open ;

[bringbackgold]

who: Otabek & Anyone
what: Catch-all for time at the club.
when: Anytime April 15 - May 6 (Available pre-opening hours, during his shift, or after-hours).
where: Element Nightclub (Inside/Outside the club)
warnings: I don't anticipate any, but can edit.

General starter below the cut. Individual starters upon request/discussion~ Hit me up at this journal or agalio.


[ He was ready. The club was just about to open for the night, and he was ready. Otabek felt like a different person when he was here, in the club, working. There was something about the air. He attributed it to way he could see the people dancing to songs and a playlist he had put together. It was different from being on the ice. When he was on the ice, all eyes were on him, but he could never return the favor of seeing how people responded until after the performance was over. He wouldn't know how well he did until he got the score. When he was performing, the response was immediate. He could see how people would respond to him as he worked, and if he didn't feel like the response was positive, he could shift the way things were going immediately. He would stand there, headphones on, moving about his booth as he watched the people enjoy themselves on the floor.

He like the way he made other people feel good. He liked when people enjoyed the things he put together. He was passionate about the shows he did both here and on the ice. He always put his best foot forward. He worked hard. It was why even here, for Element, he had put together a new set. Among the songs were a couple of new remixes he had pulled together quickly. Despite the speed of it, Otabek would never put together a half-assed piece of work and expect others to enjoy it.

Never.

As soon as the club opened, Otabek got started. A laptop had helped him organize a playlist, but after it was set up, he spent most of his time in front of the DJ deck, moving back and forth, and letting his fingers slide over the equipment with a clearly practiced ease. As the night progressed, the room got warm. Maybe it was the bodies moving about.

He shed his jacket he had worn, discarding it to the side, leaving him in a tank and black jeans. His typical attire. He always anticipated it getting too warm, but he knew that if he didn't wear his jacket, it'd be cold when he left, with just his luck.

Then, as the night came to an end for him, he shifted away from the DJ deck and set up a few remaining songs to play automatically. He cleaned up his space, and made his way from behind the booth. People were starting to make their way out of the club, leaving the dance floor. As the club emptied, he made his way outside, slipping on his jacket again, and making his way to his motorcycle (the one, he fondly remembered, Yuri had handed him the keys to). ]

Comments

[howlongiwonder]

Ah.

I've heard music that humans left behind. There were music boxes, old recordings and so on... nothing like your music though.

[She sounds like she just made a small but important discovery.]

Is all your music like this, or are there different kinds of it?

[bringbackgold]

Mine is nothing like music boxes.

[ Although he's remixed songs that started out sounding like they were from a music box. He's fond of a variety of music, so he works for all sorts. It makes the answer to her question come easily. ]

I have different kinds.

[ Slight hesitation, then reply. ]

I can show you sometime.

[howlongiwonder]

I noticed.

[Did she listen outside before coming in? 2B clears her throat quietly before continuing.]

Ahem.

I assume you're already done here, but if you want to show more music to me - I wouldn't mind that.

[bringbackgold]

[ He nods. He likes sharing music with people who seem to care about it. Or have any interest in it. ]

I can show you some now.

[ He shifts to turn on his heel and lead her back to the DJ booth so that she can check it out. Most of the people have emptied out by now. ]

[howlongiwonder]

Won't you get in trouble for not following the schedule?

[Well, it seems not since Otabek is already going to do it. 2B crosses her arms, head tilted to the side, ready to listen to whatever is coming.]

[bringbackgold]

[ He glances over his shoulder as he walked. He's pretty comfortable with the schedule going as it is. ]

I set he music schedule.

[ So, as far as he's concerned, no one would tell him to not do something. ]

And the club closes soon. No one will care.

[ He heads towards the DJ booth and small stage area. He walks up a side staircase and waves for her to follow him. He's always happy to show people this. ]

[howlongiwonder]

I see. That's good to know.

[So humans don't have a strict hierarchy in such things. Well, neither do many androids, but 2B wasn't one of them.

Upon prompting, she approaches the booth. The insides are both familiar-looking and rather surprising.]

A control console?

[bringbackgold]

A DJ deck.

[ The correction comes gently, because he totally gets how one could draw the conclusion she did. Especially if they've never encountered a DJ deck before. It does look a little sci-fi. it's part of why he thinks it is cool. ]

It's a control console for people who do my job.

[howlongiwonder]

I understand.

[2B realizes that in addition to playing music, you can also record it for later replays. This seems to operate on a similar principle. However, the controls aren't familiar to her.]

How do you operate it?

[She asks very intently. Looks like someone is curious!]

[bringbackgold]

[ He seems happy to show her. Most people seem to prefer to wait and see - or rather hear - the finished product. He's learned the how-to isn't interesting for everyone. He hopes it doesn't bore her. ]

I'll show you.

[ There's the slightest hint of a smile. He steps towards the deck, and moves his fingers over two buttons and slides to just slightly reduce the bass. ]

The smallest changes, change the feel of the music. See?

[howlongiwonder]

You are able to modify the audio output using these.

[She nods. The change may be small but it's also clear, at least if you are an android who interprets volume and pressure in terms of numbers.

However, there's something more to music than just numbers.]

The feel becomes... different with only a small adjustment.

[bringbackgold]

It does.

[ Otabek's eyes almost light up with her realization of that. Music was such a big part of his life - and everything that he did - that others understanding it meant a lot. He moves his fingers over the equipment, making several changes. Suddenly - the beat of the music slows from the fast, dancing music it had once been, though the background beat seems to be the same. ]

It can make a happy song - sad.

[howlongiwonder]

Yeah...

[This is more than just a small difference this time. But truth to be told, 2B enjoys this kind of song more than the fast paced club beats.]

Well. If it's not troublesome for you, I'd like to listen some more.

Whatever you have to show me, I will hear it.

[bringbackgold]

[ 2B probably just said magical words, because he immediately shifts to the computer so he can pick another song on the playlist. This song is what was once a classical piece, but now with the remix, it's slower. He is fond of it because it started with something so identifiable, and the underlying notes are still there, but it's something old made new again. ]

This one. Beethoven's Ninth, originally.

[ The early, most recognizable part of the song, of course. He had used the later parts of the song for his own performances at the latest Grand Prix, so he decided to remix the early parts. ]

[howlongiwonder]

[She listens in concentration. It is a very well known piece - but still lost to 2B's world, though she finds it no less memorable because of it.]

That was... very good. Let's keep going.

[Shame she has no comparison with the original, though.]

[bringbackgold]

Thank you.

[ He nods. The next song seems to be a pop song, or at least it was at some point. The beat has been slowed and it's clearly meant for that close dancing. It doesn't sound sad like the slower songs sometimes do - it still sounds happy. Just, with a certain, close beat. He shifts a little.

He doesn't realize she has no point of reference for this, but sometime, he'll have her hear the originals. ]

Music. It just...is impressive with what it can do.

[howlongiwonder]

Agreed.

[She nods earnestly. Though 2B was just standing there and listening, arms sometimes folded, she finds her own foot tapping absently to the rhythm. Strange that, she's pretty sure this isn't part of an android's programming.]

People dance to this too, don't they? I saw them do it... I think.

[She's not sure if glimpses of a busy club she managed to catch from the outside count as dancing, or something else. A coordinated epilepsy attack, maybe? Either way they seemed to enjoy it.]

[bringbackgold]

They do.

[ Otabek, who used to dancing that is graceful and classical, ho is used to the way people move about the ice, finds the dancing in the club enjoyable - from both perspectives - he likes to watch and participate in it. Although he participates less. He wouldn't be able to continue his work as DJ if he hated it, though. ]

I hope they dance to it. If they don't, I'm not doing my job.

[ Hell, he's even gotten 2B to tap a foot. ]

[howlongiwonder]

Every day? I know of records saying that humans use dance as a way to express themselves. So they were all accurate after all.

[It's not that she had doubts about that part, but it's confirmed right now, as far as 2B is concerned.]

Although there is nothing that prevents androids from dancing as well. I suppose some of them do it... I just have not encountered it.

[bringbackgold]

Some do every day. Some don't.

[ People can be fickle like that, Otabek knows. But he has seen regulars at his events and when he DJs at clubs, he recognizes some of the same people. He had noticed many people here often were repeat visitors at the club. Some faces he really started to depend on being there. Without ever speaking or really knowing them, he had been figuring out what they liked. ]

There's a lot of other dance that people use to express themselves. Not just in clubs.

[ Spoken from experience. ]

[howlongiwonder]

Such as... skating? Dancing on ice?

[Just a wild guess - or is it more than that?]

[bringbackgold]

Yes - on the ice.

[ Of course - he could talk for hours about that alone, as well. But he opts not to. ]

And ballet, ballroom, jazz. Things like that.

[howlongiwonder]

I see.

[She sounds pretty satisfied with her guess. Apparently 2B tends to interact with people who like ice skating in general.]

Could it be what you told me earlier? The thing you want to practice, but currently cannot.

[bringbackgold]

Figure skating? Yes. I found a place to practice. We don't compete, though.

[ It's been weird for him, though. He's always made his money via competition and sponsorship, and sometimes he DJed. Now he was DJing full time. But he was comfortable. ]

I did it professionally.

[howlongiwonder]

You might be able to again, in the future. If you find enough people willing to do it...

[2B leans against the wall, arms crossed. She looks up in recollection.]

I don't know details of how this works out. Before I found myself here, doing something professionally wasn't an option.

You just did what you were told to.