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]

“While I do not disagree on the principle, lacking basic knowledge does create an inability to adequately prepare for a situation. Especially when the feelings in question may not even be his own.” Isamu countered. “You studied our species thoroughly before coming to Earth. I would wager that during your military service, you underwent training prior to engaging a single combatant. Whether it began tonight or not, this was clearly beyond what either of us knew.”

They both knew Minoru had no idea what he was getting himself into. And Isamu was kicking himself for simply sitting by while things did escalate, as Newton described more than once.

“Thank you for the information you shared, but the belated offer will not be necessary.” Isamu flagged down the bartender to close out his tab.

He bent down, trying to get Minoru back to his feet. “Come on, let’s go.”

[iamjustvisiting]

"I know Ziggy would have warned him about the concert." Tommy sighs. "I can't determine how your brother will feel about Ziggy's feelings. I don't know him and I don't know his relationship with Ziggy. They're emotions were happy when they left."

Tommy looks down with tears welling up and his voice comes cold. "I was a teenager like Ziggy when they took me to my first day of training which was killing 20 'combatants'. The only thing I received was endurance training as they forced me to kill more and more people with my mind each day."

These were not memories Tommy wanted to remember especially not now. Tommy watches him hurrying to pack up and leave. "He'll come looking for him, to apologize for the pain between them."

That Tommy did know. Antheans always apologized for even the slightest injuries. It was why Tommy questioned who and what he was sometimes. He had no drive to that place of sympathy much of the time.

[itmeanstruth]

Isamu threw his brother’s arm over his shoulder and lifted him from the ground. Minoru was shaking, still completely overwhelmed and crying.

“He did...” Minoru gasped. “Intense... something I’ve never felt before... I thought... if being around him felt like a warm hug then... then this... just more... better...”

That did technically constitute a warning.

Minoru looked over at Tommy. “I’m sorry... I’m sorry anyone made you hurt anybody with your mind... i’m sorry I... I can’t... I don’t know how to... to feel this... I’m sorry I’m not a light switch! I’m sorry I’m a broken human that doesn’t like sex!”

Isamu winced. That last part came out extremely loud.

[iamjustvisiting]

Tommy takes a breath and sets his drink aside.

"Wait." He tells Isamu and there's a clipped tone to it which Tommy rarely uses.

He moves over to the boys and if allowed will lay a hand on Minoru's hair or shoulder. Either way his presence is there. He doesn't force it on Minoru but he's there if the human reaches for it and open which Tommy rarely does for anyone. He's so unlike Ziggy' controlled, calm, and distant like looking at the moon on a cold winter night but gentle. His presence is so gentle it could be described as almost passive.

"Neither of you are broken." He says gently. He remembers so many times Mary Lou throwing things at him and screaming because he was so cold and disinterested. "A human and an alien need time to find middle ground when they connect."

And sometimes they never find it maybe but Tommy doesn't think this human is anything like the humans he encountered, that betrayed him.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru’s mind is like a wide open door, complete with a welcome mat, shoe rack and a pair of house slippers waiting for you on the other side. The moment Tommy touched him, the calm presence completely overshadowed everything else. It was like Aletayria’s in that respect, the way her gentle serenity took away the migraine Ziggy had caused.

The crying stopped. Minoru was very quiet, passively sinking into that connection, feeling it, embracing it like a warm hug.

Isamu asked warily, “...what are you doing?”

[iamjustvisiting]

Tommy didn't enter nor did he reach out. He simply was there as an anchor. Tommy isn't open like Aletayria. The standoff aloofness is still there.

"Letting him feel my presence if he wants." Tommy told Isamu. "What you said he didn't need."

Tommy was defiant sometimes. In this case he felt like this would all be more difficult on the human to let him go and spiral somewhere where they was no one to reach him.

[itmeanstruth]

The connection itself came so easily to Minoru. Tommy didn’t have to enter. His presence was right there, Minoru couldn’t not feel it. In the same way that, when walking through town, the fence was right there, he couldn’t not hop on it. Moth, meet flame.

“Are you certain that would be in his best inter...”

“This feels...” Minoru interrupted softly. “It feels comfortable. Safe...”

But by falling into those feelings, Tommy would surely notice the guilt that lingered on the words. Minoru felt lost and confused, ashamed that the first feelings of romantic attraction he’d ever had were essentially just side effects. Guilt for wanting to seek that comfort and feel that safety, because it really was all one-sided. He couldn’t reciprocate - not in kind, and not in any of the ways Ziggy needed.

No warning Ziggy gave could have prepared this human for turning the emotional dial up to 11.

[iamjustvisiting]

"My training stripped me of the emotions I did have." Tommy looks over at Isamu. "There's nothing there to effect him."

On the bright side of things, Tommy had raised two children and could comfort others even with barely any emotions. The next words come to Minoru only, like a whisper, and only just beyond voice and into the realm of telepathy.

Misunderstandings happen and guilt. He has a heart that has probably already forgiven you.

Tommy pulled back to vocal because he suspected the other brother would be uncomfortable with the idea of mindspeaking.

"You're calm enough to stand on your own." Tommy tell Minoru.

[itmeanstruth]

The words in his mind were honest. Minoru could feel them beyond simply hearing them. He knew they were true.

The only way Isamu knew something was going on was when Minoru nodded wordlessly in Newton’s direction. (Whether Minoru had enough presence of mind to forgive himself was another matter. He was still under the influence of Anthean empathy, just a different Anthean.)

Isamu let go of Minoru’s arm when he felt his weight steady. Newton was right about that.

“I still think it would be for the best if we turned in for the night.” Isamu encouraged. He did look back at Newton, offering a simple, “thank you.” It lacked verbose embellishments, but it was sincere.

[iamjustvisiting]

"I know." Tommy stares at the two boys and just outs with something he doesn't talk about. "There was a human with me but she's dead now. I watched her struggle."

He nods to Isamu. "I am at Tom's if he needs anything in the morning."

[itmeanstruth]

Whether the human was the Mary Jo who Newton earlier claimed had adjusted to Anthean empathy could wait until another day.

“Thank you.”

This state of calmness was like a house of cards. Isamu worried he could knock it over by simply putting a hand in Minoru’s back to guide him toward the door.

As they crossed the parking lot, Ziggy and his mother were still at Tom’s car.