☆TRACK IIX: BETTER TO PRETEND PT. 2

[interdimanagers]

Who: Royals, Heroes, and Rebels.
What: Hit gameshow series “Fairy Trial” is celebrating one of its anniversaries, and it’s invited you onboard. Check out the OOC post for IC match ups!
When: March 21st.
Where: Sevetop Entertainment’s studio.
Warnings: Mingle log mystery bag.

“Every prince is a fantasy, The witch is inside of me. Her poison will wash away the memory.” ☆BETTER TO PRETEND The day has finally come for Fairy Trial filming to begin! No matter if they’ve arrived by limo or taken the bus, everyone involved gets star treatment as the makeup and costume departments go wild with the models they’ve been given. At least Sevetop has good accomodations. While it’s a chaotic and crowded scene, everyone still manages to fit in the two buildings Sevetop has dedicated for Fairy Trial’s purposes in this area. It’s one of the only points today that anyone will have a chance to everyone else. After all, once everyone involved in a particular challenge is done with, they’re hurried out the door and to their particular destination. Every challenge has a different area it takes place in, after all. For some pair ups, they’ll find themselves merely being escorted to another set on Sevetop’s huge property. Others will find themselves being escorted to some very classy transportation and taken outside of Vista City to special obstacle courses that simply wouldn’t fit anywhere else. On the bright side, once the actual filming is done no matter the location, the crew involved seems to relax considerably. Whether they’ve done great or not, Heroes and Royals are treated to dinner and a change out of their costumes. Good job, everyone. “We kill the lights and put on a show. It's all a lie, but you'd never know. The star will shine, And then it will fall, And you will forget it all.”

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☆THE BAMBOO CUTTER CHALLENGE

[interdimanagers]

[Surprisingly, in comparison to some of the other challenges, the set for this one is fairly simple. Oh, it’s done up in the lavish style to fit the fairy tale theme of the show and the participants’ outfits, but it’s just one room. Nothing too special.]

[The Royal has been given a wonderful and cushioned seating area to lounge on, and that’s the scene the Hero will walk in on. Needless to say, the cameras are focused right on them.]

lapis and marty!

[heymcfly]

[ Lapis, you're in for it.

Here sits Marty McFly in a wonderful, cushioned chair dressed exactly like this. Where some people were nervous when the cameras were focused, he seemed in his element. He's perfectly still, smiling, leaning back in this plushy chair with one leg crossed over another. If anything, he kind of looks sleepy? There is not a care in the world right now. Marty knows that he's going to rock this, so why worry?

When his Hero walks in, he'll smile and give a cheeky little wave. No worries, no worries anywhere. ]

[oceantier]

[Lapis looks less than sure about all of this, particularly with all of the cameras watching. In fact, she closes her eyes briefly, visibly steeling herself. She has to remember why she's here. She can't afford to mess this up.]

[She can't afford to lose.]

[For her own turn, she's dressed far more simply than Marty, the filmy dress shifting like a breeze around her slim form. Her feet are bare, but delicately sketched tendrils of vines and flowers twine upward from her toes to her knees, and from her wrists to just past her elbows. An even more delicate-looking armband of silver leaves coils around her upper arm, and a gleaming pendant hangs at her throat. With the circlet in her dark hair, she's a nymph stepped out of the woods, come to pay homage to the human prince.]

[She looks at Marty and her eyes soften just a little. Maybe that small cheeky wave helps her too in its own way. For that she fights for her lines, her voice soft as breath.]

What is your will, my prince?

[heymcfly]

[ Marty had no idea who the Hero would be. Or who even would be there to greet him on the stage. When he sees Lapis, his eyes go wide. She actually looks really, really good in what she's wearing. It kind of reminds him of an elf, for some reason. He's also slightly jealous that she actually looks acceptable in the costume she's been given. All of a sudden, his puffy pants seem all the more puffier.

She approaches him. Now, it's Marty's turn to speak.

But he can't remember what he was going to say. ]

Aah, [ He's a musician, not an actor! ] What, what do you think my will is?

[ This is probably the first and last time he's going to be offered something like this. ]

[oceantier]

[Oh, Marty.]

[Fortunately the awkwardness just makes Lapis' eyes soften a little further. She's not exactly an actress herself, but she knows how to follow orders -- even when the superior isn't always sure of what they want.]

[She does her best to close her mind against the outsiders, the cameras. It's just the two of them, and he needs her in this moment, both false and real. In her mind she speaks to the Diamonds. Calls back those delicate twists of words, those phrasings and cadences.]

[Gently,] Surely . . . there is something that you want? Perhaps more than one?

For your favor, for your trust, if you will it . . . I will bring it to you.

Ask and it will be done.

[heymcfly]

[ Marty went through lines. He memorized them, recited them to himself by the mirror at least half a dozen before getting dressed. And then a few more times after dressed. The cameras feel like they're drilling into his soul right now. His mind has gone completely blank. ]

I, I don't know what I want! [ Honestly. ] That's, that is my answer for you. I don't know what I want.

[ Okay, Marty. That sounded awful. Follow it up more! ]

...There's something missing from my life. And I don't know what is is. But I do know that I want it back.

[ He looks to Lapis with a sad look in his eyes, trying his hardest to try and not think about how incredibly nervous he is all of a sudden. ] Do you understand?

[oceantier]

[She stares back at him with widened eyes, because this is now how it's supposed to go. He's breaking in front of her, losing himself, and how is she supposed to reply? How is she supposed to steel him against it . . . yet nudge him back to track?]

[She can feel the eyes of the cameras bore into her back. They're watching. She presses her own closed as though she can shut them out. She stumbles the words . . . but forces them out, smoothing as she goes.]

All will be well. [Her hands fold over, meet at her chest.] If you'll trust me . . . I'll help you. If you'll believe in me.

I'll . . . bring back the pieces that you've lost.

[Her eyes slip open again, dark and pinned to his, willing him to hear the undercurrent to her words, willing him to follow her into the game and play as they must right now.] Please trust me.

At this moment, command me. Tell me what I can do. You must name things . . . before time runs out for us both.

[Very softly,] I only have so long, my prince, before the spell ends . . . and we're both lost.

[Listen. Please hear me.]

[heymcfly]

[ Okay, he's feeling funny.

Marty feels distracted, foggy. He has an odd feeling that no, this isn't stage fright at all. His brain feels scrambled, between this weird feeling and the fact that he didn't know what he was doing at all, more or less. But he feels oddly calm. It's almost like Lapis' confidence in herself is reassuring. ]

I lost something special to me. Only a Hero can retrieve it. [ This language was such a pain. But he's got to sound like a royal, after all. Big words, weird sayings. Whatever. ] I want you to come with me to help me find what I've lost.

[ Keep going. Play the part. Marty had a feeling that if he steered to far in the direction he was going before, the consequences wouldn't be pretty. His wrist hurt just thinking about it. ] And what do you say?

[oceantier]

[They're not out of the woods yet. He's asking her to take him . . . and she can't. Again, she forces herself to word carefully.]

Your kingdom is here, and I cannot risk you . . . But if you will tell me, I will look for you. I will retrieve it.

[Don't risk yourself any more . . .]

[heymcfly]

[ Okay. Easy, Marty. ]

I, I want...music. I want a-

[ What did they have in fairy tales? What was even around here that could resemble a musical instrument? Electric guitars probably weren't a suitable thing, to be honest. ]

Aaah, I want a flute.

[ Because he can play that, sure. ]

for; johanna and amethyst

[wickedlyable]

[ This could've been a lot worse.

Johanna would be the first to say that she wasn't looking forward to the event, but now, it just doesn't seem so terrible after all. Lounging around on a seat while someone gets her stuff? That's not a bad way to spend an afternoon. So when Amethyst walks in, she'll see Johanna sprawled sideways on the chair, legs tossed over one arm. She doesn't play for the cameras at all, simply smoothing out the list she'd been given when her Hero approaches. ] So, should we get started?

[lateforkindergarten]

[ Wearing a costume feels strange to Amethyst, as her regular clothes are an actual part of her body and appearance changes are a simple shapeshift away. It's difficult not to stir and scratch at the fabric hanging on her; thankfully any restlessness can pass as excitement. She's a far more human, far less purple shade than usual. ]

Yeah! Let's do this! Tell me what you've got!

[ Alright. Strange clothing distractions aside, she plans on winning. No idea yet how to feed Johanna the gold powder but she can worry about that later. ]

[wickedlyable]

They're all pretty easy tasks, not gonna lie. [ Johanna scans the list, then looks back at her. ] Want to... I don't know, get me some water balloons from the Snow Queen challenge?

[lateforkindergarten]

Let me guess, the water balloons all have to make it back here un-popped.

[ No throwing them back here. Sad. Not nearly as fun! ]

[wickedlyable]

What's the challenge otherwise? [ Johanna can't imagine this being fun for the viewers, but her tastes veer a little more... dangerous. ] Let's say ten balloons, unpopped, as quickly as you can. Does that sound even a little bit entertaining?

[lateforkindergarten]

If it gets dull, I'll make it entertaining! [ She salutes Johanna and turns to run off. ] BRB Your Majesty!

[ Her long hair tails behind her like a tail as she runs to the Ice Queen stage. Cameras and crew scurry out of the way and dash to get the next shot of the hero on her way to find the first item.

Getting to is easy and quick. Amethyst has no trouble ducking some props and weaving between set pieces and people, even hopping up over some of the people and things in her way. She cackles; this is almost too easy so far.

Then she reaches the ice rink. No hesitation, she runs at it and throws herself belly first onto the ice. ]

HOCKEY PUCK!

[ She slides, but not as far as she normally would. The costume creates friction and she stops halfway to her goal in the middle of the rink. Amethyst sighs in disappointment and starts rolling like a log to the middle instead.

Back with Johanna the show commentators have a laugh at the live footage. ]

Parker and Dazai!

[ninjou]

[Oh, lord. Dazai was hoping for something a little less demanding than being at someone's whim, but let's be honest: he knew it was going to be work when he signed up for all this. Here he goes. In elaborate Japanese festival wear, no less. His arms are wrapped in bandages, and the same up slightly on his neck, but everything else is lavish enough and thematically appropriate.]

So the protagonist and the antagonist should really be on the same side sometimes. What do you say?

[trn451]

Personally, warrior, I believe that you should be more willing to demonstrate your worth. Should the Moon Princess be willing to accompany anyone less than worthy?

[ninjou]

That's a little unfair. [No, Dazai, it's not.] I'm completely worthy. You're going to make me prove it, aren't you?

[trn451]

Such are the ways of the Moon Princess. [This aloofness game is fun, not that Parker lets it show.] First, of course, you must find your way to the moon. A piece of a space vehicle, that you may escape the lowly burdens of the world below.

[ninjou]

[He has had it up to HERE with pretentious princess-y things, but he'll cope for a good cause. Like saving people's lives. That's a good cause.]

Just to check, I'm not building a rocket ship, am I?

[trn451]

I don't actually expect you to be an engineer, no. [Parker's voice is dry.] I'm only pretending, here.

[ninjou]

Thank goodness. [Too much effort. Not that he couldn't find a way to do it. He knows a lot of useless things.] So, all I have to do is go get a piece of a spaceship, or something to that effect, and you're one hundred percent satisfied?

[trn451]

For the first challenge, yes. Try the other sets? They shouldn't get too angry with you.

[ninjou]

Alright. [He gives a mild little bow.] Off I go to the hero's task set before me. Don't send a search party if I'm gone too long.

[He'll depart for a while, albeit strangely shorter than it should be. If the camera crew follows him, they'll actually see him casually walking up, taking it, and walking back off like he's in charge of the place, thereby somehow raising absolutely no questions.

How?]