Work Text:
"Your positive the victim wasn't an accidental death? Anything can be possible around here!" Riya read out. Glancing up at Aiden and Sphia who were looking over their scripts.
"But you see! The muder was not caused by an accidental death. Because the handprint on the back isn't smothered, meaning he was shoved! Which as you know isn't acidental." Sophia read out.
"But that doesn't mean he was shoved then, it could of been from earlier and if it was from that and..... I just don't sound convincing enough." Aiden sighed in frustration.
"With practice, you'll get it." Riya said, Sophia nodded to this view point.
"I don't think I will. I keep sounding subpar compared to you both!" Aiden said.
"We both got to experience doing this." Riya said.
"The more practice you put into it. You'll see results sooner if you work hard for it. It's not just a one day thing." Sophia said as Aiden threw the script down on a prop rock,letting out a small growl of frustration as he shook his head.
"And what if I don't, just living with the fact I suck at this and really don't belong here. Maybe I should just stick to theater." Aiden snapped slightly as he stood up.
"Hey now. It's a launch pad. You get better. I met someone who started on theatrical plays and grew into acting." Sophia said.
"No use.... I'm just not good." Aiden shook his head as he started walking away.
"That's not how I wanted this to go." Riya said as Sophia patted her back.
"Give him time...... He's just nervous as hell." Sophia said, forcing a laugh out as RIya looked at her.
"I don't know. He seemed really upset." Riya said as Sophia shrugged.
"Sometimes we Have to get reality it hit us.... We won't get it right on one try, sometimes we need to fail to succeed." Sophia said.
"Failiure is the perfect teacher." Riya said.
"Exactly. Just let him cool down." Sophia said as she saw James walk by, looking for Aiden.
"Do you think today will be the worst?" Riya asked gently.
"Hard to say, some day later could be worse." Sophhia laughed as RIya sighed again.
"If you need some time, go outside and take a breather. It might help you." Sophia said.
"That's..... yeah that might be smart." Riya said.
"We don't need to worry about filming anyway. Get a good headspace."
"Thanks for caring."
"Of course, we're a team." Sophia grinned.
Riya nodded as she started walking towards the door outside.
"Sophia!"
Turning her head, she saw Leia running over to Sophia, William walking behind her as Sophia picked Leia up.
Riya gently waved at him, which he waved back as she walked toward the door.
The first day was setting stuff up and going over the script so Riya was just gonna sit outside for a few minutes. She wanted to clear her head.
Walking outside, she shivered a little as she walked over to a bench out in the open, she sat down as she sighed.
She wished it didn't get as bad as it did in there, but it did and she couldn't stop anything from happening.
Running her hand through her hair got a groan from her as she looked up at the night sky. Despite it getting night early here, it was still bright in the sky still and it helped her calm down a little as she smiled gently, her mind gently clearing a little as she relaxed more.
"Hey. I thought you'd be out here."
Head shooting up, Riya looked over, her eyes going wide at Connor smiling at her.
"Connor? What are you doing here, I thought you were busy today with your company?" Riya said as Connor walked over to her, chuckling a little.
"Well I wanted to surprise you, it being the first day of you working with two people you had issues with. I thought it would be helpful motivation but I guess there's some trouble. But with us, it's not surprising, trouble always finds a way of following us" Connor said, sitting next to her, wrapping a coat over her as she smiled gently at him.
"Yeah.... it got a little stressful and while it wasn't anyone causing it, had an issue." Riya said as Connor nodded as he listened.
"Want to talk about it?" Connor asked.
"Aiden struggled sounding in character, he kept thinking he was subpar. And he stormed off afterwards, not wanting to keep trying and failing and....." Riya paused as she exhaled as Connor patted her shoulder. Encouraging her to keep going.
"I...... just.... wanted today to go great. But i'm worried inside. It won't work at all, or I'm gonna mess it up. Make it hell for everyone. And that's not fair.... seeing how the set was being run... it feels like people want to make something fun, I don't want to be a mega bitch again." Riya said gently, looking down.
"The last three months have been problem free, what makes today different? I can't see that happening suddenly." Connor said as Riya nodded a little. But looked him in the eyes now.
"I'm just scared that 'll go into it, it can happen suddenly.... and then I'll say something I'd regret. And I don't want that to happen. I want to let Aiden get a chance to try and shine, because he's been waiting for this...... I got everything after our season, all the fame, and the fortune and he didn't because he was only in reality shows." Riya sighed. Slightly on edge as she breathed a little, Connor was thinking. Knowing her better than most now, he knew another problem she had.
"You feel like you don't deserve it?" Conner finished as she nodded.
"It sounds Silly. and I know I've worked hard before Season two, but seeing him struggle more. I just feel even more guilty. Would he be better off if I didn't fuck with him? Would he have more chances? ALl these mysteries are stuff I have to think about. All the things I messed up." Riya said as Connor nodded.
"Hey. I wouldn't say that's all your fault. If you want me to be honest with you.... You've worked hard since All-Stars ended and it's been a long road already.... and I know I didn't like the diva side. I think if I can see improvements, I think that means you're doing something right" Connor chuckled.
"Well... No one was a fan of that side of me." Riya dryly said.
"But you saw that and worked on improving yourself so you'd be happy with the results you wanted to get, and you're getting them now. This wasn't your fault." He said as he placed his hands on Riya's, as she looked up.
"I still feel like I could do more."
"True. But you still work hard. I don't think Aiden's upset now at you getting sucsess..... but the fear that he's not good enough. A dream he wants is something that's not possible. It can happen. It can be disheartening thinking that you're not good enough to be at a standard others want, even when you're trying your hardest to do that." Connor gently smiled.
"I get it. Sometimes feeling like you're never good for anything..... it gets to you. I worried during our season that's what was happening, but.... you being near me helped me feel less useless.... I figured James would be the same way."
"Everyone's different."
"How'd you fix this issue then?"
"At my company, when I have issues...... I put myself in their shoes." He chuckled as he was thinking.
"Put myself in his shoes? You're sure that would work well?" Riya asked.
"Of course." Conner said. "It helps us empathize with issues, and work from there." He smiled.
"Well I can't do that as well.... what else would you say I should do to get his spirits up?" RIya asked as Connor tapped his chin.
"Well there is something I heard once from my dad when he told me how to help someone who had problems." Connor said as Riya was focused on him now.
"I'm listening." SHe gently said after a few seconds.
"Sometimes...... Just being there to push someone forward is all they need. Knowing that despite our struggles, our friends are there to have our back. And help us no matter what." Connor said as RIya's eyes went wide as she stood up.
"Being there for him?" She asked as Connor nodded, confused at her standing up.
As he stared at her, she was thinking before her eyes went wider
"That's it! I know how to help him! Thank you!" Riya said as she kissed Connor's cheek as she stood up.
"You're welcome." He chuckled as he got up to follow after her. She was making a headline for the studio door.
Walking back in, she paused at seeing James was now there.... and so were Lake, Rosa and Sofia.
Riya wanted to say hello, but she knew if she did, she would lose herself in talking to them, she had to do something first.
Walking past everyone, she saw them turn to her, and Connor right behind to signal to wait, not wanting that fire in her to go away yet.
She stopped as she saw Aiden sitting alone as she stood in front of him.
He glanced up, his annoyed expression turning confused.
"Get up." She said, raising a brow.
"Why?"
"Do you think you're gonna improve by sulking here?" Riya crossed her arms.
"What's the-"
"Don't. Finish. That. Sentance. Do you think you'll get anywhere by giving up?" Riya asked.
"Don't see how I'd improve."
"Failure is a teacher Aiden. You won't be perfect, but damnit you can at least see results if you push hard enough and keep trying. You think you don't sound convincing, then you make it sound convincing." Riya said as Aiden listened more now, curious.
"You think after our season I just boomed? No, at first I struggled. They wanted the girl that betrayed her friends, that left you hanging from a cliff, that did everything in our season."
"And.... what happened?"
"After I tried to be me..... I had to put that mask back up. And playing it up, I was able to do it better, knowing It wasn't me. I channeled all my struggles into it. It took time.... but you find your rhythm to it." Riya said as Aiden was processing the stuff she said.
"And it worked out because you kept pushing forward and trying?"
"Yes. And I know you can too Aiden." Riya said as Aiden chuckled gently at her.
"If you told me I would get acting advice from you, on a film set, after our seasons, I wouldn't believe you." Aiden said as Riya held out a hand.
"Agreed..... want to try again?" She asked as Aiden grabbed her hand as she pulled him up.
"Yeah.... I should." he smiled as they walked back to where everyone else was talking.
"Sunshine, your back!" James smiled, running over. "Are you okay?" He asked.
"Better than that. I'm ready to try again." Aiden smiled.
"What gave you motivation?" Lake asked, coming over.
"I got some great advice from a friend." Aiden said as Riya smiled.
"And I got reminded of how to give that advice from an amazing person." She said as Connor gently grabbed her hand.
"Where's William?" Riya asked.
"He went to get some food, big party for our first night doing this." Sophia laughed.
"Well we can practice until he gets back." Riya said as Aiden nodded, grabbing the script.
As Aiden looked it over, he started trying to read the lines again. This time he was sounding a bit more into it, and he grinned as he kept talking.
Sophia joined in for him to bounce off of something, and as they continued having it, Aiden seemed to be more calm with the lines and liked how he sounded.
Everyone started clapping as they finished, before Leia's voice cut in.
"We're back with the pies!" She said,
Riya looked confused as Sophia laughed.
"Pizza."
"Ah."
As everyone went over to help Riya was stopped in her tracks.
"Nice to see you helping him!" Rosa suddenly said as she hugged her from behind.
"Trying to fix what I messed up..... to move forward then back." Riya laughed as she returned the hug.
"Well it makes watching you guys practice more fun seeing we all have fun." Rosa smiled.
"That's why I wanted it to go well. Now it's great." Riya sighed, seeing how happy everyone was.
"Come on, it's not a party without all of us." Rosa said.
"We'll be there shortly." Riya said, knowing Connor was standing by him as Rosa nodded, smiling.
"Thanks for the advice..... it really helped with getting Aiden to cheer up." Riya smiled as Connor chuckled.
"I'd help you anytime you need it." He said as she kissed him again as he returned it.
She was glad that in this moment, she had him there with her.
She had friends here with her.
And that's all she really needed.