Once Upon a Plotbunny! ((Private RP, not recruiting))

[jenna_chan2]

“Really? A cat? I wonder what kind. I don’t think you’re like a lion…they can be nice and they’re fast. You’re not fast enough. Maybe something more like…” She thought for a moment and then tilted her head as she tried to think of all the cats she could. A tiger might have been good for him. Calm, but fierce when needed. “A tiger. That’s it.” Nodding with her decision, she really wanted to find some paint and put stripes on him now.

“Oh!” Tugged by the hand along the path, she looked up at him and rolled her eyes. “Like I’m dumb enough to touch the fire. Of course it’s hot! It’s fire!” Sighing, she looked aside and stumbled on her steps for a split second, though she took longer strides to keep up. “I do know that much. I do cook, you know. It’s not like I was living in a cave or anything.”

[Aegeon]

[Raff]

"Could have fooled me," he grunted, casting open the doors to the building and dragging her out into the streets.

It didn't take a genius to figure out that the spell had obviously been lifted. The square had become a focal point of absolute chaos.

This was a double edged sword. While it certainly bode well for a distraction, they now faced the problem of fighting against the masses, like salmon spawning upstream. Their time was limited, as it were.

Pulling Kae roughly against him, he dropped her hand rather abruptly... as though he discovered she had cooties, or something. Instead, his arm draped over her shoulders protectively, keeping her tight against his chest.

It might have been seen as an affectionate gesture, a father keeping watch over his daughter, save for the fact that they held no familial resemblance... and he was only concerned about being able to slip easily through the crowd together.

"Stay close, and hold on. We can't afford to get separated."

A quick glance at their surroundings, and he determined that while the most direct course of action would be to tackle the stage head on... with the flames, the crowd and the visibility factor, they would make far better time trying to ambush the witch from the wings.

She would certainly not be expecting someone to block off her only escape route.

"This way," he nodded, tucking the blade of the dagger down into his coat sleeve, as his arm drew up towards the crowd as though he was holding a shield.

They were going to make it through this madhouse, one way or another. Even if he had to bulldoze his way through the women and children to do it.

That was the beauty of being a jackass. You just got s**t done.

[jenna_chan2]

Sticking her tongue out at him, she moved onto the street and then looked around. “It’s so much more lively down here! It’s like a party!” Kae noted, talking over some of the crowd. Just as she was about to step forwards into the frenzy, he dropped her hand and she was forced to stumble back into him. The arm clamped around her shoulders was more of a surprise than the stumble backwards. Simply standing there, she stared up at him and chewed on the inside of her lip.

Well…this could be awkward. Was he having a moment? Did he need to catch his breath? Was she about to step in something? At least there weren’t any cliffs around to dive off of or she certainly would have found it. Pulling her arms around him, she gave him a pat on the back and then nodded. “I’m not going anywhere.” That…was at least a promise she could keep. Gripping onto his side, she waited for his move first before she followed.

It seemed silly to dodge through the entire group of people, but it was exciting all at the same time. No tripping and no stumbling, she managed to make it through quite easily with Raff leading the way. Perhaps that was why she had an easier time…because he was moving people out of the way for her. Hopping over fallen items and bags, she glanced at their feet every so often to make sure they weren’t doing something dangerous…

Well, that very thought made her laugh. This whole episode was dangerous as it was. Laughing a little to herself, she put a finger to her lips and made sure her hat was still secured on her head. He’d given it to her after all. It suited her, she thought. If she lost it, she might as well have lost herself along with it.

[Aegeon]

[Raff]

"Good."

He charged through the crowd like a football player, not even bothering to offer excuses or apologize to those he encountered, shoved, or knocked out of the way.

Even as their protests chased after him, he didn't care. They'd be thankful enough they were still alive, later.

Ingrates.

Clearing a path to the side of the stage, he managed to position them beside the makeshift walls of fabric and canvas, that separated the dressing areas and wings from the crowd outside.

It was quieter here - most of the crowd was busy fighting their way away from the stage, and guards and mages that rushed about were all desperately trying to battle the flames that erupted so suddenly, and with such a viscious fury.

Releasing Kae from his embrace, his free hand grabbed onto the temporary wall... taking a handful of the material between his fingers.

The procured dagger was then dragged down the length of it, splitting it in two.

Why search for a way in, when you could just make your own? These cutty-stabby things were awfully useful that way.

"In here," he instructed, addressing her as though she was a dog in training. Pulling back the recently developed flap, he motioned for her to duck inside.

If his estimate was correct, this would place them in the dressing area, just before the wing of the stage. They would be far enough from the flames, but close enough to determine what was happening behind the scenes.

And hopefully, be in a position to stand between the sorceress and her only way out.

[jenna_chan2]

“Whoa. Whoa…WHOA!” He headed straight through the people. Kae was left to mutter apologizes, but they were past the people before one could even hear it. She felt like screaming them ahead, but she was told to be quiet. All these rules were beginning to get annoying. Keeping a hand on her hat, she finally caught up to him and caught her steps as well.

“You know. You could warn someone before you do something like….You’re ruining their house!” Looking at the wall, Kae put her hands up to it, obviously forgetting the raging fire going on not too far away. Stepping through the flap without even a second thought, she looked back to him and sighed. It was quiet and it was darker. It seemed eerie…like they were definitely somewhere they did not belong. “What’s this place?” She asked quietly, looking back at him. “What are we doing back here instead of being out there?”

[Aegeon]

[Raff]

He didn't look all that terribly worried.

"I didn't ruin their house," he pointed out, crawling in after her. "First of all, it's not a house. Secondly, I only improved upon the original design."

He paused for a moment, as they moved into the dimly lit backstage area.

The corridors were marred with make up tables and vanity mirrors, tools and chairs strewn about as though the occupants had fled with great haste. Go figure.

But now the place was completely deserted, save for the two of them. Not even a solitary trace of Kohaku could be found.

Thank the Goddess.

"This is the backstage area. If you follow this to the end, and make a left at the corner, you'll be right on stage."

As if to pre-empt her energy, he reached out and clamped a hand down on her shoulder. He didn't need her charging ahead, babbling about how much fun it would be to go on stage and meet the actors.

Even if they were all facing a fiery death presently.

The fire. Dammit.

That was another matter he would have to be sure to deal with, but only after the red haired witch was taken care of. Hopefully, by then, the authorities of the city would have rescued the actors and extinguished the flames.

He didn't particularly want to be thrust into the spotlight, if it wasn't necessary.

"Just hold your horses there, kid. First we gotta take a look and see what's going on."

Giving her a pointed look, he reluctantly released his grip on her... watching her warily to make sure she'd stay put, or in at least a reasonable radius from him.

When he was fairly certain she wouldn't charge screaming into battle, he walked a few paces ahead of her, following the length of the makeshift canvas wall with his back. Once he had reached the corner, he peered around it carefully... trying to take in all he could gather.

Saera Rose was still on the stage, making her way towards them with the young man cast to his role.

"Wow," Raff muttered, eyeing the two of them.

It was rather remarkable how much this young thesbian resembled him. Either it was chilling coincidence, or an incredible job in makeup and wardrobe, but even Raff found it difficult to believe his eyes.

Although, this revelation scared him.

The redhaired witch really did not handle rejection very well, that much was known. But this... this was a whole new, and creepy, type of obsession.

No doubt, judging by the pendant around the boy's neck, she had every intention of taking him home to whatever ungodly horrors she planned to unleash upon him.

He shuddered violently, in recollection.

Not that she hadn't done enough to this poor lad.

Raff wanted to shake his head, but there was no point. It would only be for his own benefit, and he was quite well aware of how he felt about the matter.

No, the focus had to remain upon the woman. Hostage, or no hostage.

His eyes darted around the corridor.

Save for a few empty wardrobe racks, and a solitary full length mirror, there was no shadows to lurk within... no place to hide unseen.

This could be problematic.

But at least he had the answer to his question of where the elder sister went. No doubt the younger would be following her lead, and making a break through the glass portal.

Frowning slightly, he found himself at an impasse.

There was no way he could close the gap between them fast enough to retain his element of surprise. And if he waited long enough for her to be within a suitable striking range, she would be too close to the mirror for it to be effective.

The very moment she saw him, she would flee - fully aware that he was alive, and out to get them.

But he only had this one shot. The elder, and more powerful, Sister was clearly out of the picture. This was his opportunity to do away with Saera, completely unbeknowst to Kohaku.

He may never get this chance again.

Taking the tip of the dagger between his fingers, he drew in a deep breath.

He would have to take this risk.

If she drew a little closer, he was certain he could plant the dagger squarely between her eyes. Better still if she was distracted by those on stage, and turned her back to him for a brief moment.

Even if the tribal elders had been full of mythical mumbo jumbo and lied about the daggers abilities, she would still be forced to die one more death. The odds of many against one were far better than they were now.

After all, it worked out last time.

He would just have to take a blind leap of faith. If the ground just so happened to fall away from beneath his feet, then he would simply have to play the rest by ear.

But he couldn't allow the what ifs to steal this prime opportunity from him.

Ready or not... the time was now.

[Kallima Nightengale]

((Ooookay.... so back posting for... everyone xD; I'm unlikely to change accts so... deal with it. Been a long weekend))

[[Eilir]]

It was kind of funny how time went. Sometimes it was sluggish, dragging its feet and speaking with a fake southern accent. Other times it blazed by, leaving nothing but some toussled hair and a wardrobe malfunction in its wake.

In the thick of it all, every moment seemed to take an eon. Each second sounded loudly as it ticked past, punctuated by a reverberating heart beat and a ragged, sucking breath. Maybe that was because she was living each moment as two. She could hear the echo of someone else's perception, twisting and weaving into her own, staining it a secondary color a single person could never leave behind on the planes of time.

Now that her feet were on the floor, however, Eilir wasn't sure what to make of the occurrences of the last 10 minutes. Or was it thirty? Sixty?

It all seemed like a story, written in haste by a reporter keeping to their deadline.

She was taken with her brother, made to be hung.

Was hung.

She remembered the way that her body burned for want of oxygen, the way her muscles ached even as they struggled against her bonds, tearing and clawing at the strings, caring little for the damage she had caused to her skin in the process. Her back ached from the impact of being dropped.

It didn't make much sense that the air burned more when she was able to breath it than it did when she was struggling to fill her lungs.

But if everything in life made sense, it wouldn't be quite so fun now would it.

As she was pulled away once more, to watch in helpless isolation, Aeon was taken hostage by the story being told. She felt the kindness with which he coddled one shadow, seethed with the same resentment as he beat the other.

It was uncomfortable.

But still... not intolerable.

Perhaps it was being able to notice his feelings, be able to see how another person viewed the world that gave such power to her facades, her art. Half of what she felt, wasn't what she felt.

That would explain the shockwaves that assaulted her through her brother's interaction with the tall man.

They were subtle things, slight. Unable to see him, passing off every flicker of emotion as a trick of the witches, it was easy to feel it was nothing. The wind off a butterfly's wings.

A flutter struck as the elf kissed her twin's forehead. Unsatisfied with this, it would seem, the witch provoked a stronger show of affection. Not that she had to provoke it. She was in control, wasn't she?

Her insides lurched sickeningly.

Was she supposed to be popping small festival treats into her mouth, watching agasp at this? It was like that one episode of All My Minstrels where...

No no. That just felt wrong.

That was her sibling up there, she shouldn't be exploiting him for her entertainment.

Maybe that was it.

Jealousy wasn't a thing she was unfamiliar with. It was just another one of those emotions she thrived on, craved for, and subsequently expressed in exaggerated melodrama along with all the rest of them. That was supposed to be her role, afterall, and though it wasn't his choice to rob her of it, he still had. Perhaps it was simply that she wanted the treat of a kiss.

Wait she already got that one, didn't she?

But that wasn't as fun.

No it kind of was.

Hm... perhaps it was something else then?

The answer didn't come until she was with her twin once again. A little waltz, nothing special, but the closeness was all she needed to establish a connection with him. He tried to keep her out... really part of her never wanted to intrude. She didn't try to take on his feeling, she didn't want his eyes skewing her own vision, but it happened. As it had always happened. As it probably always would.

She should have figured it out.

The way he had spoken of this person she was supposed to meet up with.

He sounded so sad, like he was struggling to even tell her his name. She took it as that he couldn't remember. Even now she couldn't say what it was. That reluctance wasn't just discomfort, it wasn't just all emotions registering as subdued in the shadow of her blinding glee.

It was very real, and very strong.

She should have made fun of him. 'Wooed by a gentleman? Really Aeon, and you wonder why I took your pants.'

Even if she could speak, could she have done so?

He looked scared. Scared he was being manipulated like a toy, scared that he was stuck here, like her, without the protection of their mother. Scared that their mother may have been... this person they said... that she and their father were...

Were...

No no... she didn't want to think about that.

Mostly... he was scared of her knowing.

Or perhaps she just liked to think herself that important.

Would she hold it over his head? Threaten to tell everyone that she felt his heart beat that fast, that she knew that look on his face.

It was the same one she had.

Of course she could read it.

She didn't want to... not right now.

Had she the ability to move, she would have wrapped her arms about his shoulders, put her chin on his head. She would have let him talk to her, talk himself through the whirlpool of infatuation that often drowned those first introduced to her spiral. She would have teased him, she would have pinched his cheeks and spoken in a condescending manner at how her baby brother was so cute when he was flustered.

She wished she was home..

If they were home, she could have stolen some treats.

They could have pushed their beds together and camped out under a tent of blankets. They would eat, once their eyes adjusted, and share stories about their little puppy-loves.

Of course hers would be better.

She was the experienced one.

Huh...

Would he try to steal her boyfriend then?

That would be weird.

How would someone respond to that? Was she supposed to punch him in the gut or bitchslap him?

Guess that is a bridge that will be crossed when they came to it.

All too soon he was torn away from her again, banished with all the other bodies. Warm, breathing corpses.

It was quite a haunting concept, in retrospect. How they were all just hanging there like the still supple figures of executed villains. All paying for crimes that had followed them since before birth, through the blood that was given to them without their choice in the matter.

The light haired woman started talking again.

She didn't like that one.

The red-head made her blood boil. She kind of liked that feeling, the unbridled rage. It was at least a feeling.

When this one spoke it made everything freeze. Every hair, every cell... stopped by some horrible fear, one that caused frost bite deep in layers of her soul..

It was creepy.

Then... they were leaving? Just like that?

Wait they were still stuck he-

The thud as her feet hit the ground sent vibrations up her legs, shattering vibrations that made her wince.

"O-ow..."

Ah!

She heard that, right?

Her eyes glanced to those near her.

They heard that, right?

Her voice was hoarse from the silent-screaming that she had been so insistent on partaking of. That was a bad idea. The follies of youth, it seemed.

Then her name...

Lir's head snapped towards it. Maybe she knew where it came from, or maybe she just could tell where he was.

Her brother was freed.

That was a relief.

Rather it should have been. Instead he was in shackles anew. Ones made of flesh, in the form of slim fingers that wrapped around his arm.

Her arm stung, as though the sorceress's nails were burying themselves into her own skin.

No no no... What was she doing?

She wasn't...

"A... aeon?" Her words felt lost, as though the ban on her speech had never been lifted. They felt course and grainy, thick and fat and unable to travel the distance between them fast enough before the noise evaporated into the air.

She reached out.

She could reach out.

Frantically one hand started to tug on the strings stuck to the other.

"Aeon!"

Desperately she cried out. Pulling, pulling, pulling. She looked upwards, but still... it didn't look like they were connected to anything. They should have toppled in geometric swirls about her feet, but they didn't. They were still taut. No matter how much she moved, they seemed to have never bend, never twist or distort, never lose shape or strength.

Tears sprung to her eyes and her voice lost coherence. Words choked by fear, by crying, by pity, by more fear.

"Aeon stop being stupid! Get BACK here! Don't you dare! Don't you DARE go in there with them. If you do I... I'll..."

He was gone.

She couldn't see that he was gone, her eyes shut tight against her frustration.

But he was...

It didn't make her stop. Her voice broke into the territory of shrill, losing the power it had on stage. That it had as Cassius.

"I'll never let you forget it! You come back right NOW."

She trembled, her fingers sliding weak against the cords that held her up.

"Don't... don't leave me here. Don't leave me alone..."

Her despair was cut short as she felt a heat. It wasn't one that she expected. She anticipated that her face would burn, as it always did when she got upset. Maybe that her arms would ache from being held up like this...

No this was at her feet.

And it wasn't from impact... it didn't throb in that particular way injuries do.

It advanced, then retreated, then it advanced further and...

She screamed.

She didn't even know she had a scream left in her. It was quite astonishing what one could accomplish when they had no choice.

Not that yelling could help.

She was imprisoned, tied to nothing by strings far too strong for her tiny, nigh mal-nourished body to struggle against.

She was trapped on stage.

It was on fire.

And she couldn't escape.

[Tyde Morrow]

In response to the scream, a small wave of water washed over the planks by Eilir's feet.

The momentum carried itself down the line, carrying it toward the other actors.

Brow pursed in quiet concentration, tongue pinched between his teeth, Tyde pushed and pulled desperately at the air, trying to get the reluctant water to do his bidding.

One rain barrel.

That was all he had at his disposal. And even then, it was a quarter empty after his earlier shenanigans.

As a tool, it was useless. The chains that held them in place were far too strong to break through.

As a means to put out the fire, it was just as futile. There wasn't nearly enough to make a dent in extinguishing the flames; not even enough to clear a path through the blaze.

All he could hope to do, at this point, was buy them some time.

If he could soak the boards around them well enough, the flames would take longer in consuming them.

He already knew that for the number of times his father yelled at him for tossing damp wood on the cooking fire.

Now, his father's pointless lectures actually had a point.

"I hope someone's got a plan, because I sure don't!" he exclaimed, shifting the puddle down toward the feet of Kaine and Dia.

"So if anyone has a suggestion - I'd be really happy to hear it."

[jenna_chan2]

“Yes you did!” She pointed at the tear and then hopped through the hole. “Okay. Set. Whatever the hell this is. And it’s convenient for you which is why it’s improved.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she moved inside and didn’t go very far. Reaching the first vanity, she looked at it and really looked at her hat. It was easier than looking in a darkened window, that was for sure. Readjusting some of the feathers on the side, she smiled and beamed over at him.

“Wait! The st…” Before she even got to move, he held her still. What a killjoy. Huffing a little, she hushed herself and glanced at him. “It’s harder to see back here.” When she finally relaxed a little, she moved forward a bit more, dodging the random stools or pieces of costume that were strewn about. “This place needs a maid.” She said quietly, glancing around. Just as she reached down to pick up an overturned chair, Kae noted that Raff had jumped ahead of her.

Afraid of being left behind in a place she definitely didn’t know her way around, she ran after him and came to a halt just behind him. She wanted to see what was happening too, but she was a little afraid to turn that corner if he was being so sneaky sneak about it. Finally, she got tired of waiting and crouched down, peering around his knee to look and see. Ah! It was one of the cast mates! So close! The more Kae looked at him, the more it felt like she was looking at a younger version of the man with the dagger between his fingers about to…

Was he about to throw that at the redheaded exhibitionist?

Jumping up, Kae tugged on his arm and looked, hissing under her breath. “It’s too close! You’ll hit the thief!” It was the only thing she had to go on…and he was just a kid too. Frowning, Kae let loose of Raff immediately and took a few steps back, almost anticipating the errant arm to come her way and knock her sideways.

[Aegeon]

[Char]

He did not even need the prompt from Jennalis, before he was on his feet.

The events the play were forgotten. The embarassments, humiliations and feelings of self pity were all brushed aside. Even the jealousies and self-evident truths were dismissed at that very moment.

As the flames ignited on the stage, his mind was only occupied by a single thought.

It shamed him, that he was oblivious to the plight of the others. That he wasn't sorrowed or horrified by the abduction of the silver haired boy, or the heartbreaking cries of his sister.

He could only think of Dia. Her safety was all that registered with him.

But the crowd had erupted in a bane around him. Bodies pressing against one another, threatening to trample one another in the streets. Children, and the elderly being forced to the ground as every person was in it for themselves. A desperate escape inspired by mass panic.

To follow Jennalis' path would trap him in the frey. He would be useless to his daughter this way.

There was no point in hiding within his darkest secrets and unspeakable pasts. He was known to the world, and nothing could take that back.

Now, perhaps, it might be his salvation.

Undoing the clasp at his throat, he hurriedly cast his cloak aside. His fingers, numb and autonomous, grappled for the cloth bindings that dogged him very day of his life.

The last time he discarded them here in Brassaneth, was the night Cassius hunt him down in the hedge maze. Now the irony was stifling - he barely escaped his own firey death that night.

He would not allow his Dia to suffer the same terrifying fate.

Once the last trailing of fabric spiralled to the ground, he rushed forward.

There was no time for strategy. He would simply have to act up on his instinct this time. Act, and pray desperately to the Goddess that it served him well.

Planting a hand on the railing of the private box, he drew in a deep breath, vaulting his legs over top of it.

Only, there was nothing on the other side to catch him. Nothing but empty air.

Squeezing his eyes shut, as he released his grip on the railing... he felt the tug of descent upon his whole body.

This had better work.

He had no hopes to fly, or even to glide - the years of hiding his plight had atrophied his wings, and left them weak and frail; however, he hoped it just enough resistance for him to land below without breaking his neck.

The poor excuse for wings opened out, cutting through the air around him.

Granted, he still dropped like a rock. Only more like a pebble, than a boulder.

Perhaps he should have thought this through a little. Just a smidge.

The impact upon landing jarred his bones, with a reverberation that ground his teeth together. His body ached in protest, but he was still in one piece.

Struggling to his feet, he stumbled towards the orchestral pit which had been abandoned, leaving littered instruments behind like the casualties of war.

There. He could reach the staging area from there, without any interference from the crowd.

His eyes raised to the flames, the forms of the actors vaguely visible behind it.

"Dia!" he shouted out, hoping that she might be able to hear him over the echoed screams. "I'm coming for you!!"

[Aegeon]

[Raff]

He could not have asked for a better opportunity if he tried.

Saera Rose lowered her guard for just a brief moment, turning her back towards her would-be assassin.

His arm drew back, prepared to throw the dagger with a force that... if his aim was true... would have buried itself into the back of her cold, black heart.

All of his body weight shifted to his back foot. His body stiffened, preparing to let the projectile fly.

Unfortunately, he had forgotten the perils of ignoring history. And yet again, he was thwarted by the young woman in the very ugly hat.

Her hand caught his arm, just as he was preparing to throw, completely and abruptly derailing his concentration.

"What...the...?!"

In the moment that it took him to turn and look at her pleading little face, and back again... the sorceress melted into the mirror's surface.

"No! No, no, no!" he growled, wrenching away from where Kae stood.

If the Sister escaped, there was no way to pursue them but through that portal. And his own copy of the key stopped working the day Saera Rose had been killed the first time.

He rushed at the mirror, having only two objectives on his mind: either he had to find a way to follow them into the portal, or at least save the kid from being yanked through it. As long as the boy still wore that pendant, Raff would be able to sneak into the witches abode any time he pleased.

Pushing himself to close the distance, he lunged forward to grab onto the boy's hand as he was being swallowed into the abyss... only, the lad stumbled and tumbled inside, leaving Raff with only a handful of air to grab onto.

A handful of air, as he face planted on the floor.

"Oof!"

With a wince, he scrambled to get back on his feet, rounding on the mirror. His hands pressed against it's surface, only to find that it had resumed its solidity.

"Dammit! No, no, no!" he fumed at it, banging his fist and the butt of the dagger upon the glass, as though it were a means to knock on the very door of the Sister's home.

Only no one answered. The lights were off, and no one was home.

He growled, chasing that sound with a string of barely coherent obscenities.

The opportunity had come and gone. Now he had not only lost his chance to rid them of Saera Rose, but also the means to obtain the only other copy of the key to their whereabouts.

"Goddess dammit!"

Grabbing onto the edges of the mirror, he decided it was worthy of his frustration. With a violent motion, he threw it to the side... causing a shower of glass shards to litter the surface of the floor.

At least there would be no means for them to come back. Not here, and not now.

His free hand found its way to his hair, raking his fingers through it.

What would he do now? It had taken so long to even track them back to Brassaneth. Who knew where they would go from here?

His boot scuffed at the floor, a half hearted kick of annoyance.

If Kae hadn't have stopped him...

...What?

He would have...?

Would he really have allowed himself to sacrifice an innocent child, just for a shot at the witch?

He... he wasn't sure.

He hadn't even thought about it. The welfare of the child hadn't even entered his mind.

And he wasn't sure if it really would have mattered.

His hand began to shake a little.

The military. The whole reason he had abandoned his duty, was because he refused to sacrifice one for the good of all involved.

And now... he thought nothing of collateral damage. As long as the Sisters were destroyed, it didn't matter who was hurt in the process.

Wow.

Taking in a deep breath, he turned to Kae.

He wasn't sure if he wanted to apologize, chastize her... or thank her.

Fortunately for his indesive brain, he didn't get the chance. The smell of smoke brought him back to a reality he hadn't yet considered.

"The fire," he noted, eyes widening a little.

His head snapped in the direction Saera Rose had come from.

The actors were still there, trapped in their chains of gold while the angry flames continued to consume the stage around them.

[Kallima Nightengale]

[[Kallima/Christine]]

That voice...

It was...

Had she heard it, out of context...

She would have thought nothing.

It was a sick realization.

She had entirely forgotten that voice.

Memories were revered, sacred things. They were put on a pedestal. Occasionally they would be dusted off, tended to, but on the whole they were set aside to simply look at with wistful sighs about the bonnie bygone days of yesteryear.

Nothing lasts perfectly preserved.

People forget that.

Even encased in a mind, free from air, from sun, from all those things that deteriorate the physical world... memories fade. They lose their color, their shape, their vibrancy. Their solidity.

She just never thought it would have happened...

Was sixteen years really so long a time?

What other shadows of the past were lost to her through the light of the present?

Would she have recognized his face? Perhaps she'd only see that of her children. Maybe the only reason she felt they looked like him is because she wanted them to. So she had some way to remind herself of a man she loved.

How... pitiful.

Wow she was old.

That was just messed up.

She did not have the a** of a 40 year old.

Seriously.

She didn't.

So if her rear wasn't falling into disrepair, why was her brain?

Admittedly... Saera Roses' piece was almost entertaining. She would have been embarrassed for her boy were it not so... ridiculous.

Those two?

Heh...

Oh were Aegeon still alive. He wouldn't hear the end of that. It would be more fun to bring up than that weird way he walked up the stairs when it got dark.

It was a little distressing how quickly Kohaku ended the entire reenactment. It wasn't like her. She had everyone stuck in place, she had a slew of young people there unable to resist her as she moved them about. She could have had them kill each other. She SHOULD have had them kill eachother. It fit her modus operandi.

This was odd.

And to leave on such a low note...

Some angry words?

Anybody could do that.

Then fate laughed at her for tempting it. 'You think there should be more,' it said, 'Very well, I'll appease your paranoia.'

And it did.

The younger sister cut down her boy. She pet him tenderly, as she would with her favorite childhood doll.

And she took him.

She took him while he cried out in words muffled by the murmurs of the human sea that separated them.

He reached towards the rest of the marionettes.

And he was taken.

Through the mirror. He had to endure that... that awful nothingness that comprised the Sisters' favorite mode of transport.

Crying out, she was unable to leave her seat until he was gone.

She was propelled forward, the moment she was able to move.

As though every attempt she had made to get towards the stage while bound had remained, stored and released all at once, leaving her to topple forward, scraping her face against the ground.

Once she managed to get to her feet... everyone else had as well.

That was not going to make things easy.

Once upon a time, there was a thief. She was lithe and nimble. She could move through a crowd without notice. In fact, she moved best through a cattle-packed street. Nobody noticed a stray hand when they were being hit by bodies at every turn.

Now...

Now she had lived a long and hard life of poverty. She didn't eat well, she didn't sleep well. Her bones were not as forgiving, her muscles prone to little aches and pains. She was light and frail in comparison, and tossed from one body to the next.

She called out for her daughter, but she couldn't hear her own voice, let alone have any hope of the girl picking it out.

Had it not been for some idiot parting the crowd by falling from the balcony, stunning the group into separating, she would have been trampled underfoot.

... Wait a sec.

How the hell did some idiot jump from the balcony?

******** it, it didn't matter.

She twisted herself, weak with that tingling dread that crawled up her legs, through the crowd. If she could get up there...

If she...

Would she even be able to help.

She had nothing that could cut that magic-conjured thread.

She didn't even have a knife.

But...

She had to try...

That was all she could ever do, afterall.

[jenna_chan2]

She wasn’t prepared for any of this at all. One moment she was lingering in the back and just trying to catch her breath and the next she was back in the spotlight again. She was there with the thief again. Over and over, she appeared with the thief at her side. Why? Who was this illustrious thief that used to be a prince? Is that what it was?

The story that Dia once knew was completely torn apart at the seams thanks to this new show. Being the puppet for the truth, as it were, wasn’t something she was ever looking forward to again. Especially during this chapter even if she didn’t know it yet. Her wings were still exposed which made her even more reluctant to do anything. It didn’t matter though. The strings carried her about and her wings were moved as she fell against him. Dia wanted to gasp, but wouldn’t let herself as a blade dug itself into her neck…or at least began to.

Closing her eyes tightly, she even held her breath until the blade began to shake as much as she did. There wasn’t a moment to enjoy the fresh air until the ground moved from under her. Thrown the ground like an already used toy, Dia felt her shoulder and hip in a shock of pain as she was tossed on the stage. Wincing, she began to coil into herself as much as the strings and costume would let her, even though it seemed that she wouldn’t be moving much at all. Trying to ignore the response from the redhead, her head lolled back and she was forced to look up at the woman. The others eyes weren’t on her. They were on the box where her family was sitting.

Her heart stilled when she heard the names her mother used. That was all the tell she needed. She really was playing her mother’s role. This was all her past. Dia’s stomach knotted. All those things her mother had told her had been lies. Being a maid in the castle and later a guest once she was adopted by a wealthy family in Brassaneth…the stories of the runaway princess were true…It…None of it made any sense. All of it was jumbled in her head and she was just left there on the ground. She wasn’t brought back up until the other two were explained. It gave Dia time to think.

Everything was coming to a close but there were still so many questions to ask. Her eyes darted wildly back and forth and back and forth again. It was all the sight she could see. She was trying to find a sign or a signal or something so they could be saved…but there was nothing because everyone was stuck. As Kohaku announced her departure, Dia felt her heart rate jump. Burn. All of them were going to burn? Immediately, she looked for a fire, but there wasn’t a lick of flame anywhere. That made her worry more. These women didn’t seem like the kind to be toyed with. They liked to be the one with the toys.

When one left, the other started to follow, but not before taking one of them off stage. She didn’t know the name, really, but any one of these people being taken would hurt her. They were all dragged in this together. In her slump, she stumbled to her knees and then gasped when the flames began. Initial instinct said to run, but her limbs still wouldn’t move. Folding her wings towards her, she tried to make herself as compact as possible.

Flames were bad news, that was for sure. Somewhere, she heard the voices. One voice registered. No. No, she said. It was her mother. “Mom…” Her voice rasped. She could speak… Water splashed at her feet and darkened the color of her gown. Tyde. Her eyes watered a little and she strained to turn to look at him. He was trying to help. So many voices came from so many different ways. The audience was screaming, the taken castmate calling out to Eilir…it was all adding up in her mind. “Tyde….” She tried to smile regardless of what was going on around them. If she was going to go up in flames…so be it. At least someone tried to help them.

But that wasn’t the only one trying to help. Her name was called through the flames in a voice she knew too well. “Dad…” It was a whisper to herself at first and then she felt a hand grip around her heart. Tears lit her eyes as the flames continued to rage. “Dad!” She repeated it louder. Her legs still wouldn’t move and she couldn’t move out of her huddle, but all she wanted to do was get them off of the stage. “The fire! Be careful!” It was silly, but…someone had to tell him, right? He couldn’t be reckless. He had to stand for himself as well. All she wanted was a hug…and all she wanted was to go home and eat chocolates before dinner and listen to her mother yell at her for staying out past curfew with all of her friends…

She wanted to rewind to lunch when she was joking with Ty about the things that didn’t matter…the things she was bound to miss if it all ended here. But it couldn’t. No one could let it. Turning her head back and forth, she tried to count for all the pulled members. There was a bard in the corner somewhere, she couldn’t see him very well…and then there was Eilir who was yelling for her twin. Tyde had splashed what water he could around to try and help, but when all else failed…he made her laugh. Still, in the face of all this fire, he could make her laugh. Kaine was still there…Everyone was still there, including the other girl that Dia didn’t know the name of. They would be okay…they had to be okay. “I’m here! I…..I’m still here!” Looking around, she tried to decide where to focus, but all she knew was that she couldn’t crumble. She couldn’t fall apart now.

[Aegeon]

[Char]

Clamouring over the edge of the orchestral box, he tumbled onto the other side. Despite the pain and the inability to regain his footing, he crawled along the floor until he was able to disentangle himself from the instruments and chairs.

He could hear her voice. That familiar voice that was normally graced with a laughter like her mother's. But now, it held a tone of fear that turned his blood to ice.

Bracing himself against the wall he pulled himself to his feet, and climbed up onto the seat of one of the chairs.

He had no cat like grace, or any great agility. But he tried.

Picking his way from chair to chair, he forced himself to move towards the stage.

By now, the flames had picked up in intensity, lighting the thick curtains that surrounded the open forum.

It wouldn't be long before the pieces of flaming cloth, and weakened scaffords began to rain down upon those on stage.

Frantic, his heard pounded in his chest as he stumbled over a music stand, falling against the corner of the stage. The rounded edge drove against his chest, bringing his body to a halt.

Glancing up, he could see her between the whisps of smoke. He could see them all.

"Hold on!"

Biting back his own discomfort, he scrambled up onto the stage.

Immediately he was hit with the intense heat, and sting of the grey cloud that seemed to linger all around them.

His face turned into the crook of his elbow, coughing into his jacket.

"D-dia! I'm here!"

Squinting, he pressed forward onto the stage, passing by the helpless actors imprisoned in their golden chains.

An unconscious bard... several frightened children... and...

"Dia!"

Falling to his knees before his daughter, he wrapped his arms around her.

"Are you all right? Are you hurt? Can you move?"

He sat back, running his fingers over her face, and her arms, looking for any sign of significant injury. Thankfully there seemed to be none.

"Thank the Goddess," he breathed, "Your Mother and I were so worried."

There was nothing he wanted more than to just cling to her tightly, and try to soothe her as though she was five once again; however, he knew that time was something they did not have. No matter how happy he was to see her.

"It... it will be okay. Let me... let me see if I can get you out of here..."

Kissing her forehead, he managed to his feet, wrapping his fingers around the string that held her in place.

Though attached to seemingly nothing at all, they refused to budge or break.

"No..."

Bracing his feet against the stage, he pulled against them. Pulled until the chains dug into his hands... pulled until his skin began to blister, and then bleed...

But to no avail.

He tried a dagger, and a sword, but no matter what means he attempted, it was a worthless effort. The metal sparked against the chain, but the gold held firm.

His heart began to sink in his chest.

This couldn't be happening.

He had come for her. He promised her things would be all right.

He couldn't just let her die here!

Turning frantically to the crowd, he began to plea for assistance.

"Help! Someone! Anyone! We need some help up here!"

[jenna_chan2]

If there was one thing, she was glad she backed away. He was a little scary when he was angry. Maybe a little more than scary, but she wasn’t sure what else could describe it. Granted, she hadn’t seen him quite like this either. Holding her hands to her chest, she backed away until she was stopped by a vanity. What came next, she definitely wasn’t expecting. She wanted to reach for the boy as well, but there wasn’t a chance when she put her hand over her mouth to muffle her laughter.

Finally. Finally she wasn’t the one being clumsy! It was him. He fell face first on the ground. She wasn’t far from asking if he was okay, but her giggling couldn’t be stopped. Smiling still, she took a deep breath and took a step forward, but jumped back again when he lurched forward to the mirror. “Breaking the glass is only going to give you bad luck…” She called in a sing song, biting her lip and staring down at her toes. She felt like she’d done something wrong, but still…the kid was in the way. He would have kicked himself ten times over if he had hurt the kid.

Besides, kids were cute and he’d done such a good job in the show! His parents needed to be proud of him for a second, but the nearly nudist woman had taken him away. When Raff looked at her, she looked at him and rubbed at her shoulder. “I uh….Well…When you look at it like this….I just coulnd’t…and then you would’ve…and then I would’ve…and she would have been all…and then he would’ve been all mad…and you would’ve been mad…and then someone would’ve cried…”

Her babbling was going on and on as she tried to explain things with her hands. One hand moved in a diagonal while the other moved in a circle. Pulling her hair up in a ponytail one moment and then dropping her hands in sharp parallel lines, Kae continued to try and dig herself out of a hole she wasn’t so sure she’d dug or was even in. Better safe than sorry though! Explaining yourself was always a good idea!

Then he shut her up something quick. She screamed when he mentioned the fire. Running headlong into him without even realizing, she shot wide eyes up to him and shivered. Backing the steps away, she pointed and then pointed to the mirror back and forth…back and forth. “Th…The…The kids! They’re still out there!” It was stupid…and reckless…but it would be warm at least. Moving the other way…just around the corner, she moved quickly. Stumbling over her own feet, she grumbled and slid on her sandaled feet to the stage. Well…that was something you didn’t see every day.