Conniverse: The Musical

Beetlejuice

When Connie first tried out for Beetlejuice, she wasn't really expecting to get the role. It was a fun experience, and she met a lot of really cool people. At the very least she'd be ensemble and she was totally okay with that.

After her parents had let up a bit on extracurriculars and summer let out, a poster caught her eye and now here she was standing in front of the theater doors and staring at her name next to the role of Lydia, exactly what she'd wanted. She grinned and went home cheerful. Her parents were thrilled and proud, but deep down she knew her mother wouldn't be able to make it with her long shifts at the hospital.

As a sophomore, Connie had some freedoms to wander around during the day and that's what she did. The sun was shining, the sky was stark blue and the clouds were fluffy just like how she felt inside. She must have been thinking about the musical too hard because she ended up there again and bumping into–

Holy shit this guy is tall! "Holy shit you're tall!" She blurted. Immediately she felt like a complete fucking idiot as she stumbled back apologetically and fell.

Well, she almost did, but a lightning quick hand shot out and caught hers. He pulled her back up carefully and gave her a friendly smile. "Usually the way to greet someone is by saying 'hi' or 'hello'," He informed her. "I'll go first: hello. My name is Steven Universe." He bowed slightly and kissed her hand. "You have beautiful hands."

"Uh, thanks?" Steven Universe. Where had she seen that name and guffawed? She glanced back at the cast list. "You're Beetlejuice?"

He chuckled and dropped her hand. "I have a funny feeling you must be Miss Connie Mahe..." He shut his mouth and shook his head. "No sense in butchering it."

"Maheswaren." She allowed herself to feel a bit more at ease with the apparently charming and talkative giant. "Hi. It's nice to meet you. Is that your real name?" It was like she couldn't act like a normal person. All of her social skills (which admittedly didn't amount to much) flew right out of her as soon as they'd touched.

He nodded emphatically. "It was supposed to be De Mayo, but my dads a Broadway hotshot so–,"

"You're the son of Greg Universe?!" She shouted. A bird nearby flew off and she cringed. She needed to avoid this guy at all costs if he was going to make her this much of an idiot.

Her antics only made his smile grow. "I'm right here, Connie. And yes, I am."

"What..." She made sure to compose herself and stand a little straighter. "Do you live here?"

His smile wavered a little as he shook his head. "N-no. I stay with my aunts during the summers near the beach." He seemed like he was going to tell her something else but caught himself. "Do you live here?"

"Yeah, I live on Flanders. We used to live in Ocean Town but–,"

"It's on fire?" He finished. "Yeah, those people are exclusively pyromaniacs I swear. If Hell on Earth exists, that's where it is."

She laughed. Gosh he was kind of funny in a goofy sort of way. His loose curls fluffed out into a pompadour that she kind wanted to touch. Weird.

He glanced up. "You're staring at my hair."

Her face was starting to catch fire now and she sighed. "Sorry. I typically don't talk to people."

"And you're gonna be in a musical? That's awesome."

Oh my gosh, that little quirk of his eyebrow was going to be the very demise of her. "I-I have to go." She spun around on her heel and took off, ignoring the goodbye he called out as she did.

*

Steven Universe wasn't surprised when he got the role. His name held power, as did his voice. He loved to sing, he loved to dance, he loved to act. He'd been acting his entire life from the age of 5 until now, 17.