#// hope u enjoy the banju crumbs
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if at first you don't succeed - (BanJu)
"Okay, everyone settle down." Izumi's voice somehow manages to quiet the clamor that had erupted the minute that Juza and Banri walked into the practice room.
The rest of the company is all there, under Sakyo's orders, a (mostly) captive audience waiting to see the events of the evening unfold.
The actors are all sitting, arranged in a ring around the edge of the room. A few of them chatter to each other as their director reviews her notes.
"So tonight will be a special practice. We'll be rehearsing a scene with Juza and Banri, which will be filmed and posted at the end of the session."
At these words, more chatter breaks out form the crew, each of them speculating about the elephant in the room.
Sakuya raises his hand.
"Yes, Sakuya?" Izumi points to him briefly with her pencil.
"Isn't it also special because it's a kiss scene?" He asks, his eyes alight with excitement, completely unaware of how much rage those simple words ignite in his fellow leader and star of the scene.
Izumi sighs a little wearily, only imagining the level of difficulty that this rehearsal will bring. "Yes, Sakuya. That's also special."
"Learning how to kiss someone for a scene is nothing to be ashamed of," Tsumugi chimes in. "It's an important skill for a well-rounded actor to have."
Sakyo nods in approval. "Not only that, but getting into the mindset of a character with a different orientation than yourself is an excellent test of both skill and character." He shoots a sharp look in Banri's direction. "All characters should be played with care and intention, but stories of representation are especially important."
Sakyo looks around at all the faces of the budding actors around him. "You never know who might become strengthened by your performance. Someone may take away a feeling of belonging where before they felt isolated." He adjusts his glasses matter of factly. "Our job is to touch the hearts of our audience. If we can achieve that, then we know that the perfomance was a success."
At this, he looks to Banri again. "You will have not only us as your audience, but all of our fans as well. They will all be observing your performance, from all walks of life. You need to touch their hearts and put on a respectful and convincing performance."
With this, he walks around to sit beside Izumi, observing both Banri and Juza carefully. "You'll need to stretch that muscle of empathy that's been left dormant for so long, Settsu."
Banri grits his teeth. He's already sick of this scene, and they haven't even started yet.
"Thank you, Sakyo. Tsuzuru, could you give them their scripts?" Izumi asks, beginning a header for her notes.
Tsuzuru gladly obliges, and begins to explain the premise. "So, this scene is about rogue space travellers, who are harbouring secret feelings for one another. When their ship starts to have problems, it gives them an opportunity to confess."
Juza and Banri both flip through the script. Banri cringes as he reads the dialogue. This is what he's supposed to say to Hyodo? Ugh. This stuff is so sappy. The last lines nearly make him gag. 'We're a constellation?' Why doesn't someone just put him out of his misery?
He looks over to catch a glimpse of Hyodo's reaction, but he's stoic as ever. Juza nods once or twice. He doesn't seem fazed by the dialogue at all. "My character is part cyborg?" He asks Tsuzuru, who nods.
"Yeah, Tim covers the technical parts of the ship." He explains, then glances to Banri. "And Jal covers the mechanical parts. He ran a repair shop on their home planet, so he's good at fixing things."
Banri gives a huff in response.
Izumi claps her hands. "Alright, guys. Let's get rolling!"
The practice goes off without a hitch. Both Banri and Juza are inspired to beat each other at acting, and Banri for one is determined to not lose his cool.
However, as the kiss scene approaches, he feels his palms begin to sweat. How is he supposed to kiss Hyodo? Let alone in front of all these people?
He's so distracted that he misses his line.
"My bad," he mutters, flipping through the script to find his place.
"You're overthinking it." Sakyo says.
Banri rolls his eyes. A big load of help Sakyo is being by pointing it out.
They try again, and this time they make it right up to the line with the kiss. Banri is supposed to initiate it. It's supposed to be passionate.
But he just can't muster the motivation. His lips end up smashed against Hyodo's in nothing that resembles a kiss, pinching his own lip painfully in the process.
"Stop," Izumi rubs at her temples, assessing how best to help them.
Banri can hear a few of their audience members snickering, but a glare from Sakyo shuts them up quickly.
"Okay, we made contact. That was good," she starts out. "But it felt way too forced. Literally." She sighs. "This is a tender scene of their first confession. The kiss should carry the energy and mood leading up to it."
Juza nods. He seems completely unperturbed, and if anything, a little annoyed at Banri for not getting it right.
Banri's hackles raise, his irritation growing at Hyodo's lack of reaction. This is embarrassing! Isn't he embarrassed?
They try again. The lines leading up to the kiss. Banri grabs Juza's arms. Juza touches Banri's cheek.
Banri turns bright red.
He breaks away from their intimate position, covering his face with his arm. "Dammit... can we take five?"
Sakyo makes a noise of irritation, but Izumi grants him the break.
Banri stalks off down the hall to the lounge. He needs a drink of water. Some fresh air.
He doesn't get much alone time, as Hyodo had followed him out.
"What do you want?" Banri asks, clutching his water bottle almost defensively.
Juza stares at him. "I don't think you're gay."
Banri laughs out of sheer surprise. He's bringing this up now? "Gee, thanks pal." He rolls his eyes and is about to brush past him, when Juza grabs his arm.
"But people who know who they are, one hundred percent? Shit like this doesn't faze them." He says. There's no malice in his tone.
Banri stares back at him. "The hell's that supposed to mean?"
Juza looks down at the floor and lets go of Banri's arm. "Just... feelin like you're supposed to feel certain ways about things or that you have to feel certain things... it's limiting." Juza meets his eyes. "Don't limit yourself, Settsu."
Determination is laced throughout his golden eyes. "You're better than that."
Banri doesn't know what to make of this.
He falls back on his reliable method of teasing. "Careful Hyodo, you're starting to sound like you give a shit about me."
"Not a chance." Juza growls, though there's a slight smile on his face.
Banri smirks in return.
Next time they resume practice, the kiss goes off without a hitch. They even go on a bit longer than necessary, much to Azuma's amusement. They're able to record the video in one take, which Izumi is eternally grateful for, and Sakyo deems this punishment a constructive success.
Banri finds himself thinking about his character later that night, while lying in bed.
If he and Hyodo were trapped in space, how would they survive together? Would they grow closer? Would he feel differently about him than he does now?
When he realizes what he's thinking, he snorts at himself for being stupid. Hypothetical space travel doesn't affect his real life.
But in the darkness of their room that night, he swears that he can hear Juza mutter "Goodnight Jal" before drifting off to sleep.
He thinks they could make it.
#a3!#a3! ask blog#a3! crack#a3! memes#banri#juza#banju#<backstage>#// this got fluffy oh no#// hope u enjoy the banju crumbs
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