Open Doing the Job

[Alia Beaudouin]

Alia scratched the wolf's head, right behind his ears. He seemed to enjoy that, so Alia turned herself so she wasn't twisting round the animal in order to stroke his fur. She heard Jorin speak behind her asking if she knew the wolf. Did she? No. Definitely not. I haven't seen a wolf up close before.. But they're really just big dogs. And this dog seemed especially friendly for a wolf. Alia finally got a good look at the wolf when he opened his peculiar, golden eyes and cocked his head at her. He seemed to be staring at her hair. A brief thought flew through Alia's mind, If I didn't have red hair.. Would I get any attention at all? She frowned, but immediately banished the thought as the wolf shifted and she finally noticed the fire-red cloak on the wolf's back. A strange thing for a wolf to be wearing, but maybe it was domesticated. Snapping out of her thoughts, Alia answered Jorin's question. "No.. I don't believe I've actually been this close to a wolf before. The only animals I saw in Wind Reach were birds..." Alia's eyes went glassy for a moment, as if reliving a memory. The wolf shifted again slightly, as if staring Jorin down. Realizing the wolf was challenging Jorin, she sighed. Men. They're the same in all species. After the miniature staring contest, Alia nudged Jorin to lead on towards the Amphitheater and pondered an idea for a script. She remembered a story told back in Wind Reach by her mother, when Alia was much younger. It was about a woman who was deeply in love with a man, but the man had closed his eyes to the world long ago, so they could not love each other without pain bringing them apart. It was her favourite story from her memories in Wind Reach, and she wondered if her mother told stories to the other children now. Being an only child, her mother had always devoted time to her daughter. And had been a great storyteller, always a new tale of long ago times and happy endings right on the tip of her tongue. Alia sighed. If her mother had been here, she probably would have five plays and a musical Alia could preform for her audition at the amphitheater. Jorin could help her develop one, though. It couldn't be too hard, and she could use the stories from her mother as inspiration. Everything would be fine. She would have the job of her dreams by the time the first snowflake fell. As long as everything goes to plan.

[Jorin Ertihan]

Season of Fall, Day 35, 513 AV

Wind Reach. That wasn't a place Jorin had really heard a great deal about. Or anything at all, really. The name barely rung any bells in his head, and he cocked his head to the side and looked askance at Alia slightly. "I... can't say I've actually heard of Wind Reach much before," he confessed, shrugging slightly.

"Is it far from here? I''m pretty new to the Cyphrus region myself. I've only been to Riverfall, actually, I barely know the cities around here." In fact, Jorin had only really heard of the wandering city of the Drykas very much in passing, and the wine apparently came from a place called "Kenash", though he didn't even know if that was even in the same region though he suspected it probably was.

The wolf for his part was effectively trying to stare him down. Jorin was really not all that interested in such a battle of wills, and looked away fairly quickly. It wasn't exactly something he was particularly good at; Jorin was not what one would describe as an 'alpha male' and though he would be more than happy to stand up for things he believed to be important, he saw little reason to expend a great deal of energy on this sort of thing.

"Well, we should be moving on, then," he announced, taking Alia's hint that they should move on. Taking the lead, he marched past the two Akalaks guarding the main gates, nodding to them as he passed them by. The intimidating view of the city faded from view as he led the girl and the wolf out toward the tree-lined path that went to the Amphitheater. The fact that the wolf was following definitely told Jorin it must be a Kelvic. Or an extremely domesticated wolf, but probably a Kelvic.

"Well, the Amphitheater shouldn't be too far away now," Jorin announced as the continued to lead them to it. "If you need any help with rehearsing for your audition, I'd be happy to do what I can. Or if you need someone to play an opposing role, I can do that too, though in that case I'd need to be prompted on the requisite lines." Jorin shrugged. "Or I could always improvise," he suggested. It was usually frowned upon, but then again it was just an audition - the delivery was usually more important than the content - so improvisation of lines was more accepted.

The path grew somewhat wider as trees lined the path on either side. Their branches stretched overheard, blocking out a bit of Syna's light as the foliage, not yet at the point of falling off, made for a brilliant display of oranges and reds and browns. The path itself split after a little while, although the side path was almost hidden by several strategically placed bushes and one would need to know what to look for, or be familiar with the area, to see the smaller path off to the right.

"That path is for actors and stagehands," Jorin mentioned, waving to the side-path lazily with his right hand. "It leads into the back, so that we can get to the Amphitheater without having to march up onto the stage through the audience. Looks more professional that way."

Jorin shrugged. He himself saw no problems weaving through the audience, getting to know the people who would be enjoying his productions but then, he supposed to see the entire cast and crew filter through probably would not reflect well on the Amphitheater.

"I have to say, I've never met anyone with your particular hair color before," he commented, flushing slightly. It was perhaps a bit forward of him to say something like that, but he really hadn't met anyone with red hair before. "Is that something that is common in that place you mentioned? Wind Reach, I think it was?"

x

[Alia Beaudouin]

As they got going, Jorin seemed to take an interest in her history. "I... can't say I've actually heard of Wind Reach much before," Alia stared at Jorin for a moment, then realized her mouth was open. Yes, its just like you to be surprised when someone doesn't know of Wind Reach, its not the only city in Mizahar, you know. Alia shook her head to rid herself of the doubtful voice before Jorin asked another question. "Is it far from here? I'm pretty new to the Cyphrus region myself. I've only been to Riverfall, actually, I barely know the cities around here." Hmm.. How to explain Wind Reach to a man whose never heard of it? "Well... Wind Reach is the home of the Inarta. Not many live outside of Wind Reach, as there was a law... Alia trailed off, "Never mind. Wind Reach is in the Kalea region, you know, the one northeast of Cyphrus? I'll show you on a map sometime.. It's quite far from here. It was a long trip, even by wing." There was a moment of silence after Alia finished explaining, then Jorin announced that they should get moving. "Well, the Amphitheater shouldn't be too far away now, If you need any help with rehearsing for your audition, I'd be happy to do what I can. Or if you need someone to play an opposing role, I can do that too, though in that case I'd need to be prompted on the requisite lines." Jorin shrugged. What did he mean by that? "Or I could always improvise," Alia walked silently for a chime, wondering if she needed Jorin to help her with her lines. More practice would probably be good. Alia nodded, then took the silence as a chance to look around. The display from the not-yet-fallen leaves was amazing, throwing colors everywhere, it was so beautiful. Jorin broke the silence, explaining where they were. Alia nodded at appropriate times, but her gaze was still on the magnificent display of colors above them. Then, something Jorin said caught her attention. "I have to say, I've never met anyone with your particular hair color before," Alia quickly turned to look at him, was her hair really that interesting? It seemed like to everyone it was more important than her actual identity. Alia frowned for a moment, then banished the though. Thats not true. "Is that something that is common in that place you mentioned? Wind Reach, I think it was?" If he didn't know where Wind Reach was, and he didn't understand the hint of her hair, that meant he probably no idea what an Inarta was. Alia immediately turned her gaze to the floor. She couldn't blame him, not many Inarta lived outside of Wind Reach, so it was rare for someone to see them unless they ventured to Mt. Skyinarta [shadow=black]"Yes. Ah.. I don't really want to take up your time explaining my entire life story.. She laughed, somewhat nervously. "But, you wouldn't really understand otherwise. After this, you'll have to tell me what you meant by yourself being new to the region." Alia shrugged. It seemed pretty fair. A story for a story. "I'm Inarta, or, half Inarta, at least." Less that half, actually. "So it's in my genetics to have red hair.. I think its actually impossible for an Inartan not to have red hair." She laughed again, a happier tone in her voice. "Wind Reach is the home of the Inarta, and I’m pretty sure, save a Kelvic or two, everyone there were strictly Inarta.. Anyway, outside of Wind Reach, theres only about one hundred of us.. Them.” Alia paused for a moment, could she call herself Inartan? Her mother was only second generation Inarta, and her father was purely human. She was practically afraid of birds, and she had never flown a wind eagle. She had the red hair and the blue-green-gold eyes to match, but were outward looks enough? ”Anyway, like I was saying, outside of Wind Reach, theres only about one hundred Inarta. Does that answer your question? I hope it doesn’t seem like I’m just rambling..” Alia trailed off. Again. Petch, I have to stop doing that. She sighed and looked at Jorin. Hopefully he wouldn’t care too incredibly much about her past. It was not like her to open up to a complete stranger, but Jorin was just so.. Easy to talk to, and Alia had been longing for a friend. ”I hope I’m not boring you.. So, you said you were new to Cyphrus?”

[Jorin Ertihan]

x

There... was a law that prevented people from leaving the city? Jorin honestly had no idea what to think of that. It wasn't something he ever really considered. That there could be cities that prevented you from leaving. Though he wondered. If Alia was from this city, how was it that she was here then? Apparently it was in the Kalea region, far to the northeast. He'd vaguely heard of it, although he hadn't actually been there. Or anywhere near there.

As the silence continued, Jorin took a closer look at his new companion. She was fair of skin, but with an attractive complexion and of course, the bright red hair stood out as a fairly stand-out feature. Though he was getting the idea that Alia was none-too-happy about her hair color being the most prominent feature that everyone commented on. She had large, expressive eyes that seemed to flicker in the midday sun and all-in-all he was struck by how pretty and attractive she was. Certainly she'd fit in at the Amphitheater - assuming she could get her lines right.

It was a mean thing to think - and Jorin acknowledged that - but really it was quite necessary. Being an actor was a lot more than just a pretty face (although Alia at least had that in spades). One needed a sharp mind and a quick wit. Things can change in a heartbeat on stage and unless one was prepared to improvise a line or a scene at a moment's notice the entire production could grind to a halt. The show must go on. There was no more sacred rule among actors than that.

Alia mentioned further about her people and herself. Apparently she was only half Inarta. Apparently red hair was a commonality among them. Jorin for his part had not really met very many people with that hair color, so he couldn't imagine an entire city full of them. Alia gave a little nervous laugh about thinking that it was impossible for an Inartan to not have red hair, and Jorin chuckled and smiled.

"Well, half-Inartan or not, you're the first I've ever met," he commented lightly. "I've never been to Wind Reach or Kalea. I got to Riverfall with the Traveling Thespians. They are a traveling actor's troupe... although I no longer count myself a member, they were the ones who brought me to this fair city."

Jorin deliberately left out several details. Such as why he'd left the Thespians. Or how they'd picked him up. These details about his past weren't something he usually shared with relative strangers; even Dust and Kirsi, two people he'd gotten to know well over the last few seasons, had not heard the full story. Thus far only Rinya knew, and he hadn't even told her absolutely everything.

"So yes, in that sense I am new to Cyphrus," Jorin concluded, answering Alia's final question. As they had walked, the wolf seemed to have vanished. One moment he'd been padding behind them, silently keeping vigil over their progress, the next he'd vanished. Perhaps he was watching from a distance, or maybe he just wasn't all that interested in visiting the Amphitheater and decided to go back to the city. Jorin wasn't sure, but he turned back to Alia and smiled.

"I've only been in the city for around two seasons," he noted, with a small hint of pride. After all, being able to do well at the Amphitheater despite only having been there a total of barely half a year was something to be proud of, though Jorin was never one to boast about such things.

"Anyway, here we are!" he announced, sweeping his arm in a manner both expressive and melodramatic, bending his knee just so while leaning forward in a stage bow that was equally dramatic. Lifting his head, he grinned at Alia disarmingly, offering her his arm to take her up on stage.

"You know, I remember the first time I came up on this stage," he mused, indicating that it would be OK for her to step up onto it with him. "I wasn't even an actor at the Amphitheater yet. I was up here, and Rinya was with me, and I was telling her how I'd be center-stage someday." Jorin's face had a faraway look as he remembered that day. How his imagination had supplied what reality didn't.

"Dreams are good," Jorin insisted. "But by far the best way to make them come true is to wake up. Don't worry Alia. I'll see you up on this stage yet." Their voices echoed across the empty Amphitheater. There wasn't rehearsals that day; and productions tended to happen later in the evening. Like that first day, the stage was empty.

"If you want, I'd be happy to improvise a scene up here," Jorin offered. "Believe me, with my luck, I've had to get... creative with the lines more than once to cover up my mistakes. Or other people's." Jorin shrugged.

"In the end it doesn't matter whose fault it was," he explained, even though he was sure she already knew. "What matters is what can be done to fix it. The audience must not know. The audience must never know." But even as he said this, he tried to moderate his tone. He did not want to sound condescending, but he also wanted to gauge how good Alia was at improvising lines. So, without warning, he launched into one of his own soliloquies, hoping she'd take the hint and continue the scene where he left off.

"O fair lady of Wind Reach!" he cried, arm outstretched and face bright with sudden vigor. "That you would visit our fair city is most fortuitous! Your crimson locks do grace our gentle steps and your elegance does us great service! Pray tell, my lady, what brings you to these fair city? What grand adventure tears you from the mountain heights of your home to land upon such distant shores?"

x

[Alia Beaudouin]

It was strange, speaking to someone who didn’t grow up in Wind Reach. Though Jorin spoke pretty light heartedly about his past, Alia got the feeling he was keeping some things secret. Shrugging inwardly, Alia decided not to prompt Jorin into talking more. His secrets were his alone. She hadn’t mentioned why she left Wind Reach, he didn’t mention why he left the Thespians. Or why he was with them. Or where he joined them. Or where he came from… His secrets are his alone. Had she gone into too much detail, explaining her life story to almost a complete stranger? He could still pull out a knife and attack her, she wouldn’t have any defense. Her first friend in Riverfall, or first enemy? As they continued down the path towards the Amphitheater, Alia heard Jorin announce that they had arrived. The Amphitheater was not as Alia had expected- It was outdoors, not walled in, and didn’t have quite as many seats as she had imagined. It wasn’t grand, but it was beautiful. Surrounded by trees with a semicircle stage, which Jorin helped her up onto. The actor got a dazed look on his face, remembering something. “I wasn't even an actor at the Amphitheater yet. I was up here, and Rinya was with me, and I was telling her how I'd be center-stage someday.” Several questions began propping up as he continued talking. Who was Rinya? Did he really think Alia had what it took to be center-stage? Why was the Amphitheater so empty? What would happen if she messed up? Her thoughts were derailed as Jorin threw out his arms and began calling out lines of some sort of play. Had he really memorized extra scripts just for the heck of it? Jorin launched into an entire monolog, directing his act towards Alia, and she nearly fell off the stage. He expected her to join? Well.. What the hai. ”Wondrous prince of Riverfall, you greet me with much praise, it is very fortuitous indeed that I come here, for I leave the sky high kingdom of the Inarta with twisted values. Adventure calls me from my nest, but fear sends me back, I am but drifting with the wind, in the eye of the storm.” Was that good? Did he deem her little speech worthy of the Amphitheater? Was it long enough, or did he think that she was trying to get out of saying more? There was so many things Jorin might like, or might despise. Then again, he was not the stage master. He would not be judging her, would he? Banishing the thought and letting A small smile creep across her face, Alia raised her arms towards the near cloudless sky. ”But alas, the city of waterfalls calls to my heart, with promise of new beginnings and many, many new adventures, though this one is coming to an end. My journey is done, and I find myself finally in new lands! In Riverfall!” Turning back to Jorin, Alia tried to search his face, seeing if he approved of the performance or not. Did he think her worthy of the amphitheater crew? Or was he criticizing her act in silence, thinking of a way to reply? OOCSo sorry for the wait! I have writers block for Method Acting, so I decided to reply to Doing The Job first.

[Ragdoll]

You've Been Graded!

Alia-I omitted any lores relating to Jorin, and I didn't grade his portion since he's retired.

Einarr there really wasn't much to award you here, plus you're inactive.

Alia :

Skills

Skill	Points
Observation	2
Acrobatics	1
Socialization	3
Teaching	1
Acting	1

Lores

• Oops: Falling on Others
• Location: Riverfall's Amphitheatre
• Men are Always the Same
• Acting: Improvising on the Fly

Comments

Was a lot of fun to read, and I'm sad to see that it ended prematurely. Alas.

Don't forget to edit your grading request! Though I try my hardest to award you what you deserve, I may occasionally mess things up! If there's something you'd like to discuss about your grade, then please don't hesitate to send me a PM and I'll be happy to work things out with you.