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"Negative Bloom"
Angel Lopez
Experimental Style
Beryl Iverson
Setting: Zeff’s bedroom, It’s simple with only a mirror, a wardrobe, and a bed.
Characters:
Zeff: Someone trying to learn about themselves and gender.
Alala: Zeff’s older sister who is supportive but overly blunt.
The dad: A strict parent who wants to see his children raised “right.”
Zeff’s bedroom. Zeff is dressed in lolita style attire looking through their wardrobe. They find a scarf and put it on then turn to look in the mirror.
Zeff: I wonder if this color works. I should have bought lipstick too.
Alala: (off stage) Hey Zeff do you want a ride to the convention-
Alala enters Zeff’s room.
Zeff: Alala- I can explain!
Alala: You are going in that?
Zeff: Oh, no no no. I was just-
Alala: Because it doesn’t match.
Zeff: What?
Alala walks over to the wardrobe. She searches for a beat before finding a different scarf.
Alala: Here, this scarf actually matches your skirt.
Zeff: You’re okay with this?
Alala: It’s a good outfit, did you pay for it with your new job?
Zeff: Yes.
Alala: Well I have the perfect lipstick in my room for this outfit, we just have to sneak you over there. Come on, let's get it.
Zeff: I’m not sure if I’m ready to leave yet.
Alala: Why not? You look great!
Zeff: This was my first time wearing this kind of outfit.
Alala: Oooooooh. (beat) Wait, then why not go to the convention like this?
Zeff: I’m not sure how I feel about this outfit yet.
Alala: Zeff, as your older sister I’ve only seen you wear hoodies and jeans with converse for the last 5 years. When I walked in you looked actually confident, what do you mean you don’t know how you feel about this outfit?
Zeff: That’s what I thought about the prom dress I bought.
Alala: You bought a prom dress? You just had homecoming.
Zeff: Aren’t they the same thing?
Alala: Absolutely not. Homecoming is fun with friends, prom is classy with a date.
Zeff: See I don’t even know the difference between those types of dresses!
Alala: Wait, can I see that dress?
Zeff: Why?
Alala: I want to judge your taste.
Zeff: No, no judging.
Alala: Too late.
Alala has already pulled the sparkly homecoming dress out of the wardrobe holding it up to her body.
Alala: Oh wow, this is decent, a little sparkly for my taste but I have some friends who would wear this.
Zeff: Alala!
Alala: I’m putting it back before it burns my eyes.
Zeff: Oh my god no, let me burn it.
Alala: Why would you burn it? You can wear it next year.
Zeff: I don’t know, maybe because you touched it.
Alala: Gasp, what a cruel reason for a harmless piece of cloth.
Zeff: Wasn’t it about to burn your eyes?
Alala: Maybe I just want to show it some mercy. Though it’s a little short, I think mom and dad would only let Hera wear this.
Zeff: Are you kidding? It’s not extravagant enough for our little sister.
Alala: We could always adjust it for her. Add some frills, cut it up, and of course more glitter.
Zeff: That’s even more cruel than burning it.
Alala: True, well instead of torturing it with adjustments or burning it you could always donate it.
Zeff: I don’t know if I’ll do that.
Alala: Well you already sneaked two outfits into the house so I don’t think donating it is about getting caught.
Zeff: It’s the first thing I bought for myself without other people’s influence. Even though I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would, it still feels like a part of me.
Alala: That’s a lot of thought put into a piece of clothing.
Zeff: A piece of clothing I told that cashier that I was buying for my girlfriend.
Alala: You have an imaginary girlfriend?
Zeff: Yeah, I named her Zeffina and she was my homecoming date.
Alala: So does Zeffina call you her boyfriend or girlfriend?
Beat.
Zeff: I haven’t decided yet.
Alala: I’m not well versed in this stuff but, what’s holding you back?
Zeff: Nothing feels right. Girl, boy, nothing.
Alala: Did you realize that when you looked into the mirror earlier?
Zeff: No, I bought these lolita clothes to try and do something that is way out there and see how I feel.
Alana: And?
Zeff: I don’t recognize the me I thought I knew, and that feels good.
Alala: That’s good!
Zeff: But I don’t feel any closer to who I feel like I am.
Alala: Well you know that this isn’t not it.
Zeff: That’s fair.
Alala: I have a plan.
Zeff: It better not be-
Alala: We’re going to the convention.
Zeff: I already said I’m not sure if I’m ready.
Alala: It doesn’t have to be this outfit, I could grab some clothes from my room for you to try on at that convention.
Zeff: Where would I try the clothes on at the convention?
Alala: In the bathrooms of course.
Zeff: Bathrooms?
Alala: Yes bathrooms.
Zeff: I want you to think about that for a solid second. Think about bathrooms and this kind of thing very deeply.
Alala: I don’t see what the problem is- Oh!
Zeff: Now you get it.
Alala: Okay new plan, we pretend that you’re my friend in my room getting ready and-
Zeff: What friend?
Alala: Angelica!
Zeff: one, you don’t have a friend named Angelica, two I’m never going by Angelica.
Alala: We can come up with a new name.
Zeff: Three, mom and dad will never fall for that.
Alala: Good point. (beat) Oh I know! Let me grab it.
Alala runs out of the room. Zeff begins to put their scarf on the bed. Alala runs back into the room holding a pikachu and eevee onesie.
Alala: Here you go!
Zeff: What is this?
Alala: You put on what clothes you want under it to leave the house and then you take it off at the convention.
Zeff: Why are there two of them?
Alala: Because I was going to go as pikachu in the first place, and it’s cute to match.
Zeff: And then the parents won’t have a reason to suspect us! Sis you’re a genius!
Alala: Oh I know, and this helps me too.
Zeff: How so?
Alala: Mom and dad are less likely to check my clothes underneath if we match.
Zeff: Oh? And what diabolical plans do you have to defy the parents?
Alala: A miniskirt and shoulders!
Zeff: So scandalous.
Alala: Oh you know, I just have to be the rebelling older sister corrupting her little siblings.
Zeff: Oh yes, You are the reason I’m buying “girls clothes.”
Alala: Speaking of which, I brought a change of clothes for you if you want it.
Zeff: What did you come up with?
Alala: I found this button up top that we could pair with a miniskirt, or a pair of fancy slacks we can put this blouse over.
Zeff: I think we first try on-
The dad: (knocks on the door from offstage) Hey kids, what’s going on.
Alala: Oh nothing, We were just coordinating our outfits.
The dad: That’s taking an awful long time.
Alala hands Zeff the eevee onesie and both begin putting on the onesies.
Zeff: We were arguing who got to be pikachu.
Alala: We decided I get to be the bright electric yellow mouse.
The dad: Well let me see!
Alala: Okay, just give us a second to help each other get the onesies on.
Alala helps Zeff get the onesie on and covers all the lolita garb underneath it.
Alala: Ready!
The door opens or the sound of the door opening, the dad continues to speak from offstage.
The dad: Good choices, Have fun you two.
Zeff: Thank you dad.
The door closes.
Zeff: That was close.
Alala: I guess we’re stuck with these choices.
Zeff: This is fine, I’m not sure if I’m ready yet anyways.
Alala: Are you sure? I got these clothes for you to try.
Zeff: Another time. Plus the lolita clothes are hard to get out of and they’ll be expecting us to leave soon.
Alala: Alright, I’ll put these clothes back in my room.
Zeff: I’ll see you downstairs?
Alala: Yeah, I have to grab my keys anyways.
Zeff: Don’t forget that lipstick that goes perfectly with this outfit.
Alala: Oh yeah,
Alala walks over to the bed and grabs the scarf.
Alala: I put the finishing touches in my bag.
Zeff: Thank you.
Alala: No problem.
Alala leaves as Zeff looks at themself in the mirror.
Zeff: This will work.
Alala enters again.
Alala: Hey Zeff?
Zeff: Yes Alala?
Alala: I love you.
Zeff: I love you too sis.
