A Musical Practice

[honokairo]

Who: The Love Live! Girls, anyone who lives at Hikawa Shrine, and anyone leaving and entering the shrine! And stalkers. There are stalkers.
What: Practice for performing on stage! Their first practice ever.
When: Sometime in the afternoon, after school is over.
Where: Hikawa Shrine, Union.
Summary: Honoka has finally managed to amass a group of people to get together as a little musical group to perform. They are going to try to practice together for the first time, and that could go any number of ways.

"Hello everyone!" She shouts once all the girls who she expected to come to practice arrive. "I wasn't sure where we could practice, but I'm so glad Rei let us come here and use the courtyard! So!"

She stands, feet at shoulder width, in front of the girls, looking determined as ever.

"We'll do some singing first! And after a little break, we'll try dancing! Someone will need to clap for us to keep time, but we can alternate who does that so everyone gets to practice dancing. And then! We can get something to eat when we're done! If there's someone you don't know, get to know them a little bit before we begin our practice!"

"Okay! Let's start!"

Comments

[ricericebaby]

Dancing

[Hanayo has a little bit of experience dancing, but it's definitely not her strongest point. She spends a lot of time just practicing basic moves, trying to move in time with the beat. Unfortunately, something always seems to go slightly wrong - either her glasses come loose and fall off, or she gets dizzy and loses her balance during a spin, or a host of other issues. But she seems determined to get it right, and she always stands right back up and goes back to it.]

Singing

[Singing, however, is something she's much better at. While the volume of her voice leaves something to be desired at first, as she eases into it she actually manages to sound reasonably good. And her true talent shines through when she's singing accompaniment to any of the other girls - it seems Hanayo has a natural ear for harmonizing, and is able to adjust her pitch almost effortlessly to match the range of the others.]

Break Time

[While Hanayo has some experience from practicing on her own and with her Pokemon, it's nothing like the rigors that she's going through today. She wants to do her best to impress her new friends and fellow aspiring idols, so she may have pushed herself a little too hard. She can be found sitting to the side during her breaks eating absolutely absurd amounts of white rice, talking to her friend Rin, or taking a few minutes to stretch her legs and rub her tired feet.]

With Pokemon

[Hanayo's Pokemon are all trained to sing and dance too, so sometimes they get in on the action while she's working. Baiorin the Kricketune spends his time acting like a conductor and trying to keep the others in line, Kane the Chansey fusses and makes sure they're all helping each other, Taiko the Magby and Odori the Tyrunt both spend their time practicing cool poses, Supika mostly lets out ear-splitting cries that it thinks are wonderful chords, Kururin the Lilligant practices all sorts of elegant dance moves, Chuchu the Ducklett attempts to dance but mostly trips over its own webbed feet, and Sutra the Kirlia spends all of her time lecturing the other Pokemon about their substandard performances and urging them to try twice as hard. It's all a bit chaotic, but they're trying hard in their own way.]

Singing, of course

[cutiepanther]

You're still not loud enough, Hanayo. Try to raise your voice more.

[ Maki is standing in front of Hanayo, giving her a little special attention. She is Rin's friend, and another of Honoka's poor souls she's roped into joining (or at least that's how Maki sees it) but she sees that Hanayo has talent, if she could only be a little more confident in herself. ]

You have a good singing voice, and you can harmonize better than anyone here, but you are still too quiet.

[ricericebaby]

[Awww Maki, such a softie.]

I'm sorry! I'll try harder this time!

[Hanayo takes a deep breath before closing her eyes and starting to sing through her chords again. It's... a little bit louder.]

[cutiepanther]

[ She is not!!!!!

Part of her worries that she's being too tough, but learning to sing isn't something that just anyone can do, and it certainly can't be done unless you are willing to give your all. Maki has no time for amateurs. But Hanayo is impressive, among the small group here, and she can't help but focus on her, trying to guide her more personally. ]

That's better. Have you ever had lessons or anything before, Hanayo?

[ricericebaby]

[Hanayo knows the road to successful idolhood is a long one, so she's ready for the criticism.]

N-no, nothing formal. I always just practiced by myself and with my Pokemon. Baiorin helps keep me correct my pitch.

[She gestures over in the direction of her fussy little maestro of a Kricketune.]

[cutiepanther]

[ For that reason, Maki's actually been impressed with everyone so far. No one has complained that she's too tough, or that her criticisms are too difficult. ]

That's pretty lucky, to have a Pokemon like that around. You could definitely be a good singer, if you keep practicing.

[ricericebaby]

Do you think so? Nobody's ever told me that before.

[cutiepanther]

You're already ahead of most people. With training I'm sure you could really become famous. ...If that's what you want.

[ricericebaby]

F-famous? Do you think so?

Dancing

[kakuto]

Kayochin, careful!

[Rin is dancing with her and of course, is the one who usually stops when Hanayo dizzies herself or bumps into her. She leans down to quickly pick up the glasses before someone steps on them.]

Maybe we should get you another pair of glasses so they can stay on while you move around.

[ricericebaby]

[Hanayo sighs as she puts her glasses back on, frowning a little.]

M-maybe... they keep coming loose whenever I move around too much.

[kakuto]

It's okay. It's our first practice after all so we have time to fix those things!

[A pat on Hanayo's shoulder for support.]

[ricericebaby]

What do you think I should do?

Pokemon fun

[unbalancedlove]

[Kotori's team is enthusiastic in their own way, too. None of them except Rurua, the Zorua, are artists by nature but they were intrigued enough by Kotori's new interest that they insisted until the young shifter gave in and allowed them to come.

All said? it was bound to happen that some of them would get bored and wander away, albeit staying in the shrine during their exploration. A curious Ralts, a timid Deerling and a lively Zorua make their way closer to the trouple with clear interest. Scatterbug remains faithful by Kotori's side, mimicking her motions as best as it can.]

[ricericebaby]

[Hanayo's Kirlia eventually wanders away from the ragtag group of Pokemon performers, shaking her head. Truthfully, they don't sound bad when they're all working together, but right now they're all doing their own thing. She's the first one to run into Kotori's Pokemon as they wander over.]

Oh good, more amateurs.

[unbalancedlove]

[While most of Kotori's team isn't sensitive (or doesn't care) enough to take the Kirlia's words to heart there is one of them that certainly won't take such! Rurua glances the psychic type's way with a haughty look and lets out a simple 'hmph' sound.]

I'll let you know I'm a proper actor!.

[Behind the lying black dog a ralts glances at Kirlia with clear interest. Why are you blue instead of green?]

[ricericebaby]

Well then, let's see what you can do. If you're better than these guys, maybe I'll consider helping you out a little.

[Because clearly that was what was being discussed, right?]

I'm blue because I'm special!

[unbalancedlove]

[The small Zorua raises's it's muzzle in a prideful manner.]

Won't you end up asking me for help instead?

[Ignoring the negative mood brewing between the other two pokemon Rally eagerly approaches the other, clearly interested.]

Special how?

[ricericebaby]

Because I'm blue!

[That clearly makes it more important than other Ralts.]

We'll see. I challenge you to a Pokemon contest! We'll see who the true diva is!

[unbalancedlove]

[Well, that's one argument. Rally nods, easily swayed by the sheer confidence the other psychic type has.

On his side Rurua smirks or the closests a cute pup could get to that.]

I accept your challenge!

[ricericebaby]

One song each, choreography included!

[Aw yeah, this is the moment she's been waiting for.]

Break!

[tsunbird]

[That is a frankly preposterous amount of rice you are eating there, Hanayo. Where are you putting it all? Don't mind the bizarrely feathered guy wandering over and staring in mild horror at you as you eat.]

...That's impressive, I've got to say.

[ricericebaby]

Y-you mean the singing...? You saw that?

[tsunbird]

[He makes a vague gesture.]

I actually meant how much rice you just hid somewhere in your little body. But the singing was all right too, I guess. [Sorry, he's kind of a jerk.]

[ricericebaby]

O-oh... was it really that much?