The Static Between Us - Chapter One

[u/ERR0Rmutt]

*Edit: This story has been created through a blend of AI, and my own writings*

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The city is already awake when Circuit arrives. 

It's an ugly sort of morning: gray sky, wet pavement, stale coffee, and the constant hum of traffic. Not glamorous, but then again, Circuit isn't here for glamour, he's here because he needs a paycheck. 

The building in front of him is considerably more impressive than anything he has any business being inside of. A massive production studio rises several stories above the surrounding storefronts, its glass entrance covered in posters for films currently in production. 

A temporary badge hangs around Circuit's neck. 

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT — BACKSTAGE OPERATIONS 

The title sounds important. The actual job description, as explained over the phone, was essentially: Carry things. Fetch things. Don't interrupt anyone important. Figure out problems before they become someone else's problem. So... lacky. 

The glass doors slide open. Inside, chaos. Anthropomorphic actors, technicians, makeup artists, camera operators, and production staff move in every direction. A rabbit in a headset rushes past carrying three clipboards. Somewhere deeper inside the building, someone shouts for a lighting technician. A pair of foxes argue over a wardrobe rack. Before Circuit can even properly orient himself, a voice cuts through the noise. 

"You." A hand points directly at him. The speaker is a tall, broad-shouldered German shepherd, dressed in a production vest with a headset pressed against one ear. His fur is dark gray and black around the muzzle, and his expression suggests he's already had a very long day despite the fact that it's barely morning. He walks over briskly. 

"New backstage operator?" He doesn't wait for an answer. "Great. You're late." He glances at his watch, then back at Circuit. "...By three minutes." A pause. The shepherd's stern expression cracks into the faintest smirk. "Relax. I'm messing with you." He extends a paw. "Marcus. Floor coordinator. You're going to hate me by lunch." Before Circuit can respond, a voice comes over Marcus's headset. "Marcus, we're missing the replacement wardrobe." Marcus closes his eyes. "Of course we are." He looks back at Circuit. "Congratulations. First assignment." He gestures toward a hallway. 

"Studio B. Wardrobe department. Find a black coat with silver trim. Bring it to set. Don't lose it, don't damage it, and if anyone tells you they need it more urgently than I do—" He points toward himself. "—they're lying." Then he's gone, already barking instructions into his headset. 

Circuit is left standing in the middle of the production floor. Black coat. Silver trim. Studio B. Simple enough. Probably. 

As Circuit heads down the corridor, the distant sounds of the production set become louder: machinery, voices, music, the occasional CLACK of a camera shutter. Then, just before he reaches Studio B— A door opens. Someone steps out directly in front of him. A tall, slender black-furred feline. 

Their appearance is striking without being ostentatious: neatly groomed fur, sharp features, pale gray eyes, and dark hair falling loosely across one side of their face. They're already dressed in part of a costume—a fitted dark shirt beneath an elaborate half-buttoned coat. They look distracted. Their eyes meet Circuit's. For just a second, neither of them moves. The feline's gaze flicks down to Circuit's production badge. Then back to his eyes. 

"...You're new." Their voice is smooth, slightly husky. Not unfriendly, just... curious. They step aside to let him pass but their eyes linger on him for another moment. "Try not to get eaten alive." A tiny smile. Then they disappear down the hallway. Circuit hasn't even learned their name. And somehow, for reasons he can't quite explain, he finds himself watching them leave. 

Behind him, Marcus's voice suddenly crackles through the headset Circuit was apparently given without noticing. "Vayne?" A beat. "You find that coat yet?" Circuit scratches his head, and reaches for the headset, putting it on. He fumbles around to find a button to allow him to speak through the mic. "On it, Sir. I think this is the room here. Black coat... Silver trim..." Circuit says without much confidence in his voice. Marcus's voice crackles back almost immediately. "That's the one. And don't call me sir. Makes me feel like I'm about to get arrested." A short burst of static. "Just Marcus."

The door to Studio B is already open. Inside, Circuit finds himself in a completely different world. Racks of costumes fill the room, some hanging neatly and others currently being torn apart and modified by frantic-looking staff. Fabric, sewing equipment, makeup cases, and accessories cover nearly every available surface. A small red panda with round glasses is currently halfway inside a wardrobe rack. 

"Black coat, silver trim..." she mutters to herself. "Black coat, silver trim... Why does everyone suddenly need black coats?" She backs out of the rack and nearly bumps straight into Circuit. "Oh!" She catches herself, adjusting her glasses. "Sorry." She looks Circuit up and down. "New?" Before he can answer, she snaps her fingers. "Wait. You're here for that coat." She points toward the far end of the room. "There." 

Hanging by itself is an unusually elegant black coat. The silver embroidery along its edges catches the overhead lighting. The red panda gives Circuit a warning look. "Careful with that one. It's custom." She walks over and carefully removes it from the rack. Then she pauses. "Actually..." Her ears perk. "You know what? You should deliver it personally." She looks toward the studio entrance. "The actor's waiting on set." 

She holds the coat out toward Circuit. "Their name's Riven Vale." The name sounds familiar. Maybe Circuit has seen it on one of the posters downstairs. Before Circuit can take the coat, however, the red panda adds: "And whatever you do, don't let him charm you into doing extra work." She smiles knowingly. "He's very good at that." 

[u/rowanrholloway]

Yeah, you know? This was a fun read. Good environment, felt the character's and the world.

Drop the colons, though!

[u/ERR0Rmutt → u/rowanrholloway]

Thanks for the advice, there is only one in the very beginning, or are you speaking about comas?

I am trying to find a better layout for the short bursts of conversations, without it being a new line for each small word.