Who: Mel and NPC What: Demands and annoyances Where: Piera Theater When: Sometime before texting Hades Warnings: Bad solo writing skills at work, yo.
"You look like you're moving up in the world."
Mel frowned in her seat, and turned to glare at the speaker. The cast on the stage was busy running through lines, trying to master the accents and tones, the moods and natures of the characters they were playing, and it was supposed to still be a closed rehearsal. Slowly her eyes adjusted to the scene and shape of the man standing not far from her in the aisle, and the voice cued into her brain. Inwardly, the muse groaned. Outwardly, she only stared at him.
The man gave her a charming grin, and moved closer, settling into one of the seats. "You don't look happy to see me," he commented.
"This is a closed practice. You shouldn't be here." She turned to look back to the stage, annoyed by his presence.
"But I came to see you," he responded in a light tone. "Came to thank you for that award you brought me."
"Your welcome. You can go home now."
He shook his head. "Not yet." He paused, waiting for her to ask why, then continued into her silence. "I want another one. I want a bigger role."
"Then get it yourself," she muttered. Up on the stage, a cast member looked out toward the seating, and seemed to realize someone else was there. They patted the leg of the person next to them, who then also turned and looked. One by one the cast was distracted and eying Mel's guest. She rolled her eyes and stood. "Get back to work!" she yelled to the stage, before turning to the soap opera star and gesturing for him to move out through the doors. "Go," she said. "We'll talk in the foyer."
The man stood and chuckled, then turned and headed as indicated toward the double doors that lead out of the seating and into the open foyer.
Mel followed behind, dropping the script with it's odd short hand of notes onto one of the chairs as she passed. Once she was out though, she crossed her arms over her chest and frowned up at the man. "What do you want?"
He grinned at her and crossed his own arms. "I want you to do it again. I want to win another award, and I want them to give me a better role. A bigger one."
The muse shook her head. "That's not how it works. I promised to help until you got an award. You got your award." She shrugged. "Do the rest yourself."
He shook his head in return. "I want you to do it again."
"We had a deal," she stated.
He shrugged, and continued to grin to her. "I want a new one."
"No." Mel dropped her arms and turned to head back to the theater.
"I'll tell the papers then."
Melpomene turned and glared at him. She eyed his size, then looked to his face, judging how serious his was. "They won't believe you..."
"Do you want to risk that?" He dropped the grin and shoved his hands into his pockets. He knew he had her full attention now, and the charming act didn't seem to be working. So, he'd be serious.
For a long moment, the muse stood, quiet and considering. She'd inspired him once a month until he'd gotten his award, then broken contact telling him, as she did now, that the deal was done. "I could kill you," she replied, her tone just as careless as his.
He shook his head again. "It'd raise too many questions, and people would find all the notes I made about you. You'd still end up in the papers, and the key suspect in a murder trial."
Mel shrugged and turned from him. "I can be a ghost and disappear." She opened the doors back into the auditorium. "You're an ex-jealous lover," she said in a quiet voice. "My story is easier to believe."
The actor moved forward quickly and pushed the door shut again as he glared down to the muse. "I won't leave until you promise to do this, or I take it to the papers."
"Then waste your time here. I have a play to work on." She glared right back up at him, daring him to stop her. "It's smarter then going to the papers and ruining your career."
He paused, and let open the door, then followed as she walked through. She ignored him and gathered up the script once more. The actor settled into the row behind her. "Which one are you making a star next?" he whispered.
She frowned, but didn't answer.
Summary: Mel gets a visitor at the theater she is less then happy to see.