twelve ♓ video;

[cullscuttlefish]

[Feferi clears her throat, when the feed comes on. And she's grinning. The other noticeable thing about her? Her hair. She wears flowers in it pretty often, but now, the green leaves of the multicolored blossoms are more prominent than the actual flowers.]

I'm Feferi Peixes, and it's sing-along time, Tower. This one's straight from the files of protest songs that my ancestor - some of you remember the Condesce - well, she had a bunch of songs banned. Her heiresses were expected to know them, so they could have anyone singing them killed.

I think it's time to break that rule entirely.

[She clears her throat. Anyone who is at all familiar with musicals? You'll recognize the tune of 'Do You Hear the People Sing'. It crossed worlds.]

Do you hear the sufferers sing?
Singing the songs of angry men
It is a music of a race that won't be
Beaten down again

When the blood rushing through your veins
Echoes the honking of the horns

You'll know there's an end to all the pain
Come tomorrow morn

[No. Feferi pauses. The words...they need changing.]

I'm sorry. Let me just...this is gonna be off the cuff from now on, forgive me. But I can't just sing the version the Condesce banned. It's not right.

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
When all this glamour fades, is there a world you've longed to see?
Then join in the fight that will give us the right to be free!

Do you hear this Tower sing?
Singing a song that's writ in green
It is a music of a people
Stronger than you've ever seen

When the beating of your heart
Starts to be more than you can take
Show them you're strong, and play your part
I know you won't break!

Will you give all you can give,
So that the admins can't advance?
If we fall, or cry? We'll live -
it's up to you to take your chance!

Our blood, sweat, and tears will bring forth our resolve - that's our stance!

Do you hear this Tower sing?
Singing a song that's writ in green
It is a music of a people
Stronger than you've ever seen

When the beating of your heart
Starts to be more than you can take
Show them you're strong, and play your part
I know you won't break!

...for Sayaka. For everyone who's left this place. And for us.

Comments

perma-filtered; <3

[cullscuttlefish]

I only misplaced it for a while.

If Ruana would have Jason take my voice for this, then I'll have to go downstairs and take back what's rightfully mine; it isn't as if it's something I haven't done once before, and Jason is all too aware of it. But the point will have been made, regardless.

As for the rest? Time will tell.

[true_noir]

mmm, I like you better with the spirit back in you and a bit of annoyance. It feels more natural for you than despondency. Leave the jaded cynicism to me.

Incidentally, princess... I would like that rematch one of these days, now that I can hear the fire in your wireframe heart again.

[cullscuttlefish]

It feels more natural for me, too, if I'm honest with myshellf.

[Oops. Fish pun.

But a minute later, Feferi's going to flick on the video, and her face is deadly serious.]

...next month, you pick the place, and I'll be there, you have my word. But right now, Ruana's awake, and I'd rather it be a fair rematch than one that bitch has any ability to turn into one of her little games. It's better for both of us if it's on our own terms and not hers.

Fair enough?

[true_noir]

[The video kicked in on her side and she had a look that was a mixture of curiosity, seriousness and that sort of insufferable playfulness she always seemed to wear, leaning forward with her chin on her fingers.]

mmm. I will look for anything to give me an edge. You trolls are so very... dangerous. However, I agree. Ruana... she prefers to play her own games. We can play when we don't have to deal with interference.

Though... thank you for indulging me. [That was not a nice looking smile. It had a faintly predatory gleam to it.]

[cullscuttlefish]

We have an agreement, then.

[And there's no small hint of a predatory gleam in her own eyes as she answers - she is what she is. A challenge is a challenge, and Feferi has no intention to hold anything back. It's why she insisted on it being outside Ruana's control. Head bitch would make this into a game, and she is so very tired of games. A fair challenge is something else entirely, however.]

There's no need to thank me. I don't believe anyone's ever actually had the nerve to challenge me to a fair fight before this, so I'll be looking forward to it.

[true_noir]

[When the gleam reached Feferi's eyes, Chloe shivered a little, though her smile didn't slip at all. She liked that look. She liked it far too much, and she'd confess that she liked it even more coming out of a girl. She had no clue about troll romances. All she knew was that she loved finding dangerous girls of one form or another, and Feferi had proven to be quite ... risky.]

I'm nothing, if not bold when I have no business being bold. It will be entertaining, I promise.

[cullscuttlefish]

[...and if Feferi's honest? Even if she's said to herself a thousand times that she is not in the market for a black romance? She's blushing.

She knows exactly what that means, and it means she needs to talk to someone. Because while it's one thing to have a sweet red romance - that doesn't need moderating, it's a thing that moderates itself if it's healthy - this isn't red. That means it needs to be moderated.]

Excellent.

[true_noir]

[Doubly so, given Chloe's nature and personal issues, triply so given the interest Gamzee'd shown in causing her pain in the past...]

I'll let you enjoy your moment, Feferi. Do keep in touch while the world crashes down around us. I always enjoy our little chats.