2023-02-23: A Departure from Despair

• Log: 2023-02-23 A Departure from Despair
• Cast: Sheryl Nome, Sayla Mass, Grace O'Connor, Leina Ashta, Akane Shinjo, Kallen Kozuki, Rikka Takarada, Lucine Azul, Liam 7-020, Rakshata Chawla, Alto Saotome, Lelouch Lamperouge, Rita Bernal
• Where: Von Braun City, the Moon
• OOC - IC Date: February 23, 0097
• Summary: Sheryl Nome joins with the Yumi Foundation to put on a concert to raise funds for the orphans and families torn apart by the escalating war between ZAFT and the Federation.

---

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        For all that Von Braun City is a very flat metropolis, the majority of it built underground, there are many skyscrapers on its surface level. Highways swoop like rivers around them, and there's no lack of buildings that see a lot of traffic, both foot and vehicular. One in particular, the Fra Mauro Building, has a central entertainment center towards the top with six floors built up around it like a cross between a shopping mall and an opera hall, tall and bright and lush with hanging plants set on the fencing for each floor. The ceiling and rooftop are designed to slide back and off to provide a skylight view, making it the most popular entertainment venue in the city.
        
        It's because of this that it's been chosen as the venue for the Sheryl Nome x Yumi Foundation benefit concert. Tickets are free and really only given out at all for security purposes, but they do provide an option to donate for those with the means to do so. The Yumi Foundation is handling the seating for those who've been affected by the war. Since it is a free concert, there are actually massive screens on the outside of the Fra Mauro Building to display the concert from the outside. It's not the same as being inside to see it live, but maybe it'll inspire some people on the outside to give, too.
        
        The stage itself is flush with golden light, elevated by a couple of feet away from the ground floor (relative to the stage; it's actually something like fourteen stories up) and then rising up in a circular arch that layers the floors around it. There's an option to turn off the opaque floor for the top three floors so people can actually watch down from above, and based on the usual turnout for a Sheryl Nome concert, no doubt it'll need to be used here. On top of that, the stage is ringed at the back with massive hologram screens, curved like satellite solar panels, to project Sheryl and her performance to everyone possible.

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.

        Before the Galactic Fairy takes the stage however, another woman takes the stage, the spotlights falling on her. The logo of the Yumi Foundation appears behind her, as she's put onto the screens.
        
        Dr Sayla Mass is dressed surprisingly casually- blue jeans, black sneakers, a t-shirt designed for the concert and, of course, one of her many brown coats. She lifts the microphone to her mouth.
        
        "Good evening all, and thank you for coming. My name is Sayla Mass, and I'm the head of the Yumi Foundation. Many of those attending tonight are beneficiaries of our work, but for those who are not familiar, the Yumi Foundation was founded to help War Orphans and reunite families parted by war. These days we do more, but that's what we do at our core."
        
        Sayla takes a breath, before looking out at the crowd again. "In the recent months, we've been needed more and more. The recent fighting between the Federation and ZAFT cost many lives and many families have been torn apart." She's managing her tone carefully, keeping it level.
        
        "At the Yumi Foundation, we strive to ensure those harmed by these events can get by day to day, and find their way through life. But it's not enough to simply survive. Everyone has the right to live- and everyone deserves to have good moments in their lives. That's why we have this concert tonight, and why we ask those who safely can to donate. To help our beneficiaries live the lives they want."
        
        Sayla lets those words sink in for a few moments, before looking out again. "We know from the past that music could mend hearts and bring peace. Tonight I hope it heals, inspires and opens our hearts."
        
        Sayla gives a small nod to the crowd. "Thank you all for your time. I'd also like to thank everyone who has volunteered their time to be here. Speaking of which, I would like to welcome to the stage our star of the evening- Sheryl Nome!"
        
        Sayla exits stage right, so the show can begin.
        

<Pose Tracker> Grace O'Connor has posed.

        Once the Yumi Fundation's Dr. Mass is finished with her speech and she makes her way from the stage, the concert is ready to begin in earnest. Though there are a few details left to be ironed out. And that's where Grace O'Connor, the Galactic Fairy's Manager, steps in.
        
        "An excellent speech, Dr. Mass," Grace says warmly as she makes herself apparent. As usual her mind is a bit hard to interpret thanks to the extensive nature of her cybernetic prosthesis. At the very least she seems to be attempting to manage a sincere tone. "If you'd come with me, I'll show you and the rest of your entourage to the private booth from which you can watch the show." The lilac haired woman waits patiently for her VIP guest to begin moving, before moving to lead her through the darkened backstage area of the Fra Mauro Building.
        
        Eventually, as promised, she'll lead Sayla to the VIP area. The booth is well appointed - zero-gravity massage chairs, and (optional) VR headsets to allow the viewers to enjoy the show from a whole new perspective! Not that it's needed: The booth is situated so that there is a prime view of both Sheryl on stage, as well as a view of where she's being projected on one of the curved hologram screens. The room is also filled with the scintillating smells of delicious food: Donated to help feed to the stage crew, to stock the VIP booths and, of course, to be given out in exchange for donations from visitors. Alongside the food is drink of various kinds, both hard and soft, at room temperature and chilling in a mini fridge. At one point Grace even opens the door to said mini-fridge to show that it is stocked with chilled glasses should the beverages demand it - room temperature glasses can be found in a wheeled cabinet next to the refreshment table.
        
        "Please feel free to enjoy the show," Grace says with a polite bow. "If you need anything additional, there is an intercom next to the door. It's a direct line to the backstage manager who should be able to retrieve anything or anyone you require." She walks over to the door and puts her finger upon the button, without pressing it, as if to demonstrate its location and use. "I'm afraid I won't be available for the duration of the show however." Her tone does sound genuinely apologetic, "There's a lot of moving parts to this show and I need to be on hand to help provide support. Please excuse me." Another polite bow, and Grace exits out of the door.
        
        Her next appearance will be in the A/V Booth. Drawing the pearlescent attachment of her 'necklace' implant, she plugs it into the computer terminal near the center of the room. At this point a flood of information flows past her senses...
        
        ... including the chatter between the pilots before they begin their part of the show. Grace smiles to herself a bit but allows the data to slide past her conscious mind and into her buffer for later review. Instead, she brings up the scheduling streams for the stage crew and works to sync it to the data being fed to the pilots. Her vision explodes into countless tiny digital specks, each one representing a mechanism. Translucent lines crawl between those specks, forming a gossamer web of data inputs and outputs. And at the center of this ephemeral tangle, her own holographic suit tied to it by lines of light, is none other than the Galactic Fairy herself.

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.

Leina arrived early, even if she's not actually part of the logistical side of running a Sheryl Nome concert, she's volunteered a goodly amount of her time on the Yumi Foundation side of the event.

Mostly she's been hard at work trying to make donating as accessible and rewarding as possible while remaining tasteful. To that end every seat has a directions on how to donate with a QR code like link which takes one straight to where they need to go.

Each donation over a certain reasonable amount gets someone a code for a limited edition Sheryl Nome pin that will be made available after the concert.

Still, her excitement over the concert wars against a certain gloominess, the news she received from Banagher about another attack made against him, it's obvious how upset he is. Between that and Alexis paying her a visit to take shots at Sayla and Akane, it's no surprise she's not at her best. And yet she couldn't just abandon her responsibilities here... plus, she really is a big fan of Sheryl Nome besides.

Backstage, she's dressed in jeans, worn trainers, an official T-Shirt with the cover art of 'Sagittarius 9 PM' and a barrette in her hair of bunny head, split down the center with black and white shading.

The speech, she's distant throughout, but when Sayla comes backstage she perks up again, an amused smile spreads upon her face, even as Grace calls it an excellent speech, Leina evaluates it differently, "Pretty diplomatic, even for you, Sayla. You must have been in a good mood when it was being written."

Ignore him. Ignore him. She knows Sayla better than anyone. Alexis is a consummate liar. Everything he says is only to dole out greater harm.

Hoisting her bag on her shoulder, she follows Sayla up to the VIP booth, tipping her head in a nod to Grace.

She's very polite, but she has a really hard time reading her. She's not certain what to make of that. "Of course, thank you for your hospitality." She then offers a smile, "And your diligence, I know how hard you've worked to make this happen."

It's only when she's gone that she smiles at Akane and Rikka, "Glad you two could join us. It's actually only my second Sheryl concert, but I've been a big fan since her debut."

And then, she winks shamelessly at the two of them, as if to cue them right in on the upcoming teasing, as she takes a seat and turns Sayla's way, "So what do you think? You did say the best music one ever hears is what was being played when you were fifteen. So does even the great Sheryl Nome have the slightest chance of besting Sayla Mass' sense of nostalgia?"

Ignore him.

<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.

The Yumi Foundation booth isn't a particularly lonely place today. It's a slightly more intimate onboard to a concert -- when Akane had expressed interest in going, especially so close to her move-in day... well, it wasn't hard to accommodate her. Besides -- some things have happened that... made it important to see the people close to her as soon as possible.

Ignore him, she tells herself, desperately. All the amazing people in her life have proven time and again that they'd never hurt her, never willingly be complicit in her pain. (... what of the ways that she's accidentally made them easier to hurt? ... no, she has to push that down. Ignore him.)

Akane's wearing the casuals she'd worn for Yumi Foundation move-in day -- a purple jacket, black skorts, a black tank top, and fishnets. Her fingers wind into those fishnets, briefly, when Grace arrives with Sayla; something about this situation, it seems, stresses her out...

... but she doesn't say anything, so maybe it's just that she's bad with people. As Grace departs, Akane gives her a brief, respectful nod.

... it's not the time or the place. There may never be a time or place.

Leina addresses the two of them, and Akane enthsues, "This is actually going to be my first. I'm not... sure on the concerts thing, but... I guess I'll never be sure either way if I don't try! Besides, it's... kinda hard to say no to 'hey, do you wanna see a bunch of people who saved your life?' Ahaha..."

She scoots toward Rikka, taking hold of her hand. "... plus it's definitely nice to have the chance to hear this in a way that's a little less... uh... desperate about it..." With her free hand, she rubs at the back of her head, running her hand through a head of lilac hair.

... ignore him, she insists to herself. Her friends are stronger than that -- and she can be part of that strength, too.

---

Marusan is also here, but not in the VIP area; she actually wanted to catch this from the usual place. A benefit concert is a little bit of a different vibe.

She has a laptop, because this is technically a working event for her. (In practice, she's pushing a bunch of boring numbers very slowly.)

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

The past few months have been... heavy. Distracting and upheaving. The events of the Tsutsujidai PLANT are still pushing down on her heart, and learning everything that happened outside at that time, hasn't lessened the pain and weight. But Sheryl Nome concerts always seem to bring Kallen a new sense of clarity. Help her come to some realization or another. And she loves the girl's music too, so it's sure to brighten her up even just on that angle!

Besides, her stepmother was complaining and ranting at their serving staff about the very idea of such a concert and how nobody in their right mind should send any kind of aid to... well, she's avoiding thinking about the SPECIFIC colorful phrases that woman used. So of course what better form of spiteful, petty payback against the woman who holds no regard for anyone but herself, than to donate away a truly massive sum of her money. Maybe she'll get in trouble later, but that doesn't matter to her right now.

Also she has prom on her mind, and what she's going to do about... all of that. But that's pretty much at the bottom of her priority list. Especially right now.

Her outfit for the night is casual. A comfortable blue jacket worn over one of her many shirts from previous Sheryl concerts, a skirt that is, at the very least, longer than the Ashford Uniform Skirt, and a pair of slightly fancy heeled boots that make her feel just a little more eye-catching. As if her red hair wasn't attention grabbing no matter where she is.

She's made her way to a regular seat in the audience. For once, she didn't come along with anyone else... So if she does run into anyone she knows, that's going to be a little surprising.

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

Rikka was always going to go to Sheryl's benefit concert, that was a given. What she didn't expect was for her and Akane to be invited to watch it from the VIP booth. That's... a big deal! But also, one she readily accepts.

She does make sure to make a donation too, though. Being paid both for her work at Aya and with the Shuffle Alliance means she has more than enough to do what she wants. She can give a little of it back.

She's seated with the others in the VIP booth, and offers a smile toward Leina and Sayla.

"Big thanks for the offer, I've been looking forward to this..." She says, and then grins.

"I've kind of been to most of hers since the one in Macross City..." She admits, then smiles toward Akane as she scoots closer to take her hand. She gives it a gentle squeeze.

"I hope you enjoy it." Rikka says. This is a good chance. For both of them... it'll be her first time going with someone special, instead of just on her own.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

Sometimes it's a little too easy to forget that, technically, people like Lucine, along with many people she considers close friends, are wanted criminals. Rebels, ne'er-do-wells and miscreants out to make things difficult for good, law-abiding people!

        Which is why she's wearing a grey hoodie with little tufts sewn in to the hood, making little 'ears' when she pulls the hood over her head, along jeans and a pair of tennis shoes. You know, 'blending in' fare when you can't be half-assed to commit to one thing or another, and instead opt for the cute thing you bought as a treat for your.... eighteenth birthday. .... Mars had a lot of things, but she wasn't exactly in Alba City, growing up.

        Not only is this a concert Lucine couldn't miss, it's also technically a date with Liam-- one of many, if they count the ones before they officially just gave in. ".... I put in a donation at one of the boxes. It seemed like many of the boxes seemed heavy already..." she says, looking up at Liam as the audience begins to hush. "Ah, look, there's Dr. Sayla Mass..."

        Golden eyes drift downwards, Sayla's words shifting something uncomfortable in her memory, like rolling aside a piece of debris from the remains of a home. Families torn apart. Recent fighting. Everyone deserves to have good moments in their lives.

        The birthday package from her mom came two days later, but the Martian candies and snacks inside were full of memories of a childhood where Lucine had coveted so many of these like fine treasures from a faraway land, when it was really just that she lived in a colony where attempting to create a self-sufficient cycle was the biggest priority.

        A small, bitter part asks if Lucine even thought about donating that money to some charity on Mars. Or if she even thinks about Mars, anymore. She hasn't gone back in a year, after all.

        ".... I wonder what songs Sheryl'll perform, tonight," she says, her eyes on the stage.

         It's not the point to compare, but to celebrate.

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.

        "Thank you, Ms O'Connor." Sayla gives Grace a smile, but there's still some awkwardness there. Fortunately, Leina is also there and Sayla smiles. She hands her mic to a stage manager before speaking again. "That, and I didn't want to cause trouble for Miss Nome. Tonight's not about guilting the Federation, either."

        Leina and Akane are both uneasy, and Sayla can tell, but her own walls are up. What happened last week has been hanging over her. "Sounds like Rikka's our expert then." She smiles, watching Akane get close to Rikka. "I hope tonight lives up to her imagination."

        When Leina asks if Sheryl Nome can beat her nostalgia, Sayla smirks. "We'll see, but she's got hard acts to top."

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.

        Liam is here in a less deniable capacity. He likes Sheryl Nome, and if he just so happens to meet his girlfriend--who is, for now, AWOL in the Federation's eyes--well... there's something to be said for things looking like an intense, fleeting reunion.

        'Chirp' goes the cyborg's cash card, as a bright green 'ACCEPTED' lights up the donation terminal, complete with a heartfelt thank-you. His eyes look through the terminal, and into memory, where a ten-year-old him accepts a ration pack and an emergency blanket from a gentle-but-overwhelmed humanitarian worker. The blanket kept him warm, and the pack kept him fed, for a while. Then--

        Liam shakes his head. He follows Lucine in, and they take their seats. "...There's one she made just for Akane," Liam says, and while that may seem ridiculous on its face, didn't he also tell Lucine Rikka risked her life performing Sheryl Nome songs for her? "I wonder if she'll sing it."

<Pose Tracker> Rakshata Chawla has posed.

As Kallen Kozuki - or should we say Kallen Stadtfelt? Which is the mask and which is the real person? - sits down, she has about nine seconds of peace before a long dark leg is thrust through the lower third of her field of vision.

"Huaaaaahhh, move over, would you?" comes a damnably familiar breathy voice, with an equally familiar lilt to it, as a very tall woman climbs up and over her.

OUTFIT CHECK:

Strappy open-toe wedge heels.
A silver-outside-ceramic-inside ankle bangle on the opposite leg.
A turquoise-and-gold skirt that comes about halfway down the thigh, split up the side and sitting low enough to provide educated information on hip-flexor definition.
A neon-pink high-cut babydoll T-shirt with a black logo of a heart with a single butterfly wing.
A gold navel ring.
Chunky wrap-around prismatic-gold sunglasses.
A miniature white-and-chrome micro-cloche fascinator hat with matching plastic purse.
The pipe, inevitably.

As Rakshata reaches what appears to be her assigned seat, directly adjacent to Kallen's, she sets down with every sign of satisfaction with her life decisions, immediately raising her enbangled leg to stretch over the back of the seat in front of her, nearly kicking the head of an innocent concertgoer.

At this point Rakshata raises her sunglasses slightly to look directly at Kallen and slow-wink once.

Then back towards the concert stage. "You know, the commodity buy did go pretty well," Rakshata muses as she rests the mouthpiece of the pipe on her lower lip. "I suppose I COULD afford something other than the box office ticket price, though really, I'm not in the main audience they're trying to milk, am I...?"

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        The lights all black out for an instant, the venue in total silence save for the rapidly fading murmurs of the crowds. From above, a shining figure begins to descend--and the light seems to come from a translucent white robe that envelopes the form of Sheryl Nome, her golden locks trailing gently in her wake. Slowly, passing through the view of each floor in turn, she lowers down to the stage. Tiny colored lights that outline the screens shine in her wake while red threads spread out and fall around and alongside her--as much how she's controlling her fall as it is part of the show, no doubt. As she gets closer to the stage, the robe billows out at her back, forming a pair of butterfly-esque "wings" that shine in the darkness.
        
        The Galactic Fairy... Truly she is well-named.
        
        With a soft 'cl-click,' Sheryl alights on the stage, bowing down and kneeling into a three-point landing. Softly, softly, her hair settles around her, falling in lovely waves at her back and over her chest. For a scattering of heartbeats, she is still.
        
        Then she smiles up at the crowds, and the image of her smile lights up the massive screens at her back too. In a single fluid motion, she stands and snaps the robes up off and away, letting it billow into nonexistent. She herself is left in a sleek gray pinstriped pencil shorts that belt over an open-chested black blouse tied with a blue ribbon at her throat. A star-shaped pendant hangs over her chest, and a huge translucent bow lined in gold ties at her back. Black and gold stockings hug her thighs, and they in turn are hugged by black strappy heels. A glittering diamond ornament decorates her hair while half a dozen bracelets adorn her right arm, and as always, her violet crystal drop earring shines at her right ear.
        
        https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/macross/images/f/f2/UtaSherylPose.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20190513095920
        
        Her smile shifts into a smirk, and any cheering from the audience is silenced in an instant as she brings a single finger to her lips in a coy shush. Languidly, she reaches both arms up over her head, where they grasp a hot pink line that cuts the darkness--
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95EqcdUcKP0 (Izolado)
        
        Then Sheryl's voice cuts in with it, along with an electric guitar and the spotlights, all focused on her as the stage lights burn pink in lines all around her. The line of hot pink light turns out to be a cane, its hook gold. Sheryl sensually draws it down past her lips, then twirls it as she twirls herself, hips shaking; as she sweeps it in a circle, it shoots out a stream of heart-shaped bubble lights and traces stars in her wake. When she brings it up again, she presses a soft and brief kiss to the cane's hook, then thrusts it out towards the audience. As she dances, she draws the cane up behind her head, fingertips sliding down its shaft before she sets it down, her other hand on her hip.
        "The wrong color puts us at cross purposes with
        "My blindly alluring, shining eye
        "We misunderstand and disagree over
        "My as-yet untouched jungle heart..."
        
        Sheryl struts across the stage, twirling that cane, as her name lights up at her back letter by letter in glittering neon lights. Each letter is reflected in the darkness up on the screens, projecting her dance both inside and outside. As she dances, pulls the cane back up, shimmying it in front of her as she winks at the audience. With a twirl, she tosses it up in a spin, then catches it seemingly effortlessly, stepping back and forth. She brings it down only to kick the back of the cane into a backwards twirl, and once again it trails shining pink and blue hearts in her wake.
        "It's racing, my heart's racing
        "You look so drowsy, my primitive baby
        "Reach out from the darkness
        "A surging impulse... Call me out, you're out of my sight..."
        
        Twisting around, she lifts the cane over her head, then holds it close as she faces the audience once more. In a smooth, languid motion, she bends the cane to point down, more hearts of light trailing after its tip, and hangs it from her fingertips in front of her as she sways her hips and thighs. She bumps the cane to the left once, twice, thrice, before finally twirling it and then herself about, her back to the audience. She reaches out and waves her wrists, the cane supporting her as she ruts her heels on the stage; the bow at her back shimmers as it sways with her movements, veiling a fascinating view of her backside. Then she spins around her prop and stretches herself up as she raises it over her head.
        "You and I are refugees; our words line up from A to Z
        "We melt and get entwined in a colony of light
        "To the other side where both flowers and storms sweep the land
        "This time, this city will be polluted by--"
        
        She spins her cane in a circle around her, gaze lifting as it reaches its zenith. The trail of light-formed shapes follows her cane until suddenly they vanish--but then, instead, they erupt all around Sheryl and come slowly raining down over all six floors of the audience. In the midst of this rain of light, Sheryl thrusts the cane down in front of her and holds it firmly in place, legs spread, head bowed.
        "2000 light years of rain...
        "That is its final destiny..."
        
        The lights dim once more during a brief instrumental, but Sheryl provides her own illumination as her costume changes in a shimmer around her, all the way to even her hair. Her once-blonde curls now shine pale, electric blue. They spill over a crimson vest that buttons together under her chest and over an off-the shoulder striped shirt, pale pink on top, dark pink on bottom, and lined in bright blue. Her upper left arm burns with pink light from a wide armlet that hovers where it is; both of her wrists are adorned with blood orange warmers. A golden-buckled purple belt holds red shorts that are frankly more belt than shorts in place. Scarlet ribbon criss-crosses and ties around her right thigh, and her feet show off floral heels. A golden heart pendant hangs from her neck, and her usual drop earring glints at her ear.
        
        Thus transformed, Sheryl slides the cane along her back as she leans forward with a seductive smile. She reaches out one hand, one finger, as if to trace it lovingly across a lucky fan's face--but then she pulls back and pulls out of thin air a long, thin red thread. As she whirls around, she snags it on her cane, then spins her prop until that thin red thread burns over hot pink.
        "It's okay, there's nothing to fear
        "You're a cowardly shy boy
        "We discern the future by reading the stars
        "A red thread binds us to burning love!"
        
        She spins, pulling more of that thread from seemingly out of nowhere as she dances with her cane, long legs stretching out and pulling back as she struts along the stage. More and more threads twine slowly towards and around her as she flips her hair, but when she flips her cane up and then slices down with it like a knife, all those threads break off and away. She twirls again, bringing the end of that cane to her lips, and gives a sultry look out towards the audience as she trails her painted fingers down its length.
        "It's racing, my heart's racing
        "I partied too hard with my pretty little toy
        "Let go of your lifeline
        "A dazzling impulse... A faded idealized image..."
        
        As she twists the cane in her pale hands, she kicks it again, her heels coming up and down in a one-two beat. It spins around her before she plants it in the stage and sweeps a hand behind her, heels trailing lines in the stage as she drags them in place. She turns anew and brings the cane up, holding it level over her chest, then raises it up over her head, her ankles hooking delicately behind each other.
        "The solitary century; we're endless from A to Z
        "We become light and shadow, then melt and get entwined
        "To the other side where we come and go between dreams and reality
        "This time, this city will be polluted by--"
        
        Then she thrusts that cane outwards to the audience before jerking it back, as if to point out someone in the audience and then herself. She traces it along the air, forming sparkling alphabet letters, before thrusting it down behind her and kicking her feet back in a reversal of her earlier moves. One last kick brings it up, and she swings it around; in its wake, illusory flower petals stream forward, and as they flutter over her, they return her blue hair to blonde and her outfit to her original black-and-gray number with its star pendant. A gust of wind blows them out in 360 degrees, all over the crowds.
        "You and I are refugees; our words line up from A to Z
        "We melt and get entwined in a colony of light
        "To the other side where both flowers and storms sweep the land
        "This time, this city will be polluted by--"
        
        In the wake of these whorling petals, Sheryl knocks the cane down to the stage with one hand and beseeches the audience with the other. As she lifts up the gold-and-pink stick, she caresses it with her cheek, eyes shutting briefly as she draws her free hand down her chest. She spins abruptly, the cane a counterweight--except instead of a circle, she traces a heart, so that it envelopes her in brilliant light. It solidifies into gold, sprouting a fairy wing on its right side: the emblem of the Galactic Fairy. As it slowly revolves around her, she holds up the cane with both hands over her head.
        "The way it is, let it be; I beg of you, set me free
        "Again, you and I melt and get entwined over and over
        "To the other side where both flowers and storms sweep the land
        "This time, this city will be gratified by--"
        
        Slowly, arched backwards, Sheryl draws the cane down--to her lips, to her chest, to her hips, to her thighs. As she sings, she gazes out at the audience with lidded eyes and a sorrowful lack of smile, as if to convey to them an ambiguous message. Her body twists around, cane drawing lines over her skin as she dances, stretching out her legs and kneeling down before gradually rising up.
        "Sweet and transient brown sugar
        "The view I saw even in my dreams
        "2000 light years of rain
        "That is its final destiny..."
        
        Then, as the final notes of the electric guitar reverb, Sheryl thrusts the cane down onto the stage before her again, once more with her legs spread and her head bowed.

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        Alto sits amidst darkness, watching as Sheryl makes her appearance. It's a strange feeling, seeing the Galactic Fairy in all her glory, complete with glowing wings. When most of the time he sees her just as Sheryl.

        Sometimes it's like they're two completely different people.

        And yet at the same time, they are not. Like two sides of the same coin. One known across the galaxy, the other known to only a handful of people.

        Alto continues to watch as Sheryl goes through one of her usual costume changes. His eyes are naturally drawn to the single crystal drop earring she wears. His hand absently moves up to the center of his chest for a moment... Before reaching over to pick up the zero-g bottle sitting at his side. Just as he is going to take a drink, he's interrupted in his thoughts by a voice:

        <"Hey Skull-4. Are the rumours true?">

        Completely unaware of what the voice is talking about, Alto asks, "What rumours?" He goes to take a sip from the bottle.

        <"That you and Miss Nome are dating.">

        Alto immediately coughs, launching a spray of water out to slowly fall in the low gravity, "W-Where the hell did you hear that!?"

        <"From Skull-2. So? Is it true? Because that would be impressive!">

        Alto groans, moving his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, "Michael can mind his own damn business..." Of course it's not true...

        ... Right? Well... There was that ONE time which could technically be considered a date. Possibly also that one... And maybe that one, though Ranka was there for it so probably not...

        While mulling over it, another voice interrupts Alto's thoughts:

        <"I heard from Skull-3 that you do spend a LOT of time with her.">

        Alto coughs again, before quickly replying, "I'm assigned as her bodyguard! She's literally paying me for it!"

        <"Ohhhhh. So she's paying YOU for IT."> There's some chuckles.

        Alto quickly corrects, "Us! Paying us! SMS! Whatever." He grumbles a little before saying, "Hey Sagittarius-2?"

        <"Yes, sir?">

        "Shut up."

        There's some laughs, followed by an amused, <"Yes, sir!">

        Alto sinks down in his seat a little bit, rubbing the back of his head in annoyed embarrassment as he returns to watching the concert as a cloud of holographic flower petals blow out from Sheryl and fall upon the audience.

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.

Rikka gets a look of surprise, "Wow! Were you following the whole tour? Jealous. Didn't think I'd have a rival up here tonight for biggest Sheryl fan in the booth and yet-!" Her tone is completely unserious about that.

Before she converges with Rikka on responding to Akane about the concert, "Oh hey! Well, hey, just means that you have the opportunity to assess your comfort level without being in the middle of a huge crowd."

Leina tells Akane nonjudgmentally. "No need to hold back up here. Let us know what you think, any time. Pretty curious how you'll take to it."

Her eyes linger on Akane for a moment, even if she can't know for a fact she's thinking the same thing, she gets the sense the two are both trying their best to be distracted tonight.

"Oh yeah?" Leina's challenging tone turns into a sense of curiosity, "I forget, who did you go to see for your first concert?"

She hushes down the moment that Sheryl comes on stage, and despite being up in the box, she lets out her own cheer of applause as she winds up to the first number.

"God she's so hot." She says quite audibly right before Izolado comes on, and Leina hums along with the lyrics, but finds herself captivated yet again, in the whole spectacle of watching Sheryl live.

Even if the concert isn't as big budget as her usual for a benefit concert, it doesn't detract from it. It gives it a certain charm that's a contrast from that spectacle. It's an upbeat song, fitting for the vibe they're going for here at a benefit concert, offering that message of hope.

She tries her hardest to get swept up in it. Despite being a huge fan, it's a struggle to let herself be distracted.

Ignore him.

It seems like in the end, the magic of the Galactic Fairy manages to distract her a touch, perhaps it's due to the overwhelming positive regard of the crowd.

The song and dance routine finally chips away at the gloom, and Leina grins at the transformation, before tapping a hand against her thigh. And when the song is over, she lets out a more contented sigh, "So much better than one of those big gala events." Before her eyes flick over to the other three to try and ascertain their thoughts.

<Pose Tracker> Lelouch Lamperouge has posed.

A free concert was a free concert; More importantly, Nunally was interested in her as an artist, and considering that the past few months have been Suspiciously Heavy for reasons unrelated to being Lamperouge, this was the perfect time to try and...Recon his little sister's interests. Granted, he hasn't paid much attention to recent music as a teenager his age should, but a pop concert to learn exactly what Nunally loved (and to reconnect with her a bit more after these past three months) would be a minor reprieve from...Everything else.

Red jacket, black shirt, grey trousers...It isn't much, but he's not trying to be impressionate for any reason. Not with things on the horizon. Prom barely scratched his mind; The voting list was as surprising as anything else.

But still. Damn concert venue, being so away from...Every single transport hub and then some. One of the last ones to arrive, ticket presented and everything. A customary donation to the Yumi Foundation; A customary small donation, if nothing else. Stuff like this wasn't free to host. Besides, the winnings more than made up for it.

To the seat and...
...
..
.
...... A raised hand from Lelouch Lamperouge. There's someone in his seat. Namely, the same seat that Rakshata was currently occupying. Damn this woman, damn her. Why here? Why now? ...And next to Kallen? It's good to see a familiar face, but still, but still! "Ah, hello. That seems to be my seat you're occupying, so would you mind...?"

The din of the music in the background, and Lelouch was internally muttering about how he'll make sure Rakshata's workload would quadruple before the week was out.

<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.

There's part of Akane that -- on top of the lingering feelings of worry after being graciously 'checked up on' by Alexis -- feels like she has to learn to enjoy concerts, when she hears Rikka mention that she's been to that many of Sheryl's concerts. She's not struggling that badly, but the pressure is a little high.

"You're a real superfan, huh? I'm glad you got some use out of those tickets," Akane says, expression nevertheless bright. She gives a smile to Sayla, noting, "She's got a hard road ahead of her, topping the last music act I caught..." ... and then starts giggling, and it's like the pressure is right back off.

Leina reminds her of her previous concert experience -- and it actually takes her a second to think back to the one in Tsutsujidai. "... I guess it is my second. Or third, really... it's... kinda different." Akane has a hard time thinking of some of her 'firsts' in Tsutsujidai as real experiences -- you relate to the world so differently as a god, and even more differently as a kaiju.

When Sheryl herself takes the stage...

"Oh wow," she murmurs, watching Sheryl -- but after a few moments, she finds herself splitting attention between Sheryl... and Rikka's reactions to Sheryl. Once things are actually going, she seems into it -- her cheeks are a cute shade of pink that would be difficult to achieve with makeup, and she's practically hanging off Rikka's arm.

"... Okay, yeah, I can see myself going to more of these," Akane enthuses, as Sheryl trails off. "The cane is a cool prop, too -- and not just because it lets her do a little more with her butt, either..."

She's not thinking about Alexis at all, for the moment.

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

The nine seconds of peace were quite nice really. But not exactly what she was for anyway. Though she wasn't expecting it to be broken quite this way. "O-oh, just a second." And she scrunches up to help Rakshata, who she only realizes is her after the fact, get to her seat. She's never seen somebody quite kick up their heels at a concert like THIS. Or bring a pipe... what does she even actually smoke in it? Kallen's always been hesitant to ask, as if it's a trade secret that would get them both in trouble.

She does however, realize it soon enough. "I didn't know you were interested in this kind of music, Doctor Chawla." She surely IS a doctor, technically. Just not a medical doctor... probably. Well, she might be. Who knows with geniuses? "Nice to see you here though, and... honestly I don't know about 'milking' donations from the audience." She can't imagine too many high roller types in the audience.

But in the midst of their conversation, Sheryl takes the stage in, as always for her, captivating fashion. She can't help swaying and humming along to the music, drawn into the performance so easily. Maybe not surprising, given everything over the past year.

So ANOTHER familiar voice catching her attention is more than a faint surprise. And wouldn't you know it, it's one of the people she's had on her mind. Not in a romantic sense... god no, but in certain suspicions... "Oh! Lelouch... I didn't know you..." She pauses and considers, then shakes her head. "Wait, no that makes sense, you're here for Nunna, right? To make sure she can get a copy of any recent releases?" It would be so very hard to get her up to this concert after all. And if he likes, it makes for a perfect excuse he can go along with. And maybe distracts from the way she's subtly reading his expression. Trying to glean anything suspect from it.

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

"I don't know if I'd say 'expert', but... I know a lot." Rikka admits with a small laugh, and then nods to Leina. "Most of it! It was worth it."

She laughs, then, as she jokes about having a rival.

Akane gets a nod, too.

"Yeah... I want to know what you think." Rikka agrees, and laughs. "...I'd try to deny it, but I think I'm way past that point now. ...I really did, though."

And then, Akane brings up the last performance she saw. Rikka can't help but grin a little at that - and laugh along with her, when she starts to giggle.

Akane's previous concert in Tsutsujidai, though... Rikka remembers that one, well. ...She still feels a little bad about that one, but she won't let herself dwell on it if Akane won't.

...It isn't long, though, before the lights dim and the first song of the night comes on. Rikka has yet to hear this one in person, and has yet to see that outfit, too...

Needless to say, she's struck on the spot.

"...She really is." Rikka agrees with Leina with a quiet nod. And Sheryl begins to sing. Rikka... could really find herself liking this one. The vibe is just right to her.

She's transfixed on Sheryl, for the most part... but, the feeling of Akane clinging to her doesn't go unnoticed, and at the end, she's looking a little pink, too.

"Sheryl's a great performer. She knows just what to do to make her act perfect." Rikka says with a nod... and then admits. "...Y-yeah, that's definitely a plus."
Rakshata Chawla tosses a coin: Tails

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        The mass excitement of emotions in the air is like feeling the fog on your face on a summer night, pleasant and easy to lose yourself in, when it's just the right moment. Lucine could almost overlook the vague pulse of bittersweet memory from Liam, behind her. "Liam..." She turns around and looks back towards him, offering out her hand to direct him. "... Let's go get seated, shall we?"

        Later, as they settle into their seats, she tugs down the hood of her hoodie, revealing her teal blue hair in a ponytail. "I remember you mentioning that," Lucine says, her eyes lighting up. "I wish I could have seen it! Rikka, confessing her feelings through song to the person she loves..." She squeezes her hands together in front of her. "It just sounded so cool, and so brave..."

        Lucine still needs to apologize to Akane.

        Lucine also needs to know how to dance like that.

        Like Sheryl, on the stage, with a simple cane as her prop. ".... I think, this is a new one...." she whispers, as illusionary petals float past her pinkened cheek.

<Pose Tracker> Rakshata Chawla has posed.

"Why is that?" Rakshata asks Kallen, leaning a little towards her side. "If you were in the development space you'd know all sorts of things about the kinds of music I enjoy. But I understand you have a full schedule, so don't take it as a complaint..."

"Oh, it's done for a just cause," Rakshata continues, "so I don't mind a little bit of squeeze and tug, but I think the real cash cow here will be the Lunar upper-middle class. It's clever, Luna gets left to themse-"

The lights go dark! "OoooOOooo," comments Rakshata, fondly. Silence falls. A lighted figure descends. At this point Rakshata opts to push the sunglasses up to rest in forehead-guard mode, because they're going to get in the way. She is all but gnawing at the durable brasslike mouthpiece of the pipe as the song begins, her leg crooking a little.

And then somewhere around 'we become light and shadow, then melt and get entwined', a new face appears. Rakshata's eyes cut towards the form of Lelouch Lamperouge, ordinary schoolboy, and she says, as she leans forwards heavily, "Oh, is that right...?"

Her leg slides off the back of the seat in front of her. Rakshata's knees splay out as she considers the petitioner before her, and at about 'both flowers and storms sweep the land--' she pats one thigh, accented by the swirling sweep of those illusionary flower petals.

"Since you're a friend of my little cinnamon jawbreaker," Rakshata concludes in a tone of generosity, "I'll share. Now hurry up, you're blocking my view."

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.

        Liam squeezes Lucine's hand.

        "It was," he says, and he leans closer, tucks his face towards her. But he doesn't take his eye off Sheryl, and he might not be able to if he tried. "It might be?" he murmurs, his voice soft, so as to avoid puncturing the mood. His arm curls around Lucine's back, and pulls her tight.

        Petals blow over the both of them. Sheryl's effortless sensuality is horrifically contagious--it must be, because Liam whispers into Lucine's ear:

        "Tell me which of these outfits you'd wear."

        He'd stare at himself for having the sheer audacity, but... he saw how excited Lucine got when he told her he liked the little black dress, and how flushed she got when he told her she'd look gorgeous in one of Sheryl's gowns. If it works...?

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        For a moment, the venue is dark and hushed. Then, as an electric guitar starts up again in a new, hardened yet heartfelt song, the ceiling overhead peels away to reveal the view of space from the Moon's surface. The massive video screens, both inside and outside the Fra Mauro Building, display a view of far deeper space with its blazing galaxies and violent nebulas, dazzlingly beautiful yet so far away. In the middle of them all, Sheryl seems to float, her now-bare hands reaching out to endless points of light she can never possibly touch.
        
        The guitar scratches and lights flash as a silhouette of Sheryl covers her ears; then a blue spotlight illuminates her on the suddenly transparent stage, now surrounded by floating planets projected on the screens as red columns of light pulse around her like the bars of a cage.
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI8_6e16ZTs (Eternity)
        
        Sheryl's outfit this time is more somber, more mature, while at the same time projecting the fashionable spark that the Galactic Fairy is known for. Her blonde hair is topped by a black pageboy cap--but not solid black; a smattering of glitter sparkles upon it, as if projecting a view of distant space. It suits her royal purple top with its plunging neckline and its drape just over its waist, and the more brilliant glitter of a nearer space, stars burning in blue and red and white and yellow, as if space could possibly be nearer. Over it, she wears an open black suit jacket; its buttons and cufflinks gleam darker than black, while the front of her jacket buttons only once in front, held together by a white string to better show off her galactic top.
        
        A glittering black belt holds solid black shorts in place, hanging from the bottom of her hips to only barely cover the tops of her thighs. The rest of her thighs are instead draped with silken indigo stockings, lined at the top with shimmering black material to match her cap, and locked together with belted black ankle boots, their heels arching assertively in emerald green, as if to display the colors of her drop earring on her body in reverse order.
        
https://www.deviantart.com/ingissac/art/sheryl-nome-original-costume2-203725561
        
        As she dances, she spins, coming to a heartbeat's stop where she stares up at and reaches out to the sky. Jerking her arms back, she spins to face the audience and folds her wrists together in an elaborate twist. When they pull apart, she reaches out with one hand, only the slap it down with the other; that beseeching hand in turn pushes her cheek away as if to chastise herself. One contradiction after another, she clasps her hands and raises them to the heavens as if in supplication, but draws them down and turns away. As she does, she stretches out a hand, from which motes of light flow away like dandelion puffs caught on the breeze.
        "When I fling myself into the abyss of despair
        "And question whether or not I'm still alive,
        "I wish I could have you by my side
        "Still, always, if it could come to be..."
        
        Around her, the bars of red light pulse harder and stronger and closer together, as if tightening into a stronger, more hostile cage around her. Even so, she raises her arms up over her eyes and spreads them outwards as she dances. Clutching herself, she then pulls her arms apart as if to somehow accept the universe into her embrace; then she points out to the crowds as if to a certain special someone.
        "I wander in search of forgiveness
        "I want only you to be reflected in my eyes!"
        
        A tone sounds as a distortion rocks the air, even over Sheryl herself. Her voice breaks through, shattering the distortion, but the bars of light continue to pulse as she dances in the seeming endless freedom of space. Because it isn't really space, is it? It's merely an illusion. Even so, as the spotlight follows her, she turns and layers her hands over herself, until she looks over her shoulder...
        "If you don't bid me farewell
        "For eternity, oh, my heart will slide into the darkness
        "Your hands are too gentle; I wasn't afraid, oh, that they would leave wounds
        "You know, I did not need to love myself..."
        
        Above Sheryl, in the real airspace over the Fra Mauro Building now on display with the ceiling panels open, a Valkyrie variable plane in fighter mode zooms into view. It seems to slow for a heartbeat or two; then it picks up speed and spins off and away. She reaches out towards it as if beseeching it not to go, but it's no use; it races away as if towards a battlefield far beyond her. In an instant, it's swallowed up by a speck of light.
        "Where are you now?"
        
        A Valkyrie airshow plays out in the skies over the venue, themselves projected in the video screens around Sheryl, who is in turn projected in the video screens outside the building, so each can be seen equally well regardless of where one is watching form. Light flashes, and the spotlight returns to Sheryl, now dressed in a black jacket with white cuffs at the wrists and black ruffs at the hips. It covers a white blouse with a high-necked collar patterned in the palest gold, and a thin belt ties them both together. Both drape over tight red slacks, which tuck into tan, layered knee-high boots. Her hair remains strawberry blonde, but now it's bound in a coiled braid that drapes over her left shoulder, while her usual drop earring dangles from her right ear.
        "Your sky falls further and further away
        "Until I can no longer tell that I am myself
        "At least once, I wanted to try attaining
        "A voice that sings of 'eternity'..."
        
        As Sheryl dances, the planets projected on the screens fade into the darkness of space, leaving her alone in her empty prison. Even so, she spreads her arms to the vastness of the universe, drawing those worlds back to her, until she points up and then clutches her head. That tone sounds once more, seeming to short out all light until--
        "'It's the fate you chose for yourself,'
        "I murmured so bitterly my words shook!"
        
        The universe explodes once more around her, more planets hovering as if in orbit around the Galactic Fairy. At the same time, the bars of red light pulse closer and more claustrophobic than ever. As if refusing to heed them, Sheryl spins and beseeches the heavens beyond them. Her body slumps and rolls from side to side, and she swipes her hands over her face one by one before raising them up over her head and sweeping her legs back. She reaches out, yanks her hand back as if snatching something close, and then reaches up--
        "Don't go! Look at me!
        "Why couldn't I say so, oh, even though I treasured you?
        "So that they wouldn't shatter
        "So that they wouldn't disappear
        "I fixed my eyes on those piled-up, unripe dreams... ooh ooh ooh..."
        
        And against all odds, the once-empty space responds to her. As she spins and dances, red and blue motes of light rise up in an image of tiny stars with herself at the heart of all of them. When she reaches out her hands, this time she cups them tenderly around an invisible something before drawing them back to her chest. She then raises her hands to her ears and lifts her chin to gaze out with sorrowful-seeming passion at the audience.
        "If you don't bid me farewell... (oo-ooh, ooh)
        "Your hands are too gentle
        "I wasn't afraid, oh, that they would leave wounds
        "You know, I did not need to love myself..."
        
        ...Until she raises her gaze to where the Valkyrie fighter would have been before and reaches out in the same way. There is no fighter plane this time, though; she reaches out for only dark and empty space above, all alone.
        "Where are you now?"
        
        She spins back into her dance as the instrumentals take her to the end of the song... but this time, when they drop back to simply electric guitar, Sheryl seems to float, directionless, in the vast empty space that surrounds her until the instrumentals and the lights both cut into silent darkness.

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        Alto is still watching as the concert shifts into its next song, Sheryl finding herself floating amidst some illusory planets. Alto sits up a bit straighter, saying, "That's our cue." Alto leans forward, pressing a button, "Von Braun Flight Control. This is Fairy Leader-" Alto internally groans a little at the temporary callsign for the wing that 'someone' had assigned to him, "-ready for launch."

        The response comes back a moment later, <"Roger that, Fairy Leader. Your mission area has been designated a no-fly zone for all other traffic. You're clear to launch. Good luck!">

        "Roger that, Control."

        Alto watches as stars begin to fill the darkness in front of him, quickly expanding outwards. As Alto presses more buttons, lights begin to shine around him, revealing him to be sitting in the cockpit of his Valkyrie. Alto glances through the opening doors of the lunar city's spaceport hangar to the dull gray of the lunar surface, mostly obscured by the darkness of the moon's long night. And beyond that, space. He goes to slip his helmet on.

        'When I fling myself into the abyss of despair...'

        Alto shifts the window on his HUD showing the concert feed to the side, giving him a full view out of his cockpit once more. As the song continues on, Alto brings his machine out of its standby mode, before saying, "Fairy Leader. Launching." Alto pushes his throttle forward, the hangar around him quickly rushing by as his Messiah blasts outwards into the abyss of space. Beyond it stretches out the moon's surface, Von Braun city proper and the location of the concert just a short trip ahead. In his ear, Alto can hear those voices again:

        <"Fairy-2, launching.">
        <"Fairy-3, launching.">
        <"Fairy-4, launching.">
        <"Fairy-5, launching.">

        'I wander, seeking forgiveness...'

        Alto glances over his shoulder as the other four planes of the temporarily named 'Fairy Wing' form up on him. Four VF-25As. Normally painted green, these mass production Messiahs are currently painted a bright pink and belong to the recently recruited Sagittarius Squadron of SMS. Supposedly chosen for their aerobatic flight skills more than their combat prowess. As if 'someone' has been planning this for a while.

        Alto is just glad he wasn't made to paint his own Messiah that way, his prototype continuing to sport its usual white.

        Ahead of them, Alto can see the Fra Mauro Building rising above the city, the tip alight with the colours of the concert shining out through its transparent ceiling.

        'If you don't bid me farewell...'

        Judging his timing, Alto accelerates a little... While radioing the others, "Alright, split up. It's almost show time." The other four Valkyries break off, leaving Alto's Messiah to charge on ahead towards its target alone.

        '... You know, I did not need to love myself...'

        Above Sheryl, in the real airspace over the Fra Mauro Building now on display with the ceiling panels open, Alto's Messiah zooms into view. He pulls back on the throttle a little and fires the breaking thrusters, slowing for a few moments. Rolling to the side a little to give those below a better view of the fighter's profile, Alto turns his head, catching a quick glimpse of the concert... And Sheryl on stage...

        Alto pushes the engines hot once more, picking up speed and starting to spin while blasting away from the building. In his rear view he can see the venue rapidly receding in the distance, his own machine indeed looking like it's racing away, as if towards a battlefield far beyond.

        '...Where are you now?'

        Out of the corner of his eye, Alto can see on the feed of the concert Sheryl reaching out towards 'him'.

        <"Look, sir! She's reaching out to you.">

        There are several chuckles from the other Sagittarius pilots while Alto quickly counters, "F-Focus! We've got a job to do here. You've all got the updated program for the ECA system, right?" While the others pilots are all reporting affirmative, Alto dives lower and turns back around towards the Fra Mauro Building.

        'Your sky falls further and further away...'

        As the planets surrounding Sheryl begin to fade away, Alto calls out, "Alright. Time to light them up." All five of the Valkyries fly once more into view above the concert, approaching from five different directions at a far more sedate pace. They form into a circle formation, slowly orbiting a central point. Their frames begin to glow with a crimson light, which pulses in time with the 'bars' of the prison making up Sheryl's cage.

        It's the fate you chose for yourself...

        The Valkyries begin to spiral in formation downwards, growing closer and closer to each other while also glowing brighter. They join the red prison bars that close in on Sheryl, their light growing more oppressive.

        'Don't go! Look at me!'

        "Arm countermeasures... And... Break!" Seemingly flying on top of each other, the Valkyries fall towards the concert ceiling as a single, pulsing crimson star. Moments before they would hit it, they all break away from each other, rushing out in five directions as their red glow vanishes. Behind them, bursts of light appear, spreading out into clouds of red and blue sparkling motes to join the 'stars' surrounding Sheryl.

        'If you don't bid me farewell... (oo-ooh, ooh)...'

        The Valkyries fly out of view again, disappearing from both sight and screen as Sheryl reaches out into the darkness of space, towards nothing.

        'Where are you now?'

        Alto sighs quietly, letting out the breath he had been holding. Finally he says, "Alright, good work. Let's reset for the next song..."

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.

Leina shares that laugh with Rikka, it's really good to see her again - for a great many reasons, "Beyond jealous. I even heard about the performance she lent you a hand for." She winks at Rikka, "Honestly, super proud of you."

The topic shifts to Akane, "Oh yeah?" Leina gives Akane a surprised look, unaware of the concert scene in Tsutsujidai really, other than she knows Sheryl Nome suddenly became a bit popular? "Well you're in for a treat."

Once the tune is over though, "Not just because of that huh?" Leina teases lightly, "Sheryl's choreography is really just that sexy. Pretty sure it's awakened a whole generation of girls to certain..." Leina gives Akane and Rikka a teasing look now, "...feelings."

She doesn't really think Sheryl is wholly responsible for the two of them, but it's fun to act like it is.

Leina hushes again as the blazing galaxies and violent nebulas appear around Sheryl, checking out the more mature outfit, which seems to still elicit a small noise from Leina upon seeing it.

The routine starts, and the lyrics, she's heard them hundreds of times, but in this moment... she looks sideways at Rikka and Akane. There's a slow blink of her eyes, as she looks down at her lap.

A quiet sigh, before she pastes a smile back on her face like a sticker, looking up at the Valkyrie airshow. It's hard to say what's affected her so much in the moment.

Sheryl's costume transitions, and she finds herself falling deeper and deeper into her own heart, despite her best efforts to keep that smile showing. Her eyes tip up to watch the Variable Fighters in their spin, with Sheryl's hand stretched upwards-

"Oh." Leina's eyes look up in wonder, following the Variable Fighters as they fall towards the ceiling like a Crimson Star before flying away.

In the aftermath, Leina looks distant, abstracted for a time, before putting the smile back on, and with another sigh simply says, "Wow."

As if that single word could encompass her feelings for how that number made her feel.

<Pose Tracker> Lelouch Lamperouge has posed.

The minor bit of peace he would have this evening had already disappeared, gone under such things like Commutes and Traveling To The Moon. Moreso when trying (and failing) to hurry to his seat, only to find...Disreputable company. And Kallen. "It is right, yes!" A usual jovial tune he took at his school functions, eyelids only lightly twitching under the sudden surprise of seeing the other side clash so spectacularly with this one.

"I did, what with everything happening, I couldn't exactly grab anything these last few months, and she's been a bit busy lately...So I decided to check out a concert and see what she likes about her." Granted, the faint memories of her at the GUTS establishment did ring in his mind. Really, the two sides were surprising, as far as he remembered it.

Not that he didn't initially raise and eyebrow at the invite to share a seat. He's not going to win this at all, is he. "Share? ...If you insist." Fine, then. He shuffles himself in, squeezing himself into that seat with the scientist. Che, come on, why her, of all people. If it were C.C., even that would be easier to deal with than a scientist close to Kallen. "How did you two meet? I don't recall you being much of the science type, Kallen."

Doing his best to keep his eyes on the show for idle leisure (however much he could spare), while doing his best to obey Personal Space ethics. ...As much as he could, at any rate.

<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.

The teasing from Leina certainly does nothing to stop Akane from blushing. "Well... the first concert I kind of ruined and the second was... crazy circumstances," Akane elaborates, "so this still kinda feels like my first... even if the second one is why I'm here for this one in the first place."

Rikka's comments, though... "Hehehe... what if I asked you to look only at me like that?" Akane asks Rikka at the stammering -- but that one she almost immediately "Just kidding!"-s out of, noting, "It's a plus for me, too..." It's fine. They can both look. There are so many worse things than seeing someone you love with her heart racing.

Speaking of looking, Sheryl starts her second song; this time, there's VF choreography. It's a proud tradition, of course -- Akane is historically literate enough to make the mental connection between the history of the VF and the history of idols, and that she's kind of into. ... More than that, though, the lyrics themselves... As her gaze traces along the VFs' paths lazily, she murmurs, "Why couldn't I say so, even though I treasured you?" and lets her gaze again fall to Rikka.

By the end of the number, Akane's leaning against Rikka's shoulder; she turns her head slightly so she can give her a small kiss on the shoulder, but she's also on the verge of crying.

Something nags at the corner of her perception, causing her to glance back up to Leina -- but she's a little too busy navigating her own feelings to parse that out.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        And like the last concert, Sheryl's performance gives Liam the jolt of spicy courage to ask Lucine, once more: which outfit of Sheryl's would she wear?

        This time, Lucine is able to keep her head clear enough, even if Liam's voice against her ear is doing the same magic as it did last time, as Sheryl steps about the stage. "The first one," she says, softly. ".... Very simple, ah, very elegant." She leans into the curl of Liam's arm. "Just a little bit sexy." She wouldn't pull it off like Sheryl, but Sheryl is Sheryl.

        Sheryl, the same young woman who's been on missions with them, but always seems to have some of that same presence without all the stage magic and backing score, face to face.

        The next sing plays, and Lucine recognizes it as Eien from the first few bars. ".... I've always liked this song, even if it's bittersweet," she mentions, quieting before the singing begins.

        'Where are you now?'
        Jets fly in to accompany the music in a coordinated dance in the sky.

        ".... I wonder if Alto's in that plane," Lucine comments, idly, amused. ".... Right where she wants him."

         An intrusive memory pops, of Alto in the Messiah silhouetted against the sky, a similar craft falling limply to the ground below. ".... How many songs are there, about pilots leaving someone behind...?"

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

"You heard about that, huh...?" Rikka replies with a sheepish laugh as Leina brings up her performance, and smiles when she says she's proud of her. "...Thanks. That means a lot to me. We worked really hard on that one."

Rikka looks toward Akane as she teases her - Akane 'just kidding's out of it, and Rikka laughs a little. ...She's glad, though, that this is something they can both appreciate.

"Iii don't doubt it." Rikka replies to Leina's teasing. It's true, Rikka already knew before her first Sheryl concert... but it definitely helped her to at least become more comfortable about it.

She quiets down as the next song begins. This one... is much more somber. She enjoys these just as much as the more... intense ones. She's always been impressed in the way Sheryl can express such a wide away of emotion and meanings through her songs... That may be one of the first things that drew her to her. The song is accompanied by a rather impressive VF performance. And the lyrics...

...Is it any wonder that her eyes are drawn to the girl next to her? She hears Akane's murmur, feels her leaning against her shoulder and that gentle kiss. She shifts her arm very carefully to avoid dislodging Akane in order to put an arm around her, and rest her head against her own.

"...It's okay." Rikka murmurs. It's okay to cry, if she wants to. She'll be here for her.

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.

        "Mm." The one with the shorts? Liam wonders. He's... God those are some short shorts. Or was it the shimmering, diaphonous robe, with--

        As is customary, Sheryl Nome sucker-punches him before his thirst can fully take the wheel. Liam recognizes the opening bars, just as Lucine does, but the moment the stars light up above them, he knows something's different. His eyes focus on the sky. A tension settles into his frame alongside the melancholy. He makes out the forms of the approaching VFs. He feels himself being pinned between past and present.

        Stunt flying, one part of him concludes. Choreographed. Professionals.

        Another part of him, the part that still remembers smoke in the sky and the distant form of a murderous metal giant, towering among its comrades--that part screams RUN, TELL EVERYONE TO RUN--

        The VFs pull off their perfectly-choreographed maneuver, and nothing horrific happens. No one dies. No one is hurt. Liam allows himself to breathe again.

        "...Alto's her bodyguard, right." Liam holds Lucine tighter. By now, she's come to... likely identify the patterns of trigger-fear-reorientation-guilt that define his flashbacks.

<Pose Tracker> Rakshata Chawla has posed.

Rakshata makes the situation relatively awkward. Lelouch gets to discover that Rakshata used a fairly mint-and-lemongrass-forward body wash or soap or something (hotel soap?) earlier today, but she seems to ignore him as the song begins.

A vision of space - a new outfit ("Oh! It must be holographic," Rakshata murmurs as she twirls the pipe in her hand furthest away from Lelouch) - and she is fascinated, or at least drawn into the music, for long moments.

Vivid, throbbing, aching words as a song of lovelorn heat ripples outwards. Rakshata's eyes half-lid. Perhaps it's evoking some memory...

"!" She startles, which probably jostles the squeezed Lelouch, at the overflight. "Hunnnh," she continues, gazing upwards... perhaps not the intended impact of the show, but an impact nonetheless.

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

There are so many excuses Kallen could make. But in the end she goes for one that's easy to use and hard to poke holes in. "Doctor Chawla is a business associate of my father. Technological advancement goes hand in hand with the work his energy company has pursued over the years and they've both encouraged me to dip my toes in. See if it might suit me in a few years time." It has to be somebody she's known for a long time. Somebody who knew her before she would up 'sick'. Otherwise a name that implies fire, spice, and pain wouldn't make any sense. ...It's still awfully familiar and teasing though.

Of course, Sheryl's music waits for none, and as she's about to speak further... the somber tune begins. Still... she can't stop herself from wondering. Could she make an outfit like Sheryl's new one work? At least, something similar? With the song picking up... She won't shed tears. That's not happening. C.C.'s teasing from a certain concert has been bad enough. These two won't get to join her in it. Well... she's trying to make sure of that, at least.

In the midst of that, she glances back to the two familiar faces. With some silent amusement about Lelouch's suffering. She'll have to thank Rakshata for this later, somehow. "I hope you'll enjoy it. I think Nunna would love to gush over all her favorite music, and everything it means to her." Moreso with him. She doesn't get to spend nearly enough time with her one and only big brother after all. And everyone else just isn't the same. Her eyes lift, to stare directly into Rakshata's face as she develops a small, slightly smug grin. One that ought to make certain figures in masks feel a little fearful. "Maybe I'll take you up on that offer soon. Some time in your development space could be good for me."

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        A string orchestra resonates through the darkness, and the stage lights burn points of pink light up at Sheryl's feet. Those lights, accompanied by a shower of petals, reveal her now clad in a long, silken, scarlet evening gown that parts into a pair of ruffled skirts lined with little white gems that part just above her knees, while a line of fabric sweeps away from her waist and hooks hooks through and down a golden ring at her right wrist. Sleeveless, the dress's chest is similarly bedecked with a dozen little diamonds, and a large bow cinches at the back of her neck. Maroon gloves cover her hands while matching strappy heels cover her feet; a bright red camellia in bloom decorates both the back of her waist and her now-plum hair.
        
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/macross/images/0/00/SherylUta19.png/revision/latest?cb=20200817130817
        
        With one hand raised to hide her eyes, she sings into her iconic golden microphone:
        "On that day when we decided to set off from our despair,
        "All that stood before us was the blowing of the wind...!"
        
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lQrTs-8ar0 (Infinity)
        
        The song rises to a crescendo at the close of Sheryl's opening stanza while a vast galaxy glows and spins on the back screens. An image of Sheryl herself fades into view overtop. The melody then drops to something slower, calmer, but still determined and resilient--something with the strength to move forward even in the face of adversity. Stepping forward, one foot in front of the other, Sheryl sweeps her free arm around slowly.
        "The more of my feelings I want to convey,
        "The more my words end up cracking..."
        
        Running a gloved hand up along her jawline and beyond, the camellia in her hair and the drop earring at her earlobe sway. Sheryl bows and rises swiftly to the beat, then steps again slowly, deliberately, in a semi-circle before she spins in the other direction, her hand now clutching her chest.
        "Unable to tell you a thing,
        "The truth is I'm always so uneasy..."
        
        Backing up several swift steps, Sheryl raises a hand to beseech the dark skies above, then holds it palm out while she spreads her legs to bend her knees a few degrees, then sweeps them back together. She spins to face the audience and twirls a finger that she then raises to the heavens, while a ghostly image of her iconic earring--of two of them--sway back and forth before and behind her in opposite directions.
        "If people could somehow see tomorrow
        "Then we'd probably have to live without realizing our dreams!"
        
        The tempo of Infinity revs up, breaking once more into the unstoppable passion of the blowing wind. Sweeping her arm out and up, Sheryl clutches herself as she spins to the right; then once again, she sweeps her hand around before holding herself and spins to the left.
        "Embrace your farewells!
        "Embrace what you hold dear!
        "I want to blanket the world with my feelings for you!"
        
        Her arms undulate to either side of her in a wave before she spins anew, then makes a circle with her thumb and forefinger and taps her cheek. Bowing and backing up a few steps, she lowers her hand and raises it to tap her cheek again, then rises and reaches out to the audience as she hurries a few steps towards them.
        "I flew, light and nimble!
        "I cried great big tears!
        "I want to see you again at the promised land!!"
        
        The powerful beat of the electric guitar strums several more seconds as Sheryl dances until the song gentles once more. And, once more, she slows her stride into a few long, sweeping steps that take her in a semi-circle. Reaching out to the audience, she pulls her hand in to her throat, her smile bittersweet as her blue eyes may seem to pierce into her fans's hearts.
        "Has all we've lost let us grow a little stronger?
        "Have our hearts grown even softer than before we were hurt?"
        
        Arching her gloved hand up high and then overhead, Sheryl step forward into a broad lean and pulling her legs together as she rises and dances away. She sweeps a finger up to tap her cheek and points it up, higher and higher, then bows and spins away before once again reaching for the heavens.
        "What will the passing days put to the test?
        "As proud as ever, kiss me to say you'll love me for infinity!"
        
        Spotlights, purple and white, criss-cross upwards from the stage into the open ceiling while Sheryl dances, legs crossing rapidly over each other as she gracefully twirls. She stops to face the audience, one arm outstretched, and strides forward a few slow steps as her voice soars. Twirling away, she forms a circle with her fingers again, bowing up and down as she touches her cheek, before at last she raises an unyielding fist as if to seize her feelings within her physical grasp.
        "I want to be strong, so very strong! I adore you, oh how I adore you!
        "May my love flap its wings all the way to the ends of endless space!
        "Eternity is so dazzling! The pain is so dazzling!
        "May my prayers bubble up as far as they must to reach you!!"
        
        Instrumentals take over for the moment, drums and cymbals leading the beat, while overhead, vapor trails cross bright white in the black skies. The spotlights continue to flash while Sheryl dances, her soft voice echoing through the venue, until she twirls to a stop. Facing to one side as she arches one arm up, palm outwards, she covers her eyes until she slowly pulls it away in a mirror of the song's opening as red petals once more fall.
        "(Embrace your farewells... Embrace what you hold dear...)
        "My feelings won't sleep
        "Because I have in my hand a hope that will never fade...!"
        
        As the vapor trails fade, new sparkling lines shoot up overhead until they explode into fireworks of all colors and shapes. With them, the music picks up back into the fast-paced chorus, perfectly in step and tune with Sheryl's song and dance. Throughout the city, as the fireworks explode, they unleash illusory red petals to shower down on the streets and on the people, dissolving into motes of light once touched. Meanwhile, within the venue, the spotlights whirl below and above in time with Sheryl's dance, until they flash out, leaving behind Sheryl and the galaxy on the screens.
        "Embrace your farewells! Embrace what you hold dear!
        "I want to blanket the world with my feelings for you!
        "I flew, light and nimble! I cried great big tears!
        "I want to see you again at the promised land!!"
        
        Both there and on the stage, Sheryl spins one last time. At the final, resounding chord, she stands proud and strong in a powerful stance, gazing with a triumphant smile over her shoulder out to her fans within and without. Drums beat rapidly as that final note reverberates until the song comes to a decisive end.

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        'On that day when we decided on a departure from despair...'

        The next song has begun, the five Valkyries forming up together out of view of the concert. Alto asks, "Are you four ready for this?"

        <"Yes sir. We've been practicing our moves.">

        The four VF-25As move in tighter with the VF-25F, falling back a little into a delta formation. Alto replies, "Good. Because you know who she's going to complain to if one of you screws up."

        <"We certainly wouldn't want to be responsible for any friction between you two, sir!">

        Alto's stare would speak volumes if any of the other pilots could actually see him at this point. So his silence will have to do the same. As the song begins to rise, the five Valkyries do so as well, blasting up into view from behind Sheryl, trails of glittering white following behind them. They rapidly rise along with the music until it hits its crescendo and slows again, all five machines also slowing and breaking apart into pairs, Alto the odd one out left to float at the peak of their climb.

        'The more of my feelings I want to convey...'

        The two pairs of VF-25As begin to slowly dive again, repeatedly making wide turns before crossing each other at the center. Their white trails follow behind them, forming that familiar symbol for infinity with each pass.

        'Unable to tell you a thing...'

        The song's pace begins to pick up once more as it leads towards a chorus. As it does so, the Messiahs pick up speed too. The pairs make tighter and tighter turns as they get closer to the building's ceiling. Meanwhile Alto rolls his fighter over and starts to dive down through the center of the infinities. As the concert below quickly starts to rush up towards him, Alto says, "Alright everyone. Time for the mode change. Let's see what you've got."

        'If people could somehow see tomorrow...'

        As the song's tempo revs up again, Alto pulls up, the other four Valkyries rushing in to join him in a line abreast formation this time. The five blast towards a position at the edge of the view that the audience has of the space through the ceiling. As they reach it, they quickly transform into Battroid mode, thrusters firing to bring their momentum to a relative stop as they line up directly above and 'behind' Sheryl.

        'Embrace your farewells!'

        As Sheryl dives into the chorus, the five Battroids begin to dance, mimicking the Galactic Fairy's movements as if they were backup dancers. Even the white particles that the engines in their feet are pumping out begin to collect beneath them, forming a sparkling stage for them all to dance on.

        'I flew, light and nimble!'

        As the chorus is coming to an end and the song's pace begins to slow once more, the five Battroids transform back into fighter mode, blasting upwards and away before arcing over and diving out of view.

        'Has all we've lost let us grow a little stronger?'

        Alto takes the few moments during the slow section, when they're not needed, to catch his breath. Such fine control maneuvers, requiring perfect timing, in close quarters with four other machines, is NOT easy.

        <"Sooooo... How'd we do?">

        Alto can practically sense the four relatively new pilots waiting silently in anticipation. He grudgingly admits, "You all get a passing grade." There are a number of cheers from the four, but Alto interrupts, "Alright. Heads up, this next bit is on you four."

        <"Roger roger!">
        <"We've got this!">
        <"We won't let you down!">
        <"Watch us, senpai!">

        'What will the passing days put to the test?'

        As the song starts to lead into another high paced section, the five Valkyries appear in the space above the concert again. This time the four pink models dive down, forming up into a line. They then break into pairs, activating their trails once more as they pull away from each other at ninety degree angles before pulling up and starting to arc over and downwards once more.

        At this point the pairs then split again, one in each continuing along their path in an ever increasingly steep dive, until they roll over and begin to pull up again, soon crossing each other at a bottom point and ending their trails.

        The other two fly away from the trails the others are creating, before they roll over and start to perform several Split-S (or inverted Immelmann) turns in rapid succession until finally leveling once more and flying back to join up with the trails of the other two.

        The result is a huge love heart, floating high in space above the city, two fluffy wings sprouting from either side of it.

        'I want to be strong, so very strong! I adore you, oh how I adore you!'

        As the song goes into a brief quieter moment, focusing on instrumentals, the five Valkyries form up once more. The sight of their creation is still clearly visible floating in space.

        <"Wooo!">
        <"That was awesome!">
        <"Did you see that!?">
        <"We were on point!">

        Alto lets them have their moment for a bit, before interrupting, "Come on. We need to prepare for the final act."

        '(Embrace your farewells... Embrace what you hold dear...)'

        As the song starts to pick up for its final chorus, the Valkyries dive down out of view once more, close to the moon's surface on approach to the city. As they begin to approach it, Alto leans forward to start pressing switches, "Master arm on."

        The other four respond: <"Check.">

        Alto continues, "Target coordinates select."

        Once more from the four: <"Check.">

        Alto leans back, watching his system get several missile locks on points above the city. He finally calls, "Weapons free." He pulls on his trigger.

        From beneath the wings of the five fighters, several small missiles start to blast away in sequence, rushing forward towards the city as sparkling trails follow behind them. They spread out towards their assigned targets, before finally exploding in open space.

        Beautiful fireworks of various shapes and colours light up space above the city of Von Braun. Many visible through the concert's open ceiling. With each, illusory red petals begin to fall on the city and its inhabitants.

        'Embrace your farewells! Embrace what you hold dear!'

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.

"I did." Leina tells Rikka of what she pulled off, "I have more to say about it, but not while you're on a date."

Leina didn't quite realize what she was stumbling into with asking her about her prior concerts, there's a faint wince, but then, "Well, I'm happy to call this your real first too, so long as you are."

There's a small affectionate laugh as Akane 'just kiddings' Rikka. She's not really sure Akane had to just kidding that as she doubts she was serious but-

As the song ends, Leina and Akane share a small glance, before Rikka starts to comfort Akane, in this moment. She knows when to stay quiet, to let the two have this moment without interference.

She's happy the two are there for each other.

The string orchestra marks the beginning of the song that she submitted to Sheryl's people. She knew it was coming, and a hesitant smile comes to her face as she looks upon Sheryl's Camellia costume, and her plum hair.

It's a beautiful song, wonderful, meaningful, but right now it certainly stings. Hitting just a little too close to home.

It's a wonderful song for a benefit concert, for the people that the Yumi Foundation wants to inspire, for the people they try to help, it's perfectly fitting.

She always did sacrifice her own feelings for the sake of others, as she sits perhaps a little too still within that VIP box. In the end she tips her head to watch the choreography of the Variable Fighters.

The ideals of the Macross Colonies are wonderful but... in the end she's reaching into her bag for a tissue, and discreetly dabbing her eyes when she thinks Rikka and Akane aren't watching before balling it up in her hand.

Once she thinks she's adequately recomposed herself, she forces a smile, "So how'd this one stack up to her other concerts, in your opinion, Rikka?"

<Pose Tracker> Akane Shinjo has posed.

Crying, for Akane, is a subtle thing; she's not a bawler. She sniffles a little, and makes a bit of a high-pitched whine, pressing against Rikka. She's pretty good at moving to accommodate Rikka's movements toward her, too; they quickly settle into a new, comfortable position.

"Sorry, it's -- kinda overwhelming," she stammers, even as she's told it's okay. She breathes deeply, though it's a little irregular, a little ragged. "It's good, though." Expressing feelings you couldn't express any other way... maybe 'music' is a little like a 'kaiju,' in that sense.

As the music starts up again, Akane takes a longer, more stabilizing breath. "... thanks," she murmurs.

The last song -- even in its choreography -- makes such a clear statement. Embrace your farewells and embrace what you hold dear... well, it is the day before she officially changes addresses out of Tsutsujidai.

... it's a difficult place to do much embracing, admittedly. Even in the relative seclusion of the VIP area, there's more than just Rikka and Akane here, unlike the other times. ... but maybe Akane needs to get used to treating the world as 'a place where things can happen,' right?

As the music swells for the final time, Akane starts to shift position again. Rather than merely letting herself be held, she scoots over to take Rikka in her arms, making eye contact with her for only the briefest moment before leaning in and --

Lips meet lips, sure, but it's the embrace itself that carries a lot of the intensity this time; one hand slides up the back of Rikka's neck and into her hair, while the other remains a stabilizing presence over her shoulders. As a faint 'mm --' escapes Akane, she takes the time to really appreciate everything about Rikka. If their paths have to diverge for a while, even in a way that's just a few (... long) transit trips away... well, transit is often a messy question in the Universal Century, even as it's gotten easier to cover those great distances. Being even less certain of when they might see each other again makes this moment -- here, now -- all the more important to soak in.

She doesn't hold the kiss nearly as long as the embrace, and even then, their sitting positions make it a little awkward to hang onto Rikka for too long. "I never would've done this without you -- and I never would have been able to if not for everyone," she whispers. "I think this... might be better than endless summer."

Finally looking back toward Leina, Akane notices the tears... and makes a note to talk to Leina a lot more now that they'll be living together. It looks like whatever Alexis said to her must have hit her really hard... but this isn't the time and place for that.

<Pose Tracker> Lelouch Lamperouge has posed.

Lelouch is trying to concentrate on the music. Trying. He's mostly succeeding at this point, nose wrinking as the scent of whatever cleaning product she used wafts to his nostrils. Seriously, he's trying his best to be respectful, something that's substantially harder when the other is so preoccupied with...the concert itself.

Make that an octuple workload.

Granted, he manages to stay relatively steady for most of the songs. Eyes gazing towards the sky, allowing his own mind to wander. Where are you now, mhm? To who could he say this to? Nunally? Marianne? ...C.C.? No, that last one is just curiosity; the witch that seeks so much and yet seems to slip away. And rack up so many points that the pizza shops now recognize the address. Every pizza box comes with a drawing of Cheese-kun now.

Sexteentouple the workload.

"A business associate? It is that time of the year. New year, new things to think about, especially with prom and other things coming up." Goddamn it Rakshata stop hogging all the seat "Especially with everything, it's time to start thinking about our futures." ...Futures, huh. "I think I get why Nunally enjoys this." He does his best to lift his eyes upward, acting out the best impression of a man awed by the concert, the theatrics, the sheer bombasity in display here. Even with such a somber song, it's something to strike at the heart.

So that's how she does it. How to focus the eye, how to maneuver around the stage. How to dance, how to guide people towards an emotion. That cadence, that tone, that strength. Inside, he's aware he's learning from this. How to guide people to a conclusion.

This was educational. Anything to stop the insane jolt of fear upon hearing Kallen's accepted offer. Her? Developing the KMFs? Mmh, that means he'll have to devote time to both of them to explain how he wants to tweak the Gawain...And what about the Guren? There's no doubt she won't falter there, but there needs to be a contingency in palce. Always has, always will. She's an important piece, but just another piece, and, and, and, and...

It takes a bit to pull himself out of the increasingly frowning stupor, listening to that last sonng. Feelings to convey. Blanket the world. The promised land?

...There's only one reason he's doing all of this, after all. His lips twirl into a small smile, eyes shimmering as he glances at the final act.

It never hurts to remember he's doing this for his little sister.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        She's seen flashes of this memory before. Had Alto been there? Ranka had.

        "... Liam." Being a Newtype offers some advantages, but Lucine can already feel the pattern in Liam's body language alone.

        She touches his arm with a slight pressure, giving him a quiet reminder. Be here in this moment. ".... Yes, he is," Lucine answers, quietly. ".... He's also done missions for the Nadesico crew.... it's how I also know Sheryl and Ranka. They were all present in some form for my first mission for the Nadesico, when I deployed with him and a few other pilots. He can seem gruff, but... he never looked down on me for being new." It was also her first meeting with Elisa, but that was simply a coincidence.

        "I'd like to think I've grown since then, but... I doubt I could pull something like that off. Up there is more like a complicated dance." She grins. ".... I'm lucky the Zero movie's not required us to perform anything more complicated than mock battles." ... She hopes.

        Her words also are there to bring Liam into the moment without fully immersing herself in them, as well as reflecting, in her own way, how everything has circled around.

        She's quiet through the last song, as solemn as the last, but bearing more force in her feelings. A declaration of her feelings, as if saying that, despite the sadness love could have, it was worth it all. Eien was yearning, while Infinity asked to state your feelings aloud, while you still could.

        ".... How are you doing, Liam?" Lucine asks, as the song died down. She angles her head upwards. "... What are you feeling, right now?"

<Pose Tracker> Rakshata Chawla has posed.

Kallen speaks a new truth. Rakshata's eyes turn towards her for a moment, during the interregnum between numbers, however brief it may be. Aqua-green narrows. Perhaps she Approves.

Then Kallen meets her gaze. Rakshata holds it steady, which means she leans slightly forwards, which means she's mashing against Lelouch. She raises the pipe up and answers Kallen, "Then we'll really make something delightful happen."

Kallen will also get to hear Indian techno. It's pretty good.

But that's a question for the future. For now, though, Rakshata Chawla does not hold herself aloof, nor does she separate herself from the press around her. The spiritual feeling may elude her, but her heart throbs at the appeal of the song. Is it popular? Absolutely. But things are popular for good reason.

Everything they've lost...
Nostalgia...
Absence...
Infinity...

The fireworks don't quite shock her as the earlier appearance of the aerial (spacial?) performance did - the fireworks are not a shock in the same way. A shift in magnitude and not quality.

"Even if their day is fading," Rakshata muses, "a Variable Fighter... it really is a graceful thing, isn't it?"

She also puts one leg over the other, which incidentally puts her entire calf over Lelouch's lap and only marginally doesn't prod Kallen.

(LATER: Rakshata spends 320 gilla at the merchandise table. "For the orphans, of course!" She may have to be prevented from buying several exclusive limited release CDs - or robbed. But that's a story for another time.)

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

Rikka holds Akane for as long as she needs. It's overwhelming... but good. Rikka smiles.

"You're welcome. Always." Rikka assures, as Akane murmurs her thanks.

The next song begins... Infinity. This one... This one. It really resonates with Rikka. The way the lyrics line up with her own feelings... is this the power of an idol? Rikka's starting to tear up now, too...

...And that's when Akane shifts position again. Rikka finds herself in her arms, and this is certainly a welcome development, and then their eyes meet -

And Rikka's eyes close as she's drawn into her embrace, as their lips meet. She lets herself be lost in the moment - until, eventually, they detach. Rikka smiles back at her.

An endless summer... There was a time she might've been okay with that, if it was with her. But... this, if anything, proves it.

"...I think so, too." Rikka agrees with a smile.

She looks toward Leina. ...She can tell she's forcing a smile. She doesn't know the shape of the situation. But for now...

"I think... this one was the best so far." Rikka decides.

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.

        Liam, very pointedly, does not look up.

        Guilt. Regret. How many hours did they spend getting the maneuvers right? He can't watch now, just like that time he got five minutes into Edge of the Sky and froze solid at the sight of Zeon Mobile Suits--animated and modeled Zeon Mobile Suits--descending on a city he didn't even recognize.

        Lucine helps keep him grounded. He holds her. He still doesn't look up, and part of him feels like he has to apologize to Alto the next time he sees them, even though wouldn't Alto just look at him funny for that?

        A deep release of breath. Light bursts somewhere above them. "I'm here," Liam says. "I'm sorry. Wasn't expecting this." Breathe. You're safe. Listen to Sheryl's voice, and Lucine's. What does he feel, though? "Scared. Twitchy. Guilty."

<Pose Tracker> Alto Saotome has posed.

        With their part in the show complete, the five Valkyries turn to head back towards the city's spaceport. All the while the pilots are ecstatic.

        <"Wooo! That was in-TENSE.">
        <"I can't believe we got to perform for a Sheryl Nome concert!">
        <"I bet those back at the academy are going to be jealllllous!">
        <"Hey, let's celebrate! Drinks are on Skull-4!">

        Alto chokes for a moment before asking, "What!?" As the others laugh, Alto rubs the back of his helmet in annoyance, wondering what he did to end up with this lot.

<Pose Tracker> Sheryl Nome has posed.

        As the night presses on, Sheryl's performances remain top notch and on fire, in one case literally: Northern Cross is an intense song even among Sheryl's many intense numbers, and both fire and starlight blaze the screens behind her as she dances a forceful dance. Won't someone please caress my empty contours? These words of love rolled out of my mouth, but nobody answers them, and I don't know what to do...
        
        Meanwhile I Became an Angel is sweetly sad, speaking to the tragedy of one orphaned by a greater conflict--something Sheryl has personal experience with. I wonder why, when I'm with you, I end up feeling a little sad? Because I live, I live for you...
        
        And finally Lion brings the passion back up with a starlight motif as Sheryl reaches out her hand, on stage and on the screens: I want to survive, I want to survive, I find I still want to live! Guided by the constellations, we now gaze at each other...
        
        At the end of it, Sheryl remains on the stage, the lights turning up as she smiles up and out to her many floors of fans. By now, she's dressed in one of her more iconic costumes: a purple corset lined in red and gold with a bow in back, a golden ornament in her strawberry blonde hair, and uneven stockings sliding up her long legs. She blows a kiss to the cheering of her fans and waves for a moment before bringing her microphone to her lips.
        
        "Thank you everybody for coming out tonight, and for giving to all the people who've suffered so much because of this war! It'd be easy for me to say it's got nothing to do with me since I grew up on a Macross colony ship..." Her blue eyes waver for just a heartbeat or two as she purses her lips, expression sobering. "But poverty, hunger, losing your loved ones... That can happen to anyone, anywhere, on Earth or in space. I really admire the Yumi Foundation for being an organization that makes sure the children who end up like that don't just get forgotten, and I'm grateful to Dr. Mass for giving me the opportunity to help out, too."
        
        She takes a deep breath and regains her smile. "There's one last thing for all of you tonight. I'm proud to announce that the physical release of my new music video for Diamond Crevasse is going on sale tomorrow--which I'm sure a lot of you knew already, thanks to all your pre-orders. But for those of you who're here today, you're in for a treat--tonight's last performance is a pre-release screening of that very music video!" She winks as she takes several steps back. "Be grateful. I 'hardly ever do this kind of service for my fans! <3"
        
        The lights dim once more. This time, instead of displaying Sheryl live, the massive screens in the back display a single image: that of the early evening sky, panning down to a city resembling Venice--those aware would know it's Neo Venezia, a recreation of the sunken metropolis--as the introductory notes of Sheryl's debut song play.
        
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVuho32VSQo (Diamond Crevasse)
        
        "Dear Lord in Heaven
        "Back when I was deep in love with you
        "There was not a moment when
        "I imagined such a parting would tear us in two... oooh..."
        
        It's a moving video: Sheryl in a beautiful red evening dress strides slowly out into the rainy city, a butterfly-esque mask on her features. The shot switches to a view of the Macross Galaxy cityspace, though few present would be able to recognize it as such; it pans over to a dirty slum building, where a little girl huddles on a stairwell. A kitten rushes up the steps to her, drawing her attention.
        
        "If we were fated to never touch each other again
        "Then at least, before I wept, I wanted you to hold me tight and forget for then
        "Our long, long good-bye...
        "'Farewell to thee, farewell to thee,' times twenty thousand
        "So tenderly and cruelly to myself I said
        "Your gentleness when you waved your hand hitched my breath
        "So I want you now to answer me..."
        
        A sideswipe brings Sheryl back into view as she stops and stands before a grand piano, pulling off her mask to reveal a sorrowful expression. She plays a few notes with her long, delicate fingers, and a throng of masks seem to stare eyelessly down at her. A top-down pan of a church shows the little girl and the kitten again, clearly tired and empty-eyed. Sheryl plays several chords on the piano, and the mask flies away. She spins towards it, devastated, but it's too late, and the thrusters on a Variable Fighter burn.
        
        "I encountered you, and then I was born as the stars glittered above
        "So long as I live, so shall I continue to love
        "What's the point in waiting for a hopeless miracle you claim's forgone?
        "'Cause the shining of those stars, blurred by my tears, are all gone..."
        "I encountered you, and then I was born as the stars glittered above
        "So long as I live, so shall I continue to love
        "What's the point in waiting for a hopeless miracle you claim's forgone?
        "'Cause the shining of those stars, blurred by my tears, are all gone--"
        
        Playing with impassioned grief, Sheryl sings her heart out. Trailing blue light, the piano and Sheryl seem to fly over the city and into the starry night sky. On one of the canals of Neo Venezia, Sheryl glides down on a gondola, a lantern in hand. A silhouette in the foreground of the little girl watches, and Sheryl startles, staring up and over at her. Again the piano soars by, now passing over the full moon, before Sheryl's gondola reaches a dock. Down a dirty alleyway, the little girl and the kitten sit on a dumpster, head hanging, until she abruptly looks up.
        
        "If one day we can be reborn into a world where we're safe and free
        "Then I know I'll find you again, I know you'll race straight to me
        "Never let me go, let us never again take love for granted
        "'I won't let you feel alone,' I want you to whisper to me, planet..."
        
        A top view shows Sheryl playing the piano once more, now out in the vast expanses of space. In the alleyway, Sheryl reaches out to the little girl with a smile, who takes her hand, and the two of them embrace each other--until the little girl dissolves into motes of light. Sheryl looks around in confusion, the gondola fading into reality around her as she stares up at the starry, moonlit sky.
        
        From a bridge down the river, a paper airplane swoops in towards the gondola and lands in the water next to it. Blinking, Sheryl picks it up, and when she pulls it out, it is now her butterfly mask, returned to her. She smiles in joy as the light glitters off her iconic drop earring; then she gazes, comforted and in peace, up at the shimmering white moon as the last notes of the song warble out and a shooting star passes by.
        
        ---
        
        The concert ends after that, with lights turning on and people free to mill about and converse as they please. There's Sheryl merch for sale, including some final pre-orders for the Diamond Crevasse MV, and people are encouraged to donate if they can and haven't already had the chance to. Other than that, it's a free night for everyone who's come, and they're just as free to leave when they wish.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        There's a lot to Liam's mind that still, thankfully, remains hidden. The flickers of emotion are the only indications for Lucine what he might be thinking.

        It's better put them to words instead.

        He holds her, and, as her eyes leave the graceful path the pilots cut into the sky, she looks to Liam's face, right there. Her fingers weave into Liam's own. She smiles.

        "It's okay." He feels scared, twitchy. Guilty. She wants to tell him to not feel guilty; the word hangs on the tip of her tongue.

        His guilt isn't waiting on her to tell it to go away any more than hers does.

        She's just not sure what to say instead. She doesn't want to invalidate those feelings, or distract him from the process of working through it. That's what they both need to do, right?

        So she lets Sheryl sing the many words, instead.

        Her eyelids lower, and she leans against Liam's body as 'Diamond Crevasse' ends, darkness descending over the audience for one blissful moment.

        The lights come on, and she wishes they wouldn't. ".... Do you... feel in the mood for something to eat? I feel like noodles, myself..." she says, idly. ".... Someplace nice and quiet, so we both can relax."

<Pose Tracker> Kallen Kozuki has posed.

Her acceptance shouldn't be THAT strange, should it? She used to do repairs and modifying for their old KMFs. Back when they had no development team to speak of. Of course it's something she's interested in, even if she isn't exactly knowledgeable about the development side of things. Well... that IS a big leap though, from being somebody primarily known for being their best pilot.

Infinity... Eternity... Farewells, and that which we hold dearest. It's little surprise, how such a song, even when what it means is a little different... still resonates with a girl who has indeed, lost much. Some she's regained... In some cases built anew. But there will always be something missing in her life. Something she longs for again, but can never have back.

"There is a certain grace to their motion in the air. Perhaps that trait will be what sustains them even as popular use wanes?" Setting that partially aside... it makes her wonder. What could they do to refine the grace of a KMF? How could they make their developments have a true sense of elegance...? Something to set them apart from other small, landbound units.

And then, a special surprise for the gathering. Of course Kallen has preordered. How could she not have? She's become all too entranced, and is fully in the sway for watching the new video. She'll definitely be going home with a great deal more Sheryl Nome purchases... both for herself, and deciding to get some new gifts for certain friends who weren't attending tonight. For very good reasons of course. But she'll also be sticking around a while. To enjoy the remainder of the festivities. To relax, as much of that weight on her shoulders seems to have faded into the distance.

<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.

        Near the Fra Mauro Building, a hangar sits empty aside from one enormous crate. Easily large enough to contain a mobile suit, it is turned toward a large window. Luckily enough, that window is facing one of the giant screens broadcasting Sheryl's performances.
        
        Though there is no one to observe her, a luminous young woman sits at the very edge of the top of the crate. Her legs are drawn up to her chest. Green eyes glimmer with starlight, and she does not smile.