[For a band just starting out in an entirely new region - in an entirely new world - things were going pretty good. They're still going objectively good. The amount of money they've pulled in this month alone is Good.
When this guy approached them, they had every reason to believe it was another good gig, especially with the amount they were being promised...until they get to the venue and see that it was actually for a child's birthday party. The kid in question is turning six and his favorite favorite thing on the planet are Torchics, and his father saw their logo and thought it would be close enough. He's even providing them costumes!
The reveal makes Ryan's stomach bottom out, and it must show on his face because suddenly Min seems concerned at how long he's been quiet and-- nope. Can't have that.
So he smiles. He agrees. Come on, Min. They can't ruin a kid's birthday, right? But it's all very surface level and he feels like his entire brain has ejected itself into space. He goes through the motions, he puts on the dumb costume and tunes up his new guitar, but there's something uncomfortable and wrong in the air, no matter how much he insists otherwise.
To Ryan's surprise, the show actually goes okay? It takes a song or two, but they have enough stage presence that some of the kids are actually paying attention and enjoying the show, including the birthday boy. Most of the set list had to be changed to suit a younger audience, but at least they finally have a crowd interested in various animals (or pokémon) wearing toques. Ryan starts to seem like himself again while they play together.
Once the show ends, they are invited to stay and eat cake and even let their pokémon play, as long as they promise to leave the costumes on - apparently there had been some kind of incident at another party, but whatever. Ryan's only half paying attention. He can be a giant chicken pokémon eating cake, it's fine. He's still feeling a little weird though, so takes it upon himself to grab them a place to sit where they won't get harassed by little kids treating them like mascots while Min finishes up squaring away payment details.
Min will find Ryan with a couple of chairs off to the side, past where the parents are hanging out as if they will be some sort of little kid barrier. He has cake, but he doesn't seem to be actually eating it - just holding the plate and cutting off little bites to push them around the plate. He feels kind of nauseous, honestly.
When he sees Min though, he manages a smile.]
Hey, man. Saved you some cake?
[There is indeed a piece of cake on the chair reserved for Min - bigger than Ryan's and untouched.]
Later this month, at a torchic themed birthday party
When this guy approached them, they had every reason to believe it was another good gig, especially with the amount they were being promised...until they get to the venue and see that it was actually for a child's birthday party. The kid in question is turning six and his favorite favorite thing on the planet are Torchics, and his father saw their logo and thought it would be close enough. He's even providing them costumes!
The reveal makes Ryan's stomach bottom out, and it must show on his face because suddenly Min seems concerned at how long he's been quiet and-- nope. Can't have that.
So he smiles. He agrees. Come on, Min. They can't ruin a kid's birthday, right? But it's all very surface level and he feels like his entire brain has ejected itself into space. He goes through the motions, he puts on the dumb costume and tunes up his new guitar, but there's something uncomfortable and wrong in the air, no matter how much he insists otherwise.
To Ryan's surprise, the show actually goes okay? It takes a song or two, but they have enough stage presence that some of the kids are actually paying attention and enjoying the show, including the birthday boy. Most of the set list had to be changed to suit a younger audience, but at least they finally have a crowd interested in various animals (or pokémon) wearing toques. Ryan starts to seem like himself again while they play together.
Once the show ends, they are invited to stay and eat cake and even let their pokémon play, as long as they promise to leave the costumes on - apparently there had been some kind of incident at another party, but whatever. Ryan's only half paying attention. He can be a giant chicken pokémon eating cake, it's fine. He's still feeling a little weird though, so takes it upon himself to grab them a place to sit where they won't get harassed by little kids treating them like mascots while Min finishes up squaring away payment details.
Min will find Ryan with a couple of chairs off to the side, past where the parents are hanging out as if they will be some sort of little kid barrier. He has cake, but he doesn't seem to be actually eating it - just holding the plate and cutting off little bites to push them around the plate. He feels kind of nauseous, honestly.
When he sees Min though, he manages a smile.]
Hey, man. Saved you some cake?
[There is indeed a piece of cake on the chair reserved for Min - bigger than Ryan's and untouched.]