Untitled chapter 1
Part for me?
“Oh fuck no!” It could be heard across the hallways of a particular university of drama that was centred in the heart of London. Upon that perhaps two questions were raised, what does it resemble? And why would anyone deem the vulgar phrase adequate to introduce a story? Let us catch the reader up on it.
The voice belonged to a 22 year old actor studying here, named Kyland Étienne, known for being devoted to every production they put on, sometimes obsessively chasing its perfection which in certain cases came across as a nuance to his cast-mates, his friends. But do not let that fool you, he was a nice individual , rough around the edges but soft and sweet once you got to know him. His parents were rich, and well known for that, leading a very significant clothing line, and that money had turned the family into the spitting definition of a bourgeois, much to the dismay of Kyland himself.
Many believed that the wealth was the only thing permitting him to get into his preferred school, the umbrella under which society preferred to push all people of such financial states forcefully draped above him as well. Yet contrary to this shallow stereotype, he was not a talentless spoiled rich kid, pushed through the industry and school only due to the money his parents provided. Kyland did possess talents beyond measure and did all in his powers to prove it to all, the weight of wanting to fare so sometimes crashing him.
He was a charming young man, with a face people would see and 1) think of wanting to be with, as humankind is reduced to considerations of such, and
2) declare it belonged to media. Naturally, he much preferred the second way of thinking. Ever since a child he knew he wanted to act. It was his safe space, his escape, his passion, his meaning to wake up each day and begin living. He was one of those people whom, when reading a book over analysed the characters to imagine how they could bring them to life if the story was ever made into a theatrical or cinematic production. The kind of man who’d wake up hours earlier to get in more vocal practise before a show, the one who would give everything they had into every character they portrayed, sometimes losing themselves in the process. He was passionate, determined, quite obsessive once could say. His parents being rich just made him want to work harder and harder so he could prove that everything he achieved is thanks to his own talent, not to them, as in fact, other than paying for his tuition, Kyland refused to accept a sou from his parents, working various jobs after school and in between productions to clothe and feed himself.
He worked hard, on time and with great preciseness, in his mind everything having a place and system that should be followed, if not done so discomfort shadowing the day. Thus brings us closer to the explanation to his outburst. As we established, Kyland was one driven by a fire that never dies with strong beliefs and no room for mistakes. So naturally he could not stand those who were just a second late, those who memorised their lines and blocking at the very last time, for time and schedules never seemed to push them onto despair as they took things lightly.
This is the point in the story where the reader shall be introduced to the one and only Ash Gauthier. Kyland’s absolute opposite, born in the land of France to a family that perhaps never should’ve formed. His parents constantly argued, leaving him in the middle of it all with blows arriving at him from both sides. By the time he was 13, no sense of duty nor pretence could keep them together and it was the divorce that had landed him in the middle of England, as it was the very place his mother moved back to. Many times he believed that all those years ago, his mum only had married to stay in France, in love with the country more than the man there, and perhaps the love for the place that had allowed her to marry turned into such a hatred for him that she wanted to forget the land itself. Ash never understood why, as in his eyes he had two great people as parents, even if together they were disastrous.
He was your typical jokester, life of every party, the person who would always drink just a tad bit too much for their own good and be incapable to take anything seriously. He lived day for day, having no actual plans, merely only going with the flow, doing something because he liked it without much pressure to please others.
Did he love theatre? Oh certainly, he was devoted to it, worshipped it and used it to escape much like how he used the booze to numb his mind. Oh certainly, he was devoted to it, worshipped it and used it to escape, much like how he used the booze to numb his mind. But we shall note that love, devotion and just as well each and every feeling is a unique experience to each individual. Thus led to differences in acting as well, as the profession , like all other forms of art were the matter of the heart and soul. Kyland wished to drown himself in the characters he played, letting the characters become part of his own self, Ash let himself flow into the characters, he made them his own, rather than letting the characters make him their own. Kyland was collected, Ash all over the place. The list could go on and on, landing us to one conclusion: the two were polar opposites, a thing that annoyed Kyland to greatest extent.
Of course, repeatedly he had realised that Ash is truly talented and will give his best when opening day comes, but that was not enough. He didn’t like to leave things to the last moment, and he could just simply not stand the relaxed, uncollected manner of the other. How he would joke about anything and never once have a serious sentence leave his mouth.
Luckily for him, as they were such polar opposites they always played enemies in whatever show they put on. Kyland was Tybalt where Ash was Mercutio, he was the Phantom where the other played Raoul, opposites, deemed to compete eternally.
Up until now. Spring term had brought with itself a new play they would be working on.A classic really, beloved by many and rightfully so; Les Misérables. As per usual Kyland knew exactly who he wanted to play and what he should audition with that would secure him the part, which was easier at school where you knew the directors and what their expectations were, making it all the less stressful to audition. As per usual Kyland knew exactly who he wanted to play and what he should audition with that would secure him the part, which was easier at school where you knew the directors and what their expectations were, making it all the more pleasant and less stressful to audition. A privilege they all will have to let go of after this production, as the life of an artist was most uncertain. But here, under the roof of the establishment he luckily, as most of the times, did get the part he wished to, the stern and pure revolution leader; Enjolras.
Now I believe none shall have it explained whom this character was, as his popularity had always has been high (with a huge increase in number after a certain portrayal from 2012) both because of his importance to the story and because of his complicated relationship with a certain drunkard. I shall believe the aspects of the situation need not to be explained to anyone.
For us outsiders it should be quite expectable whom the role of our beloved cynic, Grantaire goes to, but for reasons probably simply originating from his own hatred towards him, he never even given it a thought that Ash would get that role. To be fair he never really thought much about whom other parts would go to. He wasn’t one of those who believed they could cast the show better than the director and already have a cast list made up for it. Kyland only thought of the part he wanted and did everything he could to get it, and if he did not, he accepted it with grace as after all the only thing that mattered is that he could still share the stage. So when the cast list was hung that day on the wall he was mortified to see Ash’s name next to the role of Grantaire’s.
“Pipe down curly it isn’t the end of the world!” The person in question called, looking at the cast list with curiosity. Well this should be interesting he thought with an entertained smile.
“No, you are right it is worse” Kyland replied, horror struck by the things this casting meant.
“Real charmer aren’t you?” Ash called and rolled his eyes, putting his earphones in “Meet ya at rehearsal tomorrow, I suggest you practice not turning red the blood of angry men by that time.” and with so, he left the scene to go and light a cigarette outside.
“Did he seriously just walk away like that?” he asked, practically fuming, from Alexis, his own best friend and dorm-mate whom had gotten the role of Marius.
“He indeed and that’s what you should be doing as well” Alexis replied with laughter, friend to both, and as an spectator of the situation, able to find humour in it.
“Of all the people! Him!” Kyland continued, completely ignoring Alexis’s previous words. How could he walk away when such pressing matters just happened? When will these people learn to take themselves seriously!
“Oh please, we both know he’s an amazing fit. You’re just pissed you have to play all affectionate with him” His friend called, rolling his eyes at his foolishness. In truth he expected none less from Kyland, having learned along the years that unexpected situations could put him near to an aneurysm, even if to anyone else it seemed a very minor issue.
“He is... alright maybe he is, but how on earth am I supposed to do that?”
“Need I remind you that you are an actor?” Did Alexis truly not realise the horrors of this all? Sure Kyland was an actor, but how are you supposed to pretend to love someone when every fibre of your body resented the person?
“Need I remind you that Ash is fucking insufferable? Chances are, he’ll forget our blocking and shove me off of the stage!” He could even see it before his eyes. The two of them on opening night, Ash saying the infamous lines ’Do you permit it?’ and as they would be supposed to hold hands, his scene partner pushes him into the crowd, making him humbled and potentially hurt.
“You really should start giving credit to him”
“I’ll give credit when it is earned”
“Please! Ash is brilliant in every role he does, he puts his soul into each character and he was basically made to play R one day. You’re just still bitter because he forgot one line in freshmen year when we did Rent”
“Who forgets a line from Rent!”
“It was our very first opening night!”
“Whose side are you on?” Kyland questioned, now annoyed by the memory as well as the cast list and the inability of his friend’s to realise the extent of the problem.
“No one’s! You are over reacting. It’s not like you two will be the romantic leads. Not even a kiss scene! Stop being so dramatic about a few hugs and caresses”
“We are literally studying drama and you’re asking me to be less dramatic” Naturally when an opportunity for such punchline arises, the human mind temporarily quits any troubles it raced over.
“You are a menace” Alexis called as they began making their way to their dorm, Kyland’s mind trying to focus on the one comfort he could find in the situation, at least they are not the open main love story of the plot. He can survive a couple of soft touches, can’t he?
