JUDAS - L. GARMADON

SHOWTIME

cw: flirting , tension (??) , implied murder , mention of dead bodies , sexual implications

"The disappearances are increasing."

[Name] looked up from her middle splits, having been stretching out her muscles in preparation for her upcoming task. "Have they?"

Gabi nodded, her eyes flitting across the paper with a hand to her earpiece. "Increase in activity near Jamanakai Village, think you can add that to the message?"

"Think?" [Name] scoffed, laughing as she pressed all her weight into her hands before flipping up in a front walkover, grabbing her masquerade mask. "I know I can."

Her agent smiled, shaking her head as she patted the dancer's shoulder. "Hey, good luck okay? You're on in five."

The dancer smiled, blowing her a kiss as she pulled away and walked towards the stage entrance. "I don't need luck."

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[Name] inhaled deeply, adjusting the ribbon on her pointe shoes as she waited in the right stage wing, hearing excited chatter in the diner. All of them, waiting to see her. Here for her. All eyes on her.

"And now presenting the one, the only, the graceful lady of our dreams, The Muse!!!" The announcer's voice rang out on the speakers, and the chatter turned into shouts, booming applause and hundreds of people screaming her name.

[Name] grinned, putting her mask over her eyes as the music played.

God did she miss this.

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Accompanied by his friends, Lloyd Garmadon walked into the bar, red eyes scanning the gathered crowd. Jay nudges his side, and he glances at him, seeing the rest of his friends already seated. He quickly followed, not before stealing a drink from the bar.

"—a dance show?" Lloyd heard the end of Kai's question as he sat down, phrased with a scowl on the brunette's face. "Waste of time."

Past Lloyd would've protested, scolding Kai for being so rude to the dancer. However, he just couldn't bring himself to care anymore. He ran his tongue along the backings of the snake bite piercings he had, clicking his tongue. "We're here to find a... volunteer," Lloyd reminded vaguely, a faint of a smirk ghosting his lips as he looked around the room and adjusted his leather jacket. "One that doesn't taste like shit."

"You're just here because of that dancer you think is—OW!" Jay yelped, having been smacked on the back of his head by Cole's hand.

"Jaaay," Cole scolded, shaking his head in mock disapproval, though there was a darker glint in his eyes. "It's not Lloyd's fault he's got preferences now. It's like how I love different types of cake."

Lloyd smirked, leaning back in his chair, the faintest twitch of amusement on his lips. "Thank you, Cole. At least someone gets it."

Kai snorted, crossing his arms. "Right, 'preferences.' More like Lloyd just can't handle the cheap stuff anymore."

Lloyd's gaze flicked toward Kai, his red eyes narrowing playfully. "Keep talking, and I'll make sure you end up volunteering."

Jay let out a nervous laugh, glancing between them. "Yikes, someone's touchy. Maybe we should stick to just dancing, huh?"

Cole shrugged, still calm, but with that same eerie coolness. "Let's just get this over with. No need to drag out the fun all night."

Lloyd's smile sharpened. "Where's the fun in that?"