Simon Stunt Coordinator Au Pt. 5
“All right, guys, let’s get in a good line! I want no shoving, no wandering off, no yelling. People are working and they are gracious enough to let us watch them work, so please, be respectful and kind to your fellow man,” Grace called out to his class, slowly walking backwards in the lot of the movie studio. A few parents who volunteered to chaperone along the outsides of the group of students, keeping them corralled.
“We’ve got a great tour to start off with, we’re gonna have a lot of fun watching people act and fall over, but this is a science field trip above all else, so there will be a minor worksheet to fill out through the day-”
The chorus of annoyed groans and complaints made him roll his eyes with a smile. “Yeah yeah yeah, boo hoo, you have to use your brains and hands for twenty minutes, I know it hurts but I believe in you,” He half mocked, approaching the side door and giving it a knock before turning to his class, crossing his arms.
“I’m putting on my super serious teacher face right now. If I hear anything about bad behavior from your group chaperones, tour guides, or anyone working on this set today? If the director or one of the actors has to tell you to behave or quiet down, there will be serious consequences. Alright? You're all in sixth grade, I’m trusting you to act accordingly. Do not make me be the bad guy, because I love being the bad guy. I never get to be the bad guy anymore because you guys are awesome. Don’t make me break that streak.”
When the door popped open he smiled at the security officer, showing him the visitor badge given to him before walking in, ushering his students into a heat tight group as they waited for the visitor passes and packets to be passed out.
They weren’t quick things that Grace typed out. He’d worked on them in every moment of his free time for three weeks, gathering fun facts and information about everything his students would encounter with the help of Colt and Tucker. Some questions and open sections for them to at least attempt to somehow correlate what they’d be seeing into science before the end surprise.
It had been an amazing twist of fate that the heads of the movie production allowed Grace to bring his class in for a tour and presentation. Mostly by the begging of their Stunt coordinators and head stuntman. But Grace had talked to the director and the head of production a few times. Nice ladies, very professional. They seemed to enjoy the idea of the kids coming around to learn about making a movie, so Grace suspected not much begging was actually required.
He was excited for his student. Excited for them to meet his brother and gain real experience in seeing different jobs they might want to take. And maybe even be able to see how science affects everything, even in work like this. Though he was dreading the end a bit.
Still, that was hours away, he’s excited, and hopeful. And he’s certain everything will turn out-
“There’s my Ry-Ry,” Colt yells across the sound stage with wide open arms, the sound echoing and obviously, being noticed by his students, most of whom snicker.
Grace just shakes his head, stepping a measly foot forward with his arms thrown out sarcastically till his older brother slams into him with much more aggression than necessary. He pats around the other’s back with a falsely annoyed roll of his eyes.
“We are in such deep shit,” Colt suddenly whispered. “Keep smiling.”
“Uhh,” Grace said inelegantly, forcing on a nervous smile when Colt pulled back. “Is everything okay?”
“We’ll all physically survive,” Colt assured, “Maybe.”
“Do,” Grace looked around at his students as they went to their groups, chatting amongst each other. They looked excited. They were always excited to get out of the actual classroom, do something physical, most of why he liked to have a physical class activity twice a week, but field trips were different. Exciting in a way of seeing something new and maybe not as much homework. Then again, he tried not to give out much homework like in the beginning of his teaching career.
He glanced back at Colt, tucking his hands under his armpits of his dark grey blazer.
“Should we reschedule? Or just head back to school? I don’t mind making up an excuse-”
“No, no, it’s just- we’re stretched a little thin,” Colt whispered, glancing around at the kids too and smiling at a few of them. “I know Georgia was excited about this but the other production heads suddenly decided all the scenes lacked luster, they’re making us reshoot most scenes.”
“And they brought in another stunt coordinator.”
Grace’s brows shot up. “Oh- that's… Bad?”
“It’s bad if you're Simon and Tucker,” Colt huffed. “The one they brought in, Carter Thames, he’s from another stunt company. They do things differently,”
“Differently how?”
“They always go for the Oscar,” Colt shrugged. “And it’s worked for them. They get the award almost every year- not without the cost of a few skirted safety regulations.”
“That’s not exciting,” Grace said. “Do I have to be worried?”
“Nah, your students will be far from all of that,” Colt assured. “I just don’t think we’re gonna get to do all the stuff we did with your class. We were really excited about it too. Especially Simon,”
“Hey, look, I didn’t tell them anything besides watching a few scenes.” Grace said. “So they’re not expecting much. If we can’t do any of the fun stuff, they will be none the wiser.”
“No no no. We still have a bunch of stuff planned, but Simon's not gonna be able to run all of it like he planned. He’s getting really torn apart between this other coordinator and the rewrites they’re trying to do-”
“Is he okay?” The teacher asked seriously, his hands going to his hips and brows forwarding. The nervous scratch Colt gave to his neck as he looked around told him, no, he really wasn’t.
“I don’t like bringing up bad blood that isn’t mine to share,” Colt whispered, like the man himself would appear and scold him. “But the stunt agency? KillmaxX Stunts was the one he was with when he lost his arm-”
“You used to work with KillmaxX,” Grace pointed out. “Didn’t you break your leg-”
“Because Carter Thames choreographed a bad roll. He doesn't double check and triple check or run it to make sure all the timing is right, he just runs it- and it’s stressing Dan and Simon out, especially with the kids around.”
Crap, that sounded really bad.
“I think we should do this another day-” started with a nod. No way in heck was he letting his kids around already dangerous stunts when there was a stunt agency that had hurt two people he knew personally. It was giving him a heart attack just thinking of some flying piece of shrapnel or a car going off its set path-
“No, no. It’ll be fine,” Colt assured, taking Grace’s shoulders in hand. “With Simon on safety he’s not gonna let them run anything bad when he’s on look out, he’s just gonna be a little stretched thin. And at most the kids'll hear some colorful language.” He looked guilty, ashamed. Like he had been the one to personally bring them here. “I just think Simon and Dan won’t be able to lead the tour. But we have the next best thing, I swear-”
“Hey, as long as everyone is safe, I couldn't give a crap,” The younger twin assured his brother,who dropped his head a little. “Really. Bring in Barney for all I care. But don’t let my class distract you from your job-”
“I know. I know.” Colt said softly, patting his brother’s arm, taking a soothing breath as he looked over the students. “Alright… Let’s give your kids a parkour hyperfixation for the next four months.”
“Just please harp on safety, I don’t need them trying to break their necks right now. They can do that in seventh grade.”
The groups of students were being led by a few spare PAs, talking quietly and leading them around to different areas to watch some reshoots, check on the camera riggers, listen in on some sound mixing and such. It was going well enough, Grace popping into each group with his brother tagging in every so often to be the cool older brother and make fun of him in front of his students before scurrying away when a director or assistant came looking for him.
It was going fairly well. He had yet to see anything truly worrying. It looked like operations were running smoothly as they always did.
Then again, they weren’t exactly watching any stunts yet.
He was gesturing a group of students along so another group could get a turn to try on some costumes and take photos in a little corner they set up for them with a small set when he spotted Simon, walking furiously across the lot
Another muscle shirt today. Red and vibrant with his hair pulled up in a messy bun, half of it fallen out and his glasses strapped to his face. The same pelvic harness on and his tools attached, fisting another packet. He didn’t look in a friendly mood, if the dissociative stare on his face had anything to indicate about it.
He wanted to call out, start up a friendly conversation, say thank you for putting this together even though he was going through it right now. But he thought better of it. Till Simon glanced over, passing his form over completely to lock on something that kicked him into gear in his direction.
“Woah, Hey! Guys! No climbing the scaffolding,” Simon called out, rough and booming as he approached, Grace turning in the direction he was looking, and being more than horrified to see a small group of his students bashfully jumping down from where they had been attempting to climb.
“What they hey, guys! You’re sixth graders! Why are you climbing things?” Grace chastised as he approached right beside Simon. “I will call your parents. Don’t try me.”
“We’re sorry,” They droned collectively with less than convincing enthusiasm.
“Try that again. A little more feeling this time, yeah? Tell Mr. Fischer you're sorry and that you won’t do it again,” He ordered, Simon staring down at them with his arms crossed over his chest.
“We’re sorry, Mr. Fischer. We won’t do it again.” That wasn't much better.
Grace glanced over to Simon. “I’m sorry-We’ll keep a better eye on them, I swear-”
“Just please tell them not to climb things, okay? I don’t need a kid with a broken bone on my set.” Simon ordered, a little harshly. Grace recoiled only slightly, guilty.
“No, you’re right, I’m sorry.”
Simon gave a curt nod, turning pointedly and going to head off, before stopping in his tracks, turning like he was going to say something, finger raised and everything. Before shaking his head and turning back around. Of course he only got five more steps away, scratching the back of his neck before he turned around again and walked towards Grace.
“Obviously they can’t do that, but I could’ve been objectively nicer-”
“No no, it’s your set, they could get hurt, I understand. Seriously-”
“I know, but I was rude about it-”
“It’s alright, Simon,” Grace soothed with a smile, a sigh leaving the other man as he looked over the group of students.
He seemed awkward. Restless. Probably because he had a million other things to do and fix but decided to turn back and give the students some attention as they took their photos.
“Are they enjoying themselves?”
“I think they’re really excited to see a lot of new things in this industry that have to do with science,” Grace said diplomatically. The corner of SImon’s blank frown twitched up slightly as he nodded.
“I’m really sorry I can’t lead the tours- There’s just this company here messing with all the equipment and not gong safety inspections-”
“Colt told me. Don’t feel bad,” Grace insisted. “They’re having fun. I know they are. Any new place is exciting for kids, especially big lots like this. They’re gonna be talking about the end bit for the next few weeks they won’t even remember anything else.”
Simon nodded again, seeming to be soothed by the knowledge.
He didn’t notice how much he was staring into the ground till his dark eyes were traveling up Grace. Looking him up and down a few times, his hunched, tired stance with his hand and prosthetic on his hips shifting up, dropping his prosthetic hand from his hip and smiling in a small way that made Grace’s stomach bubble, brown eyes meeting blue.
“I like your get up,” Simon complimented. Grace’s eyes immediately looked down to try and remember what he was wearing. And yeah, it was just his every Thursday school attire. Denim striped shirt under his grey blazer, red tie and pale jeans.
Simon hummed an affirmative, eyes trained down on a particular part of his clothes that Grace couldn’t single out. What piece looked good enough for him to stare like that.
“If my teachers dressed like that I would’ve paid way more and way less attention in class.”
Grace felt warmth spread over his face, laughing a little too loud and nervously to be cool. But Simon’s eyes were warm on his face, soft. The irritation and annoyance temporarily forgotten.
“You excited about the end bit?” Simon asked, a knowing look on his face as Grace sucked in a breath, chuckling a warm sound and lips spreading around a relaxed, lovely smile. “Don’t freak out, you’ll be in good hands.”
“I’ll say it all day for you,” Simon assured. “I’m setting the rig myself, checking all the equipment by hand. Tucker’s gonna be at the bottom guarding the controls so no one else tries messing with the settings-”
“Mess with the settings? Is there a hit out on us?” Grace huffed, only slightly nervous, but the smile beamed his way soothing him.
“With the way this other company is acting, I’d think they have a hit on all of us,” Simon huffed bitterly. “But I won’t let them anywhere near the rig. Everything will be perfectly safe, I promise.”
Grace let out a soft sigh through his nose, inner brows quirking upwards as he smiled the other man’s way. Soft and genuine. “Thank you, Simon.”
“Of course, Sweetheart,” The shorter rumbled warmly, and coming out to squeeze Grace’s arm, the contact shooting heat through him. “I’ve gotta go make sure nothing breaks. But I’ll see you around.” He assured gently, rubbing the tallers arm before backing away and heading back into the direction his warpath had started. Thought, with less of a heavy step than before.
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