2020-04-24 - Monarch Glimmer 2020

And here we have Abitha Machinae, dressed this evening in a stunningly elegant asymmetrical ombre evening dress, the floor length skirt fading from a rich black to smokey gray as it reaches her feet, accents of diamond and pearl embroidered at the waistline and on the single shoulder. A flowing streamer of chiffon trails behind her in the same gradient black to gray, giving it a refined, but almost toga-like feel.

For her credit, with her hair actually lightly curled, and her makeup done, she looks pretty fabulous in it. But, unfortunately, as she realizes she was now standing, in heels, no less, her elbows at her sides, and arms forward, like she were just holding some phantom remnant of a game controller, her perfectly lined and winged eyes start to widen into panicked saucers, then slowly begin tracking around their surroundings. In horror, she slowly starts to look down at herself.

Katy is wearing a floor length a-line ball gown, with a plunging neckline revealing a tasteful amount of cleavage, gold stilettos, her hair in a fancy updo. The truth is, she has no idea how she got there, but she is there and she looks fabulous.

Behind the curtain and waiting is Faith. Her grandparents own the Firehouse and currently she's a cook there. Dressed in a beautiful lime green dress that lovingly accentuates her curves, flares out at her hips, and brings out the color of her eyes, she looks particularly stunning tonight. Her hair is left free to tumble over her shoulders and down her back in brunette waves. It's not with horror that she looks down at herself, but with a pleased smile. she smooths a hand over the material.

August appears in a suit which is decidedly not one of his: wine red jacket with black accents, similarly colored vest with black floral embroidery and matching tie, red [ants so dark they're almost, but not quite, black, and a white dress shirt. His nails are painted black with red glitter, and he also has a top hat in his hand, of all the damned things. He grimaces, looking down at it, and tries to take in his sudden and unexpected surroundings.

Kailey was in the middle of doing things. Messy things. Things with spray paint and scrappers in grungy, paint-splattered clothing. She had gone inside for more water and had stepped into a backstage. Dressed no longer in her working clothes but a deep ocean blue dress with a upward pointed empire waist. The empire is framed in a silver band with silvery, white, and pearl beading. The sharp v-neck drops down to meet the point of the band between her boobs.

Kailey, in a bit of awe, twirls and watches the light-weight and layered fabric flutter around her. A little smile playing across her face as she holds out her arms. A quick check of her hair and the pink and purple locks are swept back into a complicated french braid that then falls down her back. Framed by the 'V' of the back of the dress. ( https://tinyurl.com/wd4cr8m )

Kailey stops turning, making the skirt flare, and blinks as others step out of the shadows. At least one she recognizes. "Oh! Hello August," She says as she smoothes the fabric over her obviously rounding belly now. "Isn't -this- something?" She seems excited or at least very into what is going on. "You look nice!"

Lucas is dressed in a flying cross double breasted dress coat , gunmetal grey with matching pants, over a powder blue shirt and white tie. Matching white boots and white gloves, along with a white military style uniform cap. He has several patches and badges on the hat and coat, and at his collar denoting his membership in the GHFD.

Almost seeming like she was radiating anxiety, Abitha lowers her arms and straightens her posture, still looking a little wild eyed as she takes stock of the people that seemed to have joined her on whatever flagrant hellscape they'd been summoned to tonight. Oh, look, August in a Dream with her again, "Once, August. I got to see you once. Can you hyperventilate in a dream? Asking for a friend." The words seem to fall from her mouth in a unerring stream. These clothes were triggering her somehow, and it could be anyone's guess why.

Katy's eyes immediately travel, and for one, she notes no sign of Jonathan. But there is a familiar face with her and when she notices that Lucas is there, relief flashes across her face, followed by concern, in that order. She doesn't see Atli either, so they are separated. She seems to be holding her hands in front of her stomach in a protective sort of way, which is a bit strange. "Lucas?" she calls out carefully.

Lucas is completely positive he was asleep just a few moments ago. Like in his bunk at the fire station on call asleep. Now he is dressed to the nines in his formal uniform and no memory of how he got here. He glances around and spots August, sharing a nod to him, then one of the twins...Faith?.. and finally Katy, along with a couple other people he knew but wasn't as familiar with. "What's going on here?" He asks slowly, taking a step toward Katy when she calls out.

August turns when he hears Kailey, realizes then that Lucas and Abitha are here as well. Faith he doesn't know, and Katy he's only passingly familiar with, but he can see the Glimmer in both of them. Which means only one thing.

"Yeah, it's something alright," he mutters to Kailey. Then he double-takes at her dress, coughs. "Ah, thanks." He moves to Abitha, nods for Kailey to join him. Sympathetic, he tells Abitha, "Sure does look like you and I in the same place means only one thing." He grimaces at the music, tries to catch Lucas' attention and beckon him over. Eleanor's told August that Lucas doesn't really buy into the whole Glimmer thing, which means this is going to be one hell of a ride.

"Yeah, Faith," she assures Lucas. A light whistle, "You look sharp. Don't we all look so gorgeous?" As if to emphasize it, she twirls a slow circle to watch the skirt of the dress flare out in a flirty manner that only makes her all the more delighted. Seeing August, she ogles a little, but not crudely so. "I've never seen a suit quite like that before." Admiration there in her words. She's kind of new to these sorts of dreams. Only dancing robots at the Firefly.. that's the sum of her previous experience.

Kailey tilts her head as the music starts. Quickly her head starting to bob with the rythm. Shoulders getting into it a little bit. Hands rest on top of her swollen belly protectively, much like Katy, as she looks around. When August double-takes she smiles a little, briefly, and winks at him. But there is a certain wariness to her expression. It seems she is going to try and enjoy whatever this is. At least while she can.

The young woman scans the faces showing up carefully now. After a few seconds she nods to Katy before she turns to look out onto the stage. The smile has faded into a thoughtful pursing of lips, brows furrowed slightly. "So any ideas what this could be? I can't dance in these kind of heels...if this is some kind of dance off." Fancy silver and blue heels. At least they're not stilettos.

Taking a deeper, steadying breath as she stares down August, Abitha's agreement and subsequent swearing would have to be passed nonverbally. No, people, it's just a look. Stop jumping to conclusions. She looks around at the rest, and she'd follow people onto the stage, but absolutely fuck being the first one out. Her gift pulses gently, eyes going a little glassy, then sharpening again as she cranes her neck to see what of the crowd she could. She looks confused, "There's uh... less minds out there than people?"

Katy's eyes travel from Lucas to the man trying to beckon him over. She would immediately walk in the direction of where a group is assembling, making sure to have Lucas' back along the way. Someone who isn't used to this sort of situation and doesn't believe it happens is bound to get into some trouble and as his best friend, she feels she has to have his back. But then the music shifts and lowers, then an announcer type starts explaining the situation and it dawns on Katy what she's actually gotten sucked into. When the music grows louder, she walks out to the stage, channeling her inner supermodel. She's confident enough to be the first one out, because she's great at faking that.

As a avid rock climber Lucas thinks that last part sounds like a great idea, he smiles reassuringly to Faith. Seeing Katy take the lead out onto the stage he offers his arm toward the waitress of his favorite BBQ joint and waits a few moments to see if she accepts it before starting out onto the stage himself, with or without her.

It was time! Faith had done dance recitals and all as a child and even a few pageants as a teen, so this was somewhat familiar to her. A dream? Probably. She doesn't really comprehend how incredibly bad that could be. Out from behind the curtain she sashays, out to the stage with her hand tucked into the bend of the firemans arm. An escort in his dress uniform? Not bad! Not bad!

August makes a low sound in response to Kailey's question. "Could be anything, really. Seems like...more of some sort of talent show or something..." His voice fades at Abitha's comment, and his eyes go unfocused, seeking the crowd somewhere beyond the lights of the stage. "Yeah. Just three minds, but a lot of...bodies." He catches sight of Faith's regard, snorts in amusement and shakes his head. Seeing Katy heading out onto the stage, he says, "Only way out tends to be through," moves to follow her.

Kailey turns to look at Drew as they appear. The blandness of their tone gets a raised brow and she glances at the others. "Climb to the top?" Kailey wrinkles her nose at that. Abitha's comment has her getting a glance, "I'm not surprised...this place tends to do that." She pauses listening to the swell of music. She's watched enough TV to know what it means. "Well, guess that's our cue or something," And she takes a breath and doesn't smile brilliantly. The smile she gives the audience is sweet and simple as she follows Faith. After a few steps she slowly raises a hand and waves at the shadowy crowd. The other hand stays firmly, protectively, on her stomach.

Thanking whatever power it was that decided who was going first, Abitha is only on stage in this ridiculousness for a few moments before she can retreat back into the wings. Mind now working and thinking she'd at least have time while the others did their talents, she starts peering and rifling around for anything that could be of use to them. Even though that description of the case was probably everything she'd be able to find anyways. Sighing, fruitless, she stares hatefully down at her dress.

While waiting for her turn, Katy turns towards Lucas with a smile, and asks, "Do you trust me?" She grabs both of his hands as she speaks while giving Faith an apologetic look. When she gets an idea, she tends to just get really excited.

Lucas nods, smiling at Faith apologetically and then taking both of Katy's hands, "I do....though I sometimes regret it"

Faith had been holding Lucas' offered arm when suddenly his hands are literally taken! With a look to Katy, a little affronted, her momentary ire is settled by the apologetic look from Lucas, they were his hands after all. "Good luck," she tells Lucas and steps back to be out of the way for the talent portion.

August adopts a slightly more neutral-to-friendly expression, the sort he used in his thirties at yacht parties, as he walks out onto the stage. He gives the 'crowd' a half-bow, then at Drew's indication moves aside so Katy can take center stage. "Glimmer talent," he says under his breath. "So, I suspect they want us to...perform, with it." Oh the irony.

He watches the by-play between Lucas, Katy, and Faith warily. Now would be a bad time to hash out interpersonal problems.

Kailey blinks once as they are directed off stage. She eyes the 'crowd' before she does a few careful spins over into the wings. Showing off the flowing and rippling nature of the fabric she wears. When she comes to a stop she may be sticking close to August. "I've...got an idea," She tells him with a faintly lopsided smile. "You?" She can't help but seem eager. The pains of this place yet to be fully learned. Ah youth.

As Katy casually walks with Lucas onto the stage, she whispers to him, "Slow Waltz." Then she announces to Drew, "For the talent competition, I would like to invite my best friend Lucas Lake to join me in a Waltz. If you could cue a nice ballad up for us, that would be lovely, thank you." And then they walk to the middle of the stage to wait for the music to start. "Still trust me, Luke?"

Sighing and crossing her arms, Abitha finds something to lean her shoulder against and watch, a judgemental look also given the possible drama from the traded expressions. As Katy makes her way onto the stage an sets up, she mutters quietly, "Is dancing really a talent?" Then, it's not just dancing, and she utters a short, "Oh." After a moment, she seems distracted though, looking off in a few different directions, as if searching for something.

"I hope dancing is a talent. It's what I am going to do. I don't suppose there's a pit I can smoke brisket in or anything." Faith says with a crooked grin. Since the other two are going to dance also, she watches from the sidelines, nearby the others on the side. "Except I'm dancing by myself. What do you mean there's lots of bodies but few minds?" Inquiring minds want to know!

Eyes on the trunk, August nods at Kailey. "Maybe," he says, "depending on what's in there." Maybe an orange tree he can grow into a large topiary? Or he could do some fire tricks...which could conveniently get them out of here. He'll have to think about it.

He looks askance at Abitha, grunts. "She did use the Art, maybe that's all you need to do?" A small shrug to indicate he can't pretend to know the rules until the judging commences.

He nods at Faith. "Almost like there's a bunch of mannequins out there, instead of actual beings."

Lucas nods, moving into position for the dance offering his hands toward Ms. Addington, "Katy you know I am not a great dancer right?"

There's something that clicks as they begin to move, and Lucas definitely hears the instructions of how to do the steps in his mind, in Katy's voice. < Step forward, step to the right. Step backwards, step to the left.> While she's feeding him instructions in his mind, she's also manoeuvring their movement so that they look like they're travelling across the stage together, spiking and twirling.

Kailey purses her lips and mostly remains quiet. Nodding her head to August as she watches the two dance. "I don't think they're very impressed," She says softly. Whincing only a little bit.

"We're gonna see, I guess. Just fizzle something and be done with it." Abitha looks over for her name being called, blinks, looks at the others, shrugs, "Woohoo." she sounds about just as enthused as their host. She is back staring off to the side soon, though, cocking her head as if she could hear something.

Lucas dances with Katy, seeming to think it weird but not completely out of place that he can hear Katy without her lips moving. When they are done he takes Drew's criticism in stride, by bowing toward the host, then the crowd, before moving off stage to clear the space for Abitha.

Thinking Lucas's move offstage was her cue, and still somewhat staring off in random directions as she tries to pin down that weird sound, Abitha wanders into the middle of the stage. She seems to focus on one point for a long moment. And just like in that elevator weeks before, there's a slight flare of Abitha's glimmer. With a little pop of displaced air, a small, black creature suddenly appears perched on Abitha's exposed shoulder. She turns her head toward the little top-hatted scamp. Of course, he was already dressed for the evening.

"Somehow, I don't know if you make me feel better or worse." she mutters to the little squitten. Counter to this, Sir Tenebrae Wigglesworth the Third, does in fact know exactly his effect on people. He begins making a low sound, almost like a purr, but somehow wetter sounding, verging on horrific, and begins rubbing his cheek against Abitha's jawline. Abitha gives the crowd a double dose of her longest fingers, and seeming confused, but playing along, the little black creature holds up two tentacles as well. Abitha turns and stalks back off stage.

Kailey glances at Abitha and raises a brow. "Why not put effort into it?" She seems puzzled. "I think we may want to at least impress them a -little- bit. But a hunch..." And she quiets as the woman heads off to do her thing. Which involves a tentacle cat? Kailey just kind of stares and her mouth may be ever so slightly agape. What was -that-?!

Katy tries to gauge Lucas' reaction to the telepathic link. "Hey, you okay?" she asks quietly.

August winces at Drew's commentary and the unenthusiastic clapping. He watches Lucas go off-stage, confused, but when Abitha steps up and that...thing, appears again, he blinks. "I've seen that before. Second time it's showed up on her shoulder." He claps for Abitha, relieved that Drew seems to like the creature as well. "Good job," he says to her when she comes back to join the rest of them.

Faith watches Abitha to see what she would do. The thing on her shoulder has her gasping, but the double salute has her outright laughing! When Abitha returns to the sidelines, she grins at her, "How did you make it appear there?" Peering at the thing, not even a little bit believing it was real!

Then she hears her name and Faith widens her eyes as she goes out to the stage in her gorgeous dress. That suddenly turns into a more hip hop outfit with a sideways cap and everything, overall shorts with one hook unfastened. "Give me a beat!" As the music starts playing, she starts dancing. Breakdancing mixed with more modern moves. Bring it!

"It's so cute," Kailey says softly as her eyes follow the little thing. "Does it have a name?" She asks Abitha quietly when she returns. She can't help it. She lifts up a finger and holds it out to the little octokit. Though she -does- turn to distractedly watch Faith bust a move.

Abitha lifts both hands and shrugs at August. Squitten lifts two tentacles in pantomime. Apparently, it was now entertained by mimicing Abitha. "Thanks? Sir Tenebrae Wigglesworth the Third." she states to Kailey, deadpan. Was she joking? She takes a moment to look around. No, squitten was no illusion, she'd just summoned him somehow. He leans forward to start rubbing his cheek on Kailey's finger. It looks a little unnaturally balanced, having wrapped a few tentacles around Abitha's shoulder to stay put in the precarious stretch. She side-eyes him for it. "I'm just kind of confused by this one... Cause like... Don't get me wrong, I'm probably about to jinx us, but..." she drops her voice to a whisper, "It doesn't feel dangerous?" But now Abitha was head bobbing to this beat, looking back toward the stage, "Oh damn, much better..."

Lucas apparently seems to have taken everything in stride, this is obviously some ridiculous dream and hey weird stuff happens in dreams, he watches the cooks close literally morph in front of him and then she begins break dancing he raises an eyebrow, that is impressive.

Another watches Faith dance, favorably impressed, but unfortunately her lack of use of power seems to go over badly. Which is what August had been worried about, and so here it is. He clears his throat, steps out onto the stage and bows, sweeping his top hat in front of himself magician like. He tosses it aside, and it sails--but not with any frisbee skill of his own, with Glimmer, gently drifting off to the side of the stage. Another flicks a finger at the trunk and the lid pops open. A small mini-rose bush, the flowers a dark purple-black, sits inside of it, along with other odds and ends. It rises up and out and onto the stage next to August.

A glance out at the 'audience', then he focuses on the plant, turning a hand over like he's weighing something. The bush starts to grow, extending its long, thorny vines up and out, slowly taking shape. He steps back to make space, eyes unfocused. New buds form and bloom, older ones give way to bright orange rose hips. It continues to grow and change, until its taken the shape of a large tree, naked central vines forming the 'trunk' and the flowering, rose-hipped, and leafed upper vines the crown. He stops there and steps aside, gesturing at it with a small, saccharine smile.

Faith doesn't mind the reaction, her own laughter follows her as she strolls back over to the sidelines, her dress magically returning. "Tough crowd," she grins at August in passing. Standing there though, she watches August as he performs. Faith isn't so big on her own powers, but she is enjoying watching the others!

Abitha had clapped for the dance performance, but makes a neutral, "Meh," sound to Faith as she raises a hand for the woman to high five as she comes off stage, assuring her, "No accounting for taste." She does issue a whoop for August and claps at the performance. He gets an offered high-five as well, "Yeah, fuckin' showman!"

As her name is called Kailey takes a deep and steadying breath. Then she takes her shoes off and sets the heels aside. "Please play 1000 Oceans by Tori Amos?" She asks with a kind smile for Drew. Then she turns to slide and dance out towards the trunk. There is a lot of spinning as she goes. Letting the dress flare and flutter. It seems to make her happy because when she stops, facing the crowd, she is grinning.

Without turning her back the lid of the trunk opens and she reaches inside. What she pulls out are shiney cans with bands of color around the rim dictating color. They seem to be in blues and green hues. Some gray, white, and black one join. Then out comes a brush and a a few metallic scrapers. All are arrayed quickly on the lid. Then the magic starts.

Kailey picks up cans and then she begins to spray into the air. And as she does the paint flows out as grows. Painting the air and hanging there in growing, nebulous clouds around her. The paint becomes a curtain of sorts. Obscuring her as she grabs more paint and within the cloud sudden starburst of white that are then molded by fingertips and brush as she dances in and through the paint. It doesn't stick to her as she moves through it. But she also seems to be a part of it. The blues melding with that of her dress. The fluttering of it as she spins and dances and paints the air displaces the clouds just slightly. All of it purposeful.

What is revealed at the end is what seems to be a deep blue sea. A white and silver sea-dragon swimming out of the depths of the clouds comes towards Kailey who finishes with a pose, making herself part of it all. Then the paint moves like a living thing and the painted dragon comes up to touch it's broad brow to Kailey's rounded belly. By now she is breathing deeply from exertion. But one...last...thing.

She spins away and all the paint suddenly is sucked from the air back towards the travel trunk. Where she had pulled out a large landscape canvas. The paint applies itself to the canvas. With Kailey being a pale and shadowy merlike creature with the dragon. It isn't as in depth or sharply defined as what had been on stage, but close enough.

August blinks at little at the applause, half-bows and manages to dredge up a more honest smile for Drew. He's still nervous about all of this; 'winning' could easily mean being stuck here, or worse. He holds out a hand for his hat, which flies back to his hand, walks back off-stage. He thanks the others with a nod and a murmur of, "Thanks." He stands there a second, fidgeting. "Hopefully that made them happy enough they don't do...anything." He gives Abitha a concerned look when he says that. She was at FCN.

"You've got this," he assures Kailey as she heads out. And indeed she does, or at least as far as August is concerned; art's not a talent he possesses in abundance, certainly not creatively. He claps for her, glad to see the crowd agrees.

She almost forgets that August left her hanging, looking suitably chided as he reminds her of the gravity of it. Abitha had been clapping again to try to cheer people on, cause, fuck, let's get this over with when she just... stops... clapping. Her mouth falls open and she just stares wide-eyed in awe at Kailey's display. She doesn't even swear. She must be broken. Sir Tenebrae Wigglesworth the third makes a mewling noise in interest, but again the sound is strange, a mix of tonalities, like it came from a multi-chambered throat.

Kailey takes the canvas with her after she bows to the audience. The paint is already dry and she has this quivering smile. Under the lights and from the dancing she had certainly been sweating. Now she casts around for a place to sit. And barring that opts for the floor as she catches her breath, deep and regular. "That was...fun...wish I could do that out in the real world," She says between breaths.

Faith watches too, both August and Kailey, then back to Abitha. "This is so weird. It feels real but I know I'm sleeping peacefully in bed. This is the oddest feeling." How else can her clothing magically change? Just a dream, just a dream. "That was beautiful," she breathes out, "So beautiful. I want a painting like that!"

Lucas steps back onto the stage, looking a little hesitant, but as Katy cheers him on, he moves a little more confidently, as he walks over to the chest he opens it, not sure what it is he is going to find in the chest, what he pulls out is a nice stout fireman's axe, and then another, and a third. He looks at Drew and shrugs, and tosses one of them in the air, catching it he then begins juggling the three axes, as he does they, still in the air, catch on fire. He blinks, not reacting as the flaming blades come spinning down at him, after a few moments he reaches out mentally and two more, unlit axes come out of the trunk and begin joining the spinning dance, those two moving in ways that can not be accounted for by normal juggling, weaving between the other axes. After a few moments the two unlit axes come down, into Lucas's hands and the three lit ones remaining floating spinning in the air above his head like a triple threat sword of Damocles. Lucas takes a bow.

August flicks Abitha a look that's both apologetic and sympathetic. He can't help the chiding, it's part of the package when you turn 40. He raises his eyebrows at Kailey's comment, says, "I bet you can come up with a way to. Though...They'd probably notice." He pulls a face. Certainly it's why he tries not to use the Art for anything flashy outside of these constructs. (Tries...tries. Often fails.)

A sidelong glance at Faith, and he adds, "I hate to be the one to tell you this...but you're not. You're here. As in, in this place." Thus does he wince at Lucas' juggling act of axes on fire. But, well, he doesn't cut or burn anything off, so August relaxes.

Kailey smiles at Faith and it is a mixture of pleasure at the praise and pride. But there is a hint of sympathy. "If your sleeping then how come I can do this," And she reaches out to pinch at the woman's leg. It's the closest thing since she is sitting down. "Thank you, though. I...want to keep it myself. But I might make another. Once we're back...Maybe I -can- keep this?" She purses her lips and grips the canvas a bit tighter.

Lucas blinks and thinks slowly, "I mean...the worse most horrific way? Trying to save someone and not being good enough, failing and getting them killed two because of my shortcomings"

Faith walks on into the stage after Lucas and will take the microphone from him, or stand behind the podium, whatever it takes, ready to take her question and give her response. There's a look of empathy to Lucas at his response though, and she gently pats his arm as she stands and awaits her turn.

"Grace gets all the dates. She gets guys, she gets girls. She gets anything she wants. I love her, but I feel a little insignificant around her most times. Like I'm invisible." Faith is honest though, not expecting the crowd to like her answer. Still, she shrugs it off and will pass the microphone off to the next person.

Kailey is catching her breath and as she does she listens. There is a bit of uncertainty on her face now. Slowly she licks her lips and rubs suddenly sweaty palms on her skirt. Slowly she gets to her feet and follows out after Faith. And when Drew asks the question color drains from her face.

"How much happier do you think your parents would have been with a normal child? In what ways?"

But instead of stuttering she takes a deep breath and slowly licks her lips. "That...is a hard question to answer. I don't know what normal is. Or having two parents...none of the foster families felt like, well, family. They tried, but I just didn't know how to fit in. So they probably would have been less frustrated. Been happier?" Kailey doesn't speak in a rush. There are pauses and she sounds sad. And there is pain, but it is old pain. And then she passes the mic off, biting her lower lip and looking down at her belly. Sniff.

Lucas leans over from where he is standing and gives Kailey a one arm hug briefly when she answers.

"What is the worst thing you have ever unintentionally done with your Glimmer abilities?"

Coming out onto stage and taking the microphone from Kailey, there's a pause, a look that makes Abitha go glassy, wide eyed. The look of reminded trauma. That was it. That was the moment. She had Awakened and nearly killed someone, and their life was forever, horribly changed. It takes her a long moment of silence as she mentally reels from it. But shock and pain turn to animal rage. Her brows lowering, it almost seems that a fire blazes behind her eyes as angry as she glares daggers at Drew. She raises the mic, growling into it, "Oh, you can absolutely go fuck yourself, bit-"

Abitha immediately jerks as the sound of an electrical discharge and a full-on arc of energy crawls off the microphone in her hand and up her arm. She convulses, and falls to her knees, shaking, the electricity making her muscles seize and flail, unable to let go of the torture device. The squitten falls jerking from her shoulder, but the broken contact means it recovers quicker, slithering upright quickly and glancing around for more attacks, panicked. Just as quickly as Abitha was shocked, it ends, and the microphone is thrown from her grasp, plunking along the ground with loud, ear-ringing tones of feedback until it comes to a stop.

Kailey gasps in shock as Abitha goes down. Hands going up to her mouth as the electricity arcs through her. But she doesn't do anything. If anything she takes a tiny step back with a softly squeeked, "Holy fuckballs."

August shuts his eyes a second at Lucas' answer, sighs softly when the crowd...doesn't seem to care. These questions are going to suck, he can already tell. And boy, is he not wrong. Faith and Kailey's are winners too.

And then comes Abitha's. He jerks in surprise, rushes out onto the stage. "What the fuck was that?" he snaps at Drew, kneeling next to Abitha. "Hey, you okay? Still with us?"

After the feedback ends, Katy sighs, removing her hands from her ears. As a teen, she'd been told not to use her abilities for trivial reasons so when Katy is questioned about it, she's wearing a frown on her face.

How do you distract yourself from the guild that the action of using your special abilities have unknown and probably negative effects on your surroundings, regardless of the fact you use them in a trivial manner?

"I don't distract myself from the issue, not at all. Sure, I've done things a couple of times that would seem trivial recently, but for the most part, I avoid using my abilities, unless someone else I care about is injured or requires my help. Or in self-defence. So I think about it and I remember, because I have no idea what's going to happen. Better safe than sorry."

August looks up at Drew, his expression a study in 'I'll show you what the worst thing I've ever intentionally done is'. It's all bravado, though. He won't; he knows it, Drew knows it. He knows they do, because They do. Why else would they ask him that?

He double-checks Abitha once more, slowly gets up and moves to the podium. He's not exactly James Bond; everyone can tell he immediately knows there's only one truthful answer to that. His jaw sets, and he gives the crowd an ugly look. He wants to take his chances with the shock. Or take a page from Lilith's book, and smash this fucking podium to smitherines. Or...

He sighs, suddenly tired. "Killed someone," he says, tone even and flat. He chases that with a bitter smile, and adds, "Thanks for asking," through his teeth, which easily translates to 'go fuck yourself'. He steps down from the podium and moves to help Abitha and her, uh, squitten, up.

Seeing Abitha go down, Faith screams, trying to kick the microphone away from them all, assuming that was the culprit. "OHMYGODAREYOUOKAY?" Yeah she's freaking out. This was all new to her and she is not okay with this. Not at all! "Leave us alone! Just leave us alone!" Then she just falls silent and looks at August with a frightened look at his response. Killed someone!? She doesn't go near him, she moves far from him.

There's a groan from Abitha as her muscles remind themselves how they work, drawing shaky breath. She curls her knees up for a moment and just hurts as over-fired nerves in her shoulder scream their protest. The rest of arm was dead. Senseless. Then, those nerves wake back up, giving her a brief reminder they too really fucking hurt. Then it fades again. It wasn't a serious wound, it just... fucking... hurt. She manages to lever herself up on one arm, trying to sit up, she glares at Drew hatefully. Squitten, for his part, actually puts himself between Abitha and the offensive host. She manages not to scream as she grabs August with the shocked arm without thinking, but allows him to help her back to her feet. "I'm starting to see where you'd get the motivation to do that," she mutters sideways to the man.

Lucas steps forward as Faith begins to freak out he attempts to calm her down, "Hey get a hold of yourself...its just a dream remember?" He smiles, "Take a deep breath and close your eyes, and calm down, don't give them what they want"

Kailey watches August. Listens to August. There is understanding in her eyes for a moment. Then she looks away and at Lucas. The firefighter is given a gentle smile and nod at the hug. "Thanks," She says softly.

Sir Tenebrae Wigglesworth the Third starts writhing and growling on the ground as his owner is threatened. Just like the mewling, the growl is strangely high pitched, but also rumbles the ground disturbingly low. Seriously, what the fuck had Abitha befriended. The game shop owner, for her part wanted nothing to do with this bullshit and was already moving toward the ladder, drawing her mind in protectively around herself as she tries to flee, but realizes she was still going to be a bit slow, letting others go first if they were faster to the ladder. Getting tangled and trampled would get everyone killed.

Kailey blinks in surprise at Drew. "Attack?!" She squaks and the first thing she does? Is throw up a shield around herself. "You ass-rotted snot goblin!" This is directed at Drew with sudden and vicious vehemence. Her eyes flashing brighter green for a moment. Then she is heading for the ladder. Intent to put it between her and the attackers.

August can't miss Faith's sudden movement away from him; it makes him swallow and focus on something else: Kailey. Her understanding helps somewhat, at least. And well, he'll have to wait and see what Lucas thinks. Talk about something he'd have been happy to never think about again.

He coughs a surprised laugh at Abitha, bitter and rueful. "Yeah. They sure goad us into it, in here," he says, voice low.

And the revelation that the audience is, indeed, just a bunch of puppets who will now attempt to tear them apart is icing on the cake. "Not sure I can call this 'winning'." He nods at Kailey, shifts to get himself between the ladder and the oncoming crowd of...puppets? Audience members? Whatever.

Katy decides on two things, the first one being her self-preservation, and she goes to protect herself with her abilities and put up a shield. The second thing is, to look at who is going to go for the crown and see what she can do to get up there.

Lucas moves quickly, snatching one of the two unburnt fire axes off the ground he moves into position between the crowd and the ladder, shielding the ladies, and the injured old man. As he does a familiar feeling of protection pops up around him, its just the normal aura of confidence any fireman feels in a fire, that glimmering shield of protection that is totally normal and not at all a super power.

It looked like an all out fight to the finish but the crown wasn't so much a prize for her. Or was it? Watching the others, she tries to guard herself, not really knowing if that was a real thing, but she'd felt it before. More by accident. So she attempts it while moving towards the ladder too.

It felt like the shield was in place, whether it was for real or not, but Faith turns to look at those around. The noisiest gets her attention, like the squeakiest wheel or something, and she focuses her attention on him.

It's almost slow motion that the Squitten takes a club hit straight to the abdomen and is baseball-batted off the stage and into the darkness beyond. There's a wet thud. Abitha cringes, then shouts incoherently at her pet's attacker, a palm held out, and a lightning bolt issuing from it, hurtling toward the enemy.

She's just finished her shielding for herself when she sees Lucas get attacked. Dodging and weaving, and running off, she heads towards him and as best she can, magically assists him.

August isn't attacked by anything, so he can get himself shielded. Lucas, on the other hand, gets mobbed, and August cries out when he sees him go down. But then he's back up, because of course he is. Well, he is Eleanor's brother.

And now August is going to blow up some of these things, since between Abitha getting shocked, that fucking question, and now Lucas getting beaten to hell, he's done with this Dream.

Lucas takes two fairly strong hits to the chest staggering back and looking like he is about to waver, the fireman doesn't fall though pushing through the pain he brings his axe up and swings wildly at one of the Audience Members.

Kailey is climbing. Oh is she climbing that ladder. Up she goes with her eyes on the prize. That crown. The shield is maintained. Other people are fighting. That is good. That is right. Her place isn't to fight, but to flee. But this is getting awful high up. Right, don't look down.

And just as intended, Abitha's sith urges result in the death of her familiar's killer in a crackling cacophony of chest crushing current. And then, true to form, a club to the head turns the lights right out. She collapses in a heap of back and gray chiffon.

"LUCAS!" Katy calls out angrily, rushing after him, but instead of trying to keep him in the fight, she completely loses it and unleashes on her target.

Kailey pauses in her climb and looks down. People are falling. People are getting hurt. For a moment her face screws up and then when Katy screams in rage and lets loose she sighs. Well, she's far enough up. Why not? And she points thumb and forefinger down at the same charging member and goes, "Pew! Pew!"

This is what August gets for seldom using his power to attack things: he can't hit for shit. Seeing Abitha take those hits makes him pull up short, and he dismisses the fireball he'd been about to throw in favor of moving to her. "Come on, no sleeping on the job," he says, swallowing back bile.

Faith cannot hit too. She can get hit though! At least it's not a bad one though! She feels it and screws up her face a little before taking aim again at him. Definitely she's not good with her powers though. Most certainly not. But she's learning! Eyeing the ladder between, she notices some of the females going for it. "The crown will be a horcrux or something terrible. I'm not going for it. Everything else is screwed up here, cheering for bad things? Why would anyone think the crown was good?" She's talking to Lucas mostly, but hey, anyone can hear her.

Lucas takes another hit, and another he is starting to look a little beaten and bruised, his armored veneer cracking but he just smiles flipping the axe around and swinging it wildly to try to hold back the audience, he takes a step toward Faith, "Yeah no, that thing is going to be cursed so bad, I just hope we can wake up soon" He then smiles her direction "And for the record I think your a lot more interesting then Grace"

Chip, chip, chipping away at the thing, Faith finally manages to strike one while evading a club from another. Too bad the strike is useless! Hearing Lucas though, she smiles at him, "I think Grace is wonderful, but I thank you for saying so. You're so gallant, Lucas."

Kailey curses as the thing resists. When Lucas goes down a string of, "Fuckityfuckfuckfuckeroonie," And so on spill from her lips. She takes aim with thuumb and forefinger again. This time at one of the things attacking Lucas. "Pew! Pew!" She says again as she grips the ladder with one arm woken through the rungs, and a leg too.

Abitha is woken by August's gift, seeming groggy for a moment, only to see him get whacked. She raises a hand reflexively, the ozone of charged particles sharp in the air as another bolt whips outward from her hand toward August's assailant. "Fuck! Sorry!"

Only two people getting injured would put Katy in such a state and Lucas is one of them. She's not even a particularly gifted healer, it's something she comes by almost accidentally. But she's chosen to attack, and do it aggressively, because she's done trying to be careful, or trying to help someone else stay in the fight. It's time to bring the fight to these...things.

August sighs with relief when he helps Abitha up and she comes to. Except then he takes a nice love tap to the head from one of the three actual...beings, and gets zotted by Abitha. He grunts and staggers away, trying to get clear of his attacker and heal Lucas. "It's fine," he calls to Abitha over the chaos.

Lucas smiles at Faith and seems to be about to banter back when another two or three of those guys open up on him and he takes a couple steps before dropping like a sack of potatoes.

The bolt flies true, taking out another assailant, but not in time to keep August safe. Abitha immediately scrambles across the stage floor toward him... only to see him get up again, "Don't fucking scare me like that!" She shouts at him. Her hand flies outward again, seeking another target.

Katy looks concerned as Kailey is now being pursued. And it looks like Lucas has the same concern. But...damn it. "Can you not die please? I don't need your sister to hate me or your girlfriend to give me grief," she growls angrily at Lucas. And she lets another burst of electric energy out of her hands.

August's poor head has had about enough of this. He collapses under the rain of blows, manages to climb back to his feet. "Yeah, yeah," he groans at Abitha, rolling to his feet. Fortunately she's gotten that thing off him. He makes another attempt at stopping one of these things, this time trying to break it apart.

Kailey goes wide-eyed as the shadowy figure starts up the ladder. "Oh nonOONONO!" And she watches her lightening arc from fingers to strike it in the chest. There is surprise for a second on her face. Replaced by horror when she sees the things attacking August. Seeming to take him down? "Fuck!" She curses but turns her attention upwards. On the crown. And holds out her hand in a grabby gesture.

Lucas rises after August administers to him, he looks up at the ladder and the man chasing Kailey and he just reaches out and yanks at the man from where he stands, ...Use The Force Luke!

The fight continues and Faith doesn't stop doing what she's been trying to do. Lightning the thing. Until now she hasn't changed targets, but as the one goes to the ladder, she goes to the one she had to evade before.. trying to attack it instead.

"Why won't you people fucking DIE ALREADY!?" Abitha was shouting, just hurling bolt after bolt at these things. Her palms had long since gone numb from the dancing energy, and she was growing more and more tired with each extension of her arms and mind. Her head was pounding, her heart thumping in her chest, "August, can we try for two times after this?... at least?"

August tears into the puppet, and it very satisfyingly rends apart, sparking from Faith's attack too. Well, that feels better, except then Katy is the one coming under attack and not getting back up. He's moving to her when he sees Kailey just...disappears. After touching the crown. "The crown," he says. "We need to touch it. Everyone." He's speaking primarily to Abitha and Lucas.

Kailey grinned in triumph as the crown sailed into her hand. There is a second where her eyes get wide and her mouth opens. Then she is gone. POOF. Dress and all.

Katy's electricity doesn't seem to affect her target but before she can try to do something else, she is hit twice more, and passes out from her injuries near Lucas' feet.

Lucas moves his hands like some Jedi and somehow someway it works the man pulled from the ladder and crashing to the ground, as Kailey vanishes and August speaks Lucas tries again, attempting to summon the crown from the ladder to fly toward Faith.

Faith beams when she manages to down one of the things. Until she realizes the real power was the killer. Eyeing August, she asks quietly. "Is this what you meant by killing someone? Was it someone like this? In a dream?" Because she has to know! "If we all touch the crown, it stays here, these things can get to our world?" Another question!

August glances up from healing Katy, trying to drag her back to consciousness, at the first question from Faith. He stares at her a second, nods. "Yes," he says. "But it wasn't like these. It was a person." Or, maybe it was. But he grimaces, because she might be right. "I'm--not sure. Maybe. I can try to destroy it on my way out."

She is revived, and when she opens her eyes, she sees August and gives him a grateful look. She takes a moment to survey her surroundings and attacks the only target she sees right now.

Katy uses her electricity to attack once more.

Another one down. Abitha was gasping for breath at this point. Three for fucking three. She seemed to be struggling to maintain charge, the bolts she was trying to coalesce starting to unravel before she can hold them into a concerted stream, but fuck if she wasn't going to keep going. One hand was clutching her head, and the other arm is lifted shakily at the last, sole audience member that was still moving, "I want... The Grand Slam... You fucker...."

Lucas does in fact use the force to float the crown over to Faith, as it floats in front of her he gets a big grin on his face and then a large club to the back of his skull, he falls as does the crown landing at Faith's feet.

"Let's all take it at once!" Faith tells August, Katy and Lucas. "If we can." THis is, of course, after she helps to take another one down, actually doing damage this time which causes her to flinch a little. The words from August get a nod, but then there's the crown right there. Save herself? Wait? "Come on, let's goo!"

And Abitha!

With the last bits of electricity flying from her grasp, Abitha bends down and snatches up the crown. She unceremoniously moves to the passed out Lucas and smacks it on his head.

Faith poofs as soon as she places the crown on her head, trusting in August to do as he'd said!

August zones out for a bit, swaying from his injuries, but he snaps back to when he sees Faith and Lucas disappear. Oh...right. He's still here. "Get the crown," he says to Abitha. "I'll go last and destroy it."

Katy sighs, damn those scrapes and scratches add up. But she's fine, it seems. Looking around to who's left, she lets Abitha go first with the crown. "I'll be right behind you."

Abitha holds the crown out to Katy, allowing her to take the next go if she was willing. She'd try plunking it on the woman's head if she wasn't. "I'm counting that last one as mine. I got center of mass." She looks over at August, counter-offering, "I killed four of these damn things. You go back first."

August folds his arms, gives Abitha a stubborn Look.

...and glances to the side as he proceeds to heal her.

"I think you've earned your trip home," Katy says to Abitha, but then she is forcefully given the Crown and disappears.

Abitha twirls the crown on her finger in a threatening manner, eyeing August.

"Go," August repeats. "I'll break it." He looks out at the noisy 'crowd'. "Don't want any of them getting through, and I can pretty thoroughly disintegrate it."

Abitha sighs theatrically, and looks like she were about to put the crown on, then quickly, and ineffectively tries to get August with the same move. But yaknow, it's really different when there's almost a foot height difference. Sighing deeply, she holds the crown out to him so she can get plunked.

August evades Abitha, if clumsily; his head's ringing, there's blood in his eyes, and there is no part of him not in pain. Being tall is good for something!

But when she holds it out, he's not convinced. He snaps his fingers and uses his movement Art to put it on her head instead.

Looking a little dejected she couldn't be the last woman standing, the crown alights on Abitha's head, and just like the others, she blinks out, whisked away from this plane and back in her own.

August watches Abitha vanish, his expression a little apologetic and a lot stern old man. One has to feel bad for his future kids. He summons the crown into his hands with the movement Art, features hardening at the confetti and congratulations. "With pride, huh?" He looks down at it, back out at the 'audience'.

"Here's my pride, you fuckers," he says under his breath. And as he puts the crown on his head, he brings his hands in and wills it to shatter.