An Excuse to Party - the curtain rises
Fandom: Final Fantasy IX
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy IX belongs to Square Enix.
Summary: It's a familiar scene but a different story, and Ruby can't help smiling when she spots that pointed hat in the audience.
A/N: Um. This was conceived in 2005, making it four years since I've written and posted anything Final Fantasy IX. Back in 2005, it was written for memorysong's birthday present but since she lives with me and thus the pressure was off, I never finished it. Maybe sharing it with all of you will get me to finish what I'd planned for this: a multi-chaptered, drabble-ish story celebrating our favourite characters, during the rebuilding of Alexandria. Enjoy!
The drama had consumed her for three acts. Even when she was saying lines, she'd barely acknowledged the harsh bulb lights and sea of faces, too immersed in staying in character. But as the red velvet drapes revealed the cheering audience one last time, Ruby whooped and high-fived Weimar's ready hand, grinning when the ex-Pluto Knight saluted her in reply. Along with her fellow actors, she ran to the edge of the stage, giving a player's flourish before sinking into a deep curtsey. The roar grew louder, with some rising out of their seats, applauding loudly.
"Woohoo!" She put two fingers together and blew an ear-splitting whistle, rousing laughter. Spotting a recognizable hat among the spectators, she graced those glowing yellow eyes with a teasing wink, before bending down to scoop a bouquet into her arms. She wasn't really surprised to see him; the city was enjoying an influx of visitors leading up to the public holiday coming. With the theatre plays such a hit, of course Vivi would come.
Still, he'd managed to get a top-class row seat, front and centre. Beside him, she squinted, yes, that was the prince of Burmecia, still scruffy around the edges and no doubt still untrustworthy as any street urchin. Hah! That rascal! Puck's mischievous grin flashed at her, and amused, Ruby plucked up a daisy from her bouquet and tossed it to his lap. Throwing abundant kisses into the air, her sharp ears picked up the Boss's loud guffaw from the dim back of the theatre. A wry grin slipped out, it didn't take a hard guess to pin him for giving away tickets.
Her newest success, The Black Mages, had done well for itself. If she glowed from the performance, it was doubly so because she'd co-written the script, pored over dialogue for countless hours until she'd thrown everyone out of the bar, smashing bottles in Marcus's direction when he said she'd never be able to pull it off. The surrender of Lindblum was a difficult subject; no one was sure how to deal with the child-like magicians. But people ain't meant to think on these things forever. We need laughing, darlin's to love and forgettings.
Catching Vivi's gawk, she motioned that she would meet the black mage in the back. As the curtain descended, she heard two suitors she'd flipped off chanting her name and she didn't care, couldn't stop the beaming down on everyone because the mini-theatre was packed, even with the likes of nobles.
It seemed like a long time ago since she'd moaned to Blank that her mini-theatre wasn't earning much. It wasn't easy, doing things you loved wasn't easy, but thanks to Garnet's patronage of the Arts like the Tantalus theatre and the Wood Guild, beautiful things were coming back. People were buying flowers, courting and smiling for the small things.
This world, it's agrowing again.