#ok time to uhh

[artnerd1123]

Paradice

Ch2: Loud

*slams drink down* ANOTHER! 

The thunk of the interview room’s door brought a huff of relief. Beast stood out in the pink halls again, the glare of lights and cameras behind her. ‘Good riddance,’ she thought ruefully, ‘bring on the fuckin action.’

Glancing about, her eyes caught on the usual flow of stage staff. Or, she assumed it was usual. It hadn’t changed at all since she’d gotten here. Their voices were so soft, footsteps near nonexistent. Her ears flicked up, trying to catch something coherent, but to no avail. It was like listening to bumblebees in someone’s backyard- constant, a buzz, but nothing more than background noise. She couldn’t even pick out words. ‘… huh. That’s weird,’ she thought haltingly. Part of her was glad- less input after all that light and the loud interviewer's voice was a godsdamned relief.

But the fur along her spine still prickled up warily.

There was just something… unnatural about the lack of conversation. It was as if she stood inside a clock tower rather than a crowded hallway. It was eerie. Samey. Nothing but pink walls, soft white and yellow lights, and an endless line of maroon doors. ‘How the hell do these people find their way around?!’

‘… how the hell do I find my way around?’

Beast’s thoughts snapped back to reality as the flux of stage staff shifted slightly. Barely noticeable, but for her sharp eyes there was clearly a path. Like a deer trail in the brush. But… more exact. ‘Like a slot for a coin,’ she thought. And, as she watched, the staff member who’d led her around earlier slid cleanly through the new space. ‘… this place is a well oiled machine.’

As the staff member approached, her stance shifted into one of annoyance- the familiarity may have smoothed the fur on her spine, but she wasn’t about to let her guard all the way down. They slipped out of the crowd and stopped neatly before her, hands folded just so, standing ramrod straight.

“About time,” she grumbled, the staff member giving a quick bow in apology. ��Right this way, ma’am- the Lady awaits you onstage,” they said meekly. Now that perked beast up. She’d heard much about the “Lady Luck,” Her dazzling stage presence, and how She’d been running this show for a while. Beast even caught a glimpse of Her on people’s TVs before she’d come here. But it wasn’t until recently that she’d given Her- or luck in general- much thought. ‘Luck certainly hasn’t been on my side in the past,’ a piece of her hissed.

Maybe she could get that to change.

After all, she’d be meeting Her face to face.

“Fine. Lets get moving,” beast huffed.

~~~

Back again, before the double doors. The hallway arches lights flashed in quiet unity, a perfect slide between yellow and white, yellow and white, yellow and white…

Beast shook her head, mane catching on her horns. She swatted it down irritably. She needed to pay attention, she’d be onstage in just a moment. The stage crew hovered silently by the doors. Waiting. Watching. Like she should be. She tilted her head to the side, wondering what was awaiting her. The Lady, for sure, but… what was that sound? Beyond the double doors she could hear some sort of muffled roar. Her best guess was waterfall, but what in the world would this place have an indoor waterfall for? She flinched just a tad as a booming, jovial voice sounded off over the roar. She could make out all their words through the thick wood- what kind of lungs did they have?!

“Welcome back to… DICEEEEEEEEY DUUUUNGEOOOOOONS!” The voice declared, “The only game show where YOU- yes you~! Could win your heart’s GREATEST desire!”

The roar swelled louder, a sound like a stampede cascading against the double doors. Beast took a step back, teeth baring. What the hell was out there?

“But will you fulfill your dreams, or your nightmares~?” The voice crooned. Glancing behind her, beast felt her whole body tense- the stage crew had assembled silently behind her. An impenetrable wall. No… a funnel forward. There’s nowhere to flee now.

“Lets find out with our host for this evening- and for eternity-“

The roaring swirled about the air like a flock of vultures, pressing closer in time with the stage crew. Beast’s pulse stuttered, her breathing hitching just a bit. ‘Eternity?’ her mind hissed, clawing for her attention above the noise, ‘for- a real eternity? They were being seriou-’

“It’s LADY LUCK!”

It was as if lightning struck just outside the door, a thunderclap of noise crashing against the wood and the floor and slamming against her chest. Beast couldn’t help but let out a yowl, claws clapping against her ears as her eyes screwed shut. Distantly, she felt hands on her- the sensation tore a strangled snarl from her throat. And yet, she  couldn’t move to slash them away. She couldn’t- she couldn’t do much more than grimace, it was too much too much too much too much-

“Thank you, thank you all my dears and darlings~” A voice- no, a purr, clear as day and smooth as silk, managed to cut through the rest. For the first time since the rumble started, it seemed to muffle. But the difference gave her no relief. Beast felt shivers stroking up her spine. Oh. “And welcome back to my labyrinth of endless terror!” It was Her.

“We’ve seen five of our six new hapless contestants,” The Lady continued to croon, tones dancing on the edge of a knife. “Shall we see if our final fool is up to snuff~?”

The roaring surged again, wrenching another vicious yowl from Beast. The crew is touching her- touching her- and she can’t stop them from willing her forward. “I think that’s a resounding yes, my Lady~!” the announcer- ‘gods, thats who that has to be,’ she realized dully- chirped back. Her tail lashed, or tried to, but it’s only met with hands and legs and people-

“Well well, let’s not disappoint~” The Lady hummed. Beast’s hot breath hissed back at her as she was pressed up against the door. Her voice is so commanding, so hypnotic- “Let’s find out as we meet…”

And suddenly, the world shrinks to the beat of her heart. Distantly, Beast knows someone’s shoved her forward. The door has vanished. She’s falling forward through air, breath caught in her throat and claws slipping from her ears. Silence rings like a dog whistle.

But only for a moment.

“The BEAST!”

Just like that, everything comes crashing back. The screams of the crowd- it was a crowd- slams Beast like a sledgehammer. Music- she can just barely  make out music- thrums like a pulse. Light brighter than the sun assails her eyes, muzzle drawing back into a painful snarl as her eyes squeeze shut again. A roar was clawing its way out of her throat, past her teeth, and she couldn’t stop it. So she didn’t try. She howled back at the crowd, baring fangs and claws that glisten like knives in the harsh stagelight, fur bristling and tail lashing like the cornered animal she is. The crowd just screamed louder. Their cruel delight had her cringing back. As she did, a deep chuckle rolled along behind her. If her fur weren’t already on end, it would have risen- as it was, the line along her spine pressed roughly against her armor. She whirled around to face her opponent-

Only to meet face to face with the most imposing figure she’d ever laid eyes on.

Lady Luck stood across from the Beast onstage. At first, all she could see was Her eyes- a brilliant, earthy brown- which seemed to shine scarlet as She tilted her head, slitted pupils just barely visible- or was it a trick of the light? A languishing, confident grin of pristine pearly whites framed Her gaze just so. A cascade of pink curls swayed like a curtain behind Her, a cape full of galaxies flaring out from Her shoulders. Her showman’s garb was pristine, maroon and white and shimmering in the stage lights. Her dark heels clicked slowly against the stage as She approached, the extra hight unneeded with how She absolutely towered over the contestant before Her.

Beast could do naught but stand frozen in the harshness of the lights.

“Well, aren’t you an eager one~” The Lady hummed, one hand rising up to tap against Her chin. “Though you may want to save your screams for the arena, my dear.”

“I- you-” Beast sputtered for a moment, scrambling for her voice among all the chaos in and around her. She let out a growl, shaking her head. She wasn’t about to let this- this place, this environment, this Lady- knock her off kilter. She was here for a gods damned reason. She planted her feet, standing up tall. “There’s more than enough where that came from,” she snarled back.

“Ah, just what we love to see! Let’s hope that enthusiasm takes you far,” The Lady laughed. The sound drove a shiver of defiance down Beast’s spine. “It will,” she snapped back, trying to ignore the ‘oohs’ from the crowd, “just you watch.” Setting a hand on her hip, the Lady cocked her head slightly. Silent amusement danced in Her eyes. Beast matched Her gaze with a smoldering glare.

“Just what are you playing for, to risk trapping such passionate fire in my dungeons?” the Lady mused.

“A home,” Beast growled evenly. “A place I belong, safe from everyone who wishes me harm.” A whistle of mock fascination from stage left had her head whipping to the side, muzzle drawn up in an accusing snarl. The stage lights prevented her from seeing more than a hazy silhouette- someone sitting up on one of the stage pillars. It looked as if they were wearing some sort of fool’s costume - or at least the hat and shoes. When they moved their head, she could just make out the distant jingle of bells. A hum from the Lady brought beast’s eyes back down.

“What a noble goal,” the Lady simpered, “and one you’ve clearly been striving towards for awhile.” She flicked Her hand toward stage right, a flash of brilliant pink sparks flying towards another set of double doors. As Beast watched, they creaked open slowly, more lights and music beckoning her forward. In the shadows, she could barely make out a couple stage crew members waving her on. She looked back to the Lady. She was grinning down at her, something dark glinting in her gaze. She gave a slight nod, hand flicking toward the door again. Seems she was meant to head out now. Beast’s lips curled back slightly as she turned away, feeling the Lady’s gaze burn cooly against her back. Those eyes. There was something hungry in those eyes.

Just as she reached the door, She spoke up one last time.

“I hope you’re ready for your dreams to meet doom against destiny,” the Lady crooned, “there’s nowhere to flee now~”

The thunk of the double doors had never been so fatefully loud.