The only offensive part of it is that the troupe is duped into doing so unknowingly.
Every actor’s stock in trade is the Story. His props are tin-foil swords, paste gems, cheap paint on canvas, and scrap wisps of fabric. But his magic is that he can make the Story come alive!
I must admire Keshi’s skill at perverting that magic. He has chosen as his strongest actors those likeliest to fall for the masks’ lie: those seeking without for the strength, beauty, praise, and acclaim that lie within. And, with their talents, he has convinced even the gods that they are vanquished and slain with theatrical properties! Truly, this is the great and subtle magic of the Lie presented as Truth!
Very nicely done, Mr. Strait! Subtly woven, and deftly revealed!
Keshi’s spell is irony-driven; it is the lie. But an actor’s skill to portray the Story as if it were reality is innate; it is true magic. This is why what an actor needs most is truth, and why an actor must face truth head-on in order to become the greatest of thespians.
Knowing her true self and the truth of her situation gives Vogue full rein to use her skills of acting, of glamour, and, indeed, of deception, to the utmost extent of her abilities; she no longer depends on anyone else–Keshi, the Comedia, not even the Fae–for her strength.
Recall, too, that chief among the Puck’s powers as related in Midsummer Night’s Dream were deception and illusion. Vogue, now aware, may well be as powerful as the Puck in that regard.
Don’t mind the smoke coming out of my ears, that’s just the aftermath of your comment and this page combing to make my brain explode. Don’t worry, a night’s sleep, and it’ll be right as rain.
BTW- Vote, folks! 100 votes, and We Shadows reclaims ninth place. 200 votes, and we reclaim seventh place. 300 votes, and we’ll take fifth place. Surely we can muster more than 300 votes!
The only offensive part of it is that the troupe is duped into doing so unknowingly.
Every actor’s stock in trade is the Story. His props are tin-foil swords, paste gems, cheap paint on canvas, and scrap wisps of fabric. But his magic is that he can make the Story come alive!
I must admire Keshi’s skill at perverting that magic. He has chosen as his strongest actors those likeliest to fall for the masks’ lie: those seeking without for the strength, beauty, praise, and acclaim that lie within. And, with their talents, he has convinced even the gods that they are vanquished and slain with theatrical properties! Truly, this is the great and subtle magic of the Lie presented as Truth!
Very nicely done, Mr. Strait! Subtly woven, and deftly revealed!
Um – isn’t the only reason it works is that the troupe doesn’t know that it’s a lie – because their power is irony driven…?
Which means that she’s lost her troupe-based power boost, doesn’t it?
Hmm..tune in tomorrow Rippy
Keshi’s spell is irony-driven; it is the lie. But an actor’s skill to portray the Story as if it were reality is innate; it is true magic. This is why what an actor needs most is truth, and why an actor must face truth head-on in order to become the greatest of thespians.
Knowing her true self and the truth of her situation gives Vogue full rein to use her skills of acting, of glamour, and, indeed, of deception, to the utmost extent of her abilities; she no longer depends on anyone else–Keshi, the Comedia, not even the Fae–for her strength.
Recall, too, that chief among the Puck’s powers as related in Midsummer Night’s Dream were deception and illusion. Vogue, now aware, may well be as powerful as the Puck in that regard.
Don’t mind the smoke coming out of my ears, that’s just the aftermath of your comment and this page combing to make my brain explode. Don’t worry, a night’s sleep, and it’ll be right as rain.
bitflipper- very good, that is exactly her motivation
BTW- Vote, folks! 100 votes, and We Shadows reclaims ninth place. 200 votes, and we reclaim seventh place. 300 votes, and we’ll take fifth place. Surely we can muster more than 300 votes!
That would be nice yes
That… actually sounds… pretty genius
Almost reminds me of The Five Characters Searching for an Author (complex play writing there)
Vince- I may use that as a quote on the back of the printed book coming out “Pretty Genius.”
….
Still waiting for the burning to begin…
any moment now….
any moment…
getting closer…closer…
Now we see the Truth. Vogue’s Truth.
Which is so much better than a Vague Truth. (Sorry, had to)
Vogue’s Truth would have been a good name for this chapter