The 92nd Song [Video]

[tangledintower]

[The video is dark at first, with the only sound being Rapunzel's pained sobs.]

Please, please, I just want to go home...

[Somebody says something off screen, before the video is illuminated by what looks like a cattle prod. Rapunzel is chained up in some sort of cage, tired, scared, and in pain, and she tries to flinch away from the prod.]

No, no, please...!

[She looks terrified as she starts to sing, and the whole screen suddenly lights up to reveal Rapunzel, tied up in a cage, hair tied up into many little braids and ponytails, connected to tons of light fixtures. The singing is charging up the bulbs, but it's clear that doing this puts Rapunzel in terrible pain. She's barely able to keep her voice steady, and the chains that are holding her in the cage prevent her from doubling over.

When the singing stops, the lights stay on for a moment, before slowly fading out to the sound of cheers and laughter from a crowd, and Rapunzel's pained sobs.]

Comments

video: one of...probably a few.

[charring]

No.

video: still going

[charring]

No, this isn't...

video: done. i got...lazy also...action

[charring]

I'm on my way.


[The video on her end switches off and when Charlie arrives, she has her glass sword strapped to her back. She's waited until enough of the crowd and Rapunzels 'handlers' have walked off. Tapping the end of her sword on one of the bars of the cage, she keeps her voice low.]

Rapunzel. Tell me everything you know about what you're hooked up to so I can get you out of here. Okay? And then you're staying at my place until this shitstorm blows over.

action; dude, lazy is my middle name, is totally cool.

[tangledintower]

[Rapunzel looks up, tired and confused and scared, staring at Charlie.]

Something...something's wrong with my hair...they're making me sing, and it makes the lights go, and it hurts, Charlie...

action: what a coincidence! mine, too!

[charring]

I see that.

[She takes a look around, startling some at a noise some distance off. Waiting, she doesn't see anyone coming so she motions for Rapunzel to stand back. Her ability is focused on the bars of the cage and they melt away rapidly enough. They've left a hole wide enough for either of the girls to get through and Charlie eases herself in to inspect the chains.]

I promise I'll get you out of here, Rapunzel. You have my word.

[Now about those chains...she doesn't want to use her fire on them, worried that her agitation might cause her to lose control and overheat the entire length. Not what she wants. At all. Sadly, this only leaves one option. Her sword.]

This will be noisy. Be ready to run like hell.

[The sword is raised, brought down hard and sure enough it's loud. But Rapunzel is freed. And Charlie hears nothing so. So far so good.]


What do we do about your hair?

action: Gasp! How unusual!

[tangledintower]

[Rapunzel squirms back as far as possible so Charlie can burn her way through.]

I don't know...they have me hooked up to all sorts of lights and things...

[She would just tell her to cut it all off, but if this is a curse, she doesn't know what will happen to her hair when it ends.]

action: it's the best middle name, really.

[charring]

[Charlie nods, inspecting Rapunzel's hair carefully. She wants to avoid cutting Rapunzel's hair if she can, and will hate herself if she has to cut it but it seems like the lights are detachable and Charlie begins doing so, very carefully.]

Keep your eyes open for anyone coming, okay?

action: it really is. :D

[tangledintower]

I'll try...

[Poor Rapunzel has no idea how long she's been here for, and she's tired and hurt and just wants to go home...the various lights and appliances have had the ends of their chords tied into the end of her hair. Her hair is what's giving off the electricity.

Stupid curse.]

[tarot_witch]

You sing very well, sweetheart~

[tangledintower]

[Any other day, in any other circumstances, Rapunzel would've taken that as a compliment and been very polite. Today, though...]

...Thank you...but I don't want to sing! It hurts, I just want to go home!

[tarot_witch]

But you sing so well and you make things so bright...

[tangledintower]

But...something's wrong with my hair...it hurts to sing now, when it makes the lights go everything hurts...

[tarot_witch]

I know, I know, sweetheart, but the lights... The lights are so beautiful, don't you think? Don't you think it's worth it?

[tangledintower]

[Rapunzel shakes her head.]

Can't they make the lights go without my hair...?

[It's too dark in here. She knows that they're using her as the only light source. That makes it worse, somehow.]

[tarot_witch]

But your hair is what makes them so bright and so beautiful, darling. Don't you understand? That's part of the magic~

[tangledintower]

[Rapunzel sniffles. God, she hates it here. She wants to go home.]

But why does it hurt so much...?

[infernoandhearth]

Electric singing? I think a bicycle makes a better generator. [He sounds really slurred. He's incredibly drugged up.]

[tangledintower]

Luke...

[She remembers seeing him and Serrure, feeling terrified and unable to do anything.]

...are you and Serrure okay...?

action:

[charring]

[Well, then. That should be easy to get out actually. Charlie's working on untying hair carefully, kicking aside wires when she's got them freed. She's still working through it, not really paying attention to their surroundings at this point. She almost has the last one done, it's just giving her difficulty.]

Almost there, Rapunzel.

[tarot_witch]

We all have to suffer for our art, don't we?

action:

[tangledintower]

[Rapunzel gives her a weak, grateful smile.]

Just be careful...I don't want them getting you because of me...

[tangledintower]

[After a moment, she just nods weakly. There's no point in arguing.]

[tarot_witch]

That's my girl~

[infernoandhearth]

We're not electrified! And Bruce has given us drugs and such. We're fine. I can't come and help: we're attached to a wall! You ought to tell them a bicycle is more reliable.

Re: action:

[charring]

I'll be fine. Last one. [And she's done, standing and heading to the hole she burnt into the cage. She holds a hand out for Rapunzel, willing to help her through first.]

We're good. Lets go.