General Hospital Fan Fiction Message Board

6:00am Tai Chi in the park with Uncle Stefan
7:30am Breakfast at home.
9:00am- 2pm+ Work! WOO HOO!
2pm- 4:30 Classes with Uncle Stefan (World of Shaw 1900-1930)
5:30 Out to dinner with Uncle Stefan and Baba .
After dinner study lines.
Midnight home and asleep.

During the course work time–

“Oh wow, Uncle Stefan.” Fancy laughs. “The guy might have been a socialist but listen to this...

...George Bernard Shaw, Aug 17, 1919. A hundred years ago the public schools sucked too.”

“Even a stopped clock is right twice a day, Faith.” Stefan sniffs. He’d arranged this focus on Shaw because of the girl’s interest in My Fair Lady but he is not a fan. Of course this is his own fault. If he had not insisted on a segment on Musical theater he might have been able to get around Shaw all together. Shaw had been more than a socialist. He had belonged to the Fabian Society which believed in a peaceful conversion to socialism. And yet the playwright had endorsed the rise in power of Stalin. He’d never believe what had come out about Stalin, the famine, the purges but called them lies. Hadn’t believe in vaccinations until he himself had come down with Smallpox. The man should have stuck to writing plays.

“Uncle Stefan, I’m not going to stop studying a guy just because you don’t like his politics anymore than I’m going to not study the works of Polanski even though the guy is a total perv who drugged a 14 year old girl and got busy with her in his hot tub. They’re both geniuses. Okay one is a socialist and the other a perv but still genius.”

“And if you were offered a role in a production with Polanski at the helm?”

“Totally take it.” Fancy nods.

“Explain your reasoning, please.”

“Better the perv you know than the one you don’t.” Fancy shrugs. “Seriously, the guy is a perv but if he’s doing 14 year olds I’m almost out of his victim pool anyway. And really if I got a part, which would be so awesome, do you really think that Baba and Frankie wouldn’t be there like every single second watching him like a hawk?! That Mouse wouldn’t have the guy wired up like nobody’s business? But he’s a perv, and I’m a Lolita-- total bad press synergy. It would never happen. Are you okay, Uncle Stefan?”

“I believe I have a headache. Please continue with your reading. I am going to find some aspirin.”

Business is definitely booming. Covering the CSMC helpline from 3am-11am isn’t that much of a hardship. Most of the things that came up were easy enough to fix or verify. There are actually very few calls between 3am and 6am. Of course the ones that came through then were the calls that normally involved calling CSMC security because someone was in a situation they wanted out of. Or calling the local bail bondsman and referring to good local attorneys. Either situation is going to be have a more indepth follow up during Mouse’s business hours. When she hits the office at 8am the calls start being a mix between hers and CSMC. Then when Mouse takes the calls back at 11am the rest are all hers.

The Clippers are on the road right now. She’d talked to the guys there about their charitable investments before they left and fleshed out the questionnaires. She has their schedule mapped out on her calendar along with possible things to do in each of the cities. The Kings are also out on the road so their schedule is updated as well. Finding stuff for the guys to do is one thing but Mouse had been right. Most of the guys weren’t worried about things to do on the road– they wanted to know how things were going here at home. How their family is doing? Did their wife or girlfriend remember to take the car in for service. Silly stuff like that. Course she also has a map of all the guys’ property and kept an eye on the news and weather. If there is going to be a mudslide taking out somebody’s house she wants to be on it before the guy saw in on the news from 1500 miles away. The phone rings.

“This is your one phone call, what can I do for you?”

“Mona, it’s Larry down at the hub. There is a Fox West guy here to see you.”

“Let me check my book.”

“He says he doesn’t have an appointment.”

“Go ahead and send him up.” Mona has space right now.

“And the camera guy?”

“Excuse me?”

“He brought a crew with him.”

“No. I don’t think so. There is no room in my office. Send up the guy. He can tell me what the hell he wants and we can go from there.”

The talking head of the Fox West broadcast of the Lakers game is met at the elevator by lushly gorgeous woman that isn’t beautiful, pretty or cute. “Hey I’m Mona Dupree.” She extends a hand to him. Guys always feel more comfortable with the handshake thing if women start it. Otherwise they live in fear of either flop sweat or bruising knuckles.

“Keith Kennedy.” He shakes her hand and then follows her back to the office. “I thought you were kidding about the no room for the camera crew.”

“Nope, this is it.” Mona looks around the office proudly. “Most of my work is doing on the phone and the computer. All my consults because of the nature of the information... nobody else is in the room.”

“Tell me about this.”

“Why don’t you tell me why you’re here.” Mona counters. She points to a chair and going around the desk gets comfortable in hers.

“I’ve been reporting on the Lakers now for the last four years on the remotes.”

“I’ve been watching you since the Lakers first game with the Knicks this season.”

“That’s when you hooked up with Edwards.”

“I really need to know why you are here. If you’re here to talk about me or Edwards then we’re done right now.”

“Mostly right now I’m here because I’m hearing your name too often. I’m in the locker room getting a postgame interview and I hear one player, and it never seems to be the same player, say to another. “You call Mona yet?”

Mona smiles. “Aren’t they great guys?”

“And it’s my understanding it’s going on in the Clippers locker room as well.”

“They all work out of Staples. It might be a big arena but it’s a really small world. So you’re here because you want to know what I do for the guys and why they would be calling me. I can’t talk about that; I’m not a name dropper. I do think a guy like you could use my service so let me show you what I do.” She pulls out the questionnaire and reverses it so that it’s toward the reporter. “You’re a guy whose work keeps him out on the road a lot of the time. Have you ever been at the intersection of where the hell am I and where can I get some really decent food without having to sign some autographs?”

“Actually I like the autographs. It may say Fox on the letterhead but it’s still a cable show.” The reporter’s tone is wry.

“Okay how about a place where you can get a decent meal, the beverage of your choice and just enough autographs to be an ego stroke without letting your food get cold.”

“Now that sounds like a nice balance.” Keith Kennedy nods. “But what does what I want for dinner have to do with where I live, what kind of car I drive, who my insurance agent is, my regular agent, my personal assistant’s name, my personal physician’s name, the charities I donate to, family history going back two generations, kids and their birthdays.” He is flipping through the questionnaire and calling out questions as he does.

“The premise of the service is One Phone Call. Whatever you need all you have to do is make one phone call and I handle it from there. Let me show you my wall.” Mona comes over to a wall that has a huge map of LA on it. There are numbered stick pins all over the Metro area. “During the season, you and the players are more out of town than in, I swear. And I’m new to LA.”

“You don’t say.” Keith’s comment just has a hint of sarcastic in it. Mona’s New York roots are evident every time she opens her mouth.

“So there are a lot of things out here that scare the hell out of me: earthquakes, mud slides, wild fires you know the stuff that evidently happen every freaking year.” She pulls a transparent sheet over the map, it doesn’t lay evenly because of the push pins but the lines are clearly labeled. She’s got all the known fault lines traced out and then where the fires and slides had been in the previous year. The reporter can see now why she would want the client’s address and insurance information. “During basketball season it’s probably not going to be wildfires... more likely to be earthquakes and mudslides. Guy calling up from the other coast cause he’s hearing about mud slides wants to know his house is still standing and if it’s not where the hell are his dog, his cars and girlfriend. Hasn’t come up yet but I bet during the off season the guys will be heading out of town back to their home states. Then I’ll probably have to get on the look out for the fires. I recommend to clients that they put my name on their contact sheet for their security systems. ”

“So hypothetical.... it’s after a game and one of the guys calls. I’ve already heard it... anyone call Mona yet?”

“Depending on the city they are in... I can give them recommendations of good restaurants, even have it delivered if they don’t want to go out of the hotel. If they’re really hurtin’ after the game sometimes I can line up an acupuncturist or massage therapist for them. If they are going to be there an extra day and are loose ends... maybe I can find them a golf course, a charity gig or a concert for them to go see.”

“Escorts?”

Mona shakes her head. “That always seems to come up. My boss at CSMC brought it up, one of the... no, all of the coaches when they heard about the service. What am I going to do when one of my clients asks for a hooker. And I’ll tell you what I told them. I’m not going there even if it would be better for the team than some lonely guy hooking up with a hoochie hanging at the stadium door or in the lobby of their hotel.”

“What do the coaches think of the service?”

“You’d have to ask them but I think it gives them another tool in their arsenal. It’s getting easier and easier for them to say “Why the **** you bothering me with this? Do I look like Mona to you? I figure it keeps their heads in the game. If they know they can call me and I’ll do the leg work for them. If they trust me then they can just relax and focus on getting it done. Does it sound like something you’d be interested in?”

Keith knows he’s just been given a sales pitch and very nicely too.

“Yeah, maybe.”

“What’s your address?” The reporter calls it off. Mona goes over to the map and finds it. Then she just looks over her shoulder. “Why don’t I give you one of my cards.”

They still dressed for dinner, but since it’s her house, and Baba is much more relaxed, it’s more of a California Casual dress for dinner. More than once when the dinner had been something Frankie had grilled then the dress of the day would be a swimsuit covered by a long pareo and dining alfresco.

And Uncle Stefan put up to with it. Some times not as well as others. They’d figured out about his tolerance level and come up with an inoculation from him being a total grump. Having spent hours on Shaw and since today had been a very good day, tonight would be a true dress for dinner evening. In order to make the most of it, they’d be going out. It can be interesting to find what Uncle Stefan would consider normal for dressing for dinner out here while still being under the radar. Specially since he didn’t want to join any country clubs or anything like that. Definitely not a joiner. But she and Baba had finally hit on it. Dinner and Dancing. The local ballroom dance clubs held dinner dances. Everyone would be dressed up, the food would probably be the weakest part of the evening. But it would get Uncle Stefan back into his comfort range of appropriate attire.

And tonight would be an even better surprise because they are going to be meet another couple there– even Baba didn’t know. They are waiting just inside the front doors of the ballroom.

“Josef!” Baba spots him first and rushes over to give her grandson a hug. The last time she’d seen him had been when Fancy had the L&O gig and had been back in New York.

“Hey Baba.” He gives his grandmother kisses on both cheeks. “You’re looking good. Fancy’s been taking good care of you?”

“Actually she’s been taking good care of me. Biting off people’s heads and everything. Hey Josef.” Fancy keeps her distance and gives Baby’s boyfriend a nod. They have a civil relationship. Mouse told her from the get go to get over any problem she had with Josef. People had been trying to break Baby and Josef up for years and it just never seemed to take.

Kristina is chatting with Stefan. “If Fancy hadn’t been sending me pictures of you reading by the pool, I’d think you hadn’t changed at all.” She runs a hand down his tie. “Thanks for doing this.”

“I go where I am needed.” Stefan nods. “How are you?”

“Busy. But good busy. Maureen told me you’re renting office space at Tower?” Baby knows why Stefan hadn’t mentioned it to her in Stefan’s regular reports on Fancy’s progress. She would have given him the space.

“It is handy.” Stefan shrugs. “Nikolas has made a few inquiries about providing oversight on the Cassadine shipping resources on the west coast.”

“I didn’t think there were any?”

“Exactly.” Stefan says dryly. “Somehow everyone is concerned that I will be... bored out here in California and have provided me projects that will keep me occupied. Busy Work, Kristina?”

“I don’t think Mona Dupree would think so, Uncle.”

“Lets go inside and get our table.” Fancy suggests. She gives Baby a hug. “I think we surprised them– Baba at least. Uncle is too much of a poker face to give much away. I just have to make sure that the table they give us is right by the floor because ...”

“Do not even go there!” Kristina threatens already know where it’s going.

“...Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” Fancy grins at her adoptive mother and ducks out of smacking range.

“You are such a brat.” It doesn’t stop Baby from giving Fancy kisses on both cheeks.

The number is off of course with three women and only two men. But it actually allows for a mix up of the conversation as the couples change up going out on the dance floor. Baba had taught Josef to dance way back when he’d started crossing over to the polite side of his business. Stefan and Kristina had both had tutors. Stefan more than Kristina who actually had gained her comfort level with this style of dancing by dancing with Josef. The only reason Faith is here is because it offered Stefan a dress for dinner opportunity. Thus when she gets an invitation to dance by Stefan she turns him down flat. She does not want to embarrass herself. Her dance skills are more for the clubs than here where she doesn’t know the rules.

Stefan shifts his hand. “Mrs Koslov, shall we show Faith how it is done?”

“I would be honored, Mr. Cassadine.” Baba takes Stefan’s hand and follows his lead to the dance floor. They are there just as a new song begins... a tango. Of the latin dances this is the one that is actually the most suited to them. It is a stylized dance with attitude both of which Baba and Stefan have in spades.

Faith watches drop jawed. “Wow. They look awesome– not hot thankfully because that would be just freaky but they know what they are doing.”

“First real date I went to with Josef we were at an embassy thing and they were playing this type of music. And he asked me if I knew how to dance.”

“And she reminded me that her father was Eddie Maine and while she might not know the dance she’d be fine if I knew how to lead.”

“He knows how to lead.” Baby gives Josef a heated glance.

“You guys go dance. I’ll be okay.” Faith urges them to the floor.

A young man comes up to the table, seeing Faith there alone. “Would you like to
dance?”

“I don’t know how to do this.” Fancy warns.

“That’s okay. I do.” He extends a hand palm up to her.

“It’s your feet and you’ve been warned.” Fancy counters but takes his hand. She quickly realizes that while keeping to the rhythm of the tango he is keeping it simple and letting her know exactly what he is doing both verbally and with the frame of his body. “You’re good at this.”

“That’s good since I teach it.” The guy gives her a nod. “All of us come to this because so many of our students are here. Never seen you here before though.”

“Am I going to sound terrible if I say that I’m here since it’s a place to dress for dinner without joining a country club?”

“Whatever brought you through the door, I think you’ll leave with a different idea.”