ziggyplayedguitar | Ziggy Stardust Nexus Album Release Party

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Current Music: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItbDmyrzx5ynQWD_2VGmFIMrzl3cFe6l

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Ziggy Stardust Nexus Album Release Party

Why not in the Nexus had started all of this and now skekSa's bar had glitter and space themed drinks for the night, karaoke and a band playing for the release of a new album. Ziggy had decided this was the best course since so much of his family and friends couldn't go into his world to be there for his own party in his own world.

Of course, as with any good party this one was open to any who had stumbled into it and there were those directly invited as well. And flashy posters too. He was going through the ends of a sound check with the band when the bar opened.

There was a merch table, with the usual swag and new album to buy on CD and Vinyl, where they would be signing autographs and doing the whole meet and greet thing. Why not have fans in more than one universe? It had been a trip explaining this all to Mick. Weird and Gilly before dragging them through the portal. Ziggy still imagined there was going to be some crazy moments later in the night. They didn't even know he was an alien, or half alien anywway. All of this was going to blow their minds for sure.

After the show they had plans to spend the night just hanging out with drinking, karaoke, a DJ, and the usual bar fare. Ziggy had left Sa to the food and drink though he had put in a few requests for food his own species could eat.

Ziggy fussed with everything before heading backstage to drink and get dressed. About an hour after the bar opened they came out on stage and played through the whole album front to back plus a few from the previous.

[OOC: Feel free to mingle, karaoke, DJ, dancing, drinking, etc. Will post the band meet and greet below at the swag table as a top level. Any questions feel free to DM me here or on Discord.]

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"We had five years when my child arrived. He's been on Earth two years now." As much as Tom tried to remain hopeful it was disheartening.

Aletayria sympathizes. "Our war was eight thousand years, at least. I was born near the end of it but my cousin Thomas was born before it started." The thoughts surrounding the name clearly mark the person she speaks about as the person humans tortured. "It is something our people share. Mine still see humans as barely more than pets or animals."

Of course she didn't given her partner. She thought highly of Tom's intellect and especially his courage.

"Thomas does what he can but the damage to his eyes is permanent. I understand what you mean." Aletayria agrees. "We have some parts of our mental and physical nature that make us vulnerable but together they make us who we are."

Tom is listening too but his thoughts are a bit scattered over many topics. "Ziggy has a similar problem. I have to watch who is around him because he gets caught up in other people's feelings easily. I couldn't imagine how someone with similar abilities would survive, mentally, in a war."

There was a misunderstanding of what he meant but he is still glad for the information. "I mean I've met another person from your species, I think."

Ravage's explanation gets a bright and affectionate laugh from Tom. "I know what you mean. I went through a wild chain of emotions when I met her. She looked different then, less human."

Aletayria rolls her eyes at him but it is affection between the two of them. "He thought I was scary and ugly for months."

There's a sense in their emotions that coming together was difficult for them for so many reasons. It had been from mindset to physical differences that made things awkward.

"It was difficult for us for other reasons." Ravage smiles a little sadly, deliberately not going into the mental imagery. "I was considered property at that time, and even if I had been free, I would not have been considered a fit mate for someone of Soundwave's original caste. A plaything, maybe, if I hadn't belonged to someone else. And I didn't want to be a plaything anymore; I'd never wanted that. I wanted to be loved, but it scared me.

"The abuses of the powerful in our society at that time were the reason we became part of the movement that started our war. It was intended at the time to be a revolution. For a while, that's what it was. It lasted longer than 8000 years. We're trying to make sure that the peace we have now becomes real peace, and not just another eye in the storm."

Edited 2020-11-16 19:22 (UTC)

"You haven't met the other Soundwave, have you? He frightened Ravage terribly. He had a Ravage, but she died. He's purple, and he has no face. We think that the Senate did by them the things they tried to do to us." Soundwave frowns.

"I'm going to hope you mean Misfire, when you say you've met another of our species. He works for me and is a dear friend of both of ours."

Edited 2020-11-16 19:17 (UTC)

"I'm sorry." Though she hasn't moved the desire to hug and comfort the other female is loud in her thoughts and emotions. "Humans are seen that way by some of my people, but we once treated our own kind badly. Thomas was forced to learn how to kill people with his mind when he was young. He won't mention it but he's a poet with a love of learning about cultures. War wasn't the place for him."

Tom nods. "Yes, Misfire. I've talked to him a few times." Tom pauses and glances at Aletayria and then furrows his brows. "You're a species? I'm sorry. I'd rather learn what to call you by than guess. I've worked with a lot of human cultures and know how important that can be."

Tom's only curious and it's an honest human struggle with other species when coming from a world that hasn't really met any.

Soundwave conveys Aletayria's welcome to Ravage along with her thoughts, and then makes room so Ravage can sit between him and Aletayria, and be hugged by them both.

"Ravage is also a poet," he says, smiling, before answering Tom's question.

"Our species is properly called 'Cybertronians'. We come from a planet called Cybertron. Misfire, Ravage, and I are part of the Decepticon faction, which is opposed to oppression and lies. So are all the other Cybertronians I've met in the Nexus so far, and a lot of them actually came here withus--but Misfire was, I believe, the first. Our culture--Decepticon, or Destron culture--is currently in flux, but Ravi and I are attempting to turn it around. Autobot culture is very different from ours; we have to make peace, but it is going to be difficult."

Ravage is glad to be loved on, but she makes it clear in her mind to Aletayria that her experiences of abuse are in the distant past and she is now a very happy wife; and that after when Soundwave opened his mind to her and shared his spark with her, she knew she would always be safe with him. That notwithstanding, being in the warmth between her lifelong lover's mind and her new friend's mind is extremely soothing.

"Soundwave is correct. I am a poet. Thomas and I might like to see each other's work? I am sorry he was so badly misused. Though lately a lot of my work has been political. We are trying to reach all the people in our faction who still believe in its hopes, and also to make peace with the rest of Cybertron."

Edited 2020-11-18 07:06 (UTC)

Aletayria is always open to comforting others. It was one of the reasons so many here called her mother, whether they were hers or not. She is glad to sense that the torment was long in the past. The idea of being safe with a partner surges a wave of contented love from the Anthean, one strong enough that Tom smiles though he is focused on Soundwave.

"I don't think he has shared any of his poetry with anyone for many years. He's hard to get close to but it's worth it if you can. Thomas is very old and very wise."

Tom had broken off from the other two to give Soundwave his undivided attention. He listens and can't help the disappointed sigh. "I'm caught in the middle of something like that, I think. Antheans and Humans need to find peace or I don't think either species is going to survive. There's a lot of fear and hostility. I can only think it would be the same between two divergent factions of the same species."

He is trying not to put human ideals on aliens, something his wife proved was necessary over and over, but sometimes that was difficult.

"I can only try," Ravage says, leaning back between Aletayria and Soundwave. "It's up to Thomas if he wants to be friends, but I will let him know that I'm open to that." She smiles and gives Aletayria a little side-hug, snuggling up against her husband as if she wishes she could pull them all into an embrace. "I could send him a copy of my manuscript, but it's in our language, not English..."

Edited 2020-12-03 18:36 (UTC)

"It's very distressing, isn't it? People will fight over rooms in a burning house, when they could simply stop and put out the fire and find that there's room enough for them all. But I will figure something out, even if I have to be devious. Sometimes, for pity's sake, nothing else works."

He blinks, a catlike gesture, the source of which is obvious. "You're a good man. You'll do what you can, and there's always here. It bothers me sometimes, how much less Cybertron comes to mean to me here. I love our base on Io, but there are many creatures on Earth I'd prefer to save, too."

"I hope you do. Just give him more time than others. He learns languages very quickly. I'm sure he could learn." She shakes her head, hugging Ravage. "Your body form might give you an advantage. I think he trusts cats more than humanoids at this point."

Tom nods leaning into Aletayria's other side due to the emotions coming through. He needs to be close to her. "I can't blame the Antheans. Every one of their species we've run into over the millennia humans have tortured to insanity or death, usually both."

That fact disturbed Tom. He understood fear, even imprisoning an unknown, but the torture and vivisection was ...even after all this time he didn't have words for what he thought of it. Nothing seemed dark and sad enough.

"I hold out hope for my son." He tells Soundwave. "If more people will start listening. I considered bringing the remaining Anthean's here but 300 Xenophobic aliens with incredibly strong minds and a culture where mindreading is just part of a conversation it's the best idea."

Tom wished that was possible but he seriously doubted many of the people here would be happy about it and he really didn't think a compound somewhere was an answer wither. "I still think about it but I'm not ready to abandon Earth and I don't think they're ready to stop looking for a new home."

"We have similar problems. I'd be happy to stay here with Ravi and my family, but there are millions of Decepticons and they all deserve a safe place to live, so I've got the commune on Io and we're working on other things, too. Ravi and I will eventually have to go back for good. But after that happens...we will always come back to visit our friends."

Soundwave smiles at Tom hopefully. They were on opposite ends of Ravage and Aletayria, who were hugging, Tom leaning into Aletayria, and Soundwave's arm still around Ravage, and now a little bit around Aletayria, too. "I am often confused by human cruelty as well. We can be very cruel--don't get me wrong. But there are certain levels of perversity that are unique to them, just as there are levels of perversity we've reached that I don't think they're capable of."

Finally he makes a decision and gently--because he is very strong--tugs all of them into an embrace, unless they resist it.

"I know you have high hopes for Ziggy, but he should be careful if he's going to go back," Soundwave says gently. "Not being human, nor having anything to do with your Earth, I would only have him save those people if he can do it without sacrificing himself. The humans of the Earth I know are very prone to creating martyrs. While I repent of the damage I've done to our Earth and some of its humans, I care more for Ziggy, and for elephants and whales, than I do for humanity as a whole, I'm afraid."

He sighs. "If your galaxy is similar enough to mine, there are suggestions I could make for a new Anthean homeworld, once I knew the needed parameters in terms of climate, biochemistry, and the like."

{I'll try if you want,} Ravage assures Aletayria. {But Soundwave may have a better chance of reaching him than I do. I am more like a cat and less like a human in most people's eyes, but to those who can see without eyes, Soundwave is more like an Anthean than a human, and more like an Anthean than most Cybertronians.}

Aletayria offers a sympathetic touch to Soundwave's arm. "It speaks of your virtue that you make the same choices for your people."

Se takes a deep breath and leans into Ravage while pulling Tom closer. "The more species I learn about, the more I see that each species has their own level of perversity that not many others achieve. My own species was once cruel and selfish too."

Tom laughs at Soundwave's declaration. "He might get along better with your cousin than you think. Thomas has the same opinions usually."

She nods. "I can offer the parameters we are considering. The limiting factors are extreme in some cases because of our evolution. I'm hoping the one we find isn't too distant from Earth."

{There's no harm in either of you trying. He's always been a distant man but he has his own sort of kindness.}

"It's hard to think of myself as virtuous," Soundwave says, both in audible word and in thought, "after some of the things I've done wrong. But coming from you, Aletayria, that means a lot."

Then he smiles, because Ravage and Aletayria are cuddled up close, and Ravage is also tucked up under his arm, and Ravage is enjoying all the cuddles she's getting. He pauses and starts to drop a kiss on Ravage's forehead, but then decides in favour of just kissing her--lightly, because they're in a public place, but kissing her is hard to resist. He's only blushing a little.

Then again, if he weren't afraid that Tom would misunderstand it, he might kiss Aletayria's cheek or forehead as well. He's missed this...whatever it actually is. Emotional intimacy, maybe, with another couple who understands their bond because they have one of their own.

"Your cousin and I," he tells Tom and Aletayria (again, both mentally and out loud), "may be closer to being kindred souls than you know." His hand on Tom's shoulder is light, because the human is fragile, but he knows the emotions and thoughts are easier to share with touch.

{Sometimes,} Ravage thinks out loud, {distance is just vulnerability.}

She does rather want to kiss Aletayria, in a sisterly way. Sometimes Ravage misses the bad old days of the Conclave. Not all the sex, not now that she knows how uncomfortable Soundwave sometimes was with it, but the physical and emotional closeness.

"Someone can be virtuous in some aspects or time of their lives and lack them in others." She mentions when Soundwave starts to talk of his lack of virtue.

The kiss doesn't phase Tom or Aletayria though she playfully ruffles up the humans hair with her long fingers. It gets a playfully put-upon look from Tom. Antheans could learn to kiss and enjoyed it but touch was often more important. Playful touching like this bore all the affection of the kiss between the couple beside them.

"He could use kindred spirits." She nods and hopes that there will be some people here for him to find companionship with.

The emotions and thoughts come through to the Anthean. Gently, she leans in an places a kiss on Ravage's cheek, far enough from the mouth to not be construed as something less platonic even if the emotions are clearly friendship rather than anything else. "Kissing is not our people's way but I know our cultural norms of touching and stroking each other's limbs are not always acceptable to other species."

She clarifies for the other couple's convenience. It might especially be important if they met Ziggy who was always touching others, usually for purely platonic reasons.

"Well, I'm trying to be a better person," Soundwave says after a moment. "And I'm certainly willing to try and befriend your cousin. I can only imagine what it was like for him living among humans under those conditions."

He grins at Aletayria and Ravage, who giggles and hugs them both.

"In the old days, of the Conclave, people used to be more comfortable with one another. I know that neither of you have 'designs' upon us. I have no objections to physical closeness with people whose company I enjoy, and to whom I can safely open my mind. Ravage is sometimes sensitive and should be asked first, for reasons we already discussed, but with people she trusts she is very cuddly. Sometimes when we are just resting, the birds and the twins will pile in with Ravage and me. Ziggy won't bother me, and he won't bother Ravage if he asks her permission first."

"I hope you do get along. He is very old and wise." She has some hope for them in the future whenever they might meet.

Tom chuckles lightly and shakes his head. "Our child seeks affection and forgets to ask. He can feel sexual to some people but he's open if the interest is more than friendly. I'd say prepare for flirting that isn't serious."

Aletayria nods and lets out a breath. "My people don't like hybrids. Though he had Tom and I, Ziggy was denied the kind of contact our children need to be healthy. He will listen though if you tell him you're uncomfortable."

Ravage sighs, a little nervous, and leans against Soundwave, who caresses her with a ripple of his field.

"In Ravage's case it might be best if you told him beforehand, since he will be able to feel her discomfort if he touches her without warning, especially if she doesn't see it coming and doesn't have a chance to slip out of the way."

He isn't going to repeat what Ravage told Aletayria earlier in the evening about having been assaulted, or what she told them before about how upset she gets when people disrespect her because they think she's a non-sapient animal. But he can imagine how distressing it would be to a telepath or empath to experience the violent emotional reaction Ravage can have to being touched by surprise by relative strangers, particularly if she doesn't see it coming. He's felt it himself, when others have made that mistake--and not only did it upset Ravage a lot, the flaring of his own protective instincts was unpleasant as well.

"It might make him feel unwell, and that would just make her feel worse."

Edited 2021-02-13 20:03 (UTC)

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Ziggy Stardust Nexus Album Release Party

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