Chapter 83: Reunited At Last
[Scene: 12:45. The park at Cat Rock, which straddles the border between Black Moon Cove and the rest of Hen Tie. ]
[The Blackmoons are enjoying a picnic. Blankets are spread out on the grass with baskets of wine and fruit, cheese, bread and pate and other delicacies.]
[The Blackmoons are grouped like ducks. A few are paired off and sitting two to a blanket, but for the most part it is larger groups. One man with anywhere from two to five women, or one woman with anywhere from two to five men.]
[A few Blackmoons, in white shirts, thin ties, and black slacks are acting as servers, uncorking bottles, handing out warm towelettes and clearing away debris for the other Blackmoons. Each is also wearing a holstered handgun. These Blackmoons have either faint or incomplete moons on their foreheads, while the Blackmoons in groups with multiple members of the opposite sex have the darkest moons.]
[There is one table, facing the other picnickers. At the center is a microphone, and in the largest and most ornate chair is King Demande with his scepter at his side. At his left is his cousin Esmeraude, and at his right is his brother Saffir. They do not have a basket, but instead are being served by the Blackmoon waitstaff. There is a hopper nearby, the type they use for Bingo games.]
[It might almost seem like a corporate teambuilding event, if it weren't the old fashioned whipping post at the center of the grounds. And a long table nearby covered with common household objects: whips, paring knives, box cutters, pliers, drills, blowtorches, bottles of drain cleaner, power sanders, nail-guns, safety pins, liquid nitrogen, crowbars, icepicks, baseball bats, etc… Anything that might inflict a lot of pain on a person without killing him outright.]
[Kunzite and Neffy are standing on the outskirts, watching with their arms crossed over their chest. They are still wearing the chain, of course. The Blackmoons are ignoring them like they aren't even there.]
[Eventually, Saffir Blackmoon taps his glass with a fork and speaks into the microphone.]
Saffir: Everyone. If I can get your attention. My brother is ready to lead off the festivities.
Demande: [Places down his wineglass speaks into the microphone] Welcome everyone, to our first annual Torturepoolza. Due its special nature, I anticipate this will be a one time thing. But you never know…if today's event proves as much of a crowd-pleaser as I think it will, we might find a way to make this into an annual event.
Kunzite: [chuckles under his breath] Oh I can promise you that nothing like this will ever happen again.
[Demande smiles as if he was paid an especially kind compliment]
Demande: Let's extend a warm Blackmoon welcome to our guest of honor. The man who put the homo in homicidal maniac: Kunzite O'Sama!
[There are a few polite golf claps, but for the most part the Blackmoons continue to ignore him.]
Neffy: Listen to me! All of you! He's not playing around! He's got a plan! And he's about three misfiring synapses away from going into full lunatic mode so you need to turn that little brat over to him unharmed or we're all going to die today!
Saffir: We?
[A scold's bridle appears on Neffy]
Kunzite: You talk too much.
Demande: On that note, let's bring out the condemned.
[A couple of Blackmoon's lead out Zoi. He's shirtless and his hairband is gone and his hair is a mess. His head is down, but he looks more angry than frightened. But his entire demeanor changes when he sees Kunzite.]
Zoi: KUNZITE! [screams with excitement like he just won a new car on a gameshow] You came back for me!
Kunzite: Of course, I came back for you.
[Kunzite tries to keep up his stern demeanor, but when he sees Zoi, his heart melts and he smiles back just as fondly]
Zoi: [grinning from ear to ear] I was so sure I'd never see you again.
Kunzite: They aren't going to hurt you. As soon as they try anything, we're going to wipe them from the Earth. You have to have faith in me.
[Zoi just stares adoringly at him, as if trying to take in as much of him as he can.]
Kunzite: In a few minutes you will be safe in my arms. And after that, I will never leave your side again. I swear upon my honor we will never spend another night apart from each other.
Esmeraude: He's bluffing!
Zoi: I don't even care! He came back for me, and that's all that matters.
Kunzite: I'm not bluffing.
Zoi: It doesn't matter to me if you are. You came back. This is a good day. Nothing they can do to me now will change that.
[Zoi continues to gaze at Kunzite adoringly over one shoulder as they lead him to the post and string the chain between his handcuffs. When they grab his hands he screams in pain]
[Neffy strains forward like a dog on a leash, but Kunzite pulls him back.]
Zoi: [To Kunzite] I think my thumb is broken.
Kunzite: I'll have Beryl fix it for you, as soon as I can.
[As they hoist the chain to raise his arms, Zoi gives Kunzite a sad look]
Zoi: Kunzite. They took my ring.
Kunzite: We have your ring. They brought it to your father's house.
Zoi: [smiles through the pain] Do you still have the one I gave you?
Kunzite: Of course, I do.
[Kunzite hikes up his pantleg to show it to him.]
Kunzite: I'll wear it forever.
[Zoi is now smiling with pure joy and adoration.]
Zoi: I missed you.
Kunzite: I know, Zoisite. Believe me, I know. It's like they've taken half of my soul away with you.
Zoi: [bats his eyes coquettishly] Come and get it, then.
Kunzite: Soon, as soon as I possibly can. But first I will make them pay for this.
Zoi: I love you.
Kunzite: Could you believe, despite everything I've put you through, I love you too?
Zoi: Yes, I can, actually.
Kunzite: I'll be with you soon.
Zoi: I'll be waiting.
Esmeraude: Oh, my god! This is so sickening! You two crazies deserve each other!
[Kunzite and Zoi ignore her and continue to gaze at each other adoringly.]
Demande: That's enough of that. We need to get this party started, so someone get up there and give the hopper a spin.
[Nobody moves]
Esmeraude: Koan! Get up there and give the hopper a spin.
[Koan smiles and saunters up to the bingo cage. She gives it a turn of the crank and everyone's anxiety evaporates as she draws out a name.]
Koan: SAFFIR. You're up first.