[ Cadence still can't bring herself to look from the stage, as frustrating and, well, almost haunting as the story is to her. She misses Clay's attentive glances in favor of fixedly watching the stage as a fellow shepherd, Damon, offers advice and encouragement for a romance anyone who's read the damn myth would know is doomed.
By the time the end of Act One comes around and the couple starts singing of the joy they've brought each other by coming together, Cadence feels like she's ready to lose it. She needs something to help ground her and grasps on to the only thing that's seemingly been able to calm her this entire damn show: Clay's hand, still resting as a soft weight on her thigh. Eyes never leaving the stage, she takes it with a small squeeze then realizes the pressure she's putting on him, what it might give away on her feelings about the play, and loosens her grip to place her joined hands back on her thigh.
She's still grasping his hand, face turned out to look at the crowd, when the curtain closes for intermission. ]
nah i find things to pick on don’t you worry— tbd if it helps.
[ Clyteus feels a long-dead tightness in his throat that he can’t pin entirely on the emotional scene below. Not that it didn’t make that emotion elucidate itself- in his mind- much more easily. A combination of the surge in passion and storytelling on the stage combined with a novel touch of pressure on his hand makes the opera’s dynamic all the more compelling to the beast. Dragons are, of course, fixated on holding and counting and possession of some treasure. In his shifted human form in particular, this makes Clay particularly tactile when it came to intimacy— and he hates it; her physical response to his simple offer of companionship in a hand makes him ache in a way that had absolutely nothing to do with his sexual interest in her.
That irritating feeling in his throat has to be literally swallowed before he will speak around something like that and look like a fool. His Adams apple moves and he instinctively loosens his hold, lifting the thumb an inch in preparation for her hand to pull up. He’s sure it will go to her purse for a trip to the restroom. It feels like the standard intermission protocol.
He looks after her face while the applause dies off- watching her continue to look to the stage a bit longer than a normal attendee would be held by a closed curtain. Clay’s lips part but he doesn’t know what to say. Whatever is happening, Cadence hasn’t experienced it before in his view. There’s such a reluctance to interrupt whatever this show has done to her.
The post-curtain reflection involved in a compelling show were the main reason he would attend. Whether they were comedic, dramatic, tragic or a combination- he enjoyed the musings on past and present life it brought to him. When/if possible, he would love nothing more than to hear another’s thoughts, if of course he found the person to likely hold interesting and critical thoughts.
And there isn’t anyone he’s met in 700 years whose opinions he would like to absorb. His hand doesn’t leave- very tenderly, he squeezes her hand in a belated return.
The dragon tries, patiently as he can, to wait- all this thought in the fleeting but awkwardly prolonged moment she remains focused upon the closed curtain. He can’t fathom what she’s feeling- but this has to be what Cadence looks like when she is… invested? Emotional? After the weeks of arguments, banter, and nights spent together, he still can’t place what this new expression is on her. ]
You sure you’ve seen this before?
[ He offers a (hopefully) light comment at last- something to snap her out of whatever reverie has captured her attention. Clay’s right hand is still holding her left upon her lap. ]
Edited (you don’t get to roll a 20 for perception, Clay) 2023-07-07 21:40 (UTC)
[ As predicted, Clay's voices breaks Cadence out of her fixed trance with a sudden start; she quickly squeezes his hand as she's startled to the present before she regains her composure and lets go completely. If she's embarrassed by her lack of self-control, she sure does a good job of keeping it off her face, although she notably doesn't meet his eyes as she speaks. ]
I have but it's been a while, it's...different from what I remember. [ Both compared to former productions and her own unfortunately sharp firsthand memory, but that's not a conversation for him (or anyone else for that matter.) ] ...The actress is more talented than I expected honestly, she conveys the emotion in the score very well. She's one of the better Galateas I've seen.
[ It’s a statement, not a question for her to rebut. His hand feels cold after the extended time it was.. permitted to hold hers. Much like Cadence, Clay uses the moment of “weakness” (it isn’t weak to feel emotion, you flighty mermaid) to try and drive something meaningful into their relationship— which he is still trying to define. As used to difficult and political conversations as he was, it was always particularly painstaking to try and probe without making her scoff, stalk out of his life, and try to ghost him (again). That coffee shop run-in was a marvelous twist of fate given a city of 18 million folks. ]
You must really enjoy this show, then. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so affected by something.
[ A pause, brief, but he dials it back a little bit so she doesn’t try to snap at him. The game he plays with her is starting to have rules defined: he bats, she catches it and throws it back harder, but he softballs back, to make her stop being so aggressive. It’s a cat-and-mouse situation he’s learned to try to keep up with her guarded, biting personality, without making her decide to stop playing.
He still isn’t sure when exactly he decided he would do what he must to keep her playing. ]
And if it is one of your favorites, I can see why you’d be hypercritical of performances.
[ The rebuttal comes sharp and harsh, coming even as a surprise to Cadence in his readily and fast it flies from her lips. She tries gathering herself but hanging around him has made her too lax, damn him, so she doesn’t completely shutter away the hurt in her eyes. ]
…I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite, or even close. Just saw it often when it was at the height of popularity.
[ Her eyes flick to him. ]
You know how it is: unoriginal paramours, all wanting to show you something “really unique and special” like they’re the first to ever discover theatre.
[ Clay pulls away infinitesimally, quickly at her rebuttal. She wasn’t the only one surprised by the ferocity; his eyes glaze with concern for a moment when he picks up something in that emotive of a response. Before he can do more than readjust, she elaborates and sends the conversation back his way. ]
Mmhm. [ His thoughts are still reeling, trying to see if he’s being hyper aware and attempting to elicit meaning where none might be. All the same, the way she says “height of popularity” makes him file away a note to see when that was. Cadence is like a Rubik’s cube he keeps turning and turning, but she won’t line up. ]
It’s hard to find something unique after a certain amount of exposure to the same shit, I’ll give you that.
[ The response has a certain thought in his mind, but he’s not sure if he wants her to pick up on it. This seems to just be his running theme with this evening. ]
[ She doesn't respond to his own double entendre; instead, her eyes flick back to the seats below them to watch the audience members start filing back to their seats. As much as Cadence wants to bolt from the concert hall and run from him, this stupid show, all of it, she is nothing if not stubborn.
He's already seen her squirm enough, he won't get more of a show from her. ]
[ Clay can be thick, but takes the hint at her attempt to escape, not even doing his usual ass-kissing (and, he reminds himself for his own sake, to keep control) offer to go get it for her. Quickly thinking, he tries to ensure that she will return and not run from the theater. The arm over her chair stays over her coat and he responds with a request. ]
Go now then; I think they stop adding to the ordering line once intermission is over.
[ He quirks a smile, knowing her even at this point to be capable of being… well, Cadence. She’s a horrific partner all things considered. And calling her that is in itself dicey. They’re on the books for dates but it’s hardly a relationship besides one for business besides that. ]
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i had nothing good to say, she's so tense right now sorry;;
By the time the end of Act One comes around and the couple starts singing of the joy they've brought each other by coming together, Cadence feels like she's ready to lose it. She needs something to help ground her and grasps on to the only thing that's seemingly been able to calm her this entire damn show: Clay's hand, still resting as a soft weight on her thigh. Eyes never leaving the stage, she takes it with a small squeeze then realizes the pressure she's putting on him, what it might give away on her feelings about the play, and loosens her grip to place her joined hands back on her thigh.
She's still grasping his hand, face turned out to look at the crowd, when the curtain closes for intermission. ]
nah i find things to pick on don’t you worry— tbd if it helps.
That irritating feeling in his throat has to be literally swallowed before he will speak around something like that and look like a fool. His Adams apple moves and he instinctively loosens his hold, lifting the thumb an inch in preparation for her hand to pull up. He’s sure it will go to her purse for a trip to the restroom. It feels like the standard intermission protocol.
He looks after her face while the applause dies off- watching her continue to look to the stage a bit longer than a normal attendee would be held by a closed curtain. Clay’s lips part but he doesn’t know what to say. Whatever is happening, Cadence hasn’t experienced it before in his view. There’s such a reluctance to interrupt whatever this show has done to her.
The post-curtain reflection involved in a compelling show were the main reason he would attend. Whether they were comedic, dramatic, tragic or a combination- he enjoyed the musings on past and present life it brought to him. When/if possible, he would love nothing more than to hear another’s thoughts, if of course he found the person to likely hold interesting and critical thoughts.
And there isn’t anyone he’s met in 700 years whose opinions he would like to absorb. His hand doesn’t leave- very tenderly, he squeezes her hand in a belated return.
The dragon tries, patiently as he can, to wait- all this thought in the fleeting but awkwardly prolonged moment she remains focused upon the closed curtain. He can’t fathom what she’s feeling- but this has to be what Cadence looks like when she is… invested? Emotional? After the weeks of arguments, banter, and nights spent together, he still can’t place what this new expression is on her. ]
You sure you’ve seen this before?
[ He offers a (hopefully) light comment at last- something to snap her out of whatever reverie has captured her attention. Clay’s right hand is still holding her left upon her lap. ]
no subject
I have but it's been a while, it's...different from what I remember. [ Both compared to former productions and her own unfortunately sharp firsthand memory, but that's not a conversation for him (or anyone else for that matter.) ] ...The actress is more talented than I expected honestly, she conveys the emotion in the score very well. She's one of the better Galateas I've seen.
no subject
[ It’s a statement, not a question for her to rebut. His hand feels cold after the extended time it was.. permitted to hold hers. Much like Cadence, Clay uses the moment of “weakness” (
it isn’t weak to feel emotion, you flighty mermaid) to try and drive something meaningful into their relationship— which he is still trying to define. As used to difficult and political conversations as he was, it was always particularly painstaking to try and probe without making her scoff, stalk out of his life, and try to ghost him (again). That coffee shop run-in was a marvelous twist of fate given a city of 18 million folks. ]You must really enjoy this show, then. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so affected by something.
[ A pause, brief, but he dials it back a little bit so she doesn’t try to snap at him. The game he plays with her is starting to have rules defined: he bats, she catches it and throws it back harder, but he softballs back, to make her stop being so aggressive. It’s a cat-and-mouse situation he’s learned to try to keep up with her guarded, biting personality, without making her decide to stop playing.
He still isn’t sure when exactly he decided he would do what he must to keep her playing. ]
And if it is one of your favorites, I can see why you’d be hypercritical of performances.
no subject
[ The rebuttal comes sharp and harsh, coming even as a surprise to Cadence in his readily and fast it flies from her lips. She tries gathering herself but hanging around him has made her too lax, damn him, so she doesn’t completely shutter away the hurt in her eyes. ]
…I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite, or even close. Just saw it often when it was at the height of popularity.
[ Her eyes flick to him. ]
You know how it is: unoriginal paramours, all wanting to show you something “really unique and special” like they’re the first to ever discover theatre.
no subject
Mmhm. [ His thoughts are still reeling, trying to see if he’s being hyper aware and attempting to elicit meaning where none might be. All the same, the way she says “height of popularity” makes him file away a note to see when that was. Cadence is like a Rubik’s cube he keeps turning and turning, but she won’t line up. ]
It’s hard to find something unique after a certain amount of exposure to the same shit, I’ll give you that.
[ The response has a certain thought in his mind, but he’s not sure if he wants her to pick up on it. This seems to just be his running theme with this evening. ]
no subject
He's already seen her squirm enough, he won't get more of a show from her. ]
...I want a drink. Have they closed the bar yet?
stubborn is as stubborn does
Go now then; I think they stop adding to the ordering line once intermission is over.
[ He quirks a smile, knowing her even at this point to be capable of being… well, Cadence. She’s a horrific partner all things considered. And calling her that is in itself dicey. They’re on the books for dates but it’s hardly a relationship besides one for business besides that. ]
Can I trouble you for an old fashioned?