Brood of a New Age Chapter 115: 115 - Aftermath 2, a gargoyles fanfic

Brood of a New Age

115.

Following the last text passage is a music note: The reader can already pick out the video/song to start it at this section (or can ignore the music altogether). It is just an accompaniment.

Final song for Nash and the clan: Trying Too Hard (Central Park Cast, Emmy Raver - Lampman, Michael James Scott)

Youtube: Trying Too Hard (Lyric Video | Apple TV+) - 3.19 min

Nashville felt his clan members lurking behind him, watching him. He heard them whispering.

Of course they were on edge. Damn - what was HE going to say then? But he would watch that recording again. And he would wheedle Xanatos into getting copies of it - on video and CD, of course. He couldn't believe how bad Graziella looked on this recording. So that no one who didn't know her face inside out (like he did) would ever recognize her. And at the same time - she was SO beautiful. A marble angel ... it looked like that through the dust. And just her blood - and his blood - the most striking splashes of color in the pictures. The other scenes were very moving - but he only had eyes for Graziella. If that was all he got from her for a year or two until she came back, he would study the footage until his eyes bled.

He was glad that he had survived. And even happier that Graziella had survived, even if the fact that she wasn't with him hurt him. He missed her so terribly. He wouldn't even be able to write to her - he didn't have her new address. Would she write to him? Even if she did write - would Owen or the other Gargoyles give him these letters? He was supposed to behave normally. Strong. Not like a baby (well - Lex hadn't put it that way, but that was the gist of what he'd said). Graziella would also want him to be strong. He wanted to be cool - even when she wasn't around. He would control himself. He promised himself that even if he wanted to curl up in a ball - preferably petrify, months and years - until she kissed him awake like ... well - like the prince had kissed Sleeping Beauty awake. Strange thoughts, but they were only in his head.

Judging by the footage, he really had almost kicked the bucket. And now - a week later - he was sitting here. His body almost felt normal again. Except for this feeling of pressure on his chest. But that was just the sadness - Lex had explained that to him. It would fade. His body was no longer stone, his joints no longer creaked. Sometimes the small limbs on the tips of his wings, normal fingers or toes would fall asleep, but the tingling and stinging reminded him that he was alive.

He was also glad that he no longer had to stay in the rookery wedged between his relatives, even if this "nest warmth" had done him SO much good for the first two nights, it was somehow awkward as soon as he felt better. Hudson had called it nest warmth. Psychological support was what Lex had called it. Gargoyles could wither away without Clan, could turn crazy - like Demona. Nobody wanted that. But sometimes there was too much cuddling. Especially when he had the impression that everyone's mind was somewhere else. And now he understood why. The whole world had seen this recording? Where he almost died? Where he was handing out brow nudges to his relatives, praying and crying? Damn, that was embarrassing. Moving - but embarrassing. Hopefully the criminals wouldn't make fun of him if he was ever allowed to be a guardian again.

His hands felt so empty without the rabbit he had had to leave in his room. He wanted to get back there as quickly as possible, breathe in Graziella's scent over Grigio and stare at their photo together with the Statue of Liberty in the background. But he sensed from the growing impatience of the Gargoyles and humans behind him that something big was about to happen. Just one more ... look at the shot. He was about to press the rewind button when his father took the remote from him.

"Okay, champ. You can watch the recording again later."

Nashville took a deep breath. Don't be a baby, he told himself. Be normal. No one should worry about him. He didn't need any more nesting. He felt okay. He was okay. Okayokayokay.

"Okay, Brooklyn."

He lifted his head with that painfully dishonest smile - but lost even that when he saw his father. Obviously he'd changed while Nashville had been mesmerized by the footage.

"What are you wearing?" Nash asked and laughed. It was an honest laugh - because his dad looked SO weird, almost ridiculous.

"You look like a human! Is this for Halloween?"

His father - no longer in a breastplate and loincloth but in dark suit pants and an equally dark shirt with the embroidery of a Japanese samurai on his chest - let his ears and wings droop.

"That bad?" he asked uncertainly.

Xanatos stepped up beside him.

"Oh please, Nash- a human would want a custom-made outfit like that. Alone until we figured out the cut for the tailors to be able to close the clothes over the back so no buttons get ripped off. And a piece like this is more of an investment in the future."

Brooklyn turned his head away in disgust as Xanatos put an arm around his shoulder with that patronizing grin.

"You're lucky the CIA is keeping my weapons for study until they approve them for me again. Don't make it worse than it is, Xanatos," he growled and the millionaire broke away from him with a chuckle. His mom stepped up to Brooklyn and she was still wearing a Japanese-inspired outfit like before - but a brand new one that looked very upscale and classy. She wasn't carrying any of her weapons either. Not even the battle fans.

She tugged at Brooklyn's shirt collar, who looked like he would endure being preened by his mother before going to church on Sunday.

"I think you look very handsome, Otōsan. Don't listen to your cheeky hatchling."

"Why do you have new clothes? And so ... weird ones."

He looked behind him to where Goliath was just coming out of a small side room wearing a sour face. He was also dressed in human clothes. It sat perfectly and Elisa - who was also in civilian clothes but not in her red leather jacket but in a stylish blouse and trousers with legs so wide that they looked like a skirt - whispered comforting words to him and how good he looked, but Nashville was now more disturbed than amused.

"What's going on?" he asked, wanting his bunny to hold on to.

Fox stepped into the room. She looked fantastic. Like her husband in formal wear - not quite as fancy evening wear as when they went to the theater or a fundraiser but extremely good. Her gaze was very evaluative as she scrutinized Goliath and Elisa, then Brooklyn and Katana. When her eyes fell on Nashville, she frowned (without frowning, because Fox Xanatos didn't have any wrinkles even when she frowned).

"You have not changed yet?" she stated almost reproachfully but not to Nash but to the adults.

"We were just about to explain it to him," his mother informed her.

"Good, because everyone is waiting. They still think we're hiding him," said Fox.

"They think right," Brooklyn grumbled and Goliath glared at Fox, which the billionaire's wife brushed off with a cheeky, superior smirk.

"Nash-chan," Katana said, reclaiming his attention as she pulled him to his feet and led him away from the couch to join the others.

"The last week has been very hectic. Everyone knows about us now."

"Yes. You explained that to me. But why-"

"It can't go on like this... the humans... we seem to be in their favor right now."

"Yes. I understood that. But why the clothes?"

"Out there," Goliath said, getting down on one knee and placing his mighty hands on his shoulders. Nashville smiled at his clan leader's attention but Goliath's gentle insistent tone was ... worrisome.

"Nashville. Out there. In the courtyard. There are a lot of humans right now."

He felt his smile fade.

"What, why? Has something bad happened?"

"Quite the opposite. Xanatos let them in. He invited them in."

"Do we have to hide?"

Goliath smiled and looked ... desperate and conflicted. As if he really wanted to hide. But Gargoyles only hid from enemies when it was absolutely necessary. And certainly not the mighty Goliath.

"These humans no longer want us to hide. They even want to see us. And talk to us. That's why the clothes. So as not to ... alienate them. A lot of them ... even like us after the recordings. You and your clansmen have softened their hearts a little. You changed the future, Nashville. I don't know what you saw in the future on your time travels. But it can't be the same future as the one we're facing now thanks to them and you. You ... are truly a divergence,' Goliath said, struggling a little with the impersonal word but smiling, his deep bass voice sounding pleased and proud.

Xanatos raised a finger in the background.

"Castaway has gone into hiding for the time being. But even when he comes back his group will be weakened - they won't get back on their feet. Not if we play our cards well now. The only people who still openly hate Gargoyles - especially you - are my employees down in the mail department. Because mail for the clan and for you has been coming in for five days."

"What? We're getting mail?"

"More than eleven thousand letters from kids who want to be your friends."

"Nashville. This is a new situation for all of us. And we're sorry we have to expose you to it," his father said, looking absolutely miserable.

Nashville nodded and his heart fluttered a little.

"But ... that's great! That - that's what we wanted. That people like us and listen to you. That ... other children want to be my friends. That we're no longer freaks to them. That's cool."

"There are different ways of looking at it," his father grumbled and received a grim look from his mother. Nashville placed a hand on his chest - careful not to pierce the strangely normal fabric - and attempted an understanding smile.

"I don't mind if you dress like that. Please go, I'll be good. I really am. Really."

"Nashville. It's not just about us. People out there want to see YOU."

"Me?"

"They've seen the footage and it ends with Brooklyn pulling you out of the rubble. Everyone wants to see that you're okay. You've aroused a lot of sympathy with your likeable, sincere manner in the footage."

Nash bowed his head bashfully. He wasn't used to so much praise.

"I didn't do anything special."

"Sometimes that's not even necessary. Sometimes all that's needed is the truth. And no one was more truthful than you."

"Okay," Fox said, "let's get down to business, because the media is going to be beating down our doors, and we shouldn't make the mayor and the governor wait until the day after tomorrow to shake your hand."

"The governor?" Nash's jaw almost dropped to the floor. He should do what? Shake the governor's hand? This human even wanted that?

"I think even Miss New York is out there to give you a peck in front of the cameras," Xanatos purred, making all the gargoyles and even Elisa growl!

"Fox - David - that's a bit fast," Katana said diplomatically despite the former mercenary and now high-society lady's domineering behavior. Fox argued in the same spirit.

"I also wish we could have waited another week. But the voices that gargoyles want nothing to do with humans are getting louder. We have to ride the sympathy wave while we're on top. If we give the media what they want now, we'll get the most out of it for you and the whole gargoyle race. I know that - I'm from this industry. I've organized everything here and it has to be tonight or it will be detrimental."

"We said we would discuss this with the whole clan. Each clan member must decide for themselves," said Goliath. Still with his paws on his shoulders, he looked at him with a fatherly smile.

"Nashville. We've already discussed this in the clan. But no matter what Fox or Xanatos say, the decision whether you step in front of those humans out there is yours alone. Everyone in the clan was allowed to decide for themselves and no one will force you to do anything."

"Me? I ... should decide?"

Nash looked back and forth between his parents and his clan leader and Elisa. They were all smiling. His mother nodded. He knew how special it was that the decision about the situation ... and his future was left to him. It proved to him that he was just as capable of making decisions as any other member of the clan. It showed respect, trust, love of his clan for him and he believed Goliath when he affirmed that his decision would not be held against him no matter what he decided. But even though they tried not to give off any pressure, Nash knew how they had all decided. Damn it, they were wearing human clothes! They were already blending in. Just the thought of standing in front of all these humans made him sick. He wanted friends. He wanted the humans to stop rejecting them. But ... he was free to decide for himself whether to go out there or not? If he chose not to show himself to the humans. Not to play this game... it would separate him from his clan again. And he needed them. Without Graziella now more than ever.

He kneaded his wingtip uncertainly - for lack of Grigio.

"Would it really help the Gargoyle race if I went out there? If I let those ... reporters take my pictures and they see that I'm okay?"

"Oh, it would be more than that," Xanatos said. "Pack Media Studios has already set up a PR department for gargoyles and especially for you. Next week you'll be on Oprah, where you and Marshall will report on your experiences under the rubble. And the following week you get to swing the bat at the Yankees in a full stadium. Before the actual game. At the end of the year, the person of the year award - you're nominated."

Nashville automatically found his mom's wing.

"You want me to appear on television? And before a baseball game? When the stadium is full? While the bright lights are on?" Nashville thought of the bright lights that had shone on him from all sides in the cage at Graziellas Mansion. And how the three henchmen Dracons had gawked at him and how Pal Joey had poked him with the stick. The thought alone made him hot. Everyone would see him. No shadow to hide in. He cleared his throat, but that thick lump of phlegm in his throat just wouldn't go away. And this pressure on his heart. The air in the room suddenly seemed too little. He wanted to glide. He wanted to fly far away - preferably across the Atlantic to Italy.

His father rubbed the back of his neck, but his voice was cold and directed at Fox. "It's too early. And too much. He can't do this. We're not going to push him out to those humans if he doesn't go with it one hundred percent."

"I ... don't want to force him either," Fox murmured a little more gently. "If ... maybe we can organize a little interview at the castle tomorrow. Just one reporter - maybe Marshall. And Nash between Katana and you to make him feel safe. But ... the people of the world need to see that he's all right. They're starving for it."

Nashville jerked his head up and stared at Fox. She stared back - perplexed by his reaction.

"May- may I talk to you alone for a minute, Fox?"

She exchanged quick glances with her husband and the clan members, then smiled and held her hand out to him. "Of course, Nashville. Let's go to the next room."

As the door clicked shut behind them - in the room from which Goliath had also come and where clothes rails hung with many items of clothing, Nash pulled his landlady into the far corner. He knew how good gargoyle ears were and he knew that his parents and Goliath and Elisa loved him and would eavesdrop. That's why he whispered.

"You really think that if I move among humans like they want me to-. If I do the program things like this Oprah interview and the baseball game - that that will help all the Gargoyles around the world?"

Fox looked at him for a long moment. Then she nodded with her high-caliber smile that had nothing wolfish about it.

"Yes, I really believe that, Nash. We - the media department is flooded with requests for the clan for appearances or advertising deals. We'll never wave any nonsense through. And discuss everything with each of you. But the more you show up - and look like you don't mind - the more people get used to the idea of sharing the world with gargoyles. You can continue to be protectors if Washington knits the laws accordingly ... but you must also ... be ambassadors. For your entire race. You are the first and that is a burden. I didn't want to give the impression that you absolutely have to do that. But ..."

Nashville nodded, but that wasn't really his greatest interest. It was just a side effect. Now came the important question.

"If I do everything you and this media department want, will every one of my appearances be broadcast in Italy? Everywhere in Italy?"

Fox pierced him with her gaze again. Trying to figure out what he was talking about. Then she seemed to get it.

"Yes. That can be arranged. But ... we have to regulate your appearances. We mustn't flood the market or people will get tired of you. A little more every year. A series, a comic. Maybe Merchandise, games, puppets. Maybe a book of Clan adventures - only what you want to share, of course, and what won't get the Clan and my family into trouble."

Nashville nodded, feeling bigger and stronger on his own because he might be seen by Graziella whenever he performed. Wherever she was.

"I need to learn new things too," Nash muttered.

Fox tilted her head.

"Like what?"

"... Dancing - dance steps, and other things that humans do. What those different knives and forks are for when you go to a nice restaurant. You know that, you're wealthy, right? How to make yourself ... behave humanely - I mean behave well."

"You mean table manners and high society etiquette?"

"Yes." Nash smiled - genuinely for the first time since Graziella had left. Graziella would be back. And she had promised to dance with him. And she had promised to take him to a fancy restaurant. She wanted to change for him. It was only right that he changed too. To be perfect for her. So that she wouldn't be ashamed of him. And why not model himself on the people of the high class? Graziella was only eight and was already high class. She deserved only the best.

Fox- after trying to figure him out for a few more moments, but not letting on whether she had succeeded, nodded. "I'll take care of these things myself," she promised.

Just the thought that Fox would give him the chance to be seen and perfect filled him with so much affection that he pulled her down to him and pressed his brow arch against her forehead.

"Thank you, Aunt Fox. I trust you to look after us and me, you're the expert." He broke away from her, not even noticing her red face despite the make-up and her surprised look at his serious declaration of trust because he had already turned to the clothes racks.

"What of this stuff should I wear?"

"God, these clothes make me itch." Broadway stuck his claw into the collar of his shirt and tried to undo the top button.

Angela pulled his hand away.

"You wore a full-body lion costume on Halloween. This is hardly any different."

Where Broadway wore brown jeans and a shirt, Angela was wearing a pretty knee-length white dress. Fox had trusted her to pick out something to wear herself from the pieces tailored for the clan within the last week where the male Gargoyles had to be counseled and coerced.

"That was something else," grumbled Broadway.

"At least your clothes aren't full of magnets and tape bruising your wing skins," Lexington muttered grimly, tugging at his own Prussian blue shirt. "If we have to play human all the time now, I'll have to find or develop magnets myself that won't cut off my blood supply."

"Better than being naked."

"I wouldn't have been naked with my loincloth. These humans are so prudish," Lex said, eyeing the people in the courtyard unhappily. After a whole, interminably long hour, the three of them had managed to escape the press and advertising and media representatives and the pack media PR consultants (their unofficial babysitters) and were now standing apart in the shade, holding on to their drinks or the tiny plates of snacks. Fu-Dog helped them to keep their distance because whenever one of the strangers came too close to her, she growled, causing everyone who wasn't totally tired of life to immediately go in the other direction.

Coldstone was actually talking to the Governor about God knows what. And Bronx next to him was having his belly scratched by the mayor (obviously a dog lover), not at all bothered by the small squadron of reporters taking photos because the mayor was obviously a belly scratch specialist.

Hudson - the only "real" gargoyle available at the moment and apparently open to conversation - was standing surrounded by a small crowd and telling a medieval anecdote, demonstratively swinging his sword back and forth, which none of the security crew or PR people had been able to talk him out of carrying. He had also refused to change his clothes ... and because of his sword, everyone had accepted that. Coldfire had won the rock-paper-scissors match and had been allowed to stay in the rookery - so many people in the castle near their egg made all the gargoyles more nervous than they already were. Broadway tilted his head.

"Hudson seems strangely content."

"That's the warrior mentality. If you can't beat them - join forces with them," Lex said glibly, but dropped to the seat of his pants and scratched with a pained expression his outer wing skin with his hind leg where the magnets were pinching him SO HARD .

"Stop!" they heard an bossy voice call out.

Patricia, PR manager, reporting directly to Fox and feeling more than just responsible for the success of this evening, came to them with her finger pointing at him.

"Get on two feet, Lexington! Please, we've talked about this. And we won't pick out another shirt if you tear that one too."

She only gave Fu, who grumbled at her, an ice-cold, professionally tried and tested look and the otherwise belligerent beast lowered her head, unsure of her deterrent skills. The three younger gargoyles stood at attention as if by instinct. Patricia wasn't their second or their clan leader but she had such a domineering aura.

"And who told you that it's okay to huddle together forever? You have to interact with the humans here. That's what you're here for. Mingle with the people. Have you forgotten the briefing?"

"Sorry Pat, it's just a bit much for us," said Angela and Broadway and Lexington nodded.

"And they photographed me with a flash. My eyes are still hurting," she added quietly and Broadway put an arm around her shoulders.

The PR manager sighed and tucked a strand of light blonde hair behind her ear. "If you show me this asshole who's circumventing the rules we've set up here, I'll throw him out. I ... know this is hard for you. But an opportunity like this is important."

"The people here are scary," Lex whispered, and now Angela and Broadway nodded. "They're not like the ones we usually deal with."

"You mean criminals?" Pat said, swaying her head back and forth. "These are politicians, media people, company owners - they're a few steps worse than your normal clientele. Look at it ... as a challenge. Warriors aren't going to be scared off by these people."

"Maybe we'd feel more comfortable if they came at us with hammers and guns," Broadway said.

"Advertising deals, marketing whatever. They're talking about things even I don't understand," Lex complained, throwing his arms up, causing the tape on him to crackle and earning him a dirty look from Pat.

"And this one guy keeps talking me up about some project of his."

"Then tell him you're not interested. You need to learn to talk to people like that and politely decline their requests. Politely, WITHOUT gargoyle growls and glowing eyes." She looked at Angela, who blushed.

"They asked if I'd laid an egg yet. That was ... rude."

"Aye, these humans are a strange lot," grumbled Hudson, who'd just joined them, eyeing them with his one eye in a way that all three knew if they didn't partake immediately, leaving him alone to the human mob, there'd be trouble.

"Hudson? Is there a problem?" Pat asked, eager to get the entertaining warrior back among the people.

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Aye- two of the lads are talking about something they want me to advertise. I'm not advertising anything, but tell me what Fixodent is, Lassie."

Pat lost her professional poker face and paled.

"Yes!" Angela chirped as if she had only just remembered. "Advertising deals! We don't know all these brands. What is-" Angela pulled a card out of her cleavage. "What's Victoria's Secret?"

Lexington tore his fang-riddled mouth open and laughed.

Pat gave him a menacing stare that made him snap his mouth shut again with a plop. "Why am I not surprised you know this brand? Okay," she said, rubbing the bridge of her nose, "-I can't spread out and I have to prevent deaths here tonight. Hudson, you stay close to me from now on and if those guys come at you again call me right away. And Lexington. You stay close to Angela and ... I don't know - say Angela's not interested. Maybe they have a Twink collection for you."

Lex puffed jovially. "Okay, I don't know what a Twink is and I'll look that up, but I can barely stand these pants."

"You look fantastic in them," Pat said, annoyed, as if she'd been telling him that all night. Which she did.

"Are you sure? I feel restricted in them. And doesn't my butt look too fat?" He turned around and tried to catch a glimpse of his backside, which made Angela and Broadway giggle. They cheered each other up again in seemingly hopeless situations.

All four Gargoyles pricked up their ears as the omnipresent murmur changed in quality and focus and turned towards the door where Goliath had just stepped through. That is - with all the people, they only saw Goliath towering above them all, but from the calls to look this way and that way and the shouted questions, it was audible that Katana, Brooklyn and especially Nashville were also there.

"Man, Goliath looks weird in those clothes. Do we all look that weird?" whispered Broadway.

"Who else misses open air times for us? Raise your tails," Lex demanded.

"Aye!" all four gargoyles said in unison and raised their tails.

"Oh, cut the crap," Pat hissed. "You've survived mass murder and collapsing buildings. And I and my department colleagues refuse to deal with 'gargoyle dong out over Manhattan' lawsuits."

"I see Nash," Angela said, and all the gargoyles craned their heads.

"Nashville ... looks okay in his new clothes."

"Yeah, well, he's worn more than the rest of us before."

"And he's smiling, that's good, right? Smiling is good."

Lexington and Hudson exchanged a look again.

"Yeah - smiling's good," Hudson grumbled. "Maybe the distraction is good for him."

Just then they saw Nash being led to the mayor and shaking his hand amidst the ubiquitous clicking of cameras. His smile was peculiar. Which two of the four other gargoyles blamed on shyness or the "no-claws, no-fangs" briefing they'd all gotten.

"He... doesn't seem... as scared as I would have thought," Angela said after a few seconds, during which the crowd dispersed a little - with assurances from Fox and Xanatos that everyone would get their chance to talk to Nashville and the clan leaders.

"I don't like the way everyone's buzzing around our hatchling. How is he supposed to be a real gargoyle?"

"How are we supposed to be?" Lexington asked, disgruntled.

"The people here are stupid. And curious. And not p.c. Just stand over it. Smile nicely - without fangs, nod, turn down requests and keep referring to the media department of pack media. Don't say okay or yes to anyone. That's the most important thing."

"So ... jumping through hoops."

Broadway crossed his arms and looked truly grim. Like his three clan members, who all saw Nashville being pushed through the crowd towards the Governor by Fox with wide, overwhelmed eyes but really turning his head left and right depending on how the media people wanted him for their photos. Even Brooklyn, Katana and Goliath, who kept close to them as if they were their (Nashville's) bodyguards, looked truly uncomfortable.

"You're not doing it for yourselves. You're doing it for your children. For all the Gargoyles," Pat said. "Even your chick gets it. Finally, someone professional. Except for Hudson. Hudson is my favorite. Be more like Hudson. Hudson - you're great. Keep it up and stay close to me. And the rest of you pull yourselves together. Now hop, get out of there."

Then only the three younger Gargoyles were still standing together - Fu Dog had left and had probably disappeared completely from the scene, otherwise they would have heard barking and people screaming by now.

"I hope the little one takes it well," Lexington said and Broadway put a hand on his head, equally worried.

"He ... would tell father or his parents if it got too much for him," Angela said uncertainly. "He wouldn't do everything he thinks he must do, would he?"

"Yes. He has no reason to do everything the PR department wants him to do. One word from him and we'll all stand up for him," Broadway assured her, visibly just as unsettled as Angela. The mated pair then mingled with the crowd again. Lexington would also stay with them so that the lingerie guys couldn't get to Angela, especially around Broadway. That would really cause deaths. And he himself? If that Besos guy or whatever his name was bothered him again, he'd just tell him to expand the portfolio of his online store beyond books. The tip would even be free if he just left him alone.

Lexington craned his neck again to see Nashville. His contentment in the face of so many humans who all wanted a piece of him seemed almost believable. Hardly fake. But Lex knew the kid's tense smile was the same one he'd coerced him into two nights before. He had a feeling he would see that more often now. They would all have to jump through hoops for a few months or years. But no one more than Nashville. Hopefully ... it would distract him from the one person who was really carrying a piece of him far away to Italy.

Final song for Nash and the clan: Trying Too Hard (Central Park Cast, Emmy Raver - Lampman, Michael James Scott)

Youtube: Trying Too Hard (Lyric Video | Apple TV+) - 3.19 min

watch?v=aT1kV_9whII

[MOLLY: Chorus]
Gotta be unique but gotta blend in
Hide my inner geek and keep pretendin'
Gotta keep 'em laughin'
Though I'm only half in
Gotta put a show on 'til I know they like me

[MOLLY]
Gotta be aloof, make a good impression
Gotta hide the proof of my self expression
Never be revealing
Gotta be appealing
Suddenly I'm feeling
Like I'm getting so

[MONSTER]
Small

[MOLLY]
Breaking into little pieces
Losing power

[MONSTER]
Getting weaker