255 To the Stage? (1/2)
It would appear that the direction Irina was leading us was towards the main stage. The stage's location was at the heart of the large plaza, and all the seats before the stage were filled us. On the stage, it would appear that Henvle was nearing the end of his Q and A session as the host seemed to be hinting towards a closure of the session. A temporary break period will probably ensue this session, and it will be a bit longer until it was Irina's turn to go on stage.
With Irina as our guide, we were granted a pseudo backstage insight into this event. As we walked, we were always watched by security guards who would stop by and push the crowd back if they ever venture a bit too close. Even though we have been walking while surrounded by a crowd for some time now, I have yet to be used to this feeling.
”Do you...” I whispered to Irina, ”ever get frighten by them?”
”The fans?” Irina muttered in response, nodding her head as she smiled. ”Sometimes. Whenever I'm out in public, I'm always afraid of them.”
”I guess that's the harsh reality,” Muria whispered to us in a voice inaudible by the loud crowd. ”No real celebrity really likes their fans.”
”I can see why,” Alvelyn nodded in agreement. ”They're...ferocious.”
”I wouldn't say I dislike my fans,” Irina chuckled weakly. ”I just...wish that they would scale it back a bit. But my final answer to your question, Alevian, I'm used to it.”
After listening to her comments, although they sounded rather cliche and like anything a celebrity is trained to say, they appeared rather genuine when it came from her.
We soon made our way across the plaza and to the back entrance to the stage. It would appear that it was nearing the time for Irina's panel on the stage so she needed to be close by and on standby. Therefore, Alvelyn, Muria, and I accompanied her to the backstage area and waited with her. It's not like we have anything else planned to do here. I cannot say for Muria, but I am fairly confident that Alvelyn and I aren't familiar with movies with the title Grandpa Try Harder or Daddy Try Harder or Uncle Please Touch Me. Like damn...I wouldn't even be surprised if they come up with another film called Brother Give Me More.
The four of us was allowed access to the backstage entrance to the stage by the security guard who allowed us to pass after conversing with Irina. Because of Irina's words and her influence, we were allowed past without any other questioning. Once in the backstage area, which was concealed from the public area by a temporary and yet sturdy wall, we followed Irina as we made our way to the temporary dressing room, where I suppose Irina has to have her makeup retouched before walking on stage.
The dressing room was similar to the other one at the Palisia Broadcasting Station main building, with the many mirrors and lights. Hair dressers and makeup artists were on site and ready to prepare whomever was necessary for the onstage performance. Judging off of how tense the backstage employees were, this event is probably really important to the movie. In fact, after catching glimpses of the other celebrities that will be starring in Daddy Please Don't Stop, I can see why. They were all top notch actors mixed with the hottest stars in the modern generation. I don't even want to imagine how much it cost to hire every single one of these celebrities to come star in this film.
”Hey Irina,” a blonde haired young man said to us as he saw Irina approach. ”These are...Sorry, I only recognize Alevian...” Henvle smiled and apologized.
My eyes widened slightly as I discovered that he actually remembered my name from the last time I've met him, which was the same time in this timeline as the previous. Before this encounter, I would think that celebrities wouldn't remember the names of ordinary people, especially people they've only met for a few hours for a day. However, he remembered my name...
”This is Alevian's sister, Alvelyn,” Irina introduced. ”And this is Muria.”
”Nice to meet you,” Henvle smiled and nodded. ”I'm sorry. I would shake your hands but...” he smiled and wiped his palms on the fabric of his pants. ”my hands are rather sweaty right now.”
”You still get pretty nervous, huh?” Irina chuckled.
”Yeah,” Henvle nodded. ”It's just...I can't really help it.”
”Irina,” a man in his mid forties called over, presumably the director for this event and the movie. ”Get ready. You're up in fifteen.”
”Got it!” Irina smiled and responded. Then, she turned towards Henvle. ”Excuse me.”
”Of course,” Henvle stepped to the side and allowed Irina to pass by and walk towards her stylist. ”Good luck up there. I'll be watching in the resting area.”
”Thank you,” Irina smiled and nodded as she sat down in the chair before the mirror to permit her stylist access to fix her makeup and hair.
”So that's Henvle Westfalan,” Muria muttered to herself as Henvle disappeared from the dressing room.
”Yeah,” Irina said as she stayed still and gazed into the mirror as her stylist, a woman in her mid twenties, reapplied a light layer of powder on her face.
”So what're you going to be doing on stage?” Alvelyn asked.
”I'm going to be mostly just taking about my role in the film and answer some questions and stuff like that,” Irina answered. ”If I recalled correctly, there's an interactive game of some kind where the host will randomly choose someone from the audience to come on stage. But it's not really random. It's an employee who will be playing the role of the randomly selected audience member.”
”So it's fake?” Muria tilted her head slightly to the right.
”Yeah,” Irina awkwardly smiled. ”But that's kinda necessary to make sure everything flow smoothly. A lot of money was spent on filming the movie and a lot of money was spent on advertising it.”
”Isn't this what we expect though?” I sighed. ”We all know that things like these are the fake. So fake that they can't be even more fake.”
”Where's the extras?” the director of the event stormed into the dressing room once again, looking around the area.
His sudden and angered appearance caught me off guard, surprising me. It would appear that he also caught Muria and Alvelyn by surprise as they simply stood in place motionlessly, almost as if they were dazed or some sort.
”I don't know,” a man in his late twenties responded in a worried and panicking manner. ”One said they need to use the restroom and never came back. The other just fucking vanished!”
”God damn it,” the director cursed. ”We will need them for Irina's stage panel...”
”Is something the matter?” Irina frowned as she looked in the mirror and said to the director.
”Irina,” the director sighed. ”The two extras needed for your panel...they're gone. Two of the most important pieces, gone... just like—wait a minute.”
The director quickly walked over towards us as he kept his bloodshot eyes fixed on Muria and Alvelyn. He looked each girl over, studying their appearance and surveying each girl's figure.
”These two will work.” A ray of hope shined onto the director's face. ”Please, we need two teenage girls to help out during the interactive game for Irina's panel.”
”Um...” Muria took a small step back, obviously frightened by what the director is implying.
”I'll pay the two of you,” the director said again. ”Five thousand Vils. All you have to do is go on stage when the host calls you up and follow the instructions.”
”What instructions?” Alvelyn asked, stepping in protectively to slowly ease the situation back into control.
”It's got to be a secret,” the director shook his head. ”Otherwise the effect wouldn't be desirable.”