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Post by Linyü on Jul 22, 2020 21:33:27 GMT -6
This was where the performance aspect of the show began in force. Paper screens with various shapes cut into or painted on them moved in, obscuring Seveth and his cage from view. The show ring became more like a stage, and these the backdrop. Rei wandered between them, in and out of sight, meandering as though she really were wandering through a strange place seeking something.
“Stop!” said Seveth, his voice audible through the speakers even though he was now out of sight. Rei stopped in her tracks, looking around her as though she had been startled. “I think there’s something there… Oh no, what’s that?” said Seveth, who might have been trying a little too hard to seem frightened.
On the other side of the makeshift stage, a huge shadow loomed behind the paper screens, in the silhouette of a Thundergug. There were even sound effects as it moved, the thud-thud-thud of its footsteps, and then a bellowing roar as it ‘saw’ her, and pawed the ground.
(Rei demonstrates Stop on command)
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Post by Linyü on Jul 22, 2020 22:32:00 GMT -6
“Dodge it, Echo!” said Seveth. The shadow charged at her, and she ducked nimbly to one side. “Quick, take cover!” Rei ducked behind one of the paper screens closer to where she was.
She waited a moment, then peered out from behind it - Seveth had said, when they were rehearsing, that the audience needed something to see, after all - and the shadow of the Thundergug slowed, shifting gradually into a laying down position. Behind the screens, she knew, Seveth was the one creating the illusory shadow. The shadow yawned, and Seveth’s stage whisper made another appearance. “Shhh, quiet,” he said. “I think it’s falling asleep.” Rei, who hadn’t been making much noise to begin with, nevertheless dutifully obliged, and silenced all her movements.
The sleeping ‘Thundergug’ began to snore. “Now’s our chance! Sprint for it!” said Seveth, and Rei dashed past it in a burst of speed.
(Rei demonstrates Dodge, Cover, Quiet, and Dash on command)
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Post by Linyü on Jul 22, 2020 22:32:53 GMT -6
The paper screens shifted to show a different backdrop, and several of the ones in front fell back, so that part of the floor could open to reveal a shallow pool. Inside the pool were rocks like flat stepping stones, but laid out at irregular intervals, so that they seemed more like haphazardly placed islands instead. “The key must be around here somewhere,” Seveth mused. “Why don’t we search for it? Do you see a key anywhere, Echo?”
Rei looked this way and that when Seveth asked her to search for the key. She felt a little foolish; this wasn’t a real search, and she already knew where the key would be. Instead she had to exaggerate the act of searching itself, so that the audience could better appreciate her efforts… so Seveth said. “No luck, hmm? Oh, I know. Maybe you’ll be able to see it from the air. Try flying up.”
On his cue, Rei fluttered up into the air.
(Rei demonstrates Search and Fly on command)
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Post by Linyü on Jul 22, 2020 22:33:52 GMT -6
As she rose, Seveth continued to speak to her over the speakers. “Do you see anything? No? Let’s go a little higher then… A little more… Yes, that’s it! Hover where you are and see if you spot anything!” Rei flew up until Seveth gave her the signal to stop, then hovered in place and made another showing of looking around. And then, as if only just noticing it now, she perked her ears up and pointed at one of the stones. “Yes, I see it too! Now we can just--- Ah!”
The stage shook, and the key fell into the water. “Drat, just our luck… Looks like you’ll have to swim for it. Land first, my dear,” he said. Rei fluttered down to the ground. “Alright. Think you can swim out to it?” Rei stared out at where the key was for a moment, then lowered herself into the water.
(Rei demonstrates Higher, Hover, Land, and Swim on command)
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Post by Linyü on Jul 22, 2020 22:34:14 GMT -6
“No need to rush, tread water there for a bit and get used to the temperature,” said Seveth. Rei tread water near the edge of the pool for a moment, then swam out to where the key had fallen.
Once she got close, Seveth spoke again. “Do you see it? Try submerging yourself first.” Rei dipped slightly under the water. This was part of the show too, but this was one aspect where it served some practical purpose. They couldn’t control exactly where the key fell, so she did actually need to make sure of where it was first. Once she resurfaced, Seveth asked, “Did you see it?” Rei nodded, and Seveth sighed in relief. “Good! Be a darling and dive for it, would you?”
Rei dove down with a series of short, sharp kicks, grabbing for the key and then swimming back up. Once she had it, she swam back to the edge of the pool and climbed out, wringing off her dress.
(Rei demonstrates Tread Water, Submerge, and Dive on command)
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Post by Linyü on Jul 22, 2020 22:34:37 GMT -6
The next part was deliberately left short so she wouldn’t have to stay in wet clothes for too long, and she hurried through it: wandering through more paper screen transitions until they fell away to reveal Seveth in his cage once more, looking relieved to see her.
She was glad, then, that they had rehearsed this. The first time she had seen that look on his face, even knowing that it was Seveth, and that he was acting… Something about it had tugged at her heart. But now she could remain impassive as she fit the key into the lock and turned it, fluttering away as the door sprang open.
“I owe you one,” said Seveth, winking at her again. Then, kneeling and extending a hand, he said, “Hop on.” She stepped onto his hand, and he lifted her with well-disguised care into the air. “And there you have it, everyone! The amazing Echo! Won’t you give her a hand?”
(Rei demonstrates Step Up on command)
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Post by Linyü on Jul 22, 2020 22:36:28 GMT -6
There was, in fact, some applause, though to Rei’s ears, it sounded more confused than anything. Seveth’s spectacle, while meticulously planned, had still been a strange affair after the tone set by the first three displays. “And that’s it for us! At ease,” he said to Rei. Rei did her best to look relaxed, but this was as much a formality as anything else. She knew full well that their show had come to an end.
Seveth set her down, and together they took a last bow before walking off stage together. There, he handed her a towel to wrap around herself.
“You did great out there, Rei-Rei!” he said, beaming at her. He, at least, seemed in high spirits. She didn't know if she was glad to see it; there was a part of her that still misliked him for springing it upon her the way he had. But some of that energy was infectious, and she found that she was left with a faint sense of accomplishment, now that the affair was done and over with.
(Rei demonstrates At Ease on command; routine end)
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