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Merelisa Shaynore	It seems like Lilian's idea of the Capella A centennial concert as a sort of dragon appeasement ritual wasn't entirely off the mark.     The next day, as the time for the performance itself approaches, the audience is allowed to filter into the venue and take their place either in the rows of temporary seating meant for the tens of thousands of attendees, or in the lawn right up front near the stage. The entire thing takes place within the mouth of the massive cave in the mountain that was looming over the tailgating area, which is mostly made of purple and blue crystals like the rest of the planet's color palette. There's a lot of shuffling and scrambling crowds, lines to wait in, food stands to be pulled away by, and so on, before getting into the venue.     The nest where the Crystallulon sleeps is still roped off, of course, because it's an alien monster the size of a house, and the pile of treasure with the Stellar Note is in a sparkly offering vault at its base. The Crystallulon itself is a rocky monster like a giant turtle, with a gemstone shell that has crystal protuberances sticking out across its surface-- on first glance, it might just look like it's another pile of treasure. Somehow, besides some people who pose for pictures outside the velvet ropes, the creature itself is largely ignored by the crowds in favor of the stage, except for Hikaru, who is magnetically drawn towards the most dangerous thing in the cave besides the Elites on instinct.     "Celesweet...!!! It's like a pretty version of Gamera! I hope you--!" She cups her mouth to shout over to the sleeping Crystallulon, but one of the guards waves his hand to shush her, so she stage whispers across the rope boundary. "I hope you enjoy the concert too, Crystallulon!"     Lala and Neia have additional merch collected between the two of them-- most notably, four pink-purple Mao-themed souvenir glowsticks, two of which are Lala's, while one goes to Neia and Hikaru each. Neia is nervously fiddling with the hem of her overlong Mao-album t-shirt, and Lala is white-knuckle dual-wielding glowsticks in anticipation of the show to start. Due to Lala and Hikaru's insistence, the girls and the Elites are relegated to standing in the lawn near the stage rather than in the seating, because, as they explain: "If the Nottraiders appear...! We'll need to have maximum maneuverability, lun!" "Yeah! We don't want to get stuck in the bleachers!"     Mostly, they just want to be close to the stage.
Merelisa Shaynore	The stage itself is huge and sparkly purple, to fit the overlap in Mao's colors and Capella A's. A massive array of lighting built into the cave ceiling overhead focuses on the stage and illuminates the audience along with it, with hologram projectors showing huge images of Mao waving to the audience and blowing kisses or doing a pose with her hands curling like paws in front of her chest occasionally. The lights dim at the supposed starting time, and a rumbling in the cave from the Crystallulon snorting signals that it's slowly coming to consciousness, but... Mao doesn't appear! As the crowd murmurs in confusion, the Elites, one by one, are approached by a figure sneaking through the crowd.     A mysterious girl with purply-pink hair and big green eyes, wearing a masquerade mask that TOTALLY obscures her identity surreptitiously pokes each Offworlder on their shoulder, and indicates a secretive little door to the side of the stage before slipping away. In the uncertainty of the crowd's babbling, somehow no one notices her, and she unerringly singles out every Elite that came here with Hikaru and Lala-- even Roland and Malkuth, even when they're not standing nearby the girls.     Her pointing towards the door seems urgent, and when breaking off from the audience to go through it, it leads backstage, to a room with a series of cushy luxury benches and darkened lights. The last one in is Lala, pulled by the wrist by the mysterious girl with Yuma in her other arm, joining Hikaru in her baffled stance by the door. Hikaru seems perturbed, and Lala is visibly irritated, having resisted the summons enough that she needed to be pulled through. "Who are you, lun?! What's the big idea? I don't want to miss the concert, lun!"     The girl puts one finger to her lips, and bouncily sashays her way past Lala and up to the front of the room, draping herself on top of one of the benches with one knee propped up and her-- tail, dangling down behind it. She removes her masquerade mask, revealing, completely unexpectedly, Mao, the very idol you're here to see!!     "Meowdy there, my cute fans~! Do you think you'd be able to give little ol meow a little help?"
Timespace Riders	Sougo slept a lot between now and the little tailgate party. His energy is up-ish, in a physical sense. In an emotional sense, it's to the point where he can more easily take his mind off of his side project. After all, if he couldn't, it'd spoil the concert for Hikaru and Lala, wouldn't it?     "Oh, wow, look at that thing," says Sougo of the Crystallulon. "All of that stuff on its back and it's sleeping like it's nothing at all..."     "Would you like a picture, sire?"     "Mm..." Does he? Part of him wants to debate whether he's earned such things as pictures on road trips at this point, but, "Yeah, actually. There won't be another moment like this for a while."     Woz first tries to take a picture of Sougo, but the Demon King drags him into frame. Thus, the retainer ends up using his scarf to take the photo of the two of them in front of the roped-off nest. If the Nottraiders appear...! We'll need to have maximum maneuverability, lun!     Woz lifts an eyebrow, and then chuckles. "Indeed."     In the minutes leading up to Mao's appearance, Sougo and Woz are among those sharing confused murmurs.     "I hope she's just running a little late," says Sougo.     "Perhaps--hah?" His eyes follow the *mysterious* figure's gesutre. "I see. Shall we accept the invitation it seems we've been given, my Demon King?"     "Are you kidding?" Sougo beams. "Let's do it! I wonder what's back there..." He doesn't have enough experience with concerts to have the context for 'backstage;' to him, it's a strange and mythical area reserved for those with the pull to claim it. In effect, Woz has asked him if he wants to see a leprechaun's pot of gold. Meowdy there, my cute fans~! Do you think you'd be able to give little ol meow a little help?     "Felinecitations, Mao," says Woz.     Sougo makes a face at him.     "Um, hi!" He waves. "That's us! Especially Lala and Hikaru. We listened to all of your stuff on the way here!"          "Anyway... what can we do for you, Mao?"
Angela	Malkuth and Roland have OBTAINED merchandise of the SPACE IDOL MAO--specifically of a little standee of SPACE IDOL MAO. They had to trade a signed photograph of less renowned (but they assured the merch people!!) soap opera star BongBong! that they said was worth a hundred thousand ahn! They did not mention the exchange rate of ahn in the multiverse. Malkuth is studying the standee carefully, frowning thoughtfully at it as if examining a priceless treasure for potential defects that might label it a FORGERY but Roland seems to have considered his work done as Angela had observed it and deemed the item to be ACCEPTABLE. Angela admires Hikaru's willingness to be friendly to Abnormalities. Of course, being friendly to Abnormalities only works so long as you can do it in a safe manner but, well, Hikaru hasn't been eaten by a kaiju yet so she must be doing something right. Malkuth and ROland have also obtained glowsticks for themselves though they only have one each. "Do you think it likely they would attack a concert like this? It would be terrible publicity." Angela says. ''Meowdy there, my cute fans~'' "YEah that's us. We're big fans." Roland says. ''Do you think you'd be able to give little ol meow a little help?'' "But Miss Angela is a bigger fan, she asked us to come all the way here because she couldn't come just so we could get merch of her favorite idol." Roland continues. "Roland--" Angela begins, but there are CHILDREN about so she is fully caught in the trap. "Yes. we can give--you--some help." She gives Woz a long baleful look. "Indeed." She says seriously. "It is nice to meet you."
Tamamo	Meanwhile, Yuma-- disguised, fedora'd-- has gravitated towards where Tamamo and Lilian are cuddling, tottering on her two stubby feet. She doesn't just seem drawn to Tamamo, or the warmth, but the interaction between the two of them overall, climbing up onto the table and flopping onto her belly to face both of them.     It's safe to say that Tamamo is terribly enamored by this, though she keeps most of her attention on Lilian, even so. She only has so little need of visiting the food stalls because they've both prepared for the event, though taking a little to go and see them -- together -- would be nice, too.     Later...     ...and the pile of treasure with the Stellar Note is in a sparkly offering vault at its base.     Tamamo asks the girls, "But how will you acquire the note, if it is an offering?"     'If the Nottraiders appear...!'     "Oh, I should hope they do not, or else that they prove only a brief interruption. It would be awful for so many to come here only for a trip of several days to be ruined, no?"     Even later...     A mysterious girl with purply-pink hair and big green eyes, wearing a masquerade mask...     Tamamo glances between this girl and the giant holographic displays, and slips her arm around Lilian's. Quietly, "We should go and see, shall we?"     'Meowdy there, my cute fans~!'     Really, Tamamo's just not going to turn down being called cute by a younger girl. There's a lot that can be forgiven, given that, even if age is a large question mark of a topic for the bunrei.     'We listened to all of your stuff on the way here!'     "Mhm, it is so. How might we assist in the event, then, Ms. Mao? We all wish for its success, of course." She simply assumes that's what this is about.
Natsuki Nuki	Natsuki had caroused about the party, ditching her jacket in Love Prime and rolling up the sleeves of her shirt to her elbows as the space doughnuts flowed and a bartered cup of space soju could be found and savored. A teacup's worth was more than enough to cheers and savor, and enjoy being party to the center of attention and it not *quite* being her. Still, it's pretty, and she had agreed to come on the merit of Mao and little else. So, nursing a single cup with small and careful sips, she had rounded back to something Hikaru had said. "If I can explain it, really really explain it, in a way that gets through to them, and they stop trying to hurt Yuma... I'll keep trying to, and it'd make me happy if that happened. But I don't know if I can forgive people for hurting her because of not having any curiosity." "There's something to explain that might make it stop, but it's what you'll do to them if they keep trying. And then, you keep explaining, by actually doing it. But if you have a treasure, it won't stop everyone, because there will always be people who can't be convinced away from 'but I want it'. 'Certain kinds'," The construction she makes can also mean 'weird people', with a grimace. "Can't be convinced. But," For a moment, there's no amount of *aesthetic* that can hide the furtive glance around to confirm Futaba is indisposed. Then, in the tone of admitting a difficult truth, Natsuki continues with eyes glancing down over teacup rim. "It's important that you're trying, anyway. To explain it. Maybe that's why there's Pretty Cures and whatever else. I doubt many else would but. . ." A roll of the eyes at her own feely melodrama brings Natsuki back and a quick sip of space soju burns away the sentiment. "-it can't be helped." She finishes, eyes back on the real topic: Yuma! "Try a clip, maybe, or a ribbon?" Accessories are difficult for strange musicnote fairies. Later... "Celesweet...!!! It's like a pretty version of Gamera!" "Oh huh!" Natsuki's instant sparklyeyed attention is cast to the Crystallulon when it's compared to a classic Kaiju, and then she has to play cool again. "Well, it's more like some Ultraman kaiju than *Gamera*." Natsuki grumbles, and then realizes that's still kind of nerdy, and just crosses her arms and tries to affect 'standoffishly hot' to recover stamina. It's a kind of walk and stand and looking at things that's easy when you're at a concert for a young popstar. Speaking of young popstars... Natsuki is alerted by a masquerade masked urgent poking, and guided from leaning on the bleachers and affecting 'bored' while mid-key excited for the concert, she's only a few steps behind Hikaru and Lala when the latter pulls her 'who are you, lun?!' routine. 'Meowdy there, my cute fans~! Do you think you'd be able to give little ol meow a little help?' "Oh! Perfect, yes." Natsuki drops fist into palm and grins broadly. "I *would* like to take you on as an agent, and I'm fully willing to buy out your contract with Doramus. Or - are you needing something else?" Natsuki inspects a sharp nail for a moment, turning the hand over consideringly. "I'm *sure* it can be arranged." She purrs at a promise.
Lilian Rook	§I fucking knew it.§     After snuggling with Tamamo for a frankly near-excessive amount of time while tailgating out of Love Prime: Camper Van Transforming Concert Kitchen Action! Playset Deluxe, wandering stalls arm in arm like the old days (except not? there's a different energy to it, somehow; less giddy-proud and more comfortably practiced) until her feet hurt, Lilian finds herself taking her Beautiful Fair Maiden into the spooky mouth of a dramatic cave and frowning at a giant pile of treasure. The crystallulon being a turtle instead of a lizard feels borderline.     'But how will you acquire the note, if it is an offering?'     "Do you think it'll even notice?" says Lilian. "Outside of the sheer amount of treasure that's already there, it's been asleep this entire time anyways."     'If the Nottraiders appear...!'     'It would be awful for so many to come here only for a trip of several days to be ruined, no?'     New priority. If Lilian could text Eyewon, she'd fire off 'Hey, you're okay. Don't show up to work today.' on the spot.     . . . . . . . .     'Meowdy there, my cute fans~! Do you think you'd be able to give little ol meow a little help?'     Lilian is in a weird enough headspace lately to allow herself to be less than immaculately polite, staring at Mao's tail.     'Mhm, it is so. How might we assist in the event, then, Ms. Mao? We all wish for its success, of course.'     "Mmm?" Lilian blinks, and looks up. "Certainly, so long as it's nothing terribly extreme. And I doubt you'd ask something like that, Miss Mao." she says, briefly stunned.     'Felinecitations, Mao,'     Lilian makes the front half of a '???' grimace, before evening it out on reflex.
Lilian Rook	'Do you think it likely they would attack a concert like this? It would be terrible publicity.'     Aside, on nebulous time, and having acquired glowsticks for herself already, Lilian says to Angela, "They were already roundly despised by everyone, long before ever joining the Nottraiders. That's how they found Nottrei in the first place."     'It's important that you're trying, anyway. To explain it. Maybe that's why there's Pretty Cures and whatever else. I doubt many else would but. . .'     There's no way Lilian didn't notice Natsuki's little crowd check first. Narrowing her eyes, she says, "I know that I'd like to believe it's important in some way. Even though I don't feel confident enough to say it out loud like that."
Natsuki Nuki	'I know that I'd like to believe it's important in some way. Even though I don't feel confident enough to say it out loud like that.' Natsuki is caught in her moments of furtiveness, but because of who it is -- the same one she found making social calls similar to her -- the instant response isn't bristling but some other thing. "If you'd like to believe it - why don't you?" Natsuki asks back, eyes wide to the narrowing of Lilian's. "Making it true makes it true, if it's not already. And the way legends go, from one to another, Lilian," Still wide, still curious, now intense. "Would you rather live in the world of a hero-" In the Dragon Quest sense. "-who immediately uses maximum force and never explains anything? It's not just bad for us - it's bad for the story." There's more reasons, things she's not saying, an air of talking around it, and also, meaning everything she's saying. In a strange mood and suddenly on the spot, she answers 'as best she can'.
Merelisa Shaynore	Earlier Earlier . . . "It's important that you're trying, anyway. To explain it. Maybe that's why there's Pretty Cures and whatever else."     At the party, Hikaru is in a pensive, but not unpleasant, mood, leaning on the outskirts with a slightly-Natsuki-style affect naturally. She rolls that thought around in her head, chewing on the inside of her cheek while watching the way that Yuma borbles around with Tamamo on the table.     "I think..." Her tone is careful, figuring out the words as she says them, and giving Natsuki's unusual demeanor her full consideration. "I became a Precure to help Yuma, but... I think the way everyone shines is important, and I want to protect all of it. I can't forgive them for hurting Yuma, but, I think there's things Eyewon, and Kappard, and the others, can't forgive, too. And if I don't try to understand, and get them to understand, then... what kind of universe is that, where everyone talks past each other about all the things they can't forgive? So I have to keep trying, and I'll keep hoping, too." Earlier . . .     Woz holding the camera with his scarf for a picture with himself and Sougo gets Hikaru pointing excitedly and tugging on Lala's shoulder. "Oh, oh! Woz's doing it like you do! We should get a picture with the Crystallulon too, Lala, Lala!"     This particular trip is probably going to have a disproportionate number of pictures on the wall of the spaceship, by the time it's done. Holding the camera with her antennae, first they take a few pictures of just the two of them, then Neia is dragged in for a group photo, much to the gangly alien's shock. "E-eh?! W-wait, you want me in a picture? I don't...." "Ye~eah! Of course we do!" "Lun! It wouldn't be an accurate record of today's events without you..!" "Well, it's more like some Ultraman kaiju than *Gamera*."     Hikaru is impossible to out-nerd on the subject of giant monsters, but she's not immune to constructive criticism on the topic. She folds an arm across her chest to cup her chin in her palm in intense thought, studying the Crystallulon. "Hmmm... Gomora EX from [[Ebo-Riiba]]... with those spikes, maybe...." From 'Ultraman Fighting Evolution Rebirth', abbreviated. That had to be from before she was born, right? "But maybe he's just most similar to a dragon turtle anyways, eheh."     Lilian is vindicated yet again! "Do you think it likely they would attack a concert like this? It would be terrible publicity." "It would be awful for so many to come here only for a trip of several days to be ruined, no?"     "Oyo... they *are* pretty evil, lun...." Lala is uncomfortable saying it, both because of the idea of the concert being attacked, and the vague guilt and unease at describing the Nottraiders as 'evil'. But the shoe fits, in this case. "I don't think it would change their reputation very much if they attacked now."     "Hmm." Hikaru considers the question more carefully, thumping her newly acquired glowstick into her hand like it's a baton. "It won't be ruined no matter what. We'll make sure of it. But... this sort of thing... I don't think they would mind ruining it. They kinda have something against... 'happiness', eheh." "But how will you acquire the note, if it is an offering?"     "Oh! Eh, that's such a good question," Hikaru looks helplessly over to Lala for her answer. Lala holds up her glove with the technological display that hooks remotely into AI on it, then looks over at the Crystallulon with a bit of helplessness herself.
Merelisa Shaynore	"Well, lun... if we tried to take it before the concert, everyone would get really mad, and it might make the Crystallulon upset enough to ruin the ritual. But afterwards..." Lala trails off awkwardly, and Hikaru scratches at her cheek with a finger and an embarrassed smile. "Well, after the ritual, he'll go right back to sleep. And then he won't care about it being gone." Then, backstage! "Felinecitations, Mao,"     Mao blinks, then throws her head back and giggles in delight, kicking her feet. "Nya~hahahaha! That's wonderful!"     Lala is struck by the bell-tone sound of Mao's laughter, and even moreso by the fact that the idol is right in front of her again, and in a fervent daze, clenches her fists in front of her chest and draws upon the advice she was given the day before with her eyes closed. "Fe--! Felinecitations, also! And thank mew-- thank you very much for the dresses last time, lun!"     Mao settles down from her laughing fit, looking over at Lala with a catlike smirk, tail flicking. "It's ny~o problem, for one of meow most adorable fans, okay? I'm paws~itively delighted that you liked my little show enough to come see a-nya-ther one!"     Lala's face is locked staring downwards away from Mao, gradually turning pinker with her antennae sparking, and Hikaru holds her upright with one arm while looking at Mao and beaming. "Uh huh! So, we're happy to help with whatever it is you need!" "I *would* like to take you on as an agent, and I'm fully willing to buy out your contract with Doramus. Or - are you needing something else?"     Amidst the chorus of people agreeing to help, Mao's piercing green eyes snap to Natsuki specifically, probing her face. After a few seconds of that, she throws her hand up behind her head, leaning baaack along the bench melodramatically, curling her other hand like a paw.     "Weeee~ell... mew kinda guessed it! Lord Doramus left me up cat's creek without a nyaddle on this one, nya?" She twists to the side and plants her cheek on her palm, lounging on the bench. "The work for a big event like this one's alllways like herding cats, and this time, my shepherd got bored and," She waves her hand dismissively, mouth open with an 'a, mou,' snaggletooth visible. "Nyow he's off somewhere cheating at space golf with his buddies."     Hikaru perks up and pumps her fist. "I *knew* it!"     "So a buncha my nyassistants all vanished on the day little old meow was depending on them! There's *nyo* way the show can go on like this! I'm missing a ton of people from all over the set, even my backup dancers, and not even a mew until showtime!"     "So," Mao's eyes land on Hikaru and Lala before even asking the question. "Can nyany of you help me sing and dance tonight, so that this planet's ritual can get to the next cat nap with nyo pawblems?"     Lala, still dazed, immediately offers up, "L-lun, we sing and dance during our transf--" "Yeah! Yup! We can sing and dance, Lala and I! We'll help you, Miss Mao!"     "Purrfect!" Mao's face splits into a wide smile. "Nyow... I know the rest of mew are all friends of these two cute fans of mine too, if you've got nyany ideas on how to give me a paw, purrty please~."
Tamamo	'Nyow he's off somewhere cheating at space golf with his buddies.'     "What, truly?" Tamamo, who only heard of the guy yesterday, blinks at this news. "To simply 'become bored' with a centuries old ritual..."     '...if you've got nyany ideas on how to give me a paw, purrty please~.'     Tamamo, who came dressed for the occasion, exchanges a glance with Lilian. Yes, she's dressed for it, but... that's only clothing, and not practiced manner. She's not any kind of divinity of dance; it's just something she likes to do. Now, if she were asked to steal the show, she'd at least be confident in that style of performance, but that would be extremely impolite where it's gone unasked.     "Where it is only a matter of dispensing good fortune, I go ever prepared, but a prayer is better answerable if the goal is clearly known. Of these backstage hands, do we know which are missing?"
Angela	Angela bobs her head through the view screen at LIlian. "...Is that so... It is a shame. They sound like my sort of people." She briefly considers asking Natsuki to 'do that fucking hit on Sarracenia but feels it's too soon to Yuuki's warning and also the kids are present and she can't really be subtle about it even if she thinks it will cheer Lilian up. Once more, Angela tells herself. Assisting in the rescue has to mean something otherwise you're showing how little it mattered to you. She cannot text Eyewon with anything like that but even if she could--even if their situations are similar, they aren't THAT similar, are they?--and even if they were very similar, what exactly could she do about it right now? She is barely keeping up with her own problems. Roland gives Hikaru a thumbsup and a lazy smile but... ''Oyo... they *are* pretty evil, lun...'' "Mm.... I suppose.." She looks towards Hikaru and gives her a small nod. Something against ... happiness? "Sometimes when you are unhappy, if people are too happy around you, it feels like they are slapping you in the face." Angela exhales. "It is an emotional response, of course, not any sort of reasonable attitude." ''So many cat puns'' Roland is grinning ear to ear. Malkuth is nodding along, vibing and barely keeping track of what is actually being said until halfway through until-- "Wh-wha---sing AND dance? Both? Like, with no lipsynching or anything? Can you sing, Roland?" "Ahah...I don't have a real good musical sense..." Roland manages. Angela opens her mouth. "Um, perhaps...yes! Perhaps we can lend a ''paw'' in some other way...! Like..perhaps..costume design? I can sew at least. And Roland ...can do something involving snacks?" Roland smiles. "Call me the snack chief. At least if you've got materials for that sort of thing. Important to not dance and sing on an empty stomach anyway." "I doubt there is a full kitchen..." Angela says but doesn't sound entirely sure.
Timespace Riders	Woz was naturally quite curious as to Lala's technique for taking pictures. He is enlightened not long after his curiosity is stoked. "Yes... I see the resemblance." ---     "Woz is a pretty good dancer," says Sougo. "And he's got a great singing voice, too!"     Woz flushes and takes a step back, hand over his chest. "I am flattered, sire, but being a backup dancer is no idle amusement. I would have to learn Mao's routine--"     "Aw, c'mon! You could do it, no problem! Remember the stuff with Kukuru in the arcade?"     "My Demon King, that is quite different--"     Sougo all but shoves Woz towards Mao, which draws a sharp sigh from the retainer.     "It seems I am at your disposal," he says, offering the idol a bow at the waist.     Sougo beams. Then he salutes Roland, the snack chief.     "I can get the food and stuff you'll need even if there's not a full kitchen," says Sougo. "Don't worry, snack chief!"
Tamamo	'I doubt there is a full kitchen...'     In the midst of checking for her luck blessings, Tamamo stops to say, "Oh, I can supply a few items, if you need them. I am not certain as to how much time we have -- rather, are we not already, as of this moment, late? -- but, if you wish..."     She proceeds to pull out a portable camp stove, kettle, pots, containers, and mugs from her purse. It looks just as full, afterward.
Lilian Rook	'Would you rather live in the world of a hero who immediately uses maximum force and never explains anything? It's not just bad for us - it's bad for the story.'     Lilian, in the most worn out state she's ever shown either Natsuki or the Precures, stops overly long to consider how much she can stomach showing the latter, and then how much of what she decides against is really something she believes, or just that exhaustion talking. Her silence drags on even longer, when she falls to contemplation of whether there's really any difference.     'And if I don't try to understand, and get them to understand, then... what kind of universe is that, where everyone talks past each other about all the things they can't forgive? So I have to keep trying, and I'll keep hoping, too.'     §The one we live in.§     "I wonder . . . Have you ever met a hero whose maximum force was bad for them, and not just everyone around them?" Lilian finally says to Natsuki; a compromise with the occasion, after entirely too long.     'They kinda have something against... 'happiness', eheh.'     §Feels like it gets hard to blame them, two or three times a year.§     'Nya~hahahaha! That's wonderful!'     Well.It worked. Despite Lilian's abruptly cut off lip curl, she has no room to look down on Woz if he successfully adapted to the local ~~weirdo~~ artist and connected with her on her level. She keeps her mouth firmly shut once Lala joins in on repeating him.     'Weeee~ell... mew kinda guessed it! Lord Doramus left me up cat's creek without a nyaddle on this one, nya?'     God she is trying so hard not to react to anything.     'Nyow he's off somewhere cheating at space golf with his buddies.'     §Knew it.§     "Knew it."     Lilian stops and looks wide-eyed at Hikaru. Right.     'Can nyany of you help me sing and dance tonight, so that this planet's ritual can get to the next cat nap with nyo pawblems?'     Lilian breathes a heavy sigh of relief. "Oh! If that's all it is, then I'd have no problems at all." she says, comma, about performing with a galactic-tier idol at a massively high-profile event. A weak smile makes its way to her lips. "I was afraid you'd need us to track down all of your assistants and producers on this short notice." 'And force them to cooperate' is the silent part. Lilian looks to Tamamo for confirmation, but it's with the eyes of someone who has literally done something like this with her before anyways.     'To simply 'become bored' with a centuries old ritual...'     "He's the worst." Lilian says, somewhere between venting and reassuring.     '...Is that so... It is a shame. They sound like my sort of people.'     "Perhaps. But . . ." Lilian looks sidelong away. "That isn't a good thing. For them or for you."     'Sometimes when you are unhappy, if people are too happy around you, it feels like they are slapping you in the face.'     "That feeling gradually disappears once you aren't being treated too badly." says Lilian. "Please believe me on that, Angela."     'Like..perhaps..costume design? I can sew at least.'     "Admittedly, I don't have anything special to wear." says Lilian, now kicking herself extra for underpacking to this extent. "But unless the dance moves require having a tail, I should be able to handle them with no issue at all. I have less practice with singing, but I'd hardly consider myself mediocre at it; and Miss Mao is meant to be the star of the show regardless."     'Aw, c'mon! You could do it, no problem! Remember the stuff with Kukuru in the arcade?'     'My Demon King, that is quite different--'     Neuron activation.     "Oh?"
Natsuki Nuki	Hikaru can actually out-nerd Natsuki on <Space> topics pretty handily. Ultraman Fighting Evolution Rebirth is the cutting edge of 2005 videogame technology, which is actually a bit outside Natsuki's purview, but she nods along like she understands completely! "It does look like Gomora, at that. Good eye!" She agrees, but Mao is front and center and prompting her. The snap of vision draws Natuski's full attention, right thumb and index sorting her red tie left and right without tightening or loosening. "My *lady*, Mao," Natsuki begins, shoulders back and business-voiced. "I'm *so* glad you've made the right decision of working with me. Let me dispel all these concerns for you, so you can focus on exactly what you should focus on: your art, and joy! And I'll make these little money-solved issues disappear with my magic spell." She says this while flourish-flicking out her wrist. Her flipphone, there, snaps out, and her thumb loudly clicktypes in a phone shortcut. Piece to ear, she begins dictating while looking directly at Mao. "Takeshi. I've signed a new idol. Multiversal. Her name's Mao and she's a glactic catgirl. No, I don't think we can re-use the nekomata material we have. Her previous agent bailed, so rush me out a crew. No, I don't have one in mind. Yes. Yes. Threaten them if you have to, but try paying them double rates with a signing bonus first. No. Like now?" Her eye raises, looking at Mao but 'seeing' something else. "Now. Definitely now. Rush them out here in a bus if you've got to, just get them here. Capella A." Snapping shut her phone, Natsuki smiles at the catgirl idol. "And that's that. Welcome to the Golden Caterpillar family, miss Mao. I'll have a media team and an events crew out here to make all the problems go away before the end of the show and get the crowd handled too. Trust me, security's the *easy* part with who I'm bringing in." The Yakuza. Natsuki is bringing in the Yakuza's massive interest in idols to bear. Mao might even understand *exactly* who she's just engaged. "Golf's a game for people with nothing better to do, and miss Mao, I can see someone's made a *terrible* mistake. With Hikaru and Lala as your backup dancers, catering handled, media and security called in, and costuming taken care of, that sounds like just about everything!"
Angela	Roland gives Sougo a thumbsup. "Hey thanks, Mr. Demon. That'll help out a lot. So long as I have a workspace and ingredients I can make something work." Malkuth looks to Lilian. "WEll I can't make a whole new outfit out of scratch, but I can resize it for you, maybe...?" ''Perhaps. But... That isn't a good thing. For them or for you. That feeling gradually disappears once you aren't being treated too badly.'' Angela has had a resurgence of that feeling, but she doesn't think it's because ''she'' is being treated bad. More that it feels like she inherently causes harm to others by reaching for her own life. Petra keeps telling her it's really ''her'' fault, but it wouldn't have been her fault to take if it hadn't been for her, right? "I believe you. But not everyone has been as fortunate as me in getting to know the one and only Dame COmmander." There probably are other Dame Commanders but they don't REALLY count.
Natsuki Nuki	'Have you ever met a hero whose maximum force was bad for them, and not just everyone around them?' It takes Natsuki a while, to swing back around to an answer. She had to think about it. It's not an easy question. "As... for the yuusha crowd," Natsuki's eyes close and she exhales. "The ones who are lucky are insufferable the normal way. The ones who are powerful, you have to ask who they're a hero for. But," "I've met heroes whose maximum force is bad 'for everyone'. But it's all down to how the story looks at it, isn't it? Sometimes it's bad because they cough blood after ruining everyone else's goals, lives. Sometimes it's bad because they're alone when they're done using that force. Sometimes. . . it just makes the world worse for everyone, and the only ones who notice are the ones trying to keep score." "Do you think scorekeeping's the problem? Or score?"
Timespace Riders	Oh?     "Yeah," Sougo brightly enthuses, nodding, as Woz pointedly looks away.     "He's really good at those dancing games. I watched him get a really high score on some song he'd never done before, and he was even doing a lot of fancy, you know, flourishes and stuff," he adds, doing a little twirl to demonstrate.     Woz clears his throat. Welcome to the Golden Caterpillar family, miss Mao.     "Congratulations, Mao. Unlike some," says Woz, eager to change the subject and lavish Natsuki with praise in one swoop, "The Lady Nue knows the value of those she invests in. I anticipate a long and fruitful working relationship."
Tamamo	Lilian looks to Tamamo for confirmation...     "We are a bit taller than..." the magical kids, though not excessively so, as it happens. Especially without heels, in Tamamo's case.     'Admittedly, I don't have anything special to wear.'     "Oh, I should have...!" Tamamo's excited-shocked expression mellows in a moment. "No, I suppose there was no warning, and so, I could not have possibly prepared anything to match."     'Would you rather live in the world of a hero... who immediately uses maximum force and never explains anything?'     In that ambiguously timed side... "Every would be hero is like that, no? Whether their fate allows for heroism is another matter." More quietly, "The details that make for 'a story' can be embellished at a later date." More firmly, "I have seen enough who do believe in the importance of more than the simplest strengths."
Lilian Rook	Lilian, who has just given someone the opportunity to dress her up, and been turned down (for lack of practical skill, but still), recoils faintly from the blow. Even Angela's praise feels confusingly out of left field, rather than well-earned in the moment. 'I believe you. But not everyone has been as fortunate as me in getting to know the one and only Dame Commander.'     "I'm sorry Angela, but I think most people would think of me as treating them rather badly and being too happy about it afterwards." she says, uncomfortably.     'Sometimes it's bad because they cough blood after ruining everyone else's goals, lives. Sometimes it's bad because they're alone when they're done using that force.'     "But they win. They get their way. Without even explaining a single thing." she says. "Most people cough blood, alone, after they've lost and gotten nothing. I'm not shameless enough to say that something is bad just because it costs slightly more than free."     'Do you think scorekeeping's the problem? Or score?'     "How should I know. Force is just easier than explaining; it's not as if either of them work for me."     'Oh, I should have...!'     "W-wait, seriously . . . ?" Lilian blinks, suddenly startling at the sheer level of enthusiasm.     'No, I suppose there was no warning, and so, I could not have possibly prepared anything to match.'     Today, Lilian breathes a sigh of relief, learning that Tamamo is not a Tomoyo Daidouji in spirit.
Merelisa Shaynore	"Sometimes when you are unhappy, if people are too happy around you, it feels like they are slapping you in the face."     Hikaru sighs, determined. "But... it's still a kind of person who has to choose to slap back, and it's that kind of person I want to protect too. But if they show up today... then I'm protecting the people's smiles who came here to have fun, and not the people who came here to ruin it, and then that drives another wedge between us, doesn't it?" "To simply 'become bored' with a centuries old ritual..."     Mao scoffs and rolls her eyes, lacking a single cat pun in her incredulity. "I *know*, right?! He's the *worst*!" She pauses and corrects herself. "Well, he's nyot *only* bad."     Hikaru and Lala hit her with simultaneously disbelieving stares, and Mao narrows her eyes embarrassedly, one claw scratching back and forth on the bench cushion. "... He's the *worst*, lun. Because... you put your trust in him, and he has an opportunity to help you with spreading happiness to so many people, and he just *fails*! I... I hope he golfs himself out of orbit, lun!"     "And," Hikaru crosses her arms, still staring at Mao to keep her from awkwardly looking away. "He's not just lazy, and bad, and annoying, and a total fraud, and cringe, and a loser, and has terrible taste, and-- he's also *selfish*, because he doesn't *care* if this whole world suffers because he got *bored*. I care about making the Crystallulon happier than it's ever ever been in all its life and keeping the people on this planet from suffering because of one stupid guy's stupid decision, and I know you do too, right Mao?"     "... Nyeh." Mao sticks out her tongue, evasively. "I think all my cute fans deserve a wonder-fur show nyo matter what." > Various offers to sing and dance     That visibly takes Mao aback, though the Precures' promises to dance with her didn't. "N-nya?! Really, that many? W-well, to be totally nyonest..." She pokes her fingers together, tail flicking. "Nyevery single one of my backup dancers furgot that the purrformance was today. So... I'd reeeeaaallly appreciate if mew danced with little old meow."
Merelisa Shaynore	"Like..perhaps..costume design? I can sew at least."     "We have pawles of costumes in the back!" Mao announces triumphantly, shooting up to her feet with one gloved hand raised. "I have some in meownd for the two of you, but they'll nyeed to be nyadjusted! So let's get to work!"     Mao scampers deeper into the backstage areas, leading into a wardrobe room. Lala, following with Hikaru behind, belatedly comes to a realization with a flash of shock. "O-oyo?! We're really going to dance on stage with Mao?!"     Hikaru pats her on the shoulder reassuringly and shoots a sparklingly confident thumbs up. "Yeah! And it'll beeeee galacticool!!"     "Got it! Okay, girls, here's your outfits," Mao says, handing over two star-covered, color-coded idol outfits accented with transparent vinyl. "Ehehe, I guess I have to thank *mew* for taking my dresses this time."     She gestures, sweeping, to the rest of the stocked rows of clothes. Of all the people who failed to show up, at least the *deliveries* weren't absent. ... Probably because they had to have their schedules set earlier on, before Doramus got bored, come to think of it. "Feline free to per-mewse as you wish~!" "Of these backstage hands, do we know which are missing?"     Mao makes a burbling noise of thought, and then starts counting on her fingers. "*I* certainly don't knyow all of them. It's nyot my job to keep up with all the papurrwork. But there's only one girl doing lighting, I nyoticed.... Normeowally there's at least four!"     "And we *are* purretty low on time before the Crystallulon wakes up, I bet!" "Okay! We'll get changed quickly and be back!" "Lun! And I already know the dances! So you don't need a tail, lun!" "Golf's a game for people with nothing better to do, and miss Mao, I can see someone's made a *terrible* mistake."     Mao's tension steadily grows during Natsuki's rapidfire phone call, entirely unaffected by any implications of the Yakuza involvement-- or, the space Yakuza, or whatever they have out here. Instead, what's stressing her out is only revealed after, in careful tones, while she sits on an elevated beam of wood in the wardrobe room, tracing around the grain of the wood.     "Your generosity is... apurreciated," She slips into a more formal voice with her, insofar as cat puns can be formal. "But there's certain de-tails that keep me from breaking all cont-cat with Lord Doramus. He might have enginyeered this cat-astrophe, but there's things I... need from him, that I can't get nyanywhere else."     Hikaru and Lala clutch at each other in horror, taking the implications from Mao's vague explanation. Mao, on the other hand, levels an intense green-eyed stare down at Natsuki, swinging her feet. "So you won't mind if I'm a teeny bit two-faced, will mew?"
Lilian Rook	'then I'm protecting the people's smiles who came here to have fun, and not the people who came here to ruin it, and then that drives another wedge between us, doesn't it?'     Trying to follow this topic any further means having to think about the concept. And right now, thinking about it just makes Lilian tired. So unbelievably tired that she decides she would rather not think at all. And so her gaze dulls, and her eyes drift away.     'I *know*, right?! He's the *worst*!'     §Thank god. Beneath the saccharine bit, she's normal.§     'I... I hope he golfs himself out of orbit, lun!'     Lilian snorts quietly through her nose, and reflexively covers her mouth. Hearing Hikaru say 'cringe' makes her shoulders shake.     'So... I'd reeeeaaallly appreciate if mew danced with little old meow.'     "Think nothing of it." Lilian says, stereotypical gesture and all. "I've had more training than I frankly would have liked. If it puts a smile on these girls' faces, and if it saves an event you've put all this work into, then I'd be glad to." She has, by all accounts, forgotten her own adage, about heroing for free.     . . . . . . . .     'Got it! Okay, girls, here's your outfits,'     "Oh my gosh--" Lilian has to cut off the rising urge to squeal at merely envisioning Hikaru and Lala dressed up like that. As if the actual wearing-of-costume were a formality, she stage-whispers "How do you two always look so cute no matter what you change into?!" as well. Perhaps it even is one. She looks to Mao, telling the gang to peruse, and half-laughs, "Well you've set the bar terribly high now!"     'Lun! And I already know the dances! So you don't need a tail, lun!'     "Then you'll have to teach us, won't you?" Lilian says to Lala, pulling Tamamo by the sleeve.
Timespace Riders	But if they show up today... then I'm protecting the people's smiles who came here to have fun, and not the people who came here to ruin it, and then that drives another wedge between us, doesn't it?     "Sometimes," says Sougo, "You can reach those people even when it seems like there's going to be a wedge between you. The important thing is that you don't give up, and that you're sincere about wanting to reach them."     "Eventually you'll have the opportunity to do it. Really... I think what people in that position appreciate the most is consistency. And you seem pretty good at that." We have pawles of costumes in the back!     "Then I shall depurrt briefly to avail myself of the wardrobe." He offers a bow at the waist and then disappears in a vortex of gray fabric. When he returns in the same fashion, it's in an outfit along the same star-themed lines as Hikaru and Lala's, with a different profile more suited to a backup dancer. It's a little like a sleek spacesuit.     "Uwoh," Sougo gushes. "That's cool!" For many here it's the first time Woz has been seen in anything other than his olive drab double-breasted greatcoat. The scarf is still here, but it doesn't clash with the rest of the outfit thanks to its neutral color.     Another Sougo enters with two armfuls of groceries for Roland.     "Let me know if you need any help," he says, foisting them off on Roland. "Um, that me, anyway," says Future!Sougo, pointing at his present self. "I have to go! Bye!" And then Future!Sougo disappears.
Angela	Angela quirks her head to the side at Lilian. "Is that so...? ... I do not understand most people, perhaps, or perhaps I was simply lucky--and that is why I am not most people." She frowns severely. "...But lately, I have noticed I seem to be causing you a great deal of concern. Understandable, but if it troubles you for me to act so familarly and appreciative when you are, arguably, at least potentially arrayed against me with regards to your present goals, I can compromise and limit expressions of appreciation to private statements." Roland frowns at all this talk about people ruinng lives. And then frowns even deeper as he considers what Angela had just told Lilian. Arrayed against her in some capacity? What? "What are you talking--" "We can discuss it later, Roland." Angela interrupts. Roland nods, a little. ''It's still a kind of person who has to choose to slap back, and it's that kind of person I want to protect too.'' "You are a good person, HIkaru." Angela says. "...And a wonderful magical girl. I hope you continue to help many people and see many interesting beings and worlds." ''I have some in meownd for the two of you, but they'll nyeed to be nyadjusted!'' "Heck yeah...!" Malkuth mimes pulling up her sleeves. "I can make that happen!" She's starting to have fun on this mission she was forced to go to because apparently Angela likes idols or something. Or maybe only space idols? She has no idea. ''Groceries!'' Roland fishes through the groceries. "Oh yeah." He says. "This looks perfect, thanks where the frick did you go??" Roland barely avoids using something WORSE THAN FRICK. He spins around for a bit before ultimately giving up on learning this secret.
Tamamo	"Well! It seems there are some personal circumstances, and I am sure we need not dig into this while there is a show to run." Tamamo claps her hands together, putting aside the whole topic of Mao's relationship with... who was it? Gomoras? Wait, no--     Anyway!     'W-wait, seriously . . . ?'     Misunderstanding, "Ah...? Would you not want a matching outfit? Even if our colors and styles are different, you know I would take all of that into account, as a matter of course."     'N-nya?! Really, that many? W-well, to be totally nyonest...'     She gestures, sweeping, to the rest of the stocked rows of clothes.     "Let us see what is there to be seen, and with what we may work." Tamamo can't make much of a show of pulling up her sleeves only because she has detached sleeves, at the moment, but the gesture is still there, in symbolic form. "I can handle my own adjustments in the smallest moment, have no worry! Oh, but the choreography is something over which we should, in fact, worry. 'Following another's lead' is a skill in itself, and I wonder if I have practiced it enough... ah, Lala, come over here for a moment, if you please."     Giving a very carefully discerning look over the backup dancer dress, Tamamo selects again from the contents of a magical purse, pulling out a little black, cloth, draw-string bag, just big enough for the token inside it, and offers it. It has to be black, since she hasn't stocked any pastels that wouldn't otherwise clash. "This is a talisman of good fortune, as I prepare for such times as this. If you would tie or carry it with yourself, there is much it will ward away, in uncertain times and challenges. Would you like it?"     She can't just say 'please use this.' Rather, she could, and much of her craft would still work, even without the person knowing, but... it feels kinder to ask.     ...pulling Tamamo by the sleeve.     She doesn't need to be pulled far.     "Oh, yes! Please do teach us."
Natsuki Nuki	The aside extends to a strange and extended series of observations. 'Every would be hero is like that, no? Whether their fate allows for heroism is another matter.' "Every hero?" Natsuki asks, the humor gone. It's Tamamo-no-mae saying that, and so a dry-voiced sibling to neutral acceptance lingers in her tones when she considers it back. "The details..." Is something that sours in the back of her throat. 'Something that can be made up later', to her, hits worse than the idea that every hero works a certain way. 'But they win. They get their way. Without even explaining a single thing.' In the wardrobe room, the sidepot conversation drains out what energy Natsuki had generated from the party like a violent knife wound, leaking at speed and draining emotional color and energy. "Now I know why we've seen each other, I guess." She tails off, shifting off eye contact. The preparation didn't involve a lot of active work from her, anyway. In a short while, a crowd of shockingly terrestrial Yakuza and mixed weirdos and idol producers would be shipped in from Osaka, to replace the missing *space* Yakuza and mixed weirdos that dipped off with their boss for golfing. It wouldn't even be an interruption in expected services. "You don't seem like a loser, or a bad bet, Lilian." Natsuki comments, not looking at either the horizon knight or the regal yokai. "Something works for you. Have you kept score?" Looked to by Mao, Natsuki's wandering reds find bright greens drilling her and stops, the displeased shifting of her tail about her waist settling to stare twiceover at Mao's. . . Admittance? 'Your generosity is... apurreciated,' The plunge of her mood at discussing heroes with knowers hadn't been buoyed up by Sougo's emotional support fire, and the gains are swiftly negated when one small de-tail comes up. Natsuki's bristle-to-breathe motion makes it visual her experience with being talked to in this way and Knowing why. "I doubt Doramus can offer you anything I couldn't, but since you're not naming it," Four red eyes in two sets stare up at the hanging beam the catgirl dangles off of, and scoff-chuffs while the eyes over her nose close and the eyes on her tail stare aglow. "Two faced. Funny." She murmurs, rumbles low, and then sighs, necktension and blonde-white ponytail slopping to one side of her cheek with a tilt of the head. "I wasn't intending on making this a Pretty Cure project for myself, but I thought that Mao would be worth it. I'm still interested in seeing if you are. So the question is: how two-faced are you planning, miss idol?" 'aidoru-san'.
Lilian Rook	'Ah...? Would you not want a matching outfit?'     "Obviously I would!"     Lilian has, after several failures, finally learned some things about how she can effectively communicate with a partner, by having Tamamo as hers. Inelegant as it may be, one of her best and most reliable tools has become 'blurting it out in a very simple way before she can think too hard, and being embarrassed about it later'.     "I mistakenly assumed you had something in mind much earlier! Or that you had enough of a problem with my outfit you were already thinking about changing it! I'd be happy to match with you on stage!" Lilian puffs up for a moment, like delivering a formal address, then nervously deflates again when the moment passes.     '...But lately, I have noticed I seem to be causing you a great deal of concern. Understandable, but if it troubles you for me to act so familarly and appreciative when you are, arguably, at least potentially arrayed against me with regards to your present goals, I can compromise and limit expressions of appreciation to private statements.'     "That's not it, Angela." she says. Turned away from the pad, she can hide her frown and wandering stare; at least a little. "It's not as if taking up arms against you now will solve anything. I have no reason to still be your enemy. No matter how much I . . . disliked, having to fight off you and all the others I made myself believe that I could depend on. I'll get over it, on my own time."     She shuffles uncomfortably, pausing just a moment before continuing on into the back rooms. ". . . But I sacrificed Cinder to save Petra. And I all but sacrificed Petra to save you. And then I even tried my hardest to sacrifice you to save the City. So I don't feel like I deserve to act like everything is normal. And I don't think you or I have have the right to be happy with how things are, after we used up Petra to get to here. That's all."     'You don't seem like a loser, or a bad bet, Lilian. Something works for you. Have you kept score?'      "Two wins, one forfeit, and an endless ocean of draws, as far as the eye can see." Lilian replies, cryptic by way of only lacking anywhere near the energy to explain any better; like the words are for her benefit, and if Natsuki understands anything of them, it's an incidental benefit. "And one of those two is a hand I'm holding right now."
Tamamo	'Every hero?'     "No," Tamamo's tone of correction is gentle-handed, if clear, in that space that isn't being used for the hurried preparation of stage performance, "not every hero, but every 'would be' hero, the... hopeful aspirants, who seek heroism, itself... often, if not always, in the form of 'slaying a monster.' Those who become heroes without ever meaning to be so are a different sort."     And then...     'Obviously I would!'     Lilian's quick response is rewarded with Tamamo's smile. "Oh, wonderful. No, no, of course I have not taken an issue with your dress."     She can't say 'not ever' only because periods like 'that time on the Union Busan' remain in her long memory. The ghost of such things contributes to a vigilance to both watch for and treat relapses, as well a deeply covered murderous impulse that's not relevant to anyone present. More importantly, she has a very warm smile.
Natsuki Nuki	'. . . But I sacrificed Cinder to save Petra. And I all but sacrificed Petra to save you. And then I even tried my hardest to sacrifice you to save the City.' 'Two wins, one forfeit, and an endless ocean of draws, as far as the eye can see.' Natsuki considers what Lilian says - to Angela, and to her. One win, accounted for. One forfeit. . . accounted for. A thoughtful twinge around her mask-patterned eyes heralds the strike of a thought, and then the red-eyed Osakan rotates her neck to look at Lilian. "Two wins, and a result you chose to take, and a horizon of ones that didn't matter? It sounds like you're up, Lilian." The 'Lady Nue' isn't blind, though, and can tell from 'listening to the words said near to her' and 'listening to the words said at her' that Lilian isn't glowing with success *or* an exceptionally dour cursed-armor type. "My condolences." She offers, dipping in a faint seated bow and coming up remarkably somber. "For the loss." '"not every hero, but every 'would be' hero,' Natsuki, when speaking to Tamamo, engages actively in the conversation because she takes the time to consider what the regal yokai says actively rather than allowing automatic response - which is helpful, when she's corrected, and hears a gentle 'no' - it can wash over her as the beginning of a wise statement rather than the worst thing she can expect. And so, with the winds of wisdom rather than jumping at the first three characters of Tamamo's response brushing smooth Natsuki's face from sourness, she manages an eroded smile at the subtlety she missed. "Ah, thank you for correcting my mistake." The sigh that escapes her remains warm, even if strained. "The want-to-bes are among the least sufferable. And then it's 'heroism, for whom'? Though, perhaps I've an obvious stake and opinion on the matter of monster-slayers."
Angela	''But I sacrificed Cinder to save Petra. And I all but sacrificed Petra to save you. And then I even tried my hardest too sacirfice you to save the City.'' Roland doesn't look back towards them or give a sign that he's listening. "...It hasn't been 'normal' for a long time." Angela says. "I understand that everything takes time, but..." Angela rubs at her forehead. "If I was happy I wouldn't still be looking for ways to leave--" Angela frowns. Don't think about Cinder, don't tell her the truth you know is that Agnets are meant to be sacrificed and that it was foolish of you to think of one as a friend, particularly one that was prone to dying already. They go away, like Benjamin, like the Sephirah, like everyone. "Petra--" She finally notices Roland and then clamps her mouth shut. "It is not my place to say, of course, but I hope you can talk to her soon." She seems content to leave it at that.
Merelisa Shaynore	"How do you two always look so cute no matter what you change into?!"     Lala ducks her head and hides behind her new dress, turning pink with embarrassment. Even Hikaru is a bit flustered at the praise, looking around for somewhere to direct her eyes besides Lala or Lilian. "L-Liliannnn..!" "I-isn't it always just Miss Mao giving us clothes??" "Well you've set the bar terribly high now!"     As the girls run off to get changed, Mao cackles at Lilian's praise and swings her feet, pleased. "Well, nyafter seeing those adorable dresses left furgotten, those two girls immediately leapt into my mind!"     When Hikaru and Lala come back in their new secondary dancer dresses, Lala has, in a fit of enthusiasm, even found more ornaments to accessorize herself with to better fit the theme. Her antennae bulbs are encased in fitted gemlike caps, with filaments inside that allows them to glow when she conducts her electricity through them, gradually rotating through all the thematic colors of the set. She holds on to the hem of her dress in a mixture of shyness and awe, and Hikaru shows hers off with a spin that sends off sparkling stars from the technologically-infused pattern on the dress. "It's so staaaaaardorable! And so light! I feel like I could spin and spin and spin and spin and--" "O-oyo! Don't tire yourself out already, lun!" "Ehehe, okay, okay. Miiiiss Malkuth! Could you please help hem mine in ummm, here, I think...."     After the hemming, Lala is puffing herself up with attempted confidence for leading the group in learning the dances a few minutes before showtime, when Tamamo pulls her attention away. She follows where Tamamo beckons her, bouncing a bit with each step to get a better feel for the shoes that go with her outfit. She very obediently holds out her hand for the token, obliging taking it from Tamamo on principle because of her tone, and then examines it resting in her palms.     "So this does all that...? I-I'll use it as well as I can, lun!" She clasps her hands together and holds the token up to her chest. "I think I have bad luck a lot, lun... so thank you Tamamo-no-mae, and I'll do my best to instruct everyone!"     "Lun!" Lala turns around to indicate Woz, Lilian, Hikaru, and Tamamo. She takes a biiig breath, and then stomps one foot out into a wide second position. "I'll teach you Cosmic Mystery Girl first, lun, since that's the most popular. So, um, first you stand like this, then twist your foot and heel tap, tap, elbow flick, twist, then aaaaarm out, and . . ."
Merelisa Shaynore	Mao watches the two excited backup dancers with an unreadable expression, as one earnest fan traces out the steps, by memory, of her songs in order to lead the crowd in helping her. After a minute, a flushed-from-movement Hikaru pauses and notices her staring. She turns away from the dancing group and up to Mao, one hand on her chest as it rises and falls with heavy breathing.     "Miss Mao? I just want to say... thanks for letting us help you. If something we did last time made it seem like we'd be reliable enough for you to ask for something like this, then... that makes me really happy! And all that stuff Miss Nue said about Doramus being a total cringelord and you deserving better-- she's right, and without him, we can toootally pull off this concert and blow that Crystallulon away!"     "Hi-ka-ru," Mao sounds out one syllable at a time, overexaggeratedly forming the shape with her lips. Then she winks, and flashes a cutesy dual-paw curl down at her. "Make sure mew keep your elbow straight at that part, nyokay~? Keep on practicing your very best, Mao's got some business to nyattend to!" ". . . but I thought that Mao would be worth it. I'm still interested in seeing if you are."     Mao slips off of her perch and flounces her way towards the exit to the rest of the backstage. Hands clasped behind her back, she twirls around to face Natsuki, angled forwards at the hip and looking up, just about level with Kodoku's head, herself. She maintains that position, level, with an intently hard-to-read smile on her face.     "Mao's worth quite a lot to a lot of curious cats, nya? Purrobably, worth more to Lord Doramus than to mew, but then, I have my cute fans to count in the equation, too. And the meowthematics breaks down, if I count myself."     Mao straightens up, getting a little shiftily weird now that she can't maintain her direct intensity. "I think mew could do everything better than that Doramus ever has. But there's one widdle thing he has that mew might not," She takes a breath. "And that's a reeeaaaallll short cattention span. So you don't mind putting off the papurrwork until after the concert, do mew?"