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Post by Hermes on Aug 6, 2009 9:33:26 GMT -5
Splendid as always! Actually I'm feeling very sad for Olaf now - he seems to have had this wonderful start in life, and it all went wrong.
And now we know who the two boys are. I guess the one with the long nose experienced hair loss later in life.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Aug 6, 2009 11:13:10 GMT -5
Haha, Flacutono and the wart-faced man (sorry I can't remember his name or even if he had one) are the two boys! And they're so cruel and annoying! I'm glad Olaf gave them what they deserve, even if he did feel badly about it. Which is good, because it makes me love him, which is something I never do and- *stops babbling* Even though she's only just been introduced, I absolutely love your portrayal of Kit: she's the type of girl who's so pretty and talented, and yet goes unnoticed by so many others. Don't worry about making Lemony evil, because you haven't. I love the way you write him.
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Post by melon head. on Aug 7, 2009 1:54:29 GMT -5
Aww, thanks guys! Yes, the long-nosed man either loses his hair or else just is bold and shaves it off. Who knows. And Emma, thank you. That's exactly the way I wanted people to think of Kit when they read about her. *Groans* I'm sick (I think I have laryngitis) and I missed school today. My friend called me and told me that instead of sport we had this huge bullying intervention and it was amazing and everyone cried and now the whole year level is best friends with one and other. And I was at home watching Arrested Development. *Shakes fist* How is that fair? Not that I don't love Arrested Development, but I did also have double drama today which is my best subject. Oh, well. This should take me mind of things. .___. {O,o} /)__) -"-"- I'm a sick, sick bastard. I haven't been able to stop thinking about Kit Snicket. Beautiful, perfect Kit Snicket. I'm a goddamn paedophile! She must be sixteen at the most. That's an eleven year age gap! That's not right! What's the matter with me? Why would I develop feelings for a girl eleven years younger than me? "Well, no matter what happens, know that I love you," my mother said, taking my plate and balancing it on her arm. She bent over and kissed my head. "Thank you mom, but that's not as comforting as you may have assumed." I grimaced as my father withdrew a cigarette and held it between his teeth as he lit it. Mom walked out of the room, and Dad leaned in towards me. "Pretty girls will always be pretty no matter what," he said, blowing smoke into the air. "It's normal to have a schoolboy crush on a pretty girl. I like looking at girls down the street who are pretty; doesn't mean I don't love your mom." I nodded, not mentioning that what I felt for Kit was so much more than a crush. Soon she'll be working backstage as we start on our big theatrical production of the year, Phèdre. We've organized it so that everything will be rehearsed in English up until the last week of rehearsals, then the cast will speak French so as to prepare for the show itself. I'm feeling more and more stupid for not speaking French as time wears on. Anyway, this means I'm going to have to be around her every single day. So far I've only met her once, briefly, and she's driving me crazy. What will happen if we spend actual time together? I don't even want to think about it. Why oh why did I volunteer to be the director?
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Aug 7, 2009 8:53:22 GMT -5
Poor May, sick with laryngitis! *hugs* I had that when I was about five and hated it because my parents made me stay indoors. I hope you feel better soon, and I'm sorry you had to miss such an exciting event at school because of it. Hopefully writing helped you to feel better (I know it's the best cure for me when I'm feeling down or angry about something). I love how Olaf is feeling guilty in response to his feelings for Kit (it means he's a decent guy), and how his parents do what they can to set his mind at ease. No doubt their support won't be any use, but it's nice to know they care. And things seem to be continuing on a downward spiral for Olaf, don't they? What's going to happen when he and Kit actually have to be in the same room together for long periods of time, as is mentioned???
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Post by melon head. on Aug 9, 2009 20:44:27 GMT -5
I went to the doctor and I don't have laryngitis! I do, however, have a viral throat infection. Yay. So it's my third day of being bored at home (I was sick all weekend too). Oh well. At least I have The Kit Diaries to distract me. Thanks for the kind words as always, Emma. Yes, Olaf is a decent guy. But even decent guys do naughty things. .___. {O,o} /)__) -"-"- Auditions. Both marvelous and tedious. We've had the good- Beatrice auditioned for Phaedra, and was amazing. She's got the part, if only my stubborn board of trustees would agree with me. Apparently the director of the play doesn't get to pick the cast- the Vice Principal and the head of the Music Department, Ms. Cavalier, need to help decide. "She's brilliant," I pointed out. "But we haven't seen everyone yet!" cried Nero, looking furious. How this man became Vice Principal, I'll never know. He wanted to do a violin recital during the interval when we stage the show. After much persuasion, we decided against it. Thank God. "Fine, but so far she's our number one choice, agreed?" I asked. Nero nodded. I looked to Ms. Cavalier. Ms. Cavalier may have been dead for all I knew. She's 625 years old and just sits there all day, squinting and not talking. She's tiny- smaller than me by about a meter- and when she talks, she has this ridiculously high-pitched squeak of a voice. "Next, please?" Esme Bleaurghsnsjdnand was next. She was awful. Just awful. She attempted to tap-dance but looked like she was having a stroke. She sang in what she thought was sexy, husky voice, but she actually sounded kind of congested. Nero told her to go to the nurse. She politely declined this and started her monologue. " Shall I speak ill of him that is my boyfriend?" "Thank you," I said. "That's quite enough." When she left, Nero rounded on me. "She had barely uttered the first line!" he exclaimed. "She said 'boyfriend'. The line is 'husband'. I can't stand anyone abusing Shakespeare." Nero rolled his eyes but said nothing. (An achievement on his part.) "Next please?" I tapped my pen against the desk impatiently, but beamed when I saw R. "Hello!" I said brightly. "Hi," R said breathlessly. She swallowed. "I'm going to sing first." "Okay then," I said, smiling. "Kit's on the piano," she told me. And then, out of nowhere, Kit was at the piano, sitting down, her beautiful fingers perched over its keys, her teeth biting down on her lip, preparing to play. She looked at R, winked, and then began to play. Rhythmically, beautifully, as though she had a thousand fingers instead of ten, and she was looking at R, proud of her friend, almost like a sister. "Would you excuse me for a second?" I stood up abruptly and left the theatre.
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Post by JTB on Aug 9, 2009 21:45:11 GMT -5
Marvelous! I finally found the time tonight to read the full Kit Diaries, and I devoured them. Wonderful, wonderful creation, May. Really great story and characters - I really love how you've done Lemony.
Olaf = greatness. His cool teacherness, his terrible secret crush...awesome. This last part was brilliant - I heart Nero. ;D
Can't wait for the next one!
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Aug 9, 2009 21:58:33 GMT -5
May, that was absolutely wonderful! I just adored Esme's "abuse" on Shakespeare, and how Nero told her to go to the nurse for sounding congested when she sung. She totally would!
Olaf's reaction to seeing Kit again was perfect - it really highlights the fact that he's trying his best to control his feelings.
I'm sorry to hear that you're still not feeling well, but it's a relief that you don't have laryngitis after all. I hope that your throat infection clears up soon. *hugs*
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Post by melon head. on Aug 13, 2009 7:38:03 GMT -5
Thank you guys! I’m all better now. I’m still taking cough medicine and antibiotics but I should be off them any time in the next few days. Hoorah! And thank you, JTB. I’m glad you’re liking the series so far. .___. {O,o} /)__) -"-"- The final cast list is up! It didn't take long at all. Just a little persuasive and slightly patronizing talk with Nero and then Ms. Cavalier- though I'm eighty percent sure she's deaf. Oh, well. I should explain about the other day, though it's not too exciting. After I walked out on auditions, I washed my face and cleared my head with a brisk lap around the oval. I still have no idea what to do, but I was able to go back into that hall with a half decent mind and a steady hand. R turned out to be amazing, once I got over the fact that Kit was playing the piano. Anyway, here's the final cast: Phaedra will be played by the ever-so-exquisite Beatrice. Jacques is playing Theseus, king of Athens. Seems fitting. R will play Aricia and Hippolytus will be played by Bertrand. Then there are the other people I don’t care abot as much- Olivia will be Oenone, Theramenes will be played by Lemony, Ismène is to be played by Geraldine, and Esme is Panope. Lemony, despite the fact that he doesn’t do drama, is very passionate, though this is probably just to rival me. Esme is actually very good, as long as there’s no singing. Geraldine… well… no comment. She was the next best thing. She just does whatever Esme tells her to do. This morning, Bertrand ran into the cast meeting with Kit on his back. Both were laughing. I wonder if they’re a couple? Half of me hopes so, but the other half- the greedy, selfish, paedophile half- wants Kit to be single. If I can’t have her , no one should. I am a poor excuse for a human being.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Aug 13, 2009 11:25:34 GMT -5
Poor, poor Olaf. Even though I'm not familiar with the play they're doing (I am not learned in the least when it comes to theatre), I love the idea of Jacques playing a king. Another detail I love in this chapter is Geraldine letting Esme tell her what to do and not thinking one way or the other about it. It really intensifies Geraldine's loyalty and admiration of her. I remember back when you wrote How I Escaped on a Heart-Shaped balloon there was a small mention of Bertrand once having been married to Kit. Are we going to see any clues to that in this fic, or is it a separate universe?
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Post by Jenny on Aug 13, 2009 11:30:29 GMT -5
All chapters since I last left a comment have been excellent--Esmé ruining Juliet was the funniest thing ever Also, Olaf describing himself as a creepy selfish paedophile in the latest part did make me laugh a bit--I know he's quite sweet here, but that's pretty much what he is. He knows relatively little about Kit yet, after all.
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Post by melon head. on Aug 14, 2009 7:06:55 GMT -5
Arr, my hearties. I be thanking ye for the kind words. I'm dressed as a pirate because I just got back from a school dinner- the theme was pirates vs. princesses. I'm glad you liked it Jenny! And Emma- I'd completely forgotten that whole Bertrand/Kit thing. I wasn't planning on putting it in the story, but there definitely is more happening between Kit and Bertrand... .___. {O,o} /)__) -"-"-
"So, Olaf..." Kit was leaning over me, talking to me, breathing on me. She was smiling, her tongue poking out through her teeth. "Everyone seems to think you're amazing. I'm a tough critic, however." She laughed and sat down on the table in front of me. "Let's bond. Tell me about yourself." "My name is Olaf," I said slowly, not meeting her gaze. "I'm twenty-seven-" "Really?" Kit asked in shock. "You look younger. That's a handy life skill, looking young." She nodded knowingly. God, she has such perforated energy. The way she holds herself and walks everywhere with a little skip- I can't believe I never noticed her before. "I live alone, I love theatre and poetry, I speak limited English and nothing else, and I really like food. Really. A lot. I'm going to request roast beef as my dying meal." "Interesting," Kit said, surveying me with watchful eyes. "Well. My name is Kit. I'm sixteen, I live at this school and share a dorm with R. I also love theatre and poetry, and speak fluent French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, German, Japanese, Mandarin and, of course, English. I also love food, but I got sick off roast beef once and haven't gone back since." "My mum's roast beef would change your mind,"I told her. I was feeling more and more comfortable as time wore on- maybe the way I felt for her hadn't been anything more than a schoolboy crush. "Well, I'm glad to see we both like poetry," Kit patted my back and started rocking back and forth. "We can be verse buddies. You like Baudelaire?" "Charles?" "No, Bertrand. Of course Charles!" She laughed. There was loud crash as the theatre doors swung opened and in walked my cast, all looking pumped and ready for rehearsals. "You are all late," I said loudly, leaping up and away from Kit. "Ms. Snicket was the only one who was prompt." " Ms. Snicket is always prompt," Kit said, annoyed. She hopped off the table and over to Beatrice and R, with whom she started muttering quietly. Lemony smirked at me and began to talk with Jacques. "Okay, everyone, Kit's going to be sitting in on the read-through. Just so she figures out cues and everything." Bertrand was now walking over to Kit and whispering in her ear. His lips were so close I swear he was touching flesh. She listened and then doubled over in laughter. I felt a pang of annoyance followed by a surge of jealousy. Kit was leaning on Bertrand for support, her hips bumping against his thighs... "Enough!" I boomed. Everyone looked surprise that "Cool Olaf" had dropped the ball in terms of calmness, but I couldn't help it. Esme looked impressed; Geraldine mimicked her. "Please take a set with your English versions of the script and we'll go through it. Nice and slow; we want to get to know the characters." My eyes flicked to Kit, someone who already knew all the characters backwards as though she'd shared an apartment with them years ago. She wasn't looking a me, but holding Bertrand's open palm in her hands and attempting to read it. I clapped my hands and everybody scuttled to find seats. I sat down at my desk, and opened my diary, and now here I am.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Aug 14, 2009 9:00:49 GMT -5
I hope you had fun at your school dinner - it sure sounds like it was enjoyable, and I'll bet you made an awesome pirate! Absolutely fantastic chapter, May! It's interesting to learn that Olaf actually looked young for his age - or was that merely Kit's attempt at flirtation? I feel a bit bad for him knowing that he speaks nothing but English, whereas Kit speaks eight languages. Awww. I liked the transformation from Olaf's "cool teacher" exterior to "serious instructor" at the end, and how Esme seemed to be pretty impressed by it. She strikes me as the type of girl who's attracted to men who are domineering, and I like that you've created a futuristic look into that here. *bows down to May the Pirate and her amazing story-telling*
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Post by JTB on Aug 15, 2009 11:13:09 GMT -5
Excellent chapter, May. I really like Olaf's anger demonstrated upon the students when he sees Bertrand and Kit. I also love how Lemony can almost read his mind and tell Olaf's getting angry at seeing them.
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Post by Hermes on Aug 16, 2009 14:33:38 GMT -5
This continues to be excellent. As Nanaki says, seeing the transformation in Olaf is really interesting.
I loved Esme's maiden name. As for Ms Cavalier, knowing the way you write, I'm wondering if anything mysterious lurks behind her name.
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Post by Jenny on Aug 16, 2009 16:28:24 GMT -5
...What maiden name? Do I always miss these things? I agree--this will always be excellent! I absolutely love Kit, she's so sweet. Also, how old does Olaf look? This is an interesting question--Esmé's opinion was fourteen, what's Kit's? Lol
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