Chapter 11: Brawling Girl Style
"This is going to be fun," Misaki said as Erika was doing the final touches of makeup. "We've been practicing on mats, now I'll actually be crashing into hard things."
"I'll try and be gentle," Vivian said, smiling with her eyes closed so her eyeliner could be done.
"Have you seen the set yet?" Misaki asked.
"Just when we went to test out the town," Vivian replied. "I haven't seen the final touches of the Rider village."
"They've spent days getting it perfect," Misaki told her. "Benedict is always walking around with a binder in his hands."
"The sets are amazing," Vivian agreed.
They had barely scratched the surface of this movie but it was already exhilarating. For example, the Rider village they were going to see; it seemed like overnight this thriving village just popped out of nowhere. Huts were constructed, and so were stables as well as a town square... Plus all the extras were going to be back. Misaki saw them last time in the studio but now they were filming outside.
"Calling all cast on set!" someone yelled through a bullhorn. "All cast on set! Filming starts in five!"
Subaru straightened out Misaki's costume. It wasn't her winter costume yet. It was just a plain white cotton dress, a night gown but in a sturdier cut.
Sweatshirt and yoga pants on, they all walked out of the trailers and into village. They weren't at the main trailers anymore but farther into the wild with a new set up.
"I need Marina!" Benedict bellowed.
"Right here!" Misaki said, rushing over.
"I don't know..." he mumbled to himself.
Misaki patiently waited.
"Regina!" he yelled.
"Yes?" Regina asked, walking over with several thick binders. "What do you want to see? Story board? Script?"
"Give me..." Benedict said, holding out his hand. "Story board," he decided.
Regina handed it over. Benedict was slightly pacified when he discovered she had already booked marked the page he had wanted.
"Hmm..." he said. Benedict pulled out his walkie talkie. "I want crew at house 5."
"Are we keeping that story board?" Regina asked.
"For now..." Benedict said. "I want you to do the towns people directing," he said, placing the binder into her hands like a blessing. "Make it perfect."
Usually on set, Regina and a few other directors took care of the extra shots while Benedict personally over saw the drama shots.
"Marina is lying to bed," Benedict mused. He snapped his fingers. "A dream," he said. "YES!" he said to no one in particular. "A dream! A nightmare. I want flames, I want fear... Oh yes!"
Benedict produced a worn notebook out of nowhere and sat himself down at the set table and began writing. Everyone else did their best to keep silent.
"Perfect," Benedict said. "A vision..." He picked up his walkie-talkie again. "I need illustrator, story board director, and..."
He went on to list the people he wanted to see. After he was done he looked around, a little confused.
"Uhh... Take five everyone!" he yelled. "Good work."
No one had done anything but went back to their business anyways. Misaki rushed back into her trailer to escape the coldness. Someone opened her trailer door.
"It is freezing here!" Honoka exclaimed.
"Honoka!"
Boy, was Misaki glad to see her manager.
"How's it been?" Honoka asked, dropping a duffle on the trailer floor.
"Amazing," Misaki said. "You should see the level of detail in the sets."
"I'll see them later," Honoka said, warming her hands by the heater. "I have everything taken care of in LA," she informed Misaki. "As soon as you get a break, we have to go back. Everyone wants to hear from you. Plus, you won't believe you wants you to be the face of their new campaign."
"Who?"
"Cover girl!" Honoka exclaimed. "You'll be on the cover of their newest edition as well as be the spokesperson in their commercial."
"Oh," Misaki said, surprised. "But I'm not a model..."
"No one cares," Honoka said. "Cover girl has a ton of stars on their cover. They said you'd be perfect for their new cream eyeshadow product. Those big eyes of yours are gorgeous."
"Thanks..." Misaki said, looking down at her hands.
Honoka patted her shoulder. "Don't worry," she said. "It's just one of those things that come with fame."
Misaki nodded, patting Honoka's hand. "I know," she said. "I don't mind," she reassured Honoka. "This," she said, gesturing to everything. "Is worth it."
Honoka smiled. "You just love acting, don't you?"
Misaki cracked a smile too. "Which is why I belong here."
"Misaki!" someone said, knocking on her trailer door. "Benedict wants you on set now."
"Coming!" Misaki called, getting up from the chair. "Time to go," she said, grabbing her blanket just in case there was more waiting.
"Okay," Benedict said as everyone got set up again. "Start from the time when Marina is waking up in the village. Derek and the Riders have just brought her back unconscious from the forest. I decided to add something. Marina's been having a nightmare and that's how she wakes up. Understand?"
Misaki nodded and climbed into the straw filled mattress. She laid down and pulled the worn blanket over herself. Erika hurried over with a brush and cup of water. Misaki closed her eyes as Erika dotting her forehead with water to look like sweat.
"Lights," Benedict called, waving them closer. "Cameras…action!"
Misaki clutched the blanket in one hand and laid very stiffly on the mattress. She scrunched up her brow and let out soft gasps.
"Wake up now," Benedict instructed.
Misaki gasped, eyes flying open and clutched at her throat, sitting up. Her eyes slowly scanned the room, her breathing was still ragged. Benedict motioned for her to get up and so Misaki gingerly peeled back the blanket. She looked down and slowly slid on the shoes by the bed. Her fingers felt around her neck but when nothing was there, her eye's widened. Misaki quickly felt around herself for the necklace and then checked under the pillow and blankets.
"Cut," Benedict said. "Go get Christine," he said, waving off a crew member. "The next shot is of Marina walking outside. Ready? Action!"
There was a faded blue wrap on a stool which Misaki first put on and then slowly walked to the door, looking around. The scene ended when she pushed open the door. They cut and then the entire crew moved to the other side of the house to film Misaki walking outside.
The elderly woman who played Christine seemed nice enough. She was dressed in a villager fashion with a knitted headscarf for warmth.
"Action!"
Christine looked up from her garden. "Oh my," she said, standing up and dusting her hands on her apron. "You shouldn't be up, child," she said in a very motherly way. "Hurry back inside," she coaxed. "You'll freeze to death in this weather."
Misaki was actually cold in her thin costume. "Where am I…?" she asked in a small voice.
Christine smiled. "Welcome to our village," she said, walking over. "We're deep in the forest out of the King's sight. You'll be safe here. The Riders found you in the forest. What were you doing there, child?"
"Who are the Riders?" Misaki asked.
A horse neighed.
"Them," Christine said, proudly pointing off somewhere.
"Cut!"
They quickly filmed a scene of three Riders riding back into town. They elegantly slid off their horses and handed the reins to the stable boy. Their costumes all had an edgy medieval feel to them while the villagers' were more traditional. The female Riders wore sturdy leggings under their knee length skirts with lace up boots to their knees. Most of them wore velvet cloaks in shades of green and brown.
"What do they do?" Misaki asked, in awe.
"I will tell you the story another time," Christine said, ushering her back inside. Once inside, she handed Misaki a steaming drink. "Tell me your name, child," she said, sitting down in a chair.
"Marina Cleo," Misaki replied.
"Where are you from?"
"By the forest edge," Misaki explained. "The soldiers…they intruded into my home and my mother had me run."
"What were they after?"
"They…" Misaki paused. "They were killing everyone at the age of sixteen," she finally said.
"Sixteen…" Christine breathed. "I see. I will be back, Marina," she said. "I must speak with the Riders," she said more to herself.
"Wait," Misaki said, standing up. "Where exactly am I?"
Christine gave her a small smile. "Welcome to the rebel base, Marina."
"Cut!" Benedict said, rising from his chair. "I want to do a quick scene before I want to do the scene between Marina and Cypress."
The scene was a simple one. Misaki sat before a cracked mirror as Christine brushed her hair. This time she was dressed in a full winter outfit with fur trim and warm boots.
"You'll be safe here," Christine said as her cheerful self. "Derek says he would like to speak with you later."
"Who is that?"
"Derek Faramir? He's second in command here at the village. He's the one who brought you back on his horse."
"Oh…" Misaki said.
"Come out when you're ready," Christine said, walking away.
Misaki looked at herself in the mirror. "When will I ever be ready…?"
The "brawl" scene was set up in a tavern like building that was used to conduct meetings. Basically, Marina tries to help with the plans but Cypress tells her off. Marina, determined to stand up for herself, gets humiliated by Cypress.
"This shouldn't hurt," Regina said, weighing a log in her hand. "They're hollow and fake."
"Comforting," Misaki said, smiling.
"Is everything ready?" Benedict asked.
"Yes," Regina agreed. "Would you like to look at the set one more time? Everyone in position," Regina ordered.
All the actors and actresses stood in position. Several Riders and townspeople sat around the tables where Vivian and Misaki were standing.
"Hmm…" Benedict said, studying everyone. "You," he said, pointing to a townsperson. "Turn your chair at more of an angle."
Benedict studied everyone again and snapped his fingers. "Where's Cypress's earrings?! These are not the ones I picked out!"
Everyone looked at Vivian's ears. They looked like the pair she always wore. They were dangling arrow heads with a thin chain that connected it to the cartilage piercing on the left ear.
The jewelry director hurried over. "What do you mean?" he asked. "These were the exact ones she always wore."
Benedict studied them. "Well, I don't like them anymore. Do you have any different ones?"
"Of course," he said. "It's in the prop trailer. Should I go get them?"
"That would be lovely," Regina cut in. "Quickly though."
Misaki sipped her tea through a straw as everyone waited. The jewelry director finally came back with a small chest. He and Benedict poked around in it. Vivian stood beside them as Benedict held up each one up in the light.
"How many piercings do you have?" Benedict asked Vivian.
"One cartilage and second holes."
"Perfect," Benedict said, handing her makeup artist a pair of metal circle earrings with carvings on the rim. Her left ear had a bronze arrow head stud. "Much better," he decided after they all got into position again.
This made Misaki interested. Benedict paid attention to every single little detail. Even something as simple as what earrings Vivian wore didn't escape his examination.
"Okay, start when Marina said explaining the plan. Ready? Action!"
"Look," Misaki said, smoothing the worn paper out on the table. "If we meet them head on by the hills, we have the upper ground. If we position the army like this," Misaki said, sketching out a plan on the paper. "We can swoop in from upper ground and weed them out. Then, we take an army and make for the castle."
Vivian rolled her eyes. "That's a wonderful plan," she said, sarcastically. "If we even had half as many men needed for that."
"We can form alliances," Misaki suggested, looking around at everyone. "The King has closed off trade with the other kingdoms. I'm sure if we can provide a strong enough force, they will join in on our side."
Some people were nodding and murmuring in agreement. Misaki's smile, however, was cut off by Vivian scoff.
"If you don't know anything about warfare, don't speak," she said, annoyed. "Don't listen to her," she said, walking around looking at everyone. "Alliances aren't that simple. Once King Eowen fell, who came to our aid?! No one! We have to depend on ourselves. It's not that simple. Alliances…" she spat, crumbling up Misaki's paper.
"Hey!" Misaki exclaimed, grabbing for the paper.
"Hands off!" Vivian snapped back, jerking back.
"It will work!" Misaki yelled, grabbing her wrist.
"What do you know?" Vivian said, pushing Misaki onto the ground.
Misaki set her jaw and slowly stood up. There was a cloud of tension in the air. Benedict didn't dare call cut in case the mood would get ruined.
"It's how the war of King Yunus was won," Misaki recalled, walking back over to Vivian so they were eye to eye. Vivian gave Misaki a cold stare but Misaki didn't shrink back. "He called for the Kingdom of Freda and the Kingdom of Graden to aid him. With that combined force, he pushed the Markians off his land."
"So you've read a few books," Vivian said so coldly, Misaki actually felt intimated. "But you've never even seen bloodshed. You don't understand death like I do. We will not be wasting lives…" she said, crumpling the paper in her fist.
"You'll never win if you keep hiding."
"We're not hiding!" Vivian snapped. "If you knew anything, you'd know we are stocking up for a long fight."
"It's time!"
"Leave," Vivian said. "The rest of us need to have important things to discuss. You're wasting precious time."
"I'm staying," Misaki said, pretending to be surprised by her own bravery.
"What?"
"You keep stocking up but when will you take action?" Misaki demanded. "You're a coward-"
Vivian fake backhanded Misaki, however, Misaki fell back into the stack of wood by the wall. The logs rolled around as Misaki groaned in pain and struggled to even stand up. No one said anything but their eyes widened. Misaki looked up, tears stinging in her eyes. Vivian confidently walked over to her. Misaki gripped the dirt floor, holding her gaze.
"Marina Cleo," Vivian said slowly, unremorseful. "You may have a few smarts…but don't come flashing it around me. I lead the Riders and what I say goes…"
She crouched down but still so she was looking down at Misaki who still laid on the floor.
"You don't belong in this world," Vivian said in a hushed voice. "Little girls like you do other things to help the rebellion." Vivian stood up. "Since you knocked over all the wood, go get some more," she ordered. "NOW!"
Misaki slowly picked herself up from the ground.
"My patience is thin. Don't test it."
Only through years of practice, Misaki forced her eyes to get watery. No actual tears but that stinging feeling you get when you want to cry.
"Cut!"
"That was pretty good, wasn't it?" Regina asked.
Benedict nodded. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say both of you hated each other."
Misaki and Vivian exchanged a smile.
"Let's do a few more takes and then I'm going to go work on a different scene," Benedict decided.
It was actually kind of fun. When Misaki fell back into the logs, it didn't actually hurt so that was some bonus points.
"I'm worn out," Vivian said, sipping water through a straw. "Backhanding people is tough work."
Misaki couldn't help but laugh. "So, I've heard."
Vivian smiled. "You did well today, Misaki."
"Thanks. You too."
"See you tomorrow?"
"Of course," Misaki replied.