[OPEN] Two unlikely actors acting...

[pastregrets]

Who: Omi, Juza, you!
When: 5/3
Where: Entertainment District
What: A street performance, and an after party~
Warnings: Some… theatrical violence? And language?


I. A street act

[The setting: A newly reopened theater. A gathered crowd waits for something in a large semicircle, curiously murmuring. They don't know what to expect from off-world folks.]

[A man, as played by Omi, clad in a wrapped hood and slightly tattered clothing jogs into the front of the cleared space. He looks around, to the sides, behind, and then his eyes fix on someone approaching. It's clear there's been some kind of pursuit, though Omi's character doesn't seem committed to running, and rather more obviously he's looking for someone else.

Enter the pursuer, as portrayed by Juza. He’s dressed in a white coat, almost like a labcoat. His gaze flicks around the setting. Even if he’s pursuing the other character, there’s somebody else he’s after, and it doesn’t look like they’re around.]

Where’s Zero? [Low and gruff. He doesn’t have time for this.]

[Wolf, Omi's character, shrugs faintly, almost not at all. When he speaks, it's harsher than usual, an edge to his tone that speaks to his devil-may-care attitude. It's not the Omi you'd expect.] None of your business. You think I'm just going to hand her over like that, Jon? Dream on.

Always make it so much harder than you need to. [He might be gruff about it, but at the same time, there’s a professional edge. Jon knows what he’s doing and he knows he’s in the right. They need Zero.

He rushes in, throwing the first punch.]

So that's how you want it? Fine by me. [So they're wasting no time. The audience gasps at the sudden movement as Wolf roars a challenge. He doesn't even bother dodging that punch, bringing a hand up to catch the fist like it's the weakest shit he's ever seen.] It'll take more than that to down me. [And Wolf moves to jerk Jon forward, wheeling to the side to give him a nice, solid punch to the gut or chest as he's shoved and turned.]

[Jon takes the hit, or at least it seems that way, falling down and gasping out at the attack. Wolf’s got strength in the things he does. But Jon gets back up. He has a mission to complete, he can’t let it end here. He kicks Wolf in the back of the knee.]

[The kick "connects", and Wolf crumples forward, only to push back with his hands and move into a crouch. Turning in a low stance, he suddenly pulls something from inside his cloak. A gun. It's leveled point-blank at Jon.] Looks like it's your loss.

[He stares at the gun, a look more akin to annoyance than true fear crossing his features.] I won’t stop following. [All this is doing is buying Wolf time.]

Follow me right into Hell. It's the only place you'll catch me. [But for some reason, Wolf doesn't pull the trigger…? Wolf's head raises, like he's heard something. His name, perhaps?] Shit. Not now... Your timing….

I’m well prepared for that eventuality. [That’s where all of them are going, after all of this is over. Nobody here has their hands clean. It’s the only place they could ever end up. Jon doesn’t move, waiting for Wolf to make a decision. Either shoot Jon now, or go towards the person calling for him.]

[The gun lowers slightly, Wolf gritting his teeth.] ...Guess today's your lucky day. Leave the girl alone. I'm killing you next time. [He gets to his feet and with the gun still pointed at Jon, backs out of the open area and "runs away".]

[Jon waits for a moment, until Wolf is out of ‘frame’ before Juza turns to face the audience and bows.] Thank you for watching.

[Omi jogs back in, the hood pulled back fully now, and smiles broadly. Then he bows right alongside Juza.] Thank you very much!


II. After the show(s)

[This particular little act is performed a few times throughout the week, with little changes each time; it's clear the men are ad libbing to some degree, and if you catch it multiple times… you might see some really good stuff!

Juza and Omi stay behind each time, still in costume, to mingle with the crowd and help promote the theater they're performing in front of. It turns out, it's a local troupe trying to build up, and though neither Omi nor Juza are official members, they felt a kind of solidarity…

So here they are, with snacks (including Omi's famous baked goods in small quantities~) and drinks, introducing themselves and thanking people for coming. There's a clear air of relief between them that they pulled off the performance, like shaking off the rust.

Come say hi!]

Comments

II

[clickclickbang]

[Prompto'd caught the tail end of one performance on a delivery, then most of another, and finally he manages to catch the whole thing.

Once the two are done, Prompto holds up his camera makes a beeline for them]

Omi! You guys gotta let me take photos!

[sneaksweet]

[Juza doesn't jump, but he does look between Prompto and Omi.]

... Nice to meet you?

[pastregrets]

[Omi waves Prompto over.]

Juza, this is Prompto. He's my boss at the photo studio.

[clickclickbang]

[Prompto waves, tail wagging.]

Yeah, sorry, I got excited because you guys look so cool! I gotta take pictures!

[sneaksweet]

Didn't know you were workin' there.

[He ducks his head slightly.]

... Thanks. Omi's real cool in this role.

[The outfit really works and his whole demeanor changed.]

i

[currysseur]

[ There's a particular pride which is felt watching any of her boys perform, but this show brings a swell which she associates with the big nights more than street acts.

They did this whole thing themselves, choreographing a whole sequence that went off without a hitch. It's Autumn Troupe's specialty, and they've more than proven why that is.

Izumi's beaming as she approaches the two after they take their bow. They've come so, so far from where they were when they auditioned. ]

That was great!

[pastregrets]

[Omi practically lights up when he sees the Director's face approaching from the audience.]

Director! You actually made it out... That's a little embarrassing...

[currysseur]

Of course I did.

[ She's still their director, even in this strange city where there is, technically, no Mankai Company. And thus, not a great deal for her to do anyway, but she won't bring that up. ]

It's a director's job to see their actors' growth, after all.

[pastregrets]

I hope you didn't mind us borrowing from Mankai a little bit! It was easier to use something I knew on short notice.

[Sheepish.]

We'll keep working hard here, too.

[currysseur]

[ She can hardly begrudge that, can she? ]

That's a smart decision for any actor. It allowed you to concentrate on your expressions and movements instead of the lines.

[ And she has no doubt that they will, especially after seeing that display. If he were one of the school kids, she might have ruffled his hair for that. ] I know you will. And I'll be here to direct you all.

[ Though, now that she thinks about it, they're short a lot of the talent of the Mankai Company. Maybe she should go check out this city's library and see what scripts they have. ]

[sneaksweet]

[It's very different doing a street act when their director isn't there to critique them. They've done it before, of course, with so many people in the troupe one person can't supervise all of their excursions.]

... Thanks. Glad you could come watch.

[currysseur]

[ As much as she might try. It's very different when she knows they've been in this city for several months by themselves, though.

It warms her heart to know they're still taking acting so seriously, honestly. ]

I wouldn't miss it. You looked great out there. Your confidence really showed.

[ She's proud of each of them, but she knows how hard Juza worked to achieve this level of skill and she can't help but feel an extra flush of warmth to see him so happy on stage. ]

[sneaksweet]

[Izumi theater was banned and Juza was very loudly starting to think about becoming a criminal. He doesn't say that part out loud.]

... Helps that this isn't the first play. 'nd we practiced this one a lot.

[It wasn't a true street act, but Juza's doing his best.]

[currysseur]

[ Please don't give your director a heart attack, Juza. ]

And practice makes perfect.

[ Or, as close to perfect as acting can ever come. She's pretty certain perfection isn't attainable on the stage, really.

But, with all this hard work these boys have put in, when she's barely done anything since arriving... ]

We should celebrate your hard work with some curry!

i.

[proudofme]

[Soren had just gotten back from a mission out in the Wilde that took the majority of the previous month. Returning home was going to be a relief, but he wasn't really rushing to get there. The street performance catches his eye and, oh, would you look at that! His guys!!]

Woo! Yeah! That was great! [SUPPORTIVE BIG BRO, Soren gives a first pump as it's over]

You're both good at that whole acting thing. I totally bought it!

[sneaksweet]

[No, see, this is definitely a supportive little brother vibe because this sounds an awful lot like the one he has at home.]

Thanks. Did you just get back? 's been nice to actually act again.

[proudofme]

Sure did! Long mission out that time, still working on magic-ing those veins clean. Good to drain that. [he shouldn't have been too much a jittery mess in the bond, all that while.]

Has the city changed its mind on theatre crime, at all? Or you two just being rebels?

[sneaksweet]

Nice work. [He appreciates not feeling weirdly jittery for no particular reason.]

It's not a crime anymore, they just wanna make sure we aren't usin' magic during any performances.

[pastregrets]

[Omi grins broadly and offers a little laugh.]

It's a new passion of mine, so it's nice to hear that. Did you manage to see the whole thing?

[proudofme]

Yeah, most of it! Might have skid in a little late. I've heard you two practicing around the mansion. Cool to see it all comin' together!

[Soren gives a BIG THUMBS UP]

Other people really liked it, too. Think I heard a lady gasp and everything.

[pastregrets]

[Omi grins and laughs faintly at the thumbs up. Soren's really something. He definitely reminds him of someone, though Omi hopes he's without the other person's insecurities.]

Ah, we'll probably be practicing more as time goes by. Juza and I were in the same acting troupe back home; I'm very slightly more experienced than he is, right now. A matter of months, at best. So we have a long way to go.

i.

[silentsavant]

[Ordinarily, Soren doesn't care much for things like this. The first thing that crosses his mind is how Aefenglom has relaxed its restrictions on all things theater thanks to the Mirrorbound council, how it was his Bonded who played a major role in spearheading the motion. It looks like it's starting to take off. He pauses to watch it for a bit before moving on. Then, one of the actors catches his ear. Then his eye.

It's Juza. He met him in last month's dream, that reflection of his own mind.

Seeing him perform comes as a slight surprise. There were a number of things Soren would have expected Juza to be, and an actor wasn't one of them. But with the help of his scene partner, he manages to enthrall the crowd with his high-tension performance. Soren stays to watch until they are finished. As the crowd disperses, he lingers.

Soren's not sure he is qualified to judge their performance based on any rubric, and he's still not sure what his thoughts are. The truth is, his life never offered any chances to see plays whatsoever, and he never sought them out, either. Therefore, he has little to compare it to. The dusky dragon makes his approach unobtrusive and polite, just a little bit unsure of himself due to verging out of his element. He hides it well enough.]

Hello, Juza. I never thought the next time I'd see you would be like this. You're an actor?

[sneaksweet]

[Right after the performance Juza smiles. There's a lot of things that can be improved upon, but the fact they successfully got through an entire scene with action and quick lines like that is something he can be proud about. That's always been a tricky thing for him.

And when he sees Soren (dragon) he smile gets a little warmer until he points out the complete mismatch between his appearance and his career. Now he's just awkward. He's not embarrassed about acting, but he knows it's not the first thing anybody would guess for him.]

Yeah. I'm still pretty new at it, but I'm workin' hard.

... How've you uh... been doin'?

[silentsavant]

[The awkwardness is contagious, and Soren is sensitive to the change. He can tell that whatever he said cooled the warmth that brimmed upon seeing him, warmth that had his heart flitting like moths toward it. A smile like that for him took him off-guard. But just as soon as it lifted him up, he'd been lowered back down, and now he's not quite sure what he wants to say, or where he was going with this to begin with, really.]

...Fine. [ ...awkward pause... ] Your performance was very... lively. You could feel the audience on edge. I don't know much about acting, but it looks to me like your hard work shows through. It must feel good that you can do this freely, now.

[He's never insincere. He's only hesitant about how to put his feelings to words, and the longer he speaks, the more certain of himself he starts to sound.]

[sneaksweet]

[Why can't real life come with a script? At least then he'd have some idea of what to do or say, he could ad lib his way through the rest of it.

So instead of being continuously awkward he nods and accepts the complement. He doesn't think Soren's lying to him, even if they've only known each other for a short amount of time.

His small, pleased smile comes back.]

Thanks. Action is our troupe's specialty so we practiced that part a lot.

I dunno who to thank for it, but I'm really grateful. [Because he was sincerely considering becoming a theater criminal and that's just embarrassing.]