IN THE FOREST OF THE LOST

[beathollow]

it's all too perfect.

Comments

[ledbythewind]

[... oh. He really hates that he was exactly right about this.

So. Can he see where the strings are leading...?]

[beathollow]

The strings Mafuyu dangles from are, like any marionette show, above the stage, but behind the curtains.

[ledbythewind]

[THIS IS PROBABLY STUPID BUT. Is there anything nearby for him to potentially climb...]

[beathollow]

Not unless he gets on the stage and tries to go backstage!




Or tries the curtains, I guess?

[idealitas]

[ Yi Sang is not a loud man, but he can try to raise his voice for the others to hear: ]

Go backstage.

[beautifulknight]

[ Time to come over, then! ]

[townmusician]

[You don't have to tell him twice... Off he goes!]

[moodwrecker]

Is that where she's hiding her?

[TEARING BACKSTAGE.]

[privatedomicile]

Oh, shit--that's all, folks! Go get popcorn or whatever! [Jesse does a very non-stealthy job of distracting the audience before he follows backstage.]

[emptyself]

[ to the backstage he is going! ]

[beathollow]

...

The stage begins to rumble, and the backdrop falls as more and more storm backstage, revealing... not the messy chaos of a production, but a throne room.

A woman who looks a lot like Mafuyu sits on the throne, a cross brace in hand. She's dressed regally, in white and gold like some holy, divine queen.

... Such rude people. Coming into my home, storming like this- the fire you started, stealing garbage, even attacking my servants... and now this?

[emptyself]

…

[ um. ]

I do apologize for the fire, but I don’t see what’s wrong with taking something that you think is garbage. [ a beat. ] And your servants attacked first.

[beautifulknight]

[ Unholy, and undivine, more like.

Completely and truly ugly in the face of Idrila's true standards of Beauty. ]

We have come to put an end to your reign of terror!

[moodwrecker]

[Yeah yeah she's rude and imperfect, whatever.]

What did you do to Mafuyu?!

[privatedomicile]

Hey, I stole a doll girl! She ain't garbage!

What's even your problem?! Mafu ain't a bad kid. She's not gonna start doin' crimes the moment you turn your back. She wants to be a friggin' nurse for crying out loud! And her music's the bomb!

She's already great without you gettin' on her ass! So lay off!

[And just for extra measure, since this woman hates cursing...]

...bitch!

[vogelfrei]

[ There she is. ]

I'm afraid your rotten reign is at an end, your majesty. The dragon knights have come to claim your castle and wed your daughter to their prince.

[ And he's smiling, the picture of a confident general. Even as he says this nonsense. ]

[cirquedesang]

[Oh, there she is. Finally.

Celeste will approach the throne relatively calmly, all things considered! He'll even bow deeply to her at the waist, with a flourish of the hand... but, really, it's not that simple, is it?]

Your Majesty, we do apologize for making a mess in our Dearest Princess's home- [Because Mafuyu is still the princess here, you see, and the respect is reserved for her--]

But with only the utmost respect... [And he'll look up at her, smiling, but with a dark hate in his eyes.] Go to hell.

[goei]

So what if we're rude! At least we ain't hurtin' Mafuyu the way you are! And guess what! I've killed loads of people and I'm her big brother now and there ain't shit you can do about it!!

[Just taunting her I guess.]

[ledbythewind]

[There's a smile curling at the edge of Richard's lips now, wry and bitter and tinged with something unreadable.]

You really think this is how to rule as a queen?

[supherb]

[Arven holds Mafuyu close to his chest as he enters behind the others, scowling at the sight of the woman before him. She's not getting anywhere near Mafuyu again. Not on his watch.]

How dare you act like we're the problem here. Look at what you've done to Mafuyu!

[townmusician]

[haruka's just going to flip her off and stick his tongue out. nyeeehhhh!!

he's not sorry for SHIT and he WILL start more fires]

[fullmoonmutt]

I'm going to take a massive dump on your wretched piece of shit home if you don't hand Mafuyu over already. She deserves better than a psycho like you.

[ledbythewind]

[You know what, since everyone else is doing it too, time to hop up onto that stage and take a look backstage!]

[beautifulknight]

[ Don't go it alone, Richard. Argenti will accompany him! ]

[ledbythewind]

[Much appreciated! Richard does not trust that this is not about to get very messy, and that's why he's keeping his hand near the hilt of his sword.]