Chapter 56 of 99 · Book 8, A Parade of Horribles
Chapter 56 — Take on Me
Book: A Parade of Horribles · Part: Horrible One · Previous: Chapter 55 — The cleaner bot plan · Next: Chapter 57 — The brawl; Sing for your supper · Floor: Floor 10 — Don't Come in Last · Series: the series
Opening
Elle, Zhang, and Tran pulled back from the table.
Summary
Elle, Zhang and Tran go to tell Na the plan; Zhang pulls his cape back on. Grigori, now the guild's mercenary, brushes Donut while Linus strokes her tail — 'I’m touching her, I’m touching her' — and Elle takes the tourist with her rather than leave him. Sunglasses: with. The potion is a compound of Mordecai's, a new way around potion cooldowns; the scroll is Gelded Choirboy, not literal, to reach a register Carl's voice cannot. Honeyed, Yo-Yo Ma'd, Dio'd. A duet gives two performance bars, and one may fail; Donut takes the few lines, Carl the lead, so at worst she gets in and charms Porky out. She zaps Mongo into the bar for Uncle Carl's debut; Imani smiles, genuinely: 'I’ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time.' 'I hope you like Norwegian music.' 'Singing ‘Take on Me’ by A-ha, it’s Princess Donut and Carl!' The bar fills — Chris, Florin, Bautista, Britney, Jurgen; Dong in the doorway with the sock over his shoulder like Santa's bag, Bucket Boy grabbing him. Pats from Dekoki, Yuto and a Bleak Congregation skeleton; lyrics screens; 'Get Ready to Sing!' Choired — 'What a beautiful voice you have!' — Carl's helium voice, burning cheeks reflected in Donut's sunglasses; 'Just sing naturally. It’s okay if you mess this up.' The synth-pop starts, the gauges appear, Mongo screeches. And Dwight stabs the DJ in the face with his horn.
Characters
- Carl — Honeyed, Yo-Yo Ma'd, Dio'd, Choired: a helium voice and burning cheeks.
- Princess Donut — Sunglasses on; 'Just sing naturally. It’s okay if you mess this up.'
- Grigori the Placid — Brushes Donut; 'With.'
- Linus and Minus — 'I’m touching her, I’m touching her.'
- Elle McGibbons — Takes the tourist with her to Na.
- Imani — Smiles, genuinely: 'I’ve been looking forward to this moment.'
- Mongo — Zapped in for Uncle Carl's debut.
- Dwight and Lucienne (Team Sparkles) — Stabs the DJ.
- Dong Quixote — In the doorway with the sock like Santa's bag.
- Florin — Arrives.
- Chris — Arrives.
- Daniel Bautista — Arrives.
- Britney Proskurina — Arrives.
- Jurgen — Arrives.
Locations
- The Lollipop — 'Singing ‘Take on Me’ by A-ha, it’s Princess Donut and Carl!'
- The Stage Performance Guild — A duet gives two bars; one may fail.
Motifs
- Donut's songs — 'I hope you like Norwegian music.'
- The tourists — Linus's fingers on her tail.
- The tenth floor — Compounded potions around cooldowns.