Right Back After This

Episode 31

Even if Riz wasn't meant to be oblivious, he would have to pretend he doesn't know what's happening. That he doesn't see, through the back window, exactly where they're going to perform; there's a deck that overlooks a huge pool, which backs out further onto the beach. They haven't been in this particular room before, this cabin, but Riz knows the microphones and instruments set up on the deck aren't always there.

Sonja is here, and so is Paloma, but Ares is conspicuously missing. 'After your performance,' he'd said, and they've had exactly zero chances since then to discuss it. He's gone and made some foolish plan without consulting Riz, and the fact that he isn't here removes any chance of that discussion happening. Riz's initial reaction is bitter disappointment, followed by the fear of what, exactly, he's going to do to stop a plan he doesn't yet understand.

He's painfully aware of how little time he has left.

This room is nice, at least, with several comfy chairs surrounding a fireplace that's not burning yet, although the wood is set up and ready to go. There's an unstaffed bar on one side, like this whole room is used for parties and functions, and the door to the deck seems to open up the whole wall. As of yet, Riz can't see cameras anywhere, although he can still hear the voices outside, even through the locked door and curtained windows. They're always there, in physical form or across the galaxy in the lens of a camera- they are never completely gone. Even when Riz's mic is off, they're still just out of earshot, lingering, waiting until the mic is back on again.

Wrenley is reclining on a plush chair, half-asleep, and Shia's cross-legged on the ground next to her, looking at his nails as if there's any imperfections to spot that haven't been buffed away. Amello is sitting on his hands and staring straight ahead. An assistant comes up to turn Riz's mic off, the approved way with those devices, and Riz tries to smile at her in a way that seems sincere. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a sincere smile in him at the moment.

"Right." Paloma is clicking a pen on and off as she takes in the four of them. "Glad to see we've all been following instructions."

That's probably as much directed at Wrenley as it is at Riz and Amello. Based on the way Wrenley is staring out at the deck, she's determined the same thing Riz has, what's coming.

"No time for too much discussion," Paloma continues. "You're going to relax and eat here for an hour or two, at which point some number of fans will be let in. You be the nicest motherfuckers you've ever been, I do not give a shit about any excuses you have. You're going to smile and laugh and act like these are just your friends and it wouldn't even occur to you that there's anything wrong with a single thing they say or do. And when the plant," Paloma points at Sonja, who waves without humour, "...suggests you play a song or two, that is when you get up and do your set."

Nobody needs to be told where they're going. "What set?" Shia asks, though, and Paloma sighs like it's a dumb question.

"I mean, you'll fucking know when the music starts, won't you? But it's On Fire, Forget About It, Immortality, Timeless. Then you pretend you're done and wait for them to beg and scream and cry until you do Always You, and then we'll get them the fuck out of there so they can't make you do another."

Riz just nods along to every word. "How are we playing this?" he asks, and she points at the deck, but Riz shakes his head. "No, sorry, I mean- I get we're pretending to be casual, but you still want us to be high-energy, right?"

"Oh, you want stage direction?" It's probably not meant to be sneered like that. Probably. "Oh, no, once the performance starts, don't you dare be casual about it. Full energy. That's compulsory."

Riz nods quickly, crossing his arms and stepping back. Like he's getting out of the way.

"Right. Any more questions?" Paloma asks, and silence meets her. "Did you guys fucking listen to me? Wrenley? Amello?"