Chapter 3
The theatre was old but it was classy and fitted with the modern equipment to make a good production a great one. Eva looked at the stage. It had taken weeks but they finally had everything set for a good ten nights full of shows and tonight was opening night. That meant the pre-show and after show parties.
It was a gimmick to promote sales and revenue for the production. The idea was to cater to the patrons that they would maybe want to see another showing. There was also the publicity for the city. After all a showing of Phantom of the Opera usually was good publicity since it was pretty popular and considered very high class. Eva saw the benefits of that but she wasn't sure about the expense that went into it.
It was a last minute donation that gave extra money to the production and the promotional party. It pleased the promoters and the ones who wanted to put the production on in the first place. It made Eva relax a little now that a little bit of the pressure was off and she could focus on the production and doing the job she was hired to do and that was direct.
She wandered backstage to do a last minute check on the props. Everyone else was going about doing their business to make sure everything was ready. Eva went to the closet and opened it to look and see if everything was in order but didn't touch since she knew that Larry, the prop master, didn't like anyone touching the props unless they had express permission. They did have a working agreement that she would look but not touch and she had kept it ever since she stepped into the director's role after the last one.
She was in the middle of making sure they had the right mask when a noise caught her attention. She turned to look and flashed her pen light around. "Hello?"
There was no response but there was a lot of noise coming from other members of the crew. Frowning, Eva turned and went back to her inspection, not looking forward to the grumbling she was going to get from her Phantom. He was worse than the diva from their last production but beggars couldn't be choosers with this troupe.
Sighing she remembered her days growing up in the theatre. Her parents had been actors with this troupe and she grew up learning the craft and worked her way through the ranks to actually running the show. She had a few bit roles since she was decent enough to be an extra but she really didn't think she could be a star on the stage and she had no desire to be a star on the stage. She liked the behind the scenes and making it work. She saw it as a challenge every time they made a production that called for something that had elements that would be impossible in real life.
Eva really needed this week to work to bring the troupe out of its slump. She didn't want to fire the people that had been family but after what had been happening… Things just needed to go right. The last minute donor really helped out and for their donation, she made sure they got the box seat for opening night. She wasn't sure if they were going to the opening night party but she would be happy to meet them and thank them.
She finished the mask when she heard another noise and she spun on her heel. She shone her light around and saw what looked like a strap swinging. She closed the prop closet and walked towards the strap. She saw that it was from one of the reinforcement straps. She checked around and noticed that everything was in its place. Frowning, she took the strap and went to put it with the equipment storage.
When she found it, Eva frowned since everything was there. She looked at the strap in her hand and wondered where the hell it came from. Another noise sounded and she shone her light around. If this was a prank, it was in very poor taste. Not to mention it was dangerous to do so since there was equipment that could kill you if used improperly. She walked around, shining her light when another thump caught her attention.
"Hey, no one should be messing around here. None of that quickie shit," Eva called into the darkness.
She was well aware of the penchant for the troupe members who had an interest to make out or have sex in the dark recesses of the stage. That was the first thing they learned instead of lines whenever they found a new venue. Eva could remember the few times she had stumbled across such things when she was growing up. Luckily it was when she was older and could understand the nuances of sex and all that.
More noise sounded and Eva thought she heard a childish giggle. It was one of those creepy giggles like from those nasty horror movies. She really was going to get on Joker's case about this since she did not need this right now. Growling she warned, "You better stop or there will be consequences and I don't care that it's opening night. You all know the rules." She moved her penlight around to check as she moved forward.
She had just rounded the corner that led to where the costumes were kept and she started to notice that there was a lack of people around that should be and it was starting to make her nervous. She made a turn when all of a sudden her Phantom's mask jumped out at her with a yel. She screeched and jumped back but not before taking a swipe with her penlight. What followed was a grunt mixed in with laughter. "Sonofabitch, Joker. You fucking ass."
Joker, as he was called the troupe for his incessant need to play pranks, laughed as he pulled the mask off. He saw the look on Eva's face and pouted, "Aw come on Evy. Admit it I got you."
Eva gave Joker a punch to the chest. "It's not funny you jerk." She looked at the mask in Joker's hand and pointed at it, "That better not be the actual mask Charles wears. You know what drama queen he is and he can tell if someone else is wearing it."
"Relax Evy," Joker replied with a smirk and casual wave. He held up his mask and tossed it to her. "That is a replica I made. You know I have been working with the prop master and working on my skills. That's just one of them."
Eva glared but it was spoiled by the faint smile that was starting to erupt. She looked at the mask and then at Joker and sighed. It was a good replica of the prop. Shaking her head, she sighed, "Joker, as much as it's fun to joke around with cast and everyone in the troupe and we hire locally, I really can't have it. Not tonight."
"Are you letting the suits worry you about the party?"
"You know we've had problems the last few towns we were in," Eva replied in a low tone. She didn't want to speak of bad news. It could bring bad luck to the performance and they didn't need that. "Everything needs to go right." She looked at some rigging that was set in the distance.
"Hey," Joker replied fingering her chin gently, "Everything's gonna be okay. Don't worry about it. Even the drama queen knows what's on the line and he'll behave. That I may have mentioned a few choice mishaps that could happen…"
"You idiot."
Joker chuckle, pleased that he got Eva smiling. "It's what I am but at least my plans work." He looked around and shrugged his shoulders. He looked back at her and grinned, "Anyway, it'll be fine. I know the last minute donor helped and you went all out for them for tonight."
"Well it's not just any donor. It's… you know who." Eva leaned in and whispered the last part. She hadn't informed the troupe about the last minute donor's identity. That would just make them giddy and nothing would get done. Some of the older members had fond memories and their stories could take ages if you let them. In fact Uncle Henry's story about one time in Tulsa went through an entire performance. It was a wonder anyone got anything done and the performance didn't collapse on them.
"Oh." Joker got a knowing look on his face. "One of those. Well I will promise to be on my best behavior during the performance."
"And the parties," Eva added, knowing that he would try something if no one said anything.
"Alright. I promise t not do anything overly absurd or crazy. I will be a gentlemen should the guest happen to meet me." With a smirk he gave her a salute and took his mask and disappeared to go do what he had to do.
Eva sighed with a smile and shook her head. Without Joker, she'd be a very boring person indeed. She was still smiling when she went back to the lobby of the theatre after checking on everything and gave one last look around. She decided to peek in the VIP room where the pre-show and after show party were going to be held.
Everything was in its place and she felt proud of herself for being able to plan on a budget. Even though they had a generous donation, she didn't want to spend it all. Sometimes things happened and living with this troupe all her life, she had seen everything from sudden quittings to torn costumes, damaged props… you had to have a contingency. She knew how to shop to give the impression that it was extravagant enough without going crazy.
Eva looked and spotted a banner that was crooked and made to fix it. She smiled to herself as she thought about the person that was coming to see it. According to Uncle Henry and a few others, this person was a star in their day and not stuck up about it. Almost every year they came to see at least one performance if it was possible. Her parents told her stories about one time this guest actually filled in when their lead actor suddenly got sick. And it was a male role too. A paragon pretty much and while it was nice to see the troupe happy, she wasn't sure about it. She would be polite though.
She was almost finished when she heard a fairly booming voice enter the room, "Ah there you are."
Eva turned to see the man who made it possible for the troupe to perform there in Sioux City. She liked him enough that he supported the arts but from what she had heard and seen, he could be a little pompous and had that sense of entitlement. She really had to play diplomat when he tried to interfere with production. Smiling she replied, "Just last minute fixings, Mr. Korbin."
"Easing the nerves I see," Mr. Korbin replied as he walked further into the room to join her. He adjusted his suit jacket as he studied what Eva was doing and continued, "You've done a fine job Eva."
"Well, the night hasn't even begun yet," Eva countered as she finished. She turned to look at the six foot man that was considered one of the influential people in Sioux City. He was a patron of the arts and was responsible for renovating the theatre they were performing at. There was also the gallery and other projects that reflected the arts. Eva knew this which was why she was the one playing nice. He was their backer but she had some freedom and could be candid with him at times. "I prefer to celebrate when the night is over. What I see from the guests usually tells me."
"Very practical," Korbin replied as he used his forefinger to smooth out the mustache that made him look like a baron rather than a business tycoon. "You are very diplomatic and practical."
"You kind of have to be."
Korbin hummed a bit and looked at the room. Finally he looked at Eva and continued, "Miss Eva, I don't need to remind you how much rides on tonight. It will set the tone for the week and I am sure you are well aware of your troupe's reputation…"
Evan didn't need reminding. With the bad press it was sheer luck and mercy that that they had this venue. It was the one trump card that Korbin held that prevented her from fully speaking her mind and what kept the others in check when they were in his presence. She nodded and smiled, "I know and I have a good feeling about tonight."
Korbin nodded. This was a good time to bring up what he wanted. "I know that you made arrangements for the last minute donor and benefactor but I really want you to give them the five star treatment."
Eva nodded at that knowing that was not what their guest of honor would want. Hell it took her mad skills at a computer with the online ticket buying to determine who it was. Still she would just nodded and make everyone happy. "Of course. But I should remind you that direct acknowledgment in front of others might not be the best thing."
"Nonsense."
Eva said nothing more as she followed Korbin out. She had warned him. She only hoped that his insistence wouldn't let everything crash and burn.
"How much longer Angie?"
"As long as it takes," came the muffled reply.
Dean rolled his eyes as he went back to sit on the really plushy and fancy chair in the waiting area of the dressing room. He felt really out of place since everything was pristine, clean and screamed of money. He looked at a the wall a noticed the dress hanging on it and eyed it wondering how in the hell a woman was supposed to look good in that. "I don't know why I'm here. I'm not the one going."
"Because I asked," Angela replied as she opened the door and revealed her person. She gestured at her body, asking for his opinion.
Dean took a look and while it was a good dress, it not the kind that said wow. He got the feeling that she wanted to dress to impress and not necessarily the people at the theatre. Though why she wanted him there was something yet to be revealed. He shook his head and said, "Nah." He paused and then waited until she went back into the dressing room. "But seriously Angie, why me? I mean you know Hale is here and she'd be more than happy to…"
"Because Hale doesn't know I'm coming and to be honest, she and I are being polite."
Dean heard the rustle of material and saw the dress get pitched over the door. An attendant came and took it like that. He checked out the clerk and turned his attention back to the door. "Being polite?"
"It's a lot to deal and she's a bit mad at me."
"You're lucky then. If she were pissed…"
"I'd literally have a fire under my ass." There was some rustling and a click as a hanger was being hung on one of the knobs.
Dean chuckled at that and heard her chuckle with him. He knew that it wasn't like that with them. "So… you've been spying on her."
"Please. We talk, just not in person." There was a sigh and then, "She just needs time to process what happened and she is mad at me. It had something to do with lying about how I was feeling during our training session."
Dean waited until she came out with another dress on. He really didn't like it on her and he was certain Sam wasn't going to like it either. He gave her a thumbs down. "She wouldn't be that mad with you, would she?"
"What do you think?" Angela looked at Dean as she opened the door to go back in.
"I know she has a temper but…" Dean adjusted himself in his seat. "You are okay, right Angie?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"She was upset because at the time I was pretending nothing was wrong when in fact I couldn't do what Lord Shiva taught me as well as I did before. She got me a couple of times and it stung." Angela opened the door and stepped out with number three. "So?"
That one was good but it didn't sparkle. Dean shook his head and frowned like she was nuts, "Please."
Angela made a slight sound and went back in. There was one more dress to try on. She started removing the other and stared at herself in the mirror. "Haley just needs to be mad at me. And… she might be mad at you."
"Me? What did I do?" Dean looked at the door as if he expected her to see his face. There were a lot of things she would be mad at him for but nothing came to mind at the moment.
"Adam."
Dean was quiet for a moment. Yeah that would piss Haley off. She had come to give help when he was at his lowest and going lower since he didn't believe in his brother. He had as much as admitted that to Sam; he didn't believe that Sam could hold out against the devil. Yet his brother saying that he had faith that he would do what was right… it was humbling in that respect and Dean couldn't fail to hear the self-derision that was unspoken about how Sam viewed himself. Haley came to help him out and she even said that they could do it. "Oh."
"It was a bad time for us all."
Dean made a slight face at that. There she was, his girl, doing it again and trying to make things better. "Yeah but I should have remembered. And how did she find out?"
"Not from me but she is a juju princess."
Dean made a noise at that and nodded in agreement. He did ask Haley how she was able to find him and she just smiled and was coy about it. He did think that there was one of those weird sisterhood things going on between both his girls and if he tried to interfere, he was going to crash and burn. "Right. She knows a thing or two," he agreed. "But she'll come around."
"I know. She's mad at you but she made sure that I knew where she was going to be. So she's not that mad."
Dean chuckled at that and shifted to find one of the clerks looking at him. He flashed one of his flirty smiles and she walked away. It wasn't exactly snobbish but he knew that he was not the type of clientele that they usually had. They were only tolerating him because of Angela. He shifted to look at the door of the dressing room and heard that was quiet. "You okay in there Angie?"
"I'm okay. Just adjusting something."
"Need a hand?"
"I'm good."
"Are you sure?" Dean had gotten up and walked towards the dressing room door. He stood within a respectable distance and so he wouldn't get hit with the door when she opened it. "I mean, running interference?"
"No."
"Okay. So… how are things with you and Sam?"
"Being direct now?"
Dean sighed at that and retorted more under his breath, "I'm being a nosy bitch, alright."
The giggle was unexpected and Dena wondered if something was wrong since the only time he heard his girl giggle was when she was a little girl. The grown up version was unheard of and he didn't know what to make of it. He shuffled a bit on his feet before leaning towards the door slightly and asked, "Something I said."
"Definitely." The giggle calmed into a gentle breath. Then came a sigh and then, "I… I don't know how things are. I mean… you both know about what Zachariah said. About me and what I still have in the backup file."
"And you're worried about what Sam thinks?"
There was a slight rustle and then, "Maybe a little. I mean… I basically told you guys what my intention was."
"Nothing more than what I was going to do. I mean… you were willing to take the fall for me and be Michael's bitch."
The door opened slightly to reveal Angela's face. She peered at Dean and replied, "But you did the right thing and didn't say yes. And I know you meant more when you said that you didn't want to let Sam down."
"Well I didn't want to let you down either. I mean… I was ready to give in and yet even with you giving me that icy glare of yours… you still believed that I wouldn't say yes." Dean shuffled a bit uncomfortably on his feet. "Thanks for that."
"There are different kinds of strength," Angela replied with a smile. "Takes a while for us to figure out exactly what it is and sometimes we don't at all."
"You saying I did?"
"That and I haven't."
Dean was going to say something but she opened the door to reveal the last dress that the clerks had pretty much picked out for her once she described her tastes and what it was for. He couldn't understand why she just didn't use a dress she had; they could have easily swung by Bobby's but she had to say that she always bought a new one when she went to go see this group's performance. When he saw her though, any complaints flew out the window. He stood there looking at her and adjusted his stance. That was definitely the one and he let his appreciation show.
"Really?" Angela couldn't help but give a smile at the way Dean was standing and looking at her. It made her feel better about wearing a dress.
Dean realized what he was doing and cleared his throat, "Uh yeah. That's the one."
Angela grinned and turned to change to her regular clothes. She couldn't help but tease him, "I figured given the way you were ogling me. Happy thoughts?"
Dean scowled at the door, "You know that's not what it is."
"I know. I just like teasing you." Angela came out with the dress on the hangar and indicated to the clerk that it was the one she wanted. She looked at Dean and added, "Cause you're like a brother to me. And one that is fun to play with."
"Tell me about it." Dean gestured at the dress and asked, "That it? You done with your traditional shopping for a dress for some play?"
"Yeah," Angela replied with a nod.
It wasn't until they were outside the place and Dean felt like he could be himself instead of minding his manners that he said, "Sam'll like it but I think he'll like you in anything."
Angela felt her cheeks flush at that but was quiet as she put the dress box in the back seat like it was a valuable painting. She really did want to impress Sam a bit but she also was going to the theatre and while she had lived centuries, she still dressed for such things. At the moment she was being called out on the former. Still blushing she looked at Dean and got into the Impala.
Dean made a face at that and gestured at the sky before heading to the driver's side. She really needed to lighten up. He got in and was going to start the engine when he heard her say in a low tone her thanks for going with her. He smiled and replied, "No problem. It's not every day that I get to go with the most gorgeous healer on the planet on her traditional need a new dress for the theatre."
"Don't forget the shoes."
"Seriously?"
A/N: Looks like things are getting ready for opening night and Angie is dress shopping with Dean. Stay tuned for next time...
