CHAPTER 2 YOU'RE ACT
By firefox222
Beta by DamienHellionMortimer awoke from a strange dream that had consisted of Clopin's eyes and smiling face. He could hear the muffled sounds of people moving around busily outside the tent. He sat up and noticed his clothes and things were laid out next to the pile of blankets he slept on. Along with these were a few pieces of replacement clothing for changing. He looked over his pile of stuff and sighed sadly. All the technological things had been reduced to melted piles of plastic and wires. His knives had miraculously made it safely. Mortimer put on his socks and combat boots and slipped a knife into his boot. He saw his shirt was a mess of tares so he looked at the shirts he had been given. He noticed that most of the clothes he had been given where very vibrant colours. He picked a dark forest green shirt and put it on. He then stood and stretched. His mutation had caused him to heal his burns for the most part. He hoped he would be able to find a secluded place to train later. He ran his hand through his hair and noticed his hair was flat. He spat some slime into his hand and spiked it up. He finally found his goggles that he needed to see details because he was near sighted. He placed them on his head where he usually kept them when he wasn't using them. He stood before the tent flap and took a deep breath, "Here goes nothing." He whispered as he opened the tent flap and poked his head out. A moment later he stepped out.
He was amazed at what he saw. The entire place was a giant underground cavern. It was illuminated by an uncountable number of torches lining the walls and beam supports. All over the place were brightly coloured tents and caravans. People of many types walked around him. Small children ran down the figurative streets. Everything was so colourful, vibrant, and happy. Mortimer shook his head and started to explore.
As Mortimer walked he looked around. Some people were cooking breakfast for families. Some people were just talking and laughing. Children played games and listened to the adults tell stories. As he walked past a few people would point and whisper at the strange looking newcomer. Mortimer was used to it and just ignored it.
As Mortimer wandered he found a cleared space filled with several props. A tightrope hung in the air a few feet above him. Several sets of wooden pins, knives, and balls were grouped in one corner of the area. Several instruments were in another pile, "This must be where they practice their performing." Mortimer whispered to himself as he walked over to the pile of instruments. He picked up a lute and began to play it. Soon he closed his eyes and began humming. Before he knew it he was singing.
Sit
tight, I'm gonna need you to keep time
Come
on just snap, snap, snap your fingers for me
Good,
good now we're making some progress
Come
on just tap, tap, tap your toes to the beat
And
I believe this may call for a proper introduction, and well
Don't
you see, I'm the narrator, and this is just the prologue?Swear
to shake it up, if you swear to listen
Oh,
we're still so young, desperate for attention
I
aim to be your eyes, trophy boys, trophy wives Swear
to shake it up, and you swear to listen
Oh,
we're still so young, desperate for attention
I
aim to be your eyes, trophy boys, trophy wivesApplause,
applause, no wait wait
Dear
studio audience, I've an announcement to make:
It
seems the artists these days are not who you think
So
we'll pick back up on that on another page And
I believe this may call for a proper introduction, and well
Don't
you see, I'm the narrator and this is just the prologue Swear
to shake it up, if you swear to listen
Oh,
we're still so young, desperate for attention
I
aim to be your eyes, trophy boys, trophy wivesSwear
to shake it up, and you swear to listen
Oh,
we're still so young, desperate for attention
I
aim to be your eyes, trophy boys, trophy wivesSwear
to shake it up, you swear to listen
Swear
to shake it up, you swear to listen
Swear
to shake it up, you swear to listen
Swear
to shake it up, swear to shake it upSwear
to shake it up, if you swear to listen
Oh,
we're still so young, desperate for attention
I
aim to be your eyes, trophy boys, trophy wives Swear
to shake it up, if you swear to listen
Oh,
we're still so young, desperate for attention
I
aim to be your eyes
Mortimer stopped when he felt that feeling of being watched. He opened his eyes to look around to see who was watching him. He found them quickly. It was Clopin, standing just outside the practice area. Clopin's face was one of shock,
"What are you staring at?" snapped Mortimer angrily. He did not like being stared at so intently.
Clopin shut his mouth and approached, "Nothing, I was just enjoying that song, even if I could not understand the language you use to sing it. I have never in my life heard that kind of melody. And you play so skilfully as well. Do you have any other talents?" Clopin asked with interest.
"I can do a few things. What do you think would be good talents to have to make money?" Mortimer asked. He needed to find out what would make him the most money.
"Well, let's see. Oh, are you any good at tumbling and doing acrobatic tricks?" Clopin asked
Mortimer's eyes brightened and he put the lute down, "What did you have in mind as a demonstration of those skills?"
Clopin pondered for a moment before snapping his fingers and said, "How about a few air tricks, some tumbles, and finish with something you think I have never seen. But you can't do that last one as I'm sure I've seen every trick in the trade." Said Clopin smugly.
"We'll see about that mate." Replied Mortimer as he stretched his arms and legs quickly. Without warning he jumped high, though not too high, into the air and did a double back flip before landing on one hand and started to spin his whole body like a top on that hand. Then he pushed off the hand and landed on his feet and started to do backward handsprings in a continuous motion. He then finished the last backward handspring by landing in a crouch on his feet. Then he began to do some summersaults and jumped out of that, off a crate, and grabbed onto a bar that was braced between two wooden pillars and flipped over it so he sat on it in a crouch. He then began to go around the bar in that sitting position before letting go and doing four front flips before landing on his feet.
"Prepare to see something new." Said Mortimer before putting his hands palm down on the ground and began swinging his legs under himself, moving his hands out of the way periodically. Then he stopped and after getting into a headstand he began to spin on only the top of his head. He finished by pushing with his hands and doing a front flip onto his feet in front of Clopin. Mortimer smiled smugly at the look on Clopin's face and said, "Ever seen that?"
Suddenly, they were both surprised by a small round of applause. They turned to see that they had drawn a small crowd of people. Clopin put his hand on Mortimer's shoulder and said, "So, what else can you do…gypsy Toad?"
Mortimer smiled, "A few other things."
The rest of that morning was spent showing several different talents. Among them were knife throwing, juggling and staff spinning. But of all his talents, Mortimer was surprised to learn, they liked his singing the best.
"It is the fact that you sing in a different tongue then our own to a melody we have never heard before. People love the mystery and melody. What do you say to a performance tomorrow?" Clopin asked
"Only if you can find a way to hide my skin and eyes. I don't want people to panic." Mortimer said
"I have a few ideas." Said Clopin mischievously.
All done chapter 1…. Please R&R
