The Royal Scandal | Prince William |

Easy With You

November 28, 2010

The music was pulsing, building, reaching out to a climax with a soaring note and then falling. Thomas lifts her above his head in a pas de chat that withstands gravity, and as her feet land back on the ground she's in a passé, whirling around trying to find her spot, but grateful for Thomas's quick hands on her hips.

They've been the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier so many times they can run the routine in their sleep, but despite Jaclyn's constant complaints about The Nutcracker, the role remains a favorite. The choreography is standard, and nothing exceptional, but the premise of being the Sugar Plum Fairy is timeless. So, she smiles happily each night.

After three passes of the same step, Jaclyn soutenus away, and preps for the big lift. Her smile remains pleasantly in character, but her nose twitches as the bruise on her hip flares from where she got dropped in rehearsal.

With a nod, that only she can see, from Thomas she runs at him. Times his squat perfectly with her jump, and launches without her hands onto his shoulder in a beautiful sitting position. Her top leg arcs in a grand rond as Thomas turns around,  and carefully he slides her down his shoulder into a fish pose.

The clapping carries excitement, and Jaclyn beams a little more than she probably should to be past the trick.

There's two emotions circling her head, as Thomas holds her finger above her head and she whips around. One fouetté. Two. Three. Four... despite her insistence that she would not go out with The Nutcracker as her last show, Jaclyn found she wouldn't be completely disappointed if it ended up being the case. Here she was, decadent in rich pink and jewels, the embodiment of childhood dreams. She felt oddly satisfied as she turned.

However there was something unsettlingly tragic about the song, as it swelled something hidden in the rhythm that pulled at Jaclyn's heart. She focused on Thomas as he walked around her, and she tried to connect with reality by honing in on the unnaturally platinum color in his hair.

The music though... It pulled and Jaclyn leaned into each note, feeling the somberness, the bittersweetness, and moved like this was truly her last dance.

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Jaclyn's halfway through pulling the platinum wig off when someone knocks, and hesitantly pushes her dressing room door open. One of the the stage hands, she's pretty sure she works deck crew, peeps in. Her smile is tight, but her eyes aren't heavy or burdened.

"Miss. Webber-"

"Rose, I told you call me Jac," she laughs, but the anxiety doesn't subside I'm the young woman. Her chuckles die to an awkward fade, and she finishes pulling out the pins holding the wig up.

It's odd.

The longer she dances, the longer she's with William, she becomes more legend than person. An entity above friendly conversation to those who don't know her, and it leaves her aching. Aching for a town she always hated, but at least in Villa Grove people don't care enough to be awestruck. She's simply Jackie Webber. The girl who came to school with dirt stained knees, and could be found dancing down the aisles of the local grocery store.

"Miss. Webber," Rose starts again, "I've been instructed to give this to you."

Jaclyn takes the folded piece of paper, but waits until the door is closed to open it. Familiar penmanship greets her, and if she starts undoing her hair and wiping off her makeup faster that's her business.

The note falls to the table so Jaclyn can continuously look down at it as she sheds her stage persona. Meet me on stage after the lights are off.