Naruta Choice Awards: Year 6

[Kender Bard]

This year as the auditorium of OOC fills up, the stage and the room grow dark as the lights are gradually dimmed. The stage lights come back, slowly. A tall, flowered vine begins to grow and creep up from the stage floor, reaching for the sky. One of the flowers bursts into pale green bloom from which Worg emerges.

The vine disappears and this time an oak tree begins to grow; Thuoth emerges from behind it, giving a bow and moving to the other side of the stage.

The tree disappears and two large roses begin to grow, twining around one another, their thorns cutting into one another. One blooms into a black rose that immediately begins to wither and the other, a white rose streaked with red, oozes a red sap. In a shower of rose petals, Taed and Efil appear, hands twined. Parting, they each take place on either side of the stage.

A large sunflower pops up, each petal a different color, forming a rainbow. The flower's head spins faster and faster until it's a dizzying whirl of colors from which Soahc emerges. Bowing, he moves to the back of the stage.

Finally a star falls from the heavens and strikes the stage, forming a crack in the wood from which a final flower grows, this one with petals of deep purple, dew glistening on the petals like stars. It opens--6 petals total. The petals reveal Etaf, standing with a microphone in her hand. Stepping daintily off the flower, she walks down the stair-like leaves and onto the stage, the illusion fading gradually.

"Welcome, one and all, to the sixth annual Naruta Choice Awards!" Etaf greeted. "And what a year! We're all very eager to see what new rising stars claim the rewards of the year! But first, our time honored tradition; the naming of the Greatest Force of the year."

"No contest," Soahc remarked, observing his fingernails, which grew long and twisted as he stared.

"This year's nominees are: Taed-"

Taed somberly bowed his head towards the audience, a silent thanksgiving for his nomination.

"-myself-" she smiled brightly "-our reigning champion, Soahc-"

"I LOVE YOU ALL!" Soahc shouted, blowing kisses to the audience.

"-and Worg."

Worg, holding her ever-present spear, tapped the butt of it against the stage. "Perhaps this year."

"It was a close call between Taed and Soahc, but the winner this year is... Soahc!"

"HA!" Soahc whooped, darting up to the front of the stage and taking the award from Etaf. He waggled it in Taed's direction. "No matter what you do, brother, it doesn't amount to jack shit without a little charisma. The people have spoken and they love me! All love me!!"

[Northen Light36]

Northen laughs as she watches Soahc. "Perhaps you should be banned from the nominations, Soahc," she calls. "Your constant winning is almost boring!"

[Skittlebug]

Skitz covers a yawn with a hand and winks, "Almost boring?"

[Northen Light36]

"Point taken," North replies, yawning. "Damn it, Skitz. Now you've got me yawning."

[Kender Bard]

"Haters gonna hate," Soahc replied, strutting to the back of the stage again.

"The next award is one of love and devotion in matrimony," Etaf replied.

"Curiously, another close match," Thuoth noted.

"Could have fooled me," Soahc muttered to nobody, elbowing the empty air beside him.

Etaf shook her head. "Our nominees were: Nagi and Locket, Brad and Delilah, Saul and Anarchy, Acqua and Mat. And our winners were... the star-guided lovers, Brad and Delilah!"

Delilah flushed with pleasure, reaching for Brad's hand. "I can scarcely believe it!"

"I can," Filly replied, grinning. "A sweeter match I have never seen."

"Hey," Locket protested with a pout.

[Darastrix]

Dara didn't seem bothered with the repeat. "Woo, Soahc rules all!"

"Since I'm the one that's helped change things so much, I should get partial credit here," Schuldig said with a smirk.

"Keep that attitude up, and they'll put you with the Proud," Crawford said, rolling his eyes. At the announcement of the next award, his brows rose and he gave Delilah's hand a light squeeze as he rose to accept with her.

"And to think," Schuldig commented, "it only took him twenty-some-odd years, a trip around the world, impending doom, and a Force-granted gift to get her."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua and Mat don't seem bothered by their loss. Sitting snuggled into each other, they exchange a quick kiss then grin and clap for the winning couple.

[Kender Bard]

Delilah beamed and rose up to accept the award as well.

As Etaf leaned over to hand the award to the two of them, she whispered to Crawford, "I'm so pleased you finally found your happiness."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Soahc said, nudging past Etaf to take center stage. "Kissy kissy bleh. Enough of that, let's get down to the really good award."

"Which you'll place on the table," Worg reminded him firmly, gesturing to a oaken awards table that had been placed far to the side of the stage.

Soahc rolled his eyes. "So we made a little girl cry last year. Big deal."

Thuoth gave him a disapproving look. "All negatively connotative awards go on the table to be picked up later discreetly. You even agreed."

"I lied," Soahc answered. "And besides, there's nothing to be ashamed of for being the most insane man or woman in all the world! Thelon, Wisdom, Die, and Leon should all be very proud of themselves." He waved the award. "Especially... Wisdom!"

Wisdom perked up, smiling happily. "What? Really?"

"Congratulations!" Dreamwarp enthused. "You've joined the highest ranks of our lord's esteem!"

Soahc sniffled, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "I'm so proud."

[Northen Light36]

"Well done," Mat and North call out, grinning and snickering.

Soahcians," Acqua sighs.

"Careful or I'll point out you're in danger of converting," North replies.

[Darastrix]

Crawford smiled at Etaf and murmured "So am I, my Lady," before guiding Delilah back to their seats.


Nagi glanced at Schuldig. ~I'm a little surprised Schu wasn't nominated,~ he said to Locket.


Schuldig didn't seem to mind one way or the other. "Well, I guess that can be one good thing about his getting all weird on you," he told Filly.

[tuo]

"Yay Wisdom!" Adam cheered from the crowd while in the middle of a make out with a random(?) person. "I knew you could do it!"

[Kender Bard]

Locket shrugged. ~He's a great Soahcian but he hasn't done a swan dive off the edge of sanity yet.~

Filly frowned, displeased.

Soahc set the award on the oaken table, but Wisdom got up then and there to go get it. "Hooray!" he cheered happily.

"It's not meant to be a compliment!" Filly shouted at him.

Worg was suddenly holding the next award as she took the center stage. "The next award is one for true pride; Greatest Leader. Twilight, Lucifer, Saul--these individuals were noted for their ability to lead their people as a shining example of their culture. Of the three, though, one stands head and shoulders above all others... May we all take example from Emperor Saul Dardan!"

[Northen Light36]

"BOOOOOOOOOO!"

North blinks in surprise as she notices even her evil characters are booing.

"Should have been ours," Sombra explains.

North snorts and gags Sombra with a flick of a finger. "Keep dreaming."

[tuo]

From his seat, Nissar swears loudly. "That's bullshit! How could he have done all that after the mess my madness caused?! I should have burned Morilanta to the ground when I had the chance!"

[Northen Light36]

"We're not that lucky and you're not that bright," North calls over to Nissar. "Pipe down and enjoy your break from burning in hell."