the heart of the matter

[soldieronwards]

The ground falls out beneath you. You're in midair, you're surrounded by swirling clouds, and there's nowhere stable to put your feet. The space between your body and the turbulence around you feels poorly defined as well; where do you end and your surroundings begin? Is there a stable you in the first place?

But eventually--

[ Join channel #nobodystaysdeadincomics on IRC. ]

Comments

THEATER WEST

[soldieronwards]

Despite the lack of a concession stand, the faint smell of popcorn lingers in the air here as you make your way down the aisle. Yet the further you go towards the screen, the more that scent turns to gunpowder…

The screen seems oddly flimsy. Shadows move behind it.

Re: THEATER WEST

[ktenology]

[ . . . moves to look behind the screen? Or is it set into the wall.. .? ]

Re: THEATER WEST

[soldieronwards]

The lower right corner of it is loose and can easily be pushed aside to allow you entrance to whatever is behind it.

There's a small room here, cluttered with bright cardboard props. Some of them are bright spiky yellow explosions, while others are dusty-looking brown tents. In the center of the room is a table with a plastic gun and blunted combat knife on it. At a chair at that table sits Bucky, frowning down at his props.

Re: THEATER WEST

[ktenology]

[ moves for the gun, to examine it though once she sees it's plastic she'll leave it there. ]

Re: THEATER WEST

[soldieronwards]

"It's just a prop, kid," Bucky confirms, glancing at her.

Re: THEATER WEST

[ktenology]

. . . Hi. How are you?

[ shifts over towards him ]

Re: THEATER WEST

[soldieronwards]

"Fine. I'm fine, right? I mean, that's how it should be. Ain't like I haven't done shows like this before."

Re: THEATER WEST

[ktenology]

Someone does not think so.

Re: THEATER WEST

[soldieronwards]

"Aw, man...look, it's not that I'm not experienced. I used to do plenty of action flicks. I just had a bad run and took a break for a while, that's all..."

He takes a deep breath.

"But it's tough coming back, huh?"

Re: THEATER WEST

[ktenology]

What do you mean by a bad run?

Re: THEATER WEST

[soldieronwards]

...I got sloppy. Wasn't doing my best out there.

Re: THEATER WEST

[ktenology]

Why did you come back?

Re: THEATER WEST

[soldieronwards]

"There were people counting on me. And this is the role I've always known."

His gaze is distant. "But I don't know if I can pull it off anymore."

Re: THEATER WEST

[ktenology]

Then stop.

Re: THEATER WEST

[soldieronwards]

"Stop?"

Re: THEATER WEST

[ktenology]

If you can't do it and you don't want to do it.

Re: THEATER WEST

[soldieronwards]

"I didn't say I don't want to do it." He shakes his head. "Like I said, people are counting on me, and this is something I know how to do for them. At least, I thought I did. I'm not sure I'm so reliable anymore."

Re: THEATER WEST

[ktenology]

[ she thinks it through, taking her time ]

Ask someone.

Re: THEATER WEST

[soldieronwards]

"Aw, no, they can't know I'm floundering. That'd ruin everything."

Re: THEATER WEST

[ktenology]

. . .

Why?

Re: THEATER WEST

[soldieronwards]

"I'm an actor. I gotta keep putting on the show."

Re: THEATER WEST

[ktenology]

[ she scrutinizes him ]

If you can't do it then you're not a very good actor. Isn't there another way to help?

Re: THEATER WEST

[soldieronwards]

"Oh." He shakes his head a little. "I don't know. I don't think I can do anything but act in a fight scene in the first place. What do you mean, another way to help?"

Re: THEATER WEST

[ktenology]

"Like I said, people are counting on me, and this is something I know how to do for them."

[ just repeats his words back at him ]

Re: THEATER WEST

[soldieronwards]

He blinks. "Sure that's not cheating? Anyway, look, I did a lot of damage to my career with all those bad roles I played earlier. You really think that's something that can be recovered from?"