Fan Mail (Open)

[electra11]

Amber's Outfit

Amber Starr skipped over to a park bench. It was an awkward skip as she had to use her shoulder and chin to keep her umbrella over her head, and she had her bag slung over he other shoulder, and a cup of coffee in her hand. The coffee was the scariest part. She was terrified to spill a drop of her warm, hazelnut with cream. "Ahhh!" She cried as she skidded to a halt and almost toppled over. "Coffee!" Satisfied that the holy drink was safe, Amber sank to the bench. She took a swig of her preferred blend and set it down beside her. Digging into her bag for a moment, she emerged with two letters she'd gotten this morning. Who sent mail anymore? Oh yeah, she didn't give out her email much.

Amber glanced at the return addresses and sighed. She didn't know the first on, Fan mail, but the second letter was from her husband. She tore it open and skimmed through it.
...Hope my favorite Starr is enjoying the show. I'd love to come, but am a little tied up with a new musical in New York. They want me to be involved... Blah, blah, blah. ...Just got my pay check, so let me know if you're running low on funds. I know how actresses get underpaid... Hmmm, an offer she was very interested in. Ame finished the rest of the letter, nothing very exciting. She'd call Matt this evening and take him up on his offer. (And show him that she wasn't afraid to live in the digital age.) Curious, Amber ripped into her other letter.

Dear Miss Starr,
I saw you in your performance the other evening, and though you weren't onstage that much, but when you were I couldn't look at anyone else. I don't know if you noticed me. (I gave a standing ovation after your trapeze work.) I just wanted to inform you of my absolute infatuation with you.
Sincerely, Jervis Cromen

What a joke. It must have been one of the girls. Must have been! Amber laughed. This whole thing was ludicrous. Who would right such a letter? Besides, no one had applauded for her trapeze work recently. As if! Still laughing, Ame stood and tore the letter, throwing the scraps into a nearby trash bin.

[glassglobeflower]

Ivy strolled casually along the paved path, glad of the red scarf wrapped securely around her neck. A chilly breeze blew every once in a while, stirring her long brown hair, and she didn't want to catch cold the day before a big performance. Giving a twitch of her warm, slate-gray plaid jacket, she rounded a corner just in time to watch Amber tearing up something and scattering the pieces in a garbage can. Despite herself, a laugh escaped her.

"Amber! What are you doing? Tearing up love letters from a former love?" she asked teasingly as she slowed to a stop in her red pumps.

[electra11]

"Hello, Lady Tantomile!" Amber gave a jubilant wave to Iva..and blushed. "Er, what am I doing? Well, kinda. Just fan mail. I never keep it unless it's interesting. Well, I suppose that it is interesting, I just don't believe it. At least it wasn't one of those standard, 'Wonderful performance, nice dancing, liked the singing.' You know, the kind that's not even directed at you. Tres boring! I just chuck 'em." Ame laughed. "So, Iva...What're you up to? Day off, like me?" Am studied Iva's outfit, circling around her a bit like a vulture. "Ooh, I like! That jacket, omigod plaid! I'd love to have that jacket...maybe in purple." Amber grinned at the other actress. "I'm so hyper, I love it!" she squealed. She guessed why she'd been chosen as Etcetera, the kitten who never stopped, et cetera, et cetera.

Amber strolled back over to her bench and sat down. "Do you ever wonder if there is a second reason that you got picked for Tantomile. I mean apart from the fact that you're a great dancer, wonderful soprano, and work well with a partner." She smiled. "I mean, maybe they loved the fact that you...looked mystic and mysterious or something." Amber, not meaning any offense, giggled. "I'm convinced that they saw me bouncing around or giggling!"

[glassglobeflower]

"Hello yourself, miss Etcetera," Ivy laughed. "Fan mail, huh? Tell me about it. I usually do the same." She grinned and spun obligingly so Amber could examine her outfit. "Not exactly a day off, but most of it. Pam wanted Chad and I to go through some practice routines to keep our creepy twin act in shape." She laughed again. "Chad's so creepy, I love how he gets me in character with that low voice and weird glittering eye-thing he does. And thank you - I just got it yesterday. I figured it was getting chilly enough."

She followed the younger dancer to the bench and sat next to her, careful not to disturb the cup of coffee that separated them. Ivy herself loved coffee, but not to the point of obsession that Amber did. "I can guess why," she said dryly, referring to Amber's hyperness as she pointed to the drink between them.

But the smile melted off Ivy's face with Amber's sudden change of topic. Looking down at her hands, she frowned slightly. "I guess I do look 'mystic and mysterious,'" she admitted, this time without laughing. "You know how I am. I get into one of my quiet moods and I'm as eerie as Chad is on a good day. And even when I'm excited to be onstage, it gets easier and easier to become her. The Witch Cat." She finally managed to laugh, but it was a halfhearted attempt. "That's what Drew calls me. He doesn't with Chad for some reason. But I'm always the Witch Cat."

[electra11]

Amber sighed a little. "Wow, I wish I had a partner to work with. I think it'd make it all a lot more fun, having someone to complain to and laugh with...Still, then I wouldn't quite be Etcy, would I?" Amber grinned. "Chilly? Oh yeah. I guess it is. I never notice the seasons much." Amber watched worriedly as Iva sat down. Watch the coffee! Watch the coffee! Watch the coffee! She wanted to yelp. But Iva watched the coffee, so she calmed down. Amber wondered if coffee was her addiction, she was so protective of each cup, every drop of the heavenly fluid. She decided that is was quite probable. Well, everyone had some fault, some screwy part of them. And she didn't mind a coffee addiction at all.

"Well, yeah..." Amber laughed. "But we all have a preferred drug, don't we?" She picked up the warm cup and took a long sip. "I prefer this kind of drug to one you have to inject or inhale. It's hazelnut!"

Amber could see that Iva was a little upset, or something, about the subject that she'd introduced. Why was she acting like this? Didn't she like being 'The Witch Cat'? "Well, it's great when you're in character. Honestly, I think that you and Chad upstage the rest of us whenever you're like that. Even if it's in the middle of...Mister Mistoffelees or Memory or something. It's incredible the way you guys act when you're onstage together. It defines the scene, steals the audience. I only wish I were as good an actress as you. It sounds as if you don't just act, you become. It seems very profesional." Amber didn't know what else to say since she didn't quite understand the mood that Ivy was in.

[glassglobeflower]

Ivy realized she was spooking Amber a little and flashed her a grin. "Thanks. It's just eerie sometimes, how I start thinking like her on and off the stage. Chad says it's good for character development, and I guess it is, but there are days when it just creeps me out." She laughed, this time without pretense. "It was spectacular at auditions. Chad was already with the tour, but of course they needed a Tantomile, so I came to try out with him to see how we worked together. I've done a couple shows on and off Broadway, but Chad really took my breath away with his in-character mode. He was Coricopat. I think it would be difficult to not be in character around him."

She inhaled interestedly. "Where did you get that? It smells divine." Ivy put up her hands quickly. "Not that I'm looking to steal a taste, of course." She laughed again. "And I agree. It's good your 'drug' is harmless. But what about you? Of course you have the standard Cettie personality, but a lot of girls do. It's very comparable to Teazer - why did you go for a swing instead?"

[electra11]

"Actually, I've found that true for me too. I start mixing myself up with Etcetera. I don't know who's who and which is which anymore..." Amber laughed as well. "It creeps me out a little bit too." She did get creeped out a little when she combined her character with herself, but she bet that it was worse for Iva since she had a partner who would encourage her to get in character...All the time. Ame really couldn't imagine what that must be like. "Yeah, I agree. It's so spooky the way that works. I couldn't see Chad in any other role! I think even I could be Tantomile if I were working with him. And," she grinned, raising her coffee cup to Iva, "you know me and my hyper personality."

"This stuff? Ooh, it's from a fabulous little place down the road." Amber pointed to a small building stuck between two shops. "You walk in there and you are hit by the most amazing array of smells..." She opened her eyes, which she'd closed in the process of imagining the smell, and winked. "Not to mention a very pretty guy who works behind the counter." Amber listened to Iva's question and shrugged. "They had a few roles open. I just auditioned and they put me as Cettie. Well, I'd just come from playing the Narrator in Joseph and the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot before that. I guess I was a little tired. I didn't mind because Etcy seemed fun, a character who I could create and mold more then any of the others. I guess I could have done Teaze, but I don't have that great a background in partnering, and I don't even have an English accent. I don't know if I would manage thingyney! Sometimes I regret not having a larger roll, but it means I usually don't have to go in for rehearsals so I have more time!" Amber had spoke so quickly, she didn't even know if that made sense. Had she contradicted herself once or twice?

[glassglobeflower]

www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=11555680

Iva grinned. "Sounds lovely. I might have to stop by and pay a visit." She nodded along with Amber's cheerful flow, truthfully zoning out a little bit. It had been a while since she had a significant other; paying a visit to the coffee shop might serve a dual purpose. If he was unattached, of course. The end of Amber's monologue brought her back to reality.

"There is that," she agreed ruefully. "If I didn't love dancing so much I might find the constant work tedious." She laughed. "Besides the fact that putting on makeup is so much fun. It really sparks the inner artist. How long does it take to do yours? I feel like mine takes forever because of all the linework, and Cettie seems like she'd be easier in comparison."

[electra11]

"I know. Well, actually I'm beginning to feel more of a singer. I do love to dance, but sometimes my muscles feel as if it's my first week, not my third year, on the job, still getting used to the work. That's one of the downsides to being Cettie. She has one solo line for singing. I'd love to be...Demeter maybe. She has all of Macavity to sing. Still, at least I'm onstage and get to do most of the chorus stuff." Yes. Ame did miss The Lady of the Lake. Fun songs that challenged her voice enough to be interesting. If only that show had lasted longer...Oh well. Cats was so much fun! With all these interesting (very interesting) people. With the incredible costumes and exciting makeup...

"My makeup? Mmm, I dunno. I guess I usually get it done in thirty to forty five minutes. I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to makeup." And it was so much fun to transform her face into Etcetera's! She grimaced in sympathy. "Ooh. Yeah, I'd forgotten. You do have a lot of linework with those tiny stripes and details around your eyes and mouth. That must be such a pain! Well, fun at the same time probably. Yeah, I bet Etcy is loads easier!" Babble, babble, babble. Hadn't she just thought about contradicting herself? "So, how long does Tantomile take?"

[glassglobeflower]

Ivy grimaced in response. "It depends on the day. If I'm energized and ready to go, it can take up to an hour. If I'm sluggish and not really warmed up, sometimes it takes me an hour and a half. Once I took two hours because I screwed up the linework so bad I bad to wash and start again!" She shuddered. "That was pretty bad. It was also one of the first times I put on her makeup for a show, and I was really stressed out."

((ugh, no time. sorry it's crappish))

[electra11]

"Ooh," Amber shook her head. "That's insane, I'm really glad that I'm Cettie now. It must be such a luxury to have someone to do your makeup for you...Like those lucky devils in the movie." That gave her a quick daydream of a makeup artist who came to her dressing room and did perfectly made her Etcetera while she lounged around, talking with Donna. Ahh. That sounded like the life. Of course...If the tour had to pay makeup artists as well, that could mean less money for the actors.

On second thoughts, she was fine with doing her own makeup. "Well, before I go insane just thinking about how horrible that would be, let's change the subject." Her favorite topic? Sure, why not. "Well, how goes your social life? Anyone special?"

((It's okay! I understand))

[glassglobeflower]

Ivy laughed again. Amber sure seemed to make her laugh a lot, and she wasn't complaining. Laughter was good for you, or so the experts said. "I'm fine with that. Why am I even talking about the show when I have a few hours off?" She shook her head self-deprecatingly.

"My social life? That's a laugh. I mean, I have friends, I guess, but as for guys..." She shook her head. "I dunno. I was going to check out the guy at that coffee shop, but what's the point? In a week or two we're out of here and headed toward our next destination. And I usually try and stay away from dating in the cast. Eventually we'll break up, and there will be bad feelings that will spread to the rest of the cast. Which means the director is furious," she added dryly. "I guess I'm open to the casual night out, but nothing long-term. Too stressful." She sighed, a touch regretfully. "What about you? Any guys you're interested in? Or maybe girls - sorry, I don't know your preference," she apologized laughingly. "No offense."

[electra11]

"Why not check him out? That'd be two weeks of pure enjoyment. What's better then that?" Amber shrugged. She was the kind who preferred short flings rather then long commitments like...Oh. Er, marriage...Well, the occasional marriage was good too. Nice to change things up every now and then so as one didn't get bored..."Dating cast...Yeah, it's usually fun while it lasts since we often all have similar interests. Cats, dance, getting paid. But then something happens, you split, and you ruin your stage relationship. Anyway, you seem to know all about that." Don't we all...she thought with a wry grin.

"Me? Well, just the odd one you find here and there. Nothing terribly permanent." Except being married, her thoughts intruded again. Ame grinned brightly. "Guys, yeah that's my preference. At least I think so..." Amber thought for a moment. Pros and cons. "Yeah, just guys," she laughed. "Not to be prejudice."

[Msterope]

Steven was walking through the park, jamming and kind of just dancing along with the music playing through his headphones. His long lidded eyes were half open behind dark shades. He stopped short when he spotted Amber and... what's her name... Iva? No, that wasn't right... Ivy! Etcetera and Tantomile in a deep conversation. Grinning to himself at the slight irony he found in that, Steve pulled the headset off his ears and started over.

"Hey ladies. How are things this lovely afternoon?" He smiled charmingly and regarded each of them with an eye made for appreciating the finer sex. Steven pulled up his shades and grinned a little bit. The pair of them were not totally polar opposite; not even in personality, but they both were lovely on the eyes.

(Sorry for intruding. I didn't know where else to bring Stevie in)

[electra11]

(That's fine! I hoped that he and Ame would have some interaction. Coffee addiction!)

Amber glanced up when she heard her name. (Well, 'ladies' counted as a name of hers.) She was especially interested since it was a male voice. She let herself have little shivers go down her spine. Oooh, Steven. Another swing. Yes, she knew him. She wanted to know him better. Who wouldn't? She glanced at Ivy. Was she interested in him? Hmmm...She'd have to wait and see what Ivy said to him. This tastily gorgeous and cool guy. Mmm, mmm, mmm! She thought happily.

Ame lifted her hand and waved slightly. Yes! He was coming over! "Hey Steven! How are you on this beautiful day off?" As both her's and Etcetera's personalities demanded, she was bubbly and bright. She spread her arms out, up to the sky. Her coffee mug started to topple and she quickly grabbed it with both hands, hugging it into her chest. That was so close! "Well, I'm fine, happy not to have rehearsal! What about you Ivy?" She turned to the dark haired girl, laughing a little bit.