A Work of Art

Assorted Vignettes

(A/N: These are just random little short stories about the characters before they met up. You're not missing anything by skipping this, but if you want some small background info about some characters, here you go c:)

When I looked in your eyes
I said "I know you'll be fine"
It's not for me to decide what you do with your life
See, that rests on you
You'll feel what to do...

"...that's all I've got," Seraphim admitted with a sigh.

"Hey, it's really good! You should be a full time singer-songwriter!"

"Awwwh, you really think so?"

"Absolutely! You're a natural and-"

The door swung open suddenly, the knob hitting the peeling pink paint. An elderly man stood in the door frame, staring at the woman with an aging smile.

"Am I interrupting your performance review?"

"No." Seraphim's wide eyes darted over to her manager. With barely concealed panic, she hastily tossed him onto her bed where he joined the countless other stuffing-filled audience members. "You didn't mention you were coming over."

"I could've sworn I sent you a message..." The man pulled out his phone, scrolling through it. "I guess not. I can't figure these phones out. You kids have it easy these days... back in my day, you had all these other social media websites, and you had to manage each one individually, and-"

A giggle from Seraphim cut him off. "Sure, Dad. How about I get you some coffee? I'll make it by hand too, since you're so fond of the Middle Ages."

"Well, if you're offering." He trudged his way to the kitchen and happily plopped down. Seraphim planted a goodbye kiss on her stuffed manager's forehead before following and beginning to brew.

"So, what brings you here? Everything good with Mom?"

"Oh, nothing bad, don't worry. Just wanted to say hello. It's been so long since we talked."

"We talked two days ago!"

"Over the screen. But ya can't communicate some things solely through calls. You have to meet face to face sometimes, Vanessa." Seraphim set the steaming cup in front of her father. "Besides, can video chats give you free coffee?" He burst out laughing, hitting the table and revealing his several missing teeth.

Seraphim sat across from him, the chair and table creaking from their lack of use. "Dad, I told you, it's Seraphim now..."

"You'll always be Vanessa to us, sweetheart."

"R-right." Seraphim adjusted her leather jacket awkwardly. These conversations never seemed to go anywhere unless she wanted to have her family mock her name choice.

"Speaking of, how's the whole singing business going? Any gigs yet? They're still called gigs right?"

"Uh, yeah actually! There's this little nightclub that's right on-" Seraphim cut herself off as her dad nearly choked on his coffee.

"NIGHTCLUB?!"

"Nooooo nononono, I swear it's okay! It's on the up-and-up, they have guards and a clean bill of health everything!"

"When you told me you were gonna try to be a singer, I thought you meant... I don't know. Playing at a cozy little cafe or something. Not a shitty, sleazy, dingy, run-down nightclub." With a deep inhale, the elder set his mug down. "I don't care if they have the fucking recommendation from the President of India, you're absolutely not performing there."

"But-"

"No buts! I don't wanna see you end up like the other people in this area. Like that one kid who keeps vandalizing my office. Little bastard... look, Vanessa. You can do so much more than be a performer. Get a comfy job at Nejunia or Avrim Inc., settle down with a nice girl, take it easy. Just say that Damian Casmont is your dad and boom, easy 7 figures right out the gate. You might not even need a second job!"