route_1065 | i've got just one regret to live through

Entry tags:

i've got just one regret to live through

Who: Saionji

enjoymyatelier
Where: Ecruteak City Dance Theater
When: February 27th
Summary: Saionji is practicing in the dance theater. Kayneth visits the dance theater. In other news, the planets are aligning in the prediction of the apocalypse.
Rating: G, unless Saionji enacts some serious act of violence on Kayneth
Log:

Honestly speaking, the entire detour to Ecruteak City was a good one.

Saionji is ever-so-gracefully tapping her fingers against the stage floor, the fan opening quite loudly in her left hand. The Kimono Girls here are rather polite figures, and have no issue with others coming up onstage to practice. Sure, there were Rocket attacks, but who would ever think that a girl like Saionji would be a Rocket member? Her obi was finally tied into an actual knot instead of being disgracefully tied together like rope for manual labor, though the bow was still a bit casual for her liking. Still, she would learn the complicated formal bows later. She's taking notes, after all.

Of course, her good moods didn't exactly count on someone she recognized walking through the door. She wouldn't just happily show off her skills to anyone- and especially not this guy.

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Kayneth hadn't been to the dance theater often while he'd been staying in Ecruteak for a variety of reasons, chief of which being that it was such a magnet for Rocket attacks that he was almost certain something bothersome would happen while he was there...

And ah, as luck would have it, something did. When he saw the little brat from the network, he was sorely tempted to simply turn and leave... but Johto had rubbed off on him a bit.

After all, it was just tradition. Whenever two trainers' eyes met, there was going to be a battle... even if it wasn't necessarily with Pokemon.

...

Also he was a Breeder but who cares.

So after a moment's deliberation, it was time to put on his most insufferable expression and tone of voice and walk towards the stage.

"My, you're even less impressive in person."

...When she hears that, her fan is still taunted and held still, but with energy as she's preparing to throw it. Of course, risking the chance to just turn... left and look, all that energy and concentration is gone, like the life of one of her ant victims.

"...Excuse me?" Other people in the theater might be finding it prime time to leave now. "Oh, it's you. I suppose I can't expect you to properly appreciate the meaning and aesthetics of this art." Her time in Johto has also molded her a bit- specifically, to keep her temper down just for a while longer. If only a while.

She elected to stay on the stage, though. She's not going to even reach his chest, much less be intimidating.

"Oh, no. I'm sure I'll find it quite interesting, really," said Kayneth, finding a seat that was just the right distance from the stage and taking it.

"After all, it is a performance art. How am I going to know if I appreciate it or not if I haven't experienced it in person?"

"As if I would perform for you!"

Kayneth and Saionji only have 2 FTEs, after all. At least 3 are needed for a performance.

...In any case, she's just seething on the stage- why isn't anyone trying to stop their argument, now, is a pretty big question. "Uncultured, uninformed spectators would probably fall asleep, anyway. It'd be one big waste to expend energy on you."

"I'm not the only person here, you know," said Kayneth, clearly kind of enjoying himself. "In any case, how can you call yourself talented if you can't command enough attention to prevent your spectators from falling asleep? Nevertheless, I'm quite certain I've sat through things more tedious than whatever you have to show for yourself without batting an eyelid."

She can tell from Kayneth's smug face that the situation is in his favor. "Of course I have the skill! But people just don't have the appreciation." There's a bit of a pause, as the options run through her head- perform for this pig, or...?

As if he was worthy of that. Saionji doesn't want to lose this battle. "I could perform, but if you fall asleep, I'll have you stoned, you got that?"

Hey, that's unexpected. Maybe she's just missed having a bit of an audience. Or casting death threats.

"That sounds perfectly fine by me," said Kayneth, who certainly meant what he said. After all, he didn't see a real way he could lose here --- he was curious about both the art and whether Saionji could back up her attitude or if she was all talk.

If it turned out to be boring, then he could easily just tell her.

At length.

At a length is correct, Kayneth. In any case, she goes backstage and does turn on the music- and it's Yudaichi, which she... doesn't actually like too much.

But, well, it's not like she was going to present her favorite dance now.

To the untrained eye, it really does look boring. Though, it is apparent she's concentrating completely on her form. Saionji is stiff only when she needs to be, and it's rare, because she's flowing from stance to stance. When she poses to the audience with a prop, her face is much sweeter than anything Kayneth has probably ever seen from her.

...If he does end up watching to the end, her stage face doesn't fade away just yet.

...Well, okay, it is a little boring at first, because it's not entirely what Kayneth was expecting from something termed a 'dance.' However, whenever a challenge was presented to him, he was always quite determined to go above and beyond, and so he kept complete focus on the dance. There really was no chance of him falling asleep anyway, but...

...focusing on it did allow him to pick up on the subtleties. He would probably have to read up on it a bit later to really get it, but even he could admit that the girl wasn't lacking in talent.

He did not applaud when Saionji finished, as to him, that would be admitting some kind of defeat. He simply looked thoughtfully at the stage, not saying a word just yet. Aside from the fact that he very obviously hadn't fallen asleep, his expression was a bit difficult to read.

Unfortunately, Saionji takes offense to his lack of reaction. "What? Just because you're not worthy of my best doesn't mean you shouldn't have the decency to clap, you bitch!"

Wow, harsh words. Her 'big act' isn't really... ready yet, anyway, but since this was one of the shortest dances she knew, the whole big plan about her dancing debut was still shelved away. As if she'd show it to Kayneth (though the temptation was there, because having humans dance is aesthetically pleasing but how about Pokémon being mixed in?).

Her stage face is off completely, but her feet still carry the same grace and poise as she turns to face Kayneth completely. No one else in this damn theater mattered, until this guy fucking bowed down.

"Perhaps I would have clapped if it hadn't been you," said Kayneth haughtily, raising a hand in a dismissive gesture. "With that said, I actually am impressed that you're not all talk. That was quite artistically done."

He was certainly petty enough not to clap, but he wasn't petty enough to give credit where credit was due.

...to someone of sufficient breeding, anyway.

Petty as he may be, not many are anywhere close to Saionji's level. Really, seeing his ugly mug in real life was a lot more... pressurizing. To one-up and look better than Kayneth, anyway. That only fuels her glare.

She's not going to forget that fact that he's failing to clap, but is (slightly) pleased at the last statement. "Quite? I'm the best you can find here!" ...Discounting the fact that the Kimono Girls may be better in terms of teamwork and overall behavior.

"So, is there anything you can do?"

Well Kayneth is British, so really, that's even worse.

"Well, I suppose I'll just have to study up on it and see, won't I?"

He was sure he could find some kind of ---

...oh

...talents... oh... it was a good thing his expression didn't falter there, actually.

"Well, what I'm best at isn't necessarily possible here under normal circumstances, but I daresay I'm a decent artist."

Yes, excellent. Apply false modesty to that other thing.

Yeah. Talents.

"Well, any examples of your work?" Since there's no way to look into his previous world, she's not going to amount his previous claim to anything.

Saionji doesn't know any SHSL Artist-of-any-medium, except for photography, but there's no way she can think of Kayneth as a photographer.

"Oh, plenty," said Kayneth, standing up. "Though, I suspect you won't be terribly convinced by anything ready made, will you?"

Clearly, the best way to combat a performance would be to put on a performance of his own.

...This is actually getting interesting. "Are you suuuure you can match up to me? After my whole show?" But she is curious to see what Kayneth can do, though it's probably not SHSL standard.

"Go get your paint, paper, subject to draw, whatever. I'll be waiting, so don't you dare back out!"

"Believe me, I have no intention of disappointing or backing down," said Kayneth, starting to head towards the door --- though, not without looking over his shoulder for one last question.

"Where should I meet you, then? Somewhere less dedicated to a single purpose, I would imagine."

Where to meet... Ecruteak was big, but by no means hard to navigate. Especially with so many cultural landmarks everywhere.

"Near the Burned Tower. At the courtyard where people pass by to explore it." If he did happen to mess up, that would be the perfect place.

...actually, if she didn't have a preference, he was going to choose that himself... but that seemed like it would give her a little too much credit.

"Very well, then. I'll be there."

And so, Kayneth left the theater with every intent of making good on his challenge.

It takes a while (TOO FUCKING LONG IN HER OPINION) for him to show his face again. She's sitting in the courtyard, rather ineffective pink oil-paper umbrella shielding her from the sun.

Well? She's waiting.

He wasn't even gone that long...!

But, anyway, he arrives carrying a rucksack filled with art supplies... and a Reuniclus floating behind him carrying a canvas and a stand.

Because he knows it will annoy Saionji and he is a petty loser, he surveys the area a bit before acknowledging her... though, it is for a practical purpose. He does want to get the best angle, after all.

After looking over the courtyard, he eventually nods to the Psychic Pokemon who sets the canvas down a yard or two away from Saionji, obviously having been given some sort of telepathic command as to the best location for it.

Doesn't matter, letting her wait for even a second is unacceptable unless you have somehow earned her favor. Actually getting her to arrange meetings is already an achievement in itself.

"If you're trying to avoid my gaze out of embarrassment from shooting your mouth off, you can just say it." Still, she's not going to say anything else- Saionji is actually slightly interested in what he has to show. If anything, to make fun of it.

She's confident nothing he produces can beat her in terms of skill, though. Her umbrella is still tilted back, and she stares at the canvas and Kayneth- with her Petilil Nako coming from god knows where carrying a drink.

Well, doesn't he just feel special.

"This is a delicate process, you know. Don't distract me."

Actually, this is a pretty perfect setup. He just had to figure out a good pallet for it... maybe he should go for a bit of a pastel look. Something a little Monet might fit this nicely...

He does begin with a light sketch --- admittedly, it's a bit rougher than usual, but he already knows that this isn't going to be his best work. He has to get the maximum quality he can in a limited amount of time. He can't really say he's happy about that aspect of it, because he prefers the methodical route... but, well, keeping his subject too long would get dicey.

Sigh. She can understand that. Not that she'll respect it.

So, what kind of artpiece will it be? Watery, choppy, thick, paper thin, fragile, bulky...? What even is the paint he's using? Saionji never did much in terms of creating pictures with materials rather than her body and movements.

She sticks her neck out now and then to look. So, is he sketching the landscape?

For now, yes. There's at least the briefest outlines of the surroundings so far, and it's pretty easy to determine the shapes... but it's still really rough and vague.

Which is to be expected, if you know anything about art.

He kind of tolerates the peeking, though without breaking concentration, he gets a few words out.

"Try to stay more still, please."

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BRAND NEW ICON JUST 4 U. PRETEND SHE SHOWS HIM THE ENTIRE 20+ MIN THING

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