|
Post by Shadi on Jan 20, 2009 19:24:05 GMT -5
Shadi glanced uneasily at Pina, but said to Josephine, "Perhaps he's just starting out. Or he like it this way."
|
|
Gwynplaine
- Ingenious Pilot -
A king made me a clown! A queen made me a Peer! But first, God made me a man!
Posts: 238
|
Post by Gwynplaine on Jan 21, 2009 14:15:08 GMT -5
The crowd grew, and Gwynplaine peeked out from behind a tattered curtain. His breath caught when he noticed Josephine--and Miss Proserpina, next to her, with a young boy who must have been the girl's friend. He did not know why this made him more nervous, as Josephine could not see him. He still wished for her approval, as foolish as he knew that desire to be.
Still, it was time to start, and he stepped out on stage, the lower half of his face concealed, announcing to the audience with a flourish that he was Gwynplaine, and continuing with all the patter he'd perfected over the years.
|
|
|
Post by Josephine on Jan 24, 2009 15:21:39 GMT -5
Although she couldn't see the act, she absorbed the rest of it through sound, her acute hearing picking up things that normally would have been missed thanks to the sound of the crowd.
|
|
|
Post by Shadi on Jan 25, 2009 13:39:29 GMT -5
"He's good," Shadi breathed. "He should be way more famous..."
The magic, the juggling--it was all legerdemain, but he was skilled at it.
|
|
|
Post by Josephine on Jan 26, 2009 13:43:03 GMT -5
Josephine sat quietly, a small smile on her lips. She was hoping that they'd like the show.
|
|
|
Post by Shadi on Jan 26, 2009 13:58:58 GMT -5
The show continued, and at the blow off, when Gwynplaine lowered the scarf to reveal the grin etched onto his face, Shadi couldn't contain the slight intake of breath at the sight--and the surge of anger at the gales of laughter the sight of him seemed to provoke in the rest of the audience--Shadi's company excluded.
Glancing at Josephine she realized sharply that the woman hadn't any idea. She looked back at the small stage, at the man's eyes staring bleakly out at the laughing crowd, not laughing at all, himself.
She suddenly wanted to hurt someone, very badly.
|
|
|
Post by Pina on Jan 26, 2009 14:32:28 GMT -5
Pina knew already what to expect, but she cringed sympathetically for him at the crowd's jeering laughter and shrunk a little in her seat- she suddenly didn't want anyone to see her face. Naively, she hadn't thought that a rowdy crowd's reaction wouldn't be anything to worry about- but he was so kind and understanding towards her that she suddenly hated the crowd for laughing. She gripped her skirt so tightly her knuckles were turning white.
|
|
|
Post by Josephine on Jan 26, 2009 17:04:43 GMT -5
Josephine wished she knew what the cause of the laughter was--it certainly wasn't because of a joke that Gwynplaine told, as she would have heard that. It had to be a sight-gag...it was the only other explanation she could think of.
"Well...it went well, once more. Though I still don't understand this ending."
|
|
|
Post by Shadi on Jan 26, 2009 17:10:10 GMT -5
Shadi glanced sharply at Pina, a question in her eyes. Josephine presumably didn't know--and it wasn't her place to tell her... Was it?
|
|
|
Post by Pina on Jan 26, 2009 17:39:02 GMT -5
Pina shook her head. Gwynplaine should be the one to tell her, not them.
"Well, he was really very good," she said, a forced smile on her face.
|
|
|
Post by Josephine on Jan 26, 2009 17:44:55 GMT -5
"I'm glad you think so! I didn't want it to seem like I was simply playing favorites."
Her not understanding the laughter wasn't too troubling--there were things she was going to miss out on, no matter how independant she was. It was just the way things were when one was blind.
|
|
|
Post by Shadi on Jan 26, 2009 17:45:41 GMT -5
Shadi nodded at Pina. She knew that made sense. It was just... Maybe this Gwynplaine didn't want her to know, and Shadi didn't know how she felt about that. At the same time, she'd have done the same.
"Yes," she agreed. "Very good. He has... range."
|
|
Gwynplaine
- Ingenious Pilot -
A king made me a clown! A queen made me a Peer! But first, God made me a man!
Posts: 238
|
Post by Gwynplaine on Jan 28, 2009 11:07:50 GMT -5
The performance over, the crowd dispersing, Gwynplaine fixed his scarf over the lower half of his face and approached the group. They had not laughed. He'd noticed that. Of course they were meant to laugh. It was the basis of his act. But he could not help but be pleased that there were people who seemed neither horrified nor amused by him.
"Good evening," he said, addressing himself initially to Josephine. "Thank you for coming, Mlle Josephine, Mlle Pina. Monsieur..."
|
|
|
Post by Josephine on Jan 28, 2009 13:08:08 GMT -5
"Shaheen...did I say that right?"
She turned her head to where her hearing told her Shaheen was.
|
|
|
Post by Shadi on Jan 28, 2009 14:21:40 GMT -5
"Yes," Shadi grinned. Then she thought Gwynplaine might think she was mocking him, so she was going to stop, but then she thought he might think she might call attention to it if she stopped smiling conspicuously, so she just... stayed as she was.
"It was a really great show," she said enthusiastically.
"Yours as well," Gwynplaine replied gently, taking no notice of her inner turmoil.
"You saw us?" Shadi felt a swell of pride. "Oh, we're just beginners..."
"No, you have skill. And Mlle Pina considerable bravery--not to take away from your skill, of course. You're young, to have that kind of handling with a knife."
"Oh," Shadi said. Gwynplaine's eyes seemed sad, as if he was envisioning the life that had taught her such skill by the age he thought she must be. "Well, thanks."
|
|