Lights! Camera! Christmas!
Author: Rinoaebastel and MoonStarDutchess
Chapter 3: At the Diamont…
Disclaimer: We do not own Fullmetal Alchemist and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than needed writing practice and enjoyment.
Riza leaned back against the heated leather seats in her limo and sighed. "When you said reporters and photographers were outside, I didn't expect that many," she said as soon as Armstrong got into the limo and shut the door. He sat across from her just as the limo pulled out, her driver carefully navigating through the reporters and news vans outside the venue.
She let her head fall against the headrest and sighed again. As her adrenaline faded, exhaustion began creeping into her body. She wondered if Maes knew she'd be fatigued and arranged the hotel for her intentionally. She'd been looking forward to going to her house that evening and staying for a while. One night wouldn't ruin her plans and she'd be better rested. Right now, she definitely didn't feel like enduring an hour-long car ride to her home. The hotel was only twenty-minutes away from the arena. Maybe she'd even rent a car tomorrow morning and drive home herself if she didn't have more work.
In early November, she'd harbored a foolish hope that she'd be able to spend all of December at her house, but her grandfather's invite had squashed that. It wasn't that she hadn't expected it since the "family" get-together happened every year. She'd just hoped she could avoid it, so she could feign not knowing it was happening this year. Her grandfather had been busy with the company after all.
He never gave her any reason to think that she couldn't say no to the get together, but he'd always had such hope in his expression and voice. She never had it in her heart to say she wanted to spend it at home. There were times she'd been tempted to ask if it could just be the two of them and her younger sister, but never had. He always invited her parents and sisters first and then told her about it.
"Your accomplishments are front page news," Armstrong said.
It took her a moment to realize he was responding to her earlier comment. She structured her thoughts back to the present. "I figured they wouldn't assemble that quickly. Though, I guess I'm a good money maker for them."
"Maes has probably gotten a lot of requests for interviews and performances now," he said.
"That could be the case. My next performance isn't supposed to be until New Year's Eve in Central City."
He smirked. "But you wouldn't mind it."
"I mean two or three performances and interviews wouldn't interfere too much with the holidays."
"As if you care about that," he said.
She let out a chuckle. She didn't care about working, but she didn't want her staff spending Christmas away from their families just so she could avoid most of hers. "Unfortunately, I think I told Maes that I didn't want any more performances this year and not to schedule them. I can't remember."
"You've told Maes," Armstrong said. "Maes." His tone sounded as if her statement was one of the dumbest things he'd ever heard her say.
She laughed again, this time loudly. "Point taken," she said.
-/-/-
There weren't any reporters surrounding the hotel, but the driver still went around the back and into the underground parking garage so she could take the private entrance. Though the reporters didn't know she was going to the hotel, there was always one lingering in the lobby. She didn't feel like dealing with them anymore that night. She'd stayed at the hotel enough times that Armstrong only had to make a brief call and the area was opened for her.
Once the car was parked, they got out and walked to the elevator that led to the lobby. When they were on the proper floor, Armstrong moved to the front desk to get her keycard as she walked over to the main elevator that would take her to her suite.
The hotel clerk didn't hand anything over, but words were exchanged and soon they were on the top floor. As soon as they arrived at the door to her room, it opened and Maes engulfed her in a hug, easily lifting her off her feet. "Congratulations!"
Maes was single-handedly the most affectionate person she knew. It'd been odd at first, but the more she worked with him the more she grew used to, and almost welcomed, the friendliness. Sometimes the guy was so happy it wouldn't surprise her if he farted glitter and shat rainbows someday.
"Thank you, Maes," she said when he pulled away from her. He moved to the side and let her in.
"There's a guest here to see you," he said.
Riza stepped farther into the room. Her little sister was sitting on the couch, sipping from a cup and looking down at the coffee table. On the table were several dozen photos of Maes's girlfriend, Gracia.
"What are you doing here?" Riza hadn't meant to sound unwelcoming, but she hadn't seen her sister in a long time.
Martina looked up and smiled. "I came to see you."
"She was found waiting outside the gate to your house. Security was about to escort her off the premises, but they called me when one of the guards recognized her as your sister."
Martina stood and moved over to hug Riza. When she pulled away she said, "Maes was kind enough to pick me up and bring me here." Her face turned serious. "Is it really necessary for you to have that kind of security around you? I'd have an easier time approaching the fuehrer holding an AK-47."
"Obsessive fans can be just as dangerous as assassins in some ways," Maes said before going into the next room.
"You've been in danger?" Martina asked.
Riza shook her head. Though she had no negative interactions with fans like other celebrities she knew, she wasn't going to take any chances. She walked over to the bar where a bottle of red wine and some glasses were already set up. She popped the cork and poured herself a generous amount, motioning to the glass to wordlessly inquire whether Martina wanted one.
"No. I have tea," Martina said.
They went over to the couch and sat down. "Why were you at my house? I mean, you're welcome to stay there anytime you want, but aren't you supposed to be staying with our parents?"
"Lauren came to stay with them for a few nights, and she made me lose my temper. I didn't feel like putting up with her. I was going to go spend some time at grandpa's house, but then I decided I wanted to see you instead."
"You should've texted me. I would've had Maes arrange things before you got there."
"You probably would've been on stage," she said.
"Don't you have Rebecca's number? You could've messaged her. She would've told you where to go."
Martina smiled sheepishly. "I didn't think of it. I was too pissed off."
Riza leaned back and let go of the tension of the day. "So, Lauren is still acting like a brat?"
"You're surprised?" Martina asked.
"Not really. I don't think she'll ever get over whatever issue she has with me."
"Dad didn't say anything to her. I guess he's leaving it up to us to deal with. He keeps saying we're adults and we're responsible. But if that's his excuse then he should treat us like adults all the time, not just when we argue. And when he does take a side, he takes Lauren's against you. "
Riza nodded at the obvious statement. She wished she could fix his opinion of her, but her father had a set number of "worthwhile" careers stuck in his head. Entertainment careers weren't one of them. It was stupid since her dad did enjoy the occasional television show or play. She only spoke to him during Christmas every year, and those were usually surface level, and very brief, conversations.
"I was about to watch one of your videos when she turned off the television. It makes me angry that they won't listen to your music."
"I'm fine with that, Martina. I don't expect everyone to like it."
"But they won't even give it the slightest chance. Especially Lauren. She was always so supportive of you singing when we were growing up. I don't understand it."
"I've stopped trying to understand, and it's made me much happier"
"The only thing I can think of is that she's jealous. She seems very happy in life until you're brought up. Did you say or do anything to her?"
Riza shook her head and took a sip of her wine. "Nothing that I can think of."
She'd been extremely close with her older sister growing up. When she left the house and became a singer, she thought Lauren had been supportive. That turned out to be wrong. Lauren had stabbed her in the back using their childhood friend. And after her debut, she became supercilious and discouraging. When she became famous after her second single, Lauren became downright vitriolic.
"I managed to see one of your performances the other night on TV though. It was awesome," Martina said. "It's their loss."
"Maybe next time you can come and see it live."
"I'll have to hide it from dad. You know, I even have to hide those art classes I'm taking."
Riza perked upon hearing that. Martina had always been extremely talented at painting and drawing. She assumed Martina got the art genes and she got the performance ones.
That is, if genes actually worked that way. She wasn't very scientifically intelligent either, much to her father's chagrin. "I'm happy to hear you're doing something with that."
"I… I filled out for art school, Amestrian Art Academy."
"And?"
"They loved my portfolio, and I got accepted for next spring."
"That's great, I'm happy for you." Riza said.
"Riza, you know I can't go. Father wouldn't be happy and he's holding the checkbook. Just hiding the classes I have now from him has been a bitch. He says since he's paying for my school he gets a say in what I take."
"He's right I guess, but you're not using his money to pay for the classes, at least, right?"
Martina nodded. "I'm using money from the paintings I sold to pay for those classes."
"Then that part is none of his business," Riza said. She sat down her empty wine glass.
Martina flopped back on the couch. "I guess. I'm just so tired of sneaking around to do things."
"Why don't you stay with me here tonight, and tomorrow we'll go to my house? You can stay there until you make up your mind on what school to go to."
"What about Christmas? Are you coming for Christmas at grandfather's lodge?" Martina asked. "After what happened last year with Lauren and dad, I don't blame you if you don't."
Riza stared at her sister and could see the hope in her eyes. Though she was barely twenty, sometimes Riza still saw the six-year-old girl crying at the front door, yelling for her as she left their house. Yet, Martina never held a grudge for that traumatic event.
"I said I would come, so I will," Riza said. She pointed to the door at the left side. "There's an extra bedroom through there. Try to get some sleep. I still have some business I need to handle with Maes."
Martina stood, walked around the coffee table, and hugged Riza. "Thank you," she whispered before going into the room with her bag and shutting the door behind her.
Riza sighed. There had to be something she could do about all of this, to help her sister, but for the first time in a while, she felt helpless. She stood and went over to get another glass of wine, but opted for a bottle of Ginger Beer instead.
"Is your father really that much of a tyrant?" Maes asked as he stepped into the room and went over to the bar.
"Whiskey?" Riza asked.
"Yeah," Maes said. She poured him one and sat down on a stool behind the bar. Maes sat across from her.
"Tyrant is too strong of a word. He's not a terrible man at all. He's just stubborn and thinks his way is best."
"Sounds like a tyrant to me," Maes said.
A tyrant forces his way out of selfishness, my father forces his way out of concern. He can't accept happiness as a factor in careers, only monetary security. I do understand his view, that's why I got my degree just in case."
"But you're definitely monetarily secure now. It would take an act of god to make you go broke."
"Doesn't matter. I didn't earn it in one of his acceptable ways," she said. "It's stupid, but all his sternness comes out of love. I don't like it, but he's always been that way."
"I see," Maes said. "Makes sense even if it's dumb."
"So, onto more pressing matters. Why'd you want me to come here?" she asked and motioned to the photos spread out on the coffee table. "Those had better not be the reason."
"Though those would be an excellent reason," Maes said, defensively. "You've been offered a movie role."
"Seriously?" she asked.
He took a sip of his drink. "Why are you so surprised? You're considered a triple threat. You're a singer, dancer, and an actress."
"Yes, but in small films."
"You've won acting awards."
"Small-scale ones," she replied.
"Well those small ones got you enough attention to be asked to star in more movies."
"It's been a while since I've been in anything. I find it difficult to believe they would remember my small roles."
"Well, director Valerye Toopez did. This movie is going to be huge, Riza. And she wants you to star in it. It's a musical and they need a great female singer. Vocally, you rise above everyone else, so she wants you for it."
She was always willing to try new things, and to be a star in a film instead of a supporting role was a large advance in her career. "I'll consider it once I get the script and read it. I need to hear the songs as well of course."
"I have the script on your nightstand in your room right now," he said. "And…" He pushed her phone toward her. "The songs are on here."
"This is why you wanted to borrow my phone?"
"Yep."
She took her phone and flipped through the music files. "So, it's that good?"
"It's an Amestrian Acting Academy Award worthy movie. It will be a hit with both the public and the academy." Riza couldn't care less what the academy thought. She just wanted the average person to enjoy it.
"Now, what are you keeping from me," she asked as she set the phone down. She knew Maes well enough that there was a reason he told her here in comfort rather than at the venue.
With a barely there cringe coming from her manager, she understood that he was indeed keeping something from her. "Why are you so confident it's going to be a hit? Me starring in it isn't enough. I don't have a large amount of clout as an actress. "
"It will be a hit if I can get the actor she wants as your costar."
Riza leaned forward and narrowed her eyes. "And just who are you trying to get to be my costar?"
"Rofmustng" he muttered and looked away.
The hairs on her arms prickled. She didn't just…No way was he suggesting… "Maes, repeat that."
"Rfmstbgh" he said in a cough.
"Maes…"
"Okay, Roy Mustang."
"The instanramen guy?" Riza asked.
Maes turned his regard back to her. "It's Instaman, not instant ramen, and he's a top fitness model and a very talented actor. Why are you so dead set on sticking to that Instaman only label."
"Why was he set on saying I didn't work hard for my career," she snapped. "He knew nothing about me, and yet despite knowing this industry he saw fit to judge me."
Just like everyone else when she started out, he'd implied she got her career handed to her by her grandfather. It didn't take her a long time to prove she had talent, but the time it did take hadn't been easy. She'd only switched to her grandfather's company after she was well established in the industry and her old company got pushy and greedy.
"You know, I've never asked him about that. He's mentioned you offhandedly a few times, but other than that, he hasn't said anything."
"Asshole," she muttered.
"But a famous asshole. With you and his famous asshole it wil—I didn't quite word that right."
"He doesn't sing, does he?"
"Since when do you have to sing well to be in a musical? If Pisney let Emmy Datson sing in The Beauty's Beast, Roy will do fine. Actually, he's not a bad singer at all. He did musical theatre in school and took vocal lessons to improve his acting voice."
Riza chuckled at the Pisney joke. She agreed that they should've dubbed Emmy Datson's voice for that movie. She pushed that out of her mind and focused on the current matter. "I'll think about it."
"Riza, with the fame both of you have, and the drama that happened during that interview, audiences will be curious about the movie as well. Surely, you can put your dislike aside."
"My dislike of him has nothing to do with it," Riza said. She gave a soft laugh and directed a smile at him. "You know I'm more professional than to turn it down because I don't like him, but you also know I won't compromise my integrity just to have a hit movie. I refuse to use scandal to promote."
"I wouldn't expect you to. Roy is absolutely the same way," he said. "But like it or not, it will draw people."
"I suppose so," Riza said and got to her feet. "I'm going to go rest. I'll look over the script and listen to the songs before I go to sleep. Martina and I will be heading to my house tomorrow. If you need to talk to me face to face, come there."
"Will do," he said. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Maes. Be careful on your way home."
-/-/-
After a long bath, she changed into a nightgown that her staff sent to the hotel. As she brushed her hair, she found herself singing the songs she'd listened to during her bath. If the script were as good as the songs, she'd accept the role.
She put down her brush and crawled into bed, picking up the script from the bedside table to read a bit before sleeping. That bit turned into her finishing off the entire script and waiting until 2 a.m. to sink into bed to sleep.
She'd take the role, and if Mustang were smart, he'd accept the male lead. As much as it pained her to admit, they'd pair well for the film.
But just how smart was Mustang?
RW: 2022
