"I can't believe what they expect me to do in this stupid movie!" Reno complained to Yuffie as they ate dinner.
Yuffie sighed. Ever since they got the script, he had been pouting over it. She had been surprised that they used their real names as the characters' names, but she figured it would help them feel more comfortable in the role. And she wasn't happy with her role either, but it seemed minor enough to not interfere with her medical practice. "Look at the bright side, you might attract more people to the museum, and more foot traffic would help with getting grants." She managed to smile at her husband.
"Yeah, that's true. We could use more money to install a better security system and retrofit the building for more fire safety. Those paintings can never be replaced if anything happens to them."
"Well, filming starts tomorrow, so we better get to bed and rest up." Yuffie said after she finished clearing off the dining room table. She took Reno's hand and smiled suggestively at him.
"Yeah, that's a good idea." Reno let her lead him to their bedroom, and then he became more engaged once he felt her hands on his now bare skin.
Yuffie was relieved that Reno still found her desirable enough that she didn't have to do everything herself, but she still closed her eyes against the feeling that they weren't making love anymore, they were just having sex. Hopefully tomorrow would start to change things.
They weren't the only ones taking issue with their scripted roles. In the biggest master suite of her family mansion, Elena was trying to soothe her husband as well as they lay in bed.
"I'm a chef dammit, not a comedic action star!" Rude exclaimed. "I was only there to support you!" Then he noticed the expression on his wife's face and realized he had unintentionally hurt her feelings. "I'm sorry Elena, I didn't mean to blame you." Rude apologized as he caressed her.
"I forgive you." Elena smiled at him, covering his hand with hers. "Yuffie told me Reno had the same reaction."
"Yuffie and Reno?" Rude was momentarily confused. "Oh, that couple from the audition? When have you been talking to her?"
"She's a good doctor, and it's always wise to be friendly to anyone medical when you're starring in an action movie." Elena said, not wanting to tell Rude the real reason was that she had wanted Yuffie to act as her secret ob-gyn. Elena wanted to have it all…she had Rude, soon she'd have the mayor's office, and the next step was to have Rude's children. And since she and Yuffie would both be on set, there would be nothing suspicious in her spending time with a co-star for the reporters to latch on to. Yuffie had promised she would do a general exam on Elena tomorrow, and when the bloodwork came back, she would prescribe the safest fertility drug for her, since Elena wanted to have as many children at once as she could, so she wouldn't have go to through the hassle of multiple pregnancies to have a large family.
"I won't let anything happen to you!" Rude promised her.
"Well, I might let things happen to you…" Elena said, kissing him. She didn't enjoy pulling away from him when he started to respond to her, but she wanted to keep him on edge so once she was at her most fertile, he would be worked up enough to go all night. Not that he ever needed a reason for that…Elena smiled with the memory of how he proved his stamina to her. She just didn't want him to be suspicious about her suddenly wanting so much sex from him, since they were always careful to avoid pregnancy. Rude wanted to wait a few more years before starting a family, but she didn't. "We need to actually sleep tonight." she said by way of apology for her pulling away.
"Does that mean you won't try and take advantage of me anymore?" Rude asked, putting his arms around her.
"Just for tonight, I won't." Elena said, snuggling against him, falling into a contented sleep in her husband's embrace.
"Tomorrow we start filming." Aerith sleepily reminded Rufus, when she woke up in the middle of the night to him getting into their bed.
"Yeah, I know." Rufus said. "Go back to sleep." he said after he pulled him to her so he could sleep with her breasts in his hands, and he wondered if that nanny to the two kids would be there tomorrow…she was a little older than him, but she was still attractive and had seemed shy when he had tried to talk to her, which was a nice change from Aerith.
"I'm sorry you only got hired as an extra." Cid told Shera as they got back home from their weekly date night.
"Oh, don't worry about it. Shalua said there was an opening on set for a gofer, so I'll still be working. And it didn't sound much different than being a stewardess. I'm glad you still get to be a pilot." Shera smiled at her husband.
"You're really not upset?" Cid asked.
"Not when I still get to be paid to be around my husband all day. Just stay away from that Aerith." Shera frowned at the memory of that woman advertising herself to every man in the room during the auditions.
"Aerith? Oh her…don't worry, babe. She's got nothing on you." Cid reassured his wife.
Sephiroth was glad his cousins got major parts in the movie, that means they wouldn't be bothering him with their constant bickering for a long time. He had a minor part, but he was the final bad guy, so he had plenty of opportunity to hang around on set to learn about directing.
Reeve was disappointed that his 'role' in the movie consisted of controlling the animatronic characters, talking cats and dogs. He hoped his Driver For Hire t-shirts with his phone number that he had ordered would arrive soon.
Scarlet checked on the children before going to bed herself She was glad Denzel and Marlene had gotten important roles, but she was nervous about the kind of people they'd be exposed to on set. That Aerith woman should be ashamed of herself. She seemed to be involved with that man…what was his name? Rufus? He had tried to talk to Scarlet, but she wasn't interested in associating with someone who was with Aerith. She was probably a walking STD factory.
Barret ordered takeout for his dinner, hoping there would be good food on set tomorrow. But he wasn't looking forward to seeing Elena and Rude again. She had definitely lost his vote, and if Rude was involved in preparing the food for the cast and crew, Barret would keep ordering takeout and make Avalanche Films pay for it.
Tifa banged on Cloud's door. "I know you're in there! Open the damned door!" she yelled.
"Tifa! Stop that!" Tseng exclaimed.
She stopped by the sheer surprise of him suddenly appearing out of nowhere. He had always had that habit, and sometimes it was comforting, sometimes it was really annoying. Right now she felt somewhat embarrassed. "What are you doing here?" she demanded to know.
"Keeping you from getting a bad reputation." Tseng replied, knowing Cloud was in bed with one of those starlets he couldn't stay away from. "Filming starts tomorrow, you need to go home and go to bed." He put his arms around her to lead her to his car.
"I want to be in bed with him!" she snapped, then noticed the expression that briefly appeared on Tseng's face. "He's in bed with someone else, isn't he? That's it, I'm done with him! If he could do that to me tonight, after we're just about to get everything we worked so hard for…" Tifa's anger was replaced by tears.
"Come on, let's get you home." Tseng repeated, taking her to his car.
"Who was that?" the starlet asked Cloud, who was lighting up a cigarette.
"Oh, that was just my sister. She won't quit thinking I need her to look after her." Cloud lied, knowing he'd have to do some serious apologizing with a touch of groveling for Tifa to forgive him again.
Vincent was glad the shooting of the film would start tomorrow, and he didn't have to deal with bratty kids for months and he was getting paid for it as well. That Aerith woman would be there, and she was the first woman who had willingly talked to him in a long time, and it had surprised him so much he couldn't look at her for fear of embarrassing himself. Maybe he'd do better next time.
"These are your trailers you will be using during the filming of Advent Children. We have answered some of your requests for dual trailers for couples. Reno and Yuffie Sinclair and Cid and Shera Highwind, you share your trailers, same goes for Elena Mackintosh and her husband Rude. Cloud Strife and Tifa Lockhart, your request was approved for separate trailers that are parked right next to each other." Shalua explained to everyone. "The rest of you just have single trailers. Feel free to acclimatize yourself to them. In one hour, Rufus, Kadaj, Reno, and Rude will be needed to start shooting the first scene of the day. It's page 53 of the script. If you have any requests or need any help, contact Mrs. Highwind here, and she'll take care of you. That's all." With that, Shalua walked off.