Gears and Melodies

Jinn Sparks adjusted the small brass gears behind her elbow as she hurried through Steam City's winding cobblestone streets. Her copper hair bounced with each step, and her gear-eyes clicked softly as they focused on the towering concert hall ahead.

"Late again," she muttered, her polished wooden skin gleaming under the gas lamps.

The Copper Concert Hall buzzed with excitement. Steam pipes hissed melodically along its ornate walls, and crowds of elegantly dressed people streamed through the brass doors. Jinn squeezed between top-hatted gentlemen and ladies with elaborate mechanical corsets.

Inside, the theater sparkled with crystal chandeliers powered by steam engines. On stage, a man with dark hair and kind eyes stepped up to the microphone. His voice rang out clear and strong as he began singing "Puttin' on the Ritz."

Jinn found herself mesmerized by his performance. The singer moved with confidence, his hands gesturing gracefully. Something golden glinted on his wrist as he sang, catching the stage lights and throwing tiny rainbows across the velvet curtains.

The Golden Glow

The final notes of "Puttin' on the Ritz" echoed through the concert hall as thunderous applause erupted. Jinn clapped her wooden hands together, the gears behind her elbows clicking softly with each motion.

Suddenly, the theater lights flickered and went dark. Emergency steam vents hissed loudly, filling the hall with thick white vapor. Panicked voices rose from the audience as people stumbled toward the exits.

Through the chaos, Jinn heard heavy boots stomping down the aisles. Her gear-eyes whirred as they adjusted to the darkness, and she spotted three figures in dark leather coats pushing through the crowd. Each carried a strange glowing device that beeped rapidly as they swept it back and forth.

"The bracelet's here somewhere," growled one of the bounty hunters. "The tracker's going crazy."

On stage, the singer - Taco, she'd heard someone call him - stood frozen under a single spotlight. The golden object on his wrist was glowing brightly now, pulsing like a heartbeat. His kind eyes had turned wide with fear as he tugged desperately at whatever was attached to his arm.

"It won't come off," he whispered to himself, panic creeping into his voice.