| Subject: Chapter 226 - Part 1 (16 and above) |
Author:
KatherineG.
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Date Posted: Wednesday, March 01, 07:00:57am
In reply to:
Katherine Gilbert
's message, "Dreams in the Dark (chapters 221--?)" on Monday, February 13, 07:24:07am
Extra warnings: There's maybe one, mild curse word here. I'll still rate it 16 and above, just to be safe. Also, this will be the last part till Monday after next. Next week is--finally!--Spring Break here (and I'm at least as happy as my students). :)
Dreams in the Dark (226/?)
by Katherine Gilbert
It had, all things considered, been a good few weeks. No one had tried to kill them; few people had verbally attacked them, and they were generally left alone to enjoy life, outside of work. Still, even at work, things had changed--Michael making it quite clear to Petrosian that any less-than-kind words to his expectant wife wouldn't be appreciated. Despite the man's usual bluster, he had given in--clearly afraid of the actor's intentions. Whatever the director might think of family men, he did have some sense. They often weren't to be trifled with, when it came to their property.
Even if their director's assessment of their relationship was less than accurate, there was little left to bother them. Everything around the recovering pair had calmed considerably, their days passing in a blur of routine at the studio and a haze of love at home. They were cherishing it. With that one night's reunion, they had reclaimed the place which might otherwise have destroyed them, had deemed all bad memories meaningless. Even when such torments might reach out from the past to haunt them, they were strong enough to resist such pain now.
All of these facts were buoying the pair greatly over the few weeks since their original return to the home--their semi-day off for Thanksgiving yesterday enjoyed to the full, once a nighttime banquet had been finished. Life, for once, actually seemed kind. So long as they fulfilled their duties on the lot, they were left alone. It was the sort of peace they could happily live in for good.
This, however, wasn't to be--permanent bliss never an option for anyone. Especially given all the plots they had yet to discover, their chances for continuing, quiet joy were doomed to be small.
They didn't know this, as they finished up their last day of shooting on *Bundle of Sorrow*, just happy to be so close to leaving the film--and all of their less-than-pleasant memories of its making--behind them. Of course, with the exception of the script Michael had received the day of their attack, their next project had yet to be discussed. But they were certain, with a vanquished Madeline facing them, that it would be another they would share.
Such a belief would prove to be less than sound, but the renewed love the couple felt had made them confident. There was simply too much unity--too much victory against their adversaries--for them to be separated again.
It was only at the end of their lunch break that last day on the film when they began to discover the truth. They were sitting together on the set, holding hands quietly, waiting for shooting to start again--more than ready to have this idiotic film behind them--when Madeline entered. It was never a good sign. Now, too, there was a new face with her--and neither of the pair in question could quite fight the feeling that something was going very much awry.
They weren't to know what yet, life still seeming quite idyllic. But Madeline's cold smile was difficult to ignore. Such a look never presaged anything good for anyone with a soul.
She stopped in front of them, her happiness quite obvious in the look--the pleasantly cruel one which was the only way she ever showed any joy. She met their eyes triumphantly for a moment, before turning back to the man who followed her. "I want you to meet our new star." She looked at her acquisition, clearly enjoying this. "Andrew, you of course know of Michael Samuelle and his wife, Kitty." Her gaze held triumph alone when it refocused on the pair. "This is Andrew Shears."
Both of them nodded at the man, exchanging the expected pleasantries--wondering all the while what this was really about. It was only Michael who went beyond such expected greetings, cluing in Nikita on what he knew of this man. "I'm surprised to find you here. I heard your play was doing quite well in New York."
The information made the actress nod slightly, even as she looked pleasantly toward the conversation. So he was a Broadway actor? That made sense. Her grandmother had been, as well--so had Michael, come to think of it. In fact, Hollywood was rather notorious for filching the stage's latest prodigies. Not all of them made it--stage acting apparently quite different to the film version Nikita had come to know--but many studios were willing to give the more well-known ones a try; her eyes narrowed only slightly at the newcomer. Why, then, did this feel entirely different from a simple introduction?
It took her a second to shift from these thoughts to the man's answer, his look a little sheepish, rather innocent; she wondered whether it were an act--trusting no one immediately anymore. What was the old adage about the hardest part of acting? Something like "Being genuine. Once you can fake that, you've got it made"? She kept up her smile, following this path herself. She would just have to see where this led.
"I'm afraid I've left it," the man was saying, when she came back to the conversation. He shrugged slightly. "The offer Mr. Wolfe made was too good."
Everyone in this strange little group just looked at each other with expected politeness for a moment after that--little which anyone might wish to say acceptable--although Madeline's gaze did show her victory. While neither of the members of the endangered couple entirely understood why such a simple introduction would hold such triumph for the woman, it was a worrying development. And just the man's answer held plenty to fear.
It was here where the pair's minds were focused, each of them understanding at least some of the deeper meanings there. The very fact that Premier had gone out of its way to recruit this man was disturbing--for several reasons. First, they never offered very much money to any beginning player, unless they were trying to tempt a *very* established star away from a rival, so the newcomer's claims of a "good offer" were either worrisome or suspect. And there was the matter of the man's choice of names in his answer, as well--referring to Wolfe, *Mr.* Wolfe, yet, instead of Madeline or the studio. While this was undoubtedly the polite and politic thing to do, neither of them were certain whether it was a conscious choice on the new actor's part or whether he were simply unaware of the larger details yet. Nikita's heart thumped, looking him over. And then there was the fact of his vague resemblance to her beloved . . .
She felt Michael's hand tighten over hers, tried to draw some comfort from it--doing her best to stay calm. But the facts didn't aid her, every possibility disturbing. As far as she had seen, the only reason Premier--or, rather, Madeline--ever chose a new star was in order to replace, or, at least, challenge, an old one. Nikita herself had been signed in order to show up Kate's desirability to Wolfe--she was sure--and, when that had backfired, Susan had been brought in as a younger, just-as-blonde replacement of herself. While the studio was certainly short of viable male stars, why they might choose one who seemed to be of the same basic coloring and build as their old star led to only several, disquieting options; her gaze settled worriedly on her partner for half a second. And none of these were ones she wanted to contemplate in full.
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