The Show Must Go On

[Avis]

"Yeah, sure," Avis replied, looking away from Cut, hands finding their way into her pockets. One of them hopefully holding the card. Yes, as drained as she felt, she still remembered the silly game. Maybe it was because she subconsciously needed something to distract her from the recent duel, or maybe it was because Cut had basically shoved a reminder of the game into her face. Either way, she wasn't giving up on that challenge. It was a good thing Cut seemed to like wearing the hat, cause if she had her way he'd have to wear it again.

Of course, that wasn't important right now. There was talk of Banners happening. And light-bulbs were apparently being changed? Weird. Had they done something to piss Mandy off? Avis just mentally shrugged and studied the suggested sigil. She didn't really see the Veil part, but she saw the arrow, the four points, and it's two halves, and that seemed like a damn good sigil her. Besides, it looked like something Asp could wear around town, which was important.

"I like it, but I don't think my vote really counts. What do you think, Banner Warden? You're the one who has to show it off," Avis said, trying to force a smile onto her face. She hadn't lied before. Asp was the perfect choice for the Banner Warden. It was just hard not to be selfish, sometimes.

   5 successes to steal the card. 1 success to hide it

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-06-22 19:11:21		Avis rolls 6 to hide the card (10 Again)		7, 5, 7, 3, 10, 7, 3		1 success
2014-06-22 19:07:45		Avis rolls 6 to propeller hat (dex+larc) (10 Again)		9, 8, 2, 1, 10, 10, 9, 2		5 successes

[Star]

Welp. He hadn't noticed a lift. He hoped she'd taken the opp. She needed a win. And, because.

"Well, uh. So. That's everyone? It's A Thing? Our thing?" he asked, waving the paper.

"So. Soooo. I have another small announcement! AN ANNOUNCEMENT!" he yelled the last bit at Mandy.

Changing light bulbs? Really? Come on.

"Since, uh, we may or may not take a theme? I'm thinking movies would be cool because of the theater. So, I'm totes gonna run with that. The Last Starfighter. That's my new Shadow Name. Totally."

He bowed.

"But, you know, just call me Star. For short."

[Zodiac]

If she'd rolled her eyes any harder at Cut's words she was pretty sure she was going to pull something, but that didn't stop her from climbing the ladder and beginning to change lightbulbs. Really. Movie names? It was lucky enough as far as she was concerned that he hadn't chosen Casino Royale - or simply James Bond.

Her shadow name suited her fine. It held some degree of meaning and literary value. And he wanted... movies? Really? The hell was that about? She didn't even know what she'd call herself if it came to that actually being... a thing.

... if she left it to those idiots she'd end up being Indiana Jones - if they even were that well versed, and they didn't pawn off Lara Croft on her or something like that - and yet... if she could beat them to it... Oh god, if she voiced this her new 'name' would be Zoey. Shit. Was she okay with that...?

"Zodiac," she responded from her place, firmly, but not loudly. "Zoey, so as not to call attention to the name."

[Avis]

"Wait, what? Who changes shadow-names? That's like, not just a nickname, ya know?" Avis blurted out, feeling blindsided by the whole idea. Who did that? That wasn't cool, was it? Fuck, she needed to get some sleep or something. Except her body didn't feel tired. Just the rest of her being. Losing a duel fucking sucked.

[Star]

whoa

"Zoey!"

That was a surprise. Mandy... wait, no, Zoey, changing hers. The whole literary reference? Totally was her. Zodiac. Was that a movie thing? He'd have to google it. But... Zoey? Little... bouncy...

"Huh? What? Who... doesn't?"

The question directed at Avis had genuine confusion. Smiley's People, yo.

"Superhero names are totally nicknames. And, uh, so totally disposable."

Someone needed to beat her Smiley's butt. For reals. Because.

Maybe she was just... tired? Need to ask, yo. Later.

He shrugged at Asp. "Oh. It wasn't, like, a suggestion for everyone? But, you know, it's something to think about. If we ever, uh... you know. Stop doing the 'No Strings' thing. Because Rituals. Not names. But a theme."

A hand drifted to his pocket. Just to check.

[Zodiac]

Mandy--- Zoey, she corrected mentally, paused to sit at the top of her ladder for a moment, looking at the trio with a little smile. "Actually, changing Shadownames is not uncommon," she explained, as she was prone to do, "though I can't state whether or not there's actual proof of it all, there are many theories and observations that if you become too familiar with your shadow name and identify with it too strongly, it can become your True Name, making the point of having it rather useless.

"One of my acquaintances changes his name with the seasons like some sort of ritual - but, I guess that's Thyrsi for you - and this... well, my changing my shadow name... it's about time, I suppose. I was getting too familiar with Mandy," she chuckled, before turning again to replace the last of the lightbulbs at that location, pulling out the duster. "So I suppose it depends on how you think of things, and what you want to believe. Erring on the side of caution isn't usually a bad idea."

[Avis]

Holy fuck! That was right! If you kept a name too long, or identified with it too strongly, it could still act as sympathy for you. Which was horrible! She had her shadow-name on her ID. For over a year (or was it two, now?) she'd bonded with her shadow-name, merging it with her psyche until her old name was just a figment of the past, dust in the attic. It had been to protect herself, but ironically, it was potentially making her even more vulnerable.

That was unacceptable.

"Your right," Avis said, looking worried. She crossed over to the chair Mandy (Zoey?) had originally pulled out for her and fell into it, one hand moving up to rub at her eyes. Goddammit. She wasn't in any condition to find a new shadowname now. Of course they would pick now to choose something that important! Hey, you've just had your will fucking obliterated by the Terminator! Let's choose a sigil, symbolic ritual themes, and new shadownames right now! Yeah! Thumbs up!

"Fuck. You're right, new shadownames might be a good idea. But I have two questions that I need answered first. One: why'd you choose Asp," she demanded, dropping her hand and staring at the aforementioned Talon, "and two: how would movies work as a ritual theme?" The last she directed at no one in particular. They'd probably all have an answer.