[Open] Movie Night: Ninja Mime

[nutkrusher]

Who: Cassie Cage and YOU (or you and somebody else, but Cassie is your host for the evening)
Where: Cinema carriage
When: 19 Grasshopper
What: A screening of Johnny Cage's 90s classic, Ninja Mime

SNACKS AND PREPARATIONS

Cassie will be making preparations for tonight well before the film starts, making good use of the popcorn machine, as well as some of the juice stocks from the kitchen. Every other guest is free to bring their own snacks as well. She'll be available for any questions regarding the oeuvre of one Mr. Johnny Cage, or whatever else you might want to talk to her about.

Alternately, you could just hang out and chat about whatever.

THE FILM

It's a tale as old as time. Boy becomes ninja, ninja clan loses sacred idol that has served as its emblem for hundreds of years, ninja clan tasks boy to retrieve sacred idol, boy finds idol, boy leads rival ninja clan on chase through New York City, boy loses idol in rooftop scuffle, idol finds its way to an antique shop owned by a foxy single mother with an adorably precocious child, boy goes undercover at the mime college next door to hide from his rival clan while he attempts to discreetly retrieve the idol from the foxy antique-shop-owning single mother he might be falling for.

You know, standard stuff. But what'll really keep you riveted is the revolutionary choreography, in which the twin arts of mime and ninjutsu are combined to create new unstoppable techniques. In the hands of a ninja, an invisible rope is a deadly weapon. It also makes for some solid sight gags. Johnny has clearly studied his Jackie Chan.

Also a highlight is the demanding and temperamental head instructor of the mime college, played with aplomb by a beloved character actor. Only such a master as this could truly unlock Johnny's full potential as a ninja. But having tasted the art of mime (as well as having tasted the friendly and attractive antique shop owner), will our hero even want to go back to his previous life?

Or shall he remain...a Ninja Mime?

Your character may react to these proceedings as they see fit.

[OOC: You can make something up that fits the general description I've given if you like.]

THAT'S A WRAP

Ever the gracious host, Cassie will be sticking around for cleanup and any after-film carousing that may take place. Help her out if you feel like it, or continue to converse with your friends.

Comments

Too bad none of the trainers here have a Mr Mime

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel stepped into the carriage while Cassie was still setting up and simply set a tray of fresh pastries and mini carrot cakes on the table.

"Out of curiosity, did your father study mime, or was this simply acting," he asked with a definite twinkle in his eye.

[nutkrusher]

"I wasn't there, so I don't know that he didn't," Cassie says. "But I'd bet pretty good money that it's all just choreography."

[laurefindil]

"Well, I look forward to seeing it," he assured her. "Mind if I sit near you in case I have questions?"

[nutkrusher]

"Go right ahead," Cassie says. "I'm sure you'll have...a few."

[blue_ice]

"Ninja techniques are traditionally stealth-based, and miming is silent. It's not the worst fusion idea I've ever heard..."

And here's Kaiba, plopping himself in a chair near the back.

"But the choreography would likely create empty space that would be hard for the audience to follow at the speed of a fight."

He's skeptical, big time.

[nutkrusher]

"And that about sums up the pitch meeting for the movie," Cassie says.

"You won't have to worry about the choreography, though. Dad does his own stunts."

Cassie dims the lights as the film starts. Several goons stand guarding a crate in the middle of the harbor. Suddenly a shadowy figure darts across the screen. Obviously-synthesized shakuhachi stings are helpfully, inelegantly inserted into the proceedings to inform the audience that Ninja Things are taking place.

[blue_ice]

Kaiba nods as he settles in. Whatever else happens...it at least won't be like anything he's seen before. Whether that's a good or bad thing remains to be seen.

It starts, and he leans forward just a bit, as if that will help him see. The action is quick and easy to miss, but sure enough, the guards start to fall one by one. It's incredible how easily they're herded.

"Mm. Must've been challenging for his supporting cast as well. But he's...really something."

[nutkrusher]

"A lot of people used to question whether he was the real deal," Cassie says. "Saving the world shut them up good."

Soon Johnny grabs the idol, and the scene transitions into a lengthy, stunt-filled footrace through Vancouver New York at night. They run across the streets, through the buildings, and over rooftops. Soon the hero finds himself nearly cornered, playing tug of war for the idol with an evil ninja. Suddenly, it's wrenched out of the grasp of both of them and begins to tumble into the alley below...

the film

[sos_pilot]

This is one of the worst things Della has ever seen.

She loves it.

"Oh, man! I can't believe the 'lock in an invisible prison' gag worked! I may not hate mimes anymore."

[nutkrusher]

Oh hey, it's a duck. Cassie's pretty sure she's seen her around. In any case, Dad would certainly be happy his movies play to an interdimensional audience.

"That's the magic of ninjas. They make everything better."

[sos_pilot]

"Ninjas do make everything better." Della agreed sagely. "A huge pain to get out of the roof rafters, but otherwise..."

[nutkrusher]

"On balance, I'd rather have a ninja infestation on my roof than a mime infestation," Cassie says.

Film Reaction - Open to Glorfindel (or anyone else)

[nutkrusher]

The film reaches one of its most pivotal scenes near the end of the second act. Our hero must warn the foxy single mom and her adorable child of ongoing danger in the middle of a performance. But with his instructor watching, he can't use his words.

What results is a desperate game of charades, in which clueless onlookers make comically wrong guesses. (For those playing at home, the correct answer is "ninja assassins are on the roof above you.")

Re: Film Reaction - Open to Glorfindel (or anyone else)

[laurefindil]

"No, I think that tall woman's guess of 'your hat is on fire' is completely understandable considering the motions he is making."

"Did they actually try some of these out on unsuspecting people to get those reactions?"

[nutkrusher]

Cassie gigglesnorts. "Yeah, some of them make it into the gag reel in the end credits. There's one really great one I won't spoil."

Eventually the hero gives up on charades. Now he must learn to believe in the power of mime. The film goes into slow motion as he pantomimes swirling a lariat over his head and hurls it in the direction of the evil ninja.

[laurefindil]

"Is this one of those movies where the best scenes are the ones in the end credits?" Glorfindel asked. He might have had a couple of those inflicted on him.

"This is actually quite captivating. It's very formulaic, yet you find yourself waiting with bated breath to see how they manage it." He grinned when the confused evil ninja is captured and dragged from his hiding spot.

Evil being a quicker study, of course, he quickly cut himself free with a pantomimed knife. "I saw that coming," Glorfindel said, nodding.

Re: Film Reaction - Open to Glorfindel (or anyone else)

[soldier_blade]

She hadn't seen this movie in ages, nearly 30 years even. The first and only time, she was pregnant with Cassie and it was so bad she went into active labor.

Decades later, she found the movie hadn't aged well-if at all. "I will say this, atleast it's this movie and not 'Jist of my Fist."

Ninja Mime atleast earned 'so bad it's good' for cult status. 'Jist' was just plain bad; even Johnny couldn't defend it, and claimed half the time he shot it, he was drunk.

[nutkrusher]

"Dad has told me repeatedly not to speak of that film by name," Cassie says, her tone filled with mock seriousness.

[soldier_blade]

She mirrored her expression and way of speaking. "Yes, because heaven forbid Johnny Cage never appear as anything but a million dollars on the silver screen. No one must ever know of the D-list films he had to do before he started earning raspberry awards."

The expression held before she broke out laughing. He liked to image that, but that would mean ignoring the many nights of interrupted sleep the first year of Cassie's life, followed by the sporadic moments of childhood illness where Johnny lost all sense of composure and was convinced a childhood cold was worth a trip to the ER.

Film Viewing Proper - (Tidus) + OTA

[adregem]

Movies and toys - two of Roland's passions growing up, before all the mess of his world ever came to his periphery. He admits he should be frequenting the cinema car more often, and it's not like he doesn't know there are tons of movies for him to enjoy anyway. He just hasn't found the time, and if he was going to watch a movie in an interdimensional train of his wildest dreams, he was going to do it with a free schedule and all the time in the world.

Which is why, now, he's positively vibrating with excitement when Tidus told him about a new title to watch...or, as much as Roland can show outwardly. He looks excited at the very least, openly smiling, the title alone piquing his interest like crazy. "Ninja Mime, eh? I've watched a lot of movies about ninjas, but with mimes? Heh. Are you getting the popcorn? Is this a movie with a sequel? Is it a series? Let's get good seats!"

is tidus

[blitzcheer]

Someone needs to handle their time better, for a guy who likes to be all Proper and Businessman or whatever else you want to pin on him.

A good thing Roland has Tidus around to make sure he checks out the fun things in life, as limited as they have anything under that definition on this long (long, long, long) train ride, and that doesn't get old quick. But Tidus has been itching to sit down and see one of Cassie's old man's movies himself, so he invites along anyone he thinks would be into it, and those who just need to chill out. Like Roland!

Roland, who's getting Tidus cross-armed, a bewildered smirk on his face as he faces away from the popcorn machine he was aiming to head for.

"Roland, I've got a question. Have you always looked that young?"

A very important question.

[flatteries]

You can just hear Inigo approaching from the distance. It's like the stampede in from The Lion King, only less impressive since it's only one guy-- but Inigo is still most certainly dashing straight towards the other two as he runs into the cinema carriage.

"Tiduuus! Rolaaand!"

Someone is excited to see them, apparently. At least he - thankfully? - is withholding himself from jumping onto either of them or clinging to them in greeting. There's a big smile plastered onto his face all the same though.

"I'm so--" He pauses, like the question he overheard Tidus ask just now only reaches his brain halfway through Inigo speaking up himself. ".. Wait, young? What?"

roland - tidus - inigo for this sub-thread!

[adregem]

Wow, here we go again Tidus!! Roland just shoots him his patented, well-practiced wry Look, which he only seems to reveal when Tidus pokes fun at him again. He doesn't really mind - in fact, it gives him comfort knowing he can be fully truthful with someone this way - but every single time!

He replies with crossed arms as Inigo bounds towards them, rounding off their little movie-night crew. "You're killing me here, Tidus." He shakes his head, facing the duo fully now, flashing a fond smile at Inigo who catches the tail end of Tidus's jab. And he was just about ready to get popcorn too. Can't have a movie without munching on snacks, after all! So casual is his train of thought that Inigo's question doesn't warrant anything too big or dramatic. He puts his hands inside the pocket of his hoodie, sniffing the air for freshly popped kernels of goodness...

"Of course not always, I grew out of my twenties at some point." He shrugs lightly, expression relaxed. "You two are lucky that you've got the actual energy to spare, doing what we do on this train. I've only got magic to thank, and here's to hoping that doesn't go away any time soon. So take care of yourselves, okay? Get some sleep. Full eight hours if you can."

Should he get butter or is there a different flavor...?

whoop whoop a later private thread with just these two

[flatteries]

Roland is clearly interested in this movie. So Inigo kind of feels bad for dragging him away at some point during it, but.. he's just too worried he won't get much of a chance to talk to Roland one on one otherwise today. And if he doesn't have this conversation today, Inigo is definitely going to lie awake at night thinking about it. He knows himself. That's exactly what's going to happen.

So he at least waits until there's a more quiet and less interesting part of the movie to gently nudge Roland in his seat and get him to go along with him for a moment to right outside the carriage - just so they're not bothering anyone.

(And so no one can overhear this conversation, because by Naga, does Inigo ever not want to say this where anyone can hear, thanks.)

"Roland, I.. erm, I.. just wanted to say.." He stumbles over his word, hesitating. Clearly Inigo is having a hard time with whatever he's trying to say here, and he looks away from Roland, instead pretending to study an interesting spot on the floor. "You didn't disappoint me. I mean-- I'm not quite sure why you even thought you would.. It happens all the time that people look younger than they actually are, right?"

Yeah, Inigo, maybe in your weird fantasy world..

His hands fret at the bottom of his hoodie, and in a moment of vulnerability and hurt his brain to mouth filter definitely slips as he remembers the look on Roland's face earlier-- "I mean, if anything, I'm probably the one disappointing people!" He quickly covers it up with a laugh when he looks back up to meet Roland's eyes. "But-- anyway! It explains a lot. Like the feeling I got from you when we spoke before. It just.. didn't feel like I was talking to a near same-aged friend? So.. don't worry. It really isn't a problem at all!"

[adregem]

Inigo dragging Roland off to talk in the middle of the movie wasn't a problem - he could come back to watch this again any time he wanted to. His concern was quite clear when he rushes to follow him, worry creasing his brows, hands on his hips as they find a spot by the exit, a little hidden from view.

"Why do you keep saying that?" Roland listens, lets him finish speaking, but he doesn't pause to wait, not for a breath, not for a single thought, as soon as the last word flies out from his lips. His voice falls into a softer credence, and it wasn't because of the movie playing away behind them. His heart has always been weak to this, but for him to hear it from Inigo every single time -

- no, he wouldn't stand for it. His gaze is like steel, but without heat, without force or fire. He is determined, resolute. As he is an all things he believes in, and that includes Inigo.

"Not once have you ever disappointed me. Since the day I met you, you've been nothing but kind, and you continue to be regardless of what comes our way. It's...I admire that of you. It takes someone strong to stay gracious." He shakes his head, his turn to look away, somewhere else, arms crossed now over his chest. Whatever casual banter that was had before, with Tidus poking fun at his age and Roland dismissing it when Inigo was not having it; it's all gone now, replaced with pure sincerity. If he had to pull Roland out to talk to him privately about it, then it must have struck a chord with him in an unpleasant way. He is more than inclined to clear it up, if only to spare Inigo the demons of his own thoughts.

"How I got this way is a long story for another time. But now that you know the truth, then I can understand if your perception of me will change somewhat, now." Roland looks down at his hands, calloused from fighting but nevertheless, young, supple. "Tidus only knew because he saw it on the roster by accident. Most days, even I forget my predicament. This form gives me the energy to work, to focus. It can keep up with my mind. But..."

He drops his hands, but they don't return to his sides. Instead they rest firmly on top of Inigo's, keeping him at bay. "I'm still sorry if I had fooled you into thinking anything. A young friend, a teenage teammate to call on..." Roland's eyes go downcast. "...The only thing I can offer you is to look the part."