XS au that panders exclusively to me where Jack makes and sets up tech for small performances and Wuya is his manager/lighting designer who's super mad at him because ever since he found out about the theatre/opera space owned by Chase Young, he's obsessed with getting work there even though Chase absolutely hates how much this kid will not shut up and Wuya would just like him to be job-hunting instead of mooning over Chase.
Notable points:
- Jack is a damn good engineer in this au. He's at worst just unlucky in that any time he's working the same gigs as the Dragon Quartet everything goes wrong, but the blame gets split so he's alright with that.
- He's really flexible in both senses of the word. Absolutely no sense of self-preservation until there's a weapon pointed at his face. He often gets small gigs in the worlds shittiest spots and makes them look fabulous.
- Wuya has pretty much no one else she'd work with because she's extremely temperamental and lazy. She can't set shit up ever since an accident left her unable to lift heavy things and move her arms very much, but Jack is willing to do all of the grunt work as long as she comes through on the lighting designs.
- They actually get along decently well. Not at first, but Wuya realizes after a while that Jack acts extra annoying when she nitpicks stupid stuff and they develop a gradual frenemy working relationship.
- Chase and Wuya knew each other at the top of their respective peaks as Show Manager and Lighting Designer, but not very well.
- The first time Chase meets Jack it's by literally catching the kid because he slipped off of the pipe he was standing on to put up the last light. (Again, no self-preservation whatsoever).
- After like 3 months of 'please' 'no' 'pleeeeeaaaase' 'no.' 'I'll do it for fre-' 'No godammit!' Chase finally gives in. As he leaves he can hear Wuya yelling at Jack for taking a gig that literally isn't paying and Jack's reply that if it's about food, she can have all of his. He just won't eat, Wuya, he's done that before.
- Chase makes a point to leave out an open buffet and tell all of the employees it's free. Ignores how most of the bananas go missing very quickly whenever Jack stops by to grab a bite.
- The work is stunning. Wuya's designs suit his animals onstage like nothing else, and the equipment works without a hitch. The speakers are small and have no feedback, the microphones are lightweight and durable, and there's even four different options for charging the system all programmed in.
- Chase pays to buy the rented/customized equipment. It's worth it.
- The tech improves ambience enough that the Heylin Theatre goes through a revival in popularity. Wuya is hired again. She insists on being a package deal with Jack because she somehow got attached. Jack is also hired again. Chase is torn between being annoyed by how they bicker and being amused.
- Turns out Jack does more than just sound and light and tech engineering; he can play manager too. Chase finds out after some pretty high-status performances requires his space and makes a note to tip Jack another twenty bucks.
- Other employees (recruited after the new boom in business) include: Vlad, the Russian animal handler who can pull strings in the ballet industry. Part-time tickets gal Ashley, nicknamed Catnappé for her constant catnaps. Mime, part-time opening act, part-time stage-sweeper.
- Vlad and Jack get along very well. They often chat about Russian performances because Jack's family took him to lots of those when he was a kid and it stuck.
- Ashley pickpockets everyone except Chase. She's also been pranked in revenge more than once.
- Mime's favorite pastime is to pretend to throw stuff at Jack, who will dodge every single time.
- Wuya also likes Vlad. She thinks Mime is funny but wishes he wasn't around so often. Mixed feelings on Ashley.
- Jermaine is the Dragon Quartet's roadie/stage manager. He and Jack will sometimes play basketball if they're in the same area.
- Dojo manages the Dragon Quartet. Their label is with master Fung.
- Chase considers himself Omi's unofficial mentor.
