The Revenger's System

12. I’m Violet's Husband

The funkily-dressed crew member spat and coughed hard, not believing what he just heard. “You’re what?! Violent Violet’s husband?!”

‘Violent Violet?’

Peeep!

[Mission Objective: 1/100 people.]

[Time Left: 59 minutes.]

Shit.

Ryan hurried to correct himself. “Kidding,” he smiled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m her new manager. It’s my first day.”

The lie was easier to say and believe. The funky crew member’s shocked face slowly melts into a neutral face. “That’s not funny, sir.”

“My name’s Ryan Wilder,” he offered his hand to shake. “I guess you’re a crew here?”

“Yes. Matthew Sweeney from Costume and Wardrobe Department.” The funky crew member grasped it. “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wilder. Nice watch.”

Ryan gave a small smile, but tried to hide his left hand, where a bright yellow watch circled his wrist, and Pikachu’s cute face greeted him. “Please don’t be too formal with me.”

“Well, hopefully you’ll enjoy working for Violet. She’s a piece of a fiery cracker, if you know what I mean.”

Ryan didn’t. “Do you know where she is? She asked me to bring her script from home.”

The funky crew nodded. “She’s in the make up trailer. I’m heading there, so you might as well. Come on.”

Ryan followed behind, noticing how hot it was in the shooting location. “You called her Violent Violet earlier?”

Matthew’s smile faltered, “Ah, yes. That. I didn’t meant to be rude. Just forget it.”

Ryan narrowed his eyes. “She didn’t hit you, did she?”

“Of course– I mean, she had, once. But it’s my fault, really. She asked me to bring her phone charger, but I was a little busy at that time and forgot about it. Then I lost her charger, so,” Matthew shrugged, “You get the picture.”

“I have known Violet for years, so I’m pretty familiar with her fist.”

“So you know.” Matthew chuckled and pointed to his own face. “She almost broke my cheek that time. I still remember how awful the bruise she left behind. Man… if ony she kiss it better.”

Soon, they arrived at the makeup trailer. Matthew knocked it once before pulling it open. The blast of ‘Call Me Maybe’ flooded from the inside, The makeup artists and their casts seemed to be having fun. And from outside, Ryan got a glimpse of Violet swaying to the music with a big smile on her face.

It was a first.

She looked so happy there.

“Matthew!”

“Come in, come in!”

They called him.

“Oh, who’s there behind you?”

“Hey, Sweeney,” he called the funky crew, “I think I’ll wait out here until Violet is done.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I kind of forget to get her special shake on the way here. Don’t let her know I’m here, okay?”

The crew, who dressed in a patchwork overall, nodded, knowing from his experience how Violet dealt with this clumsiness. “Good luck, then. We’ll film some scenes in studio 19.”

“Cool. I’ll be there then.” Ryan turned away from the makeup trailer’s door and headed to the nearest building from the park.

He didn’t know why, but seeing Violet so happy and carefree like that made his heart beat faster. He liked that smile on her face. It was neither forced nor fake. Not even once had she smiled like that because of him.

“Ugh…” he slid down the wall, crouching with his back against the brick.

Ryan didn’t like this unwarranted jealousy. It surely felt different than when he barged into Violet’s bedroom and found her with Ashton. He was not jealous back there, knowing full well that he truly did not deserve Violet. He knew he could never make her happy by being on his side.

He was not a lover she wanted nor a man she needed.

But, he witnessed how Violet could laugh and be happy by being with her friends, singing silly songs and dancing around.

Ryan was jealous that he was not the reason. He wanted to see her like that because of him.

Ruffling his hair, Ryan groaned to himself.

He was pathetic.

After lamenting to himself, Ryan stood up and took a deep breath. He had to get the script to Violet. Where was Sweeney said she’d film again?

Ryan looked up and found that ‘Studio 19’ was painted in bold letters above him. Such convenience.

Entering the building, Ryan was met with halls and wooden platforms. Long cables and shooting properties adorned the place. Even though it was indoors with full AC, the overhead lighting made the room feel hotter.

Soon, he found the shooting location after following some crew who dashed through the hall. The set was buzzing with activity. Cameramen and set crews swarmed the place while directors and casts stood in the middle, discussing something.

Ryan stood on the right side of the set, observing how the filming process would go. He had not seen Violet, so he figured she was getting a last touch on her makeup or costume. Looking at the old Pikachu watch on his wrist, he knew he had to give the script to Violet soon. It was almost eleven, and he didn’t want to be hit by his wife in front of these strangers.

“Where’s Violet?”

Ryan perked up at the question, thinking the same. He looked up and found that the man who said it was probably the director. He got a thick script in his hands and round eyeglasses perched on his nose.

One of the crews answered, “She’s still in the makeup trailer. Do you want me to get her here?”

“Yes, we’re starting now. What is she doing there when it’s time already?”

Another crew responded, “She said she left her script home. Someone is supposed to bring it to her, so she’s waiting.”

“Seriously?” the director huffed, a hint of annoyance on his face. “That’s very unproffesional. If it wasn’t because of her fist, I’d recast her role already. How can an actress forget her script?”

Ryan didn’t like what he just heard. “I got her script here.”

He guessed his voice was pretty loud. All eyes turned to him at once. He suddenly froze, the urge to shove his head into the toilet bowl was overwhelming.

“Who are you?” the one who he assumed to be the editor asked, fixing his glass on the bridge of his nose.

“I’m–“

Peeep!

[Mission Objective: 1/100 people.]

[Time Left: 27 minutes.]

Ryan faltered as TEETS reminded him of the ongoing mission. He had to make a big decision here. One he needed quick before Violet appeared and all hell broke loose.

He looked at the people around the filming set, finding curious glances and some uninterested ones that soon diverted their eyes elsewhere. About twenty crews here. He still got a chance.

Making up his mind, he prayed that Violet wouldn’t just appear the moment he opened his mouth and said, “I’m Violet’s husband.”

Ryan felt his life drained at once as silence followed.

Peeep!

[Mission Objective: 24/100 people.]

[Time Left: 26 minutes.]

“Hahahahahaha!”

Several laughs broke through the spacious indoor set. Most crews made hushed comments with each other, while some of them sent doubtful looks towards the stranger who wore an oversized t-shirt and old jogger pants.

It was awful.

He had never felt this awful that he wanted to bang his head against the wall and pray that he had lost his memories.

Peeep!

[Mission Objective: 51/100 people.]

[Time Left: 25 minutes.]

Ryan’s eyes widened in shock. TEETS’ mechanical voice informed kindly, along with the floating transparent panel in front of him. Its white letters with golden frames did not change no matter how many times he reread it.

He didn’t see more than around twenty people there, and there was no newcomer too, but the number increased. From a second look, he found that some of the crews got their phones out, so it meant letting people know about his relationship with Violet indirectly also counted.

“You’re kidding, right?” the director asked again, still laughing in disbelief, right in Ryan’s face.

“Of course,” Ryan lied, sending the crews there an awkward fake smile. “There’s no way I’m her husband, right?”

“Hahahahaha!” the director laughed again. And then stopped a second later. “That’s not funny.”

“Sorry.” Then, Ryan added just because he can. “But, what if I’m really Violet’s husband?”

“Then, you must have lose your mind already.”

“Why?”

“Let’s be real. Even from directing, I know sex with her must be hella great, let alone doing it repeatedly, whenever you want. She’s a beauty, no matter how you look at her. But, she’s bossy as fuck. If you don’t listen to what she say, her fist will do the talking.” The director shrugged.

The sentence was closed with another laugh, followed by several chuckles around the director. They were laughing at Ryan, but TEETS’ made him quirk a smile.

Peeep!

[Mission Objective: 77/100 people.]

[Time Left: 24 minutes.]

The news spread faster than he thought. No joke, this was the entertainment industry. A simple gossip about a star would spread like wildfire in no time. Perhaps, even the government’s spymaster should learn from people here.

“Anyway, each to their own right?” the director concluded then. “She’ll be a perfect match to a maso.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear it.” Ryan smiled, looking quite satisfied with himself as the lie was smoothly voiced. “Violet and I are happily married, despite her insistence to keep it a secret.”

Peeep!

[Mission Objective: 98/100 people.]

[Time Left: 23 minutes.]

Only two more people and he’d complete the mission. Easy peasy.

… or so he thought.