[OPEN] Jingle jingle! The Second Annual Christmas Concert, nya!

[nyakama]

♥ Who: Hummy + the performers + YOU!
♥ Where: The center of town
♥ When: 25 Ranir (but also contains prompts for the weeks leading up to it)
♥ What: It's the 2nd Annual Havenwell Christmas Concert!
♥ Rating: G-PG. Will update if anyone says any swears, lol.


♪ 01 - JINGLE BELLS AND ELBOW GREASE
As the concert draws closer, there's work to be done. There's a stage to be put together (a bit more formal looking than last year's, thanks to the newfound support) and, in some cases, practices to be held! Mina, Tamaki and Hummy will be working on their dance routine in the center of town. While the musical acts are certainly free to practice at home, they're always welcome by the fountain and the in-progress stage if they'd like some feline companionship.

Would you care to lend a hand? Or maybe you just want to watch the rehearsals? The practices are open to everyone so you're welcome to stop by!


♪ 02 - THE CONCERT!
It's time for the big event! On Christmas Day, Hummy running through town once again advertising the event to anyone and everyone she sees leading up to the noon performance. People and robots alike are lining up to get a seat around the makeshift stage. A large banner, painted in a charmingly childish manner, hangs across the front and proclaims "2ND ANNUAL HAVENWELL CHRISTMAS CONCERT" with some little drawings of presents and Christmas trees. It appears that the "2nd" is taped on over the "1st" from last year.

Compared to last year, there's a lot more of a crowd, both in the audience and on the stage. If you're performing, this is your time to shine! If you're here to watch, take a seat and enjoy!


♪ 03 - THE AFTER PARTY
Compared to the concert itself, the after party is less structured. It's really just more of a loose mingle among the performers and guests around the fountain. There's a table with Hummy-made refreshments (cookies and punch), Lucky Spoon Cupcakes from the replicator, as well as what any of the other volunteers may have brought. It's a humble spread but the company is what it's really all about, right?


[This is a holiday concert mingle log! Everyone is welcome to post your own toplevels! You can use these prompts or make up your own! Tag around, have fun, be merry! I've never made a mingle log before I hope this works hhh]

Comments

Héctor | OTA

[unpocoloco]

Antes

His hand lifts to the door, pauses and hovers, falls and lifts again. Just... go in. Just go in! Come on, come on...

He pushes into Nekane's room, braced like he's about to inform them of something much worse-- Hey, the demons are here, you know what's got to happen. His grimace matches. But his words, not so much.

"Nekane...? I need to--" His eyes shut, as if pained. "Borrow the guitar."

Later, for those drifting past the Adomaitis household, they might here the stirrings of music inside.

Cascabeles

He knows the way bigger shows go. While in theory, one could sit back and listen to the other performances while one waited, it was always too busy, too chaotic, for those waiting in the wings, practicing one last time, trying to calm nerves and work out last kinks. By going up, he'd be electing to miss at least one or two of the performances, if not more. If he wants to see them-- and he does-- the best time to hear things would be now.

And anyway, what chump doesn't show up to their own rehearsal?

He's still rather anxious about doing this at all. He can't remember the last time he was so antsy about performing, mostly because he told himself long ago that he shouldn't be performing at all. There is still a not-so-insignificant part of him that says he shouldn't be here.

Deep breath. Shake it out. Guitar in one hand and cane in the other, he finds himself a seat, lays down the can and draws the guitar close. Then, he lets his fingers drift over the strings, losing himself until he can catch the next performer practising on stage.

Concierto

He steps up to the front of the stage. It's not a big crowd but still, it's not nobody.

"This is a song that I had the pleasure of performing with my great-great-grandson, Miguel Rivera. As well, it's a song that I once wrote for a wonderful woman named Imelda Rivera."

He stands straighter, that beautiful wedding gift in his arm, that guitar that was only briefly his. He tips his straw hat to wherever Cliff stands in the crowd. Here's your favorite, kid. He lets out a grito and begins to play.

He moves about the stage, singing with a grin. He sings Imelda's parts in her voice with absolute ease, the same inflections she would have. He can't dance the way he did with Miguel, but in his mind's eyes, he can see the boy.

~~~

"For my next song, I bring you a cover of María Bonita, a song I used to sing for my current partner Nekane Adomaitis who proposed to me New Years last year. I've made a few adjustments."

He looks for Nekane in the crowd and gives them an unsubtle wink. Have fun dying and being dead, spouse.

"Acuérdate de Acapulco
De aquellas noches
Kané Bonita, Kané del alma~"

~~~

He rounds off with what he announces to be his favorite song, another cover to save him from hearing his own music and recalling all the memories there. He was always found of Bésame Mucho and seems a nice enough way to wind down and hop of the stage, where's he's made a seat on the edge of it. He tips his hat to the audience as he goes.

Después de la Fiesta

He finds himself a seat and drops down in it. The guitar is set gently down at his side, the glint of a gold tooth on it matching his own. He winces a little and rubs at his leg-- still easier to dance as a skeleton than like this. But despite that, he feels... okay.

Concierto, take 3

[opheliaafterdeath]

When Héctor came to them looking as if the world was going to end, Nekane had been startled. Did the shoe finally drop and this place turned out to be just as shitty as Hell? No, but asking for his guitar was the next most startling thing on the list. Startling...but pretty damn welcoming. They knew exactly why Héctor couldn't even look at his guitar in so long, after all.

Hearing his performance is wonderful but Nekane soon remembers how much of a fucking sap Héctor was. Did that song bring back the few good memories they had of Hell? Sure. Do they still feel the tips of their ears burn as they cover their face when he starts singing? Yup. God fucking damnit, Héctor.

Their own turn up on stage isn't for a bit, which is why Nekane snuck into the audience to watch him, but once Héctor's done, Nekane ducks back in and...promptly punches his shoulder.

"Asshole." Which absolutely does not have the bite that their normal insults do. Goddamn, they love this stupid romantic of a man.

[unpocoloco]

Normally, seeing them brighten like that is a wonderful, glorious thing. It had made him want to back out and hide from the added pressure. But, he'd gone through with it all and he practiced and he'd played and he'd got to turn the tables back around.

He can't deny he likes it, seeing Nekane look like that again. Well, as much as he can see it from behind their gloved hands anyway. They return to him after and his face melts into an easy, fond smile.

"Mi Amor, I-- Ay!" He rubs his arm at the punch, as if it at all hurts compared to the things he's been through. He pouts for a second, but loses out to grinning again and giggling to himself. "I knew you'd love it."

He leans over to give a kiss to their head.

[prismatically]

[ If Stella had a nickel for all the time's she's been asked to save the world, she'd have two whole nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's still pretty wild that it happened twice, right? Really, the 'being brought to another world' thing is the part that's shaken her up the most and while she feels reassured enough that there's nothing untoward going on... she's a fish out of water all of a sudden and that's hard to deal with.

The concert, though, is weirdly comforting. She'd spotted a poster for it while wandering around the city in a tizzy, not really sure of where she was coming or going, and though it's maybe not the thing that should be highest on her list of priorities... the idea of sitting in a crowd and watching a concert is weirdly grounding.

So she does. And it helps, despite everything. Some of the fizzy anxiety that'd been bubbling up inside her dissipates and while she feels restless, it's a good kind of restless, the kind that makes her want to get up and go and get things done. So she thinks she'll be okay.

At the afterparty, whether you're a performer or just a fellow guest, you might find yourself besieged by a blur of pink as Stella sets herself to doing her very best to introduce herself to... basically everyone within sight. Where does she even get the energy? ]

Hi! Oh, if you're going to get food, you can just run and do that, but I've gotta ask – do things like that concert happen around here often? It was super good! I don't wanna miss out on the next one!

[nyakama]

[The little singing and dancing cat responsible for the whole affair has already gotten her snacks and is sitting on the edge of the stage, stuffing a cupcake into her mouth when Stella approaches. It doesn't take her long to devour it, though, and she's soon flashing a big, bright smile to the newcomer.]

I'm so happy you enjoyed it, nya! We hold this one once a year~! [She glances up at the banner overhead, or at least tries to get as best a look at it as she can given her position. She almost tips over backwards, leaning back so far.]

I do other performances with the locals at the cafes sometimes, but nothing big like this. If there's interest, though, maybe we could do more!

[prismatically]

[ Though she'd been absolutely determined to maintain at least a veil of professionalism, the instant Hummy speaks up, Stella can't suppress a little squeal of delight. ]

Ohmigod, you're even cuter up close! I was already totally blown away when you were up on stage but now I'm seeing you face to face it's like, oh my gosh! Kitty!

[ Another tragic victim of cat proximity. ]

Do you really organize this kinda stuff all by yourself? That's wild!

Omgggg I never sent a reply to this?? smh sorry this is so so late!

[nyakama]

Nyehehe~ [Hummy wiggles bashfully] Thank you, nya! I had help from my friends with all the set-up, but I’m the one that organized most of it! I love music so it’s no trouble at all, nya! [Well. It was a lot of work. But it was worth it in the end! She pauses, looking Stella over.]

…You know, I’ve never seen you around before. Did you just arrive in town? My name is Hummy! Nice to meet you, nya!

[She holds out a paw in greeting and ohhh no, she’s got heart-shaped toe beans!!]