2nd Show [Action]

[sitalion]

[Well, if Stefano can't get back to his circus in Europe, he'd just have to bring a circus to Luceti. The first step is a little exposure, and a little practice. So first, he's picked out a nice, visible spot by the fountain and has set up his own little act. He has a big box full of toys beside him, mostly with balls of all sizes, and random instruments.]

Gather around, everybody, gather around! And prepare to be blown away!

[He takes three bowling pins into his flippers and begins to juggle them. It lasts for about ten seconds before he misses a catch, and the pins go flying everywhere. Stefano grins sheepishly and scrambles to pick them up.]

I'm still-a practicing with that one. Pretty good, no?

Now, look at this!

[He puts the pins back into his box. If that doesn't get any attention, he's got one toy that will – a blowhorn stand. Stefano squeezes the blowhorns, producing squeaking and farting sounds.]

[Poor sea lion...he just might be trying too hard.]

Comments

[dealsinshipping]

[Oh, so it's a rebel, is it? One brave sea lion thing standing up against the norms of society. ...Or maybe the sea lions in this animal's world really don't have manes. Maybe. Either way, Varrick's giving it the benefit of the doubt.]

Sure, sure! Why not?

[sitalion]

Fantastic! Now let's see...

[He digs through his toy box and fishes out a hula hoop.]

Ah ha! A hula hoop!

[Positioning it around his waist and then rocking his hips to let the hoop swing around.]

[dealsinshipping]

[Varrick's less impressed by this trick. Not only is it not very interesting, it's not very funny either. He watches for a moment, then decides to throw in a suggestion.]

Can you juggle while hooping?

[sitalion]

[His hips stop rocking, and the hula hoop swings down to the ground.]

Eh...I've-a never tried that...

[But he's too eager to please, so he's going to try it now. He picks up the bowling pins again, and positions the hoop around his waist. Then he'll start swinging the hoop first, and then begin the juggling. That move only lasts for about two seconds before he misses the catch on the pins, and they go bouncing in every direction once again. The hula hoop swings to the ground again as well. Stefano drops his arms to his sides in defeat. He can already feel the jeers coming on.]

[dealsinshipping]

[Nope, no jeers will come from Varrick. Only loud laughter. See, this is what he was hoping to see. He starts clapping enthusiastically.]

Bravo! Very good!

[sitalion]

[Stefano perks up with a bright smile, as if a switch had been flipped.]

Really??

[dealsinshipping]

Really! Every good show needs comedy to make people laugh! It's what keeps things lighthearted in the middle of the really intense performances.

[He means this as a compliment. Really, he does.]

[sitalion]

[Gasp!]

Ab-a-solutely! Every circus needs its clowns to make-a people laugh!

[dealsinshipping]

Right! And every circus needs funny animals, but it looks like you've got that covered too, don'tcha?

[sitalion]

[He frowns. Being funny wasn't what he was aiming for.]

...I wasn't trying to be funny...

[dealsinshipping]

Hah? You weren't even trying? That just means you're a natural!

[sitalion]

[A natural? Stefano already knows that he needs a new passion to save his failing circus back home. Should he put his passion into becoming an animal clown instead?]

[But then again, the crowd didn't look too happy when he fell on his face.]

I don't-a know...people no like it when I fall during-a my act...

[dealsinshipping]

[People didn't like it? That strikes Varrick as odd. Just the mental image of this quirky animal falling during a circus act is hilarious to him. Maybe the audience wasn't in the mood for comedy relief? Hm...]

Were you wearing that funny... ruffled... thing? [He lazily points a finger at the collar around Stefano's neck.]

[sitalion]

[And Stefano tugs on his collar to glance down at it.]

Si. I always-a wear this thing.

[dealsinshipping]

[So the outfit wasn't to blame. The collar's a typical thing for clowns to wear, so it should've been obvious to the audience that the seal lion thing's act would be comedy. Varrick ends up shrugging his shoulders.]

Then I don't know what to tell ya. Your previous audience was a bunch of chumps.

[sitalion]

Ehh...chumps?

[Deep down, Stefano knows better. The audience isn't to blame. The circus itself had lost its enthusiasm, so of course it would make for a boring show.]

[dealsinshipping]

Who doesn't laugh at a seal lion wearing a funny collar and doing funny things? Chumps, that's who!

[sitalion]

...I don't know if I want to do funny things. I want to do...awesome things.

[dealsinshipping]

[That notion surprises Varrick. A funny-looking animal like this is much better clown material. Then again... He managed to turn Bolin into a dashing hero in his movers too. If knuckleheads can be heroes, weird seal lion things can do awesome circus acts.]

Hm... How about both? Funny tricks that make the audience gasp in suspense?

[sitalion]

[Stefano scratches his head with a flipper.]

What kind of-a tricks would do that?

[As he's wondering, another thought pops into his head. Since this guy appears to be a talent-know-it-all, then maybe...]

Say! Would you happen to be a circus master?

[dealsinshipping]

[Awesome tricks would do that. He could probably come up with something if he were given enough time, but whether it'd actually be feasable is another question entirely.]

Me? No no no. I'm president of my world's largest, most innovative shipping company. [He rubs at his chin for a few seconds, then grins widely.] ...But sometimes, it's like a circus!