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alias_sqbr) wrote2024-09-11 05:34 pm
alias_sqbr) wrote2024-09-11 05:34 pm
Entry tags:
JackJeanne: Sou 2 Electric Boogaloo
Masterlist (including character names and house info, since there's a lot to keep track of)
Finished the rest of the common route! The plot that had me tense about potential Gender Implications ended very satisfyingly, now the game just has to change gears from being mostly gen and convince me on the Sou romance.
Content note: Gender...stuff? Not transphobia exactly but it's a Lot.
Aww that's right, Mitsuki is asking Kisa for advice on how to talk to Suzu, who is silently struggling with his very emotionally complex, uncharismatic loser character.
Mitsuki is usually very passive but that makes it more striking when he's decisive and sempai-ish.
Aww both Mitsuki and Suzu feel like their roles could be better played by Fumi and Kisa/Sou respectively, which makes them feel weird about asking for help.
Also I didn't mention it before but Sou is a total nerd and many of his cute scenes are at the library reading Acting Books.
Suzu asks Kisa to demonstrate how she'd play his loser character, and she nails it immediately. He talks about how he used to think all he needed to achieve his dream (involving Kendo, I think, I'll probably learn more on his route) was hard work, but gave up due to an injury. Then he had the dream to become an actor after seeing Kisa's brother Tsuki on stage. But he's just falling further behind Kisa and Sou in acting ability.
(Oh also Kisa has avoided admitting she's related to Tsuki with a bunch of lies of omission like "I'm not his brother" lol)
haa, aww, I thought he was going to draw on the loser-y feelings this gives him for his role. But nope, he's decided to lean into being a one note actor with a lot of charisma. If he can only be himself, he's gonna be himself SO MUCH it's a selling point. But he does still want to expand his range as much as he can, and, yep, that will mean drawing on those losery feelings in this case.
This is SO CLEARLY a play about sex work, with Kisa playing a Sad Hooker With A Heart Of Gold, Sou the possessive rich client who wants to own her for himself, Suzu the loser brothel employee who pines resentfully, Mitsuki the naive, judgemental girl raised around sin who tries to stay pure, and Neji the evil slutty abusive madam.
Feels a little weird for 16-18 year olds, even in metaphor, but then again the whole setting has a sort of otherworldly metaphorical vibe. Like the characters contain the essence of highschoolers but are also universal Character Types unmoored from specific ages, highschooler is just another role and archetype they personify amongst many.
Neji: Do you think your acting is appropriate for the role?
Suzu: Yes! This is who he is to me!
Neji: Well then. Good! You're much better, did something nice happen to you?
Suzu: No! I was crazy depressed! Kisa and Mitsuki had to cheer me up with some advice!
Everyone: MITSUKI gave ADVICE??
Mitsuki: I don't remember that >:(
Kisa stumbles across Suzu and Sou practising together.
Suzu: Kisa did such a great job as my character. You should try it too!
Sou: *effortlessly plays a resentful pining loser*
Suzu: Wow, so good! Now play Kisa's character!
Sou: Don't be ridiculous >:(
Suzu: Then I'll do it. STOP ACTING LIKE YOU OWN MY BODY!! D:<
Sou: Whoa. So powerful!
Kisa: Probably can handle the customers like nothing, too!
Suzu: I still like your take on her more, Kisa.
Sou asks Neji for permission to learn showy Jack-ness from Onyx.
Neji: Well if it's for my cute little kohai...
Sou: Can you come with me, Kisa?
Neji: You can learn what your character's clients might be like. It's quite a feast to have so many handsome Jacks around you.
Sou: I'm not sure about that. I want Kisa to watch me.
Kasai, Onyx's twinky Jack who likes Kisa: Ok, I'll train you in the form of a dance competition. If you can't keep up with me, I get to practice with Kisa instead ;)
Sou: I can't do that.
Kasai: Because you'll lose?
Sou: Because I don't want to treat Kisa like an object.
Aww. Sou makes it to the end of the dance, breathless but unbeaten. Oh that's right! They went to middle school together and Kasai totally forgot Sou existed! He apologises for that, and says he definitely remembers who Sou is now.
Sou says he needs to practice dancing more with Fumi, and doesn't want to run away or look pathetic in front of Kisa any more. She says he was cool and he gets all blushy, and says he's gaining the strength towards expressing something that has been building inside him.
Time for a rhythm game practice! C is the lowest score. I get S by default, SS if I'm doing especially well. I need at least one SS per pplay performance (which has 3 songs) to get the best ending for that play, not sure how many I need of those for a good ending but I have 3/4 so far. The songs are getting harder but I'm getting STRONGER. Ish. Might try rejigging the controls, they're a little unintuitive.
SS!
This play is clearly Mitsuki's chance to be the centre of the VN's narrative. He doesn't know who he is, if it's not a singer.
OOOH Kai turned down an offer to join the grownup theatre troop associated with the school!! Meanwhile Fumi and Neji have accepted, thinking it sounds fun.
Fumi obviously feels sad for Kai, and has noticed Mitsuki and Kisa struggling with filling his shoes as Al Jeanne. He takes them aside and says he'll rejig Mitsuki's choreography to have more singing and less dancing, and that Neji is crushing everyone with unreasonable requests. Kai looked like his world was ending when Fumi was given the Jack Ace role. But everyone can shine in these roles, as Sou and Suzu demonstrate.
Fumi: Don't push yourself to do anything out of the ordinary, Mitsu. You're serious enough as it is. And even though we'll be graduating, we're here for now, and will support you.
(Fumi calls everyone with 3 syllable given names cute little shortened nicknames like Mitsu and Soshi)
Haaa. So Fumi's character is in love with Misuki's character Rukiora, who is in love with Sou's character, who is in love with Kisa's character, Chicchi. It's not clear if Chicchi is in love with anyone. But we don't actually see much m/m flirting: Rukiora pines from a distance (though does sound very smitten), and Fumi's wryly pretends to be indifferent except when alone with Chicchi, his friend, when he jokes about how miserable they both are.
Fumi: My character is implied to be a client of Chicchi's, but we never see it on stage. Let's roleplay it!
Kisa: Sure!
And now I have to roleplay Kisa roleplaying soliciting Fumi's character for metaphorical sex. SURE.
Kisa: Thinking of Rukiora?
Fumi: Yes... and how she dreams of someone else. Maybe I should have fallen in love with you.
Kisa: Ha. More sweet talk, even now?
Fumi: Haha. But we understand each other. That we're people who can't be understood.
Kisa; But you don't want someone who understands you, do you?
"Do it from behind me, so you can't see my face" OK THEN FUMI
Ohhh and then he says some stuff about how he wants 'her' to stay on the stage, even though she has to lie, and Kisa and me were both confused how this applies to her character but he's talking to Kisa as himself.
I'm going to paraphrase his whole speech: You're a sly but kind woman. You're standing here pretending to be someone you're not. You like it here don't you? Thanks, we were able to change because of you. It's painful not to tell the truth. But there's a part of me who wants you to always be here, just as you were on the day you decided to hide the truth. Whatever you hide to build a life where with everyone, I want you to keep dancing on this stage.
Fumi: Let me sleep... Ha! That's quite a stranglehold you've got there!
Kisa: Was it too hard? Sou said he wants me to strangle him that hard...
Fumi: What a weird conversation to have with a classmate. But I think I understand things better now. I can't keep pouting when Soshi and Suzu are ahead of me and even Mitsu has kept fighting when he'd usually run away. I gotta show my cool side while I still can.
Fumi wows everyone with his ability to be chivalrous and manly trying to shelter Rukiora's feelings, then tells Mitsu and Kisa he's going to give them Jeanne training.
Fumi watches Kai giving Suzu and Sou Jack lessons and says he's a man of no desires who never thinks of himself.
Fumi: But he's human, and should let himself have the desires he wants.
Mitsuki: If that's how you feel you should tell him.
Fumi: He actually doesn't listen to me much. What about you?
Mitsuki: ...I'm going to get a drink of water >:/
Fumi tells Kisa he had planned on having fun at Univeil then doing something totally different once he graduated. But he's had unexpected experiences, and thinks it would be worth it to wait in the acting troupe for talented newbies to join and change things up, giving Kisa a significant look. Fumiiiii.
Sometimes I run out of Sou scenes, and since I'll be seeing the other LI scenes later, I pick whoever else looks most interesting. There's always the chance to meet with The Fat Jack From Rhodonite who I strongly suspect wants to steal Quartz's songs so I've never talked to him. When I can, I talk to Kisa's female bff, but rn my most interesting option is the principal, though he always feels a little weird to hang out with. He's friendly but a little too informal for a principal talking to a student.
WAIT. IS HE. LEGIT HITTING ON HER???
AND I HAVE THE CHANCE TO RECIPROCATE???
NOOOOOOOOOOO THANK YOUUUUUUUU
Ahh and the walkthrough said to pick someone totally different dammit. Well I'm not going back to my earlier save but I'm also NEVER HANGING OUT WITH HIM AGAIN.
Mitsuki talks to Kisa about wanting to run away, and she says that's ok.
Mitsuki: What's wrong with you that you can listen to this whining... thank you. I think I can say it now.
Aww and then he confronts Kai and tells him to take care of himself more as the Jack Ace??
Mitsuki: You're tall, you look nice, you work hard, yet you're always in the corner.
*ships it a little*
Mitsuki: Neji showed us the way. Fumi ran ahead. And the one who supported everyone from the back... was you!
Neji, Fumi, and Kai: Mitsuki... ;_;
And now I have maxed out Sou's stat (insight) and can apparently just pick whatever.
Kai tells Kisa that Mitsuki has inspired him to fight. And Kisa is the first person who ever made him feel like he was in the centre of the stage, back when they were a team in the second play and Kisa improvised a meaner version of her character to make his more sympathetic. She offers to help him work on his part.
He says he needs his character to act more like a man from the city of desire and asks Kisa to lend him her strength, and dance with him. The next day, Kai hesitates for a moment and Kisa thinks "It's ok, I'm ready" before his character pulls hers into a dance which I think symbolises the priest seducing the young woman who's only just arrived in town.
Everyone is impressed. Neji is delighted and offers Kai the chance to have some extra lines at the end of the story instead of focussing on the friendship of "our two beautiful leads". Kai agrees, even though it's stealing the spotlight.
Fumi: Finally! You're so slow Kai! We're not a pair any more but this means we can be RIVALS :D
Kai: ... yes.
Fumi: Haha! We're finally standing beside each other.
Aw. I still ship them too.
Kai thanks Mitsuki, who blushes happily. Kai tells Mitsuki there's more to him than his singing, then agrees to join the theatre troupe.
Kai thanks Kisa, and says that ever since he first saw her he felt she had the same aura as her brother Tsuki, and that same potential to become a Jack Ace or Al Jeanne who'd leave a legacy long after graduating. But now he realises she exceeds his imagination and could become anyone at all.
Oooh. Mitsuki has levelled up in acting. Neji, acting with him, forgets his line, and Mitsuki takes him to task for not taking his character seriously enough or understanding her character, even though he wrote the script. Neji apologises and says he'll do better.
Fumi: Look who got yelled at ;)
Neji: I've been so arrogant, it was only a matter of time.
Kai: Mitsuki wasn't trying to attack you.
Neji: I know. I know so much that it hurts :(
What is UP with Neji. Something earlier made me think he might be dying of a terminal disease or something??
Neji tells Kisa that Mitsuki's line made Neji feel like his younger self, and that he's like Mitsuki's character Rukiora. The line was... *checks* "I'll leave you all in this filthy putrid town... with [Sou's character who is in love with Kisa's character], my beloved!"
Huuuuh. Is this about him leaving Amber? There's so many layers of metaphor I'm not always able to untangle...
Haa and then he says he saw Kisa get the right rawness, between girl and woman, when dancing with Kai, but the moment she let go of his hand it felt like Kisa deliberately extinguished it. He wonders if he's missing something, and doing her harm by pushing her. I assumed he'd be the FIRST to figure out she's a girl, but I guess not!
Mitsuki apparently sings even better than before, though the voice actor... does not. He is legit good in full songs, though.
Neji asks Kisa to come to his office and rambles about how happy he has been watching everyone grow and find themselves, and how she is like the central gear helping Quartz function.
Kisa offers to help him practice his character, and he says he just needs to put away some memories making him sympathise with Rukiora, who his Evil Slutty Madam should be ruthlessly bullying. (Neji isn't gender essentialist etc to real people but he sure does wallow in Gendered Tropes as a writer)
Kisa: But Rukiora is unbearably sympathetic, couldn't your character feel a pang of sympathy despite herself?
Neji: Sympathising with the victim of one's own sins... I don't like it but it does happen... Heh, now you're the one directing me.
Kisa: Sorry if I was out of line.
Neji: No, I learned something, thank you. I only wish I had more time, so you could teach me just what sort of person I am.
Neji: So how was my performance, Mikki?
Mitsuki: Rukiora hates your character, but until now I didn't care personally. But seeing her pity, when she was the one who hurt Rukiora to begin with... I wanted her to DIE.
Neji: Yay!
Suzu: Hah, Kisa, your costume is really see-through. And you'll have to be careful it doesn't slip off when you do your mugwort seller move.
Kisa: Haha, yeah, and when I'm dancing.
Sou: o.O ...........UH. WHAT WERE WE TALKING ABOUT? UH. YEAH, I'LL DO MY BEST!
Ahhh. They practice the scene where Rukiora, who hatessex-work mugwort selling because her father ran off with the town's madam (Neji's character), finds her best friend 'selling mugwort' with the man she loves.
Sou: Now let's stay calm...
Mitsuki: Shut up you useless man. Chicchi, I thought we were friends! Are you really a mugwort seller? Just tell me the truth and I'll forgive you.
Kisa/Chicchi: (How would everyone react if they found out my secret?) I am one of the mugwort sellers you hate so much.
Mitsuki: I HATE YOU. Never come near me with that disgusting stench again!!
Kisa: *visibly overcome with sadness at the thought of losing her friends, in character and as herself*
Mitsuki: D: ?
That night Mitsuki comes to her room.
Mitsuki: You don't have to say anything. But I've been confused why you haven't fully embraced your task of acting like a woman when you have the capability. And then today, seeing you... I thought perhaps... you might have a reason to hold back. Because you're hiding... something.
Kisa: *gasp*
Mitsuki: I see. You once told me it's alright to run away. It made me so relived I nearly cried. So now I'm telling you, that you have permission to run away too. No matter who you are, I accept you. I'm your sempai after all.
We see Mitsuki and Kisa practice the scene where Chicchi explains that she lied because she wanted to be Rukiora's friend.
I am having Feelings. Also, a metaphor for a despised sex-worker who stinks of sex/mugwort as a metaphor for secretly being afab is... well, it's something!!
Kisa confides in Sou that she's scared what will happen when she is inevitably revealed as a girl, and he says that though he has no proof, he feels sure that everything will be alright. He has faith in her, and she should too.
The teacher asks what she's going to do and she talks about how Univeil was her dream since childhood, but since she knew it was impossible she put that dream away. But she's been given a chance. And this place is important to everyone here, and the audience too. The one thing she doesn't want to lie about is how she feels about the theatre.
My only choice is "Act as a woman".
He says he had his concerns, but as a former student himself, he's realised she's a genius, and this is the one place she can be free. She needs to give it all she's got.
Christmas Eve, the day of the Winter performance. Rhodonite's Jack Ace and Onyx's Al Jeanne agree that Chui was an ass to drop out of Amber's play YESTERDAY saying it wasn't worth his time. (WOW, CHUI) They're sure Kisa's going to do something worth watching and are curious to see fellow second year Mitsuki finally step up as an Al Jeanne. Chui's genius has cast a heavy shadow over their year.
Omg everyone's in costume and NEJI WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE MASSIVE BOSOMS. Previously there was vague mention of chests being 'padded with towels' but this is some high quality latex body suit visible skin cleavage.
Kisa, in a determined shonen hero voice: I'm going to become... A WOMAN!!
I am looking forward to being past the "Kisa must learn to BE A WOMAN" arc. It doesn't even feel THAT transphobic it's just inherently dysphoria inducing.
All the performances play out as full plays, with lots of CGs and music videos with effects and 3d model dancers for the songs. Apparently the creator wrote all the lyrics himself and recorded himself singing the harmonies for the producers. It's clear a lot of love's gone into it and I always end up genuinely invested in the story even though I've always seen 90% of it in little bits during rehearsals.
Ha so I had saved just before the first song and just started the rhythm game when Cam accidentally distracted me and I missed a bunch of notes. So I decided to just sit and watch the music video go by and have another go. He joked that Kisa would be some sort of Acting Blood Sacrifice for getting a C but any effect wouldn't be until later. And THEN I screwed up my hand placement and had to restart AGAIN. And THEN my cat Bing jumped on me right near the end but I IGNORED HIM and GOT AN SS SCORE, WOOO.
(Two of Bing's favourite spots are on my chest when I lie in bed, and and on the couch by himself. So he felt the need to protest me taking up the couch SITTING UP to play a video game)
Rhodonite's Jack Ace: She acts like she's her client's friend when doing something so outrageous... is this play really ethical?
Onyx's Al Jeanne: We can't censor ourselves.
Neji: We've recreated the feeling of watching something with your family and then a love scene comes on. Especially with such an innocent girl. Who knew Kisa could become so much like a young woman?
I always found Chicchi and Rukiora's friendship more shippy than all of the messed up het ships, but from the way Chicchi talks about Rukiora I'm wondering if it's meant to be implicitly one-way canon, yet another doomed love triangle. Rukiora just needs to learn to be less slut-shamey.
Also there's been a few plays now about people raised inside somewhat sinister walled gardens approaching what's outside with yearning and trepidation. Is that a JackJeanne thing or a Neji thing? But Chicchi herself chose to come here and seems to view the outside with wry aversion.
The city in this play has a vibe of like... 1930s gangsters in an exotified mix of Chicago and Rio De Janeiro.
Sou does a great job of playing both the arrogant skeeze and a more macho take on sincere desperate pining than when he's being himself.
Just as Chicchi's secret is in danger of being found out, Kisa is startled when she sees Chui staring at her from the audience, like he can see right through her.
Oooh Neji's character's boyfriend/sponsor offers the younger, prettier Chicchi a chance to become his new lover and the madam of the brothel. The real villain is the patriarchy!
Kisa: Am I discovered? My body is trying to protect "me" by hiding that I'm a girl... I can't be Chicchi like this! My body's shaking... I'm scared...
Sou: Chicchi, take my hand.
Mitsuki: Rukiora can't help it. Being with Chicchi makes her so happy that she sings. There's no doubting that she's Chicchi's friend. We just have to dance, that's what you're here to do.
Rukiora begs the priest to help her overcome her deep inescapable anger at Chicchi. Is she the one whose heart is dirty?
Fumi's character confesses his love to Rukiora, and invites her to come back with him to his old life as a farmer!
Sou's character invites Chicchi to leave with him, she says no and when he asks what she wants she's interrupted by Suzu's character WITH A KNIFE!! I think he's offering to help her kill Sou's character? But they both think she should leave and become 'pure' again.
Chicchi: I came here of my own free will, and if I leave, it will be of my own free will. Goodbye.
She returns to the brothel to see the madam and pimp shouting at each other. Their fight led to an investigation which revealed that the brothel is illegal, and the brothel burns down... for some reason. Sure.
Kisa bursts into tears. Seeing Rukiora, Chicchi wails an apology.
Kisa: I can't be forgiven. Not me, or Chicchi.
And then Mitsuki pulls her into a hug, saying "You're just too loveable. Can you forgive me?"
They forgive each other, and in a high voice, Rukiora says how much she values Chicchi's friendship. Then, in a deeper whisper, Mitsuki says "That applies to you too. You're someone special to me. Whoever you are, it doesn't matter. I forgive you.".
Everyone else watches from the sidelines, thankful Mitsuki can give Kisa the support she needs.
There's a sweet duet between Rukiora and Chicchi which I didn't understand a word of except "Snow White" but it felt shippy!
Rukiora: If you need a place to stay, come dance with me. I like Miguel, but he and I desire different things. I want to be with you. All I want to know is, why did you come here?
Chicchi: I wanted to live the life of a mugwort seller.
"From that day forward, Chicchi and Rukiora lived together, singing and dancing."
This is so cute! CHICCHI/RUKIORA CANON OTP
Kai's priest character: I cannot sleep, night after night...
Chicchi: I see. Shall I burn some mugwort for you?
THE END
Kisa comes off the stage, terrified to know if she has been caught, to find Rhodonite's Al Jeanne and Onyx's Jack Ace there to congratulate her on the authenticity of her performance.
Jack Ace: It was like you were a girl.
Al Jeanne: But what about Mitsuki? He HAS to be a girl! It ticks me off!!
Jack Ace: Yeah he was as good as Kisa.
Al Jeanne: You Jacks just don't get it. Mitsuki's femininity SMASHED THROUGH THE CEILING!! He was like the HOLY MOTHER!
Mitsuki: You're being so loud. That's just what being an Al Jeanne is. Go prepare for your own performance >:/
Kisa: *sigh*
Mitsuki: What, are you jealous? You just need to accept that I'm more of a girl than you. How about you try harder. Ugh, I need to take off my makeup.
AMAZING
ok, previous vague lazy transmasc Mitsuki headcanon abandoned in favour of lazy transfem Mitsuki headcanon.
Aww Sou thinks Mitsuki deliberately upped his Being A Girl acting game to help Kisa hide her gender.
SOU PATH UNLOCKED!!!
So I'll stop there for now. But yay, Kisa is not inherently THE MOST GIRL. She can be her entire true self, even present as femme, and still be read as a man.
Finished the rest of the common route! The plot that had me tense about potential Gender Implications ended very satisfyingly, now the game just has to change gears from being mostly gen and convince me on the Sou romance.
Content note: Gender...stuff? Not transphobia exactly but it's a Lot.
Aww that's right, Mitsuki is asking Kisa for advice on how to talk to Suzu, who is silently struggling with his very emotionally complex, uncharismatic loser character.
Mitsuki is usually very passive but that makes it more striking when he's decisive and sempai-ish.
Aww both Mitsuki and Suzu feel like their roles could be better played by Fumi and Kisa/Sou respectively, which makes them feel weird about asking for help.
Also I didn't mention it before but Sou is a total nerd and many of his cute scenes are at the library reading Acting Books.
Suzu asks Kisa to demonstrate how she'd play his loser character, and she nails it immediately. He talks about how he used to think all he needed to achieve his dream (involving Kendo, I think, I'll probably learn more on his route) was hard work, but gave up due to an injury. Then he had the dream to become an actor after seeing Kisa's brother Tsuki on stage. But he's just falling further behind Kisa and Sou in acting ability.
(Oh also Kisa has avoided admitting she's related to Tsuki with a bunch of lies of omission like "I'm not his brother" lol)
haa, aww, I thought he was going to draw on the loser-y feelings this gives him for his role. But nope, he's decided to lean into being a one note actor with a lot of charisma. If he can only be himself, he's gonna be himself SO MUCH it's a selling point. But he does still want to expand his range as much as he can, and, yep, that will mean drawing on those losery feelings in this case.
This is SO CLEARLY a play about sex work, with Kisa playing a Sad Hooker With A Heart Of Gold, Sou the possessive rich client who wants to own her for himself, Suzu the loser brothel employee who pines resentfully, Mitsuki the naive, judgemental girl raised around sin who tries to stay pure, and Neji the evil slutty abusive madam.
Feels a little weird for 16-18 year olds, even in metaphor, but then again the whole setting has a sort of otherworldly metaphorical vibe. Like the characters contain the essence of highschoolers but are also universal Character Types unmoored from specific ages, highschooler is just another role and archetype they personify amongst many.
Neji: Do you think your acting is appropriate for the role?
Suzu: Yes! This is who he is to me!
Neji: Well then. Good! You're much better, did something nice happen to you?
Suzu: No! I was crazy depressed! Kisa and Mitsuki had to cheer me up with some advice!
Everyone: MITSUKI gave ADVICE??
Mitsuki: I don't remember that >:(
Kisa stumbles across Suzu and Sou practising together.
Suzu: Kisa did such a great job as my character. You should try it too!
Sou: *effortlessly plays a resentful pining loser*
Suzu: Wow, so good! Now play Kisa's character!
Sou: Don't be ridiculous >:(
Suzu: Then I'll do it. STOP ACTING LIKE YOU OWN MY BODY!! D:<
Sou: Whoa. So powerful!
Kisa: Probably can handle the customers like nothing, too!
Suzu: I still like your take on her more, Kisa.
Sou asks Neji for permission to learn showy Jack-ness from Onyx.
Neji: Well if it's for my cute little kohai...
Sou: Can you come with me, Kisa?
Neji: You can learn what your character's clients might be like. It's quite a feast to have so many handsome Jacks around you.
Sou: I'm not sure about that. I want Kisa to watch me.
Kasai, Onyx's twinky Jack who likes Kisa: Ok, I'll train you in the form of a dance competition. If you can't keep up with me, I get to practice with Kisa instead ;)
Sou: I can't do that.
Kasai: Because you'll lose?
Sou: Because I don't want to treat Kisa like an object.
Aww. Sou makes it to the end of the dance, breathless but unbeaten. Oh that's right! They went to middle school together and Kasai totally forgot Sou existed! He apologises for that, and says he definitely remembers who Sou is now.
Sou says he needs to practice dancing more with Fumi, and doesn't want to run away or look pathetic in front of Kisa any more. She says he was cool and he gets all blushy, and says he's gaining the strength towards expressing something that has been building inside him.
Time for a rhythm game practice! C is the lowest score. I get S by default, SS if I'm doing especially well. I need at least one SS per pplay performance (which has 3 songs) to get the best ending for that play, not sure how many I need of those for a good ending but I have 3/4 so far. The songs are getting harder but I'm getting STRONGER. Ish. Might try rejigging the controls, they're a little unintuitive.
SS!
This play is clearly Mitsuki's chance to be the centre of the VN's narrative. He doesn't know who he is, if it's not a singer.
OOOH Kai turned down an offer to join the grownup theatre troop associated with the school!! Meanwhile Fumi and Neji have accepted, thinking it sounds fun.
Fumi obviously feels sad for Kai, and has noticed Mitsuki and Kisa struggling with filling his shoes as Al Jeanne. He takes them aside and says he'll rejig Mitsuki's choreography to have more singing and less dancing, and that Neji is crushing everyone with unreasonable requests. Kai looked like his world was ending when Fumi was given the Jack Ace role. But everyone can shine in these roles, as Sou and Suzu demonstrate.
Fumi: Don't push yourself to do anything out of the ordinary, Mitsu. You're serious enough as it is. And even though we'll be graduating, we're here for now, and will support you.
(Fumi calls everyone with 3 syllable given names cute little shortened nicknames like Mitsu and Soshi)
Haaa. So Fumi's character is in love with Misuki's character Rukiora, who is in love with Sou's character, who is in love with Kisa's character, Chicchi. It's not clear if Chicchi is in love with anyone. But we don't actually see much m/m flirting: Rukiora pines from a distance (though does sound very smitten), and Fumi's wryly pretends to be indifferent except when alone with Chicchi, his friend, when he jokes about how miserable they both are.
Fumi: My character is implied to be a client of Chicchi's, but we never see it on stage. Let's roleplay it!
Kisa: Sure!
And now I have to roleplay Kisa roleplaying soliciting Fumi's character for metaphorical sex. SURE.
Kisa: Thinking of Rukiora?
Fumi: Yes... and how she dreams of someone else. Maybe I should have fallen in love with you.
Kisa: Ha. More sweet talk, even now?
Fumi: Haha. But we understand each other. That we're people who can't be understood.
Kisa; But you don't want someone who understands you, do you?
"Do it from behind me, so you can't see my face" OK THEN FUMI
Ohhh and then he says some stuff about how he wants 'her' to stay on the stage, even though she has to lie, and Kisa and me were both confused how this applies to her character but he's talking to Kisa as himself.
I'm going to paraphrase his whole speech: You're a sly but kind woman. You're standing here pretending to be someone you're not. You like it here don't you? Thanks, we were able to change because of you. It's painful not to tell the truth. But there's a part of me who wants you to always be here, just as you were on the day you decided to hide the truth. Whatever you hide to build a life where with everyone, I want you to keep dancing on this stage.
Fumi: Let me sleep... Ha! That's quite a stranglehold you've got there!
Kisa: Was it too hard? Sou said he wants me to strangle him that hard...
Fumi: What a weird conversation to have with a classmate. But I think I understand things better now. I can't keep pouting when Soshi and Suzu are ahead of me and even Mitsu has kept fighting when he'd usually run away. I gotta show my cool side while I still can.
Fumi wows everyone with his ability to be chivalrous and manly trying to shelter Rukiora's feelings, then tells Mitsu and Kisa he's going to give them Jeanne training.
Fumi watches Kai giving Suzu and Sou Jack lessons and says he's a man of no desires who never thinks of himself.
Fumi: But he's human, and should let himself have the desires he wants.
Mitsuki: If that's how you feel you should tell him.
Fumi: He actually doesn't listen to me much. What about you?
Mitsuki: ...I'm going to get a drink of water >:/
Fumi tells Kisa he had planned on having fun at Univeil then doing something totally different once he graduated. But he's had unexpected experiences, and thinks it would be worth it to wait in the acting troupe for talented newbies to join and change things up, giving Kisa a significant look. Fumiiiii.
Sometimes I run out of Sou scenes, and since I'll be seeing the other LI scenes later, I pick whoever else looks most interesting. There's always the chance to meet with The Fat Jack From Rhodonite who I strongly suspect wants to steal Quartz's songs so I've never talked to him. When I can, I talk to Kisa's female bff, but rn my most interesting option is the principal, though he always feels a little weird to hang out with. He's friendly but a little too informal for a principal talking to a student.
WAIT. IS HE. LEGIT HITTING ON HER???
AND I HAVE THE CHANCE TO RECIPROCATE???
NOOOOOOOOOOO THANK YOUUUUUUUU
Ahh and the walkthrough said to pick someone totally different dammit. Well I'm not going back to my earlier save but I'm also NEVER HANGING OUT WITH HIM AGAIN.
Mitsuki talks to Kisa about wanting to run away, and she says that's ok.
Mitsuki: What's wrong with you that you can listen to this whining... thank you. I think I can say it now.
Aww and then he confronts Kai and tells him to take care of himself more as the Jack Ace??
Mitsuki: You're tall, you look nice, you work hard, yet you're always in the corner.
*ships it a little*
Mitsuki: Neji showed us the way. Fumi ran ahead. And the one who supported everyone from the back... was you!
Neji, Fumi, and Kai: Mitsuki... ;_;
And now I have maxed out Sou's stat (insight) and can apparently just pick whatever.
Kai tells Kisa that Mitsuki has inspired him to fight. And Kisa is the first person who ever made him feel like he was in the centre of the stage, back when they were a team in the second play and Kisa improvised a meaner version of her character to make his more sympathetic. She offers to help him work on his part.
He says he needs his character to act more like a man from the city of desire and asks Kisa to lend him her strength, and dance with him. The next day, Kai hesitates for a moment and Kisa thinks "It's ok, I'm ready" before his character pulls hers into a dance which I think symbolises the priest seducing the young woman who's only just arrived in town.
Everyone is impressed. Neji is delighted and offers Kai the chance to have some extra lines at the end of the story instead of focussing on the friendship of "our two beautiful leads". Kai agrees, even though it's stealing the spotlight.
Fumi: Finally! You're so slow Kai! We're not a pair any more but this means we can be RIVALS :D
Kai: ... yes.
Fumi: Haha! We're finally standing beside each other.
Aw. I still ship them too.
Kai thanks Mitsuki, who blushes happily. Kai tells Mitsuki there's more to him than his singing, then agrees to join the theatre troupe.
Kai thanks Kisa, and says that ever since he first saw her he felt she had the same aura as her brother Tsuki, and that same potential to become a Jack Ace or Al Jeanne who'd leave a legacy long after graduating. But now he realises she exceeds his imagination and could become anyone at all.
Oooh. Mitsuki has levelled up in acting. Neji, acting with him, forgets his line, and Mitsuki takes him to task for not taking his character seriously enough or understanding her character, even though he wrote the script. Neji apologises and says he'll do better.
Fumi: Look who got yelled at ;)
Neji: I've been so arrogant, it was only a matter of time.
Kai: Mitsuki wasn't trying to attack you.
Neji: I know. I know so much that it hurts :(
What is UP with Neji. Something earlier made me think he might be dying of a terminal disease or something??
Neji tells Kisa that Mitsuki's line made Neji feel like his younger self, and that he's like Mitsuki's character Rukiora. The line was... *checks* "I'll leave you all in this filthy putrid town... with [Sou's character who is in love with Kisa's character], my beloved!"
Huuuuh. Is this about him leaving Amber? There's so many layers of metaphor I'm not always able to untangle...
Haa and then he says he saw Kisa get the right rawness, between girl and woman, when dancing with Kai, but the moment she let go of his hand it felt like Kisa deliberately extinguished it. He wonders if he's missing something, and doing her harm by pushing her. I assumed he'd be the FIRST to figure out she's a girl, but I guess not!
Mitsuki apparently sings even better than before, though the voice actor... does not. He is legit good in full songs, though.
Neji asks Kisa to come to his office and rambles about how happy he has been watching everyone grow and find themselves, and how she is like the central gear helping Quartz function.
Kisa offers to help him practice his character, and he says he just needs to put away some memories making him sympathise with Rukiora, who his Evil Slutty Madam should be ruthlessly bullying. (Neji isn't gender essentialist etc to real people but he sure does wallow in Gendered Tropes as a writer)
Kisa: But Rukiora is unbearably sympathetic, couldn't your character feel a pang of sympathy despite herself?
Neji: Sympathising with the victim of one's own sins... I don't like it but it does happen... Heh, now you're the one directing me.
Kisa: Sorry if I was out of line.
Neji: No, I learned something, thank you. I only wish I had more time, so you could teach me just what sort of person I am.
Neji: So how was my performance, Mikki?
Mitsuki: Rukiora hates your character, but until now I didn't care personally. But seeing her pity, when she was the one who hurt Rukiora to begin with... I wanted her to DIE.
Neji: Yay!
Suzu: Hah, Kisa, your costume is really see-through. And you'll have to be careful it doesn't slip off when you do your mugwort seller move.
Kisa: Haha, yeah, and when I'm dancing.
Sou: o.O ...........UH. WHAT WERE WE TALKING ABOUT? UH. YEAH, I'LL DO MY BEST!
Ahhh. They practice the scene where Rukiora, who hates
Sou: Now let's stay calm...
Mitsuki: Shut up you useless man. Chicchi, I thought we were friends! Are you really a mugwort seller? Just tell me the truth and I'll forgive you.
Kisa/Chicchi: (How would everyone react if they found out my secret?) I am one of the mugwort sellers you hate so much.
Mitsuki: I HATE YOU. Never come near me with that disgusting stench again!!
Kisa: *visibly overcome with sadness at the thought of losing her friends, in character and as herself*
Mitsuki: D: ?
That night Mitsuki comes to her room.
Mitsuki: You don't have to say anything. But I've been confused why you haven't fully embraced your task of acting like a woman when you have the capability. And then today, seeing you... I thought perhaps... you might have a reason to hold back. Because you're hiding... something.
Kisa: *gasp*
Mitsuki: I see. You once told me it's alright to run away. It made me so relived I nearly cried. So now I'm telling you, that you have permission to run away too. No matter who you are, I accept you. I'm your sempai after all.
We see Mitsuki and Kisa practice the scene where Chicchi explains that she lied because she wanted to be Rukiora's friend.
I am having Feelings. Also, a metaphor for a despised sex-worker who stinks of sex/mugwort as a metaphor for secretly being afab is... well, it's something!!
Kisa confides in Sou that she's scared what will happen when she is inevitably revealed as a girl, and he says that though he has no proof, he feels sure that everything will be alright. He has faith in her, and she should too.
The teacher asks what she's going to do and she talks about how Univeil was her dream since childhood, but since she knew it was impossible she put that dream away. But she's been given a chance. And this place is important to everyone here, and the audience too. The one thing she doesn't want to lie about is how she feels about the theatre.
My only choice is "Act as a woman".
He says he had his concerns, but as a former student himself, he's realised she's a genius, and this is the one place she can be free. She needs to give it all she's got.
Christmas Eve, the day of the Winter performance. Rhodonite's Jack Ace and Onyx's Al Jeanne agree that Chui was an ass to drop out of Amber's play YESTERDAY saying it wasn't worth his time. (WOW, CHUI) They're sure Kisa's going to do something worth watching and are curious to see fellow second year Mitsuki finally step up as an Al Jeanne. Chui's genius has cast a heavy shadow over their year.
Omg everyone's in costume and NEJI WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE MASSIVE BOSOMS. Previously there was vague mention of chests being 'padded with towels' but this is some high quality latex body suit visible skin cleavage.
Kisa, in a determined shonen hero voice: I'm going to become... A WOMAN!!
I am looking forward to being past the "Kisa must learn to BE A WOMAN" arc. It doesn't even feel THAT transphobic it's just inherently dysphoria inducing.
All the performances play out as full plays, with lots of CGs and music videos with effects and 3d model dancers for the songs. Apparently the creator wrote all the lyrics himself and recorded himself singing the harmonies for the producers. It's clear a lot of love's gone into it and I always end up genuinely invested in the story even though I've always seen 90% of it in little bits during rehearsals.
Ha so I had saved just before the first song and just started the rhythm game when Cam accidentally distracted me and I missed a bunch of notes. So I decided to just sit and watch the music video go by and have another go. He joked that Kisa would be some sort of Acting Blood Sacrifice for getting a C but any effect wouldn't be until later. And THEN I screwed up my hand placement and had to restart AGAIN. And THEN my cat Bing jumped on me right near the end but I IGNORED HIM and GOT AN SS SCORE, WOOO.
(Two of Bing's favourite spots are on my chest when I lie in bed, and and on the couch by himself. So he felt the need to protest me taking up the couch SITTING UP to play a video game)
Rhodonite's Jack Ace: She acts like she's her client's friend when doing something so outrageous... is this play really ethical?
Onyx's Al Jeanne: We can't censor ourselves.
Neji: We've recreated the feeling of watching something with your family and then a love scene comes on. Especially with such an innocent girl. Who knew Kisa could become so much like a young woman?
I always found Chicchi and Rukiora's friendship more shippy than all of the messed up het ships, but from the way Chicchi talks about Rukiora I'm wondering if it's meant to be implicitly one-way canon, yet another doomed love triangle. Rukiora just needs to learn to be less slut-shamey.
Also there's been a few plays now about people raised inside somewhat sinister walled gardens approaching what's outside with yearning and trepidation. Is that a JackJeanne thing or a Neji thing? But Chicchi herself chose to come here and seems to view the outside with wry aversion.
The city in this play has a vibe of like... 1930s gangsters in an exotified mix of Chicago and Rio De Janeiro.
Sou does a great job of playing both the arrogant skeeze and a more macho take on sincere desperate pining than when he's being himself.
Just as Chicchi's secret is in danger of being found out, Kisa is startled when she sees Chui staring at her from the audience, like he can see right through her.
Oooh Neji's character's boyfriend/sponsor offers the younger, prettier Chicchi a chance to become his new lover and the madam of the brothel. The real villain is the patriarchy!
Kisa: Am I discovered? My body is trying to protect "me" by hiding that I'm a girl... I can't be Chicchi like this! My body's shaking... I'm scared...
Sou: Chicchi, take my hand.
Mitsuki: Rukiora can't help it. Being with Chicchi makes her so happy that she sings. There's no doubting that she's Chicchi's friend. We just have to dance, that's what you're here to do.
Rukiora begs the priest to help her overcome her deep inescapable anger at Chicchi. Is she the one whose heart is dirty?
Fumi's character confesses his love to Rukiora, and invites her to come back with him to his old life as a farmer!
Sou's character invites Chicchi to leave with him, she says no and when he asks what she wants she's interrupted by Suzu's character WITH A KNIFE!! I think he's offering to help her kill Sou's character? But they both think she should leave and become 'pure' again.
Chicchi: I came here of my own free will, and if I leave, it will be of my own free will. Goodbye.
She returns to the brothel to see the madam and pimp shouting at each other. Their fight led to an investigation which revealed that the brothel is illegal, and the brothel burns down... for some reason. Sure.
Kisa bursts into tears. Seeing Rukiora, Chicchi wails an apology.
Kisa: I can't be forgiven. Not me, or Chicchi.
And then Mitsuki pulls her into a hug, saying "You're just too loveable. Can you forgive me?"
They forgive each other, and in a high voice, Rukiora says how much she values Chicchi's friendship. Then, in a deeper whisper, Mitsuki says "That applies to you too. You're someone special to me. Whoever you are, it doesn't matter. I forgive you.".
Everyone else watches from the sidelines, thankful Mitsuki can give Kisa the support she needs.
There's a sweet duet between Rukiora and Chicchi which I didn't understand a word of except "Snow White" but it felt shippy!
Rukiora: If you need a place to stay, come dance with me. I like Miguel, but he and I desire different things. I want to be with you. All I want to know is, why did you come here?
Chicchi: I wanted to live the life of a mugwort seller.
"From that day forward, Chicchi and Rukiora lived together, singing and dancing."
This is so cute! CHICCHI/RUKIORA CANON OTP
Kai's priest character: I cannot sleep, night after night...
Chicchi: I see. Shall I burn some mugwort for you?
THE END
Kisa comes off the stage, terrified to know if she has been caught, to find Rhodonite's Al Jeanne and Onyx's Jack Ace there to congratulate her on the authenticity of her performance.
Jack Ace: It was like you were a girl.
Al Jeanne: But what about Mitsuki? He HAS to be a girl! It ticks me off!!
Jack Ace: Yeah he was as good as Kisa.
Al Jeanne: You Jacks just don't get it. Mitsuki's femininity SMASHED THROUGH THE CEILING!! He was like the HOLY MOTHER!
Mitsuki: You're being so loud. That's just what being an Al Jeanne is. Go prepare for your own performance >:/
Kisa: *sigh*
Mitsuki: What, are you jealous? You just need to accept that I'm more of a girl than you. How about you try harder. Ugh, I need to take off my makeup.
AMAZING
ok, previous vague lazy transmasc Mitsuki headcanon abandoned in favour of lazy transfem Mitsuki headcanon.
Aww Sou thinks Mitsuki deliberately upped his Being A Girl acting game to help Kisa hide her gender.
SOU PATH UNLOCKED!!!
So I'll stop there for now. But yay, Kisa is not inherently THE MOST GIRL. She can be her entire true self, even present as femme, and still be read as a man.