keytarheroine: (:go live)
Claire Ryland/Riot Purple || Magica Riot ([personal profile] keytarheroine) wrote in [community profile] unfinishedlibrary2026-03-12 07:09 pm

Like Thee's debut - The Play's The Thing, To Catch The Conscience Of - [Week III]

Who: The Blood Moon Troupe - including Claire (the Luna Purpure), The Former Dame Guidulf (the Luna En Rose), Armin (The Luna Sable), Sigrid (The Luna D'or), Amalia (The Luna Argent), Jun/Lily (the honorary Luna Ermine); and OTA but especially Nero as audience members and/or security, and the like
What: The debut of Claire's play Like Thee, Or, The Comedy of Pandora and the Maiden-Song
When: At the end of Week III
Where: The Roseland Theatre
Content warnings: Dramatic depictions of The Queer Struggle, Exciting Stage Battles And Pyrotechnics, whatever the hell is happening with getting Lily back in Amalia, potential spoilers for Magica Riot.

I: Before The Play - Word Of Mouth
Word is getting out - between jugglers of the Blood Moon Troupe saying so, mentions at the Roseland and the Laurelthirst, and maybe a few mentions to key people from the likes of "Lucas Azuresky" and Claire that there's a new play on, entitled:

Like Thee: Or, The Comedy of Pandora and the Maiden-Song.

The posters and the players speak of an exciting tale of a swashbuckling Witches Pentacle, five heroines with fantastical musical magic, from all walks of life - a mortal sorceress, a vampire, a werewolf, and a changeling child who slipped the faerie hedge - fighting forces of unholy corrupting discord and dissonance, and of A Young Lad realizing that they never were a lad but rather one of those Witches destined to fight alongside the Pentacle, a tale of her coming into her own and finding the family she so desperately needed.

The sort of feel-good story of unity and goodwill in the face of sinister forces that Claire feels Montica needs right now, Nero's opinion of the Umbral court's tastes to the contrary.

II: The First Night - Sing, Calliope, of Lady Pandora, and of the pure who hear her Maiden-Song
The stage is set. Claire, in a chiton, with a harp, steps on stage with the curtains still dropped. The prologue begins:

"Sing, Calliope, of Lady Pandora,
And of the pure who hear her Maiden-song.

Once upon a myth, proud Jupiter
As a gift to Hera most filial
Did commission Vulcan, that forge-wise god
To first cast in their mold our humankind;
Thus did that finesmith, from his cunning throne
Carve Pandora, the first and fairest maid,
From white marble, with eyes of shining pearls,
Inlaid with bright sapphire and ebon;
Weave hair of sable silk, twisted in locks;
Minerva draped her in a tyrian robe,
Venus placed golden laurels on her brow,
And so, under Apollo's tutelage
Did Pandora's sweet voice first sing that verse:
That bright leitmotif of peace and goodwill
Now spoken of in awe: the Maiden-Song..."

She sings of the Jar. They speak of her opening it, and letting every ill in the world loose. They speak of Pandora having nothing left but Hope. And, too, they speak a new myth: of Pandora trying to rectify her mistake by teaching girls who are pure of heart the Maiden-Song, and using it as a weapon to make harmonious again the "discord, Pythos-born" she had wrought.

And then Claire bows, and slips backstage, and the curtains rise, and the others - and Sigrid! - are seated at a bar clearly modeled after the Laurelthirst (which gets a laugh from some), with Claire tending it; and, enter stage left, Amalia and Jun, in costume as Lady Elanor and A Young Lad: and then a tale unfolds...

III: The Confrontation - Servants of dissonance and discord, your crimes witnessed, be harmonized by the Witch in Amethyst

And then, one fateful night on stage, the speeches go as usual:

Five stock transformation sequences a la Shakespeare later...Sara holds up a ruby brooch and bellows:
"Upon this stage, enter Rose in panoply,
Of the raging flames, I am the Witch Ruby!"

And so on, Sigrid:
"Upon this stage, Mari, of moonkissed fur,
the lightning-swift who's called the Witch Amber,"

Hannah:
"Upon this stage Chloe, in unlife bold,
the icy cool who is the Witch Em'rald!"

Nova:
"Upon this stage, enter Skye Slipped-The-Briar,
Of thunderous clouds, I am the Witch Sapphire!"

And, finally, Claire:
"Upon this stage, enter Lucia Barleycorn,
Of vines and violets, in Amethyst reborn!"


As one, they sing in harmony:
"Well do we players know to heart our parts,
We are the guardians of Song and Heart!
You of dissonance and discord, know well:
Be muted by our Witches' Pentacle!"

Jun - or Lily - rather, as Lucia's doubts, slithers onto stage on Claire's left: as her hope, Amalia in costume as Elanor, is at her right.

Claire exchanges a glance with Amalia. Showtime.

"So, playing at being a heroine?
Do you truly think the dress makes the woman?
You play games with the lives of your comrades."

Claire responds - breaking kayfabe in the process -
"Aye, I've been playing games with thee, Lily - from the moment I wrote this role for you."

Amalia cries: "BLOOD MOON TROUPE! TO ME! For our own Iris - and for a lasting peace in Montica!"

And then, things happen very fast that are not part of the show.

IV: Backstage, after the fact (Closed to Jun, Amalia/Lily, Sigrid, Claire, Armin, and Nero)

After that, Amalia and Lily - the planning mind and the yearning heart - are... if not one, then at least properly reunited, and the terror of fighting to reunite them is passing. Hazel cares for Jun, and Iris does her best, from her wheelchair, to reassure Armin and Sigrid.

And it is about this time that Claire excuses herself to find Nero, because she has the feeling that his presence will be helpful to Sigrid...

V - The Show Must Go On
The other showings of the play are far more exciting as in fun and far less exciting as in stupidly dangerous magic flying. Come, enjoy the show. Or play Statler and Waldorf from the cushy seats. Who'll stop you?
icanhearscreams: (you bastard!)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2026-03-13 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
I - Before

Jun does not like this. He does not want to be in a play, he does not want attention, he does not want to be perceived. But Lily does, and there's a hole in his heart where there should be family and friends, and he doesn't have the heart to deny her. Not now. Not like this.

He's backstage, and there's not a lot of things that he can do to get out of this. For now he's himself rather than Lily being him, and he's trying to act as if he wants to do this. He does a lap of the theater nervously, watching as patrons trickle in and the actors assemble. He's not sure what to do. He feels anxious, he feels light-headed, and he needs to breathe.

Do you care to calm his nerves? Or perhaps you want to make it worse, for some reason?


II - Confrontation

He's mostly watching, but the confrontation is obvious from the glance the two give each other. He's not himself, but just watching - and for now, he can't really do much. All he can do is warn Lily the best he can.

To the backstage. Hurry!

He doesn't want this nearly as much as Lily doesn't want it. But if something does have to happen, he's absolutely not letting it happen in front of a crowd.


III - Backstage

Jun wakes up, and he knows he's alone.

Oh, Hazel is there, but Lily is not. Instantly he's on his feet, as unwise as that might be, and makes for the door. He's unlikely to get there fast, and he might have other visitors... but he's sure going to try.

"Let me go!"
birdchasingecho: (Revealed)

II

[personal profile] birdchasingecho 2026-03-13 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
And miss a picture-perfect moment from the audience!?

"So this is what you'd array?" Lily says, with a laugh. This isn't the way I'd prefer you learn some real magic, but here. We. Go. "Here? Before them?"

"A finer set of motley I've not seen." Lily weaves her hands, and the shadows from the lime-lights suddenly stand in starker relief, and begin to rise from the stage.
"Truly, If show must go on, you'll have it!"

"Lord, do save us from those that hound the stage," Amalia replies, drawing a shield of argent and a few laughs.
"And so you would hound us still. To what end?"

"To what end! Why, no greater end than folly,
Be it before those dazzling patrons
Whose cheers and anguish feed ev'ry actress!" The shadows lift further, making puppet plays in chiaroscuro.

The crowd ooohs its appreciation. Things might be going off script, but it's quite the show, still!
Edited 2026-03-13 03:03 (UTC)
terraboo: (Default)

[personal profile] terraboo 2026-03-13 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
[2: Girl playing it UP]

Armin The Fool's dual roles are played to a precise hilt. She seems almost adamantly focused on not stealing the show other than a spot or two.

This is a stage she has borrowed into. She will not steal it any more than her roles call for.

[4: Backstage]

It is here that Armin is playing to a slightly different cue.

"The should shouldst go on," she finally says after a moment. "Shall I... Throw in a monologue? Perhaps explain to our audience a little?"

[5: Later Showings]

She is ready for the heckling that will some come, of this she is certain. It is, after all, Armin's scene at this time of night...
Edited 2026-03-13 15:14 (UTC)
terraboo: (Casting Seriously)

II

[personal profile] terraboo 2026-03-13 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
"I do think the show shall continue her~", Armin responded.

"For our Claire hath found the path she needs,
to save that which you though you didst not need."

The shadows are forming... And Armin? She is simply pacing, step by step.

"Fear not this night, and don't be led astray."

She is encouraging Claire. Empowering her, even.
Edited 2026-03-13 03:22 (UTC)
icanhearscreams: (grr...)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2026-03-13 03:33 am (UTC)(link)
At that, Jun seethes. He can see the audience, can see the players on the stage. People are watching this, they're going to talk about this. He feels ill, which is strange given his current state.

You're embarrassing me. He responds, with all of the sulking and grumpiness that a teenage boy can emit.

He pushes, trying to force a switch. He doesn't know how to do it without her, but he's determined.
birdchasingecho: (Revealed)

[personal profile] birdchasingecho 2026-03-13 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
'"Coexist!?" She roars, too angry to listen, darkness reaching for the ceiling. The crowd grows a little concerned. Jun can feel that power, the rush from them, soaking into his body, sustaining the shadows even as they take forms familiar-- wolves, crows, witches.
"She knows not the meaning of the word!"

Amalia takes a step back, lets the beats hang in the air, just as much, and makes a simple declaration, at the end of seven beats:
"You are wrong."
terraboo: (Writing)

[personal profile] terraboo 2026-03-13 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
"Keep going," she says to Amalia. "You have this. Just keep it up."

Even now, the pentameter flows.
icanhearscreams: (you bastard!)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2026-03-13 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
Shut up shut up shut up! Jun rages from inside Lily's shadow - or is it still his own? It doesn't matter to him, because he does his best to push.

You're all wrong, this isn't how things should be going, everyone needs to sit down and shut up! His own anger probably isn't helping the shadows be any less strong.
icanhearscreams: (serious)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2026-03-13 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
Jun stops, nearly falling over, and looks at the figure. Then he looks at Hazel, shaking from exhaustion and anger.

"... You all went about this in the worst way, you know that, right?"
icanhearscreams: (hmm...)

cw: death mention

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2026-03-13 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
"... I agreed." He backs up so he can look at all of them at once. "I didn't totally know what I was getting into with that contract, but I knew enough."

He curls his hands into fists, taking a few deep breaths. "Probably harder on me, considering... my health." He's still not sure if he's totally recovered his 'life energy', however that's measured, since the battle. This probably was a stupid idea. He probably would have died again.

... He's not sure how much that matters to him.

"... You should have bargained." His voice is quiet, shaky. "Forcing someone into a confrontation, into what they feel is a life or death situation... you could have done this better. Should have done this better." But it's done, and he can't do anything about it at the moment.

Even still... even with all of that... "... I guess it's just another story I have to carry." Even if it migght not be totally real.
icanhearscreams: (NOT CRYING SHUT UP)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2026-03-13 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
He's quiet for a moment, before muttering something under his breath. "It's hard to lose someone who's already lost." Then he looks up at the others again.

"... You probably won't believe me, but I've already lost everything. Everyone. And I'm the one who made it out, somehow." He's exhausted, he feels sick - but he's still standing, somehow. Just like last time... "You could have lost everything, too. You put too many people at risk. Even aside from you all - you put the audience at risk." But yelling at them isn't going to do anything. He leans against the wall, trying to stay upright.

He needs rest, but he needs to say it. "... You're not invincible. No one is. It's all..." He trails off, pushing his glasses aside as he covers his face. He's not sure if he's laughing or crying or both. All of his emotions feel mixed up at the moment from exhaustion.
birdchasingecho: (Iconic)

[personal profile] birdchasingecho 2026-03-13 05:44 am (UTC)(link)
Lily winces at the point made of Iris, but she feels what Jun feels, she feels what the crowd feels, she feels, more, most of all, what Amalia feels.
"She would slay you all, if it fit her plan!
"She would name herself back for advantage!

And if there's anything that raises Amalia's anger, it is that.
"You are more that boy than you know, it seems.
"Enough of this. Stay thy magic, I beg thee--"

"A milksop's words!" At last, shadow clashes with silver blade. Even through shadow, it burns, distantly, and yet the struggle continues, in Lily's favor. Amalia is swiftly dragged into the shadows, sinking into what is surely a cleverly placed trap door. "You lack the strength of heart!"

For, of a sudden, Amalia steps back upon it, shadowstuff clinging to her, one leg, the other, struggling each step. The costume shreds.
"I did not ask of this for my sake!"

The crowd goes wild.

"This, then, the love I grasp with these, two, hands!" She reaches for Lily and June both.

The rapier, the live steel, silvered rapier, is ripped from her hands and goes flying into the backstage, where, for a miracle, it lands as harmlessly as a sword may.

How's everyone else dealing with this lashing out?
icanhearscreams: (tired)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2026-03-13 05:44 am (UTC)(link)
He doesn't hug back, but he doesn't push them away. He's too tired to even protest. "... Don't... just... don't put yourself in danger like that again." His head rests against Claire's shoulder, taking a few deep breaths.

"... I don't know what I want anymore."
terraboo: (Whoa!)

[personal profile] terraboo 2026-03-13 05:51 am (UTC)(link)
Armin knows when it is not her scene. Or when the lines must shift.

Slowly, she looks toward Amalia.

"Your love is strong, your will is firm. Take heart.
Your allies stand, you aren't alone, stand firm.
Your chance is here, the stage is lit, right now.
So hurry up and hold your chance on high!"

Not her best rhyme, but the flow still comes to her... And golden energy flows to bolster Amalia.

"... You've got this."
icanhearscreams: (huh...)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2026-03-13 07:27 am (UTC)(link)
He's not sure how much time they have in the story. Even still... yearning and love's not on the table. Not so soon, anyway.

But he doesn't speak that - it's too much of a story on its own right now. Instead he just quietly looks around the room, his gaze falling on Iris. He doesn't feel quite as weak as she looks, but Lily didn't have her grip on him as long as she did Iris.

Maybe he should be thankful for that. He's not sure if he is.

"... The full moon's soon, isn't it?" He's totally forgotten in all of this mess - he's not sure where the potion is at this point. Everything happened so quickly...
icanhearscreams: (disdain)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2026-03-13 12:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Will you two stop fighting? He growls mentally. This is getting us nowhere.

He's not sure what else he can do at this point.
birdchasingecho: (soft smile)

[personal profile] birdchasingecho 2026-03-13 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Amalia takes two steps, and, quiet in the way a stage is quiet, loud enough to be heard. She's long since lost the foot, and breaks meter, stepping out of a tragic fate: "Lily I beseech thee,
thou'rt among friends, not foes,
and thy foes, tho many,
are before us indeed!
Let us join, take up arms!"

This as she drags herself and Lily off-stage into the dark, saving Jun the embarrassment of collapsing when the rest happens.

There is a flare of shadow and magic from backstage as Lily tries to deny the truth, but... Amalia resists a gasp of pain as the shadows flow into her, a shining limelight soaked in shade.

She lets Jun sit down, makes sure a stage-hand is looking after him, and walks on. "Good evening, player. Beautiful to sing,
"Yet not just for me, should thy voice ring out.
Let all and sundry hear of that delight..!"

And with that signal of the play being back on, Amalia retreats backstage to applause, see to Jun, and, in the midst of that, collapse.

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