Evil Karaoke post

[childofrebellion]

The machine waits, it sits in the corner near the piano and the jukebox blending in and watching for its moment.

Cassian walks in from a busy street and slips his way through the crowd of Milliways towards the counter, but there's a turn he didn't expect. Then suddenly he's holding a device and singing. When he tries to stop singing he can't so he sings along with anger in his voice, he hates being the center of attention.

Well, no cannonballs did fly, no rifles cut us down
No bombs fell from the sky, no blood soaked the ground
No powder flash blinded the eye, no deathly thunder sounded
But just as sure as the hand of God, they brought death to my hometown
They brought death to my hometown, boys

No shells ripped the evening sky, no cities burning down
No army stormed the shores for which we'd die, no dictators were crowned
I awoke from a quiet night, I never heard a sound
The marauders raided in the dark and brought death to my hometown, boys
Death to my hometown.

They destroyed our families, factories, and they took our homes
They left our bodies on the plains, the vultures picked our bones

So listen up, my sonny boy, be ready for when they come
For they'll be returning sure as the rising sun
Now get yourself a song to sing and sing it 'til you're done
Yeah, sing it hard and sing it well
Send the robber barons straight to hell
The greedy thieves who came around
And ate the flesh of everything they found
Whose crimes have gone unpunished now
Who walk the streets as free men now

Ah, they brought death to our hometown, boys
Death to our hometown, boys
Death to our hometown, boys
Death to our hometown, whoa!

When the song ends with a dramatic flourish, he stumbles to a table as the karaoke machine moves to its next victim

OOC: The Karaoke machine is awake. I'm going to set up threads for others to sing and to watch in horror. Open to any reactions or to make your characters sing whether they want to or not. Tag in wherever works. And open for ages. Link in post leads to a video of Bruce Springsteen singing.
Tiny tag: Cassian Andor

Comments

Singing

[childofrebellion]

The machine is awake and looking for victims to sing to Milliways.

Re: Singing

[quick_clean_pure]

When Graverobber's turn arrives, he doesn't really know how he knows the song he sings, just that the words come out of him without his having to think. It's similar in style to the song he sang at Emcee's party not long ago, though a little bit more humorous.

"Love is a white room that cures every ill
The thicker the heart, the stronger the pill
What have they done to my Sweet Rosalie?
I'm mad about her and she's crazy for me

They say she strangled Black Dougherty's cat
They say she strangled Black Dougherty's cat
But her calico bonnet looked nothing like that
What have they done to my Sweet Rosalie?

And more that she bludgeoned her pa in his bed
And more that she bludgeoned her pa in his bed
But that could have been anyone wearing his head
What have they done to my Sweet Rosalie?

What have they done to my Sweet Rosalie?
What have they done to my Sweet Rosalie?
No one can love her half as much as me
What have they done to my Sweet Rosalie?"

Re: Singing

[diehard_daniel]

Since the machine has been so dormant, Daniel has forgotten that it exists. Oh boy. He's dressed in his off world uniform, which just happens to be a pair of black BDUs, a flack jacket vest, and boots.

Song Here

OOC: I can't find lyrics to copy.

Re: Singing

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee hasn't witnessed this much spontaneous singing since his New Year's Eve party! He's actually quite amused and delighted with the show, until he realizes that the singers haven't exactly...volunteered. Interesting.

Ah, it's that magic karaoke machine, isn't it? He doesn't think it's particularly evil. But that's just him.

He applauds everyone's efforts so far in spite of their grumblings, and eventually makes his way over to the machine in a defiant do your worst kind of way. He picks up the microphone--

--the machine fzzzts a bit. Music plays, stops, rewinds, fast forwards, starts up again. A malfunction?

A song begins. And Emcee is compelled to sing quite tenderly:

There were nights when the wind was so cold
That my body froze in bed if I just listened to it
Right outside the window

There were days when the sun was so cruel
That all the tears turned to dust
And I just knew my eyes were drying up forever

I finished crying in the instant that you left
And I can't remember where or when or how
And I banished every memory you and I had ever made

But when you touch me like this
And you hold me like that
I just have to admit
That it's all coming back to me
When I touch you like this
And I hold you like that
It's so hard to believe but it's all coming back to me...

The music takes on electric guitars and gains intensity, and Emcee follow suit.

Some days it don't come easy
Some days it don't come hard
Some days it don't come at all, and these are the days that never end
Some nights you're breathing fire
Some nights you're carved in ice
Some nights you're like nothing I've ever seen before or will again

Maybe I'm crazy, but it's crazy and it's true
I know you can save me, no one else can save me now but you

As long as the planets are turning
As long as the stars are burning
As long dreams are coming true
You'd better believe it

That I would do
Anything for love
Oh I would do anything for love
Oh I would do anything for love, but I won't do that
No, I won't do that...

Two different songs seem to have mashed themselves together, making for one hell of a ridiculous power ballad. However, compelled or not, as all the modern kids say, Emcee is slaying it.

Re: Singing

[childofrebellion]

Cassian smiles as he watches Emcee sing and find a way to control what happens and applauds as he finishes.

Re: Singing

[i_am_your_host]

At some point, Emcee vaguely wonders when this epic mashup will end, but he finally hits the last note. The hold on him is broken, like a spell lifting, and he's finally allowed to set the microphone down.

"Oof!" he exhales, fanning himself. That kind of took a bit out of him as he's not usually a belter, but it was fun anyway. With a breathless laugh, he wanders over to Cassian's table and flops into a chair.

"That was unexpected. Hallo, darling!"

Re: Singing

[childofrebellion]

When Emcee starts to flop, Cassian reaches out, "I think I walked too close to it and woke it up. Let me get you a drink."

Re: Singing

[no_more_hiding]

Hank has been watching and enjoying the music when the compulsion to sing grips him. Taking the mic, he clears his throat as the guitar starts with a spiraling scale:

I'm coming out of my cage and I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta be down because I want it all
It started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep and she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke and she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed and my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head

But she's touching his chest now
He takes off her dress now
Let me go

And I just can't look, it's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
'Cause I'm Mr. Brightside

The guitar begins to fade and the song releases Hank. Embarrassed, he leaves the stage and heads towards a table and the shadows. The song leaves traces of past events in his thoughts he'd rather not be dealing with just yet.

Listening

[childofrebellion]

The machine is loud and wants everyone in Milliways to listen.

Re: Listening

[diehard_daniel]

Daniel stumbles off the stage at the end of his song and glares at the machine.

"Who woke up the Karaoke machine?" he asks annoyed.

Re: Listening

[childofrebellion]

Cassian has a drink and is feeling better after being made to sing, "It wakes up?"

Re: Listening

[diehard_daniel]

"Usually, if people get to close it does," he waves a hand at the machine and the poor soul singing at it, "All that, but this is ridiculous."

Re: Listening

[childofrebellion]

"Is it trying to do something beyond the singing?" Most droids or devices have something they're trying to achieve.

Re: Listening

[no_more_hiding]

Done singing, Hank gets a bottle of beer from a waitrait and falls into a seat.

That was decidedly not a pleasant experience. He could still think clearly while compelled to sing, could even wonder why he was doing it, but could do nothing to stop the singing.

Re: Listening

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee wonders if the blue-furred man is the same individual he'd met when they were children. He wanders over to his table, wearing a white sleeveless undershirt and cropped trousers, a glass of gin in his hand.

"I loved that song you sang," he says with a grin, "even if you probably weren't expecting to sing it."

Re: Listening

[no_more_hiding]

"Thank you," Hank says, still struggling with the emotions the song dredged up. "I am afraid I am not familiar with it however. It was chosen for me."

He tries to find a smile for the man who seems familiar somehow, beyond merely seeing him about the bar.

Re: Listening

[i_am_your_host]

"I don't think anybody is getting a choice in what they're singing," he says, gesturing over at the machine. "There is a bit of magic or something or other about that thing that possesses people who come too close to it. Some people find it terribly unfair. It has tried but failed to embarrass me, though. It can try again if it wants." He gives the machine a narrow-eyed stare as he sips his gin.

Re: Listening

[childofrebellion]

Cassian comes over after Hank's song and offers some fried paradoxes, he wonders what species this man is,

"That was a rough choice of song."

Re: Listening

[configuration_birdwatcher]

It can certainly count on Bastion's attention. They weren't far away from the corner with all the musical devices when they heard the singing start, and anything unexpected draws their curiosity.

Wait, that's Cassian singing. They distinctly recall him saying he didn't like that kind of attention, and he looks increasingly furious. Is someone forcing him to perform? Why?

Re: Listening

[childofrebellion]

Finally the karaoke releases Cassian and he makes his way to a seat when he sees Bastion, "Kriffing machine made me sing."

Re: Listening

[configuration_birdwatcher]

Bastion shrinks back with concern and startlement, making a whirr that sounds as unpleasantly surprised as they look. // It can do that?

[childofrebellion]

Cassian's collapsed at a table and checking himself over to see how that machine caught him. There are no marks from restraints and he's probably not allowed to shoot it, he really hates Milliways sometimes.

[quick_clean_pure]

Graverobber stops by after his turn's over, feeling odd but mostly just bewildered by everything. "You okay?" he asks.

[childofrebellion]

"Kriffing thing made me sing. Why does Milliways keep wanting me to sing?" He doesn't like being forced into anything.

[quick_clean_pure]

"Yeahhhhh, the bar is...weird that way," he says. "What'd you sing?"