(8/24/02)

The Gear Deployment field is full up with people tonight...apparently the news of Battle of the Bands has spread all over the town! Well, this is good! ...But, where are the GA-GS forces? Probably out getting smashed, again. Oh well, they'd better find a suitable replacement soon! Hey! Isn't that...it is! It's Big Joe! He's out in the audience! He can do it for us! Two members of the Tech crew go out and grab the drunken Elvis Impersonator...they drag him up to the stage and hand him a mic. Joe just looks at it for a second and then back to the Techs, "What do ya want me to do?" "You're the new MC!" "...Oy, vey." Joe shakes his head and taps the mic, sending feedback out across the speekers, "Is this thing on? Good!" Joe smiles to the people out in the audience, "All right, folks! This is your host for the evening, Big Joe!" He stands there for a second and waits for the applause...there are three women in the front row who go wild, but that's about it, Joe sweatdrops, "Well...we've got a great show for you all tonight and the GA-GS Battle of the Bands! Come up to the stage miss..." Big Joe looks at the Techs, "Uh...who's up." "They said her name was 'Elly'." "Ah! I know her!" Joe grins and says into the Mic, "Elly! Come on down!" He then steps back so as to not steal Elly's thunder.

A bit to the side of the stage, away from the general proximity of the crowd, there stands a feminine pink gear. It drops to one knee, extending a hand gracefully. From it comes a woman garbed in white silks, holding a harp and a rod. Auburn hair, held back by a single silver clasp, flutters behind her back as she descends and makes her way gracefully to the stage, walk elegant and, perhaps, ethereal. When Elly reaches her destination, cerulean eyes flick from one person in the crowd to another, appraise any who are in attendance. When she finishes, a smile touches her lush cherry lips, and she announces in a calm voice, "Indeed, I am Elly, and I have prepared a song of beaty, accompanied by harp, to sing for you. Small Two of Pieces." She pauses, waiting momentarily for the crowd's reaction. (OOC: To see just exactly what she's wearing, look at the desc.)

Singing! It's been so long since Khiea was able to enjoy something like this. Last time was the last competition, actually. And then she was a prisoner, and after that she was in Jasper, and then Jasper went badly and then there were Jugend concerns... Forget, forget, forget! Those are details that don't matter now, and worries that can be neatly deposited elsewhere. Because this is going to be /fun/! Khiea dragged Collin here bright and early, cheerful all the way and not minding of the wait, just to get a seat in the front by the stage. She almost squirms, impatient and excited, figeting in her seat, constantly shifting her weight and smoothing out her dress. And giggles delightedly as Elly walks on stage, applauding as she does.
"Mister Collin, isn't this /fun/?"
Isn't /what/ fun? It hasn't even started! But Khiea seems content enough, despite silly things like logic.

Taking her seat upon a stool, white silks cascading placidly in a pool of ivory unto the ground, Elly strums a few melodious notes on her harp, situating herself comfortably. When all is prepared, she smiles once, before setting her eyes on her instrument and playing the opening chords. Amazingly enough, each note is clear and flawless, touching as is the song and elegantly played. That Elly can play a harp, perhaps it comes as a surprise. Maybe it is a Solarian thing, or perchance she merely took to it as an innate talent. Regardless, it is a dazzling accompaniment to the actual song, a myriad of emotional lyrics spun wistfully by her soft, sweet voice. When the woman finishes her performance, she rises, offering a gracefuly curtsey to the crowd, and tapping her rod on the ground once to call attention, were it not fixed upon her at the moment. "My thanks to you all for being an attentive audience, and I hope I did not too badly spoil this evening." A light scarlet blush tinges her cheeks momentarily, before she looks up with her cerulean eyes, and smiles delicately. Yes, there's a stubborn set to those azure orbs, as if saying: Hah! Nanner! I did it.

Oo, pretty song. But Marcus would do better to be more, you know.. -Attentive-. For most of the song, he was merely trying to get a better view of the girl in the front row without being blatantly obvious about it. ...Does that come to a surprise to anyone? Good. Nonetheless, he snaps out of it just a moment soon enough to applaud--The boy does have manners, even if he does burn down churches for the principle of the thing. He looks distinctly nervous, however--And while he's standing right now, Marcus looks like he's desperately trying to find a way, and the courage, to find a clear seat by Khiea. Le sigh. A teenage boy is a hopeless thing. Regardless, he also has quite a lot else to be nervous about--Having seen the Avehan Minister that he shot just a few months back earier this morning, he has quite a lot to fret about on that front. And to boot, his song is going to be one of the ones coming up soon. Erk. It.. doesn't do much for the nerves, any of it. Forgive if Marcus looks positively twitchy in the corner.

It was okay, Ashe thought as she sat in her chair, leaning back. She had her hands behind her head, her glasses resting low on her nose. Not that she'd clap. As with yesterday, people kept their distance...the people in the seat next to her were trying to lean as far away from her as possible...she had always found that amusing. But it's there problem. She wondered if that Solarian was here, or that man she met yesterday....she didn't see them, but oh well...she thought she had spotted that hyperactive girl with the Solarian, but couldn't see her now, from her position in the middle seating...she simply shrugged, and wondered which flunkie would step onto the stage next.

Big Joe runs out onto the stage applauding, "Let's give this young lady a hand!" He watches as all the audience NPCs start clapping. "And, let's give this young lady my phone number!" Joe hands her a card that says "Big Joe Brand products, just call my name, and I shall appear" on it. And yes, the card is truthful, by the way.
"All right, folks! Next up we have..." Joe looks over to the techs...who seem to have lit the list on fire...Oh Bloody Hell. Not again. Joe sighs and says..."You! Yes, the young lady in the dirty clothes! Get on up here!" Joe smiles winningly again, and his fans in the front row feignt. He's good. Joe quickly fades into the background...let's hear the lady sing.
Big Joe makes another announcement, "Would the Etone please quit hitting on Khiea? Thank you."

Elly glances at Big Joe, raising her eyebrow. Give the lady his phone number? Time to let Fei out of the cage. She makes her way demurely off of the stage, walking slowly over to her gear, and sitting upon its hand which offers a good, elevated view to watch. She fights back a giggle at the plight of the woman pulled up onto the stage, and watches attentively. She does duck inside the gear momentarily to change back into her gebler uniform, and then returns. Oh, but this might be interesting. Courage, Marcus, courage! And Fate didn't put an open seat next to Khiea for no reason, after all. Taking a deep breath--Nevermind that he looks like he's about to faint--He tries to casually make his way through the rows, and sits down next to the Solarian Princess. Even if he's half a step away from hyperventilating. "G.. good afternoon." Is his almost pitiful greeting, as he attempts to manage a smile that doesn't look positively twitchy, "I hope you're having a pleasant da--" He cringes as the sudden announcement over the speakers, and raises an eyebrow towards the announcer. What Etone? Marcus isn't an Etone. Which one supposes means this is free game. "..Ahem. Are you having a nice time?" That's the best he can do? And in a voice that seems practically ready to break into panic, to boot. Sheesh.

Khiea knew she was going to regret not putting a bag down on that chair and pretending it was filled! But the Solarian Princess doesn't /dislike/ Marcus, so to say, either. He just makes no sense at all to her in the least. After all, look at him! He's stuttering and half shaking and looking so pale... He always seems to look like that, doesn't he? So much so that she simply gives a concerned smile and a, "Are you nervous about your song? Don't worry! It's okay, it's okay!" A cheerful giggle, a smile so bright that it could blind. "And I'm doing won-der-ful-ly, Mister Marcus! But someone's going to sing now, you know? And it'd be rude to talk through it!" And she turns back to the stage at that, fidget-fidgeting expectantly all the while. More interested in the concert than someone having nervous fits, apparently.

How beautiful, almost gorgeous. Elly finishes her song and Big Joe brings up the next contestant- and in Kenji's mind, he admires. Wonderful! Simply pleasant. Now, if only there was a little more chocolate icing on it. What? Kenji couldn't care less about that song! He was happily enjoying his chocolate sundae and inwardly mocking it, because he wasn't singing it. "Free food, free drinks...and with competition like this, we're sure to hit the prize!" he says casually in Marcus' direction. He wasn't really paying much attention to what's going on, either, cause Marcus has long gone from that seat. "...? Marcus?" he looks over to the seat and then over towards Khiea. "..?! He sat next to the princess?" he gapes a bit more. Now, how do you like that? Princess Khiea is sitting there enjoying herself quite nicely and he goes and starts to stutter at her! He really should go apologize for this behavior on his friend's part.

What the fuck?? Ashe looks up, pushing her glasses up, before the crowd started pushing her towards the stage. "H-hey!!!" of course, they came away as unhappy as her, their hands now covered in the grime she almost seems to attract. she was given a final push onto the stage, where she stumbles slightly before looking around angrily, not sure what's going on...and tempted at this point to hurt someone...now she had wished her gear wasn't in pieces back home...she'd step on a few people. she glared at Big Joe, adjusting her glasses again, scowling. "Whassat?? You'd better have a goddamn good reason for dragging me on stage..." she was seething...and visibly twitching. she would probably end up hurting someone unless Mr. Smooth Joe did some quick talking.

Big Joe just smiles and whispers, "You were there. Now sing." Joe is not going to let her weasel out of this. Joe looks down at Marcus and sighs. "I would like to make another announcement...Would Marcus Eriott please stop hitting on Khiea? Thank you. If he does not quit, he shall be removed from the premises and flogged. That is all."

You know, you'd think an announcement like that would make Marcus stop. But you know... That's actually a -good- thing for Marcus. Because, for all that he turns and throws a -venemous- glare towards Big Joe, it's the sort of thing that fuels his need to be a Spiteful Teen. And while he initially must resist the twitching in his hands that so wishes to dive for the guns holstered at his sides... No. No, that wouldn't be very impressive, nor a very good way to respond. He's -only- talking to her, after all. What's the harm in asking how her day is going? But spite and teenagers are great things to go hand in hand. And in fact, he simply casts Khiea the least terrified smile to Khiea that he's ever granted, and a nearly stutter-free, "That a friend of yours, Khi?" Agh! Somewhere, he feels he's graduated to the point where he can use nicknames! "How annoying. You'd think that he was wary of you having friends. Anyway." Brush it aside with a wave of a hand, even as he leans his elbow a little on the back of his chair, "But you're right, of course. It'd be rude to interrupt the woman who's about to sing. She does look a little unhappy, though, doesn't she?" Let's ignore that half of what Marcus said was directed at himself more than her. He's being.. Friendly. Yes. -Friendly-.

With all of this announcing, you'd think Khiea would notice. With all of the dirty looks that Marcus is throwing Big Joe, you'd think that Khiea would get a hint. With all of the stuttering and the defiance that Marcus has been offering, you'd think it'd be /blatant/. Instead, her dominant thought is very simple:
...What does 'Hitting on' mean?
No, really, what does it mean? Marcus isn't hitting her, or hurting her, or even upsetting her. He's just stuttering and acting all weird and being confusing. But he's still being friendly, she guesses. So what's wrong with what he's doing? What's going on?
So it is with confusion that Khiea faces Marcus, puzzled as to what the big deal is, and what all the fuss is about. And so her words are very slow, and very light, "...Well, he looks familiar, at least... But I don't think I know him very well, no. How very silly! I wonder what he's talking about!" She grins again, still confused but yet undisturbed, as she gives Marcus a sharp nod in responce. Yes, it's good to be quiet! "She /does/ look angry... I wonder if she's just really nervous?" Maybe? Just maybe! "Ohwell-oh-well! It's okay! We should be quiet now, though, you're right!"
It's so much nicer when he doesn't stutter! See, isn't that better? Now it sounds like you're having a conversation, rather like you're about to die of terror.

Tap, tap on Marcus' shoulder goes the Kenji finger. "Marcus, you really should have told me if you were going to change seats." Comes Kenji. "...and I had no idea you were going to be watching the battle of the bands, either! What a surprise!" he says to Khiea. "Have you enjoyed this...'music'...thus far?" As he stresses the word music, he starts getting ideas. His beautiful singing voice, matched with Marcus' lyrics, would be the sunshine on this dull event. Would stand out amongst the other mediocre music! Would be the delusional high Kenji has been looking for so long! Imagine the promotion he could gain if he impressed Princess Khiea?! His eyes turn to stars at this realization. "...Marcus!" he attempts to grab Marcus' shoulder and pull him up should Marcus let him. "Do you realize how little we've practiced?! We need to get cracking if we're going to win!" and impress Khiea!

Ashe_Wolken twitches, clenching her fists. "What in the hell do you mean, I was there!? Sing!? And why the fuck should I!?" she looks around, scowling angrily. "I'd better fucking be getting paid for this.......Like I have any goddamn idea what I'm going to sing, asshole...." she turned her glare back to Big Joe. "My fee's 100G. Like it or lump it, ya son of a bitch." she twitched again, clenching her jaw, looking around, thoughts running through her head...even if this asshole payed her, what the hell was she going to sing??? Damnit, this was just her luck. Doesn't this just beat all?....

Big Joe just looks at Ashe and frowns. He walks over to her, slowly and with purpose. "Ashe...that is your name, right? Well, Ashe. I have one thing to say to you." It should be noted that Joe isn't talking into the microphone, and, unlike usual, his voice is extremely cold...colder then the north pole, "If you do not sing, I will make your life a living hell. A hell so deep, that you will never be able to make your way out. A Hell so dark, that you won't be able to see your hand an inch in front of your face. You are not going to threaten me and get away with it. Now, I know that you have a song you can do. So sing it." Big Joe then steps away and smiles to the audience, "Let's hear it for Ashe!"

Agh! For all of Marcus's momentary glowing confidence, it shatters all in a moment as he nearly -jumps- at the unexpected tapping at his shoulder. Snapping back his glance to Kenji, he takes a short moment to untense completely. And even then, he has a rather nervous smile, "Er, hello Kenji. Sorry that I went off like that, you were a little.. Preoccupied." You weren't paying attention, and I was, so I dove for this seat. Now could you let me have some quality time with Khiea in peace? Although he doesn't have much more time to express this desire as he gets jerked to his feet by Kenji, any last inkling notion of gentlemanly dignity falling to shards at that. Psh. Jerk. "Don't you think it's just a -little- too late to practice, Kenji?" Marcus really does try to keep the whine out of his voice. He tries. He mostly fails.

"I've /loved/ the singing so far!" Khiea chimes merrily, missing, or ignoring, every bit of sarcasm in Kenji's tone. "It's so much fun to just watch something fun and interesting like this for once!" Or for the second time. But the two of them seem to be intent on leaving, or at least Kenji seems intent on dragging Marcus away. And to this equally confusing display, she merely gives a cute little one-handed wave. And a giggle. "Practicing is important! I'll be waiting to hear your song! I'm sure it'll be wonderful." General niceness. That's important, you know! Even if she doesn't know either of them very well at all, and neither makes too much sense. But nice people are good people! And Khiea is such a good girl. So she waves and turns back to the stage, a little confused but non worse for wear. Silly boys.

Kenji looks to Khiea and nods. "See? She does have a point. Practicing is very important!" he seems to be stressing something not all that subtly. "Besides!" he leans over to whisper to Marcus, "...if you told her who wrote the lyrics performed so flawlessly on stage, she could be very impressed!" that should be the right button to push.

Ashe_Wolken twitches again, and sighs, holding her head. "Fuck...." she shakes her head, and mutters quite a variety of unladylike curses in Joe's direction, walking over to the microphone...yeah, she had a song idea now....good way to relieve stress...ah well...she signaled to the band behind her....the tune started off slowly, featuring only one guitar and the drums...another guitar soon joined in, the slow tune continuing for a few seconds more, then picking up suddenly, almost violently. (OOC: Credit to this song goes to KoRn. The song is titled "Thoughtless". Oh, and don't mind me. I don't know the exact instruments in the song, or how to describe the tune very well. Onto the song, then.)

She began singing loudly, not quite yelling yet. It was definetly an anger song...
Thumbing through the pages of my fantasies,
Pushing all the mercy down, down, down!
I want to see you try to take a swing at me!
C'mon, gonna put you on the ground, ground, ground!
She stopped for a moment, at started yelling the next line hatefully...
Why are you trying to make fun of me!?
You think it's funny,
What the fuck do you think it's done to me!?
You take your turns lashing out at me!
I want you crying with your dirty ass in front of me!!
The tune began to pick up even more so, becoming loud, blaring, almost hard to hear her singing over it..
All of my hate cannot be found!
I will not be drowned..
By your thoughtless scheming!
So, you can try to tear me down..
Bring me to the ground..
I will see you screaming!!
The tune reverted to it's normal pace, the next verse beginning..
Thumbing through the pages of my fantasies,
I'm above you smiling as you drown, drown, drown!
I want to kill and rape you the way you raped me!
And I'll pull the trigger,
And you're down, down, down!
Why are you trying to make fun of me!?
You think it's funny,
What the fuck do you think it's done to me!?
You take your turns lashing out at me!
I want you crying with your dirty ass in front of me!!
The tune picked up again, into the loud chorus beat...
All of my hate cannot be found!
I will not be drowned..
By your thoughtless scheming!
So, you can try to tear me down..
Bring me to the ground..
I will see you screaming!!
She looked down, muttering, not into the mic, the tune dying down a bit..She started to sing almost lightly, pleasantly...
All my friends are gone, they died....
They all screamed, and cried...
The tune becomes violent again, the instrumental break in the song before the final part..
All of my hate cannot be found!
I will not be drowned..
By your thoughtless scheming!
So, you can try to tear me down..
Bring me to the ground..
I will see you screaming!!
All of my hate cannot be found!
I will not be drowned..
By your thoughtless scheming!
So, you can try to tear me down..
Bring me to the ground..
I will see you screaming!!
The tune dies down, before coming to a complete stop..She just walks off stage, still angry, and back into the crowd.

Such anger... such beautiful anger! Such spectactular, wonderful rage! Oh, it was enough to make Gabrielle's heart sing! Indeed, she had to wipe a tear or two away as she got closer to the group after the singer's departure.... Yes, one rarely sees such a marvelous display of hatred these days. 'I wonder if I can get her autorgraph...' the female Etone ponders, at the same time checking her disguise.... perfect. She looked just like Gabriel used to. And how appropriate! At a Gebler facility, where he WOULD have had power and authority, had he stuck to his training. Ah, well. Now, to see if any of these musical miscreants has seen or heard of the Dark Yggdrasil? She begins scanning the crowd for people of importance...

Casske staggers into the arena, glancing about and spotting one of the empty reserved seats near the stage and walking over to it. Hie's pretty hungover, and is very lucky that he convinced Joe to take over. For more booze, of course. His mind was scrambled, and while he noticed Ashe was singing, all he processed was something about hatred, rape, and how it was all "fuck." He waved to her halfheartedly as she left the stage and collapsed in his seat, rubbing his temples, not caring what anyone thought.

Big Joe steps up and claps, "Let's give her a round of applause, folks! She did great!" And, she knows not to mess with Big Joe...she's a bright lass. Joe looks around for a moment and scratches his head. Who's next? He looks over to the Techs, they shrug, and Joe sighs...not again...