19672/Open Air Theatering Needs a Show

Open Air Theatering Needs a Show
Date of Scene:	15 December 2024
Location:	Delacorte Theater
Synopsis:	Impromptu preformance at the Delacorte to show that Art is Important!
Cast of Characters:	Longshot, Noa, Clark Kent, Natasha Cranston

---

Longshot has posed:
December is not peak time for open air theaters, even the great Delacorte Theater is mostly seasonal and now, with a thin blanket on snow on the stone seats, most of Central Park's weekend busy has found itself around this grand monument to the arts. In fact, giant locations meant for spectacle are a strange place to be when empty of the humans that give them meaning. Giant empty stadiums, schools on holiday, there are many places like this throughout New York during the holiday season and now is no different. It's just colder here at the Delacorte than an empty school. Colder. Mostly abandoned. Awaiting a show or an audience perhaps.

Longshot left the apartment this morning looking for something. He didn't know what, and figured he would know it when he found it and that is about as much worrying as didn't happen for the man. As it is, he did wander New York most of the morning and had, coincidentally ended up in a music shop hosting a raffle for a musical instrument. Longshot does not play any musical instruments, to his knowledge, but is an appreciator of music all the same. He didn't mean to leave the shop with an instrument. Particularly this instrument, but now he stands confused, at the top steps looking around the abandoned, cold theater and some part of him hurts in ways he has no words for.

It's cold. Longshot now owns a saxophone he didn't mean to own, and does not know how to play saxophone. But here he is, standing here, confused as to why a 'Saxophone' is a metal twist with buttons and not a dog, and most importantly, why fate brought him here, right now.

Noa has posed:
Noa is one of the (surprisingly many) aliens among the humans in New York City. Studying, learning, exploring. It's not great weather, but her spacesuit protects her from all sorts of things a lot worse than cold, so it's fine for her. Shops interest her, and she's coming up in front of one. Longshot holding his saxophone gets her attention, and she comes up to him, staring at it. Trying to figure out what it IS. "Is that a weapon?"

Longshot has posed:
Longshot will continue staring down the many, many steps of the Delacorte theater slowly, not moving yet. He holds the saxophone close to his chest, the case on the ground next to him, looking around the theater with a quiet amazement. This place is huge and speaks softly of many years of love and art and performance occurring here. It's a gentle hum of love about this place, a happy hum that is interrupted by someone new approaching and speaking. Longshot turns to her and blinks.

"No. It's used to make art. Music." Longshot will hold the saxophone away from himself and toward the new person, his words oddly sad, "It's not a dog either. I thought it was supposed to be a dog. This is Saxophone."

Noa has posed:
Noa folds her arms and nods. "Music. Art. Right." She says, her face scrunching up a moment. Shi'ar don't do dreams, art, and music, you see. "Very complicated mechanical device for such a trivial task. So inefficient."

Longshot has posed:
The instrument is a traditional gold and silver in color, not that either of the current individuals here would know that. It's an alto sax, reed not inserted into the mouth piece and likely safe away from the cold inside the instrument case on the ground. Why Longshot has been walking around with the instrument not in the case is not clear, even to him. It seemed Right.

That the instrument is not taken, then called insufficient, Longshot will recoil slightly, "What? Why not? What does it have to justify it's existence for? It's a tool of creation, is that not enough?"

Noa has posed:
Noa tilts her head, and squints. Very skeptical. Arms still folded. "It doesn't create anything at all, does it? Noise for the sake of noise. Imagine all the effort that went into that. All the materials. What they could have gone into for science, or industry, or health."

Longshot has posed:
Noa's words hurt. Longshot can feel the love of the theater all around him, then these words actually spoken out loud? Granted, Longshot does not understand 'science, industry and health', but this feels wrong. "I don't think that's true. The things you are saying are-what's the point of them if life isn't any fun?"

Longshot might realize this isn't a great argument, but he doesn't actually know how to play the saxophone. There is only so much being able to talk to objects can help him with things that take literal skill, even if he has luck on his side. Still, this is a theater. "Can I show you? Or try to show you?"

Noa has posed:
Noa raises her hand. "You know what's fun? Learning how things work, how to create things. How to make things other people made work again. How to improve the universe around me. Seeing things I've never seen before."

"Do you use that noise maker often? Sure, show me." She smiles.

Longshot has posed:
"Oh no! I don't know how to play this, but I can demonstrate what fun things other than that are!" Longshot will grin at this, this is something he can do! He can put on a show, "Sometimes improving the universe is as easy as making other people smile!"

Longshot will scoop up the saxophone case and start down the icy steps of the theater, heading toward the stage. He spins on heel, grinning up at Noa, "COME ONE! COME ALL! RIGHT THIS WAY! Have a seat! Have moment of fresh air and wonder! THE ONE MAN SHOW OF A LIFETIME IS ABOUT TO START!"

Clark Kent has posed:
Coming in from the cold was the intrepid reporter, Clark Kent. Unravelling his fashionable scarf, a gift from a friend, Clark shakes off the tiny amount of snow on his overcoat. Taking a moment to push his glasses up on his nose, Clark surveils the area and smiles.

Hearing the invitation from outside, there was no way that Clark was going to miss the One Man Show of a Lifetime!

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    It's a bit late in the season for outdoor jogging, but there are always some people who seem to cheerfully ignore anything short of sub-arctic conditions. So it is for Jenny. She's wearing significantly warmer clothes than usual but she's cheerfully chugging her way down the slightly snowy path. As it happens, she's close by enough to hear Longshot's announcement, and her curiosity is piqued so she makes her way over.

Noa has posed:
Noa laughs. "If you can't use it, isn't it even more wasteful...?" But now things are starting to get active. She follows along, and stands on front of the stage. Looking up, hands on hips now, ready for what he's going to do. She doesn't have high hopes but... he's so enthusiastic about it. "A one man show." she nods.

Longshot has posed:
Longshot races down the steps, then in a few quick bounds, he's up and skidding across the stage. Longshot is not one to hide his inhuman capabilities and now is no different, each movement speaks of an alien grace that might be familiar to some depending on how many other dimensions they might have traveled. He puts the saxophone case down and pulls out his phone, a few flicks and a song comes up, something poppy and probably by Dazzler. Normally, a theater of this size might give an audience a hard time hearing a measly phone speaker, but snow is surprisingly good for acoustics when on the ground and not falling. Similarly, Longshot just happens to put the device down angled well against the stages' backdrop creating a natural amplifying effect.

The saxophone, that Longshot still hasn't figured out how to play, will be taken apart, mouth piece, neck, body, and he will start to juggle them as he turns back to Noa, immediately delighted that his audience has not doubled, but tripled! He might not know how to play saxophone, but he can certainly juggle one, despite the wide range in size of each piece and the absolute horror that would likely occur to any musician should the body of the sax hit the ground.

"Welcome! To Longshot's Impromptu Proof and Demonstration that Art is Important! Lives are enriched by them and the use of materials to fulfill lives is a valuable one!" His words are bright, projected across the mostly empty theater, as he movies to center-stage and continues his juggling, each throw a different height to compensate for the difference in each saxophone part's make-up, "I would like to ask my lovely audience here today-" a nod once at the new comers, then a bow to Noa herself, each piece of the saxophone in the air to allow him a full bow, before catching and continuing the juggle, "First thank you for coming, but second I have your permission to welcome you on stage with me to assist in the demonstration in just a few minutes?"

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    Jenny raises an eyebrow, but then smiles and lightly hops ont othe stage. "With an offer like that, who could refuse? What do you need me to do, pretty boy?"

Noa has posed:
Noa is watching intently. It's not like she's the type to get excited for a concert, but she is learning about this planet, and that's as good a reason as any to humor someone who's being nice.

"What, me?" she asks of the questoin. With a laugh, she nods, and makes her way around and up to where he is. She's small, and not running like he was, so it'll take her a moment. "What do you need me to do? I don't know anything about your art and music and things."

Longshot has posed:
"Thank you! Thank you!" Longshot moves without thinking, catching each piece of the Saxophone one at a time and refitting it together, the Saxophone is presented to each Audience member in turn and offered to Jenny with a bright smile and a bow, "Any chance you know how to play this?" Not that she currently could, it doesn't have a reed, but Longshot isn't really sure how this thing works in general and the question is earnest.

"Don't worry! You don't need to know anything about it to be able to create it! Just, um, relax if you can, I'll give you both a task!" Given Noa's words, Longshot didn't think she'd be willing to give the Sax a shot, but that she was willing to get up on stage was enough!

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    Jenny's eyes widen at the sight of the rapid reassembly, then takes the saxophone gingerly into her hands, looking it over with delicate care. "I admit I've never learned to play one, but how they're supposed to work is you blow into this end--" she points at the lip "-- and work the buttons along the neck to open and close internal valves so the sound changes, and that's how it makes music."

    She holds the sax in a pose most likely copied from seeing performances, either live or on TV, then shrugs. "That said, that's roughly as broad a description as holding a gun and saying 'point this end to the enemy, pull this trigger, it goes boom' -- very rudimentary and doesn't really cover the how and the why or the what to do. That tends to take years of practice to master."

Noa has posed:
Noa is watching. Juggling, audience participation. Hands on her hips yet. She hums. Not so much judging, but just observing. Like a nature documentary. "Alright, what kind of task then?" she asks gently, not wanting to be too pushy or interrupting the million things he seems to be doing at once.

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark Kents listens from the back, smiling, and enjoying the show. Enjoying the conversation, he pushes his glasses up on his nose once more, and moves a little closer, but not wanting to interrupt anyone else.

Longshot has posed:
"Oh." Longshot deflates slightly at Jenny's words, looking at the saxophone seriously for a moment, "That's. . . good to know. I thought it was a dog and I've been really puzzling that one. I guess not needed for this performance?" Longshot will point Jenny toward where the Saxophone case sits, "Can you please go place this safely over there, then stand at that end of the stage, toward the audience?" And to Noa, Longshot will point at the opposite end of the stage, "And can you please go stand over there? I will bring you both your tasks in a moment! But I gotta prove that I have this under control before I expect your trust, no?" Longshot beams at Noa, almost teasing as he bows again and points at her end of the stage.

Though he's normally a black and yellow sort of guy, fortune would have Longshot have a red and violet cord with him today as well. These are each individually wrapped around the ends of four thin, flat blades with quick efficient movements. The blades and cord itself might perhaps recognized by some of the assembled audience as wire laced cords used often by the sneakier sort of folk who often require thin, nondescript rope that is capable of holding the weight of a human body while under significant tension.

"Anyone can juggle, and while I do think it an art, I'm here today to prove that art uplifts! And I hope to do that literally!" Each cord and knife pair is presented in turn to the audience, Longshot will give each a yank to demonstrate the strength of his knots, glancing down at Clark with a wink, "If you want to join us, I happen to have enough cords here for all~"

Clark Kent has posed:
"Oh, no thank you sir." Clark raises his hands up in a "no thank you" gesture. "I'll just admire from here. Thank you though. I appreciate the offer." Clark smiles, and watches the group. "I am sure I would just make a mess of things anyway. I'm a bit of a klutz."

Clark takes off his overcoat, and places it on his left arm. His dark grey suit, blue tie, and worn dress shoes are the ensemble of a working man. He watches careful, with a trained eye, and keeps his smile.

Noa has posed:
Noa watches Longshot. "I'm not sure what you mean by trust, or having under control. It is you rpresentation after all." Staring. "So you are demonstrating... knot-tying and agility?"

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    Jenny waves at Clark, then a frown crosses her features. "... Huh, you look familiar... Do you work in the news? You've got that newscaster face about you..."

Longshot has posed:
"Enjoy the show!" Longshot will bow to Clark, check that Noa and Jenny made it to their designated marks then launch into a backwards flip of an acrobatic routine in time with the phone's Dazzler music. Words to Noa, "Demonstrating FUN!"

For those familiar, Longshot's movement is certainly on par with the sort of jumps and flips that litters the more flamboyant and showy sects of the super heroing and villainy community with the added bonus of Longshot being able to bend in ways a normal human cannot. For the more skilled eye, he does not seem to be planning very much ahead, he does not look before he leaps, ever, but he always lands solidly, ready for another trick. The four colored cords trail behind him in a colorful terrain like ribbons, then, one at a time, Longshot will throw each individual knife in a lovely arc to each of the huge light fixtures that sit at each of the two corners of the theater and the two far corners of the terraced seating, the ropes trailing artfully after the each knife. He ends center stage again, not holding four cords that stretch taunt against each lighting fixture, there is a dramatic bow to each person and Longshot will hold up the four cords, then one by one start to tie loops into the bottom of each strand.

"And now, my wonderful audience, I ask for some trust. This might be frightening, I am doing this on the fly, but I assure you that while you are under my care, making art here this afternoon, you shall be safe!" Believing him is up to the each of the three audience, but Longshot clearly believes his own words. Longshot holds up the four cords again, now each with a looped end, turning to Jenny and Noa, "I have made holsters for one foot, Please insert your foot into the loop and hold on."

With that, Longshot will approach both Noa and Jenny in turn, offering them both a pick of a colored rope and then pointing at the loop at the bottom. "Keep it taunt at first, foot there, I'm going to ask you to run and jump off the stage. Trust the rope, foot in loop, let yourself have fun! I'll handle the rest."

Clark Kent has posed:
"I do!" Clark's attention turns towards Nat. "I am a reporter for the Daily Planet. Clark Kent. Pleased to meet you!"
Clark's smile broadens. His attention then turns back to Noa and Longshot. Clark does, indeed, enjoy the show.

"Wow. Impressive sir." Clark says to Longshot. "That is...impressive." Clark looks down, so he can see "above" his glasses. "Impressive indeed..." Clark says under his breath, almost too low to hear.

Noa has posed:
Noa might have a problem with this. But she's in a hypertech spacesuit. Squinting again. "So your art, is for me to tie this to my leg, and run until it pulls taut? Alright." She hits a button on her suit to enable screening in case she's about to get hurt, but to any spectator, it looks like she's attempting just as he asked!

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    Jenny holds up her hands in abjuration. "That looks amazing, but unfortunately I'm gonna pass." She gives an apologetic shrug and heads off the stage to sit and watch.

Longshot has posed:
"That is exactly what I'm asking!" As Jenny backs off, Longshot waves, unworried and will take the offered rope and tie it up to the Saxophone case. He tests the weight and nods, "Enjoy!"

As luck would have it, the music swells as Jenny runs and jumps, Longshot watches, then swings the saxophone case in an arch as well. Longshot is delighted that at least two of his audience is having a good time. Noa? It's hard to tell! But 660 0 That would be enough to keep airing almost any show! Why are those the terms that occur to him? He doesn't know nor care at the moment.

"Hold on! Relax! Have fun! We are dancing now!" Once sure that both Jenny is safely, as safe as hanging from a rope from a light fixure is,, Longshot will vault back up to the back of the stage and sprint forward, arm wrapping around his own cord and jumping up to swing up-up and around the other two cords in play from their different positions thanks to different jump/throw locations. The first spin around simply tightens all rope, the second will yank both people and saxophone case further into the air. Longshot is not about to let anyone crash into each other and will swing up and in, grabbing individual ropes one at a time and using his own faster velocity to pull each other rope into a swing of their own orbit. Two people of different sizes and a instrument case, the swing for each is different.

Longshot drop his first rope, will let himself hit the ground once, run and jump again with his second rope with a second sprint forward, ensuring his rope is always moving faster than his two audience members and he himself, higher up to be able to grab the other's ropes as needed. He will yank them each a few more times, trying to get them into a rhythm and finally they will all have a unique swing, weaving any and out of eachother consistently. The first few swings are always the fastest, but as they all slow, looking up might realize that Longshot is using the different swinging orbits of each person to braid the colored cords together above them.

"And this is what we call performance art! This, that we are doing now together, is creation!" Just like a newtons cradle with people, or a circus act, without an outside force continually keeping the swing consistent, all three orbits will start to slow. Slow, swing lower and closer together. Longshot's braiding will continue until bothare again safely able to step out of their individual cord loop and catch the instrument case before stepping down to the stage. A lovely tri-colored braided cord swings between them.

Longshot presents this with a huge grin, "I give you! ART! Made by us! HA!" Immediately spinning on Noa with a huge grin, "Fun?"

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark Kent shakes his head and smiles. "Well done sir. It is art" Smiling, and putting his hat back on, followed by his overcoat, Clark moves towards the exit. "I'm impressed. Next time, I will have to interview you for the Daily Planet!" Clark nods to Noa and Natasha. "Pleasure meeting you!"

With a final tap of his hat, Clark Kent heads back out into the cold. Shivering, he turns right, and heads towards the subway.