Dark Receiver

[DeliciousMaiden]

Claire watched Glen move off into the wings. From her vantage point at the opposite side of the stage, she watched him halt and stand to the side, his attention back on the stage once more as, she assumed, he took on his director mantle for a brief time. Claire briefly thought back to the questions Glen had been asking her, about whether people she knew frequently had accidents, than about the whole issue of help and courtesy, the ramifications of which were frightening if she actually believed him. She didn't of course. Not quite. But what if something happened to Glen, then how would she feel? What if they started a relationship and then something happened to him? It was too close to Juliet's experience to be comfortable ...

The stage was empty now and awaited her entrance. As before she gathered her thoughts and focused them before launching into her "Gallop apace ..." soliloquy. The ironic anticipation cut short by the nurse's news as Abigail finally entered and delivered the confusing line: Ah, well-a-day! he's dead, he's dead, he's dead!
It was all too easy to summon the tumult of emotion the scene called for, so much so that by the end of the scene Claire was moved to tears on Juliet's behalf:

Wash they his wounds with tears: mine shall be spent,
When theirs are dry, for Romeo's banishment.

The pause was necessary to gain control before continuing:

Take up those cords: poor ropes, you are beguiled,
Both you and I; for Romeo is exiled:
He made you for a highway to my bed;
But I, a maid, die maiden-widowed.
Come, cords, come, nurse; I'll to my wedding-bed;
And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead!

Her voice, with it's slight waver was the perfect expression of Juliet's sorrow. Her voice still melancholy as she sent the nurse to seek out Romeo:

O, find him! give this ring to my true knight,
And bid him come to take his last farewell.

Claire's exit to one side, brought Glen on by from the opposite wings. She stood watching the action playing out on stage knowing that she had the short scene Capulets/Paris scene after that before she and Glen would enact the final scene that Romeo and Juliet are alive together ... unless Elron returned beforehand that was ...

 

[DeathsKnight]

It became time for the two lovers two depart and still no Elron, Glen ran a hand through his hair and grinned at Claire,

"Let's go make our farewells then."

The two of them moved onto the stage and quite unexpectedly Claire grabbed his arm,

"Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day. It was the nightingale, and not the lark, that pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear. Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate tree. Believe me, love, it was the nightingale."

He turned to her, cupping her jaw in one hand, holding her hand with his other, gently kissing the palm,

"It was the lark, the herald of the morn, no nightingale. Look, love, what envious streaks do lace the severing clouds in yonder east. Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops. I must be gone and live, or stay and die."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Let's go make our farewells then."


The brief out of character smile they exchanged helped Claire find her performance rather than the reverse. She and Elron had worked out how this scene should run, but somehow playing it with Glen gave it fresh nuances. And as expected Glen reacted to her 'improvisation' as she knew he would. She found herself lost in his eyes, his voice his touch as he told her;

"I must be gone and live, or stay and die."

She knew that once they had finished this scene it would be unlikely she would play opposite Glen again and the wish to draw out their time acting together gave Claire the exact motivation to draw out their parting.

"Yon light is not day-light, I know it, I:
It is some meteor that the sun exhales,
To be to thee this night a torch-bearer,
And light thee on thy way to Mantua:
Therefore stay yet; thou need'st not to be gone."

She used all her powers of persuasion, as if by convincing him she could change the outcome of the events. And it worked. For short moments, she relished his change of heart ... until his final words;

"Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so.
How is't, my soul? let's talk; it is not day."

With urgency, she found herself urging,

"It is, it is: hie hence, be gone, away!"

With Elron, she seemed to almost push him out of the room at this stage, with Glen, despite the words to hasten his parting, Claire finds it impossible to release her hold on him.

" O, now be gone; more light and light it grows."

It is with physical effort that she finally releases her 'husband' and puts distance between them. Staring heartbroken until the nurse interrupts his words and informs them that Lady Capulet is approaching. The flow of the scene is unstoppable. Despite their efforts fate is unravelling.

Farewell, farewell! one kiss, and I'll descend.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Let's go make our farewells then."


The brief out of character smile they exchanged helped Claire find her performance rather than the reverse. She and Elron had worked out how this scene should run, but somehow playing it with Glen gave it fresh nuances. And as expected Glen reacted to her 'improvisation' as she knew he would. She found herself lost in his eyes, his voice his touch as he told her;

"I must be gone and live, or stay and die."

She knew that once they had finished this scene it would be unlikely she would play opposite Glen again and the wish to draw out their time acting together gave Claire the exact motivation to draw out their parting.

"Yon light is not day-light, I know it, I:
It is some meteor that the sun exhales,
To be to thee this night a torch-bearer,
And light thee on thy way to Mantua:
Therefore stay yet; thou need'st not to be gone."

She used all her powers of persuasion, as if by convincing him she could change the outcome of the events. And it worked. For short moments, she relished his change of heart ... until his final words;

"Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so.
How is't, my soul? let's talk; it is not day."

With urgency, she found herself urging,

"It is, it is: hie hence, be gone, away!"

With Elron, she seemed to almost push him out of the room at this stage, with Glen, despite the words to hasten his parting, Claire finds it impossible to release her hold on him.

" O, now be gone; more light and light it grows."

It is with physical effort that she finally releases her 'husband' and puts distance between them. Staring heartbroken until the nurse interrupts his words and informs them that Lady Capulet is approaching. The flow of the scene is unstoppable. Despite their efforts fate is unravelling.

"Farewell, farewell! one kiss, and I'll descend."

Without a thought Claire moves into the embrace, desperate for that final connection with her 'husband'...

 

[DeathsKnight]

It wasn't something he had planned, not something he actually thought about, but when Claire stepped into his arms he did what Romeo would have done, what any sane man would do if he likes a woman...he kissed her, not as a friend, not as part of the role or the play, he kissed her like a woman he cared for, one he would want to spend his life with...

When the embrace ended he was shocked at his own reactions, this was not the first time he played the role, not the first kiss, but it was the first one with so much emotion and feeling to it...he stepped back, the exchange somewhat lost on him, his mind a turmoil, not the turmoil of Romeo, but the turmoil of his own feelings towards Claire.

"And trust me, love, you look pale to me too. Sadness takes away our color. Goodbye, Goodbye!"

He looked at her for a few more moments and then hurried off stage like a man fearing to be caught.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Heading off stage, Glen found himself walking right into a person stood in the wings.
Looking up he saw a familiar grin accompanied by soft, slow applause.

"Bravo .... very convincing ... am I out of a job?"

Elron quipped as on stage Claire continued with the scene in progress..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

The kiss Glen had given her had rocked her senses. And then he had rushed of stage as per directions and she had to turn around and remember her lines and deal with the onslaught of both parents and the nurse's betrayal leading to Juliet's total break down.

Evermore weeping for your cousin's death?

Lady Capulet questioned and indeed Claire found that tears were on her cheek. She met the older woman's eyes as the dialogue continued, picking carefully between the words as they talked at cross purposes.

But now I'll tell thee joyful tidings, girl.

The words acted to punctuate the scene, Claire grasping at some hope of optimisim only to have her hopes dashed by the news that she is to marry!

Now, by Saint Peter's Church and Peter too,
He shall not make me there a joyful bride.
I wonder at this haste; that I must wed
Ere he, that should be husband, comes to woo.

Absorbed in the scene Claire remained unaware of Elron's arrival or of his having watched her and Glen acting together.

Good father, I beseech you on my knees,
Hear me with patience but to speak a word.

Claire's pleas were all too reminiscent of the confrontation that morning with her father, indeed he was well nicknamed Capulet judging by the rage he had shown.

Is there no pity sitting in the clouds,
That sees into the bottom of my grief?

Claire took the speech slowly, focusing fully on Juliet again.
She blanked her mind to Glen, her father and suspended the silence now that Juliet's parents had left the stage and the nurse was, for the moment, silent.

What say'st thou? hast thou not a word of joy?
Some comfort, nurse.

Listening to Abigail's words, as if for the first time, 'Juliet's' world, her only hope for help crumbles around her as she is urged to take Paris as husband.

Go, counsellor;
Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain.
I'll to the friar, to know his remedy:

Instead of continuing she paused as if considering and concluding ... the change in nuance somehow seeming appropriate.

If all else fail ............... myself have power to die.

Her voice was soft, flat determined as she stared unseeingly into the theatre, her mind focused on that one intention until the expected direction would instruct them to continue or take a break for lunch.

 

[DeathsKnight]

His mind still troubled over his own feelings, the wrong, the rights, that he looked at Elron with a blank stare and then grinned at his old friend,

"And leave production in your hands? Heavens forbid that ever happening."

Elron chuckled and looked passed him at Claire as she acted,

"Quite absorbed isn't she?"

Glen nodded as he noticed that Claire seemed a bit out of sorts but quickly slipped into her character as the same scene as the morning unfolded, as the more taxing scene for Claire ended it was lunch time, with Elron back it would be back to usual.

"All right folks let's take that break called mid day fast breaking."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"All right folks let's take that break called mid day fast breaking."

As one it seemed the cast rose and headed in the direction of the food.
Claire stood slowly and gathered her thoughts. Turning she found Abigail beside her telling her she was looking peaky, asking her if things were ok and then dragging her off toward the food tables. Claire told her friend that things were ... complex ... at the moment ... perhaps as they were eating she confessed that she had things to sort out ... all a bit confusing ... Claire was deliberately vague, but Abigail didn't push. She figured that if she gave Claire space and if she needed to Claire would talk to her in her own good time.

"Elron!"

Claire finally spotted him.

"When did you get back?"

She wanted to ask him about how his flat hunting had gone and ask him about her contract, but she didn't like to in front of Abigail.

"I'll take this lot back ... "

Abigail offered right on cue picking up the discarded plates.

"... and you know where I am if you need me, right?"

Claire nodded blushing slightly as Abigail bustled off.

"Did you get lucky this morning...?"

She asked as conversation opener ...

 

[DeathsKnight]

Elron smiled at Claire,

"Hey there Jules."

He chuckled,

"Oh I came in just as Glen showed you just how much he likes you. The guy was in a daze afterwards."

He grinned,

"Did I get lucky? Now now Claire that sounds very suggestive to something else than to what I was doing."

He gave her a playful wink,

"Yes I actually did, the apartment is very nice and it seems like I have persuaded them to give it to me for a rather nice price, so I'll basically move in during this week."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Hey there Jules. Oh I came in just as Glen showed you just how much he likes you. The guy was in a daze afterwards."

Claire laughed at the nickname and then blushed at Elron's words. Judging from what he said, Elron must have seen at least some of their last scene together ... but as to Glen being in a daze and liking her ... alot ... that surely was good acting?

"Did I get lucky? Now now Claire that sounds very suggestive to something else than to what I was doing."

She laughed. Judging by his mood it would seem the morning had gone well.

"Yes I actually did, the apartment is very nice and it seems like I have persuaded them to give it to me for a rather nice price, so I'll basically move in during this week."

She was right! The news was better than she'd thought.

"Wow, that's good luck. I'm currently at war with my parents now; my father in particular .... "

She sighed.

"It's all a bit of a mess actually ... "

She wasn't really sure what to do after how things had been left.

"You couldn't help me out sometime soon could you. I have this contract. Glen says I need to get it looked over, but ... I'm clueless really. Could you just do a quick check so I can get it signed and sealed before I'm homeless myself?"

She grinned as she added.

"Wilt thou Silvius...?"

It seemed they had come a long way since her Phoebe recital.

 

[DeathsKnight]

He chuckled,

"For the fairest maiden of them all? I will do so for you my dearest Phoebe."

He looked over at Glen,

"You do know that the man is absolutely besotted with you? The last time I've seen him like that was at senior prom, of course the lady didn't feel the same, he kind of switched off after that."

He turned his attention back to Claire,

"If you can just bring the contract to me, I'll have a look for you, but if it says Kane Productions at the top I'm sure it's the very same one I looked over not too long ago."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

He seemed amused by her question.

"For the fairest maiden of them all? I will do so for you my dearest Phoebe."

She chuckled along with him and nodded in thanks.

He looked over at Glen,

"You do know that the man is absolutely besotted with you?

The question took Claire totally off guard. She followed the direction of Elron's gaze.

"Glen? Besotted?!?"

She shook her head, but Elron continued.

"The last time I've seen him like that was at senior prom, of course the lady didn't feel the same, he kind of switched off after that."

Claire's eyes were still following Glen as he moved through the actors.

"If you can just bring the contract to me, I'll have a look for you,"

She dragged her gaze away and focused upon Elron once more.

" ... but if it says Kane Productions at the top I'm sure it's the very same one I looked over not too long ago."

That comment drew his attention.

"A similiar contract? You're under contract of course..."

She concluded.

 

[DeathsKnight]

"Oh no, I'm not under contract. I'm still studying to become a teacher and of course the contract does kind of bind me to theater, while I love it and even if I must say so myself, I'm not too bad at it, I first have some other dreams to pursue first."

He smiled at her,

"But I think right now it's the best thing for you to do, but let's check it through, I'm sure it will not bind you too much, if you do wish to study more you can do so."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Oh no, I'm not under contract. I'm still studying to become a teacher and of course the contract does kind of bind me to theater, while I love it and even if I must say so myself, I'm not too bad at it, I first have some other dreams to pursue first."

Claire was shocked by his words; firstly because he wasn't under contract, but secondly about his ambition to teach. She had thought his dreams lay in another direction, but she was sure that he would make an amazing teacher if the way he had made her believe in herself was anything to go by!

"But I think right now it's the best thing for you to do, but let's check it through, I'm sure it will not bind you too much, if you do wish to study more you can do so."

If it wasn't his contract Elron had seen, then Claire couldn't help wondering who the other contract belonged to ... but it was none of her business and the main thing was that Elron was more than willing to check it out for her. To her it was just a formality.

"Well.. the theatre is what I want to do. I'm not sure what study I want to do, if any."

She frowned.

"I've had a big bust up with my parents, well my dad actually. And ... looks like for better or worse, I'm about to 'go solo'. Not sure if I'm excited or scared to be honest... "

She found herself confessing.

"So a contract would at least give me a bit of security until my feet touch the ground again ... "

 

[DeathsKnight]

"Ah you're still young, I'm sure that if there is something that you would want to study it will come along. As for the heavy misunderstanding and dispute that you had with your parents, I'm sure that you will receive much more support than you think you will."

He pushed his glasses into position,

"I'll just grab a sandwich or two and some juice while you get the papers."

He smiled,

"And when Glen kicks you out, I will have an extra bed open for you."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Ah you're still young, I'm sure that if there is something that you would want to study it will come along. As for the heavy misunderstanding and dispute that you had with your parents, I'm sure that you will receive much more support than you think you will."

She had no chance to ask him what he meant by that when he headed off to get a sandwich. As he suggested she took her bag and reached in for the papers.

He pushed his glasses into position,

"And when Glen kicks you out, I will have an extra bed open for you."

Claire laughed and blushed at his words.

"Well ... the plan was just to give me a bit of time if I found myself homeless ..."

She responded.

"Which, I guess I do ... "

She shrugged.

"Looks like I could wind up being a perpetual waif,"

She commented.

"Begging a bed until I actually get lucky enough like you to find somewhere more permanent..."

She watched Elron walk off and focused with effort on the papers in front of her.
She would quite happily sign on the dotted line without all this checking, but Glen had told her to check it out so ...
Looking round she wondered where he had gotten to ...?

 

[DeathsKnight]

Glen was seated on his usual spot, but because there is no lights on except the stage he was almost invisible with the black clothing he wore. He watched Elron and Claire speak and her getting the contract out of her bag, he smiled, if she signed that it meant he would have three artists working under his label, it would be a good start as the other two was stars in their own right and Claire had much potential. He leaned back and slipped on his earphones to listen to some music as the people enjoyed their break.

Elron came back to Claire carrying two sandwiches and a cup of coffee, he sat next to her and they started at the beginning, he read through it all carefully, the only thing that was vague was her salary, the rest of the contract stated exactly the same as the one he had read,

"Well I think you're rather covered, basically it says that you are under contract by Kane Productions, that you will have to perform in one production every second year and that you will receive a yearly salary whether you perform or not...only thing that is vague is your salary."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

She glanced around, but Claire couldn't see Glen and she didn't intend to go and try to track him down. Besides which, Elron returned promptly armed with food which she gratefully accepted. Page by page they went through the contract. Elron summarising what each section was about before finally stating:

"Well I think you're rather covered, basically it says that you are under contract by Kane Productions, that you will have to perform in one production every second year and that you will receive a yearly salary whether you perform or not

She nodded processing his words.

"Just one every second year, so ... I guess that gives me flexibility, if not security..."

She wasn't sure if those were the usual terms, but she couldn't see any objection to them.

"...only thing that is vague is your salary."

Her eyes met Elron's.

"Should it specify that in the contract?"

She queried uncertainly.

" ... does it state a band, a range of what I might expect to earn?"

She suggested. She was sure that Glen would not try to exploit anyone, much less her, but she had no idea what pay she could expect either to start with or in the future.

"Whatever it is, good or bad news, if I'm going to have to set up on my own, I need to plan accordingly ... "

The only question was, should she ask Glen directly or was that best done through Elron ...?

 

[DeathsKnight]

Elron shrugged,

"It doesn't state anything in particular, but you can expect to start with the basic of 31,000 per year, but that is like the lowest I think it can go. I think the best would be to ask Glen, he will know and of course if there is anything you or him would like to add, it could be added as an anexure, so I think it's time you go Glen-hunting missy if you want that sorted out today."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"It doesn't state anything in particular, but you can expect to start with the basic of 31,000 per year, but that is like the lowest I think it can go. I think the best would be to ask Glen, he will know and of course if there is anything you or him would like to add, it could be added as an anexure, so I think it's time you go Glen-hunting missy if you want that sorted out today."

That sounded alike a fortune to Claire, but then again, she'd never had to keep to a budget or pay a rent or utilities so she had no idea what that would mean in practice.

"We're about to start again, though aren't we?"

She asked Elron.

"Might be best to discuss that kinda thing later on ... "

She gave him a hug.

"Thanks for the advice ... I thought it was pretty much standard, but what do I know?"

She chuckled.

"So ... are we heading to our deaths this afternoon, or do you think our director will have us do the whole first half of the play over?"

She wondered.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Elron returned the hug,

"I'm quite certain that we are since it seems like most of the people had fed themselves by now."

He playfully tapped Claire's belly and picked up their cutlery, which of course was disposable.

"Knowing Glen he would want to see if you can recapture the moment as you had with him. So we might just start over again, but like they say: "Repetition breeds habit", but it is ultimately up to him to decide though."

Elron got up and sauntered away to dispose of the plates and cups, Glen got up from his seat,

"Alright everybody, five minutes and then I want to start with Act Two Scene Two and please don't start ruffling thought pages! You have five minutes to find it."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Sure enough Elron's words proved true as out of nowhere Glen called them all to order.

"Alright everybody, five minutes and then I want to start with Act Two Scene Two and please don't start ruffling thought pages! You have five minutes to find it."

Balcony scene onwards again ... he sure meant her to stay focused today if nothing else. She moved with the others as they made their way towards the stage passing by Glen as she did so.

"Think I've read this scene somewhere before ... "

She told him with a smile. And playing it opposite Glen has definitely been an experience. Doubtless it was essential that Elron was given the change to play out the key scenes and hopefully given the extra run through she would be able to match him in performance ...

 

[DeathsKnight]

He smiled at her,

"Just checking up on a few things Juliet."

He moved to the front of the stage and stood on the edge once more,

"Once again people, thrill me, make me believe. This is the sad tale of star crossed lovers, you are the support of this tale, you are the bones, the flesh, the skin. I want this not just in words, I want to feel it and the only way I can do that...is when you believe what you read and see it act out in front of your very own eyes."

He snapped his fingers,

"We begin."

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

"Just checking up on a few things Juliet."

She chuckled as Glen moved past her and stood at the edge of the stage as they assembled obediently.

"Once again people, thrill me, make me believe. This is the sad tale of star crossed lovers, you are the support of this tale, you are the bones, the flesh, the skin. I want this not just in words, I want to feel it and the only way I can do that...is when you believe what you read and see it act out in front of your very own eyes."

He was demanding as ever and made it clear that they weren't to fall into mere habitual repetition. Whether playing opposite a different Romeo would help her to keep this fresher or not had yet to be seen.

"We begin."

The stage cleared, Elron pronounced his first line;

He jests at scars that never felt a wound.

And Clare stepped forward, taking the time to focus on her thoughts and having to ignore Elron's presence and words until finally beginning with her;

"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?... "

 

[DeathsKnight]

Glen let it all flow, only giving remarks where it was needed, it was dusk when he finally gave the troop their leave. He got off of the stage and packed his notes into his bag, Elron came up to him,

"Hey Glen."

Glen looked up,

"Ah if it isn't our eloping Romeo."

Elron grinned,

"Enjoyed making out with my wife sir?"

Glen peered at him,

"You know as a matter of fact I did. You wish to test your blade against mine fiend?"

Elron pushed his glasses back into position,

"I will see your blade and raise you another."

Glen slung his bag over one shoulder and turned to face Elron,

"Then turn thee Elrunion and look upon thy death."

Elron grinned and Glen returned the grin,

"So I guess that your house hunting went well?"

Elron nodded,

"Yes indeed it did, I found a nice spot, basically three blocks away, so I can still spy on you and our fair Claire."

Glen groaned,

"Oh spare me your rhyming, I told you your rap career will never fit in with your ego."

Elron chuckled and the two of them made their way to the door, poking fun of each other as they went.