Sitting in a cloud of cigarette smoke and continuously adding to it is Baz, the playwright having discarded her faded velvet dinner jacket in the face of the summer sun, opting instead for a plain linen shirt of white, haphazardly tucked into baggy black pants. There's a stack of paper on the stage beside the lanky, surly woman and she's scowling at it, like it just insulted her mother.

3 Thrax Guards arrives, following Lustry.

Elizabetta, a disapproving lady-in-waiting, Lily, an aloof lady-in-waiting, 6 Grayson House Guards, Clark, an exasperated guard arrive, following Sabella.

Sam, who is a boy and definitely not a princess in disguise, Sabella arrive, following Niklas.

Lustry has the scents of being freshly bathed echoing off of her as she arrives to the outdoor theater wearing her honeysilks. She directs her guards to linger by the door before a confidant smile curls her lips as she heads further in and takes a seat where those auditioning are suppose to go.

'Baz, Baz, Baz, Baz!" Ripley's dipping, dodging through people who are coming and fathering, the ginger jeweler approaching his sister at high speed. "Baaaaaz. Are you ready?" He's loud, and when he gets to her, it's to a screeching stop that has him scratching at the bald patch on his trimmed beard.


There is, at first glance, only one person who is attempting to audition for a play while engaging in the time-honored theatrical tradition of 'covering the bottom half of one's face with an opaque veil.' That one person is Princess Katarina Valardin. She's dressed for the summer weather -- and perhaps to catch the eye, given the brightness of her dress. Her hands are folded in front of her, and the diminutive Princess peers out from between two Valardin Knights, who are no doubt hewing closer to the Eurusi woman than normal while she walks around the Lowers. She's looking around at everything. Like a tourist.

Samira trudges toward the outdoor theatre, her sketchbook tucked under one arm, a stick of charcoal clasped in the other. Her mouth moves as she mutters words, some inner dialogue spoken aloud. It may appear that she's talking to herself unless one happens to note the tiny mouse peeking its head out from the artist's pocket. She plops herself onto the nearest picnic bench, sketchbook settled in her lap, and turns to study the small gathering.

"Isn't this absolutely delightful?!" Sabella is saying to Nik as she drags him down to the Park, "I knew you'd want to be here since I wonder if 'Baz' is actually short for Bastien and if not isn't it rather fun that another playwright will have the same name as the last playwright you knew from the Lowers!? And how fitting that auditions will be on a stage we know so well from the Summer Plays we do in July! Do remember that the fourth board from stage right does creak an awful lot if you step on the upper half!" she reminds him, beaming a smile at those already assembled, "Do you think everyone here is auditioning!? Princess Lustry! Princess Katarina! Are you auditioning!?"

Lustry smiles brightly as she sees Sabella and happily responds, "Oh yes. I was indeed intending to audition. I do love the theater so muc after all." She begins to gracefully stand up, "I am excited to see what it is we will be performing."


"Presently, I am saying quiet prayers that I do not embarrass myself," Katarina replies to Sabella, and then though her smile can't be seen in its own right, it can be heard in her voice. "Princess Sabella. Prince Niklas. Princess Lustry. I hope that perhaps putting myself in the public eye in such an entertainment will aid the perception of my fellow sons and daughters of Eurus... assuming I am even able to act. This will be my first attempt~."

From her spot on the stage, Baz's smoky gray eyes narrow, and she waves a bony ink-stained hand through the cloud of her cigarette smoke to see better. The first person to gain the playwright's attention and hold it is her brother. "Rip. Be useful and hand out scripts for me to the actors who want them?" She glowers around, shifting uncomfortably like she's sitting on tacks, her eyes dark with lack of sleep.

'Can do!" This is something he's done before and gathering the scripts, the tall thornburn is ambling out from where Baz is with the stack of scripts. Happy go lucky, delighted to be of service, he's lifting one up. "COME AND GET YOUR SCRIPT IF YOU ARE AUDTIONING! ONLY IF YOU ARE AUDITIONING! NOT IF YOU ARE HERE TO SPY ON THE COMPETITION!"

"It might be Bastien. Though 'Eternal Love (Misery)' is a little cheerful a title for him. It'd be more 'Eternal Misery (and then everyone dies of a wasting disease)' if it were Bastien." Niklas walks at Sabella's side, arms linked. Though once they're in the park and the guards form less of a phalanx around them he lets go so she can go run off and hug people if she insists. "Your highnesses. I don't know that I've ever seen you perform. I didn't know you had interest!" He waves to Ripley, "I'll take a copy of the script. Oh. Wait. I'm _not_ allowed to ask if I'm spying on the competition?"

"Are you audtioning?" Ripley looks at Niklas with a wide smile.

Rylan slips into the outdoor theatre, taking a seat at the back to watch the auditions. He keeps a low profile, not wanting to disturb those who are preparing to act their hearts out, settling quietly and without fanfare.

Gianna strides into view, approaching the stage and those gathered nearby. She inclines her head to Niklas and Sabella as she passes. Coming to a stop by the stage, she tilts her chin up and peers at Baz. "Are you the playwright?"

Baz looks along her straight, skinny nose down at Gianna, shifty uncomfortably beneath the blue-eyed gaze of the Nightingale. "Yeah, I'm the playwright." There's a pause and the caustic woman mutters, "Some days. This is just drivel." With a glare to the script in her hand. "Baz." There's an introduction, at least, the playwright not entirely without thought.

Lustry smiles as she makes her way towards Ripley as she says, "I would like one please." Her hand extending out, ready to receive the script.

Samira scowls in thought, tapping her fingers against the picnic table as she debates what to do. She ducks her head, once again addressing the mouse tucked in her pocket. "Psst. Participate or observe? One squeak for attempting it, two for watching safely." A beat, silence. "Oh, you're no help. Figures." She remains rooted to her bench for the moment, wary and uncertain.

"Gianna," Gianna says, as if this should MEAN something. "I came to see. Don't mind me. Unless you have a part for an arrogant queen I'm afraid I'm not much use."


"Please simply promise me that if it turns out that I have no talent for acting, Prince Niklas, you will one day forgive me for the attempt." Katarina's eyebrows bounce once, and she gets in line behind Lustry to receive her script -- and in doing so, spots Samira. Katarina lifts a hand to wave -- and then steps out from behind the tall Valardin Knight blocking view of her, to wave again.

"I'm auditioning!" Sabella tells Ripley excitedly, saying to Niklas, "You can help me run lines!" As Baz introduces herself to Gianna, the latter who also gets a bright smile and a wave, "Look! That's the playwright! And while the expression is very Bastien-y, the breasts are new."

"Pfft. I don't act." Niklas looks like he may have some Thoughts to say about actors, but then his actor wife asks him to run lines with him and he tries his best not to sigh too terribly much. At her words he says a bit loftily, "I don't notice any breasts but yours, my dear."

"I mean... I don't think they're new. She's had them her whole life. Are yours new?" Ripley looks at Sabella then to Niklas, handing over a copy of the script to Sabella. "Is your nose new? I bet it's new..." He looks over his shoulder. "Baz. She thinks your breasts are new. That you're just some guy named Bastien. There used to be some guy they knew named Bastien?" He looks back to the Graysons before handing one to Lustry now as well. "See, that's a good spouse. Maybe some day baz will have someone who likes hers." And then he's turning away to go walking through the seating, waving the scripts. "GET YOUR SCRIPTS! ONLY IF YOU ARE ACTING! GET TO PLAY A FANCY PANTS SILK!"

Baz shoves angrily at her unkempt tawny hair, giving a curt nod to Gianna. "The Nightingale. I know you. I'd have to live under a rock to not know you. You could try out for Avarice," the playwright offers, turning a critical eye upon the woman for a moment before the distraction of Ripley causes the playwright to scowl down at her skinny, mostly non-existant chest. "Fuck. What does that have to do with anything?" She shakes her head, brows drawing together like fuzzy dark caterpillars on her forehead. "Everyone have a script who wants one? Give it a read. You'll audition a monologue of your choice. -Soul- and -pain-. I want to see them."


Katarina stops waving at Samira long enough to step forward and receive a script from Ripley, but then goes back to looking at Samira as if to make sure Samira saw her.

Trouble, the waddling raccoon arrives, following Giada.

Samira's eyes narrow in thought, her lips pressing into a thin line. She seems to arrive at an abrupt decision, her hand lifting into the air to garner attention as Ripley begins moving through the seating. "Alright, alright. I'll take one. Gotta support fellow artists." She frowns, gaze scanning the crowd. "Wish Raja was here. Bet she'd make a good fancy pants silk if she put her mind to it." Spotting Katarina, she brightens and waves in return, offering a faint grin.

A tiny little ghost of a smile at the mention of Gianna's fame. A moment's consideration. "Avarice? It could work," she says. She strides toward Ripley and holds her hand out. Presumably for a script. Sabella's given a glance and she murmurs something on her way past.

Lustry hsppily accepts the scripts and moves away a little bit as she begins to read the lines over in her mind. Her free hand moving as if she is silently rehearsing while reading over the material. Those two-tone eyes focus on Baz, offering a soft nod.

Ripley hands one over to Gianna, looking a little stunned by her and then a wide beaming smile, watching her walk away with a little bit of a smitten look on his face

Giada wanders in amelessly, a raccoon following in a fat waddle on her heels. She keeps towards the edge of things, more curious than participatory.

Lustry has joined the line.

Katarina has joined the line.

Gianna turns her attention to her script, her expression neutral. She reads.

Sabella has joined the line.

Gianna has joined the line.

Samira has joined the line.

"Couple of notes," Baz mutters, rising like it takes all the effort in the world to unfold her lanky frame. "This is a rough copy. There's more characters than just the three outlined. There'll be lovers and others, to make the main characters more sympathetic. We'll work most of the dialogue out in rehearsals. The genders aren't set, not even of the main characters." She looks around, reaching for another cigarette as she shuffles toward the edge of the stage, gimlet eyes falling on Lustry. "You're up."

Turn in line: Lustry

Niklas snorts at something Sabella says. Loudly. And apparently painfully from the wince and shake of the head. Then he's looking over the script Sabella holds. "Oh, I do enjoy a nice comedy."

Giada has joined the a sturdy redwood picnic table with bench seats.

Lustry makes her way up onto the stage, setting the script aside as she moves to the center. She begins to look as if she is starting at the invisible partner. "You are so loyal to me. I want you to prove it. I order you to cut out your heart, while it is still beating and to give it to me. There is no greater tribute I will accept but this!" her voice demanding and as she reaches out to take that 'beating heart' when she grasps it, her demeanor entirely shifts. Sorrow overwhelms her features and she falls to her knees, "Oh Gods... what.. what have a done!" The tears beginning to stream down her face as she hugs that feigned heart to her chest. She reaches for that fake dagger and stabs herself with it before letting her body fall limp, as if dead upon the stage.

Lustry checks charm and performance at normal. Botch! Lustry catastrophically fails.

Ripley has joined the line.

Lustry checks charm and performance at normal. Critical Success! Lustry is spectacularly successful.

Giada settles, finding a bench to sit on while the raccoon chirrups and chitters around contentedly. An eyebrow arches over green eyes as Lustry starts acting, her performance followed by an impressed, "Huh." Then, "TSS!" The raccoon sullenly turns from his waddle towards Niklas, sulking back to his human.

Turn in line: Katarina

Katarina checks charm and performance at hard. Botch! Katarina is simply outclassed. This is monumentally beyond them and the result is ruinous.

Baz doesn't say anything as she watches Lustry's performance. There's nothing on her thin face except a habitual scowl. Was the monologue good? Was it awful? Who knows. But the playwright does, for just a fraction of a second, incline her sharp chin, and mutter, "Thanks." High praise, indeed. Then she turns and nods to Katarina. "No veils. We need to see your pain."

Lustry gracefully stands up and offers a respectful nod to Baz as she responds, "And thank you for the opportunity." She makes her way off of the stage and takes a seat to watch the others with an encouraging smile.

Jasper, a treasure hunting gyrfalcon arrives, delivering a message to Lustry before departing.


Katarina watches Lustry's performance, and her hands wring in front of her a bit -- she has to stop herself from crumpling her pages. Her breathing is a bit heavier -- she's very clearly nervous, and moreso when she gets up on the stage and the first thing spoken to her is to take her veil off. "Allow me to attempt to convey pain /with/ it first, Messere Thornburn, if you will be so indulgent. This veil is important to me."

Katarina draws in a deep breath and flexes her fingers at her sides. She closes her eyes for a moment, breathes out, and then opens her golden eyes in an expression of rage. "Anyone who's never watched somebody die is suff--"

Katarina then proceeds to show Baz true pain. Because the Princess is so worked up that in trying to stalk forward and make herself fearsome beyond her tiny size, she marches over the edge of the stage and falls to the ground, both knocking herself out for a second on impact, and causing her dress to flip up and show everyone her butt. It is, in so many words, a catastrophe.

Giada sighs as Katarina falls. Her bag is picked up, the woman stands, and she moves to the fallen princess. "Sister Giada Morello," she introduces as she kneels. "Also a physician. Let me take a look at you, Highness?"

Sabella stands immediately when Katarina falls over, "Go help her up!" she pulls Niklas up with her and gestures in the poor Princess's direction!

Giada says, "Let's not move her yet. She lost consciousness."

Baz mutters, "Silks," even as she steps out of the way of Katarina's plunge, letting the others step in. "No. Veils." The playwright doesn't immediately call another actor to the stage, but she eyes the fallen princess impatiently.


Katarina's eyes flutter open after a second, and her first move is to yelp and pull her dress back down. Only then does she accept a hand-up to shamefully skulk out of view.

Niklas starts to move toward Katarina, then quails on seeing a raccoon. "Agh. A rat! This is why I avoid the Lowers."

Turn in line: Sabella

Sabella checks charm and performance at normal. Sabella is marginally successful.

Samira's gaze lowers to the script in her hands to begin reading curiously. When she reaches somewhere close to the end, she glances up sharply with widened eyes. "Shit. Wait. Is this-?" Nope, never mind. Regardless of what goes through her mind, she cuts her words off abruptly and returns attention to reading, finishing with a low whistle. Attention turns to the others auditioning -- until Katarina plummets off the front of the stage. Wincing sympathetically, she's about to step forward to at least tug Katarina's dress back into place, but oh look! The princess is awake and (mostly?) in one piece.

While other people have chosen to do the death scene, Sabella instead focuses on a part near the beginning, sinking to her knees with her hands clasped before her, tears streaming down her face after a moment or two as she implores Limerance to end her suffering by binding her lover to her, for as surely as they love each other they should live only for the other. The hopefulness even through her tears is apparent, but only so far as the words fall from her lips for when they stop there is a pregnant pause where, very clearly, there is no answer. In anguish, she pushes to her feet, turning and seeing something off stage that immediately piques her interest, that hopefulness a faint glimmer once more through the pain in her expression as she rushes in that direction and out of view of the audience. It's certainly not the longest or the strongest monologue she could have chosen.


Katarina doesn't say anything to the playwright -- or her fellow nobles -- or the rat. She does comment to Giada while Giada checks on her and the line continues apace: "I blame this on not being able to have my proper tea this morning."

Gianna blinks twice, having observed Katarina's fall. There's some hesitation, but then the Princess is getting up again and so Gianna remains where she is, turning her attention to Sabella.

Lustry winces at Katarina's fall, gesturing for her to sit with Lustry once she is standing up once more. Her gaze then watching Sabella's performance with appreciation.

Turn in line: Gianna

Giada checks out Katarina and then returns to her bench to watch. Her rat, fat little thing that it is, continues to chitter and sculk around for food.

Auditions resumed and no casualties, Baz watches Sabella with her gimlet gaze, critical on the princess. Maybe extra critical. Definitely extra squinting. "I mostly believed it," is the blunt pronouncement. "Like you were thinking about a crown you'd never have." Her chin jerks to Gianna. "Nightingale."

Sliding out from his seat, Rylan makes his way around the edge of the theatre towards the line, joining it and looking around for where to get a copy of the audition script. Apparently, this has piqued his interest, enough that he's going to give it a go.

Rylan has joined the line.

Gianna checks charm and performance at normal. Gianna is successful.

Gianna steps onto the stage and starts to walk. She strides along with a saucy strut and pauses to tip her chin up to address some imaginary person. "Oh, this is within your grasp," she tells whoever. Presumably that protagonist. "It's very simple. I give you a potion. Once the liquid passes their lips they adore you. Once imbibed, you are their everything. Their heart beats only for you." So she's super arrogant, that's true. But is it convincing?


Katarina, once checked out, moves and sits next to Lustry, and lets out a sigh that's quiet but strong enough to make her veil flutter. "I didn't even finish one sentence," she murmurs, sounding profoundly discouraged -- though if her facility with acting is at the level of 'does not pay attention to where the edge of the stage is,' she's probably right to be discouraged.

Baz leans forward to watch Gianna, cigarette half-forgotten dangling from the corner of her lips. "Show me greed," the playwright demands of the Nightingale, the cigarette wobbling but not falling. "Show me what Avarice is getting from this."

"Does Avarice get someone's soul?" Gianna asks, placing a hand on her hip. "It's hard to imagine what would appeal. Does Avarice feed off the woman's envy and just want her to regret her decision?"

Sabella gives Baz a beaming smile as she heads over to Niklas, "How was that? I feel like it wasn't my best, but it is quite daunting being around such talented people!" She has a seat beside him, leaning forward to watch Gianna, then murmuring to Niklas, "Maybe I should have stayed up there and flaunted a dragonweep to help."

Lustry looks to Katarina as she says, "We all get the first time jitters. Don't beat yourself up about it. I could always give you a few tips." Her eyes then flitting between Baz and Gianna as they discuss.

"Avarice just wants more and more," Baz mutters. "Just always more. More pain, more greed, more envy, more jealousy. It's just a -need-, an unbearable hunger. Show me that. You're the Nightingale. I -know- you can do it," the playwright pushes, demands obstinately.

Niklas pats Sabella's hand. "You were excellent, and also you are quite kind. Still, let's not go giving Clark a heart attack, my love." He looks from Baz to Gianna. "Oh, we're getting theological now. I've always thought myself a bit of a theologist." He calls out to Gianna, "I have fifty sapphires! Do a good job and you can have some of them! But _I_ will get to keep the rest! Mine all mine!"


"If one of them is 'wear trousers,' then I assure you, I am well ahead of you, Princess," Katarina replies to Lustry, and then touches her head gingerly. Ow.

Considers these words from Baz. She frowns slightly, a line appearing between her brows, and then Niklas is yelling at her. She pauses, then murmurs, "That's actually somewhat helpful." She waves her hand and starts to descend from the stage. "I'll think on this. Next."

Turn in line: Samira

Lustry laughs softly before she responds, "It wasn't but that was amusing nonetheless. And careful. I could ask one of my guards to try and fetch something for your head

Samira checks charm and performance at normal. Samira is marginally successful.

The momentary passion in Baz's eyes flares and flickers on Gianna and then the playwright turns to Samira, motioning her up, smoking furiously now.

Ripley's been passing out scripts, watching as people trip off the stage, others need a little more inspiration, some passable. As Samira makes her way up, ripley yells out. "GO SAMIRA! YOU CAN DO THIS!"

Samira steps up onto the stage once she's called, flashing a quick smile to Ripley upon hearing his encouragement. She has, it seems, selected a scene from the middle of the story focusing on the effects of the love potion. Arms flung wide, she clears her throat and announces in a dramatic fashion, "And thus his boundless love becomes suffocating." She travels the stage with fervor, lamenting the weight of her lover's now overbearing attention, detailing how her own love has swiftly turned to hate. She manages not to fall off the stage and somehow remembers most of the lines. And most importantly, she doesn't even veer off-script to begin improvising terribly in order to prove that she's not a rule follower. Look at her, behaving herself.

Giada looks aside as a messenger starts gesturing for her attention and she sighs. Still, she stands and heads off again.

Giada has left the a sturdy redwood picnic table with bench seats.

Trouble, the waddling raccoon leaves, following Giada.


Katarina shakes her head gently when Lustry offers the help of her guards. She doesn't say anything back just yet -- her attention is on Samira, watching the Culler woman on stage. Katarina leans forward as she watches, plainly investing herself in being an audience.

As she has throughout, Baz watches intently, almost obsessively. And when Samira finishes, the playwright doesn't smile. But she doesn't frown fiercely, either. Instead, she mutters, "Raw goods. I can work with that," and gestures for the next audition.

Turn in line: Ripley

Ripley checks charm and performance at easy. Ripley is marginally successful.

Oh wait. Samira was up that means... Ripley's rushing for the stage, a few copies of the script fluttering into the air as he goes and floating to the ground as he's rushing. He helps Samira off, a murmured word of enthusiasm. Then up to the stage where he clears his throat. "Don't give it to me because I'm your brother Baz! Give it to me because I am really really good!" He spits into his hand, the fingertips darkened from working on metals this day and then slicks his hair back. Wipes his hands on his pants and moves to the center of the stage. Sits down in a semi-reclined post, one knee up and am arm carelessly laying across it, fingers dropped down, other arm supporting him and he looks toward some imaginary woman, doing his best sultry and intensely smoldering gaze.

"I love you, too"

Someone, is trying out for the one who is idolized.

Gianna stands to the side, paging through the script with that little line still between her brows. She flips back and forth through the Avarice bits.

Niklas picks through the script while others audition, murmuring something to himself about sword fights.

There's a beckoning of his fingertip and draped hand for Gianna to come out and try again, from Ripley.

Lustry keeps her gaze focused on the stage for now, a curious smile curiling her lips as she continues to watch. She shifts in her seat, crossing her legs at the knees as she leans back to rest in the seat for now.

Sabella watches each performance with rapt attention, applauding each and every time someone finishes. Especially when no one falls off the stage! "There are so many talented people here! I wonder if some of the parts are already spoken for by the Blackrose Mummers," she says thoughtfully, "I'm surprised Jareth and Yasmine haven't shown up."

Samira is probably a mediocre actress at best, but she seems pleased enough with the simple fact that she didn't flubbed the lines. As Ripley helps her down off the stage, she pats him on the shoulder and murmurs encouragement. Waiting to find a seat until after Ripley's quick audition is over, she calls loudly, "You're a revelation, Ripley!" Hopefully he's actually done and not just pausing for dramatic effect. She turns then, moving toward Katarina to murmur a quiet remark.

Gianna lowers her script and heads toward Ripley, inclining her head to Samira as she nears the other woman. She says something quietly to Ripley.


Katarina reaches out to touch Samira on the arm gently as she leans in and listens. She nods to the Culler and murmurs something back, her tone fond (if chastened).

Baz winces as her younger brother claims the stage, but it tempers her scowl. At least a little. But she still turns a critical eye on Ripley and his performance and when he finished the playwright looks at a distinct loss for words, puffing at her cigarette until she finally offers, "It wasn't... bad. You... hit your mark. Good." There's a lot more smoking, after that, as Baz gestures up the final audition.

Turn in line: Rylan

Rylan checks charm and performance at normal. Rylan is successful.

"Is the play going to be here or will it be at the Black Rose theater?" Niklas sits back and watches as Gianna heads over to Riley. "Well, she had a good turnout. That's always the hardest part. Then you hire the least terrible people and hope they don't ruin everything too much."

A man dressed in simple courtier silks steps up to the stage. Rylan looks out over the audience such as it is and takes a breath, then falls into character.

At the beginning, he seems to be speaking to a number of people, conversations in the street perhaps. "Have you seen her today? Is she well? Did she wear the crimson choker I gave her?" There is a fond note in his voice as he speaks of his love.

Turning to another. "Did she say anything about me to you? Did she look like she was heading home?" And to a third. "What do you mean, she looked at somebody overlong? She has eyes only for me!" His tone becomes increasingly desperate, his expression angry and then he turns away, his body language filled with wrath as he strides across the stage.

Miming the slamming open of a door, he thrusts a hand out in the direction of his love, or where she might stand if there were an actress playing her. "The farrier said you were making eyes at his brother. Tell me it isn't true!" The anger is still in his voice, the words laden with demand, but also an undertone of anguish.

"Those beautiful eyes, deep like the richest dark chocolate - tell me they see only me. That your soft, sweet lips speak only my name, that they sigh only at my touch." He reaches out a hand, as if caressing somebody's cheek. "Please. Please, I beg of you." His voice breaks on those last words, the heartbreak palpable.

Samira inclines her head politely to Gianna in turn before her attention shifts to the last of the auditions, an approving nod given at the emotion on display. She tilts her head toward Katarina's, voice kept quiet as she murmurs a response, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Baz's mouth falls open and the cigarette falls from her lips to the ground. And she just watches Rylan, rapt. Even when he's done, her fierce gray eyes are still locked on him, speechless.

'I TOLD YOU YOU COULD DO IT!" Ripley cups both hands around his mouth, screaming at the stage in joy. "FUCKING FABULOUS RYLAN!"

Lustry looks impressed with Ryan's performance, lightly clapping from her seat.

Gianna takes a quick step to the side when Ripley shouts, eyes widening for a moment. FUCK! That startled her. She touches a hand to the base of her throat.

Sabella applauds readily for Rylan, "That was wonderful! People should have more public auditions I think, I barely knew anyone taking the stage and they were so talented!"

Rylan holds that final position a moment longer, then lets his hand drop, exhaling slowly. The tension falls from his frame, and he turns to offer a short bow towards Baz, before leaving the stage and stepping back down to the ground. There is relief in his expression, as if he weren't sure of his approach or if he could pull it off, but also satisfaction. He lifts a hand to wave towards Ripley, grinning at the other man at his adulation.

Lamora arrives, following Auda.

Baz stares at Rylan for a moment longer, watching even as he leaves the stage, the sudden blaze of passion and muse in her gray eyes transforming her tired features, infusing them with a frenetic energy that translates to the rest of her body for it spurs the playwright into motion and she grabs up a copy of the script and just paces away intently, without another word.

Gianna looks, for a moment, annoyed. She ups her pace to reclaim the stage. Her script is in her other hand. She starts doing the walk again - no real changes there. "Oh," she says again. It carries. "This is within your grasp. It's very simple. I give you a potion. Once the liquid passes their lips they adore you. Once imbibed, you are their everything. Their heart beats only for you." She steps closer to the edge of the stage, her voice still carrying despite a lower tone. "But you have to want it," she breathes. "You have to crave it. You have to need it. All of you has to want it." Her tone is cajoling. Just want. Give in.

Gianna checks charm and performance at easy. Gianna is spectacularly successful.

Auda strolls on into the theatre with an easy grace and familiarity. She's dressed pretty casually in leather and rumpled silk, her hair a bkt kf a tousled mess. "Oh good! I thought I was going to miss the auditions entirely!" Cheerfully said, while she looks tk Gianna on the stage.

Uhoh, Ripley's seen that before. Ripley watches his sister start to walk off, just after gianna takes the stage again. He's swift to move up, hopping onto the stage, a whisper to Gianna and then throws his arms out. "THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING THAT SEEMS TO Uhh....." He looks to his departing sister and then back to the applicants. "Yeah, auditions are done. Thank you for coming, you were all great, especially the Valardin princess' arse, never saw something light up the night like that, you'll be notified by messenger if you got a part! Stick around and enjoy the... the... uhh... enjoy the air!"


Katarina's applause stops and she stares, wide-eyed, and probably makes a silent resolution to never return to the Lowers for the rest of her natural life.

Niklas offers genuine applause when Gianna performs. "See? She's not just a singer."

Making his way over to Ripley, Rylan reaches out to clap the other man's shoulder amiably. "Uh, is that a good thing or a bad thing?" he asks quietly, nodding towards Baz's departing form, sounding uncertain. "Lots of good talent here, though. Hopefully she'll find who she needs."

"You were FABULOUS" Ripley's enthusiastic. 'See, you're not mundane! Do you know how much you moved me?" Ripley states. "You and Gianna! Perfection! I wonder if we can tie a rope around the Valardin princess and dress her and her veil in white and hang her like a moon in the background." Ripley wonders. "But then again, not my show. I just came to support my sister. Better she was here than up on the roof, smoking harder than the chimney." He looks enthused. "Rylan, Gianna, Gianna, Rylan!"