Dark Receiver

[DeliciousMaiden]

"As subtle as a baseball bat to the face.
Well since they are watching and you did just quote the writer of ye old poems..."

She smiled as he hugged her knowing it would scandalise her watching parents, but knowing that rather than just for show the gesture had been to offer her support.

"You will do great and I will see you tomorrow."

She nodded watching him get on the bike.

"Oh and do read the contract tonight."

She waved and knew it was something she had to do rather than carrying it back and forth from home; after all it was key to her future now.

Slowly she turned and saw curtains drop back into place and so slowly made her way towards the front door and let herself in.

"That you love..?"

Anxiety and hesitation filled her mother's voice, but Claire was unrelenting.

"You know it is."

She informed her flatly.

"Nite..."

As one it seemed her parents flew to the bottom of the stairs as she began to go up.

"Your dinner ... "

Her mother began.

"Claire we have to ... "

Her father demanded over her mother's concilitory tones.

Claire held up her hand, the surprise at which brought her parents to a faltering halt.

"I've eaten mum ... and dad ... we have nothing to say."

She told them both calmly watching them struggling to process her unexpected reaction giving her the chance to continue.

"It is evident that we no longer make decisions together in this house, so ..."

She shrugged dismissively and continued up the stairs. She would not even do them the courtesy of telling them of her plans after all it would only give them something to argue against and give them an opening to try to justify their own actions.

Below her parent's voices were a dull burble. Claire exhaled when she reached her room. She was angry, but still more determined. Pulling the contract out of her bag, she set to work reading through it, making notes and a list of questions that she would share with Glen or maybe Elron the following day.

She refused to answer the knock on her door later that evening and did not even offer an answer. Switching off the light instead she slept surprisingly well which enabled her to be out of the house earlier than usual. The call of her father followed her down the path, obviously objecting to the fact that she had not even entered the kitchen for a morning drink or breakfast. But Claire took no notice. And breakfast was the last thing on her mind; she would get something enroute to the theatre she decided and it would do no harm to arrive early after all she had things to sort out ... her future...

 

[DeathsKnight]

Glen arrived home to the smell of hamburgers and fries, obviously Elron had decided that Glen's monthly pig-out would be that evening. He shook his head and smiled, table was set and a chilled bottle of red wine nestled in the ice bucket, Elron himself was already eating, slurping his food down with what clearly was Pepsi as the bottle stood on the table.

"Oh ye of little skill, doth thou wish to poison me?"

Elron waved his words aside,

"Avast young master, it be but pure beef encased in bread."

Glen chuckled and dumped his bag on the arm chair,

"How do you feel about having to share the last room?"

Elron pushed his glasses back onto his nose,

"Is he loud, hideous and will snore like the king of giants?"

Glen sat down,

"No, none of those at all."

He went further, explaining Claire's predicament and what he believed her answer towards her parents will present her. Elron gazed at him, his eyes narrowing, a slow smile spreading over his face.

"Sure, sure a few days would be fine, I did hear about a promising apartment not far from here, I have been meaning to go check it out tomorrow."

Glen nodded,

"Fine by me."

They finished their respective meals, Elron went to bed and Glen sat on the arm chair, glass of wine on the table next to him and his cellphone next to the glass. It was just before midnight when he went to bed, the next morning would bring it's own challenges.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Claire had plenty of time and managed to even spend a happy half hour in what was rapidly becoming her favourite coffee house savouring a breakfast pastry and cappucino whilst she glanced over her contract once more. She had expected to be upset or to have been drawn into confrontation with her parents, but was secretly proud of herself for having avoided both and on the contrary felt optimistic about what her future might hold.

Despite the delay she arrived 45 minutes before the usual arrival time, but as she had expected, found the theatre already unlocked. Sliding inside and closing the door behind her she made her way towards the main auditorium. The corridor she moved through was where she had queued what now seemed an age ago for her audition and yet rather than strange and intimidating it had now become comfortingly familiar.

"Anyone around..?"

She called out as she stepped out in front of the stalls, her focus upon the stage as she wondered if Elron or Glen or indeed any of the others were setting up or rehearsing at this hour.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Glen had gotten dressed and arrived early, he was seated in one of the seats and had his eyes closed, earphones plugged into his MP3 player as he listened to his more favorite scores.

"Anyone around..?"

He opened his eyes and found Claire standing not too far away, of course the lack of lights and his dark clothing made him very hard to spot.

"Well if it isn't my bright eyed and perky little Juliet."

He chuckled and pulled the earphones off,

"You are quite early, seems like my sparring students have decided they can use a toothpick."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Glen had gotten dressed and arrived early, he was seated in one of the seats and had his eyes closed, earphones plugged into his MP3 player as he listened to his more favorite scores.

"Anyone around..?"

He opened his eyes and found Claire standing not too far away, of course the lack of lights and his dark clothing made him very hard to spot.

"Well if it isn't my bright eyed and perky little Juliet."

Claire's eyes scanned the stall seats using the direction of the voice to spot Glen who was seated, obviously listening to music before her arrival.

"You are quite early, seems like my sparring students have decided they can use a toothpick."

Claire laughed as she walked across to him.

"The start of a new future..."

She told him softly pulling out the papers of her contract with a grin.

"I went through this last night and think I understand the key parts, but have jotted down some queries and questions ... is it ethical for you to advise me, or even Elron, or should I be looking further afield .... "

She laughed and shrugged.

"I'd be happy just signing now ... I doubt it makes much difference, but you did tell me to check through ... and I always do as my director tells me ..."

She threw him a sassy grin.

 

[DeathsKnight]

He chuckled,

"Oh do you? Well then you would have brought me some coffee from that nice little shop just down the street."

He winked at her,

"Well since I'm the one who drafted up that contract you can discuss it with me, Elron did study the contract so you can discuss it with him as well. I even have a lawyer friend who will be more than happy to help you look at the contract. So your options are limitless so to speak."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Oh do you? Well then you would have brought me some coffee from that nice little shop just down the street."

Claire laughed as he guessed her movements that morning.


"Well since I'm the one who drafted up that contract you can discuss it with me, Elron did study the contract so you can discuss it with him as well. I even have a lawyer friend who will be more than happy to help you look at the contract. So your options are limitless so to speak."


She smiled and responded.

"Seems I'm spoiled for choice ... I think I might ask Elron to take a look to start with ... just so's I can pretend I know what I'm talking about ... and talking of Elron did you speak to him about that offer of yours...?"

She was curious as to how what he thought of her parents' behaviour almost as much as what he thought of having her as a potential, it very temporary houseguest...

 

[DeathsKnight]

"Yes I have spoken to Elron about this little issue you're having and he said it's fine with him. So if push comes to shove you're more than welcome and Elron seems to think he can look after himself, he will be a bit late, he went to look at an apartment. So you will have to cast opposite me today until he returns."

He motioned for her to take a seat,

"You look so formal standing at attention all the time."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Yes I have spoken to Elron about this little issue you're having and he said it's fine with him."

She had to laugh at Glen's subtle labelling of her situation as a 'little issue'!

"So if push comes to shove you're more than welcome and Elron seems to think he can look after himself, he will be a bit late, he went to look at an apartment. So you will have to cast opposite me today until he returns."

She was surprised Elron was actually planning on moving out of Glen's, but the timing of it at least reassured her that it wasn't due to her possible appearance at Glen's that she felt pushed out ...

"You look so formal standing at attention all the time."

She sat beside him with a laugh.

"Hardly all the time ... and you are the boss... "

She responded.

"So ... what are we covering today? I assume we won't often be wearing costumes to rehearse....? "

She queried wondering if Glen standing in for Elron's role would change the dynamics of the scenes they were to rehearse...

 

[DeathsKnight]

"Oh heavens no, I will not fit into Elron's outfit even if you paid me."

He patted his flat stomach,

"Put on 300 grams last week."

He winked at her with a grin,

"No the whole thing is that I wish to work over the whole marriage and death of Tybalt scene. Got to help you a bit with what you seemed to struggle with."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Oh heavens no, I will not fit into Elron's outfit even if you paid me... Put on 300 grams last week."

She watched his grin.

"No the whole thing is that I wish to work over the whole marriage and death of Tybalt scene. Got to help you a bit with what you seemed to struggle with."

She nodded, but inwardly Claire groaned. Just what she needed; to scene with the director on the parts where he thought she was struggling.

"Wouldn't that be better done with Elron?"

She couldn't help but suggest.
If Glen didn't think she was doing well with her familiar leading man, then she doubted having to run the scenes through with him was going to help her at all ...

 

[DeathsKnight]

He smiled at her,

"No, it's best that you get to play your character with all the feelings that comes with it, even if your co-player is a person you do not know."

He tapped his chest,

"It lies here, you came back for more that means you like it already. Now you have to reel and love your character and become her. Method acting."

Movement caught his eye and a figure moved from one side of the stage to the other, he knew they were alone. He pointed at the stage,

"Can you see that?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"No, it's best that you get to play your character with all the feelings that comes with it, even if your co-player is a person you do not know."

The point wasn't that she didn't know him, but rather that he was her director and her person she was trying to impress!

"It lies here, you came back for more that means you like it already. Now you have to reel and love your character and become her. Method acting."

She had heard of method acting, but didn't really link it with what Glen was describing. She turned to ask him a question, but saw him point towards the stage.

"Can you see that?"

She scanned the empty expanse and looked into the shadows.

"See what..?"

She asked him.

"What am I looking for?"

 

[DeathsKnight]

He was about to reply when the figure reached the end of the stage and disappeared behind the side curtains, he sat back into the seat,

"No probably just my imagination."

He ran a hand over his jaw,

"I could swear I saw somebody walk over the stage."

He chuckled,

"I need more sleep that is for certain."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"No probably just my imagination.
I could swear I saw somebody walk over the stage."

Claire shook her head as he chuckled.

"I need more sleep that is for certain."

She nodded and suggested.

"Perhaps that coffee? I could head back to the shop or shall I set the urns going so everyone can get a hot drink when they arrive...?"

She checked her watch.

"They should be arriving shortly ... unless you've given everyone else the morning off along with Elron..?"

She teased....

 

[DeathsKnight]

Glen Kane

He smiled at her,

"The urns are already on, snacks should be arriving in ten minutes. You really got here very early."

He sank down in the seat, placing his feet on the seat in front of him,

"I'm curious about you, how do you feel about doing a bit of Q&A? If you do not wish to I can respect your privacy."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"The urns are already on, snacks should be arriving in ten minutes. You really got here very early."

She agreed, but did not explain the circumstances leading up to her early start.

"I'm curious about you, how do you feel about doing a bit of Q&A?
If you do not wish to I can respect your privacy."

Claire considered the surprising suggestion.

"I suppose it depends in which capacity you're asking me.
If you want to know about me from a business sense as my director and potential employer then of course I'll answer relevant questions ... if you're asking me as a ... a friend ... then I'll consider what I'm willing to answer ... "

She shrugged wondering what it was he wanted to know.

"So supposing you tell me what it is you want to know .. and why?"

She invited..

 

[DeathsKnight]

He smiled,

"I'm asking as me, not the producer and I'm asking because I want to get to know you better."

He looked at her,

"You seem to be a girl I would like to get to know better on a more personal level."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"I'm asking as me, not the producer and I'm asking because I want to get to know you better."

His words reassured Claire.

"You seem to be a girl I would like to get to know better on a more personal level."

She had not expected that.

"Oh..."

As a line her response was pretty poor, yet her blush perhaps spelled volumes as did the shy smile.

"In that case ... ask away ... "

She told him ...

 

[DeathsKnight]

He smiled back at her,

"Well of course the basics would be nice, what food you like, what drinks you like, that sort of things would be great to know."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Well of course the basics would be nice, what food you like, what drinks you like, that sort of things would be great to know."

The question was straightforward enough ...

"Well ... food ... I like most food, but especially italian. I'm not vegetarian, but do like vegetarian food if that makes sense...

She asked as she continued.

"... I suppose I'm a bit of a whimp when it comes to spices, but I'm willing to try new tastes out. I've never really had Indian or chinese or other foods like that ... as for drinks well... coffee.. cappuccino in particu;ar as you know ... alcoholic... perhaps wine, but I've never really been into drinking alcohol much ... "

She shrugged apologetically.

"I guess I've never been much of a clubbing/drinking/partying kinda girl. Given the chance I'd like to travel more ... see places ... maybe even get a bike... "

She told him with a twinkle of a smile ...

 

[DeathsKnight]

He chuckled,

"A bike? My my seems like you have an adventurer hiding somewhere inside."

He leaned back,

"Coffee, tea and of course a sweet wine is what makes sense along with a good meal. Food is of course not a problem, but too spicy like most Indian food doesn't really work for me."

He grinned,

"I'm guessing you will not say no to have a good home-made pizza and of course from the one time you came over I'm taking that you do like the pasta ideas. Perhaps I should try one of those vegetarian pasta dishes, but of course once you're there to share it with me, once you try new things, you must have company."

He crossed his legs,

"How about the arts? Music? Movies? That sort of thing."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"A bike? My my seems like you have an adventurer hiding somewhere inside."

Claire laughed with him. It was about she began to break free she decided.
Even as director she had felt comfortable with Glen from the beginning and really enjoyed his company, yet she had never thought that he would be interested in her beyond her role in his play.

"Coffee, tea and of course a sweet wine is what makes sense along with a good meal. Food is of course not a problem, but too spicy like most Indian food doesn't really work for me."

He seemed to approve of her food and drink preferences and was pleased that like her he wasn't into anything too spicy.

"I'm guessing you will not say no to have a good home-made pizza and of course from the one time you came over I'm taking that you do like the pasta ideas. Perhaps I should try one of those vegetarian pasta dishes, but of course once you're there to share it with me, once you try new things, you must have company."

She nodded at the idea of home made pizza and as he had concluded she definitely liked all types of pasta, yet the way he spoke of trying out vegetrarian pasta dishes when she was there to share them with him and his comment about having company to try new things, seemed to be suggest that it might be he she would have those new experiences with ...

"How about the arts? Music? Movies? That sort of thing."

She blushed slightly unused to anyone showing such a keen interest in her, but feeling that with Glen she could didn't have to appear to be more cultured or interesting that she actually was.

"Well ... theatre you know about ... but I guess I love all theatre, but I really haven't seen anywhere near as much as I'd like to. I like musicals and have enjoyed singing in choirs and groups in the past, but again would love to see many more live productions... "

Many of the theatre trips she had been on had been school or university arranged. She realised with surprise that in fact she had been out and about very little with her parents and that her life had been alarmingly insular.

"There's so much more I want to see and do ... "

She told him softly.

"I've heard of and read about art and architecture, so many places that sound fascinating ... but what you read and see on the internet or books hardly scrapes the surface; no more than recordings or TV can really communicate what a live performance is like. I watch some movies: I suppose I like the Rom-Com type and anything historical, but much of the action stuff just doesn't appeal. I'm not a massive classics fan, but much of what I have heard and seen I like; there are some operas, some ballets even that have such wonderful music ... "

She sighed and shrugged her shoulders.

"I guess I have a massive 'to-do' list ... "

She told him thinking that is was definitely time to move out and live her life now ...

 

[DeathsKnight]

He nodded as he listened to her talk, she had indeed lived a very sheltered live and again the thought came to him that he wondered why she was kept so secluded. He smiled at her and reached out to pat her hand,

"You will get to do it all, if I could have visited the Louvre I'm very certain that not even the Sydney Opera house lies beyond your reach."

He sat back in his own chair,

"Ah the classics, the portal to relaxation and transcendence...as long as you don't listen to it all the time. Thanks to my interest to "re-make" our love story I have some interests in the more modern music as well. What I find revitalizing is when they mix symphonic music with the more technical sounds. It keeps the air of the old, but incorporates the new. It's of course a cultural shock to the older generation and the stout classical supporters swears that it means the end of the old music as we know it."

He smirked,

"I call them Scrooges if you want my opinion...now that is a story I would like to produce, A Christmas Carol."

He chuckled again,

"OK my mind is really flitting about isn't it?"

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"You will get to do it all, if I could have visited the Louvre I'm very certain that not even the Sydney Opera house lies beyond your reach."

Compared to Glen she felt very inexperienced, so what might it be that he might see in her she considered.

"Ah the classics, the portal to relaxation and transcendence...as long as you don't listen to it all the time. Thanks to my interest to "re-make" our love story I have some interests in the more modern music as well. What I find revitalizing is when they mix symphonic music with the more technical sounds. It keeps the air of the old, but incorporates the new. It's of course a cultural shock to the older generation and the stout classical supporters swears that it means the end of the old music as we know it."

She listened to him as he spoke, fascinated by the way his mind worked.

"I call them Scrooges if you want my opinion...now that is a story I would like to produce, A Christmas Carol."

Claire did love that story, but considered that there were a real lack of strong female characters throughout.

"OK my mind is really flitting about isn't it?"

She laughed and nodded.

"A bit ... perhaps you need that coffee?"

She offered...