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

[itmeanstruth]

Isamu wasn’t certain how willing Ziggy would be to let someone in his mind, but he was incredibly certain about how unwilling Minoru would be to let someone in his pants. At least he thought he was. Watching the insanity play out in front of him left him rather confused.

“...I’m Isamu, by the way. Isamu Uchiwa.” He added, realizing that amidst the chaos, he had yet to introduce himself.

Meanwhile Minoru lunged at Ziggy, fingers dancing under his ribs - only to find himself clenching and doubling over at the same time! He stopped, if only to catch his breath, and then tried again, laughing even harder! “I’m tickling YOU! But you’re tickling ME!! Oh! Oh man!! This is CRAZY!!”

No matter how many small attempts he made, he couldn’t last very long before the squirming was hilariously unbearable.

This led Minoru to try sweeping Ziggy right off his feet instead, into his arms bridal style like he’d done before. (Albeit with a conscious Ziggy this time.)

[iamjustvisiting]

"Thomas Newton." Tommy was transfixed by the chaos happening and wondering where it was going to go. "This is going to escalate."

"Why are you laughing so much?" Ziggy teases.

Ziggy was laughing too hard to resist being picked up. It gets Minoru a kiss on the cheek as Ziggy wraps his arms around his neck. There's a spike of fear as he worries about falling and then a wave of happiness and desire. He can't help his feelings.

[itmeanstruth]

“Pleased to make your acqai...”

Isamu ran out of words when he watched Minoru pick up the rock star and twirl around. For a moment, it looked like he might actually fall over, but somehow, Minoru recovered his balance and Ziggy stopped laughing long enough to plant another kiss on Minoru’s cheek.

“Hey!” Minoru pouted, but still laughing. “No fair!”

The feeling of happiness was overwhelming enough that it was soon forgotten in favor of just hugging Ziggy’s body close to his chest.

“This is... oh WOW... don’t make me let go.”

Isamu blinked, “Going to escalate? Perhaps you like to consider a different verb tense?”

[iamjustvisiting]

Ziggy held on and buried his face in Minoru's hair by the ear. He didn't care about bright streaks rubbing off from the hair dye. "Can I put my feet down. You're making me sick spinning."

Sure enough there was a distinct nausea rising up in his emotions. Even half human Ziggy didn't do well with the g-forces of a spin. All the booze probably wasn't helping.

Tommy glances at the human. "No the tense is perpetually correct. It is going to continue escalating."

[itmeanstruth]

Despite what he’d just said, Minoru quickly added, “okay, for that I’ll put you down. Sorry! My bad!”

He didn’t feel the nausea as strongly as some of the other emotions, but it was still there. And while Minoru had experienced Ziggy throwing up all over him, he wasn’t exactly keen on repeating it.

“You okay now?” He held onto him carefully. Granted, now his head was spinning a little as well.

“That didn’t appear to sit well with your nephew. But until that point...” Isamu took a long sip of beer. “You know, you observe very much like a scientist, at least by human standards. What is your profession, if you don’t mind me asking?”

[iamjustvisiting]

Ziggy clung to him both for stability and closeness. "G-forces make us sick."

Ziggy tells him but as the spinning in his head halt his smile returns. Ziggy kisses him right between the eyes on the bridge of his nose. "No spinning."

Tommy doesn't look at Isamu while drinking and talking. His eyes are watching the other two. "The gravity is uncomfortably high for us here."

Tommy's brow went up and he shrugs. "I was a poet and I've studied human evolution and cultural development... until they forced me to join the ... Military is the closest human concept."

[itmeanstruth]

“Intriguing. Dare I say, perhaps even flattering that our species was considered worthy of study on another planet. Especially from a cultural, and not simply a biological lens. Though, I am sorry to hear you were conscripted against your will. I cannot imagine that would be a pleasant experience.”

Minoru meanwhile agreed to no more spinning. But no matter how many times he pouted and rubbed his face, Ziggy’s lips kept finding their spot.

He leaned into Ziggy once the shred feeling of nausea fell away. “All better now? All happy again?”

[iamjustvisiting]

"I wouldn't be so quick to be flattered." Tommy's words are flat and dark. "We were studying to see if lower animals could maintain a society. It wasn't a positive finding, and still doesn't look good."

Tommy might accept Tom and may have cared for Mary Lou at one time but his general opinions of humans are not positive ones. He picks up the gin and drinks a little faster. "I have a strong mind, most in my family do. Tom was right to bring his child here or they would have put him through the training and let him loose on humanity."

Despite the nature of the few here, most Antheans might be dangerous to humans if not for the forced pacifism in their genetics.

The pouting face might be encouraging the playfulness and leading to more kissing. Ziggy eagerly held him close. "I was never unhappy, just sick."

[itmeanstruth]

Isamu took a drink too, dryly, but respectfully, commenting. “Well doesn’t that put the existence of your own civilization into perspective. I would suspect we might be primitive compared to a civilization capable of interstellar flight, but are we bad enough to require... it sounds like military intervention?”

This was taking a dark turn. Minoru kept saying that Antheans were pacifists. That violence hurt in a physical way. So, just what did he mean by training? What would they have made Ziggy do? What did they want Newton to do?

Desensitization was only going to get Ziggy so far. Get too carried away, and Minoru might start insisting, “no spins, no kisses.”

But for now, Minoru just looked up and smiled. He loudly proclaimed, “I know what would make you feel better! A massage!”

Isamu heard that and just about choked on his beer.

[iamjustvisiting]

"You are a self-important species." Tommy responds with disinterest. "The training was to kill the other species on our planet that was telepathic. My study of your kind has always been seen as a waste of time and mental power, even when your planet might have been able to assist with our survival. I was sent because a historian and poet is disposable and I could withstand months without food and water." Tommy sighs with disgust. "Don't assume my presence means you are important."

That comment from Minoru even made Ziggy pause and stare for a moment. "Here?"

Ziggy is still holding on to him but glances around. "I would love one. Is there anywhere to lay down?" Let's face it Ziggy is now completely focused on the idea of being touched.

Tommy glances at Isamu out of the corner of his eye. "He's openning Pandora's Box and has no idea."

[itmeanstruth]

“That would be an apt description of humanity, agreed.” Isamu noted. “If we are not important, we are, at the very least, interesting...”

And speaking of interesting...

Minoru was laughing happily. Ziggy's excitement was blending with his own, and it was wonderful. Even before enrolling in the PTA program, he’d been learning some of the techniques for therapeutic massage. Now, he could actually show off what he’d learned!

“Not HERE here. Lying down on the bar can’t be comfortable! I don’t know, this is my first time here. Does this place have a good spot backstage?”

“...are you speaking poetically, as in what happens cannot be taken back, or is the danger significant enough that we should intervene before a point of no return?”

[iamjustvisiting]

"You're self destructive torturers and unfortunately, as unwilling as we were to listen to the voice of reason and peace. You'd rather kill it." The Anthean sighs but his eyes are on Ziggy with something approaching an emotion to them; sadness, disappointment, worry. It is hard to say. Ziggy was only a child to an Anthean. To see him treated so cruelly on their own Earth was its own kind of torture for a man who lost his children. "That is why my people have moved on to look for somewhere other than Earth. They don't want to experience another planet collapse."


"There isn't a backstage." Ziggy says with disappoint. "Dad's car is out front. It's an old boat with huge seats." The offer was actually an innocent one at this point. He smiles at Minoru and shrugs. "We could both get away from the noise for awhile."


Tommy is listening carefully and watching body language. "Both, maybe. Ziggy is very touch oriented. He's never going to be able to step back from letting him do this much." Tommy considers the second idea. "I'm not entirely sure they are seeing this from the same perspective. Even with all the interest I can feel. I don't think Ziggy would do anything the other seriously didn't want."

He might try. Tommy knows he might because the child pushed every boundary and broke some, but a friend would be saved the boundary breaking at least.

[itmeanstruth]

Isamu was thankful he didn’t take a drink right then, because as flirtatious as Ziggy’s offer sounded, Minoru’s response was completely unexpected.

“We’ve BEEN the backseat of your dad’s car before!” Minoru rolled his eyes, laughing. Not that Ziggy was conscious or coherent most of that time. “There was enough space to hold you in my lap, but not enough to move around you super easy for a massage.”

He could make it work, though, limb by limb. But working on the back would probably be hard. (And don’t even think about happy endings, Stardust.)

“...Do you trust your nephew, even in this clearly inebriated state, not to hurt my brother?” It wasn’t accusatory, but it was pointed. As fascinating as his species’ many failures and the unique plight of this alien were, that question had to be answered, and Newton knew Ziggy far better than Isamu did. He wanted reassurance that Minoru was safe.

[iamjustvisiting]

"Don't remind me." Ziggy doesn't remember but he's been told about it. Though Ziggy grins with a mock sadness. "I do feel cheated that I don't remember getting to lay in your lap."

Ziggy is open to other suggestions and is still looking for other suitable spots. Though he would lead them or be led out to the car at the drop of a hat.

"I think you're worrying about the wrong one being hurt." Tommy takes a drink and shakes his head. "The rejection, if they get to a point for it, is going to be hard on him. I don't think your brother knows how much affection there is from the other side of the relationship."

Tommy hadn't read Minoru other than loud surface emotions. Ziggy though was like looking at the sun for an empath. He knew this could hurt but also he knows that people have to make their own lines in the sand. Tommy, nor Isamu, can't do that for the other two. It probably wouldn't be right to either.

[itmeanstruth]

“How much affection? Well, on the one hand, I am confident he is aware - at least to some degree - of Ziggy’s desires.” Indeed, Isamu had initially been surprised that Minoru even realized he was being flirted with, and later that he’d allowed it to continue. It was then that he deduced the impossible had occurred. Minoru actually liked Ziggy back, even if he wasn’t interested in a sexual relationship. “But on the other, our kind are not empaths. No matter how open-minded we perceive ourselves to be, we can only see things through our own limited perspectives.”

If he could pick up on Minoru’s thoughts, Ziggy might have caught a few fleeting memories of himself frantically shoving Minoru away for not being Hiroki, wedged in between being bathed and carried. There was kindness there. Acceptance there. Love there too.

But Minoru was quickly distracted by trying to find a more suitable corner of the venue. When he couldn’t, he had to admit that as awkward as the backseat of a car would be, it would have to do.

“Better than nothing.” He finally decided. Minoru turned back to his brother. “Hey, Isamu! We’re going out to his Dad’s car! You good to hang for a while?”

Isamu stammered for a moment before nodding. “I have no early morning obligations that need to be attended to. And have found pleasant company...”

“Great!!” Minoru happily reached for Ziggy’s hand. “Can’t wait to show you what I’ve learned!”

Isamu turned back to Newton, amending his previous answer, “and then again, he may be completely clueless.”

[iamjustvisiting]

"I'm not sure you need telepathy to understand what Ziggy is thinking." Tommy tells the human. "He isn't known for filtering what he says or does."

Tommy watches them and the way this brother dragged Ziggy happily along.

"I think he has no idea what he is getting himself into." Tommy agrees. "He's going to have his hands full." Whether that was to be a sexual connotation or just one of sheer chaos, Tommy had no idea, but the human was in for something.

[itmeanstruth]

“No, he very well may not.” Isamu shook his head, taking another drink. He might need a second beer before the pair returned.

“Though, to Minoru’s credit, he has picked up quite a few pointers on therapeutic massage from various coworkers. He tried a few on me, and the experience was quite relaxing. Ziggy may enjoy that. Though, I hope he isn’t expecting a happy ending, so to speak.”

[iamjustvisiting]

Tommy just stares at him like he's stupid. Were they really this clueless? How could they hang out with Ziggy and the rest of these people and be oblivious?

"Your brother may be being cruel and not know it." Tommy eventually says. "I'm not sure of humans, but only putting your hands on someone how you want but denying them what they might want or need.... it's the mindset I've begun to expect from your species. You take what you want without taking into account the impact beyond your own imaginings of what others should feel."

Tommy shrugs. "There is a culture clash happening between our species for them, I suspect."

[itmeanstruth]

Isamu hung out with his books far more often than he did with any of Minoru's friends. But that was beside the point.

"A rather direct observation from a species that, please correct me if I misspeak, can read those thoughts and feelings innately. All humans have are our own imaginings. Call it selfish if you prefer, however we are working within a more limited dataset."

[iamjustvisiting]

"Can. We don't go around reading everyone constantly. It would be exhausting and damaging to us." Tommy finishes his gin. "The drugs and your alcohol tone the world down to something manageable for us."

Tommy looks over curiously. "You have mouths to ask and ears for listening and eyes to see."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

He knew about the condition he was in while panicked and overdosing. It didn't have much to do with how he felt and everything to do with his state of mind and depression at that point. Ziggy is more than happy to be dragged off to his father's car and holds tight to Minoru's hand. 

"No, I can't." Ziggy is quickly catching up and may be doing as much pulling toward the door and the car beyond as Minoru is.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru was pulled along about as much as he pulled Ziggy. Which was good, considering Minoru didn’t know where Tom parked. The farther away from people they got, the fewer emotions would be reflecting back, but at the same time, what he would feel would be all Ziggy.

“What muscle group do you want me to start on?” He asked cheerfully. “Anything stiff after you get off stage?”

And no, he didn’t mean it like that.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy is too high to not start laughing riotously at the turn of phrase. Since so few people in the nexus have cars the baby blue car isn't hard to find.

"Do you want an honest answer or should I make something up?" Ziggy asks while barely containing the laughter behind a huge grin.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru laughed, leaning into Ziggy slightly as they walked between the cars. “Of course I want an honest answer!”

Granted, he was going to try to work on just about everything he’d learned so far. So, it probably wouldn’t matter if Ziggy made something up.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy turns abruptly in front of Minoru so he has to stop or bump into him.

"The part of me that starts getting stiff around you, you won't touch so it doesn't matter." For a moment, as Ziggy stares into his face the lust and want is there, wide open in his emotions, and it instantly fades as he puts his back to Minoru to open the car door.

"I guess just practice whatever on me." Ziggy sighs and climbs in while pulling off the upper part of his jump suit so it hangs around his waist.