[02] Perform for Gamer!

[Orion]

What a thoroughly humiliating position he was in. Thrust into the spotlight without any warning, and dressed in a suit resembling some sort of earthling animal, Orion had to clench his fists tightly and control his breathing to prevent a violent killing spree. The degree of stultification was beyond anything he had to endure, and the times in his past that came close to this were solved from murdering those responsible. The expectant crowd were more than likely the gauge by which Gamer would judge their performance, so if Orion wanted a chance to slit that nerdy bastard's throat, he had to dance for the puppet master.

Everyone else on stage, at least, were as stunned as he was. Sharing the debasement helped ease its intensity somewhat, but since everyone was so apparently clueless as to their first step, it didn't really matter. Was this a random hodge podge of costumes, designed to get the creative juices of the contestants flowing, to create an improvisation with minimal preparation? Or could it be an assembly of characters from some human fairytale or legend? Orion was in the dark.

"Does someone want to do something?" Cain whispered.

"Silver man," Orion stated bluntly, referring to Ander. "You said something about a wizard. You know the plot to this human fable?"

"Doesn't everyone?" he answered.

"Then tell us what to do! I don't even know what I'm supposed to be!"

"Quick, everyone but Red and Mr. Zhu off stage!" Ander ordered. "I'll explain the rest as we go." The cast members made their way towards the red curtains, leaving Dorothy and Toto to their own devices.

Zhu was excited for his chance in the limelight. He was a superb transvestite, even if he said so himself. Plus he had a crowd of people waiting for him to wow and amaze them. He shook his head ever so slightly and put himself as best as he could into the mind frame of Dorothy.

Belle, on the other hand, was taking his assignment in a less than honourable fashion. He knew the tale as well as anyone there; after all, what human didn't? Yet the only way he could have been more mortified was if he was the one who received the title role. The startling realisation that he was donning a canine costume meant he required close proximity to Dorothy, and that made him uncomfortable to say the least. Even plodding along next to a pretend female was disconcerting.

Mr. Zhu had barely noticed his co-star's bothered state of mind. He quickly traced back to the beginning of the play, remembering the massive two storey house being flung into the magic Land of Oz. Since he was already wearing a sparkling, diamonte encrusted pair of red boots, he began the story at that point.

"How about that, Toto?" Zhu said in his best female voice. "If we go to see the wizard, he can get us home again!"

Belle blushed, recognising the stares of the audience focusing on him. "Uh ... woof."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get going on the yellow brick road!" Zhu exclaimed, beginning to skip in spot.

---

"I would've been so good at that," Cain murmured, watching the eunuch jealously.

"This is called the Wizard of Oz," Ander explained to Orion as they watched the play from backstage. "All you need to know is you're a big, scary lion, but you're a big coward, too."

"What?" Orion spluttered. "I'm not playing the part of a coward! I wouldn't know how!"

"C'mon," Ander coaxed, putting an arm around the saiyan's shoulder. When he returned with an icy glance, the desert thief removed it. "Look, just go out there, say you're scared, then Mr. Zhu'll ask if you want to join them. That easy."

"Hmpf," Orion groaned. "Whatever. As long as this is over quickly."

"Sure, why not?" Ander agreed, pushing the saiyan in the back. He stumbled forward and caught his footing on the stage, where hundreds of eyes had suddenly settled upon him. Orion shot a terrified glare at Ander, but he simply moved his hands about in circles, portraying him to start acting.

"Why, hello!" Mr. Zhu said emphatically, perhaps enjoying his role as a naive Kansas farm girl a tad too much. "What are you doing there, lion?"

Orion looked over his furry suit. This must have been a lion, whatever that was. All attention was directed on him now, but without a script, what was he supposed to say?

"Uh, yes ... ahem. I am a lion," Orion delivered as flatly as saiyanly possible.

"Why were you hiding behind that bush?" Zhu inquired, pointing to a green painted cardboard stand that resembled a shrub.

"Oh, that, yes. Well ... " Orion grunted. Time for his own unique storytelling. "The truth is, I'm here to eat you!"

"Eat me?" Zhu replied. "Why, you wouldn't want to do that, lion!"

"Oh, and why not?" the saiyan said, malice in his words.

Behind the scenes, Ander facepalmed.

"He's not doing it right," Cain noted. "He should be asking for courage, shouldn't he?"

Ander just shook his head, still buried in his palm. We're royally screwed.

"I'd taste terrible!" Zhu countered. "Besides, I don't think Toto would appreciate you eating me!"

That last line garnered a giggle or two from the audience. Belle wasn't impressed. At all.

"Wouldn't you rather come and see the wizard?" Dorothy offered. "We're going to ask if he can take me home! Would you like to ask him for some ... uh ... "

"Not courage!" Orion bellowed. "I'm a mighty lion!" He hoped lions were mighty, at least.

Time for Zhu to think on his feet. "Maybe the wizard could fix that terrible case of worms you seem to have!"

"Worms?! You mean parasites!?" Orion exclaimed. He looked backstage again. Ander was just shaking his head. The shit was hitting the fan.

Just go with it, Cain said telepathically to the baffled saiyan-lion hybrid. You're butchering this play.

"Ah ... right. Yes. Let's go with that," Orion agreed dejectedly.

Zhu took a sigh of relief. "Well then, Toto and Lion! Let's go!"

Orion walked next to Dorothy, consumed with unabated embarrassment. First he had to partake of a play as some sort of fluffy earth animal, and now his character had worms?

I bet you're pissing yourself right now, aren't you Anitan?