[2259] Birthday Bash

Takes place June 22nd, 2259. A few days before We're All Mad Here.

Desmond:

It was Bash's birthday and I'm sure people were doing their best under this siege to present the King with decent gifts... It helped distract everyone from the misery and doom and gloom... I think...

My idea for a gift was a music festival, and I had asked the Benefaction guide for help on it. I think they're whole thing is making sure to introduce people to society and what not, so why not see if they can help me keep nudging my way into acceptance?

I sit in the dark fashion tent and listen to music on earbuds hoping anxiously that I get the verses right.

I fiddle with my bracelet.

I can do this... I can show them all that I'm 'civilized', not 'undead evil', and give the King a birthday present at the same time. It'll work out... And if I mess up well... Maybe they'll find it funny or lame, I guess. Either way, not scared.

But I really don't want to mess up. I think warily and move my nervous fighting to my hair and tug stressed and whining quietly to myself.

Dora and some turtles wheels over outfits for the show. Everyone has their own wheeled-in selections of course and fit to perfection since all sizes are known to the turtles. (Personally, I'm still blissfully aware of Beolan's and my own true size.   )

I don't know how they get so much fabric. But I guess it's not like there are super high glass walls anymore to hang giant long curtains, so maybe that's it.

And not... Skining unruly subjects.... Surely...

Glances around warily. The thought was not helping my pre-show jitters.

I'm brought out of my dark despair zone out by Dora waving a little hand at me to get my attention. I take out the earbuds and look at her.

(Dora): "What do you think?"

I peer at the selection. The costumes were historically themed since this was Bash's first birthday after his big bloodline secret coming out of the closet.

I had asked for a Jean-themed outfit. I thought it was fitting, both from the music perspective but I also figured the big black lab coat and a face medical mask (even a thin light spider silk one due to not being muffled by singing) might help offer some light coverage, but despite my intentions, my eyes were also drawn to a thin spider-silk crop top.

"They're.. They're great, thank you... Can I take that too?"

She checks to make sure it isn't a part of someone else's costume and gives a nod.

"Thanks again." I swallow anxiously. Having one more request. My eyes dart to people getting all glamoured up. "And uh..."

I wonder if I'm flushing with someone else's blood or if I'm still pale....

"Can I get.." I wave in their direction. Then change tactics sure no one wants to touch my undead stinky body. It was already horrifying when I think back on that poor turtle who gave me my emergency sand bath. "Like... Can you show me how... That stuff works...?"

(Dora): Dora looks at where I'm pointing. "What stuff?"

"The um... Makeup?"

Some turtle makeup designers must have overheard because they suddenly pat chairs down looking expectantly, wanting to colour up the blank pale canvas.

I assume they want to put colour there to liven up and cover up the undead ugliness.

I get in a chair embarrassed and then they're off yammering on about beginning eyeliner pencils I should to try and whatnot and I try not to get overwhelmed.

A turtle offers to add fake blood to my wings for my outfit. As cool and fitting as that would be I have to tell them no. Worried how much... touching and scrubbing would have to be involved to get it out once the day is over... Shivers.

Meredith:

I pace around the outside of Desmond's tent before making the executive decision to just interrupt him in there.

"Desmond?"

I see him getting some work done on his costume.

"Well... I would say break a leg but... please don't."

I cringe at the thought.

"You really outdid yourself. Do you need help?"

I ask

Desmond:

I look to Mer, which annoys the turtles but I wave them off. They weren't going to convince me to let them mess with my wings.

"Hey."

I bet I was worrying everyone in the link with my anxiety... Which might just become a perpetuating cycle if I think about it.. Maybe?.. I don't know.

I smile warily at her leg comment.

"Thanks."

I frown.

"It's too much, isn't it?"

And it's worse cause I got other people to help. I'm going to let everyone down...

I rub my forehead stressed out.

"But yeah- yeah. You can help of course." I smile warily. Thankful for the offer, but also... Another person I could let down... "Thank you. And- And you just being here is already helping. But yeah I can take any help I can get."

I feel too awkward to just list out some possibilities for that. I don't want to pressure her or assume anything. I hope she can just see something and if she wants to do it, she can do it. I'd hope whatever it would be wouldn't strain her too much of course but I'm sure she knows whats best and her limits for her own self.

I glance down at her stomach for a distraction from all these worrying thoughts of my self to focus on someone else. "By the way, how's your 'gifts' coming along?" I smile warily looking up at her. Her little miracles are getting so close to due.

Meredith:

I glance around at the other costumes and smile.

"No, I think it's perfect."

Our new king will enjoy it, Sebastian certainly would not.

Desmond asks about the babies.

"I think they are ready to come out."

I tease.

"Or perhaps I am just projecting."

I fuss around with his mask making sure it was in place.

"Are you singing?"

I ask him curiously.

Desmond:

I smile at her tease.

Then tilt my head at her question.

"Hmm... My answer might change if you're offering?"

I wink.

Meredith:

"Might change?"

I swat his arm playfully and laugh.

"It better change if I'm going up there and I don't even know what's being played. What's the song?"

Desmond:

I jerk slightly at the smack, grinning at her attitude. And feeling better to not feel so alone in this. It really touched me that she was so kind after my terrible words to her five months ago, and the whole being dead thing.. We were still the same great friends regardless.

I raise my hands. "I surrender. Yes, it will change! You may have the part if you want! My talents lie in dance anyway."

I say self-deprecatingly in a tease, since I'm sure I suck to trained ears.

I offer her the earbuds.

"Well for the 'singing' bit... since.. I don't know how aliens... uh.. consider true 'singing'-"

All that.. what is it? Tone?.. Oh wait no, isn't it 'key'? Yeah, I think is the right term. Either way, whatever it is. I might have four ears but it's not like I've ever been trained to listen and understand all that mumbo jumbo.

"I was just going to go off with one of those Jean songs."

Since they... don't tend to really seem like.. singing... As far as I can tell...

Less of a chance to fail... I think...

"Do you know any?"

Meredith:

I smile awkwardly.

"No not really"

I put the ear buds in and raise my eyebrows.

The beats were wild but the lyrics were.. quite violent actually.

What did I get myself into!

I laugh trying to imagine how I was going to do this while scrolling through the songs.

I found a couple that I liked.

The first song was nice as it only required me to say the same line on repeat. The other was not so nice with a very fast paced beat - still, could be fun though.

Which one do you like?

https://youtu.be/ds3MswOcNcI?si=l3qu9dbCM1MfFLEh

https://youtu.be/w-sQRS-Lc9k?si=CcKr0wmTx7XA8tLX

Desmond:

I check out her selections on the tablet, through the earbuds next to her.

And nod along to the first one.

The second one... I didn't want to have to put Meri on the spot with all those words. I'd feel bad.

"Good finds."

I smile at her.

"I think the first one will work great."

Wags tail happily.

"Thanks for doing this with me."

Rubs head against her shoulder and purs.

Meredith:

"Thanks for including me in your dance."

I playfully ruffle his hair before wandering over to a rack full of costumes in thought.

"What do you think? Turtle? Or this one?"

*Holds up Boron costume*

Desmond:

Tail wags faster at the hair ruffle.

I watch her go to the costumes smiling.

Then tilt my head at the turtle one and lower my ears.

"Hmm.. The turtle one might be uncomfortable."

All that turtle leather.

"Plus I can't think of you in turtle. It makes me sad."

Kitty doesn't like the thought of Preggo Mer stuck on her back like a turtle unable to get up.

I observe the Boren one and hum.

It was certainly bold of her. Given all that station trauma after his attack and everything. I didn't want to take away that mental victory for her. But I also didn't want her to be stressed out and add to her burden if she was just putting up a good front with the whole culture shift and the music theme.

"Maybe... You would look mysterious in sunglasses."

I wink then look thoughtful and get up and look around.

"Hmm.. What about... Sorin?"

She is going to be royalty and running the kingdom after all.

I pull it out and show her.

Meredith:

"Sorin huh.."

I bite my lip in amusement.

The King will not like this costume at all.

I smirk.

"I think we have a winner."

I wiggle my eyebrows at Desmond before heading off to go change.

Desmond:

She wiggled her eyebrows.

How did she do that?

What does it mean?

She did it after a smirk though and said the costume was a 'winner' so it must be a good sign.

Goes over to a mirror and scrunches eyebrows, then lifts them both.

Hmmm...

Maybe humans do have unique emotions displaying anatomy after all. I consider. Thinking back so long ago when we first met.

Meredith:

I come out of the change room with my hair all pinned up under a copy of the kings head armour, sporting a sick greyish brown beard, and long black cape.

I swoop it in front of me playfully for dramatic effect.

Desmond was in front of a mirror doing something with his face.

I try not to snort.

"Desmond are you ok?"

Desmond:

"Yeah, just... Trying to do what you did... But I seem incapable."

Humans must have interesting facial muscles or tendons or... nerves or whatever.

I stop my failed attempts at the mirror and turn and look at her.

"Oh wow." I smile looking at her head to toe, then back again. "Nice." I give a nod. "Really committing to the bit."

Maybe I'm not the only one exploring... Looks and.. things.

Meredith:

"Oh? And what did I do?"

I wander over to him as he takes in my costume.

"I went a little extra with the beard didn't I?"

I tease before looking up at Beolan who felt rather hopeless right now.

"Come on Beo.. we need a backup turtle dancer!"

I call out to him in a tease.

Desmond:

I point to my eyebrows.

"Your eyebrows got all... Groovy."

I lower my hands.

"Nah, it's fine." I try to encourage, then follow her attention and look over to Beo.

Then look back to Mer. Then back to Beo.

"You heard the King."

Beolan:

I involuntary drop down at Meridith's tease and try to withhold my embarrassment. 

Mushrooms fall about. 

Even Desmond tries to order me.

...

I glance at him not trusting saying anything about running away with Meri in front of him.

I just put the consume on and keep my eyes down, trying to wait for a chance.

Meredith:

I bite my bottom lip at Desmond in a smile.

"You mean.. this?"

I playfully wiggle my eyebrows at him again.

Finally something I can do that he can't

I giggle at Desmond when encourages Beolan to come down aswell.

Beolan drops down and I straighten up in sober realization of what I just did there.

(To Beolan)((Sorry..))

I watch Beolan's mushrooms fall about and look down finding it a rather cute characteristic he has developed.

I turn back to Desmond.

"You think the turtle costume suits your theme or should he wear something else?"

Desmond:

I stare wide-eyed at her eyebrows and their wavy pattern and make a high-pitched kitten meow sound at the display.

I couldn't tell if I instinctually wanted to paw at it and lick it like a small animal or be warned away by the eyes underneath them.

My ears twitch as I hear the mushrooms fall and I glance over the shrooms.

"Well, at least the party will have plenty of 'Starker Shrooms' with Beo around."

Though they don't seem to be doing him any good, are they? Maybe he's just so used to that in his system he can't get high enough to enjoy it now? Or maybe he needs to 'self-cannibalize' to get the effects.

I hear her question put on the spot and glance at her then at Beo and look thoughtful.

"Sure and I guess that's fitting for him and all too."

Given the whole, supposed chosen weapon monster of the various establishments

"Nice pick."

Meredith:

"Starker Shrooms?"

I playfully make a face as Desmond approves of Beolan's costume.

"Perfect, Beolan follow Desmond's lead.. er if you want to."

I include still wondering what I was going to do.

"I think I may do the same for when I'm not on vocals."

Which is really most of the song..

I don't know I might get creative with it.

Desmond:

"What? What would you call them?"

I can think of other names. But I think Starker Shroom gets the point across.

I glance at the ceiling teasingly in exasperation at her face.

Yes, he can be a turtle stuck on his back. It wouldn't be sad if he was.

I give a nod at her plan and a smile. "Sounds good. And with all your leadership under pressure, it seems like the time you should voice a checkmark, Your Highness." I grin.

Meredith:

"I dunno, I just thought the name was funny."

I chuckle before blushing a little at Desmond's compliment.

"This is your dance Des, we are playing two adversaries and a turtle.. thing."

I eye Beolan's mask in surprise when he mentions if we are killing Boron and then says something else that I don't understand.

................

I turn to Desmond.

"Do you have a plan of attack?"

I ask trying to think of ideas for inspiration.

We could do a story? Perhaps even dance off scenes between each character like they are in battle?

I stroke my beard

Or we could just dance together. Sorin was a real ladies man I'm sure I could work it.

I shrug.

Desmond:

Two adversaries and a turtle.

I tilt my head at her question trying to understand.

Plan of attack?

What does that mean?

Maybe she means the plan for the dance.

"Hmmm.... We could at some point try to pick up Bash like we're kidnapping him and then you dance attack us and we toss him at the crowd. Like crowd surfing?" I suggest.

Maybe the chance they won't and he'll fall and smack his head on the ground will get Beo to go along with it.

"We'll then 'come back' to life to finish the dance after we were seemingly dead. Cause the bad guy always comes back."

At least if Beo and Klaus and now myself are anything to go by.

"Though the song is a bit short." I acknowledge.

Meredith:

"Oo that sounds fun."

I brighten up.

Desmond comments on the length of the song possibly being a problem..

"Hmm should we switch it up then?"

I ask him while we continue to brainstorm ideas.

Beolan remained sad and quiet.

Desmond:

Fun is not the word I would use but at least she thought so for her and her love's sake.

I personally found crowd surfing to be selfish and annoying.

But maybe Bash would get hurt in the process or annoy his subjects more so at least there was that.

"No, it's fine. We'll make it work."

Then we don't have to make it celebrate 'the man' too long. Since that was just the excuse for this to try to get people to not see me as a monster. But I'm not sure it'll actually work out anyway with such a Bash focus. But I guess I got to take what I can get.

"Or we just dance however we want and not even do that."

Beolan:


They we're taking TOO LONG again. Stupid foreplay..

I walk up to the stage and start pressing BUTTONS. MUSIC OF SOME SORT PLAYS.

What rubbish I could play a tune betta'...

*taps turtle claw foot*

Meredith:

I shrug not wanting to make a decision and just wanting to be a SUPPORT for Desmond 

Desmond:

I was going to suggest maybe just dancing to an additional song after that if Mer still felt up to it after being on her feet for the first one. But I'm distracted by lights flashing outside the tent exit (from button presses) then hear music start to play.


I grimace.

"That equipment is still set to the old idea..."

It was what I had originally picked after a particularly spicy glass of blood made me feel a little blood drunk crazy rebellious and came up with this stupid thing to begin with.

It was only after anxiety set in and I lost self-confidence that I started fumbling for more generic and just dance scramble to fix it. It was more performance and just trying

♪ "The lion and the wolf." ♪

"Damn... Well, we're all in trouble now." I give a grim smile.

♪ "Old Gods and the new." ♪

"Well, maybe not you. You can still escape and save yourself." I wink at her, then start to head out.

Beolan:

Those two could go around in circles forever. I press buttons and ..something plays. It had alot of words and I try to struggle with the dread feeling to strain and hear.

*chuckles under mask*

Desmond wants to dance to that..

Meredith:

Desmond's original pick was edgy and blunt.

It was quite badass actually.

I make a pained expression but can't help but chuckle at our own expense.

We are definitely getting into shit for this.

Desmond offers me one last chance to ditch.

"And deny everyone the opportunity of seeing a pregnant woman with a beard?"

No way

I follow after Desmond on stage and playfully begin mouthing the words.

Battle of the bastards
Trying to break through
A back and forth pendulum
We can't seem to stop
Ticking like a metronome
Can't kill the clock
Somedays I feel like we're just symptoms of our system
Black hole no hope
Psycho syndrome

The chorus soon hits and I move next to Beolan and shadow Desmond's lead for the dance.

Desmond:

I feel Beo's dread and then his seeming amusement at the situation.

I can't help but grin at Mer's comment, lightening the mood.

"Yes. It is quite a look to behold." I wink.

All must gaze upon it.

These positive jolts help me when I go on stage and dance.

I punch at the air, going side to side, and then twist low with the chorus.

I glance over at the others as I do. The three of us. Together. Like old times.

Juliet and others dance along entranced.

♪"So light the gas with some matches"♪

I set my hands on fire.

♪"Let's burn the old empire into ashes"♪

And let out a burst of flames high above the crowd towards the tall energy ceiling above.

Meredith:

I keep moving to the beat of the song, following Desmond's lead.

He does a fire trick to the chorus and my jaw falls open in a smile in response.

(To Desmond) ((Nice!))

I encourage him before noticing Beolan freeze on the spot.

(To Beolan)((Beolan? Are you ok?))

I dance around him in confusion.

Jem was stunning. All that pretty red just really drew in the eyes and she wore it wonderfully.

I had tried to follow suit to impress the King.

Recent... events... may have inspired it. 

I was cosplaying as Boren. I had taken a lab coat and painted it blue with a mess of white lines trying to copy one of Boren's looks. I can't remember if it was from the movies or a more recent live-action performance but I remember seeing something like that on him.

I also covered my wings in silver and blue plastic to try to match and to hopefully delight the King with.

I don't know if I or anyone for that matter can compete with my gorgeous sister, but I think I did pretty great myself.

I wonder why she wasn't asked to participate on stage? Is that why she's pacing around so mad?

Speaking of the show, I couldn't pry my attention away from it. Something about Desmond's dancing makes me sway along, entranced. It's only when he stops to let loose fire that the spell is broken and I notice the strange stillness with Turtle Beolan.

"Is he... Okay?"

(Desmond to Mer): (("Thank you.")) He smiles embarrassed.

♪"Woooaaahhh."♪

"You look amazing by the way!" I say to Jem, while leaning towards her direction and she really did. I wasn't just saying that to make her feel better, although that would be nice if I could!

I smile and enjoy her company regardless. It was such a simple pleasure that you don't know you had until it's gone.

♪"Wooooaahhhh."♪

"You have such a talent for these things!" I compliment cheerily.

♪"Let's burn it all into ashes."♪

Desmond goes back to dancing and once again my attention is pulled towards him. He spins and lets out more fire above him.

♪"The young man dreams while he sleeps in his bed."♪

I guess Desmond tried to help take the attention off Beo as he flew up, flipped in the air, and before the flip was finished was suddenly teleported in a puff of black and red and reappeared onto the edge of a balcony, hanging onto it upside with his legs and crosses his hands over his chest.

♪"Death keeps an eye while he's waiting for the dead."♪

He opens one eye and peers around.

Jem's red featheryness catches the cat's attention.

♪"If life is a needle then my soul is the thread."♪

He lets out black line things from his hands towards where we were and I flinch back when he suddenly zooms over to us.

(Desmond): (("Looking stellar wicked, Jem.")) He peers at her, and I swear there's something in the way he's looking at her. Maybe it's my imagination but I swear there's hot dark bad boy tension between them. Like a carnivore to prey? He brings his hand to his mouth and sucks in smoke then finally tears his eyes away from her and lets blows out the smoke from his lungs towards the center opening at the line,

♪"My Mouth is the poison"♪

I realized I was holding my breath.

He then wiggles his cat tongue at the next bit.
 
♪"My tongue is the lead"♪

Okay, that bit was a bit lame but I can't help but gaze at my sister wondering if she knows what that tongue can do. The texture and feel of it... My mind goes places.

Beolan:

I zone out finding the words to the song quite... quite... deeply effecting me..

The tune takes on a new meaning that wasnt what was intended. 

I can only see through the dark turtle mask the ..ashes... the burn... Mer...

I snap back/flinch at Meridieth coming face to face to me after my blurry memories resurfaced.

No wonder she told me to get away from her...

Meridieth didn't order me to do anything so I turn away trying to leave the stage and get through her dancing around me.

 Desmond was the real STAR anyway with all his..fancy new tricks.  I still.. didnt ..undertand..

Jem:

I admire Juliet's outfit. It would have been fun to both be Boren probably, but I was trying to 'play nice' right now anyway..

I still think everyone is a bit crazy brainwashed by pizza puffs though...

"Thank you, you too. Its divine. Really.. I saw a coat JUST like that on the Citadel." I say and wonder if I shouldnt have.  She was much safer when I wasnt here.... lotting her in with traitors .

She says I have a talent. 

"Your not so bad yourself.."

Beo almost ruins the show but Desmond picks up the slack. I cant help but look up at him in awe, seeing him in a new light after all the weirdness. He was quite the creature, something almost as crafty as what comes out of the lab.  Something powerful, even more then a godkiller now..

I break the speechless stare at his tounge when Juillet stares semi slackjawed. I look at her with a nervous laugh.

"So wheres your prince? Did anyone invite him?"

Meredith:

Beolan's mood only seemed to get worse.

I follow after him behind a curtained backdrop to the stage which casted our shadowed silhouettes with perfect clarity to the audience.

"Here, let me help you with that."

I sigh going over to him and assisting with his costume.

**Meanwhile the shadows depict Sorin catching up to the turtle and pulling off its head (Beolan's mask) and ripping off its skin (turtle shirt). The audience GASPS in HoRrOr when the show takes a very big turn for the worst.**

"Sorry er.. I thought it was velcro?"

I smile sheepishly at the ripped up clothes before hearing all the ruckus outside and taking a peek on stage to see what all the commotion was about.

Oh..

I panic and portal a few more characters in costume onstage (Jem and Juliet) to help distract away from us.

Juliet:

I'm slowly broken from my fantasizing at Jem's question.

"Oh... Right."

I look around.

Desmond places the mask portion of his costume back over his face and looks out as well.

His attention is drawn back to the stage though, (at the emotions and monstrous ravaging display of the others) looking intently and annoyed or something in his thread-bare mask.

Cole nearby gazed with the crowd at the shadowy display.

I yelp when suddenly an energy floor appears out of nowhere and swallows us up.

I land with a start and look around confused at the crowd, finding myself stunned on stage.

"Uh?.."

I squint out at the crowd and then flush realizing the King could be seeing me... Right now... Somewhere...

This was my chance! Again!

I grin and just wave my hands in the air and then gesture for the scared crowd to join in, while I try not to freak out and pass out before I think of something I can actually do, so put on the spot.

Boren would sing, right? So I try to sing along to the song.

♪"Some days I feel like I'm just stuck in my own skin. Try to break free but I can't escape me!"♪

Beolan:

Meridieth rips most of my clothes off and I get frustrated. 

*wings pop out*

*audience shouts out 'Shard' then sees more characters 'Boren!' "Myra!' and all think its apart of the show*

"What do you want?" I snap a little embarrassed and hurt she wont let me LEAVE. 

I had no plan here this was her and Des's thing for Bash.... 

I try not to roll my eyes at Jem and Juillet going with the flow too.

*flaps wings trying to blow them off in the crowd*

Meredith:

................

"You know what. Forget it!"

My emotional RAGE creates a random portal transporting Ettie into our scene, she falls back into a rack of costumes and s seashell garland and headpiece fall onto her.

I help her up frustrated but she trips into Beolan instead.

His stupid wing flaps was making it nearly impossible to stand!

I get frustrated and leave them both to go after Desmond.

Pretending to sneak up on him when I do.

Desmond:

The stage curtain ripples open with gusts of beating wings and Juliet's wings get caught in the strong current.

(Juliet): "Ah!" She yelps as she falls into the crowd.

Through the link, I feel anger, embarrassment, and hurt.

Twitches at the additional wing feelings off Beo.

All of that, plus my own upset feelings were... Overwhelming...

The curtain settles back down as I can tear my eyes away from the now-hidden rainbow splendor that is Ettie and all those.... tentacle wings... Shivers and catch sight of Mer and cringe thinking she's angry wing horny too.

I grind my sharp teeth, ears twitching at Beo's hiss among the music.

I hiss and fly up to the stage and perch on the top of the curtain and look down ready to beat the shit out of Beo to get him off Ettie, but he isn't there. He left her alone.

I lower my shoulders relieved at that at least.

She was so stunning... Stares down at her, tail wagging.

But the anger and annoyance kindle away once the initial relief is over and the pent-up need.

It was maddening and infuriating.

I tilt my head up and scream in frustration.

Black fire ignites over my body in defense of my stress and the stage curtain catches fire. Black red helLightning arcs out, sizzling and crackling around me. I slam my hand down against the curtain pole and eldritch tendrils seep out without my knowing and pour over the curtain fabric like black rivulets of cascading ooze and spread across the stage.

Meredith:

In hindsight I really should have tried to get Ettie away from Beo.

Especially when he was like... that.

Now we were all feeling weird..

I try to remain in character all the same and make my way over to Desmond.

Before I get there however, he flies away on me.

Oookkkaayyyy...

I turn to see him eyeing up Ettie and panic, but instead, he takes a different approach and my jaw drops at his destruction of the stage.

Is this still apart of the dance or???

**Mom brain**

I try to trap him in my energy bubble to keep him from burning the whole place down.. I think?

The battle on the dance floor is getting HEATED.

Meredith rips off her beard, ready to take action! (Sorry folks the bearded AI is nightmare fuel. It can't be UNSEEN.)

**Actually just kidding, it's on photo-share 

Juliet:

I grimace as I try to push myself back up in the claustrophobic crowd. I get jostled and stepped on and one falls back on me (after backing up from the stage chaos).

I wince and get jostled more from the back of others trying to get closer to 'the action'.

I'm just bummed my moment was already over. It seemed like it had just gotten started.

I manage to push myself up and hear the crowd ruminating on the meaning.

I hear whispers of 'Black death', 'Orc Ooze' and 'Black blood' as people watch the spectical of the sparkling lights and tendrils creeping down.

The stress of it apparently gets to 'Sorin' as he loses his beard!

Was that man bald under the helmet?.. Hmmm...

'Sorin' entraps 'Jean' and some of the crowd chant 'Sorin! Sorin!' There's jumping and jostling and cheers.

I frown uncomfortably so bombarded everywhere but it only lasts for a moment, before I let everyone else's entertainment and enjoyment (and scale water influence), re-psyche me.

'Jean' Des turns around in the energy containment to face 'Sorin' Mer and hisses at him/her. His lightning crackles against his/her shield.

I can't tell what happened to the 'black blood' after containment. Too many tall people in the way.
I look for the girls curious if they saw and were here.

(("It's like live action fan fiction!")) I think to them.

Needs more romance of course though.

(("Shame the 'ravaging' was off-screen.")) 

(("Hey! We should totally try to get approved for our own sometime!"))

William:

I clap my hands in excitement hardly able to contain myself.

What a performance, inspiring as ever. It was nothing less than pure ART.

Desmond's dance moves were incredible! And those song lyrics.. REVOLUTIONARY I tell you!

We all needed that reminder not to lose ourselves to the SYSTEM.

If only King Sorin could have been here to see the show himself.

*Sniffles.*

I am distracted again thinking about the dance's story plot. 

Shard being disguised as a turtle this whole time. Who could have ever saw that coming?? 

And little Ettie playing the highly coveted part of Malfie? She was STUNNING!

The Boron and Myra costumes were also INCREDIBLE! I wondered how long it took to create such distinguished looks.

Meredith's portrayal of our great King was a choice, but in the end she really pulled through getting that nasty Jean character put away and Desmond did so good playing her too. It was CHILLING, not to mention that thing that he did with the black ooze and fire. It almost seemed prophetic didn't it?

I will be sure either way to write a RAVING 5 "teddy bear" review on my BLOG about this!

Dora:

'Jean' goes down as the song ends. (Encased in energy bubble light, Des loses the energy to be angry anymore and lays down ready for a nap.)

"Yay!" I clap and cheer with the crowd. "Whoo!"

It was so cool! I was mesmerized by all the amazing abilities being used like special effects and stunts.

And the great Gregorian's costumes and the turtle's stylists and seamstresses really shined through too! Such an amazing spotlight for his work. Like a runway but as a play showcase!

It's a shame 'Malfie' was only shown so briefly. It was surely his best work ever so far! But maybe that was the point and it just made it all the more special and stunning instead of letting it linger and the initial reaction to such beauty being watered down with time.