//------------------------------// // Pay No Attention To The Pegasus Behind The Curtain // Story: Blossoming: Learning How To Fly // by nanashi_jones //------------------------------// If anyone tells you that stage managing is an easy job, let me know, so I can give them a piece of my mind. I have enough to go around these days. As far as the audience below was concerned, the show went without a hitch. Announcements were made beforehand, the actors all appeared to know their lines and have a good time, the special blood rigs all went off in squelching delight- it was a really good show. Up in the booth, hidden by the fact that the more interesting bits were happening on the stage, Jess and I were doing a Laurel and Hardy show. Jess was worse off than I was. Her entire muscle memory for the show was shot because she was on hooves rather than hands, so it was like she was back in rehearsals, still working from a script, even if it was in her head. It wasn’t until halfway through that I noticed her wings had gotten in on her work and she was moving at full speed again. That didn’t stop the sweat from dotting her brow. I tried to help as much as I could, but most of the work came from Jess focusing on the sound board. She gave me the task of running lights and light queues, since it was a lone button to activate the program on the lights’ computer and required little more than prompting. It was also away from the board and would have been an issue for Cloud Kicker to reach. Jess sat just beyond me, talking softly into her head set. “Standby lights 37.5... And lights 37.5... Go!” Blossomforth was quiet, adding her concentration to my own. It ONLY went as apparently smooth as it did because the actors were good, Jess was great and I paid attention when she showed me around and talked about the show before. Remove any of those factors and you might have seen some rather inadvertent hilarity with the puppets. I didn’t realize how much work went on backstage, Blossom thought. It ain’t for the faint of heart, I agreed as I kept half-an-eye on the show. It was going to be the only time I saw it, after all. It was pretty good, even if the audience was giggling randomly. Maybe they were trying to keep from getting too into it? Especially this one. I- I think I’m fascinated how that cat’s blood bag works. Still grossed out, but... Fascinated. I laughed to myself. Jess gave me a look without stopping what she was doing and I quieted down. That’s probably me. I didn’t just numb myself to gross and weird things, I really find the world fascinating. Like when you were a filly and you wondered how trees work and you’d go ewww when someone made sap come out... And! And! It’d sometimes have a bug in it and you’d wanna know where the bug is! Now you’re getting it! Blossom was quiet, but not in her usual spooked way. She seemed to be considering something. I’m glad I got stuck with you January. I blushed. Thanks, I thought. I’m glad I got stuck with you too, Blossomforth. It’s nice sharing with another pony who’s as interested in how things work as I am. I felt her mental blush. “Standby for Freaky Odin Cat...” Jess said behind me. After the show, Jess and I hoofbumped in slumped exhaustion. “I’m going to sleep for a week,” Jess said. “Seconded,” I replied. She smiled at me. “Hey. C’mere.” I floated over and she grabbed me around my neck and pulled me close to kiss me full on the lips. Blossomforth kind of shut down after that. I wasn’t far behind. “Thanks for all your help. Flying Cupcake,” Jess whispered. “Daaaaa,” I said, intelligently. She laughed quietly. “So, I’m a good pony kisser?” “Daaaaa,” I replied, wittily. I shook my head. “I don’t. Sorry. You- I wasn’t expecting...” I mumbled. She brought a wing up and gently flicked along my chin with a smirk. “Well, I have to keep you on your toes somehow, what with you being the better pegasus and all at the moment...” The look she gave me made “smolder” look tepid. Some distant part of me started wondering what Jess could do with those wings if she put her mind to it and I could hear Blossomforth shriek and wall herself up. I quieted down my imagination to try and have a conversation. “Now, I- You- Hrm.” Wit to rival Oscar Wilde. “C’mon. We have to do strike.” Strike was how a play ended its run. For the Puppet Center, this meant the actors put away the puppets and props, handed their laundry to Jess for the final time and other little tidying tasks. Some big burly dudes, lead by Bill, the technical director who’d opened the door for us, came in to break down the actual set itself. Jess, did paperwork.  Aaaaaaall the paperwork. You don’t like paperwork? Blossomforth asked as I flew a folder back into place. I like helping and if somepony else is doing it, no big deal, but me... Ugh. I need a book on tape or I start zoning out. I find it soothing. Cloud Kicker’s pretty good at it. You know, you talk about her a lot, I thought off-handedly. I... Uh. I do? Yeah. It actually reminds me of when I was just friends with Jess and went to a party while she had work. I was going on about Jess said this and Jess does that and after half an hour of talking I realized I hadn’t talked about anything else. Blossomforth went still. When a part of your brain goes absolutely still, it’s kind of an odd feeling and one you’re not liable to miss. Do you- I mean... she thought. She’s your b.f, that’s for sure, I thought. Sounds like she’s the only pony in your life though. If you want, you can mooch off some of the b.s. social skills I have. I don’t mind introducing you around while I’m using your body either. Other feeling that sticks out in your brain: another pony blinking in it. You mean you weren’t... Weren’t what? If you had affection for Cloud Kicker, I figured I’d know. It’s pretty obvious she’s your bestie, your close pal- That’s important in life, but a group of friends can’t be beat. It gives you more options so you don’t have to hang your life on one pony. Yeah, Blossomforth thought. My bestie... I was about to ask her more, when Jess got my attention with a waved wing. “Mm?” I said. “You were just... Standing there. Wanted to make sure you were okay.” I trotted over to the desk Jess had claimed as her own. It was in the corner of a psuedo-office for all the paperwork the Center generated. “I’m fine. Just chatting with Blossom,” I said. “Something for me to look forward to?” I shrugged. “Maybe. They didn’t cover pony-symbiosis in Health class, y’know?” She chuckled. “Well, I’m almost done here. Afterwards, the cast is going to Manny’s Tavern. Wanna come?” “They got salad?”