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She appears in the dark of the dorm's common room, a luminary vision in the night. Saijo Claudine is holding two steaming cups in her hands, sweater sleeves enveloping her wrists. Despite the brilliance of the scripts that are on the desk right now… Claudine manages to outshine all of them.
"I'd rather compete with you if you're in top form, Tendo Maya. Coffee?"
A pause. Saijo stands there for a moment. "What is there to compete for, now that the auditions are over?"
"Do you want the coffee or not?" Saijo— Claudine — asks again. Her cheeks are pink.
"Maybe I do." Maya hums. "Sit down next to me?"
"And why should I?" Claudine answers back. The cups are placed on the desk. She slides down next to Maya. Her body feels like static electricity where they touch.
"You ask, and yet you still sit down," Maya teases, taking a sip. It's sweet and light. "The coffee's good."
"Of course it is, I made it," Claudine says. "What's with all the scripts?"
And Maya laughs, softly, gently. "I was thinking of asking you to cold read with me. I was looking at a few plays that aren't Starlight for it, actually."
"And have you found something?"
Maya picks out one and hands it to Claudine, "Maybe I have. How do you feel about this French tragicomedy, ma Claudine ?"
It reads Cyrano de Bergerac in big, blocky letters. Claudine furrows a brow. Maya looks over, a small smile on her face.
"Cyrano, huh?"
"Yes, is there any problem with that?"
"Not really. This is the guy with the big nose, right? I've watched this once or twice."
"Yes. The classic story of a man in love with his childhood best friend-slash-cousin and helps her less than articulate suitor properly court her. If you ask me, it reminds me of Minase Suzu-san's Tybalt— but instead of greeting Christian with contempt… Cyrano befriends him, because he places more importance on Roxane's own feelings."
"Different time, I guess? It's still a classic Romantic play, ' Live for I love you!' and all that."
"So you're already familiar with this play? Maybe I should look for another one—"
"No, I'd like to read this, actually. Where do you want to start?"
"I was actually thinking scene two point…" Maya flips the pages of the script. "Six. Here." Maya points to the scene heading. Under it are two character names, Cyrano and Roxane. "There's another character that shows up but we could always skip a line or two."
"You never fail to anger me," Claudine teases back, she leans in for a closer look, "What role should I play?"
"I was actually thinking you should read Cyrano." Maya admits. She turns away, picking up another copy. "I thought it'll suit you more."
"You're not playing the main role? Ça va, Maya?"
Maya merely shrugs at the statement, "I'm fine. It would be a nice change of pace. Besides, Roxane is equally as important."
"Ever the proud one. Are you sure you're not messing with me, Tendo Maya?"
"I'm trying not to, Saijo Claudine. So… cold read? We could skip a few lines and start… here." Maya points to one of Roxane's lines on Claudine's copy. "Roxane has come to the bakery to discuss something of importance to her with Cyrano. Cyrano initially wants to confess his love for Roxane, but her admission of infatuation deters him."
"Lead the way, Tendo Maya." Claudine holds out her hand and helps the other stand up.
Maya clears her throat and looks at the script, " Was I fair then ?" Maya-Roxane asks, turning to Claudine.
Claudine-Cyrano laughs, looking into Maya's eyes, " You were not ill to see !"
" Ofttimes, with hands all bloody from a fall, you'd run to me! Then— aping mother-ways— I, in a voice would-be severe, would chide — then I take your hand in mine…" Maya laces her fingers into Claudine's own, raising both to eye level, " What is this scratch, again, that I see here? Oh! 'Tis too much! What's this? "
"I try to draw away my hand." Claudine gasps as Maya squeezes back.
"And I pull your hand back. No, let me see! At your age, fie ! Where did you get that scratch ?"
" I got it— playing at the Porte de Nesle ."
" Give here !" Maya frowns as she looks at Claudine's hand.
Claudine stifles a little laugh, " So soft! so gay maternal-sweet! "
Maya lets go for a moment. " And tell me, while I wipe away the blood, how many 'gainst you? "
" Oh! A hundred— near ." Claudine replies.
Maya frowns, " Come, tell me !"
" No, let be. But you , come tell the thing, just now, you dared not ."
"Now, I dare! The scent of those old days emboldens me! Yes, now I dare. Listen." Maya moves closer, enough to whisper into Claudine's ear, "I am in love."
" Ah !" Claudine's voice cracks. Cyrano— for a moment— thinks this is his chance to confess what he feels.
" But with one who knows not . Not yet ," Maya continues. " But who, if he knows not, soon shall learn . A poor youth who all this time has loved timidly, from afar, and dares not speak. Leave your hand; why, it is fever-hot ! But I have seen love trembling on his lips ."
"Then you wrap my hand with bandages—" Claudine hisses, as if in pain.
" And to think of it! that he by chance— Yes, cousin, he is of your regiment! —Is cadet in your own company! On his brow he bears the genius-stamp; He is proud, noble, young, intrepid, fair —"
" F-Fair !" Claudine exclaims.
" Why, what ails you ?" Maya asks, Roxane seeping through her voice. She is curious, she is lovely— and Claudine is nothing more than a sap who wants her love.
" Nothing ; 'tis… This scratch !" Claudine stretches out her free hand— showing off an imaginary scratch just over her knuckles.
Maya sighs, dreamlike. " I love him; all is said. But you must know I have only seen him at the Comedy… "
" How ? You have never spoken ?" Claudine asks again, surprise in her voice.
" Eyes can speak ," Maya counters. Claudine raises an eyebrow.
" How know you then that he does ?"
" Oh ! People talk 'neath the limes in the Place Royale— Gossip's chat has let me know …"
" He is a cadet ?"
" In the Guards ."
" His name ?" Claudine asks.
" Baron Christian de Neuvillette ." Maya looks intently at the script before turning to Claudine again, "Do you think Daiba Nana-san would make a good Christian? Maybe Yukishiro Akira-san from Siegfield— maybe even Yanagi Koharu-san from Seiran?"
"I don't want to think of it right now, Tendo Maya. I'm a very jealous woman," Claudine admits.
"Oh? Is that so? Maybe I should tease you more often." Maya's voice goes down an octave, her breath warm in Claudine's ear. Claudine pouts, almost like a child who was refused candy.
Claudine clears her throat before continuing, "Sorry, where was I? How now ? He is not of the Guards !"
" To-day, He is to join your ranks, under Captain Carbon de Castel-Jaloux ."
" Ah, how quick, how quick the heart has flown ! But, my poor child —" Claudine's voice trails off.
"Then Roxane's— my— duenna opens the door. The cakes are eaten, Monsieur Bergerac , she says." Maya stares intently at the script, "The duenna could be Tsuyuzaki Mahiru-chan! Don't you think so?"
"I could see it." A laugh. " Then read the verses printed on the bags ! I say to your duenna, she goes out afterwards." Claudine turns to Maya once more, a sigh leaving her lips. " My poor child, you who love but flowing words, bright wit, what if he be a lout unskilled ?"
" No, his bright locks, like D'Urfe's heroes —"
" Ah ! A well-curled pate, and witless tongue, perchance !" Claudine says, a little deadpan.
" Ah no ! I guess— I feel— his words are fair !" Maya insists, eyes sun-bright.
" All words are fair that lurk 'neath fair mustache ! Suppose he were a fool !" Claudine exclaims.
" Then bury me !"
The silence that follows is a dreadful one. Claudine sighs before she speaks once more, " Was it to tell me this you brought me here ? I fail to see what use this serves, Madame ."
" Nay, but I felt a terror, here, in the heart… " Maya places her free hand on her heart, balled into a fist, " on learning yesterday you were Gascons, all of your company ."
" And we provoke all beardless sprigs that favor dares admit 'midst us pure Gascons— pure ! Heaven save the mark ! They told you that as well ?"
" Ah ! Think how I trembled for him !" Maya says, coy and demure.
Yet when she says this… Claudine's the one that trembles, " Not causelessly !"
" But when last night I saw you, brave, invincible— Punish that dandy, fearless hold your own against those brutes, I thought— I thought, if he whom all fear, all— if he would only …"
" Good . I will befriend your little Baron ."
" Ah! You'll promise me you will do this for me? I've always held you as a tender friend. " Maya takes Claudine's hand once more.
" Aye, aye," Claudine says, she kisses Maya's hand before she lets go.
" Then you will be his friend ?"
" I swear! " Claudine raises her arm in salute.
" And he shall fight no duels, promise!"
" None."
"You are kind, cousin! Now I must be gone— She puts on her mask and veil quickly; then, absently… You have not told me of your last night's fray. Ah, but it must have been a hero-fight! Bid him to write… She sends him a kiss with her fingers." Maya says, she presses two fingers on her lips then on Claudine's own. "How good you are!"
" Aye ! Aye!" Claudine stumbles on the affirmation, flushed pink-and-red even in the dim light. "Did you really have to do that?!"
Maya merely chuckles in delight. " A hundred men against you? Now, farewell— Are we great friends?"
" A-aye, aye !" Claudine repeats, eyes trained on the fingers that were just on her lips a moment ago.
" Oh, bid him write ! You'll tell me all one day— A hundred men! Ah, brave ! How brave !"
"Cyrano bows to her. I have fought better since. La fin . Très bien, ma Maya."
" Toi aussi, ma Claudine . Is there anything on your mind?"
"Let me be selfish for one night— just one, Tendo Maya. I have one confession to make."
"And what would that be?"
"I've always thought that Cyrano is a coward , he hides behind that large nose of his when Roxane would've loved him as he is— and I, Saijo Claudine am not !" Claudine exclaims, taking both of Maya's hands in hers. "To that I say I have always loved you, Tendo Maya."
"That is a bold statement to make, Saijo Claudine. I'd always loved your panache ."
"And only my panache ?"
"Perhaps a bit more than that," Maya admits. " Aye, I am trembling, weeping! I am thine ! Thou hast conquered all of me !"
"If I truly have… I'd like a kiss, Tendo Maya. May I have one— a real one?"
" A kiss! The word is sweet. I see not why your — or my , in this case— lip should shrink from it ." Maya leans in, and Claudine claims her prize. Maya's hand feels warm and fuzzy on Claudine's cheek— and when they part, Claudine, ever so love-stricken and enamored— looks into Maya's eyes with an intensity that rivals even Cyrano himself.
" Wow ," Claudine blurts out. "I—"
Maya laughs. Claudine flushes pink. "There is no more need for words tonight… Unless there are any other confessions you would like to make?"
"I— I have always wanted to do that," Claudine admits, looking away. Maya's hand gently coaxes Claudine to look at her.
"I also have a little confession to make to you. Ever since seeing your brilliance in Arrie all those years ago. Ever since the Seisho auditions. I admit that you have never failed to catch my eye, Saijo Claudine."
"And you never fail to rile me up, Tendo Maya."
"I feel the same way. It takes a woman of much talent to affect me the way you have."
"You flatter me too much."
"I believe I do too little. During the auditions—"
"The auditions don't matter anymore, you said it yourself."
"Yet we haven't lost our brilliance. Kagura-san is back with us. And while it's true that there's nothing to compete for anymore— but the stage is still waiting for us, Claudine."
Maya offers her hand, almost like a challenge; and Claudine, filled with fire and fury, never backs down from one, "We'll make our own stage of fate, ma Claudine."
"And I look forward to it, ma Maya," Claudine says— taking Maya's hand in hers.