[Private] Good News / Bad News

It was too early for this.

It wasn't even yet midmorning and Riley had to get up. The text from Archie had caught them between rem cycles. Awaking with a painful start they got dressed and hurried down to the local coffee shop to collect their fuel for the long day ahead.
The moth had spent all night at parties after work trying to track down more information on this Buck and what the community had heard. The taste of Jack Daniels still lingered in their moth, and they were trying to forget the less savory parts of the evening.

Good news? Bad News? Riley couldn't focus on the idea of Good news, too concerned about the bad? What had happened? Had Archie found the first shit show to drop them off at? Or had he gotten bored of their material What if someone hated the reel and they had to start over?


Arriving within the hour to the office, Riley came in when called for by Archie. The moth was wearing cut-off denim jeans, a baggy hoodie, and their stare that would impress a gorgon was hidden behind a pair of huge silver-lined sunglasses. Their antenna was nearly flat on their head slicked back with their hair that was still mostly greased back from the evening before. They cradled their coffee cup between both their hands. The morning did not agree with them.

"Zombie Burlesque? Yeah. That's the 1950's styled horror show over at Planet Hollywood"

Responded the Bright one taking a seat in one of the leather chairs, feet up on the chair, in a crouched position. They took a long draw from the coffee.

Riley let out a soft breath as they gathered the strength to deal with their exuberant manager. The coffee was still only starting to do its thing. They shuffled in their seat to answer the first question.

"It's fun. The theme motif gives a lot to play with. Some of the numbers are great, other I" they paused and were about to say more when Archie took advantage of the pause to move the conversation forward.

When Archie announced that was the best he could do, The Bright one felt conflicted. The early morning had rubbed them the wrong way and the first thought that leaped to mind was. Couldn't this be a phone call?
As they checked their pride, they knew that had been better than what they had managed. It was a big show, established, it was fun, and had a lot to work with. A starting point right?

"Oh. Well that's-"

The next moments came too quickly for the morning-addled bug brain to comprehend. They fidgeted at the sudden tossing of the document to the side of the room, tracing its trajectory. The word Cirque only registering a moment later and their head snapped back fast enough for whip last. Their travel coffee cup nearly slipping from their hands, followed by a deft display of dexterity as they juggled it into a successful catch.

"WHAT!?!"

Cirque. Zumanity. Riley Sorsa?!

Their mind reeled as the flood of feelings and thoughts broke through their morning brain.
That's huge, that's Cirque. How? But why? OMG.
As the thoughts raced, the Bright one's glow grew and grew.

"I. how.? Archie. What? Is this a joke? Archie."

The Bright one took a slow breath to calm themself. Their illumination slowly dimmed to be less of an assault on the Retinas.

Another breath.
Cirque.
Do I have the skills for that kind of show? Zombies, I could land zombies, easy.

---

Claire hand reached out snatching the cigarette from Riley's hand, dowsed it in the glass ashtray. Claire hated when Riley smoked. In return, Riley stuck out their tongue in annoyance.

The siblings were standing outside on Riley's apartment's small balcony. The lights of the city below gleamed out of focus.

"So. You haven't said how the audition went?"
Riley gave a half-hearted shrug, grabbing the bottle of wine from the folding table and filled up wither glass.

"I didn't go."

"What. Why?"

"eh wasn't feeling it."

"You aren't going to get into a show if you don't try out."

"Eh, I got some gigs coming." They spilled their wine. Ignoring the baleful glare from their sister,

"Yeah. like once a month at a bar. You could do this full time, with a show! what's the worst that could happen?"

"Oh, I don't know. Be that stripper who tried out for a sexy zombie show and got rejected."
Rumors spread worse than panic in a herd of cows in this town.

"No one is going to hold that against you"

I would. Silently shot back the darkling's mind.

"Eh maybe. As I said I wasn't feeling it"

---

The memory stung as a reminder. They had come to Archie to get past that gut reaction. Yet they faltered.

Don't waste your time. Don't waste his.

Riley took off their sunglasses, squinting for a moment before making eye contact with Archie. Take the shot.

"Let's put it on the books. Arch. You better find a damn good bottle of whisky for when I crush this audition."
The Moth antennae flicked, as they gave a cocky smile.

They could be more. They should be more.

"Any thing on what their Fixin' for me to do.  Do I need to provide my own work or number? Or is one provided?"

Do I need to do aerials? Singing? Do I need to memorize a script. Or is this improve.

Riley stood up, it was clear they had a lot of energy in their body, far more than what they walked in with.

"It's Cirque...Archie I don't know if my costume wardrobe is up to snuff. " Than again, most of that show was in lingerie anyways...

"great cupcakes. Yes, That sound perfect" They nodded pulling into their mind thinking about what they had to do to prepare. They moved for the door before stopping and looking back at Archie.

"Archie. Uh." They tapped their fingers against the door frame.

"Thank you." The bewitched voice wavered slightly.  "I won't let you down"