The Play's the Thing...

[naturalpuppy]

Day: 13
Characters: Joshua naturalpuppy et al.
Summary: Auditions open for St. Edelweiss' Hamlet.
DAY/NIGHT & Time: DAY - First Recreation Time
Status: Open / Incomplete

Comments

[oops_siblicide]

After the trying morning Lelouch had already caused himself, it had taken him a little while staring himself down in a rusty bathroom mirror to compose himself enough to even consider attending the audition. Still, he knew that he must. Gone were the days of lying low, staying under the radar for the illusion of safety. It was only an illusion, this he had always known. It reminded him far too much of the days he had spent with Nunnally at Ashford Academy, always so choked on his own discontent that sometimes he hadn't even know how to breathe. But he had allowed himself to become convinced there was nothing he could do, trapped in the mindset of the helpless child who had witnessed the murder of his mother only to then become a political pawn for his father, waiting to be put into play as a sacrificial son. Now was little different. Lelouch didn't know how he had failed to see it before.

It had to stop.

He had to take back his title, his resolve, and walk towards the future. For better or for worse-- For better or for worse. (This

[oops_siblicide]

"My name is Lelouch," he began, then paused, then smiled a long-unused smile that teemed with arrogance, with self-assurance, perhaps even malice, "vi Britannia. The part I'm auditioning for is Hamlet, though the monologue is my own." Because, well. Lelouch's speeches from his past as a fallen prince and terrorist leader seemed fitting enough, and the monologues he devised impromptu he was rather proud of. Some leaders required their speeches be prepared for them, after all, and still they paled in comparison to the things Lelouch came up with on a whim. (Though, he noted to himself with some dark amusement, perhaps coming to an audition for the part of Hamlet with such resolve within him was not for the best

[oops_siblicide]

"Or have you realized it? That only those who are prepared to be shot have the right to shoot...! Lelouch vi Britannia commands you all..." Lelouch straightened his arm so that he was pointing to the side, then leveled it directly at Joshua, expression one that belonged solely to the long scorned, now cursed prince of Britannia. There was grim humor set in the light glittering sharply in his eyes, as he inwardly mused to himself what would happen here if the seal on his power should choose this moment to falter. "--DIE!Lelouch's voice pierced through the air of the auditorium with nothing short of raw authority, reverberating against the ceiling and walls. He drew his arms back to himself, pressing one hand over his left eye, perhaps out of habit

I think he's in love (REPOST IS A LIE)

[chainsaw_juliet]

He would continue arguing with Claire, but the moment the young man walked onto the stage, Grell felt compelled to give him his full attention.

Such conflict. Such suffering and yet such finesse in his timbre so as to reveal humanity within the power...

Grell clasped his hands at his heart, sighing girlishly before wiping his eyes. At the end of the monologue, he stood and clapped. Towards the stage he walked, brows drawn together and face a mask of worry. At the foot of the stage, he reached up to him.

"I hope all will be well. We must be patient: but I cannot choose but weep...""

sob you made me run off to read the play. ♥ (IT'S A CURSE I REPOSTED TOO.)

[oops_siblicide]

It took a moment for Lelouch to break free from the past but Grell's clapping soon roused him from his reverie. He took a moment to take in the man who approached him before he quickly selected an appropriate mask to wear, expression smoothing out into a gentle smile as he closed the space between them, bringing himself to the edge of the stage before Grell. It was there that he dropped swiftly to one knee and reached out to take one of Grell's hands into his own, brushing his lips against the back of the other's hand even as he locked their gazes and held them steady.

"Why, let the stricken deer go weep," he murmured, voice low and intended for Grell's ears alone. "The hart ungalled play; for some must watch, while some must sleep: so runs the world away." He gave a pause, then rested his opposite hand over his heart and bowed his head.

"...Ophelia."

YUS SHAKESPEARE IT IS CONTAGIOUS >D (like our reposting .__.; )

[chainsaw_juliet]

"Oh my..." Grell breathed, ducking his head as his cheeks flushed demurely. Gently he withdrew his hand, cradling it to his heart as though it were something blessed now. "Oh my..."

He was so handsome, a true actor, for Grell knew how some beautifully twisted mortals changed their masks to ensnare others into their well-laid plans. It only made him all the more alluring to Grell, who would fall for his charm and play the silly little redhead who loved Shakespeare and smiling.

No one need know about the Grim Reaper and his bloodied chainsaw. No one need know.

Smiling softly, he raised his eyes shyly to Lelouch and spoke in a hushed tone fit for a maiden.
" I shall the effect of this good lesson keep,
As watchman to my heart."

...I know v. little of your canon BUT THEY SEEM STRANGELY MATCHED.

[oops_siblicide]

The expression on Lelouch's face turned kinder still and he smiled the smile of a noble, guileless prince, a smile he recalled from the earliest years of his youth. It was strangely easy to pretend he was someone who never spilled the blood of his own kin and waged war against the whole world. The eyes that were trained on Grell were calculating, however, as they always were, because as someone who lived through lies Lelouch expected the world to lie to him in return. There was no one he trusted, no one he could allow himself to trust. Such was his life.

Right now, though, in this moment, he played the part asked of him flawlessly, hand still cupped to his own heart as though to beg it to still.

"If you should be granted the part of Ophelia and I the accursed prince," Lelouch began, voice paying Grell the reverence he felt due, "I should pray that the script be rewritten so that I may treat you only well."

Awwwh ♥ Lelouch, this is the Grim Reaper and he has a crush on you, k? 83

[chainsaw_juliet]

They were positioned like Romeo and Juliet, only that Juliet was at the bottom and Romeo was above in the 'balcony'. The thought made Grell giggle, and he hid it daintily behind a hand.

"Oh no, sir, no." Grell shook his head disagreeably. "I do not think so at all." His fingers grasped the edge of the stage which stood about chest-height for him. Looking up at Lelouch, his green eyes were a picture of sweetness and grace.

"I would change not a thing, for Hamlet serves as a reflection of how the human soul is far from flawless." The redhead held his gaze for but a moment before averting them politely. "We creatures are not flawless fairytales, no, we are indeed selfish and maddened by cruel twists of fate."

"Our love sir, the love shared by Hamlet and Ophelia, is bitter and thus beautiful in its tragedy. We cannot cheat the audience by denying them the chance to see just how lying and deceitful humanity truly is."

...well I think Grell just stole the baby emperor's breath a little. 8D

[oops_siblicide]

"Is that so...?" Lelouch breathed out, demeanor very subtly shifting beneath the surface as he took in Grell's words. Selfish and maddened by cruel twists of fate...? It was almost as though Grell knew him, knew him in ways perhaps only one or two other souls were able to. The smile playing on his lips took on a shadow of its true self as he nodded once to acknowledge Grell's words and the wisdom within them, assenting to Grell's view on the nature of humanity as well.

"Forgive me for even suggesting we allow ourselves to tell a lie to our audience, however lovely that lie might be. It's been a long time since I've met someone who is able to find beauty in the face of tragedy," Lelouch then amended, crouching in a bow meant to punctuate his apology. "Let me pray instead that we will be given the opportunity to show all those who attend a love as true to this fickle thing we call the heart as we are able."

The most twisted pair of all ♥

[chainsaw_juliet]

"I tire of such lovely lies, no matter how prettied humans make them." Grell waved a hand dismissively. "I care not for that artifice. I prefer the truth, which is both ugly and beautiful for all its rawness."

Laughing softly, Grell offered a wide smile partially obscured by his fingers.
"So let us indeed pray we may perform this timeless tale that displays how fickle hearts are wont to be." A little darkness in his eyes, a little evil in his smile.

"And what a tale we shall weave, together!"

You make me make love to *.reference.com so much. x_x /failouches around

[oops_siblicide]

"I look forward to it as much as I have looked forward to anything here," Lelouch commented, finally taking his leave of the stage to stand next to Grell. He caught the undercurrent of something kin to malevolence in the other, which only gave strength to his smile. It was so loathsome when people hid their true selves well, especially against those who already suspected. Such as Schneizel, or even Lelouch's late mother, who both baited Lelouch and the rest of the world along nearly to the very end. Actually, it appeared that pathological liars who feigned humanity ran in Lelouch's gene pool, but that was an entire philosophy to ponder at a later date.

The fact that Grell was someone Lelouch now understood could not quite be trusted made things easier between them, better defined the edges of their relationship and how Lelouch would have to act.

"Did you audition already?" he went on to ask, glancing once at the stage. "I'll be beside myself if I've missed it."

[ooc: also I was websurfing while waiting longingly for your tag and

LEARN YOUR SHAKESPEARE >D

[chainsaw_juliet]

Of course he could not be trusted, nor could he have revealed his true self to him. This early? Why spoil the fun? No no, Grell adored playing along for humans made the most wonderful castmates. The world's stage was the most beautiful of all, and each mortal brought to it a different tale. Some played out as comedies, some romances but his favorite were the tragedies.

He may not have known Lelouch personally, but he had certainly seen his type. People were all the time, and he had seen several centuries worth of souls to know. So the Reaper knew how to blend in, and if Lelouch could see through his lies then all the better! Grell loved a challenge. He was in dire need of someone interesting.

"Oh, I haven't yet. I came to deliver the scripts and found someone had contested my role. Then you arrived and I found myself rightfully distracted by such an honest performance..." Grell giggled, sighing soon after. "May I have the name of the natural actor so I may address him rightfully in the future?"

Nuuuh I do it for my writing. /very often fails at using words

[oops_siblicide]

"I'm gladdened to hear this, and I will most certainly stay to hear you speak once more. And, ah, forgive me for my lack of introduction. I am Lelouch vi Britannia," Lelouch answered amiably, lifting a brow at Grell's choice of words. An 'honest' performance. Grell's observation was nothing short of the truth, of course, but it took much more than a simple mind to pick up on it as such. Lelouch had known Grell was of great intelligence from the very start, with his turns of phrase and his unique insights. However, it was beginning to become apparent to Lelouch that he had underestimated the other still. The more they spoke the more Lelouch was aware that this was quite possibly a dangerous game he was dealing into. But of course, no significant gain could be made without significant risk. There was no turning back now.

"And yours, fair one, would it be too bold to ask?"

Oh hush, you write brilliantly ♥ And we've taken over this log >__>

[chainsaw_juliet]

Having missed Lelouch's introduction due to his exchange of greetings with Claire, Grell blinked curiously once he heard the name.
"Britannia?" The redhead echoed. "I come from Queen Victoria's Pax Britannia; the time of great peace and prosperity where England reigns supreme and uncontested."

"My name is Grell Sutcliff, from London. Are you perhaps a fellow Briton? Or do you lend me hope that England will continue to demand submission from all other countries, in some far-off future?" He almost missed the compliment, having had his interest sparked. But of course he tempered the questions with a lovely smile, a silent gesture of gratitude.

This was beginning to be an interesting game indeed, and Grell could not wait to play it through.

; ~ ; Aww thank you but I gave you my last post at...five in the morning. Hence. ♥ Yes we have.

[oops_siblicide]

"My apologies, the Holy Empire of Britannia I am from is separate from England, which exists as part of a democratic union known as the E.U.," Lelouch answered, voice reluctant as he called forth an appropriately abashed expression as his smile took on an almost shy air and he glanced briefly to the side. "For a long time we were in conflict, but the political conditions and balance of power in the world shifted." Lelouch then gave pause before shaking his head.

"I wish I had better things to say."

D8 Baby emperor's need sleep! ;O; Random: we're voiced by the same VA 8D

[chainsaw_juliet]

Grell sighed, waving his hand dismissively.
"Ah well if Fate saw it fit to strip England of Her powers in the future, then perhaps She can swallow a dose of humility as penance." The Reaper laughed softly, shaking his head. "No great power can remain uncontested forever."

"Now then," Grell took a seat and gestured to Lelouch. "Would you care to sit and watch the other auditions or would you prefer to retire to your quarters?"