Flashback Reality

[Gemini]

12, Spring, 511AV "The confirmation of reality is but a mere conclusion of perception. The miracle of illusion lies in that, if one were to perceive an illusion as real, it then becomes reality." - Teachings of Ionu, the god/ess of illusion, trickery and mischief. The reflection in the mirror seemed distant, foreign even. It was incomplete, the image of a being that only retained half of each whole. She concealed his features above her lips, peeking through the slight gap in her fingers. It looked perfect, the soft lips and smooth jaw illustrative of her beauty. Eager to see how he looked, he shifted his hands down to cover her features below the nose. His nose was straight and tall, his eyes danced. While they both found each other’s features awkward on their own face, one thing they could agree on was that the long, charcoal hair was a splendid highlight to both their aspects of beauty. The lack of an appropriate pronoun to address themselves irritated Gemini, now that they were one. Not that anything could be done about it - it’s not often fraternal twins are reincarnated into one being. Yet here they were three hundred years later, back on the face of the once scorched lands of Mizahar. The question really wasn’t how they were here again, but why. Family, friends - along with the world that the two used to know - had all been utterly destroyed in the calamity. Everything they have ever known or loved wiped off the face of existence, turned into dust. Why were they here to roam the once forsaken world again? Was it a cruel joke by the gods? Were they sent here just to be reminded of how they were alone in this world? A cold sensation coiled around their chest, constricting tighter with each passing breath. They return to life, yet everything they have ever lived for ceased to exist. The food they eat possess no taste, the drink they consume devoid of flavor. They can feel only pain. --- “Are you done, Gaios? You’re scheduled to standby at the wing soon.” Loren opened the door to the small confined space of the room. Knowing Gaios, he was likely practicing - “syncing into character” was what he called it. Sometimes it worried Loren, him closing himself into the tiny space and talking to himself in the mirror. Gemini’s eyebrow twitched. They didn’t like it when someone walked in without warning. More importantly, it was quite the inconvenient moment for them, having just been indulging in the misery of their existence. “Wait, are those…tears? Why in hell are you crying?” “For the loss of everything, everything in its most literal sense. Our family lies dead, our city burned to ashes, the world we used to know, gone, destroyed, eradicated. Why do you think we’re crying?” “Oh for Ivak’s sake… They were right when they said you go nuts as soon as you start acting." “What’s this ’acting’ you speak of? We’ve been dead for the past three hundred years and a few words seem to have escaped our memory.” Gemini replied. “Ha. Ha. Ha." Loren shook his head with a dry, lifeless laughter. “Very funny. I’m going to assume this is the part where you tell me you don-" “I don’t act. I become.” Gaios cut him off. “Of course, why did I even start. "Loren sighed. “Anyhow pretty boy, you’ve been making some pretty nice additions to everyone’s costumes. The masks look great on stage and hardly anyone can recognise which actor is playing which character. " Taking into consideration that most of Gaios’ spare time is spent either indulging in his role before a mirror or creating props and better costumes, the result was to be expected. Still, Gaios was happy to know that the others liked his creations, especially the masks. “Do you know why I like making masks so much?”, he asked while applying eyeliner. “Let me guess, is it because you’re a creep?" “Only partly.” Gaios brushed off the joke as he traced the lipstick gently over his lips, covering them in a golden hue. "Masks are the single most important component in any character’s costume. A mask by itself is insignificant. However, the integration of a well-crafted mask into an entire costume is essential for defining the visual traits of the persona." He picked up his feathered black half-mask made especially for his role as Gemini, examining the golden trim over the masterfully carved engravings. It was breathtakingly beautiful. Elegant yet hollow, it signified a pure, graceful beauty as well as a beauty devoid of meaning - the ultimate representation of Gemini. Looking towards Loren, he continued. “…the mask is the adhesive for the persona, it connects the many separate visual traits of a character, holding them together into a coherent being. In other words, while the other parts of the costume define different aspects of the character, the mask itself is the persona of said character." “That's very interesting Gaios.” Loren yawned. “I’d love to keep this amazingly intriguing conversation going, but you’re due on stage soon. The Valterrian scene just began." Gaios firmly secured his mask as he walked towards the left wing of the stage, prepared for Gemini's entry. It was the third performance where he was to portray Gemini, quite the unusual arrangement in his own opinion, as the leading roles were usually given out to the actors of the highest caliber within the group. Gemini was by no means bad at what he does. It was simply a matter of experience. He had only been in the business for less than a few years, and some performances can only be done when the actor had spent a certain number of years on stage. If only considering time, Gemini was probably the most talented member of the group, having already outstandingly performed more than a few dozen supporting roles in his short time within the Troupe. A lead role however, was something that he was still nervous about. Though this was already his third performance as “Gemini”. The other actors were all talented, but none of them possessed the physical attributes of the character, the so called “combination of both forms of the physical manifestation”. Androgyny was one of Gemini’s visually defining traits, and only Gaios had the face and the body to appear visually androgynous, that is, with the addition of a the few subtly attached prosthetics and makeup that he created himself. “…Curse you Ivak. Curse you and your bloody flames!” echoed a man’s voice from the centre of the stage. He knelt down onto the stage floor while holding two other performers, each seemingly dead. One of the actor's uncontrolled breathing however, resulted in a subtle yet observable rise and fall in the torso. Gaios clicked his tongue in a mild annoyance. It didn’t really ruin the scene, but then any member of the audience who actually watched closely would have picked up on the amateur’s poor attention to detail. Anyhow, this scene was depicting the death of the twins Gemi and Emin when the Valterrian began, followed by the death of the father and the destruction of everything The stage began stirring a bright red as actors who played the common folk fled across the stage, screaming, crying, running for their lives. With the abilities of the troupe’s few reimancers, the scene began coming to life. Fire and wind materialised throughout the centre stage while fragments of dirt and dust were flung in all manner of directions - the Valterrian had struck with all of Ivak’s wrath, burning and consuming everything within its way. The father however, remained unmoving in the face of imminent doom. He wept as he cradled the pale, lifeless bodies of his children. He wept as he himself was lost in a fit of rage and despair. He wept, as fire and flames rained down from the clouds, bringing about ruin to the land he loved. Gaios felt something inside of him stir while observing the act, as if it was digging its way into the flesh of his torso , threading in and out between the gaps in his ribs. The tightness made it hard for him to breathe, tears began to well in his eyes. He didn’t know what it was that he felt, but the unyielding pain clutched itself onto him, moulding itself into part of his existence. Then suddenly, it released itself and vanished without a trace. Gaios panted as the sudden onset of emotion left his body. What in Lhex was that? Supporting himself with one hand on the wall, Gaios tried to adjust his breath. Whatever may have just have happened, his performance was due any time now, and he can’t afford to lose it now. With a final dispersing giant ball of flame, the stage faded to darkness. That was his cue to enter, or rather, Gemini’s cue. Here we go, they thought to themselves.

[Gemini]

“Gemini” staggered to the middle of the stage under a lone beam of light, confused. They stared at their own hands in disbelief, face full of shock so strong that even the extravagant mask could not hide. Shock was quickly overcome with a realisation, then joy - the joy of being alive; which was then again replaced with a sudden, morbid terror. They frantically ran around on the stage, darting their eyes in all directions. They cried, they shouted, they panicked as the realisation of their situation kicked in. Yes, they were again alive, and yes, everything, except for them, was dead. Set as the scene for “Gemini’s" appearance back in Mizahar, the scene was supposed to delve into the palette of intense emotion that they experience upon the realisation of their reincarnation. Of course, the stage was only set up with a few props and a background painting depicting the barren landscape of the aftermath of the Valterrian. Yet so genuine was their performance that it was as if the very scenery was alive and real. Playwrights believe that all sentient beings comprise of two critical components - the “core" and the “husk”. As such they have a habit of first creating the “core”, or the consciousness, for each character, then layering sheets of flesh and tendon around it, encasing it into the hollow shell known as the “husk”, essentially the body, which is the representation of the “core" in form. A character without a “core" is a lifeless, bland piece of meat while one without a husk becomes too fundamental of the character’s sentience to represent. Although Most actors possess the ability to act and represent, to some degree, both the husk and the core of the character, merging the two components into a single whole is the test of skill for the actor. Gaios was wondrous in this aspect of acting. Every gentle movement, every slight shudder in his voice contributed to his captivating performance. Where others would step, he would step with grace; where others would be joyous, he would be ecstatic; where others would weep, he would shed tears that fell into the depths of his very being. This was what separated him from the other actors who would simply “act” but not truly grasp the essence of the character. To Gaios the true representation of any character was of the utmost importance. He becomes, taking in both the “core" and “husk" of any character to be his own. The lone figure of the two knelt down in the middle of the stage, weeping silently. As the howling wind from the reimancers blew across the stage, “Gemini" delivered their soliloquy. My brethren, gone and withered to the world. Hath you left behind none but these Ashes and rubble For us to hold? What means of these eyes? What means of these limbs? What means this life of us when We only weep tears and loseth all? To the audience, it seemed as if Gemini themselves were on stage this very moment. Everything about the character seemed so fluid, natural. For them, ”Gemini’s" two individual personas were portrayed to excellence both in spirit and form. In the brief moment of action, Gaios had paid attention to the gentle, refined movements of Gemi, the sister, while weaving in quick, sharp motions of the brother, Emin. Their lines had also been delivered with an increasing sense of despair that slowly clawed its way into the minds of those watching. What captivated them most of all however, was the beauty beyond the appearance of the actor, mask and costume. It was a beauty that, though enthralling, drained away from the present. It was a beauty unique to objects of the past that no longer and never will again exist. “Gemini's" gaze grew gradually distant from reality, looking into a plane that none would be able to comprehend. Spontaneously, they began screaming. It was a scream that, while sharp, was not unpleasant to the ear. Yet it was a scream that tugged at the heart, that penetrated the barriers of all who heard it. The anguished scream dug deep into their core, flooding them with melancholy. It embodied the essence of the scene - the pure and utter breakdown of Gemini’s psyche. As the scene ended and the curtains closed, the audience showered Gaios with applause. Gaios however, did not hear the thundering recognition his performance had earned him. He was far away in a different plane, speaking to “Gemini", wallowing in their desolation.

[Gemini]

13th, Spring, 511AV Gaios had no idea what had ensued in the previous day following the ending of the scene. Everything until the scream seemed crisp and clear, but the events that followed seemed to be at the bottom of an unknown dark, opaque mixture. It was as if looking into a dark corner of a room where the light doesn’t reach, you can barely make out the contours of every object shrouded in the darkness, yet nothing takes on a definite shape. “You went completely nuts yesterday, pretty boy.” A familiar voice called. Gaios asked Loren what happened. His voice was completely hoarse, his head ached and it was hard for him to breathe, feeling something heavy inside his body suppressing his internal organs. “Well, your acting was superb, the audience loved it, the Troupe was happy for your success and all that - you know, the usual." Gaios grunted. He really wasn’t in the mood for jokes, or genuine praise, whichever it was at the moment. “…Except that in the final scene of Act IV where, you know, Gemini’s supposed to suicide, you went on a complete insane frenzy. The thing is, the performance seemed so real that nobody even realised it went off-script until you kept going on after the curtains closed. I have to say though, what you did there really did seem to make everything even more depressing than the original ending of the script, which is really saying something about your talent in acting.” Loren said nonchalantly. Normally Loren wouldn’t be this calm if something like this happened, yet today he was, and he was exceptionally calm. Gaios looked at Loren, bright eyes clear with disbelief. Frenzy? Off-script? He tried to remember anything to do with what Loren was talking about to no avail. It was impossible that he would deliberately go off-script while acting - he revered everything about acting in its original form. The script is the essence of the character in its purest form, and straying from the script meant straying from the character. “That’s the catch. I know you well enough to know that you’d never go off-script, then again, most people don’t”. Knowing Gaios only too well, Loren confirmed what went on in his mind. Gaios stared at him, not knowing what to do. All of a sudden everything seemed to be moving too fast for him to understand. “You see, as someone who actually organises the plays in the Troupe, I get to read a lot of plays, and I mean a LOT, much more than any actor here. Now if you read as many plays as I do you’ll begin to find certain things peculiar about certain scripts. Especially ones that have been less-performed.” He paused at this point, pondering the right selection of words to continue with. “Aall I can say now is that the character tampers with who you really are.” He paused again, but only briefly. "On a side note however, it might not be all bad, considering that marvellous performance of yours last night.” Loren smiled. Gaios was too occupied with his confusion to notice that Loren was smiling for something else than his well-being. Something else entirely. "By the way, you didn’t get a chance to celebrate your birthday yesterday. So, happy birthday. here’s your gift from the boss." Loren diverted the subject. Loren took out a framed pocket-sized portrait of a large, bald muscular man boasting a savvy handlebar moustache, placing it on the table. “A self-portrait. How typical of him.” He really wasn’t in the mood for jokes, but this was too much. A smile cracked open on his face. The “There’s more on the back." Gaios turned it around to find “May these muscles brighten your every day - With love, Boham” written down in incredibly artistic handwriting. “You’d expect the guy’s handwriting to shout as loud as himself, but no, it’s in cursive and possibly the nicest handwriting I’ve ever seen.” Gaios laughed. “Tell me about it. Oh, and this is from the rest of the guys in the troupe, and me. Not all of them like you here, but they recognise your talent. I’ll give you that.” He laid a pouch of mizas down on the table in front of Gemini. Gaios probably would be more happy to receive the gifts if he knew what had actually happened the night before, but there was too much on his mind. He thanked Loren for the gift and asked him to thank the others on his behalf. He needed some time alone, to go through everything one more time, to think. “Don’t think too much, Gaios - ” Loren whispered as he closed the door behind him. ” - You’ll lose yourself.” And at that exact moment, at the very first syllable of that very sentence, was the point where it all began.

[OOC]

Plotnotes and answers to your likely questions can be found in this post

[Fable]

Grade Awarded!

Skills

➢ Acting + 2
➢ Disguise +1
➢ Impersonation +2
➢ Observation +3
➢ Rhetoric +3
➢ Socialization +2
➢ Philosophy +1
➢ Cosmetology +1

Loot

➢ Portrait of Boham
➢ Sack of Mizas (5 GM total - in gold, silver, and copper)

Comments

At competent acting and impersonation, Gemini would be able to deliver a performance that was good, but not to the extent that this was written in. I still awarded points, however, as your CS pretty clearly outlines that he's losing himself in the role, which isn't something you'd necessarily have to be skilled in to do. Just for future reference, in any other role, the performance written would be a high expert to master level of acting and impersonation. Without any craft-based skills (sewing, embroidery, fabrication, etc.), Gemini wouldn't be able to make elaborate masks or props. In Alvadas, magic isn't banned, but its usage is very, very frowned upon. If there is wind in the play, it's much more likely that it's caused by illusionism or but reimancers pretending its illusionism. The Alvads believe that magic cheapens the illusion. Finally, Lhex is a rank 1 god who requires a lore to be known about. Please keep these things in mind.

This was a great read! Your writing has a very nice elegance to it, and it paints a picture very nicely. The juxtaposition between Galios and Loren was pretty great haha. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing this develop into the character that is Gemini in the present! Well done!