Collette Richards

“Which I don’t think I will ever get over!” Collette bit down on her lip. “I don’t even mean something like this! I just mean whenever I think we have reached our bestest day you surprise me with something better.”

Collette meant that.

“I never have felt limitless in a relationship and baby I believe we are just that.” Collette reached across the table and pulled at Mals hand. “You already know of my most recent drama with an ex and well there are quite a few before him. I just..” she humpfd. “…I just never thought I could feel like this. Which is why I am sorta bad at expressing all of this.”

Mal gave her a raised eyebrow with a particular look as she mentioned the 'quite a few before him.' But she let her continue as that was not important in this moment. Her eyes softened as Collette spoke, giving her hand a small squeeze again. "Never thought you could feel like this...?" She said questioningly. Surely she'd felt love before right? Had no one given that to her? It made her want to do even more to show her that she could be worthy of that. "So... you're saying you do feel the same as me, you just can't say that?" She was trying to understand her better.

Everything pointed to Collette loving her, right? That's what she was saying? It had been weeks since Mal had told her, her feelings and the lack of reciprocation and only acknowledgement rang a bit hollow in her heart. She'd tossed that feeling aside and worked on her surprise instead. Everyone had their own pace, she just reminded herself of that. She just never thought that she would've been the one to say it first.

“I am saying I have feelings and I’ve been through a lot.” The smile that sat on her face was smaller than normal but her eyes bled emotion. “When I feel ready I will give you the words you deserve.” Collette squeezed her girlfriend’s hand. “I feel so many things and it everything I’ve ever dream of…that’s just all I can give you right now.”

What Mal really deserved was the biggest I love you in the world. Yet Colette couldn’t utter those words. The last time she said it was out of necessity. The time before out of fear. Then the hundreds of times before…it was the wishings of a girl caught in a romantic fantasy.

Now Collette felt like she was cursed to lose whatever she loved so if she didn’t say it….then her world wouldn’t crumble. Even if she was turning into a dog…or not.

Hearing of the possible damage Collette moved a little further into the space. “Oh here get away from the rain some more! All we need is someone to drive by a bit too quick and splash us!” Being a bit nosey she did peer over to Sylvia and her hooks. One did look familiar.

“Oh I think I saw something about that one when I was aimlessly scrolling a few nights ago! Is that about the long lost overs or do I have my covers mixed up!”

Maybe she should look into it too? Collette would be able to recommend something at least.

There was a small humpf as she thought about the fictional romance. This honestly was must be a sign she should pick up a copy herself.

Just as she was about to speak a car rushed by on the street sending up a puddle. “Oh dang you!” Collette screeched using her umbrella to block them.

“People have no regard when they drive crazy around here!” Collette rolled her eyes shaking off the muddy rain drops from her umbrella. “Honey we better get off the street! How far do you have to go we can share my umbrella!”

Letting go of Drakken she scurried to the corner and grabbed a book. Opening it up she used it as a cover for the top of her head. Collette did not need it in her hair.

Just as the question was asked Georgette poked her head out from behind her desk. Hair looking disheveled and mascara running down a little on her cheek. “Sir I don’t think I can!” The whites of her knuckles shining as she gripped the top of her desk.

Georgette did not do wild animals like this. A horse at a stable or someone’s pet on a leash. Of course that was doable. All of this though?! With a whimper of a breath she got to her heels and made a jolt for the window! Instead of staying calm though she shrieked.

“MAKE sure it DOESN’T get me!” Georgette half gulped out as she went to the window. Hands fumbling with the latch.

Then there were two loud swoops and the bat like create was diving for her!

“AHhhhhHhhhh!!!”

Drakken glanced over his shoulder when the ever hovering presence of Richards left him, only to do a double take when he looked at her using a book for refuge. Well, actually, he guessed it wasn't that bad of a move since the book could quickly be used as a weapon instead of a shield. And she had done the most useful thing for him– getting out of the way.

He looked back to the other woman when she made a sudden appearance from the other side of the desk, and sighed quietly to himself at her nay-saying. For science's sake, didn't she want to help herself? What was all of this for if not to get this thing out of this room? Didn't she have a scrap of self preservation?

He searched for something more positive to tell her and motivate her to open the window, but then she was doing it all on her own. Oh. Well. good then!

Only–

"Don't make any sudden-" he tried to warn, but her erratic attempts to get the window made enough noise and movement that the animal reacted as it had been.

Wonderful.

Drakken crouched down, bracing his hands on the desk as he ducked. He may have been there to supposedly help, but he was no hero. He wasn't about to take a hit for her or something stupid like that. The thing made a run for the woman at the window, narrowly missing her, and then began to turn to make another attempt. He looked away to search the room for...something...ah!

He picked up the little rubbish bin by the door, dumped out the contents, and turned in time to see the thing land clumsily on top of the desk. It opened its wings, hissing at the woman, and then moved to lunge at her. Drakken slammed the trash can down on top of it, trapping the majority of the creature underneath the make-shift cage. It gave a noise of pain, one of its wings having gotten caught out and it yanked to pull it in with it. He held down firmly as it tried to throw itself against the sides, trying to escape.

No help in her. The beastie had wings! Are you kidding!

Georgette though wanted to snap back at this Doctor. Yes they had spoken before at the salon but he was a bizarre man. Who was he to yell at her!

Yet she jumped and went to unlatch the window.

“You can’t just let that thing go loose?! It needs to be given to animal control or something! Or it got loose from the magic zoo department!” Her nose was scrunched in frustration as she looked back to Drakken. “You can’t just let it fly!”

Reluctantly she pushed the window open and glared back to him. “That things got a vendetta against me!”

The food was made with love.

Collette ensured they had every dessert on the menu coming their way!

There had been trips in her past with a plethora of exs. Not that this made her think of them but Collette never knew if they would get here. Swynlake had always sucked them in so much with their jobs and family that the idea of a trip and adventuring the world was like a fantasy.

Unlike her last situationship where the trips were plenty but they were all for show. This just felt different.

As the fresh fruit and crepe was presented before them Collette finally let the moment ground her.

“I never imagined you’d do something like this for me.” She reached for a strawberry and brought it to her own mouth. “I still think I am speechless. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to express all the emotions it makes me feel.” The smile that followed was filled with excitement - hoping to not bring this conversation to a place she wasn’t insecure about.

“How do you do this every time. Surprise me.”

It had been a while since she made time for a relationship like this. She hadn't ever traveled internationally or anything like that with her ex girlfriends (hadn't traveled much internationally in general). Ava sort of did her own thing traveling and Mal had been all over Canada with her previous girlfriends with sports and other travel but that wasn't like this. This was different.

The food was great, the drinks were great, and Collette was amazing navigating a foreign country with such confidence.

Mal ate a piece of fruit as Collette spoke, a small smirk on her face to try to hide the slight redness that flooded into her cheeks. Yeah, Mal had planned to surprise her, but it wasn't anything big, she just... showed up. For her. Made time for her and what she really wanted.

The firefighter snorted, fingers still rubbing gently along Collette's hand on the table. "I think this is the first time I've actually planned on surprising you." She looked over to her girlfriend, eyes reflecting the warmth of her smile, "You're worth it all though, you know. The effort."

“Which I don’t think I will ever get over!” Collette bit down on her lip. “I don’t even mean something like this! I just mean whenever I think we have reached our bestest day you surprise me with something better.”

Collette meant that.

“I never have felt limitless in a relationship and baby I believe we are just that.” Collette reached across the table and pulled at Mals hand. “You already know of my most recent drama with an ex and well there are quite a few before him. I just..” she humpfd. “…I just never thought I could feel like this. Which is why I am sorta bad at expressing all of this.”

Hoping to not press too many buttons or trigger a bad response Collette just let it be for the time being. Trying to focus more on what she was asking now.

"I have done things like this quite a few times actually." Yet perfection and award winnging showmanship was not born over night. "I honestly can't count how may times but that is the life of a producer." Collette was proud of that - how she graduated to the position.

"I think the first time I really did something like this was back when I was in college myself. Of course it was nothing exactly like this - I created this on my own." Collette smiled happily. "Thats not that point now is it honey!" Her hands waved at the self accolades - sweeping them away. "I was basically given a production that was quite popular. I had to make it modern and my own. Form the script, music, set, lights, and even do my own casting. All while performing myself. It was for a whole second semester grade. I honestly can't remember where I started which I know doesn't sound helpful."

Whoo she was justa talkin'!

"It was really a lesson on learning how to collaberate to get my idea on the stage. I would have been running around that theater department for weeks if I didn't create a team to help me start centered." Collette tilted her head and looked across to her student. "Is any of this helping honey? Tell me where I lost you! I know I talk a mile a minute sometimes!"

May did not mind listening to the professor speak about herself– after all, she had asked specifically to hear such things. She not only wanted to succeed with this assignment, she also wanted to excel specifically in this woman's eyes. Art was a subjective thing, a matter of differing tastes. May wanted to know what Professor Richard's liked and attune to that. Salty or sweet? Warm colors or cool? Comedy or drama? How did she get good marks on paper and a lasting impression in the woman's mind?

So that, should she ever been in need of someone for a certain role or position in a production or project, her mind would think of the student who she knew would work well with her!

And, deep down, she could also admit that it was nice to see a woman in a position of success. Who spoke with such positivity about the world May wished to walk into. Most conversations were rather dire– that the landscape of media and art were not very fun or beautiful as they appeared on stage, or on screen. Horror stories meant to send people running.

All the girls she helped as she grew on the stage were just peers amongst the wings. Although the arts especially live performance art always swirled with the muse of help. Once snob nosed twits realized they weren’t the best thing since sliced bread.

“Oh good!” She mused.

“I do get what you’re saying. I do I really do May honey. You are on your way to being this actress supreme. This is simple just a class on your way.” Collette believed that really she did. All the hip hop classes she took and improv lessons had nothing to do with her true goals of character work.

“Don’t forget that the main focus of this assignment is the performance you give. Everything else if how you see it coming to life.” Collette pulled out her phone and quickly swiped her fingers across the screen. Pulling up a video of herself at the age of 22.

Collette was young with her hair pulled back in a large messy bun on top of her head. Held together with a scarf. Dressed in a black leotard with hot pink tights she sat on a stool - infront of a black velvet curtain and a small spot light on her face in the shade of light blue.

“This was me when I did something sort of like this assignment. I had to put together a scene for a memory. I chose something from when I was a child. Which I used the leotard and pink tights to represent. The blue light was to set the mood. My hair and lack of make up was to represent my hysteria. The scarf was actually a tie of my father’s…since my monologue was about him.”

Collette hit play and let the video play out - it was only shy of two minutes long. The monologue was recalling the feeling of a young Collette at a recital ruining a performance because she couldn’t see her father in the crowd. The performance wasn’t about the story - it was about the emotions a little girl felt and how she wrestled with disappointment.

It was very somber but Collette was fierce and the tears were real. The blue light reflecting on her face.

Hitting pause she looked over to May and shrugged a small smile. “See it’s the performance. I could have had a grand stage with ballerinas performing behind me if I wanted but I went with something small.”

The whole point though of the assignment was building your performance. Which Collette wanted May to remember. “After all of this I saw almost every production differently - the point of view is just something I have never forgotten!” Her tone got chipper again - “which is why I created the assignment for this class!”

Fiddling with her clear yet flower covered umbrella she shook it a few more times hoping it would open. Only to be joined by someone else!

“Oh you’re telling me honey! I can’t get my hair wet for another 24 hours! I swore I checked the weather app!” Collette offered a smile and noticed it was Sylvia from the university. “Your books alright?!”

Hearing of the possible damage Collette moved a little further into the space. “Oh here get away from the rain some more! All we need is someone to drive by a bit too quick and splash us!” Being a bit nosey she did peer over to Sylvia and her hooks. One did look familiar.

“Oh I think I saw something about that one when I was aimlessly scrolling a few nights ago! Is that about the long lost overs or do I have my covers mixed up!”

"Well first dinner!" Collette shimmed her shoulder as she pulled her girlfriend with her out the door.

As the walked through the streets she made sure to point out every thing she had already done. What they had planned. Oh and where she wanted to try to sneak in before they left. "The resturant in just up here! I was walking this way earlier today after checking in with the girls and this loveable old gentleman stopped me and showed me the fish he had just caught this morning." Collettes eyes were wide. "Babe you should have see it! The thing was taller than he was! So of course I use my two little fingers here." She pinched them together in the air between them. "...and I helped him carry it by the tail of course to his little bistro down on the corner!"

The small quaint resturant strung up with lights was just at the end of the walk. "We get to have that swordfish tonight! Its light so we can drink all the wine we want!" Collete was so excited to share this moment with Mal. Their own little adventure.

Mal, once more, was lead forward, out into the night, blindly following the girlfriend who'd planned things out to a detail she admired but would probably never find herself ever doing. She was always passenger princess in spirit.

"Oh yeah? Makes our catches out on the river last Fall look like sardines." Mal teased, looping her arm around her girlfriend as they walked the streets of Mykonos, sounds of all sorts and smells of every kind in the air.

Collette tugged and she followed like the dutiful girlfriend she was except she stepped out a bit quicker to gently grab the other woman's seat to pull it out for her. Gentlemanly, romantic, chivalrous, all vibes she was going for with this surprise trip and their exciting vacation, which was much longer than any time she'd taken off in the recent years.

She took her own seat across from her gorgeous date and slid her hand across the table to gently run her fingers along the back of Collette's hand. The lighting made her eyes glow. How anyone couldn't find themselves in love with her, she didn't know.

She was in it. Even if maybe her girlfriend wasn't yet.

It had been a month or so that had passed and still, Mal's confession was unanswered and unaddressed. She swept it to the side for the time being, but it was still there. Hadn't gone away.

The food was made with love.

Collette ensured they had every dessert on the menu coming their way!

There had been trips in her past with a plethora of exs. Not that this made her think of them but Collette never knew if they would get here. Swynlake had always sucked them in so much with their jobs and family that the idea of a trip and adventuring the world was like a fantasy.

Unlike her last situationship where the trips were plenty but they were all for show. This just felt different.

As the fresh fruit and crepe was presented before them Collette finally let the moment ground her.

“I never imagined you’d do something like this for me.” She reached for a strawberry and brought it to her own mouth. “I still think I am speechless. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to express all the emotions it makes me feel.” The smile that followed was filled with excitement - hoping to not bring this conversation to a place she wasn’t insecure about.

“How do you do this every time. Surprise me.”

The grin on her face was palpable.

Yet she hadn't noticed the clouds, the darkness that was sneaking over her. She did however feel the water droplets and the panic set in as the sound of rain got closer and closer.

She didn't look before she ducked into the nearest door, the books were more important. It was worth the look on others faces.

"Rain and books don't mix?"

Fiddling with her clear yet flower covered umbrella she shook it a few more times hoping it would open. Only to be joined by someone else!

“Oh you’re telling me honey! I can’t get my hair wet for another 24 hours! I swore I checked the weather app!” Collette offered a smile and noticed it was Sylvia from the university. “Your books alright?!”

Hovering over him watching as he switched at the door Collette hummed and made an array of sound effects as Georgette continued to wail on the other side of the door.

Just as the door clicked and his pushed it open the chaos really billowed out. "OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS!" Collette screamed gripping onto Drakkens shoulder. "WHAT IS THAT THING! DO YOU THINK IT HAS RABIES! WE SHOULD CALL THE POLICE!"

Not that the police would be able to help? WIth a large bat looking creature with eyes and tongue of a serpent but wings of a featehred bird. Collette didn't know a poodle from a piranha but this certainly was no normal bat?! "Georgette!!!" She clung onto the doctor a bit tighter. " THROW A SHOE AT IT OR SOMETHING!"

Collette was zero help!

Drakken squeezed one eye shut as the woman's voice raked across his ear drum, wishing that the human body wasn't so poorly designed and that he could have done the equivalent to block out his hearing instead. He also cringed at the feeling of her hand on him– he didn't really enjoy people toughing him. Especially ones he didn't know all that well, even if she had been pleasant to him.

(Not that he would ever look too far into it, but this probably stemmed from a lifetime of brutality sent his way. The only kind touches coming from his mother. He still hadn't learned to be comfortable with it from strangers, too defensive in every facet.)

He tried his best to ignore her. Honestly! If she had wanted to call the police, she should have just done that and left him out of this whole thing!

Whatever. He was involved now, he might as well do something.

"Will you please be quiet? Both of you!" he hissed at the pair of them. After having worked on Chakraborty's farm and owning a dog of his own, he had learned that animals didn't really enjoy loud noises. If they were stressed, it only made matters worse. (As if they could get much worse here.)

The...animal, he supposed, swooped overhead and he ducked down, getting out of its way as its wings flapped loudly overhead. It circled around and around, until it landed on one of the higher shelves in the room, clumsily finding its footing. Drakken looked up to assess. It seemed to still as the energy in the room settled.

Letting go of Drakken she scurried to the corner and grabbed a book. Opening it up she used it as a cover for the top of her head. Collette did not need it in her hair.

Just as the question was asked Georgette poked her head out from behind her desk. Hair looking disheveled and mascara running down a little on her cheek. “Sir I don’t think I can!” The whites of her knuckles shining as she gripped the top of her desk.

Georgette did not do wild animals like this. A horse at a stable or someone’s pet on a leash. Of course that was doable. All of this though?! With a whimper of a breath she got to her heels and made a jolt for the window! Instead of staying calm though she shrieked.

“MAKE sure it DOESN’T get me!” Georgette half gulped out as she went to the window. Hands fumbling with the latch.

Then there were two loud swoops and the bat like create was diving for her!

“AHhhhhHhhhh!!!”

“Yes yes yes! That’s it! I don’t want you to run to the props department and say you need something that gives off anger. Or whatever it is you have chosen.”

Collette loved delegating but again assignments.

“If you do that you are getting their idea of what the prompt is. What I want from you is a concept and it all laid out. Then when you find your team and you need the prop you tell them it needs to match my vision or you know whatever it is you are trying to express!”

Oh May was sharp. This was the same type of thing she would ask which only tickled her.

“I think if we were paying the prop boys buko bucks to build us a prop of what they wanted - but then back tracked and said no do this that would stifle their process. This is about your process. So let me just give you and example.”

Collette took in a small breath.

“If we’re to choose…spring time. I would want to set a scene naturally in the real outdoors because why wouldn’t I. Then I think more for a close up shot let’s say with emotion of winter turning to spring I would need a set. I would need help but I would just go to the random departments and give them some vague idea of what I wanted to get my shot. I would give them swatches of color. Mood boards. Or even…a mock aesthetic. Give them the grounds to work with since this is what?”

Collette cocked her head to the side.

“My production.”

May felt as though this conversation was stretching further and further away from the question she had been trying to have answered– but she was also unwilling to back track now. She didn't want Professor Richards to think she didn't understand and was therefore stupid.

That's how it went these days. If someone didn't understand in the split second they had to consume the thing in front of them then they were useless. There was never any time to think. To properly digest– hell, there wasn't even any time to eat anymore. All anyone wanted was to nibble off the top, reading headlines or watching a video that was half a minute on a topic or a review of a movie or television show was just as good as having actually watched it actually. Properly engaging with something, tucking into a meal, that was no longer seen with merit. It was just a skill issue now.

And yet everyone was complaining about how starved they were for the good stuff, ignoring the fact that a buffet was splayed out in front of them, slowly rotting.

Hoping to not press too many buttons or trigger a bad response Collette just let it be for the time being. Trying to focus more on what she was asking now.

"I have done things like this quite a few times actually." Yet perfection and award winnging showmanship was not born over night. "I honestly can't count how may times but that is the life of a producer." Collette was proud of that - how she graduated to the position.

"I think the first time I really did something like this was back when I was in college myself. Of course it was nothing exactly like this - I created this on my own." Collette smiled happily. "Thats not that point now is it honey!" Her hands waved at the self accolades - sweeping them away. "I was basically given a production that was quite popular. I had to make it modern and my own. Form the script, music, set, lights, and even do my own casting. All while performing myself. It was for a whole second semester grade. I honestly can't remember where I started which I know doesn't sound helpful."

Whoo she was justa talkin'!

"It was really a lesson on learning how to collaberate to get my idea on the stage. I would have been running around that theater department for weeks if I didn't create a team to help me start centered." Collette tilted her head and looked across to her student. "Is any of this helping honey? Tell me where I lost you! I know I talk a mile a minute sometimes!"

You spent the whole day doing activities. Catching rays while reading a book. Stopping for a cocktail and being surprised by your girlfriend?!

Now she was refreshed and ready to go enjoy their first evening out! Dinner and then a club!

Swinging her head out from the bathroom door she smiled with a yooo hooo. Of course she let Mal get some rest in while she re did her hair.

“I am almost ready honey! If you need to freshen up!”

Looking back in the mirror she adjusted her slinky orange dress then stepped back out into the bed room holding an arm up. “How do I look?! Mykonos chic?!”

It didn't take Mal too long to get ready, already rolling out of bed while Collette worked on her hair and getting dressed in her own outfit of a light linen buttondown and shorts for clubbing.

She still had to manage her own hair when Collette popped out of the bathroom looking fucking gorgeous. She crossed the room with a smirk, "You look amazing." She slipped an arm around her and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I'll be done in a second, I just need to fix my hair."

The firefighter straightened herself out in front of her mirror, running her fingers through her hair and grabbing her styling products to fix the stray curls that decided to do their own thing.

After a minute or two she moved back out of the bathroom, "Alright, let's do this." She grinned as she slipped her arms around her girlfriend, "See what this Mykonos clubbing thing is all about."

"Well first dinner!" Collette shimmed her shoulder as she pulled her girlfriend with her out the door.

As the walked through the streets she made sure to point out every thing she had already done. What they had planned. Oh and where she wanted to try to sneak in before they left. "The resturant in just up here! I was walking this way earlier today after checking in with the girls and this loveable old gentleman stopped me and showed me the fish he had just caught this morning." Collettes eyes were wide. "Babe you should have see it! The thing was taller than he was! So of course I use my two little fingers here." She pinched them together in the air between them. "...and I helped him carry it by the tail of course to his little bistro down on the corner!"

The small quaint resturant strung up with lights was just at the end of the walk. "We get to have that swordfish tonight! Its light so we can drink all the wine we want!" Collete was so excited to share this moment with Mal. Their own little adventure.

“NO! I AM NOT!” She screamed from under her desk. “THAT THING HAS — IT HAS WINGS!”

Collette felt even more worried. The first instinct was to text Mal. She would certainly know what to do but…the doctor was here and he was already keen to help.

Smashing her face against the door she did her best to hear what was on the other side!

“GEORGIE IM HERE!” She yelled through the large wooden door. The opaque window blocking any view of what exactly was on the other side.

Wiggling the door knob she could get it to budge! “YOU NEED TO UNLOCK IT HONEY!” Collette yelled again.

Frantically looking back to Drakken. “Now would be the time Doctor to tell me you’re some super sleuth and can open locks!!!”

Drakken frowned as he heard the woman inside yelling, mouth moving to repeat the word wings to himself. What? A bird was causing all this fuss? Or a bat? Or was it even something as large? Was she scared of an insect of some sort?

Well, whatever it was, her fear seemed genuine. Perhaps it would be better if it did turn out to be nothing of consequence– then he could take care of the problem without having to exert much of an effort.

Just as he was about to reach for the handle, Ms. Richards pressed up against the door and Drakken took a flinching step back. He let out a long suffering sigh through his nose, turning away so that he could compose himself instead of saying anything harsh like he wanted. It was truly an astounding feat for him to have not said anything– apparently his time in Swynlake had taught him something after all.

He met her eye when Ms. Richards looked back at him, and his brain did have to take a moment at her choice of words. Super sleuth.

Well. No. That he was not.

He was a criminal.

And he was a genius.

"Please, stand aside," he said, waiting for her to remove herself from the door before he approached. The device he had gathered from his desk was still something in the testing phase, but he supposed this was a test of sorts. Pulling it from his pocket, he lined it up with the handle and keyhole before pressing a button. A pair of lights at the end of the device lit, one blue and the other red. A mechanical whirring could be heard, alongside the mechanical shifting of the lock, until a satisfying click rang and the red light turned green.

Hovering over him watching as he switched at the door Collette hummed and made an array of sound effects as Georgette continued to wail on the other side of the door.

Just as the door clicked and his pushed it open the chaos really billowed out. "OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS!" Collette screamed gripping onto Drakkens shoulder. "WHAT IS THAT THING! DO YOU THINK IT HAS RABIES! WE SHOULD CALL THE POLICE!"

Not that the police would be able to help? WIth a large bat looking creature with eyes and tongue of a serpent but wings of a featehred bird. Collette didn't know a poodle from a piranha but this certainly was no normal bat?! "Georgette!!!" She clung onto the doctor a bit tighter. " THROW A SHOE AT IT OR SOMETHING!"

Collette was zero help!

Hurry through the villa Collette pulled her girlfriend along. How much more fabulous could this get?! Not only was the surprise everything she could have dreamed of…they were finally getting a real vacation together!

All of the drama and chaos that was back in Swynlake could stay the hell over there! They were now about to have a romantic rendezvous in Mykonos…with a side of chaperoning!

“It’s absolute fabulous! Honestly the school must have gotten a hell of a deal getting us these villas!” Collette swiped her key in her door and the beep greeted them as she pushed the door open. Opening up to her fabulous room with a balcony. “I was excited to enjoy all this space on my own but baby…just come see! I think that jet tub is calling our names!”

Tossing one of Mals bags on the couch in the living space are she twirled towards the bedroom. “We have an hour or so before we head back out! Would you judge me if I take a little disco nap…you know maybe a 15 min lay down?!”

She looked around the villa, her eyebrows raising a bit. The balcony alone was impressive. She set the rest of her stuff down and followed Collette over towards the bedroom and the jet tub. All very impressive, but she was more interested in her girlfriend over the amenities.

"Judge you? For a disco nap? Never." Mal grinned and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend, tugging her in a little closer so she could press a kiss to her lips. "I might join you for a little lie down myself." She pressed another kiss to her lips, walking them towards the bed in question with a grin, hands never leaving her girlfriend.

She teased with a grin, "I think with the packed itinerary you've planned I might need the rest."

You spent the whole day doing activities. Catching rays while reading a book. Stopping for a cocktail and being surprised by your girlfriend?!

Now she was refreshed and ready to go enjoy their first evening out! Dinner and then a club!

Swinging her head out from the bathroom door she smiled with a yooo hooo. Of course she let Mal get some rest in while she re did her hair.

“I am almost ready honey! If you need to freshen up!”

Looking back in the mirror she adjusted her slinky orange dress then stepped back out into the bed room holding an arm up. “How do I look?! Mykonos chic?!”

Folding her hands together and lacing each finger between the other Collette waited for her sirens to finish. The rays of excitement beaming from the very small wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.

“No no I totally see what you are asking honey!” Collette wanted to make sure May was heard. “Now I love the idea of outsourcing. That is what makes a production team click. More so than anything else!”

Although she was a shining star Collette needed to make sure she molded the mind and steered her in the right direction. “I do understand what you are saying I do I do. I promise but I do expect you know that you at least come up with the um…you know the skeleton of what you want.”

Collette hated being stern. More than anything. “I need you to come up with an outline of what you want it to all look like - to you know being to someone else to help creatively.”

Her fingers stayed laced together as she rested her chin upon her hands. Smiling hoping to soften her response…even a little bit.

Oh good! May brightened at Ms. Richards' seeming understanding of what she had been getting at. She also didn't instantly knock down the idea, so May figured that the rest of what was going to be said would be in favor of her idea.

...and...well...it didn't sound like it was being denied. But at the same time, it also didn't sound like Ms. Richards' was fully on board with it. To be honest, May couldn't quite gauge whether it was being approved or rejected. (Which she respected, actually. A woman who was able to artfully give an answer while also being able to produce several questions in the mind of the asker was an art May was still working toward mastering.)

“Yes yes yes! That’s it! I don’t want you to run to the props department and say you need something that gives off anger. Or whatever it is you have chosen.”

Collette loved delegating but again assignments.

“If you do that you are getting their idea of what the prompt is. What I want from you is a concept and it all laid out. Then when you find your team and you need the prop you tell them it needs to match my vision or you know whatever it is you are trying to express!”

Oh May was sharp. This was the same type of thing she would ask which only tickled her.

“I think if we were paying the prop boys buko bucks to build us a prop of what they wanted - but then back tracked and said no do this that would stifle their process. This is about your process. So let me just give you and example.”

Collette took in a small breath.

“If we’re to choose…spring time. I would want to set a scene naturally in the real outdoors because why wouldn’t I. Then I think more for a close up shot let’s say with emotion of winter turning to spring I would need a set. I would need help but I would just go to the random departments and give them some vague idea of what I wanted to get my shot. I would give them swatches of color. Mood boards. Or even…a mock aesthetic. Give them the grounds to work with since this is what?”

Collette cocked her head to the side.

“My production.”

Afternoon Tea by Sydney Smith

Hurry through the villa Collette pulled her girlfriend along. How much more fabulous could this get?! Not only was the surprise everything she could have dreamed of…they were finally getting a real vacation together!

All of the drama and chaos that was back in Swynlake could stay the hell over there! They were now about to have a romantic rendezvous in Mykonos…with a side of chaperoning!

“It’s absolute fabulous! Honestly the school must have gotten a hell of a deal getting us these villas!” Collette swiped her key in her door and the beep greeted them as she pushed the door open. Opening up to her fabulous room with a balcony. “I was excited to enjoy all this space on my own but baby…just come see! I think that jet tub is calling our names!”

Tossing one of Mals bags on the couch in the living space are she twirled towards the bedroom. “We have an hour or so before we head back out! Would you judge me if I take a little disco nap…you know maybe a 15 min lay down?!”