Work Text:
One more time, again!
Practice had ended more than a couple hours ago and yet, here they were. Still going over the same script over, and over, and over again. The character they were playing wasn’t too out of the ordinary for them: a young, stubborn prince saving the princess (played expertly by Nene) from the evil sorcerer (played wonderfully by Rui). It was normal for all of them and yet, they still felt as though their own performance was lacking.
Again!
Consulting the others, they had learned, was pointless. Emu would go on and on about how “WONDERHOI” their acting was and how they were “sure to make everyone in the crowds happier than they ever had been” (though that last bit was their interpretation based on the Emu speak used). Nene would sarcastically say they had blown out her eardrums, but would still end with an overall compliment, mumbling something along the lines of “you did really good” or “you’ve improved over the past couple days.” Rui would say that they are “the perfect star of the show” before enacting another weird show prop that would always be at their expense.
But most of all, they’d show worry. They’d be worried about why they were acting so down about themselves. They’d be worried about what was bugging them, the way they talked, the way they walked, about everything they did.
And so, they were forced to continue on their own.
Once more!
Each time they rehearsed this scene, it seemed as though they only got worse. They would move too far forwards, or they would go one line ahead, or they’d miss their cue. That is why they had to practice more. They had to be good enough, they had to reach the level necessary to be the World Future Star. And yet, it never seemed to be within reach. So they tried, again and again, and again and again, and again and again, and—.
The sound of their sword snapping into two broke them from their concentration. Shit. That’ll be hard to explain. Props got broken all the time from practice, and Rui was always prepared to patch them up before the next show. But the sword wasn’t broken before he left. And there was no way he wouldn’t notice.
Thinking quickly, they sprinted to the supply closet and grabbed some glue. Sure, it wouldn’t fix it permanently. But it would make it look more natural when they reconvene and the sword breaks upon first impact. They began working on the patchwork, not caring to pay attention to how much time passed before they finished their work: a glued together sword that was very obviously glued together.
This’ll do.
Carefully, they carried the sword back to the supply closet and changed back into their normal clothes. While practicing with props was preferred, they couldn’t exactly risk damaging it again due to their own doubts.
And as they headed home, to where their family was likely beginning to worry about their location, they were still practicing the scene.
For them, practice was never truly over.