Captain Trake Promontory: Song and Dance
Avander Promontory
(( The Evening Star ))
Another day, another show. But this time, there was more hope than Trake had had in a good long time. This time his was reunited with his XO and the CSO of the Thor as well as a visiting marine officer. But this wasn’t just a show, it was a showtune, and he tried to integrate some communication into a recent verse.
It was… fine.
Maybe he needed to try a different tactic. Trake attempted a bit of the ol’ soft shoe and pranced down to the others where he could deliver a dual message
Promontory: Welcome to the Evening Star!
(quietly to the crew) I’ve been here five years!
Leave your work and disengage!
Time passes differently here in the Tangle!
Where all the songs and dance routines
I’m open to ideas, but that’s a director! (indicating the Astrachthoni)
Fill up the empty stage!
Herrick, along with the ENSEMBLE: ♪♪ Welcome to the Evening Star!
We hope you enjoy your trip here.
Where every crack is gilded gold,
And every star grows dim and old,
Ignore the mildew and the mold,
Some things shine brightest as they fold! ♪♪
Winters: ♪♪ Welcome to the Evening Star!
Where our crew isn't far!
Caught in a strange adventure they are!
Soon, we'll be making another run on the Evening Star! ♪♪
Trake
raised his hands with the cast for the finish of the big opening number.
Ensemble: Welcome! ♪♪ Welcome!
The director called to them and gave them their character names.
PR3ST1G: Ah! Snape, Joni, Adora, Mirelle!
Most were close enough variations to their own names, except his own. By process of elimination he must be… Snape!?
DeVeau: Yes…miss?
Herrick: (quietly uttering aloud) Adora… oh, Alora…
Promontory: (affirmingly) You got it, Joni!
Winters: Response
PR3ST1G: As you all know, this is the final voyage of the Evening Star, and then we will all have to find new employment.
Trake was trying to get a sense for the shape of the story they were in. He looked around to see if there were cue cards for this show. There were some, just behind the Astrachthoni’s head.
[[AUTOCUE: “ADORA: IT WON’T BE THE SAME…YOU’RE A LEGEND.”]]
DeVeau: It won’t be the same. You’re a legend!
Hmm… a little stilted.
[[AUTOCUE: “JONI: I BET YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO RETIREMENT!”]]
This was not the greatest script he had ever worked with. Maybe they could get some rewrites.
Herrick: I bet you’re looking forward to retirement. oO Blech. Oo
[[AUTOCUE: “MIRELLE: YEAH, BUT HEY, IT’S RETIREMENT! AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, YOU CAN SIT BACK, RELAX, AND DO WHATEVER YOU WANT!”]]
Winters: Response
[[AUTOCUE: “SNAPE: YEAH! NO MORE LATE NIGHTS AND BRIGHT LIGHTS WITH PEOPLE WHO DON’T CARE OR APPRECIATE YOUR SINGING!”
Promontory: What the—er—I mean, yeah, no more late lights and bright nights with people who don’t care about your singing.
He made a face. There’s wasn’t much to salvage there.
[[AUTOCUE: “EVERYONE LOOKS EXASPERATED AT SNAPE. SOMEONE GIVES HIM A SLAP UPSIDE THE HEAD.”]]
oO What? Oo
Trake ducked, just in case, but when his head popped back up, Michele gave it a light tap.
oO Et tu, Michele? Oo
Winters: Speak for yourself!
Josh gave him a conspiratorial nudge.
Herrick: Ahhh Snape, you never were able to land a joke well.
They all could see this material was crap, right?
He glanced at the teleprompter. It was empty. It was better that way.
Promontory: Yes, well, you know, always better with the song and dance.
He gave another quick shuffle-shuffle tap.
The director seemed determined to push on with whatever her vision was.
PR3ST1G: I may not be a headliner anymore after this voyage, but I do still have friends in the business. Joni, Snape, I know you have plans to get married on the last day, and you are all so close, so I made sure you’re all posted together.
Wait, what was that? Married? To whom again? At least he was dressed for it.
DeVeau: You have? (glancing to the other officers) Where?
PR3ST1G: I’ve made sure you’re all going to be together. And even better, you’re going on the brand new luxury cruise liner - the Solar Empress!
The marquee lit up with a stylized title card reading “The Solar Empress”
Winters: The Solar Empress. Impressive, does that come with a new contract?
Herrick: And better tippers…
Promontory: Sounds like it. I hear it’s pretty highfalutin.
Winters: I don't know about you guys but I think a new contract is warranted for such a prestigious gig.
Herrick: Don’t you want us to send us off on our honeymoon well?
PR3ST1G/DeVeau: Response
Promontory: Seems only reasonable, since we’ve been such excellent performers here!
Winters: Oh, I think we are well worth the time. Especially if you want us to keep raking in the big money for you.
Trake gave Michele an affirming nod. Words had power. If you played along you could nudge the story along to a more favorable outcome. It was a careful balance.
PR3ST1G/DeVeau: Response
Promontory: I’m sure the final soriee will be a real blow-out.
Winters: It's gonna be a blast when this party really starts. The fireworks are going to be off the charts.
There was something in the marine’s voice, a subtle inflection, an inclination towards a double entendre. Was she one of those explosive ordinance technicians? If so, they might be getting some real sparks flying at this upcoming party.
A couple of notes started playing in the background and the prompter flashed IMPROV.
Trake looked at the others and started tapping to the beat.
Herrick: ♪♪ It’s our time, our time to rise, our time to shine… ♪♪
It wasn’t their best showing, but Trake tried to harmonize with what the XO had lead with.
Promontory: ♪♪ New adventure, will it be scary or fine… ♪♪
PR3ST1G/DeVeau: Response
Herrick: ♪♪ Now’s our chance, shake it off, shake it off, and just dance. ♪♪
The backup singers returned, but didn’t pull focus.
Ensemble: ♪♪ … and just dance. ♪♪
If there was going to be this much dancing, Trake would need to find better shoes. Still, he made do with what he had for the moment.
PR3ST1G/DeVeau/Winters: Response
Josh headed the song’s admonition and busted out some dance moves of his own, engaging with those around him.
Herrick: ♪♪ Let’s get it started in here. ♪♪
Trake watched as Josh and the other woman sashayed towards the door and, ostensibly, another room. He sang loudly to cover. Fortunately, as he modulated the key, the band kept up and adapted around the new lyrics.
Promontory: ♪♪ Solar Empress, you must confess? Are you real, no or yes? ♪♪
PR3ST1G/Herrick/DeVeau/Winters: Response
Trake couldn’t see Josh any longer, but it looked like his planned distraction was working as the focal point was on him and the others in center stage.
Promontory: ♪♪ The E’ening Star sets, we settle our debts. A new dawn rises yet. ♪♪
PR3ST1G/Herrick/DeVeau/Winters: Response
Promontory: (loudly) ♪♪ Solar Empress, is more than a guess; It’s our future, nothing less! ♪♪
PR3ST1G/Herrick/DeVeau/Winters: Response
TBC
