retrospec | 001 ♣ text, action

So! I figured I'd use Retrospec for something productive today. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day! Papa's latest movie comes out on DVD tomorrow, which means MY latest movie comes out on DVD tomorrow. It's called "At the End of a Song". And to promote it, Papa and I will be doing a signing event at the big video store in Tisse - I know it's normally more a thing for books, but it should still be fun! Come down and see us tomorrow afternoon. [Shortly after this message goes up, a link to an IMDb page for said movie is added quietly.]

[action | 2/14, afternoon]
[True to her word, Alicia can be found at a table in the movie and music place in Tisse with her father and a few other folks, along with a large stack of Blu-Rays on a table next to them and a big poster on an easel. The crowd seems... relatively small, which is fine given it's not exactly a big-ticket release, but Alicia's excited and upbeat all the same, wearing a cream-colored dress markedly similar to one her character wore in the movie. She's doing her very best not to get distracted, given one of the studio people is also here: she greets people as they come over, carefully doesn't pull too much attention from the rest of the store, and generally remains a ball of energy.

When someone swings by, she turns a megawatt smile toward them.]

Hi, thanks for coming down! I'm so excited to be able to share At the End of a Song with more people - did you see it when it was in the theater?

[...perhaps a little too enthuastic, mind, but she's working hard. That's worth something, right?]

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[Truth be told, At the End of a Song wasn't really Rachel's thing. Rachel's primary interests were the kind of fiction that was more "fantastic", as it were. But... well, she hoped she and Alicia were friends now, so she felt it was important she show her new friend her support.

Which is why she was waiting in line for the autograph signing. Truth me told, she felt a little self conscious. Having a famous actress as a new friend was one thing, but that fact being evident in front of people... well, needless to say, Rachel was rather nervous.

Something she tried her best to hide when she finally reached the front of the line.]

H-Hello, Alicia! Uhm... I never saw it in theaters, but I'm really eager to see it for the first time!

[The crowd in front of Rachel isn't large, but it's a somewhat varied group - some adults, some teens, men and women alike. And it's evident that at least one of those people has no chill whatsoever; the loud female voice squeaking upon reaching the front of the line several people ahead confirms that. So at least someone else has negative chill, and doesn't even know Alicia in the first place.

When Rachel makes it to the front of the line, Alicia brightens.]

Rachel! Oh, I'm glad you came. I admit, it certainly didn't advertise - or review - as everyone's cup of tea. But we worked hard to make a movie we could be proud of, and at the end of the day, I think that's enough. So I hope you enjoy it!

[While she talks, she grabs a copy - definitely a BD, that's what the promo stuff fits in best - and then folds her hands in front of her in a reserved but interested gesture that she's been getting used to.]

[Rachel was relieved to get to the front of the line, looking somewhat tired of having been standing there for so long. Needless to say, she remains friendly.]

I see... well, I definitely look forward to watching it, then. I don't suppose signing it would be too much trouble though, right?

[Her tone is sarcastic, definitely making a joke - this is, after all, what she's been in line for.]

Oh, I don't know, I think my pen's dying- no, I'm kidding. Of course, I'd be happy to.

[Someone in the marginally longer line to see Ross Clover hears and looks in confusion at Rachel, who is clearly here to see the director's daughter; Alicia fixes him with a cheery smile that's also frosty enough to give a polar bear chills. The look's on her face for only a second, before she reverts back to her calm, warm smile and turns her attention back to Rachel again. There's a faint pop as she opens a marker; after a moment to orient herself, the instrument moves but her gaze is fully on Rachel.]

After how crazy this month's been already, it's nice to have something to take my mind off it, mm?

Thank you so much! I agree with that... it's nice to have some kind of reprieve, right?

[Rachel blinks at the sight, and then, in a stunning show of ignorance, shows just how out of place she is here.]

Is that your dad over there...?

Absolutely. I couldn't imagine being as busy as I usually am on top of... everything. [This isn't nearly a private enough place to talk about Retrospec, so she'll allude instead while she finishes writing.

When Rachel finally notices Ross, Alicia giggles, nodding.]

Ross Clover, director of At the End of a Song and other movies, but I just call him Papa. Someone on the marketing team figured it would be good for business if I was here too, but really, it's Papa's day. And here, this is yours.

[The click of a marker cap latching and the snap of the BD case shutting may be enough to pull Rachel's attention down to the table again; visible on the face-up back of the case is Alicia's looping, graceful autograph, though when she catches Rachel's eye again, she'll pop the case back open with a slightly mischievous smile. A glossy white card is in the document clips, with a further note:]

To Rachel-
Keep reaching for what your heart desires, and don't be afraid to lean on your friends on your way there. You are strong - have faith in yourself! I do! ♥

[-and her signature again, the print for the words cleaner and easier to read than trying to make heads or tails of her autograph. She speaks again, a little more quietly and... with an odd combination of nerves and affection in her tone, as she gently pushes it across the table toward Rachel.]

I wasn't sure if you'd appreciate my being sappy and personal on the case, so I cheated a bit.

[Rachel ends up smiling a bit sadly at Alicia's description of her father. Enough that it's rather noticeable.]

I'm glad that you get to spend time with him like this. I imagine he can be pretty busy? ... And oh, thank you.

[Rachel takes the case back, and takes a moment to read the note left for her. It takes a little bit, but once she's done... her face is red, and she's unable to hide the fact it's made her emotional.]

That... that's really sweet of you. Alicia. I don't know what to say...

[It is noticeable, but she's not in a position to comment on it just now. Something for later, perhaps.]

He does get busy. Recording is hard, and Mama helping with the editing makes it even harder sometimes, but we get by. So times like this are nice, when we can get them.

[The reaction when Rachel reads the note in the box, on the other hand, is much more pleasant, and she just smiles softly.]

You already did, really. After everything, this much is the least I can do. I'm glad I didn't miss the mark, though - for a minute I thought I was being a little too forward.

I imagine all of you having a passion you share, that you can work on together to a degree, is probably helpful.

[She smiles a bit more, focusing on the note.]

We've had this discussion before, I think. I'm okay with you being honest like that, Alicia.

It does help, yes. Sometimes I have no idea what's going on, or they're working on something that doesn't involve me - not all of Mama's work comes from Papa, although it's a not-insignificant portion - but usually it means we can spend time together while we're working.

I try to just say what I'm thinking most of the time, though. It's easier on everyone, and I find it gets the reporters to leave me alone faster when the story dries up in ten seconds. For mundane things, at least. But I'm not going to apologize for it! [She's cheery about that much, at least.]

Mm. I can understand why that would cut down on being able to work together, then. But I'm glad there's a silver lining.

... Do uh. Do you have to worry a lot about reporters? [She looks nervous, suddenly wondering if all their hanging out together will have consequences...]

We make things work. It's hard sometimes, but we do our best to keep things together. And it makes the big projects more fun.

[Alicia sees through Rachel's nerves in a heartbeat, laughing lightly.]

Not often, not unless something significant happens. It helps that I'm seventeen - not only do they need to control themselves, but in the grand scheme I'm not that interesting. They won't bother you, and they won't bother me about whose company I keep.

I suppose that makes sense. I just... I guess I'm kinda nervous that our being friends will put eyes on me too.

[She laughs nervously.] You already know about me and the spotlight, right?

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