The Theatre Of Dreams

For disclaimers, cast, ratings etc. see previous chapter. This chapter also has a bit of strong language but, hey, you've presumably seen Velvet Goldmine! I can't imagine you'll be too fazed by it!

A/N: I have recently been informed that "Gavin" Elles' name is, in fact, Mickey. He will therefore be referred to as Mickey Elles from this point on. Thanks for the correction! If it's not too much trouble, could you tell me how you know, because I've never found it.

um...-thinks- ok, I have nothing else to say but read and review peoples! Reviews make me so happy. I re-read themall and they give me a warm, fuzzy feeling! ...what's that? Yes, like a peach. Anyway... -wicked grin- on with the mayhem!

The man, they saw with eyes now accustomed to the musty darkness, was about five foot seven, with shaggy black hair that dangled over his shoulders. He wore a light blue t-shirt with a black jacket and leather trousers. A smudge of glitter decorated the corners of his eyes. He looked vaguely familiar but who...

"My name is Mickey Elles, but you'll all be referring to me as Mr. Elles from here on out." They watched him, caught by a mild curiosity. "You may be wondering what you all are doing here. Am I right?" They murmured their agreement and he continued. "Well, I shall tell you. I gave up modeling a few years ago to go to drama school. You see, I always wanted to be a director…movies, television, my name in lights, you know the drill. What does this have to do with you? I hear you ask. Why am I telling you this? Well, as a final project I have been given the task of directing a pantomime, of my choice. I thought to myself, now, who can I get who will do my directive talents justice? Where am I to find the larger than life characters I'm looking for? Then the answer struck me. Why, I had already met them, worked with them." Realization and, in some cases, horror had begun to spread over his audience's faces. "Yes. You are absolutely correct. You," He paused to stare meaningfully at them each in turn. "You are to be the cast of my masterpiece."

The entire group was silent, gazing at each other, struck by the intensity with which the man had spoken, thoughts dancing with…

"Fuck no!"

Seven heads swiveled to stare at Curt whose face was an expression of insulted incredulity.

"As if I don't have better things to do with my time than be in some little kiddy's fucking school show!"

"Aw, come on, Curt. You were never one for stage fright, as I remember! It'll be fun." When Curt's glare did nothing to wipe the victorious smirk off Brian's face, he surrendered. How fucking bad could it be? And he couldn't walk out now.

"What the Hell…it'll help pass the centuries I suppose." Mandy shrugged in response to the quizzical looks she was given.

"Well, I can't be wasting my resources with something like this! I'm an important man; I have many demands on my time!"

"What Jerry's trying to say is he'd love to." Brian translated. Jerry scowled at him but the star took no notice.

"Well, it's not everyday I act in a pantomime with people I haven't seen for quite some years. I should imagine it will be a novel experience. I'll do it." Cecil gave the rest of them a good natured smile.

"I can't say I know how this little enterprise will benefit from my presence but I'd be lying if I said it didn't sound interesting. I guess I'm in." They all looked then at the last member of the circle who had so far remained silent.

"Dear boy, after such enthusiasm, how could I refuse?"

"Well, looks like everyone's in then." The sentence held a strange menace that would have been hard to explain.

When Mickey returned with a pile of scripts in his arms, the uneasy silence had taken root again. Making a mental note to do something about that when he had a chance, he began to distribute the papers between his cast. Curt took one look at the cover and… "Peter-bloody-Pan?" Brian giggled at his reaction, privately rather liking the story – anything where glitter made you fly was alright by him. Mickey ignored them and resumed his place in front of the assembly, which had now fanned out into the front row of seats.

"Well, everybody, this is the moment I'm sure you've all been waiting for…" In fact he doubted any of them had given it a thought. "I'm going to give out roles." Jerry winced, clearly expecting the worst.

I shall not recount the exact events that followed. Suffice it to say that Mickey's pronouncements provoked a colourful mixture of raised eyebrows, incredulous laughs, amused grins and some fairly extravagant language which I do not wish to relate in more detail. The announcements went more or less like this:

Brian – Peter Pan

Curt – Captain Hook

Jerry – Smee

Jack – Tinkerbell (well, honestly, if you go around with a surname like Fairy what do you expect?)

Mandy – Mrs. Darling

Arthur – John Darling

Cecil – Mr. Darling

"I've got a few extras to be Lost Boys and Pirates etc. but you guys are my leads. You'll all be fabulous, I'm sure of it. After all, the secret to becoming a star…"

"…is knowing how to behave like one." A few of them chorused, sounding remarkably like a class of school children.

"Right. I'll see you all bright and early tomorrow morning for our first rehearsal. Ten o'clock sharp everybody. Don't be late." And he swept out through the door, waving unconcernedly over his shoulder as he left.

Curt glared after him, muttering under his breath. He dumped his script on the nearest chair and sat glowering at it as though waiting for it to blink. "Great! Captain Hook! Why the Hell do I have to be the bad guy eh?"

"At least you're not a ditzy, yellow pixie in a mini-skirt." Jack commented with only a hint of bitterness.

"No one made you dress in drag, Fairy-man. That was your own conscious decision." Jack gave Mandy a long stare before standing and leaving with a gracious wave to everyone but her.

Eventually, they were all gone, all but for the sparkling figure that had taken to the stage and was reading through his lines with great enigmatic flare and for the blonde who still sat hunched in his uncomfortable velvet seat glaring at a script he didn't want to open.

A/N: so any guesses as to what's going to happen here? I love Jack Fairy! Glittery objects to reviewers

–pleading eyes- Yes, I'm that pathetic.