"Sally, Sally, Sally…" Itvasme caressed the name around her mouth as she licked her lips, causing the more sensitive in the audience to shudder involuntarily on Sally's behalf.
"Don't say her name!"
"Yeah, stop that now!!!"
"-Or what?!" Itvasme retorted.
*those audience members gasp*
"…!!!!"
"-Did Itvasme... just... talk back to us?!?!"
"… 'Pon my word!!!"
"The cheek, the nerve, the gumption!!!"
Seeing that things were escalating, Author hastily interjected.
"Uh… Sorry, Itvasme, we can't have you doing that. The esteemed readers are number one, you know that…"
He coughed meaningfully.
"…After all, It's a powerstone economy you see…" he explained, ignoring the dramatic irony that he and the readers were in fact now coercing the Grand Dark Rizzard using the discreet pressure created by the magical valuable artifacts…!!!
"Oh. Oh all right then." Itvasme said feeling her villainous soul lose a little more life, but immediately understanding the situation - never bite the hand that feeds (or spanks) you right…!!!
That said, the esteemed Audience wasn't so simple and there were of course people - avid attendees - with different viewpoints.
"No, actually, it's okay." A kind and extremely 'woke' reader, Ms Socielle Activisté, primly spoke up.
"The Dark Rizzards are clearly an oppressed minority… we should give them their say! It's a free country after all."
At this, another audience member, Isgone Toofár, added their bit to the suddenly interesting debate.
"…But what if that 'freedom of choice' is negatively affecting others?!"
Actually, this was a thought provoking point.
Just where exactly did freedom end and tyranny begin?
Or to be more precise, what exactly did 'negatively affecting others' mean in a world where people were getting increasingly easily offended, and it was a matter of interpretation?!?!
Of course, things that caused clear harm like killing and direct physical and mental and spiritual abuse were clearly wrong and not to be tolerated.
That said. With the way things were going… Would even saying someone's name in a manner that that particular person didn't like be considered verbal abuse, and even a criminal offense?!?!
"Uh, that's great, very interesting... uh, let's save it for the paragraph and chapter comments shall we?"
Author clapped his hands and gave the invested audience a comforting pat and some refreshments on the house - compliments of your Powerstone contributions, thank you very much for your support !!! 🤭✨🔥💖
Indeed. Regardless of this sudden fascinating fleeting thought, the show(down) had to go on!
"Sally, Sally, Sally," Itvasme said in a more neutral manner without the name-around-the-mouth rinsing and lip licking…
"Author!!!" Some of the audience still weren't satisfied with the way Sally's name was getting used. It made them uncomfortable, like an icky feeling you know...
"Itvasme, you heard the esteemed readers…"
Author threw out the phrase without looking up, since he was having fun writing the showdown at his desk…!!!
*Itvasme sighs…*
"Sally, Sally, Sally." Itvasme said with barely a trace of expression.
"-Can we continue now?!"
"-Aaaand that's what I'm talking about. Y-You're bullying her and them, a minority group!!!"
Socielle slammed her petite hand on her audience armrest, feeling a sense of empathy at Itvasme's feelings being hurt.
"-Who's the sweet summer child now?!" Itsgone couldn't help himself, not having as much sympathy for Itvasme - they were villains doing the wrong thing, after all!
Suddenly, Itvasme and Sally were not the only ones in an altercation...!!! And Socielle and Itsgone began to bicker and tangle, causing them to be taken out by the 'big men' who had 'taken care of' Pep-Z Guy earlier…
"..."
*ahem* Itvasme coughed and continued awkwardly before regaining her Grand Dark Rizzard mojo.
"Anyway, where was I? Oh yes. Sally, Sally, Sally… You thought you had it all figured out. And even now, you think that you'll win this bout…" She said, cleverly calling out the cliché to add to the anticipation, and causing Author and the esteemed audience to second guess themselves even as they read on, riveted to find out what happened next?!?!!!!
"But guess what, or who, is in fact awaiting at the end of all of this, wearing the victor's crown, and you, nothing but a cute little frown?!?!"
"That's right!!! Itvasme!!! Dio!!!!"
"???? Uhhh… Who?!?!"
Ignoring the fact that Itvasme had inadvertently quoted her own twin brother in a phrase that had not ended well for him, Sally honestly had no idea who this Dark Rizzard person was!!!
Hmm... now she thought about it, maybe she may have come across the name earlier somewhere or other, but still...
This was because it turned out that even though she technically knew of the Dark Rizzard faction, most of her time had in fact been spent on curing incurable cancers, starring in shows as a leading Actress, Singer, being a global Icon, and coming up with technological breakthroughs like the EVP Technology and the Endless Freedom Project, as well as keeping up to date with her double life as Allie, her circle of 'fellow Queens' at University, not to mention keeping tabs with her research on 'interesting guys' as well as occasionally thinking especially more about a certain 'That Guy' who may or may not have been called Bob - and all in all doing Ice Queen Sally things…
-and so, she understandably didn't really, I mean *really*, have time to look too much into the exact particulars of exactly who this Grand Dark Rizzard person or other was...
Itvasme hesitated upon seeing Sally's non-plussed expression, ignoring the gnawing sensation eating her from within that despite over 200 chapters since her introduction, the FL still didn't seem to fully know who she was?!?! But whatever. It was something. Progress, she supposed. Small wins I guess?!
"You brought it upon yourself, you know…" Itvasme continued to continue.
"What do you mean…?!"
Itvasme sneered. "Check your phone, Ice Princess!!! You should surely have got the news by now!"
Oh yeah! Sally suddenly checked her phone, which she hadn't actually looked at for a bit since she was busy freezing Dark Rizzards into Icypoles and doing the showdown after all. It had a whole bunch of missed calls and messages as usual.
But in particular, there was a message from Auntie Bing!!!
"Dear Sally. ARSES members Jon, Clive, Jemima, Fergus, and Lazarus are now safe and secure. Lazarus' piece of the Blueprint appears to have gone missing. The Dark Rizzards have gotten their hands on 4 out of 5 of the Blueprints. It's up to you whether you want to take down the Dark Rizzards. For me, you know your safety is the priority as always... Anyway, make sure to eat on time and take care of yourself dear xoxo Love, Auntie Bing 💙💜💖✨"
Sally mentally processed and noted Empress Bing Qi Ling's message, but of course being the FL, she was unfazed and in fact slowly smiled!!!
"-Yes. Itvasme, You're right. The old me would have done the 'safe' thing, been risk averse and avoided this showdown."
"That said. I realised something. That in the end, I should take a more proactive, courageous approach, because some things are worth fighting for. Some things are worth protecting. Yes the ARSES are safe… but what about the other people in the world who might be affected by your improper use of the EVP Technology?!?!
"This is why, so long as you harbour malicious, evil intent… you, the Dark Rizzards - and others who don't respect the sacredness of Human Life - must be stopped!!!"
"…This… is true freedom!!!"