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Marianne huffed as she walked down the hall, making frustrated strides as her usual entourage of guards and handlers briskly led her to a meeting room. “I cannot believe not a single one of these people could let us know they were moving up the schedule, Papa,” she said to her father, who was walking beside her. “They should have at least let you know. It’s your job to know.”
“I don’t think it could have been helped,” he explained.
“No, it was out of the Music Program’s control,” a handler explained.
“This isn’t a meeting I wanted to be caught by surprise for,” Marianne said. The Ministry of Information and Investigation had expressed enough that this was a case they were expecting her to be at her best for. They had to be trying to throw her off with a move like this. Marianne knew she was going to be under more scrutiny than ever. She’d hoped she could battle that pressure with some time to herself to think about things. Clearly, the Ministry wasn’t fond of that.
“How much preparation could you need for a meeting like this?” Asked another handler.
“It’s not exactly preparation,” Marianne said. It was a lie, but the Music Program grunts like her handlers had to be kept in the dark about certain details. “I just was hoping I would have a time when I was a little more composed for the meeting. If it had been as scheduled, I would have been.”
The guard at the front stopped as they reached the meeting room door. “No use whining about it now,” he said. “The Black Parade are waiting for you. Remember, they are on work release from MOAT. However, they have a good enough behavior record to be doing this, and there are more guards inside. You will be monitored. I don’t expect any trouble will arise. Still, regardless of how well behaved they are, they are still prisoners. Don’t get any closer than you have to for this.”
Marianne nodded, quickly composing herself. “I should manage,” she said. She had no worries, really. They had not given her information on The Black Parade’s charges, but she was certain they were at least partially fictitious. She knew how this worked. Regardless, the game had to be played.
The guard opened the door, and handlers led her into the room. Guards were already at the door, and posted behind The Black Parade, who were sitting on a couch, surprisingly relaxed for the situation. Also in the room was Marianne’s officer. “Please,” he said, “take a seat.”
“Of course,” said Marianne, allowing her handlers to take her to the couch opposite The Black Parade. She smiled politely at the band.
Marianne’s officer cleared his throat and began to speak. “This is Marianne. She’ll be your opera singer, as required for the forthcoming tour. She’s a bit of a star of her own right, hence the security detail. We’re hoping you will get along with her well.”
Her father took a seat beside her and her handlers stood on either end of the couch. “I’m quite excited to go on this tour with you,” she said. “It’s very unusual for us Music Program musicians to leave the country.”
The band all looked at each other, not quite sure what to say and who should say it.
A guard nudged one of them.
“Oh, sorry,” the member said. His voice had an unusual but not unfamiliar accent to Marianne. Maybe a city slicker, with some prison affectations. “None of us were really expecting such a formal meeting. We’re glad to have you along. They didn’t tell us much about you. I’m Gerard, I do the singing, and most of the theatrics.”
“I’m sure that’s quite interesting. It seems they haven’t told you anything about me,” Marianne said, a smirk creeping up her lips. “I don’t think they’ve even told you that I’m blind.”
“That makes more sense,” another member said. “I was wondering about the guides.”
“Of course. I require handlers in unusual settings. I can get by on my own, but it’s best if I have someone around so I can’t get lost. These buildings are all hallways. Beside me is my father. He is here acting as my manager,” Marianne explained. “I think that’s enough about me, though. I’d like to know about you,” she added. Playing the game. As much as she’d been told to keep the band at arms length, she still needed to know them enough to monitor them.
The member that spoke up last nodded and habitually raised a hand in greeting. “Well, I’m Frank. I’m one of the guitarists.”
Marianne nodded. “Guitarist… that’s right. You make rock music, I’ve heard?”
“Yeah, there are probably a lot of ways you could describe it. Rocks the broadest,” Frank said. “It’s kinda theatrical, emotional, a lot of things. We just make music that’s ours, you know?”
“I suppose,” Marianne said. “I’m afraid I’m not terribly familiar with your work, I must admit. It’s become a bit of a rarity since… well, in the last few years.”
“I suppose that can’t be helped,” Gerard said. “What’s ‘in’ changes all the time.”
“It certainly does,” Marianne agreed. “You weren’t ever a part of the Program, either, were you? That certainly is another difficulty.”
Frank let out a noise somewhere between a scoot and a chuckle.
“You’ll have to forgive Marianne,” her officer said. “She has a tendency for talking out of line at times. She likes her little snipes. You can’t let them bother you.” He repositioned himself where he stood, broadening his shoulders. A move for authority no one paid attention to.
That was exactly what Marianne was hoping someone would say. The Ministry was too fond of reminding her to stay in line to think about image. She had no desire to offend The Black Parade, and really, she didn’t think what she said was a particularly rude thing to say. But, if Marianne was to get done what she was thinking of, she had to play her own game with Draag’s rules. “Yes, sorry. I did not mean to say anything of that sort,” she said. “Please, keep introducing yourselves. It will be easier to keep track of you all in my mind if I know you all individually.”
“Oh, yeah,” said a third member. “I’ll go. I’m Mikey. Bassist.”
Marianne nodded. “That’s nice,” she said, not exactly sure where to go with such little detail.
“He’s also Gerard’s brother,” Frank explained.
“Oh!” Said Marianne, smiling. “That’s got to be an interesting dynamic.”
“Oh, definitely,” Mikey said. “Gerard and I are super close.”
Gerard nodded in agreement. “It’s had its ups and downs, being in a band with him, but we’re still like, best friends. It’s good being able to do this again with him, I’m really glad to be back with everyone, actually.”
The sentiment made Marianne smile. It was nice. They seemed like good, genuine people. Draag was never fond of that sort. She’d seen too many of them in her line of work. It really was all a shame. But now was not the time for anything subversive. Her hands were tied, after all. Play the game. Get to know the band. “That sounds very nice, she said. I’m an only child, so anything like that, I wouldn’t know. Did being the singer's brother sort give you a foot in the door, or?”
“Not at all,” Mikey said, cracking a smile.
“Can’t be too easy on him,” Gerard joked. “We still made sure he was up to par.”
For a second, Marianne almost had her own anecdote to share, an old memory. It wasn’t wise to share stories like that, though. She wasn’t supposed to be thinking about her home, and besides, when she was being watched, it was arms length. Just close enough for the job. She stopped to let the thought pass and find the good, vapid response her officer was expecting of her. “Trying to keep it fair, I suppose, that’s good of you. Frank, you said you were one of the guitarists? So there’s two in the band?”
“Yeah” the final member spoke up. “That’s me, I’m Ray. I do lead guitar, usually. It’s not a hard fast line like some bands have. We like it that way, I think it lets me and Frank do way crazier stuff.”
“You get along quite well, the two of you? Sounds like you have quite an interesting way of doing things.”
Frank laughed. “You could say that. Ray’s fucking nuts on the guitar, just getting to witness what he does is great. Working with him, that fucking rocks.”
“He’s buttering me up,” said Ray. “Franks a madman himself. Both as a musician and on the stage.”
Gerard also laughed. “He’s a hazard, that’s what he is.”
The atmosphere was infectious, and Marianne chuckled a bit herself. “Hazard?”
“You gotta give him a radius,” Gerard explained. “If you don’t there’s a chance you’ll get a headstock to the face.”
“And yet you’re still so fond of him.”
“Everyone’s fond of him,” said Ray. “It’s his good looks and devilish charm.”
Marianne chucked again. “You all have quite the rapport. I imagine being together for this has been a good time.”
Everyone in the band hesitated for a moment. “Getting to play together is great,” Frank said. “It’s been like a little reunion, you know? Some things are… different, but between us four? It’s like nothing's changed.”
“I’m glad to hear that. You all sound like you’re a wonderful team. I’ll be very glad to work with people who can get along well,” said Marianne.
“Yes, work,” said Marianne’s officer. “Let’s remember, this is a business meeting, now.”
Marianne nodded, her face souring into solemnity. “Hm. Business. I do suppose there is some of that we do need to discuss. I believe the Music Program is handling much of that for me, as is my father,” she said.
“Still,” Gerard said, speaking up to ease tensions. “Is there anything regarding performing together you would like to know?”
If she had any concerns, Marianne could not think of them at the moment, but clearly things were getting too friendly here, so Marianne gave a half hearted nod. “Possibly. I just wish to be clear of what I’ll be needed for. It’s a short solo during one of your songs, correct?”
“Uh, yeah,” said Gerard. “We should be getting that to you shortly, your part. As for anything on stage, that’s gonna be worked out in a bit. It’s not quite all planned out. I expect your people in the Music Program will get involved in that, though.”
Marianne gave a tight smile. “I should think so. I know the Program has been working on having the music for my part printed in braille. My father will be the most direct liaison for working with me when I am not available. I would like to be kept up to date on anything regarding my part, of course. Due to our restrictions, we won’t be able to talk face to face like this much.”
“That really is too bad. You’ve been the easiest person to get along with here,” Frank joked.
“Well, you know, safety precautions,” Marianne said.
The conversation kept to the banal aspects of the whole deal, and quickly ran dry. The guards and Marianne’s officer were quick to deem the meeting complete once that was over, keen to prevent any more commiserating than what little had already taken place. For one last time, Marianne’s officer cleared his throat. “Well, I think we’ve had a very good introductory meeting. If anything more is needed, I’m certain the Music Program officials will be happy to arraign a meeting again. For now, I think we have struck a deal. How about you all shake on it?” He asked.
Of course he’d find a way to make sure Marianne got that one extra piece for her surveillance. She’d long gotten in the habit of shaking hands with subjects straight away, since it looked so nice for her superiors, and was the most benign way of getting more information. She’d been too flustered at the start of the meeting to do it as usual. “I think we should,” she agreed, putting on her usual tight smile. She stood up, and held out her hand for the others to shake. “You’ll have to find me, of course. Just one at a time, please.”
“Great,” said Gerard, shaking Marianne’s hand. “I hope you’ll be just what we need.”
Skeptical, Frank took Marianne’s hand to shake. “Yeah,” he agreed.
“See you at rehearsals, I guess,” Mikey said as he shook Marianne’s hand.
Ray shook Marianne’s hand in silence, giving a tight, straight smile.
Each time, Marianne made sure to categorize everyone correctly. She had a voice to the name, a touch to the voice. They all had to be in the same place in her mind. Those would be what each member of the was in her mind. It was what everyone was. She smiled politely each time, like she taught, but kept silent. This was just part of her dirty work, the niceties swept away by the reminder she was being watched more than ever.
When the goodbyes were completed, The Black Parade were led out one door by their guards, and Marianne was led out another by hers.
Once in the hall, Marianne’s father spoke up. “Well, that went as well as it could go, considering.”
“I suppose so,” Marianne said, finally releasing some of the tension she’d built during the meeting. “I think I did fairly well, even without the preparation.”
Her officer, walking ahead of her nodded, saying “you did very well. The people in charge don’t want you getting too close to The Black Parade, so you aren’t as able to connect to them for monitoring, and yet, I think you should certainly have enough about them. They also like you. That’s impressive.”
Marianne resisted the urge to sneer at the man’s back. She didn’t need his compliments. “I’m glad you found it satisfactory.”
“I did. Let’s hope you keep it up,” the officer said. “After all, this might be the most important assignment you’ve been given. And I know just as well as you do, there is so much resting on it going well. If something goes wrong, it will reflect very poorly on all of us at the M.I.I., and that isn’t something any of us want, is it?”
“It is not,” Marianne agreed.
Everything was resting on this going well.