Dark Receiver

DeathsKnight

Harmless Teddybear
Joined
May 22, 2008
Posts
8,620
First let me state that I am looking for a female to play the lead character. My role will consist of all the people trying to help her.

Plot

Claire Westall was born with a dark gift, whoever tried to help her wound up dead one way or the other, but when she helps somebody they could help her without fear of death. Of course Clair does not know of this and she has the type of face and personality that does let people want to help her without feeling sorry for her or taking pity on her.

The story begins when Claire slips out of her parent's home and our first character Chris Smith offers her a ride...
 
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Claire Westall

Bethany0103.jpg


Claire - 18 years old - living with parents.

:rose:
 
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Claire Westall

It wasn't that Claire was the rebellious type.
It wasn't even that she resented her parents and wanted to teach them a lesson. Sure they were protective; overly so if her friends were to be believed as they regaled Claire with their stories of all night parties, experimentation smoking of whatever happened to be on offer and of course their conquests with boys.

They thought to make her jealous at what she was missing out on or at worst to mock her for not being part of the “in” group, the trail-blazers, those who thrived on attention. And she might have felt hurt and left out if it weren't for two things: Firstly rather than making her feel that she was missing out on the action, the tales she heard held no allure for Claire at all. Smoking cigs and dope was stupid in her opinion and though she'd had an occasional drink at home, she saw no point in knocking back hard liquor in an attempt to become senseless or just plain ill. Then secondly, despite those that spoke mockingly of how “sweet” or “wholesome” she was, Claire was actually popular. Sure there were always some of the girls trying to make her look stupid, but most people treated her just fine, including the boys. She's heard others whispering that she'd never had a boyfriend but she had dated a few boys, not for long and nothing intense, but she'd enjoyed the time she'd spent with them and as the relationships were always understood to be casual, she had never split on bad terms.

And so really it was out of character when Claire slipped out of the house.

It wasn't that she had been forbidden from going to the theatre, Claire justified her actions to herself and she hadn't lied. The fact that her parents thought that Claire was in her room preparing for the audition next week was … convenient, she told herself, her pace quickening as she headed towards the bus top.

Ok... so she had told them that she had lines to learn, that she needed quiet, needed to remain undisturbed.
Then when she disappeared upstairs her parents naturally thought …
Was that her fault?
Claire couldn't dispel the feeling of guilt as she rounded the corner, seeing the bus making it's way to the bus stop. Breaking into a run, Claire knew that she had to get into town on time in order to get back without being discovered missing!

Not for the first time, she wondered if she hadn't gone about this in entirely the wrong way!?!
 
Chris Smith

Chris had thought that going out would be just what he needed, a bad break up, a bitchy ex and his mom moaning about him getting older and still being single and having no children. He had dressed into his favorite jeans and a loose shirt, his hair was gelled up and he was scrubbed squeaky clean, you never know, tonight might be a good evening for him. He splashed on his favorite after shave and headed out. Getting into his car he switched on the radio and selected his favorite CD, then started the car and pulled away.

As he was driving down the road, he saw the bus pull away from the stop just as a figure came to a stop, obviously trying to catch up. From the looks of it, it was just a girl, a kid. Chris wondered why she would be in such a hurry to catch the bus, but then again who really understood the mind of a young adult? He grinned and stopped next to the figure, rolling down his window, she was a looker, but a bit too young for him. But when he looked at her eyes, he could not help but feel that he had to help her

"Hey, I see you miss the bus, I'm heading for the Flaming Shot, if that's on your way, you can grab a lift with me"

He was sure that many rapists and murderers used the exact same line, but he couldn't think of anything else to say...he had to help her if he could
 
Claire Westall

She nearly made it; so nearly. But the bus driver pulled away just before she ground to a halt at the bus stop. Claire’s mind raced. She glanced at the timetable. Another 20 minutes before the next bus. She had left home last minute, which would make her late for the start!

She was still trying to catch her breath when the car pulled up beside her and wound down the window.

“Hey, I see you miss the bus, I’m heading for the Flaming Shot, if that’s on your way, you can grab a lift with me”

Her first instinct was to take a step back fearing that this man might try to make a grab for her.

”I’m fine ... “

She told him, glancing up and down the road as if she were expecting a bus any minute.

”Thanks anyway ... “

She told him, making eye contact for the first time.

He wasn’t exactly what she had expected. He looked well turned out - casual, yet smart and looked like he was headed out for the night. He had said the Flaming Shot. From what she had heard that was some bar, or club and it was along the main street ... just like the theatre.

Everything that had been drilled into her about not accepting lifts from strangers was urging her to even hesitate, to walk away, even return home. But ... she was tempted.
If she got a lift, she’d be there in good time and be able to enjoy her evening...
 
Chris Smith

Normally he would just shrug and drive off, but at least he had to make a proper try.

"Look I know that you're being cautious, but the next bus is in twenty minutes, then it's a half hour trip to anywhere significant. I can have you anywhere you want along my route in ten minutes, forty minutes saved which you can enjoy"

He gave her a smile

"And I doubt that you would like to wait around for another twenty minutes, with the sun setting as fast as it is, you know just as good as I do that the streets isn't the safest place to be after dark"

He was starting to feel like somebody trying to pick up a girl for the evening

"But if you're sure that you wouldn't mind waiting, I'll get going"

He placed the car into gear and checked for traffic, on the verge of pulling away
 
Claire Westall

“Look I know that you’re being cautious, but the next bus is in twenty minutes, then it’s a half hour trip to anywhere significant. I can have you anywhere you want along my route in ten minutes, forty minutes saved which you can enjoy”

His smile seemed genuine and as he spoke she realised just how much time she would lose if she had to wait. But still ...

“And I doubt that you would like to wait around for another twenty minutes, with the sun setting as fast as it is, you know just as good as I do that the streets isn’t the safest place to be after dark”

She looked up and down the street again. It wasn’t a bad neighbourhood, but there was no telling who might pass by. And what if the bus was late? If she spent all evening just hanging around, then the ticket in her pocket would be totally wasted...

“But if you’re sure that you wouldn’t mind waiting, I’ll get going”

He was on his way again and he was her only chance of getting to the theatre on time.

”Wait ... I ... “

She blushed as he paused again and looked more closely at him.
Decent clothes, decent looking car, decent looking guy. Nice people did exist. It didn’t follow that everyone offering a lift was some pervert.
Belatedly she realised that he was waiting with amazing patience.

”I’m sorry ... I ....I’d love a lift .... “

She told him nervously, moving round to the passenger door as he gestured her inside.

”If you can just drop me outside Flaming Shot, or thereabouts ... that would be great.... “

She secured her seatbelt, glancing across at him in the intimacy of the front seats as he pulled away, praying that she had made the right decision and even if she had knowing that her parents would KILL her for taking this risk!
 
Chris Smith

"Well then welcome aboard the Smith Express, taking you from here to there"

He laughed at his own joke and drove down the street, making the turns necessary to get them on the Main Road and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel in time to the music playing through the speakers. He glanced at her and grinned

"Sorry, I know Highway to Hell isn't the most appropriate song, but I love it, hope you don't mind"

He shifted gears and looked back at her

"Well you sure aren't heading for the Flaming Shot, you're not really dressed for a club, unless you are hiding the flashy clothes under those"

He chuckled at the joke

"So you are either heading for the library, Deno's Ice Cream Parlor or the theater"
 
Claire Westall

”Well then welcome aboard the Smith Express, taking you from here to there”

She exhaled relaxing a bit at his words and the way he tapped away to his music choice.

“Sorry, I know Highway to Hell isn’t the most appropriate song, but I love it, hope you don’t mind”

She smiled and shook her head.
He actually was really nice, she assessed.
Sure she might be naive, but he seemed ... nice ...

“Well you sure aren’t heading for the Flaming Shot, you’re not really dressed for a club, unless you are hiding the flashy clothes under those”

She chuckled with him and shook her head.

“So you are either heading for the library, Deno’s Ice Cream Parlor or the theater”

Her eyes widened at his accurate guess.

”The theatre ... “

She confirmed.

”Sheridan... The Rivals?”

She queried ... seeing if he had heard of it...

”I studied it last year ... and loved it ... “

She held back from launching into conversations of comedy and irony.

”I love the theatre ... “

She told him simply and warmed by his attention she confided.

”I have an audition next week ... I thought this might give me some ... inspiration... “
 
Chris Smith

He nodded as she mentioned the The Rivals, he had heard about it, just never really went to watch it, the he arched an eyebrow

"Oh? We have a famous movie star here in my humble transport. All hail to the lovely maiden of the acting world"

He laughed, he couldn't remember the last time he actually had the freedom to just talk to somebody like this. Must be because he knew that he would most probably never see her again.

"May I ask what the audition is for?"

They were closing to her destination and he started to slow down, at least he could get a reply out of her, before she had to go
 
Claire Westall

“Oh? We have a famous movie star here in my humble transport. All hail to the lovely maiden of the acting world”

She laughed with him before responding.

”Movies are all well and good .. but it really is theatre I want to get into ... “

She hoped she didn’t sound superior. It was just something about telling a story in real time and the thrill of a live audience.

“May I ask what the audition is for?”

She blushed at his query.

”Shakespeare ... there’s this new director ... specialises in Youth Theatre ...
He’s putting together a modern Romeo and Juliet ... “


She smiled shyly.

”I’ve had no training ... just done a few little school plays and will be up against experienced and trained actors but ... it’s open auditions and even if I get a crowd scene .. well ... it would be great!”
 
Chris Smith

He stopped outside the theater and gave her a warm smile

"Well I will hold thumbs for you to get the role and I'll definitely come check to see if you made it"

He held out his hand to her

"I'm Chris Smith, it was good meeting you"
 
She noticed that he made a detour and brought her to the door of the theatre.
Overwhelmed by his kindness, she returned his smile.

"Well I will hold thumbs for you to get the role and I'll definitely come check to see if you made it"

She took his hand and shook it, wishing ironically that the journey had taken longer.

"I'm Chris Smith, it was good meeting you"

She responded in kind;

"You too ... "

And unclipped the seat belt before reaching for the door.

"And thank you ... "

She was looking back at him now.

"You've been so kind to me Chris ... "

She slipped out of the car.

" ... look me up sometime ... and if I ever get famous, I'll remember you ... "

She told him with a chuckle, then she turned and walked through the theatre entrance.
 
Chris Smith

He watched as she walked inside and smiled, nice kid. He pulled away, the first two lights was red and he waited patiently, the third one was green and just as he crossed it, the horn blared over his music, he slammed on the brakes, but it proved to be the wrong action, the bus slammed into his car with ferocious force. Chris' last thoughts was just how ironic it was that the same bus that Claire had missed would hit him, then he saw the wall of a building loom up into his view and then...nothing...
 
Claire set mesmerised by the tale that played out before her.
She loved the characterisation and was spellbound by the production.

As she stepped out of the theatre, she was still lost in reverie. She would never be able to land a part like that ... but how she would love to play Lydia ... or even Julia ... She loved the ironic romance of the plot and wondered if she would ever get the opportunity to tread the boards in any form. She thought about Chris and his words about her being famous one day and the way he had wished her luck.

It was then she noticed the sirens ...
 
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Glen Kane

Glen was standing on the sidewalk, watching the police cars, ambulances and fire trucks racing past. It seemed that there was some sort of accident three blocks away, he turned to one man who seemed to be coming from that direction

"Know what happened?"

The man looked over his shoulder and shook his head

"The 6 o'clock bus, it ran into a car after it's brakes failed...nasty business"

Glen looked passed the man and saw a very attractive girl looking into the direction of the accident and back at the man that he had been talking to

"Thanks"

"No problem"

The man walked further and Glen looked down the street, well nothing he could do. He got out the keys and got his bike, slipping his helmet on, he started his bike up and drove off.
 
Claire Westall

She'd had no choice. The bus service had been suspended.
A terrible accident, she'd heard, at least one fatality was the rumour.
That left her stranded.
It wasn't the easiest phone call to make.
It was far from the most comfortable ride home.
It wasn't that her parents bawled her out, but they made it clear that they were "disappointed" by her deception.
 
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Glen Kane

Stopping at his apartment, Glen got off his bike and headed inside. He wondered why he couldn't get the face of that girl out of his mind...but he shrugged and headed inside, time for a good cuppa Joe
 
Claire Westall

Claire managed to keep the fact that she had allowed a stranger to give her a lift to the theatre from her parents. Instead she told them she got an earlier bus. That still didn’t make the situation any better. The disappointment was palpable. What they did not say, somehow worse that if they had said more. And that mood seemed to seep up to her room.

The local park was the answer. No transport needed. A haven of orchestrated greenery, pathways and water features, but bordered by more naturalistic looking woodland. And it was towards this area that Claire gravitated. The weather was by no means hot, but the sun shone making it pleasant for her to sit on the blanket a short distance from the path, but surrounded on 4 sides by bushes; a hidden niche from which Claire could thumb through the texts she had brought with her and try to make a final decision about what her presentation piece for the audition would be.

Content for the first time in days, Claire sipped at the bottle of water and checked her watch. It was midday, but she would put off indulging in her picnic lunch for another hour and by that time, she aimed to have made the selection. The afternoon could then be dedicated to preparation. For the hundreth time it seemed, Claire skim read the scenes that she had bookmarked as possibles. Any would do, but none she felt seemed quite right.

With an exclamation of frustration, she dropped the text in her hands and gave a heavy sigh, staring across the park as if searching there for inspiration ...
 
Elron Kramer

Elron didn't really like the park, at times it was too noisy and he wanted to read in peace and quiet, luckily today the park seemed rather deserted and he was engrossed in Robin Hobb's The Golden Fool. He was making good time reading and he preferred it that way, he only shifted position every now and then to prevent his legs or feet from falling asleep
 
Claire Westall

She’d finally picked the scene she was going to learn. Shakespeare, but not Romeo and Juliet.
She decided that she wouldn’t presume to prepare the lead female character focusing instead on a comedic minor character, Phebe. Still uncertain as to what part she’d pick for monologue and whether they might pick up on the scene to test her dialogue skills Claire thought it best to learn the scene in its entirety.

”Act III, Scene 5 ... “

She murmured to herself as she lay on her back, the book open at the section. Glancing at the opening line she read the male cue in then closed her eyes, text now face down on her stomach as she quietly began to mouth the words of the scene;

” I would not be thy executioner:
I fly thee, for I would not injure thee...”


The soft murmur of dialogue as she tried out the rhythms and nuances as the action between Phebe, Rosalind and Silvius played out in her imagination...
 
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Elron Kramer

"You tell me my eyes are murderous—that’s a very pretty sentiment, and oh-so-probable, that my frail, soft eyes, which are so cowardly that they close their gates against dust, are tyrants, butchers, and murderers. I’m frowning at you with all my might right now. If my eyes can injure, let them kill you now. Go ahead. Faint, fall down—if you don’t, then you’re lying about my eyes being murderers. Come on, show me the wound that my eyes have caused. If you get scratched with a pin, it leaves a scar; even if you lean on a rush, it leaves an impression on your palm. But my eyes, which I’ve darted at you, haven’t even left a mark. Now I am sure that eyes can’t hurt a person."

He looked up from his book as the voice came drifting what seemed like nowhere, he wanted to go on reading, but the voice captured his attention, he had a feeling that he had to know those words...then with a snap of his fingers he remembered. As you like it, by William Shakespear, he chuckled at himself for not remembering it right off, but then again it's been almost a year and many books in between since he had read it. Racking his brains he could remember the following dialogue

"O dear Phebe, if ever, as that ever may be near, you meet in some fresh cheek the power of fancy, then shall you know the wounds invisible that love's keen arrows make"

He grinned and turned his attention back to his book, let the speaker know just how disruptive it can be to others to recite so loudly.
 
It was the third or fourth time that she had recited the scene. The male cue now not voiced, the words running through her head and prompting her to respond as Phebe or Rosalind.

"O dear Phebe, if ever, as that ever may be near, you meet in some fresh cheek the power of fancy, then shall you know the wounds invisible that love's keen arrows make"

The words were audible! The following line spoken before she could consider her next. Opening her eyes she sat up and looked around; unable to see anyone nearby, she thought to draw him out stating:

"But till that time
Come not thou near me; and when that time comes
Afflict me with thy mocks, pity me not;
As till that time I shall not pity thee.


She was uncertain what reply she might expect as the following part consisted of Phebe-Rosaline dialogue ... yet she hoped for some indication of just who had not only overheard her, but at least was aware of the next line ...
 
Elron Kramer

Again the voice rang out and he leaned back, listening. It was a strong voice, one that could perhaps tell a story and captivate the audience. If he was not mistaken the the next part was for a Rose something, he took a breath

"Well I'm not a woman, but here goes... And why, I pray you? Who might be your mother, that you insult, exult, and all at once, over the wretched? What though you have no beauty, as, by my faith, I see no more in you than without candle may go dark to bed. Must you be therefore proud and pitiless?"

He paused, it's been a long time, he couldn't really remember all too well the rest of the monologue and he grinned

"Well I can't remember what follows right after that, just that she reprimands him and of course Phebe are spoken to as well"
 
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