2022-09-16: DecuFes: A Cinderella Story!
- Log: 2022-09-16 DecuFes: A Cinderella Story!
- Cast: Ranka Lee, Rena Lancaster, Jana Cektru, Kaworu Nagisa, Alto Saotome, Kallen Kozuki, Rikka Takarada, Lucine Azul, Nunnally Lamperouge, Shinji Ikari, Liam 7-020, Sousuke Sagara, Emilia Eschonbach
- Where: Ashford Academy grounds, Nagoya, Japan (Area 11)
- OOC - IC Date: September 16, 0096 (2022)
- Summary: Ranka puts on a mini-concert as part of the ongoing GUTS Deculture Festival.
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
In an elaborate Ashford courtyard, a brightly painted stage is set, built to be highlighted by the greenery that decorates it, bedazzled by lighting and sound equipment as if they were accessories to an elaborate ensemble.
It is sponsored by the fantasy seduction club, and the event posting states that one Ranka Lee from Mihoshi Academy will be holding a concert there. A relatively unknown 'working' idol who has not yet debuted, her 'Cat's Diary' Promo Song has nevertheless been passed around Ashford campus for months.
Opinions are on either side of the spectrum - people either love it, or dismiss the idea of listening altogether. She is after all Meltrandi mixed blood, and a Spacenoid born to boot, and it's hard to overcome those prejudices even with all of Milly's efforts at cultural exchange with the GUTS events.
As such, when the time comes in the late afternoon, there's only a small number of students waiting. A few dozen, some of whom are supporters but many of whom are mostly curious about the other events. Certainly nothing close to the number that Sheryl Nome drew on Island-3.
Backstage, Ranka Lee peeks behind the curtain. Her expression momentarily falls, then... suddenly her fists clinch over her Mic, as she mouths the word 'Guts!' to the crew backstage.
She wont let herself be discouraged, not after receiving so much support from so many people.
When the time comes, Ranka moves onto the stage in a strapless summer dress of light green and white, accented by flowers that dot it like stars and ribbons. A yellow ribbon is twisted on one side of her hair to evoke a braid, while floral hairpins dot the other side of her green hair, giving the feeling of blooming out of it.
Standing in the center of the stage, she smiles at those who are gathered, raises her orange Osanshoo-san microphone... and introduces herself, in the same way she was challenged to once before...
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wogg3h9e7d4
"Baby, how do you want to drive?
"I've got the handle and I'm waiting on standby
"You want my heart and want my love?
"No!? Oh, let's just swing and kiss! (kiss! kiss!)"
There are no instrumentals at first, just her, in her own version of Sheryl Nome's 'What 'bout my Star?'. Soft, sweet, emotional as she clutches her mic, the melody floating throughout the courtyard, and throughout the whole school in fact, as she's hooked into the PAs. The final line of the first verse, she spreads out her arms as if someone were right there, embracing someone.
The echo of kiss fades, and a guitar melody enters into play. A hand slips into the air, like she's reaching for stardust in the sky, lights glitter all over the stage. Her hand is guided down as the beat of a drum starts, then swept in front of her, as with a pivot of her hip she reaches out to the audience with a beckoning hand.
"This half-hearted style's a no-go
"If you got love that soars, then that's for me
"Beautiful! Excuse me! but if you want (lalala~)
"There are such possibilities!"
Kicking into an energetic dance step as the lights pulse around her, she shakes from side to side, before crossing her arm over her mic, as if crossing her heart, and tracing her arm back skyward to point for emphasis, as she takes one bubbly step after another towards the audience. Her dance steps are a bit unpolished like she only recently got them down or had a breakthrough, but one would have to be an expert dancer to notice, shes been working hard at it and perhaps had a very good teacher.
"Point: I don't care!
"Dollars, they're so fake!
"Point: it's one or the other.
"But one is what we'll make!"
Dancing backwards, she pivots into a quick side to side, each motion like a wave to her audience. Which is, growing in size, at first a slow trickle, but now a steady stream from all entrances of the courtyard as if drawn by the song on the loudspeakers.
"What 'bout my starrrrr? What 'bout my starrrrr?
"What 'bout my star? What 'bout my starrrr?
"What 'bout my star? What 'bout my star?
"Star~aaaahhh~Huuuu~!"
Arms spread wide, she does a spin, before drawing up one leg, then putting one hand up to her face like a salute to the audience. The lights on the stage suddenly grow blinding bright as if that star had come, and as they dim again, there's the silhouette of Ranka dancing again from side to side, pumping her fist at the audience.
"Let me know what you want; I'll give it to you!
"How fantastic it is to be with you, my love!"
"Darlin, I'm telling you, come closer
"No you, no life: that's the rule of my heart
"I need your heart and need your love
"Yes, I'm happy to start!
Ranka starts a bubbly little hop on her toes as her heels shift from side to side as if she just can't contain the feelings this song evokes.
"I don't care how this love gets unfurled!
"You get no second chances, so let's make it exciting
"You're wonderful and charming
"And I wanna get you! (lalala~)
"We'll sing around the world"
Going into a controlled spin and swiveling at the hips, Ranka ends up facing front and center, holding up three fingers as she counts down.
"3. Hey, I'll count down
"2. Are you ready?
"1. Oh, I can't wait no more
"0. Let love ring freely!"
Countdown finished, she dances across the stage, waving at the audience once again, as if trying to guide the flow of energy that she's the source of into clapping along as she twirls and sweeps her hand out towards them.
"What 'bout my starrrrr? What 'bout my starrrrr?
"What 'bout my star? What 'bout my starrrr?
"What 'bout my star? What 'bout my star?
"Star~aaaahhh~Huuuu~!"
She turns in profile, shimmying across the stage, her hand thrust down past her hip before crossing her hand high and pointing skywards.
"Let's go on a romantic date!!
"Give me a miraculous kiss
"Now on our emotional date."
And then all of a sudden, Ranka stops the motion, the instrumentals stop, and it's just her again at the center of the stage, both hands clutching her mic - gaze downcast as if enthralled in the outro.
"Let me know what you want; I'll give it to you!
"How fantastic it is to be with you... my love!"
Her red-eyed gaze finally lifts on 'my love!' skywards as she echoes, resonating throughout the whole school, like her voice is the only sound that exists... then silence.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
Rena has no affiliation with Ashford Academy.
But she did hear about Ranka Lee from Kaworu, and her and Eight had considered asking a favor from her. Before asking a favor, though, she thought she owed it to her to know her music and hear her sing first. So, Rena is at a high school.
She isn't in uniform -- that would make her stand out -- so she has a dark blue button-up collared shirt, black pants, and leather shoes on. It's the sort of thing she would wear to a low-key club.
Stand at the back of the stage, though, it dawns on her.
Nope, she's an adult at a high school concert. She might officially be lame.
She blinks when she hears Ranka sing, though. She knows the lyrics -- that's a Sheryl Nome song, after all -- and she sways a little, before she blinks. Then, she grins, tapping her foot to the beat.
"Wow," Rena says, quietly. "She is really good." It's to herself... but she did blurt it out for anyone standing nearby.
<Pose Tracker> Jana Cektru has posed.
Dr. Jana Cektru is not a high school student. She's not a high school teacher. She really has no affiliation with Ashford at all! ...But some of the students of her organization are here, and she qualifies as adult supervision, and has agreed to the request to provide some of same.
So, the doctor is dressed in blue as is usual for her, a long dress under a white jacket, with nice sturdy boots. The academic in her is strong. And she is pleasantly standing about, vaguely supervising students, and listening to the music!
...and to Rena, who quietly makes a statement of her own. "Yes," Jana agrees with her, "She's quite good." Then a small smile. "A good dancer, and very lively. You can really feel the energy in her performance, can't you?"
...She has been clapping along with the music, naturally. And maybe there's a reason she gravitated towards the not high schooler...
Kaworu_Nagisa <- Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
I don't understand that.
I don't understand that.
I don't understand that.
I don't understand that.
I don't understand that.
I don't understand that.
I don't understand that.
I don't understand that.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Sheryl Nome isn't here. Who is here is a young woman in a Mihoshi Academy school uniform with an adorable cap, covering her hair save for two blonde tendrils dangling down the sides of her face, shades over her eyes. This is an unofficial concert for Ranka--not even a debut, just something a student is doing for the student Deculture Festival--so it would be gauche for Sheryl Nome to show up and drag all the attention away from her and onto herself just by being here. But a fellow student from Mihoshi? That's just fine.
If she's hanging out just behind the treeline with a young cyborg man who bears a striking resemblance to one of Sheryl Nome's bodyguards, that's just a coincidence and is to be ignored.
And ignore it, Kaworu Nagisa is plenty willing to do. He has plenty of other things to take up his attention, like the fact that this is an event starring Ranka and bringing her song to a wider, live audience. As her friend--as someone who was instantly enamored by her song--Kaworu wants to support her.
He isn't wearing his school clothes currently. Instead, he wears a mid-sleeved shirt that's white in the torso and gray on the sleeves, lined thinly with orange at the collar and under the arms and with a small insignia on the left breast. Under that, he wears a black-and-white striped undershirt, though only a little bit of it peeks out at his waist and on his shoulders. His sleeves only go a little bit past his elbows. A simple tag-like pendant hangs from his neck; a couple of thin bands decorate his left ring finger; and a metal wristwatch hugs his right wrist. A brown belt holds beige pants in place, which in turn tuck into cream-colored sneakers with popped tops.
He's here with Shinji, whom he invited to come with him the other day. When Ranka takes the stage and performs her sweet, heartfelt cover of Sheryl Nome's What 'Bout My Star?, he listens with eyes shut and smile wide, head bobbing to the beat as his fingers tap along inside his pockets. Partway through, he opens his eyes to visually appreciate her dance. When she finishes, he breathes a sigh of satisfaction and joins in on the applause.
"She's done quite well to make it this far despite her opposition. Once she breaks through it, there won't be any stopping her," he remarks warmly. He glances over to Shinji, still smiling. "What do you think?"
Rena isn't far away--nor is Jana--and Kaworu glances their way. For now, then, he just chuckles softly, pleased on his friend's behalf by their praise.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
Alto is initially backstage to give support to Ranka. Which in the end amounts to, "You've got this." After which he proceeds to exit the backstage and make for the open courtyard where the audience is.
It doesn't look like a great turnout yet... Though Alto wouldn't be surprised if it grows as Ranka starts singing. Which should be any minute now...
Sure enough, the starlet makes her way out onto the stage, kicking off with a familiar sounding song. Alto watches along, a light smile on his face as he does so. It's not the first time he's heard Ranka's cover of this particular song. But it does sound like she's gone even further to make this version her own. Perhaps it's confidence?
Alto is nodding his head along to the song by the end, eyes still fixed on Ranka. As it finishes he gives her a discreet thumbs up while people are applauding.
<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.
Kallen has everything to do with Ashford. She'd leveraged some of her Student Council authority, an amount of the student body's lingering opinions regarding various pageant performances, and some incidental data she'd picked up for various purposes in order to corral the crowd and get the multi-school union's attendees calmly settled into place without incident. It's amazing what an Ashford student will do when you have... bluntly, blackmail material on them. Including playing nice with people they might normally not.
But a few minutes before the show starts, she slips in backstage, to support Ranka. And to make sure all her preparations were handled smoothly. She wants her friend's show to be a hit after all. ...Even if the machinations she could never know, may conspire against her.
"Ranka!" She's watching from back here, once the girl is out on stage. Even if they've got shockingly opposing personalities, that's not stopped them from being friends, or stopped Kallen from cheering her on every step of the way. She's got every confidence this girl is going to knock them dead. Figuratively speaking anyway, Ranka is the least confrontational or even passively violent person she's ever met. Which makes it a little harder to find the right words to vocally cheer her on?
Regardless of that, she knows something without a doubt. The innocent joy that radiates off Ranka's every waking moment can't fail to capture hearts tonight.
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
Rikka doesn't know Ranka that well, but she's seen her here and there. But, Rikka loves music, and she knows it must take a lot of guts(pun intended) to schedule a concert for something like this - putting herself out there for everyone to see and to judge. She can respect that kind of courage, so she makes sure to make time to to attend the concert.
And so that's why she's here today, watching as Ranka steps out onto the stage. Her outfit is pretty cute, and as for her voice...
...Her voice is pretty good. She naturally has a different energy from Sheryl, it feels like, but it really suits her. She finds herself drawn in by her voice, and she's almost sad when the song finishes. But, she naturally joins in on the applause once it reaches its end, settling back into her chair.
"She's really good..." Rikka comments, to no one in particular. "I'm glad I decided to show up today."
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
".... it's just like some of the manga I've read..."
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
".... it's just like some of the manga I've read..."
Going into a school, for Lucine, might as well be her going into a Japanese-style tea house. Everything is treated with awe and a barely disguised excitement, like it was all an illustration come to life. Nevermind that this is much more fancy that the schools she was imagining, or that it may not emulate the exact look and feel of the exact mangas she was thinking about. "And there's places where they put in their shoes, and that's where people put their private letters to each other... Oh, and people have to stay after to help clean the classroom, and you have to clap these black things together to get the white dust out of them... Because they would use something called chalk... but probably not this school...."
Lucine might as well be wearing a brightly flashing sign that says 'Spacenoid', a fact that seems to dampen her enthusiasm the further she and Liam go into the halls. It must be what she's wearing. The pink linen dress was cute in the spring, but it's near the border of fall, and the fashion would have changed. Or maybe it's.... is this what people mean, by how Spacenoids are seen?
Maybe, it's even worse for Ranka. "... Thank you for coming along, Liam." Lucine turns, self-consciously adjusting one of her silver flower-shaped clips. "Ranka must be feeling so nervous... but... I imagine there will be many people there cheering her on. She'll probably not even notice we're there."
Which is why it's surprising when the group gathered is mostly people Lucine already knows, rather than the entirety of the school roster like she had imagined. But it's still a nice mix. Perhaps, for Ranka, this setup is much better.
When the song starts, it fails to matter. It might as well be the greenhouse, where Ranka has sang for her plants so many times. Lucine silently mouths the words along with Ranka, smiling.
The song dies down on those final notes, and Lucine claps along with the crowd.
<Pose Tracker> Nunnally Lamperouge has posed.
Before the event, Ranka got a priority message from the Nadesico:
< YOU'RE THE STAR ! >
Which was exactly that encouraging. Omoikane is cheering for you, Ranka.
Right now, behind the stage in Ranka's performance, the Student Council are working hard to make sure her song goes on without a hitch. Sunny Shirley Fenette fusses over the sound equipment, while Rivalz Cardemonde handles the lights. "Ha ha!" He grins, clearly pumped up. "There's no way they won't love her now..!"
Nunnally Lamperouge, beside Shirley at the sound equipment, smiles gently. "Don't forget to make her voice echo, okay..?" She prompts Shirley, face turning in her direction.
"You got it," Shirley affirms, smiling back.
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
... That young, green haired cyborg who may or may not be a bodyguard -- and who did not so might as give Sheryl a Look concerning running off this time -- positions himself to be unseen behind the trees. His attention, intent and focused, never leaves Ranka for a moment of her performance.
Less silent, but only just, is Shinji, following in step with Kaworu. Not trying to get away with wearing his school uniform everywhere for once, he has his own dark zip up over a t-shirt. Not the more daring silhouette change... But at least he looks less like he was dragged somewhere against his will at a moment's notice.
In more ways than one. Shinji's enjoyment is never high energy, but it's still worn openly. He admires Ranka's singing with bright eyed wonder, but otherwise quiet in his way, his body never compelled to move with the music. More upbeat, optimistic songs have a way of drawing him in -- something to chase out the melancholy that he wallows in otherwise.
The smile he gives Kaworu is broad. "I don't know a lot about that kind of thing, but... It is a good feeling when she sings, isn't it?" Shinji's attention lands back on Ranka. "I feel at ease..."
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Once upon a time, before everything went to hell, Liam was a student in a crowded, underfunded school. Ashford Academy, with its manicured lawns and sprawling facilities and clean, safe infrastructure, might as well have fallen in from another dimension.
The cyborg follows Lucine through the halls, expression unreadable and stoic--but Lucine can sense the flashes of anxiety and grief and loss stirring beneath the surface. He's wearing the same thing he wore to Sheryl's last concert: the grey blazer and slacks with the red button-down. His footsteps are too heavy. He sees the students milling around, and his face curls in a slight grimace. He's too tall, too bulky, too freakish to be just a little older.
"It's nothing," Liam says--lies, really.
But he stands with her, puts on a smile--genuine, because he really does want to see Ranka succeed--and claps. Gingerly. He's heard this song before. Despite everything... he steps a little closer to Lucine.
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
Ranka caught the thumbs up out of her periphery. There's a smile, and a small discreet waggle of her fingers down at her side backwards at the crew backstage... though there's also a faint blush given what's coming next.
She recognized some people in the audience when she began, but by the time the applause has died down, she has trouble finding them again because the size of the crowd has grown, and grown - until the courtyard is nearly full with more still coming. She finds her heart is beating so fast, as she readies herself for a proper introduction.
She isn't Sheryl Nome, she can't demand people listen to her based on reputation alone, she had to sell them on her with a song first. "Good afternoon Ashford Academy! How is everyone? I'm Ranka Lee, from Mihoshi Academy. Thank you all for coming out today to Deculture Fest!"
As she does a small bow, before straightening up, "I've been working hard for a while to try and make my debut as an idol, and while I'm not there yet-"
Perhaps, as partially evidenced by the fact she's covering Sheryl Nome, "-it feels like I'm getting closer each and every day, with everyone's support. So, I'd like to give special mention to the Ashford Academy Fantasy Seduction Club, to Emilia, Kallen, Milly and Nunnally for all the encouragement they've given me. To my manager, Elmo, to the crew of the Nadesico, and to Tabby - who has helped me so much with my music. But especially to Alto and Sheryl, who have been inspiring me since the very start! It's thanks to all of you - that I am where I am today."
Ranka looks a bit bashful, as she curls a finger by her chin as she speaks into her mic, "I could gush about them all day, but that's not what you're here for, is it? It's the music! So, let's keep going with a classic from Lynn Minmay!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk_qTaW821I
It might be a nod to her beginnings in Miss Macross, but the lively melody of a retro song starts, Ranka arcing both arms over her head before clapping her hands together in rhythm, each step popping from one side to another. Many people at Ashford havent heard this before, being a Spacenoid tune, but the retro vibe might land well with a largely Britannian student body.
As she starts to sing, a hand touches her shoulder as her head cants to the side for a cute wink, before that same arm slowly rises to the sky with her closed eyes.
"Ba-dump, ba-dump.
"My boyfriend is a pilot
Shifting into a quick side to side step, her right arm waving with each movement, before again pointing skywards, and waving her finger at the audience like she's tracking something in the air. Then placing that hand on her hip, shifts on her toes from one side to the other.
"He glitters bright as he nosedives
"Then revs his engine and does a steep climb
"He leaves a long vapor trail
"Of two huge, overlapping hearts
"A love sign in the vast blue skies."
"I love you. You love me?
"But gosh, he's hotter for his own plane than he is for me!"
That line actually draws some brief good-natured laughter from the audience. Waving her hand in the air as if she were signaling 'good grief' with a smile, she dances from side to side in that easy rhythm, before putting the two fingers up in a V before her voice picks up in volume, and subtly in tempo.
"Ba-dump, ba-dump
"My boyfriend is a pilot."
Standing in place, a hand rises back skyward as the guitar instrumentals reach a crescendo, as if trying to draw the audience in for the moment she begins to sing again. When that moment comes, the instrumentals transition into the next verse smoothly, as the pace she set returns back to the cute beat she sets in that side to side, arm waving. It's a simple choreography, but it's effective in such a simple song, her tone taking on a subtly yearning quality.
"Ba-dump, ba-dump
"My boyfriend is a pilot
"I'm alone again today
"Always gazing up above the sky
"Aiming for the fluffy, floating clouds."
With a tilt of her head to the side she gives an expression that implies a longing sigh and a certain hopeful resignation. Before she puts her hand over her heart.
"I want him to gently, softly snatch me away
"And do a love flight together with him
"I love you. You love me?"
Then her whole body seems to subtly slump with disappointment, even her hair, before straightening she takes on a smile with again that sense of 'Good grief', and keeps up that simple dance from side to side.
"But gosh, he's hotter for
"His own plane than he is for me
"Ba-dump, ba-dump
"My boyfriend is a pilot."
Again she points skyward as if tracking a plane in the sky, before the melody starts fading into the outro, as she stands there, gaze still bound to the horizon.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"Mm-hm!" Rena says to Jana, sliding her hand down into her jeans pocket. She glances sideways at the doctor, her head tilted to the side for a second. "She's a natural-born performer, I think. I never really got to see her perform before."
Just a couple of bars, the once, and that hardly counts. Even though Ranka had offered to sing for her.
Rena spots Kaworu at one point. (The Mihoshi Academy student is unnoticed.) She blinks -- then she smiles and waves a hand in his direction. He made her aware of him, after all.
It seems like she's getting a good reception. Rena thinks so, at least; she isn't exactly an expert on Ashford Academy social politics, even if she was a class president in her younger years.
Then, she blinks. "Fantasy Seduction Club?" she says. "Uuuh--"
No, don't dwell on it, Rena decides.
She cheers at the appropriate time -- not singing along, but clapping happily nonetheless. She knows this song; she imagines most people have heard it before.
<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
Sousuke Sagara is here. You may commence concern at your leisure.
Fortunately he is, today, escorted by his retinue of Pals, who are usually pretty good at keeping him from setting C4 in the locker rooms. On either side he is flanked by his odd-couple of guy friends, cool and bleach-haired Kotaro Onodera and The Nerdiest Human Measurable By Science, Shinji Kazama. Whatever business the trio were about, the sound of the concert kicking off diverts them. "Oh, cool, I guess this is that amateur idol show I saw in the program!" Kazama calls, gesturing his pals over.
Ono D, who is that kind of guy, ambles up with hands in his pockets and a thoughtful expression. "Guess she's kinda cute. That's an oldie, innit?"
"Affirmative," Sousuke brings up, and in his usual assertive manner, pushes his way a bit into the crowd. He has picked up a takoyaki tray, uh, somewhere. "Lynn Minmay, I believe." They missed the opening MC bit, apparently.
Ono D gives him a Look. "Thought you were more into Nome. Heh, not that I blame ya there, man."
Sousuke gives Onodera a placid look in return. "It was used to debilitating effect in several battles during the Zentradi--"
"Ah," Ono D says, with a face like he swallowed a bug. "Yes. Got it."
Kazama has stopped talking because he's having a religious experience, please hold.
<Pose Tracker> Jana Cektru has posed.
Liam's LIES actually do catch Jana's attention from a distance; she cannot help but notice him, given how self-conscious he is about standing out. But she sees him with Lucine, and... smiles faintly, and does not walk over to address him. It would seem he has someone for that.
She does give a pleasant look to Kaworu, but likewise doesn't interfere; he's talking to someone! But she notices the way that people are starting to gather up...
"It's nice when things work out, isn't it?" she says to Rikka pleasantly, not too far away.
But--"Oh!" Jana says, as Ranka starts the old Lynn Minmay tune, and her entire expression lights up. "I know this one," she says, and sounds awfully surprised. "My friend loved Minmay...." A hand pauses over her heart for a moment, and she smiles as she listens. It's a hard hit of nostalgia, though she actually listens to the song itself and laughs along faintly. "Yes... It was always like that."
She doesn't comment on the club names. She hasn't even seen an Imagination Contest Club yet!
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
"It is," Kaworu agrees, voice rich with his own quiet enjoyment. "Ranka's voice has a way of reaching into your heart and soothing your soul. She'll be one of the greats someday, I'm certain of it."
As Ranka launches into her introduction, he returns his attention to her. She gives a shout-out to various people for their help and inspiration--including 'Tabby.' He blinks once, eyes wide; then he breaks into a silent giggle of appreciation. Yes, if she were going to give her thanks, she would give her appreciation to him, too, wouldn't she? He'll have to present that song to her soon... even if the feelings that inspired him to write it have calmed for now.
(The girl who definitely isn't Sheryl Nome, meanwhile, smiles at the shout-out to Sheryl Nome. For no reason. Honest.)
My Boyfriend is a Pilot is indeed an old Minmay classic--her debut song back in the day, in fact. It's a very familiar song to Kaworu, and he hums along to the tune, keeping it low so as not to overpower Ranka's voice in his own skull. Her dance--something he's come to appreciate more since his time with Tsutsujidai High's Dance Club--is charming in its simplicity and in the way it expresses her own feelings.
It reminds him in turn of that time they discussed their one-sided loves with each other. Although she hadn't named hers, and he hadn't named his, it had been a relief to talk about it with anyone at the time.
Rikka's voice, spoken to no one in particular, draws his attention her way. "Ah, so you're here too? I'm not surprised to hear you enjoy her voice too. You sang well at the pageant, too."
Somewhere to one side of Rikka, Rena catches sight of Kaworu and waves his way. He smiles back at her and lifts a hand out of his pocket to wave back. It's a shame he doesn't see Eight too, but it's good to see Rena enjoying Ranka's music after he recommended her to her.
<Pose Tracker> Nunnally Lamperouge has posed.
"Minmay, Minmay... ah!" Shirley cues up the retro melody for Ranka, just in time, and smiles with a bright sparkle to the School Council in the background. Flashing a V-sign with her fingers to signify their victory: "Flight checks, OK!"
Nunnally giggles, and lifts her own hands, swaying them back and forth with the music pouring in from the stage. "Ba-dump, ba-dump...~" Humming along, she's clearly having a good time.
Rivalz leans over his spotlight, and exclaims: "With charm like that... she's going to draw the whole school in before we know it! Are we going to be able to manage a crowd this big?"
"Kallen's out there already," Nunnally points out, smiling. "So I'm sure she'll make sure no one's in trouble. Do you want me to go and help...?"
(How a blind girl in a wheelchair would help manage a crowd is -- well, there are two interpretations for Nunnally's statement. Certainly we can say it's sheer optimism, and not slyly making sure they mind their manners around her.)
"Do you want to?" Shirley asks, and on hearing her affirmative hum, she smiles to Rivalz. "Okay! Hold down the fort for a second, Rivalz!"
"Huh? Me...?" But Rivalz has already been abandoned, as Shirley helps wheel Nunnally out the back and around to join the growing crowd witnessing Ranka's singing.
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Shinji regards Kaworu curiously for a brief moment. He didn't realize Kaworu was invested in idols. But hearing Ranka Lee, maybe Shinji can understand it...? He certainly agrees about the quality of her voice. "It's easy to see why you believe in someone like her," is what he ends up saying.
Ranka Lee herself looks nervous on stage. Shinji cannot imagine. Up there singing and dancing in front of so many people... He might die on the spot if it had to be him. She persists regardless, with a long list of people she's grateful for.
"Tabby..." Shinji murmurs under his breath. 'Tabby Cat' is Mari's nickname for Kaworu, but it's probably common enough as a nickname -- Kaworu's giggling. So he must have noticed the coincidence, too. (Excellent job, Shinji.)
He doesn't ever muster a full laugh at the lyrics of Ranka's song, but he does huff air through his nose in amusement, smiling all the while.
Following Kaworu's glance, he spots Rikka, offering a polite wave. "Oh. The same pageant Hibiki was in...?" His head slips to the side in a tilt. "Do you ever sing, Kaworu?"
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Seeing Liam seem so awkward brings a thoughtful frown to Lucine's lips. "Let's try this," she says, holding out her hand to him. "... Just pretend, for a second, that we're just... two students here, as well." She's trying hard not to blush as she says this. "... there's lots of manga like this, Liam. They'd understand." .... understand what?
_Lucine isn't saying._
The next song is one Lucine feels an element of embarrassment over, having once tried to sing it to Ranka. It's a good memory, that having been the time she and Ranka shared many things-- some of which they've kept secret from others. She mouths the words along with Ranka with amusement, liking the faster, upbeat tempo.
It's getting crowded in here, Lucine realizes, when the song dies down. She looks up over her shoulder at Liam. "... I think the crowd has grown," she says, with a smile that borders on mischevious. "That is... the person in charge of the mixing is clearly on our side." Ranka's.
"Ah, I think I see that one young man over there, the one we split those rations with." Lucine tries to discreet point to Sousuke. "He must be a fan too..."
Emilia Eschonbach teleports in.
<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.
It's that note from Nunnally and the others that in fact gets Kallen heading back out, to get to work on making sure the incoming crowd won't get too rowdy. If anyone questions why she's wearing the bandana around her head from her costume, and carrying a wooden sword... Well, that's why. She knows as well as anybody else, that sometimes you need to apply a little force to keep the most unruly fans in line.
Besides, she's not actually going to hit anyone with it. It's just for intimidation, probably.
Does she have permission to keep people in line this way? Well no, not exactly. But she's going to be absolutely sure no roughhousing jerks ruin Ranka's night. It's the least she can do, making sure everything goes smoothly.
Part of her wishes she'd been able to get ahold of the Jindai crew, to ask them for help with part-time security for the show... but that didn't quite pan out since she forgot to charge her phone. Maybe she'll spot one of them in the crowd? She's got serious doubts her luck is that good, but... there's always that chance.
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
The concert continues, this time with an older song. This is a song Rikka knows well, though - the Zentradi War still occurred in the history she knows from Tsutsujidai. It's a cheery, good-humored sort of song, and she finds her head bobbing along to it as Ranka sings.
The song draws to a close again and Rikka applauds once more.
"You're killing it, Ranka!" Rikka cheers her support from the crowd.
Her attention turns to Jana as she addresses her. She doesn't recognize her specifically, but she has to assume she's here as a chaperone.
"It really is. Wish it'd happen this well more often." Rikka agrees with a nod.
Not far from Rikka is Kaworu and Shinji, and she sends both of them a wave.
"Yeah... Once I heard about it, I decided to make some time." Rikka says with a nod. "...And, thanks."
Shinji comments on the pageant, and Rikka nods.
"Yeah - we both entered to support each other. And... thanks, Nagisa." She laughs a little. "I don't think I have a solo act like this in my future, though. I don't have it in me. ...But, I wanted to show my support for someone who did, so here I am."
She pauses, glancing briefly to the side.
"...Is that Sagara...?" She says, mostly to herself. ...He didn't seem like the idol singer type, but then again, he did go to Sheryl's interview. That was with Chidori, but she doesn't see her here...
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
'Fantasy Seduction Club...'
Liam blinks, once. He doesn't have much of a frame of reference, but that sounds... strange, for an extracurricular club? Inappropriate? 'Seduction' is one of those words he recognizes as Adult, but doesn't have a proper definition for, much less context. (It helps that his mother sanitized certain portions of the legends she told him as a child, thinking she could introduce them in more faithful form once he was older.)
The cyborg's glance darts down to meet Lucine's. He thinks back to how nice it felt to just hold her, despite his fear.
He takes Lucine's hand in his own, gently, delicately--like she were a flower he could so easily crush. He listens as Ranka begins her next number. This one... seems to strine a chord with him, judging by the glint of realization in his eyes. Is that how Lucine--no. Neither of them made any committment, right? He looks tangibly relieved when Lucine points out Sousuke, and glances at him.
"Sousuke Sagara," Liam says, calmly, as he looks at the cluster of Jindai students. "...He's not with Kaname."
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
Ranka thinks she's incredibly lucky to have such a dedicated backstage crew. She's definitely going to do something to thank them later.
"What'd you think of that one?" Ranka asks the crowd through the mic, and gives time for a collective response, "Remind you of anyone you once knew? Or someone you wish you knew? Or maybe..." The stage darkens save for a single spotlight upon her. "... someone who's been at your side for so long, that you can't even say how long it's been?"
The smile on her face has this earnest wistfulness, "This one goes out to two friends of mine, one who's been on such a journey, and another in which this song helped open them to possibility..." Piano music twinkles ethereally, as Ranka looks out over the audience, her hands rising over her head from each side.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbWLQWOpFig
Slowly her hands come down in front of her chest like she's praying, and she begins to sing over the instrumentals, her voice echoing out soulfully across the entirety of Ashford campus...
"Right now, I hear your voice"
"Saying 'Come here to me.'
"Just when it seemed like loneliness had beaten me.
"Right now I see you
"Walking over to me.
"I close my eyes and wait for you to come."
Ranka's arms drift in front of her, reaching, as if beckoning to someone from afar, her arms lifting langurously, as if burdened by something heavy, the look in her eyes sparkling, like she can't contain the sheer depth of emotion she feels, and must sing it to the crowd.
"Till yesterday, it seemed filled only with tears.
"But now my heart is..."
Her hands drift forward, forming a space where it looks like she's peering through at something picturesque, before drawing back, clutching something precious... and drifting forward as if to offer it up to all of them.
"Do you remember? The first time our eyes met?
"Do you remember? The first time our hands touched.
"That was the very first time I set out on a journey of love.
"I love you so."
The lighting from the stage picks up, streaming from behind her and into the sky, as if something were bursting forth within the sweet flow of the melody. Before she reaches out overhead, eyes skyward, the yearning in her sweet vocals palpable.
"Right now, I can feel your gaze though you're not here with me.
"And in my body a warmth begins to glow;
"Right now, I believe in your love,
"So won't you please watch over me from so far away?"
Her gaze drawn back to earth, her hand drawn back to her heart, her red eyes sparkling once again...
"Till yesterday it seemed filled only with tears.
"Now the world is..."
An arm arcs as if to encompass all of reality within the dimensions of her feelings, before again, she extends her fingertips, beckoning... wishing...
"Do you remember? The first time our eyes met?
"Do you remember? The first time our hands touched.
"That was the very first time I set out on a journey of love.
"I love you so."
"I'm not alone anymore.
"Now that you're here with me..."
The entrancing echo in her voice picks up, as the instrumentals, the vocals, the feelings begin to blend together as if her love exists all around them.
"Do you remember? The first time our eyes met?
"Do you remember? The first time our hands touched.
"That was the very first time I set out on a journey of love.
"I love you so."
"I'm not alone anymore. (I loveeee you so)
"Now that you're here with me... (I loveeee you so)"
The echoing warble of the songbird starts to fade, as the twinkle of the piano slows, persisting only a few seconds after her, before ceasing and leaving both the courtyard and campus in brief silence - at least until the applause begins.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"You have a friend who loves Minmay?" Rena asks Jana, looking sideways at her. She raises an eyebrow at her. But did she use a past tense there?
She smiles, and then lowers her hands when Ranka starts to talk. She is referencing some friends of hers. A long journey, huh...? She wonders about that for a moment. But, of course, she knows that song -- her eyes widen.
She doesn't quite sing along, but she mouths the lyrics with it. At the end, she joins in with the applause. Maybe, she thinks, her idea could work. She'll have to talk to Eight...
Rena glances in the direction of Liam and Lucine. In a crowd, picking up specific emotions from people is hard; that can happen with being a Newtype, but the truth is, it becomes a blur at a point. Still, she can see that Liam looks tense. And...
Lucine is trying to help?
So Rena lifts a hand and waves at the two of the,, before she calls out. "She's doing a great job, isn't she?"
<Pose Tracker> Jana Cektru has posed.
"Yes," Dr. Cektru answers Rena, with a small smile--but a distant one. She definitely used past tense. "I did. We would listen together. It's a good memory." Indeed, just as Ranka says--it reminds her...
Then she pauses, listening to Ranka talk and then....
"Hm?" Jana pauses, as if hearing a noise that isn't immediately obvious to anyone else. That's almost how it is, in fact--but not quite. "Excuse me," she says to Rena, and walks fr a moment, coming to a stop in front of the approaching Nunnally. She starts to say something, but Ranka continues, and Jana goes quiet to listen.
Nostalgia gives way to a bittersweet sort of feeling at this next song, and Jana listens through the whole thing. She notices those gestures, the way Ranka moves to include the audience. She is part of it, for that.
...Nunnally might notice, in addition to the significant Presence before her, a very quiet sadness in the moment, as Jana looks up to the sky. "Is this the world you left behind...?"
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
It isn't that Kaworu is invested in idols, per se. But some singers have a certain power to their voices--power to stir the heart and ignite the soul. Basara Nekki of rock group Fire Bomber could hardly be called an 'idol,' but he had that power just the same. Ranka Lee does too... or at least, it buds within her voice. If she's given enough light and fertile soil to bloom, who knows what she might be capable of?
So when Shinji makes his comment, Kaworu simply smiles back, lips parting to show his teeth. It seems Shinji noticed Ranka calling out 'Tabby' too. But does he realize that 'I, Tabby' and 'Tabby Cat' are one and the same? Hmmm... Who can say?
"No, that's Mary's role," Kaworu replies in regards to singing. "But I do like songs." And humming, if his earlier humming is any indication.
Rikka chimes in about the pageant, and Kaworu nods along. "You're quite welcome," he tells her. "I'm sure Ranka's happy to have your support, too."
Meanwhile, Rena waves over towards Liam and Lucine. Kaworu glances their way--he'd been aware of their presence already--but he hadn't seen the joining of their hands, and he smiles to see it. It's truly heart-warming, however complex their feelings otherwise are... theirs, and Jana's too.
Ranka introduces the next song, though, and Kaworu brightens. "Ah, this is a favorite of mine," he whispers to Shinji, and then falls silent to listen.
Do You Remember Love? was a song that was split in two--one half the melody, and one half the lyrics. By joining them together, Lynn Minmay was able to bring culture to the Zentraedi who were willing to listen, and help defeat those who were not. A song of love from the forgotten ancients, revived for the modern era...
Or so it was depicted in the movie. Still, media can reflect reality, and reality in turn can come to reflect media. Kaworu listens blissfully all the same.
<Pose Tracker> Nunnally Lamperouge has posed.
Shirley helps Nunnally out to the front, smiling in greeting to the woman who stops in front of them. "Hi!" She announces the fact that someone was approaching, so Nunnally can hear, because she knows the crowd might make hearing footsteps hard now. "Can we help you? -- oh, one sec," she turns to listen to Ranka, just like Nunnally does.
Once she's finished speaking, Nunnally smiles, turning her head to regard Shirley. "I think you'd better go back," she says.
"Huh? You want me to just leave you here...?" Shirley looks a little worried about that, seeing all the people who have gathered. Even an adult who approached them specifically..!
"Rivalz needs a lot more help, I think," Nunnally tells her, still smiling.
MEANWHILE, BACKSTAGE: "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!" Rivalz says, without pause for breath, after he's cued up the instrumentals for Ranka's current song and hurried back to control the spotlight again.
Back in front of the stage, Shirley tilts her head. "You think he's already in trouble...?"
"I just get that feeling," Nunnally says, and realisation dawns on Shirley's face, because many people in the Student Council have learned the value of Nunnally's Hunches. "It's okay! Kallen's out here, so I'll be fine!"
Shirley pauses for a moment -- "... well, if you're sure..." -- and waves, loosely, to Jana. "Sorry, I have to get back to helping with the production!" She turns to hurry backstage again, just in time to rescue Rivalz from a terrible fate.
Nunnally listens to the music for long moments, hands folded over her chest, as the piano carries Ranka's soulful performance out from the stage. She can hear the presence of her voice, calling everyone in.
And the one in front of her, but that's not so much something to be heard, literally speaking.
"Are you missing someone?" Nunnally asks, gently, to the strange woman in front of her. She can't see the way Jana looks up to the sky -- perhaps she's heard something, in her trailing sentence. "Music can bring up a lot of memories... it's okay if they're not always happy."
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Shinji has yet to truly understand the power Ranka Lee's songs could end up holding. Perhaps it's for the best. There may be a sadness in that... Ranka Lee should be able to sing, just as she is. Music is powerful enough without needing to fight monsters.
"We should probably leave the singing to Mari, then..." It's Shinji's own way of saying he can't, either.
But with Rikka here, Shinji wears a weak, but still polite, smile. "It sounds like it was important," Shinji says of the pageant, gaze dipped down. "I'm glad you and Hibiki were able to do it."
Once Kaworu mentions this is a favorite of his, Shinji does a brief double-take. He nods slowly, turning to Ranka and then tries to listen. Really listen. No, like, more than he was before. With nuance...! It's different, all right?
...It does turn Shinji contemplative when the tone shifts from the previous performances. He doesn't dislike it, but it's not one Shinji can forget himself in. Love... Shinji still doesn't understand a lot of what that means yet. He knows what it means to like someone. But this intensity...
Kaworu's story of the Earth and Moon bubbles up in his mind, and how Kaworu seems to know what love means to him. Shinji risks looking to Kaworu, expecting to see a more sorrowful expression there. But Kaworu looks... content. Maybe there's no deeper meaning in it. Just a nice song...? Yet while Kaworu's absorbed in the song, Shinji searches his face a moment longer in concern.
<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
It is Sagara! He wordlessly watches the performance unfold, stoic gray eyes watching with their usual keen intensity.
He chews on a takoyaki toothpick thoughtfully. Onodera says, "Wow, this crowd got huge, man..."
Shinji Kazama has his hands balled to his chin and is futilely holding back tears.
Sousuke eventually notices a few eyes on him, and turns his eyes - first, to Rikka, holding up a hand in a wave. He recalls hearing her journeys still use the old system. How fortunate for her. "Good afternoon, Takarada. Miss Lee appears to be quite talented."
He turns a similar nod of acknowledgment on Liam, but with the crowd going wild, deems calling over ineffective.
He noms a takoyaki because he is a human being who processes organic materials into biological energy, we promise.
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
"I hope so." Rikka says, as Kaworu says that he's sure Ranka's happy to have her support. From one person who enjoys singing to another... even if Ranka's the one actually putting herself out there. The next song, is a song... about love. There's a deep emotion to it. It... hurts a little, actually, but in a way she doesn't quite mind. Love is one of the biggest problems she's facing right now, isn't it...? Will she have that chance someday?
There might be a few tears - but she's quick to wipe them away before the song is over, while everyone's attention is still on Ranka.
She returns Shinji's smile with one of her own.
"Yeah... We both had things we wanted to say to the world." She replies. "Thanks. Me, too."
She looks toward Sousuke then as he greets her, and returns his wave with one of his own.
"Hey, Sagara." She greets, and then nods. "Yeah... she really is. I'm floored, honestly... Are you enjoying the concert?"
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
The name of the 'Fantasy Seduction Club' flies by Lucine a little to quickly for her to grasp it, just yet. So, while Liam thinks it, Lucine only gets around to it a little later. "... Maybe it's a pretend club, like... they... dress up as fantasy characters, and..." Nono, there's no way she can get around the second word. "..... There must, ah, be some context, we're missing..."
Sousuke Sagara. "O-oh, right. That's his first name. .... Kaname must be busy, or somewhere else in the crowd, maybe..."
Liam's hand takes hers, and Lucine curls hers around his in turn. She allows herself a small, secret smile in that space between one song and the next, her head leaning down. Rena calls out towards them and Lucine hides her blush, looking up just in time to catch Kaworu's glance towards them, and his smile. She gives a smile back, that initial tension leaving her for the moment. They're all friends here. She shouldn't feel embarrassed.
"... She is," Lucine says to Rena, suddenly seeming more relaxed than a few seconds ago. "I thought she was alone up there, but... with the lighting, and the sound design... there's people here helping get her voice out."
As Ranka seques into the next song, Lucine blinks. Ranka wasn't talking about her and Liam, was she? ... No, that's probably not it. She told Ranka the complexity of the situation, and it's only grown moreso in how she's allowed herself to be a little more selfish in expressing her feelings to Liam.
She lets the song take the lead, and leans quietly back against Liam, fingers discreetly squeezing around his hand.
There's nothing to be scared of or embarrassed about here, right now.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
I'm not alone anymore
Shinji looks over at Kaworu's peaceful profile, and there it stays, as if to search for sorrow hidden within. There's plenty to be concerned about, as he knows now after having gotten the chance to see the pain Kaworu keeps to himself. But--
Now that you're here with me
Perhaps he feels the intensity of Shinji's regard. Perhaps it's just a coincidence. But Kaworu opens his eyes and meets Shinji's gaze. There may be bittersweetness therein, but it's by far more sweet than bitter. His smile, his gaze, project a deep contentment in this moment.
He doesn't try to reach out and take Shinji's hand into his own. He knows his place. But even so, whether anyone--including Shinji--recognizes it or not, it's there in his regard, in every mote of his being:
I love you so... I love you so...
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
"Inconclusive," Liam murmurs. He strokes the back of Lucine's hand, and as always, it feels so small and fragile when compared to his own. "Sagara..." The other soldier looks back at him, and that shared glance does what words cannot at the moment: it carries acknowledgment and no small amount of solidarity. Judging by how Sousuke acted in the FIKA, he might feel as out of place here as Liam does. Or is that a conclusion drawn from tainted data? Wishful thinking? Projection?
Then Liam feels Kaworu's gaze on him, and his face flushes. Anxiety flutters against his ribs like a caged bird, but there's no reprimand; he's safe. "I'm... glad she did this," he says, turning to Rena. His vision is starting to mist over again. He leans in closer to Lucine. Could he ever say it? (Everyone he's ever loved is dead or gone.) Should he say it? (He's broken. He's so badly broken.)
<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.
There's nothing to be ashamed of, when a song performed from the heart brings you to tears. No, that's DEFINITELY not why Kallen took a break to sit down. Certainly not to keep people from seeing her cry at the emotions filling Ranka's every word. Definitely not why she seems to disappear for several minutes in fact.
When she does feel able to resume however, she finds herself in Sousuke's general space. His and several others, really. "Glad you could all make it out to enjoy the show." There's some obvious pride in her voice, seeing Ranka put herself out there and take a chance.
She's partially masked the crying at some point, by dumping half a bottle of water over her own face. ...The rest of it, she's drinking. For now she'll hang around their little group to do her cheering. Just in case.
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
Ranka waits on the applause to die, before she asks, "How was that? It always leaves me a little emotional." She admits, and indeed, that seems sincere given that she's having to wipe her eyes with the back of her hand. "It may be a sign of my inexperience, but it's no secret that I've been singing mostly songs from other idols tonight. I've been working hard at recording and making music of my own. Some of you may have heard this one before, after I passed it out to you on campus. If you have, thank you for your support."
Ranka does a small bow in gratitude, before lifting up, "And to those of you who will be hearing it for the first time. Thank you for being here tonight." Ranka winks and smiles, "First-! I ask your patience as I get ready for this one. It'll only take a moment."
The stage abruptly darkens, leaving Ranka nigh invisible in the shift from light to dark, and there's a flurry of activity backstage as she has Shirley help her get ready-!
It's only roughly fifteen seconds before...
The lights go back on and Ranka steps back on stage, she's wearing a corseted dress vaguely reminiscent of some princess fantasy, furry sheathes along her arms and feet, accessorized by beads and ribbons, and a pair of translucent heels reminiscent of the Cindarella fable. On her head is a beaded set of cat ears with abow decorating one of them, and a collar adorned with bell around her neck.
Once she reaches center stage, which now has a prop that looks like an oversized cat tower to Ranka's left, facing the audience, she stands on one foot, and extends her hand, winking to the crowd as she releases a pitch perfect: "Nyaaaa...! I'm ready now! This is... Cat's Diary."
It's definitely a nod to a certain Birthday party on campus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kZ_IAIvoDE
Slowly Ranka brings her whole body down to the stage as the piano instrumentals begin, two notes in a dreamy metronomic quality. There's a sleepy cadence to the way she moves at first, like a cat waking up, as she props herself up, her body bobbing as if trying to get itself ready to rise for the day, a single arm waving in an air like a cat's paw.
"Wednesday (good morning~), Xuary the Xth, sunny
"The light smells water-blue."
The piano continues as Ranka's vocals pause, as she hops to her feet, both arms held out, bent at the wrist as if to imply cat paws, as she waves them in the air.
"In the cat's diary
"There's a record of how many times it took a nap.
"In the swing's diary
"There's a record of today's acceleration and dreams taking off."
As she sings, she dances by lifting herself up, balancing on one foot, as her arms bat at the air, before sweeping across as she moves into another feline like pose in the other direction, and a hop that shifts one foot forward and the other back. Then she leans backwards against the cat tower, sitting against a perch like someone sitting on the edge of the building as if dreamily looking at the sky, her legs kicking, as her hips from side to side.
"In the clock's diary
"There's a record of how many times its love has looked its way.
"And so, in the diary of my lips
"There's a record of how many times I've called your name."
Standing back up, her hands wave in front of her, before they end up like two thumbs up in front of her face, smiling so hard that she dimples while she counts.
"One, two, three, four, five, and six..."
Dropping back to her knees, she props herself back up on one arm on the stage, an arm raised like a cat's paw as she rises for the new day.
"Thursday (good morning~), Xuary the Xth, dreamy
"Will you and I get any closer?"
This time however, she pops up energetically, lifting her arms up as she reaches unto the heavens, balancing from one leg to the other in a side to side rotations as she keeps motioning with her hands like they were paws.
"In space's diary
"There's a record of when a star meets another
"In the curtains's diary
"There's a record of rumors on the wind of someone kissing."
Putting a hand over her mouth as if simply being demure about the rumor of a kiss, she bashfully removes her hand, before smoothly pointing her arm straight up with a raised finger.
"The rocket's diary would have
"A record of counting down on its fingers 'til the day it takes off
"And then, in the diary of my lips
"I'm dreaming of doing that countdown with you."
A fingertip touches her lips, featherlight as if she were imaging the touch of that kiss, before those digits rise up on both hands, her head bobbing from side to side as she counts.
"Seven, six, five, four, three, two, one..."
Raising a finger to her lips as if sharing a secret with the audience that must not be told, a hand hovers over her mouth with a maidenly shyness at the admission.
"Tu tu tu tu tu tu tu...
"My diary is dreaming of kissing you..."
The metronomic piano starts to fade in the outro, as Ranka slowly lowers herself to the stage, like someone falling asleep again, her eyes closing with a smile as if she's looking forward to the next time she says...
"(Good morning~)"
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"Ah... I'm sorry," Rena says, as she gets the implication. A friend who she used to listen to Minmay's songs with. That friend must be gone, now. Her eyes are briefly downcast for a moment.
She nods, when Jana excuses herself. She glances in her direction for a moment, before looking back at the stage.
"Yeah. I'm sure it's... you know, I'm sure it's kinda scary. Being up on stage like that," Rena says to Lucine. "But I don't think she's alone, either."
She smiles at Liam, too. She watches the two of them for a moment -- and there's a flicker of jealousy, for a second. She should have asked Eight to come. She manages to push that away. "You two came together?" she asks instead, keeping her wording a little careful.
She quiets after that though -- because Ranka is performing again. She blinks her eyes at the sleepy, cat-like movements; she quickly sees why that's the case, though. She watches Ranka, then starts cheering again at the end of the song.
"Go Ranka!" she cheers up at the stage. Hey, it's her original song, some extra loud encouragement would be good, right?
<Pose Tracker> Jana Cektru has posed.
Poor Rivalz.
In the middle of that brief space for words, Jana makes use of it. "That's fine," Jana says when Shirley waves and has to leave. "It was nice to meet you. Good luck." Besides; Jana's a chaperone! It's fine to leave someone with her! And Jana returns her attention to Nunnally.
She notices immediately that she didn't see her looking up, but she did say something. So Jana looks back to Nunnally, and says, "Yes, I am. ...But it's all right; they aren't sad memories, only places I can no longer visit. There's a sadness in that... But it's better to have the memories, I think."
She's not sure a girl Nunnally's age will understand that--but maybe she will.
"My name is Jana. I'm a researcher." She regards Nunnally with full attention--but makes a point of saying things aloud rather than relying on gestures.
...Though someone who can pick up her feelings will perhaps be surprised to learn that she is sincere in what she says; she means that the sweet is there as well as the bitter.
There is an obvious prompt for Nunnally to introduce herself as well, but Jana does not force the matter by asking. Instead, she looks back to Ranka as she talks again... and... Hmm.
Ct's Diary... "Ah," Jana says, and smiles. "How cute!" She claps, with the others. And it is a lovely way to finish that moment.
<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
'Are you enjoying the concert,' Takarada asks. Sousuke looks like she has just asked him for advice on her history homework because he scrunches his face in serious thought, eyes tracing off to the stage during the long quiet of Ranka's absence.
"Yes," he finally says, firmly. "Good music is...pleasing. Miss Lee is performing well."
He turns his attention to Kallen's arrival. Sousuke's own Boys are now busy watching the performance with various states of rapture. Shinji has been positively transported; Onodera is merely having a good time.
Sousuke, though...idly tips the takoyaki tray toward Kallen, in invitation. "Are you well?" he asks, quietly, under the chorus of Cat Diary.
Trust him to pick up on subtle cues at the weirdest times...
<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.
Backstage, Emilia has been doing everything in her power to make sure the concert goes well AND be way too busy to hold a conversation. So far the plan has been working splendidly. She's been making sure Ranka's costumes are ready and assistant stage managing as best she can. The crowd is surprisingly big, honestly. It's good, Ranka deserves a crowd.
But she was already feeling shaky at Do You Remember Love, but getting the next costume ready... She knows what song is next. A song that had been performed in private, just for the small group there.
This time, it's Cat's Diary that means she needs to sit down, overwhelmed. Her heart's been a mess all night. She wants to be happier for Ranka- she even is happy- but right now her own feelings drown everything out. Just one more event to go. Just one more.
The stage manager moves to tap her on the shoulder when his hand is stopped. Rosalie, President of the Fantasy Seduction Club, stops him, grabbing his arm. "She's on break. I'll handle it." She doesn't actually engage with Emilia here- simply letting her know the work is covered. It's not the best help, but it's probably the most useful at the moment.
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Shinji had planned to dart his gaze away at the first sign of Kaworu looking his direction. He's pinned by that gaze instead, not threatening tears or sinking into gloom. He thinks he might ask, 'are you okay, Kaworu?' but he does not seem to have to. Kaworu is content. Happy.
Unfortunately, Shinji doesn't understand at all. Not how Kaworu carries love that he's all but said is not returned, yet looks like this as such a song is song with a terrifying sincerity. Is that, too, part of how love works...?
He doesn't understand how Kaworu can look at him and smile, but Shinji cannot help smiling back at him, face redder for it. There's an envy in it -- the envy of admiration, not resentment. To love like that...
An unwelcome, familiar ache starts to tug at Shinji's chest. But there's no need to feel lonely here...
It's a few moments after the song ends and applause begins that Shinji startles to awareness, snapping his attention back to the stage. Ranka's words and music are harder to focus on this time, Shinji finding himself lost in so many thoughts they bounce off of each other, already slipping away as he thinks them.
"...It was a good song," Shinji says, halfway through Cat's Diary.
<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.
...He has think about it...? Well, Sagara always seemed to Rikka to be the top of person who takes everything serious, so she supposes she shouldn't be too surprised.
"It really is - and yeah, she's been incredible." She agrees.
Up next is... an original song...! Rikka has enjoyed everything so far if her emotional reaction to the previous song is any indication, but the idea of hearing Ranka sing her own words, her own feelings, is an exciting one. She lets out a small 'ohh' as Ranka emerges back onstage in a cute, cat-themed outfit, and settles in to listen as the song begins.
It's very good - she could definitely see it being a hit, if Ranka ever decided to go beyond school concerts. (Rikka is, of course, completely unaware of the oddities of her situation.)
So, to encourage the original song, Rikka puts just a bit more energy into her applause than before.
<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.
Sousuke being perceptive that way was... not expected in the least. Not because she thinks he's dumb or any such thing, not at all. Just... maybe lacking in common sense at times. Her eyes flit over to his friends, one of which seems to be having a religious experience. Good for him. Then back to Sousuke and his takoyaki. She takes exactly one, and stuffs it in her mouth.
Once swallowed, she'll speak up. "I'm okay. Just feeling the music." She's not lying, or hiding anything. Not really. It's just what resonating emotions can do to people.
Cat's Diary... is calming and familiar. A symbol for her, of the Ashford Secret Pillow Society's bonds. "Will you be hanging around here for a couple days, Sousuke?" She hasn't been able to do something she needs to do, but... she's got a hunch he might be able to help with it.
<Pose Tracker> Nunnally Lamperouge has posed.
"Go, go! Ah, everything's been prepped," Shirley notices Emilia's work, and assures Ranka: "we're all ready here! Oh -- one sec, your ears!" Shirley exclaims, in the flurry of equipping Ranka with her shift from dog to cat, and stops to adjust her cat ears so they're perfect atop her head.
"Yosh!" Shirley declares, doing her best Milly impression as she ushers her back out.
Meanwhile, out in the crowd, Nunnally nods as Jana explains the context to her impressions. "It's nice to have good memories," she agrees, and there's no particular emphasis on good --
-- even so, it's clear there's a category there. There are memories it isn't so good to have. She doesn't linger on her thoughts, though.
"It's nice to meet you," she replies, smiling up in the direction of her voice. (She hasn't once opened her eyes.) "I'm Nunnally. Nunnally Lamperouge." It's certainly a Britannian name, but not one of any particular note. "I'm a middle-school student here at Ashford!" She giggles, and adds: "... though, I'll be fifteen soon."
The terrible world of high school! For some children, that's the biggest hurdle they're approaching. Nunnally doesn't seem like the sort of youth burdened with a life of war, anyway.
She lifts her hands, curled, to either side of her face, and hums along to the song: "Nyaa~!" She's very much enjoying the laid-back tune...!
"Ranka's very brave, performing this," she asides, to Jana, smiling. "This song is her very own heart... isn't it great?"
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Kaworu smiles at Shinji, and Shinji smiles back at him, color rising in his cheeks. He really is adorable, and Kaworu basks in the sight of him as he does the sound of Ranka's voice. But that moment too must end, and as Shinji is startled back to the stage, Kaworu turns his head there too with smooth ease.
"Yes," Kaworu agrees, simply and sincerely. He usually smiles, but he maintains that warmth from before for this song too. It's sweet and dreamy with a metronomic quality, and just the right way to close out Ranka's concert--from covers of others' songs to one of her very own. It's with quiet pride that he listens, because it's also a song of his own, too.
"What do you think of this one?" he murmurs to Shinji, curious to know his opinion.
At least Liam won't have to worry about Kaworu paying much more attention to him and Lucine now. The administrator was pleased to see the two of them, and pleased to see them together, and he's just as content to let them enjoy the concert on their own terms.
He's happy that everyone is enjoying it, really. The focus is rightfully Ranka, but there's a deep satisfaction in hearing the audience's approval of a song he helped create. He thinks of mentioning to Shinji that he wrote the melody--but he decides against it. It would be fun to see Shinji figure it out for himself, and besides... it feels nice to have such a benign secret for once.
Nearby, Nunnally 'nya~!'s along with the song. Kaworu breaks into another smile for her, even if she can't see it. While they only met more or less in passing during the pageant, he already knows her as a sweet girl.
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
There was a glance in Kaworu's direction, and now, Lucine adds a second one, noticing him looking at Shinji. Or, perhaps, noticing the way he regards Shinji. Is it a passing moment of pleasantness? A flower doesn't need significance to bloom, after all. If it is anything more, what right would Lucine have to call on how significant it was?
Kaworu is a gentle soul, so, perhaps, it's her bias at play.
Gentle, like how Liam is.
Ranka leaves the stage to prepare for the next song, and Lucine nods at Rena. "Yeah. But... you can feel it." She places a hand over her heart. "She's not holding herself back." The same feeling she felt every time Ranka sang in the greenhouse... clearly, that's just Ranka's singing registering with Lucine. .... It's just a Newtype thing, right?
There's a flicker of something sharp from Rena, too quick to grasp, but Lucine is instead distracted by the something coming from Liam. Something gray and internal, like a dour quiet rainy morning.
Ranka comes back, with the song Lucine has listened to over and over since getting the file from Ranka herself. There's something sweet and innocent about it, like Ranka's own new outfit. Lucine stifles a gleeful 'aww' as the song begins.
She mouths the words to this one as well, swaying her head with the gentle tempo, chancing a quick glance back towards Liam once before looking back towards Ranka.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
"She's earned it," Liam says, and a tiny little smile dawns on his face. It... feels good to see a friend taking steps toward her dream. A moment later: a friend. Ranka, a civilian who has nevertheless been thrust unwillingly into danger and braved the Devil Gundam to save a friend. "She's earned it ten times over."
As Ranka ducks backstage, Liam takes a moment to just... exist. The crowd provides some comforting anonymity; the school setting is still melancholy, but now it's slightly more bittersweet. When Ranka takes the stage again, Liam sizes her up, trying to figure out what the cat ears are--
Oh.
"The demo tape," Liam says, and he falls silent, as if speaking during this very first live performance were disrespectful.
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
Ranka eventually rises up to the audience's cheers, as she starts waving to them happily, then takes a bow. Bringing her mic up again, she tells everyone, "That was my final number of the night. So I'd like to tell everyone again. Thank you! Thank you, all of you, for coming out to the Deculture Festival! I hope to keep earning your support in the future as I take the next step towards my debut."
She feels exhausted but she's trying not to let it show - as that's the professional thing to do. She hasn't yet built up the stamina for prolonged dancing yet, nor polished those dance steps.
It honestly came down to the wire for learning them at all, and she wouldn't have made it tonight without help from a certain someone... and from the Ashford students giving their all to help her. "Be sure to come to the Millympic games tomorrow! You won't want to miss it! Good night everyone!"
With another wave, she runs back off the stage to backstage, and immediately collapses down into a chair, her brow sweat covered, as she just lets herself take a deep breath...
With one breathless word, she sums up to the experience to the people backstage.
"Wow." Despite how drained she is, she's smiling. It was such a rush, and she definitely knows now more than ever, that this is something she wants to keep doing.
Sure she could nitpick her dance steps, they definitely weren't perfect. However, she's at least pleased enough with her progress when 'someone' helped her make the final leap.
Once she catches her breath from the adrenaline rush, the excitement, once her heart stops thumping so fast, she speaks again, "Thank you for your help, all of you. I know I've thanked you several times out there." She's just got the biggest smile of gratitude, "But it doesn't feel like nearly enough. Thank you again. You too Shirley, Rivalz. We barely know each other and you both worked so hard tonight."
<Pose Tracker> Jana Cektru has posed.
Yes, it is very clear that there's such a category in Nunnally. Jana notes that for herself, but does not press. But she listens. She notices, though; her eyes are closed.
"It's nice to meet you, too," she answers amiably. "It's a lovely school," Dr. Cektru notes. "I'm sure you're looking forward to high school as well."
But the song... 'Nyaa!' Jana smiles at that, and there's a general pleasant feeling about her in the moment. She likes this song, and that momen.
"Is it?" she wonders. "...Yes, I can see the way she's put herself into it... No, not 'put'. Shown." A nod, firmly, and thoughtful. "It is great. I agree."
When Ranka speaks up, Jana too claps, and waits for her to go.
"...I suspect she has a bright career ahead of her," the doctor muses. "To evoke such feelings in so many..."
Yes, this was the right place to be today.
<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
Sousuke is a person who takes many things seriously, yes, even if it's as simple as whether he enjoys something. Questions deserve their due consideration, after all.
Sousuke nods to Kallen's answer, satisfied enough not to pry. "Understood," is his reply.
"I will be required at Jindai for the closing games tomorrow," he says. "But, the GUTS visas should allow me to return within another day or two, if needed."
Ranka says her farewells. He doesn't applaud because his hands are busy, but Onodera and Shinji make up for it for him. To Kallen he says, "Is there something I can assist with?"
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Kaworu asking for Shinji's opinion grounds him. One breath, two. Listen. It's not difficult to let this one wash over him. That Shinji's secret in a busy concert: each song allows the rest of the world to fade away and gives him the strength to endure the applause that reminds him of the crowd between it.
But this time, he goes so far as to close his eyes. "I've heard this one before," Shinji says. That feels especially surreal right now with the rest of the song's dreamlike quality. He does not quite frown, but there's a tension in his expression. "...Mm, and a little like... watching rain from inside?"
He looks back at Kaworu with a nervous smile. "Sorry, that probably doesn't make sense. I guess I mean... It's comforting. But... far away." Looking back at Ranka, Shinji's expression is wistful with nostalgia for a feeling he's pretty sure he's never had. "...I like it."
...It'd be nice though, wouldn't it? For such sounds and memories to be the ones he looked back on instead of what he has?
With the last of the applause, Shinji finally joins in, though it's a polite motion without sound. This is no slight against Ranka, who has earned his admiration. The force required is simply too much for Shinji today. More telling is the gentle way he smiles as she thanks the crowd, and then, to Kaworu: "Thanks for inviting me to come. I hope she makes it like you say she will." More songs from Ranka Lee... would not be a bad thing at all.
<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.
The festivities for the evening are coming to a close. And with them, Kallen will need to make sure people are exiting in an orderly fashion. But she has time before that. "Ah, you're also competing then? I... was hoping you might be able to spare a bit of time to visit Emmy? If you can't, I understand." It's not like they won't also be at the Games. He could just talk to her then. Or after. She doesn't really want to pressure him. This just seems to be a situation she's not... the best approach for. She noticed the pattern starting up pretty quickly. Of a certain someone filling her workload to its limit.
She gave thought to trying to corner Emmy and talk to her personally, but that kept putting thoughts in her head, and her face inevitably winds up as red as her hair. So no, she's probably not the best choice for this. No matter how much she wants to help.
<Pose Tracker> Nunnally Lamperouge has posed.
"I am," Nunnally smiles, brightly, in Jana's direction. "I know there's a lot going on in the world, but I just want to have a normal life here... high school can be exciting, too."
For all she notices about Jana -- there's something about the small nature of her ambitions which speaks to her own life. Nunnally is a girl who speaks with a gentle voice, and asks for nothing out of the ordinary.
And sometimes -- yes, Kaworu -- she meows. She's really very good at that.
Nunnally claps, eagerly, at the end of Ranka's performance. She smiles to Jana, just the same. "I just know she's going to reach her dream!" She agrees, cheerfully. "And I'm glad you were here to see her, too." In the right place...?
Maybe it's just nice that she can come see DecuFest for herself.
Meanwhile, backstage, Shirley and Rivalz grin, as Ranka catches her breath. "Don't worry about that at all," Shirley assures her, with a friendly smile. "If you're a friend of the Student Council, we'll be here!"
"Yeah, and you were great!" Rivalz pumps a fist in the air, clearly riled up.
They'll take care of her after her hard work, certainly. (And, quite subtly, cover for Emilia wanting to avoid conversation.)
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
The demo tape. Lucine smiles up at Liam and nods to confirm, falling into silence as well.
When the song is over, Lucine's turns back. "... I'm going to go up and congratulate Ranka. Ah, would you like to come along, or do you need to stay back? I can pass on a message, if you like." The crowd is now larger than she had even expected; if it's beginning to wear on her, Liam may be even worse off.
Once the decision is made, Lucine makes her way through the crowd, feeling a slight twinge of melancholy.
Since Ranka is succeeding, would that mean her small performances at the greenhouse might soon come to an end?
But that, too, is part of a world where flowers bloom. Change, beginnings, and ends, can and will come.
Carefully, she chances a look backstage, ready to jump back the second anyone says a word.
It's only after the thank yous and the congratulations that Lucine makes her own contribution.
"Ranka.... you were amazing."
Why... is she wiping away a tear?
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
It takes Liam a moment to answer Lucine's question--he snaps back into reality with a blink, and looks down at her. His lips curl in a fond, gentle smile. "Of course," he says. If Lucine's there, that means there's a steadying agent in place. Acceptable risk.
He waits until Lucine has scoped the place out--well aware he's a lot more noticeable. Only when she gives the go-ahead does he slip backstage too. "You did well," he says, his smile widening. Again, it's subtle, but so are most of Liam's expressions.
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
"It really feels like I can, after tonight." She enthuses to Nunnally, while she's exhausted, she's just putting off such positive vibes, before looking to Jana, "Oh hello! Thank you for your support!" Apparently she drew some adults in the crowd too? That's actually a good feeling to her, even if her primary goal was to entertain Ashford Students.
"Aw." Ranka says, beaming at Shirley and Rivalz, "The Student Council here is so amazing, it's no wonder they have such good people as their friends." She says sincerely.
Lucine though walks up to her, tears in her eyes, and Ranka felt that, even before she approached with Liam following... and slowly she stands up now that she feels adequately recovered. Her legs may have a small cramp in them, but she limps forward and hugs Lucine from the side, "Thanks for coming. It means the world to me that you were here." She smiles at her, "I meant it when I said I couldn't have made it without the support of the Nadesico's crew."
Before she looks past her and beams at Liam. "Thank you!" Then slowly leans up and whispers a question to Lucine, "Are you two on a date tonight?"
<Pose Tracker> Sousuke Sagara has posed.
Sousuke nods to Kallen's explanation. "I see. I recall her performance in the pageant was somewhat lackluster. I can understand how one might feel discouraged."
Hm. He considers a takoyaki. "Very well," he agrees. "I will speak with her. I never did give her that present, anyway. It will be a good opportunity."
He pops it in whole.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
'I've heard this one before,' Shinji says, and Kaworu's gaze softens. He'd left that promotional disc of Ranka's on Shinji's desk anonymously and back when things had still been fraught between them, so he'd never had the chance to ask if he'd listened to it. It's heartening to know now that he did.
Beyond that, he listens not just to the song--there's a difference between a live performance and a recording--but to Shinji as he speaks. He doesn't say he understands, but he doesn't say he doesn't, either; he simply continues to smile, emanating reassurance like a space heater, in response to Shinji's nervousness. At Shinji's decree that he likes it, his lips part, but without a word he focuses back on Ranka until she wraps up her concert.
Kaworu claps too, and his does have sound, but it isn't forceful. It conveys his gratitude back to her as she projects it out to her audience. He looks forward to when he gets to see her concert again.
"Thank you for joining me," Kaworu murmurs back to Shinji. "I know it's crowded right now, but if you're interested, would you like to meet her?"
Once Shinji expresses interest, Kaworu will guide him through the crowds at his usual unhurried, confident stroll to the backstage. Lucine and Liam are already there, and Kaworu gives them a friendly smile before focusing on Ranka.
"Your stage was wonderful, Ranka," he tells her. "I look forward to seeing your star shine brighter and brighter as it continues to ascend." He nods to one side at his companion. "This is my dear friend, Shinji." He crooks a smile. "I thought you might like to meet him."
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
It's bittersweet, like dark chocolate. The sweetness of knowing a friend is doing well, and the leveling taste of knowing that change comes with it.
And together, it resolves into contentment and appreciation for the moment.
It leaks through in the smile she gives to Kaworu, Lucine adding a nod at the end. "... I'm glad you and Shinji could make it. It started out so quiet, but by the time the concert was over, I wondered if there'd be enough room."
Ranka hugs her from the side, and Lucine pulls around an arm to hug her back. "I'm so happy I was able to make it... Ah, Ranka, your legs! You should sit back down." She can't help laughing through her small bit of concern. "... You really put your all into it."
Then, that devious whisper. Yep, Ranka certainly remembers Lucine telling her about Liam. "Ah-ah..... I-I'll tell you later."
It seems like a better way to handle it than going 'no' or 'yes', with how red her cheeks are.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
Alto had been sticking to the edges of the audience, simply watching from a far with a smile on his face. He's not the type to get super into the concerts he's found himself getting caught up in lately. He doesn't do a lot of moving around. He likes to play it cool~ That doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy them though. It's just who he is.
But now that the concerts over, Alto heads back stage once more to meet up with Ranka. As he walks up to her, he finds her already engaging with a couple of people, whom he already knows, but also a couple more that arrive shortly before him. Probably more fans. So as a result, Alto simply waits silently, not wanting to interupt this opportunity for them.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
Liam lets Lucine take point after the initial introduction. He looks back at Kaworu and Shinji as they make their entrance, offering the Administrator a more businesslike nod. "Ikari, Administrator Nagisa." He still can't stop smiling, though. Why? This is highly inconven--
'Are you two on a date?'
Liam is close enough to overhear. He holds perfectly still for a moment, then decides it's best to pretend it never happened.
He's awfully quick to take Lucine's hand again, though, even though his grip is agonizingly gentle.
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
"Meet her? How?" Shinji asks, incredulous. And then Kaworu leads the way, Shinji following after with the confusion never leaving his eyes.
Until they're there, backstage like they belong there(?!), nodding to Liam blankly. Then Kaworu greets Ranka like he -- Oh. Oh?! Shinji needs a quick recap of his memories to make sure he didn't say anything rude or foolish.
"I-It's nice to meet you," Shinji stammers while he's working that out, bowing politely. "Your songs were, um... I enjoyed the performance." A sincere statement, clumsy as it is.
Recovering some, he turns to Kaworu. "I didn't realize you two were friends."
He catches something something about a date and looks at Liam with an innocent blink. Ah...?
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
"It's fine! It's fine! How can I sit down when people who were supporting me are here?" She smiles so brightly at her praise, "These past two weeks, I haven't stopped practicing for tonight. I'm so happy with how it turned out." Lucine's embarrassment though, she just nods, "Alright. We'll talk soon!" She makes a 'call me' gesture. Then she sideeyes Lucine as Liam takes her hand so gently, that smile has not dimmed at all.
Ranka's still in her cat stage costume when Shinji and Kaworu walk up, as her eyes light up, "Kaworu! You came!" She thought she sensed him in the crowd, it's just, it was so big, she couldn't be certain. Before she giggles at his way of describing it, "That's so poetic that it's almost embarrassing." Yet she still smiles, "You're a true romantic, Kaworu. It's nice even just hearing you speak."
Though maybe she regrets that choice of words a little because Kaworu introduces his dear friend, Shinji. And Ranka wonders instantly, 'Is he the one?' Just by how he introduces him. However, she does not give it away. She would never. "If he's your friend, I absolutely want to meet him." She says happily, "Hello Shinji. It's very nice to meet you." As she bows and...
... her cat ears promptly fall off right as Alto turns the corner, as her hair just actually leaps up on either side in surprise, lifting up and even hanging there for a fraction of a second. "Wow, glad that didn't happen during the show." She laughs lightly, seemingly embarrassed Shinji's way. "I'm glad you enjoyed. I hope you'll keep listening." She smiles his way, "I want to make music that you'll be able to continue to appreciate."
However, she turns to look at Alto, and suddenly it's like her joy just reaches heights seeing him, "Alto! What'd you think of the concert?" She pauses then rubs a finger right by her chin, "Though I guess you've heard some of it from me before." She turns to Kaworu, "Alto, this is Kaworu and his friend Shinji. Kaworu's helped me a lot."
She doesn't say how. She feels that's Kaworu's place to offer, she knows he used a pseudonym, but just saying he's helped her is innocent enough, after all she gives credit to so many people.
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
"Liam," Kaworu responds, his smile friendly and easygoing despite being addressed as Administrator. It looks like Liam's still enjoying himself, and though both he and Lucine are awfully shy about the idea of being on a date, it doesn't seem to stop them from being happy to be close to each other.
Likewise, he returns Lucine's smile. "I'm glad I could make it too," he replies. He'd like to say that he wouldn't have missed it, but given his track record with Sheryl Nome concerts... He doesn't bring that up. "Her charm reached so many people, didn't it?"
Alto approaches, but hangs out at the sides. Kaworu glances his way in distant interest before looking back at Ranka and Shinji. "We are," he confirms. "We met back in the spring, when she was new to Japan and lost. I helped guide her back to the city."
He laughs a little at Ranka's counter-compliments. "Not as nice as listening to you sing. But thank you." Shinji and Ranka speak, the cat-ears falling off when her hair shakes them off, but she gets truly excited when she spots Alto. As Ranka wondered about him and Shinji, he wonders about her and Alto. Kaworu glances her way, but leaves it at that for now.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Alto," he says, turning his way. "I take it you've been supporting Ranka in the pursuit of her dreams, too?" He doesn't specify exactly how he's been supporting her, but... it might not be hard to figure out. Or at least to guess, right or wrong.
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
Even as Lucine voices her concern over the cramp in Ranka's legs, Ranka's enthusiasm is too contagious for Lucine to dare to stifle in any way. "You pulled off everything. The moves, the songs, the costumes, introducing each song... it was great."
Thankfully, Ranka lets Lucine go with that promise to talk later, which is something Lucine wouldn't mind indulging later.
"Ah, Mr. Ikari..." Sensing that ball of nervousness emitting from Shinji, Lucine gives him a soft smile, and a nod. "It's great to see so many people come out to see her."
As Liam reaches for Lucine's hand, he'll find that it's moving out to clasp his. She smiles, as she feels--
-- That pulse of joy. From Ranka?
Lucine tilts her head, slightly, as she looks at Ranka and Alto.
Was that song for....?
She smiles, once again.
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Shinji smiles helplessly as Ranka becomes flustered by Kaworu's poetics. He feels a sudden and immediate kinship with her. "He talks like he's speaking in song sometimes, right?"
So they met all the way back in spring...
There's a flinch as Ranka's cat ears start to fall, Shinji's instincts driving him to fumble and catch them. He fails, instead picking them off of the ground. Embarrassed, he attempts to dust off the ears. "Oh, s-sorry," he stammers out, as if it were his fault for her bowing, and not because the truth of puppy haired excitement went to war and won. "...Your songs were from the heart, right?" Shinji's quiet a moment. "I think that's what makes them... appreciable."
He has no idea what he's saying. (Because it's a little from the heart, too.)
As Alto arrives, Shinji bows to him to, but his mouth is caught half open with Ranka's comment on Kaworu. Shinji regards him a curious moment. The giggle returns to his memory. Like it's is going to reveal something as a special lens might, Shinji lifts the cat eared headband up and holds it in front of Kaworu's head, essentially cat-earing him in his own perception. Tabby...
Realizing how strange this is, Shinji quickly offers the band back to Ranka like he should have the moment the dust was gone.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
Alto arrives just as Shinji is speaking to Ranka. There's obviously some nervousness there, but his words just make Alto realize how already Ranka's songs are starting to reach other people. She might not have broken out into the public consciousness at large, but as far as he's concerned that's only a matter of time now.
When Kaworu describes how he met Ranka, a brief snort and bout of laughter comes from Alto's direction. But he doesn't say anything.
Alto is soon pulled into the conversation though as Ranka asks him about the performance. He nods a little as she points out he's already heard some of those songs from her, though he does add, "True. But it definitely seems like you've improved, taking them even further and making them your own. Especially after your dance training." He looks away a bit as he says this, rubbing his neck.
When Ranka introduces Kaworu and Shinji, Alto looks back. At Kaworu in particular. He's actually heard the name from Ranka before, though not yet had the opportunity to meet him. He says, "I see..." Alto returns the greeting with a casual, "Nice to meet you." When asked about his own support of Ranka, Alto replies a bit vaguely, "Uh, now and then, I guess." He too doesn't go into any specifics.
<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.
This is deeply irregular. Liam should feel exposed, uncomfortable. Ranka is literally right there and unsubtly hinting about a relationship that may or may not exist--a relationship-in-potentia that BioNet knows about. They could use it to hurt him. Worse, they could use it to hurt her. But being here with her, and with this extended circle all around them, makes him feel... glad. More comfortable. He doesn't know if he likes it.
"The ride to the border checkpoint is twenty minutes. Perhaps another twenty through security with usual traffic. Another twenty plus/minus five to return to Tokyo, at which point it will be dinner. We should eat, then."
Which is a round-about, very Liam way of saying 'do you want to get dinner'.
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
"There's things I definitely need to improve. The dancing? It came down to the wire." Ranka actually shakes her head at Lucine, "You should have seen me even just a week ago, I was... definitely not ready for tonight."
Thanks to someone whose aid will forever remain a secret between them.
A small amount of sweat beads on her forehead as Kaworu outright tells Shinji that's how they met - in front of Alto. She definitely hears that snort and laughter. She shrinks a bit, but perks back up as he tells her she came far with her dance training, "It took me a while. But I finally got there."
She wishes she could thank him, right now. However, she knows that's the last thing he would ever want, and she will respect that. She knows what a big sacrifice he made for her sake, and she owes him... so much.
Ranka smiles at what Kaworu says, she can't even think of getting mad at him, it's not like he knew it was something she wouldn't want Alto to hear, "You always say the sweetest things." Before nodding at Shinji evaluation of how he speaks, "Mmm-hmm. Exactly!" As Shinji apologizes, "Oh no, it's not your fault." As she puts up a hand, "We were in a rush to get it all on. And it stayed on just long enough right?" Then a smile blooms on her face at what he says, "Yeah. I wouldn't want to sing if it wasn't."
Kaworu notes that Alto has probably been supporting her for a while, and Ranka decides there's an easy answer, that doesn't require giving away his recent support, "He told me what I needed to hear to have the confidence to feel that I could do this, that I could sing in front of an audience." She looks up Alto's way, her cheeks dimpling, her little canine teeth out in her smile now, "That's all thanks to him."
<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.
Speaking in song... It's high praise that Shinji gives him, and Kaworu glows to hear it. He and Ranka already seem to be getting along, and he's glad to see that, too.
Alto's a curious person--he's subdued in his own way, but it seems as though he's more of a support to Ranka than he's willing to outright say. And the strength of Ranka's feeling for him... Kaworu watches him sidelong for a while as they speak and while Ranka describes Alto's help in broad terms, and makes no effort to hide this. When Alto greets him back, he replies with that same easygoing smile, "Let's both continue to support her, then."
The humor that Alto laughs at goes over his head, though.
Instead, he turns his gaze to Ranka: a silent 'it's him, isn't it?' No words--simply a feeling that he trusts will come across. And, when she inevitably wonders back at Shinji... his eyebrows lift at the center as his smile softens: an equally silent 'yes.'
Shinji himself meanwhile raises the cat-ears as if to frame Kaworu. While it might look strange to the others, Kaworu only turns his lopsided smile his way as if waiting for him to actually say something. When Shinji doesn't, and instead offers the band back to Ranka, he leaves it at that, too. But the fondness with which he looks at him is unmistakable.
"We should start heading back soon," Kaworu adds as Liam weighs in on how travel times will affect when dinner happens. "Liam, Lucine, you can feel free to head back first, though. Shinji and I have our own arrangements."
Which is true. Kaworu doesn't say directly untrue things. But it's not the only reason he says so.
<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.
There's some odd looks going on here. Especially between Kaworu and Ranka. Alto has no idea what that's about, a clueless look definitely showing on his face. However, he does reply to Kaworu's statement about continuing to support Ranka, "I was planning to."
Alto then watches the brief interplay between Kaworu and Shinji. Those two are probably good friends. He definitely doesn't clue into that either.
In fact, Alto seems to have missed much of the context of certain discussions, particularly in relation to Lucine and Liam and that of dinner. Which is why he appears to so casually make a suggestion to Ranka, "Maybe we should go grab something too. I imagine you're going to get pretty hungry after all the effort you put into the concert."
<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.
"Ah, I can't imagine it being that bad... You made it look so seamless." Lucine chuckles. "I suppose that's one part of it all... perfection is nothing if the heart isn't there. I felt the same as I did when I've heard you, ah, those other times." She makes no mention of 'the greenhouse', keeping it vague in case Ranka wanted that kept secret.
Shinji holds up the cat ears to Kaworu, and Lucine tilts her head again, appreciating the fact that he and Kaworu hold a moment of amusement together. It's so different from the times she's seen them in battle; it's easy to forget they way they are outside of it all.
The same for Alto. He is purely serious in battle, with a confidence that helped her out when she was beginning to fall into the flow of life as a combat pilot. But there's still the way he laughs at Kaworu's recollection, and how Ranka herself had tried to defend him when she and Lucine spoke, before Lucine could even state her opinion of him.
And Liam.
"... That's a good idea." Kaworu opts out with Shinji, and Lucine nods. "I understand." Alto suggests the same for him and Ranka, and.... something about the room emboldens Lucine. "Ah, Ranka, Alto... I think our train might be at a different station... Liam and I will go ahead."
It's her roundabout way of urging Ranka to go with Alto.
Lucine nods, satisfied with herself, and smiles back at Liam, lightly swings their clasped hands. "Shall we?"
Milly Ashford teleports in.
<Pose Tracker> Shinji Ikari has posed.
Shinji figures he should be more embarrassed and nervous around someone like Ranka, who is essentially celebrity level as far as he's concerned. Yet he's only feeling a normal amount of nervous... maybe even less than that, the way her friendly demeanor easily rolls with the things he says.
"I guess they did," Shinji says of the cat ears. Their job was done well enough. Good enough. Hm...
But Kaworu gives him a look through the cat ears lens (it's not a lens) and there is just the slightly bit of suspicion in his brow as he looks to Kaworu. Tabby... That name was on the disc, too... No one's saying anything about it. Perhaps Shinji shouldn't bring it up...? The smile he gives Kaworu is unusually wry. The guess may well be there on his face, merely unspoken.
Liam and Lucine sound like they're going to go on ahead. His face is redder than it should be. It's a date. They are going on a date. They are doing date things, holding hands and everything. That is none of Shinji's business and he should say zero things about that. "...Be safe on your way back." Whew, he did it...!
It's true that it will be dinner time, though. "I should have thought to pack us something," he laments to Kaworu.
<Pose Tracker> Ranka Lee has posed.
"I can't thank either of you enough for your support." Ranka meets Kaworu's gaze, the two tend to understand each other quite well, and this non-verbal cue is picked up easily. Ranka's chin tilts just fractionally Kaworu's way, her smile cautious. There's just the smallest tilt of her head Shinji's way. And... his response. There's something subtle about her smile in return.
An understanding is shared between them. His secret is safe with her.
"Oh gosh yes, I'm starving." Ranka tries not to think of the feeling in her legs. She'll hydrate discreetly, as she just lets smile say it all to him. "Please. I'd like that."
Ranka turns to Lucine though, and blink blink... pause...
... and then her cheeks just pinken, "Oh! Oh, yes you don't want to, miss your train. Hope you have a safe ride back."
While Kaworu and her shared an understanding, she did NOT pick up that Shinji realized I Tabby's identity. Obviously that secret is preserved??? "Anyhow, it was very nice meeting you Shinji. When I'm ready to release a new song, I promise you'll be one of the first to know."
Wow what a promise to someone she just met...
... it's partially because she wants to keep his support, but mostly - she owes Kaworu more than she can say, the least she can do is contribute to Shinji's happiness.