[Open Log]

[deansangel918]

Who: deansangel918
What: Door-to-door Joke Salesman
When: Anytime
Where: The residential section.
Warnings: Really bad jokes?

Comments

[missthewoman]

[At the man saying 'knock knock' right after she'd already answered the door, Irene raises an eyebrow curiously. What is this? After a long pause she smiles.]

Macbeth, is it?
[She makes her voice a bit deeper] 'Who's there, i' th' name of Beelzebub?'

[missthewoman]

Is that so?
I'm afraid that I interrupted you trying to tell the joke before, didn't I? If you'd like, I could see what the matter might be. As an actress, I'm well versed in how delivery impacts reception.

[And she looks at him attentively, ready for his joke if he cares to deliver it again.]

[deansangel918]

[He hesitates, but it can't hurt.]

Very well.

[He stands a little straighter, apparently taking this very seriously.]

Knock knock.

[missthewoman]

[Your seriousness amuses her, dear, but the joke is off to a poorly start.]

Who is there?

[deansangel918]

[It's probably not going to get any better.]

Ocelot.

[missthewoman]

[...what?]

Ocelot who?

[deansangel918]

Ocelot of questions don't you.

[And he waits for her reaction.]

[missthewoman]

[She thinks about that for a moment, then sighs and shakes her head. Under her breath she murmurs,] Best for proletarian children, certainly.

[Not being distracted by trying to think of what an ocelot is would be an advantage. Putting back on a smile she nods.]

Other than the joke itself, I believe I know the primary trouble. You did not smile. I know it is hard to do when you do not believe in the joke, but that is acting. Act like this is enjoyable, like you have an amusing secret to tell.

[deansangel918]

... So I should pretend that I think the joke is amusing?

[missthewoman]

Exactly! And smile.

[deansangel918]

I'm not very good at deception.

[He tries to smile on purpose, but it looks a little fake.]

[missthewoman]

Not deception, dear. Acting.

[But she can clearly see he's not very good at either one. And what is the matter with his smile?]

Do you not have occasion to smile often? You look a little pressed.

[deansangel918]

You're making people believe something that isn't true. What's the difference between that and deception?

[missthewoman]

Will you answer my question about your smile if I entertain your question on semantics?

[deansangel918]

I suppose.

It's true, I don't smile very often.

[Your turn.]

[missthewoman]

[Ah. What is it with her running into so many men who hardly smile? (Mental note to tell John how much she appreciates his smile next she sees him.)]

Well, by definition acting is simply simulating a certain behaviour. Deceiving, you're giving a false impression while hiding the true. Also, consider the audience. When you're acting, the audience understands that you are presenting something. When you are deceiving, you're trying to get them to fully accept as true what is in fact untrue without them knowing it.

So, which term does presenting your joke fall best under?