Beauty Pageant Round Two

[Mynx]

With a swish of satiny fabric and a flick of her tail, CheerMynx glided onto the stage, utilising her feline grace to show off the perfectly tailored silvery gown to its' full potential.

Stopping and holding a pose at the end of the catwalk, CheerMynx smiled radiently to the gathered crowd, the waiting contestants and, finally, the other two judges as they took their seats.

Waiting for the converstation to subside, CheerMynx gave a flick of her hair and cleared her throat.

 

"Well, we have totally collected the final scores for round one and I must say things are looking, like, really close! And so now it's totally time for round two!"

With a grin, CheerMynx placed one paw on her hip and raised the other in a classic pose to show off her gown.

"Formal wear! You all have the chance to strut your stuff down the runway and show us the best gown, suit, or whatever that is within your posession! Remember everyone, it's not just what you're wearing, it's how you wear it!"

With a neat twirl, CheerMynx flipped her hair over her shoulder as she leant back and winked at the audience.

"You have one week to show us what you've got! And for those that were absent in round one, don't think your chances are over!"

 

With a final smile, CheerMynx swayed once more back up the catwalk, slowly shimmering back to Mynx as she left the stage and returned once more to her seat...

 

OOC: Same rules apply as before. Go wild folks! But, be ncie to each other...

[Tanuchan]

There's some rustling, and Stephen appears once more on the stage, this time carrying several potted plants. Without a word, he sets them around the stage in apparently random places, goes back for more, and finally bows to the public and leaves. The stage nows appears to have grown a small collection of flowers and shrubbery.

 

While the judges wonder, a small white rabbit is pushed through the curtains. It looks around, apparently puzzled, and hops to hide behind the nearest big-leafed plant.

 

Tanny enters the stage from the other side, stopping for a moment to bow to the public and judges. Then she walks elegantly across the stage, tail kept at a natural angle and head high. Her black, lustrous fur seems to absorb the light and become blacker yet, but at the same time giving back the feeling of incredible softness. At her neck, a silver chain made of large links reflects the light, contrasting nicely with her black fur. At the eye of each link there's a dark opal, adding just the right shade of blue reflections to the overall effect.

 

Calmly, the wolf turns and lowers her head in the direction of the hiding rabbit. A gentle but audible growl comes from her throat, and the rabbit hops to a farther bush. Tanny's eyes gleam with the concentration of a hunting wolf. As she stalks the rabbit, her fur shows the fluid, gracious movements as well as a flowing dress would. In her purposeful movements there's all the beauty of a wild wolf, but this time without the fear it would normally cause.

 

After stalking the uncaring rabbit across the stage twice, giving chance to everybody see her from all angles, Tanny stops at the front, and bows once more. Stephen reappears.

 

"Ladies and gentlemen, Tanny has asked me to explain this little act... as you know, wolves aren't known for wearing formal clothing other than their own fur. So she thought it would be appropriate to present you with an opportunity to see how her soft fur appears at its best. Thank you. "

 

Stephen bows and leaves, opening the curtain and whistling. The rabbit follows him, hopping out as well, and a black paw can be seen nudging two tasty carrots towards the bunny.

 

 

 

::Good, Stephen... it seems you're learning how to translate appropriately... ::

 

Tanny grins, observing the bunny eating and then, surprisingly, nosing her paw for more.

[Sweetcherrie]

The nerves had calmed down a bit, and Sweetcherrie was now going through her clothes to see what she would wear for the formal round. Nothing seemed suitable enough, and a big, colourful pile had already formed on her bed. Finally at the back of her cupboard she found what she’d been looking for. Sweetcherrie took the dress out and held in front of her; it would look amazing. The red silk felt cool against her skin when she slipped the dress on.

 

Now her hair needed doing. She sat down in front of the mirror and took out the different pins she would need. Half an hour later she nodded satisfied at her reflection. Lastly she put on the jewellery she had laid out earlier. Then the clock told her it was time to go and she hurried to the beach portal. Seconds later she stood at the beach, and felt somewhat silly in her evening gown between all the people that wore swimsuits.

 

The sand felt warm between her toes….wait a second…sand! Between her toes! Sweetcherrie looked down, and discovered that she had forgotten to put her shoes on. Why was she such a scatterbrain at times? There was no time to go back and get them, she sighed and kept her dress up as she walked to the stage.

 

When Tanny was finished, Sweetcherrie inhaled deeply and stepped onto the stage. She held her head high, and hoped that everybody would look at the dress, and not at her bare feet. Her dress was low-cut at the back, and flowed closely around her body. The red of the dress and the red blush on her cheeks mixed well, it made her look vivid and gave her a warm glow. Her soft golden curls were dancing around her head, the glitters she had put in them reflected the sun as she walked forward to show herself to the members of the jury.

 

The necklace she was wearing was simple, but made her neck come out better, and the make-up she had used brought out the blue in her eyes. All in all she knew she looked good, and could only hope that it would be enough. She smiled at the jury and turned back to leave the stage.

 

Just as she wanted to slip between the curtains she felt her bare foot slip on something wet, and trying to look elegant and stay upright she grabbed one of the curtains. Unfortunately either the fabric or the curtainrail wasn’t made of the best quality, because with a tearing sound she fell forward, taking the curtain with her.

 

Sweetcherrie wormed her head out of the pile of curtain that had fallen on top of her, and her face was now positively redder than her dress. Even if the jury hadn’t seen her bare feet, they had certainly noticed this! Trying to think quickly to make her blooper a little less obvious, she stood up and took the curtain with her, now using it as a cape, and bowed, pretending that this was all meant to be.

 

“Thank you!”

 

Not waiting for any replies she quickly disappeared behind the other curtain, and left the curtain that had fallen down behind on the stage. Backstage she looked what she had stepped on that made her slip, and saw that she had a little bit of bunny poo under her foot. She glanced around, and saw the fluffy bunny in the corner with Tanny. She sighed and walked towards the sea to rinse her feet before getting ready for the next round.

Edited July 29, 2005 by Sweetcherrie

[Tanuchan]

Thomas looked at the mirror, and nodded. There were some faded ink smudges on the cuff of his left sleeve, but he didn't think that would be visible to the judges. He was far more worried with the three-inch-long tear that had somehow appeared on his right sleeve.

 

"I really don't remember how this could be..." He muttered to himself, while fidgeting with some ribbons that several pretty girls from last village had given him. "This is my best shirt... I wonder if..."

 

He stopped mid-sentence, grinning. Quickly, the took off the shirt and used his knife to cut small holes along the tear - without actually making the tear much longer than six inches in the process. He chose a dark-blue ribbon and deftely threaded it through the holes, and finished by tying it in an intricated knot he had learned years ago. His right sleeve now displayed a quite beautiful lacework made of dark-blue ribbon contrasting with the white of the fabric, from elbow to cuff. Quite satisfied, he paused for a moment to consider doing the same in the other sleeve.

 

"Hm... no... something tells me it's better not..." He blushed, in one of the rare times that he consciously admitted to himself that he could end up making a fool of himself.

 

Over the shirt he put his dark-blue Minstrel vest, lacing it closed deftly. He wished he had his cousin's light-blue eyes, which had always seemed perfect for a minstrel.

 

"But no, the fool decided to be a carpenter... what a waste of perfect minstrel-blue eyes..."

 

At last he put on his soft velvet boots, the ones he used only for special occasions. Looking again at the mirror, he smiled a bit diffidently.

 

"Not too bad... the eyes still have the wrong color, but... not too bad... What should I do with my hair? And my lute?"

 

Once a girl had suggested him to decorate the lute with colored ribbons, and proceeded to do it herself. As a result, Thomas almost ended up having to play the ribbons instead of the strings and promised he'd never let a girl lay hands on his precious lute again. However, later on he had done it himself with good results and so, for the pageant, he used some red-shaded strings woven around and hanging from the pegbox. The strings would fall gently over his left arm without hampering movement, and he was pretty happy with the overal effect when he finished.

 

 

Thomas entered the stage as soon as Sweetcherrie left, for once taking care to not get entangled on the fallen curtain. He bowed to the judges, then proceeded to walk carefully across the stage, presenting his formal clothing. Some small beads of sweat formed on his forehead, as he concentrated on not slipping and keeping his smile in place. At last, he sat down on the stoolhe had asked to be put center-stage, and fingered his lute so that people could see how his clothing really fit a Minstrel in action.

 

The music and the familiar feeling of strings under his fingers calmed Thomas, and all his tension - and concentration - flowed away. After a few minutes, he smiled and stood up, bowing.

 

The stool crashed on the floor, and rolled away - almost hitting Tom Atoe, who was waiting for his turn. Thomas, who was leaving, heard the muffled yell and turned to see Tom hopping around in a circle a few times. Distracted by the sight, Thomas forgot completely the leftover curtain.

 

Thomas then learned that thrashing while entangled on a curtain just led to worse entanglement, and sighed deeply while someone helped to unwrap all the fabric from his legs. But soon he got lost on examining his lute for any harm done from his fall, and as he was freed he walked away as if nothing had happened.

Edited July 31, 2005 by Tanuchan

[musicevangelist]

The Musicevangelist watches as Thomas leaves the stage and then passes a disc of music to the stage hand. The opening bars of a familiar rock song blast out over the audience.

 

"Thunder!"

 

The stage lights pulse yellow and blue with each successive chord.

 

"Thunder!"

 

Smoke fills the stage area, silhouetting a man, cassock swirling as the wind machine kicks in.

 

"Thunder!"

 

With each pulse of light and sound more of the man comes into focus.

 

"You've been thunderstruck!"

 

The music reaches a crescendo and cuts off abruptly, leaving our Priest in full view. He is dressed in a cassock very similar to the one he usually wears, this time however he has chosen a different colour. A deep crimson cassock falls over a black morning suit. The embossed musical staves shimmer in the stage lights, gleaming. The more musical in the audience can pick out the melodies and harmonies written upon the cloak. Melodies of glory, of victory and triumph, they uplift the soul and stir the sentiment.

 

The Sorceror of Symphony surveys the seething mass that is the crowd.

 

"Good evening!" He cries. "May it please the judges, here is my formal wear."

 

The Hero of Harmony uses no microphone, his voice powerful enough to not need one.

 

"Thank you all for this opportunity."

 

The music starts up again and the Evangelist leaves the stage to rapturous applause.

[Peredhil]

Peredhil ducks his head in embarassment. At hearing the words, "thunder, thunder", he'd automatically sounded off with "Thundercats... HO!"

The pyrotechnics helped to cover his mistake, for which he was devoutly grateful.

[Gryphon]

Quietly Gryphon leans in from where he sits and in a voice low enough not to carry over the music he says in perfect unison with Mynx "I loved that show!" before turning back to the contest he's supposed to be judging.

[Black9]

Anna paced backstage as round two was announced and talked to herself in an attempt to not choke as she did before. Crowds always made the room start closing in. She could just tell that they were laughing at her from the inside and sometimes out! Yes, she had been told to picture the audience in their undergarments, but found that to be just so...just so wrong! What was she doing here in the first place? True, she had some looks, but she was a Slayer...not a beauty queen! By this time, the ground had begun to groove downward do to her relentless pacing and all together insane conversation with herself. Noticing more then a few eyes glancing her way...as she was blocking the runway...Anna once again looked over her two piece dress...you heard me right...a two piece dress and stepped out onto the runway with as much gumption as her little heart could muster.

 

Glancing the audience's way with a look that could charm a vampire, Anna took a downward stare...well...slightly to the side and came back out with an attitude. Striking a pose, a leg revealed itself from the darkness within and awoke the Slayer's desire for victory...even if she secretly thought that they were laughing at her! Anna's skin was soft with a slight tan...her father always used to compliment her on the great care she took of herself in her youth and it remained true to this day. The dress was a mold of tightly fitted silk...spun from the finest weavers of which the Slayer had knowledge. The silk was red with a low bust, but not so low that it's revealing and molded to her body as she deemed her own skin. Truth be told she felt a little embarrassed, but it was hardly noticable do to her attitude. The top section of her dress ended just above her belly button and just around her inner shoulders...leaving her arms free to move about. The second portion of the dress was a skirt that stretched from her waist...to mid calf and came up on one side leaving room for one leg to escape. The high heeledl shoes, also red, were difficult to walk in as she hadn't been used to such things and made her motions a little less graceful to begin with, but as Anna had been adaptive...she came into her walk.

 

Slowly making her way down the catwalk, the Slayer stretched out her arms to both sides and gave a graceful spin in the center...coming to a sudden halt upon reaching the end. Winking toward the audience, Anna gave a slow spin and turned back around with a smile...revealing both a strapless and backless upper portion of the dress. Giving even more attitude on her way back, Anna came to a halt before exiting the runway. Flashing one more smiling glance the audience's way...the Slayer gave one final wink before becoming somewhat entangled in the curtains.

After a few moments passed, she managed to escape from her bondage disappearing backstage with an embarassed grin.

 

It was around this time that Stumpy came rolling by...literally...as Anna wiped the sweat that had begun to form on her forhead and helped the stump to it's...umm...let's say feet. Not giving it a second thought, Stumpy hopped out onto the runway with little on his mind but making it through this day with his bark. He was dressed...as you might call it...in a nice pine overcoat he borrowed from a nearby tree...that's it...borrowed! The bark coat was taken from a tree with little less then perfection and caused Stumpy to grin evily as he clomped his way to the end of the catwalk and came to a halt upon reaching its end.Not having any legs, it was difficult for Stumpy to spin, but he managed it with some trouble and miraculously managed to hold in his grumpy wumpy attitude for most of the walk. This evil grin broke as he was just about to leave the stage...being hit by the curtain and rolling all the way back to the other end of the catwalk, falling into the audience with a low grumble and a thud. A few choice words came from the sand below as the stump vanished from sight...like he'd show after that performance?

[cryptomancer]

The open area in front of the judges clears for a moment, before, the soft flutter of wings draws the attention of the onlookers to a small flock of birds. Each small bird, black or grey, with a white underbelly and a tail like a fan spread behind it, the tails of the twittering, flitting and fluttering flock seem to reflect light in a spiral of dizzing patterns as they play and dive at each other.

 

Mallory steps forward into the center ot the spiralling birds.

 

Her hair is down, falling in a liquid flow over her shoulders, the soft curve of her neck framed in the cascade of dark red that trickles down her back. As she softly turns to show her attire to the judges, the back of her hair is revealed to be trimed to match the back of her gown, covering her sylph like form with a rippling fan of red.

 

Turning to face the crowds again she smiles, stepping forward to allow better view of her deep blue dress, strapless, backless, fanning around her on the sandy stage, tracing swirling patterns as she moves, hovering around her beautiful figure.

 

Mallory poses center stage, turning slightly to each side in turn to display her gown from all angles for the judges. Then with a soft smile and a wink to the heckler in the back that suggested a top for her very low dress, her hand draws a paint brush from ....Someplace....(I never figured that toon trick out) and casually redraws her dress, changing it into a halter neck, framing her figure just as well, but covering a little more.

 

Her eyes find the heckler in the back corner, in the form of a Raven, sitting on the edge of a large cup of coffee...(ok bucket of coffee, iced, hint of vanilla)... and,with a small smile Mallory draws out a cell phone, from some interestingly unmentioned place of toonishness, her speed dail echoes through the crowd, her call is answered within a single ring with "Welcome to ACME, how may I help?"

 

With a giggle Mallory answers, "Special number 46 please, and some flowers for the Judges, charge it to my account, thanks."

 

Her phone dissapears into the void of toon storage, and almost as soon as it is gone, a bouquet of flowers appears on the judges table, with a small note that said, "Sorry for the interuption"... in the backgrond, a styfled and somewhat alarmed squawk is heard as an anvil hits the raven from above.

 

With a wink and a smile Mallory turns and walks off stage, her fanfair of fantails following her.

 

[Wyvern]

Malory pauses as she walks off of the main stage, stepping to the side as a large black cannon is rolled past her. Malory, Anna and Sweetcherrie all watch in disgust as a trail of drool is left in the cannon's tracks, dribbling from out of the contraption's main nozel. Tanuchan stoops down on all fours for a moment, and sniffs at a spot of drool.

 

"Hints of ash and sulfur." She frowns and turns to other contestents resting backstage. "Must be Wyvern."

 

The cannon is heaved by it's Elder Dwarf navigators until it's length rests over the large clumps of curtains. The armored Elder Dwarf on the left clears out his throat, and takes out a microphone.

 

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, Wyvern would like to demonstrate his formal attire as any almost dragon would... through the advantage of flight."

 

"I am soooo gonna enjoy this." The Elder Dwarf on the right, who had accidentally cannonballed in Round One, sneers maliciously. He then takes out a long black-feathered cannon duster and points it towards the nozel.

 

"Hey!" A familiar voice echoes from within the cannon. "What're you-"

 

The dwarf crams the duster in and out of the nozel several times, using more force with each plunge. He then races over to the other side of the cannon and stifles his snickers.

 

"O-w-w-w" moans the voice from within the cannon. "I-I think I'm gonna-"

 

The audience gasps in surprise as a huge sneeze echoes from within the cannon, rocking the stage. Wyvern sails out of its nozel like a crimson torpedo, propelled by flames. The overgrown lizard is little more than a blur as he sails through the air, though observant spectators notice a purple aristocrat outfit charred black, flaming cufflinks, a tasteless tail ring, and a set of mock-Jester cap bells attached to his horns.

 

Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeee!"

 

CheerMynx begins to mark a "non-applicable" for the "stage presence" segment of her Wyvern judgement sheet, but is interrupted as the lizard crash lands directly on her lap. Judges Gryphon and Peredhil both jump from their seats as CheerMynx's chair topples over.

 

"Oowww." Wyvern writhes and grits his teeth for a moment, then notices CheerMynx's fur. He promptly strikes the most innocent beady eye expression he can muster.

 

"Ewww." CheerMynx struggles in her position. "Eeeeeek, he's on fire! Somebody help!"

[Venefyxatu]

Right before Wyvern is launched into the air, a voice can be heard calling out behind the stage.

 

“Oh WOW man! You mean I get to go after the infamous Wyvern?”

 

With a snap of his stick-figure fingers Tom turns a smooth circle and dips his hat over one eye. He checks his suit one last time, adjusts the golden chain around his neck a little bit and prepares to climb the stairs to the stage.

When he hears Mynx screaming that Wyvern is on fire, Tom doesn't waste a second. He grabs a bucket of water that was conveniently placed behind the stage, rushes on and dumps it all over Wyvern and Mynx. When he sees her spluttering to say something, he quickly says, “Don't mention it – I'll occupy the crowd while you guys sort this mess out” and turns to the crowd.

“Dance hall days” by Wang Chung starts playing, a bit later than anticipated, but Tom uses the intro to get to the front of the stage where everyone can get a good look at him.

His cauliflower-body is stuffed into a white suit with a purple shirt underneath, and he's wearing a fat golden chain around his neck. The wide-brimmed round hat on his head is slightly out of place, but when he notices a cute carrot somewhere in the audience he takes it off and spins it on his finger.

 

“Hey there baby!”

 

With a wink towards her, he throws the hat over the crowd as though it were a frisbee and starts talking to the audience.

 

“While the judges are busy removing the Great Wyvern, they've asked me to entertain you for a moment.”

 

When another wink towards the carrot is met with a cold stare, Tom's eyes suddenly become huge and tear-filled. He plops down on the stage and starts crying, making his typical “waaahhh”-sound.

 

So much for Tom's formal wear ...

[Appy]

Apaltra rushes on stage, her cape billowing behind her and still wearing the same outfit she had in the first round. Taking no notice of the audience or the judges she crouches down next to the sobbing Tom and places her hand on his back.

At this point Tom starts sobbing even louder, but as she whispers something in his ear he seems to calm down and now looks up at her with big watery eyes.

 

"Appy, my staff! I know you have it!" Apaltra shouts at the curtains.

 

After a big crash and a lot of muttering Appy strolls out, trying to look casual, holding a 6 feet long staff with some difficulty. It seems to want to get away from her.

 

Her hand still on the cauliflower Apaltra grabs the staff halfway up and starts muttering under her breath. Long, dark-green leaves sprout all around Tom and start wrapping him gently, like a mother holding her baby. Apaltra keeps muttering, now at Tom, and a look of bliss crosses his face before he seems to fall into a deep, unconcerned sleep.

 

For the first time Apaltra looks up at the audience and the partially soaked judges.

 

"This little guy needs tending to, consider this my second round." She gets up, carefully scoops the wrapped up Tom into her arms and looks at the judges again: "These are the only clothes I have anyways..."

 

Appy drops her head in her hands dramatically

 

After a look of embarrassment Apaltra turns sharply and walks off stage with long strides, leaving Appy to stand there, still with her head in her hands and muttering something about "dresses, I should've gotten her dresses..." At the shout of her name from her sister, she too, leaves..

Edited August 28, 2005 by Appy

[Patrick]

From the shadow of his carnival booth Patham suddenly saw from the flying spectacle of the almost-dragon that the second round of the Beauty Pageant had started.

 

Damnit, I'll be late. - he thought to himself, and then realised with sudden horror, that he didn't have any formal clothes.

 

Then an idea struck him. He glanced at one of the owls, who had been helping him with his carnival booth. The owl wore an immaculate suit, which flowed perfectly along his tail feathers, along with a white shirt, which bulged at exactly the right places for an owl. For a moment Patham wondered why security owls always wore so good suits, but the next moment he was already asking the owl for his suit.

 

"I need your suit."

 

"But what shall I wear then?" - the owl replied frustrated.

 

"Come on, an owl doesn't look that bad without clothes."

 

It took another five minutes to convince the owl, and then two more for him to help, the now in owl-form, Patham into them.

 

"How do I look?" - Patham asked.

 

"Good enough." - was the reply from the owl, who was at quite some discomfort without his clothes.

 

"I'm leaving you in charge of the booth, while I'm gone." - Patham said and flew off.

 

He realised that flying with a suit on wasn't an easy feat for an owl, as it greatly hindered the flapping of his wings. But somehow he managed to make it to the Beauty Pageant, where he was met by a scene of utter chaos. The judges looked as if they had taken a swim, Tom was being comforted by Apaltra and Patham's owl nose could feel the distinct smell of burnt lizard.

 

It was hard for him to concentrate, but at a gesture from one of the judges he was given the go ahead and landed on the stage. He walked around, showing the judges and spectators "his" suit and shirt. His feathers followed the lines of the suit almost perfectly, and to an owl observer he must have looked extremely elegant. However to the spectators gathered here the sight wasn't anything special, but they applauded as polite audiences always do.

 

Patham did one last circle on the ground and then performed a complicated summersault in mid-air, after which he landed on his bottocks. Slightly embarassed, he walked off the stage.

[Mynx]

Mynx sighed softly and checked the watch in her paw.

Time was up again and they were missing even more people this time.

Oh well, Mynx thought, I suppose I should get moving before we run out of time...

Nodding at Peredhil and Gryphon, Mynx rose from her chair and once more morphed into the form of CheerMynx as she reached the stage.

 

Smilling prettily at the crowd, and pausing to giggle at the anvil flattened Raven, CheerMynx began to speak.

"This is totally it for Round Two guys! But never fear! Round Three is about to begin! So get ready to show us your talents whilst our wonderful (and cute!) *CheerMynx winked at Gryphon* judges!"

 

With a swish and a twirl of fur and fabric, CheerMynx glided once more off the stage, returning to the form of Mynx.

She had a brief discussion with the judges, before leaving them to finalise their marks as she reverted one more to the Cheerleader form and took to the stage.

 

OOC: Round Three

[Peredhil]

Without missing a beat or spending energy on thought , Peredhil healed Wyvern. It happened so often, it was a habit.

 

Reaching out over the still smoking Almost Dragon, he warmed hands chilled by the thrown water.

 

Frowning slightly, he wandered away tabulating scores in his head.