Showtime

[Secondary Characters]

Several members of the assembling work force toddled by, waving to Oeilvert as he passed through to the concession and heard three loud "boom"s. Walking over to the large double doors leading to the Opera House's front steps they opened, meeting the eyes of the vampire Lilith. One of the mechanics was on his way out to work on Hercules' ship, so he placed a hand on the vampire's shoulder as he walked by.

"Oh you're with the pirate lady, right? The one with an airship? Go right in, we didn't know anyone else was waiting out here." He smiled, this portly man, giving her a thumbs-up before pressing on down the steps and to the shoreline.

[Lilith]

Arms crossed, Lilith stood and waited outside.
the doors swung open, she was greeted, it should let her inside, she would have preferred something more formal.
the vampire gave a half hearted smile and entered through the threshold.

there were a lot of people each having their own little conversions, more white noise.
"more people..."
the vampire wandered and found an empty seat in the last row.
"opera... just what I need, loud screechy singing... they better not have speakers back here..."

[serpentoflore]

Nivea kept an eye on both "Daphne" and Sai. The man seemed to allow himself to be touched by the woman. Was she a weakness to him? It was hard to tell, but he seemed to be accepting her touch. He didn't seem to reject her completely.

[Sai]

Act 1~
Sai... stood still as Daphne embraced him. He was unsure how to act here, having never really experienced the emotions he knew were appropriate in this situation. Yes, even when he was whole, he had been so obsessed with his schooling and the ways of black magic that he never allowed himself much... social interaction. Ironic, considering the facts.

Sai watched Daphne throughout her affections, and though he could feel nothing, there was something like confusion and confliction in his eyes. He... didn't know what to do, how to react. So, instead of making a big deal about it, as an emotional person would do, he simply held up the two notes he had gathered (one from here, one from Manhattan) for her inspection.

"I found these..." he said simply. Placing them into her hands with all the cold professionalism of a man who had never met this woman before, he nodded. "This makes eight in your possession. The ninth is false, as you know... There are thirteen that must exist... so... five more..." he said quietly, then looked down a bit, still mulling over how to react.

"It is... good to see you again..." he said, though if it was sincere was anyone's guess...

Act 2~
Atticus stepped up to the stage, spotting the impresario with his grand, albiet pretentious entrance. Once he was fully upon the stage, he looked around with mild interest.

"So... it's Acteur who's truly running the show... that is interesting..." he muttered...

[General Beatrix]

"Ah-ha!" squealed the scientist, quickly reading over the notes handed to her by the cold, emotionless Nobody standing before her. Quickly memorized she tucked them away into her folder hanging on her side within a satchel and whipped back around to Sai, collecting him into a tight embrace.

"Yes, yes! Five more to go!"

Several soldiers positioned on all sides of them stared up at the scientist's enthusiasm; she wasn't one to display such emotion, herself. It was unsettling and, with a glance around Daphne sort of blushed.

"Er...what, ladies, have you never seen two people in lov--er, someone in love with another before!?" She quickly turned to Sai, whose expression had not changed and let out something of a sigh. "Well...hopefully once this is all said and done he will be able to share with me what I offer..."

Noticing she'd just said that made her blush even more and she quickly sat down, brushing her hand over the Nobody's shoulder.

"I'm proud of you, Sai...just be careful. It looks like you're needed down on stage once more...good luck."

[Abigail Crescentlight]

Abby blinked a bit as she heard her name. Spinning around, she spotted Ellin charing through the crowd of Alexandrian Soldiers and couldn't help but giggle despite her worries regarding the company around her. She walked to the edge of the stage to meet the eager woman, knealing down as she did in order to be more on level with her (though she was still quite above her, due to the elevated stage floor).

"Yes, Ellin? Is there something you'd like to talk to me about?" she asked in a somewhat bemused tone. She looked up to see quite a few of the soldiers had been pushed out of the way in the wake of the Dark Knight's charge, sighing a little with a shake of the head and a slight curl of the lips.

Behind her, the Impresario announced that they would be ready as soon as Acteur De La Noir arrived, and sighed a bit. "Whatever it is, Ellin, it may have to wait unless it can be taken care of quickly..." she said, not wanting to be rude and talk overtop of the one who had invited them when he arrived. The look on her face as she glanced off coupled with the way she held her hand over her heart betrayed a little worry at the amount of darkness in this place, the concentrated evil.

"... I hope this is all worth it..." she whispered mostly to herself.

[Ellin Destroix]

Once Abigail turned in place to face the knight, Destroix was already starring from bellow, unable to get closer, lest she would jump over the stage and be all up in the mages face. Something new happened to the knight, seeing that kind look upon her face made her... shy? Well, she hadn't felt this touched since she was under guise of an Alexandrian uniform, hiding away her identity to the world until that fateful day.

"Miss..." she started off, but her thoughts trailed once she saw those blue eyes starring at her. "...Hh..hi."

"Yes, Ellin? Is there something you'd like to talk to me about?" The mage would ask sweetly.

The darkest knight continued to stare at the woman, her mind failing to interpret the words that had formed to her, she repeated, "...Hi..."

"Whatever it is, Ellin, it may have to wait unless it can be taken care of quickly..." The mage would speak softly, wanting not to interrupt The Impressario-- it was then that Ellin snapped from her moment of idiocy.

"U-uhm--Oh, but this is of most importance, Miss Mage Abigil, madam!" she was finally able to say, a smile now crossing her features, "The Caretaker has given me permission to bring the children here to watch the Theatrical happenings, is that not wonderful? It would be their first ever experience in fine arts!" she paused, frowning, " ... knowing you are a warrior of light and all, I was hoping you could be an ambassador of peace and... perhaps come with me to get them? Only if you wish..."

Ellin swallowed a little, reaching up with a menacing hand to scratch at her own cheek lightly, "M-mind you, where I am to go, if you wish to follow, is a peaceful place. Hostility will only be shown if hostility is given... b-but rest assure, I will keep everyone safe... I'll keep you safe too-- i-if you wish to go." The knight found herself rambling, in a small voice as to not anger Impressario, " I'll be in the waiting room two doors down that way." she pointed a certain direction, " I'll be going in about seven minutes while I gather a few things... I hope to see you there, Miss Abigail... Thank you for at least listening."

Ellin smiled softly here, before speaking "It means a lot to me..." Turning and leaving to said door., she waved a hand over her shoulder, " ... See you later, Miss Abigail."

[Agrias Oaks]

Agrias continued to pull idly at the lute strings, looking about her as the near last of the soldiers past her, and she remained unseen. The vampire had past her on a few occasions, seeming to want to find someone, and she wondered who. Sai was there, and Daphne was happy-- he seemed to have made new friends as well. The small one reminded her of Construct 8 of her world.

Slowly, the bard made her way closer to the Red Rose, not to hide in her room, but stand at a high point and watch from there, in case her music was needed to boost up critical rates, or speed toward her allies. If something went wrong, she wanted to at LEAST do that to help. she wanted to be useful.

She continued to pluck at the c string, then d, and g, in thought of what that witch had told her as well.

"...why are we here, anyway?"

[Acteur de la Noir]

Acteur de la Noir could tell that Sarah derived much comfort in his presence. It was evident in the way she accepted his arm around her shoulder without protest. In her smile, serene and helpful all at once. In the natural trust and acceptance in those pale violet pools as she nestled against him somewhat. Truthfully, the Heartless puppeteer found it rather…distracting? Yes, that was the word for it. When he’d first met miss Appleton, he’d never have thought such a situation possible—to him, she’d been the same as any other human—a member of a race that, so very often, abused the privileges that so few even realized they HAD. Someone whose personal story would be interesting to play with...albeit, given her interest in the performing hearts, a story that was more intriguing to him than most. But somewhere along the way, she’d proven to be delightfully complex…and had fully accepted the darkness that he was, without having to become like him. She was fine, just the way she was.

And now, Acteur realized with a start, he was finding it difficult to imagine things without her. Against all rationale, he’d formed an attachment with this human. But then, when had the Phantom Puppeteer ever cared for being rational?

Alas, duty called. Giving Sarah’s shoulder a gentle squeeze, he dipped his head to her in a reassuring nod. “I must attend to my duties as fellow stagemaster, Cherie," he explained in a rather gentle tone. "I’ll leave you to your practice. I shall see you anon…”

With those words, Acteur slipped away, the tattered hem of his cape flickering across the wooden floorboards as he went off in search of the Impresario—this was the old man’s brainchild, after all. Best to see if he had any ideas or guidelines to the script before stepping to the fore, himself...

[serpentoflore]

Sarah's body remained still while Acteur held his arm around her. The very touch he gave seemed to calm her body away from any thoughts that would be problematic. The squeeze seemed to be almost a wake up to the moment being over for now. She nodded in response, "I hope the cast likes the work of art you and the Impresario have created."

She returned to hear seat, grasping up the small charcoal utensil she had started using earlier. Revising had to begin once again. Soon enough she would be busy with actually playing the music she composed.

[Abigail Crescentlight]

Abigail smiled a bit when Ellin explained. Children were to attend? How lovely! But why was she so worried? She blinked a bit, listening before looking over to the stage. Apparently, Acteur had yet to make his appearance, so she guessed she had time. With a smile, she hopped down and followed Ellin off to a side-room where they would make their leave.

Opening the door, she snuck in and smiled to the dark knight. "So... a dangerous place?" she asked, seeming a bit confused. "If it's so dangerous, why are children there?" she went on , her head tilted somewhat with a bewhildered expression.

But then she'd give that smile once more, and nod. "But if it means that much to you, I'll go with..." she said. Pulling out her staff, she set it aside where it wouldn't be disturbed. "A place of peace, so long as no hostility is demonstrated. Best I not take this with me," she noted, nodding firmly before turning to the knight.

"Let's get there and get back as swiftly as possible! I don't know when Mr. De La Noir will be ready for us!"

[Secondary Characters]

Wall-E whistled as Oeilvert lead him off to find a concession stand. He held the man's hand, being lead along with a happy tune playing. In all honesty, Wall-E was having a great time here at the opera house so far! So much to look at, so much to take in, and he just loved learning. Plus, the people were all different and exciting. He even thought he spotted a man that looked like a woman not too long ago! Fascinating!

They reached the concession stand and Wall-E let go of Oeilvert's hand to rove around it excitedly. He'd stick his head up over the counter to examine the popcorn maker with an eager "Pop... Pop!" escaping his vocal processor. Then, he'd spin around and look at the rolling hotdog warmer, his head making little circle patterns as he tried to keep his eyes on the rotating meat. From there, he'd go to the various drawers and open-close-reopen them a few times with a whistle of amazement.

Clearly, it didn't take much to entertain the construct. Then, when Oeilvert spoke to him, he blinked, then clicked his hands lightly before looking around. "Siiigh?" he asked, looking around at the various things. He pointed to a picture of an icecream bar that was very un-Sai-like, a rainbow sherbert type thing shaped like a popular super hero with gumball eyes on a stick. "Woo?"

[Ellin Destroix]

Ellin smiled brightly when she noticed the mage following her to the room. When they arrived, she quickly searched a few boxes and revealed an interesting black cloak with blue triangles on the edges; a contrast version of a White Mage’s cloak. “Here, this is for you, Miss Abigail, you will need it for where we are going.”

She stepped back so Abigail had enough room to twirl the cape around her shoulders-- the cloak being made of special fabric that protected against the darkness of corridors, and the heartless' grasp upon the heart. Ellin reached to her side pocket, and from, took out a visor similar to the one which covered Agrias' eyes when she was a heartless, and put it over her own, while she explained further, “Well, it is dangerous for people of the light when they act rashly without asserting the situation, Miss Abigail. It is a peaceful place, really it is… when one behaves of course.”

Once they were both set, she extended an armored hand to the woman. The darkest knight looked rather menacing with the visor; it was unknowing if that smile she had was wickedly translated behind her hidden eyes, or if it was a pure one of good intentions.

“Ready to go?” She would ask softly, the pressure around them seeming a bit dense—a corridor was forming, "...and worry not of Ms. de la Noir, he has much to work with as is... I don't think he would mind us doing this, especially if it is for the children."

[ultimecia]

[glow=purple,2,800]The moment Acteur de la Noir stepped through that door, and closed it was the moment that Ultimecia would appear in place; It seemed like she was behind the opened door all this time, but knowing her, she probably timed it to be there for her mysterious entrance once the puppet had gone. She rested her shoulder against the cold wall there, leaning her body against it at an angle to stare at the ever hardworking composer.

Her wings would twitch in place, and release feathers which fell from one, to two at a time, disappearing near touching ground. She was familiar with the happenings of Sarah, and she frowned at another sad story, ready to unfold... if all went accordingly...

The tired witch glanced , watching the tip of the piccolo sticking out of one of the girl's pockets. A silver color it had taken, "Underway, are we?" she asked with her sultry voice. It was uncertain if she spoke of Sarah's work, or someone's demise. [/glow]

[serpentoflore]

Sarah blinked when she heard a voice speak again. She was certain Acteur had left the room in order to greet the Impresario and cast. She slowly turned to look at the person, recognizing her a little. Where had she seen someone that looked like that...? For a few minutes she remained still, uncertain of her memory being right or not.

"You're...that woman from back stage." Her eyes narrowed, uncertain of her intent here now. "The music is going well. Are you going to tell me another cryptic message?" Her body moved to look towards the music again. It felt as if the woman were merely there to give some sort of sober reality to her current decisions. She slowly grasped the charcoal again, looking for something, anything to mark.