[degrassicam]

paciniis

       “ oh, no worries. ”      she was only looking for an empty space to run some lines through for her audition, but seeing as it was already occupied, was prepared to make an exit.      “ the show hasn’t even been casted yet and you’re already working on props ?  that’s dedication. ”      or just boredom, maybe.      “ what are you working on, anyways ? ”

“They’ve gotta have us working on something,” Cam explained, shifting so he was no longer obscuring the chair he was painting from Lola’s view. “It’s just a chair, but I guess it’s been used in lot of shows already - the paint was really chipping away. What about you?” he asked, figuring that whatever Lola was doing was probably more interesting than painting an old chair.

[degrassicam]

egoldsworthy

Eli was not exactly a conventional director, and he took pride in that. When his cast and crew could bring something more than a standard paint-by-numbers team did… What was better than that? He was a little concerned about how puzzled Cam looked about his questions. “I know you’re new, and I can be a little intimidating sometimes. That comes with the director territory. But I’m very hands-on in my approach, and I like to know who I’m working with. No need to share with me or anything, but I’m serious when I offer things. Want me to give you some space to work?”

Cam nodded, a little relieved that Eli at least seemed aware that he was a little off-putting (though intimidating wasn’t exactly the word Cam would have used). He still didn’t quite understand why someone would value his opinion so much or be so interested in accommodating his needs... but Eli did seem genuine in his offer, and so Cam decided it was refreshing - even if it was also equally (or more) odd. It still seemed rude to tell Eli to give him space though and he wasn’t really bothered by the director’s presence so much as mildly baffled, so he shrugged instead. “Maybe in a few minutes? I do need to get this done kind of soon. Not so soon that I can’t talk a little longer.” Was that the wrong thing to say? He didn’t want to give off the impression that he was slacking off, nor that he was forcing Eli to stick around and chat with him. “I mean, if you wanted to. Either way works for me.” 

[degrassicam]

egoldsworthy

“That’s great! I sort of love that you aren’t immersed in theater already. We need all the unique perspectives that we can get here. Even if you’re just painting this, it means so much that you are here contributing,” Eli said, probably a little too excited about the new crew guy’s existence. “Is there anything I can do to make you feel more welcome here? Besides coffee. But only because we just ran out of coffee.”

Cam was a little surprised that Eli seemed so excited about his lack of experience - to his understanding employers typically preferred people to have experience - but he supposed it was probably best not to question Eli’s opinions about his... perspective. “That’s okay, I don’t need coffee right now,” Cam assured the director, going from surprised to mildly startled with the encounter - maybe he wasn’t an expert on how the theater worked, but it seemed a little strange for the director to be going around offering to get things for individual members of the stage crew. “Or... anything else, really,” he admitted, unable to think of anything in that moment that would make him feel more comfortable, save for a slightly less energetic director. He found himself wondering if maybe the reason there was no coffee was because Eli had consumed far more than any one person was meant to. Or maybe this was just how he always was? “Thanks, though. I’ll... let you know?”

[degrassicam]

mileshcllingswcrth

“ah, no, just stuff for the auditions coming up” he told the other, sitting on the edge of the stage as he hummed a little “are you gonna audition or do you just help with the sets and stuff?” he asked, pausing for a second “i realize that may have come off as mean, sorry”

“Nah, it’s cool,” Cam reassured him, somehow feeling more at ease knowing he wasn’t the only one in this conversation second-guessing what he was saying. “I’m happy being stage crew - definitely no auditions for me,” he confirmed. “You’re... Miles, right? The producer?”

[degrassicam]

egoldsworthy

“That’s right.” Eli most definitely wanted to shake hands, even if the hand to be shaken probably had paint on it. He would wear such like a battle scar. “Good to meet you, Cam. I’m just trying to get a feel for my team. You’re on my team now, all right? Anything on your mind?”

Cam shook Eli’s hand, flinching only slightly at the director’s mention of team before nodding. It didn’t have to be a bad word, he reminded himself. It all depended on who was leading the team, and Eli didn’t seem bad so far. “Nothing much,” he admitted in answer to Eli’s question. “I’m sort of new to theater, so I guess I’m just... taking it all in?” That was a reasonable answer, right?

[healedminds-deactivated20201121]

‘  audition season ,  finally .  ’     a grin ,  he’s been preparing for this for long enough .     ‘  i’m not even nervous .  i know i’m better than half the people around here .  ’     he’s been here long enough ,  everybody knows he’s good .     ‘  plus ,  rent will be totally fun .  ’

[degrassicam]

Cam looked around, assuming that the actor (Tristan, he was pretty sure?) was talking to someone else. When he realized there was no one there, he tentatively replied, “Sounds like you’re ready. Have you decided which role you’ll audition for?”

[degrassicam]

itskatiematlin

She had been watching him paint. Debating weather to go up and talk to him or come back when he seemed less busy. However Cam answered her internal debate by talking to her first. “Oh no. Sorry I didn’t want to interrupt you but I wanted to have a quick chat with you if that’s ok.“ It was nothing bad but she wanted to get his availability and updated details now that they had a show.

“I can talk now,” Cam answered, setting the paintbrush down and doing his best not to panic about whatever it was Katie wanted to talk about. Was he being fired? Or worse, had she figured out who he was? Logically he knew that it was probably neither of those things, but somehow the thought only made him worry that it was somehow something even worse.

[degrassicam]

egoldsworthy

“I do need the space, but not right now,” Eli said, trying to be good-humored about it. “I realized that we had never spoken before, and I thought I would introduce myself. Are you too busy?”

“I’m not busy,” Cam said quickly. “Well, not too busy. I can talk,” he amended. “Eli, right? I’m Cam. It’s, uh. Nice to meet you.” He set down the paintbrush in case Eli wanted to shake hands.

[degrassicam]

mileshcllingswcrth

walking around looking at the possible shows, miles wasn’t paying much attention to who was where. he looked up when he heard the brush drop “hm? oh no, go ahead and continue, i’m just going over some things”

“Oh. Cool,” Cam replied, picking the brush back up. “Anything I can help with, or...?” he trailed off, mentally kicking himself for even asking. Of course there wasn’t anything he could do to help, other than keep painting. He was probably just wasting Miles’s time.

[tmcries]

“so, like, i’m so excited to start making cute costumes for the plays! i hope we pick one soon” 

[degrassicam]

“You make the costumes? That’s cool,” Cam said, realizing only after he’d spoken that he probably should have known that already. “I’m sure they’ll be great. I mean. I don’t really know much about costuming, but...” he trailed off, getting the sense he’d put his foot in his mouth.

[degrassicam]

what kind of music makes you feel better?

I don’t know, happy music I guess? Loud music that I can drown out the world with.

[degrassicam]

do you like working here?

Yeah, what’s not to like? It’s nice having something to do with my day.

[degrassicam]

[degrassicam]

skatenjake

“Nah man, I’m good,” Jake said as he looked over Cam’s shoulder at what he was working on. “I was just checking that you were going with the grain,” he told him. “Looks like you’re doing a pretty good job with it.”

“Cool, uh. Thanks.” Cam wasn’t sure if Jake just meant that he was doing a good job by going with the grain or if there was anything else he was doing to make the painting go any better than it otherwise might have. That seemed like a stupid question though, so he decided against asking. “I think I’m almost done with this one...” he paused a split second longer than usual, as if expecting Jake to cut him off and tell him he was nowhere near done and berate him for trying to leave the job unfinished. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

[degrassicam]

rivxs

“That’s fair, I guess,” Zoe said, kind of judging the guy for not wanting to actually know his shit as soon as possible. “Sure. After work, I’ll make sure that you get a crash course. Make sure you have enough snacks and stuff, though. It’s not going to be a brief experience.”

Cam blinked, a little surprised that Zoe genuinely wanted to take any time to teach him this stuff outside of work, much less several hours. “Okay, yeah, I’ll... get snacks on my break, I guess. I can... pick some up for you too, if you want?”

[degrassicam]

rivxs

Well this was useful already. She had to consider what she wanted Cam to vote for. “I’d love to advise you on what to vote for, but it would make me feel better if you knew what you were getting into first,” Zoe said, concerned that i she did not nip this problem in the bud first, she might come back to a shitstorm. “I’m pretty sure Rent’s a sure thing by now, but we need to start your education. Come on, man. Do you have a few hours to spare?”

“Hours?” Cam asked blanky. “Uh... not right now. I’m at work?” He pointed out, hoping Zoe wouldn’t be mad at him. “I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to tell me about it later, though...?” He added, scratching the back of his neck. 

[degrassicam]

rivxs

It was more than a little mindblowing to Zoe that this guy did not seem to care about the path that his future might take. She decided two things at that moment:

1) Cam had no skin in this game, as he did not seem to have enough nerve to care about much.

2) He did not have enough knowledge to be able to judge her choices.

“She Loves Me is my dream show, but I’m not going to push for it because there aren’t a ton of major characters. I wasn’t kidding about trying to push my vote for someone else’s choice. If it’s good for the theater, then it’s good for all of us. You’re going to have to vote for something.”

Cam nodded at her suggestion - he had no idea what She Loves Me was beyond what the name suggested, but Zoe said it with such confidence that he was sure it had to be good, even if she likely wasn’t going to be voting for it. “What do you think I should vote for?” He asked, a little more interested now - it was true that he would need to vote for something, and at this point he didn’t have the slightest idea what. “Are there any shows people are talking about that you think would be good for the theater?”