Vara stood at the foot of her bed, trying to go over her mental list of things to pack. She had all her clothes, which really wasn't that much compared to her room mates, Charlie and Carly. Fraternal twins. She had all of her books, her alarm clock, and her small art kit. Not Much in the suit case really. Her other bag merely had her laptop, a few memory cards, electrical tape and extra cables.

Rubbing her stiff shoulder, Vara flipped her suitcase lid closed and walked to the living room. Charlie and Carly were sitting on the couch doing each others nails. Charlie was giving his sister a french manicure, his teal nails complimenting his tanned skin. Both were natural blondes. And from their tanning efforts, it was a bleach blonde. Vara, too, had blonde hair but hers wasn't just one shade. She had a mix of blondes in her hair; dishwater blondes, strawberry, platinum, honey, ash blondes, light pale, some even a border line brunette. As Charlie said, in one of his diva moods (and a few apple martinis), Vara had "Shaggy dog hair. Like a long haired chihuahua." As if she wasn't self conscience about it before

"Vara! How come you get to go to France and we don't? I don't think it's fair!" Charlie pouted as he wiped some excess nail polish of his sisters finger. "I want to go see the sights, smell the food, taste the culture!" Carly giggled at the younger twin. He'd been whining about this for two months now.

"More like see the men, smell their scent, and taste the-" Carly turned red as she cut herself off. Charlie scoffed and gave a devilish smirk, showing of his bleached pearly whites.

"That may be so but still! I want to go to the city of lights!" Vara rolled her eyes as Charlie gave a dramatic pose, lightly splattering polish on his blue blouse. "Oh damn! This is my favorite shirt."

"I won't be seeing the lights Char, I'll be setting them up." Vara said as she made her way to the wet bar to make herself a drink.

"Ah yes, all work and no play for a shut in friend." Carly gave her brother a look but she knew he was only teasing. He's a diva.

"I think its wonderful shes going to Paris. A paid internship? For something she loves doing?" Carly sighed and had a sad look in her eyes. "I always wanted that." Vara pulled out some rums and juices to make Zombies for her and her room mates. She started to think about her room mates.

Both were born to a rich business man. Arthur Dillinger, owner or the multimillion dollar Dillinger PR. He's worked with some of the biggest stars. He traveled the world working, and well... "working". When his children was born. He taught his first born, Carly, all he knew and more about his business and how to run it. Leaving his second born, Charlie to do what he pleased. Both went to fine schools, Charlie went to a top design school while Carly went to business and law. Neither of the twins could stay in touch with each other. So slowly they started to drift apart. One year around the holidays, both headed back home to New York, Where both spent more time catching up with each other then their mother or father. Carly finally admitted to the fact she didn't want to run the family business.

Charlie, feeling the need to help his older sister, took her to his flat in New York, and helped her realize her dream of being a chef. She now owns a very successful restaurant while Charlie works as new up and coming fashion designer. Charlie was looking for someone to light his runway for his first show, and hired a very new (and cheap) Vara to do the lighting and sound. Since then they've been good friends. Vara moved into their flat a year later and now here she was, about to move almost halfway across world to work for a well known acting troupe, who with many generous donations, restored an old theatre to preform in. Vara would be working as a paid internship. And if all goes well, she'd have a permanent job as a techie.

Walking over to the twins, she handed them each a drink and she sat down on the arm rest and sipped her drink. Carly set hers down, she wasn't much of a drinker, while Charlie downed half the glass in two swigs.

"Oh, why must you go! Whose gonna light my models? Whose gonna give my dolls a beat to strut to?" Charlie took another swig, "Whose gonna..." he trailed of as he spinned his glass, trying to think.

"Whose gonna make your drinks?" Vara supplied, sipping her drink to hide her smile as the man gives another over dramatic pose.

"So do you know exactly where you'll be at?" Carly asked, finally touching her drink and taking the small of sips.

"All I know is that it was an old opera house that was now remodeled after its original design with some modern changes." Vara set her drink down and stretched her arms above her head, "My plane leaves tomorrow at 3 AM, So I need to get to bed now." Vara hugged both of them and told each one she'd miss them. Vara stopped by the kitchen to grab half a vege-wrap and ate it as she waked to her room. Charlie and Carly had just turned on the flat screen and were watching the latest gossip. Vara locked her bedroom door, zipped up her suitsace and set it on the ground. Eating the rest of her wrap, Vara set her cell phones alarm clock and stripped down. Snuggling into her bed, Vara quickly fell in to a deep sleep.

It was 1:24 in the morning and Vara was wide awake. She always had a habit of waking up before her alarm. So she would just sit in bed for those few minutes to gather her thoughts and plan ahead for the day. At 1:30 her alarm went off and Vara got to work. She showered, dressed and packed up the rest of her bags. She still had about thirty minutes before she had to leave and hail a taxi. Think she'd do one last thing for Charlie and Carly, she went over to the wet bar and made an apple martini for Charlie and a virgin gummy and coke for Carly. Feeling creative she took the rest of the gummy bears not used in the gummy and coke and spelled out 'THANK YOU'. Grabbing her bags she left the flat without a second glance.

Vara hailed a cab, and the driver helped her with her bags but kept sneaking glances at her eyes. Feeling self conscience again she decided to just show him, to sate his curiosity.

"Ar' t'ose cuntacts, Mam?" the man asked in a heavy accent. Vara flushed.

"No, these are my natural eyes." Vara was complete heterochromia. One ice blue eye, one bright green eye.

"I' verdy luvly, Mam" the man said. Vara thanks him, though she didn't really believe him. She arrived at the airport about thirty minutes later. There were people rushing about and security guards stationed here and their.

"Guess no matter what time it is," Vara nearly hit a man rushing and practically screaming on his bluetooth, "The airport will always be busy." Vara checked her bags in and boarded her plane with seconds to spare. Vara leaned back in her seat and looked out the window as the pain took off, the elderly man beside her had fallen asleep, so Vara decided to follow suit. I turbulence shook her into a light sleep for most of the plane trip. Vara was woken up with a jolt from the wheels hitting the run way. It was daylight now. The pilot came over the intercom and bade everyone a farewell. Vara was one of the last off the plane. The stewardess gave her a friendly smile, which Vara returned sleepily. Vara stood for what seemed like thirty minutes trying to find her bag. After finding her three bags she carried them out of the airport and hailed a taxi. The man sat there as she slid her and her bags in to the back seat.

"Où, madame?" the man asked lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag.

"Pour l'Opéra Populaire." Vara responded, as she rolled down her window, trying to avoid the smoke. The man took off at an alarming speed, swerving his way around people. Vara looked out the window, watching the scenery zip by, as the cab sped to the Opera house. Vara began to go over some lighting designs in her head to pass the time, when the car came to a screeching halt.

"Nous sommes ici." Vara handed the man his money and grabbed her bags and with a curt 'Merci', headed up the steps of the enormous building. A group of young girls walked past her, giggling and blushing, they were so caught up in there little world they narrowly missed smacking right into Vara.

"Excusez-moi?" One of the girls from the back of the group stopped and looked towards Vara. She held up a finger to Vara then turned to her friends and told them to go on ahead. She turned back and walked over to Vara.

"Bonjour, mon nom est Sang-mi. Puis-je vous aider?" The girl was quite obviously Asian, yet she spoke near perfect French. Just a small accent with her 'r's.

"Mon nom est Vara. Je suis à la recherche de cabinet de M. Adler. Pouvez-vous m'aider à le trouver?" Vara smiled. Sang-mi smiled nervously.

"Umm... Do you speak English? That's really the extent of my French." Sang-mi's French may be near perfect, but her accent was more prominent.

"No problem. Do you know where Monsieur Adler's office is? I'm the new techie." Sang-mi smiled brightly and grabbed Vara's free hand that didn't have her bags.

"So your the new girl I overheard him talking about! I'm so happy to meet you." Sang-mi grabbed her by the hand and began to pull her along. Vara struggled to keep up and hold onto her bags at the same time "I know I shouldn't of been eavesdropping but I just HAD to know who was coming. They had asked my friend to share her room with a new girl so I wanted to know!" Vara winced a bit at the grip Sang-mi had on her hands.

"Err... Sang-mi, you hurting my hand." Sang-mi dropped her hand and began to apologize, when a booming Australian accent shouted from behind them.

"Sang-mi! You were called to the stage ten minutes ago, and here I find you skulking about the corrido-. Oh hello Miss." The man had salt and pepper hair and a graying goatee. He smoothed his hair back and offered his hand to Vara.

"My name is Gregory Adler, and you must be Miss Kingston. I thought you'd be here later today." Vara took his hand to shake it but instead he brought it to his lips and gave a chaste kiss to her hand. His eyes stayed on Vara, which made the girl uncomfortable. Mr. Adler turned to Sang-mi who was standing a few feet away looking extremely nervous.

"Miss He, I suggest you return to the stage. You performance last night was extremely poor. I want you to rehearse until you can do that dance in your sleep. I expect you to be better tonight." Sang-mi Nodded her head and scurried off to the stage. "Well My office is just around the corner. If you please, follow me."

Vara followed Mr. Adlers to a rather bland office. A dead ficus in the corner, a desk with just a computer and some papers, and very old chairs that looked like they would break any moment.

"Please excuse the state of my office, I'm still waiting for the shipment of furniture to arrive." Adler sat behind his desk and motioned Vara to do the same. Dropping her bags by the door, Vara sat and folded her hands in her lap.

"I was very impressed by your resume, Miss Kingston." Adler [picked up the papers on his desk and began to shuffle through them, "you've never been to a formal collage and yet you've designed some of the best lighting and special effects I've seen in a long time. And these masks!" Adler held up a picture of a Zombie mask Vara did for a public theatre performance several months ago. "Very well done. I am very glad you accepted my offer." Adler smiled and looked Vara up and down hungrily. Vara could already tell he was trouble.

"It was a very kind offer, Sir." Vara said, trying to keep her disgust inevident. "How could I pass up a paid internship for your troupe?"

"Yes well, I'm sure you'll find me a very gracious Director." He began to eye Vara's chest. "Now onto your accommodations. Unfortunately there were no open single rooms, so until One opens up you'll be sharing with one of the dancers. I hope that isn't a problem." Vara shook her head.

"No it's fine, Sir." Adler smiled and nodded.

"Well let me introduce to your new home."

Adler had led Vara to her new room, to drop off her bags. It was a fairly large room, but with both hers and her roommate's bed the room looked smaller then it was. Vara set her bags onto her bed and left with Adler. He led her to the stage where there where people rehearsing dances, memorizing lines, and working on blocking. Adler cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.

"Good afternoon everyone. I'd like you to welcome our new techie, Vara Kingston. I want you all to make her feel welcome and right at home. Miss Marlow," A tall brunette with heavy make up and skimpy ballet outfit stepped forward. "Vara this will be your new roommate. Ida Marlow." Ida smiled brightly and offered her hand to Vara.

"It's nice to meet you Vara." Ida shook her hand, but eyed Adler intensely. Adler cleared his throat and said his farewells. Leaving the troupe back to their own devices. Sang-mi ran up to Ida and Vara.

"Did he give you that creepy look when he talked to you?" Sang-mi asked looking worried. "He's such a creep but he's an excellent director." Ida smirked and looked down to Sang-mi,

"Oh, I don't know. He's not that creepy to me." Ida looked back to Vara, "Well Vara, since where roommate I have one thing to tell you. You had better get in bed before me. I have many friends and who like my company, so unless you want to watch, you better get in the door and lock it. If not, good luck to you." With that Ida walked off leaving a smiling Sang-mi and slightly disgusted Vara to talk.

"She seems mean and even sometimes like a whore, but she hasn't had the best life. Just give her some time and she'll come around." Sang-mi twirled in a circle and smiled. "Well I need to go practice. Don't want to get yelled at by Mr. Adler. Bye!" Sang-Mi leaped gracefully away back to a group of girls dancing. Vara decided to go look around on her own. After all, she'd be living here for the next year and a half...

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This is chapter one. I know It's much shorter then what I normally write, but I want to pace myself with this story. Our dear Phantom will be showing up soon. Please rate and review. The are greatly appreciated.

Also there will be a lot more Vara character development in the next coming chapters, dont worry.

Eternally yours, Shikyokage742