Chapter 9:
"J? You have a letter," called Lyra from the hallway, picking up the envelope that had just been dropped through the mail slot. Thunderlane stood up and walked out of the living room. Lyra passed it to him and walked back to the kitchen.
Thunderlane looked at the return address as he opened the envelope. "From TL," he said aloud.
Lyra looked up from the counter. "Did you leave something at his place?"
TL shook his head. "He wouldn't bother with a letter, he'd just fly back and drop it off. Best I can guess is he must have got some big news after he got home." He unfolded the letter and read it.
Lyra finished pouring her soda and carried it as she walked back into the hallway. "Well? Did he?"
Thunderlane shook his head. "Apparently, but he won't tell me in a letter. It's good news, though, and he wants me to fly back to Cloudsdale as soon as I can." He walked back to the living room and sat down.
"So does this mean you're missing the movie night?" asked Lyra anxiously as she followed him in and sat down.
"I don't think so," Thunderlane replied. "It depends what he wants me for, but if I have plans he won't try to make me make him a priority. I'll be back in time." He put the letter on the coffee table. "I suppose I should still let Trixie know, just in case I do get delayed in Cloudsdale."
Lyra nodded. "Don't worry if you can't make it back in time, J. I think I can keep Bonnie under control."
"You know I'm in the room, right?" asked Bon Bon, glaring at them over her newspaper.
***
Trixie put down Daring Do and the Griffon's Goblet, finding herself strangely impressed - while she hadn't read Sapphire Stone for herself yet, she'd heard enough about its thin, badly padded story that the idea of this outstanding, complex thriller coming from the same writer so soon after the first was baffling. The characters were diverse and interesting - even down to that clumsy university page - the conspiracy story worked well with its action-adventure formula, and that last cliffhanger - she made a mental note to ask Ember why Curse of the Yeti wasn't already on her reading list. It wasn't all great, though - it was hard to ignore that the author didn't have much of Derring's and Darrin's backstory worked out yet. Even so, she was more excited than before at the prospect of seeing the films tomorrow night.
Trixie walked back to the bedroom to retrieve Daring Do and the Wooden Mask. The doorbell rang as she was walking back, and she put Wooden Mask down on the table before answering it. It was a yellow unicorn mare, about Trixie's age, telekinetically holding what appeared to be Ember's card in front of her.
"Miss Lulamoon?" Trixie nodded, and shook her hoof. "I'm Ingreen Brokeman, one of the actors from Everypony Comes to Brick's." She pulled some papers out of her saddlebag and passed a flier over to Trixie.
It took a moment, but Trixie made the connection. "So Emcee from the dinner theatre sent you? I wouldn't have expected one of the stars for something like this."
Ingreen laughed and nodded. "We're not exactly a big company, so we all try to pitch in at every job. Anyway, the premiere is Sunday night, with dress rehearsal around 3:30, and we're booked for every Tuesday and Thursday for this month. We go on at 8:00pm, you go on at 7:30. Any problems?"
Trixie shook her head. "No, that works for me. The tram schedule's pretty good on weeknights and - wait, do you need me at the dress rehearsal?"
Ingreen smiled, amused at her double take. "Depends. Do you have any acting experience?"
Trixie paused. "A couple of school plays, though nothing I'm especially proud of. Long story."
Ingreen hesitated, before passing the other document to her, which Trixie now realised was a script. "I was wondering if you'd be interested in being my understudy. It'd put you in a better position for negotiating your share of the takings."
Trixie had not seen this coming. "I've seen this play before, and somehow I'm not sure if Islander would be a good fit for me. Do you expect to need an understudy?"
"No, but given that we had to cancel several shows in Baltimare last month due to illness, we don't want to take any chances," replied Ingreen. "Just have a look over the script. I'll come by with one of the guys by tomorrow morning to get your answer. If you're not up to it, we'll move on to sorting out your shares. Don't worry, we won't hold any reluctance against you," she finished.
Trixie thought for a moment. "Very well. I'll go over Islander's role tonight and see if I know how to rein in my... usual delivery." Ingreen smirked at that. "You'll have an answer tomorrow. It's been a pleasure, Miss Brokeman." Ingreen shook Trixie's hoof, then turned to leave.
Trixie was about to close the door when she saw a mailpony approaching from the stairwell. She watched as he walked down the hall, stopped outside Bow's apartment and reached into his bag. After a moment of searching, he pulled out an envelope and passed it Trixie, who thanked him before closing the door.
Back in the living room, Trixie looked at the envelope - it was addressed to Medley - she couldn't make out the surname - with a Cloudsdale postmark. Trixie put it down on the coffee table. She was just about to return to Wooden Mask when the doorbell rang again. Mildly annoyed, Trixie went to answer it.
It was Ember.