#( sage teller ) / crescent fest event.

[allinmymincl]

arching a brow as he tips his glass back, he takes a swig of chilled liquor and shrugs. "getting close to the end of the night," he points out, "but there's two more days of ... " he lifts an index finger and whirls it around, gesturing to the festival grounds that were beginning to empty out for the evening although a few performers were still up on stage. "... all of this. digital flyer's all over the internet if you wanna know who's on tomorrow." or sage could recite the entire lineup since he's had it memorized for weeks now.

Looking around the almost empty bar, Seamus couldn't help but tune out what the promoter was telling him about it usually being more busy, its great cliental, etc. THe stage was fine and that's all he cared about to try out some new music in a space to hear it in a real space. Finally when they walked away, they looked to the person nearest to them. "So, Is this place always this dead then, or is there something I should know about the place? Ghosts or something maybe?"

[allinmymincl]

he tilts his head when he hears a voice, and arches a brow at the person who asks him the question rather than the question itself, though he does find it interesting ( which, he won't mention to isabella ). "it's not so random," sage offers with a shrug. "obama's been dropping playlists of his favorite songs from the year for the last few years now. bad bunny was on last year's and i heard he might be here, too, so it kind of makes sense."

OPEN ‣ ‣ ‣ @nepofmstarters LOCATION ‣ ‣ ‣ VIP festival area

❝ Did you see who was supposed to be here? ❞ Isa asked the person lounging closest to her in the VIP area - truly the only area worth being in at any music festival . Crescent Fest had always been one of her favorite ones , she'd been to them all multiple times considering her father would randomly make appearances but she used them as an excuse to get high and get an incredible amount of content . ❝ Obama . That's random , right ? I wonder if I could find him ... ❞

[allinmymincl]

the tugging on his wrists doesn't cause him to budge in the slightest. it's not that he can't listen, watch, and dance at the same time. he just doesn't want to. "for you, maybe," he grumbles, nearly rolling his eyes. sage doesn't dislike destiny. it's just that for him, the ' fun ' of music is in the thoughts that it might inspire. "what i know is that there's not one singular way to appreciate and enjoy music. i take it you don't listen to my radio show," he states, not phrased as a question because of how he's certain he is that he's right.

*˖  ⊹              "  UM,  you  absolutely  can  do  both.  "  her  pout  seemed  to  stop  just  shy  of  destiny  stomping  her  foot  against  the  ground  in  front  of  him.  "  that's  literally  like,  half  the  fun  of  music  ?  dancing  ?  especially  at  a  festival  ?  "  her  hands  stayed  locked  around  sage's  wrists.  even  with  his  arms  firmly  crossed  over  his  chest,  and  the  man  stubbornly  staying  put,  she  tried  to  push  and  move  his  body  so  he  could  be  considered  dancing.  "  shouldn't  you  know  that  ?  you  are  the  music  expert.  " 

[allinmymincl]

sage almost grins. shadowing ultraviolet over several tour stops had been his first ' big ' assignment when he first started out in the music journalism field, and harlowe was the first musician who had ever sat down for a one - on - one interview with him who hadn't agreed to it as a favor to his dad. "it would be unethical for me to interview you professionally now that we're friends." he claims harlowe as a friend with rare ease. "i've caught a few other sets, but i don't know where i'm heading next. got any plans for the rest of the day yet ? "

          harlowe  grins  even  wider  if  that’s  possible  ,  pleased  to  see  their  friend  .  “  you  know  i’d  be  willing  to  give  you  an  exclusive  interview  anytime  ,  ”  they  jest  .  but  there’s  truth  to  their  words  .  sage  is  probably  one  of  the  few  people  harlowe  felt  truly  comfortable  around  when  it  came  to  discussing  ultraviolet’s  music  .  and  that’s  in  part  due  to  the  level  of  trust  and  respect  they  held  for  him  .  “  anyway  ,  you  catch  any  other  sets  yet  or  were  you  waiting  until  the  evening  just  to  see  little  ol’  me  to  perform  ?  ”

[allinmymincl]

he glances up from the dripping garnish, but he still can't tell if the musician is being serious. "think someone got scared when i mentioned that i was music critic," he pretends to be muttering it to himself, but his volume is just a note too high for his words to actually be inaudible to anyone besides him. of course, he has no idea if the musician is actually attempting to steer the conversation away from discussing his music now that he knows sage is a critic, but the only response he feels moved to administer in response to the claim that tiny umbrellas are ' a staple of the culture ' is a scoff.

gaze  drifting  down  to  the  item  in  question  seeming  to  be  the  target  of  sage's  words  although  aless  didn't  agree  ,  a  grin  worn  ,  "  you  need  to  improve  your  taste  .  these  are  a  staple  of  culture  ,  "  tapping  the  one  in  his  own  drink  with  the  tip  of  his  index  finger  ,  the  delicate  paper  spinning  .  "  some  people  just  can't  appreciate  the  finer  things  in  life  ,  "  he  jokes  ,  a  boyish  grin  in  the  dim  lighting  .

[allinmymincl]

sage nods his thanks as he collects the drink being offered to him. he answers lari's first question with just a shrug at first. though, he acknowledges that the universal stand - in for ' i don't know ' might not be a fitting response for once because really, sage would like to catch every single set. "don't know if it's 'cause i'm a journalist, 'cause i'm a music fan, or both, but i get serious fomo at these things when i don't go to do work stuff." despite his confession he's nodding at their suggestion to stop at one of the vip areas. "think we'll find roman and sofia there ? i haven't seen them in ... " sage quickly gives up on providing an actual number. " ... a while."

＊   𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗗  𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗥          ››         @allinmymincl ＊   𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚          ››         lari  &  sage ＊   𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡          ››          crescent  music  festival  @  citi  field

          head  bobs  along  with  the  music  as  they  make  their  way  over  to  sage  with  two  drinks  in  hand  .  she’s  attended  this  festival  since  the  very  beginning  and  is  always  pleasantly  surprised  at  the  turnout  .  this  year  takes  the  cake  especially  with  the  lineup  of  artists  .  “  anyone  in  particular  you  wanna  catch  ?  ”  they  ask  ,  handing  him  a  drink  .  “  i’m  gonna  catch  henri’s  set  but  that’s  not  until  later  so  i’m  thinking  of  just  chilling  in  the  vip  area  if  you’re  down  ?  ”

[allinmymincl]

reclining in one of the vip areas with a cold drink, sage is taking a break from the crowds and the heat in between sets when arlo approaches him. sage doesn't even plan to answer his question because he doesn't think he's actually expected to do so and, sure enough, arlo is soon opening his bag and showing him ... bewildered when the item isn't simply removed from the bag so that he can see it, sage cranes his neck a little to peer into the opening. "what is — " arlo winds up interrupting him. the object doesn't appear to be shining from his perspective. sage can't even tell what exactly it is, but he doesn't begin with the pettiest of his complaints. for once. "how did you get that ? i know you didn't meet her," he states before arlo gets much of a chance to answer his question, "because if you had, and you had gotten a a gift from her, too, then you'd either be backstage or in an ambulance on the way to the hospital right now since you would've totally passed out on the spot."

status : closed / ( @allinmymincl ) location : wherever sage is trying to find peace at this festival

               arlo   abandoned   rafa   the   second   he   got   the   chance.   in   the   grand   scheme   of   things,   being   mistaken   for   (   poorly   dressed   )   stage   crew   members   was   much   preferred   compared   to   jail.   still,   it   was   hot   !   he   was   thirsty   !   and   he   also   had   a   sza   touched   (   therefore   blessed   )   mic   burning   a   whole   in   his   little   boo   bag   !   it   was   essentially   a   holy   relic,   the   best   thing   he'd   ever   own,   he   needed   to   show   any   and   everyone   who   ever   had   the   misfortune   of   speaking   to   him.   coming   up   on   sage   meant   that   he   was   going   to   be   the   first   to   be   blessed   (   burdened   )   with   this   knowledge.   ❝   do   you   want   to   see   the   coolest   thing   you'll   ever   see   in   your   life   ?   ❞   he   asked,   but   he   didn't   wait   for   a   response.   carefully   unzipping   the   top   of   the   bag,   he   moved   too   close   to   sage.   invading   all   personal   space   as   he   held   his   bag   open   and   holding   it   low   for   sage   to   look   into   it.   ❝   it's   sza's   !   from   her   set   !   it's   literally   shining   in   there   right   now   !   ❞

[allinmymincl]

the truth is : sage isn't working the festival. for once. he's sort of forgotten how to conduct himself at one of these things when he doesn't have to attend the specific performances that he was assigned to cover, and take notes as he mindfully watches and listens. the pad and two pens peeking out of his shirt pocket, and his press pass that he's showing to ken are proof of his aimlessness, and not just an apathetic attempt at getting his friend to go away. because it's not like he dislikes ken. really. his constant enthusiasm is both bewildering and exhausting to sage, a furrow forming in his brow at his explanation for the brightly colored outfit that ... well, doesn't complement arlo's outfit, but is clearly intended to mirror it in what sage assumes to be a carnival funhouse sort of way. "no worries," he easily brushes by ken's apology. "if i want to meet sza, i have a pass, remember ? " the friendship bracelet shoved into his line of sight prevents him from waving the press pass around again, however. "i don't need to be involved in your ... scheme." he eventually settles on the word. "why didn't you two just buy vip passes ? "

*˖  ⊹              "  it's  a  music  festival.  who's  watching  to  make  sure  you're  really  working  ?  "  ken  questioned.  it  could  have  come  across  as  pressuring,  but  ken  was  asking  because  he  wanted  sage  to  have  fun,  and  he  worried  if  he  was  working  during  the  festival he  might  not.  after  all,  wasn’t  he  always  ‘  working  ?  ‘  that’s  what  ken  felt  sage  was  always  telling  him why they couldn't hang out,  anyway.  his  attention  was  immediately  immersed  in  the  little  card.  so  professional.  ken  nodded  intently.  “  woah.  you  have  a  card  that's plastic and  everything,  dude  ?  that’s  so  cool.  i  wish  i  had  a  card.  “  he  sighed  wistfully.

             "  arlo  thought  if  we  stood  out,  then  sza  might  notice  him  from  the  stage  and  want  to  meet  him.  "  ken  spoke  casually,  as  though  the  answer  to  their  strange  outfits  was  obvious.  then  something  dawned  on  him,  and  he  reached  out  to  lightly  hit  sage  with  the  back  of  his  hand.  "  oh,  dude  !  i'm  sorry  we  didn't  ask  if  YOU  wanted  to  match  with  us  too  !  like  i  knew  you  were  gonna  be  here,  but  it  completely  slipped  my  mind.  "  he  hung  his  head,  as  if  genuinely  embarrassed  he  left  sage  out  of  all  the  '  fun.  '  “  we  even have  these  rad  friendship  bracelets  !  “  he  waved  his  wrist  between  them,  the  (  poorly  made  )  threaded  green  bracelet  slipping  down  his  arm.  “  i  can  make  you  one  too.  later,  i  mean.  i  don’t  have  any  thread  here  right  now.  “ 

[allinmymincl]

standing still with his arms folded, sage arches as brow as the dancing figure approaches him. "i'm watching the set," he points out, as though multitasking would be impossible, which — well, it would be to sage because he doesn't dance. already being crammed into the crowded pit alongside what might as well be every other person on the planet in the heat, and then moving around constantly holds no appeal for him. "can't do both."

*˖  ⊹              "  why  are  you  just  standing  there  ?  "  her  hands  waved  around  her  as  destiny  approached  the  other,  a  slight  bounce  in  her  step  that  matched  the  bass  of  the  music  echoing  around  citi  field.  coming  to  a  halt  in  front  of  them,  she  reached  out  to  grasp  at  their  wrists  and  gave  a  tug.  she  pouted.  "  don't  make  me  dance  alone  like  a  complete  fool  !  you can't tell me the energy isn't like, totally contagious. "  /  OPEN  (  @nepofmstarters  )

[allinmymincl]

sage will always catch an ultraviolet gig if he has the chance. their high - energy style contagious as ever, he's buzzing as their performance ends, and he doesn't even notice that he's actually blocking their exit until he and harlowe nearly collide. "oh, no, that was me," he insists, quickly falling in to step with the musician. the suggestion that he might actually be going up on that stage almost makes him laugh. "no," he deadpans instead, "i used my press pass to get back here. figure i should at least try and look like i'm actually here to get a post - gig interview."

𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡  𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗥          ››         @nepofmstarters

𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚          ››         harlowe  &  your  muse

𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡          ››          crescent  music  festival  @  citi  field

          ultraviolet  had  just  barely  concluded  their  encore  .  harlowe  lets  out  a  carefree  laugh  as  they  pull  their  bandmates  into  a  group  hug  .  sending  off  one  last  wave  to  the  audience  ,  the  group  makes  their  exit  .  there’s  just  something  about  performing  that  gives  them  a  rush  .  they  make  their  way  down  from  the  stage  ,  nearly  bumping  into  someone  as  they  reach  the  last  step  .  “  whoa  !  my  bad  .  ”  side  steps  [  your  muse  ]  .  “  you  up  next  or  just  trying  to  catch  one  of  my  band  members  for  a  quick  selfie  ?  ”  they  playfully  tease  .

[allinmymincl]

seeking shelter from the heat and the crowd, sage is in one of the vip areas, sipping from a glass that has one of those tiny umbrellas in it for some reason when the musician approaches him. curious about an act he wasn't familiar with, he had attended his band's set. "do you want me to answer that as a festivalgoer or as a music critic ? " he mutters, distracted as he finally decides to fish the garnish out of his beverage. "look at this," he shows the musician the tiny umbrella, careful to hold it over his glass so that the potentially potent liquor dripping off of it doesn't kill the grass. "corny, right ? "

sage / @allinmymincl

aless  and  sage  had  never  spoken  ,  their  paths  never  crossing  completely  other  than  in  group  texts  .  "  so  ?  "  asked  out  of  nowhere  as  he  finds  himself  in  front  of  the  other  ,  "  what  did  you  think  of  our  set  ?  are  you  finally  realising  you  have  missed  out  on  great  new  upcoming  talent  ?  "  he  could  be  cocky  but  in  some  ways  it  was  clear  he  was  joking  ,  never  truly  too  offended  by  anyone  except  for  a  select  few  .

[allinmymincl]

ken isn't wrong : sage wouldn't miss crescent fest for the world. he's built his entire career off of never shutting up about music which was maybe facilitated by his father's many connections in the industry, but ... anyway, sage is rolling his eyes as ken appears beside him during a lull in performances. it's that he dislikes him because really, he doesn't. the chasm between their personalities just feels impossible sometimes. sage unclips the laminated card from his shirt and brandishes it at ken. "dude, i'm working." he isn't — not officially, anyway. discussing the festival will almost definitely come up in his work somehow, sure, but he's not actually on assignment ... which means he was just trying to get rid of ken. which he almost immediately feels kind bad about. he sighs. "your shirt hurts my eyes," he informs ken, "why are you and arlo dressed like that ? "

*˖  ⊹              really,  ken  should  have  learned  by  now.  sage  wasn't  really  the  conversationalist  type.  he  also  wasn't  really  the  '  going  out  and  doing  things  when  the  sun  is  out  '  type.  both  of  those  were  things  that  ken,  in  turn,  really  enjoyed.  there  wasn't  a  lot  of  overlap,  and  yet  he  was  determined  to  provide  sage  with  his  friendship  (  whether  his  efforts  were  invited  or  not.  )

             "  sage  !  "  it  made  sense,  then,  that  when  he  spotted  sage  passing  between  stages,  he  made  a  beeline  for  him.  running  up  behind  him,  ken  slung  his  arm  over  the  other  man's  shoulder.  "  i've  been  looking  everywhere  for  you today,  man  !  i  knew  you  had  to  be  around  here  somewhere,  'cause  like,  duh.  it's  a  music  festival.  i  don't  know  anyone  who's  more  into  music  than  you–  you  spend  all  night  every  night  talking  about  it.  "  he  didn't  even  pause  for  breath  as  he  dragged  sage  in  closer,  "  that’s  besides  the  point.  are  you  having  fun  ?  ‘cause  this  is  all  pretty  fun,  so  if  you  aren’t,  i  think  you’re  doing  something  wrong.  “  /  SAGE  (  @allinmymincl  )