Shameful Pasts

Shameful Pasts

• Related Event: Resplendent Refrain/May 2019
• Release Date: May 14, 2019
• Featured Characters: Vixel, Fritz

Dialogue

My conducting today was simply awful. I did not make good use of each individual's talent, and the collective result was nothing short of a mess. It is so damnably frustrating! Can't believe that audience member thought they could go at the boss like that. It really pisses me off! Watch it! ...... My apologies. You are Fritz from the circus troupe, are you not? That's me. And you're that conductor guy named Vixel, yeah? Seems lke I heard you grumbling just now. I could say the same of you. Perhaps we're more alike than I suspected. And maybe you ain't the goody two-shoes I took you for at first. Well, it seems we both have some issue bubbling under the surface. How very surprising. How so? You are an entertainer; a man who lives always in the public eye. It's difficult for such a man to keep skeletons in his closet. And you're a conductor, which just makes you a different kind of entertainer. One needs more than surface knowledge to play first-rate music. There are certain... sacrifices that must be made. I hear that. Hell, I polished my dagger-throwing skills on living targets. It seems everyone has a story. And a few they'd rather keep hidden. So what was your deal, music man? Did you smash out church windows with iron pipes and hijack carriages like I did? No—but I did used to walk around looking for any excuse to fight. Even the smallest of stray glances was enough for me. Ha ha! I used to punch out any fool who even looked at me cross-eyed! In fact... Huh?

Woman I'm sorry! I didn't mean to look at you! Please don't beat me with a pipe!

Who the—how long have you been standing there?!

Boy I just wanted your autograph, mister... Woman And I wanted to give a gift to Vixel, but now I fear I've stumbled into a conversation most sordid and dire!

Uhhh... Give us one tick here. Well, this ain't good. We'll need to talk our way out of this. You begin, and I will make sure that my story matches yours to a T. ...All right, you two. It's time to witness the true power of the circus. Ladieeeees and geeeeentlement! Prepare for a magical, mystical, MARVELOUS circus unlike anything you've ever seen before!

Woman Sweet Ilia! You're going to beat us about the head and shoulders with pipes!

Nobody's beatin' nobody with a pipe!...We're gonna show you a secret. Er, yes. For you see, you have stumbled upon our secret plan to fuse the world of the circus with the world of music! Right! And it turns out one of our ideas involves using daggers to smash stained glass into little bits. That's what we were discussing when you came up behind us. Apologies if we somehow gave the wrong impression. Ah, but mere words are not enough. Let us show you a working version of our act to make it up to you! I will sing, while he throws daggers at targets in time to the music. Naturally, he will not miss a single one. ...Er, right? I never miss. Let's go! La la laaaaa! ♪ Ha ha yaaah!

Boy Okay, now I TOTALLY need your autograph! Woman I can't believe I'm hearing Vixel sing in person... My heart feels like it's going to thump right out of my chest! *siiigh*

We're glad you enjoyed our show. Do come again! ...... Thanks for the save. It's been a long time since I've sung in front of a live audience, and I would prefer to put the experience behind me. What? Why? You were great. Regardless, though we managed to worm our way out of trouble this time, we should be more careful in the future. Our work may be different, but we both chose to live in the public eye. We cannot destroy the dreams they expect us to create. Yeah, nobody wants to know the sordid details of a dagger-thrower's past. Besides, I worked this hard so I could leave those bloody alleys behind me. I can't go slipping back now. I owe it to my fans AND myself. Well said indeed. Let us continue to strive for excellence in all that we do! And on that note, I must cease lamenting my failures and return to my studies. Sounds like a plan to me. ...Oh, but let's make sure to meet up in secret every now and then, yeah? We can talk about our pasts, or maybe this new act we're putting together. New act...? Wait, you're serious?! Hmm. Actually, that might be something of a lark, now that I think about it. And it could also be a truly dazzling show!

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