Ziggy Stardust Nexus Album Release Party

[ziggyplayedguitar]

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.]

Comments

[sohoangel]

Aziraphale happens to be at the bar, planning to order himself something fun. Maybe one of those cocktails that comes with a little umbrella, or pieces of fruit skewered with a tiny plastic sword. The latter seems to go with the original theme of the bar, hidden somewhat by all of the glittery --

His thoughts are abruptly cut off by Rota's arrival. It's the angel's aura that he notices first, as loud and vibrant as the angel himself, and it nearly gives Aziraphale's corporation a heart attack.

"Ah!" He turns and stares at Rota, his wings on the astral plane fluttering nervously. "Oh, you're... um, you're here with Lucifer, yes?"

Ohhh, he really needs that drink now.

[celestialpeacock]

The fluttering of feathers catch his attention before the speaking. All six eyes focus on the other angel as he turns to look at Aziraphale.

"Yes. I've come to live with his kind." His voice is musical and friendly but his energy is another story. There's something about this angel that is overly energetic and wild like nature. His presence is big but not overpowering because it is heavy with compassion and care.

A very large cocktail bowl is set down for Rota and without asking he motions for the bartender to bring one for Aziraphale too.

[sohoangel]

Aziraphale smiles awkwardly and twists his fingers together. Nothing personal, Rota, it's only that having the undivided attention of a higher ranking angel makes him a little anxious.

"Oh... you must be Rota, then." He relaxes somewhat, Rota's aura compassionate enough to not overwhelm him with the wild energy he senses underneath. "I'm Aziraphale, Principality and former Guardian of the Eastern Gate of Eden. I'm a friend of Lucifer's Court."

Aziraphale's drink has a little cocktail umbrella and a small, plastic sword skewering a couple of pineapple chunks and maraschino cherries. "Oh, thank you." He smiles at Rota genuinely, forgetting for a moment to be nervous. "How are you enjoying the Nexus so far?"

[celestialpeacock]

"I am." He confirms while picking up the bowl to sip from it. Who uses straws anyway?

"A gate guard?"" Rota cocks a brown impressed. "You kept Lucifer from Eden?"

He can't help the natural curiosity about another creation. Lucifer and Eden felt like something that would be universal though.

"I don't know yet. This is my first night out." First of many because this party looked like it would be fun. "How long have you been here?"

[sohoangel]

Aziraphale lifts his drink and takes a sip, also forgoing a straw. Wow, that is very sweet. Not bad at all, though. Rota's question has him looking a bit awkward, and he sets the bowl back down.

"Er... no. In my universe, it wasn't Lucifer who came to Eden and tempted Eve." And he didn't do a great job keeping Crowley from Eden, either, but he'll leave that part out for now. "But, ah, as I said, that was my former duty. After the humans were evicted from Eden, I stayed on Earth."

Taking a brief glance around them, he remarks, "Well, you picked an appropriate venue for your first visit." All the color and glitter seem to suit Rota, who is the flashiest angel that he has ever seen. "I've been visiting the Nexus for... goodness, well over a year now. A friend who had discovered a portal in a dive bar in London introduced me to it. A remarkable place, isn't it?"

[celestialpeacock]

"How strange." What else could he say to a structure that was so fundamentally different from the one he lived in. Rota found that he had made a lot of assumptions on the fly.

"I wasn't about to let Lucifer leave me behind if he was going to a party." The angel was glad he got a little disobedient with the king. So far he'd made a number of friends. "You must have appeared here around the time the king did."

Rota didn't know for sure but he was interested in how people fit together with each other and with places.

[sohoangel]

"I've learned that there are a lot of differences between your universe and mine," Aziraphale replies diplomatically. "And many more between mine and Balthazar's. It was a serpent who tempted Eve, however. That might be the only detail in common."

Aziraphale can't think of a single angel in his universe who likes to party. Excepting himself, of course, although a bebop concert isn't really his scene. "Yes, I believe I showed up a little bit before he did. Let me tell you, he gave me quite a fright! The Lucifer in my universe is a very unpleasant fellow. Thankfully Balthazar asked me to keep an open mind."

[celestialpeacock]

Rota laughs enough that he has to pause in sipping his drink. "Love is the ultimate temptation but I know that's not how the story is usually told."

That wasn't how a lot of things were told by his heaven. It was probably true of others too.

"Lucifer is a pussycat." Rota tells the angels. "Lots of teeth and claws out but more likely to purr than bite unless you offend his sensibilities."

The eyes on his temple shift to Aziraphale and crinkle up with amusement. There are some things on the tip of his tongue to say about Balthazar but, for once, he keeps them to himself. "I think that's a commonality for the Celestial angels here, the willingness to give others a chance."

[sohoangel]

Intellectually, Aziraphale knows that Rota is referring to Lucifer and Eve, but he still has to fight a blush off his face while he takes another sip of his drink. Crowley did not tempt Aziraphale on the garden wall, but something started between them in that shared conversation, a small seed of friendship that blossomed into love, far earlier than either angel or demon was consciously aware.

"Did you know him? Before all the fighting?" Aziraphale looks at Rota curiously, his gaze meeting that additional set of eyes. "I've only met the Lucifer in my universe once, and it wasn't a happy occurrence."

Rota's comment on the celestials in the Nexus has Aziraphale worrying his lower lip, wondering if he can trust the other angel with some personal information. In the end, he decides it's better to bring it up now, in case the Ophan has any opinions on the matter. "Well... as it happens, I have some experience in the matter. My best friend and romantic partner is a demon, one that I have known for over six thousand years. That sort of relationship is virtually unheard of, and we were nearly executed for it. In some ways, it's easier for me to befriend fallen angels than it is to trust other celestials, considering the attitude of most of the ones I've known."

[celestialpeacock]

"Briefly. I was created just before the fall." Rota tells the angel. "Only the youngest handful of angels haven't met Lucifer while he was still serving in Heaven."

Rota nods and looks down into his drink. "Lucifer is marked for death for his partnership and now Raguel too for his affection for a human. I feel like seeing God punish for Love, yet again, is going to make more angels defect or turn on him in some way."

[sohoangel]

"Me too!" Aziraphale says brightly, before looking away in embarrassment. "I mean, obviously, being a Principality, we weren't created until much later..."

Despite breaking away from his own Heaven, Aziraphale has kept the habit of not wanting to appear like a dolt in front of other angels, especially ones superior to him in station.

At least it appears that Rota has no issue with Aziraphale's love for a demon, which puts him miles above the angels in his universe. That, combined with his bright, social aura, have Aziraphale warming up to him nicely. "A human?" he echoes, perhaps angling for a bit of gossip. More seriously, he adds, "Angels are supposed to be beings of love. Having a God so cruel as yours is bound to make more defect... and Rota, if you don't mind me saying so, I think it's rather brave of you to be one of the few to do so."

[celestialpeacock]

"There's no shame in being a young angel." Rota tells him, assuming that is the origin of the embarrassment. "I don't care about age or title."

His mentality didn't win him many friends in heaven which was on reason he decided to serve Lucifer. The other was the freedom to be himself in all it's obnoxious glory.

"She's a cute little thing. He brought her along to the villa but she was injured during our flight to Chaos." Rota felt bad for her but there were plenty of angels working toward healing her.

"My siblings are here." Rota explains. "Phenex and Ariel. Lucifer also asked me as a personal favor because I am the same type of angel as his partner." The ophan nods. "I think our mentor will come. Jophiel has always been fond of Lucifer though she is still uncertain."

This was the right choice and because of that Rota doesn't necessarily see it as bravery but he gets a bright smile. "There's bravery in loving an 'enemy' angel, too. I know how my heaven views who Lucifer took as a mate. Your's the same?"

[sohoangel]

"Then you aren't like most angels," Aziraphale replies, looking a bit sheepish, but also relieved by Rota's reassurance. He takes another sip of his drink, trying to relax into the conversation. "My Heaven took the hierarchy of angels very seriously, even if Gabriel liked to pretend that we were one big happy family."

Upon hearing that the human woman was injured, the angel's brows draw together automatically in concern. "Oh, dear. Is there anything I can do to help? I have experience healing humans."

Aziraphale huffs out a laugh at Rota's question. "Quite the same. Crowley and I managed to repulse both our sides quite thoroughly with our relationship. I should point out that my God has no quarrel with such things, near as I can tell. But She hasn't spoken directly to any of us in a very long time."

[celestialpeacock]

"The hierarchy is strict in our heaven too but I never listened to them." Rota can't help the little laugh. "Part of why I'm here."

The worry gets a concerned look and gentle touch to Aziraphale's hand. "Death will care for her but I think she might like more, calm visitors."

The idea of God being silent catches the angel off guard. "I don't think ours has spent a moment silent since the beginning of everything. He's always... did you say she?"

The pronouns finally caught up with who they were talking about and it left Rota confused, all of his eyes looking surprised.

[sohoangel]

"Here's to being young, then," Aziraphale says with a wry smile, lifting up his bowl for another sip. Maybe he and Rota aren't as different as he had first imagined.

The angel can't help but worry over the woman, but the touch to his hand helps. "If she isn't already overwhelmed by angels, I'd be happy to spend time with her." Raguel must be beside himself... well, he ought to be, anyway!

Not expecting that sort of reaction from Rota, he can't help but smile. "Yes, I did. It's my God's preference, to be addressed that way. The humans come up with their own ideas, of course, but I'm sure you know how they can be about that."