snowblindrpg | [network] voice; @standardissue; LOVELESS: A dramatic recitation [Day 83]

[Kunsel clears his throat before he starts, sounding cheerful.]

Hey. I figure we're all getting sick of sitting here, what with the ice storm and all. Especially Zack. Zack, I know you've got to be going stir crazy, so I thought of just the thing to keep you entertained.

[Is that gleeful mischief in his voice?

Yes, yes it is.

It's also a warning to everyone that this post is mostly intended to get Zack's goat. Feel free to carry on!

In the mean time, Kunsel's voice takes on the sound of dramatic recitation. If he hadn't locked himself in the bathroom, people in the house he's in would see him posing ridiculously in front of the mirror with his tablet. But alas, the visual is lost, because Kunsel's sticking to audio.]

When the war of the beasts brings about the world's end, the goddess descends from the sky. Wings of light and dark spread afar, she guides us to bliss, her gift everlasting.

LOVELESS, Prologue. It's a famous play in my world, one I've been working on writing down for a few weeks now. I think I've got most of it now, so if that prologue appeals...

[He pauses, giving people time to settle down to listen, then begins.]

LOVELESS, Act I: Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess...

[And on he goes, reciting the whole play, even taking on different voices for different parts. Yes, he's ~~that much of a dork~~ that dedicated.

Besides, it's in the name of trolling Zack.]

[ooc: Please pretend that Kunsel is reciting a whole lot more than what's provided in those links. Crisis Core never actually provides a whole script for the play, just pieces and quotations.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Jim really was going to ignore all this insanity, including the rough housing to get into the bathroom. He's never been a big fan of literature - his abysmal grades are enough to prove it - but he likes a good story.

Considering how lacking those are around this place, he's just a little bit enthralled listening to it play out, except ... ]

Wait, is that it? What happens?

[It probably helps that he didn't have to read, just listen - and Kunsel did make an effort with the voices and theatrics, even if he isn't exactly an actor.]

What happens? [Kunsel reaches back to scratch the back of his head. Really, he's not surprised that Jim spotted what's wrong.] No one really knows. The Fifth Act was lost. I think that's part of why the play is so popular, because it makes everyone wonder.

Wha - [ Jim thought Kunsel just hadn't gotten around to recording the end yet was all. ] They put on a play with no ending? Are you kidding me?

[ Words really can't describe how bullshit Jim seems to think that is. He might have gotten invested, okay, sue him. ]

Oh, the actual productions usually make up some kind of ending, or at least something that gives the audience resolution. Back before I left, the most popular one that was going around had the hero keep his oath and the three friends reunite. And the girl he left behind...

[He suddenly pauses, considering.]

Or would you rather I tell it like a proper story?

If you think you could do it before they get in there and kill you.

[ Jim feels a little weird asking for a story at the age of fifteen - sixteen? - but hey. Gotta take your entertainment where you can find it around here. ]

Sounds like a pretty good ending.

[Kunsel feels the door jolt under Zack's tender ministrations, and has to huff a laugh.]

Probably not before they get in here. Maybe later?

[They really are pretty short on entertainment here.]

Who knew a play was going to tick him off that much?

[ Yep, Jim's hearing that banging in stereo. He may've been watching the entire enterprise from across the room with only a little snickering here and there. ]

Tell you what, trade a story for a story. I know a lot.

It's more that it's this play. Zack has feelings about it.

[Another bang and a jolt of the door follows the first, accompanied by Zack's muffled yelling.]

Oof- Deal. I'll find you after Zack and I have it out.

[ Feelings, huh? Jim may or may not be saving a link to this post for later, then. Just in case Kunsel ever needs trolling backup. ]

Alright, I'll hold you to it, man. Good luck with your escape.

Thanks. Catch you later.

[He'll end the call there so he can focus on shenanigans with Zack.

It ends up being much, much later, though, before he goes to hunt down Jim. He had to cool off after the disaster of a conversation he had with Tifa, and while he's managed to get his temper back in check, the whole thing's left a sour taste in his mouth. He'd considered asking Jim for a rain check, but...

But he'd actually rather not sit and stew any longer. That means he could use a distraction right now.]

Hey, Jim. [He attempts to crack a smile. Mostly successful.] You up for story time?

[ Jim's more than a little surprised to talk to Kunsel after... all that. He'd been watching the door for Zack's antics, and after that it'd been hard to miss the argument. He's been studiously pretending to be invisible since, occupying himself with doodling schematics and nonsense in Hiro's old sketchbook.

He hadn't expected either of them to cool off enough to want to talk to anybody except maybe Zack, so he raises his eyebrows in surprise. ]

-Hey, Kunsel.

[ He recovers himself enough to smooth his expression back to neutral and scoot over a little to offer room on the couch in the living room. ]

C'mon, you owe me an ending.

[Kunsel's going to pretend he didn't see that surprise, just like he's pretending that other people in the house didn't hear the argument that he and Tifa had. Instead he crosses the room, dropping onto the couch next to Jim, and props his elbows on his knees in a relaxed position.]

Right, let's see... The last bit of the play we have is the promise the girl made, to wait for the hero to come back even if he never promised he would. We'll pick up from there.

Letter after letter, his love wrote faithfully to him
though she knew not if any of them ever alighted
in her lover's hand
for the war was still going strong.

[There's a shift in Kunsel's voice as he relaxes into story mode, and even his posture begins to reflect it.]

Across the battlefield, the hero searched for his friends-
-the one who'd flown-
-the one who'd been captured-
Even though hope seemed all but lost, he never abandoned them.

[And on his story goes, weaving a tale of heroics and love, where in the end the hero won. Where he found his friends and kept his oath.

Where the hero came home in the end.]

[ It's not the kind of story Jim got used to listening to on the ship - less cursing and sex, more flowery language - but Jim's engrossed. He'd deny it, if asked, but it's good to hear an ending where everything works out and the hero gets to go home when the adventure's done.

He offers a little clap and then a water bottle to Kunsel. ]

Not bad, man. If the SOLDIER thing doesn't work out, maybe you've got a future on the stage.

[Kunsel accepts the bottle gratefully, uncapping it to take a sip. Talking that much really dries a mouth out.]

Thanks. [He laughs.] I'll keep that in mind. Might have to do some convincing with Zack, though. He's not exactly fond of theater things. You probably already got that idea, though.

[What with Zack trying to bust down the door when Kunsel had started quoting the play.]

Don't know where you'd get that impression. [ Yeah, Jim grins at his own lame joke. ] It's okay, I'll support your ambitions. We'll go to one of the major planets where you can get all the exposure you deserve.

[ He's been thinking about that, off-and-on. It's a nice thought, even if they have lives they need to get back to at home. Not great lives, from what Zack's said, but he's sure there's someone waiting for them. In any case, he's just joking for now. ]

Thanks, Jim. [Kunsel grins, reaching out to clap a hand to Jim's shoulder.] Nice to know who my real friends are.

[Though joking aside, he does feel better after talking to Jim. Maybe it doesn't fix things, but... It helps, getting his mind off of it for a while. So his grin stays in place as he gets up from the couch.]

Well, we probably ought to call it a night. It's getting pretty late.

[network] voice; @standardissue; LOVELESS: A dramatic recitation [Day 83]

voice; @jphawkins

voice; @standardissue

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