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@abrielle

I apologize for not writing a post earlier. This summer is a bit more hectic than usual. 😅

CONROY

“Aha! The army has arrived!” screeched Rhianna with such force that Conroy nearly tumbled off the stage. He yelped, flailing his arms in attempt to regain his balance. He grasped the thick red curtains, pulling them around him to recreate his hiding spot. The curtains had proved to be a useful shield from the eyes of the hysterical.

A confused silence lay thickly over the hall once the woman’s words settled in on the audience’s minds.

Conroy dared to peek out from behind the curtains.

Before the stage was a band of thugs armed to the teeth. They were identical in height and dress with every inch of their armor being covered in spikes or sheaths for their knives.

Conroy whimpered, ducking back into the curtains.

“I don’t think they’re here to help you, Rhianna.” Conroy heard someone state. He nodded his head in agreement or maybe that was just him shaking with fear.

“By Lord Castle’s command you are to begin the fashion show,” one of the thugs growled, threateningly rolling his barbed shoulders.

“I’d rather begin a rebellion,” Rhianna replied breezily.

“You have no choice. You will start the fashion show whether by your own will or not.”

“Rhianna! There will be no rebellion! There is no reason for a rebellion! Would it be such a horrible thing to participate in the fashion show?” Kahira cried in exasperation.

Conroy snickered softly, imagining Kahira tugging at her hair.

“No reason for rebellion?” Rhianna exclaimed.

“Here we go.” Conroy heard a muted voice mutter.

Rhianna grandly cleared her throat before diving into her second speech for the day. “This ruler is forcing innocent people to participate in a fashion show! He is violating our right to the freedom to choose our own paths in life! With this person in power, we cannot grow to become the people we are meant to be! There will be no progress! No betterment of life! Our society will remain stagnant, which will later lead to its collapse. Are we to allow this to happen to us? Are we to stand idly by, ignoring the opportunity to rise up in resistance? Never, I say, never! So, who will stand by me in opposition to this tyrant? It is never too late to join. Why, even you guards can join my cause! Will you fight for freedom or the oppression of the innocents?”

“The oppression of the innocents,” the thugs replied in unison.

“Then our rebellion can begin with taking you down,” Rhianna declared, unphased.

Conroy suddenly found himself jumping to his feet, striding to the center of the stage. Before him stretched a thin extension of the stage.

“What’s going on?” he whimpered.

“The fashion show has begun,” the familiar voice of the castle boomed above him. “Here we have Conroy Linston modeling Flower Power.”

“What?” Conroy shrieked. He watched in horror as clothes began to morph into a flowing garb swirling with flowers encircled by wreaths of leaves. He felt himself heating up under the cool silk of his robes.

He waltzed down the stage, his face contorted into a patronizing smirk.

At the end of the extension, he turned slowly, allowing the audience to revel in Conroy’s flowery glory.

Finally, he began to walk to the back of the stage, now cleared of all people. The curtains beckoned him like a finish line to a weary runner.

Five steps left.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

The castle relinquished its hold on him.

Conroy took full advantage of this by leaping behind the curtains with his robes billowing behind him.

He collapsed backstage, noticing with relief that his clothes were returning to normal.

 

I have no idea how fashion shows go, so hopefully I wasn’t too inaccurate. 🙃 Again, you can change anything that’s out of character (though that speech was fun to right 😆).