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Date Posted: 17:11:09 05/03/02 Fri
Author: Repost Fairy
Author Host/IP: 64.193.19.25
Subject: Chapter 21 - Part 2
In reply to: KGilbert 's message, "Dreams in the Dark - Chapter 20 and forthcoming" on 17:00:21 05/03/02 Fri

She was in the middle of this thought, was trying to focus clearly--her mind spinning through the more terrible, possible results of her date to come--when there was a soft knock on her door; she jumped slightly, totally out of sorts, but forced herself to answer. Her voice was a little shaky, too. "Yes?"

There was a second of polite silence before a maternal, accented voice sounded through it. "Miss Ward? It's Angie." The silence reigned for another second, while Nikita blinked, not putting things together yet; there wasn't that much rationality left in her. "I need your dress."

Huh? There was another small blink, her mind not functioning. She needed her what? She blinked again, before reality started to set in once more. Right--the death scene dress. She looked over to the chair beside her, the dress casually dumped over it. Oops. She had totally forgotten about that--had forgotten about everything after that heart-stopping kiss; she smiled, amused by her own confusion, the thought moving deeper. She had rather forgotten that there were other people who might be affected by her sudden lack of sanity.

It took her a second--having to shake her head to get her thoughts together more clearly--before inviting the woman in. She supposed it was time to pull herself back to reality; she sighed quietly. However strong the temptation, she really couldn't continue to brood forever.

The moment had come, then--time to face the world again. She stood, smiling apologetically, as the woman entered. "I'm sorry. I've been a little absent-minded." It was probably the understatement of the century, but it would just have to do.

Mm. The older woman was nodding, as she closed the door behind her, not yet looking her way. "I understand." She shrugged, being polite. "The last day of filming, and . . ."

Her words trailed off, however, as she looked up to the actress, her eyes widening a little, as she gazed down her body; Nikita blinked, following her look--and had to let out a small, horribly embarrassed laugh, her thoughts ironic. Hm. No, maybe she wasn't going to dinner with Helmut while in her undergarments. Probably not quite what even this town's restaurants had in mind as a dress code. She giggled again, still reeling. Ah well.

It had taken her up to that moment to even realize--or remember--what she had done, how she had gotten back here; she had been *way* too overcome by the kiss before to make any attempt at rational thought. She ran through the details briefly. As soon as she had recalled how to walk after that mind-altering kiss, she had tottered her way back here--no doubt staggering like a drunk after a three-day binge--and had managed to finagle her way out of the cumbersome, old-fashioned gown and the awful, heavily-padded corset she had earlier been worked into. She had then evidently dumped the dress and plopped herself down in the chair at her dressing table, forgetting that she was decked out only in the silky underthings Madeline had coaxed--well, ordered, actually--her to buy to make her feel more "feminine," and had simply spent her time reeling from the experience for . . . well, she wasn't even certain of the time. For awhile, anyway. She shook her head, still amazed. As reactions went, it definitely wasn't the most sensible one she had ever had; she laughed slightly. Lord help her.

She was lost to these realizations for a second or to, before it occurred to her just how awkward this situation was; she looked back up to the gentle costume assistant, a little red-faced. "I . . . um . . ." She moved for a robe, quickly covering up her deshabille, silky chemise and all, and looked highly embarrassed--trying to settle herself. Oh well. It was the best she could do at the moment.

She needn't have worried about upsetting her visitor, though; Angie was looking at the floor, trying very hard not to laugh. She had certainly seen actresses in less; many of them had no shame at all. Whatever she might do, this gentle actress had no ability to shock her anymore.

It took her a second, but the costumer looked back up to the woman at last--eyes apologetic. "I'm sorry. It's . . ." A silent bout of laughter caught her, before she was able to pull herself back into line; she took a deep breath, her gaze diverted, before focusing on the woman once more. "I did see you and Mr. Samuelle . . ."

Oh! Nikita's look fell, her eyes on the floor; her cheeks were growing pinker by the moment. She should have known that she would quickly become the talk of the studio, what with that kiss, but her mind had been in a hundred other places, instead. She sighed, her heart sinking lower. This really wasn't what she had anticipated for today. Now if she only knew of any way to handle it.

Oh, this poor woman. Angie shook her head, letting out a small sigh. She had been watching her for awhile, had seen her interactions with Michael, and--while part of her thought she should probably be jealous--she knew she had never had anything of the man to give her that right. She couldn't allow such petty motives to guide her today.

She smiled, then, her natural empathy settling once more. It had to be very overwhelming to be the object of all that sensuality--especially for someone as new to this world as this woman. All she could do now was be a friend.

She made her move toward this end a moment later, tilting her head down to catch the taller woman's lovely, if diverted, eyes; the small smile remained. "You make a very lovely couple."

Oh! This brought Nikita back; she blinked, as she focused on the costumer again--the denial immediate, instinctive. "We're not a couple. We just work together." She frowned a little, her mind turning. Or, at least, she thought that was true. She really wasn't sure of anything anymore.

Ah. Angie smiled, her eyes secretive; she was enjoying this. "He doesn't kiss the people he works with like that." The actress didn't look certain, but she shook her head--not taking any denials. "I know. I've known him awhile." She sighed, understanding her own truths too well. And had probably been half in love with him for even longer. She smiled. Ah well. Some things weren't meant to be; the smile faded, the memories still painful. She had learned that long ago.

God. The younger woman's heart thumped, not quite believing--even if she wanted to. She sat down again, her dejected look focused on the floor--thoughts turning; she was speaking more to herself than anyone else. "From what I've heard, he's kissed a lot of them like that."

Ah. This didn't net her the reaction she might have expected--in many ways. The red-haired woman laughed briefly, instead, highly amused, as the actress looked up. "He's kissed many, yes--but not like that. Not in public, not with such . . ." She paused for a moment, looking for the right word. "Passion." Her eyes were bright, as she shook her head--her look confident. "He's never kissed anyone here the way he just kissed you."

What? Nikita blinked. If possible, her mind was reeling even more. She really couldn't accept this. Okay, so maybe he hadn't kissed most of his lovers in public like that--not that she was actually thinking through the significance behind this fact--but he had no doubt kissed them with at least as much passion. Something within her mourned slightly, wanting more. It just seemed like the type of man he was.

She sighed, caught in these desires, looking deep into the woman in front of her--not taking in her points. Her mind had turned to an obvious example to prove her own--her look souring a little, even if she were kicking herself for such stupid jealousy. Like it would do her any good. "He did with Simone."

Oh. The costumer's bright look faded, her sigh more profound. The woman's words had brought back many memories--much she had seen, much which had saddened her; she shook her head. "No--never Simone." The young blue eyes looked back to her, as she shook her head again, deciding to tell this woman a few truths; she obviously needed to know them. "They never showed their love in public." The sigh went deeper. It would have been far too dangerous, if they had.

Huh. There was another blink from the actress, as her mind spun. Okay--this just got weirder all the time. While she could sort of understand why he might not have made a show of his devotion to his now-deceased beloved, there were other issues which this fact had brought about for her--and she wasn't finding them easy to deal with at all.

She took a deep breath, her confused look deepening, as she tried to think it through; she wasn't getting very far. It never even occurred to her that no one at the studio would have understood why she was having this conversation with this woman; the costumer was a fixture but not the object of many confidences--tended to be taken for granted. Of course, Nikita probably would have done it, whatever the circumstances, but she wasn't thinking at all clearly anymore to judge for certain. Rational analysis had left her long ago. "Then why . . .?"

It was about at that point when Angie's heart melted to her entirely; she looked deep in her eyes, pondering her sadness. The poor child. She really had never had anyone love her before, had no idea what that was like; her sympathy showed clearly in her gaze. How very sad. Her mind turned, decided what she had to do. Yes--this was right. The actress was far too beautiful a woman to question the truth anymore.

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  • Chapter 21 - Part 3 (end of chapter 21) -- Repost Fairy, 17:12:13 05/03/02 Fri
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