A/N: If you haven't guessed it yet, some of this stuff has really been done. Spoons is real. 'Suffering' through your father getting drunk? Done it. The paper ball baseball that they play? It's my youth group's favorite passtime aside from 'trying' to rap and also the play thing. That's another passtime of mine. Who doesn't like to kill Shakesphere? *ignores raised hands in background* They don't count.
Angel and Tara: Let 'em read already!
RD: Enjoy the read...I have a date with duct tape and a box. *peels off duct tape, loudly but slowly*
SEVEN DAYS LATER 2:45 p.m.
"New game!" Russ took two new sheets of 'script' paper from the table and placed one on each end of the hall. He closed each of the doors on his way back then bounced their 'ball' a moment. 'The ball' it turned out was a paper ball that had been wrapped in blue, green, and yellow electric tape with streaks of duct tape. "Who's running?"
"Tara!" Angel pointed at her friend then placed the hat she'd stolen from John's room on her head, turning it around backwards. She blew a bubble with what looked like about six pieces of bright pink bubble gum balls. "Tara can go first. I'll play umpire. Tristan can take first base. Russ can pitch. Ashley and the others can run interference or somethin' like that...GAME ON!"
"Pitching, now!" Russ looked around a moment then threw the ball once Tara was in position.
She didn't move.
Things continued this way for a moment. Him throwing, her standing still. The game continued this way for the next five minutes until the ball went off course; she took advantage of this and ran down the hall, sliding the base across the floor with her feet. The paper skid forward alongw ith it's 'rider' and ran straight into a table, knocking it over.
Angel motioned with her arms. "SAFE!"
"Second opinion."
Ashley tilted her head then shrugged before making the same motion. "SAFE! GAME CONTINUE!"
"What? She can't be safe!"
The popping of a beer top came. "The ball was on the other side of the room, kiddies,"Richard pointed, taking a drink of his beer before studying them all. He motioned toward where Russ had just recovered the ball.
There was a mumbled,"oh", from Tristan then silence.
"GAME ON!" Ashley slumped back into her chair that was lined up in one of the doorways to a bedroom. She leaned back, balancing a fork on the sole of one of her shoes. It balanced until the paper ball was thrown again and Tara ran past, knocking it off. "Technical foul!"
"What? That doesn't count...you ain't the umpire."
To emphasize Tristan's point, Angel blew a giant pink bubble then motioned her arms in the universal sign of SAFE. She smirked after sucking her gum back into her mouth. "She was safe. Next runner!"
"Me, Me, Me! I have magical pixie magic on my side!" Kat ran forward, tripped over one of Ash's outstretched feet, then scrambled up, hissing in a strange imitation of Corey. She leapt onto the 'mound' then stood there. "The Fairy Queen has promised me victory!"
Dead silence followed this statement. Angel forgot to pop her gum; 'the ball' dropped from Russ' hand to roll around the floor, noisily. Ashley glanced at them a moment then shrugged. "Game...on....?"
"Game on!" Russ caught the ball when Tristan threw it then it was passed for severa more moments. Unlike Tara, Kat took off running, caught the ball, then ran from the roof.
"HEY!" The others charged after her, sounding more like a herd of elephants then a group of teenagers and young adults. In the next instant, the group of happily playing youths were a mob, chasing one blonde-haired, slightly demented girl.
John appeared in the doorway but his expression turned weary at the site before him. He glowered only twenty seconds before shaking his head. "It's hopeless. Practice starts in twenty minutes...you got me, mates?" His expression swept through, settling on the ones holding the ball, holding mitts, and those with sharp objects. "I expect all toys and sharp objects to be up, yes?"
"Yes, Uncle Johnny,"came the mumbled reply from the elven gathered youths. They all stared down, ashamed. It wasn't a genuine look.
"Go spit out your gum, shelia.The fight scene's today.."
"Yes! The fight scene!" Angel took off running down the hall and barely avoided hitting several pieces of furniture and the wall. Her hand smacked the wall followed by a loud,"don't jump out at me like that!"
Tristan blinked and glanced toward where she'd vanished. "Did she just ask someone not to jump out at her?"
The others looked around before Ashley spoke what was on everyone's mind. "We're all here; who's Angel talking to?"
"It's called a wall, Ash,"Richard put in, popping the top on a beer. Liquid from it shot across the room to hit a wall and splatter several people. He stared a moment then gave a smile before vanishing from the room.
"Oh."
"VICTORY BELONGS TO KAT JACOBS, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PIXIE FAIRY PRICESS!" Silence for a moment. "PIXIE STIXS FOR ALL."
[ Russ: I'm getting tired of this Pixie Stix nonsense of Kat's. If we wanted Pixie Stixs we'd buy them, right...? *waited for answer but continued after recieving none* The good part is our play; Ashley and I are suppoused to kiss twice. I'm in heaven....I'm still not sure what happened after we got into the alcohol stash before. It's kind of weird, you know? Hello...?]
TWENTY MINUTES LATER
"Today, mates, we'll be shooting a few lines of Romeo and his friends then the great fight scene, commprende?" John studied his cast of 'budding young actors and actresses'; most picked at their nails, played with scenery, or stared into space.
[ Ashley: Why does Russ get more scenes then me? I mean, come on! Anyone that's seen the movie or read the play KNOWS that I am the main attraction... *took a swig from vodka bottle* John's such a dictator and a sexist and a pig and and...ah, hell, I'm out of words. Richard!]
"Yes, Uncle Johnny." The line was growing stale in a short amount of time.
"Set up the scene where Reese and Matthew talk about love....ROLLING." There was a click in the background before the lines began.
Russ began with his opening line. "Is Martina a tender person?" He laughed here, bitterly. "No she's rough, rude, drunk, boisterous and stings like an electric eel."
"She likes it rough does she? How about trying bondage and whips. Whip her for whipping and you shall soon break her spirit!" Richard stared at his paper then watched Russ run off, talking to himself. "Stupid boy! God is he gonna regret ever listening to me!"
(This line and the above one are from Anything but Ordinary3. Thanks, Ellie...)
"I refuse to be discussed that way and that would only end in violence!"
[Richard: Well Ash ran out of words so I fear that I must take over for her... *cleared his throat and took up a sheet of paper, beginning to recite* John is such a dictator and a sexist and a pig and a loser and completely insane and loony. Your honor, the lunatics have taken charge of the asylum! I demand a revote! *something crashed then the screen went blank along with his voice...*]
"Cut! Who added lines to my play?"John demanded, stalking onto the set with a rather large package of sharpies in every color. He took up Richard's script and wrote several, rather large notes in yellow; Russ recieved green notes; Ash's were blue; Angel and Tara recieved hot pink to their horror; Corey got Black; Kellie and Derek recieved orange;Tristan's script ended up entirely purple; Kat was ignored and Natasha recieved gray colored notes.
Natasha cleared her throat then stepped forward on her balcony, making a motion with one hand. "John, have you ever been to therapy?"
"No, shelia."
"You should go. You are WAY too serious...it's a play for fun."
"Fun. Fun? FUN?!" John's voice took on it's 'I'm-a-college-professor-listen-to-me-or-flunk- my-course' tone then he began his lecture on plays. "Plays are not meant to be fun! They are meant to be serious work and alot of effort. Do you think Shakesphere or Rockafeller recieved their awards from fun? No, mates, it was hard work and effort........"
TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATER
John flipped a few pages in his script. "Are we all clear on why plays are not just fun? And why John does not need therapy?"he asked without any real interest in their answers. He continued before anyone could answer him, anyway. "We will now begin in ACT I, SCENE IV."
Crickets chirped in the background. No one spoke or turned pages through their script; silence echoed much too loudly.
"The fight scene, shelias. The quick-tempered, brash Terry, cousin to Martina, provokes the equally quick-tempered Matthew into a brawl. Benny, the peacemaker and a friend to Matthew and Reese, tries to break up the fight along with Reese. Upon Reese's intervention, Terry kills Matthew. In retribution later, Reese kills Terry. Tragic...excuse me, mates. I need to control yourself." He turned away, drawing in careful breathes then clearing his throat a few moments later.
Russ raised his hand. "Who plays all these people? Shouldn't Ashley and I know?"
[ John: Why does no one understand my directions? Are they that bad? I don't think so..they're good. Stupid children, stupid house, stupid play. *his script caught fire; he put it out quickly then stood* A few more days and they're gone. Gone for good. See ya later. Bye-bye. However you say good-bye in spanish, french, and italian-those too. A few more days.]
"Matthew will still be played by Richard. Benny is played by Tara. Terry is tentaively being played by Angel, despite her lack of emotio nand feeling toward the character....are we clear?"
"Yes, Johnny."
Russ hesitated to ask his next question. "So this means I get to kill Angel?" His smiled broadened. "How?"
"Russ!" With only a moment's notice between this moment, he was attacked by paper balls, rolls of duct tape, and pencils from the female portion of their cast. He avoided them all until Kat ran by and stuck a long strand of duct tape to his head.
"YEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!"he yelled upon ripping the strip from his head. Fuzzy little hairs stuck to the sticky part of the paper and what looked like little white colored flecks. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I have lice!"
Ashley stared a moment then pulled Kat aside. "What did you do, Kat?"
"Salt on duct tape. The Fairy Queen told me to do it to Bobby but....he was more fun." Kat smiled a moment, showing bright blue teeth and two cheeks full of colored minature marshmallow chunks. She skipped from the room, whistling something oddly familiar to the 'Three's Company' theme song.
[Angel: Salt on duct tape? Where does she get this stuff...? I mean, I'm suppoused be the most torturous person yet she pulls this stuff? I don't think it should be said 'most torturous'...I need a dictionary. Richard!]
ACT I, SCENE IV
Setting: A public place in the downtown area of Vapdos. Benny and Matthew are having their usual conversation about why the world is going to Hades in a hand basket.....Cankers in the distance arise.
"Why James Brown and Micheal Jackson, here come the Cankers,"Tara said, fumbling in one of her pockets for her duct tape wrapped water gun (originally purple). She drew it forward.
"Why Black Sabbath and ACDC, I don't care." Richard waved them off with one hand.
Angel and several other 'movie extras' a.k.a the camera men entered the stage. For some reason unknown to anyone else, they all carried oversized black bags with Pixie Stixs embrodied into them.
"Come quickly, I will speak for us. You hicks, great day; let me talk to one of you..." Angel approached the two of them as she spoke.
Richard laughed. "One word? Not at all...make it two. Talking and a punch to the jaw."
"Don't push me, player, you give me many occassions."
"Can you take without giving?"
"Matthew, you walk with Reese--"
"Walk! Does that make us a gang? Are we to shoot people up, sell drugs, and hold inititaitons? Yes, walk!"
Tara interrupted the conversation, stepping between the two and holding up one hand toward Richard. "We talk like normal people. Move along to another, less public place and argue about your differences; or get lost. People are staring,"she said, waving her script around about her.
"Let them. I refuse to leave over a few staring morons."
Russ walked onto the set, whistling under his breathe and talking to himself. He was obviously over reading his lines but it was apparant he was on the wrong page.
"Forget you, player. Here's my fellow now." Angel stepped around the two of them and went straight to Reese. "Y-Y-You not-nice-person!!"
"What?" He showed a confused expression.
"Leave Reese alone. You want to fight then fight me..." Richard stepped in-between them and drew his gun, leveling it with Angel. She just stared.
[ Richard: I haven't figured out Angel yet. She's stupid sometimes but others she's...well, smart. What's the deal with that? It's not like Kat. Kat's stupid 24/7 but what's Angel's deal?]
"CUT!" John came onto the stage again, brandishing his megaphone and slightly charred script. "Practice will end for the night. Dinner will be in twenty minutes followed by Karoke night."
Groans echoed the last part.
"From which Kat is banned..."
"Yes, yes, yes, yes." The chant was taken up by all those present in the room.
Kat appeared and immediately began to cry. "I can't sing Karaoke!" Her tears began to to fill up the floor, making a rather large puddle around her.
"Um...maybe she can do just one song...?"
"John!"
KAROKE TONIGHT.......DANCING, TOO
"Tonight, as a present for hard work, we get to have a Karoke night. We will begin with a word from our sponsors..." Tara motioned to the side where the camera soon swung.
Voice Overture: Are you having problems with mice or other pests? No more! The solution is here...duct tape! Notice our three hostages, I mean, roommates, are covered from head to toe except their noses with duct tape. Nothing to worry about now. This production brough to you by DUCT TAPE, INCORPORATED. Ignore the muffled screams and sobs. Sold in praticipating stores now...
"Thank you, Voice. We will now begin with a poll of our audience....who wishes to sing? It's singles for the moment." Her eyes scanned the crowd while she held up the megaphone. She waited a few moments. "Don't be shy, ladies and gentlemen. No one here will make fun you unless you really suck."
Russ' hand tentaivly came up into the air.
"A volunteer!" She jumped off the stage and landed in front of him. She held the megaphone to his mouth. "What will you be singing?"
"Paint It Black by the Rolling Stones."
"Alright then. While he gets ready, let's review our competition..." Tara returned to her stage and brushed away invisible dust from her jeans. It did not good since it was invisible. "We will first have the singles then duets then....bands! Including, yes, including, MINOR DISTORTION!"
Cheers from the audience and a belch from Ashley who was steadily drinking something clear. It could have been either vodka or water; no one was questioning. Scott and Kat sat at the back, whispering conspiritally.
"Presenting....Russ Collins!"
Russ entered the stage, wearing a towel wrapped around his head-turban style. He held their imitation microphone (a flashlight wrapped in duct tape, colored black) in one hand, cleared his throat, then began to sing. His voice was horrible.
"I see a red door and I want it painted black, No colors anymore I want them to turn black, I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes, I have to turn my head until my darkness goes. I see a line of cars and they're all painted black, With flowers and my love, both never to come back, I see people turn their heads and quickly look away, Like a newborn baby it just happens ev'ryday." The song continued at the same speed, depressingly morbid but good, until the 'hmm' verse. For some reason his voice became slightly better at the end. "Hmm, hmm, hmm... Hmm, hmm, hmm... Hmm, hmm, hmm..."
"That's enough!" Tara jumped onto the stage and took the microphone. She held it away from him. "Russ Collins, people."
She wasn't sure if the reaction could count as cheering. Several things hit the stage, several different times.
"Next performer?"
"I'll go...maybe I can impress the ladies with my beautiful voice." Tristan stood then cracked his knuckles together before stretching. He stolled to the stage and gaze out at his audience, adoringly. "I will be singing Children of the Grave by Black Sabbath."
"I like Black Sabbath." It wasn't obvious right away who had said the words. Maybe Tristan would gain points in someone's book....
The song began, quite depressingly morbid....again. Tristan began to sing and his voice wasn't that bad, honestly. "Revolution in their minds, the children start to march, against the world in which have to live, and the hate that's in their hearts, they're tired of being pushed around and told just what to do, they'll fight the world until they've won and love comes flowing through,"he sang, mesmerizing the audience. In the background, several lighters had risen in the air, following the orders of Tara's newly created sign.
FLICK YOUR BIC.
"Children of tomorrow live in the tears that fall today, will the sun rise up tomorrow bringing peace in any way?, must the world live in the shadow of atomic fear?, can they win the fight for peace or will they disappear? Yeah!" There was silence for a moment with just the melody playing in the background before he continued. "So you children of the world listen to what I say, if you want a better place to live in spread the word today, show the world that love is still alive you must be brave, or you children of today are children of the grave yeah!"
The camera caught on a sign held by Angel and Ravine (yes, that Ravine). WE HEART TRISTAN'S VOICE.
Solo artists continued with Kellie singing Angel by Sara McLachlan, Natasha sang (out of peer pressure) There Is No Arizona by Jamie O'Neal, and John sang Fairies Wear Boots by Black Sabbath, in an attempt at humor. It worked....somewhat.
"Next we have duets! First up..." Tara visibly cringed while staring at the paper. "Kat Jacobs and Scott Summers. Save us, please."
There was a shriek from the back of the room before the two in question ran onto the stage. In under ten seconds....the room was vacated in a retreat to the....BACKYARD.
The lyrics to Tell Me Something Good filled the area despite the newly installed sound system that blasted the tuning of an accustic guitar, drums, a keyboard, and an almost in-tune trumpet .
"You ain't got no kind of feeling inside, I got something that will sho' 'nuff set your stuff on fire,
you refuse to put anything before your pride, what I got will knock all your pride aside, tell me something good (tell me, tell me, tell me), tell me that you love me, yeah, tell me something good (tell me, tell me, tell me), tell me that you like it, yeah." The echo could plainly be heard as Scott's voice while Kat's sang most, if not all, the lyrics.
"Volume adjust, Richard!"
Richard adjusted the volume up about four more notches. The singing vanished completely, replaced by the sound of the young band-Minor Distortion. (THEY'RE BACK!)
Tara picked up her drumsticks then hit them together in time to her counting. "One..two..one...two..three...four."
The insturments went into a not so bad rendition of an old Aerosmith song. The words and music flowed easily from the band since they'd had almost three years of practice away from one another.
Janie's Got a Gun was a favorite of the young people. A scary thought if you listened to the lyrics and heard the song's message. It made no sense but who were they to question?
John and the others started a Congo Line that ran through the garden in tune with the band's playing and singing. It continued for twenty minutes before Kat and Scott appeared. Neither appeared happy.
"You didn't listen to our song!"Kat screeched then noticed the Congo Line. "Ohhhh, Congo Line!" She ran over and caught onto Derek's waist, beginning to hum along, tunelessly.
Congo Lines and Minor Distortion's first REAL 'gig' lasted until around one in the morning when Tara decided to go tally the reports from the karoke singing. It took another forty-five minutes to adjust these results into their suitable places and decide the winners.
Everyone gathered around to hear the results. Tara cleared her throat. "In the solo competition, Third Runner up-Kellie. Second Runner up-Natasha First Runner Up-John and our winner...Tristan!"
The sign returned. WE HEART TRISTAN'S VOICE.
"In the duet competition.....there was only one set so-Kat and Scott!"
Boos and rioting followed this.
"Since there was only one band...Minor Distortion are the winners!"
"Yes!"
"We are awesome!"
"I got to tell Mort!"
"Ah hell, I was suppoused to call Remy!"
John listened a moment then shrugged as if nothing mattered. He hit the 'play' button on the CD player and the sound of Oye Coma Va by Santana filled the night air.
"CONGO!"
"Oye!"came the shout before another congo line began to make it's way around the room, pausing for a yell of,"Oye Coma Va!"
Angel and Tara: Let 'em read already!
RD: Enjoy the read...I have a date with duct tape and a box. *peels off duct tape, loudly but slowly*
SEVEN DAYS LATER 2:45 p.m.
"New game!" Russ took two new sheets of 'script' paper from the table and placed one on each end of the hall. He closed each of the doors on his way back then bounced their 'ball' a moment. 'The ball' it turned out was a paper ball that had been wrapped in blue, green, and yellow electric tape with streaks of duct tape. "Who's running?"
"Tara!" Angel pointed at her friend then placed the hat she'd stolen from John's room on her head, turning it around backwards. She blew a bubble with what looked like about six pieces of bright pink bubble gum balls. "Tara can go first. I'll play umpire. Tristan can take first base. Russ can pitch. Ashley and the others can run interference or somethin' like that...GAME ON!"
"Pitching, now!" Russ looked around a moment then threw the ball once Tara was in position.
She didn't move.
Things continued this way for a moment. Him throwing, her standing still. The game continued this way for the next five minutes until the ball went off course; she took advantage of this and ran down the hall, sliding the base across the floor with her feet. The paper skid forward alongw ith it's 'rider' and ran straight into a table, knocking it over.
Angel motioned with her arms. "SAFE!"
"Second opinion."
Ashley tilted her head then shrugged before making the same motion. "SAFE! GAME CONTINUE!"
"What? She can't be safe!"
The popping of a beer top came. "The ball was on the other side of the room, kiddies,"Richard pointed, taking a drink of his beer before studying them all. He motioned toward where Russ had just recovered the ball.
There was a mumbled,"oh", from Tristan then silence.
"GAME ON!" Ashley slumped back into her chair that was lined up in one of the doorways to a bedroom. She leaned back, balancing a fork on the sole of one of her shoes. It balanced until the paper ball was thrown again and Tara ran past, knocking it off. "Technical foul!"
"What? That doesn't count...you ain't the umpire."
To emphasize Tristan's point, Angel blew a giant pink bubble then motioned her arms in the universal sign of SAFE. She smirked after sucking her gum back into her mouth. "She was safe. Next runner!"
"Me, Me, Me! I have magical pixie magic on my side!" Kat ran forward, tripped over one of Ash's outstretched feet, then scrambled up, hissing in a strange imitation of Corey. She leapt onto the 'mound' then stood there. "The Fairy Queen has promised me victory!"
Dead silence followed this statement. Angel forgot to pop her gum; 'the ball' dropped from Russ' hand to roll around the floor, noisily. Ashley glanced at them a moment then shrugged. "Game...on....?"
"Game on!" Russ caught the ball when Tristan threw it then it was passed for severa more moments. Unlike Tara, Kat took off running, caught the ball, then ran from the roof.
"HEY!" The others charged after her, sounding more like a herd of elephants then a group of teenagers and young adults. In the next instant, the group of happily playing youths were a mob, chasing one blonde-haired, slightly demented girl.
John appeared in the doorway but his expression turned weary at the site before him. He glowered only twenty seconds before shaking his head. "It's hopeless. Practice starts in twenty minutes...you got me, mates?" His expression swept through, settling on the ones holding the ball, holding mitts, and those with sharp objects. "I expect all toys and sharp objects to be up, yes?"
"Yes, Uncle Johnny,"came the mumbled reply from the elven gathered youths. They all stared down, ashamed. It wasn't a genuine look.
"Go spit out your gum, shelia.The fight scene's today.."
"Yes! The fight scene!" Angel took off running down the hall and barely avoided hitting several pieces of furniture and the wall. Her hand smacked the wall followed by a loud,"don't jump out at me like that!"
Tristan blinked and glanced toward where she'd vanished. "Did she just ask someone not to jump out at her?"
The others looked around before Ashley spoke what was on everyone's mind. "We're all here; who's Angel talking to?"
"It's called a wall, Ash,"Richard put in, popping the top on a beer. Liquid from it shot across the room to hit a wall and splatter several people. He stared a moment then gave a smile before vanishing from the room.
"Oh."
"VICTORY BELONGS TO KAT JACOBS, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PIXIE FAIRY PRICESS!" Silence for a moment. "PIXIE STIXS FOR ALL."
[ Russ: I'm getting tired of this Pixie Stix nonsense of Kat's. If we wanted Pixie Stixs we'd buy them, right...? *waited for answer but continued after recieving none* The good part is our play; Ashley and I are suppoused to kiss twice. I'm in heaven....I'm still not sure what happened after we got into the alcohol stash before. It's kind of weird, you know? Hello...?]
TWENTY MINUTES LATER
"Today, mates, we'll be shooting a few lines of Romeo and his friends then the great fight scene, commprende?" John studied his cast of 'budding young actors and actresses'; most picked at their nails, played with scenery, or stared into space.
[ Ashley: Why does Russ get more scenes then me? I mean, come on! Anyone that's seen the movie or read the play KNOWS that I am the main attraction... *took a swig from vodka bottle* John's such a dictator and a sexist and a pig and and...ah, hell, I'm out of words. Richard!]
"Yes, Uncle Johnny." The line was growing stale in a short amount of time.
"Set up the scene where Reese and Matthew talk about love....ROLLING." There was a click in the background before the lines began.
Russ began with his opening line. "Is Martina a tender person?" He laughed here, bitterly. "No she's rough, rude, drunk, boisterous and stings like an electric eel."
"She likes it rough does she? How about trying bondage and whips. Whip her for whipping and you shall soon break her spirit!" Richard stared at his paper then watched Russ run off, talking to himself. "Stupid boy! God is he gonna regret ever listening to me!"
(This line and the above one are from Anything but Ordinary3. Thanks, Ellie...)
"I refuse to be discussed that way and that would only end in violence!"
[Richard: Well Ash ran out of words so I fear that I must take over for her... *cleared his throat and took up a sheet of paper, beginning to recite* John is such a dictator and a sexist and a pig and a loser and completely insane and loony. Your honor, the lunatics have taken charge of the asylum! I demand a revote! *something crashed then the screen went blank along with his voice...*]
"Cut! Who added lines to my play?"John demanded, stalking onto the set with a rather large package of sharpies in every color. He took up Richard's script and wrote several, rather large notes in yellow; Russ recieved green notes; Ash's were blue; Angel and Tara recieved hot pink to their horror; Corey got Black; Kellie and Derek recieved orange;Tristan's script ended up entirely purple; Kat was ignored and Natasha recieved gray colored notes.
Natasha cleared her throat then stepped forward on her balcony, making a motion with one hand. "John, have you ever been to therapy?"
"No, shelia."
"You should go. You are WAY too serious...it's a play for fun."
"Fun. Fun? FUN?!" John's voice took on it's 'I'm-a-college-professor-listen-to-me-or-flunk- my-course' tone then he began his lecture on plays. "Plays are not meant to be fun! They are meant to be serious work and alot of effort. Do you think Shakesphere or Rockafeller recieved their awards from fun? No, mates, it was hard work and effort........"
TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATER
John flipped a few pages in his script. "Are we all clear on why plays are not just fun? And why John does not need therapy?"he asked without any real interest in their answers. He continued before anyone could answer him, anyway. "We will now begin in ACT I, SCENE IV."
Crickets chirped in the background. No one spoke or turned pages through their script; silence echoed much too loudly.
"The fight scene, shelias. The quick-tempered, brash Terry, cousin to Martina, provokes the equally quick-tempered Matthew into a brawl. Benny, the peacemaker and a friend to Matthew and Reese, tries to break up the fight along with Reese. Upon Reese's intervention, Terry kills Matthew. In retribution later, Reese kills Terry. Tragic...excuse me, mates. I need to control yourself." He turned away, drawing in careful breathes then clearing his throat a few moments later.
Russ raised his hand. "Who plays all these people? Shouldn't Ashley and I know?"
[ John: Why does no one understand my directions? Are they that bad? I don't think so..they're good. Stupid children, stupid house, stupid play. *his script caught fire; he put it out quickly then stood* A few more days and they're gone. Gone for good. See ya later. Bye-bye. However you say good-bye in spanish, french, and italian-those too. A few more days.]
"Matthew will still be played by Richard. Benny is played by Tara. Terry is tentaively being played by Angel, despite her lack of emotio nand feeling toward the character....are we clear?"
"Yes, Johnny."
Russ hesitated to ask his next question. "So this means I get to kill Angel?" His smiled broadened. "How?"
"Russ!" With only a moment's notice between this moment, he was attacked by paper balls, rolls of duct tape, and pencils from the female portion of their cast. He avoided them all until Kat ran by and stuck a long strand of duct tape to his head.
"YEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!"he yelled upon ripping the strip from his head. Fuzzy little hairs stuck to the sticky part of the paper and what looked like little white colored flecks. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I have lice!"
Ashley stared a moment then pulled Kat aside. "What did you do, Kat?"
"Salt on duct tape. The Fairy Queen told me to do it to Bobby but....he was more fun." Kat smiled a moment, showing bright blue teeth and two cheeks full of colored minature marshmallow chunks. She skipped from the room, whistling something oddly familiar to the 'Three's Company' theme song.
[Angel: Salt on duct tape? Where does she get this stuff...? I mean, I'm suppoused be the most torturous person yet she pulls this stuff? I don't think it should be said 'most torturous'...I need a dictionary. Richard!]
ACT I, SCENE IV
Setting: A public place in the downtown area of Vapdos. Benny and Matthew are having their usual conversation about why the world is going to Hades in a hand basket.....Cankers in the distance arise.
"Why James Brown and Micheal Jackson, here come the Cankers,"Tara said, fumbling in one of her pockets for her duct tape wrapped water gun (originally purple). She drew it forward.
"Why Black Sabbath and ACDC, I don't care." Richard waved them off with one hand.
Angel and several other 'movie extras' a.k.a the camera men entered the stage. For some reason unknown to anyone else, they all carried oversized black bags with Pixie Stixs embrodied into them.
"Come quickly, I will speak for us. You hicks, great day; let me talk to one of you..." Angel approached the two of them as she spoke.
Richard laughed. "One word? Not at all...make it two. Talking and a punch to the jaw."
"Don't push me, player, you give me many occassions."
"Can you take without giving?"
"Matthew, you walk with Reese--"
"Walk! Does that make us a gang? Are we to shoot people up, sell drugs, and hold inititaitons? Yes, walk!"
Tara interrupted the conversation, stepping between the two and holding up one hand toward Richard. "We talk like normal people. Move along to another, less public place and argue about your differences; or get lost. People are staring,"she said, waving her script around about her.
"Let them. I refuse to leave over a few staring morons."
Russ walked onto the set, whistling under his breathe and talking to himself. He was obviously over reading his lines but it was apparant he was on the wrong page.
"Forget you, player. Here's my fellow now." Angel stepped around the two of them and went straight to Reese. "Y-Y-You not-nice-person!!"
"What?" He showed a confused expression.
"Leave Reese alone. You want to fight then fight me..." Richard stepped in-between them and drew his gun, leveling it with Angel. She just stared.
[ Richard: I haven't figured out Angel yet. She's stupid sometimes but others she's...well, smart. What's the deal with that? It's not like Kat. Kat's stupid 24/7 but what's Angel's deal?]
"CUT!" John came onto the stage again, brandishing his megaphone and slightly charred script. "Practice will end for the night. Dinner will be in twenty minutes followed by Karoke night."
Groans echoed the last part.
"From which Kat is banned..."
"Yes, yes, yes, yes." The chant was taken up by all those present in the room.
Kat appeared and immediately began to cry. "I can't sing Karaoke!" Her tears began to to fill up the floor, making a rather large puddle around her.
"Um...maybe she can do just one song...?"
"John!"
KAROKE TONIGHT.......DANCING, TOO
"Tonight, as a present for hard work, we get to have a Karoke night. We will begin with a word from our sponsors..." Tara motioned to the side where the camera soon swung.
Voice Overture: Are you having problems with mice or other pests? No more! The solution is here...duct tape! Notice our three hostages, I mean, roommates, are covered from head to toe except their noses with duct tape. Nothing to worry about now. This production brough to you by DUCT TAPE, INCORPORATED. Ignore the muffled screams and sobs. Sold in praticipating stores now...
"Thank you, Voice. We will now begin with a poll of our audience....who wishes to sing? It's singles for the moment." Her eyes scanned the crowd while she held up the megaphone. She waited a few moments. "Don't be shy, ladies and gentlemen. No one here will make fun you unless you really suck."
Russ' hand tentaivly came up into the air.
"A volunteer!" She jumped off the stage and landed in front of him. She held the megaphone to his mouth. "What will you be singing?"
"Paint It Black by the Rolling Stones."
"Alright then. While he gets ready, let's review our competition..." Tara returned to her stage and brushed away invisible dust from her jeans. It did not good since it was invisible. "We will first have the singles then duets then....bands! Including, yes, including, MINOR DISTORTION!"
Cheers from the audience and a belch from Ashley who was steadily drinking something clear. It could have been either vodka or water; no one was questioning. Scott and Kat sat at the back, whispering conspiritally.
"Presenting....Russ Collins!"
Russ entered the stage, wearing a towel wrapped around his head-turban style. He held their imitation microphone (a flashlight wrapped in duct tape, colored black) in one hand, cleared his throat, then began to sing. His voice was horrible.
"I see a red door and I want it painted black, No colors anymore I want them to turn black, I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes, I have to turn my head until my darkness goes. I see a line of cars and they're all painted black, With flowers and my love, both never to come back, I see people turn their heads and quickly look away, Like a newborn baby it just happens ev'ryday." The song continued at the same speed, depressingly morbid but good, until the 'hmm' verse. For some reason his voice became slightly better at the end. "Hmm, hmm, hmm... Hmm, hmm, hmm... Hmm, hmm, hmm..."
"That's enough!" Tara jumped onto the stage and took the microphone. She held it away from him. "Russ Collins, people."
She wasn't sure if the reaction could count as cheering. Several things hit the stage, several different times.
"Next performer?"
"I'll go...maybe I can impress the ladies with my beautiful voice." Tristan stood then cracked his knuckles together before stretching. He stolled to the stage and gaze out at his audience, adoringly. "I will be singing Children of the Grave by Black Sabbath."
"I like Black Sabbath." It wasn't obvious right away who had said the words. Maybe Tristan would gain points in someone's book....
The song began, quite depressingly morbid....again. Tristan began to sing and his voice wasn't that bad, honestly. "Revolution in their minds, the children start to march, against the world in which have to live, and the hate that's in their hearts, they're tired of being pushed around and told just what to do, they'll fight the world until they've won and love comes flowing through,"he sang, mesmerizing the audience. In the background, several lighters had risen in the air, following the orders of Tara's newly created sign.
FLICK YOUR BIC.
"Children of tomorrow live in the tears that fall today, will the sun rise up tomorrow bringing peace in any way?, must the world live in the shadow of atomic fear?, can they win the fight for peace or will they disappear? Yeah!" There was silence for a moment with just the melody playing in the background before he continued. "So you children of the world listen to what I say, if you want a better place to live in spread the word today, show the world that love is still alive you must be brave, or you children of today are children of the grave yeah!"
The camera caught on a sign held by Angel and Ravine (yes, that Ravine). WE HEART TRISTAN'S VOICE.
Solo artists continued with Kellie singing Angel by Sara McLachlan, Natasha sang (out of peer pressure) There Is No Arizona by Jamie O'Neal, and John sang Fairies Wear Boots by Black Sabbath, in an attempt at humor. It worked....somewhat.
"Next we have duets! First up..." Tara visibly cringed while staring at the paper. "Kat Jacobs and Scott Summers. Save us, please."
There was a shriek from the back of the room before the two in question ran onto the stage. In under ten seconds....the room was vacated in a retreat to the....BACKYARD.
The lyrics to Tell Me Something Good filled the area despite the newly installed sound system that blasted the tuning of an accustic guitar, drums, a keyboard, and an almost in-tune trumpet .
"You ain't got no kind of feeling inside, I got something that will sho' 'nuff set your stuff on fire,
you refuse to put anything before your pride, what I got will knock all your pride aside, tell me something good (tell me, tell me, tell me), tell me that you love me, yeah, tell me something good (tell me, tell me, tell me), tell me that you like it, yeah." The echo could plainly be heard as Scott's voice while Kat's sang most, if not all, the lyrics.
"Volume adjust, Richard!"
Richard adjusted the volume up about four more notches. The singing vanished completely, replaced by the sound of the young band-Minor Distortion. (THEY'RE BACK!)
Tara picked up her drumsticks then hit them together in time to her counting. "One..two..one...two..three...four."
The insturments went into a not so bad rendition of an old Aerosmith song. The words and music flowed easily from the band since they'd had almost three years of practice away from one another.
Janie's Got a Gun was a favorite of the young people. A scary thought if you listened to the lyrics and heard the song's message. It made no sense but who were they to question?
John and the others started a Congo Line that ran through the garden in tune with the band's playing and singing. It continued for twenty minutes before Kat and Scott appeared. Neither appeared happy.
"You didn't listen to our song!"Kat screeched then noticed the Congo Line. "Ohhhh, Congo Line!" She ran over and caught onto Derek's waist, beginning to hum along, tunelessly.
Congo Lines and Minor Distortion's first REAL 'gig' lasted until around one in the morning when Tara decided to go tally the reports from the karoke singing. It took another forty-five minutes to adjust these results into their suitable places and decide the winners.
Everyone gathered around to hear the results. Tara cleared her throat. "In the solo competition, Third Runner up-Kellie. Second Runner up-Natasha First Runner Up-John and our winner...Tristan!"
The sign returned. WE HEART TRISTAN'S VOICE.
"In the duet competition.....there was only one set so-Kat and Scott!"
Boos and rioting followed this.
"Since there was only one band...Minor Distortion are the winners!"
"Yes!"
"We are awesome!"
"I got to tell Mort!"
"Ah hell, I was suppoused to call Remy!"
John listened a moment then shrugged as if nothing mattered. He hit the 'play' button on the CD player and the sound of Oye Coma Va by Santana filled the night air.
"CONGO!"
"Oye!"came the shout before another congo line began to make it's way around the room, pausing for a yell of,"Oye Coma Va!"