted from what's important. She's thought that herself a few times. The truth of it? She needs to learn more. Broaden her understanding. After all, it isn't JUST her home that's suffering. The Earth Sphere is full of people who agonize under oppression of one stripe or another. Once Japan is free again, she'll fight for their sakes as well. Maybe concurrently, even. The Black Knights could branch out, and gain more global support.

But that's something for another time. Tonight is about enjoying the show and connecting with people. Would it be possible to make friends over the short course of this night? She doesn't know. But she may as well try, and so she's come to the show, now that she has an idea of what to expect, wearing the outfit she'd considered too daring last time. Anyone who knew only her Ashford presence would be apoplectic to see her wearing the flashy skirt that really isn't much longer than her uniform's, but does fan out more, or the stylish long, heeled boots she just never has ANY occasion to wear. And of course, the most eye-catching of the various Sheryl shirts she'd bought last time. Of course, nothing EVER goes exactly to plan, does it? After all, her plans hadn't originally involved a certain green-haired girl. And yet... The look on her face when her seat winds up grouped with the so-called 'exchange student', says everything. But at least it brightens up when Emilia winds up there as well. "This is certainly a surprise!"
POT: Serinas Nikola is now set observer.
POT: Serinas Nikola is no longer set observer.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        News of the Vajra attack hits close to home in some ways for Lucine. And, as the news drifts out of sight, out of mind as there's no worries about the Vajra coming to earth, it prickles the spine of an anger Lucine had thought she had buried since coming here to Earth.

        How does Sheryl feel, performing to an audience that is acting like nothing is happening? But, maybe no one really knows? Would she had acted the same hearing this news a year ago?

        This has placed Lucine to be unusually glum as she trails behind the Nergal crew, despite dressed in that cheerfully pink sundress she had worn for the sakura festival. She's even added the detail of some live flowers to her hair, each colored an airy pinkish white constrasting with the dark blue teal of her hair.

        "...?" She looks up, almost drifting off into the crowd by the time Ranka objects to Alto being a huge meanie. "... Ah, oh, don't worry, Miss Lee! I'd protect you and Miss Hoshino! That is.... I'd be here..." Ruri isn't the only one who feels guilty. Lucine left them both, thinking they'd be alright where they were.
        
        also lucine was not at all paying attention to the conversation until now

        "Though I guess... Mr. Hoary would be a much better bodyguard, in this case..."

        Also, this is probably the first time Lucine has seen Alto face-to-face! To which, Lucine had made the comment of '.... oh, huh' at the time, finally getting Asuka's title for him.

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        Backstage, Sheryl looks up as Grace pops into her dressing room, then grins and gives her a thumb's up back. She can always count on her manager to make sure everything's absolutely perfect. She stands up and strides out, her hologram suit as she heads for her designated spot on stage.
        
        ~ * ~
        
        For an instant, a hush falls over the concert hall. A massive golden heart with a delicate fairy wing on its right side--the symbol of Sheryl Nome--materializes over the stage, spinning languidly, so large that there isn't a single seat that won't have a clear view. Then:
        
        "LISTEN TO MY SONG!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj8iBCtY_-4
        
        The heart EXPLODES into an even more massive network of clockwork platforms, gears spinning as robots are constructed in non-stop circles. The delicate opening notes of Universal Bunny cycle until Sheryl croons a rising note that ends in "Woah!!" The clockwork robots leap up onto the edge of the central platform, flipping and spinning until they freefall off the edge. The lights flicker and darken, then converge at the center upon Sheryl Nome herself.
        
        She's dressed in a white bunny-like costume, tied at the waist with a lavender obi, thigh-high stockings and a cape-like cloak, white puffs decoring her golden hair and the backs of her ankles. She strides forward, smile brilliant as she begins to sing and dance:
        "I am your white bunny: I hop, skip, and jump into an innocent glide
        "The Milky Way spills out into space! Hey, I want a nibble of that candy star... ahh ahh ahh ahhhh..."
        
        White Lapine Sheryl turns and blows her fairy-heart sigil to one side, where it chimes against a network of clock gears. The gears part, revealing--Sheryl again, but this time dressed in a sultry, skin-tight, highly revealing black outside, a long cape at her back, hair shining purple, a crescent moon pendant hanging between her breasts. This vision is *massive*, towering well over the crowds. As she signs, she twirls around and shakes her black bunny bottom, which has a black powder-puff accessory of its own:
        "I am your black bunny: a rough and rowdy, sexy flag
        "I'll give you a dangerous glimpse of my hipline, so on my wink, dive into my cleavage!"
        
        Her cleavage expands, becoming an underwater scene flowing throughout the inner gears of a clock. The White Lapine swims through in seeming innocence, until the Black Lapine looms and lashes a red whip out around her. With a crack, it wraps tight around her in an instant. However, after only token resistance, the White Lapine smiles and stops resisting, exposing her neck for the Black Lapine to come in and bite:
        "Innocence keeps trespassing on my upper thighs to the point we can't be reborn
        "When we steal from each other forcefully, the crying angel, look out, is a demon."
        
        The clockwork platforms expand yet further, gears turning within gears, until there isn't a spot in the concert hall where anyone in the audience wouldn't have a good view. The gears start reflecting pale images within their circles of the Sheryls, though the main ones remain on the central platform. As the backup clockwork dancers do their dance, the Black and White Lapines spin slowly back-to-back, their hands clutching the other's tightly:
        "You're too naive for your own good, 1000%! It's natural for me to be audacious, 1000%!
        "Defenseless on the inside, you light up my life and give me a reason to live
        "What's essential is pleasure, 1000%! What's ambiguous is the limit, 1000%!
        "Private joy is reversible, but even so, we dream the same dream."
        
        As the instrumentals shift into a harder, heavier beat, the Black Lapine looms over the concert hall in apparent vicious triumph--but as she curls her painted nails, she rips herself off of herself and shreds into a vision of the sweetly-smiling White Lapine. As she turns, cheeks rosy with hearts, she lifts her soft hands--and shreds herself away from herself, revealing the smirking Black Lapine. Again they turn, until both materialize, seeming to float high in the air, back-to-back over the stage. They turn without facing each other, arms outstretched to the audience as if trying to supplicate each fan to their own side. Soon they form as one, though, the White Lapine seeming to gain dominance until her outfit shreds, revealing part of the Black Lapine, each of them as one while ropes tie around Sheryl, dangling her limbs and hair as she arches out her body and gives the audience a sultry stare.
        "Black or white? Chaos and rapture. Dark or light? Conflict and embrace
        "Truth or doubt? Groundless delusions whirl around you good, yeah
        "You're just about to get chained up, toyed with, and fall apart
        "Heaven or Hell? Karma spins in circles
        "Whatever path you try to guide me onto, we'll have a stormy rendezvous..."
        
        The gears shift in and through each other as the Black Lapine's purple-painted lips whisper-sing. The White Lapine tumbles down onto the main platform, but she's pulled back up by wires, kicking her feet and smiling fancily before she's forced up to dance. She spins and spins until the clock hands cut her wires, sending everything--her, the gears, the backup dancer robots--collapsing as all falls into disrepair. The Black Lapine watches, dismayed, as frames of the two of them bound together fall. All seems lost... until she materializes over the collapsed White Bunny and pulls her face up to give her a kiss.
        "My fairy tail will never end, still go on and go on, go on, go on...
        "A robin told me, 'Your story has me so bored I'm almost in a coma, so I'll just pass through, farewell'
        "It's up to you, I want to do it with you, I want to die with you
        "I want to live with you, I want to be with you, with you, with you...
        "I love the pain."
        
        The White Lapine's eyes fly wide. Above her and the whole stage, the Black Lapine looms, a smirk on her lips--but nothing within her cloak but the expansive gears.
        "So tell me your perfect choice!"
        
        The stage lights flicker and loop, from purple-black to pink-white to pure white, and the White Lapine smashes through, her outfit still torn, but her expression wild and delighted. The Black Lapine slumps on the stage, her purple hair tumbling around her, but the White Lapine reaches down and pulls her into a spin until they both face each other, rope tying them inorexibly together. Sheryl, as the Black and White merged, sweeps herself to the edge of the gear platform, arms spread wide, her ferocious and defiant smile spinning through the concert hall.
        "Smash your limits and seize your prize, 1000%! Abandon safety and indulge in pride, 1000%!
        "The attractive force of despair... I show you my all and give you a reason to love
        "What's essential is pleasure, 1000%! What's ambiguous is the limit, 1000%!
        "Private joy is reversible, but even so, I can't stop my love. I can't, and I don't want to!"
        
        As the backup robots spin, so too does the platform, pieces of it breaking off more and more until only one sole island, and Black-and-White Sheryl upon it, remains. She twirls and spins, reveling in her own union:
        "Black or white, you'll never see... Black or white, you'll never see..."
        
        ...until she raises one hand high into the air, reflected throughout the hall, as the outro clamors to a halt and all goes dark.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

Rena spots Ruri, too. The ashen-haired woman waves her hand in the Nadesico operator's direction, before her eyes shift back towards Arriety. She tilts her head to the side for a second. "It looks like it's about to start, too," she adds, with just that touch of nervousness. Rena tends to talk to fill the silence, if she gets her nerves up.

Which, being at a Sheryl Nome concert, her nerves are up.

She quiets down as it gets quiet -- and then Rena has a big, dumb grin on her face because she happens to really like Sheryl Nome. She cheers loudly at the clockwork platforms, the heart exploding outward, and the outfit. She falls back into her seat as Sheryl sings -- she's mouthing the words along with the song -- and then glances sideways at Arriety.

She grins at her -- beaming -- and then the song comes to an end. "Wow," she whispers, in the brief quiet as the hall grows dark.

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

Oh no, spotted!

Riika turns around when someone calls her name, which is *definitely* not what she was expecting to happen. They don't sound angry, at least -

"Oh! It's you, Serinas," Riika says, with a smile. "I didn't know you were going to be here - I came on my own, I didn't think it would be good to make a fuss about it." By which she means there are at least a few people in her chain of command who definitely would not approve of her visiting Macross City for a concert.

"But I really wanted to see the city, too. How could you not?" It's kind of famous. And it probably means even more to Serinas (or at least her mother, who Riika guesses that is) than Riika herself. "Ma'am," she says, politely. "That's right! I work with Serinas sometimes. I actually said I'd visit a city down here with her, but, well. I guess I got beaten to it!"

She might have said more, but with the show starting, she wants to watch that! And listen, and she's not going to say a damn thing more until it's over. Riika tends to be a quiet-ish audience, but even she makes noise when the crowd does. If she had one wish...

...

it would be that she was up about three inches because there's a lot of back-of-the-head viewing involved in this spot.

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        "Mm. It's going to get really loud as everyone cheers..." Arriety answers, before shifting a little bit closer to Rena. As a little source of comfort and warmth, against this tide of emotions. She's just glad it's not all directed at her. She kinda wonders how Sheryl deals with it...

        She'll never be that strong a person...

        A pause, though, as the first few beats of the song start and she realises what it is. Wow, the effects they're using on this song are something else entirely... are those machines? Whoa-- giant Sheryl!! She flushes just a bit at the somewhat suggestive show of Black Lapine, shaking her head for a moment.

        Black or white? Maybe...

        She's struggling with a little bit of that right now. What her heart wants, and what the rest of her wants...

        "It's really different, seeing it in person..." Arriety pauses. "The last one had this amazing thing where they were playing with the temperature in the room. But-- hmm-- mm--"

        She suspiciously glances around. "You haven't seen Myrme, right? ... I wonder if there's an attack happening somewhere close by..."
Ruri Hoshino has connected.

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        Alto's light teasing of Ranka has been turned on him in a predictable manner. Predictable for others, perhaps less so for Alto who gets a little flustered at the suggestion, rubbing the back of his neck, "Ah... Well... That's not what I meant..." Technically neither a confirmation or denial!

        Alto had of course returned the nod to Goat. Though the sight of the headband had caused a brief double-take. Though Alto was not going to mention it... And so Ranka proceeds to bring it up instead, to which Alto says, "Well, I guess music is something that all types can enjoy." Something he's started to realize a lot more in recent months. Briefly reflecting on his life not that long ago and the differences to now, Alto briefly wonders what things might have been like had he not had back-to-back encounters with a certain couple of people.

        Also, it's probably a good thing Lucine didn't say much more beyond her initial reaction to meeting Alto.

        The group finally find their way to their seats, settling down into them. Alto is not exactly jumping at the bit to be here like SOME of the fans around them. But at least he also doesn't look like he wants to run away.

        Yet.

        The concert starts. Sheryl makes her usual flashy entrance. Alto simply watches somewhat intently as the holographic display plays out before him. One might even catch him nodding his head to the beat at first. But as the song proceeds and the imagery, both verbal and literal, grows ever more saucy, Alto grows a little more redder and redder, shrinking into his chair a bit at the sights bombarding him.

        It's strange. This is not all that different to the first concert he saw! What's gotten in to him?

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        Ruri is happy to get Arriety and Rena's attention! Even if it's too loud to say anything in this crowd.

        "Hmm," Goat grunts, meanwhile, in response to Ranka's question of whether he's a fan. His stoic mystery reveals nothing of how he knew about the bow she was wearing in one specific summer concert years ago. ... maybe he's very good at research.

        Ruri either doesn't notice, or doesn't care. "Thank you for your consideration, Ms. Azul," she says, instead. It's hard to tell whether she's being sarcastic, dry as she is.

        (She isn't. She appreciates people looking out for them after what happened last time.)

        They sit down, and lo -- there is a white rabbit. Let us note that this is the second girl in a white rabbit costume Ruri has encountered, in her life, which will be important later.

        Soon after Black Lapine Sheryl appears, though, Ruri's view is obscured... by Goat's hand, lifting up to cover her eyes. She shoots him an entirely unimpressed look over being treated like such a child. He does not lower his hand.

        "I suppose that explains the Captain and Megumi-san's relationship," she remarks, frankly, as everything goes dark. (Goat lowers his hand now, at least.) "Though I suspect Megumi-san would protest being framed as the villain just for being more underhanded."

        ... clearly the lapine imagery didn't go over her head, even if some other things did.

<Pose Tracker> Zurvan Zevarist has posed.

         In hindsight, Zurvan ponders as the song starts playing, perhaps he should've thought a lot more about this before giving them a virtual ticket.

         ...Nah. It's not like the artist shaking her tush and having a very revealing ... bikini? ... is the worse thing that they've been exposed to. He did catch Ruri's wave before the whole thing started... which did make him worried. This kind of concert tend to be...

         Yeah. Yeah, just like that.

         On the other hand, Zurvan, his hair untied and is now freely shooting out around his head like wriggling snakes as he throws up a fist in the air, a glowing stick in hand. That extends outward once, twice as he shakes it around.

         In his other, a can of soda, comfortably resting inside a protector that he takes a large chugs out of, breathing out contently.

         "Mmmm. Now that's some good deculture."

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuba Greyvalley has posed.

Is that... the delivery girl? No -- it can't be, Mitsuba reflects, as she spots familiar green hair out of the corner of her eye. And yet... she's fairly close. Hm, she thinks -- maybe it's worth approaching...?

She makes her way toward the Ashford kids, straightening out her uniform a bit; she thinks she sees an open seat near them... there aren't many of those, so it's worth capitalizing on.

The music hits, though, and Sheryl grabs Mitsuba's attention. ... and keeps it. On the one hand, the individual components aren't exactly anything she hasn't seen before, but the *configuration* is... w-well. She takes a deep breath in, and finds herself forgetting to breathe back out -- or maybe that lightheadedness is sourced from somewhere else entirely.

It's only once the area goes dark again that Mitsuba offers, "... Excuse me, Miss? Have we met before?" she asks, evidently having received the signal.

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

"What did you mean then, Alto-kun?" Ranka asks, teasing anew, though she doesn't press too hard to get him to answer it. Instead she smiles Lucine's way, "I'll be counting on you in case Alto-kun is too enchanted by Sheryl-san's show."

It is an insecurity of hers, that she's already losing to Sheryl on this front, but she's not giving up either. Ranka doesn't press him on it either.

By the time they're at their seats, the show is about to start and then... Sheryl's line causes her to clasp her hands together in anticipation. And while she's been to a Sheryl concert, the presentation this time causes her to start from the sheer excitement as the heart detonates and the White Lapine appears. She knows what song it is.

The lyrics are already thrumming in her head, her heart beating out of her chest.

"Aahhhhh!" She lets out a small noise of excitement, as she braces herself for the presentation. Sheryl always puts on an incredible show, but this time in Macross City she seems to be going all out. The imagery flashes before her eyes, in synch with the lyrics, and her cheeks grow aflush a hand hovering in front of her mouth as she watches - at times biting the edge of her lip, entranced by the song.

Black or White?

The question thrums through her head again and again, as she gets swept up in the emotions of the crowd.

Black or White?

At the end of the song, as the hall goes dark, she gently asides to Alto, "What'd you think?" She asks gently, curious - it is his first time just watching a Sheryl concert rather than working. She examines his face, how red he... looks... from the opening act.

Ruri's comment though causes her to look her way after a moment, blinking twice in response as Goat lifts his hand. "What... kind of relationship do the Captain and Megumi-san have?" She asks... her face, notably reddening.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

>Riika
        "I was at the concert that had to make a forced landing on Earth!" Serinas cheerfully explains. The city: "Yeah, it's really something"

        Lani has mixed feelings about 'ma'am'; She's in her thirties! ;_; She nods, "We've had something of an unexpected vacation, but I get to spend more time with her, so we're making the most of it." "Japan was so cool!"

        Lani extends a hand to shake. "Lani Nikolas. Your... work keeping us safe is deeply appreciated." The sentiment is sincere, the hesitation only as she changes the wording slightly to not make it quite so obvious Riika is military.

>LISTEN TO MY SONG!
        Ooh, it's starting! Serinas stares in wonder at the holo-effects, they didnt have anything like that on the mining colony! Lani may be more jaded but it's still impressive to see in person... and for at least a moment, she's taken out of trying to analyze the effects. Although she starts trying to analyze the lyrics when the mention of a white bunny seems to be going for an Alice in Wonderland reference... or maybe not.

        Wait what. *Wait what.*

        Lani's eyes widen a bit when the White Bunny is bound and then, blushing slightly, she gets the awkward look on her face that all parents or sufficiently-old children do when watching a movie together and it gets *horny*. Her fingers brush against her neck at the bite... Though as the song continues, she can feel some vague connection to the song.

        Serinas, for her part, doesn't seem to notice anything especially untoward. Her eyes are on the performance, not her mom, so she doesn't even notice the elder's awkwardness. It sure is catchy music! She lacks experience in life and in love...

<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.

"Well well, fancy seeing you here, Emilia," C.C. murmurs slyly at the princess in question.

"Well well, fancy having seats right next to each other," C.C. continues to croon as indeed, their tickets have their respective butts parked in adjacent seats - C.C.'s between herself and Kallen.

She's going to be insufferable here, isn't she?

"I'm more a fan of...events that transpire in the shadow of history. I'd meant to come to Macross City, and I may as well do it when something kinda fun's going on, yes? Maybe it's good to have friends that'll be here just for the sake of enjoying the show, yes?" She emphasizes 'friend' in particular to Kallen. . . giving her the exact same cheeky little smirk that she did when taunting her about her connection to Zero. That 'I'm closer to him than you have any idea you can be' smile.

The show begins. The anticipation sets in for C.C., as yet once more she seeks out awakening the same spark that others are. Feeling the same thing that others are. The crowd is going wild. They're mesmerized - entranced - aroused, by the captivating, evocative, yet ultimately straightforward provocations the song and the imagery gives off. A short little story of facing a moral dilemma. The entrapment of innocence - the freedom of desire - the yearning and ideal of reconciling them both.

The song crescendos. The crowd is deafening. Hearts are racing.

(Ah, right. Innocence. What a nice thought. It's a lens so many have, because it's refreshed in each generation.)
And then it's over. It's like a lot of flamboyant and bombastic things C.C.'s seen in her day. The Galactic Fairy, whose songs have captivated the stars themselves, whose passion and drive drips with every forcefully delivered line...

Even that's not enough to fall in love with.

Electing not to stew in a millennia's worth of ennui, C.C. gets up from her seat fairly shortly after the lights go dark, leaving Emilia and Kallen behind for just a moment - breathing out a bit of a dejected sigh, and strides towards a familiar aura, one that -actually- sates her curiosity.

She taps Rikka Takarada's shoulder. "...I'm not mistaking you for someone else, am I? ...You're Takarada, yes? If so...it's good to know I'm not the only one who can cross the boundary." She's someone that may be just the barest glimmer of a familiar face - an entity that's always at a bit of a distance in Tsutsujidai - on account of being a lowerclassman to Rikka. This would be the first time the girl who calls herself 'Shiranui Shirome' has deigned to contact Rikka directly - choosing here, instead of that unusual domain.

"...How's the show for you?"

Mitsuba similarly enters into view, and C.C. flashes a little smile. "It's good to cross paths with you again, captain-chan. I never forget a face - that's my pride as a deliverygirl. Don't worry, I'm not here to drop another package in your lap. I'm off today and here enjoying the Galactic Fairy's harmony, pyon pyon. Definitely more of the dark bunny of provocation, I think - are you here to join hands with me as the light bunny of innocence? Heehee."

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

Riika did shake Lani's hand. She can be a ma'am because she might be in her thirties, but Riika is nineteen (she looks younger) and also polite. "Thanks," she says. "I'm really not here to think about this tonight though. Everybody needs downtime!"

And with what she's thinking about on the Moon - no. Best not to get into that right now.

Riika does not analyze the vocals because this isn't the first time she's heard this song. Or even seen this song, though is the first time she has seen it in person. (It's not her very favourite of the Sheryl songs.)

Honestly, she was mostly prepared to feel second-hand embarrassment about Serinas watching it with her *mom*. Talk about awkward...

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.

        "Oh, Miss Kallen!" That's... well it's complicated. She's a lot more comfortable now Kallen is here too, but last time she... literally ran away from her. It's the same reason she's trying to not make herself known to Sho, from... three seats over, at best. It's not easy. She is also *oblivious* to Cyzarine's 'well, well'ing. Surely it was chance. "I hope you all enjoy the show."

        The lights go down and the show starts, the robots dancing, the light effects, it's all so grand. And the music starts, and the robots have and impressive routine... And then the white rabbit starts, so pretty and then-

        And then Emilia goes BRIGHT RED, her jaw drops a little, and her eyes can't tear away from the stage, even if she wanted. And she does. not. want. to.

        If Sheryl's last concert awoke something in Emilia's heart, Sheryl's Black Lapine costume sure awakens something else. And as things go on. The whip is too much... but the grab, the bite, the embrace... all of it... is *powerful*. The wires dragging her up- then getting cut...

        But it's the kiss between Black and White that makes her go reddest yet. That sort of tenderness, strange as it is... Can you be that in tune with all of yourself? That kind to yourself? Even amongst it all...

        As soon as someone else starts clapping, Emilia joins in. Do you applaud for every song? She's not sure. Hopefully no one's looking as the blush starts to recede from her face. The important thing is that Milly was right that Emilia'd be able to answer that question the next time Milly asks it-

        She very, VERY much likes girls. A lot. A whole lot.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        Thankfully, as socially awkward as Lucine can be, her reaction to Alto's handsomeness is vague enough.

        ... She also feels a little guilty now for wandering into Asuka's verbal jousting with Alto.

        As the song's melody begins, Lucine tilts her head to the side. "Oh, this is from...." Wait, isn't this song a little... saucy?

        Like, the kind that you feel embarrassed when it comes on when you're working on something with your dad?

        Like Goat, she's worrriedly looking towards Ruri, and even Ranka to some degree, though mostly the former. Her hands are perched on her hand purse, and in her mind's eye, she could imagine herself using it as a block over the eyes of what is her _coworker_--

        Oh, Goat's taken the bullet.

        And for nothing, as Lucine realizes that Ruri is subject to many saucy conversations.

        Because of that, she notices Alto not too long after Ranka does. Alto, red-faced, shrinking into his chair. She smiles softly. Ah, of course! So romantic! Of course he would be put-off and casting a cool demeanor--

        She has to turn her face quickly to keep Alto from noticing as Ranka nudges him, now blushing herself as she focuses on the concert.

        "... Ah.... It's... complicated...." Lucine answers Ranka. Somehow, Lucine knows.

        She may not be growing grapes, but she certainly hears things on the grapevine.

        And senses things, to a certain degree.

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

C.C. is spared a smile. "It's nice seeing you out here too. I hope we'll be able to enjoy the show together, then And maybe we can hang out and talk after." She HAS after all, shown she can do a bit more than lounge around, hang off Zero's arm, and gorge herself on pizza. So while she may be frustrating to deal with, completely enigmatic, and generally just a cryptic pain in the butt, Kallen doesn't hate her or anything. Besides, her loyalty to Zero isn't actually romantic. There's no love rivalry or anything here, she's too busy with becoming the Crimson Black Knight, who will free Japan and protect people the entire Earth Sphere over. Emilia as well, she offers a friendly greeting and a hand. Clearly she shows no resentment for what happened at the picnic before whatsoever. And then she hears the words 'LISTEN TO MY SONG' followed by the music starting up.

Kallen is stunned speechless. It's not that she didn't expect this song. It was on the CD. But there's a difference between just having the vocals, and... Her face lights up to reach about the same shade as her hair, gradually deepening as the song ramps up. Her eyes and mouth are both wide and open... frozen in place as she's learning some things even MILLY isn't quite daring enough to cause impromptu lessons in. Or maybe she's just been taking pity on the supposedly frail and sickly girl.

Earth to Kallen. Come in for a landing Kallen.

She's not out in space too long though. It's not like she's completely sheltered. And once she re-enters gravity, she can't help thinking about... a number of things actually. Well. At least there's not a part of her that wants to wear the outfit. Even if the billowing cloak is TEMPTING. No, she's definitely not thinking about that at all. Or making comparisons to anything. Or imagining her own two personas as the Lapines. On the other hand... at least she can SAFELY say her outfit isn't even remotely too daring! Oh this is going to be trapped in her mindscape for a very long time. She hasn't actually noticed how she's started worrying at her lip with her teeth, breaking the skin in a few places but causing only a few small beads of blood inside her mouth.

...Nevermind that bit before about no rivalry or anything of the sort. She's going to tie C.C. up EXACTLY the way the White Rabbit was. Helpless against whatever else this train of thought involves.

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

The concert hall goes quiet. And then, a familiar symbol comes into view... which explodes, as Sheryl announces her presence. Rikka watches intently. Listening to one of Sheryl's songs on a music player is one thing, but being here, watching it in person... it's another thing entirely. She's not just a great singer - the way she moves, the way she interacts with the special effects...

Rikka's very glad she decided to go today, it's a great show. Though... she supposes she should've expected it from the lyrics, but she didn't think the show itself would be quite so... intense?

...Not that she minds it, though.

The song fades, and the concert hall goes dark... which is about when someone taps her on the shoulder - someone who addresses her by name which causes her to jump a little. Rikka's face goes a little red - did someone she know see her watching so raptly...?

"U-uh, yeah..." Rikka says, turning to face her. Shiranui Shirome... she doesn't know her personally. She's really only passed her by in the hall maybe once or twice. "Shirome, right...? I didn't think I'd see anyone from back home here..."

She would've invited her along, if she knew - it would've nice to be here with someone, even if just a distant schoolmate.

As for the show...

"It was... great. Just great." Rikka replies awkwardly... which is when someone else arrives that Shiranui knows, which offers Rikka a chance breathe and regain her composure. It's cool, everything's cool, act cool. She looks toward Mitsuba, but she doesn't know her... Shiranui seems pretty familiar with her, though.

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.

Why come here for your third time ever visiting the surface of the planet of Earth?

Well, because you got a discount ticket; because you could; because it was spontaneous; because you have regrets about your job and your life decisions; because you, maybe, want to see a little more of Earth, a part that's not quite a desert or a city.

Why come alone?

Because SOMEONE DIDN'T CHARGE THEIR (HIS) PHONE, probably; or perhaps it was just an opportunity that moved too fast.

So out there in the audience is Roux Louka --

-- who is marvelling at this song, which she has never heard save in passing snatches on the radio -- and speaking of something of that type passing, the presentation is extravagant and evocative and makes her feel like her face is burning.

Roux would like to think she thought 'wow, damn, that's pretty lewd' with an air of being above it all and perhaps abstractly disapproving, and she is absolutely going to claim she did later.

Right now, she is one of a hundred thousand people (estimated; numbers not necessarily actual) gasping and then screaming.

It feels like being a fish in the sea.

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        The song ends, leaving Alto feeling a mixture of reactions at it. From one perspective, he can certainly understand and appreciate the artistry of the performance. Even if it stirs up feelings from his own artistic past. The music is definitely catchy and the lyrics well written, if a common theme throughout history.

        On the other hand, actually having spent a not insignificant amount of time with Sheryl and subject to her attention, he's realizing that the impact to him is far greater than usual.

        Which is why Ranka's probing catches Alto off guard just a bit. He glances at her for a moment, "O-oh... Well..." He scratches his cheek in thought, "Loud. Greatly provocative. Though beneath the surface, something more meaningful?" Pausing for a moment, he then admits, "About what I'm starting to expect from Sheryl at this point."

        Alto his head to look at Ranka more closely, "What about you?"

        Of course, on the other side of Ranka, Alto can see Goat still fussing over Ruri. He has to admit that he doesn't envy the other man's position right now. Nor the one Goat may end up finding himself in later when he has to face the others on the Nadesico who will no doubt be curious about what happened.

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        Through the darkness, dim spotlights thread slowly, searching for something but not finding their mark. Sheryl giggles, low and teasing, and her sound reverberates everywhere and nowhere, making it impossible to find where she is.
        
        "How was that to start, everybody? You're all my precious fans, so I wanted to really rev your hearts from the word go... Oh, but where are my manners? When you're entertaining, it's only proper to make your guests feel like they belong!
        "So this one goes out to the crowd. For all my fans, present and future, here on Earth... Let Sheryl Nome give you a *hot* welcome to the club!"
        
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQDVQdiHSsk
        
        Mist sprays into the air around the stage, obscuring it and reflecting the now-bright colored spotlights as they attempt to pierce through it. String instruments rev up the melody of the next song opposite of the strumming of electric guitars and drum sets, their players catching momentarily as spotlights pass over them. Soon a massive platform loops up and out of the foggy shroud. A lone figure strides up, and the spotlights at last catch Sheryl at the precipice, smiling confidently down at her audience. She's wearing a blue, bust-hugging dress over a white button-up top, skirt fluffed out with dozens of lacy petticoats. A cowgirl hat on her head, a pink fake gun in one hand, Sheryl projects her song down to the crowd:
        "Can you hear me, my lovely boys and girls?
        "A miracle's slipped out, and now I've already caught your heart..."
        
        She smirks as she trains her gun across the crowds, slowly, as if carefully picking out who she's aiming out. On the drumbeat, she fires, and a massive pink holographic heart fires out, expanding larger and larger until it explodes, raining down motes of light on the audience:
        "C'mon, stand up! Fly out in about 5 G's! Now I realize that I live, I'm right here
        "Feel! I'm a shinin' star!"
        
        Miniature platforms materialize in groups, one by one, in the left, right, and lower sections of the audience, displaying half-sized versions of Sheryl throughout the hall that mirror the twist of her hips, the twirl of her arms, as she dances. Rainbow light shimmers off her copies' dresses, while the real one high above reflects a huge main image back behind her, golden hair flying in her wake:
        "Dancing in the constellation Mirror Ball Color at the planet platform on 3rd avenue
        "Get hype! The engine's on beat!"
        
        Sheryl strokes the muzzle of her gun along one outstretched arm, and shimmering pink light follows the tip as she turns, forming a heart shape around herself. She holds out her hand as if to her audience, and the holographic copies of herself below mirror her to send copies of the heart-shapes out into the audience. They dissolve against whatever they hit, forming a light breeze to brush the hair from one's face as if to let one get a better view of the Galactic Fairy on high:
        "Welcome to my fan club's night! S.O.S.! Shall I entice you with a shooting star date through hyperspace?
        "Welcome to my fan club's night! S.O.S.! It's headed for you at faster-than-light speed! So romantic!"
        
        Sheryl kneels halfway down, spreading one arm up back behind her as if leaning in to better sing into the ears of her fans:
        "A single vibration now shakes your heart, so go beyond its beat..."
        
        She twists to one side, shaking her hips, and draws a hand up to her rouged cheeks. As she winks, her sigil--the golden heart with the fairy wing--sprouts from her, spinning forward larger and larger towards the crowd until she aims her gun and fires a shot through it. An arrow of light sears forward and pierces it through the center, pinning it in the air for a moment until they both dissolve into a shower of rainbow glitter:
        "Can you hear my voice? Be good boys and girls
        "Right now, I can definitely feel a sense of unity everywhere
        "Don't you feel it? The frequency's raising a final warning, so dance, shouting through!
        "We'll enjoy a day today! Then I'll sing a love song for you."
        
        The drums and guitar thrum out their beats. This time, the copy Sheryls swing into individual dances, some shaking their busts, some swinging their hips, some twirling fast with fancy footwork. As their very images spin, shimmering two-dimensionally in the air, Sheryl fires off several more shots, one a blue diamond, one a green club, one a purple spade:
        "Keep together with the rhythm; step by! Keep on step! Oh yeah
        "Fill in here and now! Don't be late!!"
        
        Sheryl pumps one heeled boot to the beat as she lashes her free arm across her chest, outward and up and down; at the same time, her holographic copies spin hard and then mirror her once more, as if corralled into line. She turns sharply, grinding down until her knees nearly touch the platform floor, and slowly rises as she runs a hand through her long hair:
        "Welcome to my fan club's night! S.O.S! On the verge of an overcrowded puncture, you're already in a trance
        "Welcome to my fan club's night! S.O.S! It's headed for you at faster-than-light speed! So romantic!"
        
        An electronic soundbite of her voice plays over the electronic guitars, repeating 'Welcome to my fan club's night!' twice as she spreads her arms and runs to the end of the towering platform. She leaps off the edge, tosses her gun up into the air, and free-falls for several heart-stopping seconds... until heatless rockets erupt from the frilly folds of her skirt, illuminating her and easing her descent like a slow-motion comet.
        Sheryl holds up her hand and snatches her gold-handled microphone out of the air, where it had fallen in place of her gun. As she lands with infinite elegance on the stage below, she pumps a fist into the air and sings passionately into the microphone:
        "Welcome to my fan club's night... Sheryl on Staaaage!!"
        
        The copy Sheryls vanish as colored spotlights go wild, flashing through the fog to light up Sheryl until the last note comes to a crashing halt.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"It is, isn't it?" Rena says, with a look around the room for a moment. Then, she glances at Arriety. Her head tilts to the side for a second. "Playing with temperature...? That sounds really cool..."

She trails off for a second. Then, she shakes her head. "It's okay, Arriety. If there is, we can deal with it then. And if not, it'll be fun." She flashes a smile at her, before she looks back at the stage. She doesn't really picture herself up there -- but her singing ability is strictly mediocre.

Her eyes open wide though, when Sheryl talks. She might be a Newtype, but the illusion isn't ruined; she can sense the presence of so many people that she cannot somehow pick Sheryl out of the crowd. She gasps softly, eyes darting to Arriety, and then to the mist.

She cheers again, loudly, as Sheryl rises up on the platform. Rena's red in the face too -- but really, it's no surprise that Rena is red in the face around Sheryl's image. She just lives her life like that. And, indeed, she bounces back when a holographic heart collides with her face.

"Yaaaah!"

She looks sideways at Arriety -- grins at her -- and then applauds and cheers loudly when the song ends. She lets out a sigh. "Aaah, wow, she's even better in person!" she says. "I never could have imagined!"

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        Arriety glances a bit longer at Ruri, but seems content that she has Goat and... ah, is that Alto from the goodwill mission? She vaguely remembers him, but who's his green-haired friend? Maybe later, though...

        She looks back to Rena. "Yeah, all the high budget effects are real fun, aren't they? But, it wouldn't amount to much if it wasn't Sheryl Nome singing... it's a good thing she can nail it so well."

        Sheryl continues, though, so she focuses more on the stage. She's not imagining herself on it like Rena might be, though...

        There was only tragedy up there, when she tried.

        A gun and a cowgirl hat? Going fast and living the life... then, she splits into several holographic images. ... it's a little ruined, perhaps, to no one's fault but her own, because she can sense the one that exudes emotions amongst them. The holograms remind her of the Batta, completely emotionless, completely presenceless...

        ... why is she thinking of automated Jovian units in the middle of a Sheryl Nome concert? Ugh!

        This one, she appreciates a bit more... she's been there. She's put in the hours for dance practice. She knows how tough it is, to keep in sync like that, to never miss a beat.

        She smiles at Rena's dreamy sigh. "I'm glad we went together."

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        "A very adversarial one," Ruri explains, to Ranka; unlike Lucine, she isn't afraid of hitting the nail on the head. "They both like Mr. Tenkawa, but Mr. Tenkawa seems like he has more important things to do. Though Minato-san said he and Megumi-san went on a date the other day, so I suppose being underhanded works..?"

        This is surely the best lesson Ruri could possibly be imparting in this situation.

        "They're both fools," she surmises, finally. Everyone's reactions to this are kind of curious -- maybe she missed something when Goat was covering her eyes -- but Ruri, at least, doesn't seem terribly shaken. She kind of wonders whether being underhanded or straightforward is better, but...

        She looks over to Alto, and notes: "So, Ms. Nome is a fool, too?" ... is that what she gets from someone being loud and provocative with hidden depths? Well, she does come from the Nadesico.

        The spotlights thread through with Sheryl's voice, though, so Ruri quiets down and looks to the stage again. Of course, she thinks, that gun would be a prop; her shade of nervousness is chased away with the light of a holographic heart.

        (This time, her view of things isn't obscured, at least. Apparently THIS isn't scandalous enough to make Goat blush.)

        Logically, Ruri thinks, the encouragement of parasocial relationships has nothing to do with actual connection. Well, it's convenient for a song like this to sound like it's talking directly to them, but it's all a polite fiction. Ruri isn't foolish enough to be taken in by something so obvious as this.

        She ends up delighted when the glitter-light sparkles down on everyone, though -- she can still appreciate the special effects, even if she's too clever to fall for the premise. Maybe in another lifetime, if she were a foolish woman like the Captain, but...

        (Here Ruri thinks it's a little strange, because her only exposure to romance has been things like Yurika pursuing Akito. She'll have to figure out how that would work if Akito were a girl. It's fine, there's probably an encyclopaedia entry about it.)

        "Ms. Nome is certainly a skilled performer," Ruri reflects, when the song concludes. She blinks, looking over to Alto and Ranka. "How long has she been performing with Frontier, anyway..?"

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

Lucine inadvertently causes her to go almost cross-eyed thinking about the Captain, and Megumi... though Ruri clears it up instead. "O-Oh-! Oh! That's what you meant...!" Ranka's glad that bubble burst before that thought got too far, deciding neither to disagree or agree with Ruri's evaluation of them as fools.

Ranka watches Alto as he describes the music as 'Loud. Greatly provocative. Though beneath the surface, something more meaningful.' She seems to be studying his face... she's not so wrapped up in her crush that she's unable to watch and enjoy the show, or think it was a bad idea to bring him here when she's vying for his affection, but she wonders if it'd even be possible for someone like her to get a reaction like this one out of him.

'Someone like her' takes her thoughts back to the park, so when she looks forward again, a hand sifts through the side of her hair, embarrassed. She can't just say how that song made her feel to him... well, not all of it. Though she can be honest, "I've always been a fan of her music. Ever since her debut. With each concert I see in person... I think I appreciate more and more how she moves people. Her fans, the crowd... me..." She then smiles his way, "...even you Alto-kun. I think about just how far I'd have to go to catch up to Sheryl-san."

Though Ruri's comment then has Ranka study Alto's face as she answers.

The darkness clears though, and Ranka clasps her hands together, smiling toothily at Sheryl giving them a *hot* welcome. As the strings rev it up, she feels awed as Sheryl strides back up in her reappearance in the wild west which just evokes both a sense of adventure and... ... ... other feelings within her. As she starts to dance and as the song moves into copy Sheryl's dancing in the hall of mirrors, she thinks about all the times Sheryl told her and Alto that she doesn't do this kind of thing just for anyone.

Even though Sheryl's singing for the crowd tonight, it's a fantasy perhaps that she's also doing it all for her as well. It makes her feel closer to her. A fan of her on the stage, a fan of her mere feet away. She watches her twist, and shake in her song, light illuminating her, her wink creating a heart...

Ranka's hair starts to rise slowly in delight...

The bang of the gun causes her hair to fall, while her heart just beats so fast. Ranka feels herself sink back into her seat, feeling suddenly a bit faint. Sitting back in her chair, she listens to Ruri's answer, "Not too long, she was only on the Frontier for a short time before... starting this tour earthside. Though believe it or not, she transferred into our school... so I think she'll be staying with us for a while at least." Ranka says quietly, trying not to think too hard about the Galaxy. She knows Sheryl is having a rough time right now, "How do her songs make you feel, Ruri-chan?"

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuba Greyvalley has posed.

C.C. at least confirms that she is, in fact, the delivery girl Mitsuba remembers -- though she catches the familiarity with Rikka from seemingly a completely different context... 'the boundary'? 'The only one who can cross the border'... maybe they're from Area 11. Putting their delivery girl... pretty far from home, when last they saw her...

Mitsuba's brow furrows. Maybe she's overthinking it. Maybe the Dreisstrager's mysteries have just sort of gotten her into the position of analyzing every interaction.

"She's -- really something, isn't she?" Mitsuba murmurs, before actually getting around to the *question*. "I -- I think that'd be more Az's position than mine," she concedes. "Even Lune might do a better job cutting that figure..." She realizes she's being a little rude to whoever C.C.'s friend is, though, and adds, "Ah -- Mitsuba Greyvalley. I'm with..." She considers. "Nergal," is the option she picks for today. It's less disruptive.

She gets drawn back into the music before long. She's... okay, she's a little starstruck. She'd probably still be even more excited about a cuter idol, but -- well, this is nice in its own way. The cowgirl aesthetic has a little bit of nostalgia for her, strangely.

<Pose Tracker> Zurvan Zevarist has posed.

         "YO!" Zurvan shouts in the cacophony of noise between songs. Obviously, around him, the high schoolers are beside themselves. In all the ages, there is one thing that hardly changes and that is teenagers being WAY over enthusiastic about performers and singers. Shouts of 'WE LOVE YOU!' or 'MAAAAAARRRYYY MEEEEE' shoots from around him. Distinctly, however, not from Zurvan himself.

         A glance is given all around the area, a hand lifted to pool his wriggling hair strands back into a bun, where they DO keep wriggling -- just bound in the elastic. As the second song begins, Zurvan reach up to his glow stick, bringing it back down for examination. He flips a small switch on the side as he thrust it back up in the air.

         The glowstick wobbles left and right, extending and retracting back inside with each right and left motion, growing a little longer with each undulations -- until it makes a whole, full circle of light with each swings.

         Like hell he's going to something like this and not flex his creative know-how in the face of who-knows how many people in here.

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.

When the lights dim and Sheryl Nome speaks to them - whether live or on tape - Roux feels like she can breathe again.

When Sheryl offers to give them a *HOT* welcome, Roux has reasserted enough of her intrinsic Rouxosity to say in the crowd, alone among the others, "Is this porn?"

Is she complaining? Fortunately what comes next is at least different, and a little less... flustering. Roux's eyes turn upwards, and she ends up leaning back from the edge of the seat she had begun to claim --

Am I in her fan club now? Roux wonders, an irrelevancy that bobs to the surface as that feeling of the sea coming back and washing over her rises upwards. Sheer visual delight; glory and fancy in the sky; did I scream? But it was a good scream, right?! Roux thinks hotly to herself. Why am I sweating?! (Roux is wearing something pretty lightweight and athletic with shorts, shirt, and an unnecessary but flair-laden and pocket-heavy vest over it, all in a pastel green-- and also a pair of athletic sneakers and socks because on earth you have to wear actual shoes)

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

This particular song is a little more Riika's speed. Gosh, she's pretty, is what Riika thinks in there, though it's in at least a slightly more innocent way than SOME people might be thinking: "I could never wear an outfit like that," she says quietly to Serinas, not meant to carry far. "I think it's the hat."

Well, that and the glasses. They don't really match the rest of the motif and Riika can't exactly leave hers off.

"Yeah!" she yells into the darkness, along with half the rest of the audience, as a giant holographic heart comes RIGHT AT HER okay, maybe not right at her; it pops well before it gets there, leaving Riika un-hearted but still grinning, until Sheryl leaps over the edge, free-falling...

Riika *knows* it's part of the show (of course it is, nobody would do that if it wasn't) but she still gasps. The gasp too is probably part of the show, because she's not going to be the only person to do it.

She relaxes somewhat afterward, having only lately realized that she is rising out of her seat, both out of excitement and because she still has a bit of trouble seeing over the people in front of her. Riika runs her hand through her hair, brushing it back in a habitual gesture. It makes no noticable difference.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

>I could never wear an outfit like that.
        "Oh, why not?" Serinas replies innocently. Lani looks more thoughtful. "Oh, I don't know about that..."

        Once the song begins, it's Serinas's turn to briefly overanalyze, as at the mention of 5 G's, Serinas does actually imagine the sensation for a moment. The Queadluun power armors can manage some pretty insane acceleration, far more than that! Meanwhile, Lani just sort of bops her head a little and sways side to side with the beat. Both end up blushing a bit at the group of holographic Sheryls. Perhaps Serinas is better able to grasp the meaning when it's been framed by talking about dates and romance directly first. She knows what those are! She's seen movies!

        Serinas stands and cheers when the song ends, her mother clapping in quieter applause.

<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.

Ah, this was already worth it. Kallen's impulses ring loud and clear, even in this turbulent vortex of overflowing emotion that is this concert. The red-headed pilot gets another slight turn from C.C., not enough to actually look her way, but one very clearly displaying herself...and her arms cross behind her back, hands together, shoulders tightening forward. It's a purely innocent gesture, almost a bit comfy and stretchy - if you're anyone except Kallen Kozuki, to whom it's a posture that looks -terribly- like she's had her hands tied behind herself, and like she's straining cutely against them.

As expected for someone who wears a straitjacket all the damn time - C.C. looks terribly fashionable dealing with restraints. Totally unfair to Kallen.

"Only great? Hmmm? It's kinda dark between songs, but I can tell you're blushing. Unless you put on a lot of makeup to make this some sorta date, Takarada...?~" C.C. teases to Rikka, one golden eye languidly closed, her hands moving to fan over her lips.

The next song starts to play on full blast. It's a fun little number meant to puff up the fans, near as C.C. can tell. Another little sigh, but this time more about the general artistic integrity compromises that come from a concert.

"Ah, I can tell you're getting into it, dan~chou. As they say here. Hm. I'm still figuring out how I feel about all this. I kinda think - " The -very- enthusiastic fandom cheers from the people near Zurvan evoke a little hand-waggly gesture, as she tries to compete with Sheryl On Stage!. "Well. That's sorta what the point of this is, yeah? To get way into it! Let's Go! And all that. ...So let it all out! Don't let yourself become all-business like me, so to speak. This is the kind of idol that wants you to feel a lot for her. Begging you to fall into her heart. Like my friend over there," C.C. gives a sort of...spread two-finger point to Emilia. "She may not look it - oh, no, she actually does look it. She's falling in love. Let yourself go head over heels for one night, yeah? Prove that you've got that love in you! You can do it, Captain!"

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.

        When Emilia snaps out of the song she realizes Cyzarine is missing from the seat next to her, and she looks to Kallen. "Where'd Miss Cyzarine go?" She whispers, not wanting to disrupt things, her eyes scanning for the green haired woman- it's a really pretty hair colour, Emmy can pick it out in the crowd, but the low lights make it difficult- she thinks she sees a familiar different green hair for a moment. She'll have to text Ranka after the concert. And she only has a few moments before Sheryl starts setting up for the next song and her gaze returns immediately to the stage.

        ...There's a fan club? Are those... can you join this? She'll have to ask Kallen later, she knows so much about these things.

        This song is less of a big important moment and more... fun. High energy. And so much Sheryl. She flinches, though, as the hearts go into the audience, and one dissolves in motes of light next to her. Emilia's still a bit jumpy and nervous. As fans start to go wild- she can't do that. Her mouth locks up, and she starts to retreat into her chair. She's still having fun but this is all... a little loud, a little intense. She can't be that... can she be a fan after all?

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        Alto isn't quite in the know about the relationships of the Nadesico's crew as some here. He's familiar with the people involved, having run into them a few times while working with the Nadesico. But he can't say he's really gotten to know them like Ranka has. Though Ruri's description of the details get him wondering, "Ah, so he's unaware of how they feel about him? Makes me wonder if that date really was a date or just him not realizing it was one."

        Alto then lets out short chuckle at Ruri's question about Sheryl, "Sometimes?" Pause. "Don't tell her I said that."

        As Ranka goes into more detail about how she feels about Sheryl's singing, Alto looks at her, listening intently. He definitely seems invested. He even glances away for a moment when she briefly mentions his own reactions. Finally though, he gives Ranka a smile and says, "Don't worry, you'll get there. I know it. I've heard you sing, remember? I've not only felt it, I've seen others feel it too. I think you're farther ahead in that than you realize."

        Another song starts up. This one Alto is a little more familiar with, which should thankfully mean he'll be a little less flustered by it. He watches along, once more nodding his head to the music, even tapping a finger this time. Of course, the use of flying terms in the song grab his attention. Not a surprise for someone like him. And he is also not surprised to hear Sheryl using them, given she's also from a Macross fleet and the importance that flying has in those cultures.

        This song ends with Alto feeling a little less red than the previous. He then nods in agreement with Ruri's assessment, also adding to Ranka's words, "It was shortly before our final fold back to Earth. So a few months ago?" Then Ranka brings up the fact that Sheryl joined their school, to which Alto groans a little and says, "Don't remind me... I think they're still fixing some of the damage she did with the Ex-Gear."

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

Rikka's attention turns back to the stage as dim spotlights begin to shine. Sheryl's voice resounds, but the woman herself isn't seen... until she reappears, this time in a new outfit. Rikka thinks she likes this one, too. This one isn't quite as... intense, but it's still incredible... and there's so many of her now, too...

The song ends with a crash, and Rikka joins in on the applause.

"She really is... I really have to admire her talent." Rikka agrees with Mitsuba, though the question might not quite be directed at her. She introduces herself, though, so with a nod Rikka looks her way. Nergal... Rikka is somewhat familiar with the company.

"Rikka Takarada... I'm just a high school student." Rikka replies. Her Shuffle ties are supposed to be a secret, after all... even if she's slipped once on that.

And that's when Shiranui - C.C. - teases her, and Rikka looks away, her face going redder.

"Wh- Shirome...!" Rikka says with a huff, folding her arms in front of her. "It's just... she puts on a really good show, is all..."

...Yeah, she's not sure she's buying that excuse either.

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

The stars must have aligned in a particular way tonight. Between songs, Kallen takes a long drink in an attempt at relieving the burning feeling on her face. She'd come to this concert already a fan, thankfully. If she'd never heard any of Sheryl's songs, the poor girl would probably be in a coma right now. Still, her world has already widened today, in a few ways. So her mission has partially succeeded, and sooner than she expected! She glances to how C.C. has wandered off, making it easier to take a concerned look Emilia's way. Just making sure the girl's okay. "...Emmy?" Though she at least recognizes that the lilac-haired girl isn't in any danger, which makes it easier to look back at the next song. She doesn't dare risk tapping her shoulder and frightening the poor girl out of... this.

The presentation and effect of the next performance is a nice aid in letting her cool down slightly. It's not that it lacks anything. In fact, Kallen feels her physical heart stop for an instant, when the holographic heart is caught on a gun-fired arrow. And when it beats again, it feels like the beat is right between her ears.

"She's an incredible performer. Singing, presentation, dancing." There are a few mental notes being taken... and her words aren't really for anyone in particular. Though now she glances in a few directions as this song too comes to a close, seeing who stands out. If only her eyes didn't fall on that damnable lime-haired woman, and the gestures she's making. She can see the smug grin in her mind, even though they're not making eye contact. It's clearly a challenge. C.C. wants to see if she'll back down, or if something might actually change.

She'll deal with that later, no problem. She's not going to regress.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        "Mr. Tenkewa, a sweet young man, very determined, so I can understand why that might have captured two of the crew's attention..." It's heard for Lucine to truly fault Megumi, or look at her negatively, in light of the last battle. Those last words...

        So this is what a concert is like. Not one disturbed by attacks, or a hologram, or a video. The surge of emotion around her, moving with the music, moving as one with excitement, unhampered by the terrible thought that someone might see them react. Or, perhaps, that only the right people will see them react.

        And Sheryl there, drawing it in with her song, as she expresses herself.

        ".... I like how confident Miss Nome is. I used to wonder if some of that was just her stage persona, but... from her actions, even from afar, I can see it is not."

        Lucine adds her own contribution to the conversation as the lights dim again. She tilts her head towards Ranka. ".... I don't think you need to be like Sheryl, though. You should.... be who you are. What you feel, inside your heart." Lucine places a hand over her own. "I felt it, the few times you've sung. I feel you will grow into a wonderful singer."

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        Slowly the mist clears, and Sheryl comes into view, posing with one leg arched and one arm lifted up to rest a hand atop her head. She's dressed now in a beautiful stylized off-the-shoulders kimono, black patterned with scarlet flowers and a golden bow in back. Around her, the holographs reflect images of butterflies in the air and camellias at her feet. They also create a stage that looks strangely oldschool--wooden floors, postboard waves in the background, and an ancient-looking boat that crests their peaks.
        
        "Say... you've all heard, haven't you?" Sheryl calls to the audience, eyes shut. "About the aliens that attacked my home, the Macross Galaxy... About the Vajra who ripped it away from me..." She lifts her head. "What? You haven't? Well, surely at least some of you understand the feeling... Shall we cry out together?"
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUW5g4b1BwE
        
        Sheryl sweeps her arm up to let her smile bittersweetly out at the crowd as enka-style music begins to play. Besides her, a Japanese-style paper umbrella shimmers into view as she stretches that arm outward. "I, the Galactic Fairy, have drifted countless light years away from my hometown. I shall sing with my tears, so you will listen to my song." She delicately grasps the umbrella and twirls it up to rest on her shoulder. She steps lightly forward, one hand to the air, and turns, sweeping it along the line of the audience, as she sings:
        "Today, too, the space seagull weeps over your holography
        "In the sky where we set off, 20,000 light years away, it burns brilliantly: that's the supernova!
        "It's deculture, and life is a sister spaceship..."
        
        Sheryl sweeps her hand across her face as if wiping away invisible tears. Dipping down, she pulls the umbrella around from her shoulder and spins it, the pink pattern on top revolving hypnotically. Images of camellias light the stage, and she spin, tossing the umbrella to the sky only for it to fall:
        "The black hole of a woman's heart is ultimately an undelivered interstellar email
        "My ocean extends for 20,000 light years; for now, I can't return home to Galaxy
        "It's deculture, and life is a sister spaceship..."
        
        On top of being a brand new song (albeit a fairly short one), it's some *absolutely* transparent commentary on the state of a nearby island nation while just being different enough from that certain situation for the sake of plausible deniability. Sheryl certainly isn't taking questions on it, as even as she poses with her body arched to one side like a crescent mood, the music shifts into a new song.
        
        ~ * ~
        
        Those who attended her last concert will recognize it as Diamond Crevasse. As the piano tune twinkles into prominence, her outfit shimmers into a long, teal gown as a crown of flowers adorns her hair. "Woah woah woah... oh oh..."
        
        It's a beautiful performance, as moving as the one from her previous concert--though not as ornate a showing. As she sings of love and farewells and one day being reborn and reunited, the air shimmers with pale blue light.
        
        ~ * ~
        
        After that, the energy picks up hard and fast into her newest official song, Lion, a passionate and frenetic song about struggling for survival no matter what it takes. The light sears around Sheryl's body to change into her corset dress--purple lined with red, with a lavender skirt, fashionably mismatched stockings, and a large bow in back--and she sings her heart out, blue eyes ablaze with the will to live as her golden hair sways like a flame behind her.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"Me too. Thanks for coming with me," Rena says, looking back at Arriety. She tilts her head; she has some idea of how she feels. It comes with the whole Newtype bit -- picking up on emotioons, and Arriety's close to her literally and metaphorically. "Are you having fun? I know you were on the fence."

She looks back at Sheryl, when she starts performing. Rena's eyes widen; she heard a little about the Vajra. She heard about Sheryl's story. And it stands out, of course.

Her expression grows distant, for a moment. She misses where she grew up, too; she misses a home she can't go back to. It's an emotion that radiates out, for a moment.

But she smiles, too. It's a nice song, even if makes her feel something sad.

The other songs lift her back up. Diamond Crevasse makes her sit up straight -- and sigh.

And when Lion finishes, she is standing up and cheering her heart out. It might make her look a little silly, but she doesn't mind.

Riika Sheder tosses a coin: Tails

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

"Ah... it's not a style I can manage," Riika says, a little sheepish and unsure how to phrase it. "It looks like something from Texas Colony, doesn't it? I don't always get along with hats like that, or the boots. And I'd have to find something that worked with glasses..."

She can't imagine herself in anything riding-styled and she'd kill herself in heels... well, probably not, actually, her balance is as good as any Coordinator's. But it would feel weird.

She shuts up again for the next song. This one... it may be meant to feel like transparent commentary for an island nation, but Riika takes it as a different sort of commentary, and she's not entirely sure what to make of it.

I suppose the Federation has its own issues, Riika thinks to herself, her expression suddenly more neutral than it was before. She stays quiet for a few moments longer, during Lion. The struggle to survival, no matter what... I wish we didn't have to fight them. But as long as they're threatening us, then...

Though she doesn't say anything, she comes to a decision. She'll have to call him soon. There's no way around it.

Riika tries to smile again, afterwards. It takes a moment to come out, but it does, and looks like a more natural expression than anxiety. "I should have bought *that* single," she says, out loud.

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        The Vajra... Arriety's managed to miss that. It's really difficult, isn't it? To have a home attacked by aliens, or beings alien enough like kaiju... though she'd be lying if she didn't think Myrme was extremely human. Maybe even more human than her, on her worst days.

        A pause, as she looks back to Rena and smiles. "I'm managing. It's very noisy. But the pills are muting out the worst of it."

        "Ah, it's this one... this was the one from the luxury liner concert," Arriety points to Rena. "Diamond Crevasse. And... a brand new song, huh?"

        Rena's cheering by the time Lion finishes; she slowly gets up and cheers too, before hesitating and--

        Oh screw it.

        She takes out the glowsticks she bought, bends them, and then starts waving them like crazy. "Y-yeahhh!! Sheryl!! Sheryl!!"

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

Of all the things Kallen could have expected, a song that speaks to this part of her soul isn't on the list. But it affirms something she's thought recently. That they aren't alone. That there are other people out there who understand the pain. And other places waiting for an outstretched hand, to help lift them up. Next Knights meeting, she'll talk to people about a more concerted effort to build the heroic side of their reputation, and reach out more to potential allies. It may be a harder road than just retaking Japan, but who cares? It's work that struggle.

It also makes her start to cry, though she puts a halt to that QUICKLY, so C.C. can't snap a picture and blackmail her with it. Damn cat-witch. Still, the feeling remains in her heart. She'll just have to hold tight to it, to let out later. She was right to become a fan, for more reasons than there are stars in the sky. The songs that come after are familiar. She heard them at the last concert, and help to bring her back up to a steady balance.

So she can stand up and cheer Sheryl on.

<Pose Tracker> Zurvan Zevarist has posed.

         The rest of the concert goes rather well for Zurvan, in case you've been wondering. It is something of a haze, as such things tend to be: getting lost in the music, getting lost in the special effects all around the concert. The story about the aliens attacking the Macross Galaxy... well, it's a thing that happened. Some say tragedy can spur along some creations of art.

         It's a very complicated subject!

         Zurvan, at the end of it all, is pretty moved by it all. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, as theses things tends to be... and this part, did not disappoint. The political comments, the freedom, the sorrows, the joys that spreads from the lyrics, the killer digital effects... well, what's a guy supposed to feel, here?

         At the end of it all, he stands, clapping and abandoning his little light(that's now burnt out anyway) and applauding loudly.

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        Ruri shrugs a shoulder, when Alto wonders whether Akito even realises what's going on. "Who knows? They're all fools, after all."

        That must be her favourite word, for how widely she applies it. The song proceeds --

        "It was that short a time?" Ruri wonders, in the wake of it, looking from Ranka to Alto. "I see... I hadn't realised."

        She falls quiet, for a moment, as Ranka asks how the songs make her feel. "Since I heard her singing in that concert, I thought... there were some things she understood," Ruri admits, a hair shy. "It's kind of foolish, but it's nice, anyway... I guess it's new to me, but never mind that." Does she mean going to concerts? Why would she sound embarrassed about something like that?

        Ruri shakes her head, looking over to Ranka. "In any case, when it comes to your efforts, you shouldn't be discouraged. You're someone who can reach people with your singing... well, I believe that." Is it became there's something inside Ranka's heart..? Ruri can't feel it, the way Lucine does, but maybe Ranka really is the sort of girl who can do something like that.

        "I'm not the only one who does," Ruri adds, and it might seem like she's agreeing with her fellow Nadesicos, here. (Goat is just nodding. He's a man of few words, but don't hold that against him.)

        Of course, someone who believed Ranka could reach the world, and didn't want her to do so...

        Aboard the Nadesico, Omoikane opens up a window, now he has a window of opportunity without Ranka's websites being attacked on all sides. He transmits Ranka's reel to interested parties, with a glossy description of how lively her voice is. It might not be enough to get past the wave of love for Sheryl, but Omoikane knows that love is additive; showing people more good things just makes them more excited for all the good things.

        Ruri won't learn about his efforts to take advantage of the lull between attacks until she gets back, though. For now, she's all wrapped up in these performances. As it happened, her questions about when Sheryl came to Frontier end up a hair prescient, as she explains the impact of the attack on Galaxy. Her grief, her sorrow, and her burning spirit --

        Ruri doesn't cry out or holler, but her hands lift, to clasp by her chest, as she watches each of the performances. She can observe the tactics all she likes; she feels connected to Sheryl through her music, anyway.

        Oh, well. She's a fool, too.

<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.

"Heh...cute. Adorable, even." C.C. muses at Rikka's flustered reaction, before deftly whipping out her phone from the front pocket of her blouse, loading up VERTEX Messenger and its handy-dandy touch-phones-to-share-contact-info integration. "We should keep touch after this, especially back home. They call this kinda meeting...serendipity, don't they? Unless a buuuuunch of us from Tsutsujidai are here. I haven't seen anyone else though, and I have a good eye for familiar faces."

...Somehow, in some way, the faintest echo of similarity might emit from C.C. even when she stops talking. Is it the kinda lazily teasing way she's talking that's pushing it just a little bit to be upbeat? Maybe. Or is it the sense that there's an oh so difficult something that restrains her heart?

...it's something that's definitely been rather tamed.

...Briefly, when beacon of Kallen's tears starts to flow, C.C.'s on the verge of angling her phone around her shoulder to indeed try and capture a picture - but to make anything remotely visible is a failure. Kallen is saved from the embarrassment of being caught crying at a concert by the fact that it is a concert with all the chaotic then dim lighting that entails. Foiled again.

Her butt then, at last, returns to her seat between Kallen and Emilia, nudging the latter's shoulder just a bit. "I'm the type to get up and mill around at this kind of thing, so don't worry about me. It's Sheryl your eyes should be on, and missing even a second of it to pick me out of the crowd...that'd be tragic. Here, I think this will help out your experience a little bit..." And the witch hands Emilia a single bright blue snap-glowstick.

...C.C. does finally have to admit: 'Lion' might work her up a -little- bit more to expend energy. It might make good workout music!

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuba Greyvalley has posed.

Despite herself, Mitsuba turns a little pink. "I -- don't think it's that simple. You can't just change everything about yourself for one night..." In the end, even in a situation like this, Mitsuba's a little moody. She likes idols, but -- well, she's a little shy about doing this kind of thing without *several* excusing conditions. "I'm happy for your friend, though..."

The comment on Sheryl's talent, from Rikka, gets some consideration. Ultimately, though, the fact that she's just a high school student puts up a bit of a wall in Mitsuba's head. "I hope you have a good time. This is... the kind of thing I'm happy you get to see."

This is... a hard genre pivot. Mitsuba can't kingblade to this!

It's fine, though. It's actually, in some respects, more her speed; she can see the multi-layered political slant going on here and she's actually kind of into it. Barriers between people, like the one she's describing... Mitsuba's hope is to shatter those, ultimately.

The next two songs pass relatively quietly -- and these ones, she can *absolutely* kingblade to, pulling the glowstick out of her bag and going at it with *some* vigor.

... okay, maybe she *can* cut loose a little bit. (Besides, from the look of it -- that's the *most expensive* model. Maybe there's a cute side to the Captain, too...)

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        Serinas's mother continues to give Riika thoughtful looks as she elaborates on her fashion woes. But, they're here to appreciate Sheryl's music, not to plan a makeover for Riika. Today, at any rate...

        Sheryl returns to the two songs sung during that fateful concert; recognition and memory make the Nikolases sit up straight. They connected with them then, they connect with them now. Although, Serinas gets to properly focus on appreciating Lion this time since she's not fighting at the same time...

        Her mother stares off into space, lost in thought. With maclone boots in the hall outside, last time she was thinking of her more *immediate* want to survive... but now, the talk of wandering, lost, searching for purpose, and of wounds that fear the light make her think of some of the other trials she's faced in 30-odd years of life. Finding herself in her teens... and then finding herself scared with a child at 19 and letting the father take Serinas off her hands. She regretted it for so long...

        Serinas doesn't have so much to reflect on, appreciating the song and that Sheryl could put the feelings she and her audience felt that day into words (does... does she think it was improvised on the spot at the first concert?)

        Could she one day do the same?

        Serinas is caught off-guard by an unexpected hug after the end of the song and responds like embarassed teens everywhere: "Aww, Mom..."

>I should have bought *that* single.
        "It's really good!" Serinas nods in agreement, clapping.

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.

        Emilia looks over to Kallen, seeing her concerned look. Am I making a scene? Am I causing problems? Am I ruining the concert? But when she can just hear Kallen talking about Sheryl as a performer, Emmy nods, a little enthusiastically. "...She's incredible..." Her voice doesn't falter much this time.

        The Vajra destroying Sheryl's home... is space so dangerous? That said... She really does know the feeling...

        She does not know Enka, though, and was not prepared for it... And the Kimono... Well, they might have something like that in the club room but... She looks over to Kallen again, for her reaction. She's not quite with it enough to realize the comment she's making.

        Diamond Crevasse, on the other hand, her eyes are locked and she is absorbed from the opening notes. You don't ever think you'll get a second experience like this- she'd listened to the song repeatedly on the ride back from the Orbital Elevator. She'd listened to the album several times, but that song more than most.

        She's crying again by the time the 'Sayonara's hit, wrapping her arms around herself. Memories of her Mother crawling back. Warm memories, so few and far between. She's not a sobbing wreck, but her face is streaked with tears.

        Lion doesn't hit as hard- she heard that when she was fighting in a stolen alto. It's a little hard for her, when not fighting, to detangle the need to survive with simply continuing to exist. Like she did for 14 years. Existing for existences sake... How is that so different to survival.

        When the rest of the audience leap to their feet... Emilia can't do it. She can't be that visible. That loud. That present. Besides, she never did get to buy those glowsticks... they're a little pricey still.

        She retreats into her seat again.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        'About the aliens that attacked my home, the Macross Galaxy... About the Vajra who ripped it away from me...'

        Lucine's attention is drawn back to Sheryl, immediately zeroing in, her gold eyes widening.

        ".... she's...." Sheryl is using her stage to communicate about what happened. The song itself may be a take on Enka music (something Lucine may not immediately grasp), but Lucine still balls the skirt of her dress.

        It's the sort of setting that makes the next song hit in a place still , even if Lucine's heard it before.

        Tears drip into her skirt, Lucine bowing her head as the bridge of Diamond Crevasse hits.

        She'd listen to this on her headphones laying out on the grass, looking up at the sky of the dome and the cool air against her bare feet. The embrace of soil.

        When was the last time she cried like this?
        
        When was the last time she _allowed_ herself to cry like this, even when she was by herself?

        As people stand to shout to the fiery pace of Lion, Lucine keeps seated, thankful for the cocoon it provides. Like being cradled among the trees in a grove, where no one can see her.

        She doesn't want to let people see her cry like this.

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        Alto watches as Sheryl reappears. She mentions the Vajra attack on Galaxy. It causes memories to stir inside Alto of his own experiences with the alien race, bringing a slight frown to his face. Thankfully Lucine's comments distract Alto, who thinks for a moment as he watches Sheryl...

        'I'm going to find out for myself what happened to Galaxy. And if they really are gone, I'm going to make the Vajra pay. It's as simple as that.'

        Alto smiles a little as he continues to watch, "Yes. Her confidence is very real." Although, that also makes him a little concerned that there may come a time when even Sheryl... Alto shakes his head a little to refocus.

        Out of the corner of his eye, Alto can see Ruri getting further and further invested in the concert. He turns his head to look at her. It's a bit of a heartwarming sight as he muses quietly to Ranka beside him, "Looks like she's caught another one in her spell."

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

Ruri's answer has Ranka studying her face, and perhaps something deeper, "Kind of foolish... but nice." She repeats, "That's an interesting way to put it... but I feel like it's right for you." Alto's answer gives Ranka whiplash. Does he realize more than she's thought he did??? He seems to be more aware of Akito's predicament with Megumi and the Captain in his evaluation of how a man can be oblivious. Does he realize Ranka feels that way about him after all?

Alto's answer to Ruri's question though has Ranka say with a smile to Alto, "Mean. I don't think Sheryl-san's a fool at all, Ruri-chan." Sheryl knows what she wants, and gives her all to achieve it, it's admirable in her eyes. Lucine gets her attention though, "She's just like that. All the time."

Alto's response to her statement though brings a small, but earnest smile, and a flush to her face, before Lucine speaks... and Ruri too. She finds herself looking back and forth, mildly embarrassed, but happy, "Thank you Alto-kun. Lucine-san... Ruri-chan. I guess it's easy to get caught up in my own head from time to time but with your support... it feels like someone like me can manage it after all." She does add though to Lucine, "Though I don't... mean I want to be like her. Just... that I want to move people like her... in my own way." She bends over, looking at Lucine from another angle, "I think if... when I make it... my style will be very different."

It causes Alto's response on the grim fate of his EX Frame though causes her to giggle lightly, "It wasn't... that bad... what happened. It was kind of fun seeing her roll through the halls like that."

Sheryl comes up on stage though and... in the outfit, Ranka puts a hand over her mouth seeing Sheryl dress as a Japanese beauty. Though perhaps she senses the emotion ahead of time, as she stares at Sheryl on stage. The Galaxy. The Vajra who ripped it away from her.

'Shall we cry together?'

The melody is not one she recognizes, it's a short song, but it's totally new to her. Her second concert in a row where she's heard Sheryl debut a new song, and this one about the Galaxy. It's hard not to get swept up in the feeling of the Enka song, knowing that Sheryl can't go home. Knowing the Vajra took it from her.

Her eyes glimmer with tears. Cry together indeed. Diamond Crevasse coming right after, a song she accidentally sang to Sheryl on her first meeting - a song the two of them sang together over a distance recently, does not help matters. Ranka reaches for a tissue from a bag. Her messenger bag has a faint green glow, but it's easy to mistake that for a glowstick. If she notices Lucine, she's discrete enough not to say anything, though mysteriously there's a tissue laying on the arm rest of Lucine's seat not long after.

It's a moment of privacy, she doesn't want to intrude beyond that.

Lion coming after though has her upbeat again, and she's mouthing the words along with it, it's a new song - but they're mostly already seared into her. Once THAT number is over though...

Ranka stands up to cheer for Sheryl, her Osanshoo plushie phone elongating and turning into bright green glowstick on its own as she cheers. Once the cheering has started to die a little though, and Alto says that, she looks over at Ruri, and smiles, as she whispers back. "I think so too. Foolish... but nice... I'm glad I made it here with her after all."

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        Several other songs follow, such as fan favorites Sagittarius 9PM Don't Be Late and What 'Bout My Star?, for a satisfyingly full-length concert. But as the night goes on, so does the performance, until it's at last time for the last song. What will it be...?
        
        For now, Sheryl bows from her last performance, betraying only a hint of sweat and hard breathing, then rises, smiling up and around at her audience with the vivacious glow of one who thrives in the limelight.
        
        "It's been a great night tonight, and I've had a lot of fun performing for all of you. But while we're coming to a close today, Sheryl Nome's still got a long ways to go before she's done!" She winks, lips curling into a mischievous grin. "I hope the audiences for the rest of my Earth Sphere tours are as amazing as you've all been. I hope you all won't forget me, either. And to make sure of that..." She stretches out one coy finger to the crowds--a finger that might just be pointing directly at a certain ponytailed 'princess' (Alto (she's pointing at you, Alto (WHEN DID SHE FIND OUT WHERE HE'S SEATED)))--and purrs, "The final song for tonight is something a little *extra* special, to help you last 'til next time~."
        
        The lights shift to dark pink, and Sheryl turns around, back facing the audience. As sleek and sharp as the outfit itself, she changes into a new wardrobe: a tight black halter top that, when she turns again, would brazenly show off the milky way of her cleavage save for a miniature black tie. Skintight black pants paneled in pink down the thighs, revealing skin underneath, complement it, as to the stiletto-heeled boots they tuck into. A faux butterfly tattoo adorns her upper left arm while a jewel-toned bangle adorns her left, and fingerless black gloves cover her palms. Her long hair is tied up in a high ponytail, and a lacy black mask is affixed to one side of her forehead, while a long black-and-pink ribbon drapes down from the back of her belt. She caresses her hair, up and over, then down her chest and across her exposed bellow as her voice kicks off the song:
        
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKIMtzgtSOY
        "Baby pink monsoon, baby pink monsoon
        "Lady sings love, mmm... I wanna lose control! It's all about communication~"
        
        The bass beat drops hard. She thrusts her hips as she criss-crosses her arms over her face, then turns to one side to better show off the heart panels in her pants and sweeps her arms up for another criss-cross. The last beat, she lifts a finger and winks saucily; then she sings into her golden microphone, sweeping her free arm up and down gracefully:
        "Until morning, you and I are just spinning around
        "We've got plenty of time to fall in love: be my boyfriend
        "Let's waste our youth to get derailed and ruined together
        "Let me influence you deeper and deeper; you know this position's the best, yeah?"
        
        Spinning twice, Sheryl twitches her hips suggestively and kicks up one heel to the beat. Slowly, sensually, she caresses her own curves, from her hair to her breasts to her hips, then snaps her fingers high in the air only to draw her fingers down over herself all over again. She reaches out a finger to the audience, only to draw it back and splay out her hand:
        "Baby pink monsoon, baby pink monsoon
        "Lady sings love, mmm... A scandal so hot we fog up the glass window
        "Baby pink monsoon, baby pink monsoon
        "Lady sings love, mmm... I want you to do whatever you want, don't stop!"
        
        She lifts her arm, eyes shutting briefly; then she snaps to the side, lifting up a teasing finger as she winks again to the audience. As the lights shimmer below and around her, golden rings not unlike from the Universal Bunny performance begin to spin slowly high above and all around the concert hall, reflecting Sheryl and her moves all throughout. She shakes her hips as she draws her microphone down one arm, then faces the audience and holds out her arms, palm together, to twist her wrists around with index fingers extended as if to waggle them at the eyes fixed on her. She sweeps them back, shuffling her legs back and forth deftly as she runs her fingers through her hair, smile knowing:
        "For the most part, I'm a hot mess--you know that
        "But I'm keeping my hair neat and pretty; I'm old-fashioned
        "It's a 100% juice kind of game! It's pretty crazy, I am crazy for you
        "Let me influence you deeper and deeper, and then dump me on a rainy day!"
        
        Once again, she twists around, twitching her hips as she spins her free hand up into the air. Down and down she caresses her body, then sweeps her arm left and right over herself. The lights throb in time to her dance, blue and purple and hot, hot pink:
        "Baby pink monsoon, baby pink monsoon
        "Lady sings love, mmm... Until your fingers touch me here, don't stop
        "Baby pink monsoon, baby pink monsoon
        "Lady sings love, mmm... I wanna lose control! Hey you, let's do communication!"
        
        The bass and guitar climb an octave along with Sheryl's voice as she strides slowly to the edge of the stage, one leg sliding in front of the other as if she were walking a tightrope. Phantasmic doubles of her emerge from the golden rings, which come to a halt, and float forward throughout the concert hall. Some lucky folks even get to experience one of those visions of her approaching them, personally, reaching down a hand to seemingly stroke their faces and croon directly to them as she locks eyes with them and comes in for a kiss...
        "Even if this whole world is an illusion, even if clinging to you marks the end
        "I won't forgive you if you make me realize I'd have been better off alone..."
        
        But then the real Sheryl snaps her fingers, and her doubles all vanish just before any contact can happen. Down on the stage's edge, Sheryl turns, shaking her hips as she runs her fingers through her hair. With a sultry smile over her shoulder that says she knows exactly what she's doing, she sashays back to center and twirls back around:
        "Ahh... yeah... crazy for you... yeaaahh!"
        
        And for the last time, now reflected in massive form on the holo-screen at her back, she croons to the audience, her whole body swaying sensually to the music, each undulent movement punctuated by the sharp thrust of her hips. She turns and tosses her hair to the beat:
        "Baby pink monsoon, baby pink monsoon
        "Lady sings love, mmm... A scandal so hot we fog up the glass window
        "Baby pink monsoon, baby pink monsoon
        "Lady sings love, mmm... I want you to do whatever you want, don't stop
        "Baby pink monsoon, baby pink monsoon
        "Lady sings love, mmm... I wanna lose control! Hey you, let's do communication!"
        
        Until finally, she thrusts one hand outward, fingers splayed, and sweeps it up over her head as the music comes to a hard stop while her voice comes to a soft one:
        "Let's do communication! Let's do communication..."

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"I'm glad," Rena says. "I was a little worried it'd be kind of not your thing." She smiles, at that -- and then she blinks. The song on the luxury liner. The same one that had a less than pleasant end.

She bobs her head.

And once the songs are done and she's cheering, she's in for a shock; she didn't even catch that Arriety procured glowsticks. She looks sideways at her -- makes a face for a second, her surprise obvious -- and then she grins and goes back to cheering too.

She quiets down, as Sheryl does a last speech. And she catches that she's pointing at the crowd -- though not at who -- and then blinks, at the sudden outfit change. And the song--

She turns red as she watches.

Then a bit redder still.

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

'Adorable'... Rikka huffs again, but less seriously this time - and when C.C. suggests they keep in touch, Rikka digs through her hoodie for her phone.

"'Serendipity', huh...? Maybe. But... yeah, you're right." Rikka considers. It's definitely a stroke of some kind of luck. She draws out her phone and taps it against C.C.'s, exchanging information.

Rikka's profile picture is... a picture of herself eating cake with two other girls. She might even be able to recognize Hass and Namiko. They seem to be having a good time!

And then, there's Mitsuba. Rikka offers her a nod.

"...Thanks. I hope you have fun too, though." She says, and studies Mitsuba for a moment before venturing, "You seem like you could use a good chance to relax."

She goes quiet, then, seating herself to listen as the concert continues.

She didn't know, though, that Sheryl's home had been attack by the Vajra... she feels a pang of sympathy for her. ...It must be hard. Her own home had been attacked, but she still had it. If she lost it entirely... Rikka goes quiet, listening deeply. The songs are serious, and heartfelt... Rikka listens to every word, taking them all into her heart.

And then, finally, the concert draws to the final song for tonight. Rikka listens and watches... and thus, her face goes red again.

...It's another intense one.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        Serinas cheering and her mother clapping after every song continue. And then the last song is...

        Lani covers her face. The lyric mentioning a boyfriend and her earlier reminiscing put her in mind of long ago, and the lyrics get kind of... Do not think about how Serinas was made. Do not think about how Serinas was made!

        Oblivious to her mother's thoughts, Serinas just sort of... absorbs? It's music, it's catchy, she kind of gets a shadow of a feeling, that mixes with emotions her mind picks up from the crowd, but lacks the experience for it to hit straight on. What is this? Deculture...

        The teen stands up for a better look as a hologram comes close... and her eyes go wide as by chance it approaches *her* and she stares back into its eyes. WHAT. Flustered, she steps back just as it disappears and falls back into her seat. What. W-what?! Yak deculture!

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        It's coming to a close soon... but there's been a lot of songs. Arriety runs herself silly and out of breath waving her glowsticks around, but has to sit down and catch her breath before long. Sheryl's pointing at someone in particular... how special!

        Pink Monsoon... it's got a charming rhythm to it. Bewitching, would be the word... she doesn't get worked up like Rena does, though. Physical attraction hasn't really been her thing. She instead reflects on how she wouldn't have the stamina to do a half-dozen songs or more like Sheryl has done. Her talent show performance was just one song she covered...

        She smiles just a bit more warmly for Rena. "Ahah... she's rather sensuous, isn't she, Rena?"

        Yeah, she might be playfully twisting that dagger a little bit.

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.

Roux is able to settle down in her seat after some time. Each number is easier to handle than the rest - the Sagittarius one she thinks she recognizes but isn't sure - the rest of it is new, and perhaps that loses some of its charm but gains in the delight of novelty. She's sweating, not for the first time, even in the open air of Macross City, with the pacific breeze washing over her, however distant.

Roux thinks she can feel Rena and Arietty out there somewhere; points of familiarity in that sea that seems to ebb and to flow, coming together when the music reaches its pitch and fading without any remark or dis-ease afterwards. It deepens each time but the experience doesn't change, or grow more dire, or draw her into a swoon.

For a moment Roux wonders if this is what they really meant by--

-- it's coming back --

The golden lights are glittering elsewhere, and Roux wonders where the one nearest to her is, except that she can feel it subliminally, a sensation of feeling where hundreds of other people in a delighted and soothed state of mind can see and look and feel and it's the easiest thing in the world to look over and see that

SHERYL NOME, THE GALACTIC FAIRY
is coming
towards
HER!

No way, Roux thinks as it comes nearer. Her fingers cling on the arm rests.

It's going to go for that guy who's had three beers two seats down, Roux thinks, until it doesn't.

She leans further back as her eyes go wide as it becomes clear and obvious that it is *her* being looked at. Her face flushes, her back trembles, her lips part as she lets out a silent pinned gasp and--
--

Roux collapses in her seat, mouth still hanging open slackly, hair faintly dishevelled.

Oh my God I was right about this concert!! Roux thinks. She is not sure, herself, if she is complaining.

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        It's funny how one can see things so clearly about others but not themselves.

        Alto nods along in agreement with Ranka's difference in style. The songs he's heard from her, one of them even being one of Sheryl's, have had a distinct feeling to them that did not match the Galactic Fairy's. He mentions as much, "I think you already do have your own style. It shows how much of yourself you're really putting into it."

        The concert continues on, coming up to the last song. At which point Sheryl points out into the audience. From Alto's perspective, it almost looks like she's pointing at him... Nooo. She isn't, is she? She wouldn't... The next song starts up and Alto shrinks into his chair a little more again as he thinks... Yes she would.

        The song continues on, Alto growing a little red again. The holographic doubles form and Alto can see them starting to approach people in the audience. One of them is looking directly at him, coming closer. Alto squirms in his seat a bit as it floats in closer... Closer... Closer...

        Alto blinks a little in surprise as the phantom Sheryl shifts its attention. His eyes then go a little wide as he turns his head to watch it approach...

<Pose Tracker> Zurvan Zevarist has posed.

         Adrenaline is running high. Being played like a fiddle with emotions, high rise thoughts and just the energy FLOWING from all around him. Zurvan, during this last song, leans back against his seat to take in a long, deeep breath. He can sees the holograms moving along, doing what they are doing to all... growing closer... closer to everyone.

         Zurv pries his gaze away from other people to stare back ahead at the concert, only to end up face-to-face with one of the Sheryl. The young man's eyes widens, his hair SPIKES out, wriggling still like snakes as he gazes slack-jawed at the hologram, reaching for him...

         Alright, yes. This is an incredible moment, adrenaline flowing, Zurvan's brain kicking into high gear as his eyes drinks into the whole display. This is a... very intimate thing, despite this being a VERY PUBLIC show. Zurvan gets that. This is... gosh, wild. Yet...

         Yet there is a large part of Zurvan's brain that is far more impressed by the technological marvel that this is doing that he's just starting to mumble nervously loudly.

         "Woah look at this it's responding to individual people's actual body shapes to prevent clipping into people and breaking the illusion you can almost feel the heat coming up oh boy I really wonder what kind of processing they've got going to make this happen so EFFORTLESSLY like this I wonder what kind of programming this took to make sure it was adaptable like this ooooooooooooooh she is close now--"

         Then it vanish. Just like that. Zurvan, leaning against his seat, releases his breath. WELL, NOW HE'S FULL OF INSPIRATION, HE JUST HAVE TO LOOK INTO THIS.

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

It's happening again. The concert hops rails onto an express liner for the scandal zone once more. But Kallen has a certain presence of mind to her now. She's not immediately caught off guard. C.C. beat her to slipping Emmy an extra glow-stick, but that's okay. Encouraging the girl is something they seem to agree on. And it means she can let go, a little more. To dive into this hot pink storm, with her face brightly aflame.

Her imagination goes somewhere perhaps different from most of the audience. Envisioning herself in Sheryl's position for a moment... somewhat. Herself, in a reproduction of this outfit, putting on a show for a special audience. Belting out things she never knew she wanted to say. Riding the wave of an all-consuming sensuality, to overcome a wall that her headstrong confidence couldn't breach alone. The image coming toward her, she doesn't register it as Sheryl stepping her way, lost as she is in her mental image. No, she only sees herself, sashaying toward her target. Ready to strike them down once and for all, and claim her victory. And the ultimate prize of that particular contest.

Later she'll realize what happened, and panic about it as she collapses into a wobbling pile of gel, or perhaps faint in her bath. But not right now.

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        Ruri, as it happens, doesn't see Lucine crying, because she is entirely tuned into what's going on in front of her instead. She's even too distracted to tell Alto and Ranka they're fools for saying something like that about her!

        And as it happens, as they close up, Sheryl points RIGHT AT ALTO, and Ruri looks at Alto, too, though she's sure this is another one of those little performance tricks and he's not specifically being called out. (Ruri is as vulnerable to overconfidence as anyone on her ship.)

        When she looks back, her view is OBSCURED BY GOAT'S HAND AGAIN, COME ON, GOAT, CUT A GIRL SOME SLACK HERE. She gives him a withering look, but he's far too traditional to just let this slide.

        It's hard for him to obscure the audience participation, though -- which Ruri kind of draws away from, which the hologram programming no doubt recognises as a cue not to approach her -- and even she's blushing, glancing nonsense like that. She's embarrassed for Sheryl, since evidently Sheryl has no sense of embarrassment to speak of.

        And if she's peeking sidelong to see where that hologram is actually going, she'll tell anyone it's just because train wrecks demand attention.

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.

        The remaining songs give Emilia a much needed chance to level out, as C.C. hands her a glowstick. She more clings to it because... She doesn't have an excuse. She gets back into the groove- even if big audience participation is beyond her. None of them are Diamond Crevasse, but they're still strong.

        And then Sheryl goes full seductive and a certain girl having certain feelings is certainly not prepared for Pink Monsoon. Asking to be Sheryl's boyfriend... Well that's obviously disappointing but she didn't even know for sure until the opening number. The rest of the song though, a less elaborate routine but somehow aggressively sexier? In her own head, Emmy wonders if she could move like that.

        But who even for?

        And then one of those Sheryls of Light is right in front of Emmy, and walking toward her. She makes eye contact with the illusion, startled. Her eyes go big and wide, and she rather becomes a deer caught in the headlights. She freezes, as she gets that Sheryl strokes her face with no touch, she still 'feels' it, shivering slightly. The song coming right in front her, Sheryl's voice so close. Her face is red, and she's... nervous? Terrified? Excited? Her heart is *pounding*.

        And when she goes in for the kiss, Emilia flinches away, as the 'Sheryl' disappears. Is that... better? Or did she want it? Or... Or...

        She slides back into her seat as the song finishes, flusters and thrown and tired.

        She can at least clap when the song is over, while she waits to find out if her heart will ever beat normally again.

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

If there's one thing to make Riika feel better, it's - well, something like this.

Not that she's immune to the charms of this song either, but it doesn't touch her quite as much as Diamond Crevasse and Lion did; she can cheer along with it but she's not about to go all red-faced and flustered over it. (Right now, anyway.)

The hologram that appeared to be coming closer to her dodges Riika (no surprise there, in Riika's mind) and goes after Serinas instead, which is a much superior result from Riika's point of view.

"I think the image likes you," she says to Serinas. Her eyes don't twinkle; they don't react quite like normal eyes, rarely blinking and never focusing on anything. But there's nothing wrong with her ability to emote, and the broad smile *does* touch the shape of her eyes, the set of her face.

She is absolutely not laughing at the half-Meltrandi. But she is certainly amused on her behalf.

<Pose Tracker> C.C. has posed.

C.C.'s profile picture, in turn - is just an extreme closeup of her eye, with just enough green hair tumbling above it to frame the corner of the little circle. Straightforward and staring directly into the heart, just about - a promise that even through social media she'll keep that uncanny acuity.

The way Kallen and Emilia get so deeply invested in the performance...it's what she wanted out of this. Is it out of something sentimental? ...is it -testing- them? Seeing what external things stoke these familiar faces she's stuck with in this drift of fate? It's a little more interesting than just peering into hearts - there's limitations on that, as skilled as she is about that.

It sets in deeper.

Time starts flitting by.

Song after song performed, drenched with passion.

For fleeting seconds she can start to get invested. And then before she knows it, it's two performances later.

That's the problem with this safe sort of diversion.

Even a pink monsoon barely registers as weather. Until that moment.

Where a vision of the objectively captivating Sheryl Nome sails directly towards the half-drifted away C.C., arms outstretched, lips readying. To any fan, this would be a miraculous blessing from the galaxy's greatest idol.

The holographic kiss plants, on C.C.'s cheek, and then vanishes in an explosion of pink light. It should send anyone over the moon just thinking about it before them.

        Illusory, one-sided love.
        Granted thoughtlessly, as an untrue gift.
        Easily replacable affection from someone I don't even know.
        Warmth in the same way that alcohol is warmth.
        I can't escape that it is poisonous.
        Only comforting to others because they'll end anyway.
        ...you pushed so much heart into this, Sheryl Nome.
        Isn't it unfair that I might not even remember you?

"...hmm." C.C. rumbles after having slowly quieted into something barely noticeable - she made sure that she wouldn't steal from Kallen and Emilia's experience of drinking deeply from that ecstatic wine of performance. "...say. Just in case - one of you should take my ticket. Don't ask too much - think of it as a present. You know just as well as I do - you both clearly want to be lucky winners more than me." She elects to specifically entrust Kallen with her show ticket, as she wasn't able to work as many little perks into Kallen's purchase than to Milly's - and then, oh so abruptly, gets to her feet in the same way someone casually going to a nearby bathroom might.

She's not found for the rest of the night. In this crowd of thousands making merry from the generous tavern - isn't someone who can only throw up when drinking unwelcome?



        (VERTEX (3) from 'Shiranui Shirome'
        >Here's hoping you win a visit backstage \o/
        If you see that cute superfan lady I was talking to
        Tell her I'm rooting for her too)

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

"You really think so?" She says to Alto, surprised, after all up until now she's always been covering other's songs. Except... Aimo of course, but she didn't write that - it's more she remembers it. "I mean... I haven't even written one of my own songs yet." She has a notebook of ideas but...

The performance moves on. Ranka is enjoying it thoroughly, and then she announces it's the final number. And points to Alto. Ranka immediately yelps, her hair rising up as she looks to Alto, then back at Sheryl, as if confirming...

Yep, she sure is pointing DIRECTLY at Alto.

Then the outfit, that tight black halter top, the skintight black pants, the way she shows off her cleavage. It's not just insecurity in the moment, but her entire body feels... warm as she listens to the song, and sees her presentation of it. The way she caresses her own body to the lyrics of the song. And then a hologram approaches, a hand stroking his face. Ranka balls up a hand over her mouth. and leans closer to Alto. It feels like she's about to lose to Sheryl.

And then, the vision of Sheryl turns to her instead. Leaning in. So close to her lips. Ranka is frozen, mesmerized. Her scarlet eyes wide. With a snap of the real Sheryl's fingers, it vanishes...

... and Ranka, overwhelmed and feeling faint slides out of her chair and onto the floor landing on her knees. With two trembling fingers, she reaches up to her lips. Touching them just lightly to her cherry lip gloss.

It wasn't real. So why do I feel like I was about to have my first kiss?

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuba Greyvalley has posed.

Rikka is... either quite perceptive, or Mitsuba is *very* obvious about her exhaustion. She's kind of hoping it's the latter. "It's been a hectic few days," Mitsuba says to Rikka, plainly, before she gets seated again.

This one is -- actually a little much for Mitsuba; she's mercifully *not* approached, but ultimately, the thing she likes best about an idol concert is the 'fun' energy -- and this is more of a 'come hither.' She actually *doesn't* go all-out with the glowstick here, either; it seems like the wrong kind of vibe for that.

... She does turn a little bit pink as she sees a few other people's reactions to *their* visits, though.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        'Just... that I want to move people like her... in my own way.'

        Lucine bobs her head, the petals of the flowers shifting with the movement. "... I should've known better. I guess I was afraid you'd change your direction. It's sort of like... I like Miss Nome for her confidence and force, but with you, it sounds playful and sweet, sometimes bittersweet. Neither of you feel false to me."

        There's real heart behind that voice, and it shows in that tissue that Lucine finds has mysteriously appeared on her armrest. That moment where she's coming out of her malaise, Lucine shoots a secret glance to Ranka, and smiles softly, using it to wipe her tears.

        By the time 'What 'Bout My Star?' has ended, Lucine has immersed herself in the upwelling of surging emotions around her, letting herself become a part of it instead of drifting away on her raft, scared of falling in and finding herself lost to it.

        She is one star among millions, unique and glittering in the vast sky.

        The next song starts, and Lucine comes to herself, remembering something very, very important.

        ....

        Oh yeah, this was another song she had to slam the 'next' button on whenever her parents or one of the staff was in the general vincity of her speakers. .... and then, when she had her headphones on, she listened to it as avidly as the others, with no remorse.

        As the hologram of Sheryl picks their guests, Lucine also finds herself a host to a very different sort of spirit.

        As the hologram makes an act of stroking her cheek, Lucine becomes a statue, cheeks a deep red. A snap of the fingers, and it's gone like a spring breeze.

        ".... Mr. Hoary, did you cover Ruri's eyes?" There were two flowers before inserted into the braid of her hair, but now, there is three. That bud, artfully placed on the right to keep the two blossoms from being too symmetrical, had bloomed at some point.

        .... Was this the first time Lucine had called Ruri by her first name in public?

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        As the audience's cheers and applause rise, Sheryl takes her bows and waves high over her head at her fans--yes, that includes you, Emilia!--grinning broadly at their enthusiasm. From Zurvan waving his glowsticks to join in on the artistry, to Arrietty overcoming her anxiety to join Rena and everyone in on the crazy shouting, to Serinas's 100% success rate at getting into each performance, to Kallen being personally moved and inspired, to Riika risking her superiors' anger to come here in the first place, to Alto being far more affected than he thought he'd be and Ranka getting to tease him for it, to even C.C. acknowledging that the fans have a lot to be into even if it doesn't do much for her personally, to so many young women's gay awakenings, she adores the energy they've all brought tonight.
        
        "Thank you! Thank you all so much for coming tonight!" she calls, voice resonating through the stage. She winks, adding, "And to tonight's ticket winners... I'll be seeing you all later~!" She blows the crowds an extravagant kiss, then retreats step by confident step, still waving, until she's far enough back to jog off-stage.
        
        The concert's officially over. A calm, female voice directs people to where the exits are, and then announces the winning ticket numbers--which then glow on the winners' actual tickets, due to future technology. The lucky winners will have some time to swing by the merch shop to buy something to sign if they haven't already, since the non-winners need to leave before any signings happen to make sure no one tries to sneak in. Once the crowds have thinned into managable sizes and they've presented their winning tickets to the concert staff, though, they'll soon be rounded up and guided backstage.
        
        The extra time isn't just for them, of course. It's also so Sheryl has time to take a quick, hot shower, get her hair blowdried and her make-up done, and change into a physical version of one of her performance costumes--specifically, the blue vest-skirt dress and cowboy hat and boots from the Welcome to My Fan Club's Night! performance. She is, after all, meeting her fans. Up close, they'll be see her perennial earring too, the dangling drop with the violet crystal set in it. Long-term fans will note that she only wears one of those earrings, when she used to always wear both. They're her treasures, actually, something she's explicitly stated in multiple interviews. Where did the other one go? ...Though a couple of fans tonight would already know the answer to that.
        
        Either way, once the group has made it backstage, they'll be guided to an otherwise gated-off area, and there, a classy glass-topped table in front of a cushy black leather couch. Sheryl is seated there, with an autograph pen in one hand and her loyal manager Grace at her other. As Grace ensures that everyone keeps calm and orderly, Sheryl graces them with a broad smile.
        
        "Well! What took you all so long?" she lilts, tone playful and clearly joking, as she winks and leans her chin on her free hand. She spares Alto and Ranka an extra-warm smile, but she is a professional, so--for the time being--she doesn't show them favoritism. Instead, she asks, "So who wants to come first?"
        
        Judging by how she smirks after, blue eyes sparkling with mischief, it seems like she knows how that sounds too. Tonight's been REAL horny, y'all.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

Rena covers her face with her hand and groans a little, as she looks sideways at Arriety. She mumbles. "N-No kidding," she says. "And you're not playing fair, you know."

They both happen to be lucky ticket winners.

They're formed up in a line -- with help to direct them there, and the specialized ticket that they won. Rena looks excited -- she moves excitedly, rolling back and forth on her feet. (Good thing she didn't wear heels.) She grins, as she does, and glances sideways at Arriety. "It's hard to believe, huh?"

She has some merchandise in her hands. One copy of Sheryl's most recent album; her EP for Diamond Crevasse, which is Rena's favorite song; and, of course, a T-shirt. She also happens to be near the front. Her cheeks are flushed. She has rehearsed this moment in her mind.

She looks at Arriety, when it's her turn. "Wish me luck!"

Rena has rehearsed this moment in her mind; she wrote down what she wanted to say, as was advised, and rehearsed it. What she means to say is: 'Your music really inspires me! I can't really go back to my home, either, and Diamond Crevasse means so much that I got part of the art as my first tattoo.' But, faced with Sheryl Nome...

...well...

...what comes out is:

"I HAVE A TATTOO ON MY BUTT."

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        Alto is still pretty red as he just stares at Ranka, both for what almost happened and for her reaction to what almost happened. Though once he realizes he's staring, he glances away quickly.

        The concert winds down, Alto letting out a brief sigh of relief as he manages to relax a little, slumping into his chair. Then he starts to hear a commotion as the winning tick numbers are announced. He looks up, glancing around.

        Some winners talk excitedly about their incredible luck at winning. Others scream for joy at the revelation. Yet others faint.

        But when Alto pulls his ticket out to see the numbers blowing, he simply facepalms, muttering, "Of course..."

        Come backstage. Alto stands back. Way, way back. Off to the side. With a slightly exasperated face as he watches the fans approach Sheryl for one signing after another.

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.

That's the dangers of concerts. They are up there with encounters in space for something awakening.

Roux is thinking about getting a cold water or possibly a big beer at the stalls on the way out when Sheryl speaks something in the echoing resonance of a magnification that is perhaps less... sorcerous in its enchantments.

Ticket winners.

Something's being announced. Roux looks down at her ticket and sees -- glowing numbers.

Suspicion and paranoia washes over Roux, amply and abundantly explaining why she's a '2' on this particular 1-through-5 scale; this sort of thing keeps happening to her. It stands to reason, Roux says after a momentary pause where she feels a sort of dizzy flustering that is not suspicion. I'm probably the most beautiful woman in this audience. Certainly in the top five percent, Roux graciously grants the rest of the attendees, seeing several gorgeous people just raising her eyes and glancing around.

SOON:

Given this opportunity, Roux Louka emptied out her wallet except for one ten-spot and her transit card for getting back to the spaceport and the precious vendor of funding if Saraven Val blows up her connecting link. Roux has three posters in a clear plastic tube slung over one shoulder; a bag containing seven different T-shirts, four babydoll-cut and three in Men's M; another bag containing one copy of every CD they still had, two paper fans, a deck of Sheryl-themed hanafuda cards, a knit dollie with Sheryl done up in a cheongsam/oxhorns combo after Our Saint of Macross City, and a bag of prawn crackers (that was from the snack bar.)

When Sheryl Nome emerges to address them, Roux's face flushes. But she thins her lips in a moment of defiance, mostly at-- just-- the cosmos-- and half turns to lean over to the woman behind her in the queue. A young blonde woman in a military jacket that Roux nodded at while they were queueing up but didn't do more than that, instead opting to take a bunch of photos of the crap she brought.

"Look," Roux murmurs to Mitsuba, "-- Lieutenant, right? I didn't catch your name," because she didn't address her before now, "but I want you to know this isn't the first time I've been in a situation like this. If any of this makes you uncomfortable, just bail, alright? Head for the fire exits. If you want me to make a distraction, just whack me here on the poster tube."

A moment later when Roux is not immediately selected as sacrifice, and Roux adds, "I'm Roux Louka."

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

Things Riika was not expecting to happen: to actually win something.

"Hey, that's my ticket," Riika says, surprised when her number is one of the ones called. "I'll catch up with you in a while, okay?" She doesn't know if Serinas' number is also up there, but the odds seem pretty against it!

...

Which means there is now Riika, along with the others, in the gated-off area. She doesn't *think* anyone will recognize her, which is a good guess; she doesn't realize that Roux is the pilot she spoke to before, and unfortunately Roux both saw her (albeit with a helmet and a very different visor instead of glasses), heard her, and caught her name.

But she doesn't recognize Roux in turn without a helmet, so Riika makes no particular move to disguise or hide herself. Instead she spends at least part of the waiting time fussing with her bag and the item in it she intends to have signed.

"It's exciting to be back here, isn't it?" she says, fairly quietly so as to not interrupt what Sheryl and Rena and Arriety are doing... though they might honestly have been happy for a distraction.

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        Ruri blinks, as Ranka sinks right down to the floor in the wake of the hologram disappearing. "Fool. She's a program designed to look like Ms. Nome," she reminds her, drily. She still uses feminine pronouns, though, even if it probably wasn't a terribly curious program.

        (They're standing in the shadow of Sharon Apple, after all. It's hard to believe they'd make a sufficiently advanced AI for their holograms, in this environment.)

        "I'm not a child," Ruri grumbles, to Lucine and Goat, the latter of whom nods to the former with an affirmative grunt. (She still is a child, by most metrics, but in a few months she'll officially be a teenager. That'll show 'em.)

        Anyway, as it happens, some of their tickets glow -- not Goat's, though, so he transfers responsibility for looking out for Ranka and Ruri to Alto and Lucine, because evidently those two are trustworthy enough in his eyes. And they come to the waiting room, and...

        Ruri takes a step behind Lucine, trying not to be too obvious about how shy she is. "Fools," she grumbles, which is probably Ruri for 'you all go first'. Maybe she can go lurk in the corner with Alto. That sounds perfectly fine.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

>Okay I forgot one little outfit detail:
>Earlier:
        "Oh, before I forget, can you come here a moment?" Lani asks. She's draped a square of sea-green fabric a little over 4' on a side over the hotel bed.

        "What is it?" Serinas wonders.

        "I don't know if we'll have another night together, so... I have something to give you now. I said a heroine should have a scarf, so I got you a proper one! Like I used to wear when I was your age... although, your mother just thought it looked cool, I wasn't actually fighting bad guys..." Lani smiles, then leans over the bed. "Fold it like this, and here... bring up the ends, run them through a ring, and there you go!

        She drapes it around her daughter's shoulders, adjusts the fit, and then attaches a little Sheryl pin to the front. "There you go!"

        That's going in the cockpit of the CGUE later for good luck, but Serinas is wearing it today...

>I think the image likes you.
        "W-what? Me? *Likes*?" She stammers a bit, red-faced, and then the words that finally make it out of her mouth are, "I-it's just an image..."

        Lani has settled on amusement as well. Ah, youth...

>Meanwhile...
        Up in the PLANTS, Karissa and young Al are watching the live broadcast. Serinas's stepmom is over 5'10" and looks like no stranger to heavy physical work. At the moment she's got her blue (dyed?) hair in a ponytail and is relaxing in a black sleeveless top and ripped jeans. Sitting on the couch with her, Serinas's 13-year-old golden-blonde brother is relaxing in a grey hoodie with the words BAND HOODIE on it and some PJ pants.

        Karissa *absolutely* reaches over and, wordlessly, covers Al's eyes partway through Universal Bunny and does not move her hand until the end of the song.

        She is debating whether to do the same during Baby Pink Monsoon, when Alan points at the screen -- the camera is doing a sweep of the crowd as the holograms fly out, and he's pointing at the little blob of color they can recognize as a scarf, sticking out in the crowd. "It's Mom--no, onee-san!"

        The camera isn't close enough to get a *good* look at their faces, but if you already know who they are, it *could* be them...

        The two *stare*, open-mouthed.

        Alan has never felt so envious of his half-sister...

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        Arriety blinks as the concert comes to a close, and yet it's not over even as Sheryl leaves to go backstage and... their tickets both glow. Arriety blinks a few times, rather perplexed at this turn of events, and it seems Rena's also a winner! What're the odds?

        It's some time before they can be durected backstage, and she's thinking of what she wants to say to Sheryl... she's purchased a CD to sign by this point, with the leftover money that Seo-yun's managed to wire over to her as an apology for what happened at the luxury liner last time.

        The backstage is a really fancy affair, and Sheryl and Grace are both seated there. "Yeah..." she answers Rena gently, and smiles as Rena moves forward and-- and--

        A Newtype epiphany strikes Arriety a moment before disaster happens, and Rena blurts the line up. Oh no, oh no...

        She steps in quickly to cover. "Miss Sheryl... um-- hi, I'm Arriety. This may sound a bit weird, but what I wanted to say was... thank you, for that song you sung when the luxury liner was attacked. I don't know if you know, but I ended up in a mobile suit fighting outside..."

        She hesitates, glancing aside. "And... hearing your voice cut through that battle might have been the difference between me being here and not. I know that's a weird thing to say, but..."

        She bows rather gently. "Thank you." She places the CD on the table after that.

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

"I-I know... it's just, it looked so real..." Ranka explains herself back to Ruri, timidly.

Still on her knees, Ranka reaches into her bag... taking a bit longer to scritch something within. Before finding her ticket. It lights up. She looks to the others, "O-Oh... I guess... she's waiting for us then."

Once backstage, Ranka smiles again at Sheryl, giving a small wave. She doesn't however immediately greet her like she's her friend though otherwise - perhaps knowing that right now she's working.

Instead, Ranka once again reaches out into her bag, and pulls out...

... blank autograph boards! A few taps on her phone, a few purchases on a cash site (She has to splurge on her budget, but it's a special occasion!).

Her Salamander phone's eyes glow in a vivid myriad of colors, its head distending and growing to three times its size as it opens its mouth wide and suddenly seems to spray rainbow light on the boards in her hands the blank autograph boards become official Sheryl Nome Merch through the magic of future technology, with a picture of Sheryl from the concert ads tonight sporting one corner. The Salamander's head then shrinks and she starts handing it out after, "One for you Ruri-chan. Hoary-san. Lucine-san."

A beat pause, as she passes out another. "Alto-kun."

Ranka's hair then rises on both sides abruptly as Rena shouts 'I HAVE A TATTOO ON MY BUTT.' And Ranka starts, and says quietly. "Oh my gosh. Her devotion to Sheryl-san is... next level." Ranka has not yet experienced the life of an idol and is thus, still a sweet summer child when it comes to that.

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

It's a little bit of both!

"Hopefully things lighten up." Rikka offers to Mitsuba.

And so, the concert concludes, but.... things aren't quite over yet. Once the applaud fades, Rikka stands up, and at the vibration of her phone she draws it over, looking over the message from Shirome.

'Thanks! I'll let her know if I see her.' Rikka taps into her phone and sends off the reply, briefly glancing in the direction C.C. had left to resume her seat.

She exits as directed, but when the winning numbers are announced... Rikka's is among them! What a stroke of luck!

She'll definitely need something to sign - but, fortunately, there's enough time in between the signing for her to swing by the merch shop again and pick something up before joining everyone else backstage.

She gets in line, standing off to the side with the others until her turn comes around. She has to say, though, it's even more a shame she couldn't bring anyone else with her here tonight... If only to be able to brag about this.

<Pose Tracker> Zurvan Zevarist has posed.

         (TEN MINUTES LATER AFTER THE SHOW)

         Zurvan is still somewhat dazed, scratching the back of his neck as he waits in line with his ticket in hand, still glowing with the AMAZING SUCCESS of his lucky streak. Looking back and forth at the entire line, however... do tell him that is quite a few people that he recognises.

         Notably Ruri, who seemingly survived. This Alto fella, Ranka he's seen... at least once while he was baking cookies.

         "Hoy!" Zurvan calls out, waving at Ruri's direction and the crew of the Nadeisco that VISIBLY WON! "Look who's lucky!"

         Zurvan wiggles the ticket. It's still glowing.

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        "One autograph per person, please! Make sure to have what you'd like signed in hand as you approach," Grace instructs the crowd, voice as kindly as her smile as she helps everyone form an approximate line. Some folks seem content to hang back, after all. When Rena approaches with several pieces of merch in hand--well, her dedication as a fan is appreciated! But she will have to pick one.
        
        Still, it looks like the first one to come is going to be Rena. Rena, who declares, once face-to-face with Sheryl Nome, that she has a tattoo on her butt.
        
        Sheryl is a professional. She therefore laughs like this is funny instead of weird. "Ooh, daring! How was that experience? Good for you, I hope..." She winks and accepts the EP of Diamond Crevasse. "Who should I make this out to?" she prompts. Once she has her name, she writes on the cover: 'Rena- Thanks for your support!' and then signs 'Sheryl' with a flourish.
        
        Her autograph is a little unusual, actually: she sweeps in an S with a long tail, then picks up the rest of her name behind it, so it looks like herylS. The ink shimmers in multiple colors, too, so it creates a rainbow as she writes.
        
        Being together with Rena, Arrietty naturally comes up second, and so Sheryl turns her attention and her smile to her next. Her eyes widen when Arrietty brings up the attack on the space liner, though, before her smile returns warmer than ever. Arriety can tell that what she just said genuinely touched her, though she's professional enough to keep an outward lid on it.
        
        "It's not weird at all. Thank you," she tells her graciously, signing 'Arriety- Thanks for being a fan! Sheryl' as she speaks. "I hope I'll see you two again someday at another concert. Hopefully one more like this one than the last!"
        
        After that, Rena and Arriety will be gently encouraged to move on, and whoever's behind them in line to move forward.

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuba Greyvalley has posed.

Mitsuba is a little startled -- because she switched seats and she's a little disoriented by the idea of hers winning. She actually has to make sure she's meant to get this. Sure enough, though, she's a winner, the numbers are glowing -- as is one of the people near her. "... I suspect the random number generator is a little streaky," she murmurs, "but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth..."

She ends up in line, near Ruri and Lucine -- but more importantly, near Roux, who addresses her. She starts going through her bag, before noting, "Captain, actually. Mitsuba Greyvalley." She offers a pleasant, though small, smile, as she says, "I'm not used to this sort of thing, but I'm not a shrinking violet. It's --"

Ah. Mitsuba goes through her knowledge of history as it shades into current events -- and the name does ring a bell. "The Zeta Gundam's -- third, pilot, right? It's a pleasure."

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"It--oh, God," Rena groans. "It's... of the logo, from Diamond Crevasse. It... it means a lot to me, since I... couldn't go back... um." Rena sighs a little, but she manages to get out a mostly enthusiastic: "Rena!"

Sheryl is, after all, a pro. So despite her absolute mortification after that outburst, Rena manages to laugh it off -- and then she takes the album, clinging to it like it's made of gold. "Thank you so much!" she says, before she steps a little to the side. She smiles a little more, at the exchange between Arriety and Sheryl.

And then she steps off to the side, and lets out a sigh.

"A-ahhhh." She sounds not unlike a tea kettle going off. "I'm glad I got it, even if I... kind of bungled what I was going to say..."

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        When the winners are announced, there is much squeeing from Serinas and Lani and Riika get enthusiastic half-meltran hugs!

        Serinas picks up a spare shirt to have signed, and a poster or two and a couple of cards (are they allowed to get multiple things signed?) and goes to line up with the others! Ranka and Emilia get a smile and a wave, "Hey, fancy seeing you again here! What are the odds, huh?"

>I HAVE A TATTOO ON MY BUTT.
        My, Earthlings sure are strange sometimes! It must be a meme she isn't familiar with...

        Serinas steps forward after Arriety. "Oh, you too? I got in a construction Alto..." Serinas then holds her fists to her chest and turns towards Sheryl. "Umm... Your song... it really got me fired up, too! Thinking about the feelings of everyone I was fighting to protect... M-my Mom was in the audience too, a-and she wanted me to tell you thanks, you really lifted her spirits when she was worried..."

        Beat.

        Just when it seems maybe she's done talking, she speaks up again, "I think it's really great how you're able to share your feelings with song like that! S-so that everyone can see, how others feel! I'd like to, to do the same thing after the war is over! Maybe if more people knew how others felt, we wouldn't have this war in the first place! Um, I think you're great!"

        Serinas steps right up to Sheryl's table. "Can you... sign... my shirt?"

        The shirt in question is set down by where her place in line was, forgotten in her excitement. It is *possible* that her request might be misconstrued to refer to the Sheryl Nome shirt she's currently *wearing*...

<Pose Tracker> Sho Muramoto has posed.

Sho was with the Ashford group. And he was one of those lucky ticket holders. Just... where'd he go after sitting down? Like, literally, he went poof. No one's seen him since he was in line to take a seat. It might have been slightly weird for the group that he had just... well... vanished.

But then he returns for the autograph signing, looking completely nonchalant and just well... stoically normal. He's rubbing the back of his neck and muttering about getting lost to himself. That probably explains how he ended up near the end of the line.

All and all, he's just there for signatures, but he is looking to see if he recognizes anyone. And well, he does happen to recognize at least one short person up there a bit.

The tattoo on the butt admission has him actually leaning to one side a bit to see who in the world said that one before leaning back to stand up in line.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        Ah, Ruri, getting to the heart of the matter.

        "W-well, yes. I can confirm that much." Lucine touches a finger to her chin thoughtfully, not elaborating her particular reasons for knowing. "It's just... I would rather you see me when I'm not blushing, if that makes more sense... technically, you are my senior, so I would like you to see me when I'm at my best..."

        Lucine *is* choosing her words carefully here.

        "Oh! Thank you, Miss Lee!" Lucine graciously accepts the autograph board, trying not to grin as Alto and Ruri decline.

        Unlike Arriety, Lucine's Newtype 'spark' occurs a woeful moment later after Rena's outburst. ".... I think she's nervous... It's a lot, to meet someone you weren't expecting..."

        And speaking of people meeting people they weren't expecting--

        Lucine glances towards the ecstatic Zurvan, and grins. ".... I thought I heard there was another few Nergal members who had went..." Notably, Zurvan and Mitsuba, but neither has a face to those names in her mind's eye, despite the former being in battle with her. The woes of suited battle.

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.

'I HAVE A TATTOO ON MY BUTT!' shouts someone Roux Louka knows.

"I don't know who that is!" Roux says, even though nobody asked. She says it light, like she's singing a song!

She feels something then - perhaps lying has empowered her, as it has in the past - and she glances round. Her eyes rest on Riika, but she does not know her, at least not from this angle. She purses her lips though, before her eyes go back towards someone else, as if she's picking up some thoughtwave.

"I suppose it is," she answers Riika, but she's looking away as she says it. Something about that voice...

And then she gets the Mitsubomb. Roux's cheeks redden in a different way as her head whirls around enough that her hair (which has been pinned up into a minimalist demi-chignon for purposes of not flying around or getting yanked on at an arena concert) threatens to bust loose.

"Oh my god! You know who I am!?" Roux says, astounded. "Did someone write a book or something!?"

Lowering her voice, Roux mutters, "Was it Elle?" to Mitsuba, before returning to a normal conversational tone. "Anyway, umm-- forgive me, I'm kind of a contractor. It's good to meet you, Captain. I think I might have misread the situation, this is my first huge concert like this. I guess after this I don't need to go to another!"

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        "Oh!" Sheryl utters to Rena, when she explains what the tattoo actually *was*. She'd figured it was probably something relevant--this is not the first time a fan has blurted out something absurd to her out of nerves--but it still helps to know the detail. Rena gets that warmer smile too. "I'm glad to hear it. Diamond Crevasse means a lot to me, too."
        
        But soon she and Arriety have their autographs, and now Serinas is next in line. Sheryl smiles at her next and listens to her as she stammers and gushes about how she'd also been there and so on. "Oh, you too? That's wonderful!" Sheryl declares. As for wanting to do the same, she nods. "Working hard is the first step towards any dream. Train up your voice and maybe you'll make it happen."
        
        Then Serinas asks to have her shirt signed. Likewise, this is not the first time Sheryl has had someone ask for an autograph on something they were wearing, so she takes it in stride. "Sure," she says, rising to her feet. "Hold it taut a moment, would you?"
        
        Once Serinas has either held her shirt taut--or run over to the T-shirt she actually meant to have signed and rushed it back--Sheryl will sign that, too, with a flourish. Then it's time for the next in line!

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.

        When the ticket number lights up, Emilia blinks. She must have passed out when the Sheryl illusion was about to kiss her, and she's dreaming and she's probably worried Kallen and is ruining a nice event and- oh it's real. It's actually real and she's being ushered back stage.

        In the break, she pulls out a water bottle- she's not playing Macross City Theater Prices for *water*. Even if it's nicer than most of Area 11's water. It gives her a few moments to catch her breath, and confirm something. She gets out the prepaid phone, and texts Ranka. 'Are you at the concert tonight? In Macross City?' She's careful to catch herself before sending- spendthrift as ever.

        And then she is ushered into the back stage. It's been an incredible few concerts. And this one went right the way through. She gets into line- near the end, but not so near as she'll be there forever. She sees Ranka and her... friends, ahead including... that young comms officer whose drink she spilled. Great. Still she can give a small wave, cautious, if Ranka's gaze turns her way, then back to cautious looking round. Pilots, officers and-

        A woman who is oversharing. Joy.

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        Ruri is not astounded by the blank cards becoming Official Merch, because she's a child of technology, and this is the one arena where she's appropriately confident. As for other arenas --

        Between getting Ruri-channed and the assumption she'd go in for something as foolish as an autograph, things are looking tough. In a situation like this... she ends up taking the spruced-up board, without complaint. "Thank you," she says, clutching it in both hands as she looks about the room.

        At least she can't possibly be as foolish as that Ra Mari pilot, Ruri thinks. She remarks, sardonic: "Ms. Lancaster must be excited." She likes the people from the Ra Mari! Ruri is just Like This, All The Time.

        She hears Zurvan -- it's hard to miss Zurvan, really -- and looks to him, head tilting slightly. "Mr. Zevarist," she calls, in greeting, though she's not nearly so loud. "The special effects programming tonight was quite technically impressive, wasn't it?" Also scandalous, but this is not about that. This is about the precious solidarity between engineers and programmers. She looks to Emilia, and seems to recognise her, by the way her gaze stops for a moment, but -- she neither approaches her, nor lambasts her for her clumsiness, so it's a particularly neutral recognition.

        (Mysteriously, she stands in such a way that Lucine is between her and Mitsuba. Just in case.)

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        "I'll work hard for a brighter future!" Serinas replies enthusiastically, and a random air current makes the scarf's tails billow dramatically.

        Then: "Huh?" Serinas is confused. Hold what taut? She follows Sheryl's gaze and where the pen is pointing and then realizes and wonders if she should say something and then awkwardly rolls with it. "Th-thank you!" She smiles nervously and turns and starts to walk away, then pauses and looks back to add, "It was nice meeting you! Good luck!" Good luck? With what? It just seemed like a thing to say! Serinas walks over to retrieve the things she dropped, lifting her shirt a bit and incidentally baring her belly as she looks at the signature.

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        "... it's okay. You did good," Arriety answers gently when they step off, though she blinks when she passes Serinas mentioning that she too piloted an Alto on that day. She nods and says, "Thank you for your hard work too..."

        She turns her attention more fully to Rena. "... hmm. I never knew you had a tattoo." She holds her signed CD up and half-hides her mouth behind it. "Ohh. Was it that one week you were mysteriously ill at high school, maybe...?" she says with rare cattish energy that only really comes out around Rena.

        A pause. "Oh, look, it's Miss Roux!" She waves gently and walks towards her. "You came too..." A pause, as she looks at Ruri and Lucine. Wow, a lot of people she knows are here. What ARE the odds?

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

"Well, *I* wasn't expecting to get picked - "

Riika suddenly cuts herself off because *now* she recognizes that voice. Her eyes widen in surprise. What are the odds of running into one of the, like, six actual Earthnoids she knows (not recognizing, at a first glance, that Roux is not actually an Earthnoid).

She is momentarily lost for words beyond "Uh," because she doesn't want to get in trouble when all she wanted to do was watch the concert. Act cool, she tells herself. This is neutral ground and the *worst* that can happen is that they escort her out, whereupon she can probably get away from any rent-a-theatre-cop security.

No, wait, the other woman is talking to *actual military*. Riika's thought process for about one instant goes 'ffffff'. Act *really* cool, she thinks.

"...not to your taste?" she says, sounding slightly awkward, in response to Roux saying she doesn't need to go to another.

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

It's a bit of an awkward moment when Kallen is left with C.C.'s extra ticket. After all, she can't exactly use two of them. Mentally she notes to, if the most awkward possible situation strikes and between them they ALL had winners, give the extra to someone who didn't win. This has been one of her best nights after all, so she should pay that forward and make another soul happy as well.

A bit later, she's made it to the signing area, and, she thinks, determined who she wants to try and make friends with while in line. Unknowingly, it's the people who are definitely from space. Riika, Serinas, and as she's putting herself into the right headspace to say hello, it becomes a rather larger group including Roux and that Captain woman C.C. had been talking to. Oh well, straight into the deep end with her then. She does at least recognize a few faces, vaguely, from the other concert, so that helps. "Seems there's a good number of us who took the last show as inspiration to come to another, then."

Even if she hadn't gone out to fight with them, in favor of protecting and reassuring people still on foot.
Roux Louka tosses a coin: Tails

<Pose Tracker> Zurvan Zevarist has posed.

         There is a surprising amount of high-profile people, now that Zurvan takes a moment to calm down and peep at the line. He's pretty sure that young captain is there... and from what he hear, some Gundam pilots! How exciting!

         He nods at Lucine's direction, grinning at her. "Yeah! Same! Looks like a bunch of us got really lucky for this autograph session!" He lifts a disk out, wriggling it. "Going to get this signed. Then I'll do something neat with it -- Oh, Ms. Lee! Good to see you!" He throws at Ranka, waving.

         But then, the 'magical words' were spoken: technically impressive.

         "Heeeeey, Ruri! Yeah! It WAS pretty impressive! Did you notice that the holograms were adapting subtly to their targets? That is seriously some hard work for some small details like that." Zurvan avoids talking about how... scandalous and, let's be frank horny the whole thing was. "It's filling me with a lot of cool ideas and applications, I can't wait to go back home to test a few things out."

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        From his position lurking in the corner, Alto actually has a pretty good view of the various people that are lined up. Butt Tattoo girl is of course an interesting character, though Alto sympathizes with her about the levels of excitement probably messing with her brain. There's the Nadesico crew of course, poor Ruri looking conflicted between participating in the signing and running away to hide, which brings a smile to Alto's face. There's a few teenagers, hardly unexpected. Some spacenoids apparently, that's dedication to come down for a concert. Alto's only here because of a strange series of events. There's even someone in what looks like a uniform. A Captain? She looks young for a captain. And that name... Damn that sounds familiar.

        And of course, Ranka, who holds out some freshly made merch to Alto. He stares at it for a moment. No... Nooooo. Just say no. It's simple, just two letters. N. O.

        Alto looks into Ranka's eyes for a moment...

        "OK."

        Alto sighs as he finds himself lined up proper now, autograph board in hand.

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

Rikka's turn is coming up soon... Oh God, she hasn't even thought about what she'd say. Is it customary to have something heartfelt to say for something like this? While she panics subtly, Rikka pulls out her phone, tapping out another message.

'I got selected! Your friend did, too.' Rikka sends over VERTEX to C.C. She figures she'd probably appreciate being kept in the loop...

It's a good thing it's easy to sound cool and collected over the phone.

At least it's easy to decide what she wants signed - it has to be the poster, for sure.

And now, it's her turn! Rikka takes a deep breath to steel her nerves and she stands up, approaching the table.

"It's... really great meeting you in person. I only learned about your music just recently, but it was really eye-opening... I fell in love in with it immediately." Rikka says. She pauses, backtracking over her wording... and decides to just roll with it, because it might be more awkward to double back. "I haven't really gone to a concert before, but... this was great! Hopefully I get the chance again."

With that said, she sets the poster down on the table.

She can fight kaiju in an old mobile suit just fine, but talking to a pretty idol somehow feels much more difficult... Maybe that's normal.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        After collecting her things, Serinas approaches Arriety. "So... you were in a mobile suit that day?" She asks cheerfully, if a little nervously. She hasn't really had anyone to talk shop with during this vacation. "Do you pilot a lot?" Wait what kind of question is that Serinas you dummy you didn't think this through she's going to have to ask you the same back! The Half-Zentradi is still a bit flustered and full of nervous energy after that concert and meeting an idol.

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        At least it's a BIG autograph, Serinas, and the ink is permanent. It might fade a little after the first wash, but it's otherwise there to stay, and absolutely no one will miss it.
        
        Rikka comes up next. The poster she's brought gets unrolled for Sheryl to sign, though before she does, she listens to what Rikka has to say and maintains eye contact with her. A special appreciation curls up the edges of her lips a little further. "I'm glad you had a great time tonight, then! I of course adore my long-time fans, but it's always exciting to hear from someone new to the club, too." She winks. Once she gets Rikka's name, she writes in her confident cursive across the poster: 'Rikka, Welcome to the club! -Sheryl'
        
        Then it's time for the next person. Some folks are a little scattered and not *quite* in line, so despite coming in late, it looks like Sho gets to have his chance next--unless of course someone reasserts their place in line.

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

>howd u know?!
>it was an amazing show!<3!<3!<3!

Are texts Emilia gets back during the break.

Ranka looks at Alto shyly as he seems so conflicted... though she's not sure what he's conflicted over. Then she beams at Alto as he accepts it ultimately, smiling.

"You're welcome." Ranka says back to Ruri and Lucine as they thank her, before nodding at both their assessments of nerves, and being excited, "Well, of course. It's Sheryl-san." As if she simply assumes that. And waving at Zurvan, "Zurvan-san! Good to see you! Wow - did everyone who's on the Nadesico get picked?

Ranka waves to Serinas as she spies her though doesn't interrupt her going up to Sheryl, in fact whispering a 'Good luck' as if to support her dreams... before spying Emilia. "Oh! She's actually here! I'll be right back." She doesn't step off far, still really within talking distance given the short line. As she steps beside her.

"I didn't realize you were coming tonight! It was kind of last minute that we were even here ourselves. A... friend, won a contest for us." Beat, as she asks, "What'd you think of Sheryl-san's show?"

Mostly Ranka's elated, still swept up in the emotions of the show, though the look she gives Emilia perhaps is also searching.

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

Rikka realises she forgot to introduce herself, and does so quickly. Ah, nerves... Sheryl's response, though, gets a smile... and then she winks at her!

It's alright, play it cool.

"Th-thank you!" Rikka says... and then, quickly before anyone else can see how she's red in the face.

Not that this is probably anything unique, but it is for Rikka.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        "Ah." Lucine gives Zuvan a bob of her head, her hands clasped in front of her. "So you are Mr. Zervarist. It is a pleasure to meet you in more pleasant circumstances... hopefully if we are in another fight, I will be able to better assist you? Though..." She inclines her head slightly, her eyebrows raised. "The unit you were piloting dwarfs the Dianthus, so..."

        Annnd Zurvan mentions the holograms, and Lucine is blushing again. "Those were, ah... very good. Sorry, this is my first concert, not counting the earlier one for obvious reasons..."

        The red-faced Lucine pivots towards another familiar voice: Arriety's. "--Ah! Oh, ah." She clears her throat into her fist, her face slowly returning to her normal tone. "Miss Nome is very popular. We all must have good taste."

        Magically, it's as if wishing Lucine would be there between Ruri and Mitsuba made Lucine stay riiiight there, self-consciously adjusting the flowers in her hair none the wiser.

        Or perhaps, a little wiser, as Lucine is trying to sneak a glance behind her, wondering what the source of that nervous energy is.

        But there's just a nice young woman here! Who seems... _very_ official.

        Maybe she's the other missing Nergal member!

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuba Greyvalley has posed.

Mitsuba notices Roux's enthusiasm, before she admits, "I was originally on the tactical forecaster track before I switched to command -- the flow of major battles is important to me. I've reviewed the First Neo Zeon Conflict a lot -- it's generally regarded as the first truly modern war, at least relative to our current range of assumptions."

The comment about not needing to go to another... "Everything's a little different. When I was younger I went to quite a few. The spectacle here is something else, though..."

Mitsuba's gaze tracks to Riika. She doesn't notice anything about the other young lady -- at least, nothing that makes her move. "Congratulations on winning the lottery," she adds, to her.

She doesn't notice Ruri repositioning, either.

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.

Roux glances at Riika.

To herself Roux thinks: Ah. I understand everything now.

She winks at Riika.

To herself, Roux thinks further: She's already been stirred up by the concert, and now I'm overwhelming her.

"The concert was great! I just haven't been to Earth very often so it's just remarkable, you know? Every time I go to Earth, something amazing happens. But I suppose if you're from Earth it's the other way around whenever you go into space. Even if it's just from the change of view, right?"

Roux makes a little wave-wave gesture at Riika. "It's alright, don't worry. I'm being super businesslike right now, just take a breath!"

Roux also manages to overlook Ruri completely. This is probably because she may be, at least second-hand, a fool.

"Huh... I'm surprised they covered anything from our part of it," Roux mutters. "I guess Astonaige was keeping records, anyway, and he always made us declare our names when we were launching."

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        Ruri waves to Arriety, seeming a touch more shy than she usually is; perhaps it's the crowd, given how infrequently Ruri leaves her ship. She has responsibilities, after all.

        Luckily, Mitsuba seems like she's distracted by -- well, whoever Riika is, she's clearly smooth as a shark.

        Meanwhile, Zurvan distracts Ruri. "The program was working hard," she agrees, coming out of the shell she's built for the most important task of technological discussion. "The visual data in particular was coordinated in such a way as to not clip into anyone, so it's no wonder everyone was fooled. And since those processes were all running simultaneously for the entire hall, this must be running off of some impressive hardware."

        Can Ruri meet the computer backstage instead? That would probably be less embarrassing for everyone.

        She does notice Ranka going to talk to Emilia, with light surprise; she didn't know they were friends. Oh, well, she supposes. Maybe she's all right.

<Pose Tracker> Sho Muramoto has posed.

Finally Sho's turn! He approaches, having a CD.

Yep, Sho's getting an autograph of a CD. Not something big and expensive as strange as it sounds, "Here you go, Sheryl-san. I enjoyed the concert."

Yep. He's not that big of a raging fan. Probably yet. The music will get him eventually.

And he's obviously trying to not go fanboy a bit. Just a bit. He does have a smile on his face.

"If you do not mind my asking, who did the holograms? They were very impressive alongside your singing and dancing!"

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        Arriety blinks a few times as Serinas approaches her, and she quietly nods. "I was... but, ah, no, I'm not a pilot," She pauses, wondering if that's really still true given how many times she's ended up in the pilot seat. "There are just some... weird things happening that ended up with me falling into the cockpit of a mobile suit."

        She moves towards Ruri, when the Nadesico's chief technical officer waves to her. "I was able to say what I wanted to to Miss Sheryl... I'm glad. I didn't know you all attended too, though," she looks to Lucine and waves at her too.

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        A CD is a perfectly normal thing to get signed! Sho wouldn't even be the first person to get a CD signed tonight.
        
        She accepts it. "Glad to hear," she says. "Who should I make this out to?" Once she has his name, she'll sign, 'Sho- Thanks for your support! -Sheryl'
        
        As she hands it back, she returns his smile. "We have a whole team for them, actually," she replies. "Of course, I'm the action actor for them, but there are several people who put them together and make sure they run smoothly. If you're interested, you can look up their names on my official website. In the meantime, I'll be sure to let them know they've got a fan, too!"
        
        And then it's time for the next.

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

She's a Spacenoid?

"You're a colonist?" Riika asks, surprised, because she is slightly more polite about things. She thought that she wasn't... "Side 1?" she guesses, though honestly she has no idea; she just knows that's where Londo Bell is based. "This is actually one of my first times on Earth too, so I get it."

She thinks Roux has misread her. That or she's misreading Roux. It's hard for her to tell. But she doesn't 'get' her, really.

Riika stares at Roux with those slightly-uncanny eyes for another few moments (Riika does blink, and her eyes move to follow things, but they look unfocused and colourless behind her pink-tinted glasses) before she gives a slight nod, more to herself than Roux, and steps back. "Sorry. I didn't mean to bother you. Nor to interrupt," she adds, to Mitsuba. Back to Roux: "I think you might be up next."
Grace O'Connor has connected.

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.

        Emilia is given the reprieve from standing around awkwardly not talking to anyone to... standing around awkwardly talking to Ranka. It's better. And Ranka knows about idols, so she can help. "It was last minute for me too. Miss Milly couldn't-" She pauses, Ranka wouldn't know her. "The Student Council President couldn't make it, so she... gave me her ticket." This is easier than the crowds at the Hanami. Ranka's talking to her, so she... probably doesn't blame Emmy for what happened. Probably?

        "It was incredible... I don't..." She stops again, stumbling over her words. But there is light in Emilia's eyes, faint as it is, tired as they are. She fidgets with her hands, trying to make her mouth move. "I... liked it." She wants to say more but... She doesnt have the words for positive experiences like this. For feelings like this. But they're GOOD feelings, for those who can feel them.

        Cautiously, she looks to Ranka. "Um... I've never been to something... like this." She's quiet, hoping not to be embarrassed. "What.. do I do?"

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        Serinas looks a bit shocked, and impressed! "That was your first time in a mobile suit and you were fighting Zentradi warriors??? Wow..." And Arriety brings her attention to Ruri, whose face she recognizes from comms on that day... although, huh, she sure is short... wait, is that an *actual child*? She looks younger than Al... "You were there too... Were we *all* fighting that day?" Although, a glance over at Ranka and Riika reminds her that some of the people here weren't, actually.

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.

A spacenoid with a lot of swag. Is that legal? Don't tell G-Hound!

"Oh, does it show?" Roux says, indicating her mouth as if to suggest an accent. ... which she doesn't really have, although there are almost certainly cottage industries insisting they absolutely do entirely because in one place they call it 'soda,' in another 'cola,' and in another the genericized brand name of 'bepis.'

"Oh, oh God," Roux bluthers, before stepping forwards.

Her face is turning red. Her initial plan - to get the entire collection of swag signed - is somewhat derailed by the fact that she's starting to sweat again. Seeing Sheryl there, a singer to whom she didn't give much mind, the *actual* person in the *same damn outfit she was wearing in one of those songs* -

Roux laughs nervously as she steps forwards, slapping down what she grabbed. Two of the CDs and the pack of hanafuda cards. "H - hi! Uhmm! I'm Roux, it was... it was a really amazing concert, can you make one of these out to Judau, that's J-U-D-A-U not like Judo the martial art - and the other one to Leina -"

Roux hugs herself, and leans forwards slightly.

"I've never been to a concert like this," she tells Sheryl. "It... reminded me of a big decision I made a while ago. I kind of... decided something and had to make a really nasty -- huge choice -- and then I ended up just being pulled away from it. Or I guess I ran away; it's hard to say which."

Roux reaches up to toy with a stray thin string of lavender hair that escaped the pins. "... Haha!! I guess that's weird. But, I'm going to remember tonight."

<Pose Tracker> Zurvan Zevarist has posed.

         "That's what I've been pondering!" Zurvan says back to Ranka, spinning back the disk case into his side pocket. "This is one heck of a statistical anomaly! I'm still pretty stunned about it.

         Zurvan have no problem with DIGITAL MEDIAS. Since, you know, you can't have access to THE CLOUD from everywhere and it's pretty easy to get a very spotty internet connection, it make sense, to him, for physical media to just... be... around!

         "Oh! So YOU are Lucine! Right! I remember that sortie we've had, sorry, sorry! Memory can be fuzzy about this kinda stuff sometimes. It's a pleasure to meet you, too, at long last! You've helped plenty last time, but... well," He winks. "Today's the time to just relax from the really cool concert, yeah?"

         Zurvan fully realizes he is accessory for Ruri's escape into the wonderful technological realm of technobabbles. "Oh, I could tell. It was really impressive -- the lights, too, they managed to not really get into anybody's eyes, at least from where I stood. Truly, a great work of technological and artistic power. Good thing it didn't... y'know, happen last time. Too bad I wasn't there last time, I'd have punched a few skulls." Nods. Nods nods. Said with quite a lot of ease.

         Zurvan rapidly turn, excitedly smiling to throw a pointing finger at Kallen, to get her attention! "Right?? The show was really awesome to look at, huh? Last time I've seen so much holoplay was at a Space metal concert last year."

<Pose Tracker> Sho Muramoto has posed.

Sho smiles, "Thank you! And have a safe tour!" He moves off to the side. Then blinks as he notices... well, someone he probably shouldn't know about normally. But she did say 'captain' so he approaches.

"Ah, excuse me? I heard someone say 'captain' over here?" He says once he's near Mitsuba's group.

And yes, this is a teenage guy saying so. He does pocket the autographed CD, though! Nope. That ain't going to get forgotten easily.

The young man is most definitely looking curiously at the group around Mitsuba, and at some of the people. Trying to place possibly famous faces with what is known to a high school student no less.

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        Alto watches with some curiosity as Ranka breaks away from the line a short distance to speak with someone. It's not actually someone he knows... And given Ranka's behaviour, she clearly does. It makes Alto realize that he doesn't actually know much about Ranka's circle of friends beyond the ones they have in common at school.

        And then that makes Alto realize that, despite the fact that they've been in roughly the same area numerous times since they left Frontier and ended up on Earth, they've not actually had much opportunity to hang out. He thinks back too...

        Alto steps out of line a bit too, wandering over to Emilia and Ranka. At which point he says, "Heya. It looks like you two know each other well."

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

Riika has never travelled much outside the PLANTs colony cluster except a couple times, recently, to Side 3. She wouldn't know a Side 1 accent if she heard it.

"Just a good guess," is her response. She can't force a smile this time.

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        "I... thought I wanted to try again, since the last time didn't work out," Ruri explains, to Arriety, with a light pause. "Well, I guess I understand why Miss Lee feels that way about Ms. Nome's concert's, now..."

        She shakes her head, though, to Zurvan. "I think it's better you weren't there, Mr. Zevarist," she says. "I suppose it would have been personal, for you... well, I imagine that wouldn't be pleasant." Is she... CONCERNED ABOUT HIM??? Perish the thought.

        The look she gives Serinas is as stoic as any; she's clearly quite young, but also unmoved by her surprise. "Yes, I'm a systems operator," she explains, plainly. "But I'm not on duty right now." This is an important detail! Ruri wouldn't skip out on work.

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

Kallen jolts when someone other than the group she'd been initially trying to chat up, winds up talking to her instead. In its own way that's good though. Easier to actually strike up conversation. And eccentricity is something she's used to, even if it's not quite this strong from the people she knows. "I haven't been to many concerts, but the show was CERTAINLY... breathtaking. I'm actually here from... Occupied Japan, so that part was particularly stirring." She refuses to call it Area 11 right now. Not after Sheryl's song, even if she could choke out the words. Of course, to all but the most perceptive eyes, she looks perfectly Britannian. Not that most people here would have any reason to even pay attention to that distinction anyway.

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        It's fine to get plenty of swag--Sheryl's staff all appreciate it, since they need to get paid too--but unfortunately, as Grace has stated, it's one signature per person. Indeed, as Roux goes into requesting for a couple other people, Grace leans in, expression apologetic. "I'm so sorry, but it's just one signature per person. You'll have to pick," she corrects her gently.
        
        Sheryl, who is relieved of the burden of having to let down a fan, instead listens to her as she talks about the experiences tonight reminded her of. "It sounds like you've had it rough. I hope tonight helped boost you up," she replies.
        
        Once Roux decides who she wants the autograph for and which piece of merch to get signed, Sheryl writes a simple message: 'Hang in there. -Sheryl' ...Assuming it's for Roux, at least. If she picks Judau or Leina, Sheryl instead writes a much simpler, 'To X, -Sheryl' with an added heart mark at the bottom. Just to balance out the lack of a message, like she balanced out Serinas's T-shirt signature not having her name by making the autograph *extra* large.
        
        The next person is Mitsuba. Sheryl will sign a CS album for her, with a simple message: 'Mitsuba, Thanks for your support! -Sheryl'

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

It is a statistical anomaly. Though maybe not so much... it's not out of the question that Sheryl might just be showing favoritism, a fact she doesn't... actually mind so much, even if it's selfish.

"Oh it's a shame Milly-san couldn't make it! She seems like the type who would enjoy the show." Wait, Ranka knows her? Well yes, though it was mostly in brief acquaintance, it did help accidentally set up a certain scheme of Milly's though... "But I'm glad you got to attend in her place."

Ranka doesn't even bring up Hanami. Instead listening to her speak, as she stumbles over her words, but mostly just smiling. Letting her talk - just allowing herself to feel the nascent emotions within her. And when Emilia finishes, she says, "I'm glad. Her music has a way of really reaching people." A beat, "It was that way for me too."

Though as she cautiously asks a question, Ranka gives her a look out of the corner of her eye, "It's easy. You just go up there. Offer something for her to sign. Say a few words about what her music means to you... and thank her." A moment later though she adds, "Is what I'd like to say." She says softly, "It's not so simple really is it? Putting feelings into words, then saying those words. It takes a lot of courage."

The first time she realized the person standing in front of her was Sheryl Nome, she nearly broke down crying from the sheer surprise she'd said so many things to her about how much Sheryl's music meant so much to her, not knowing it was her. She wouldn't have been able to do it to her face.

"So if you're having trouble... I'd just thank her. And I think she'll understand."

Alto then walks up, and she smiles his way, "'Well' might be an overstatement." She says awkwardly as if he got the wrong idea a bit, "We didn't meet long ago. Though... ah. I'd like to get to know her better. Emilia-chan this is Alto Saotome. He's a friend of mine from the Frontier fleet. Alto-kun this is Emilia-chan."

Strangely she doesn't give her family name? "She goes to Ashford Academy... just like Milly-san. I met her at Hanami... uh..." She gives him a toothy smile, "... they had a karaoke setup and I was singing Linn Minnmay again."

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I was so enchanted by her beauty and voice," Roux says to her newfound enemy.

Roux takes a second.

What will make the most happiness in the world? Roux thinks.

She sets out the hanafuda cards - "Leina," she decides.

Roux purses her lips then for a moment. Deep breaths, she tells herself. It sounds like wistful sighs, inevitably. "It did, oh, definitely," Roux tells Sheryl, before accepting the cards with a bow and a "Thank you she'll love them!!!!" and a quick scurrying out of the way.

One last enormous breath in and breath out as she rests a hand on her chest. "Are all celebrities like this?" Roux mutters, largely but not entirely to herself.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

>I'm a systems operator, but I'm not on duty right now.
        "Of course..." Serinas answers uncertainly. "Well, thanks for your help that day..."

        And then she realizes something. "Miss Lee... As in Ranka Lee?" Serinas looks over at where Ranka is talking to Emilia and some guy who looks vaguely familiar, then back to Ruri. "You know her?"

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        Certain types of people give Lucine the drive to more fully socialize- the friendly types, the types that inspire her empathy, the types that rouse her will to fight. Zurvan is clearly in the first group. "Ah, don't worry, it's alright! It was my first mission, so..." She smiles. "Right. A concert that went very well, with no interruptions."

        Ruri's comment touches on a specific point that shoots like a cold spray of water up Lucine's back. "... we were well covered," she adds to Ruri's statement, "I deployed there as well. Though.... there was an oddity in that battle too..."

        The suit they were fighting wasn't normal. "... but... this is a concert. We can talk about that later."

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

Apparently, Riika is the one up next.

Privately, she's decided to get signed and get out before Roux finally puts it together, or one of the military staff notices - because where there is one, there has to be another, nobody would show up randomly in a full uniform unless it was at least sort of official.

Would they?

So she's still a little mentally off-balance when she comes up to Sheryl, and it's (surprisingly) not because of Sheryl, though it may read that way. "Ah, hello!" she says, with at least most of her usual good cheer. "I'm Riika - two Is, one K when you write it in English. It was great to see you, I've never been to a concert on Earth before. Ah - this is the one that really spoke to me, I guess it's probably not what most people are having signed..."

Riika apparently stopped at the merch booth, because she sets a single disc out for Sheryl to sign - and it's Lion, not one of the ones that got higher billing. "And thank you for your music... and the signature!"

<Pose Tracker> Zurvan Zevarist has posed.

         Zurvan lets out a laugh, shaking his head. "You're probably right. It just... yeah, a bit personal when some 'tradis cause problems like that. Kinda makes me responsible for them, you know? Could've done better for them." He waves a hand, beaming at Lucine. "Yeah! And what a show that was -- see, I've bought an online ticket for my family back home and I'm sure my mom was very happy about this."

         A pause, pensive for a bit. "And my younger siblings saw more provocative things, I'm sure. I'm sure." He pauses, nodding at Lucine. "Yeah, that fight was... weird. Not that I'm much of an expert about that, anyways."

         His eyes flickers, witnessing a pink haired girl near in line, Serinase in this case! Grinning, he lifts a hand. "Hey, Cousin! Now that show was some real kickass DECULTURE wasn't it? Hi! I'm Zurvan!"

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        "It's sweet of you to pick something for your friend," Sheryl tells Roux before signing the hanafuda. "You're very welcome!"
        
        *Are* all celebrities like this? Well, who knows?
        
        Riika comes up next, and Sheryl turns her attention to her. Lion *is* a brand new song, performed for the first time only two weeks ago, so Sheryl's smile widens to see it well-received. Along with several people who were inspired by that song during the battle, it's only just today been officially released as a single. Riika might just be among the first of millions to purchase it. They'll just see how well it does on the charts.
        
        (Probably pretty damn well, all considering.)
        
        "You've got good taste," Sheryl praises her, which is pretty easy to say considering it's her own song. "This is my first concert on Earth too, so--" 'Riika- Same! -Sheryl,' she signs--an extra-brief message that will nonetheless only mean something to the two of them. She hands it back with a bit of a grin. "Thank you for your support! Keep it up, and I'll make sure to make more music for you to enjoy~!"

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        Ruri nods, to Lucine's hesitation. "Later," she agrees. She'd rather not get work involved in something like this.

        She hesitates, for a beat, before she answers Serinas: "She's my friend." Can Ruri say that? Are the friendship cops going to come and take her away??? Is she doing friendship crimes????? Well, it's too late, because she's already asserted that's how she knows Ranka. "Why?" Does she know her, too..?

        She looks from Serinas to Zurvan, blinking those big, too-gold eyes. They can't really be related, if he introduced himself in the next breath. It must just be a Zentradi thing..? Ruri doesn't know terribly much about Zentradi things.

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

A FEW MOMENTS AGO

"Were you? I suppose that makes sense," Riika agrees with Roux.

BUT NOW

"Thank you again!" Riika seems pleased with the response at least, when she tucks the disc back into her bag and stepping back so that someone else can advance.

She does ask (staff, not Sheryl) a moment later, "Could you tell me where the washroom is?" before making a quick escape, glancing back one last time.

Mysteriously, Riika will not be returning to the signing room.

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.

        Emilia is clearly surprised when Ranka mentions she met Milly. Emilia nods. "She would... She's the one who took me to the other concert, too." And helped her get their things back. And...

        Anyway, Emilia is brought back to things. "She that it should go to... someone who'd appreciate it." And Emmy *did* appreciate it. She can ony really nod in response to Ranka's comments. But that's something she can act on. "O-okay. I'll try." It's still scary. But she can say thank you. And Ranka seems like... she's not going to steer her wrong.

        Alto on the other hand, is a stranger who knows Ranka, and instinctively she gets ready to extricate herself from the conversation, only to be included. Thankfully, Ranka takes the lead, and Emilia nods. "Good to meet you, Mr Saotome." She curtseys, a practiced maneuvered and greeting, when she's not expected to say more. But she might be. "Miss Ranka's song was beautiful," she knows OF Minnmay but never really heard her music- Grandfather didn't care for her hearing spacenoid music, not even the classics.

        Emilia looks down momentarily at the comment that Ranka wants to get to know her more. Surely that would just disappoint her, but... Emilia has a little hope right now. That maybe it might be okay. "After the song she um..." She p[auses. This sounds so foolish in her head. "Asked me to support her as an idol..." Her voice gets quieter, getting into mumbling, then almost silent,looking away. "No one... ever asked me anything like that..."

        Idiot. Why'd you tell a stranger that, even Ranka's friend? Since when were you ever so talkative... The music might have had more of an effect than she thought.

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        Serinas looks over as she hears someone possibly saying something about Zentradis causing problems and feeling responsible... well, Zurvan's hard to miss at *a foot taller than her* and also being blue, especially when he calls out to her. She smiles and waves back. "Yeah, it was *amazing*! I'm Serinas! I grew up on a mining colony in the belt, mostly Zentradi, I just came to the Earth Sphere at the end of last year... I actually haven't met many of us since coming here..."

        Then she looks a bit less happy at another thought and crosses her arms. "We're not responsible for those jerks, any more than we are for every time a human does something bad... If I'd had a Queadluun I'da wiped the deck with them..."

<Pose Tracker> Zurvan Zevarist has posed.

         "Ooooh! Hot dang, the Belt?" Zurvan whistles appreciatively. "That's a lot further than I've been! I've barely even gone to the moon yet, haha!" He shoves his hands into his pockets, contently, nodding. "I'm from Earth, France, actually. Big ol' country bumpkin, myself. Oh! Well! If you're looking, I know a few communities 'round the globe, there's a few when you know where to look. But let me welcome you to Earth, then! I hope you continue to enjoy."

         He nods, firmly, at her description. He's not less happy, just a bit more determined. "Yeah. I know we're not and that makes me a bit mad they're doin' that. Knockin' some sense and opening their eyes, you know?"
B-System shouts, "This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System."

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

Kallen finds herself up next in the line. She's not really sure when that happened, but thankfully she's not getting the sorts of butterflies and panic that several people have been hit with. Thankfully she also knows what to have signed. Maybe it's C.C.'s doing or maybe it's just fate, but mysteriously, she'd managed to find one singular copy of THAT song for sale. Of course, Sheryl can easily see from the shine in Kallen's eyes, she's been converted to be a true fan. "I'm Kallen Ko..." She pauses... she'd nearly given out that name. That would have been a gigantic blunder. Actually... no. She's going for it. She's worked up all this bravery, she has to put the cards on the table "Err, Kallen Kozuki-Stadtfeld, sorry. When you were singing, both about your home and... the part of Japan I live in, it caught me by surprise. And... also gave me some hope and courage for the future."

She's not going to mention the part about being a terrorist though. That wouldn't go well at all. Or the ways certain other songs hit her. That still have her heart pounding hard enough to feel like it's rattling her spine.

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        Introductions are made, as well as connections explained. Which sparks recognition in Alto's eyes, "Ahhh, right, Ashford Academy. That makes sense. I do remember meeting the student council president and now I think our academies have an exchange program..." He looks amused at how quickly that developed.

        Alto's also amused at the fact that Ranka was singing Lynn Minmay songs again. He looks at her with a playful smirk, "Can't pass up an opportunity to sing, huh? Looks like that day in the mall really did you some good." He then turns to Emilia, "Sounds like it was quite the viewing then. Sad I missed it."

        When Emilia herself speaks up, Alto waves his hand a bit to dismiss the formality, "Alto is fine." He then chuckles, "As far as supporting an idol goes, there are certainly worse candidates out there you could choose. Friends too."

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

"From *Earth*? Cool... It's nice to meet you!" Serinas steps forward and offers a hand to shake, and afterwards looks a bit awkward, rubbing the back of her head. "Ah... I've moved to the" she lowers her voice, "PLANTS" before raising it again, "actually. But, it'd be cool to visit more places with humans and Zentradi living together! Macross Frontier sounded pretty neat, I wonder if there are places like that on Earth?"

        "Sheryl's song reached the ones that boarded, apparently! She's amazing!" And then she looks thoughtful. "'Knock some sense in to them'... Does that really work? If it did, wouldn't humans or Zentradi have knocked sense into one another and ended the war long before Minmei's song...?"

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        Ruri listens to Serinas and Zurvan talk about their feelings on the Separatists, looking between them. "... you're committed to convincing them like that?" It's not quite being committed to warfare, but...

        Serinas seems to notice the same thing Ruri does about how violent that solution is, anyway. "Music can reach a lot of people," she reflects, thoughtfully.

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

"That was fast!" Ranka says of Alto's statement that they have an exchange program. "I thought it'd at least take her a semester or more to get it set up..."

Ranka smiles at Emilia as she says she'll try, only saying back, "Sheryl-san is really nice to her fans." She adds quietly, trying to help support her so that she'll have the courage to do it. It's like trying to pay forward what Alto and Sheryl have done for her.

She wouldn't have gotten even as far as she has without either of them.

Emilia speaks of how she asked her to support her as an idol, and she gives her a toothy smile, "Usually I'm standing in a mall handing out tissues, when I ask people that." Honestly, it was more an excuse to approach someone who felt lost and on the verge of tears. An insight that she just acted upon. "In your case... I made an exception."

It's not exactly what Sheryl would say perhaps, but she does take some inspiration from Sheryl's usual line of not doing something like this.

As Alto says you could choose worse candidates to support - friends too on the tail end of Emilia complimenting her song, she pinkens a bit, "You're both going to make me blush at this rate."

She of course, already is.

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        It really is good to meet a new fan for the first time. Sheryl listens to her, nodding thoughtfully when she talks about Japan and how it gave her hope. "You know, my grandmother was indigenous to an island nation here on Earth. I know--I don't look like I'd be blood related to someone like that, right?"
        
        Her smile turns wry, but her gaze is sympathetic. "Nearly the whole island was destroyed by war. I was really looking forward to seeing Earth, so when I actually got here, it frustrated me to see things like that still happening. But if my songs could give you hope and courage... that helps give me some hope, too."
        
        'Kallen- Here's to a kinder world. -Sheryl,' she signs. Then she hands the download card for the song Sheryl's Sister Spaceship--all that would be available for it at this time, but still Kallen's to legally download now--back to her new fan.
        
        "It was good meeting you, Kallen-chan. I hope you'll keep on supporting me," she tells her warmly.

<Pose Tracker> Zurvan Zevarist has posed.

         Zurvan firmly and happily takes that hand to give Serinas a hearty handshake. He shakes his head. "Honestly? Not always. Understanding's a thing that can be hard to instill in people. And without music... well, you know, neither of us would be standing here right now."

         His hair 'wriggles' a bit, tilting his head. Did she say PLANTS? Nah. Whatever. "But on the other hand, can't let them just stomp over things we've built with people here in this solar system, place where we grew up either. Until we can reach out to them so they understand, you know? If music can't reach,"

         Zurvan wriggles his fingers. "You can get a good understanding with a good healthy brawl sometimes, too. At least, according to my Ma, like what she did with some of her Sisters."

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        And now, it's Lucine's turn. "... ah?"

        oh no she's not ready yet

        Walking up while holding Ranka's autograph board like it was a trusty shield, Lucine thought she'd blush. But, as she stops in front of Sheryl, Lucine finds herself possessed by something more bittersweet.

        The holograms were very impressive, but there was not the source behind them there. They were something to express the emotion of the song, but not the whole flesh and blood person. A person who is socializing, interacting, a person whose voice is just one part of her, as Ranka's voice is a part of her, but not the whole of her.

        A person who lost her home.

        Lucine's gold eyes soften; she feels a little of the confidence in herself, inspired by the confidence she sees in Sheryl.

        "I wanted to thank you, for talking about how you felt." Sheryl said her feelings, but didn't provide more context than was needed; Lucine chooses to be vaguer still. ".... I..."

        .... To mention she's from Mars would distract from what Sheryl was trying to say. But wasn't that what happened, from the very beginning?

        Kallen mentioned how it spoke to her, however. Maybe, she should...

        She hands over the board for signing, one hand reaching up to self-consciously adjust one of the flowers on the side of her hair. "... I'm from Mars. A colony called Nemi. So... yes. It's a different situation, but... that feeling... it's something others understand."

         It can't bring Sheryl's home back, nor can it give Kallen back hers, or Lucine's. But it makes the world feel a little less cold, to Lucine.

<Pose Tracker> Sho Muramoto has posed.

Sho, overhearing this, raises an eyebrow as he turns to look.

Some things spin through his head on that one. Kallen's part Japanese? Didn't even occur to him. And he is Japanese for that matter. So, the young man's kinda just staring for a second or two, then starts to move about. Trying to find something to mutually talk about for the moment.

That he's got a bit more of a sad look over what should be a happy one now isn't that hard to notice, even if he is trying to hide it a bit.

Apparently the war talk has some bad memories for someone in the whole teenage group.

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

Kallen smiles and backs away with the signed card. Sometimes the small things are the most important. "I will be. This was the second show for me, but far from the last." And she's off. She'll mill around for a bit, to converse with people. At this point she's figuring she should walk Emmy to wherever the girl happens to be staying overnight, once everything is said and done. It's gotten late, and a bit dark. While Kallen will be fine, even without her purse-knife, she wants to make sure her friend gets back safely. And if they happen to pick up an additional travel buddy or two, then so be it.

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        War's generally not a happy topic for anyone, but yes, especially for those in the teen age group.
        
        Lucine comes up after Kallen, having apparently overheard her conversation with Sheryl. That's not normally something that would impress her very much, but considering she's speaking as someone who's shared that sort of experience--even as a newcomer to the Solar System, Sheryl's heard of how the Jovian Lizards devastated Mars--she's got a right to have listened in just now, Sheryl decides.
        
        As she accepts the autograph board and lays it down on the table, she gives Lucine a bittersweet sort of smile. "Too many people understand. But it's better to speak up so you can be understood," she replies. "What's your name?"
        
        Once she has it, she'll sign: 'Lucine- Thank you for listening. -Sheryl' It's also its own personal sort of message, not quite the same as thanking her for being a fan or for supporting her.
        
        Lucine's name also sounds vaguely familiar to her, but she can't quite place where she might have heard it at the moment. Maybe it'll come to her later. For now, the next person in line awaits.

<Pose Tracker> Zurvan Zevarist has posed.

         Zurvan gives a wink as he steps up in line... and hey, look at that! He's right there! In front of the real Sheryl Nome and not one of her holograms that nearly frenched her! There's this brief moment where he struggles, wrangling his mouth before he say something completely and absolutely stupid, taking out the CD case.

         "Hi, Ms. Nome! My name's Zurvan Zevarist and the show was great!" The Zentradi-blooded says, setting down the disk. "Please, relay my most sincere appreciation and admiration to your technical team, they've outdone themselves this time around."

         He clears his voice. Slooow down on the nerd, Zurv. His voice grows a bit more somber. "Your songs really hit me, too. I know you're used to sing like this in front of so many people but I'm sure it takes a lot to be ... able to sing about that like you did. Thanks you for sharing with us all."

         Zurvan slides the CD case. "Please sign it to 'Zevarist Family' -- I'm sure they're all cheering from home!" Coughing, he adds, "That is, they've been watching the show from home."

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.

        "...I wouldn't be surprised..." Emilia takes a second, watching to see Kallen get her own signing. She seems to have it under control (but Kallen's much more together than her, even though she's sick). She reutrns to Alto's comment. "Miss Milly is..."

        Oh wow that's a mix of emotions. Admiration, intimidation, trust, a tiny dash of fear, a sense of invulnerability and protection and lots and lots of small feelings still finding out what they are.

        "...Miss Milly." She finishes. She blinks at Ranka, but.... "Oh, I didn't...." She's not sure what to say to that. (Emmy still has the remaining tissues in her bag,though.) "I'm sorry for... what happened there. Thank you for... checking in afterward." She doesn't... explain what happened to her after that. There's no easy way to say 'I fell in a pit and a boy with a cross shaped scar pulled me out' after all.

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        "I'll be sure to do that," Sheryl tells Zurvan graciously, accepting the CD case. He is, after all, not the first person tonight to compliment the holograms. "If you're interested in their work, they're all credited on my official website--I'm sure they'd appreciate the compliments," she adds. Everyone has a social media handle these days, after all.
        
        She laughs a faint breath of a laugh as Zurvan thanks her for sharing her feelings through her songs. Three people in a row, how about that? "Songs are the way I express myself, after all. If I couldn't sing about it, how else could I communicate how I feel?" she replies. She laughs a bit more as he clarifies where his family is cheering from and takes her rainbow marker to the jewel case. 'To the Zevarist Family- Thank you all for your support! -Sheryl'
        
        "Here's hoping they aren't *too* jealous," she adds with a smirk as she hands it back. "Thanks for coming to see me!"

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

>I was really looking forward to seeing Earth, so when I actually got here, it frustrated me to see [war]
        "That's exactly how I felt..." Serinas observes, not necessarily directly to Sheryl, but just sort of in general. "All my life I heard about the Earth Sphere and its wonderful culture and when I finally get to see it..." She sighs.

>Without music, we wouldn't be here.
        That's weird to think about. "Yeah..." she nods. "My dad... actually wasn't much of a fighter. More of an astro-mining engineer. But there were plenty who *were* on the colony, Zentradi and Meltrandi both. I'm not sure what the Zentradi communities are like out here, but... they kinda viewed it as the bit of 'culture' they have to pass on to us, with so much coming from humans... And that's part of who we are too!"

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        When Ruri's turn comes up, she looks over to the others, as if they could save her. Tragically: she is doomed.

        She's still quite stoic, as she steps up to face Sheryl; her own nerves are buried deep under the surface of the still pond she presents. "I'm Ruri Hoshino," she introduces herself, a touch stiff. "From the Nadesico." Which is as much context as she thinks Sheryl needs to place her; she has dealt with her personally, after all, even if it's only ever been via distance.

        (Ruri was the one interrogating her on what happened during the attack on that transport. Is she just less critical in person, or...)

        Ba-bum, ba-bum. It's a strange thing for her heart to be pounding, for reasons assuredly more sad than a concert merits. She can't quite manage to look Sheryl in the eye. "It was an admirable performance," she says, after a pause just one heartbeat too long to be comfortable. Well, that's easier than saying she admires Sheryl. What a model for the future...!

        One beat more, and she realises she's still clutching her autograph board to herself; she thrusts it forward, in her hands, frowning off to one side. She's embarrassed, because she can feel herself blushing.

        She's not going to say something foolish and embarrass herself. She's not going to say something foolish and embarrass herself. She's not going to say something foolish so good that apparently she's not going to say anything at all.

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        Alto seems to agree with Ranka about the rapid creation of an exchange program, "I heard from Michael that the Miyoshi faculty have already hinted at including some members of the piloting course in the exchange. Though I don't think anything's been settled on yet." Alto glances over in Grace's direction, "It seems the combination of Sheryl's manager and Milly Ashford is a force to be reckoned with..." Though he's not quite sure why either of them were so interested in the idea.

        Looking back at Emilia, Alto gets the idea that this girl is a bit of a shy one. Which is fine. Although Alto does look a little confused about the 'checking in afterward' part. But he doesn't press either of them for the details.

        Looking at the people ahead of them in line... There is no one ahead of them in line. When did that happen!? Alto motions to Emilia and Ranka, "Come on... Looks like it's our turn." He doesn't look particularly thrilled about that, seemingly hanging back to let the other two go first.

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        Ruri could always just... *not* go up for an autograph?
        
        Sheryl does perk when this cute young lady introduces herself properly, though, so she knows immediately who she's talking to. It also makes her connect that--oh, right, Lucine Azul, also from the Nadesico! They spoke over the Nergal lines! A shame she couldn't have remembered sooner, but she's sure they'll have a chance to talk again.
        
        For now: "Oh, Ruri-chan! It's so lovely to meet you in person at last! Thanks so much for your help about that other incident," she replies warmly. "Grace really appreciated it too, didn't you, Grace?"
        
        Grace smiles and chuckles a little and pointedly does not respond.
        
        Fortunately, Sheryl pays it no mind. She does look amused when Ruri calls her performance 'admirable,' though. "Oh, really? What about it did you admire?" she teases--but she won't push for an actual answer. ...She is a child, after all. That much is apparent in the way she blushes and thrusts that autograph card forward. Sheryl giggles as she accepts it. 'Ruri-chan- So glad you could make it. Deculture! -Sheryl' she signs, and then hands it back. "Then until next time, Ruri-chan~. Take care, won't you?"

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        Ruri could not go up for an autograph, but then she wouldn't get an autograph. Which is its own tragedy, for some reason.

        Strangely, Ruri pointedly doesn't respond to Grace, either. She doesn't want to make her uncomfortable, after all.

        "Your harmonics would work very well when applied to the string principle underlying certain equipment," Ruri tells her, straight-faced, when Sheryl asks what. "And... your voice can reach humans, too, I guess." That last part she adds a little more reluctantly, because SHE'S a human, after all -- so once her card's been signed, she clutches it back to herself and nods to Sheryl before she hurries away.

        Deculture..!

<Pose Tracker> Zurvan Zevarist has posed.

         Zurvan took his jewel case, giving Sheryl a very nice bow and moving on. Ah, Ruri. Ruri's turn. Oh boy, poor, shy, stoic gal.

         "My father was a pilot, actually. My parents met in the cantina, fighting over the last piece of cake. They're farmers, now. Grew up on a farm, see?" Zurvan says that crap as if it was completly normal, passing by Serinas on the way out, to finish this conversation. "Yeah. There's... lots to be fixed around here, for sure, but lots to enjoy, too." He gives her a thumb up. "Hey, if you need some to talk to, look up Zevarist Engineering Solutions, yeah? We'll be happy to give you some pointers and places to look!"

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

As Alto discusses Grace's role in the rapid exchange program, Ranka suddenly leans to the side and looks Grace's way herself. "Amazing..." She says in wonder.

Ranka gets a surprisingly complicated sense of emotions off of Emilia as she talks about Milly. All this does is confirm her prior impression that Milly is a very impressive person.

Emilia apologizes though for what happened at Hanami, and Ranka... initially she thinks of saying there's no need to apologize, but instead thinks better of it...

"It's okay. I have moments like that too." She eventually says quietly, not really going into the depths of her own mental health issues beyond that. "I'm just glad tonight was a better experience for you."

Ranka watches Ruri from a distance get it signed. Her words are undestated, but for Ruri it says a lot. Though when Sheryl presses for an answer, Ranka listens to her an answer with a sense of wonder at her scientific knowhow of sound.

Ranka beams at her when she's on her way back. And then... it's their turn. "Looks like." Ranka says to Alto, and says to Emilia as she says, "It's time for you to meet Sheryl-san. Take a moment if you need it... then... take the first step forward."

She kind of lingers to the side but a bit behind Emilia so as to imply she's after her, unsure if she'll need some extra help or not - but kind of thinking she might!

<Pose Tracker> Serinas Nikola has posed.

        "My Mom's a scientist." Serinas replies, and approaches Zurvan before he leaves, retrieving her phone from her purse. "Do you want to swap phone numbers?" This is a thing friends do! She is Making a Friend.

<Pose Tracker> Zurvan Zevarist has posed.

         "Oh!" Zurvan, slaps his forehead. "Phones! Right! They exist! Sure, absolutely!" He reach up to his headband, flipping down a screen over his eyes, forming a small set of glasses, tapping on the sides. "Annnnnnnnnd... sent!"

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.

        Milly had the power to fend off Emilia's Grandfather's wrath, ande just do things as she willed. She's never met anyone who could do it, let alone would. Even if it's because Milly's family hates hers, that's fine.

        Ranka accepts her apology. That she has problems like that too... Emilia gives a nod. She's not ready to go further into it. Especially as Alto moves her forward, pointing out it's their turn. If nothing else works, say thank you. She can do that. Her mouth is already a little frozen, but she gives another nod to Ranka before breathing out. They both seem to know her. Emmy reaches into her bag, and pulls out the poster tube, and walks up to Sheryl.

        Yeah she's scared as hell, but she makes it to the table. Tell her what the music means. "M-Miss Nome," she says, fumbling to undo the tube and slide out the poster, treating it like something delicate and precious. "I'm, um, my name is..." She stops, she's trying to do too much at once. She pulls out the poster first, unrolling it carefully.

        "My name is Emilia," she doesn't bother with a surname. She doesn't want it there. "Your concert on, um... the liner was my first ever concert and um..." Her mouth moves, but no sound comes out. Again. She winces, and takes another breath. She's taking up everyone's time, stupid girl.

        "The first song there..." She knows the name, she's listened to it to death. "Um, D-Diamond Crevasse... it was... I've never..." Nope. She doesn't have the words. They're not there. She's about to freeze up again, turning her head to look at Alto and Ranka, before turning back. "U-um... Thank you." She finds it hard to meet Sheryl's eyes the entire time.

        After all, Sheryl's far too amazing a person to have to put up with someone like Emilia...

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        As the small group he was in filters back to the line proper, Alto catches the end of Ruri's signing. It's another heartwarming moment. But it does then make him wonder how a sweet, if a little awkward, young girl like that ended up the operator of a warship. Her impressive talents not withstanding.

        Emilia is then up next. Alto has never been that awkward himself, but in the past he's had numerous chances to get inside the heads of other types of people, so to speak. It's not hard for him to imagine how difficult it is for Emilia. Which is why, when she glances back at Ranka and him, he simply gives her a reassuring, straight-faced nod.

        With Ranka's turn coming up next, Alto smirks a little, leaning down a little behind Ranka to quietly say to her, "Don't fangirl too much, or mention anything about tattoos." He's teasing, of course. He knows Ranka can already handle herself pretty well around Sheryl. If still a little fangirly.

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        There's some staff present--they've been hanging back and being inobtrusive through the meet-and-greet and signing session--but they *are* there, and they move to help Emilia unfold her poster so she's not left to fumble with it on her own. However, it seems like after her initial stammering, Emilia has that under control, so they stand down. This is probably just as well. At least one of those folks is definitely security. This concert went well, but Sheryl probably needs a proper bodyguard after what happened last time... and the time before that.
        
        While it's true that Emilia is taking up time with her nerves, Sheryl doesn't push her. Partially it's because the only people left in line are personal friends of hers; partially it's because it's clear that this girl is friends with *them*. Patience is not one of Sheryl's virtues, but sometimes the time and the circumstances can make one better.
        
        "Thank you, Emilia-chan. It means a lot to me knowing how much my music touched your heart," she finally replies, because even though this girl couldn't get all her words out, Sheryl's met enough nervous fans to be able to read between the lines. (Also, she might just be assuming in favor of her ego. But shh.) "I hope the concert this time around was a much better experience for you."
        
        'Emilia- Thanks for being my fan. -Sheryl'
        
        "Then until we meet next time~" she lilts, smiling at the young woman as she carefully slides the now-autographed poster back to her.

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

Emilia steps forward, obviously terrified. It doesn't take the kind of intuition she typically gets to realize that. Yet she still manages to at least start. To take the first step. And to keep going. Ranka balls up her fists, and every time she just nods as if just following along with her struggle.

It would be easy for her to text Sheryl - to try and warn her - to ultimately do anything to tell her to treat Emilia with kid gloves, but, she trusts Sheryl enough not to try. She certainly loves her fans and wouldn't betray her trust in them. Even with someone having trouble getting the words out like Emilia.

When Emilia looks back, she just gives her another nod, like trying to tell her to keep going, to take another step. Just simple nudging, simple prompting.

And her faith even seems rewarded by Sheryl's response.

Enter - Alto Saotome. Who leans down, as Ranka's hair flaps up in surprise on one side, as she gives him an indignant look, "Moouuuuuu... Alto-kun!" She grumbles as she holds up the autograph board to her chest and looks away from him, "Sheryl-san's our friend... at this point it's not fangirling - it's just sincere admiration!"

Perhaps if she tells herself that enough times it'll be even true.

<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.

        That treasured poster has just become even moreso. Emilia is kind of in this moment, even those few little words are a lot for Emilia. She handles the poster so carefully, and despite her shaking hands she manages to roll it up safely, and slide it back in the tube, sliding it away, and giving Sheryl as much of a curtsey as she safely can with a skirt that short. She turns her head briefly to Ranka and Alto, mouthing thank you as she leaves.

        With Kallen there to walk her to her- well, Milly's accommodation. Something well out of Emilia's range. She has a tiny smile on her face, which for Emilia might as well be the brightest anyone here has seen her. It was a very good day. With no disasters. Next time might be a long time away, but... She's looking forward to it.

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

Giving Emilia a small V for Victory sign with two fingers, she steps forward, holding the autograph board with both hands.

"It was an incredible show." Her voice grows momentarily more somber, "Thank you for sharing your new song... I... felt it conveyed your feelings clearly."

She's not sure... why exactly, but the grief at the loss of one's home... it touched her in a way that resonated keenly within herself.

She then gives over(Or lets Sheryl take) the Autograph board which is now official Sheryl merchandise - thanks to the magic of Future Tech! She smiles at her warmly.

"I hope one day I'll be able to treat you to a show just as special."

Maybe one day she wants to be Sheryl's rival as an idol, but currently saying even better than this show feels like such a high bar to clear as to be presumptuous. After a moment's pause, she glances over her shoulder to check and see if there are any other fans in ear shot... seeing none, she asks.

"Also since it's just me and Alto-kun now, is it okay for us to speak normally?"

There's this tiny hint of amusement in her smile as she asks permission - however, she doesn't assume that automatically, allowing Sheryl to set that boundary.

"I don't want to presume..."

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        Sheryl grins when she sees the end of the line at last--not for the fact that it's the end of the line, because she could sign a whole bunch more merch--but because at the end is her favorite fan, Ranka, and her favorite chewtoy, Alto. Alto might recognize from the glint in her eye that she is *flush* with delight in having him in line for *her*. (It actually is a genuine thrill, the kind that makes her heart beat faster. She'd already spotted him backstage, sure, but now that he's all but right in front of her...)
        
        Still, right now it's Ranka's turn, and Sheryl is as ever a professional. "Thank you," she replies, and then giggles. (She does think Ranka has what it takes to make it in the big leagues. But a show just as special? Well, that would be something, wouldn't it?) "I hope so, too."
        
        'Ranka- Keep being my #1 fan <3 -Sheryl'
        
        She offers the autograph board back as Ranka peers around to make sure the other fans have left--and they are indeed getting gently escorted out, thanks to Grace, who *always* knows what's up--and for a moment, she considers. She does want to maintain a boundary between private and professional... but it *is* basically just the three of them now...
        
        "Nothing doing," she declares, waggling a finger. "If you're going to be a professional, you need to be a professional to the end!" She winks. "Fortunately, I've got just one more autograph to go, and after that, I'm done for tonight... So just be patient a little longer, Ranka-chan."
        
        She turns a sweet, sweet smile on Alto then, crisscrossing her fingers under her chin. "After all, I've still got one more *super* fan who *desperately* wants my autograph to attend to, don't I~?"
        
        ...So is she being professional or is she playing?

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        While the others who were invited back stage have all filed out at this point, Alto doesn't break his place in line as Ranka moves up next. Sure, he could probably go up with her, but he figures he shouldn't interrupt for the moment.

        Alto smiles as he listens to Ranka. Like Sheryl, he expects that Ranka definitely has what it takes to be a successful idol. Though he is a little surprised to hear Ranka willing to compare herself to Sheryl, suggesting an equal show. That's some impressive confidence! Alto is definitely interested to see if Ranka will be able to pull it off.

        Though as Sheryl's attention is turned to Alto, his smile is replaced by a more straight face as he feigns annoyance at the playful teasing, "Yeah, sure. Soooo desperate."

        Alto walks up to the table, placing the same type of autograph board down on it for signing. He then stuffs his hands into his pockets and turns away a small bit, remaining quiet for a moment as if he doesn't care whether she signs it or not.

        Alto does eventually turn his eyes to look at Sheryl, staring for a few moments. He then relaxes a little and grudgingly admits with a bit of a smile, "... It wasn't bad." Sounds like high praise!

<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.

Ranka takes it back, reads the autograph, and then holds it to her chest in a hug, "Deculture!" She squeals, in a way that's fangirlish despite saying that it's no longer being a fangirl anymore, "I'll treasure it always!"

Though as Sheryl declines, Ranka's eyes widen slightly, uncertain if she'd crossed a line - but as she's gently chided and finger wagged her expression turns grave and serious, "Hai!" She agrees, as if she were taking that advice instantly to heart. "You're right of course. What was I thinking?"

And graciously steps aside for Alto.

She's still in serious mode when Alto agrees he's 'so desperate' for Sheryl's autograph, and acts disaffected. Then when he grudgingly admits that it wasn't bad. Ranka actually loses her composure as she makes an indelicate 'snerk' which is fast covered by her hand. The hand a necessary measure to restrain herself from bursting into giggles.

She saw Alto out there after all, so she knows that 'It wasn't bad' is a gross understatement for him.

Still though, she isn't about to embarrass him more by revealing how rapt with attention he was during several moments... and uh, during the holographic Sheryl. She was pretty rapt with attention too.

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        "The *most* desperate," Sheryl says with relish.
        
        But then he puts down his autograph board and turns away like he really doesn't care. Her eyes narrow slightly; her lips slightly thin. Truthfully, she can understand why he wouldn't necessarily be impressed... but she's got her pride too. She sits up straight and folds her arms, staring him down until finally he glances back and speaks.
        
        High praise indeed. Sheryl huffs out something between a sigh and a laugh, before she flips her hair with one hand. "There, was that so hard?" she lilts as she signs:
        
        'Alto- I knew you could admit it <3 -Sheryl'
        
        "There," she declares, handing it back. Once he accepts it, she caps her pen and raises her arms to stretch. "Whew! All in a day's *excellent* work~. But with that, I'm done for the night!" She giggles at Ranka's--let's be honest--fangirlish glee, then scoots out from behind the table and pops up to her feet. "Don't worry, Ranka-chan, it's not a big deal. It *was* the last couple minutes of the night." In quite thoroughly casual fashion, she stretches some more--two bends to the left, two to the right, two backward, and two forward--and then stands up straight with a loud 'whew!' and a toss of her long curls.
        
        "Honestly, I could *so* go for a nice, long, hot soak! But I grabbed a quick shower earlier after the show, so I suppose I can put it off a little longer..." She winks at Ranka and Alto. "I *do* need to change out of this costume, but afterwards, do you two want to grab something to drink? I'm *parched*."
        
        Either way, she'll head back to her dressing room to put on some more normal set of clothes. The show, after all, is officially over. So much the sadder for Alto and Ranka, but then again, can a hologram really compare to the real thing?

[[Category:Plot]