@122 Generation @Sugar Brock's music studio was filled with a variety of instruments, mixing equipment, a PC open to a composing program, and a digital piano wired to the PC, so he could play a melody directly into the program, or create a melody for a Vocaloid to sing in minutes. In addition to another acoustic guitar and a drum set, there was a silver trombone and a silver euphonium in their cases against a wall, as well as shelves full of etude books and sheet music, and a guitar chord chart on the wall.
"Ooh... man! There's so much in here!" Martine remarked excitedly. "There are even more instruments than in my studio! Plus, you have your instruments plugging into a computer?! Why didn't I think of that!" Martine's eyes darted from place to place, as if she was overwhelmed, from the wind instruments to the acoustic guitar. Of course, the drum set caught her eye too, but she was more excited to see the guitar. The piano was there, and Martine wondered how it would compare to her keyboard-synthesizer hybrid. Without asking, she went straight for the guitar and started playing some chords. Such was a jumpy Martine indeed...
Alyssa had half a mind to tell brock how insane Martine was and how she felt that something really bad was going to happen before the week was through, but she simply kept that to herself for now. But she finally asked a question about the wall designs after staring at them for a good few hours. "Qu'est-ce que ces conceptions représentent? I'm pretty sure I've seen those designs somewhere else."
Alyssa had half a mind to tell brock how insane Martine was and how she felt that something really bad was going to happen before the week was through, but she simply kept that to herself for now. But she finally asked a question about the wall designs after staring at them for a good few hours. "Qu'est-ce que ces conceptions représentent? I've seen those designs somewhere before."
@Sugar "Actually, the views of the mountains on the walls are projection screens." Brock explained. "The projections adapt in real time to the actual weather outside. So it never rains or snows in these mountains...unless you want it to."
"I knew they looked familiar, cause I have the exact same kind of screens at my house, one on the east side and another on the west side, and I haven't missed a sunrise or sunset yet. We also have synchronized clocks for the sunrise and sunset times in other regions, so I can capture every single one."
@Sugar "The controls are disguised as a thermostat, so if you want to see snow in the summertime, or summer greenery on a winter's day, I can do that." Brock smiled as he set the screens to "WINTER" and then flicked a switch marked "SNOW", creating a gentle snowfall "outside".
Martine was still happily playing the Brock's guitar but turned down the amp to eavesdrop on Alyssa's conversation. Afterwards, she glanced at the walls and saw that Brock had a point. The projections were pretty neat, but Martine alone couldn't stomach seeing screens every time she got to her room. Rather, a studio was all she needed.
"Martine, grab us some hot cocoa and a blanket, there are blizzards a-coming." Alyssa joked. The screen was definitely a fun and lovely addition to Brock's closet, and the praise could't be higher. She could have all sorts of fun with it if she had one of her own at home, and combine it with the lovely sunrises and sunsets, it would be almost perfect.
@122 Generation (Brock exclusively plays acoustic or acoustic-electric guitars, so he doesn't have any amps per se--the pickups are inside the instrument, and it can actually be played like a normal acoustic unplugged) @Sugar "Now that, I'll do one better." Brock smiled as he retrieved some cookies from a cabinet and offered his guests a tin of various flavors of hot chocolate mix. "Take your pick--I have plenty of flavors."
(Oh I was expecting a plugged electric acoustic too) Martine finally put down the guitar when she heard Alyssa give the order. When she looked at her and Brock, she then noticed the snowy background. "Oh dear! We should probably get something... Ooh! Are those cookies and cocoa I see?!" Martine said. Quickly, she made a dash for the hot chocolate mixes Brock offered and examined them. "I call making the drinks! After all, that is part of my job! There's a reason I make cocktails all the time." Martine had a short flashback of her workplace that wiped the smile off her face briefly. Still, she snapped back to reality after and looked at her options carefully.
@122 Generation @Sugar Once the hot chocolate and cookies were ready, Brock and the girls settled on the couch with their treats. "I heard about your brush with the Rule from Misty..." Brock told Alyssa. "Do you feel comfortable sharing your story here?"
"I'd be glad to." Alyssa went ahead and began her long, almost-unbelievable story about the the Rule, the cake, and everything that happened to her just as she did to everyone in class.`
"Oh, so you've got a story to share? Then don't mind if I do," Martine piped. She jumped onto the comfy couch with her mug still in hand as she crossed her legs to make herself comfortable. It was a miracle her hot chocolate didn't spill. "So what's going on, anyway?"
@Sugar "So basically, you were subjected to KidBuzz's Splat-o-Matic turned up to 11?" Brock asked, making sure he had heard Alyssa's story correctly.
Alyssa sipped her apple-cinnamon tea and let out a laugh before replying. "If you want to be creative about it, yes, that's exactly what happened."
@Sugar @122 Generation Brock got up to retrieve his guitar, then returned to the couch. After checking his tuning, he spoke again. "Most of the time, the variety shows you will get to go on are fun and enjoyable experiences--'Kiramekirari' being the most well known example for our idols. But there are a few shows that you want to stay FAR away from, if you can...and the most infamous example is 'Lucky Lucky Mystery." He continued, playing a relaxed melody as he spoke. 'You probably know about 'Lucky Lucky Mystery' via their infamous Penalty Stunts--often gross, but usually risking an idols' safety or sanity. It's a miracle no one's been killed yet.
Martine kept sipping her peppermint hot chocolate as she listened to Alyssa's story, and as Brock began playing his soothing melody, she started to feel sleepy. Unfortunately, Alyssa's story was a little colder than she thought and was happy there was a peppermint hot chocolate to keep her spirits up. Brock's comments about sanity sent shivers on Martine's hair too.
@Sugar @122 Generation "It starts out innocently enough--colorful sets, nice crew, and Keita Aoyama, the host, is a reasonably nice person." Brock went on before his song turned somber. "But fail one of the minigames, and you must face the Penalty Stunt." He explained "Sometimes it's just something like getting hit with a pie and that's it. But usually it is consume something disgusting or test your endurance or sanity. Refuse to do the initial Penalty Stunt, and you're told to do something even worse than what you were initially asked to do--I don't know what happens if you refuse two Penalty Stunts in a row, and I would prefer not to find out."
"This is why I lost my sanity the day I was born, it really helps me in more than dangerous situations." Alyssa laughed out loud at her lack of sanity. It really did help her in more situations than one, but since her well-being was way off the charts, she got into way more dangerous situations than she got out of. It couldn't be helped however, cause even if she was completely normal, she would've still somehow gotten lost within these unfavorable situations.