AU: I am Woman, Hear me Gore

[Cynthia DeMato]

((This starts when the girls first begin their training (several weeks before the prompt takes place), so none of them know exactly what's going on. If you have a female character you'd like to have join this thread, feel free to shoot me a message!

Cast: Cynthia, Chloe, Callie, Val, Kiara))

Cynthia DeMato, hostess of the famed La Maison Magnifique, stood on the stage of the decades-old institution. The Pilot Ridge Madame was alone in the building for now, but that would soon change: a small group of girls - singers and dancers from the House's weekly shows - had been invited for a private rehearsal of sorts. None of them knew exactly what this special meeting was about, but they would soon find out.

Pilot Ridge had changed. It had taken several months, but the change was quite clear. The Vermont city had once been a thriving metropolis, a shining beacon for humans and meta humans alike. It was a town that drew men and women of all kinds, a beautiful region filled with stores, residences, and businesses. The nightlife was just as spectacular, and first among the clubs and bars was the fabled La Maison Magnifique. Led by Madame Cynthia DeMato, the so-called “House” and its magnificent showgirls provided entertainment of all sorts to locals and visitors alike. The flashy neon sign acted as a beacon of sorts, bringing folks into its warm, inviting atmosphere. And inside, things were even hotter.

But the city had long since descended into ruins. Now a decrepit shell of what it once was, the Vermont town now served merely as temporary refuge for those seeking solace from the harsh, loathsome outside world. This change could be traced to Nicholas Kells and the rise of the Humanist Party, a group of militaristic politicians who had declared war on the meta humans. Those found to be using their powers now were hauled off and never heard from again. The Hammel Institute had shuttered, its buildings had fallen into disrepair, and Pilot Ridge had been abandoned by most of the metas as dangerous. Raids were a common occurrence, as were battles between the Humanist Army and the resistance.

But La Maison Magnifique powered on through all of this, finding business among the Army pigs and the occasional meta. Its neon sign was faded, and the stage now had cracks, but it was as enticing as ever. Inside, one could find a strong drink, a hot show, and – were one willing to shell out the necessary cash – much more. It went this way every night: the girls did their tricks, the men paid through the nose, and Madame Cynthia DeMato climbed ever higher on the twisted social ladder that was Pilot Ridge.

But even through this perverse success, Cynthia knew things could not last like this forever. Kells' Army was getting stronger, its core drawing nearer to the city to rout out the metas once and for all. Cynthia was among said metas, and she had no desire to give in without a fight.

And so a fight, there would be. But she could not wage it alone.

Cynthia's short yet intimidating frame was covered by a long black trenchcoat, which jutted out spectacularly at the bottom like a ballgown. She wore tall high heels, also black, which were quite narrow at the bottom. She held in one of her hands a long, black cane, the handle of which was silver and sparkling. Brown hair was tied back in a bun, and a large pair of tinted sunglasses completed the look.

The girls would be arriving any minute, and there would be no time to waste.

[Calliope Gallo]

When Calliope got the message about private rehearsals, she didn't think anything particular about it. It just felt like an ordinary requirement for her. Then again, she was probably the one of the group not to clue on when something different was going on anyway. When the world sunk into disarray, Callie was glad that the La Maison Magnifique was a type of save haven for her. She was a meta - not one of the more flashy or obvious kinds - but a meta nonetheless. Her powers might have been useless against others', but she was still in some kind of danger.

So she was thankful to play her part and pull her weight. The opportunity was practically life saving.

Somehow she ended up being the first to arrive, which given the way Cynthia was dressed, made the whole thing a little daunting. It didn't feel like greetings were necessary, so when she closed the door behind her she took her place and waited quietly. Her fingers curled together behind her back, giving her something to focus on while she felt the heavy weight of the room practically rest on her lonesome shoulders.

[Valerie Danner]

With Noah gone from Pilot Ridge and Spencer being forced to go into hiding, Valerie had never felt more alone in the small town. She should have gone back home. She should have left because she hated the feeling of isolation from the people she loved.

But she didn't. She stayed because she thought she had to help somehow. So she started off with smuggling rations into the underground meta shelter that housed Spencer and a few more people she had come to call her friends. She still continued working at the House, hoping it would fill her time and the hole in her heart.

She had formed an uncanny bond with Callie Gallo, one of the dancers at the House, and she found that it became easier to go through days as long as she could see that blonde dancer. She was just glad she still had somebody to call a friend.

Which was why, when she got Madame's message, she was more than happy to go over, no matter what the reason.

Happy to see that the blonde was there, Valerie went over to greet Madame before making a beeline towards Callie. "Hey." She smiled widely at the dancer as she plopped down beside her. "Any idea why we're here?"

[Deleted]

”Aw, don’t cry, sweetie.” Kiara sat hunched down in the open doorway of the old woman who lived across the hallway at the apartment building. A hand was reached forward as her thumb smoothed a tear off of Gabe’s sad face. She gave him a symphatic smile, retrieved the extremity and opened up her shoulder bag to pluck the little one’s frog plushie out of it. Gabe immediately reached over, squeezing it close and momentarily burying his face into its softness while sobbing ever so softly. It almost broke Kiara’s heart to see him like that, very much aware that Jackson leaving might be contributing to this. Gabriel was still so young and helpless. How could he have left them?

Not lingering on that much longer, still hunched down, the blonde wobbled forward and gently moved the little one closer into an embrace. ”I love you.” She whispered before reluctantly pulling back, having to force a smile on her face this time around. Cynthia has summoned her for a private rehearsal and Ki knew she could not object. She could not afford losing this job, but she was not eager to head over either. Leaving Gabe, even for an hour or so, always was too much. What if they found out he was the son of two metas? She didn’t even dare to ask Lacey to babysit anymore because of her having a power as well.

After having struggled to leave while Mrs. Witson held onto the young one, Kiara reached her car and drove off to La Maison Magnifique. Once having parked the car, she slipped out of the vehicle, taking her bag with her. She quickly snuck inside and emerged to where soft voices could be heard. It brought a frown to her face. Who else was here? Of course that question got answered as blue optics landed on Valerie and Callie, only puzzling her even more. And then her gaze drifted to Cynthia who seemed to be standing there so calmly.

Kiara had always found her intimidating, and even more so due to her opinion about men. At this point, however, she felt empathic towards the older women. One heartbreak too many made her feel some sort of connection, yet that was something she would never state out loud. Cynthia might not appreciate that.

”Um, you know I’m not a dancer, right?” She spoke to the dark-haired one, simply assuming a mistake might have been made since two dancers were there already.

[Cynthia DeMato]

((I'm just going to pretend the group is a little bigger than this XD))

Cynthia DeMato stood as still as a statue as Callie, and then Val, entered the room. She didn't plan to address anyone until all of the girls had arrived, mostly out of a desire not to have to repeat herself. If her appearance was imposing, then her outfit was a success.

Callie and Val. The two had danced together on numerous occasions, and they certainly complemented one another in that respect. Their ability to work off one another, and help one another, would serve them well, Cynthia had no doubt. A small smile flashed across her face, only briefly, as she considered this.

Kiara entered the room soon after, looking confused - as always, Cynthia noted to herself alone. The girl had been just as meek when the Pilot Ridge Madame had convinced her to become a singer, rather than serving as a waitress. It seemed to the older brunette that she had grown a lot, though - she'd had a baby, was living on her own, and seemed to be dealing with the State of Emergency well. They all were - this ragtag team of girls making it in a world that simply wasn't safe for most of them.

She was proud - of all of them.

"Ladies," she began once the entire group had arrived, "I apologize that I asked you here under mysterious circumstances. It wasn't my intention to... worry anyone." She looked around the room, wondering what the performers were thinking. Some of them no doubt thought this was just a regular meeting, though perhaps some were a bit more suspicious.

"As you know, things have been... tough around here for the past several months." She looked down at the floor for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Business is a bit... slower than in the past. A lot of people are afraid to come out." The town's population had declined substantially since the Executive Order had been made, essentially criminalizing the use of meta powers. What with the raids and all, most folks just didn't want to be associated with the city or its inhabitants anymore.

"You all have been loyal to me," she said, tone changing to become firmer than before. "You have followed me without question through difficult channels, and for that, I am truly grateful." She paused, looking around the room once more. "But times being as they are, I am afraid there is more that I must ask of you." She stopped there, waiting for the assembled group to take that in. She was, after all, a performer, and loved to keep people guessing.

[Calliope Gallo]

Callie tried not to make her relieved sigh look obvious when she heard the door and watched more people walk in. This was just too daunting, especially given the insanity of the world outside the doors of this place. Familiar faces piled in slowly, but she finally found comfort when her eyes caught sight of Valerie Danner, and her gaze followed the dark haired girl from the door to her side.

The blonde smiled back, though it was clear that she wasn't all together there. She dug her hand out of her jacket pocket, looping it around the arm of her friend before tucking it back into her pocket. "No idea." She replied finally, "I was sorta hoping you'd know." And that plan was thoroughly dusted out the window with her initial question.

Calliope listened when Cynthia finally started talking. At least she admitted it was mysterious. It wasn't that Callie was particularly clued in to the situation, she was just acting paranoid. Given how shiny and happy she always assumed the world would stay, it was to be expected that her confidence in others would take a little hit. The more the owner spoke, the more daunting things felt. And when she left things at such a cliff hanger, Callie felt sudden weight on her shoulders. She wondered if she was the only one. She leaned across the small distance between her and Valerie, keeping her blue eyes on Cynthia.

"Don't you wish you would have left?" She whispered. Not that Callie wasn't grateful for her presence - with one of her brother's gone, Callie felt somewhat vulnerable already. Having a friend helped patch that disappearance. But she was a regular human, no meta attached to the title. She could easily live without worry if she didn't associate with them.

[Valerie Danner]

Valerie stepped into the armlock readily, slipping her hand into her pocket as she dropped her gym bag at her feet. Callie's answer brought a tiny crease between the brunette's eyebrows before she shrugged, leaning back.

When Madame started to speak, Valerie listened intently, feeling a little more scared as she went on, wondering exactly why she had stayed. She wanted to argue that she had people here that she had to take care of. But what could she do?

Callie's movement instinctively led Valerie to remove her hand from her pocket before looping it around the blonde's arm, rubbing it slightly with her thumb. Her question made the brunette bite her lower lip before plastering a grin and turning to her companion. "And leave you here? Never." She gave a short laugh before turning back to the owner of the establishment expectantly.

[Deleted]

Not worry anyone? Kiara must have been edge already, but the more Cynthia spoke, the worse her fears got. Where they getting laid off? Because, yes, things were tough and business was slow and people were afraid to come out… but she really needed this job to support Gabe and to give him a decent life, a life he deserved. Hands uncomfortable fumbled with the fabric of the sleeves edges of her hoodie. Oh god, now Cynthia was thanking them for their loyalty, having it being followed by a ‘but’… That could only mean one thing: getting fired. Cynthia must know how hard it must be for them to accept it though. Why else would she say there was more that she had to ask of them?

”Are… we losing our jobs?” Her voice filled with caution as no one else spoke up. Was she the only one who interpreted it like that? Kiara probably looked scared at the thought. It was something for her to hold on to when it came to providing her and the little one somewhat of a future. Who else would want to hire a single mom? Right, no one given the current circumstances. And she didn’t exactly want to move either. What if Jackson were to return?