Monstercat University I

Chapter 008

[Dilumi's POV]

     It's Monday afternoon, and we're just getting back into the groove of another week at MCU. I'm headed into the gaming room for a meeting with Soulero and Droptek to discuss our plans for the Wednesday night throwback-Thursday-not-Thursday show. I want to make sure we're all on the same page about everything. Carrying my notebook and MacBook (just in case I need it) under my arm, I walk into the room. Most people at Monstercat University, me being an exception, are avid gamers, so it's pretty fitting to have this gaming room here. Even though I don't do video games and the like, I find it kind of sad that the Monstercat fan community hates on the gaming and Minecraft community so much. I mean, I only found out about Monstercat through a Minecraft video in the first place, and that's how I got interested. Monstercat gains a whole lot of fans through the gaming community as well, so why should they hate on them so much? "Dilumi!" I hear my name being called sharply and look over to see Soulero and Droptek, Soulero on a beanbag and Droptek on the couch. Crap, I got myself into a trance there.
     "Oh. Sorry." I walk over and plop down beside Droptek, setting my stuff on the coffee table.
     "So!" Soulero claps his hands. "You guys have a rough idea of what you're gonna do yet?"
     "Yep, I've got mine ready," says Droptek.
     "You?" Soulero asks, looking over at me.
     "I guess I'm about half ready," I sigh as Here With You Now comes in through the speakers. The fans aren't the only ones that know Monstercat music is great for gaming, and that's why we have big speakers installed in the walls of this room with our music always playing. Sometimes people like to practice DJing in here too. "Want me to end on a lighter level for you, by the way?" I offer Soulero. He raises an eyebrow. "Like...something kind of electro or house-ish, since that's what you do?"
     "Dilumi, I don't only play electro and house," Soulero says, snickering. "Besides, electro can be heavy too."
     "Fine..." I say, just as Noisestorm leans over into my left side. "Woah! Watch it!" I snap, leaning away and trying not to get too close to Droptek. Noisestorm gives a quick 'sorry' and leans back, intensely focused on his game of CS:GO. Soulero pretends to ignore him.
     "But yeah, I think I'll start off that way. Probably on 135."
     "Ok. I'll try to end there."
     "Cool. Thanks. And you, Droptek? Where are you-Droptek! LEWIS!!"
     "Hmm? What?" Droptek shakes his head, jolting out of his trance of staring at the screen. Soulero rolls his eyes and heaves a sigh.
     "We really need to do this somewhere else..." he mutters.
     "What were you asking me?" Droptek questions.
     "What BPM do you want me to end on and where are you starting?"
     "Oh. Gosh. Uh...128. I'm probably doing a lot of electro and dubstep."
     "Ok."
     "And some drum n bass."
     "Ok. And-"
     "And some bounce. Maybe trap. Well-"
     "Okay, Droptek. I thought you had this thing figured out."
     "Well, I do, but-"
     "AAH!!! THEY'RE GOING TO KILL ME!!!" Noisestorm screams.
     "For Christ's sake..." Soulero mutters.
     "So do you guys have any tips for me?" I ask. "I mean, it's not like I have a ton of experience with this yet."
     "Pay attention to the crowd and feed off of them," Droptek says. "And no matter what, stay calm." I repeat his words in my head, soaking up the information. Then I glance over and see Tristam coming through the door.
     "Yo! 'Sup Tristy!" I call, shooting a peace sign at him.
     "'Sup," he says back, giving me a goofy smile. What even made me do that? Sometimes I'm crazy.
     "Hey Tristam," says Soulero, glancing at the door then quickly turning back to me. "Oh, and...uh...don't play Levels."
     "What's wrong with it?"
     "Ju-"
     "Or Darude-Sandstorm," Droptek chimes in. Soulero gives him an evil glare.
     "Well, just that it's so popular now that playing it would almost be sarcastic."
     "Oh," I respond simply. I mean, I sorta get it. But I don't exactly get how one plays a track sarcastically. Unless you're Deadmau5. Which I'm not. Well, I'm still gonna play the Tristam remix. I'm sure everybody will love it.