lyrasoze@hotmail.com
And I'm back. Again. Amazingly enough, I have now broken my record for
procrastination. According to my fanfiction.net update monitor thingie, I have
officially procrastinated on writing this chapter for over a year. How's about
them apples?
Anyhow, here is the next chapter of 'All The World's A Stage'. Almost done. The
end is in sight! Lyrics for Sailor Moon songs provided by
. All Sailor Moon songs that appear here are
just the ones I like. *grin*
Disclaimer: No own anything. Yar.
All The World's A Stage
by Lyra Matsuoka
Rated PG-13
Chapter 9
The only lasting effect of the power out was that the very sensitive sound
levels had been tripped. Michael quickly began repairs, though he reserved the
right to swear as often as he saw fit. No one argued with him, and there were
quite a few admiring glances shot toward the sound booth over the course of the
next few hours.
"He comes up with the most interesting combinations," Raye commented.
Serena grinned and burst out laughing at the next five-word phrase that floated
through the air.
"Is it possible to do that?"
"Not without five hands and a pogo stick," Raye returned.
Smiling, Serena returned to tweaking her ques. A special, a few warm
highlights to accent a ballad - it was essential that the lighting underscore,
not dominate, the performance.
The Three Lights were famous for holding concerts that raised the roof.
The fabulous effects did not overwhelm the natural charisma and performance
style of the Lights themselves. That was a very deliberate act. Serena had spent
years perfecting that style, tailoring each set of lights to a specific song and
how audiences in the past had reacted to the beat. If a listener seemed inclined
to dance, then the lights were brighter, flashier, revving the audience up and
urging them to sing along. The ballads brought more mellow lighting and often a
spotlight on the soloist, encouraging the focus toward the star of the moment.
It was always gratifying to see her design achieve the results she had
spent so many hours masterminding. Still, it wasn't her designs that made the
crowds cheer. It was the energy that poured off the stage. The Lights always
gave their all to their concerts, believing that their fans deserved no less
than the absolute best.
It was always wonderful to watch the crew begin pumping up for the big
show. This group of dedicated professionals had worked long and hard to make
this show the best that it could be, and now they were looking forward to
watching the first performance in the Northern Lights tour pull itself together.
Not to mention that the wild masquerade ball tonight was going to be a blast.
The thought of the party brought a slight shadow into Serena's mind.
Darien had walked out four hours ago. She had watched him go, knowing that she
had no right whatsoever to place demands upon him.
"I don't want to start this relationship thing by being high maintenance,"
she explained to Raye as she watched her ques flashing across the screen. "I
could have sworn that I explained this three hours ago."
"Honey, going after a man whose inherent hotness blows a '1 to 10' scale
to smithereens is not being high maintenance. It's an incredibly intelligent
move. Besides, maybe the guy enjoys high maintenance women."
"I've done my high maintenance time. Wouldn't do it again for a thousand
dollars." Chad asked, watching the ques flash across the stage as The Three
Lights finished tuning up.
"Well, the man doesn't have all that great of a track record. If you
looked up 'high maintenance' in any dictionary, a picture of a Ferrari and that
woman's headshot would accompany the definition."
Chad snorted and then cursed. "Circuit 29 just died for the twelfth time."
Raye glanced at him. "I fixed it last time."
"Yeah, yeah," Chad grumbled as he headed for the ladder leading to the
catwalk. Raye watched him climb the ladder and Serena nudged her friend with her
elbow.
"What's going on there?"
"Nothing," Raye denied, but her eyes lingered on Chad. Serena smiled.
"Whatever you say," she said, adding a liberal dose of sarcasm. Raye
glared.
"We are not talking about me," the brunette declared loftily. "We are
discussing you and the current object of your affections."
"No we aren't."
"What?"
"The conversation is being put on hold. Thus we no longer have a topic of
conversation. Meaning that we are free to discuss you to our hearts' content."
"And that is my cue to exit the booth and go find something to work on."
"Check the stage left light tree, please," Serena called as Raye vanished
from the booth. Serena shook her head and returned to the board. It should have
concerned her that Darien had just walked away. It should have upset her.
Another woman might have run after him, demanding explanations and guarantees.
But Serena hadn't done any of that. This was partly because Serena was not
inclined to hysterics of that sort, or hadn't been since high school. And it was
partly because Serena knew that Darien wasn't walking out of her life. Even
though it sounded incredibly like an episode from 'Days Of Our Lives', Serena
knew, in the deepest part of her heart, that Darien wasn't going anywhere.
She smiled as Melvin turned to the light board.
"Go to Que 45," he mumbled, and the stage went black, save for a crescent
moon gobo that moved slowly to the center of the stage. Slowly, slowly the blue
and purple lights came up, creating a twilight effect in the theater. Seiya
stepped into the white crescent of light, and other gobos came up on the stage.
All the gobos showed various stages of the moon.
Moonlight Destiny
Why, when I am with the wondrous you
Does the time fly by us so easily
Upon the lifeless sea, the nighttime descends, with the first star
This is magic reaching us from the moon
Even without a word, I know it's true
The two of us must be thinking about the same thing
"My song, my song," Serena chanted as she punched a few buttons to perfect
the moment. Smiling smugly she then sat back to enjoy.
Moonlight destiny
Forever, more than anyone, I want to be with you
Below this spacious sky above, you who I met by chance
Moonlight destiny
Through all the joy and the pain, we will share it together
In my heart that's how I feel, when I am with you
Ever since I met the wondrous you
I can see everything so vividly
On the dark sea the road of silver continues to the stars
This is a message brought by the moon
We don't need any kind of promises
The two of us seem to be walking toward the same tomorrow
"Raye wants to know if any of this sounds familiar to you," Melvin asked.
Serena raised one eyebrow and Melvin dutifully repeated the response into the
Telex. Besides, the lyrics didn't sound familiar as much as they sounded like a
promise. The song that had always seemed meant for other couples now seemed to
speak directly to her.
Moonlight destiny
However far, wherever it may be, I am gazing after it
The brilliant, brightly shining light, the continuing of today's dream
Moonlight destiny
When I'm at a loss, or filled with distress, you will come to answer me
In my heart I now believe in that, when I am with you
Moonlight destiny
Forever, more than anyone, I want to be with you
Below this spacious sky above, you who I met by chance
Moonlight destiny
Through all the joy and the pain, we will share it together
In my heart that's how I feel, when I am with you
*******************************
At precisely 5 p.m., the stadium began to shut down. The majority of the
crew vanished beneath the arena and into the newly lit dressing rooms and
lounges for pizza, sub sandwiches and every type of non-alcoholic beverage sold
by a variety of companies, most of whom were sponsoring the concert itself. And
as usual, Serena noticed at 5:15 p.m. that she was the last person in the
stadium. And at 5:17 p.m. she was peeled away from the light board. By several
pairs of rather insistent hands.
"Serena. Dinner. Dressing rooms. Right now. Let's go."
And that, aside from being a group of the shortest sentences ever, was
that. Seiya, Raye and Chad had all teamed up to rip her away from the light
board. As it happened, Serena was more than willing to go. Her work here was
done, and tonight at 6:30 Melvin would lock the door of the booth and leave
Serena to her own devices. Ordinarily, those devices would involve a bubble bath
and a good book. Tonight they involved a quick shower, the perfect hairstyle and
expertly applied make-up to add to the perfect dress.
"Oh, God. The dress," Serena gasped, tearing free of her friends and
streaking toward the ramp.
"What about the dress?" Raye called.
"I left it in my locker!"
"You WHAT?! No, no panic attacks allowed. We'll steam it," Raye said as
she joined Serena in her mad dash toward the locker room. Seiya and Chad raised
their eyebrows.
"I don't get it," Chad offered.
"Don't ask questions. Just let it go," Seiya counseled as the two men
headed toward the dressing rooms.
*********
Darien slammed back into his office, ignoring Mary Ann and other
questioning glances. He couldn't decide if he was jealous, angry, or humiliated.
Perhaps he felt a little of all those emotions. What he didn't understand was
why. Why had it bothered him that Diamond Black had been eyeing Serena up and
down? Why, for the first time in his life, had he been embarrassed by Beryl's
possessive and often immature and bitchy behavior?
Swinging down into his chair, Darien pondered this interesting turn of
events. His emotional state the last few days had not been anything resembling
stable. It had been so far removed from his normally cautious and careful
behavior that he had been considering writing out a prescription for himself.
But after rushing to Rikashi Stadium in the middle of the day, for no reason
other than to see a woman he had met less than a week earlier, Darien knew what
was wrong with him.
He was, God help him, in love.
In love with a blond haired, blue eyed master electrician with a taste for
movies, classic rock and roll and chocolate. He was head-over-heels, knock down
crazy in love.
And it was the best damn feeling in the world.
Darien felt a smile coming on, and pushed it back down with effort. It
wouldn't do to have his staff see their terrifying boss walking around with a
goofy smile on his lips. Shaking his head, Darien turned toward his IN basket
and flipped his computer on. It was time to get to work.
He had a date tonight. And he wasn't about to break it.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Serena listened to the live television broadcast taking place outside the
concert as she ran the water in her shower as hot as it would go. Steam clouded
the window and the mirror as it eased the wrinkles from the perfect dress.
Crowds pored through the doors of Rikashi Stadium as groupies screamed and waved
signs that offered everything from poorly spelled endearments to proposals of
marriage. Serena found those to be amusing...always had. It was fortunate that
Mina, Lita and Ami were also amused by these signs. It was also an indication of
security; all three women knew that they rested high in the affections of their
partners.
The dress was steamed, the bathroom cleared of any remaining drops of
condensed water and the television newscast had switched to international
coverage when Serena realized she had one hour before the Midnight Masquerade
started. Swinging her legs off the bed, Serena located her ticket and looked at
it for a moment before placing it in her purse. The phone had yet to ring.
Serena styled her hair in an older style, a style familiar to her. Two
buns with two trailing pigtails. She straightened the pigtails and curled the
ends, so that the hair fell in two straight banners down her back. Her makeup
was subtle, mostly pinks and lavenders with a light pink lipstick. Finally, the
crown, sparkling brightly on her forehead with it's large red jewel winking in
the mirror.
Serena chuckled at the view. The hair, makeup and crown went so well with
the flannel pajama bottoms and button down shirt she was wearing. Serena glanced
at the clock.
Forty minutes to go, and no phone call.
The House filled with commotion as techies poured in, elated by the
concert, riding high on the music and the energy of the audience. Showers were
flipped on, bathroom doors were banged open and shut and laughter combined with
shouts and demands for attention. Raye slid into a red sheath and braided her
hair with red beads before chasing Chad around The House, demanding that he give
back her mask. Andrew made a few phone calls, not the least of which involved
coordinating a pick-up time with his girlfriend.
And through the chaos, through the 'Northern Fantasy LIVE' CD, the
screaming, banging and crashing, the private phone line in Serena's apartment
stayed silent.
And though she hid it well, Serena was beginning to doubt that Darien
meant to come at all. He had told her that these parties were not his scene, and
she wouldn't blame him if he decided not to come, but still...
"Serena, do you still have that green body glitter?" Sheridan, dressed in
a slinky green dress, had clipped green extensions into her hair. Serena dropped
the glitter over the balcony, taking in the outfit as she did so.
"Envy, I presume?"
"Nah. I'm cold, hard cash," Sheridan responded, holding up a mask covered
with fake bills.
"Charming."
"Of course it is. I thought of it," Sheridan retorted, twirling.
The phone rang.
Serena turned and raced for the door, abandoning all pretence of dignity.
Luna got out of the way as a cannonball of pink flannel came barreling through
the doorway and over the bed.
'Take a deep breath, girl. Okay, calm down. Two rings ought to do
it...and, showtime!'
Serena lifted the receiver. "Hello?"
"Is this Serena Tsukino?"
"That depends on who's looking for her," Serena replied, put off by the
female voice on the other end of the line. It was distinctive, and Serena was
certain she had heard it before.
"I assume this is Serena. This is Beryl Blake."
Serena froze, hand tightening on the phone. She stood nervously, but her
voice was cool and even.
"To what do I owe the dubious pleasure?"
"Well, this certainly isn't a social call. I thought I'd save you some
time and let you know that Darien Chiba is spoken for," came the venomous
retort. Serena raised her eyebrows. This was a first.
"I'm terribly sorry, but are you staking a claim?"
"Darling, I'm stating a fact. Darien Chiba and I are in love. We are
getting married. The invitations are designed and the guest list drawn up."
"Have you proposed?" Serena asked, unable to keep the saucy remark to herself.
There was a long silence and Serena heard the sound of nails scraping over
a chalkboard in her mind. The memory of that sound made her shiver.
"You are way out of your league in this game, little girl. You have no
concept of how nasty this could become. Do yourself a favor. Stay out of my way
and away from my man."
There was a click, and the sound of a dial tone. Serena held the phone
away from her ear and looked at it for a while before replacing the receiver in
its cradle. She had never been warned away from a guy before. And Beryl Blake
was obviously ready to come out to the corral, guns blazing. Still, Serena
mused, it was a unique experience, almost like being told an enemy strategy and
weaknesses just before a major battle.
Serena shook her head and retrieved the dress, sliding it up her body.
When she stood still, the long skirts fell almost straight to the floor, belling
out around her feet. The dress was stunning. No question.
Raye walked in, mask dangling from one hand. Raye was going as Ruby, and
therefore her silk mask was spangled with glitter and faux jewels.
"Dare I hope that the phone call was from the errant date?"
"Sadly no. But it was an interesting conversation with the girlfriend of said date."
"Beryl Blake called you? I didn't know she deigned to mingle with the
common folk."
"Only when someone is attempting to steal 'her man', as she put it. It
might have been worrisome if it weren't so damn funny."
Raye reached up to straighten Serena's crown. "Well, she doesn't have much
to say about it, I should think. Darien isn't a prize to be given away or won."
"I was sure you were going to say he wasn't a gift."
"No chance. The man is too stunning not to be God's gift to someone. Now
come on. Everyone is waiting for us. Where's your mask?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Darien resisted the urge to groan as he looked in the mirror. This outfit
was not him in any way, shape, or form. If he were being completely honest with
himself, he knew that the genuine leather boots, the black cape lined with red
silk and the lightweight body armor had been made especially for him, and as
such fit ideally. The outfit said 'money' almost as clearly as it said 'faerie
prince' and Darien allowed himself a smirk. Money was something that Beryl
understood, and if his outfit was this elaborate, he was willing to bet that the
money Beryl paid for hers would have fed an entire country for the better part
of a year.
Darien shrugged and picked up his mask. This was a fantastic ball with
fantastical people and costumes. He would have bet his latest grant that he
would feel more comfortable in this than in a tuxedo. The black mask,
fortunately, had been made to his specifications...it was black silk, covered
most of his face, and was unadorned. It was his favorite part of the outfit.
Turning once more, Darien headed for the door. He had twenty minutes to
drive to The House and surprise Serena. That might make up for him not calling
before hand. Smiling at the thought of the evening ahead, Darien opened the
door.
And there, hand raised to knock, stood Beryl.
Darien stood, non-plussed for a moment. The outfit was something else; a
long purple gown with a single black highlight on the bodice, and some sort of
crown with a large green stone in the center of her forehead. Her hair was
unbound, held back from her face with the crown, and she carried a staff with a
crystal ball at the top.
"Darien! You wore the outfit!" Beryl gushed. Darien raised his eyebrows
and sighed.
"I certainly hope you're stopped by to pick up your things," he said,
stepping back inside to grab a plastic bag filled with clothing. "Here you are."
Beryl looked shocked for a moment, then brushed the look aside and
replaced it with a coquettish smile, even as Darien pushed the bag into her
hands and stepped in to the hall to shut and lock his apartment door.
"Oh, Darien, I didn't mean it. I love you, you know that."
There was a pregnant pause as Darien pressed the call button for the elevator.
Beryl waited expectantly for a reply, no doubt something along the lines
of 'I love you too'. At this point, Darien mused, she might have settled for 'I
don't find you utterly repugnant'. He was tempted for a moment to say just that,
just to see what sort of reaction he might get, but decided it was best not to
tease the animals. Darien heard Beryl suck in a deep breath when it became
obvious that he was not going to say anything at all.
"It was a lover's quarrel, nothing more. I know you made other plans and I
forgive you."
"How generous of you," Darien drawled, striding into the elevator with
Beryl running slightly to keep up with him. He noticed that she was still
holding the plastic bag. Wonderful. That would save him time in the long run. He
pressed the button for the Parking Garage as Beryl continued chattering at him.
"Darien, Daddy loaned me one of his limousines for the night, and it's
waiting downstairs with champagne. The invitation doesn't specify a time when
this party will end, but I thought we could leave at around 2, which leaves us
just enough time to drop by Daddy's business party and say hello. It's at the
house. You could stay the night."
Darien looked down at Beryl with exasperation and something that closely
resembled pity. She wouldn't give up, not because she loved him but because she
couldn't stand losing. Beryl had never once lost a man, and he could tell by her
expression that she wasn't about to start now.
"Beryl," Darien began, "you told me in no uncertain terms that we were
through. I was frankly relieved that you also felt that the time had come to
conclude our relationship. I have truly enjoyed the time I have spent with
you..."
'You could burn in hell for that lie,' came the unbidden thought. Darien
pushed it aside and continued on.
"...and I certainly hope that you and I can continue to interact
pleasantly on a social level."
The elevator came to a halt and Darien stepped out and walked toward his
car. Beryl remained in the elevator, staring at him in shock.
"Have a wonderful evening Beryl," Darien said, sliding behind the wheel of
his car. 'And a great life...without me in it,' he thought as he backed the car
out of his space and sped off into the night.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Serena laughed at the sight of five of her friends piled into a four-
person car. Michael's little car, affectionately called 'The Tin Can of Death'
could safely hold five people...or would have been able to had two of the
seatbelts not been eaten by the seat-belt gnomes.
Serena watched amused as Michael coordinated the backseat - the end result
had Raye sitting in the middle, her legs swung over Chad's lap with Sheridan and
her date squashed against the window. Serena almost laughed herself sick at the
Picasso-esqe picture they made. Finally the drivers seat was swung back, Serena
climbed in, smacking her tiara against the low ceiling of the car in the
process, Michael cranked the ignition and they were off. Serena watched The
House fade, disappointed and more than halfway to crushed that Darien had not
called, heartened only by the sign she had left on the door.
'Darien, we headed to the Masquerade. See you there. And darlin', save the last dance for me. Love, Serena.'
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
YAY! Next chapter, the Masquerade. Hijinks ensue.
Incidentally, there is a song that has a line 'But darlin', save the last dance for me." I can't remember which song or who sang it, but I didn't think the line up.
Liked the chapter, didn't like it? Let me know!
lyrasoze@hotmail.com
And I'm back. Again. Amazingly enough, I have now broken my record for
procrastination. According to my fanfiction.net update monitor thingie, I have
officially procrastinated on writing this chapter for over a year. How's about
them apples?
Anyhow, here is the next chapter of 'All The World's A Stage'. Almost done. The
end is in sight! Lyrics for Sailor Moon songs provided by
. All Sailor Moon songs that appear here are
just the ones I like. *grin*
Disclaimer: No own anything. Yar.
All The World's A Stage
by Lyra Matsuoka
Rated PG-13
Chapter 9
The only lasting effect of the power out was that the very sensitive sound
levels had been tripped. Michael quickly began repairs, though he reserved the
right to swear as often as he saw fit. No one argued with him, and there were
quite a few admiring glances shot toward the sound booth over the course of the
next few hours.
"He comes up with the most interesting combinations," Raye commented.
Serena grinned and burst out laughing at the next five-word phrase that floated
through the air.
"Is it possible to do that?"
"Not without five hands and a pogo stick," Raye returned.
Smiling, Serena returned to tweaking her ques. A special, a few warm
highlights to accent a ballad - it was essential that the lighting underscore,
not dominate, the performance.
The Three Lights were famous for holding concerts that raised the roof.
The fabulous effects did not overwhelm the natural charisma and performance
style of the Lights themselves. That was a very deliberate act. Serena had spent
years perfecting that style, tailoring each set of lights to a specific song and
how audiences in the past had reacted to the beat. If a listener seemed inclined
to dance, then the lights were brighter, flashier, revving the audience up and
urging them to sing along. The ballads brought more mellow lighting and often a
spotlight on the soloist, encouraging the focus toward the star of the moment.
It was always gratifying to see her design achieve the results she had
spent so many hours masterminding. Still, it wasn't her designs that made the
crowds cheer. It was the energy that poured off the stage. The Lights always
gave their all to their concerts, believing that their fans deserved no less
than the absolute best.
It was always wonderful to watch the crew begin pumping up for the big
show. This group of dedicated professionals had worked long and hard to make
this show the best that it could be, and now they were looking forward to
watching the first performance in the Northern Lights tour pull itself together.
Not to mention that the wild masquerade ball tonight was going to be a blast.
The thought of the party brought a slight shadow into Serena's mind.
Darien had walked out four hours ago. She had watched him go, knowing that she
had no right whatsoever to place demands upon him.
"I don't want to start this relationship thing by being high maintenance,"
she explained to Raye as she watched her ques flashing across the screen. "I
could have sworn that I explained this three hours ago."
"Honey, going after a man whose inherent hotness blows a '1 to 10' scale
to smithereens is not being high maintenance. It's an incredibly intelligent
move. Besides, maybe the guy enjoys high maintenance women."
"I've done my high maintenance time. Wouldn't do it again for a thousand
dollars." Chad asked, watching the ques flash across the stage as The Three
Lights finished tuning up.
"Well, the man doesn't have all that great of a track record. If you
looked up 'high maintenance' in any dictionary, a picture of a Ferrari and that
woman's headshot would accompany the definition."
Chad snorted and then cursed. "Circuit 29 just died for the twelfth time."
Raye glanced at him. "I fixed it last time."
"Yeah, yeah," Chad grumbled as he headed for the ladder leading to the
catwalk. Raye watched him climb the ladder and Serena nudged her friend with her
elbow.
"What's going on there?"
"Nothing," Raye denied, but her eyes lingered on Chad. Serena smiled.
"Whatever you say," she said, adding a liberal dose of sarcasm. Raye
glared.
"We are not talking about me," the brunette declared loftily. "We are
discussing you and the current object of your affections."
"No we aren't."
"What?"
"The conversation is being put on hold. Thus we no longer have a topic of
conversation. Meaning that we are free to discuss you to our hearts' content."
"And that is my cue to exit the booth and go find something to work on."
"Check the stage left light tree, please," Serena called as Raye vanished
from the booth. Serena shook her head and returned to the board. It should have
concerned her that Darien had just walked away. It should have upset her.
Another woman might have run after him, demanding explanations and guarantees.
But Serena hadn't done any of that. This was partly because Serena was not
inclined to hysterics of that sort, or hadn't been since high school. And it was
partly because Serena knew that Darien wasn't walking out of her life. Even
though it sounded incredibly like an episode from 'Days Of Our Lives', Serena
knew, in the deepest part of her heart, that Darien wasn't going anywhere.
She smiled as Melvin turned to the light board.
"Go to Que 45," he mumbled, and the stage went black, save for a crescent
moon gobo that moved slowly to the center of the stage. Slowly, slowly the blue
and purple lights came up, creating a twilight effect in the theater. Seiya
stepped into the white crescent of light, and other gobos came up on the stage.
All the gobos showed various stages of the moon.
Moonlight Destiny
Why, when I am with the wondrous you
Does the time fly by us so easily
Upon the lifeless sea, the nighttime descends, with the first star
This is magic reaching us from the moon
Even without a word, I know it's true
The two of us must be thinking about the same thing
"My song, my song," Serena chanted as she punched a few buttons to perfect
the moment. Smiling smugly she then sat back to enjoy.
Moonlight destiny
Forever, more than anyone, I want to be with you
Below this spacious sky above, you who I met by chance
Moonlight destiny
Through all the joy and the pain, we will share it together
In my heart that's how I feel, when I am with you
Ever since I met the wondrous you
I can see everything so vividly
On the dark sea the road of silver continues to the stars
This is a message brought by the moon
We don't need any kind of promises
The two of us seem to be walking toward the same tomorrow
"Raye wants to know if any of this sounds familiar to you," Melvin asked.
Serena raised one eyebrow and Melvin dutifully repeated the response into the
Telex. Besides, the lyrics didn't sound familiar as much as they sounded like a
promise. The song that had always seemed meant for other couples now seemed to
speak directly to her.
Moonlight destiny
However far, wherever it may be, I am gazing after it
The brilliant, brightly shining light, the continuing of today's dream
Moonlight destiny
When I'm at a loss, or filled with distress, you will come to answer me
In my heart I now believe in that, when I am with you
Moonlight destiny
Forever, more than anyone, I want to be with you
Below this spacious sky above, you who I met by chance
Moonlight destiny
Through all the joy and the pain, we will share it together
In my heart that's how I feel, when I am with you
*******************************
At precisely 5 p.m., the stadium began to shut down. The majority of the
crew vanished beneath the arena and into the newly lit dressing rooms and
lounges for pizza, sub sandwiches and every type of non-alcoholic beverage sold
by a variety of companies, most of whom were sponsoring the concert itself. And
as usual, Serena noticed at 5:15 p.m. that she was the last person in the
stadium. And at 5:17 p.m. she was peeled away from the light board. By several
pairs of rather insistent hands.
"Serena. Dinner. Dressing rooms. Right now. Let's go."
And that, aside from being a group of the shortest sentences ever, was
that. Seiya, Raye and Chad had all teamed up to rip her away from the light
board. As it happened, Serena was more than willing to go. Her work here was
done, and tonight at 6:30 Melvin would lock the door of the booth and leave
Serena to her own devices. Ordinarily, those devices would involve a bubble bath
and a good book. Tonight they involved a quick shower, the perfect hairstyle and
expertly applied make-up to add to the perfect dress.
"Oh, God. The dress," Serena gasped, tearing free of her friends and
streaking toward the ramp.
"What about the dress?" Raye called.
"I left it in my locker!"
"You WHAT?! No, no panic attacks allowed. We'll steam it," Raye said as
she joined Serena in her mad dash toward the locker room. Seiya and Chad raised
their eyebrows.
"I don't get it," Chad offered.
"Don't ask questions. Just let it go," Seiya counseled as the two men
headed toward the dressing rooms.
*********
Darien slammed back into his office, ignoring Mary Ann and other
questioning glances. He couldn't decide if he was jealous, angry, or humiliated.
Perhaps he felt a little of all those emotions. What he didn't understand was
why. Why had it bothered him that Diamond Black had been eyeing Serena up and
down? Why, for the first time in his life, had he been embarrassed by Beryl's
possessive and often immature and bitchy behavior?
Swinging down into his chair, Darien pondered this interesting turn of
events. His emotional state the last few days had not been anything resembling
stable. It had been so far removed from his normally cautious and careful
behavior that he had been considering writing out a prescription for himself.
But after rushing to Rikashi Stadium in the middle of the day, for no reason
other than to see a woman he had met less than a week earlier, Darien knew what
was wrong with him.
He was, God help him, in love.
In love with a blond haired, blue eyed master electrician with a taste for
movies, classic rock and roll and chocolate. He was head-over-heels, knock down
crazy in love.
And it was the best damn feeling in the world.
Darien felt a smile coming on, and pushed it back down with effort. It
wouldn't do to have his staff see their terrifying boss walking around with a
goofy smile on his lips. Shaking his head, Darien turned toward his IN basket
and flipped his computer on. It was time to get to work.
He had a date tonight. And he wasn't about to break it.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Serena listened to the live television broadcast taking place outside the
concert as she ran the water in her shower as hot as it would go. Steam clouded
the window and the mirror as it eased the wrinkles from the perfect dress.
Crowds pored through the doors of Rikashi Stadium as groupies screamed and waved
signs that offered everything from poorly spelled endearments to proposals of
marriage. Serena found those to be amusing...always had. It was fortunate that
Mina, Lita and Ami were also amused by these signs. It was also an indication of
security; all three women knew that they rested high in the affections of their
partners.
The dress was steamed, the bathroom cleared of any remaining drops of
condensed water and the television newscast had switched to international
coverage when Serena realized she had one hour before the Midnight Masquerade
started. Swinging her legs off the bed, Serena located her ticket and looked at
it for a moment before placing it in her purse. The phone had yet to ring.
Serena styled her hair in an older style, a style familiar to her. Two
buns with two trailing pigtails. She straightened the pigtails and curled the
ends, so that the hair fell in two straight banners down her back. Her makeup
was subtle, mostly pinks and lavenders with a light pink lipstick. Finally, the
crown, sparkling brightly on her forehead with it's large red jewel winking in
the mirror.
Serena chuckled at the view. The hair, makeup and crown went so well with
the flannel pajama bottoms and button down shirt she was wearing. Serena glanced
at the clock.
Forty minutes to go, and no phone call.
The House filled with commotion as techies poured in, elated by the
concert, riding high on the music and the energy of the audience. Showers were
flipped on, bathroom doors were banged open and shut and laughter combined with
shouts and demands for attention. Raye slid into a red sheath and braided her
hair with red beads before chasing Chad around The House, demanding that he give
back her mask. Andrew made a few phone calls, not the least of which involved
coordinating a pick-up time with his girlfriend.
And through the chaos, through the 'Northern Fantasy LIVE' CD, the
screaming, banging and crashing, the private phone line in Serena's apartment
stayed silent.
And though she hid it well, Serena was beginning to doubt that Darien
meant to come at all. He had told her that these parties were not his scene, and
she wouldn't blame him if he decided not to come, but still...
"Serena, do you still have that green body glitter?" Sheridan, dressed in
a slinky green dress, had clipped green extensions into her hair. Serena dropped
the glitter over the balcony, taking in the outfit as she did so.
"Envy, I presume?"
"Nah. I'm cold, hard cash," Sheridan responded, holding up a mask covered
with fake bills.
"Charming."
"Of course it is. I thought of it," Sheridan retorted, twirling.
The phone rang.
Serena turned and raced for the door, abandoning all pretence of dignity.
Luna got out of the way as a cannonball of pink flannel came barreling through
the doorway and over the bed.
'Take a deep breath, girl. Okay, calm down. Two rings ought to do
it...and, showtime!'
Serena lifted the receiver. "Hello?"
"Is this Serena Tsukino?"
"That depends on who's looking for her," Serena replied, put off by the
female voice on the other end of the line. It was distinctive, and Serena was
certain she had heard it before.
"I assume this is Serena. This is Beryl Blake."
Serena froze, hand tightening on the phone. She stood nervously, but her
voice was cool and even.
"To what do I owe the dubious pleasure?"
"Well, this certainly isn't a social call. I thought I'd save you some
time and let you know that Darien Chiba is spoken for," came the venomous
retort. Serena raised her eyebrows. This was a first.
"I'm terribly sorry, but are you staking a claim?"
"Darling, I'm stating a fact. Darien Chiba and I are in love. We are
getting married. The invitations are designed and the guest list drawn up."
"Have you proposed?" Serena asked, unable to keep the saucy remark to herself.
There was a long silence and Serena heard the sound of nails scraping over
a chalkboard in her mind. The memory of that sound made her shiver.
"You are way out of your league in this game, little girl. You have no
concept of how nasty this could become. Do yourself a favor. Stay out of my way
and away from my man."
There was a click, and the sound of a dial tone. Serena held the phone
away from her ear and looked at it for a while before replacing the receiver in
its cradle. She had never been warned away from a guy before. And Beryl Blake
was obviously ready to come out to the corral, guns blazing. Still, Serena
mused, it was a unique experience, almost like being told an enemy strategy and
weaknesses just before a major battle.
Serena shook her head and retrieved the dress, sliding it up her body.
When she stood still, the long skirts fell almost straight to the floor, belling
out around her feet. The dress was stunning. No question.
Raye walked in, mask dangling from one hand. Raye was going as Ruby, and
therefore her silk mask was spangled with glitter and faux jewels.
"Dare I hope that the phone call was from the errant date?"
"Sadly no. But it was an interesting conversation with the girlfriend of said date."
"Beryl Blake called you? I didn't know she deigned to mingle with the
common folk."
"Only when someone is attempting to steal 'her man', as she put it. It
might have been worrisome if it weren't so damn funny."
Raye reached up to straighten Serena's crown. "Well, she doesn't have much
to say about it, I should think. Darien isn't a prize to be given away or won."
"I was sure you were going to say he wasn't a gift."
"No chance. The man is too stunning not to be God's gift to someone. Now
come on. Everyone is waiting for us. Where's your mask?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Darien resisted the urge to groan as he looked in the mirror. This outfit
was not him in any way, shape, or form. If he were being completely honest with
himself, he knew that the genuine leather boots, the black cape lined with red
silk and the lightweight body armor had been made especially for him, and as
such fit ideally. The outfit said 'money' almost as clearly as it said 'faerie
prince' and Darien allowed himself a smirk. Money was something that Beryl
understood, and if his outfit was this elaborate, he was willing to bet that the
money Beryl paid for hers would have fed an entire country for the better part
of a year.
Darien shrugged and picked up his mask. This was a fantastic ball with
fantastical people and costumes. He would have bet his latest grant that he
would feel more comfortable in this than in a tuxedo. The black mask,
fortunately, had been made to his specifications...it was black silk, covered
most of his face, and was unadorned. It was his favorite part of the outfit.
Turning once more, Darien headed for the door. He had twenty minutes to
drive to The House and surprise Serena. That might make up for him not calling
before hand. Smiling at the thought of the evening ahead, Darien opened the
door.
And there, hand raised to knock, stood Beryl.
Darien stood, non-plussed for a moment. The outfit was something else; a
long purple gown with a single black highlight on the bodice, and some sort of
crown with a large green stone in the center of her forehead. Her hair was
unbound, held back from her face with the crown, and she carried a staff with a
crystal ball at the top.
"Darien! You wore the outfit!" Beryl gushed. Darien raised his eyebrows
and sighed.
"I certainly hope you're stopped by to pick up your things," he said,
stepping back inside to grab a plastic bag filled with clothing. "Here you are."
Beryl looked shocked for a moment, then brushed the look aside and
replaced it with a coquettish smile, even as Darien pushed the bag into her
hands and stepped in to the hall to shut and lock his apartment door.
"Oh, Darien, I didn't mean it. I love you, you know that."
There was a pregnant pause as Darien pressed the call button for the elevator.
Beryl waited expectantly for a reply, no doubt something along the lines
of 'I love you too'. At this point, Darien mused, she might have settled for 'I
don't find you utterly repugnant'. He was tempted for a moment to say just that,
just to see what sort of reaction he might get, but decided it was best not to
tease the animals. Darien heard Beryl suck in a deep breath when it became
obvious that he was not going to say anything at all.
"It was a lover's quarrel, nothing more. I know you made other plans and I
forgive you."
"How generous of you," Darien drawled, striding into the elevator with
Beryl running slightly to keep up with him. He noticed that she was still
holding the plastic bag. Wonderful. That would save him time in the long run. He
pressed the button for the Parking Garage as Beryl continued chattering at him.
"Darien, Daddy loaned me one of his limousines for the night, and it's
waiting downstairs with champagne. The invitation doesn't specify a time when
this party will end, but I thought we could leave at around 2, which leaves us
just enough time to drop by Daddy's business party and say hello. It's at the
house. You could stay the night."
Darien looked down at Beryl with exasperation and something that closely
resembled pity. She wouldn't give up, not because she loved him but because she
couldn't stand losing. Beryl had never once lost a man, and he could tell by her
expression that she wasn't about to start now.
"Beryl," Darien began, "you told me in no uncertain terms that we were
through. I was frankly relieved that you also felt that the time had come to
conclude our relationship. I have truly enjoyed the time I have spent with
you..."
'You could burn in hell for that lie,' came the unbidden thought. Darien
pushed it aside and continued on.
"...and I certainly hope that you and I can continue to interact
pleasantly on a social level."
The elevator came to a halt and Darien stepped out and walked toward his
car. Beryl remained in the elevator, staring at him in shock.
"Have a wonderful evening Beryl," Darien said, sliding behind the wheel of
his car. 'And a great life...without me in it,' he thought as he backed the car
out of his space and sped off into the night.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Serena laughed at the sight of five of her friends piled into a four-
person car. Michael's little car, affectionately called 'The Tin Can of Death'
could safely hold five people...or would have been able to had two of the
seatbelts not been eaten by the seat-belt gnomes.
Serena watched amused as Michael coordinated the backseat - the end result
had Raye sitting in the middle, her legs swung over Chad's lap with Sheridan and
her date squashed against the window. Serena almost laughed herself sick at the
Picasso-esqe picture they made. Finally the drivers seat was swung back, Serena
climbed in, smacking her tiara against the low ceiling of the car in the
process, Michael cranked the ignition and they were off. Serena watched The
House fade, disappointed and more than halfway to crushed that Darien had not
called, heartened only by the sign she had left on the door.
'Darien, we headed to the Masquerade. See you there. And darlin', save the last dance for me. Love, Serena.'
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
YAY! Next chapter, the Masquerade. Hijinks ensue.
Incidentally, there is a song that has a line 'But darlin', save the last dance for me." I can't remember which song or who sang it, but I didn't think the line up.
Liked the chapter, didn't like it? Let me know!
lyrasoze@hotmail.com