Who: Caspian Finn and Lóng Liang What: An appreciative audience When: Evening, 16th February, 1889 Where: The Spectacular Review Rating: G
Liang had attended the Spectacular Review with a certain amount of polite skepticism. Alpha Black meant well, but she had found English theatre to be uninteresting, and expected no better from the show he recommended. To her delight, however, she found that she was wrong, and the performance everything she had found missing in other entertainments.
It was also, to her further enchantment, about merfolk.
Liang did not wait for the crowd to disperse before heading determinedly toward the stage. Gathering her fur about her, she asked (or demanded) to speak with the person in charge, and was told by a bewildered performer that Mr Finn was in the lobby, thanking patrons.
“Then I shall wait here,” Liang announced, and set herself in such a way that made it unlikely she would consent to being moved. After a few minutes and a murmured conference that she pretended not to notice, that same performer asked if she would perhaps be more comfortable in a dressing room.
Liang eyed them, evaluating whether or not they were simply trying to remove her from the stage. They probably were, but the dressing room seemed just as useful, so she benevolently agreed that they could escort her to a chair.
She could always return to the stage if she kept waiting for too long.
It was his usual spot in the lobby where Caspian stood, humbly greeting those that came to attend his shows. Since the theater had been graciously given to him attendance had spiked and he was glad for it. There were always times where people stopped coming into to have the numbers increase again. He didn’t have to work if he didn’t want to, Caspian had enough money socked away to be comfortable, but he wanted to work. He enjoyed it.
He’d let go of a gloved hand when one of the dancers approached him about a woman they’d lead to his dressing room, demanding to see him.
Curious, Caspian excused himself from the dwindling crowds. He made his way through the elated throng of visitors into the quiet theater. Soft footfalls echoed, he walked easily forward his designated area and to his surprise he found there was indeed a woman waiting for him.
“Madam, I do apologize for keeping you waiting. I am Caspian Finn, what might I do for you?” He took a seat close to her but in a separate chair not intending to crowd her. Those blue eyes watched with a curious patience. She was a beautiful thing.
At the entrance of the theatre master, Liang sat up straight, bright-eyed and enthusiastic. "You are the creator of the show, yes? I wish you to put on another one. You will need money for it? I have money to produce a performance, many performances, but I wish every aspect of it to be correct. I will oversee it, with you, is that possible? I enjoyed your performance very much. It is not like anything else I have seen in this country."
Liang stood and offered her gloved hands for Caspian Finn to take in belated greeting. "I am Lóng Liang. And I would like for you to produce a show about red dragons."
The way she brightened was intriguing. He could sense the fact that the beauty was no human, thank goodness, but exactly what she was he wasn’t entirely sure. Oh but he was curious to know.
“I am,” he confirmed.
Patiently Caspian listened to her words. She wanted another show, no more Merfolk, and she was willing to fund the production.
Before offering his decision Caspian beamed and he accepted her hands. Though they were gloved he kissed her knuckles anyway out of politeness and his eyes never left hers, “Miss Liang, it would be my honor to put on your production though I haven’t the first idea of what makes the red dragon. Mer, I am familiar with, I cannot say I know the first thing about them. Would you please enlighten me?”
Liang beamed back at Caspian, and gestured expansively even though she had yet to let go of his hands. "Fire," she declared with relish. "A great deal of fire. Is it safe, here? I am sure you will be safe. I do not wish to burn down London, but there must be fire. And flight. They must have wings. Everything to do with flight must be joyous, soaring, breathtaking. It must help the audience to understand what it truly is to fly. Not those laborious air-elephants," she clarified, disapproving. "They are too ponderous, it is not the same. I would take you, but it is difficult to fly, these days. Perhaps in the country. You are Mer?"
She squinted at him, as if to verify the truth of this. Satisfied, she squeezed his hands, which she still held captive now that he had given them to her. "I enjoyed the show, very much. It had a very good audience, you should not close it. But we could begin to talk about what might come after, could we not? It will take time, to get everything just right."
Releasing him at last, Liang patted Caspian's hands in approval. "It takes a very great deal of courage to put yourself on display so, in front of so many who do not understand, and hope that they will begin to know you. You are very brave. I especially liked the dances through the water, although I do not like water at all. I am sorry," she added, not sounding it, "but I do know of someone who would enjoy it more, so I will come back, and will bring him with me, and I will see your show again, and we will talk."
Liang pursed her lips. "I do think there should have been more treasure," she critiqued. "I do like treasure. But no matter. In our show, there will be treasure."
Fire.
That seemed to be the central theme of what she was saying to him: dragons had to have fire and had to have flight. That, and it had to be done exactly right. He wished he had a resource like Gabriel but perhaps Merrick might know more about the creatures.
When asked if he was Mer Caspian smiled and nodded, not interrupting at all.
“I have a friend who could perhaps be persuaded to assist with a bit of magic to protect against the fire.” He didn’t know how willing Merrick would be but Caspian would ask anyway.
The time apart would give him apt chances to do research on the subject. Perhaps Bertie knew of dragons, he knew so many things. “We shall reconvene at a later date. I suspect the show will end its run soon, perhaps another few shows. It’s been on for a while and to keep the audience intrigued things must change.”
“I don’t mind that you don’t like water,” he laughed softly, “because I do. I suppose we are opposites. It should make for an interesting and accurate show. The audience shall feel the burn of that fire and know intimately what it is like to fly like a bird.”
"As they know now what it is to swim like a fish, and imagine the feel of water," Liang agreed, beaming. "You will do very well. I am pleased to have met you, Mr Finn. Shall we write up a contract? Perhaps another time, over a meal. I do like contracts. We can discuss your expenses, and what I shall need to provide. Oh, and you should see me. I shall arrange that, too. It is no good trying to create something onstage you have never seen. That is how the Greeks made such hideous dolphins, and how Prévost came to put a desert wilderness in Louisiana. Have you read that book, Manon Lescaut? It was banned in France, but I have a copy. Do you like books?"
Her tone was expectant; not liking books, while technically an option, was heavily implied as an incorrect choice.
“I am glad to have met you as well, Miss Liang. The honor is entirely mine.” He met his fair share of interesting people but never something like she. An actual dragon. He’d have to do research later on dragons. Caspian had an idea that perhaps not all dragons, much like everything else, were alike and that fascinated him even more. Were there water dragons? What an idea!
“Let us meet again, it shall give me time to consider your request and we can arrange to fine tune the aspects of the agreement to ensure that both of our needs are met. I have a full cast here, I do expect that consideration and respect is given to them. They work hard, tirelessly even, to ensure the performance is captivating.” He didn’t want someone new running off any of his girls.
And the prospect of seeing her in her true form…
“I cannot wait to see you as you truly are.” When the question came as to whether or not he read his smile broadened, “There is no escape like what you’d find in books. I would be glad to borrow your copy, if you’d loan it for it being so rare.”
"It will be my pleasure. And there are more books, many more," Liang enthused. "You will come to my bookshop? It is called The Oracle Bone, on Cecil Court. We will find books there for you to borrow, and have tea and iced cakes, and discuss the performance. I will find some books on dragons for you to look at while you are there. Most of them are nonsense, but some have very good pictures, and I will tell you everything that is wrong."
She leaned forward impulsively to pat his shoulder, very pleased at having made a new friend, and one with such skills. "I will take good care with your people. It is hard to find valuable help that does not steal books or run off or bring mobs with pitchforks, or say you are mad and they cannot stand another day. Humans are very delicate." Liang paused pensively. "You will oversee them, as they are yours, and then they will not work too hard. Is all of that acceptable on your part?"
The Oracle Bone.
Caspian would make a point to visit it. It gave him something to look forward to outside of the theater that had lately become his obsession. “I shall come by, you have my word.” It was not a word easily broken nor given in jest. The potential to conduct business and have time for leisure pleased him immensely.
“You are too good to me, madam.” It was true, she was gracious. He didn’t mind that pat on the shoulder, in fact it gave him more solidarity.
He chuckled and nodded, “You then know the plight of humanity, they need and want and yearn, and it is up to us to nurture them.” They were delicate, these humans, but they deserved no less than any Mer or Dragon might want or need.
“I believe that is fair. Why don’t we plan to meet at the Oracle Bone or some where more suitable to your liking, my lady, and discuss things further. Time apart to consider the options will do us both good to formulate an acceptable business agreement. I should like to move upon your offer soon, the program here will not last much longer and too long of a lull between shows creates boredom. We need to use our time wisely in planning.”
"Come soon, then." Liang rose in a slither of fur like the slide of scales against one another. She smiled at Caspian Finn, pleased. "We will be good to one another, I think. And we shall nurture the yearning that brings all kinds to your theatre. I will write a proposal, and you may review it when you visit." Her hand came up to close around the fur at her collar as she beamed her satisfaction at him. "Soon. We shall see each other soon."
As she rose, Caspian did as well though not nearly with as much grace. She exuded so much and he was nothing in comparison.
“I shall send word when I can escape this place.” It was said in jest, he could leave any time, but his heart was no longer in entertaining others. These past few days the light inside of him had fizzled out and it was only now beginning to gain that brightness again.
“Until then, please know that you have my well wishes and if you require anything further from me all you have to do is send word.”