haunted theatre au psl

[showbaka]

Truly, this challenge could have only been trusted with a future star such as myself! No wonder I got dragged into this. Even this theatre and the ghosts residing in it recognize my talent!

[Is how Tsukasa chooses to make himself feel better about his predicament. Not that he hasn't done his fair share of panicking and would continue to do so, but panicking wouldn't solve this. Yes, this is but a stepping stone in his career!

One he isn't too thrilled about and never could have predicted, but a still a stepping stone. The only thing that would get him out of this mess would be his skills as an actor. But there is the whole issue of getting visitors to stick around long enough to act. The place is creepy. Signs of abandonment are showing as its popularity declined over the years with no one wanting or able to take care of it. Even Tsukasa has to admit it looks different from how he remembers. To make matters worse, his attempts to draw in visitors have been doing the opposite. He can reach people with his voice, he can interact with the props and theatre, but no one has managed to see him. All of his rehearsals end up backfiring with visitors panicking about the theatre being haunted and leaving as fast as possible.

His shoulders fall as he watches a group of people do just that. They whisper to eachother about how the ghosts here are a lot louder than they imagined and...kind of annoying for a ghost? No one sees Tsukasa stagger back at the insult as if injured.]

I'm not a ghost!

[Even if he is transparent, and can't get hurt, he's definitely not a ghost! But his shouting does the opposite and the visitors leave the theatre empty again other than of Tsukasa and the actual ghosts.

The stage lights turn on, flooding the auditorium and stage in a dazzling light. In that moment, Tsukasa can almost see the same sparkle it had when he and Saki visited. There's laughter as some of the residents of the theatre emerge to perform one of their favorite shows. Scrambling off the stage, Tsukasa meanders and starts tidying up where he can--dusting the shelves, rearranging items, bringing belongings to the lost and found that no one ever visits. He still tries to avoid the ghosts when possible. They're the reason he's in this mess.]

A welcoming and neat appearance will attract more of an audience!

[And no one in their right mind would visit a haunted theatre at this hour!]

Comments

[depressured]

Talented?

[ Huh. ]

I'm nothing special, but I'm happy if I could help.

[showbaka]

[He frowns, looking pensive and like he wants to say something but decides against it.]

Hmm. I think I understand now. Yes, let's move on to the next scene!

[depressured]

I'll let you start us off, then. I think it will have more of an impact if the music starts a beat after you start talking.

[ So she'll be poised to play. ]

[showbaka]

A wonderful suggestion. As expected from you!

[Tsukasa falls back into character. His demeanor shifts, becoming more subdued, and while the melancholy feeling from before is still there, he sounds more pensive than emotional as he speaks his lines. How is he supposed to get anyone to enjoy his music if no one is there to listen?]

[depressured]

[ This is a little too much praise, but Mafuyu won't comment on it. She waits for a good moment to slip in, keeping the music softer and a little more subtle. Like it's hard to hear without listening fully. This is Tsukasa's monologue right now and something that needs more focus on his "plight". ]

[showbaka]

Maybe I can't make music at all. If no one can enjoy it, then maybe I've been wrong this whole time? Do I understand what singing is, or am I chasing something that I'll never reach?

...I should keep trying. [And he does, singing in a muted voice to Mafuyu's playing.]

[depressured]

[ ... It's strange that he sounds so subdued. This is more along the lines of Mafuyu herself than what she knows of Tsukasa.

But--

She'll follow his choices here. Whether he wants it to remain muted or have it slowly start to get louder, Mafuyu will play along. ]

[showbaka]

[Tsukasa ends the scene still subdued, but louder than before at the end with his character promising to try to find someone his singing will reach.]

Should we make any changes, or are you good to keep going, Asahina-san?

[depressured]

Let's keep going, Tenma-san. I'd like to see how well we can make this flow.

[ She's good to keep playing, so long as he's good to keep acting. ]

[showbaka]

Very well!

[He falls back into character. The protagonist comes across a show put on by a traveling troupe, that has an audience captivated by their performance. Here, the atmosphere becomes more cheerful and energetic as the protagonist becomes inspired by their performance. Is that what it means to reach an audience?

He tries to mimic their work, but to no avail. But he keeps trying, becoming louder and more theatrical in each attempt. He laughs to no one. He's not lonely. He's fine.

He tries to audition for the same troupe, but no one notices him. He falls into despair. He's lonely. He never understood music to begin with.

Everything comes to a resolution when he runs into a child crying. He comments on how he doesn't want anyone to feel lonely if he can help it. He makes one final attempt at singing and putting on a show, with the goal of making them smile... Oh. That's it. He wants to make everyone smile.

The show goes well, with Tsukasa acting like, well, Tsukasa. He sings loudly, much more cheerful by now, but this cheerfulness isn't forced like it was at the beginning of the musical. He does some showy choreography and then turns to the audience, thanking them. They're the reason he wanted to sing in the first place.]

[depressured]

[ It's interesting, to try to figure out the flow of things as they go. Sometimes her music slips forward, sometimes it's Tsukasa's voice telling her when to start, but without fail, Mafuyu can always find a place to make the two of them intertwine. His cues are easy to follow, even if she's not sure if he's aware of it or not.

The hopelessness, the realization of simplicity and the joy of merely making music to make others happy, a way to reach out and include the audience, the real important members of this show.

When he finishes, she brings the music off to a decisive close, taking a breath. ]

... Mm. That sounded good.

[showbaka]

[Tsukasa beams at her with pride.]

It did! It went more smoothly than I anticipated…but it was easy to fall in character with your music, Asahina-san.

[depressured]

Well, it was easy to play along with your character, Tenma-san. So I'm glad it worked out for both of us.

[ And hopefully it reaches the audience. ]

[showbaka]

I’m glad too! My character and the impact wouldn’t have been the same had it been anyone else’s music. I’m glad you chose to investigate, Asahina-san.

[He smiles.] There are a few parts I’d like to focus on, and I think I could add some stunts that would normally be difficult.

[depressured]

I think Kanade would have been helpful, since she has more experience with music, but...

[ ... ]

What sort of stunts?

[ Should she be worried? ]

[showbaka]

[Shaking his head.] I'm sure now that you are the best person for this show. No one else's work would have been the same.

Maybe something very flashy at the end...

[depressured]

... I realize that you're ghost-like at the moment, but they did agree to make you solid for this. Isn't that going to be risky?

[ She'd tended to one of his own troupe members for this very reason. ]

[showbaka]

[He pales as much as someone mostly transparent can.]

You’re right. I hadn’t considered that, and I don’t have Rui’s genius. It would be catastrophic to ruin the show and our hard work…very well! Choreography can certainly convey what we want.

[depressured]

[ Well. One less thing to worry about. ]

I'd say so... I'm sorry, I can only treat so much.

[ If he lands on his head... ]

[showbaka]

You needn't apologize. I could not ask you to do that, not when it would jeopardize your work and you've already helped me so much.

You have my word I will not be unnecessarily reckless!

[depressured]

... Alright. I'll trust you, then. Do you have experience choreographing things?

Because she sure doesn't. ]

[showbaka]

Heh! Indeed, although I don’t usually come up with the initial ideas I have an abundance of experience planning the choreography out with my troupe!

I’m confident I can come up with something that will blend with your music beautifully!

[depressured]

Then I'll leave it to you. I'm sure you'll enrapture the audience.

[ Or get their attention, at least. ]

[showbaka]

I shall exceed all of your expectations. Would you like to take a break? I could start working on some of the materials.

[depressured]

Shouldn't you also take a break?

[ He was going just as hard. ]