General Hospital Fan Fiction Message Board

Cassadine TNG 15

6:00am Tai Chi in the park with Uncle Stefan
7:30am Breakfast at home.
9:00am Workshop
11 am ANOTHER Photo shoot for article Anna Holtz did.
2pm- 4:30 Classes with Uncle Stefan (Musical theater– ugh)
5:30 Vic’s JV basketball game at Fairfax.
8 pm After game thing
Midnight home and asleep.

Went to see the premiere of 9 lives last night with Uncle Dillon and Aunt Brittany. That’s the new Ridley Scott movie. Merrill Owens, the female lead in it, is starring in Uncle Dillon’s Inconvenient Timing. Merrill used to say Uncle Dillon and Mr Scott have very similar styles. They are both very persnickity in the details. She said it was both comforting and annoying at the same time. You always knew that there was an excellent script, sound financing but that you’d better have total professionals working with you because one person ****ing up meant that everyone had to do it again, and again until it was right.
She said that means if Dillon hadn’t been my uncle that the first legit thing on my resume would have had a ton of weight for anyone looking at it. I’ve heard it before from Friday and from Uncle Dillon too. Nobody is going to buy that I nailed it until they actually see it with their own eyes. So right now until Inconvenient Timing comes out, which is months away still, the only thing on my resume that counts is the episode of L&O. I have got to get a part in a Ridley Scott film. If Uncle Dillon’s picking me doesn’t count then I have got to get the next most persnickity director on my resume. I’m going to talk to Bic and Friday about it. Friday is probably the best bet. While the right hand might not know what the left is doing... Friday, as well as all the other right hands in this town, know exactly what the others are doing.
Uncle Dillon can’t say a word, and I can tell it frustrates him. He’d love to say I nailed it. He’s told me and that counts, believe me. But if he says anything in public it just reinforces the whole proud uncle thing. The same way that doing music videos for CSMC is good practice but nobody is going to buy that I’m in them because I was first choice. And actually with the vids that’s really true. They’d rather have some hoochie mama with a big ass waving it double time the beat of the music. Mayday isn’t that bad but the Michaelsons are definitely using casting to find dates.
It’s raining again today, believe me that made the premiere fun... nice soggy carpet. Did weights yesterday so guess it’ll be treadmill today. I really hate the treadmill but at least I can be listening to show tunes (ugh) while I’m putting in my time. How Uncle Stefan ever talked me into a study session of musical theater I have no idea... oh yeah, I remember now. He offered to do a session of opera. If I’m going to have to listen to people sing their dialogue then it’s going to be in a language I actually speak. And I am not going to mention that to Uncle Stefan or the next thing I’m studying will be either Italian or German.

Fancy takes a deep breath and exhales; she’s about to lose it but she wanted to make sense when she does so. She’s a little late because there is a sudden shout of furious Russian exploding from Baba who is right in the face of the wardrobe director on the photo shoot. It’s drawing the attention of everyone including the very famous photographer.

“What in the **** is the problem?!” The photographer finally cuts loose on Baba and the guy whose face she’s in.

“The hell if I know! This crazy lady just started going off. I think she needs medication. ” The wardrobe coordinator throws up his hands.

Fancy holds up a hand to Baba. To keep her from killing the guy. Her voice is low and overly controlled. “Baba has a serious problem, as do I, with me being dressed at this photo shoot in clothing that would have fit right in with the porno flick I did when I was thirteen. It’s not going to happen. And if this is what you want then I’m sorry your time was wasted by the magazine. Perhaps the person whose brilliant idea this was can go out and find a 13 year old runaway on the street to pose for the photographs because I am not. I will not do porn for you, not hardcore not softcore– no porn, no skin. Are we clear?”

It’s been decades since anyone spoke to the photographer that way. She can tell from the girl’s face and hands how upset she is. Her hands are shaking and her face is white with flags of red at her cheeks. Going over to the rack of clothing, she starts flipping through it. The photographer is already shaking her head and swearing under her breath. Then she turns around and looks at Fancy. “What you’re wearing is fine.” Then she turns to the wardrobe coordinator. “You’re fired. Get off my shoot.” As far as she’s concerned it’s over and she goes back to her cameras. “You going to be able to pull it together or do we need to reschedule.” It’s not an offer she normally makes, not even for her A- list clients.

“I’m a pro. That’s part of the problem.” Fancy counters. The hair and makeup people swing into action are working fast. There is normally some kind of drama on a shoot but this is more than usual. “Baba, you okay.”

“Dah. I fine now.” Baba takes a deep breath. She sees a nearby chair out of the way and takes it. She keeps an eagle eye on the whole proceedings.

“She’s fierce.” The photographer checks lighting and calls out minute corrections.

“She is. But only when there’s cause.” Fancy makes it clear she is going to be backing Baba. “The character I play in Inconvenient Timing? Young, rough, sexual, making poor choices. Which sounds like I was playing myself but really not. It was a character and Baba didn’t make a scene about the wardrobe. This shoot is me. She doesn’t want, we don’t want, any misunderstandings.”

“Then she needs to learn to throw a tizzy in english.”

“Why-- if it makes me stand up for myself?” Fancy counters.

The photographer looks at Fancy and then back at Baba and then back again. “Good point. Lets do this.”

Stefan Cassadine arrives at the Tower building around lunch time. He is waved through by an eagle eyed security guard who has a CSMC patch on his uniform rather than a firm of rent a cops. Kristina never trusts her company’s security to an outside firm. “Afternoon, Mr Cassadine.”

“Good afternoon.” Stefan uses his mag key to make his way up to the office floors and down to Mona’s office. He lets himself in. The woman is flustered and appears to be on overwhelm. “Is there a problem?”

“I thought I’d have more time because of the dumbass clause. That they would hesitate to sign. The packets evidently started arriving last night and have been coming in all morning long.”

“The information will be incomplete then.” Stefan nods. “You will have to interview each of them to flesh out the report. They are giving you what they want you to know. Rather than what you need to provide your service.”

“What their charities are and who their accountant is.” Mona agrees.

“It’s enough to get started. What is your first step?” Stefan nods.

Mona takes another breath. “Cash their checks. Already did that– filed it with the CSMC accounting office this morning. I’ll have to do another drop at the end of the day. I’ve also sent their release of information to their teams so I can get the scouting reports.”

“Good, and the next?”

“Scan through and find the flags– anybody with charities we already know are a problem or anyone with Edwards’ accountant cause you figure that charity wasn’t the only one he was getting kick backs from.”

“Yes. And it will spider from there. I would suggest actually finding the accountant’s name in the packet and investigating all the charities with him as a commonality. Make your appointments from there. That way you’ll have leverage on the client.”

“Okay. I can do that.” Mona starts sorting through the packets with her highlighter pen in hand. Anything with the accountant are pulled and put in a pile on her desk. The others go to the credenza behind her desk. Their entry is going to be delayed by a day– maybe. Or it might be an all nighter.

“Number the packets and refer to the clients by number in your investigative report. This will preserve their privacy in the combined report. This report may be of interest to the forensic accountants with whom you have already been in contact.”

Mona uses the highlighter to write a number on the front of the packets. She opens up a spread sheet and titles it with the accountant’s name. One axis is the clients number. The first column is what team they are on and the next columns are the charities with amount of money each player put into the charity on the row.

“Why this column with the L, C and K?” Stefan asks.

“Laker, Clipper and King. That way I figure which team was screwed the hardest; it also helps in arranging the appointments. I know who will be in town and who will be on the road. Luckily the Lakers are going out on the road so I’ll be able to put in some overtime getting this all entered.”

Stefan nods. It’s a good plan and not one he would have thought of. “You’ll have to have an alternative charity to offer them. Might I suggest Nothing but Net. It is actually a charity sponsored by the NBA that provides malarial nets to families in the affective regions.” Stefan shows Mona a folder that has the details of the charity and how it works. “It could also work in some fashion for your professional hockey players.”

Mona grins. “Oh yeah. Nothing but Net would totally work for the hockey players.”

“I’ll leave you to your task then.” Stefan nods. “I have another appointment in the building.”

“You should get an office here. That would be really handy for me.” Mona suggests. “I know you don’t do CSMC business but does Cassadine Industries have an office here in LA?”

“I do not believe they do.” Stefan admits thoughtfully.

“I can get you a good deal on business cards.” Mona offers.

“I so totally needed this.” Fancy glances over at Frankie in the passenger seat of the challenger. “Thanks for coming.”

“Been awhile since I’ve been to a JV basketball game.”

“Vic’s playing. He’d much rather being playing varsity of course but Fairfax is deep in the guard position and his coach says he’s too short. He seems plenty tall to me.”

“That’s cause you’re a runt.” Frankie reminds her as if she didn’t know it every day of her life. “How did that shoot thing go? I thought they got pictures when that Holtz broad interviewed you.”

“They did. Those counted as candids I guess. But since the article is going to be in a woman’s magazine they needed some arty pictures too I guess.”

“How did it go, Fancy.” Frankie demands. He’s got a feeling that both she and Baba have been biting their tongues.

“The start was kind of rough but it ended up good. Really good. I even got the photographer to take a couple pictures of Baba. I thought that would be good presents for Baby, Josef and Pavel too.”

“Define rough and don’t leave anything out ‘cause you know I’ll get it out of Baba.” Frankie is getting increasingly concerned by Fancy’s attempts to duck.

“The wardrobe for the shoot included a plaid skirt, a very, very short plaid skirt and not much else.” Fancy keeps her eyes on the road and keeps talking over Frankie’s swearing. “Baba lost it and went off on the wardrobe coordinator. We were almost out of there before a picture was taken.”

“What’s his name.”

“It’s handled, Frankie. The guy was fired then and there when the photographer saw what was so upsetting to me and Baba.”

“It’s not handled until Mouse checks the guy’s computer to see if he needs a little visit from the FBI. If there is no underage porn on his computer then it’ll be handled.” Maybe. Frankie does believe in keeping his options open.

“I have no idea. Joe something I think.” Fancy glances over and can tell that Frankie doesn’t believe her. That’s the problem with not spilling your guts from the start. “I’m serious. I have no idea. The guy pissed me off from the get go. I didn’t want to know his name and I doubt that Joe Blow-Job is listed on his W4.”

“I’ll call Mouse. He’ll check the computer.”

“Can you just let it go so we can enjoy the game?”

“It’s JV. It’s high school JV.” Frankie counters. “This is either going to be the longest hour of my life or funnier than hell.”

“How did the shoot go?” One of the photographer’s friends hands her a drink. “You’re late.”

“The things I do to make a hell of a lot of money.” The photographer jokes. But it’s true enough. The magazine work funded her passion, gave her the money to shoot what she wanted. Hell most of the celebrity photographs are in the same category now too. The worse thing that ever happened to portrait photography is plastic surgery. It takes all the character out of people’s faces. At least today with Faith Monroe and the woman she called Baba it had been either end of the spectrum and no knives between the two of them. “It actually ended up being okay, really okay.”

“Really?” That had not been the answer she’d been expecting.

“Faith Monroe, you heard of her?”

“Only from the tabloids of course that awful business with Corey Cummings.”

“The magazine has an exclusive with her to get her side of the story... wanted to get some photos. It’s not going to be a cover. She isn’t famous enough to sell magazines on her own.” Yet. “Some idiot thought it would be cute to dress her up in the hooker version of private school girl look.”

Wincing. “And your name is going out on them?”

“Nah. The girl’s grandmother who was chaperoning threw a fit. Could have used subtitles though since it was all in Russian. The idiot thought he’d try to get a 5150 on the old woman and the kid stepped up. Flat out said it wasn’t going to happen and if that is what the magazine wanted then they could go out and find someone else.”

“She’s a nobody. And she was talking to you like that?”

“She’s a balsy kid that’s for sure. It would have been interesting to find out what would have happened if the grandmother wouldn’t have been there. But having Baba explode first, I think that gave her the okay to lay it all out and very eloquently so it must have been running through her head anyway.” The photographer takes a sip of her drink and starts meandering toward the buffet table. “I liked her, the grandmother too. I’d love to get another series on them in about 5 years. Faith Monroe was a consummate professional in front of the camera and she’s got spine.” The photographer shakes her head. “She may just be able to make it in this town. She must have something going for her already. She has Bic Levens as her agent. I thought he only did A-listers.”

“Faith Monroe’s uncle is Dillon Quartermaine. I’m sure that had something to do with it. And of course there is the Lakers.”

“The what?”

“I swear you live in your darkroom! The Lakers, the basketball players, Faith has been a regular all this season and you can always tell because the cameraman flashes to her at least once a quarter.”

They get there in plenty of time and more used to the shoot around at Staples, Fancy and Frankie stand at the edge of the court checking out all the players home and away. Fancy only recognizes a couple from hanging with Vic or playing 3 on 3 that day with the Michaelsons. She gives them a nod. Vic breaks from the layup drill to come over. “You guys should go ahead and get a seat... not that there is going to be a big crowd. Nobody shows for the JV... only for the varsity games.”

“Well that’s just stupid.” Fancy suggests. “The other teams should be scouting you and the rest of the team, who do they think they are going to be playing next year and the year after that. I made sure I picked up a program. Both the players who play your position on the varsity are seniors. There is going to be a shake up.”

“Unless I grow another 6 inches even if I make varsity it will be riding the pine.”

“Fancy, you remember seeing that Portland guy light the Lakers up for 30?” Frankie keeps watching the warm up and throws it out just as a comment.

“You mean the rookie coming off the bench that nobody had ever seen before... that guy?” Fancy plays right along.

“Yeah, that one.” Frankie makes exaggerated eye contact with Vic.

“Message received.” Vic nods. “I better go work on my three point shooting.”

“Free throws would be good too. They always try to foul the guards away from the basket.” Frankie offers another suggestion and he’s only half kidding. Frankie had made the sacrifice and showed Fancy where to sit so that she wouldn’t be sitting with the visiting team or worse with the parents. Just as Vic had said there is plenty of room to stretch out and not worry about standing up if there was a good play or getting as rowdy as she liked. This could be fun. Vic’s little sister is also at the game and makes her way over. Vic had filled her in on Fancy never having gone to high school– she should be so lucky. So she fills Fancy in on the cheers when the cheerleaders finally show up.

When Stefan gets home, having gone out again after classes with Faith, he walks in on Mrs Koslov on the phone with Kristina. Because she was supposedly the only one in the house she’d put on the speaker phone. Stefan can tell she’s agitated because she is making no effort whatsoever to keep it to English.

He hangs back to not be observed and listens to both sides of the conversation. It does occur to him that Kristina skill with Russian has grown to the point that she would be mistaken for a native. The shoot had not gone as well as Faith had indicated during her classwork. He frowns. He should have known. Faith had applied herself even more diligently than normally and this had been a subject she’d claimed disdain for earlier.