week 1

[stagemanagers]

WEEK 1

[With the introduction of their showrunner and a brief run through of what they're in for in their time in the Opera House out of the way, the performers are free to explore the first floor of the opera house at their leisure then and for the rest of the week that lies ahead. The double doors leading to the kitchen will be unlocked at 7 am and locked at 10 pm for intermission. Performers are free to prepare meals for themselves and others at any time outside of intermission.

The Merchandise Booth will also be open for business after the first day as some of the performers may find envelopes with their names on it taped to their doors in the morning.

If performers wish to have private conversations with their showrunner, The Balladeer, just step up to the box office and see if he's in.

Enjoy your week, everyone.]


[Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday]


[ooc: This is the last mod post for the week for us! Feel free to start depositing coins in the merch booth if any of your threads have reached that length, so long as they're not with the Balladeer. Remember, song threads mean double coins! There will be no murder this first week so gain all the CR you can while it lasts, darlings.]

Comments

[dechagny]

[Well look who it is! It's Seymour! Raoul pauses mid-step, handling the now rubber-free plunger stick with ease so it goes to rest under his arm. You are not supposed to do that with a real rapier, kids, remember that!]

Of a sort, yes! Given our circumstances, I prefer that I must make due. Would you like to join me?

[dontfeedplants]

[What someone is inviting him to do a thing with them?]

S-sorry, I've never had any experience in this kind of thing.

[That was definitely not a "no", though.]

[dechagny]

[Yeah dude why not it's boring when you're shadow-fencing]

Well, that's not a problem - I can teach you! The basics, at least, may come in handy some day.

[Hold on, he has the perfect fake rapier for you Seymour: this bad boy. You can also opt for the toilet brush.]

What do you say?

[dontfeedplants]

[Seymour has just enough dignity to not exactly favor the toilet brush, so he will happily take the duster.

He takes the duster, smiling slightly.]

I guess it can't hurt to learn how to fight.

SONG TIME

[dechagny]

It cannot hurt at all. Now, remember...

[He comes over, putting one hand on Seymour's shoulder and another to guide the hand holding the duster as music begins to swell.]

You do it to win
And you would do it again
You do it for her - that is to say, you do it to win

[Now that he's in the proper position, Raoul crosses back to take his place opposite Seymour, and lightly taps the duster with his plunger handle.]

Keep your
Stance wide
Keep your body lower
As you're moving forward balance is the key

Right foot
Left foot
Now a little faster
And as you're moving backwards keep your eyes on me

[dontfeedplants]

[Seymour watches intently as he tries to follow Raoul's instructions. His movements are awkward and it's very obvious that he's never done this before, but he is definitely putting his heart into this.]

Keep my stance wide
Keep my body lowered
As I'm moving forward
Right foot, left foot

[dechagny]

Concentrate - [Another tap of the not!swords, this time to push Seymour's up a little higher. He sees your enthusiasm, he likes that, but sloppy form is the cause of many losses.] Good man, tighten your grip!

[Raoul does a quick sidestep, demonstrating a thrust, a wave, that comes just short of Seymour's wrist - he doesn't want to hurt you, only show you how important awareness and guard is.] And put your whole soul into it -

Everything you have
Everything you are, you've got to give

In a heated duel or in the heat of battle
When all you have is the way you feel, your skillset and your sword
Simply think of the one you love, the one you'd lay on the line for

And you do it for her
That's how you know you will live
You do it for her - that is to say, you do it to win

[dontfeedplants]

[Seymour takes a deep breath and tightens his grip. He only barely blocks Raoul's wave but hey it's an improvement!]

Deep down, I know
I'm not built for fighting
But that doesn't mean I'm not
Prepared to try
What they don't know
Is my real advantage
When you live for someone
You're prepared to die
Deep down, I know
That I'm just a human
But I know that I can
Draw my sword and fight

[dechagny]

[Good - good, he's improving! Not enough just yet for a full-on spar, but enough for Raoul to shift back in front of him again, in position, guiding Seymour through some basic forms, defending, advancing, all through song.]

In our short existence
We can make a difference
We can prove ourselves to
Hearts and minds alike

We do it to win
We do it for her-

[Raoul puts himself in a vulnerable position towards Seymour - perfect for striking the weapon out of his hand!]

Alright, now disarm me, my friend!

[dontfeedplants]

[Seymour nods. Concentrating hard, he swings with all his might at Raoul's fake sword.]

[dechagny]

[And there it goes, clattering to the ground. Raoul grins approvingly.]

We do it for her
What do you say?

[dontfeedplants]

[Oh my god he actually did it. Seymour beams at Raoul.]

We'll do it for her

[dechagny]

[Beaming all around! Good job for your first lesson. Raoul steps back into normal, dropping stance - he's done his good deed for the day.]

Indeed - fencing is about focus and keeping your end goals in mind - whoever "her" might mean to you, for example. I...don't know what came over me to add that part.

[Christine came over him, the fool.]

[dontfeedplants]

Maybe that's why I was doing so well. I think I was thinking of Audrey, actually. She's a friend of mine from back home.

[He is now blushing and has a dorky smile on his face. This is totally just a friendship thing.]

[dechagny]

[Raoul finds himself smiling as well. Ah yes, friends. Friends who are girls. Girl friends, if you will.]

I, too, was thinking of someone, now that you mention it - my old friend Christine.

[dontfeedplants]

[Sure do love completely platonic feelings towards woman.]

You have a friend from back home too? [Wait, that came out wrong.] What's she like?

[dechagny]

[So fun, all these platonic feelings.]

I do. She's...[He takes a moment to let out a breath that's almost like a sigh.] She is sublime. Sweet, caring, with a wonderful imagination. And her voice is absolutely beautiful.

What of your Audrey?

[dontfeedplants]

Gosh, where do I start? Audrey the nicest person I've ever met. She always tolerates it when I start talking about plants; she never even complained to my face about it once! And I could just listen to her talk about anything all day.

But I... I worry about her self-image sometimes. I wish I could tell her that she's perfect the way she is.

[Said the pot.]

[dechagny]

Well, why don't you?

[Raoul please]

[dontfeedplants]

I can't just say that, Raoul. She'll probably think I'm a creep if I told her that.

[Somehow.]

[dechagny]

Then...perhaps, in a way that is not so direct? In the form of a compliment, or a detail you seem to have noticed in passing. Make no grand spectacle of it, but be sincere. If you said it in that way, then surely it would work.

[RAOUL]

[dontfeedplants]

So just... bring it up to her when she's struggling with her self-image?

[That sounds almost too easy.]

[dechagny]

Exactly - and in a subtle, kind way.

[For Raoul it's easy. He's...a bit oblivious to how hard it can be for others, though.]

[dontfeedplants]

[He thinks for a moment.]

So like... "Hey Audrey, I think I think you should take better care of yourself"?

[dechagny]

[Raoul thinks about that for a moment before shaking his head.]

Maybe...not so direct. How about this - give me an example of something she might say about herself, and I will give you an example of what you might want to say in return.