fandomhigh | How to Be a Really Famous Actor (And Other Acting Tips), Friday, Period 1

"Hey, 'sup guys?" Lucas said to start the class. He was sitting casually on his desk. You know. To appear casual. Standing next to the desk was a guy who looked a lot like Lucas, down to the leather jacket, black shirt, chinstrap beard, and raised eyebrows. He was less attractive and had a scar on his cheek and was a couple inches shorter than Lucas, though. "This is Doug. He's part of my stunt team, so we've known each other for a while. You might even say we have a rapport."

"We have a rapport," Doug said.

"Ha. That's funny, Doug," Lucas said, holding a fist out for some respect knuckles. After Doug gave him a fistbump, Lucas continued. "Nice wordplay. And that's what we're talking about today. If I didn't have to teach you guys stuff, I would have said something back to him like, I don't know, 'I didn't even know there were French rappers.'"

Doug paused, thinking hard about what Lucas just said. "I don't get it," Doug said.

Lucas hopped off the desk, grabbed Doug by the jacket, dragged him to the window, opened it, and defenestrated Doug. Then he closed the window, turned back to the class, and said, "He'll be fine. He's a professional stuntman. He knows his shit."

"So, rapport. You build it up by either being really familiar with somebody else, or just having some instant chemistry, or you're just good at fake liking someone while talking to them. The key to really good banter is to talk really fast. That way even if what you're saying isn't funny, at least it's two people saying things at each other fast enough that something's going to end up being kind of funny. If you're into that kind of thing. Not my cup of java, personally, but that's why I'm an action star."

"So! What you're doing today is pairing up with someone that you think you can banter with. Don't worry about being funny or anything right now. That'll mess you up. Just talk at each other without thinking about what you're going to say. Whatever you do, don't let a pause crop up in the conversation. Because if that happens, you fail at banter. And if you can't even manage to pull off a fast-paced conversation, you're pretty much failing at life."

"Just like Doug," Lucas said, peeking back out the window. "Horrible at living. Great at falling out of windows. Heh. He'll appreciate that. I'm gonna text that to him while you guys start talking."

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Banter. Now, banter, Ariel could do. She had plenty of confidence in that.

Just ask Anakin Skywalker and Bruce Wayne.

She grinned, pulling herself up, and looking for a good banter partner.

"Ariel, right?" Ramona asked, wandering over with her coffee cup and looking relatively cheerful, given the hour of the morning, the fact that she'd had a less than restful night, and how much she apparently disliked Lucas. "Feel up to a little banter?"

"I definitely hope so," Ariel said with a bantering sort of grin. "Otherwise, we'll have nothing to talk about."

"And that's even sadder than usual, because usually I don't lose class credit for not being witty," Ramona remarked woefully.

"Oh, man, now the pressure's really on!" Ariel said with a giggle she couldn't help. "I don't know what I'll do if I wind up failing us both for witty banter!"

"It's okay," Ramona assured her with a conspiratorial wink. "I've got an in with the teacher. I'll make sure we each at least get a C in witty banter. Anything less and I'd have all kinds of explaining to do at home."

"Oh, boy, at least a C!" Ariel gushed. "That'll prove to Daddy that I made it to class at least a few times; he'll hardly believe it."

"I'm pretty sure to get a C all you have to be doing is sitting upright," Ramona offered, "and so far I'd say we're both doing fabulously."

"Yes," Ariel agreed with a nod. "In fact, I think we're doing so well, with such fantastic posture, that we deserve at least a C+, if not...dare I say it? A B-."

"Hey, hey now," Ramona said, holding up her hands. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Maybe -- just maybe -- we can earn that B-, but we have to maintain this posture and not drool on ourselves all class long."

"Oh, wow," said Ariel, eyes going wide and clearing her throat because otherwise, she would totally lose it with giggles. "Oh, man, that's a good point. I don't know if I can get through a whole class without drooling all over myself. Good catch, Ramona."

How to Be a Really Famous Actor (And Other Acting Tips), Friday, Period 1

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Re: Banter with Each Other