Victor and Tessa, backdated to 19/04/2013
Apr. 19th, 2013 04:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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om_mainTessa checks in to make sure Victor's coping with the pressures of the play.
Dress rehearsals were fast-approaching, and Tessa, in her role as assistant director, had every intention of ensuring that all elements were as close to optimal as was feasible. While Pietro had undertaken the project in fun, she seemed to view the upcoming performance more as a military operation, to be executed with decisiveness and precision. It had lent more than a touch of the autocratic to her approach to the various duties she had been allocated, but that seemed to her a necessary balance to Pietro's more laissez-faire style of direction.
Now. All props had been accounted for and were properly stored. Costume fittings were ninety-eight point seven percent complete; only minor patching and hemming was now required. Set pieces were ready. Blocking had been finalized. Scripts memorized. Scenes practiced and practiced again.
The only thing remaining was to assess the state of mind of the cast, beginning with those in leading roles. Which was what brought her to Victor's door, clipboard in hand, at a time she was certain his roommate would be elsewhere. While her affection for Pietro was not in question, his was technically the senior position in their current relationship. That meant she preferred not to publicly critique his decisions, when possible.
Naturally, the most expedient way to do that was to keep him as far from all tasks of measurable significance as possible.
She rapped smartly on the door.
When Victor answered the door, it was with his script in-hand. He’d been running lines with himself as a way to relax.
"Oh hey Tessa, Pietro isn't here." He told her helpfully as he smiled up at her. He liked Tessa well enough, it was just her social calls were usually for his room-mate.
"Indeed," she agreed. "I am not here to see Pietro; I have come to speak with you. If you've a moment?"
”Oh right, well uh come on in there.” It didn’t take lon to recover from the surprise of the information, with a smile Victor stepped back and held the door open for her. His parents had taught him manners after all.
She swept into the room without need for further encouragement, eyes taking in the familiar surroundings at a glance and cataloging a few minor changes that had occurred since her last visit before returning to Victor. "Thank you," she said, then drummed her fingers quickly along the side of her clipboard. "How would you appraise your current level of readiness with regard to the forthcoming performance?"
The direct approach was typically best, in her experience.
"Uh, well, you know, getting there." Despite the fact that Tessa always seemed pretty abrupt Victor could never quite get used to it. "I know my lines and spots and cues, it's just not forgetting it all in a blind panic that's the trick. I think anyway." And if he could stopped dreaming about angry dead playwrights heckling him then that would be wonderful too.
Then a worry flashed through him, was he the only one being checked on? "Why do you ask? Are you concerned? Did I do something wrong?"
With a shake of her head, Tessa made a quick notation on her clipboard. "Not at all. And no, you are not the only one being checked on; I deemed it prudent to ascertain the preparedness of all our principal performers. As you say," she continued, "knowing your lines and blocking is only part of it. You must also find the control to master any irrational flight-or-fight response that may arise due to the stress of performing before your peers and instructors."
A pause, then, "I know that Pietro desires this to be an entertaining diversion for all concerned. But I suspect he has been making an amusing spectacle of himself for so long that he no longer quite remembers the sensation of what those in the field call 'opening night jitters'. Taking action myself seemed the most expedient thing."
"Oh yeah I know jitters, I've been in plays before. So long as they're used well they can be a good thing, feeds the energy on stage and makes everything, like, magic. I've seen it before. With other people of course. Plus, worrying shows you care about what you're doing, right?" Victor nodded as he lent back against his desk. Dead set on reassuring her, he couldn’t have the assistant director thinking he was cracking up under the pressure after all. "I guess I'm worrying a bit but I don't think I'm over-worrying really. Pietro always thinks differently though."
"Pietro tends to think many things simultaneously. I tend to view worry as a futile expenditure of energy, personally, but I am acquainted with the theatre practice of channelling anxiety into one's performance. In any event, your current mental state falls within acceptable margins of deviation for this point in time." She might feel obliged to check on him again closer to opening night, but there was no need to divulge that; these evaluations were more effective when they came as a surprise. "And how would you qualify the preparedness of your fellow actors?"
"Erm. I don't really think it's my place to judge, is it?" That was the director's concern and, to be honest, Victor didn't have any huge misgivings anyway really. Everyone was working hard and taking rehearsals seriously and although lines still weren't totally learnt by everyone there was still time and Victor had already told a few people he was very willing to do extra one on one sessions if they wanted/needed it. "I don't want to presume to do your job for you."
She scrawled another shorthand note into the margin of the topmost sheet on the clipboard with quick, precise strokes. "It is no presumption if the feedback is solicited," Tessa countered. "And you are certainly more familiar with performing than either Pietro or I are with directing. I judge by your reticence that you are reasonably satisfied your cast-mates will be prepared when the time comes." That was sufficient. For the time being.
Tessa tucked the clipboard under her arm. "You are otherwise well, I trust? We have had little occasion for direct conversation in some time. I would not wish for you to think my interest is confined strictly to matters pertaining to our respective functions in the play."
"Basically, yeah. Since that talkwe had I went and chatted to Simon to find out more about my new body. Found out some new skills and basically been throwing myself into the play." Well, it helped him move on from hurting over the Tommy fiasco anyway. Though it still sucked to know that no one would ever want to date a lizard, at least he wasn't hurting too bad anymore. "How about you? What've you been up to, I basically only really see you at rehearsals or, you know, leaving here sometimes…"
The spike of self-deprecation did not go undetected, but Tessa had become used to it, when dealing with certain of the students, and let it pass without comment. Instead, she said, "It is good, I think, that you have found productive activities with which to keep yourself occupied--particularly as pertains to the development of your gifts. I have been similarly engaged in several concurrent projects, some of which are confidential, and others that I speculate you would not find interesting beyond passing curiosity. But the majority of my efforts are geared toward monitoring significant events outside the Institute, and ensuring the secrecy and security of the Institute to the best of my ability."
With occasional breaks to re-affirm her congenial attachment to her closer friends. But Victor was obviously already aware of that.
It took him a second to catch up, he always found he was learning new big words from the Tessa speak but it could be jarring to adjust to her speech patterns too. Always interesting though. "It's good you do that, and it's appreciated for sure." He sort of tried and Pietro made sure he was informed too but at the end of the day he was a 14 year old boy and it was at times hard to look beyond his own problems at the bigger picture. It was good people were though, people other than the headmasters.
Tessa gave Victor a look that was more than typically difficult to read, then said, "Thank you. It is gratifying to know that one's efforts are appreciated. And thank you, as well, for indulging my curiosity."
"No problem, not like it was at all intrusive or personal, right?" Victor flashed a grin at her. "Thanks for worrying but, yeah, I'm good. Just normal nerves and all so I reckon I'll be fine. So long as the directors are happy with my performance." Of course Pietro had already said he thought Victor's standards for himself were stricter than his own but Victor figured it was necessary to push himself anyway.
She considered correcting his apparent misapprehension of her motives, but soon discarded the notion; 'worry', as such, hadn't really entered into her calculus in any significant way--Tessa merely acted as prudence dictated, as ever. But the distinction was a minor one, and so not worth the exertion of noting. Instead, she said, "I will be satisfied as long as you put forth your best effort. Pietro's standards for you are even more relaxed. The most important consideration, however, is that you be satisfied with yourself."
It could, after all, be argued that this was the entire point of the exercise.
"That's what I'm aiming for." He nodded back. "I've never played a starring role before so I want to show everyone what I can do and hopefully they'll be impressed..."
"I am confident you will achieve whatever objective you set yourself, in this regard. I have observed nothing in previous rehearsals to lead me to conclude your performance would fail to impress any but the most negatively biased critic."
Tessa speak or not, Victor knew a compliment when he was given one. Smiling brightly he said quickly "Thanks Tessa!" especially since she didn't seem the sort to say something like that if she didn't really mean it.
Dress rehearsals were fast-approaching, and Tessa, in her role as assistant director, had every intention of ensuring that all elements were as close to optimal as was feasible. While Pietro had undertaken the project in fun, she seemed to view the upcoming performance more as a military operation, to be executed with decisiveness and precision. It had lent more than a touch of the autocratic to her approach to the various duties she had been allocated, but that seemed to her a necessary balance to Pietro's more laissez-faire style of direction.
Now. All props had been accounted for and were properly stored. Costume fittings were ninety-eight point seven percent complete; only minor patching and hemming was now required. Set pieces were ready. Blocking had been finalized. Scripts memorized. Scenes practiced and practiced again.
The only thing remaining was to assess the state of mind of the cast, beginning with those in leading roles. Which was what brought her to Victor's door, clipboard in hand, at a time she was certain his roommate would be elsewhere. While her affection for Pietro was not in question, his was technically the senior position in their current relationship. That meant she preferred not to publicly critique his decisions, when possible.
Naturally, the most expedient way to do that was to keep him as far from all tasks of measurable significance as possible.
She rapped smartly on the door.
When Victor answered the door, it was with his script in-hand. He’d been running lines with himself as a way to relax.
"Oh hey Tessa, Pietro isn't here." He told her helpfully as he smiled up at her. He liked Tessa well enough, it was just her social calls were usually for his room-mate.
"Indeed," she agreed. "I am not here to see Pietro; I have come to speak with you. If you've a moment?"
”Oh right, well uh come on in there.” It didn’t take lon to recover from the surprise of the information, with a smile Victor stepped back and held the door open for her. His parents had taught him manners after all.
She swept into the room without need for further encouragement, eyes taking in the familiar surroundings at a glance and cataloging a few minor changes that had occurred since her last visit before returning to Victor. "Thank you," she said, then drummed her fingers quickly along the side of her clipboard. "How would you appraise your current level of readiness with regard to the forthcoming performance?"
The direct approach was typically best, in her experience.
"Uh, well, you know, getting there." Despite the fact that Tessa always seemed pretty abrupt Victor could never quite get used to it. "I know my lines and spots and cues, it's just not forgetting it all in a blind panic that's the trick. I think anyway." And if he could stopped dreaming about angry dead playwrights heckling him then that would be wonderful too.
Then a worry flashed through him, was he the only one being checked on? "Why do you ask? Are you concerned? Did I do something wrong?"
With a shake of her head, Tessa made a quick notation on her clipboard. "Not at all. And no, you are not the only one being checked on; I deemed it prudent to ascertain the preparedness of all our principal performers. As you say," she continued, "knowing your lines and blocking is only part of it. You must also find the control to master any irrational flight-or-fight response that may arise due to the stress of performing before your peers and instructors."
A pause, then, "I know that Pietro desires this to be an entertaining diversion for all concerned. But I suspect he has been making an amusing spectacle of himself for so long that he no longer quite remembers the sensation of what those in the field call 'opening night jitters'. Taking action myself seemed the most expedient thing."
"Oh yeah I know jitters, I've been in plays before. So long as they're used well they can be a good thing, feeds the energy on stage and makes everything, like, magic. I've seen it before. With other people of course. Plus, worrying shows you care about what you're doing, right?" Victor nodded as he lent back against his desk. Dead set on reassuring her, he couldn’t have the assistant director thinking he was cracking up under the pressure after all. "I guess I'm worrying a bit but I don't think I'm over-worrying really. Pietro always thinks differently though."
"Pietro tends to think many things simultaneously. I tend to view worry as a futile expenditure of energy, personally, but I am acquainted with the theatre practice of channelling anxiety into one's performance. In any event, your current mental state falls within acceptable margins of deviation for this point in time." She might feel obliged to check on him again closer to opening night, but there was no need to divulge that; these evaluations were more effective when they came as a surprise. "And how would you qualify the preparedness of your fellow actors?"
"Erm. I don't really think it's my place to judge, is it?" That was the director's concern and, to be honest, Victor didn't have any huge misgivings anyway really. Everyone was working hard and taking rehearsals seriously and although lines still weren't totally learnt by everyone there was still time and Victor had already told a few people he was very willing to do extra one on one sessions if they wanted/needed it. "I don't want to presume to do your job for you."
She scrawled another shorthand note into the margin of the topmost sheet on the clipboard with quick, precise strokes. "It is no presumption if the feedback is solicited," Tessa countered. "And you are certainly more familiar with performing than either Pietro or I are with directing. I judge by your reticence that you are reasonably satisfied your cast-mates will be prepared when the time comes." That was sufficient. For the time being.
Tessa tucked the clipboard under her arm. "You are otherwise well, I trust? We have had little occasion for direct conversation in some time. I would not wish for you to think my interest is confined strictly to matters pertaining to our respective functions in the play."
"Basically, yeah. Since that talkwe had I went and chatted to Simon to find out more about my new body. Found out some new skills and basically been throwing myself into the play." Well, it helped him move on from hurting over the Tommy fiasco anyway. Though it still sucked to know that no one would ever want to date a lizard, at least he wasn't hurting too bad anymore. "How about you? What've you been up to, I basically only really see you at rehearsals or, you know, leaving here sometimes…"
The spike of self-deprecation did not go undetected, but Tessa had become used to it, when dealing with certain of the students, and let it pass without comment. Instead, she said, "It is good, I think, that you have found productive activities with which to keep yourself occupied--particularly as pertains to the development of your gifts. I have been similarly engaged in several concurrent projects, some of which are confidential, and others that I speculate you would not find interesting beyond passing curiosity. But the majority of my efforts are geared toward monitoring significant events outside the Institute, and ensuring the secrecy and security of the Institute to the best of my ability."
With occasional breaks to re-affirm her congenial attachment to her closer friends. But Victor was obviously already aware of that.
It took him a second to catch up, he always found he was learning new big words from the Tessa speak but it could be jarring to adjust to her speech patterns too. Always interesting though. "It's good you do that, and it's appreciated for sure." He sort of tried and Pietro made sure he was informed too but at the end of the day he was a 14 year old boy and it was at times hard to look beyond his own problems at the bigger picture. It was good people were though, people other than the headmasters.
Tessa gave Victor a look that was more than typically difficult to read, then said, "Thank you. It is gratifying to know that one's efforts are appreciated. And thank you, as well, for indulging my curiosity."
"No problem, not like it was at all intrusive or personal, right?" Victor flashed a grin at her. "Thanks for worrying but, yeah, I'm good. Just normal nerves and all so I reckon I'll be fine. So long as the directors are happy with my performance." Of course Pietro had already said he thought Victor's standards for himself were stricter than his own but Victor figured it was necessary to push himself anyway.
She considered correcting his apparent misapprehension of her motives, but soon discarded the notion; 'worry', as such, hadn't really entered into her calculus in any significant way--Tessa merely acted as prudence dictated, as ever. But the distinction was a minor one, and so not worth the exertion of noting. Instead, she said, "I will be satisfied as long as you put forth your best effort. Pietro's standards for you are even more relaxed. The most important consideration, however, is that you be satisfied with yourself."
It could, after all, be argued that this was the entire point of the exercise.
"That's what I'm aiming for." He nodded back. "I've never played a starring role before so I want to show everyone what I can do and hopefully they'll be impressed..."
"I am confident you will achieve whatever objective you set yourself, in this regard. I have observed nothing in previous rehearsals to lead me to conclude your performance would fail to impress any but the most negatively biased critic."
Tessa speak or not, Victor knew a compliment when he was given one. Smiling brightly he said quickly "Thanks Tessa!" especially since she didn't seem the sort to say something like that if she didn't really mean it.
