(Untitled)

[in_the_cracks]

 Once again the Nexus catches Telrim off-guard, but she's not nearly as disconcerted this time. Which is good, since the human-Controller is carrying a paper cup of steaming coffee, and spilling it would hurt.

Or maybe not, here. Still, she's glad she didn't jump.

Telrim gives the Nexus a sharp (though tired) smile and relaxes. "All right, then. What

Comments

[thephoenixsings]

"A city at sundown. Everyone's on their way home from work or shopping... and plenty more people are going out for a good night at a club with friends. It's fascinating, all the different people you can watch."

[in_the_cracks]

Telrim listens and takes a sip of coffee. No, still too hot, keep talking instead. "Do you do a lot of people-watching?" Her smile says it's a good pastime.

[thephoenixsings]

"I used to," she replies. "Back in college. Before I dropped out, anyways. There was nothing better to do during great weather than sit and read and spy on people as they walked past." She smiles slightly at the recollection. "Now I guess I'm too busy to stop and notice anything."

[in_the_cracks]

"I can sympathise." She looks back at her cup. "Is what you're doing now worth it?"

[thephoenixsings]

"I honestly can't say," Phoenix mumbles, sighing softly. "Things have been pretty difficult for me. I've been working so hard to get this gig, and, well... things just aren't going in my favor."

[in_the_cracks]

"Now that's a shame." Telrim tilts her head, her expression shifting to sympathetic. "How aren't they going well?"

[thephoenixsings]

"Back where I'm from? There's this club opening up, The Paradise, and I've been trying to audition for the chorus. Key word trying. Just because I'm not a looker, they won't pay attention to me."

[in_the_cracks]

"Well, that's not fair," Telrim says sympathetically. "And it doesn't make sense, especially if it's the chorus. Surely your voice is the only thing anyone's going to care about." She eyes her coffee a moment. "Besides, their standards for a 'looker' are so random it's not worth keeping track."

[thephoenixsings]

"This is Swan we're talking about... or more importantly, the goons he has in charge of his auditioning committee..." She chuckles quietly. "It's not like I'm going to give up or anything. Something tells me I'll catch a break soon."

[in_the_cracks]

"Glad to hear it." She smirks. "Giving up never got an artist anywhere, after all."

[thephoenixsings]

"Oh, I know, I know. Every time I think of giving up, I realize how much of a loser it would make me. If I want to sing, I'll do it dammit." She smiles.

[in_the_cracks]

"Excellent!" She nods. "I'm Natasha, by the way. Natasha Stanton."

[thephoenixsings]

"It's very nice meeting you, Natasha. I'm Phoenix."

[in_the_cracks]

Telrim smiles. "Have you been a professional singer long, or will this be your first job?"

[thephoenixsings]

"I've had gigs in a few small clubs around town," she replies, shrugging her shoulders a bit. "Nothing too special, really. To date, I think I've sung more in the shower and at church combined than at gigs. The opening of The Paradise has been in the papers and on the radio for months already, so I can tell it's going to be huge. What would be a better break for me than that, right?"

[in_the_cracks]

Telrim nods enthusiastically. "And if it's something you love doing so much, better go all-out when you get a chance like that."