Forget this smile of mine...(anyone)

[valekin]

"About as old and as dead as the drama department of this school. It's all costumes and theater equipment. That's all. They probably have a few vintage dresses or something for those Shakespearean plays. But that'll probably be it."

He strode over to a table and ran his finger across it, picking up a thick layer of dust. He scowled and wiped it off on his pants.

"And it's obvious no one has bothered to clean the room in ages. You must not have allergies, this place is a bit disgusting. Even if it's the only secluded room in the school."

[Jenna Scorn]

"About as old and as dead as the drama department of this school"

A small huff escaped form her lips, and now as her finger's sifted through the content of the box she'd give a small glance to Valekin.

"Shame, I wouldn't mind taking a Drama. Maybe then I'd actually come to school."

"It's all costumes and theater equipment. That's all. They probably have a few vintage dresses or something for those Shakespearean plays. But that'll probably be it."

"Ooohhh! I'll have to snatch some...don't think anyone will miss it!"

Now, pulling out a sting of pearls, letting them dangle from her index finger as she blinked her eyes and brought them closer to get a better look.

Fake no doubt, but she'd keep them anyways.
Now pulling them over her head and letting them fall about her neck.


"And it's obvious no one has bothered to clean the room in ages. You must not have allergies, this place is a bit disgusting. Even if it's the only secluded room in the school."

"The dust used to bother me, but now it's only a slight nuisance."

She stood, dusting off her knee's and turning to the side to inspect another crate.
Picking off the top and tossing it tot he side and now she'd stand on her tip toe's to get a better look inside.

"So, are you one for theater?"

Looking over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of the man eater.

[valekin]

"Theatre? I love theatre, love to watch it that is. Though I wouldn't mind a hand in making a production. I'm not familiar in what the people of this country like to preform. Something disgusting and degrading I suppose."

He stalked over to a different box, and pried it open. It seems he found the Shakespearean dresses. Some very beautiful dresses, though he didn't exactly like the frills and things. But there was the one purple one, with the visible corset front and less frills than usual.

"I've found the dresses."

He said, lifting out the one he liked, to drape it over his arm and show the thing off.

"I like all forms of... classical entertainment."

[Jenna Scorn]

"Theatre? I love theatre, love to watch it that is. Though I wouldn't mind a hand in making a production. I'm not familiar in what the people of this country like to preform. Something disgusting and degrading I suppose."

A quick glance at Valekin, a small grin in his direction before going back to the box and pulling out yet another pearl necklace.

A small huff of air as she found an old book and would quickly flip through the pages.
Stopping a moment to idle over a picture, obviously from Romeo and Juliet.

"Kabuki, is always nice! And Takarazuka!"

She'd let the book slip from her fingers and turn towards him, leaning against the boxes behind her.

"Have you ever heard of Takarazuka? My father took me to see the Takarazuka Revue of Phantom of The Opera and Great Gatsby....But Phantom of The Opera...was simlpy beautiful!"

A small sigh, turning towards the box again and sifting through the goodies.

"There's just something about the bright lights, the way they always looked so graceful...Ever since I was little I wanted to be a Takarazuka girl."

"I've found the dresses."

"OOh!"

Peeking over at Valekin and quickly clearing the space between the two of them. First, letting her fingers work from the hem at the skirt of the dress and now letting pink nails graze over the corset.

"So pretty!"

[valekin]

"Quite. I like this one. There are some very frilly ones in there. I don't like the frills. They're... frilly."

If you were in his head, you'd understand his logic. I swear it.

Fortunately you aren't in his head, otherwise it'd be like a sliding board into a pool of burning petroleum that will drag you all the way down until existence ceases. Everything would be made so clear to everyone else all at once. And you'd still be lost as to how he affected you, or afflicted rather.

"Too bad this school doesn't support a drama department."

[Jenna Scorn]

"Quite. I like this one. There are some very frilly ones in there. I don't like the frills. They're... frilly."

She'd laugh, now taking the garment from him.
Letting those fingers fall over the delicate fabric, and now the corset.

Looking up at Valekin now with a small smile.

"I like frills. Thank you very much."

Now, she'd inspect the dress further, holding it up to herself, letting her fingers run along the seams.


"Too bad this school doesn't support a drama department."

"I know, it's sad. Think there's anything we can do about it?"

She thought of Hiroko-san, he was a teacher after all.
An open minded one at that, maybe he could help them?

"Think it'll fit?"

Referring to the dress now as she held it up to herself.

[valekin]

"Probably, they usually design the dresses to fit anyone and everyone. That way they don't have to buy the same costume over and over and over again. It would be a waste of money."

Valekin stepped around the boxes, and flipped open a container, nothing out of the ordinary. Just your usual props and such. Little toy swords and the like. It had been so long since he had actually held a sword.

"We? I don't think I'd be very welcome to any school productions. Maniacs aren't really welcome anywhere anyway."

[Jenna Scorn]

"Probably, they usually design the dresses to fit anyone and everyone. That way they don't have to buy the same costume over and over and over again. It would be a waste of money."

A small nod, and now she was inspecting the seams near the corset itself with those blue eyes.
Finger's idling over the stitches.

"It looks a bit big for me, but I can take it in a little!"

She was rather excited, and she'd peer at him, to the left and right of him, looking for more dresses of course.

"We? I don't think I'd be very welcome to any school productions. Maniacs aren't really welcome anywhere anyway."

She laughed.

"Your not a maniac, silly."

Glancing up at him before gently setting the dress to the side.

"You eat people."

A small shrug.

"Big deal..."

Now, turning to the side.
Still looking for more dresses.

Yes, eating people was a big deal.
But it didn't bother Calamity anymore.
It would seem that 259 was filled with the odds and ends of every personality imaginable.
No one was perfect, even herself.

"And besides, you don't think it would be fun to stand up on a stage in front of a large crowed?"

Looking over her shoulder at him.

"The lights shining down on your face, the crowed hanging off your every word..."

Now looking back towards a dress as she pulled it into her hands, letting her index finger run along a few of the stitches.

"...I think it'd be glorious."

[valekin]

"Hmmm possibly. being in front of a crowd on stage isn't that bad really. Especially on these stages with all these lights and things. You can't see anything beyond the stage, because the theatre is dark. Just like at night, when you look out your window from your well lit room."

Oh dear, she had inadvertently triggered a walk down memory lane. Right now he was barely turning into that particular street. Valekin picked up one of the fake swords. The replica of a rapier, good for scratching your foe, and piercing. Heavy emphasis on the piercing aspect. This was made of plastic, but well shaped and colored.

"Well I'm glad you've gotten over my.. eccentricy."

He snapped his wrist at a nearby lamp that was missing a bulb. They must have used that as a prop as well. Houses needed lamps, yes? The snap made the thing wobble, even though the fake sword was made from plastic.

"Last time I was in any kind of performance, I was sealed up in a suit of armor, only around fourteen years old. It was polished to a high sheen before the match, and my longsword was sharpened the night before. Some poor schmuck was shoved into the ring with me. He was a criminal, a rapist or something. I didn't know what his crime was."

He took a high guard in the middle of the room, spreading his legs to shoulder width apart, and keeping the fake rapier straight above him. Of course, this wasn't what the weapon was made for. It was made for scratching and stabbing. He was wielding it like a longsword.

"They gave him a longsword, and no armor. The deal was, that if he could defeat me, he'd go free. He attacked.... and I had riposte."

He mimed the slash the man threw at him, a clumsy, vertical strike meant to bisect Valekin. Then he mimed his own riposte, tilting the fake weapon down to the earth, spinning slowly, forcing the invisible weapon from the enemy to be blocked and forced off, overextending the criminal. Then came the downward slash, that had cut the air diagonally, from right to left.

"Then he died, looking at me like a criminal would, with hate filled eyes. The crowd cheered, especially the women. Who had been in fear of him for weeks."

He smiled, and put down the fake sword on a box. The maniac sighed.

"In my hometown, I'm the champion of all the women. They always called on me to protect them when things got ugly."

[Jenna Scorn]

"Hmmm possibly. being in front of a crowd on stage isn't that bad really. Especially on these stages with all these lights and things. You can't see anything beyond the stage, because the theatre is dark. Just like at night, when you look out your window from your well lit room."


Looking over at Valekin, those eyes blinking softly at him like they had many times before. Ya see, she had meant just to give him a very small smile, and she was ready to go on with her business. Letting her fingers gently fold the dress Valekin had presented to her so she could rest it within her backpack, but Valekin had ceased these movements within her.

"Well I'm glad you've gotten over my.. eccentricy."

“…Me too.”

A soft whisper.

She had noticed his own movements, taking the sword up into his hands. She halted, her head slowly falling to the side, almost as a curious little puppy would do. A few strands of hair fell in her face, and she was too busy to bat them away, she was eyeing Valekin, eying him curiously.


"Last time I was in any kind of performance, I was sealed up in a suit of armor, only around fourteen years old.”

Armor?

He had her attention now.
And as he spoke, she was hanging from his words, gripping tightly. Her lips slowly curling into a smile as she stopped, listened, and watched.


"They gave him a longsword, and no armor. The deal was, that if he could defeat me, he'd go free. He attacked.... and I had riposte."

And as Valekin continued with his story, she’d lean against a crate. Those blue eyes fixed on him, watching him ever si closely.

"Then he died, looking at me like a criminal would, with hate filled eyes.”

Calamity’s browse furrowed.
Wondering to herself on what sort of look a criminal would give, and as she dwelled on the matter an image of Thrush would flash before her eyes.

‘whoze afraid of ze big bad wolf?’

Now, shaking her head, trying to stir that image from he rbrain she’d rest her eyes on Valekin again.


“The crowd cheered, especially the women. Who had been in fear of him for weeks."

“Heh, oh I bet!”

"In my hometown, I'm the champion of all the women. They always called on me to protect them when things got ugly."

With his sigh, her own smile faded.
Valekin almost looked, saddened.

Why wouldn't I be any different?

“Valekin…”

She licked her lower lip as she reached out to softly touch his shoulder.

“If it helps any… I.”

Something inside of her cringed, and she’d glance off to the side and now was gesturing towards the sword he had so easily put down, changing the subject, as she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

“Think you’d be great in theater!!!”

Beaming at him, a grin plastered upon her lips as she let her hand fall from his shoulder.

“You’d make a dashing Romeo!”

[valekin]

"Dashing eh? You think I'd be good in theatre? I'm no good at acting in a drama sense. All I know is the court, and my training. Those things tell me how to act. Etiquette, and war. Not sure if that would help in Shakespearean endeavors."

He wasn't sure at all. All his life people have taught him how to act, and now he had so much freedom. The only ties he had were to Kate, and to revenge. And one Mishka Vemanov was dead, he had one less red string attached to him.

"I guess I wouldn't mind it, but I have so much more freedom now. I'm not about to shackle myself to some director."

He wasn't mean about it, it was just his logic. He didn't like it when people told him what to do, he was used to being in charge. Lieutenant Valekin Von Kaluskov, before Baron Valekin Von Kaluskov.

[Jenna Scorn]

"Dashing eh? You think I'd be good in theater? I'm no good at acting in a drama sense. All I know is the court, and my training. Those things tell me how to act. Etiquette, and war. Not sure if that would help in Shakespearean endeavors."

A small shake of her head.


"I guess I wouldn't mind it, but I have so much more freedom now. I'm not about to shackle myself to some director."

He didn't get it.
Would he ever?

Probably not.

She smiled to him, giving a small nod and letting her fingertips run along one of the dusted crates.

"It's not about that, its about making others happy."

She swallowed, looking up at Valekin.

"It's the feeling that swells up inside of you when you make them laugh...or cry. It's the power you have, to make them cry, shed tears, and actually believe... that at that very instant, what your saying is real...almost..."

She'd stop now.
Now, it was her turn to sigh.

"Back in the day, theater was believed to be the work of the devil."

Licking her lower lip.

"And I always got some sort of satisfaction out of that. Knowing that what I was doing was a sin in God's eyes. But it didn't matter, because making those people laugh...I didn't care if it was wrong. Because it felt so right."

[valekin]

"I didn't look at it that way. It seems to give off a bit of power, da? Kinda like pressing a gun to someone's forehead, it'll either make them laugh, or cry. Most of the time they cry though, it's rather annoying."

She didn't cry when he had a gun to her though, no. She had a panic attack, and could feel the power he was giving off at that time. Pressing down on her like thousands of pounds of steel. So heavy, and so hard to move. She wasn't able to breathe then, not until he got off the subject, and reinstated the subject a moment later.

"You always have to do what feels right. I know what you mean. When I kill those that stand in my why, it's because I can't let them stop me, because I still have to avenge some family. I won't let a soul stop me, until those premature deaths are righted."

[Jenna Scorn]

"I didn't look at it that way. It seems to give off a bit of power, da? Kinda like pressing a gun to someone's forehead, it'll either make them laugh, or cry. Most of the time they cry though, it's rather annoying."

Looking over at him, those blue eyes almost narrowing at him as he spoke but now shaking her head.

Why did she waste her time with him?

Why?

She didn't know anymore.

Maybe it was because he was strong, and powerful.
And she hoped to be embraced by such a thing, considering she herself was weak.

Thats why she admired Winters, he was strong.


"You always have to do what feels right. I know what you mean. When I kill those that stand in my why, it's because I can't let them stop me, because I still have to avenge some family. I won't let a soul stop me, until those premature deaths are righted."

Swallowing, her chest almost coming tight.
But she'd shake the feeling, letting her palm gently smack against a crate.

"Valekin...How do I become strong? Like you?!"

[valekin]

"How? That's the first time I've been asked. How does one become strong like me..."

He thought on it, looking over his life briefly. He was desensitized when it came to killing at an early age. Trained not to think, just act. Questions, and thinking can take place later. So much blood, a cycle of hatred and revenge. A country torn apart by internal strife. People screaming in the night, and it was already too late to help them.

He thought about it for long moments. His first duel, the duel in the pit, the sniping missions. Full frontal assaults. Full scale war. Retreat. Special operations training. The missions. Suicide charges, close quarters encounters. All the terrible things he had done.

From making a cereal bowl out of a man's skull, to carving symbols in people's necks.

He had caused a great deal of pain, and suffering. All in the name of God, and all in the name of Genocide.

All in the name of revenge.

He was only the way he was because of his past. All of it was a stroke of luck, at any of those encounters with the enemy he could have been killed.

"To be like me. Your life has to be a living hell."

Then?

And then?

"Then you have to snap, and kill a few people without a cause."

What else?

There has to be more.

"Jump into a cycle of revenge."

Why are you telling her, Falcon?

"And commit to victory. As there is nothing else."

Shut up Falcon.

"You don't want to be strong like me. I'm not a good role model. I don't think anyone else is capable of surviving what I have been through. Made to suffer, and cause suffering. I guess."