Chapter Text
Furina had hit a wall. Progress had been going remarkably well, she had a solid script, plenty of actors, and an excited camerawoman, and she couldn't use any of it. Son of a bitch.
She technically could very easily avoid this problem, but she just wasn’t willing to risk it. She didn’t have her actors for her first scene. Easy solution, right? Just start filming the scenes those actors aren’t in. However, this genius plan had a few itty bitty flaws. First, one of said actors was her main character. Who every scene is centered around. And second, she was scared.
While she could film out of order, it was her first time taking on a project this big before. What if she found her actors, they struck a new nerve of inspiration, and she felt the need to change her whole script? Or even worse, what if she didn’t find anyone. She’d have to cancel the movie, and go up to all those people and tell them she wasted their time and they’d probably be so disappointed or pissed or both and then they would hate her and fuck!
Okay. Breathe. It was still early in June, she had time. Maybe Focalors knew some ex bigshot law lady who could be serious enough. Though she couldn’t be too serious to act in a college dropout’s passion project. Right. Yeah she was going to bed.
—
When she woke up, her terrible idea sounded even worse. Perfect. Maybe if she pitched it to Focalors she’d get so worried she’d call off the movie herself and Furina wouldn’t have to worry about it. So that’s exactly what she tried. You want to know what Focalors said? Guess.
“Oh yeah, I know the perfect girl for that, here I can get you in touch with her sister,” she said, her voice far too calm and collected for how insane she sounded.
“You must be joking.”
“Huh? Why?” She responded, looking genuinely confused.
“What terrifying rich old genius would have their ducks so scrambled that they want to spend their summer on something as silly as this,” Furina said, and Focalors softened her gaze.
“Furina, look at me,” she sighed. “You are far, far more capable than you give yourself credit for. This movie is going to come out so well, and even if it’s not as perfect as you’re expecting it’s going to be an incredibly fun project that I think a boring old hag could learn a lot from.”
“Give me the number,” Furina sighed, holding out her hand.
—
There were two ways in which Furina was not prepared for this meeting. Apparently, she had paid more attention to the fact that Focalors didn’t offer any rebuttal when she called Naberius terrifying earlier. Now that she was here it was very obvious as to why: there wasn’t one. Everything about her gave off an intense aura, and she carried herself with more confidence than she thought a personal could have.
On top of that, this was not some work friend of hers or even just an acquaintance. From the way Naberius was glaring at her, it was clear Focalors had incurred her wrath. Furina cursed their similar looks, and tried to highlight her shorter hair and more hip clothes. Look, look we’re so different!
“Um, uh, it’s wonderful to meet your Ms. Phanes,” Furina fidgeted with one of her bracelets under the table. “Could I get you anything to drink?”
Her only response to this was a slight shake of her head. Furina sighed, vowing to give Focalors several pieces of her mind later.
“Any snacks? It’s my treat,” she tried. No luck. “Okay, um, so… I was wondering if you could get me in contact with Asmoday? Like I said, I’m filming this little movie project over the summer and I have a part I feel she’d be good for.”
“What part?” Progress. She’s responding.
“Uh, basically, she’s going to be the villain, I’m sorry, I know that's terribly insulting, but yo–”
“Oh that sounds perfect for that wicked ass,” Naberius laughed, making Furina jump back in surprise. “Though, you might have to ask her to tone it down a bit for the role.”
“Oh, uh, well, if you think she’d be so perfect could you possibly connect me to her?”
“Long as you tell her to get my damn hat back to me I’ll give you a key to her back door,” Naberius joked. Hopefully.
—
“I bought this hat with my own damn money,” Asmoday swore, “Honestly, who does she think she is.”
“Oh totally, she’s so rude,” Furina agreed, not wanting to get in the middle of this. “Do you think you’d want to spend some time away from her this summer?” She’d learned a thing from Rosalyne.
“That would be nice, but I don’t need your convincing. I would love to join your movie. You would not believe how bored I’ve been,” Asmoday said, more casually than expected.
“If she doesn’t believe you I’m sure I can provide some plenty thorough anecdotes,” a new voice said. A lady, maybe in her early early 20’s if Furina had to guess, pulled out a chair and slid into the cafe table beside Asmoday, looking impressively comfortable in her presence.
“Oh? Who’s this,” Furina questioned.
Asmoday sighed, though she seemed less annoyed than when she’d been talking about Naberius. Furina wondered if she was ever not annoyed. A part of her doubted it.
“We’re coworkers,” Asmoday said.
“Such a harsh and boring response,” the girl pouted. “My name's Lumine, the object of her affections,” she batted her eyes dramatically, smirking at Asmoday.
“Oh shut the fuck up you are not,” she bit back. “I’ve worked odd jobs with her before, because as I said, I get bored.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. Anyway, what’s this I hear about a movie?”
Watching their bickering, inspiration struck Furina. Unfortunately.
“Uh, I’m trying to put together a little film project together this summer, and I was trying to recruit Asmoday here for one of the parts,” she said.
“She a villain?” Lumine asked.
“I-uh, yeah she is,” Furina laughed, wondering (and slightly worrying) as to how she guessed that. What am I getting myself into?
“Who are you considering her for,” Asmoday asked, pushing past the insult with more tact then Furina had thought her to be capable of. “The twin who avoids her brother, leaves him with vague answers, and keeps running away?” Nevermind.
“I wouldn’t phrase it like that, but yes, I think she might be a good fit,” Furina said. “If you’re interested, of course.”
“I would love that! I’ve got a twin that I can drag in too, since you mentioned a brother?”
“Oh absolutely, that would be great!”
“Here, I’ll arrange a meet up. He’ll probably have to bring our little cousin though, so don’t offer to pay for any food. She can eat more than she weighs, it’s lowkey batshit,” she joked. Turning to Asmoday, she added “so, how are you planning to keep your sisters away from this project? I’m assuming you’d like the freedom?”
“Gods, more than you know,” she sighed. “Ronova is busy beefing with that random security guy, but the other two could be a pain.”
“You said that like you had idea’s,” Furina added.
“You could fake your death,” Lumine offered. What the fuck.
“Honestly, I’ve considered it. I’d be down,” Asmoday responded. What the fuck.
“So, meet up with my brother?”
—
Furina had been sitting on this picnic table for far too long. Turns out Lumine was kidding, her cousin, Paimon, sure could eat. Her and Aether had come to an agreement long ago, and even decided Paimon could have a role as his companion, since he spent so much time babysitting. She felt rude leaving, but the kid was on her 4th plate of tacos. Goddamn.