[BBS/action] Beauty pageant! (backdated to week 6 Thursday)

[wrnpcs]

[BBS]
[SUP GUYS IT'S RUSSELL DRAKE]

Good morning, Balamb Garden! I'm Russell Drake, on your screens on behalf of the GFC, here to remind you all about the Garden's first beauty pageant! We'll be in the quad this afternoon bringing you uniform, formal, and swimwear modeling, a talent show, and personality questions to get to know our potential Miss and Mr. Balamb Garden. We've got quite a few signups, including most of your Homecoming nominees and the entire off-worlder population of Garden, so come on down!

[He's not going to be replying to any comments; he's gotta dash and set up the stage!]

---

[ACTION]
[A small catwalk has been added to the quad's usual stage just for today. People on it might want to be careful, as it doesn't feel like the most stable of structures to walk on...

[Russell appears to be steering well clear of it, standing off to the side with a mic. What is his handsomeness doing not entering? Nobody knows.]

Good afternoon and welcome to Miss and Mr. Balamb Garden, bought to you by the Garden Festival Committee! I'm your host, Russell Drake, and our judges for this competition are Headmaster Cid Kramer and his wife, Edea Kramer, here all the way from Centra for our Homecoming festivities.

Candidates will be judged on ten point scales in three categories: Physicality, talent, and personality. Unlike Homecoming Court, this competition is not divided by position within or out of the Garden hierarchy, and winners receive a nice sash!

Without further ado, let's get this show on the road!

Physicality will be judged by modeling in three categories, and our first category is uniform. SeeDs and cadets will wear their dress uniforms while staff members wear whatever they wear to work - whatever you're wearing, wear it with pride! The Kramers will be looking for pressed pants, polished boots, and a professional salute!

On the more glamorous side of the competition, our second modeling category is formal wear. As a prelude to the glitz we expect at the Homecoming dance, our candidates will be dressed to the nines!

Rounding off our modeling category is swimwear! [As one GFC member unfurls a beachy backdrop and another drags a small inflatable pool onstage.] Remember, folks, it's swimwear if you can see water, underwear if you can't.

Next up is talent! Contestants have up to three minutes to wow us with a personal talent of theirs. Anything goes, so long as you don't hurt the audience or your fellow contestants!

And finally, we have the personality section, where I'll ask our candidates a question to answer from the heart. There are no wrong answers! Just give your reasons for your answer, and if you're answering with something from your home world, explain that to us too.

[Candidates have their own threads where you may respond to as many of the above bullet pointed prompts as you wish, as in the NPC examples - or if they didn't turn up, say so for the awkward silence on stage, and we will assume they will be skipped in subsequent categories! The intros given are read over their uniform modeling.]

Comments

DOLPHIN

[wrnpcs]

The secretary to the Dean of Academics is a dolphinate beauty! I've never seen her looking anything but her best.

Personality question: Which color best reflects your personality?

[tempesting]

[ Dolphin turns to ask the MC what he means by "dolphinate", but then she's pushed out on stage, outfitted in a blue blouse, black slacks, black wedges, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, with a pen behind her left ear as she'd come right from the office for this. She smiles, albeit unsure, at the Kramers, and does a weak salute, before turning around and heading back down the runway, obviously uncomfortable. She's not a fan of being put on display.

The formal category, she steps out in one of the dresses she'd gotten during vacation, bought specifically for the color tone matching her eyes and because it accented her long legs. Her hair's down, and she's lost the pen. She does a simple walk to the front and then back, disappearing behind the curtain.

For swimwear, she wears a simple Garden issued swimsuit, nothing spectacular.

For talent, she sings the only song she knows well enough to sing without cue cards: Rock A Bye Baby.

When the personality question arrives, she smiles and says without hesitation ] Blue.

FIONNA

[wrnpcs]

Cadet Fionna is one of your nominees for Homecoming Princess. Those cake pops she made for votes were so good, I could rabbit on about them all day.

Personality question: If you had the power to change any one event in your life, what would it be?

Re: FIONNA

[fionna_time]

Hmmm. Something I'd change in my life...

Losing Twilight Sparkle, my roommate. I'm a way better student now, thanks to her! My room's a lot cleaner too.

GREED

[wrnpcs]

[When he thinks no one's looking, Russell is sideeying Greed...]

Cadet Greed's made quite a name for himself in the gossip column with his romantic exploits! Some would say he's well named.

Personality question: What are the three things you would take with you if the dorms were burning down?

[gotgreedy]

[Deciding to play along, Greed has donned his cadet outfit for the first time in who knows how long. His attitude towards the formalities -- salutes and crisp steps -- is decidedly lax, but he wears his lack of conviction with pride as he offers a wave to the crowd.]

[He takes his second turn in a formal outfit that bear a faint resemblance to a priest's frock, more than anything, thanks to the severe lines and the collar. Nevertheless, this too he wears with casual confidence, smiling and waving and strutting his stuff. Hey, just because his body is really Ling's doesn't mean he can't reap its advantages.]

Ooh, asking a man named Greed to choose between his possessions, huh? How about... the laptop, a change of clothes, and my Junction device?

MARCO

[wrnpcs]

Garden's resident phoenix gets all the hearts a-twitter, but Marco is one happily married lovebird!

Personality question: What is the one feature you’d change about yourself?

[fierybluebird]

[His description gets a laugh and in purely positive deadpan with a giant-ass shit-eating grin:]

I would make myself less beautiful~!

[He expects to die messily from everyone's wrath at being entered, at least he gets to do it with a flare.]

[Oh, and the show's not over yet.]

[For the talent portion he shows off his sassy "magic tricks" which include pulling a withered clump of flowers out of a sleeve, sparkles, using blue fire, and for the grand finale, walking off in his phoenix form. Best talent show.]

NAMUR

[wrnpcs]

One of our imports from Trabia Garden, Instructor Namur is one of the nominees for Homecoming King. He's a real party animal!

Personality question: What is your definition of success?

Re: NAMUR

[om_nom_namur]

[It's a good thing Russ sent out warning over the BBS this morning, otherwise Namur wouldn't have known he'd been volunteered. When he passed his SeeD cert he'd begun asking around to find someone willing to outfit a fishman. The intrepid designer brave enough to tackle such a task seems to have done so with a gusto that rivals her new patron's. The uniform is flawless- mostly because it's the first time its been worn- and Namur even wore boots, since he couldn't find a way to argue that webbed toes made shoes unfeasible. He hits the stage like it was made for him, even when the catwalk wobbles beneath his weight. His salute is sharp enough, until he points at a random girl near the front whom he noticed gaping in disgust, and winks at her.]

[The designer had a field day with his suit, a deep charcoal affair with thin slate blue pinstripes, made to look like a classic Italian (or... Galbadian?) cut- though the cut is anything but ordinary. It contrasts nicely with Namur's unique skin tone, and is even tailored so the pants are at the right level when he's barefoot, because screw shoes, his webbed toes need freedom even in the most formal occasions.]

[Swimwear is nothing special, just black board shorts with a white shark design on the side. The point isn't necessarily the suit itself anyway, it's the way it's worn, and if there were other fishfolk or merfolk present in the audience they would agree he wears it well. Humans tend to have a different reaction to the sight of his scar-crossed, tattooed skin, deep grey fading to pale blue. If his particular brand of musclebound doesn't seem right to most humans, Namur doesn't let the faint taste of discomfort and revulsion that taints the air get to him. They gave him ground and he will own it. What else is there to do?]

[Predictably, Namur chooses breakdance for his talent. He seems intent to touch the ground as little as possible this time around, doing an impressive series of flips, twists, and handsprings with near flawless timing. When the catwalk gives up and collapses beneath him, it seems almost part of the choreography.]

[Namur doesn't hesitate to shoot back a snarky response to the question posed, and he does so with a good humored laugh.]

Know one thing it ain't, Russ, an' that's yer shitty puns! Sheheheh!

THATCH

[wrnpcs]

Arr you ready for this, Garden? Instructor Thatch is another one of our Trabia imports, and he's already made quite an impact here.

Personality question: What gives you hope?

KORY ANDERS

[wrnpcs]

The high-flying Cadet Kory Anders is one of your nominees for Homecoming Princess. Orange you lucky?

Personality question: What is your greatest fantasy?

MIKURU ASAHINA

[wrnpcs]

Instructor Mikuru Asahina teaches the full week ESL course, and in her time as the GFC leader before me and Zainah, she's definitely schooled me on elements of her home's culture!

Personality question: If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

[bunnypassingby]

[Generally, Mikuru feels obliged to participate in GFC events even when she didn't sign herself up. So it's onstage with the "speaking in public" smile and hair in a bun, wearing first a hurriedly ironed uniform, then a pink lace dress she once wore to a graduation ball, and finally a plain swimsuit and a kaftan. Hey, rules didn't say nothing about coverups.

[For the talent section, she has a GFC member bring out an easel, ink pot, and a paint brush, and she demonstrates some elegant Japanese calligraphy.

[As Russell reads the question, she listens carefully, visibly thinking hard, and takes a moment before speaking. She starts unsteadily out of nervousness, but grows more passionate as she goes on.] Time compression. If there was a way to fix it - to stop all these new places coming in on the cities, to allow people to go home - without destroying the world, I'd do that.

[Beat.]

Was this meant to be things we could actually change?

ROMANY BREHM

[wrnpcs]

Rom, I'm surprised you're entering - this SeeD's usually all business! I'm a big fan of the negotiations she can pull off - they really blow me away.

Personality question: What is the biggest challenge to young people today?

[wrnpcs]

[Romany shoots a rather dirty (and misplaced) look at Russell as she's called onto the stage. Ooh, drama.

She's certainly all business about the modelling, though. There's nary a speck on any inch of her uniform, and her salute is so stiff you could use it as an ironing board.

Her dress, long, black and complimented by an elegant red scarf, is similarly a sight to behold... right up until she stumbles on the hem halfway across the catwalk and nearly falls off the stage.

Smarting, she vanishes before the swimwear portion and isn't seen again.]

ESPIO

[wrnpcs]

Instructor Espio the Chameleon's been on this world for so long that he's had his share of time away from Garden too - but how do we know he didn't just stay behind, blending in? [Someone doesn't know Espio very well.]

Personality question: Would you rather be born rich, handsome, or intelligent?

Re: ESPIO

[espio]

[Somewhat surprisingly, Espio apparently decided "meh" on realising pretty much everyone had been signed up and was just gonna roll with it. For now. He had a good hunch he knew who was responsible, and had every intention of getting revenge later.

For now, however...

Espio's first two are done in human form. This had nothing to do with how people viewed him, but rather the fact that his chameleon-shaped uniform had been soaked in saltwater and subsequently abandoned on an island somewhere, and he hadn't been bothered to arrange for a new one yet.

His uniform was neat, but not perfectly crisp and impeccable. With the salute, he seeks out a certain someone - Captain Featherbutt the Pirate - and gives him a look. An "I am going to murder you" look.

Formalwear? Eh. He had that green shirt, pants and dress shoes from that one dance ages ago, that would do. He wore it casually, shirt untucked and top button undone.

By the time the swimwear portion came around, Espio's potion had worn off, and so he was dressed in absolutely nothing.]

I don't need to cover myself normally, so I don't see why I need special clothes for swimming. Besides, I don't swim.

[Talent?

He's a little bit lazy, and shows off his general roster of abilities - an acrobatic leap and stick to a wall, a bit of invisibility, tosses a turnip in the air, catches it with his tongue, and leaps off the wall with a spin. Done.

And the personality question? He glances at Russell like he's stupid.]

Intelligent.

If I were smart enough, I could make myself rich. And even if handsome wasn't a pointless attribute, it's way too subjective when you come from a world where there's thousands of different sapient species. Interspecies romance is commonplace where I'm from, so... handsome according to who?

CHAMPLOO

[wrnpcs]

Instructor Champloo has the skillet takes to get people's home-ec skills up to scratch, no matter what wok of life you come from!

Personality question: Where do you see yourself twenty years from now?

[kitchenfistfirechaosstyle]

[Champloo hasn't really dressed up... because let's face it, a demon like him has no business being in a beauty contest to begin with. Nevertheless, he's being a good sport about all of this.]

Hyahya! With luck I will still be here, teaching Home Economics! And with greater luck, perhaps Pinkie Pie will still be both my rival teacher and my partner.

MARIA CYPHERT

[wrnpcs]

SeeD Maria Cyphert is a Dollet native and one of your Homecoming Queen nominees. Her skill with a gunblade gives me the crêpes!

Personality question: If you had just five minutes to live, what would you do with that time?

[gunbladegrrl]

[Maria wears her uniform with the utmost of pride, and no one could ask for better care for an outfit. Not one single thread is out of place. She makes the illustrations in the books look sloppy. Her movements, her marches, and her salute are all picture-perfect too; Maria is, after all, something of a fanatic when it comes to SeeD training.]

[Somewhat less composed is her formal attire, which she has never been quite as good at, but she makes an appearance in a red dress that does amazing things for her figure, but has a silly flower deco on the waist which she keeps brushing by accident. Her swimsuit... well, it's a swimsuit. Nothing fancy at all to it. Maria is raw muscle and athleticism, so if you want T&A, you shoulda been paying attention back when Kory and Mikuru were up.]

That depends on why the countdown! If it's something I can help mitigate, like an explosion or a spell out of control or something, I'll do the best I can to make sure others survive it. If it's a person who managed to take me down somehow, I'm taking them down with me.

[She says that so cheerfully and yet with such casual venom...]

RAINBOW DASH

[wrnpcs]

Another one of your Homecoming Queen nominees, SeeD Rainbow Dash can drive every vehicle we have. Not everyone passes their SeeD field exam on the first try, but she did, with flying colors!

Personality question: Rank wealth, health, and family in order of importance.

[elementofloyalty]

[Rainbow enters in a blur, swooping over the audience just above head height before she turns several loops over the crowd playfully. Wings beating, she drops down to moonwalk across the stage, showing off her SeeD uniform with style and sass. When she reaches the other side, she flips backwards, then literally dives out of her uniform and into a fancy dress she has waiting to the side.]

Family, health, and wealth, no question!

CHESSY DELACREAUX

[wrnpcs]

Once upon a time, SeeD Chessy Delacreaux ran the gossip column in the newsletter, but now she puts her great sense of rumor to work as an intelligence operative.

Personality question: Who is your greatest inspiration?

Re: CHESSY DELACREAUX

[wrnpcs]

[Chessy, tall, dark and caked in mascara, swaggers down the catwalk like she owns it. Her necktie is askew and her salute is more like a lazy wave, but her high-heeled boots are positively gleaming.

She hardly bothers to change for the formalwear section, swapping out her jacket for a ruffly white blouse and her skirt for a slightly shorter pleated number. The jingling array of brightly-coloured bangles kitting out both of her wrists are sure to catch the eye, though. Maybe even someone's ear.

The bikini she brings to the swimwear category is a striking deep purple, complimenting her wavy black hair as it envelops her shoulders, but mostly it isn't there.

In the talent show, she clears her throat impressively, signals an impressionable-looking GFC member to fire up the music, and proceeds to beatbox for the entire three minutes. Judging by her smile as she finishes and takes a bow, she seems to think it's a lot more listenable than it really was.

She's equally casual as she contemplates the personality question, folding her arms and cocking her head.] Hmm, that's a tough one... I mean, there's so many different heartwarming clichés to choose from! [She laughs at her own joke, even if nobody else does.]

NATHAN DRAKE

[wrnpcs]

I was in a class with Cadet Nathan Drake last trimester, and let me tell you, he would rake up the information!

Personality question: What quality do you like most about yourself?

EDWARD ELRIC

[wrnpcs]

Last year, SeeD Edward Elric must have braid that he wouldn't be voted Homecoming Prince, but he didn't fall short on votes!

Personality question: Are you in favor of entertainment on television?

[rewritethis]

[There's no answer but the brisk autumn breeze rolling across the stage. What a surprise.

Did he even realise he was entered? Maybe someone should go and find him, just to let him know. He dares you.]

SIGYN FREYASDOTTER

[wrnpcs]

SeeD Sigyn Freyasdotter specializes in para-magic, which I know a lot of jokes about but I just couldn't decide witch to tell.

Personality question: What has been the happiest experience of your life?

[fotlenke]

[ Sigyn had been a little bewildered by her name being called -- what is a beauty pageant? -- but once things were explained, she did make her scheduled appearance with a smile and a wave. While she knows that she can wear her more provocative dresses after she finishes walking out in her SeeD uniform -- she is neither serious or silly when she is presented -- but she chooses to go barefoot in one of the many dresses from her closet that's been accumulated over the time she's spent in Garden. Her hair is down and she's put a little rouge to her lips to give them a soft tint.

Following the formal wear, she slips on her one beloved swimsuit. Again she goes barefoot. She walks out to the catwalk, stops, bends a little to give the audience a smile, and then turns back around and goes back to the front of the stage.

For the talent portion, she sings. She brings out a wooden stool, a guitar, and after seating herself on the stool, she starts to strum the strings as she sings a soft, hopeful song that builds and builds to the final chorus. When she's finished, she sets the guitar aside and rises from her seat and takes the skirts of her dress and curtsies -- and this time the curtsy is perfect.

When the personality question arrives, her face is thoughtful as she thinks. Finally after what feels like a minute, she says, ] I have had many wonderful experiences in my thousand years. My apologies, but I cannot answer, for I know too much happiness to chose only one. I may give an experience I had recently, in its stead? [ A sure smile. ] Passing my SeeD exam was certainly a blissful experience, as I was able to prove my worth to Garden as a warrior and earn the merit of attending the field.

YOSUKE HANAMURA

[wrnpcs]

This beauty pageant was all Cadet Yosuke Hanamura [that... was pretty butchered pronunciation]'s novel idea! Perhaps this is the start of a new chapter for Garden events.

Personality question: Given the chance to speak to everyone in this world, what would you say?

[windbreak]

[It may be Yosuke's brainchild, if not quite preserved in all its original glory, but on this momentous occasion, he's nowhere to be found. He definitely isn't going up on stage. No way. Not before he's managed to memorise the exact faces he needs to run away from. One day in a dress was enough for a lifetime, thanks.

Wait a minute, though - that tree in the middle of the quad, some distance behind most of the spectators but tall enough for a reasonable view of the stage, didn't it just rustle? And if you look a bit more carefully, doesn't one of the branches higher up seem to be wearing orange headphones? How mysterious.]

Sheesh, how come he was fine with Mikuru-san's? Isn't that a weirder name?

[Oh, whoops, that was supposed to be inner monologue. But his hiding place is a bit high up for him to worry about people overhearing him, so he'd better just calm down and enjoy the real show. ...He thinks, anyway.]

GAKUPO KAMUI

[wrnpcs]

SeeD Gakupo Kamui is one of the specialization advisers for bladed weapons - I hear he can really samurais swordsmanship for you!

[Most of the natives are just giving Russell a blank stare at this pun...]

Personality question: Do you believe in the saying, "you cannot impress everybody"?

HINE MCLEOD

[wrnpcs]

Cadet Hine McLeod specializes in covert operations and blunt weapons. She's sharper than her taiaha!

Personality question: What is your edge over the other contestants, and why?

[wrnpcs]

[A small, curly haired girl, Hine comes out looking mostly perfect, except the bow on her uniform is a bit crooked and she missed a few spots on her boots. These don't detract from her by-the-book salute, though.

[Ironically, she loosens up considerably for formalwear, almost bounding out onstage in a short and colorful dress and neon heels. She wobbles on the catwalk and trips, but laughs it off.

[Swimwear is an even more colorful halterneck bikini and another pair of neon heels.

[Her talent is playing a Sadie Pang song on the ukulele and singing, with audience participation welcome. Her uke playing is better than her voice.

[When it comes to the question, she listens keenly to Russ, then directs her answer to the Kramers:] My edge over the other contestants is my positive attitude! It makes me willing to give anything a try, laugh at myself, and face every day with a smile.

LIZZIE NEILL

[wrnpcs]

SeeD Lizzie Neill's just started her two year doctor and psychologist apprenticeship. It's sickening how smart she is!

Personality question: Describe your ideal romantic partner.

[wrnpcs]

[With her auburn hair in a large bun at the back of her head, Lizzie marches sharply onto the stage, careful on the catwalk. She is tall, with a neatly pressed uniform and shiny boots; her salute is crisp.

[Her formalwear dress is short and shimmery with long lace sleeves; the sharp-eyed may spot a white and red star tattoo on her ankle between the straps of her stilettos.

[She has taken the modest option for swimwear, donning a light blue one-piece with a cloudy patterned sarong around her hips.

[For her talent section, she drags Russell away from his mic and dances an elegant waltz with him. There are some tricks in there that definitely weren't from ballroom dancing class!

[She listens carefully to the personality question and pauses before answering, her face slowly lighting up with a smile.] I'm engaged to her, actually. My fiancee's a journalist currently on assignment in Trabia, and she's determined, clever, and sensitive to each other's feelings. Even over the distance, she's been my biggest supporter in deciding to take on the resident doctor and psychologist apprenticeship, and I fully support her following her writing dreams in Trabia. My ideal romantic partner is someone who helps me become a better person, and I do the same for her.

TOUMA NORSTEIN

[wrnpcs]

Dr. Touma Norstein is so close to finishing his doctor and psychologist apprenticeship that he'll soon be training SeeD Neill! He's been indoctorinated.

Personality question: What is the value that you hold dearest in life?

HELENA OSTER

[wrnpcs]

GFC member Cadet Helena Oster specializes in martial arts. She's your last nominee for Homecoming Princess, but her boyfriend informs me she's a princess to him already!

Personality question: What do you think could be your greatest contribution to Garden?

[wrnpcs]

[She's been hard at work if the number of flyers featuring her filter-obscured face inundating the cafeteria, lobby and any other public area of Garden lately are anything to go by, but that hasn't stopped Helena from skipping onto the catwalk with an oddly steely look in her eye, her slightly overlarge uniform accentuated with a pair of bold pink knee socks and discreetly shimmering ear studs.

For the formalwear part of the contest, she bounds onto the stage in... sequins. Lots and lots of sequins. The dress itself is knee-length, light blue and flattering, but it could probably blind an unwary onlooker, which may actually be intentional.

Her swimsuit is a modest green one-piece, but somehow she's managed to sneak some more sequins in, running up and down the straps.

She claims during the talent show portion that she's putting on a gymnastics performance - in that same sequin-saturated dress, no less - but mostly it seems to involve an awful lot of backflips, and not all of them are perfectly timed. Hope you weren't too close to the stage! And were wearing sunglasses, possibly.

The flub doesn't seem to faze her at all, though, and she takes the mic like a duck takes to water, hardly even waiting for Russell to finish.] It's hard to pick one, Russ! I'm proud of the work I've done with the newsletter guys and the GFC, I'm proud of the places I've been and the chance to be the face we show to the world, I'm proud of the friends I've made here for life... but most of all, I'm proud of you, Garden! Thank you.

PINKIE PIE

[wrnpcs]

Instructor Pinkie Pie is as sweet as her surname! I wanted to join her game of hide and go seek, but I just couldn't find the time.

Personality question: Why is science important?

ACE PORTGAS

[wrnpcs]

One of your nominees for Homecoming Prince, Cadet Ace Portgas recently gave out flowers for votes. I hear that plan blossomed nicely!

Personality question: If you were Commander of Garden, how would you make a difference?

Why does he never take anythign serious?!

[mera_mera_ace]

Hmm...If I were a Commander of Garden I suppose my first issue to tackle would be making shirts optional. I hate wearing them and I hate being forced to wear them even more. I would also try and change the class system. No more curfew or early wake up on weekends. That's just rude.

I'm also pretty good at strategy and tracking, I like to think I would be of great assistance during missions as well.