"Am I the only one who finds this idea ridiculous?"
"Are you saying my boy can't do a good job?"
Tommy, lying on her back on the couch in the common area, raised an eyebrow. "Kid, we know your boy can't do a bad job, no matter what he's doing." Blue flushed to the tips of her ears over the cup of tea she was carrying. "It just happens that I think he's not up to Munk standard."
"You're the one who backed out of rehearsals this morning and didn't see him in action." Her roommate reminded her with a broad, impish smile. "You saw Menke doing his smooth and sassy thing and you decided you needed to go to the doctors."
Sitting up to accept her cup of tea and several paracetomol, the older woman sighed. "Hon, I don't think the stage crew would be happy if I let the doc come in and do a smear test in the middle of the stage, no matter how much the guys wanted to see it all." Shifting uncomfortably on the chair, she winced. "I bet Bomba would never have to go through one of those tests. I bet a man invented it. Some sick guy..." She stirred her spoon with unnecessary force, clinking it against the sides of the mug vigourously. "Someone with a tool fetish."
"You and your quality timing." Blue eyes danced with glee. "Andy's going to have to deal with a Bomba who waddles when she walks...how sexy."
Tommy gave the girl an indignant look. "Do you really think I wanted to go and let the doc fiddle with my bits and pieces?" She asked, swallowing the painkillers. "You'd think that it wouldn't hurt anymore."
"Sorry, Tom, but in case you'd forgotten, you didn't give me any sympathy when I went for mine." Tommy made a rude gesture with her fingers that made Blue chuckle. Returning to the small kitchenette to get her own mug and Andy's, she gave her lover an affectionate look as she neared the chair he was curled up on. After rehearsing for hours with Menke, he had gratefully accepted the chance for a nap. "Andy?"
Placing the mugs carefully down on the table, Blue knelt down beside his chair, pushing long strands of loose hair back from Andy's sleeping face. Curled up in a ball, his head resting on his crossed arms on the arm of the soft chair, he had a drowsy smile on his lips.
"Andy," Nuzzling the warm crook of his neck gently, Blue smoothed his dark hair over his shoulder. "Andy, time to wake up."
"Nuh-uh..."
Blue ran her fingertips in teasing circles on his neck. "Andy, you're going to have to get up, you know." He mumbled a response, hiding his face in his arms. "If you don't get up, I'll be forced to resort to desperate measures..."
"Hmm?"
"Are you going to get up?"
"Uh-uh."
Immediately, the dancer became aware that his girlfriend had sped away from his as fast as she could move. Suspiciously opening his eyes a fraction, he saw both Tommy and Blue grinning broadly at him...
An instant before the ice-cold water sluiced down his body, soaking through his shabby T-shirt and jogger bottoms.
The howled series of crude and startled expletives from the dancer drew curious glances from the members of the cast who were still wandering around between dressing rooms, some half-dressed, others on their way for food.
"I warned you." Blue smirked, as Andy sat up, panting and shivering with the sudden cold of the water.
"She did." A cheerful voice remarked from behind the chair. Andy turned to see Menke, a dented, stainless steel jug propped on the back of the chair, the older dancer's forearm leaning on the top of it. "Evening, Andy."
Struggling to catch his breath, Andy gaped at him. "Y-y-you soaked m-me, y-you git
"And I thought you said he was slow, Blue." Menke chuckled. "He seems pretty quick on the uptake to me." His other hand appeared from behind the chair, dropping a large white towel over the swing's head. "Dry the chair, boyo. People'll want to sit there and sitting on a damp seat isn't exactly comfy."
Several mumbled curses later, Andy toweled the moisture out of his hair and off his face. "I don't have any other clothes with me." He peeled off the soaked T-shirt and dropped it with an audible 'splut'. "What am I meant to wear?"
"I've got a nice frock." Tommy suggested. "It's quite revealing, but I think it would suit you."
"For walking passed the fans this evening?" With a whimper, Andy stood and removed his dripping trousers, adding them to the heap of wet clothing. "I'll have to get my things dried! I can't go out there dressed as a girl!"
Tommy rolled her eyes. "Andy, my dress would look a helluva lot better on you than those saggy-arsed trousers you keep wearing." She rocked her hips again, trying to get into a more comfortable position on the pillow she was seated upon. "I'm sure no one would notice."
"Alternatively," Blue tugged at the waistband of Andy's boxer shorts, her eyes dancing. "You could always lose the undies as well..."
Amid the laughter of his friends, Andy flung his hair over his shoulders and announced. "I'm going now! You ruffians are too crude and immature for the likes of me." He stalked off with the air of a pompous diva.
The laughter continued.
Then got worse as a pair of dripping boxer shorts sailed through the air and landed on Menke's head.
***
"Well, sweet thing," A muscular pair of arms slid around her waist. "How's my little Etc...er... Rumpleteaser on this fine afternoon?"
Turning, her glowing eyes swinging in her hands, Blue smiled up at Andy. The usual Rumpleteaser was at her brother's wedding, leaving Blue to cover her bases. "I'm fine, Munkustrap. How you doin'? Forgiven me and Menke?"
Swiveling his hips seductively against hers, he pulled her close with a naughty smile and murmured softly, "I'm in Tugger-mode sadly, sweet thing. Poor Munk will suffer dearly for this... as will you..."
"Sounds good to me." She murmured, rising on her toes to rub her head under his chin with a chuckle. "I've heard there's someone in the audience who likes cuddly Munks."
"Cuddly is one thing," He whispered, running his head lightly up her cheek in a completely feline gesture. "All out horny is another! Particularly when all this Munk is interested in is a certain Rumpleteaser!"
Grinning, she nestled closer to him and whispered cheekily. "There's a new spin on the love triangle..." Swatting at him playfully, they both looked up at the call of 'Places' and stole a quick kiss, before racing off to their positions.
***
Being in a different role meant Blue had to frighten audience members in a different position to the usual. Racing out, she almost exploded out laughing, seeing many of her online 'associates' staring up at the cheeky little Rumpleteaser in delight.
Running along the aisle, flashing her green eyes at the people along the back row, she saw several familiar faces turning to look around at her and grinned. Wiggling her rump at them as she raced passed, she managed a quick handspring along the narrow passage behind Raymond, before darting off to her opening position, behind the back of the set.
Since a majority of people that she knew had managed to get seats on the moving platform, she now knew where to lurk and who to haunt.
Her flashing eyes replaced, she hid in the wings near the Orchestra, alongside Malcolm, and watched from her hiding place as Andy gracefully slid down the car boot. He rose smoothly to his full and magnificent height of six foot four, leaving her pulse racing at the stunning feline grace he possessed.
With the opening chords of Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats, she felt the hairs rising on the back of her neck and shivered. Her companion seemed to notice and smiled at her, before he darted out from their hiding place and back into the aisle.
Pulling merry faces at the people sitting in the first row behind the moving platform, both Blue and Malcolm received smiles of delight from the people seated there before they sprinted up onto the stage to join the frenzied run around.
Ending up beside Jonny for The Naming, Blue and the slightly older dancer exchanged head-rubs, pawing at one another. Mimicking each other's gestures, they assumed their positions and started to explain just what a Jellicle Cat was.
During The Naming, Rumpleteaser and Mungojerrie kept their faces straight for the only time in the whole performance, delighting in sitting side by side, positively identical and speaking in perfect time with one another.
Separating to run around the auditorium and scare various audience members, they kept track of one another until they could get back onto the stage and press against one another, looking for all the world like they were up to something.
The duo were great friends, spending time off work going to various places of 'cultural interest', mainly Jonny's favourite gay clubs with his drag-Princess boyfriend. He had secretly confessed he preferred her Rumpleteaser to the usual one, because of their long friendship.
They knew how to have fun both on and off the stage and both had agreed firmly that if he ever decided to go straight, they would get married within 24 hours, in spite of both of their adoring boyfriends.
And both boyfriends knew about the deal and found it both disturbing and amusing.
In response to it, Jonny's partner, Ramon, had announced that he would take Andy, if Blue broke both their hearts. Andy had immediately grabbed Blue, dipped her over his knee and kissed her as a warning that he was not about to let himself be dumped for an ex-gay-cat and taken as an ex-gay-cat's drag-queen-ex-lover's boyfriend.
Disappearing into the wings, the pair caught up with one another and Andy. The stage was silent as Cassie performed her last night as Victoria, her small bump getting a little too prominent for her to play the Virgin Kitten, unless by divine intervention.
Even the special effects department hadn't been able to come up with something to explain that one.
"Nervous?" Jonny looked up as Andy enfolded Blue in his arms, hugging her tightly. She stroked his arm comfortingly, her cheek pressing lightly against his.
"Pissing my dancebelt." The tall dancer replied, his voice muffled by Blue's wig.
"Didn't need the wonderful imagery there." Flashing a blinding Mungojerrie grin at his friend, Jonny squeezed Andy's hand reassuringly. "You're going to be just great, Andy. Don't stress about it."
Andy nodded, releasing Blue and looking up at the ledge he had to ascend to the car. "Yeah...just being another character...nothing special..." He wiped his warmered hands against his thighs. "See you up there."
"Dislocate a shoulder!" Blue hissed, as he started his ascent. She received a single-fingered salute, then Jonny grabbed her arm and led her towards the ledge they would be appearing over, to get to the stage.
"Jellicle Cats come out tonight! Jellicle Cats, come one, come all!"
Taking their cue, Jonny and Blue scrambled over the top of the junk to join the rest of the group. To the stage right, they stood in the diamond formation, back to back with the rest of the group, Cassie positioned in the centre.
"Jellicle cats meet once a year..." Blue bit her lip. Andy's voice was shaking. She risked a glance in his direction, catching his eyes. Winking, she nodded with a smile. "At the Jellicle Ball where we all rejoice..." His strong voice reasserted itself and his posture altered everso slightly, his attitude oozing confidence.
Blowing out a soft sigh of relief, his tiny girlfriend continued to follow the steps, until the fanfare that signaled that they could break out of the formation and she dived for Andy's legs, fawning over him.
Heeding Menke's advice about how to play Munkustrap, when the kittens sped over to him, he hugged them and played with them, in particular that 'certain Rumpleteaser' who had a bad habit of sliding between his feet and yanking on his tail.
Just before he sang the opening lines of The Gumbie Cat, Blue ran from him at the back of the stage and skidded between Andy's knees, dangerously close to overshooting and disappearing down a ramp, when his strong hands locked around her waist.
As if she weighed barely more than a child, he picked her crouched figure up - much like the King did in the King and I - turning her around to face the back of the stage and slapping her lightly on the rump.
As he turned his back on her, to begin the song, she rubbed her head up his thigh once more, circling his leg before skidding back to her position beside Mungojerrie, who playfully started to scold her for her behaviour.
The audience loved it, as Munkustrap cast a glance back at the kittens, which immediately played innocent, twiddling their tails and grinning. Rolling his eyes, he turned back to the audience with a 'Well, what can ya do?' look and started to sing.
His Munkustrap was the best that Blue could ever recall seeing. Although she had more reason for seeing him in that light, she had to ruefully admit that he was unequivocally the best Munkustrap...
During Jennyanydots' song, when Munkustrap went and sat on the steps in front of the three ladies, his expression of smug bliss as they all draped their arms around him made Blue throw a mock-hiss in his direction.
On a positive note, from her point of view, she happily noticed that Tommy seemed impressed by Andy's developing performance and that Kashka looked ready to throw something hard and heavy at his head.
In Kashka's case, that was the biggest compliment she could give.
Blue grinned and launched herself at Mungojerrie, both of them tumbling around in a tangle of arms and legs. Jonny had adamantly insisted that he could make her laugh more than she could him.
Now, she was going to prove him wrong.
Despite being stuck on Munkustrap, she played the naughty kitten consistently throughout the performance, eagerly awaiting the moment when she could go down and freak some of the die-harder fans during Macavity.
Even so, she and Jonny had a ball, their naughty attitudes making 'Mungojerrie' and 'Rumpleteaser' seem a hundred times naughtier than they usually were. At almost half a foot shorter that Jonny, she seemed too short for the double-cartwheel, but pulled it off.
Hiding behind him as 'Munkustrap' – grinning no less – moved forward to "teach those two a lesson", Blue peeped between Jonny's legs and stuck her tongue out, until Malcolm made the announcement about Old Deuteronomy.
While Norman and Robbie had sung Old Deuteronomy well, Blue – sprawled on her side and gazing up at the be-striped Andy – felt shivers racing down her spine as Andy started to sing the first bars of the song.
Pivoting around to face him, she extended her leg towards him with a curious cock of her head. Bending, Andy directed the song at her as he scratched at her leg, ruffling the leg warmer and almost drawing a giggle from her.
Fortunately, before the hand could progress further up the leg, Tugger came in and introduced the arrival of Old Deuteronomy, just off the edge of the stage. Straightening up, both Andy and Norman sang the final verse of the song, as Benjamin tottered on.
***
Seated near the stove, only one person of the cast was truly not enjoying Andy's portrayal of Munkustrap. Shadowed by both the stove and the mattress, Kashka scowled darkly as the younger dancer started The Pekes and The Pollicles.
Pretending to absently stroke Tony's back, she caught Tommy staring baldly at her and stared icily back. The dancer in red flashed a bright, broad grin at the disgruntled Kashka, then licked her lips provocatively.
Her lip curling in distaste, Kashka looked away.
Behind her, Norman jumped off the pipe, bounced neatly off the immense mattress and did an elaborate mockery of Andy's introduction dance. Before he was meant to, Andy swung round and watched the dance, cocking his head in clear bewilderment.
With a thrust of the pelvis in Andy's direction, Norman grinned widely and darted passed the striped dancer, squealing as he received a swat on the derriere. Shaking his head, Andy watched him go, then turned back to the audience with a look that said 'Anyway...', then he began the song.
Kashka's sour expression did not improve as Andy successfully navigated his way through one of the songs most likely to leave him tongue-tied. Her eyes scanned over the audience as she moved forward in the line up of Pekes, her heart jolting against her ribs.
Vivid green eyes gazed brightly at her from the front row, calm and neutral, taking in her expression and posture. Menke. He was watching the show, taking in everything and she felt a surge of guilt.
He had asked her to at least be civilized and professional towards Andy, despite personal likes or dislikes. He, the Munkustrap that everyone was compared to, had suggested that she tried to look like she was enjoying it.
Then, to her confusion and surprise, he looked across at Andy, both men turning and looking straight her. They nodded politely to her, then pulled a face, sticking their tongues out at her and grinning like idiots.
Kashka's scowl returned tenfold, her hands balling into fists. Inhaling a slow, calming breath she gritted her teeth. She could get through this without hitting either of them. She could deal with the immature and cocky young men.
She was going to murder the management slowly and painfully for their casting decisions.
***
After The Jellicle Ball, Andy had sent the tribe scattering around the stage as Grizabella approached. Blue sped off the stage, making for the water fountain and – for the first time ever – beating everyone else to it and downed barely a mouthful before a familiar pair of hands lifted her aside, stealing her position.
Glaring at Munkustrap, she splashed water down the front of his costume and stormed off, her eyes narrowed. "I'm gonna sue someone!" She yowled, marching up the stairs towards the dressing rooms, her tail bobbing behind her.
"Like me?" Catlike, Andy had crept up the stairs behind her and – grabbing her tail – pulled her back into his waiting arms. Her heels still propped on the edge of the step, his broad hands rested at her hips.
Staring up into his deep green and brown eyes, she managed to whisper. "You couldn't afford my price."
The front of his bristly silver and black wig brushed hers and he traced a finger up and down the base of her spine, a wide smile crinkling his eyes. "Just how much is your price, Rumple, dear?"
"A lifetime of faithful service and all that jazz." Pulling out of his arms, she stuck her tongue out and stomped up the rest of the stairs, leaving him standing. "Told you, you couldn't possibly afford it, matey!"
Watching her go, Andy smiled to himself. We'll see." He murmured, rubbing the back of his neck with a smile. "We'll see." Turning at the call from behind him, he saw one of the stage managers waving frantically to him. Wandering over towards them, he gratefully took a tumbler of water from one. "What's up?"
"Feeling more confident?" A familiar voice said.
Turning to Menke, Andy grinned. "What do you think?" The older man nodded, his green eyes glittering. "I got through the Pekes and the Polls, so that's a relief. All my main numbers are out of the way now."
"So its time for the lazy second half?"
"I dunno...I still have the fight..." He shuddered, rolling his shoulders. "Do I really have to save Kashka from Tony?" He implored, glancing around to make sure she wasn't near. "Can't I let him take her off somewhere and kill her?"
"I think that might ruin the whole defeating-the-bad-guy vibe you've got going on." Menke laughed. "And I don't see the stage manager being too pleased if Munkustrap just sits down and files his claws while Demeter is being carted off by a madman."
"Who gives a monkeys what the stage managers say." Andy muttered huffily. "The stupid buggers put me opposite Kashka. If they wanted someone who would willingly rescue and snuggle with Kashka, they should have cast a block of ice."
Menke smiled faintly. "She does seem rather...uh..."
"Awkward? Uncompromising? Bitchy? Irritating? Snobby?"
"All of the above?"
Andy nodded. "I would even prefer to have one of the Jonson twins playing Demeter opposite me." He admitted wryly. "That's how much I don't want to be romantically involved with this actress' character."
"And I thought it was bad having to flirt with my sister-in-law when I was in the show..." Menke gave Andy a sympathetic look. "Look, I have to get back to the seat. If she gets too annoying, send her Tommy's way. I'm sure Red would love to help."
"Understatement of the century, man." Andy flashed a broad grin at the older dancer. "Enjoy the rest of the show and don't boo too loudly for me."
"You think I would even waste breath to boo?" Menke laughed. "I'll see you afterwards, okay?"
***
As always, Jordan and Rachel were the first felines on – aside from Old Deuteronomy – after the intermission. However, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteaser's entrance was one hundred percent more noticeable.
Hidden by the stove, Blue was peering out onto the stage when a finger and thumb sharply pinched her rear. With a squeal of surprise, Rumpleteaser shot out from behind the mattress, tumbling in four somersaults across the stage.
Landing on her tail, she rolled over and rubbed her offended rear with a pout. Behind her, Mungojerrie had scrambled out and was rolling on his back, pointing at her with his 'paw' and giggling hysterically.
Andy breezed towards the pair of them, after paying a tribute to Old Deuteronomy. He soothingly patted Blue's wig, then went on to catch Mungojerrie in a head-lock and give him a playful noogie as punishment for teasing his partner in crime.
Moving into place for The Moments Of Happiness, the two striped kittens shot dirty looks at one another across the stage, both receiving half-smiles from Munkustrap who was taking his place at the front of the stage centre.
In the audience, registered Munkuholic Annie Lawson was staring up at Munkustrap in delight as he halted on the stage in front of her, just before The Moments of Happiness, his eyes catching hers.
Almost smiling, but not quite, he draped his full length alone the stage in front of her. A glint of mischief sparkled in his eyes as he yawned and smacked his lips, waiting for Old Deuteronomy to start singing.
Reaching up, she scratched at his 'paw'. Cocking his head, he feigned indignation, pulling his hand back. Giving it a lick, he smoothed his 'head fur' and gave his head a little shake, smacking his lips once again and gazing majestically down at her.
As Old Deuteronomy started to sing, mismatched eyes rose and stared up at the light high above them, mimicking moonlight. His rapt expression made her wish she could snatch out her sketchpad without disturbing anyone.
Gazing beyond her during the quiet song, he slowly lowered his eyes to hers as Jemima sang her lines. Singing 'Moonlight, turn your face to the moonlight...' in the refrain of Jemima's part of the song, he sang directly to Annie.
Trying not to grin, she fanned herself with a hand. Andy's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was taking stock of her. Faking a swoon, she saw the corner of his lip twitch in the threat of a smile, which never quite broke.
Rising to his feet with the rest of the cast, he waited until the song had finished, before taking a moment to bend and rub his head fur across her head. Then stalked back across towards the tyre, where he settled alongside Rumpleteaser and Electra, as opposed to his given position on the car boot with Demeter.
Annie blinked, grinned and received a wink from him as he let the two kittens cuddle up to him.
Seated next to Benjamin, Andy let Blue curl around him, her arms crossed on his legs, her chin resting on her wrists. Electra immediately sought attention from him as well, coming to rest against his upper arm and rubbing her hand up and down the muscled biceps.
From the car boot, where she sat alone, Kashka scowled again.
***
Watching from the back of the stage during The Moments of Happiness, Blue had been delighted to notice Andy's mischievous antics were focusing Annie Lawson's attention entirely on him.
Determined to change that, Blue made certain that she was in line of sight of the artist as often as she could. The pipe where she would hide during the Macavity scare was right in front of Annie and she wanted to make sure she would be heaped with an abundance of art to make her boyfriend jealous.
However, with Andy playing an absolutely delicious Munkustrap for a Munkustrap-lover, Blue was sadly coming to terms with the fact he would probably be receiving an abundance of art, while she wouldn't.
Between playing a Siamese and having a sneezing fit during Skimbleshanks, Blue only managed to embarrass 'Munkustrap' once, by holding tightly onto his leg and refusing to let go of it as 'Macavity' ran onto the stage.
Running to the side of the stage to mockingly laugh at Macavity, Andy had been forced to run with her clinging to him like a small, multi-coloured limpet. She was so light, he barely noticed it, until her hand snaked naughtily high.
Steering her away from his limbs, the stage was cleared in a matter of seconds. Darting from one side of the stage to the front as fast as she could, she hopped off the stage and scooted into the pipe opening, looking at the seat where Annie was sitting, eagerly watching Tommy and Kashka.
Annie spotted her instantly, bending at the waist to peer into the hole, holding out a hand to her. Blue grinned and edged out with all the demeanours of a nervous kitten, pausing to sniff at the proffered hand warily.
Cautiously rubbing her head across Annie's knee, she glanced up at the stage, shaking her wigged head as a hand scratched 'behind her ear'. Sometimes, the interaction was the best part of the show.
Settling between Annie's feet, she peered down at the bag beside her, peeking over her shoulder at Annie to make sure that she was getting away with whatever she planned to do. A buckle came undone and she peeked again. Annie was smiling.
Another buckle came undone.
She looked over at Annie again, eyes wide and innocent.
A large folder thumped out onto the floor and fell open.
Still, huge blue eyes stared innocently at Annie, as nimble fingers flicked through the pages, finding the Etcetera pages and carefully slipped into the polypocket to grip the picture she had found, slowly starting to withdraw it from the folder.
"Hey!" Annie hissed, giving her a light prod.
With an angelic, hurt look, Blue swatted at the offending hand. She glanced down at the folder once more and then bounced up, cheekily waving her dainty rear in Annie's direction, flicking her tail and leaping onto the stage on cue to join in the raunchy dance routine, swiveling her narrow hips with a flexibility that seemed nigh impossible.
For once, every male in the vicinity was quiet, eyes fixated on the unmissable bouncing, flipping, springing, cart-wheeling bundle of super-hyperactive energy in the guise of the tiny form of Rumpleteaser.
It went without saying that the smallest dancer in the cast had made quite an impression on the assembled die-harders.
***
Carefully spiking her hair up, Blue blinked at her reflection, touching up her detailed eye make-up that highlighted her pale blue eyes. Grinning, she replaced all her rings and studs into her pierced nose, ears and navel.
A blue stud shone at her nose, a gift from her boyfriend. He had insisted that she wear it all the time, but management had not been amused to find their punk Etcetera wanted to wear nose-jewelry during the show.
"Ready to go, gorgeous?" Slipping a toned arm around her waist, the resident new Munkustrap nuzzled her neck, his long brown hair ticklishly brushing against her shoulders and the top of her back.
Arching her back against him, she smiled brightly, rubbing her head against his. "I suppose so." She grabbed her jacket, pulling it on. Taking his hand in hers, she gave a sigh of mock-boredom. "Let's go and face the screaming masses, love."
"At least I'm not wearing a dress." Andy noted dryly. His scruffy jeans and ancient Lion King T-shirt had apparently been successfully dried during the show.
"What about underwear?"
Andy gave her a devilish look. "I'll let you find that out later, love." Blue's ears went pink again and she grinned broadly. "Oh God...you're in that kind of mood, aren't you?" A pained look crossed his face. "You didn't tell me I was banned from yours...that's always a bad sign..."
"Never mind that now, big guy." Catching his hands behind her, she led the charge for the door. Running lightly down the stairs to explode out the stage door, the duo hurtled around to the front door where the crowds were still filing out.
Looking around at the group, she scratched her nose, staring at the group, as she scribbled on the programmes of some of the fans. "Dost my eyes deceive me?" She gasped, blinking. "Do I see the illusive Annie Lawson?"
Stepping forward, Annie blushed and held out a painting. "I did this for you after seeing you as Etcetera, Blue." Opening the folder, she handed the dancer a picture of herself that was most definitely identifiable as her. "I did actually think you were cute until you started ransacking my art folder."
"Whoa!" Staring at it, Blue reverently took it, speechless. "Its gorgeous! Are you sure you want to give it up, Annie? I mean, it looks like it took you a long time to do it."
"I did it for you." Annie insisted, her cheeks scarlet. "Can I get a picture of you with it?"
"Surely! Just give me a minute okay..." Blue was looking passed Annie at a tall man with hair as long as Andy's. "So you decided to stick out the rest of the show?"
"Naturally." Annie's eyes went wide and she spun around.
"Menke?"
"Annie?" The dancer lunged forward, grabbing the artist and wrapping her up in a hug. "What the heck are you doing here, girl? I thought you would have quit coming the day I stopped playing Munkustrap!"
"Nice to see you're as modest as ever."
"So you two know each other?"
Annie smiled broadly. "This twit introduced me to my boyfriend." She replied, her arm around Menke's waist. "He also played one of the best Munkustraps I've seen in my life and I've seen a lot of Munkustraps."
"Ahem?" Menke gave her a gentle shake. "What do you mean by 'one of the best', Miss Lawson? In case you had appropriately forgotten, I am..." He struck a dramatic pose. "Simply the best!"
"Again, we have trouble dealing in modesty." Annie laughed. "I have to say that tonight's Munkustrap was bloody good and so pretty..." She looked at Andy and inquired. "When do you start playing him?"
The chorus of laughter from Menke, Andy and Blue made Annie frown in confusion.
"Annie, my dear, dear, naive darling," Menke shook his head, chuckling. "Tonight, you had the privilege of seeing Andy, here, playing Munkustrap for the first time, with some insane coaching from yours truly..."
The artist's jaw sagged. "You're kidding."
"Nope! I'm Munkustrap!" Andy cocked his head and grinned at her. "Could you imagine anyone else having such pretty eyes?" He batted his lashes, making his girlfriend snort. "So, what did you think? Am I Munk material? Tommy didn't think so and I won her over."
"I think..." She stared at his face closely for a long moment, then replied. "I think I need to get a new sketch pad."
Menke laughed. "It starts..."
***
"I hurt."
"After all that time in rehearsal?" Andy was slumped on his belly on Blue's bed, fresh from the shower, one arm dangling over the side, his face crushed against the pillow. "I don't blame you, big guy."
The petite dancer was wearing a huge Cats T-shirt and was wandering around the bedroom, putting away various pieces of body jewelry. Her damp hair was mussed and standing on end as usual.
His eyes half-closed, the dancer tried to find the energy to lift his limp arm onto the bed, but failed miserably. Dripping tendrils of hair stuck to his face, but he couldn't even be bothered to move to brush them back.
"Want me to rub it better?" Blue offered, removing her eighth ear ring and depositing it on her desk carefully. Andy managed to grunt an assent.
Straddling the base of his back, she settled her weight comfortably back against his rear, laying her small hands on his back. Rubbing her little fingers up over the tense, tired muscles, she smiled as he groaned softly.
"Good?"
"Great." He mumbled around a mouthful of pillow.
Kneading and caressing Andy's exhausted body, she felt him gradually relax beneath her, his heavy, tired breathing becoming softer and lighter. His eyes drooped shut, the hand clenched on the pillow going limp.
At the first snore, she leaned forward and gently stroked his hair back from his face and touched a gentle kiss to his cheek.
Sliding off his body, she rolled him carefully onto his side, slowly so she wouldn't wake him. A tired sigh escaped him as she awkwardly lifted his hip, untucking her duvet from beneath him and positioning it over his body.
Moving to the light switch, she flicked it off, then returned to the bed, sliding under the covers beside him and drawing one arm around her waist.
Cuddling against him, she felt his chin coming to rest lightly against the top of her head and smiled as she closed her eyes. Her fingers lingered on the sinewy width of his forearm as she nestled closer.
"Night Andy." She whispered, as sleep crept closer. "I love you."
And as sleep took her, she was convinced she heard a husky whisper of "Love you too."