[ Ai trots along beside him, beating a cheery tap-tap-tap rhythm in those heels with each step. She's still wearing that just-shy-of-clueless smile, like she's got no idea of what sort of trouble she might or might not be be causing and it only falters once they're actually ready to head up to the catwalks and her gaze drops down to her heels as well. Ah. Right. ]
Hm... they do say 'break a leg' before you go on stage, but probably not that literally. Just a sec!
[ With a surprising amount of grace, she steps out of those towering heels, stoops to pick them up and bobs back up a good three inches smaller than she was a moment ago. Beaming very much up at him, she tilts her head. ]
[They make quite the pair with their matching vague smiles, Sylvain standing two heads taller than her with his broad gym rat build and her in her petite idol slimness. That combined with the way she just steps right out of her shoes and stands on the floor in her little bare feet makes his brain whirl with the thought of just scooping her onto his shoulders so she doesn’t step on anything sharp. He blinks it away, and laughs instead.]
Carry or leave them here, either way.
[He unlocks the cage and gestures with a playful bow.]
I'll carry them! Can you imagine how embarrassing it'd be if someone came along down here and tripped over them because I left them sitting right out in the open?
[ Heels dangling daintily from one hand, Ai steps up into the cage, her gait a little wobbly but surprisingly coordinated – all that dance practice coming in clutch. She's still smiling away, like she always is, but really on the inside, she's panicking a little. She's not great with heights so why on earth did she commit to this bit so hard??? ]
Wow... you guys must be made of some pretty sturdy stuff to run up and down these all day.
[Probably not likely if they left them right below the ladder, but if she doesn't want to let her shoes out of her sight who is he to stop her? Actually, he doesn't think he could stop her from doing anything, now that he's actually met her.]
I like to think I get some good exercise in that way, yeah.
[He chuckles and winks, shimmying up the freed ladder and waiting at the top for her, ready to take the shoes to free her hand up if she wants to pass them up. He flicks on a flashlight as well.]
[ Up... she goes... she'd been trying to make a whole thing about being more capable and adventurous than she looked, just to give herself a few extra charm points she might need to cash in later but now she's sweating just a little. She's definitely glad she'd taken off those ridiculous heels but she still feels a little uncoordinated scrambling up here in her bare feet – but at least she's got safety shorts on under that ridiculous skirt as Miyako had insisted, so her dignity will be mostly intact if anyone spots her making her way up here.
She bobs up and ends up handing her heels off to him, just because she feels slightly less like she's about to pop with two hands to catch herself. Not that you'd know it to see her sparkle-eyed expression as she peers around. ]
Oh wow, this isn't what I was expecting at all! It's kind of spooky, huh? [ Ai gives him a grin. ] You're all lurking around supporting us from the shadows then, huh?
[It doesn't occur to him that her flouncy skirt might give the whole world underneath the ladder a perfect upskirt shot until she's halfway up the ladder but it does in fact occur to him with a vengeance. It makes him sweat, too, feeling like an absolute pervert as he prays fervently for nobody to walk by below.]
[He takes the shoes gently, hooking his fingers into the heel of them. He knows how delicate these things can be! Last thing he needs is to break her damn shoes right before the show...]
Lurking makes me sound so dangerous, [He grins back, passing the flashlight over the big wide U shape, with multiple rows crossing it that is the catwalk.] But basically, yeah. We scurry to and fro in the shadows making sure everything goes right so that you ladies don't have to worry about anything else but your performance.
[He points his beam light at the row of big stage lights hanging right below and in front of them.] These are your basic stage lights, the ones we use for spotlights are a little fancier. [He sweeps the light toward one of the rows closer to the stage and it lands on a different light, more modern looking, rounded and shiny.] There she is.
[ The way the light bounces around and emphasizes the gaps between the catwalk and the ground below makes her already boneless legs feel even more liquid, but her smile doesn't turn even a hair out of place. She's good at putting on a face so brave no one even knows she's quivering and she's stood tall, confident and unshaken even if her knees are knocking just a little on the inside. Sylvain's tougher than she gave him credit for. ]
I always knew we had a lot of staff on site running things but it puts it all into perspective knowing you guys are running around up here, too. [ She gives him a little grin. ] Makes me feel pretty lucky we've got so many people supporting us!
[ She's laying it on a little thick, but she knows the flattery will be nice to hear, anyway. And it's not flattery that makes her eyes light up in interest as she leans in so she can peer at the lights. Knowing her, she won't retain a whole lot of this but knowing just enough to be charmingly ignorant and ask clever questions next time she has to pester one of the staff members like this couldn't hurt. ]
You weren't kidding when you said fancy... are these top of the line?
[Anyone who can withstand the pressure of being an idol with grace can smile through basically anything, as far as Sylvain is concerned. He's been adjacent to that business and it's culture long enough to know just how hard those pretty little girls work, and Ai is no exception.]
[She may still be layering on the compliments, and he knows what she's doing, but they do still feel good to hear. He flushes in the dark, though, waving a hand to dismiss it.] We're happy to do it. We're all here because we love what we do, right? We love be a part of it all, and to make sure any audience has the best experience possible. Come on,
[He leads her, a gentle hand on the small of her back around and toward the walkway where the lights are. The compliment to his tech, in contrast to his embarrassment about himself, brings a big dimpling smile to his face. He winks.]
She sure is. One of my babies. I brought them with me since this venue is a little outdated. Here, can you hold this for me?
[He crouches down, offering her the flashlight so his hands are free.]
They call these smartlights. They can be controlled in the moment, angled any which way you like, and have multiple color options. I just need to swap out the red gel on this one for the offwhite we picked out. It also has clear, purple, and blue.
[ Holding the torch is good – whether he meant it to be or not, it's a nice distraction from trying very hard not to look down below and think about high up they are. She just has to grip the torch in both hands, point it to where she wants to look and think about approximately zero other details of this situation. Simple! ]
Hooohh... so we're really getting spoiled with some top of the line stuff.
[ For once, the we is sincere – typically when venues like this roll out the red carpet for "B-Komachi", they're really putting on a show for Ai in particular. But she gets the feeling Sylvain would've carted the thing up here even if the girls on stage had been some no-name underground group. When your pride at what you do best is on the line, you kind of have to break out the big guns.
She leans in a little, narrowing her eyes so she can peer a little closer. ]
So... what's the difference between a white gel and a clear one? Isn't the light white already?
[Maybe he did it on purpose, maybe he didn't. Either way, he certainly isn't letting there be a lull in the conversation for her to let her thoughts slip away. He does chuckle at her question.]
Sorry, I just think it's funny when I've met so many girls who could school me on the subtle differences in color shades. Especially when it comes to whites and bridal stuff.
[He's done the lighting work for big name venue weddings too, after all.]
The thing about white light is that it's actually a combination of all the colors, just like how pitch black darkness is the absence of them all. The problem with that for spotlights is that if there's other stuff going on on stage, they can just sort of get lost and lost their oomph. An offwhite gel usually has a smallest amount of either red or usually blue in it so that it looks sharper and doesn't get washed away. This one has just a little touch of red, so that you'll look super saturated, but not like someone just dipped you in a vat of red paint.
[He swaps out the red gel for this one, then pulls a remote out of his pocket and plays with the light a little, aiming it at the mic stand on the stage. First he aims the plain white, then the offwhite gel. Then he looks to her with an eager puppy face, clearly expecting her to see the difference.]
[ Is there really that much of a difference? Ai peers down at the stage fully expecting to fib a little and say that of course she noticed the absolutely imperceptible difference in whatever's going on in the light – but then once he actually shows her, she gives a little 'oh!' of surprise and leans in just a bit so she can squint down at the stage. ]
It does look different! [ She actually sounds a little impressed. Bask in it, Sylvain. ] And if we can see it from all the way up here, it'll definitely pop from the audience.
[ She nods to herself, apparently satisfied, then gives Sylvain a little grin. ]
Looks like I really was right to come and ask for your help, huh?
[He is absolutely basking in it. His smile resembles that of a dog sitting in a warm sunny spot. Content, maybe a little smug, a touch innocent.]
I’m glad you approve.
[She turns that grin on him- a weapons grade idol smile that he is absolutely not immune to, even knowing it for what it is. His heart dances in his chest and he winks to hide any other reaction.]
Careful, you keep praising me like that and I’ll just keep giving in to every request.
Oh, you shouldn't tell me that. [ Her smile takes a turn for the mischievous, and it gets just a smidge brighter. ] It'll make me want to come up with a whole list of things for you to do.
[ Of course, it's a little hard to take an apparent threat like that seriously when she says it so lightly – and then the mischief eases out of her expression, leaving behind just the brightness and warmth. ]
But seriously! I know this was probably a pain in the butt but it really did make a difference. I can dance my best on stage when I know the audience is going to see me looking my best.
[She's joking... he knows that she's joking, and yet somewhere in his mind he delights in the idea of getting a list of tasks from her, only to get them all done beyond her expectations. He shakes it off with a small chuckle.]
And you helped me too. I'm very particular about my reputation as a light designer, you know, and making you girls look good also serves to make me look good.
[He winks playfully, matching her impish playfulness for a moment.]
Shall we go back down and get ready for the show? I wouldn't want your bandmates to think you've gotten spirited away.
Ohh, like I got kidnapped into the stage rafters by a spooky ghost? [ She flips the torch around so she can illuminate her face from below, like kids telling spooky stories at a sleepover. ] They say if you listen hard enough during shows, you can still hear her trying to perform along from above...
[ She giggles, clicks off the light and holds it out for him to take back. ]
Well, maybe making a surprise entrance from above would be a little much for a show like this, especially on such short notice... let's head down!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Hm... they do say 'break a leg' before you go on stage, but probably not that literally. Just a sec!
[ With a surprising amount of grace, she steps out of those towering heels, stoops to pick them up and bobs back up a good three inches smaller than she was a moment ago. Beaming very much up at him, she tilts her head. ]
There! If I just carry them, I'll be fine.
no subject
[They make quite the pair with their matching vague smiles, Sylvain standing two heads taller than her with his broad gym rat build and her in her petite idol slimness. That combined with the way she just steps right out of her shoes and stands on the floor in her little bare feet makes his brain whirl with the thought of just scooping her onto his shoulders so she doesn’t step on anything sharp. He blinks it away, and laughs instead.]
Carry or leave them here, either way.
[He unlocks the cage and gestures with a playful bow.]
Ladies first.
no subject
[ Heels dangling daintily from one hand, Ai steps up into the cage, her gait a little wobbly but surprisingly coordinated – all that dance practice coming in clutch. She's still smiling away, like she always is, but really on the inside, she's panicking a little. She's not great with heights so why on earth did she commit to this bit so hard??? ]
Wow... you guys must be made of some pretty sturdy stuff to run up and down these all day.
no subject
Ah, yeah I guess that would be pretty bad.
[Probably not likely if they left them right below the ladder, but if she doesn't want to let her shoes out of her sight who is he to stop her? Actually, he doesn't think he could stop her from doing anything, now that he's actually met her.]
I like to think I get some good exercise in that way, yeah.
[He chuckles and winks, shimmying up the freed ladder and waiting at the top for her, ready to take the shoes to free her hand up if she wants to pass them up. He flicks on a flashlight as well.]
Welcome to my world, babe.
no subject
She bobs up and ends up handing her heels off to him, just because she feels slightly less like she's about to pop with two hands to catch herself. Not that you'd know it to see her sparkle-eyed expression as she peers around. ]
Oh wow, this isn't what I was expecting at all! It's kind of spooky, huh? [ Ai gives him a grin. ] You're all lurking around supporting us from the shadows then, huh?
no subject
[It doesn't occur to him that her flouncy skirt might give the whole world underneath the ladder a perfect upskirt shot until she's halfway up the ladder but it does in fact occur to him with a vengeance. It makes him sweat, too, feeling like an absolute pervert as he prays fervently for nobody to walk by below.]
[He takes the shoes gently, hooking his fingers into the heel of them. He knows how delicate these things can be! Last thing he needs is to break her damn shoes right before the show...]
Lurking makes me sound so dangerous, [He grins back, passing the flashlight over the big wide U shape, with multiple rows crossing it that is the catwalk.] But basically, yeah. We scurry to and fro in the shadows making sure everything goes right so that you ladies don't have to worry about anything else but your performance.
[He points his beam light at the row of big stage lights hanging right below and in front of them.] These are your basic stage lights, the ones we use for spotlights are a little fancier. [He sweeps the light toward one of the rows closer to the stage and it lands on a different light, more modern looking, rounded and shiny.] There she is.
no subject
I always knew we had a lot of staff on site running things but it puts it all into perspective knowing you guys are running around up here, too. [ She gives him a little grin. ] Makes me feel pretty lucky we've got so many people supporting us!
[ She's laying it on a little thick, but she knows the flattery will be nice to hear, anyway. And it's not flattery that makes her eyes light up in interest as she leans in so she can peer at the lights. Knowing her, she won't retain a whole lot of this but knowing just enough to be charmingly ignorant and ask clever questions next time she has to pester one of the staff members like this couldn't hurt. ]
You weren't kidding when you said fancy... are these top of the line?
no subject
[Anyone who can withstand the pressure of being an idol with grace can smile through basically anything, as far as Sylvain is concerned. He's been adjacent to that business and it's culture long enough to know just how hard those pretty little girls work, and Ai is no exception.]
[She may still be layering on the compliments, and he knows what she's doing, but they do still feel good to hear. He flushes in the dark, though, waving a hand to dismiss it.] We're happy to do it. We're all here because we love what we do, right? We love be a part of it all, and to make sure any audience has the best experience possible. Come on,
[He leads her, a gentle hand on the small of her back around and toward the walkway where the lights are. The compliment to his tech, in contrast to his embarrassment about himself, brings a big dimpling smile to his face. He winks.]
She sure is. One of my babies. I brought them with me since this venue is a little outdated. Here, can you hold this for me?
[He crouches down, offering her the flashlight so his hands are free.]
They call these smartlights. They can be controlled in the moment, angled any which way you like, and have multiple color options. I just need to swap out the red gel on this one for the offwhite we picked out. It also has clear, purple, and blue.
[He talks about it like it's a favored pet.]
no subject
Hooohh... so we're really getting spoiled with some top of the line stuff.
[ For once, the we is sincere – typically when venues like this roll out the red carpet for "B-Komachi", they're really putting on a show for Ai in particular. But she gets the feeling Sylvain would've carted the thing up here even if the girls on stage had been some no-name underground group. When your pride at what you do best is on the line, you kind of have to break out the big guns.
She leans in a little, narrowing her eyes so she can peer a little closer. ]
So... what's the difference between a white gel and a clear one? Isn't the light white already?
bullshitting a little
[Maybe he did it on purpose, maybe he didn't. Either way, he certainly isn't letting there be a lull in the conversation for her to let her thoughts slip away. He does chuckle at her question.]
Sorry, I just think it's funny when I've met so many girls who could school me on the subtle differences in color shades. Especially when it comes to whites and bridal stuff.
[He's done the lighting work for big name venue weddings too, after all.]
The thing about white light is that it's actually a combination of all the colors, just like how pitch black darkness is the absence of them all. The problem with that for spotlights is that if there's other stuff going on on stage, they can just sort of get lost and lost their oomph. An offwhite gel usually has a smallest amount of either red or usually blue in it so that it looks sharper and doesn't get washed away. This one has just a little touch of red, so that you'll look super saturated, but not like someone just dipped you in a vat of red paint.
[He swaps out the red gel for this one, then pulls a remote out of his pocket and plays with the light a little, aiming it at the mic stand on the stage. First he aims the plain white, then the offwhite gel. Then he looks to her with an eager puppy face, clearly expecting her to see the difference.]
no subject
It does look different! [ She actually sounds a little impressed. Bask in it, Sylvain. ] And if we can see it from all the way up here, it'll definitely pop from the audience.
[ She nods to herself, apparently satisfied, then gives Sylvain a little grin. ]
Looks like I really was right to come and ask for your help, huh?
no subject
[He is absolutely basking in it. His smile resembles that of a dog sitting in a warm sunny spot. Content, maybe a little smug, a touch innocent.]
I’m glad you approve.
[She turns that grin on him- a weapons grade idol smile that he is absolutely not immune to, even knowing it for what it is. His heart dances in his chest and he winks to hide any other reaction.]
Careful, you keep praising me like that and I’ll just keep giving in to every request.
no subject
[ Of course, it's a little hard to take an apparent threat like that seriously when she says it so lightly – and then the mischief eases out of her expression, leaving behind just the brightness and warmth. ]
But seriously! I know this was probably a pain in the butt but it really did make a difference. I can dance my best on stage when I know the audience is going to see me looking my best.
no subject
[She's joking... he knows that she's joking, and yet somewhere in his mind he delights in the idea of getting a list of tasks from her, only to get them all done beyond her expectations. He shakes it off with a small chuckle.]
And you helped me too. I'm very particular about my reputation as a light designer, you know, and making you girls look good also serves to make me look good.
[He winks playfully, matching her impish playfulness for a moment.]
Shall we go back down and get ready for the show? I wouldn't want your bandmates to think you've gotten spirited away.
no subject
[ She giggles, clicks off the light and holds it out for him to take back. ]
Well, maybe making a surprise entrance from above would be a little much for a show like this, especially on such short notice... let's head down!