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[ephemerous]

All messenger birds/private conversations/amulet communications may be directed to Nahyuta here!

Comments

[ephemerous]

Do you like comical stories? Recently as preparation for a case I prosecuted in the United States, I did some extensive research on a Japanese art form called rakugo.

[Because this is clearly a traditional part of American culture... oh wait.]

It has its historical roots in Buddhist sermons, yet it has evolved since then into an art form all of its own. The orator plays the part of all characters, and the story typically lasts for half an hour, with a punchline at the end.

[divinable]

Is that not too long for storytelling?

[ half an hour is a LONG TIME to just sit and listen to somebody. ]

Unless, of course, the story is very, very good.

[ephemerous]

The length does betray its origins from sermons, but I take no issue with such a thing.

[Says the monk who gives eight hour sermons like it's no big deal...]

I think the stories are really quite witty, and in the hands of a masterful storyteller, the build-up is often part of the comic effect. They are a performance to be enjoyed, not merely told in the blink of an eye.

[divinable]

Then you may tell the story.

[ and just in case her verbal approval isn't enough, she nods and closes her eyes. she's ready to listen!






but she isn't ready to regret letting him tell a half hour-long story. ]

[ephemerous]

As you wish. This particular performance is called "Toki-Soba", or "Time-Noodle".

[And so Nahyuta recites the entirety of the story, although unlike his usual endless sermons, he actually does perform this one, even giving the characters their own individual voices and quirks to make it clear when he switches between a character. It does take a while, especially because he still has the whole thing memorised by heart, but eventually, he gets to the end.]

... And that is where the performance ends. [It was funny, right? He smiles and looks at her expectantly.]

[divinable]

[ ...

silence. utter silence.

in rayfa's head, there are many questions, but she only vocalises one of them. ]

Where is the joke?