Life in the Fast Lane

by TheAmazingMe

Beauty and the Beast Part 1

Colteau's studio in the Starbright district was filled with many wonders. His whole production ran out of the converted warehouse, from technical ponies of all sorts to actors and the basement even housed the reels of film he used. Perhaps one of the more stunning accomplishments in such a humble space was the work that went into making the 'lie that tells a truth,' as DuRein so famously put it.

"He's playing the Beast." I said, not quite believing what I'd heard. The sight in front of me didn't confirm it; my brain refused to acknowledge the input my eyes received. Then again, a pony dressed as a manticore took enough adjustment.

Colteau tilted his head in amusement, his smile as enigmatic as ever. "Oui," He answered plainly.

"But, he's also playing the love interest of la Bride?" I asked, scrambling my brains to see if I remembered his earlier character correctly.

"Oui." Colteau said, nodding.

I blinked a few times, trying to process everything. My mind came up blank. "Why?"

"That would be telling. Anyway, I meant what do you think of the costume!" Colteau asked. "Not to be indelicate, but I've heard that you have actually seen one of these in living flesh."

"Well, I've never seen a manticore in royal finery before, so there's that." I said, pointing out the obvious. "The make-up isn't like anything I've seen on-stage, short of spellwork."

"Illusion spells are useless. For some reason, our camera's can't pick up illusions like they do a regular image. Magic has a curious effect on film." Colteau admitted. "It is one of the few limitations of the medium. Even proximity to a strong magical aura is enough to impair filming."

"Really? I wouldn't have thought that magic could disrupt something so simple." I said, intrigued. I looked around the stage at the crew milling around, packing things up and getting things ready for the next shoot. The light director, a crystal pony named Lazuli, stood near at hoof consulting with one of her crewmembers about a light tree and how best to adjust the throw.

"Film cannot catch everything, more is the pity. The glow of a horn doesn't show on film, intense magic creates distortion on film, and illusions don't show properly on film." Colteau said, as if counting down a list. "Early filmmakers, like Georges Caméliès learned this and passed down that knowledge. There are techniques to make up for the shortcomings, and I hope you enjoy them when you see the final product. But, importantly, does this look convincing enough to be a manticore?"

I nodded. "Remarkably so, yes. It helps that he's already big, even for an earth pony. The front paws are a bit more inward facing when it stands. At least, the one I met did. The costume, especially with all the finery, is just amazing. The face make-up emphasizes his eyes. Soulful, yet fierce, but also with a touch of sadness and pain."

Colteau slapped a hoof on my back. "That's what I am talking about! We may make a film-lover of you yet."

Finally, Mareais' patience wore out. "Jaune, I have been baking in this suit for the whole day. At this point, the sadness is for knowing that I still have to wait an hour until I am fully peeled out of this and the pain is in the burning of my flank under these lights."

At this, the light director snorted. "Don't blame my lights when this place doesn't even have good air conditioning."

Colteau stamped a hoof at the pair. "That level of magic could disrupt the cameras. Mareais, you pampered prince, go get peeled already." Mareais didn't dally at all in his abrupt departure for the make-up room. "And go sit on an ice block if your flank is that hot!"

"You like my hot flank!" Mareais countered over his shoulder.

Colteau sighed at the titters from the film crew. Turning back to me, he shrugged. "Never combine work and play, mon ami."

I pointed a hoof carelessly behind me. "You think that is bad? Try marrying your best friend." I replied, smirking.

***

It was a district I visited less often, but Prominence held the best travel agencies in all of Equestria. Given the rather dramatic overhang on the westward side that gave Prominence its name, it was no surprise that Eminence Enterprizes operated out of the district. Cliff Harbor skyport, the most affordable of the three major skyports in Prominence, would be the one we'd use to fly out. They catered to some hot air balloons, as well as pegasus-drawn chariots and some of the smaller zeppelins in the Eminence fleet. Thus, the attitude here was generally laid back.

I realized how charmed my life in Canterlot was on the ride through the wealthiest, snobbiest district. After passing what looked like the same pastel-colored restaurant on Restaurant Row, I counted myself lucky to be unfashionable. One could only imagine what fine dining was like at these establishments. I'd take the worst dive in the Nightfall district before I'd set hoof in one of these haute-cuisine places. For a moment, I wondered if that didn't just make me as much of a snob (only in reverse) but I let the moment pass.

I did not entertain hypotheticals. The world, as it is, is vexing enough.

Perhaps that was the key, I thought to myself as the cab made its way to the travel agency. In all of my travels, it wasn't the destinations where I found myself that made me a sturdier pony (albeit much more inclined to woolgathering than I'd care to admit). Instead it was the journey in between. These quiet moments between the flashes in the pan. The act of contemplation, or of decompression, was a powerful one. Had it really been the panacea I needed to get over my extreme anxiety?

Could I even call my struggle with myself over? Sure, I'd gone from a passive observer in the events of my own life to an active participant, but fear still reigned. I still found myself doubting, troubled and glad to have the love and support of my family. But what would happen if I wasn't around?

The sudden insidiousness of the thought chilled me, in spite of the warmth of the day. I pushed the contemplation away and decided to make conversation with the cabbie.

"So, I suppose you've been all over the city?" I asked, a goal in mind.

The cabbie looked one way and then the other before realizing his quiet passenger has suddenly spoken. "Oh, uh, yeah. I suppose I have."

A bit taken by the confusion, I coughed into my hoof. As if such an act could restart the failing steam engine of my brain. Luckily, the train coasted and I remembered where I was going. With a start, I realized it had been some time since my initial remark. Hoping not to startle him again, but desperate to clear the awkward silence, I pressed on. "So, have you been to the Nightfall district?"

He shook his head. "Nope. I don't go to The Rays. The lower third of the city is...more earthy than I care to see."

Luckily, his back was to me as he pulled the cab. His words had provoked a curling of my lip and widening of my eyes that I'm sure registered my barely-bridled disgust to his unbridled words. Looking up, I saw his horn. Looking around, I saw other cab drivers. All unicorns. That had to be a coincidence, I reasoned. I shouldn't take the words of one unicorn and apply them as a blanket to all of Prominence. "So, do you live in Basking?"

The driver snorted. "Nope. I'm Prominence-born and bred. My uncle owns this cab company and I do it to keep my parents off my flank and out of my wallet. They think they can run my life just because I study at the School for Gifted Unicorns."

I lifted my eyebrows. "Really? I went to the SGU."

"What, like as a charity case?" The cabbie asked, laughing.

"No. My father owned an architectural firm." I said, uncomfortable with the cabbie's attitude. "I graduated with a focus on levitation, tethering and writing skills."

"Writing skills? I guess they take all kinds at the SGU." The cabbie sneered.

I sincerely hoped the attitude was an act. Maybe he was just rougher around the edges, after all. His tone and disdain might just be in my head. "I wrote for Celerity regularly before I traveled. Now, I've contributed articles to more publications than I can count." Or remember, for that matter. I had a file of my work at home, but I rarely went through it.

The cabbie was mercifully silent for the rest of the trip. We came to a stop outside of the agency and I paid the cab his due with perhaps less than a generous amount. It wasn't a protest that likely would have done him any good, but this trip was about getting ready for a vacation, not bashing the head in on some entitled snob.

Pushing open the door, the receptionist took a glance at me and inhaled quietly. Confused, I caught my reflection in the glass door and realized I was glaring. With a cleansing breath, I turned my frown upside-down and walked forward.

Then I spotted the only other pony there besides the receptionist. "Genuine."

Under a scarf and behind a set of sunglasses, the mare in question looked up sharply. Her eyes scanned the room wildly before landing on me. She gasped, eyes widening behind the tinted glass. "Life..." She said, voice more tremulous and airy than I recalled. Clearing her throat, she grabbed me by the shirt and led me out of the office.

"You went missing." I said as she pressed me into a booth at a nearby café.

Sighing, she huddled over her menu and spoke quietly. "It's not safe for me. I was staying with a friend in Nightfall while they arranged someplace safe in...well, it's better if you don't know."

"What is all this about? Why does DelManeco want me and my family dead? Did you always know he was crooked? Why are you leaving?" She shushed me urgently. I hadn't realized how loud I'd gotten.

With an apologetic look, I closed my mouth and let her speak. "I warned you about them. I begged you to just let it go, but you kept showing up in the worst places. Now it's not safe for either of us. Or your family. Get out of Canterlot. I'm warning you as a friend, Life."

"I can't let somepony drive me away from my family. Not again. My husband is a royal guard. I'm sure we could get you in contact with somepony who would make it safe for you here."

"It'll never be safe for me here. Patrimonio DelManeco is dead. I tried getting a final favor to keep him away from you and yours, but now his son is in charge. Erede and I don't get along." Genuine said, snapping the menu closed.

I sat in wonder at the pony across from me. This beautiful mare had gotten mixed up with some of the worst ponies in Canterlot and there was nothing I could do to convince her. I kept trying anyway. "Let me help you." I begged.

"His reach hasn't hit the Crystal Empire yet. It's hard to establish an organization there. That's not where I'm going, but the train ride to the Empire is shorter." She stood, but a pony was in the way.

"We've been looking for you, Raconteur." Erede Delmaneco said.

Author's Note:

Yep. This story is out of hiatus (didn't think I'd just leave you on a cliff, so to speak?) but no, I'm not committing to a schedule. I'd love to be a consistent uploader, but I'd pretty much have to have a story fully written before uploading to keep to a schedule. Not impossible, mind you.

Comments

[Grekoy]

Cliffhanger...we meet again. My old frenemy.

[Bruno]

Well, she did say it would be dangerous to be around her....