a story in which an actress and music artist crosses paths with a twitch streamer... although what he doesn't know is that this famous actress might also be his best friend.
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all creds for inspiring me to write this go to @jojodeliva, thank you...
The ending of the last show. Maristella thought she might cry with that realization. As the curtains closed in order for the cast to do their bows, her thoughts were confirmed as she held back tears. Holding up her skirts, Maristella hurried behind a tree to stay out of the audience's sight like she had done for every other show. She pulled the cloak and mask out of her dress's pocket, hastily throwing it on so that she looked like the Witch when she first walked out on stage. She thought to herself about how she still needed to thank the seamstress who sewed the pocket in for her quick change.
She reminisced over everything she knew she would miss about the show while she stood behind the tree. Memories of how far their cast had come and all of their dedication nearly broke her but she was able to contain it. Keep it together Maristella, she thought, just a little longer.
The bows moved quickly as the pit accompanied the applause. After a while, James and Cynthia, the actors who played the Baker and Baker's Wife respectfully, entered from opposite ends of the stage to meet each other. James spun Cyndy before they took their bows and Maristella could see the bittersweet recognition in their eyes. This musical was what brought them together, after all, so she couldn't blame them.
The couple reaching Down Center cued her to make her way down as well. Smoke flooded out from the wings after she'd hobbled out from behind the tree. Maristella twirled around in the smoke and quickly hid the mask inside the cape, then discarded the cape back into the pocket.
As she did her quick-change for the final time, the roar of the audience finally hit her. Maristella strutted down to the end of the stage and bowed, embodying the character as if the world revolved around her in that moment. After meeting the others, she broke character for the first time in three hours to cheer for Maddy, the actress who played Cinderella. Her perfect ball gown was on again, replacing the ragged dress she was wearing just minutes prior. Maristella still hadn't figured out how they were able to pull that quick change off.
The curtains closed again after Maddy made it to the edge, and they all stepped back, waving to the audience. It only took one glance for them all to silently pile up on eachother in a heap of gratitude and affection. They were about to make their way backstage to de-mic when they heard someone over the speakers, presumably on a mic.
"Attention, please. May I have your attention please?" Everyone took a step back and eyed each other skeptically, unsure of what was happening. Before any of the cast could voice their concerns, the voice continued. They then realized who it was: Jamie Golden, their director.
"Before everyone leaves, I'd like to make an announcement. This is something we've been keeping from the cast for about a week now, and we thought the last show would be the best time to announce it.
"As you all know, our traveling production of Into The Woods was supposed to end tonight, here on Broadway. But, our show has been specially requested to tour in the United Kingdom- and possibly the rest of Europe- so this is now unofficially our last show. We will be continuing our tour of Into The Woods in the UK starting August 30, 2022! We hope to see some of you again, and good night!"
The crowd erupted in applause and cheers and it took everything in Maristella not to join in. Jamie waved while disappearing through the gap between the curtains. When she turned around, she held a finger in front of her lips with a cheshire grin spread across her face.
As they silently de-microphoned, Aaron acted as their guide and signaled them when the last audience member left the auditorium. When Aaron pulled his head back from the curtains, he was the first to yell out his excitement, embodying a character more fitting for Peter Pan than his role of Jack. As the cast erupted into cheers, "thank you"'s, and more hugs, Maristella only had one thought floating through her mind.
I have to tell Tommy.
*~*~*
After a cast party at the nearest restaurant, Maristella headed back to her hotel with a buzzed brain and klutzy footing. Although she was underage, being the youngest in a "Broadway" production after party had some perks. No one even tried to card her, honestly.
She unlocked the door to her hotel room and headed straight for her make-shift set-up. She'd been on the road for so long that the borderline laggy computer she'd been carrying around with her for the past few months had been her only "escape from reality", if you could even call it that.
Since she was 12, she had been in the spotlight. It had started with winning season 11 of America's Got Talent and continued from then on. Her only real "escape" from the constant criticism, praise, and hate came around when she was 16 when lockdown hit.
She started streaming under the faceless alias called @pamcak3 on Twitch and had continued streaming after the lockdown was lifted. It was difficult keeping up the double life, especially after she blew up from playing on the infamous Dream SMP, but she was happy with the hand she had been dealt. The online friends she had made helped keep her bordering sanity in check and were always there for her. She fell into a comfortable rhythm of being Maristella Finnley from 7:30am-11pm and Pamcak3 from 12-3am.
Making her way over to the desk, Maristella pulled out the rolling chair before powering on her PC. She shot a quick discord message to Tommy and shortly a ding announced his arrival into their VC. Maristella hazily explained that she wanted to stream with him, muting herself before Tommy could even say a word. Titling the stream somewhere along the lines of "drunk q&a", she hit the "Go Live" button and sank into her chair, ready for the lecture she was about to receive in front of 8,924 people from Tommy.
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INSTAGRAM!!
mari_stellar
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liked by @pamcak3_plays and 508,297 others
mari_stellar i'm so relieved to say that it's now "unofficially our last night." see you soon, united kingdom <3
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a/n: hi everyone!!!
this is the first chapter for this story and i hope it's decent enough lmao. took awhile, but im sorta proud
sorry for all the editing, i didn't like how much it originally gave away. thank you for being patient with me lmao
take care of yourselves and i hope to see you in the next chapter :)
