'Right, so today we're going to work on character building with a few different games and exercises while the stage is broken... we've got a nice wide area of space here, so I'd like everyone to walk around in neutral.'
Only Ren seemed to know what this meant, but stopped at the sight of everyone's blank faces.
'Walk with no personality... Ren, demonstrate.' The only knowledgable actor of the group started walking around again. More people seemed to understand, and obeyed as Joe gave the command again, but it didn't take long to create the classic actor circle of doom. Except Scar who was stubbornly walking the other direction to the hermit masses.
'Try not to walk in a circle... change directions.' Joe called. Which prompted Beef and Keralis to turn and crash directly into each other. It took a surprisingly short amount of time to create something that wasn't a never-ending loop, and Joe gave the next instruction. 'Now, walk in character. Try to make it different from your walk in neutral... perfect, Ren! Try to make them a bit more exaggerated than just still walking in neutral... Wels, love it. Scar, try to be a bit more evil' He paused as Etho na-root-o ran past. '... great... energy... Etho?'
'Can we stop now?' Asked Grian, who's direction changing had become his own circle. 'I'm getting dizzy.'
'Go the other way for a bit.' Offered Scar as he passed by. 'It'll stop you being dizzy.'
'My character doesn't even move in the entire play.'
'He does in the last scene! And you walk offstage in scene 11!'
'How would he even walk?'
A pause.
'...Jauntily?'
To which Grian started skipping.
'THIS ISN'T HELPFUL!'
'Look, how much confidence does he have?'
'A lot of confidence?'
'Walk with confidence, but probably with a little bounce too, because he's Christmassy and whimsical.'
'Ooh! I love whimsical!' Scar felt the need to add. 'You're doing great, Grian!'
'This is stupid.'
'Has everyone got a walk for their character? Great!' Joe replied to expressions almost as blank as when they'd started. 'Now, try to include this in your actual performances. But first, we're going to go through some extra information about each of your characters... Scar.'
'Yes.'
'What's your character's deepest, darkest secret?'
'He doesn't like cake.' Was the immediate response, which was met by a scandalised gasp from Cub.
'How dare you...'
'It was the first thing I thought of!'
'Now, everyone think of something. And you don't have to tell anyone, except people your characters would tell...'
'Can I stop being part of the play?' Doc asked. 'I don't want to be part of it. It's confusing.'
'No! We're over halfway through it! We're performing in 10 days!'
'WhAT?!' Grian burst out. 'Already?!'
'Yes, already! We need to make this perfect! Now, next activity... everyone find a partner, but don't make it someone your character interacts with too much in the play... like, Three Dumb Men, Rendolf and Pearlie, the Christmas Vexes...' (to which Scar beelined from Cub to Grian). 'Has everyone found someone?' Etho and Doc, who didn't yet have partners, looked at each other and became a pair, before Joe continued. 'Ren, Iskall, improvise a scene in character where your characters meet.'
'Hallo!'
'Hello uhhh...'
'Eyepatch Iskall.' Iskall gave his character's name with a smile, as though he was proud of the obvious name. 'What do you want from... Iskall's... sand shop?'
'SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND!' Grian referenced excitedly from the audience.
'Can I have some sand?'
'Yes! Here's some sand!' Iskall began handing Ren the sand in his inventory, to a little too much happiness.
'Thanks, dude! I need it to help some of those toys we rescued make a house.'
'Cool!'
'Grian, Scar, your turn.'
'Uhhh... Let me go!'
'What are we doing?'
'What you always do... pretend this is the scene and you've forgotten your script.'
'Ok!'
'Let me go!'
'I will never let you go! You're our prisoner.'
'Let me out or... I'll use powerful magic to stop you!'
'My magic is more powerful than yours!'
'Prove it.' Grian smirked. Scar blinked back, summoning a ball of blue fire to his hand. To which the watcher created some purple fire in his.
'Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!' Cub and Tango started chanting.
'Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!'
But before they could, Joe intervened by calling for Doc and Etho to start.
'TREE!'
'What?'
'I am the Christmas Treetho!'
'What's going on?!'
'Who are you?'
'Doc?'
'IN CHARACTER, DOC!'
'Doc... the evil?'
'You're evil?!' Quivered Etho.
'Yes.'
'No! You're working with the Christmas vexes!'
'Yes. I am evil because Joe said I am.'
'Cub and Tango!'
'We meet again... Melchett...'
'We do indeed, Cub the Christmas Vex... as the great Skidoodle decreed.'
'Let our fight be legendary...' Cub pulled a sword from his inventory. Tango replied with his own 'You count us in...'
'Three. Two. One... ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!'
Both drew rock. Even Joe was laughing at the sudden turn in conflict.
'ROCK PAPER SCISSORS!' This time, Tango won, letting out a delighted. 'SKIDOODLE!' until Cub pushed him away, attacking with his actual sword.
'You think I'll let you win like that, fool?'
'By the powers of Skidoodle you will be smited by the... one... dumb man!' Tango drew his own sword and this time Joe let the fight begin, both staying excitingly equal. Scar started cheering for his fellow vex, while several of the protagonists started a chant in Tango's favour. In the end, Cub gained an advantage, killing Tango.
Tango was slain by cubfan135
'Next... Stress and...'
'YOU KILLED MY FRIEND!' Impulse exclaimed, running at Cub. 'The many actions that led to this day... the centuries... the path that wove us to this time... it shall all end in your demise you foul vex!'
'WHAT IS DEMISE?' Zedaph charged in after, and the two remaining Dumb men started going for Cub, who ran away. He was quickly joined by Scar.
'You will not survive!'
'Bazza! Go for the other one!' Caspar the friendly ghost ordered, and the fight began anew. Joe just watched, unsure whether to stop it, or let the character building and fun continue.
'Scar! Watch out!' Cub called, right as his friend's totem saved him. Impulse let out a loud yell, before killing him.
cubfan135 was slain by ImpulseSV
Scar, now left alone and low on health, ran at the pair fearlessly, managing a few brave hits before he too was killed by Zedaph. Impulse was still yelling from adrenaline, as Tango returned again.
'Can we have... Stress and False?' Joe asked weakly, and the acting continued.