video; un: liontamer

[chickenchoicejudy]

[Ryan is on the stage of the Raccoon Room, a place he’s been dozens of times before, but typically announcements about the venue don’t come from him. They come from Wu, or maybe even Mako.

But Ryan is standing on the stage, his otter omen Tomo curled up in his arms. They know how hard this announcement is going to be. He’s dressed pretty casually, but a deep green raccoon brooch stands out against the red of his shirt. He takes a deep breath.]

So...Wu, Mako, and Bolin all went back to the ocean. They’re gone.

[That hangs heavy in the air.]

They’re, um. They’ll be really missed around here. But...they wanted the Raccoon Room to keep going. Before they left, they put me and Min-Gi in charge. We’re still going to be performing, but we’re also going to be doing all the stuff they do - hosting, the business stuff, you know. All that.

[He’s clearly trying to pivot into the practical side of things to avoid making it sound like a eulogy. Tomo nuzzles into the crook of his elbow.]

The Raccoon Room is going to be closed for a week while we figure out uh, all of…that stuff. But after that, we’re going to reopen business as usual. If you perform here, or if Wu or Mako had you as a business contact, hit up one of us? Just, y’know, trying to get our ducks all in a row. I’ve been performing here for ages and even I don’t know everybody.

[The smile he gives is a little hollow. But, public speaking is more his thing than Min-Gi’s. He’s not going to make him do it alone.]

Wu was one of my best friends. I asked him once what I’d ever do without him, and...he just hugged me and said I’d be okay.

[He doesn’t feel like it, but it’s giving him the strength to stand up on stage right now.]

All of us are going to be okay. The show must go on!

[The camera cuts there, wrapping everything up in a nice emotional bow...but then it cuts back in sloppily all of a sudden.]

--Fuck! Sorry, hang on– [A camera adjustment and a small ‘dude, what are you-’ from behind the camera. Then:] Also, uh. If anyone knows anything about directing musicals, we super need a new one of those to pick up where Bolin left off. Me and Min have the music piece kind of under control but like, we don’t know anything about acting? Seriously, hit us up if you know anything about Chicago. The musical, not the place.

[Ryan throws the rock and roll devil horns, and just before the camera cuts a final time Min-Gi steps out from around the back of the camera. Ryan is the front guy and graciously took the role for this, but it seems wrong to not appear at the very least. ]

Double hang on, actually. Sorry. I just wanted to say that we’re still processing payroll from last month but Mako left his ledger, so all our performers are still getting paid and we have the budget for the musical pretty laid out, too. So, that’s still on the table. If you really think you could direct it, there’s money. Whatever passes for- [A small sigh. Min looks pretty damn rough but he is doing his best okay. ]

You all know what I mean. Anyway, the point is we’re not going to leave anybody hanging.

Okay, that’s it. If you have any questions, like Ryan said, let us know either here or via Omni-Mail. Thank you.

[From off-screen:] Literally no one calls it–

[And then, finally, off the camera goes.]


[Replies will come from both Ryan and Min-Gi]

Comments

un: eudaimonikos; video

[eudaimonikos]

...well, shit.

[So many people have left lately...]

Uh...yeah, I'm supposed to be in Chicago, I guess.

un: liontamer; video

[chickenchoicejudy]

Yeeeah. It was kinda bad timing on his part. A bunch of people just got cast, but I guess when the ocean calls you gotta go.

[Or something like that.]

We're definitely hoping someone's willing to step up as director. Who were you cast as?

[eudaimonikos]

Billy Flynn. I get a song, and...he said something about "dames".

[Mildly distasteful to Michael, but it's only acting!]

Directing actually sounds sort of fun, but I don't want to do both. [It's entirely possible he'd be sort of a nightmare director anyway.]

[chickenchoicejudy]

Oh yeah, his song's fun. You get a couple fun ones, actually.

[He's been looking at the music, and while not all of it's his speed he's been trying to figure out what to do with it all.]

Oof, yeah. I get that. That's why I didn't go for a bigger part in Rocky Horror, or any part in this one. I'm already doing all the music with Min and I can only juggle like, so much at once.

[Plus, you know. Taking over the Raccoon Room, continuing to perform there, having any amount of a life outside of that. He's got a lot on his plate.]

video | un: jessie☆sama

[snakesdonthavelegs]

[ "Mama Morton" appears with a dejected frown. ]

This really sucks.

[eudaimonikos]

Yeah, it does.

[snakesdonthavelegs]

There's no way I wanna stop the show now. I think they'd want that. Whenever we see them again, in that sea, we can tell 'em how much butt we kicked!

Video | UN: ClickClickBloom

[onekindsoul]

[Ow. Ruby knew that there was a chance any of them could back to the ocean at any time but it just hurt to think that Mako and Wu wouldn't be among them anymore. Who was going to be a big stick in the mud when they needed to lighten the mood? Who was going to be the absolute life of the party? Without Mako and Wu it jus felt like something important had been lost.]

Hey. You guys are doing something great by keeping that place open. I know you'll both make them proud.

If there's anything I can help with just let me know.

Video | UN: liontamer

[chickenchoicejudy]

[Something really is missing from the community now, with Wu and Mako out to sea. The Raccoon Room is an institution, and there's no way it'll be the same under new management. Their energy is impossible to replicate.]

Thanks, Ruby. That means a lot. We...kind of don't know what we're doing at all, but we're just figuring it out as we go.

[He pauses though, and then glances up thoughtfully.]

...actually, there is one thing you might be able to do. Or at least like, help us figure out how to do?

video; un: lady

[dohaeris]

[your roxie has an eyepatch now. there are some seagulls flying around in the background. it's fine. she smiles sadly.]

It's good that they're together.

[she'd heard about wu and mako, but–well, bolin was mako's brother. she knows how hard it is to be the one left behind.]

I should be glad to do what I can for the show.

video; un: liontamer

[chickenchoicejudy]

[Ryan has a brief moment where his brain sort of short circuits and fixates on one very noticeable thing, and he opens his mouth before he can stop himself.]

Uh. You...didn't have that before, right? The, y'know--

[He taps next to his eye, as if what he's talking about isn't obvious. Ruby's had one the whole time he's known her, but it's pretty new on Alayne.]

--you okay? Or is this like a pirate thing with the birds, or...?

[He shakes his head - this is veering into rude and nosy, but he has so many questions. ]

Sorry, sorry. I mean. We really appreciate all the help. And...yeah. I'm glad they're together too.

[dohaeris]

[sansa frowns. it's very rude to point out someone's injury, but it's even more rude to call them out on it, and pirates...sansa doesn't see what pirates have to do with anything, and moreover, she still doesn't understand how there could even be pirates here.]

Pirates? There aren't even any merchant ships.

[do they just steal from the fishermen? are they raiders? she's sure there would be people meant to fight them, if they were raiders. perhaps they're some kind of awful seafaring cult, and people only say they're pirates...it doesn't matter. primly:]

I scratched my eye. It will heal.

[she did not scratch her eye. it is stuck in warg mode. she will eventually fix it, but she doesn't know how yet.]

It won't affect my work.

video | un: jessie☆sama

[snakesdonthavelegs]

[ "Mama Morton" looks tired and dejected, but brightens up a bit as she sees her costar. She'd really had a lot of fun rehearsing for such a wild role. ]

Yeah... I'm glad they are too.

And the show must go on, I say!

Video | UN: YOURFRIENDSCORPIA

[cuddlery]

Wow. [It's hard to actually process, considering that they've been around since the beginning of life in Trench. And even before that, in the dream.] It's weird to realize they're all just gone like that. And sad, definitely sad. Things just won't be the same without them.

[She pauses for a moment, trying to conjure some manner of smile and positive energy.]

Well, I'll still perform here as long as you'll have me! I think I have some songs I want to dedicate to them. And if you need help with anything else around the Room, I can absolutely lend a hand! Or, well, pincer. Or claw, claw isn't completely accurate but people do call it that and I do too sometimes, I'm fine with it.

Video | UN: liontamer

[chickenchoicejudy]

What? Of course we'll have you! We wouldn't dream of not having you!

[Scorpia's been there since the beginning and he knows she's got a hell of a voice. And honestly, he appreciates how she's bringing some good energy - he can't be the only one running around trying to keep spirits up.]

Yeah? We probably will too, once we sit down and figure it all out. Probably something upbeat though, I think.

[If it's something too melancholy, he might not be able to get through it and that would be embarrassing.]

Thanks though. We'll let you know - we're still figuring out all the stuff we need, but I'm sure we'll need something, probably. It means a lot that a bunch of the regular crew are around to keep this place going.

[cuddlery]

That's great! I jusy, you know, didn't want to assume. It's your place now, your rules!

[But she is glad for this. The Raccoon Room has been where she's most regularly performed, so it would be like missing an extra home to be without it.]

Aw, I can't wait to hear yours. I do want to go for something hopeful myself. I doubt they'd want us to get too sad about them anyway.

[She gives a determined salute!]

Sure, just keep me updated if there's any shifts that need to be filled! I could wait on tables sometimes, do announcements... Ooh, and bartending always looked fun!

text; un: shiro

[shiro2hero]

are you ok?

[It's - very hard to say anything else. Type anything else. His hand hurts. His face hurts. Something feels like it's tearing into his chest.]

[That's all he can ask. All he can say.]

text; un: liontamer

[chickenchoicejudy]

[It takes Ryan a minute to reply. How does he even answer that?

In the end, he goes with what Wu told him.]

i'll be okay

[If he keeps saying it, maybe it'll start to actually feel true.]

you?

[He's not the only one dealing with this loss. He knows Shiro cared for them a lot too, and vice versa. They've bother eaten so much food from Mako.]

[shiro2hero]

[Yeah. Just keep saying that. Just keep saying that. Just keep saying that.]

I̸'̶m̴ ̷f̴i̸n̵e̷.̷

[just Keep Saying thaT.]



I'm fine, yeah.

video; un: lookingforshinsengumi

[tealeafs]

[ Oh, she recognizes one of these guys.. That's the helpful person from the baking competition who helped explain her modern slang, right? And while Chizuru hasn't gone to the Raccoon Room that often, it's still obvious that this is not an easy announcement for him and the other to make. ]

Um..

[ She's a little shy, since she doesn't know Min-Gi at all and Ryan only a little, but she wants to speak up if this is a hard time for them. It's in her nature to want to help. ]

If there is anything you need help with around there, then.. um.. please let me know. I can't perform, but I'm pretty good at cleaning or cooking or anything like that..

[ She's not sure they need that help, especially since they were mostly talking about the musical. But if they're having a hard time - then surely every bit of help would mean something, right? ]

Video; un Min-Gi Park

[dialscientist]

[Min doesn’t know Chizuru but he recognises a gesture of solidarity and it’s kind. It’s very kind. So he tries not to make it a battle of polite refusal and insistence. That isn’t really what this is about.

He answers with a soft smile and wave before rubbing his neck.]

Hey. Um, that’s really kind of you to offer. We appreciate it.

What uh, what kind of cooking do you do? Honestly? Neither of us are very good.

Video; in the background

[chickenchoicejudy]

[Ryan is taking a break from replying to things to sit on the stage and play with Tomo, waving their lil otter paws around like they're dancing. He looks up out of curiosity.]

Is that Chizuru? [Then, yelled, in a way that she's almost certain to hear too--] TELL HER IT'S COOL OF HER TO OFFER! Wait, no-- TELL HER IT'S RAD!

video | un: jessie☆sama

[snakesdonthavelegs]

[ The last week has been particularly rough for Jessica, with that rage and evil creeping into her soul before her cousin dispelled it, and this was just another blow. Wu was a friend to her, had helped her figure some stuff out, and gave her a place where she belonged. Playing music was pretty much the thing that keeps her going here, through thick and thin.

She's one of the regulars there, and anybody who frequents the establishment probably recognizes the bubbly young musician. ]

Oh my god... I guess, I'm glad they're together.

I want to help too. This place is super important to me.

Video; UN: Min-Gi Park

[dialscientist]

[Min recognizes her, how could he not. They're all in the same musician pool, so they're colleagues basically.

Only now he and Ryan are like.. the bosses?

God this is going to take some serious getting used to.]

It's important to us, too, Jess. I'm really sorry you had to find out this way.

We're going to do everything we can to try to.. I dunno, pick up the pieces. But we'd really appreciate your support and help.

[snakesdonthavelegs]

[ Likewise! Jessica has a bond of sorts with all of the regulars, or at least she thinks so. They're part of the same community, and she's grown immeasurably because of them.

But having everything shaken up like this won't be easy. ]

Yeah... if there's anything I can do for the Raccoon Room, let me know. This place is like a home to me.