[only after that i don't mind does Blue lift his hand and offer it belatedly, not ashamed to reengage that gesture after-the-fact.]
My blood is pale, yes... But I am a Mu; I have always had this gift, even before setting foot on these shores. Where I am from...humans were not happy about my kind. [his smile shifts a shade apologetic as he explains.] That wariness... It's not something I can shake so easily, even here.
[Bolin shakes, firm but gentle. The contact gives a glimpse of who he is as a person - bright and sunny on the surface with a heart of gold. Loyalty, courage and love run like deep valleys through his landscape. There are shadows, sure, but all mountains have them hidden beside their glorious ridge-backs.
Mountains are born in movements of incredible stress - crushed upwards under pressure through shifting landscapes. Bolin is no different. His tectonic plates are made of loss and insecurity in a time of political unknown. His composition of two cultures raised in a third sits in his every molecule, and for every count of earth inside him there is also fire. For every spring of hope and love, there rests a pit of quicksand waiting for the day his footing isn't quite sure enough. That his shoulders aren't square, that his head isn't high.
But today is not that day, and he smiles as their grips release, shifting the manuscripts in his hands without a seeming care.]
I know what you mean, actually. Where I come from, there are two types of people: normal people and people who have a connection to the elements. Like a power? Earth, Fire, you know. It's common, but not always common enough. I'm the second kind.. people don't always trust you when they know you could wipe'em out in a second. Not that I ever would! That's not who I am, but some people are- you know what I mean, right? It can be hard, is what I'm trying to say. To be Other.
[Blue's hand lingers where it was released for a moment as he quietly absorbs some of that surface-level energy and impressions of the things on Bolin's mind that bring about his words. it makes him look a little distant and withdrawn, but that's far from the truth - he's just focused on facets that aren't in sight of his eyes.
after a couple blinks, however, he's back to peering directly at Bolin with a mild, thoughtful smile.]
It is, yes. And I'm sorry...that you've had to walk similar pathways as I have. But I can tell it has not undermined your optimism. I'm glad.
Pshh, nah- I am who I am. I can't change it, you just have to own it. Maybe use it as an opportunity to show people that not all of us are bad, you know? Or scary. Besides, I love my bending, I wouldn't give it up even if I had the choice.
Actually.. one time someone almost took it away from me and it was one of the scariest moments of my life.
[Hahahaaaaa a core memory has resurfaced! Hard pass! It's a no go form Bolin!]
Well, anyway. That was back home and I don't think the locals here are super bent on taking all our powers away or anything so it's fine now. I just try to remember to be a good ambassador for our people and not wreck anything.
[Blue's head tilts and expression shifts in sympathy at the mention of something so harrowing. even while Bolin waves it along to optimism, Blue still keeps that notion to heart - solidarity in one way, foundation-setting for stronger bonds in another.
agreeably:] You seem a very kind person; I imagine you do quite well in that regard.
[A soft laugh. Humble in the moment, but no mistake, he thrives on praise.]
Well, I try. So do you.
[Honestly? Bolin could get a brick wall to talk back. He makes friends everywhere he goes. He'll talk to anybody. Heck- he's made friends with his kidnappers before. His brother often bemoans Bolin's heart so brazenly worn on his unarmored sleeve but there's no changing him.]
Hey- if I tell you the plots will you help me out with the script business?
I could try, but... [hm.] Do you think it's...disadvantageous that I didn't even know what a play was? There is a lot about...entertainment and human culture that I don't know.
Not at all! In faaact, your opinion would make sure that everyone who might come would enjoy it. If someone who doesn’t know about theatre will like the story then that means everyone will like it.
[Bolin fluffles his scrips and settles in. Bear in mind he has a limited understanding of these stories, himself.]
Okay, here we go. This first one is called Cabaret. It’s about a love triangle featuring a singer named Sally who meets a fresh faced academic called Brian. Despite Brian's confusion over his sexuality, the pair become lovers, but the arrival of the wealthy and decadent playboy Maximilian von Heune complicates matters for them both. This love triangle plays out against the rise of something called the Nazi party who I think are tooootal bad guys trying to conquer their world. Who does Sally pick? Do Brian and Max fall in love and elope to destroy the Nazi threat? It’s a cliff hanger!
Ooh- ooh okay and this one! This one is called Priscilla: Queen of The Desert! Oooh aaaahhhh ahhhhhhhhhhhhh (can you hear the desert winds blowing, Blue?)
It’s about a performer called Anthony who takes his cross dressing show on the road with some friends, but he has a seeecret. Even though he likes men, he’s still married to a woman and their journey is actually to see her and their son. He’s scared about his son rejecting him for his life but it has a happy ending. I think there’s a lot of fight scenes and a big bus so I’m not sure how we’d get that into the club but.. well that’s what paleblood gems are for, we’ll just make everyone hallucinate that there’s a bus!
And finally! Oh- this one is good. It’s called The Birdcage. It takes place in the mYsTiCaL kingdom of Miami~ a young couple are getting married but they have a problem! Her parents are very traditional and his parents aren’t at all! In fact, he’s got two dads and so our hero is really worried that his future inlaws won’t accept his family and stop him from marrying the love of his life. It’s a comedy of errors and it’s really funny and there’s a whole song about throwing plates around.
[Blue's eyes widen as Bolin begins to spin these little yarns, eyes fluttering here or there as much of it rushes by without full understanding; there's much about nuance and culture Blue simply has to...take another person's certainty for.
he brings a hand to his chin in thought, quiet for a moment as he takes in all these things.]
There is much...that seems left unsaid that should be understood, but...the undercurrent of them all seems to be...the strife of people in the midst of complex connections. Romance? [he shakes his head slightly.] It's not something...I wholly understand, especially not as humans do.
[...]
Is it...enjoyable? To watch other people struggle this way?
[he smiles small again, his hand falling away from his heart to rest over his other wrist, remembering the markings under his sleeves.]
Yes, there is much here. Even amid the strife...there is so much more.
And should it not keep you from your duties...I would be happy to hear your stories. As many as you're willing to share. [why he could even make a house visit to tell them!!!!!!!!!!]
Do you read? We could work through these three together and I could tell you more another time? Or I could put these away and tell you the best story ever. The Legend of Korra~
The second one is pretty long. Let's go through Cabaret. Here-
[He scootches a little closer so they can both read the script.]
We'll take turns on who reads who and see if it's any good.
[This is going to be ridiculous. And his Korra story is super long and comes from the place of an unreliable narrator (him) so best shaved for another day.]
[ridiculous indeed. Blue will gladly subject himself to the interesting-but-baffling world of musical theater scripts - needing quite a lot of help with context along the way...something that he'd like to follow up with.
at his home. c:
(ok to fade out in prep for house hostage things?)]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[Manners, Bo. He extends a hand.]
I'm Bolin, by the way. It's a pleasure to meet you.
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Please call me Blue. Forgive me...when I touch people, I can better hear their thoughts and feelings; many...don't appreciate that.
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[Should that give him pause? Maybe. You're just gonne leave him hanging huh. No big, no big. You're being polite, he gets it.]
You're a paleblood? That's okay, I'm surrounded by them. Totally used to it. I don't mind.
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My blood is pale, yes... But I am a Mu; I have always had this gift, even before setting foot on these shores. Where I am from...humans were not happy about my kind. [his smile shifts a shade apologetic as he explains.] That wariness... It's not something I can shake so easily, even here.
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[Bolin shakes, firm but gentle. The contact gives a glimpse of who he is as a person - bright and sunny on the surface with a heart of gold. Loyalty, courage and love run like deep valleys through his landscape. There are shadows, sure, but all mountains have them hidden beside their glorious ridge-backs.
Mountains are born in movements of incredible stress - crushed upwards under pressure through shifting landscapes. Bolin is no different. His tectonic plates are made of loss and insecurity in a time of political unknown. His composition of two cultures raised in a third sits in his every molecule, and for every count of earth inside him there is also fire. For every spring of hope and love, there rests a pit of quicksand waiting for the day his footing isn't quite sure enough. That his shoulders aren't square, that his head isn't high.
But today is not that day, and he smiles as their grips release, shifting the manuscripts in his hands without a seeming care.]
I know what you mean, actually. Where I come from, there are two types of people: normal people and people who have a connection to the elements. Like a power? Earth, Fire, you know. It's common, but not always common enough. I'm the second kind.. people don't always trust you when they know you could wipe'em out in a second. Not that I ever would! That's not who I am, but some people are- you know what I mean, right? It can be hard, is what I'm trying to say. To be Other.
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after a couple blinks, however, he's back to peering directly at Bolin with a mild, thoughtful smile.]
It is, yes. And I'm sorry...that you've had to walk similar pathways as I have. But I can tell it has not undermined your optimism. I'm glad.
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Actually.. one time someone almost took it away from me and it was one of the scariest moments of my life.
[Hahahaaaaa a core memory has resurfaced! Hard pass! It's a no go form Bolin!]
Well, anyway. That was back home and I don't think the locals here are super bent on taking all our powers away or anything so it's fine now. I just try to remember to be a good ambassador for our people and not wreck anything.
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agreeably:] You seem a very kind person; I imagine you do quite well in that regard.
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Well, I try. So do you.
[Honestly? Bolin could get a brick wall to talk back. He makes friends everywhere he goes. He'll talk to anybody. Heck- he's made friends with his kidnappers before. His brother often bemoans Bolin's heart so brazenly worn on his unarmored sleeve but there's no changing him.]
Hey- if I tell you the plots will you help me out with the script business?
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[Bolin fluffles his scrips and settles in. Bear in mind he has a limited understanding of these stories, himself.]
Okay, here we go. This first one is called Cabaret. It’s about a love triangle featuring a singer named Sally who meets a fresh faced academic called Brian. Despite Brian's confusion over his sexuality, the pair become lovers, but the arrival of the wealthy and decadent playboy Maximilian von Heune complicates matters for them both. This love triangle plays out against the rise of something called the Nazi party who I think are tooootal bad guys trying to conquer their world. Who does Sally pick? Do Brian and Max fall in love and elope to destroy the Nazi threat? It’s a cliff hanger!
Ooh- ooh okay and this one! This one is called Priscilla: Queen of The Desert! Oooh aaaahhhh ahhhhhhhhhhhhh (can you hear the desert winds blowing, Blue?)
It’s about a performer called Anthony who takes his cross dressing show on the road with some friends, but he has a seeecret. Even though he likes men, he’s still married to a woman and their journey is actually to see her and their son. He’s scared about his son rejecting him for his life but it has a happy ending. I think there’s a lot of fight scenes and a big bus so I’m not sure how we’d get that into the club but.. well that’s what paleblood gems are for, we’ll just make everyone hallucinate that there’s a bus!
And finally! Oh- this one is good. It’s called The Birdcage. It takes place in the mYsTiCaL kingdom of Miami~ a young couple are getting married but they have a problem! Her parents are very traditional and his parents aren’t at all! In fact, he’s got two dads and so our hero is really worried that his future inlaws won’t accept his family and stop him from marrying the love of his life. It’s a comedy of errors and it’s really funny and there’s a whole song about throwing plates around.
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he brings a hand to his chin in thought, quiet for a moment as he takes in all these things.]
There is much...that seems left unsaid that should be understood, but...the undercurrent of them all seems to be...the strife of people in the midst of complex connections. Romance? [he shakes his head slightly.] It's not something...I wholly understand, especially not as humans do.
[...]
Is it...enjoyable? To watch other people struggle this way?
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Theatre is all about connection. And entertainment, obviously.
Spoiler alert, people like a happy ending. It makes them feel better about their own lives.
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Then...so long as those who suffer...are happy at the end...people will want to see it? Is that why you can't decide?
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They’re just stories, Blue. They’re supposed to be entertaining.
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[with a hand over his heart:] The circumstances I came from were dire. Happy endings...are not stories there; they are our hopes, our wishes.
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He takes a moment to consider the admission before softening.
Bolin isn’t in the business of making people feel bad, and he knows that the past can be a painful thing.]
Well. Hopefully you’ll find happiness here in Trench. I’ve seen it happen with my own eyes.
And hey, I know a ton of stories I could tell you if you want.
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Yes, there is much here. Even amid the strife...there is so much more.
And should it not keep you from your duties...I would be happy to hear your stories. As many as you're willing to share. [why he could even make a house visit to tell them!!!!!!!!!!]
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Man, I know so many stories.
Do you read? We could work through these three together and I could tell you more another time? Or I could put these away and tell you the best story ever. The Legend of Korra~
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Honestly... Both suggestions sound wonderful. Which...would make you happier?
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[Bolin taps his chin in thought.]
The second one is pretty long. Let's go through Cabaret. Here-
[He scootches a little closer so they can both read the script.]
We'll take turns on who reads who and see if it's any good.
[This is going to be ridiculous. And his Korra story is super long and comes from the place of an unreliable narrator (him) so best shaved for another day.]
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at his home. c:
(ok to fade out in prep for house hostage things?)]
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