Buster
Buster thinks that this must be the first time he's actually looking forward to the meeting with Nana Noodleman.
And it for sure is the first time he asked for a meeting with Nana Noodleman.
Which might be the reason he's looking forward to it.
Because today, he has to tell her something important.
He's finished his new show.
The corners of his mouth quirk into a smile.
He's finished his new show!
And once again, for good measure, he's finished his new show!
He can't help, but giggle at the thought, making some animals give him weird looks. Okay, it must look funny to be passed by a giggling koala on a bike, but heck, he couldn't care less!
For heaven's sake, he's finished his new show!
With a little laugh, he parks his bike in front of Nana Noodleman's mansion, takes one deep breath to calm himself down, grabbing his bag with the notes a little tighter before he rings the bell.
Nana Noodleman looks over the pages, her mouth twisted, and Buster isn't sure how to read her expression.
Nana Noodleman's mouth is twisted ninety percent of the time, she wears this bored and angry look on her face ninety-five percent of the time. And she even does it when she's neither bored nor angry, so it's hard to tell what she's actually thinking.
There's only one thing that always makes her smile and leaves her eyes glistening. And that's the squids.
For a moment, Buster thinks of mentioning what he has planned for the squids again, add a little detail here and there, but he decides against it.
She must see through this act by now, and if she doesn't, he doesn't want to make her see through it.
"I…," - he clears his throat - "I know there are some scenes that still need a little polishing, but all in all, that's it."
"Hm." It's the only sound Nana Noodleman has made ever since he finished his explanations.
He didn't like the silence that followed before and he doesn't like the silence that follows now.
He looks from her face to the papers and back to her face before he lowers his eyes back to the papers.
He shifts a little in his seat.
Could she please say something? Anything?
Right now, he doesn't even care if she tears his show apart bit by bit if she'd just speak up!
Okay, he does care, but it'll still be better than this silence that has been stretching out for way too long.
Nana Noodleman taps a piece of paper with her fan.
"I like this twist here in this scene," she says, and Buster can only do so much as to not release the breath he's been holding in a loud sigh. Instead, he just starts breathing again.
The scene Nana Noodleman is pointing to is the one he's almost lost his mind over. Until Cia helped him out.
"Oh, thank you!" he says. "I had a little help with that."
He doesn't know why he said that, but he doesn't regret it. Cia did help him out, so he can at least give her credit for it.
Nana Noodleman nods her head in something he can only name as approval.
"It gives the story more depth," she says. "And I do like the fact that you, again, stay as close as possible to the lead's real story."
Buster's eyes widen a little in surprise. He didn't think Nana Noodleman would know anything about his singers' background stories, but yet again, this is Nana Noodleman. No one knows for sure what she knows and what she doesn't.
Buster clears his throat again. "So all in all, what do you think?"
He isn't sure if it was a good idea to ask. Maybe he should have given her more time to put her thoughts into words. But heck, he needs to know!
The diva straightens her back and looks down at him with that bored and angry expression on her face.
Yes, he knows that doesn't mean she really is bored and/or angry, but it makes him shrink into himself the tiniest bit. He still forces his mouth into a smile although the corners of his mouth already start hurting.
Nana Noodleman cocks her head the tiniest bit and her expression turns into something warmer.
"All in all, I like your new show," she says.
He sighs for real this time which makes the sheep raise a brow at him.
"You are right about the polishing, though," she goes on.
It makes him flinch a little.
That was something he just said to say something. He didn't mean it!
He doesn't even know which scenes she's referring to!
Should he ask? But that would show her that he doesn't know what is going on.
No, he can't do that, can't risk it.
"Hahaha, I know," he says with an insecure laugh. "I'll start working on that today."
"Good." Nana Noodleman nods her head. "You are dismissed."
At these words Buster jumps to his feet, collecting his papers and stuffing them into his bag.
"I'm glad you like it, Nana," he says while doing so. "You aren't going to regret funding this new show."
"I don't have a doubt," she says as she gets to her feet herself.
She's standing there, her back so very straight, her expression so majestic, it reminds Buster why she's called the last diva alive.
With a just as majestic gesture she holds out her right hand to him. Buster takes it and kisses it before he turns to leave.
On his ride back to the theater he wracks his brain for what scenes actually might need some polishing.
He really can't wrap his head around it.
His face lights up when an idea forms in his brain.
He pulls out his phone, dialing a number. He almost crashes into a lamp post when he looks up from his phone again, making a mental note that driving a bike and making a call might not be such a good idea.
But he can't wait for this until he's back at the theater.
He's just too impatient.
"Hello, Cia? This is Mr. Moon," he says. "We are going to have a little meeting in my office as soon as I'm back. … No, you don't have to inform anyone. I meant you and me. … No, you aren't in trouble, no worries. See you later! Bye!"
He ends the call and almost crashes into another lamp post when he looks up at the street again.
What was that about a mental note, Buster? he reminds himself, shaking his head.