fandomtownies | Improv Class, The Boards, Thursday Evening

Another week, another improv class! As always, there were ~~moddable~~ pastries on the side table, along with coffee and tea. Once everyone had filtered in, Lizzie clasped her hands together and started today's lecture.

"We've used props, and costumes, and prompts from a hat," she announced. "But this week, we're using nothing but the English language. You are going to pair off and get on stage and act out a scene, with one rule: each sentence must start with a specific letter of the alphabet. Specifically, whichever letter is next."

"If I were to start the scene with something like, 'Hey, what do you want to do for dinner tonight,'" Jono elaborated, leaning back against the front of the stage with an easy sort of smile, "my partner might reply with something like, 'I don't know, since the fridge is empty.' And then in turn, I'd probably rattle off, 'Just come up with something and we'll worry about groceries later.' And so on."

... Food was an easy example for Jono to embrace, for some reason.

"Keep in mind difficult letters like J, Q, X and Z," Lizzie warned. "It might help to introduce characters named Xavier in advance, or to ask about someone's zebra a few letters early. But you'll have to be thinking on your feet, while you and your partner are playing out the scene. Don't take long pauses and breaks to come up with the perfect response: try to keep the flow going."

A quick wrinkle of his nose said volumes about Jonothon's opinions on characters named Xavier, thanks.

"On a relatively unrelated note, I'll be holding auditions here on Sunday for this season's performance of The Consequence of Being Frank. If any of you thespian types are interested, this is your warning to find a monologue to read to me then. And that's all for announcements, so pair off," he said, giving a clap of his hands, "and let's see what you come up with, hm?"

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"It made sense at the time!" Karla snapped. "I've been waiting for your special brand of feedback, okay? You know, something like your charming, 'Your voice is so tight, it sounds like you were kicked in the balls and you don't even have those, luv.'"

Mimicking Jono's accent was fun. And distracted her from the fact that he was watching the video right there.

Jono just gave Karla a dry sideways glance at that. Really, there were some people in the world who really ought to never attempt British. That list consisted of...

... Everyone in the world who wasn't British, typically.

He was quiet until the video was through, and then, at length, he finally actually turned to face Karla.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Sunbeam," he said, pocketing his phone and shaking his head. Could you see his disappointment, Karla? There on his face?

Karla's mouth curled up and her eyes dropped. "Told you I was tipsy," she muttered defensively. Her toes scuffed along the floor. "It didn't sound all that bad to me."

Stupid Jono. Why had she even sought his opinion out anyway?

"Also, your idea of constructive criticism sucks."

And now it was his turn to reach out and jab her in the shoulder.

"Very disappointed in you for not performing that number years ago. That was fantastic, Karla. Bloody hell... So much more suited to your singing voice than all of that stodgy classical nonsense that your music instructors shoved down your throat. I'd put that on a CD and market it."

Jonothon was a shit-disturber when it suited him, yes.

So what?

Karla's head shot up, her incredulous gaze locking with Jono's amused one. "What?" she asked. "Really? You're not just messing with me?"

"Were you even listening to that video, Karla? That was the most natural sound I've ever heard come out of your mouth while you were singing. I'm half tempted to make you sing it again now, just to prove to me it wasn't because you were halfway trolleyed."

Alcohol tended to make karaoke easier, after all. Just, not usually better.

Now she was glaring. "I am not singing in the middle of improv class for your amusement," she informed him. "I'm just...not."

It was one thing for him to tell her it was okay and give her pointers how to do better. It was something completely different for him to actually think it was good. To be impressed.

Jonothon sighed and shook his head.

"And I'm not judging you on a drunken performance I heard second hand on a cell phone's crap speaker, picking up the amplifications of a cheap karaoke setup," he countered. "You wanted my input, I gave it to you. What I could make out sounded fantastic. You want actual input, you'll sing it to me while sober and I'm standing here listening."

Now you were dealing with Jono-the-teacher, Karla. Really, you brought it upon yourself.

"It was a pretty decent karaoke setup," Karla said because that was relevant. "We were in Japan at a karaoke club. For Momoko's Seijin no Hi ceremony. And then we went to a Host Club."

Yeah, okay, Karla. None of that mattered to Jono in the slightest. "Could I sing it for you another time? Not here, okay? Not in front of everyone."

She didn't want to randomly burst into song when no one else was. That would just be...weird. Or something.

Any more weird than playing a crazy man named Footmot up on the stage where everyone could see?

Still, Jono relented and sighed.

"I'm in the office here on Saturday." That was his way of informing her that he expected her to be here if she wanted his input, yes. "And, for the record, cell phone microphones are shite at picking up noise from amplifiers. Particularly if there's an audience. In a bar. Talking."

So, really, it didn't matter what the karaoke setup was like, he was not listening to the recording any more than he needed to when the owner of the set of pipes that had belted that song out was standing right there.

Edited 2013-01-25 03:35 (UTC)

That was different! She was up on stage acting like a weirdo with other people! Not by herself!

"Saturday, huh?" Karla asked, suddenly realizing that this was a thing and it was true and Jono actually thought it bore looking into further. She broke into a happy smile. "I can be there on Saturday. Don't know how well I'll sing it a cappella though. Usually I just sing along to my ipod."

"So, bring your iPod. Or find me sheet music to play to. It isn't as though we're lacking in musical instruments, Karla."

Really. Really. Jono without a guitar would be a sad thing indeed.

"Okay!" Karla bubbled. "Okay, I will! It sounds like an acoustic arrangement, right? Won't be too hard for you to pick up?"

Oh, the faintly amused smirk that went along with that raised eyebrow that Jonothon was giving her, now.

"I'm certain I'll figure it out, luv. Saturday, remember. Gives you a full day in between to rehearse."

"Yay!" Excited now, Karla swooped in to give him a kiss on the cheek. "If I find the music, I'll run it over because Darkness knows you haven't gotten your computer fixed yet like a normal person. And then I'll see you Saturday!"

Was he really getting sassed about his computer by someone who came from a world that didn't have computers, really?

"I haven't gotten my computer fixed like a person who was never good with computers," Jono sighed, smiling faintly and shaking his head. "I'll see you Saturday, Sunbeam. Sooner, if you find the music."

Improv Class, The Boards, Thursday Evening

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