The invites had gone out a while ago. Music, food, dancing... it was a party, for no apparent reason other than to throw a party. When the night arrived, it
had begun slowly, but more and more people were steadily trickling in, and by the end of the first hour it had transformed from a friendly gathering to a
full-blown friendly riot. Eva sipped at her punch and watched with a curious grin as several men of the Legendary were dragged, pushed, and otherwise cajoled
into seats in front of the makeshift stage by their respective dance partners. The rest of the crowd formed a respectful half-circle and waited expectantly as
the last notes of the music died away to be replaced by ominous silence.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" boomed Mag Flashlight's voice. "We're going to shift gears a bit here and invite a few of the lovely ladies of
the Legendary to the stage. Gamma Emission! Emerald Blast! Bella Fuego! Space Mage! Come on up!"
There was movement on the darkened stage as the men in the chairs suddenly put two and two together. Terrence and Morgan and Marcus just barely had time to
share panicked glances before the house lights dropped and the music started.
It was a fast, driving beat, with a piano line over the top, and only a few beats before a pencil spot leapt out and nailed the women on the stage. All four
of them began to move forward, slowly, their very presence pressing the men back in their seats.
"Where have all the good men gone, and where are all the gods?" Space sang in a clear, slightly tremulous voice.
"Where's the street-wise Hercules to fight the rising odds?" Gamma and Emerald put in.
"Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?" Bella added with a hint of fire in her eyes.
"Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need!" they all sang at once. "I need a hero! I'm holding on for a hero 'til
the end of the night... he's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast and he's gotta be fresh from the fight!"
"... help...." Terrence whimpered as the women stepped off the stage and slowly approached the chairs, still singing along with the fast-paced hit
from the 80's. A part of Terrence's junk-drawer mind identified it as the Bonnie Tyler cut.
"It's every man for himself," Marcus declared in an undertone, making as if to rise, only to be stopped by Space Mage, who reached out with one
hand, placed a finger against his chest, and pushed him effortlessly back down into his chair.
At the back of the room Eva was doubled over in laughter, watching the spectacle. So was half the crowd, truth be told. She glanced over at the sound booth,
where Mag Flashlight worked the mixer board, giant headphones perched on his head while his cigar bobbed in time to the music. Beside him, wearing the same
model of headphone (which looked even MORE ludicrous on her) was Katy Kaboom, working the light board. Mag looked up and caught Eva's eye, and winked.
She drifted over as the song continued. The women were now draping themselves on the poor, tortured souls in the chairs, as the lyrics reached the line
"... Through the wind and the chill and the rain, and the storm and the flood, I can feel his approach like a fire in my blood!"
"What can I do for ya, boss lady?" Mag asked with a grin. Katy waved 'hello' but kept her eyes on her work, though her face showed she was
trying hard not to burst out laughing. "Got a song in mind for your set?"
Eva blinked. "Um, no, not really. What IS all this?"
Mag stepped out of the booth and took Eva by the shoulders, gently turning her to face the stage as the last notes of the song died out and the crowd roared
its approval.
"This, boss," he began quietly, then reached up and flicked his mic on. His voice boomed out of the PA system as Katy recognized her cue and flipped
a large red switch on her panel. "THIS IS THE LEGENDARY KARAOKE DANCE PARTY!"
Above the stage a rippling series of pops sounded as tiny explosive charges went off in quick succession, spewing confetti and streamers into the air and
letting a concealing cloth fall, to reveal a sign drawn in laser light that read "TANNING INVITATIONAL". Mag frowned at it momentarily and raised an
eyebrow at Katy.
"Oops," Katy said, and tapped keys. The sign melted and re-formed: "LEGENDARY KARAOKE DANCE PARTY"
"That's better," Mag muttered. He keyed the mic again. "DJ Mag is in the house! Who's next on the hit parade?"
The idea hit me, and I just had to. *grin*
--sofaspud
--"Listening to your kid is the audio equivalent of a Salvador Dali painting, Spud." --OpMegs
had begun slowly, but more and more people were steadily trickling in, and by the end of the first hour it had transformed from a friendly gathering to a
full-blown friendly riot. Eva sipped at her punch and watched with a curious grin as several men of the Legendary were dragged, pushed, and otherwise cajoled
into seats in front of the makeshift stage by their respective dance partners. The rest of the crowd formed a respectful half-circle and waited expectantly as
the last notes of the music died away to be replaced by ominous silence.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" boomed Mag Flashlight's voice. "We're going to shift gears a bit here and invite a few of the lovely ladies of
the Legendary to the stage. Gamma Emission! Emerald Blast! Bella Fuego! Space Mage! Come on up!"
There was movement on the darkened stage as the men in the chairs suddenly put two and two together. Terrence and Morgan and Marcus just barely had time to
share panicked glances before the house lights dropped and the music started.
It was a fast, driving beat, with a piano line over the top, and only a few beats before a pencil spot leapt out and nailed the women on the stage. All four
of them began to move forward, slowly, their very presence pressing the men back in their seats.
"Where have all the good men gone, and where are all the gods?" Space sang in a clear, slightly tremulous voice.
"Where's the street-wise Hercules to fight the rising odds?" Gamma and Emerald put in.
"Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?" Bella added with a hint of fire in her eyes.
"Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need!" they all sang at once. "I need a hero! I'm holding on for a hero 'til
the end of the night... he's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast and he's gotta be fresh from the fight!"
"... help...." Terrence whimpered as the women stepped off the stage and slowly approached the chairs, still singing along with the fast-paced hit
from the 80's. A part of Terrence's junk-drawer mind identified it as the Bonnie Tyler cut.
"It's every man for himself," Marcus declared in an undertone, making as if to rise, only to be stopped by Space Mage, who reached out with one
hand, placed a finger against his chest, and pushed him effortlessly back down into his chair.
At the back of the room Eva was doubled over in laughter, watching the spectacle. So was half the crowd, truth be told. She glanced over at the sound booth,
where Mag Flashlight worked the mixer board, giant headphones perched on his head while his cigar bobbed in time to the music. Beside him, wearing the same
model of headphone (which looked even MORE ludicrous on her) was Katy Kaboom, working the light board. Mag looked up and caught Eva's eye, and winked.
She drifted over as the song continued. The women were now draping themselves on the poor, tortured souls in the chairs, as the lyrics reached the line
"... Through the wind and the chill and the rain, and the storm and the flood, I can feel his approach like a fire in my blood!"
"What can I do for ya, boss lady?" Mag asked with a grin. Katy waved 'hello' but kept her eyes on her work, though her face showed she was
trying hard not to burst out laughing. "Got a song in mind for your set?"
Eva blinked. "Um, no, not really. What IS all this?"
Mag stepped out of the booth and took Eva by the shoulders, gently turning her to face the stage as the last notes of the song died out and the crowd roared
its approval.
"This, boss," he began quietly, then reached up and flicked his mic on. His voice boomed out of the PA system as Katy recognized her cue and flipped
a large red switch on her panel. "THIS IS THE LEGENDARY KARAOKE DANCE PARTY!"
Above the stage a rippling series of pops sounded as tiny explosive charges went off in quick succession, spewing confetti and streamers into the air and
letting a concealing cloth fall, to reveal a sign drawn in laser light that read "TANNING INVITATIONAL". Mag frowned at it momentarily and raised an
eyebrow at Katy.
"Oops," Katy said, and tapped keys. The sign melted and re-formed: "LEGENDARY KARAOKE DANCE PARTY"
"That's better," Mag muttered. He keyed the mic again. "DJ Mag is in the house! Who's next on the hit parade?"
The idea hit me, and I just had to. *grin*
--sofaspud
--"Listening to your kid is the audio equivalent of a Salvador Dali painting, Spud." --OpMegs