NM Part 20

The evening at the Marlon Estate passes slowly, the howling and clawing of the damned souls lurking in the darkness is almost routine at this point. Though at least the estate offers fine beds and better food than the Inn. The party has time to catch some must-needed rest and spend time looking over the scripts they found in the theater.

Ka'len, looking a bit more rested than he has the last few days, returns to the group in the morning with the script held rolled up in one hand. "Alright.. so if we're doing this, which we've got to do obviously, I'll play the female lead. It's not like I don't have some experience running around in a dress." He stops then looks around coughing, "course those days are behind me."

Remi sits crosslegged on the floor, his ears splayed as he carefully reads over a few pages of that script, flicking them back and forth to re-read individual lines a few times... Before he just shakes his head a bit and looks up at the others, "... This is pretty horrible." He remarks, and then focuses on Ka'Len in particular as the young swordsman mentions being used to wearing a dress. Giving him an odd look.

Marduke nods over to Ka'Len, "That saves us from at least one diaster then." Looking back to the copy of the script he has with him, "I am glad scene writting has come a long ways since these days. I have rarely read something so..." Shviering a moment, "Anyways. We do have a problem here, five rolls, and only four of us. Narrator, Chocobo, Baron Von Sloot, and Norg Yorgist. I will suck it up and take the chocobo part, Remi I think could play the noble, and Alba I think already has claimed the viking like one yes. Just need a narrator." Then snaps his fingers, "BOB get out here, we got a part for you to play!"

Bob drifts about absently, having been reading the script over Remi's shoulder. "Ugh why do you have to drag me into this mess? I suppose I can help out though given what you folks are doing. Made it farther than any of the others have I gotta say.."

Alba blinks up from her copy of the script, looking between Ka'Len and Marduke, her normally sullen face now blandly neutral. "...Why do the both of you speak as though I cannot wear the face of the woman?" Looking down at her wrapped chest, then back up, one ear cants to the side. "...I would ask if wetlander women resemble the men, but this I already know to be false." Amazingly, amidst all the horror and madness that has dogged their heels all this time, the Viera could almost seem to be displaying something like a sense of humor about their current situation.

Ka'len stops and looks at Alba before he points to the book and tilts his head, "becaauuuuuuse I thought you'd made a bid for the barbarian fellow? If you want the female lead I can take the barbarian." He gives Marduke a quick clap on the shoulder, "thanks for taking the chocobo though... less to remember right?" He grins and winks before looking back at Alba and lifting his brows a little bit.

Remi hmms a bit and looks at the script again for a few moments... Carefully reading some lines, before he shruggles and then nods, "I can play the Lord, sure. I've even had some quick lessons at the fencing school back home, so I can SORT OF wield a weapon." And he flashes a quick smile, only to let it fade to a mild look of bemusement as he looks over at Alba, headtilting a bit, but then also putting on a slight grin, "Wetlander women are like the men, only with smaller breasts."

Marduke shrugs his shoulders, 'What are you kdding, the chocobo is the only thing that walks out of this alive." Winking to Ka'Len at that, "Though I am not going to have usspending all day fighting over rolls and we need all of us, floating talking skulls included." Glancing to Bob and nodding. Then glancing to Alba, "I figured it was the I will kill anybody who tries to make me wear that dress look. As for Wetlander women Alba." Pausing a moment, "Women come in all sizes I have seen, and I look often enough to have a good idea." Grinning now, "Comes with being a bachlor."

Alba looks from Ka'Len to Marduke again, blowing out a breath through her nose and levering herself to her feet. "...Perhaps it is better that another play the woman," she mutters, an edge of discontent in her voice. "I understand the woman will be stabbed." Stepping past Remi, she drops a hand onto the bard's head, ruffling his hair and blinking a wry smile of thanks his way, before moving on to the fireplace, shuffling papers back and forth. "...There is no singing here. This is to be the play with singing, yes? There are no songs to end the play? Feh. It is good that this is his life's work; had he lived longer, I have no doubt he would wish to surpass himself."

Ka'len chuckles and he steps over to peek over Alba's shoulder beforenoting, "that one right there is the song." He smirks alittle and then straightens before gathering his things. "Let's get going then.. also.. " He smiles at Marduke and Alba both, batting his eyes, "Lenneth and I were one person until recently, that's part of the reason why this doesn't bother me."

Remi grins a bit more at Alba as he's ruffled, before uncrossing his legs and smoothly hopping to his feet. Stretching a little as he looks around, and remarks, "Yah, let's head to the theater and get this over with..." The Bard pausing a moment then to headtilt at Ka'Len, and giving an expression of 'Ahh, that makes sense.'

Marduke titls his head to Ka'Len, "Indeed, I figured that was the case now. Things are ever interesting on your side. Makes me glad my own homelife is well plain." Chuckling as he turns to open the door, "Lets get going here now." A glance to Remi, "Still lets try to have some fun with this, despite how just terrible this play is. Just be careful when Alba goes to stab you at the very end, we know how she gets with a blade in her hand." Then nearly dances out the door to avoid her in case of retaliation.

Alba pauses, turning to watch Marduke caper out the door, ears falling back slightly, a deep scowl twisting her features. "....Yes," she mutters to herself, tucking the book under her arm and stalking toward the door, "it is *well* known, is it not... Feh." Turning to glare daggers at the remaining men, she raises an eyebrow. "Do you follow? Or have you great wetlander wit to share as well?" SPinning on her heel, she stalks out the manor, slamming the door behind her.

The walk back to the theater is quiet as the days have always been. Though that feeling of dread still hangs in the air like a thick fog. The spirits are being freed and the town seems to know it, reacting and changing with each defeated Spectre. Another will undoubtedly join the ranks of the fallen soon....

The theater is as it was when you left to chase after Sebastion. Bob floats about turning this way and that. "Well before you get this show on the road there's a few things need done. Stage needs cleaned off, the costumes you have aren't complete the rest of them have to be around here somewhere along with the stage weapons."

Ka'len smirks at Marduke, "makes me glad that I didn't have to be the one having babies." He opens his mouth and then looks at Remi, blinking as the door is slammed. Coughing a little then the young man makes sure they have all the scripts then heads out after Alba and Marduke both while muttering out the corner of his mouth to the bard, "he's gonna get himself stabbed I'm thinkin, and I'm not makin a play off the joke." Upon reaching the the theatre Ka'len goes to where they left the costumes and collects the dress before holding it upto himself, "well.. here we go.." He stops and looks at Bob before he ponders and then nods, "makes sense." The dress is set down once again. "shall we take a peek back stage for the rest of the costumes?"

Remi blinks after Alba a few moments... And then glances sideways at Ka'Len as he starts moving with the group, quietly nodding in agreement. Happy to have crossed the town without any problems then, and almost started to get used to its creepyness, he simply enters the theater with the others upon reaching it, and listens to Bob... Hmming some, before he starts to poke around the place, to see what he might find.

Marduke glances over to Alba and offers a smile, "Alba, it is a joke. I typically only make friendly jokes at people I respect, such as yourself." Glancing around the theater as he considers and nods, "I will get to cleaning off the stage if the rest of you want to go searching and all that." A thoughtful look and a shrug of his shoulders, "I am the one wearing the chocobo outfit, welcome to make fun of me." Then moving to the stage to start clearing it up, "Wish I knew the wind spell... so hard to find that one."

Alba breezes past Marduke, one hand rising just long enough to place the tip of her long, curved fingerclaw against the summoner's cheek, scratching painfully as she passes. "Then I return friendship with friendship," she says curtly, stalking backstage to aid in the hunt for the rest of the costuming.

Clearing the stage is easy enough, a few boxes and other debris needs cleared but can be handled in short order. With the group searching backstage the rest of the costumes are found. The shirt, pants, boots and Sword for Norg Yorgist. The saber and remaining clothing for Von Sloot, the veil and shoes for Vanbeltin, and the saddle, bridle, and headpiece for Halifax. The items are a tad musty, but still servicable. The theater seems to sense that the play is going to be performed, the occassional glimpse of a blue phantom backstage or a quiet and brief burst of sound like the orchestra tuning up and the murmur of the crowd echoing through the building.

Ka'len lifts up the bridle and saddle before he lets out a snerk. "Hey Marduke, found the chocobo stuff here." HE passes the items over then jogs away quickly to gather up the dress, veil and shoes before excusing himself to get changed, though he keeps his normal clothes just off the side of the stage so he can retrieve them quickly. As for the scratch given by Alba, that the man doesn't comment about, even if he's keeping an eye on both of them.

Remi doesn't notice the scratch, really. He's too busy being distracted by the glimpses and sounds of the ghosts that seem to suddenly populate the theater... Ears lowered as he peeks this way and that, unsure about it all. Though he isn't on the defense at least, knowing these probably won't hurt him... And having found his outfit, he hmmms as he looks it over, before just shrugging and wandering off to find a place to change as well.

Marduke winces visible as his cheek gets scratched. He reaches up and traces his fingers across it with a hmm and then shrugs his shoulders with a shake of his head, "uh, accepted?" Not sure what else to say and finishes with the stage. Then goes to the chocobo costume and sighs with a shake of his head looking it over, "I would say I could never live this down, but this play is so bad none of us will." Glancing back and then finding a corner to put on his outfit.

Alba gathers up the remains of her costume, scrabbling up the ladder to change in the relative privacy of the backstage alcove. Once her usual garb is exchanged for the far more restrictive clothing of a low-budget Viking, she slides back down the ladder, pausing behind the curtain to hack off the toes of the boots, before putting them on. Uncomfortable enough that the damn things don't have built-in heel support, but with toeclaws as long as hers, attempting to wear them at all without modifications would make walking impossible. Once done, she tests the blade of her prop sword, then slides it into her belt, awaiting her cue.

The stage is clear, the actors are ready, and the building is litterally alive with excitement. As Bob drifts out on stage a pulse of light sweeps over the room and dozens of the blue Phantoms appear in the audience murmuring and settling in for the show. The orchestra take up their tarnished and battered instruments. The floating skull looks about as though there's nothing odd about this at all and begins to speak.

"And so the day has come at last, after professing his undying love to her the Regal Baron Vigo Von Sloot prepares for his wedding to the Lady Vanbeltin. Unbeknownst to him is her evening two days past where in a drunken haze she promised herself to the mighty seafaring warrior Norg Yorgist. As the couple ready themselves for the ceremony that evening Norg rides to claim his love astride his faithful Chocobo Halifax." Bob then floats off stage, the orchestra starts up with the music for the opening scene of the act, and the show begins!

Ka'len, in the role of Lady Vanbeltin, strides out onto the stage with his arms aspread and hands lifted 'just so'. The young man easily passing for a girl given his practice. Twirling before he finishes up while facing the crowd, the old dress still swishing lightly around his legs as he takes his mark.

Remi enters from the left, trying to look dapper in his aged, slightly ratty costume... The Lord watching his 'love', his lips curl up into an affectionate smile, the Bard trying to put every ounce of his acting chops into even just that visual performance, striking a slight pose.

Ka'len looks back towards Remi and smiles brightly behind the veil throwing himself into the role. Clapping his hands together then he approaches the young man inhis time worn clothing and stretches those clasped hands out towards him while speaking up, modulating his voice to soften it enough for it to sound androgenous at least while also trying to exhibit excitement, "Ah! Tonight my love we shall be wed, nothing could spoil this glorious evening."

Remi approaches in turn, spreading his arms in an almost grand gesture, ready to embrace his bride as he speaks up, trying to put some slight bombast in his voice, "Yes dearest, soon you shall be Lady Von Sloot, and together we shall rule over these lands and lead the people to prosperity and a brighter future. A future that will span the generations as the Von Sloots will continue their bloodline!" Stepping in then to wrap his arms around Ka'Len.

At stage left, Alba nudges 'Halifax' with the heel of her boot. As light as she may be, the Summoner threatens to match her weight class... thus, she's counselled that as rediculous as it may look, probably better for everyone if Marduke played hobby-horse, rather than attempting to imitate a proper chocobo. Thus, on Marduke's ratily-feathered back she 'rides,' one hand swinging her sword in circles over her head. "HEEEEEEEE-YAAAAAAA!"

Halifax steps forward one step at a time, clearly with touches of pride, or perhaps just managing the weight on top of it. One way or another the Chocobo is making its way onto the stage and then comes to a stop looking around and letting out a loud "WARK" and centering its gaze on the noble baron and his supposed soon to be wife.

Ka'len draws from his embrace with Remi and smiles up at him before blinking at the sudden wark. Spinning around Lenny freezes for a few moments on the sight presented him and then suddenly a hand lifts and presses to his lips in surprise, or to keep from laughing perhaps, before lowering. "Norg! What... what are you doing here?!" He pauses and glances over his shoulder at Remi before looking back and shifting his voice to sound more like a whisper, but loud enuogh still to be heard through the theatre, "You should be on the western seas... on your way to the port of Sulton."

Alba pulls back on the reins as 'Halifax' approaches the center of the stage, hopping backward and brandishing the sword in the general direction of Remi's nose. "NOT SO FAST, you pompous primping bastard son of a sheep and..." which is about the time her voice gives out, forcing her to take a deep breath before going on. "...frilly ball of fluff! The lady did give herself to me, not three nights past, and by the sons of my forefathers..." THe sword is waved over her head a couple more times, pointed once more at Remi's nose with *authority,* "no one denies the hand of Norg Yorgist!" Pausing, she seems to mouth the lines to herself, nods briefly, and picks up again. "The wench belong to me, and I have come to collect!"

Halifax having finnaly reached the center of the stage comes to a stop. As the viking jumps off it the chocobo could almost seem to be rather happy and releved about all this. Yet the true face cant be seen as it tilts his heads in a tyue chocobo fashion peering at the baron and offers a "Waaaaaark!" towards the man and tilts his head the other way still peering for the moment.

Remi retreats slightly from the sword pointed at his nose! Looking up at the Chocobo riding Viking-Viera with an indignant expression. And he huffs loudly then, before he slips into a dramatic fighting pose, hand dipping to the saber at his side, and smoothly pulling the weapon free in a wide, theatrical arc. Returning the favor by pointing it straight up at 'Norg', and speaking up in that slightly bombastic voice, now filled with anger, "Liar! This fair maiden would not sully herself to lay with the likes of you! Surely either you are mad, or some foul trickery is at work! You shall not leave with the lady... But YOU most assuredly shall leave!"

Ka'len staggers back a few steps, clearing the center of the stage, while never lowering the hand from oer his lips, his head turned towards the audience as if too shamed to look at the two men and chocobo before him. Halifax takes this queue and turns to trot itself off stage not offering any more warks for the moment, still walking like a proud creature and clearly important.

Remi sneers at Norg as well, looking 'him' up and down as if the Viking might be some creepy crawly that needs to simply be crushed below the heel of his noble boot. And he lightly touches his blade to Norg's then, as he speaks up in a voice dripping with disgust at someone so low class, "Besides, what could a FILTHY beast like you POSSIBLY have to offer a woman such as the fair Vanbeltin?!" The orchestra cues up for the "Come with Me" musical number, the sound reverberating through the theater. Carrying with it a sense of peace in the chaos, as though for this moment nothing outside of these walls matters as the production brings a few fleeting moments of joy to the damned spirits watching on.

Alba glares daggers at the erstwhile noble, then as the music begins to swell, she steps forward, turning to face the ghostly crowd... and, just for a moment, freezing utterly, only a muted squeak leaving a suddenly-tightened throat. THe moment passes, as the feeling of peace washes over her, and she clears her throat, her voice lifting in something approaching song. "Come with me, my darling, we will take off on the oceans! The waves and rocking motions, will be our greatest ride! We will live a life of daring.... smelling slightly of a.. herring... And tame the rolling rides! We will sail away! Spend all day! Upon the blue and briny! A life of ease! Live as we please! Our path befooo...*breathe*oore us shining! So come with me! Yes, come with me!" ...Perhaps nobody noticed that her voice cracked on the last few notes?

Halifax is already making his way back onto stage seeming a moment confused, the script just had him walking off, and walking back on seconds late. The Chocobo trotting its way across the stage over towards Alba and even getting all comfy and leaning up against the viera. Almost a sense of trepidition from the creature hopping there is no chocobo steak for dinner tonight. Letting out a "Waaaark!" a rather musical one at that to. Tiltings its head to the crowd it jumps up and lands again letting out a string of musical "Wark wark wark Waaaark! Wark Wark! Wark Wark Wark Wark Wark!" Then taking a deep breath and holding its head high, "WAAAAAARK!!"

Remi takes up center stage with a sweeping motion, as if dismissing both the Viking and his mount, while facing the crowd and puffing his chest out even as he lightly tilts up his head, taking on a slight far away look... And then starting to sing. The Bard putting his full vocal abilities into the act, despite the silly lyrics, giving it his best, letting his trained tenor fill the room, "Come with me my darling, and live a life of leisure, indulging every pleasure, no cares in all the world... Your life would have no worries, no stresses and no hurries, it's wonders all unfurled... ! We'll spend the day, how 'ere we may, life is our for the taking! A life of ease, live as we please, our future oooooour own making! So come with me... Yes come with me!" And then smoothly steps off to the right when he's done, turning to dramaticly face Ka'Len.

As the two sing, and the third warks, for him Ka'len's hand balls into a fist. Slowly she lowers it, hesitant, and then his passable voice lifts while his eyes turn to 'Norg', voice seeing almost whistful, "To live a life of Dashing, with Sword and Armor clashing...To ride upon the tides." And then those eyes sweep to the his betrothed and the next stanza slips from his lips, "To live a life of pleasure, no need to search for treasure... A family at my side." There's a pause and the 'lady's' eyes turn beseechingly to the audience while he spreads his hands, "One man of Wealth. One Man of Strength. Decisions not made lightly..." Here he looks between the two prospects while his voice continues to ring out with growing strength or self assuredness, "To sail the seas, Or life of ease... The struggles rage inside me." And here he backs up a little, wrapping arms around himself while torn by the internal struggle that the music carries, "What will I be? What will I... BEEEEEE!?"

As the number ends and the orchestra dies down once again the audience errupts into applause. A few standing and clapping enthusiastically but after a few moments it dies back down leaving the performers free to continue.

Applause is *definitely* a new thing for 'Norg,' and it shows in the rabite-in-the-wisp-light look that crawls over her face, ears quiveringbehind her, held down by the horned helmet. Giving herself a little shake, however, she steps forward once the applause dies down, grasping Ka'Len's arm tightly. "Enough of this! You made a pledge, and I will see you keep it, by thunder!"

Halifax stomps its foot and lets out a indignit "WARK!" at Vonbeltin. Ruffling itself up and tilting its head towards Vanbeltin curiously, clearly ready to trot off with the prize and its master.

Remi huffs in indignance, and reaches out to grab Ka'Len's other arm, in an attempt to snatch his bride away from the rude, smelly Barbarian. Speaking up angrily then, even as his other hand raises his sword up high, "You will leave now! Or you will taste my STEEL!"

"HA!" answers the Vikingesque Viera, whipping her sword overhead once. "Ha! Frilly little titmouse, run along! Before you hurt yourself with that thing! No man has faced my wrath and *lived...* To tell the tale." Her movements are wooden, her recitation is atrocious, and one look in her eyes shows she'd rather be *anywhere* else at the moment, but at least Alba is trying to remember her lines with some degree of accuracy.

Ka'len doesn't bow to the applause, though by god is he tempted. His lips start to twitch a little, but as he's grabbed he looks at Alba with wide eyes, reminded that they're still midscene. When Remi pulls him free though he staggers past and looks back at the both of them before 'she' pushes in between them, "ENOUGH! Enough of this, both of you! You act like children while asking me to make a decision that will define the rest of my life!"

Halifax saunters around the stage a bit uncaring for anything else it seems. Ever so innocently making its way around the trio and tilting its head here and there peering at them. As Vanbeltin steps between the two men it saunters up and peer at the crowd from behind Vanbeltin, blinking its eyes. Then ducks down and appearently gives her rump a good bite!

Ka'len lets out a yelp and jumps in the air, reaching back to grip 'her' rear before running off the stage to the right while never moving her hands from the 'wound' the chocobo gave her.

Remi takes a moment to act appropiately shocked and enraged as his 'love' is bitten in the butt, only to take a dramatic step forward right after, sweeping his sword left and right in a wide arc as he exclaims, "Wretched beast!" And then brings the saber down to 'chop' at the evil Chocobo, though of course going pretty slow as to give Alba the oppertunity to intercept. Alba swings her sword up to meet her opponent's, knocking it away with more force than strictly necessary, as 'Norg' shifts to place herself between the baron and the bird. "Have at you!"

Halifax saunters off looking rather proud of itself, moving around the stage seemingly without purpose. Clearly acting high and mighty as it tilts its head and peers back at the fighting pair. One could swear the chocobo looked amused as it sauntered back over and moving up behind Baron shifts its weight, and gives him a good kick in the rear.

The audience laughs uproariously as Vanbeltin runs off stage, and again as Halifax delivers the first kick to Von Sloot's rump. The Orchestra picks up the fight music as the crowd begins to cheer and root for the two fighters, even a few rooting for the Chocobo. And the bride returns, this time sporting a broom. He brandishes it with a vengeful grin before running after Hal while waving it in the air with one hand. The other having hiked the dress up high enough to keep it from from tripping him up.

Remi winces slightly as his sword arm is knocked away, but quickly recovers, and he springs forward to engage the Viking... Clashing swords together, trying to make it look at least somewhat fancy by using some of the basic techniques Vazkor taught him on off-days at the fencing school, his expression one of intent... But then, he jumps up high, making a comical, open mouthed, shocked face as he's suddenly Choco-kicked in the rear, wobbling a bit as he lands again on two feet.

Using an unfamiliar weapon, *needing* to hold back, and watching Remi flair his way through the basics of swordplay all teach Alba how to stage-fight, very very poorly. Over-telegraphed swings, only half of which seem to actually look like they could be lethal, swinging more at the sword than at Remi, and every strike punctuated with a loud yell... yet given the barbaric nature of the character she plays, somehow it seems to fit, almost. Unfortunately, the look of utter concentration seems to mean that as horrible as the acting is, it also represents the very best of her abilities.

Halifax stops sauntering for a moment after its kick to the baron. Turning to look at the lady and tilting its head with a, "Wark?" peering at her then seeming to get a idea. It suddenly starts to skip right towards the lady and stops in front of her uncaring for the broom it seems for the moment and leaning in and tilts its head. Then without warning lets out a very loud, "WARK!" Right in front of the poor ladys face. Then it turns to saunter away keeping out reach of the broom!

Ka'len's head comes back as he's warked at and there's a moment that a clear expression can be read on 'her' face because the veil has been thrown back out of the way. 'Uuuugh chocobo breath'... As Marduke starts sauntering away Ka'len gives chase while brandishing the makeshift weapon of the broom.

Alba strikes again and again, now and again smacking Remi's sword a touch too hard, pushing the hat back into place when it threatens to fall in front of her eyes. Frustration begins to creep in around the edges of her performance, and spots of red bloom high in her cheeks, but the show, it seems, must go on.

Remi does the best he can with Alba's 'horrible' swordfighting technique, even though he's far from a master himself. Dueling her across the stage, alternating between pressing the attack and being on the defensive, just to make the fight look good. The Bard using a classical fencing position, or an aproximation thereof, his body somewhat turned sideways as he swings and stabs that saber at the viking, his expression one of disdain... Though also making sure to jump a bit whenever the Chocobo kicks at him, acting shocked each time, and giving the beast a look of annoyance! Perhaps explaining the moment of distraction... The 'Lord' not realizing the presence of his love, as he stabs that saber towards Norg one final time.

Halifax wonders around the stage just keeping out of reach from the rather enraged lady and avoiding a few broom sweeps. It then saunters towards the two fighters and jumps between them, then jumps out of the way leading the lady right between them and offering a curtesy "Wark" as it does so. Stepping out of the way for the crowd to see and tilting its head with a "Wark?" at what is happening next.

The cause continues until Hal runs between the fighters and then Ka'len races after only to come up short as he's 'impaled' upon the blades of Vanbeltin. His eyes snap towards Remi and then suddenly he staggers back for a few feet, hands going to the blade and holding it in place, before collapsing to a knee and then over onto 'her' side. There's a few overly done coughs and sputters before Ka'len rolls to his back, hand still holding the sword in place.

A shocked murmuring from the crowd as Vanbeltin falls stabbed. The Orchestra cueing up the music for the final verse of "Come with Me." The crowd falling silent.

Remi looks shocked as he 'stabs' his bride-to-be, looking upon Ka'Len wide eyed as he collapses, before he shouts out, pain in his voice, "No! My love!" And dramaticly falls to his knees right after, sword clattering to the ground next to him, the Lord gripped by sadness!

Alba gasps as Vanbeltin is stabbed, taking a stumbling step back. "NO!" she cries, falling to her knees across from the 'baron,' reaching out to take the 'lady's' hand. As the music begins to swell again, her ear twitches, a silent thanks given to the scriptwriter that she doesn't have any lines more complex than that at the moment.

"Wark?" Halifax offers by tilting its head standing off center of the stage just peering at them with mild and morbid chocobo curiosity at the whole thing. It clearly has no concept of what it just did or caused in the least. Nope a happy as ever chocobo here.

Ka'len looks up at Alba and Remi both.. his hand lifting slightly as a wavery, mostly because it's not easy to sing when flat on your back, voice lifts from his throat, "To live a life of Dashing, To live a life of power..." There's a little staged cough and then the voice continues though weaker, "In this my final hour, shows the folly of my ways. For I have loved too freely, in ways that are unseemly and now it ends.." There's a long pause and then the softest whisper that carries still throughout the theatre is heard, "my days." As the final syllable quiets the hand drops onto the young man's chest.

There's a short pause, as the hand drops to the 'lady's' chest, and with perhaps the most grace displayed in the entire performance, 'Norg' leaps to her feet, taking a step back and raising the point of her sword to level with the 'baron's' eyes. "Murderer!"

Remi grasps his sword back up as he jumps back up to his feet as well, eyes shooting fire at the viking as he spits out, "MONSTER!" In sheer anger and hatred, before he dramaticly thrusts his blade forward to impale the other man, as he did his bride just moments ago.

Alba lunges forward, free hand scooping up the thin, light blade of the 'baron's' saber, eyes bugging out the moment skin touches fake steel. As her strike 'hits' home, she sinks to her knees, giving voice to a strangled, gurgling sound of hateful denial, sagging over the prone body of the dress-wearing swordsman.

Remi gasps dramaticly as the viking's blade 'pierces' him in turn, back arching, and a single hand briefly clawing at the ceiling, the dying lord silently mouthing, 'Whhyyyyy?!' Before he slowly slumps forward as well, eyes closing as he dies, and sprawls atop the others.

Halifax stands there a moment and tilts its head one way, then the other way. Then does a half jump into the air and lets out a, "WARK". Then it turns to trot off the stage clearly without a care in the world.

As halifax leaves the stage Bob floats back onto it and turns to the face the audience. "So ends the torrid tale of love gone wrong. When one shares their soul two many ways, there is never enough to go around. Vanbeltin let a night of wine and lust taint her judgement, and in doing so has destroyed three lives." The Orchestra begins to play the closing score as the actors are given a chance to stand and take their hard-earned bows.

As the audience stands and applauds other phantoms begin to form on the stage, to those that read the entire script and not just the final act they would recognize some of these as characters from the earlier acts. As the group rises they see four of the phantoms wearing the same clothes they have dawned, the actors that played the parts in the previous acts. As the bows are taken the final apparition is that of the director himself. The foppishly-dressed Bard Antonio Lasar, he takes a sweeping bow and turns to the group seemingly wiping tears from his eyes. "Thank you, thank you all. You've made this dream come true at long last. Thank you." With that the phantoms fade, the actors dissapating to the ether that spawned them as the music dies with a few last faint echos, leaving you all in the stillness and silence of the empty theater.

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