The Cabaret Incident: Act II
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The Cabaret Incident: Act II
(Filed under: Court Performances – Escalations)
The torches guttered, the velvet drapes trembled,
and Sir Reginald Fluffsworth raised one sequined paw to silence the hall.
“Ladies, gentlemen, monarchs, nuisances…”
His voice slid across marble like champagne poured too quickly.
“…and now, monstrosities.”
At his cue, the dancers snapped into formation — a glittered V cutting the fog.
Spotlight flared. Music swelled.
And from the shadows scuttled the Hate-Legged Scribble.
It did not dance so much as convulse,
limbs jerking, ink spraying,
yet somehow in perfect rhythm with the disco pulse.
The crowd gasped.
Archivarius covered his ledger, horrified.
Bunny pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered,
“This isn’t choreography, it’s handwriting having a seizure.”
But Reginald twirled, cape ablaze.
“The avant-garde demands discomfort!” he cried, gesturing as the Scribble launched itself into a midair spin, smearing black streaks across the Queen’s marble floor.
Emma clapped from her throne, shrieking with delight. Jack of Knives tightened his grip on the hilt at his side. Velin wrote without lifting his head. And the Queen watched with the stillness of one who appreciate those who know chaos always comes dressed for the occasion.
The performance reached its climax:
Reginald pirouetted.
The dancers posed.
The Scribble hissed, legs clicking like applause.
The hall was divided.
Half outraged. Half entranced.
But all agreed:
The Cabaret had never looked darker, nor stranger.
Notable Court Reactions:
Emma: Declared ownership of the Scribble and defended it with spoon raised.
Sir Reginald: Performed a pirouette; dismissed concerns as matters of art.
Archivarius: Attempted cataloging; quill destroyed.
Bunny: Refused to acknowledge “anything with that kind of penmanship.”
Velin: Inked the moment into permanence.
Outcome:
The Hate-Legged Scribble was not exiled. It remains disputed property between Emma and Sir Reginald, tolerated by the Court despite evident nuisance.