Ok so firstly, thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited and followed this little fic of mine
I'm grateful for all your feedback and will be taking it on board.
This is another short one, I'm sorry, each of the chapters are around a thousand words, but I could post less frequently and make them longer if you want.
Also, a big thank you to my beta, howareyourfeet, who was forgotten last time
a quick reminder to say I own nothing...and on with the show!
Chapter 2
"You can't write the show?"
"Why not?"
"I don't know if Ii am a true bohemian revolutionary!"
There was a collective gasp. Alex, Teddy and Owen all looked at April.
"Do you believe in beauty?" she asked.
"Yes"
"Freedom?" asked Owen.
"Of course"
"Beauty?" asked Teddy.
"Yes"
"Love?" asked Alex.
Instantly, in Arizona's mind, the colonel's bitter voice had been replaced by Timothy's glib words.
"My brother always told me that, the greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return."
"Then you are the voice of the children of the revolution, you are the writer of world's first bohemian revolutionary show." he told her "We can't be fooled."
Arizona reluctantly nodded and the Bohemians cheered. Owen produced a bottle of absinthe.
"what's that?" Arizona asked.
Alex merely chuckled and passed her a shot of the liquid.
Arizona watched as her new friends all downed their drinks and she copied.
"AAH!" she yelped as the liquid burnt her throat, her worl became distorted and a new confidence emerged. She was ready to start a bohemian revolution.
That evening, Teddy had given Arizona a stunning blue dress and Alex accompanied her to the Moulin Rouge. As the two sat on the balcony overlooking the dance floor, Alex gave her a rundown of what was about to happen.
"You will dance with Calliope, convince her that you are a famous poet and then read her some poems; she will be so overcome with emotion and inspiration, Sloan will have to let you write the show!"
"Sloan?"
"Mark Sloan, he is the owner of the Moulin Rouge as we know it today. His dancers are called 'the diamond dogs'."
"That's a terrible name"
"I know, but, Calliope, they call her 'the sparkling diamond'!"
"Why's that?"
"You'll see." Alex leant back in his chair to watch the show.
Meanwhile, another woman was getting ready to meet Calliope that night. Sloan's investor, Erica Hahn.
Miss Hahn was an extremely wealthy and jealous heiress to an even bigger fortune than her own. She had come to Paris from London seeking a holiday from the pressures of being privileged.
Erica and her manservant, Burke sat in the balcony directly next to Arizona's. The two women both gasped as the room dimmed and a spotlight found the most beautiful woman either of them had ever seen. Calliope.
The courtesan was swinging on a trapeze, her long, raven hair swaying behind her as she flew across the room. She wore a completely sequined silver slip that glistened like a thousand diamonds.
"The French," she sang, "are glad to die for love, they delight in fighting duels."
Her voice was akin to the taste of chocolate, the feeling of the sun gently warming one's skin and the smell of freshly baked bread all rolled into one, smooth, sultry sound.
"But I prefer a man who lives," she continued "and give expensive Jewels."
Suddenly Calliope flew down from her trapeze as the sound of a hundred trumpets began to blast through the air. The goddess began to sway her hips uncontrollably as she made her way through the crowd of men, who parted like the red sea for her.
Arizona felt a tap on her shoulder as Alex brought her down to earth.
"After her number, you are going to meet with Calliope privately."
Arizona gulped "Alone?"
"Alone?" Erica asked
"Yes" Sloan replied, "totally alone, just after this number. Now if you will excuse me for just excuse me," Mark rose to leave, "this is my cue."
Callie made her way up to the stage. This was the most difficult part of the routine: the outfit change.
"Talk to me Mark Sloan, tell me all about it!"
Her boss and best friend ran up to the stage to take her hand as he guided her behind a group of dancers for her to change.
"Is the financier here, Mark?"
"Yes, of course." Mark gestured towards the balcony.
"Which one is she?" Callie squinted and saw that both balconies were occupied.
"Blonde hair, blue eyes, pretty hot." Mark said.
Callie instantly saw a blonde head and deep blue eyes gazing down at her. Mark was right; she was hot, and by the looks of her blue evening gown, pretty damn rich.
"Will she invest?"
"After spending time with you? How could she resist?" Mark winked.
"What's her type? Wilting flower? Bright and bubbly? Or smouldering temptress?" Callie asked, acting out the personalities using a feather boa.
Mark's smile broadened as he answered "Smouldering g temptress. Now remember, we are relying on you, Torres. If all goes well, you'll be in a real show with a real audience and you will be-"
"A real actress..." Callie beamed as she finished changing into her next outfit: a magnificent red dress that showed off all her curves. Callie saw the blonde descend from the balcony, now was her chance to make a first impression she would never forget.
"Because that's when the louses go back to their spouses!" She sang, as she moved towards the foot of the stairs "Diamonds are a girl's best friend!"
She was face to face with the blonde.
Arizona couldn't breathe. The most stunning, breathtakingly beautiful woman she had ever come across had taken her hand and pulled her onto the dance floor. The raven- haired beauty held onto Arizona's hips as they swayed to the music.
"So I hear you' are interested in our little show?"
"Yes, I'm, er, delighted to be involved!" Arizona replied, having to shout over the beat.
"Really?" Calliope asked. She sounded genuinely surprised -, did she think that Arizona was too arrogant for this?
"Assuming you like what I do of course. You know, when we're in private."
Calliope revealed a deliciously seductive grin; a thousand pearly white teeth glistened like sparkling jewels.
"I'm sure I will." the dancer winked as she made her way back to the stage, leaving Arizona standing in the middle of the dance floor, unable to think. She watched as Calliope glided back onto the stage and finished her number. She watched as Calliope danced around the diamond dogs with incredible elegance, and she watched as Calliope stopped mid-note and collapsed onto the floor.
Please don't hate me! x