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 Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:40 pm
Gently was at the theatre, as she often was, though at least this time it was for a purpose. Generally she was just there helping other people or shows, or just stopping by to offer her help. She had a weekly improv class, which had just gotten out for the day.
She was picking up some props and putting them back in their designated closet, taking her time as she did so.
Though it wasn't the biggest space, or the most grand, it was still beautiful. A large stage, a beautifully designed arch. It was charming and there had been some wonderfully plays put on there. And some terrible ones. That was just the history of the space, the allure of the building itself. It had a broad audience, stadium style seats arranged with two walking isles between three sections.
There was a second story, as well, and in the back, centered, up above the seats was the sound and tech booth. It was a nice place to hang out, with a computer and internet to goof off with. Down under the stage were the dressing rooms and storage areas. The lobby was beyond everything else, at the back of the theatre behind the chairs. There was another room for techies out there, for breaks.
The theatre left its doors open, because Gently was there, and because they didn't mind visitors during day hours when there were no shows or rehearsals going on.
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:09 pm
Desma had been worrying, and thinking since the moment the battle with the Ice Princess..the monster, whatever she was, had finished. There were other Senshi at the battle, and Negaverse -something she knew little about. They all seemed so confident, and like they had the ability to take this on and not be affected. Alright, so not all, the brunette was willing to admit. Not all of them, but there were many who did. She had been scared shitless, unsure of how to proceed, how to do anything. Des saw them as superior to her, and didn't like that.
The teenager spawned an odd idea, perhaps if she went to the Destiny City Theater someone would be able to help her at least feign confidence and to look fierce. Particularly if she was going to try and actually fight.
Stumbling into the theater from off the streets she tried stomping her heavy boots to leave the snow outside. She was in her St. Magdalena's uniform, jeans tucked up under the plaid skirt to keep her warm. She'd come up with a lousy plan, saying she was a student at the Seminary and she was trying to build confidence in herself, so that she could stand up to a bully.
Her breath caught in her throat as she looked around. Desma liked the place instantly, she'd never actually been in the theater, and it was sort of wonderful, and at the same time terrifying with all of the empty seats.
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:32 pm
Gently heard the doors, looking toward the back of the theatre from her stance on the stage. She saw someone standing there, and waved to them, motioning that they should come closer so she could speak with them.
She moved as well, of course, hopping down from the stage and walking up one of the aisles between the chairs so they could meet half way.
Gently was all smiles, expecting someone who had just wandered in to take a look around, as was most common. If only because most people interested in theatre didn't need to drop in randomly, or called ahead, and those who weren't didn't drop by at all. The most common visitor was one interested in the space, for one reason or another, so Gently was expecting that.
"Hello there!" She said, her accent soft but giving her a bright air, multiplied by her happy smile and warm eyes. She was English, though she had been here for a while now. "Is there something I can help you with?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:55 pm
Desma saw the other woman and started toward her, suddenly feeling very ridiculous. The people in the theater were probably busy, but it did say that they taught classes in a flyer she'd picked up.
"Err..Hello," Des shuffled awkwardly toward Gently, "I saw a flyer for classes that are taught here." She paused, "this is going to probably sound pretty absurd."
A silly smile spread across her face and a chunk her her shaggy hair fell into her eyes. The brunette tucked her hair back behind her ears and tried to gain enough courage to continue. "I'm having some problems at school and need to gain confidence, do you have any classes like that? Or..you know anyone that can help?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:17 pm
Gently listened to the girl, tilting her head slightly and taking stock of the girl's appearance. She was young, a student obviously, but she seemed fairly timid and unsure. Of course, coming in to a strange place with a stranger talking to her would probably be the cause of that.
She smiled and nodded a few times before she answered.
"There are classes! A few of us give them. I just got done with an improv class for today," she said, offering a smile. She waited for her to speak again, now watching the way she carried herself. At the mention of gaining confidence, Gently nodded her head like it suddenly made sense. She grinned.
"Well! The theatre is the best place to learn about that. Pretty much any class you take will help you with that. Come on, I'll show you what I mean," she said, turning and jogging to the stage, hopping up onto it, though it was difficult with her short height. She was used to it, though, and was soon standing on stage, waiting for Desma to join her.
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:37 pm
"Oh, I..."
Shrugging, with a 'what's the worst that can possibly happen' look on her face Desma followed the woman. Approaching the stage she paused, and clambered onto the stage and uneasily to her feet. At least this woman was nice, and willing to help!
"My name's Desma."
Was she going to launch into the cliche scene that Desma saw on day time television, going into 'you're a tree, be the tree' or the cheesy scenes from Disney TV shows that depict someone getting over stage fright by envisioning everyone in their underwear. Desma was a television, addict, if there was such a thing, and although the real world wasn't like her virtual fantasy, sometimes it felt close enough to it.
"Any class?" She asked hopefully. Well, at least I thought correctly I picked the theater. The theater was the best place to come to accomplish her current goal. Some assurance, a backbone.
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:56 pm
"Gently," she said, taking her hand and shaking it vigorously. She didn't add on her last name, not because she had anything to hide with it, but because she didn't really like it. Ponsonby. It didn't exactly roll off the tongue, he supposed.
She grinned.
"So. This is the stage. See all those seats? They're not always full each performance, but they certainly can be. But even if there was one person sitting out there, getting on this stage and performing for them is a test in confidence. That's why a performance is as much for yourself as it is for who ever's watching."
She hummed thoughtfully.
"Every important lesson I've learned started in the theatre. Psychology, sociology, philosophy. Who needs those classes when there's this, right? I'd like to think this is a whole lot more fun. So! You want to be more confident, huh? Then I suggest a stage acting class, or an improv class. Improv will teach you how to be calm and quick, and comfortable in your skin no matter the situation. Acting One will help you in the same way, but with more focus on character and things like that. Oh, look, I've talked myself out of one and into the other. I think improvisation might be the way to go."
She chuckled brightly.
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Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:02 pm
Des thought nothing of Gently omitting her last night, the teenager hadn't given hers, and this wasn't necessarily a formal meeting.
Desma was practically quaking in her boots, yes, she had in fact seen all the seats out there. All of the seats her eyes fell in represented other people, negaverse, senshi, even just plain old teenagers that she couldn't quite master the belief in herself to approach.
She liked where this was going, liked that the idea was she was playing the part not only for the audience, but herself. For a moment the teenager thought she was following what Gently had to say, but then her words twisted and she was suggesting another acting class.
"Every lesson I've learned has come from the teevee," Desma mumbled through a goofy smile.
"Are there..a lot of people in your Improv class?" she blinked dumbly at the enthusiastic woman; Des had seen people exiting the theater, but didn't know if they were all for the same thing. "Does it cost money?"
The Heisse family wasn't tight on cash, by any means, but she had a very hard time convincing her mother for money because the woman insisted that all Des ever spent her money on was cigarettes, which wasn't true..she spent her money on movies too!
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Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 11:48 pm
Gently grinned and opened her mouth to reply, like she was bursting with pride and wanted to say that the class was huge and successful and amazing. But she couldn't let herself get away with it and she sighed, shaking her head slowly and chuckling a bit.
"I wouldn't exactly say a lot... or, you know, even many. A few. That would probably be the most apt. Yes! There are a few people in my class, but there is certainly room for more!"
She beamed, never discouraged by small classes. She would teach even if one person showed up, all alone. And only for a few minutes. Gently didn't care, so long as she could make something worthwhile out of the time. And even so, it was excellent practice for herself.
So she couldn't complain.
"It doesn't cost much! It's not a class for credit to anything, just to learn and play some improv each week. A good way to relax, you know, and just to have some fun. I only had to charge a little to cover the cost of the space."
Which she usually had to cover herself, as she rarely remembered to collect money from everyone, save the few honest people who gave it to her without her prompting. It just wasn't the important part to her.
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:13 pm
The brunette held back a chuckle as Gently made her way to the conclusion that there were not a lot, not many, just a few. That was certainly taking the long way to say something. Desma was getting the idea that the other woman had a way with words, and she liked to use them! If she would've thought about it, it would make sense someone who liked acting, and teaching it would obviously need to be able to articulate appropriately.
"I would like to come to your improv class," Desma nodded slowly and for a moment some truth let out, "I don't know too many people...I'm sort of awkward." It was evident in her body language that she was, but she was comfortable enough standing in the theater.
"It might help to meet someone, friends you know?" Way to make things even more awkward, she tumbled through the filing cabinet of jokes in her head, but couldn't come up with anything that could change the mood of the moment.
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:53 pm
"Well good!" Gently grinned at her, excited.
"I'll love to see you there! We just had a class today, but if you come an hour earlier next week, you'll catch us," she grinned at her teasingly, though the time was right. And it was only once a week for now. There weren't enough students to justify more, though she was hoping that the numbers would pick up, or they would voice an interest in staying longer.
She smiled reassuringly, putting her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Don't worry, you'll know a few more after class! And you won't have to do anything you don't want to. It's all about having fun, getting to know people, and finding yourself."
"I know what that feels like, believe me. I never had too many friends in school, because I was so busy just being a student. And I felt funny because of my accent. But the best way to get over that is to just... hang out with people!"
She chuckled and pat the girl on the shoulder. "You'll see!"
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:04 am
Desma thought that it was just like her to be an hour late for something that would be beneficial to her, an hour earlier and it might not be so awkward to ask questions about confidence and acting. Then again, she didn't know the improv class would be the way to go, and she wouldn't have met Gently.
The smiled warmly as Gently patted her shoulder and nodded, "I'll make sure to be on time for your class next week." she chuckled.
Des didn't want to ask what happens when people don't want to hang out with you, but wasn't going to turn the situation sour, this was a happy thing. Her high school career thus far had been one of skipping classes and watching television in her down time. If the nuns caught her she would scrub a few floors and kiss butt for a few weeks to try and get back into their good graces - she hadn't been wasting time being a student - at least that's how she thought of the school.
"Thanks, for your help..and you know vote of confidence. I can bet you are a really good teacher."
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:51 am
"Good! I look forward to it! We'll have fun, I promise. Even if you don't want to play right away, you'll learn something. It'll be good!" She had a lot of confidence in that, at least. She smiled broadly, warm as possible, her soft sea green eyes lending to that air of warmth.
She laughed again, running a hand through her short hair.
"I wouldn't go that far! But I certainly try, and that's all I ask of the people who come in to learn, so it's an even trade. In any case! I don't mean to keep you hostage here at the theatre. You come by next week, yeah? Or any time you want to, I'm usually around, if you just want to hang out."
She smiled. She was available to be a teacher or a friend, if anyone every needed her to be, or asked her to. She had no problems meeting new people and wanting to get to know them. Maybe she had her reporter training to thank for that, just as much as her theatre background.
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 12:53 am
"Oh, sure I'll be back! See you around, Gently." Desma hoped she hadn't kept Gently hostage either by asking so many questions. "I'll see you next week." She beamed, her mom would be pleased if she knew her daughter was actually excited about going to a lesson - and wasn't going to be skipping at least one class. She flopped onto her bottom and then awkwardly slipped off of the stage.
"I can't wait," Dez said again and headed to the back of the theater, listening to the acoustics of the place as the sound her of foot steps echoed back at her.
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:15 am
Gently smiled broadly and nodded her head. She was very glad that Desma had stopped in, and was eagerly looking forward to teaching her about improv and, more importantly, about herself and finding the confidence she seemed to want so much.
Hopefully, she had come to the right place. Actually, hopefully nothing. Gently was certain she had.
She watched as the girl climbed off the stage, almost going to help her, but reaching her just in time for the other to hop off. Chuckling, Gently nodded and waved excitedly.
"Me either! Have a good rest of your day!"
She grinned and then turned to look at the stage behind her, taking a deep breath and smiling fondly as the echoes of footfalls fell quiet in the air. The theatre was am incredible, even magical place, she knew, and it could help anyone, with anything if given the right cues. She was eager to see how things went.
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