"Bull's eye!" The archer was proud of herself hitting that target. Her friends applauded her. They were one step closer to their goal.
"Good job Archie." Chico applauded her fellow unemployed circus college.
*Groaawl* Dragon also gave his approval.
They trained every day in hopes they can find there way out of obscurity and get employed again.
Arle and Carbuncle walked by. That got their attention. "Hey, Arle! Wanna battle 3-on-1?" Archie proposed out of nowhere.
"How do you know my name?"
"We battled before! I helped you before! How could you forget?!"
"Sorry… I barely remember Cico and that dragon there."
"Gugugu? Gu gu guu. Gugugugugu."
"If Carbuncle could get our names right then there's no excuse."
"Let's Puyo!"
That was reason enough to battle. At this point, Arle'll be overdue collecting that overdue book.
Chapter 9: Fun with Masks
Silvana was sick in bed for four days now, with only some books and cheap parlor tricks to entertain herself, and an extra pillow to hug and punch, to curb her stress and frustrations. She hoped she'd be healthy again two days from now. The only visitors where her circus buddies. She could've done without most of them. She became very- even more irritable.
There was some gentle knocking at her door. Finally! With some effort, she put her mask on. "Cawm in!" She said, nose stuffed. "Hai, Lidwell." Yes, it was Lidelle with a pot of Sil's favorite 'Good but not great soup' made by the imp herself and said that verbatim to her as well. It's an acquired taste.
"Hello, Miss Pierrot. Are you less loopy now? Everyone's been worrying about you."
Sil was too focused on the warmth in her head to catch that last part. "Loo*cough cough*phy?"
"Everyone walking by has heard you saying some weird things." Sil gulped, and then sneezed. "Bless you, Miss Pierrot."
"Things. Whath kindah loophy fings?" She really didn't want to know. But just in case she needs to do some damage control.
"Let me see… Mr. Gaeru said he overheard you talking to the curry I brought you named Tim." Sil's face grew even more red. "Miss Amitie heard you about moaning what sounded like 'sick' over and over." She was actually saying 'Sig' over and over… "Vento overheard a lot. His mask and your nose were really stuffed so he couldn't hear much. But he did hear something like. "O'Karb E. Not Sylvania castle lee harl." I'm not sure if those are actually words."
'Never say that out loud again please. I'm lonely…' Silvana thought.
It's true, she kinda rambled to herself uncontrollably. Saying the most unfiltered on top of the head stuff before she catches herself. The moral of the story is that he should soundproof her caravan more. Lidelle had one more example for her but that one got too much personal info. "Shuth ith riwghth thewe, Lidwell!" *Sniffle*
Lidelle cowered behind her sleeves. "Eep! Did I say something wrong?…"
"Yesh." Blunt. "I'm sorry. I have to bring the soup to Sig."
Sil upset Lidelle and felt bad about. Did she have a heart after all? Dunno. "Waith Lidwell!"
"Hmm?"
"I jusph wanth you to know daph iff anywone hadyh to deliverr dath stuffff, I'm glad id's you."
Lidelle stared at the ill, she blinked a few times. "I'm deeply sorry to say this but you're still acting loopy."
'Is it that hard to believe I'm grateful for something?' "Aw'll be ffine, shay hai to Sigck forr me."
"I will."
"Oh andth thell your masked countherpard nod tho visid. I don'th wanna be ahnnoyed."
Lidelle would sheepishly twiddle with her fingers if she wasn't carrying that pot. "I don't think I can promise that. Bye."
Silvana was alone again. The thought of Vento made her ramble to herself again. Next time she snapped out of it she had a funny idea. She'll work on it right awa- *A 16-chain of coughs, sneezes, and headaches.* On second thought, first, she should probably get better.
*Enough time that Sil's healthy again*
Everyone was early today, Ms. Accord must've been working on some last minute things. The students did their own thing during this time, be it double checking homework, striking conversation and/or lollygagging.
Sil wasn't here yet. She had something in mind. For her first and only trick: she walked to her desk. "Hiya, Sil, nice t-" Amitie interrupted herself when she saw Silvana. She caught everyone's eye.
"Salutations, everyone." Sil the impressive walked to her desk. "I assume you mouth breathers have been doing well in my absence?" She said as condescending as possible.
Over her regular mask was a mask of lesser quality with Klug's face crudely drawn over it, and on top of that, she had some lensless glasses. She mimicked Klug's mannerisms like adjusting glasses. She gained a few chuckles.
"ARE YOU MOCKING M-"
"No doubt about that." Sil replied lightning quick in Klug's tone. She took off that mask, she decided had enough fun it for now. "Fufufu, I thought you're supposed to be the genius?" She smirked as she used her own condescending tone. She tried to adjust the glasses but she already forgot that she took them a few seconds ago. "And a genius would've known that copying is the sincerest form of flattery?"
"Pah, as an entertainer you should that figure of speech is bad for business."
Sil was disappointed, she hoped Klug would take the bait so she say something like: 'It's not in this case. I thought to live up to her job for once.' Instead: "…You win." She shrugged trying to play the cool card.
"There! That will teach for mocking me."
"Sorry, I thought to live up to my job for once. But I respect your wishes." Sil waited for Klug to go back to peacefully go back to whatever was doing to say something. "Because your voice hurts to imitate." She earned one more angry glare from Klug. 'This is fun.'
"Sil."
The harlequin turned towards the voice. "What is it Amitie?" Silvana's tolerance towards her was a bit higher than usual.
"Can I have a mask?"
"What do you mean? Ya want one for your own?"
"You got it."
"I got some more with me, wait till recess."
"Okee."
Ms. Accord was taking her time. Sil decided to have some more fun with her masks. She had a mask of Ms. Accord and play with the chalkboard but that may cause some trouble. She decided to put on a mask of Raffine, that will certainly lead to less trouble.
She had a great time silently imitating the haughty jerkface, the pointing, the winking, mouthing of "Oh, La-Ti-Da!" and the one thing she couldn't imitate as well, martial arts.
Raffine had enough, she literally kicked Sil's literal butt to help simulate the pain Raffine usually receives. "I deserved that one." Sil rubbed the hurting bit.
"Miss Silvana, You can mock me all you want."
"Aside from your beauty?"
"And my muscle tone."
"Lack of magical prowess." Klug chipped in.
"Greed?" Sig guessed.
"And your horrible personality? OUCH!" Raffine twirled Sil so she could kick her again.
"MY POINT IS that my training is a delicate process which does not care for it to be mocked by a clown!" Raffine sufficiently took out her short-lived angry out on Sil. Despite Klug and Sig's comments.
"Now, now kiddies." Ms. Accord finally showed her tardy face. 'Saved by the bell I guess?' "Myew can fight nyafter school." The Popoi swung cutely about.
*Recess*
Amitie, Sig, and Lidelle gathered around Sil. "So you all want to try it?" All three of them said yes in their own way. "Okay." Sil pulled some masks out of her shoulder bag including a non-expressive version of her own. "Don't pick yourself, and be careful choose who impersonate. Getting kicked hurts… Sitting down hurts…" 'Ai… Raffine must know the most painful spots to hit.' Was on Sil's mind as she put the non-chosen masks back in her bag.
Amitie picked the Sig mask lightning quick.
Lidelle gently picked the Pierrot mask.
Sig silently played eenie meenie picked which lent him the Amitie mask.
All three of them put their masks on.
Since both Sig and Lidelle aren't very talkative to begin with Amitie spoke up first. "Oo. Look at the butterfly~" She pointed at the nearest bug. She tried to imitate Sig's awkward voice. It was kinda poor but she tried. She also had a hard time imitating Sig's energyless stature. Sil had a good laugh at the voice.
"Like, get real, I'm the real Amitie. And I'm gonna study hard to become a wicked cleverer magic user." Either Sig tried or he didn't, either way, it was kinda was energyless. Sil continued laughing, Amitie and Lidelle joined in on the laughing. Same kinda laugh as Sil and a polite giggle respectively.
"Your turn Lidelle." Amitie nudged.
"O-okay…"
…
Lidelle shuddered.
…
"Um… Liddy?" Amitie pulled up her mask and spoke as herself. "You okay?" The shuddering Lidelle looked really uncomfortable.
Sig walked up the wind imp and with one finger lifted up the mask.
"I'm sorry Miss Silvana, may I pick a different mask?" Lidelle blurted out.
"Huhwha Why?"
"I've trouble being abrasive and demeaning to people."
Sil looked at Lidelle, at the Pierrot mask in on her sleeves, back at Lidelle's sweet face with a tear in it and back at the mask. Sil choice to ignore the hopefully unintentional insult. She did give Amitie a mean glare when she giggled at the abrasive bit.
"Try it, Liddy. This is more fun than that time when Sig and I switched clothes~" "Huh?" Sil didn't know what to think about Amitie's Sig impression containing both enthusiasm and a hint of nostalgia. Sig looked nostalgic too.
"I-I can't…"
"I betcha you're scared Sil'll be mad at you if you impersonate her." Sig tried channeling Amitie again. Lidelle's body language didn't deny it. "Sil won't ge-"
Meanwhile, Sil was deep in thought of how Amitie and Sig would look in each other's outfits. Strangely she thought Amitie looked bett- "Sil?" Sig's arm nudged Silvana. "Please wake up."
"Huh?"
"You won't get offended if Lidelle does imitate you, right?"
Sil took a good look at Lidelle. "Y-yeah put the mask and say what do you wanna say. I'll consider an… um… exercise in giving criticism to you. And receiving for me." 'And cancel my self-lessons in improv.'
Lidelle gulped. "I-I'll t-try."
Drumroll…
"Hiya, I'm Miss Silvana, and I'm straight up grumpy pants and don't care about anything."
…Silence. No real immediate reactions, besides Amitie's lips trying desperately to keep closed, and no one's even stunned. Just silence.
"H-How was that?" Lidelle asked sweetly.
Sil wasn't sure how to answer this one. And how can she express without proving Lidelle right? It did lightly tap a nerve. "Clearly you're not one for character study." That may've not the best thing to say…
Amitie released her laughter from the tyranny of her lips. "Don't listen to Grumpy Pants. That was great, Lidelle."
"Really?"
"Well, the mannerisms were perfect. But the wording wasn't." Some constructive critiSIGsm there.
"…I didn't like it." That's all Sil had the say about. Lidelle was satisfied.
"Your turn, Sil!" Amitie cheered.
"Wha?"
"I did Sig, Sig did me. Liddy did you. Wouldn't it be wicked if you do Lidelle?"
"Sounds fun." Sig butted in, and so did Lidelle.
"I'm curious too."
Silvana felt the weight of the unmasked stares of the three who she probably was closest too. Peer pressure in other words. This is a new sensation. "I'm not gonna win this, am I?"
"Nope." The Amitie and Sig stereo set replied. "Fine, just don't attack me, Lidelle. I know it's not in your nature, but my butt still hurts and I don't wanna take a chance. The universe is not kind to me."
"Then we'll make it a lesson in receiving criticism for you, and a lesson taking it for you."
"But I'm an entertai- Egh… Whatever, fine…" 'This girl sometimes, I swear.' Sil grabbed the Lidelle mask.
Sil put it on.
…
…
"Um… Sil?"
"I'm getting into character."
…
…
…
"Miss Silvana?"
"Almost done."
…
…
…
…
"Weird, you didn't need this much prep time to mimic Raffine." Amitie took an annoying time to be observant.
"'Kay, okay, I confess… I've got a hard time playing anyone who's not like me." 'Ouch, that hit a bit too close to home than expected. Don't let it show, Arlvana.'
It showed.
"There no shame in that. You're good at other things." Amitie put her hand on Sil's shoulder.
"Please don't…"
"Okee."
"Wait, does that mean you think you're like Klug?"
"And Miss Raffine?"
"Shut it!" Sil lashed slightly out at Sig and Lidelle thanks that self-deprecation. But said lashing relieved her of that. She tried getting back in the groove with some good ol' fashioned snark. "Sorry. Just stop making me hate you guys." 'You two are the only ones I like. Ouch! Why do I keep doing this?'
"Sorry." Both Sig and Lidelle apologized.
"No, I'm sorry."
"Sil?"
"Amitie?"
"You're being shy about playing being shy?"
"Hrmm… I'll do the Lidelle impression now, just give me a few more seconds."
Sil figured she could channel it into the performance. Sil first made sure the Lidelle mask was still on.
Drumroll…
Sil tucked her arms inside her jacket's sleeves and hid her face behind it. "Eep! Don't look at- That was bad I'm so sorry Lidelle, I regret everything."
"It wasn't that bad." Did Lidelle mean it or did she not give criticism like promised? Sil wasn't too sure, but at least the king and royal adviser of honesty agreed.
"I've had enough." Sil sighed, putting the Lidelle mask back in the bag. But a quick glance two certain masks made her change her mind.
Sil, being sneaky when she needs to be, silently put the Klug mask near Raffine, and the Raffine mask near Klug. Silvana enjoyed the fireworks that ensued, despite what the others thought of this particular action this was a fun day.
*A few days ago*
"No fairh Sigck, you goth betther fashter than me…" Sil whined.
"Sorry, I'll try stay sick longer next time."
"I didn'th mean ith like thath, Sigck."
…
"Um… Can I… Uhm… Cannn… Uh. Hugyou?" Sil felt really awkward asking that. "Of course." Sig didn't even hesitate. He inched closer and was in the clutches of Silvana once again.
"I misshed you." *Sniffle*
Author's Request:
One of the premise of a future chapter was, and I quote "Hohow Bird annoys everyone with his ventriloqium". In fact it was supposed to be the NEXT part. It's a bit too similar to this one in retrospect. For the few reading this: If you have a premise to share, go ahead and share/negotiate, just nothing too dynamic changing. Does not have to include Hohow Bird. If not I'll improv, steal, play a frantic song on kazoo, or do a premise twice. Or maybe write something new.
Author's Notes:
Archie = Archan just in case it wasn't obvious. It's a name that needed some localization. Also apologies if I got these three wrong. There's no translated games with them in them as far as I know. That's why they're so shallow. I couldn't do some super research but I'm sick, have a headache, at the moment of finishing that skit. And now I don't have to do a sick chapter I had planned later on. Or could do it, whatever.
Funny coincidence actually. I wrote Sil and Sig sick last part. Then the next day I had the bike on my way to driving lessons in a heavy rainstorm and got slightly ill myself. Than I thought: 'Hmm… I get kinda loopy when sick if I don't catch myself. Perhaps this could a fun concept for the beginning and can finally get rid of a few non-sequiturs I have lying about. Me, you're lousy.'
This mask premise could be used to get everyone's frustrations out on each other. Maybe on a later date, because I wanted to write something light hearted and fun. Sorry to be a downer, but while I'm increasingly convinced I don't know what fun feels like, I enjoy writing a chapter for a change.
Don't know how write how people with stuffed noses speak down on text.
Deleted Scene: "I would go full costume, but didn't have time and I don't think old bone brain would let me wear it."
Next up: Good question…
