2nd Shot: "Goodbyes are Forever."

Jing blinked up at the display outside the arena, the photograph of the girl, Elize, and several other cast members in costume, and a backdrop of some on the equipment. He glanced at Kir. "We have about four minutes to get a seat...we'd better go."

Kir stopped looking at the performer to play Bianca long enough to answer him. "I don't see why we're bothering...she's a hottie, but geez...we have better things to be doing."

Jing smiled, walking in. "But we were invited. How often does that happen?"

Elize, meanwhile, was getting put into a costume and prepped for performance. She'd already been to makeup, crimson shadow shimmering on her face like a painted-on masquerade mask. Her hair had been pinned and curled, brushing against the bare shoulders. She was one of few performars that didn't use a full-body suit, she didn't like the feel. Her companions were chattering in rapid French, while she tightened the laces in back of the dress and turned to admire the work. "Mais non regret."

"Monsieurs, mademoiselles...we welcome you...to STARDUST!" The crowd roared at the ringleader's announcement, and Jing clapped along. "Tonight, everyone present gets a very special treat. We have adapted Shakespeare for you, bringing forth Taming of the Shrew!" More calls and claps. "However...we regret to inform you that this will be Mademoiselle Elize's last performance with the Stardust cast." Kir blinked.

"That's right, she did say it was a farewell performance." Jing nodded at the albatross, whom had perched on his shoulder again.

"That means she'll be giving her all. Nobody expects it to be perfection except her. ANd she's gonna meet that expectation no matter what."
"Good kid...I feel bad for her."

"Please welcome the cast of Stardust, in TAMING OF THE SHREW!" The lights dimmed, names were forgotten, and the performance began.

Katherina sat upon the trapeze, her sister Bianca facing the opposite direction. Katherina raised her arms and slid down onto another, pulling herself up and bringing herself into a turn, red and gold clinging to her body and flowing in the right places. Bianca turned to look, crossing her arms, all made up in lavender and silver. She swung up and around, circling with her sister, before a male performer, Petruchio, swept in and snatched Katherina from her spot, falling freely before grabbing hold of a pole and swinging around to stand on a high platform.

The girl struggled and fought, breaking free finally and taking to her own platform. She taunted and took off across the set of trapezes, turning and twisting this way and that before disappearing with Petruchio, the music downfalling into something sweeter. Bianca sat alone, a pale purple spotlight on her, seemingly waiting for something. Another male playing Lucentio, or Cambio, depending on how you knew him, crossed a pole laid across the circular stage area, dropping down and pulling her from her spot, hanging upside-down and holding to her wrists.

The final act ended, and the crowd stood, cheering and clapping and shouting things Jing couldn't understand. He grinned, clapping, while Kir catcalled at most of the female performers. The ringmaster appeared again, leading Elize by the hand. "Monsiers, mademoiselles, tout grand devoir terminé..." The crowd hushed. "Mademioselle Elize has something to say to you all..." He motioned for her to go ahead.

"Ladies and gentlemen...and birds..." She motioned to Kir, who did his best to look dignified while she smiled. "It is with a heavy heart that I leave Stardust tonight. I won't be returning.

"It is not because I have found a better place..because frankly, there is no better place for me than on the stage, with these people, my familial. I will miss it more than you will ever know." She blinked away tears, taking a deep breath. "Goodbyes are forever, I'm afraid. This is the end. Stardust lives on, but without me." She turned to the cast and crew, whom had gathered at the back of the arena.

"Thank you all, for everything. Fréres, soeurs...parrain." She smiled. "Adieu." The girls, first of all, ran forward and hugged her, and the rest of the crew followed. The curtains drew around, and the crowd erupted again, before filing out.

Hours later, Elize had returned to the stage, standing in the middle and admiring all the equipment she would never see again. "I'll miss it."

Jing stepped forward. "I bet. You were great, Elize." She jumped and turned, a little shocked. "J-Jing? I thought everyone else had left."

"So did I. Looks like I was wrong after all."

She laughed a little. "I suppose so. Where has Kir gone?"

"Where he always goes, to chase women." He rolled his eyes and crossed to her. "You're not in pieces yet."

"Ah, no. But I surely will be tomorrow. I just...don't want to cry. I don't want to fall to pieces, I just want to sit and stare. And remember how it feels to fly."

He looked up at what she was now staring at. "Flying, huh?"

Elize nodded. "But my wings are clipped now. I have other things to do, so I can focus on that. But..."

"There's another but?" She laughed.

"Let's just say...I was getting too well known." She pulled a pendant from her shirt, a silver star with a diamond set in the middle. "Stardust is home...and we all leave home eventually."

"That's from your godfather?" She nodded.

"I didn't know you knew French."

"I don't. He's too young to be your dad even if you are fifteen, doesn't look enough like you, either... I put it together." She laughed.

"He is only thirty...but he iswasmy father's best friend growing up." She looked at the watch on her wrist. "I'm afraid I have to go...Jing, it was wonderful meeting you. You seem like a smart guy. Good luck."

"You too...Elize." He followed her with his eyes while she left, walking out the other way.

That's not the end...

Mais non regret: Basically, 'no regrets'.

Monsiers, mademoiselles, tout grand devoir terminé: 'Gentlemen, ladies, all things great must end.'

Familial: Family.

Fréres, soeurs...parrain: 'Brothers, sisters...godfather.'

Adieu: 'Goodbye.'

Author's Notes: Oh, this was a pathetically sad chapter, I think. I'll try not to do that much more than I should. XD Updates are slow, I apologize, but school comes first! Failing math AUGH. Review for me, tell me what you think, no flames please...I'm neurotic enough with midterms. See you soon!