Lights! Camera! Christmas!
Author: MoonStarDutchess and Rinoaebastel
Chapter 1: The Show Begins
Disclaimer: We do not own Fullmetal Alchemist and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than needed writing practice and enjoyment.
AN: I started this fic last year with a friend of mine, Rinoaebastel and originally had it posted on here. I'm reposting it this year as a request from a reader that can't read it on the other site.
It was a cooler than usual fall night with the scent of snow in the air. People were bundled up tight in their thick coats and wool scarves as they made their way to their destinations, but the people in Central City Stardust Arena were anything but cold. The hottest concert in the country was upon its last show of the year. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that most people in the city were there or wanted to be there.
Soon, the sound lowered and with the final song, the concert ended, sending people from the warmth and excitement of the arena into the cold dullness of the outdoors.
The cheers were deafening as singer/actress Riza Grumman stepped off the small elevator platform under the stage. She smiled as Rebecca gave her a towel to wipe the sweat from her face. The technician took off her microphone before she slipped on the dark blue robe offered to her by another stagehand.
"Fantastic show tonight, Riza," Rebecca said.
Riza sighed. "I guess."
"I hear a but coming."
"I made too many mistakes tonight," Riza said and walked past her friend.
Rebecca moved to catch up. "I don't know what you're supposed to be doing choreography wise, but you sounded great. I didn't notice any mistakes."
"There were a few."
Rebecca stopped her by gripping her by her upper arms as if she were going to shake her. "You're too hard on yourself. You were great. Believe me, I wouldn't just say that to stroke your ego." She let her hand drop. "If you had an ego."
Riza acknowledged that she was partially right. It wasn't anything noticeable or audible, but she had felt her legs moving oddly at times, and a higher than usual tension in her throat as she sang. At least the audience had been thoroughly entertained, and she'd had fun. That was her goal now.
She no longer had to prove she deserved her fame. No longer had to fight back when people said she became famous because of her grandfather. But the cruelty she suffered as a rookie singer still lingered and that made her more of a perfectionist than what was healthy.
"You're right, I know that," she said as they continued towards her dressing room.
On the way, her bodyguard, Alex Armstrong, fell into step beside her. They were safe in the secured area, but Alex always went above and beyond what his job was. She understood that aspect of him and appreciated it.
"Wonderful show," he said. "Your songs remind me of the ancient songs of the Armstrong line. Displaying life's trials but ultimately glorifying and glorying in one's triumph."
Riza bit back a laugh at how poetic he sounded. "I can't think of a more flattering compliment, thank you, Armstrong." Though some might mean that as sarcastic, she was genuine in her gratitude. His heritage meant the world to him, so to compare songs she'd written to that was the highest praise he could give.
He stopped at her dressing room and searched inside first, before stepping out and allowing her to enter. As soon as the door shut, she kicked off her Banolo Mlahniks and flopped down on a chair in front of the mirror.
"What's left on my schedule for tonight? I want to get it over with so I can crawl into bed and sleep for a year." Riza took off her earrings and placed them carefully in the black velvet case on the table.
"Maes called and asked you to meet him at the Diamont instead of going home tonight. He reserved the penthouse suite for you."
"Did he say why?"
"No, but he sounded excited."
"Hm…" She took off her necklace and began taking the pins out of her hair before Maria got there to do it. "When Maes is excited, it usually doesn't bode well for the breaks in my schedule."
"Is that hope I hear in your voice"
Riza paused in her actions. "Whatever do you mean?"
Rebecca sat down on the couch situated against a wall. "Don't try to pull that ignorance act with me," she said and laughed. "Christmas is coming up."
"Maybe I can record a quick Christmas album and use promoting it as an excuse not to show at the gathering. There are plenty of Christmas songs I haven't covered yet."
"It would be a backup if what Maes has doesn't interfere with it," Rebecca said. "If it's work, he'll be your savior from your family."
Riza leaned back, ran her hands through her bangs, and groaned. "And here I was trying to avoid talk of family."
"Why don't you just tell them you aren't coming," Rebecca said.
"I would if it weren't for my grandfather. He's been trying to patch the family back together for years. Stubborn man." She slouched. "Make sure not to insert any obligations for the next few weeks leading up to the new year. Not until I decide what I'm going to do."
"Right," she said. Rebecca removed her tablet from her bag, swiped the screen a few times, and returned it to its proper place just as someone knocked on the dressing room door.
Her personal stylist, Maria Ross, entered with a garment bag and a small case. "I'm sorry I'm late," she said. "There are reporters around the arena, and the outfit wasn't ready yet."
"It's fine," Riza said. "I'll take off my makeup at the hotel since I'm not going home. Be sure to drop by in the morning. I'm staying at the Diamont."
Maria walked into an adjoining room and returned without the garment bag. "You were looking forward to going home."
"Maes called. I figure he has some extra work for me." Though she sounded as if it were a burden, she was exceedingly grateful for the work. She'd chosen to become a singer and actress despite most people she knew trying to talk her out of it. Her success was a slap in the face to all of them, and she quietly relished it.
From the moment she'd met Maes, he threw himself behind her wholeheartedly and he was instrumental in her rise to where she was now.
"You're going to tire yourself out," Maria said as she ran a comb through Riza's hair. She gathered it up into a messy bun. "But maybe you can avoid your family this year."
Riza stood and walked into the other room. "Rebecca brought that up too. I wouldn't count on that. I'm not that lucky."
"Well, to move on to happier news," Maria said. "Congratulations!"
"For?" Riza asked, her voice echoing from the other room.
"You broke Metube records. You have the most views in a week for your latest music video and you're trending on Growler. People on DingDong are all doing dances to your songs."
Riza froze in her actions. She'd never put much effort into social media or video sites. She had staff to do all of that. It was exciting to hear that the demographic using those were interested and enjoyed her music. Her albums were selling more than ever and she knew social media was likely the reason.
Though her career was annoying, exhausting, and stressful a lot of the time, she put her heart and soul into her music. To know people sought it out meant a lot.
"That's great news," Riza said. She tied her polka-dot scarf around her neck and buckled the belt on her black Rucci coat. She grabbed the wide-brimmed hat that came with it and walked into the room where Maria and Rebecca were waiting, her high-heeled knee boots clicking on the faded white tile. She perched the hat on her head as Maria approached her with some lipstick to touch up what was already there.
"Look good?" Riza asked when Maria finished. She wished sometimes she could go out looking like she crawled out of bed, but part of the fame was being concerned about one's appearance.
"Yes," Maria said.
Riza walked over to the dressing room door and opened it. "Enjoy your evening," Riza said as she exited. Armstrong pushed away from the wall and faced her. "Is my car ready?"
"It's waiting. Reporters and photographers are outside. We'll have to go through them," he said.
"You've been told we're heading to the Diamont?"
"Yes," he replied as they approached the exit. He groaned. "This place needs an underground garage. It would be much safer that way."
"Why don't you write them a sternly worded letter?" she asked.
"I just might do that. Or I could go directly to the owners and operators. After all, security has been passed down the Armstrong line for generations."
She acknowledged the truth in the statement with a small noise of affirmation. Armstrong security was the best security company in the world. If they said something was a risk then companies listened to them. It wouldn't be good for other celebrities to get wind of an arena being lax on security. That meant less income for the venue.
Armstrong opened the door and stepped through first to shield Riza from any danger that might present itself.
She took a deep breath and then stepped into an environment filled with flashing lights and yelled questions.
AN: Riza will probably not be the exact Riza you all know from the anime/manga of course since this is an AU and she had different life experience, but they'll definitely be traces of her here. I hope you enjoyed this and the next chapter will come tomorrow.
RW:2022
