Welcome to Gaia! ::

If the newly renovated theater was anything, it was certainly ready for a performance. The lights were free of dusts. The curtains clean and absent of moth holes, and the stage itself was swept and polished. Light hung from the catwalk and Juliets, ready to highlight any moment on stage. Costumes aplenty, makeup at the ready. The school was ready to put on a show. Sadly, there had been not talk of a school play. Not since last year and that Christmas play. That didn’t mean there were no whispers. Rumors of big plans echoing from the theater department. How could they not? It had been a long time since the school had put on a play, and a theater teacher had arrived. Why wouldn’t there be a school play?

In time, rumors gave way to fact. After all, it was hard to miss the large posters and banners littering the halls. ‘TRYOUT FOR THE SCHOOL PLAY’ they read, some gnomes had even gone so far as to glue signs on to some poor unfortunate student backsides. The whole ‘advertisement campaign’ was a touch hard to miss really. Tryouts were to begin sharply after school moonday up until frightday. BYOL. Bring your own lines. No talent needed. No limbs, wings, or natural forms needed either. Props available. Costumes not required. It all seemed very legit.

There was however, a few things in small, fine, fine print. Things that some gnomes had simply crossed out, (in all likelihood to mess with the students). The school play was a musical and would require dancing. Dancing with ghouls and boils alike. Dancing with those of unknown or questionable gender. There was even going to be a ‘passionate romance scene where kissing will be involved’. Sword fighting, (which the school was not liable for) and candy. Lots of candy. The name of the play could be found if a student looked extremely hard.

The theater was quite and a single spot light illuminated the center of the stage. In the Audience, Rengath, the theater teacher sat with a bored expression. Gnomes were also in the audience, some with tomatoes already in hand. On the stage a single chair and table, the table having nothing on it. No scripts were provided, but there was music at the ready should any student request it for their ‘dancing’ in the audition. Some students went to wait offstage for their turn, other filled out into the seats. So far, the gnomes had yet to throw anything at those brave enough to try out, and the teacher sighed loudly as no one went on stage.

As far as try outs went, it was pretty boring so far.

Rengath began to write a few notes down as Roch showed him his moves. "That was... good. And yes, you may leave now if you like, or stay and- NO." The teacher glared down on of the gnomes who had a tomato in hand aimed at Roch. "Yes well. We will let you know when the cast is decided." A hand motioned for him to go offstage. "You're welcome to stay and watch if you like, just-" another glance to the gnomes, "Avoid them."

Siobhan crawled through the halls of Amity, trying to get herself acquainted with the strange new setting she had found herself in. The banshee enjoyed crawling half the time she went anywhere, a habit she acquired from scurrying through crawlspaces at home.

Her long tresses of hair dragged behind her, collecting dust and bits of trash wherever she moved. Her head lifted to see where she was, and found a curious poster on a wall. She scrambled to her feet, scurried forward and pressed her nose to the posting, eyes wide in wonder. "Nutcracking... how.. i n t e r e s t i n g..." She mused, tilting her head to the side slowly. A play wuld be a great way to aquaint herself with the other students, yes? Siobhan wished very much to make friends. Perhaps working with others on such a thing would allow her the opportunity.

"I wish to be a part of this venture." The banshee rubbed her hands all over the posting, then skipped her way to the theater.

Soon, the dark skinned ghoul found herself on stage. She didn't recall getting there, but her hair now seemed to have caught hold of even more objects from her journey, including a broom. From the looks of it, it appeared as if she had managed to get herself lost within a janitor's closet.
"Ah... er..." The banshee stared at the rows of seats, and down at the one running the show. "Oh my.. dear me.. " Siobhan fidgeted with her clothes, suddenly developing a case of stage fright.

"D-d-d-d-dd--ooo forgive me. My apologies! My knowledge of this play is slim at best. How e v e r..." The ghoul fumbled with her train of hair, until she pulled out the broom. "I--I wish to play the part of P---P---Prince! I wish to be dashing!"

She stared down at her broom, deciding it could be a horse, or maybe a sword. Ah, what did the prince do again? Maybe she could make it up? Siobhan looked as if ready to panic, her fingers dancing along her lips as she murmured to herself.
"The Prince.. he is a nut? No, perhaps a cracker of nuts. He falls in love with a plum, yes? Yes I believe he does. The plum loves the Rat King though, oh how dreadful. And then fairies come and kill the cook! Oh how awful! Who will protect the Plum? Wait no, the faires are nuts! Flying vicious nuts! No! No don't go after PLUM!? NUTS, NO!!!!"

Siobhan's eyes filled with tears, gasping sharply.

"I AM THE PRINCE!" She screamed out suddenly, in true banshee form. "I WISH TO CRACK ALL OF THE NUTS! ALL OF THEM!" She almost seemed like she thought herself brave and dashing on stage, pointing her broom-sword toward the audience. "That.... is all."

The banshee dropped her broom back into her hair, as if using it like a purse. She bowed several times, uttering apologies for her incompetent performance. "I'm sorry I'm sorry. Oh how dreadful. I apologize, I am so so so so sorry! Do not beat me with tomatoes, please. Such a waste. I will take them and make ketchup, yes? Delicious ketchup. Allow me to make you a sandwich."

At first just his head peeked out from the curtain. Ulmuka had never been on stage before so this audition was definitely a first. He wasn't sure how much of an actor he could be but the part did say 'Owl' so he was sure it was meant to be his.

He hopped sideways before something in his brain fired correctly to tell him that he was in a human form and he could walk normally. This elicited a giggled from the strix before he'd even reached center stage. He glanced up at the cieling, side to side, and his head even spun around to look behind him before he even spoke.

"AHEEEEM." His throat clearing was loud, scratchy. "My name is Ulmuka Knobwalker." He bowed low, a spindly arm across his waist. "I would like to audition for the OWL." he giggled, a high pitched hissing noise. "OBVIOUSLY."

He scratched his fluffy head as if he'd forgotten something. "Oh! I looked up this play on the interwebs.." It was difficult for him, using the computer. "All I could find was the ballet parts." Another hissed giggle. "So I have two assistants to help me!"

The strix, ever-grinning, hurried off stage and returned holding
1) A minipet wearing a tutu.
2) The long sleeve of Charlie, who also seemed to be a prop at the moment.

Muka moved both of his 'volunteers' to either side of the stage and plopped them down on their behinds. Aurora, the mini, started to groom herself but the strix didn't seem to mind.

"This piece is from the ballet.." His head bobbled to the crowd in affirmation and he hurried to the side again, there was a click and then music started to play.

Muka hurried back out, holding his arms out as if he were presenting both of them. His movements were jerky and awkward but he smiled the whole time. He moved next to Charlie, swinging the boils arms around like a doll, then he went back over to Aurora, his mini, and picked her up, moving her tiny paws around in a similar fashion. He tossed her in the air, her sparkly mane flying all over the place, before placing her back on the ground. Back to Charlie's side, Muka picked up the petite boil with a slight grunt, moving his limbs to make him stand and treating him as if he was a doll.

He then moved to the center of them both and did what he considered to be twirls and footwork. Really it was like jaunty shuffling and angular limb movements. There was nothing graceful about him but he was enthusiastic!

When the short piece ended he picked up Charlie's arm, his minipet onto his shoulder, and he did a bow that was accentuated by his own giggling once again. He hurried off stage but then was back in just a moment more, this time alone.

"Oh and I can do this!" Using his natural shapeshifting ability there was a sound like bones breaking and sinews snapping and where the boil was standing was now a 6' tall owl with a jagged black beak.

"TADA!!"



[[ Forgot to mention I had Chobi's permission to use Charlie as a prop biggrin ]]

Some...someone else had just auditioned for the part that Chuppi had been studying for, and a stone weight hit the monster in the gut. Would it be proper for her to try out for something after someone else had already gone? It didn't occur to her that that was the whole meaning behind the word audition and for a brief moment in time or two she honestly considered backing out. It was then that she remembered that it had been her desire to try out for the play after all. Some of her motives behind it hadn't exactly been pure of heart but. . . .well, she had practiced her lines against a mirror, danced with Tsetsiliya, and generally did her best to figure out ways on how not to look stupid while trying out.

After the ghoul (and boil who had done something rather amazing) left the stage, the Chupacabra took several deep breaths (and nearly twice as many sips from her Thermos) before she headed over to the steps. They were still as hard to get up as she remembered, but that didn't stop her from reaching the stage and moving towards the center line. Closing her eyes she hesitated for a moment before opening them and smiling out at the invisible crowd. "I. . . am Temes, and I am here to try for Cloodia. I will be dancing...a scene from the show?"

There wasn't much she knew about the girl other than what she'd seen on the skellyvisions, or what she'd read in the library books. They told her next to nothing, but....she wasn't going to give up. From what she understood Cloodia was a brave girl who risked her life for her friends to protect them, and wanted to become an adult that someone could admire. She was not a good dancer, even though she dreamed of it, and well...Chuppi wasn't a good one either.

But she could understand the concept of loving something quite a bit and she moved her arms as though she were holding something close to her (even though they were very much empty). Before she moved though she ran and quickly turned on some music, the scene in mind in her head. She moved behind the speaker and pulled out what looked to be a crudely made nutcracker doll of her own and she cradled it to her body. Once the music started she moved into a weak sort of dance, though the affection she showed towards the ugly, ugly doll was real.

Perhaps it was because she understood love for inanimate objects, like her Thermos. She'd be dancing with her Thermos right now if she could but that would look kinda weird and this was all about Crackers of Nuts and stuff. For the most part Chuppi felt like she was doing okay, her mind recalling what Pan had told her to do, and the monster paused at a peak in the music to pose.....and then promptly fell over as her balance gave way. She landed atop her doll and felt it crack beneath her weight, resulting in her scrambling quickly off it only to find part of it broken.

"Oh...no. My...my beloved..." Her brain was still very much in 'this doll is my Thermos, love it like my Termo' mode and the sight of destruction caused in her wake left the monster.... devastated. She knelt down at its side and reached out with her hands, lifting it gingerly back into her embrace. A few tears slid down her cheeks as she looked to the doll and kissed it, her mouth moving as she whispered silent apologies. "I will make this right. . . . I will protect you. . . . "

And then Chuppi realized she was still on stage and performing the moment the music finally stopped. Her eyes went open bright and wide and she quickly bowed her head, indicating that...well...maybe all of that had been planned. She was going to say it was if asked, and the Chupacabra bowed again....and again. She'd done so badly, but at least it was over with!

[ Chuppi is willing to be an understudy. . . or a bush ]

Mandy shuffled awkwardly onto the stage, glancing furtively back at something. Reaching the centre she drew herself up, obviously getting ready for her moment, and then…. slumped. She was the picture of a reluctant student, clearly wanting absolutely nothing to do with the play what so ever. (In the wings an evil looking Samara doll stood, holding Mandy’s last bottle of beer hostage – to be broken along with any other alcohol the doll could find unless Mandy tried out for the play (Why? Because Sam was bored))

Clearing her throat nervously Mandy finally actually got to it. “I’m here to audition, well obviously… for, er…” she pulled out one of the posters she had snitched, scrolling through the roles, “Fruntz.”

Some helpful audience member chose that moment to pipe up, “Fruntz is a boil, yer idiot!”

“Yeah and!?!” Mandy’s stance turned aggressive and irritated, “You think I can’t play a boil!?! BOILS CAN PLAY GHOULS! SEXISM! I DEMAND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY WITH ROLES! YOU CANT OPRESS ME!” Mandy threw the poster at the now scared audience member, glaring at them until they left.

There was a pause before Mandy remembered she was supposed to be auditioning. “Ok, Right. Fruntz. So, I can so play a boil and I can tap on some drums, act jealous and smash things. That’s all Fruntz does yeah?”

The silence stretched again as if Mandy was honestly waiting for someone to answer that. What? It’s not like she actually knew much about the play.

Taking the awkward silence as a yes she turned to the props at the side of the stage and pulled out a toy drum. “I shall now demonstrate my ability to play Fruntz.”

She hit the drum once. Pause. Hit it again. Longer pause. Hit.

And then she threw down the stick like a prima donna having an epic b***h fit.

“WHY DOES STUPID CLOODIA GET ALL THE COOL TOYS OF MASS DESTRUCTION? I WANT TO CRACK NUTS TOO! ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH! IT’S BECAUSE SHE’S A GHOUL ISNT IT!?! SEEEEEXIIIIIISM! BOILS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CRACK NUTS TOO! I AM SO RAGE FILLED BY THIS INJUSTICE THAT I MUST BREAK ALL THE TOYS. ESPICALLY THAT AWESOME NUTCRACKER.” At that point Mandy pulled out a Nutcracker from her jacket, bit off its head, and threw the body into the audience.

She huffed a bit, catching her breath from her rant, before standing still, done.

Somewhere in the audience a cricket chirped.

Mandy threw the nutcracker head at it. (And then hoped to high hell it wasn’t one of Nurse Crickets bugs.

Finally deciding that she wasn’t going to get the applause her brilliant performance deserved Mandy decided to wrap things up. “So yeah, Fruntz. Er… I can also sword fight and dance, I guess. But I refuse to sing and you can’t make me.

…Unless its rap. I can totally work with rap.

….Oh, yeah. I guess I can also be back-up, I mean I don’t see why I won’t make main cast but if your insane like that, sure.”

That said she flounced off stage.

….She hoped to Jack that performance was enough to not get herself selected. Jack damn blackmailing minipets.

((OOC: Willing to be back up!))

Sin hadn't felt so hot after the school field trip, she often had nightmares of Red's skull speaking to her demanding to know why she had cracked it. Still...life continued even after what had happened and everyone else was managing so she had to manage as well. The experience had changed her friends a bit, Julian seemed different now, less of a cute little brother, he hardly needed her to protect him. It was strange for her to realize no one really needed her to help them anymore, Calder seemed fine, Christof had Riley, Julian had gained confidence. She felt somewhat useless, which was probably why she grabbed Rosc the moment she heard about the school play. She would have taken any excuse in the world to put her focus on something fun. She could play the role of Mrs. Syberhouse and Rosc could be Mr. Syberhouse...once she convinced Rosc that involving himself in a school play...and dancing in front of the school was going to be fun.

So it was she held his hand now casually walking towards the theater as nonchalant as possible. She was being sneaky and manipulative, Rosc would probably have partnered with her if she just asked nicely, but just incase he wouldn't it was better safe then sorry.

She had worn a matronly gown and she hoped Rosc hadn't noticed her demure dress or the way she had pulled her hair up. She would have tried to get Rosc to dress for the role, but this play was being so well advertised by the gnomes that would have been a dead giveaway.

Oh, he'd noticed her dress. Rosc always noticed what Sin was wearing. And he didn't particularly care for this one. He was used to Sin wearing skimpy clothing that made him want to lock her in her room, preferably with him in it, too.

"Sin, where in Jack's name are we-" Through a door and Rosc stopped dead. It took him a moment, but he finally turned to Sin with a smile on his face.
"No." It wasn't shouted, but it a very firm denial of what she wanted him to do.
"No. I am not getting on that stage. Pout all you want, I'm not trying out for that Jack-damned play."

"Rosc..." Sin had to struggle to keep her voice down, she tried to drag him further into the theater. "It's going to be so much fun...we can dance together...don't you want to dance with me Rosc?" She tried to add just the right note of pleading to the end of the question. She wanted to be in this play, but only if Rosc performed with her!

"We can dance in plenty of places that aren't. On. A. Stage," Rosc replied with a bit of a growl in his voice. Ripley, his foxsquirrel, poked her nose out of his coat pocket, only to have it shoved back down by Rosc's hand.
He saw the look on Sin's face and sighed, raking a hand through his hair.

"Really, Sin? You really want me to do this?" Damn that look. He knew how stressed she had been after the last trip, after they lost Red. This would be good for her, something to distract her. But a play? Couldn't he just take her out on a vacation?
Knowing his ghoul, it was all or none.
He sighed and shook his head before giving her a little kiss on the cheek.
"For you only, Sin. Know that I'd probably toss anyone else off of the dorms for this."

It was hard, Sin loved spotlight and Rosc hated it, she had tried to respect that, but being cooped up wasn't for her. He was right, they could dance anywhere, but she didn't want to back down this close to the stage. She smiled brightly as he conceeded and took his hand leading him up towards the stage.

"You'll have fun, show some school spirit."

Excitement flooded her when their turn came, she stepped up and cleared her throat.

"I'm Sin Err and I'll be trying out for the role of Mrs. Syberhouse..." She glanced at Rosc and waited for him to introduce himself.

"Since when have you known me to have school spirit?" Rosc asked with a raised eyebrow before she dragged him onto the stage. His posture was a little rigid as he stood there, moving his hand from Sin's so that he could clasp them behind his back, both wings folded as neatly as possible there.

"And I'm Rosciel, trying out for the role of Mr. Syberhouse." He nodded formally with his introduction before dismissing his audience altogether. He stepped away from Sin and, facing her, held out one hand in invitation.
"Now that all of the guests have arrived, wife, shall we start the dancing?" he asked, his tone honed to a formal perfection from years of party training under his mentor and strong enough to carry in the theater, at least to the professor. The main thing that set off his demon elegance was his attire.

Sin stepped back and then faced Rosc lifting her hand to take his pleased by how easily he fell into the role. Her voice carried as well, but she lent it a softer tone trying to match the maternal figure she was trying out for.

"Of course my love."

Well that was the simplest line ever delivered, but this play also required dancing. Sin was all too happy to move into Rosc's arms for the scene of the Grandfather Dance.

Slowly creeping down the isles and towards the stage were two small creatures with glowing eyes...and undergarments on their heads. Sin's troublemaking Unmentionables had decided to follow her into the theater.

Rosc led his dance partner carefully, elegantly. Really, he would prefer a more heated dance with Sin, he enjoyed their battle of wills when they tangoed. But that wasn't the time or place, the Grandfather Dance was a more refined piece of nonsense and much as he hated it, he knew the steps to dances like that.

He was so focused on what he was doing, he didn't realize trouble was coming until Ripley poked her head back out and hissed at something in the seats, fur all bristled. That got his attention, though, and he paused mid-step to see her clamber out heading for his shoulder.

Sin saw Ripley moving, she glanced off the stage to see her Unmentionables charging. She tried to steer Rosc into finishing the dance but she knew they were going to be interrupted, rudely. Sure enough she was forced to steped back and sweep her skirt aside as her Unemntionables came dashing onto the stage to chase Ripley and horrifyingly tried to yank the poor foxsquirrel's tail.

When one of them got a hold of her tail, Ripley leapt to Sin in an attempt to find safety. With a growl, Rosc grabbed both of Sin's pets by their scruffs and frowned sternly at them, oddly enough still partially in character.
"What in the world is wrong with you two?" he asked, giving each a small shake.

Sin scooped Ripley into her arms and softly stroked her with a gentle coo. "Poor Ripley, come on let's tend to your poor tail." She turned and gave a curtsey towards the professor holding the foxsquirrel in her arms like a scareling.

"Excuse us..." Well that was that, she moved to head off stage trusting Rosc to handle the errant Unmentionables.

While Sin tended to Ripley, Rosc shoved each of the squirming Unmentionables under an arm. He didn't say anything as he left the stage, merely gave the director a nod and followed his ghoulfriend.
He did, however, continue to grumble about the minis not behaving themselves or playing nice with one another, that they should probably be thrown in the closet to teach them a lesson.

(We hope it's okay to do that, since the parts are kinda linked and all that.
Sin word count :: 780
Rosc word count :: 754
They are both willing to be back-ups)