BEEP. BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. BEEEEEEEEEEEEP. "Koy! We're already calling, you don't have to touch any of the buttons." The sigh of Koy's right hand, Tula, on the other end of the line came through loud and clear.

"Are ye sure" I don't hear anythin'" Hello, anyone there" Are ye really sure ye know how ta use this, Tula, or are ye jest tryin' ta get me ta sound like a fool?"

"I don't plan on answering that since I like my paycheck. Mr. Granger?"

Jon wondered if this was just a ploy by Mataya to distract him from his problems and give him busy work or if there really was a deal in the works. "Yes, I'm here with Ms. DeLuca."

"Mataya," Jon's companion corrected cheerfully, thoroughly amused by the antics on the other end of the phone. "Is that Tula?"

"See." Tula's smirk could be heard through the phone wires.

Jon quirked a brow at Mataya and the antics on the other end, but kept his mouth shut, letting Mataya take the lead.

"It is, though it won't be fer long iffn she keeps lookin' so high and mighty like tha," Koy's grin fleshed out the joking threat. "Heya, folks. So, let me first let ye know I'm a bit better with designin' and sewin' than I am with this phone."

"We're certain of that, Koyliak," 'Taya chuckled. "No one makes clothing quite so wonderful as you." She flashed Jon a grin, unable to prevent the mental image of him in one of Koy's more outlandish gowns.

"Thankee. I'm 'xcited ta get a chance ta dance with such artistic minds. So, I've got some ideas brewin' on my end but I wanted ta hear first wha ye might be envisionin' we could collaborate on fer this project."

Thankfully, Jon was not psychic and did not know Mataya was picturing him in drag. He felt a little awkward, used to having a manager set up these sorts of things for him. This was his first time on his own, and he was glad he had Mataya there to help him through it.

"To be honest, I'm pretty experienced at modelling, so unless you want me naked, I'll agree to just about anything," 'Taya smiled, giving Jon a nudge. He really should state his preferences now, or forever hold his peace.

Jon chuckled at Mataya's remark about nudity before getting nudged. "Oh! Uh....So long as I'm not in drag or wearing tights, I'm good." Yes, he wore tights for Shakespeare, but that was different.

Koy laughed. "I'm sure tha'd be somethin' many would kill me fer not pushin' towards but since I'm in the business of clothin' and not skin, I was thinkin' more we could come up with a few key pieces in a collection tha's got ye as its source of inspiration. We could do some fashion spreads and other print ads and sell it 'xclusively at the Millie & Mallie Department stores. Mebbe one of ye could tell me more specifics 'bout yer production tha'd help as a springboard."

'Taya opened her mouth to point out that she wasn't actually in A Murder of Crowes, before deciding the inevitable discussion wasn't worth it. She was a backer of the studio, that was enough. "It's on a gothic theme," she attempted to explain without giving too much away. "Spanning a couple of centuries, following a vampire's life story. Think Bram Stoker meets True Blood."

"What about tying the theater into it?" Jon asked curiously. Despite his support for Lelah's movie and his desire for its success, the subject of vampires left a bad taste in his mouth at the moment.

Tula snickered. "Koy's not going to recognize either of those. Sexy vampires, Koy, and a lot of night time scenes."

"Aye, we could do the fashion shoots on stage iffn tha might work fer ye' It's not somethin' tha has ta be so literal but now I know ye're not goin' ta want clothin' in neon colors or any such."

"That could be interesting." Jon glanced at Mataya to see what she thought of the idea.

"Well, dark colors is a given, but there's the element of birds as well," 'Taya suggested. "The title of the film is a play on words as it is, so suggesting crows' feathers might be an idea. As to the theater, you're very welcome to use it, and I'm pretty sure I can get hold of some of the film sets if you'd like."

The sound of pages turning might be audible on the other end. Koy was jotting down notes. "Mmhmm, feathers are 'xcellent. Mebbe more navy and deep purples and perhaps even greens 'stead of jest goin' straight fer black."

Jon listened as the trio of women discussed ideas. He didn't really have much to add. He'd done photo shoots before and would agree to whatever they wanted, so long as it was tasteful and professional.

"That sounds good," 'Taya nodded, looking over at Jon to make sure he was okay with what was being discussed. "I'm sure we can trust you not to dress us up like Big Bird - you're fantastic at what you do, Koyliak."

Jon chuckled again at the Big Bird comment. "Yellow isn't really my color, Tay. It makes me look washed out."

"Now, I won't disagree with ye but I'll let the work speak fer itself. I'm goin' ta bring in Gerard Smith who designs fer the Highlife Haberdashery ta work on the menswear bit with me. Were ye thinkin' it'd be jest the two of ye or is there anyone else I could dress fer it?"

"I'm not really sure who would be up for involvement," 'Taya frowned thoughtfully, looking at Jon. "How about Aimee, or any of the others from the cast' Would they be able to do it?"

Jon nodded his head. "I'm sure Aimee would be interested." He really couldn't see Aimee not being interested. She had the starring role in the movie, after all.

"And I can get however many people you'd like from the theater's chorus and cast to bump up numbers," 'Taya offered on top of that. "If you want an even number of male and female, for example, Koy ....or to surround Jon with ladies." She flashed her friend a wicked grin. "Shame a certain redhead isn't an actress really, isn't it?"

"Wait, what are you talking about??" Tula suddenly jumped back in on the call at the redhead comment.

Jon smirked at Mataya's suggestion, teasing her back. "Maybe we should get Max on board. Now, he'd wear a dress, but he's not sitting on my lap." He said absolutely nothing about the redhead remark. He just smiled like the cat that had just eaten the canary, privately wondering what it would be like to do a photo shoot with the redhead in question. In his opinion, she was just as pretty and just as photogenic as any of a half dozen actresses he knew.

"Nothing, forget I said anything, mouth running away with me as usual," 'Taya smoothed into a dismissal of her tactless hint, mouthing an apology to Jon.

"Whaever she's talkin' 'bout probably isn't our business, bub." The stern edge to Koy's voice was meant for Tula.

"All right, so how 'bout we do this. Iffn ye can send over ta me once ye've checked 'round on yer end a list of possible people who could be involved and jest a bit 'bout their roles iffn they're in the film I'll work up some ideas ta show ye. I'm thinkin' it could be a nice contrast ta 'xplicity use the stage in all its trappin's tha make it unique from wha the story looks like on a screen."

'Taya smiled, relieved that her slip had been carefully moved right past. "I say that's a pretty ingenius plan," she agreed. "Give us a couple of days, and we'll have those names for you. Right, Jon?"

"Wonderful. And since ye both know more 'bout the theater than me, iffn ye have any thoughts on how this story would be told differently iffn it were bein' performed live on stage 'stead of on a film set, tha might be very inspirin'."

"Yeah, it'll take a few days to come up with a list and check who's available," Jon remarked, going over a mental list in his head of the various cast members. As far as ideas went, he'd leave that to the the women.

"I'll get my director to look over the script and jot down some notes for you." Ludo wasn't likely to thank her for that one, but Mataya could always charm him into doing whatever she wanted.

"Fantastic! Now iffn ye'll both 'scuse me, I've got ta dash off fer 'nother meetin'. One tha requires me ta 'ctually move my legs," Koy chuckled and Tula's eye roll came through with her words. "Koy, they probably don't think the phone is as mysterious and amusing as you do."

Grinning, 'Taya sat back. "Thank you for calling us," she spoke into the receiver, trying not to let her amusement shine through her tone. "Look forward to what?s coming."

"Thank you for the offer, Koyliak. It's an honor to work with you," Jon told her, with all sincerity.

"What he said."

"Ah, aye, iffn ye'll 'scuse me I also have an employee ta assign menial tasks ta 'til she learns ta 'ppreciate her boss more as well." Tula and Koy could both be heard chuckling despite the threats. This was how they worked. "Bye, guys!" Tula cheerfully called into the phone. "Ditto, bubs, I'm very 'xcited ta get my hands and more importantly my clothin' on ye. I'll see ye....well no I'm not even seein' ye now....but I'll —"

"Talk, Koy, you'll talk to them later. Because if you talk to them now you'll be late getting to Daven's office and then he'll bite your head off and you'll bite mine in turn and it all goes downhill from there."

"Oh, tha's good, mebbe we'll use tha fer this campaign," Koy was smirking on her end. "But wha she said, we'll talk ta ye soon."

BEEEEEEP BEEEP BEEEEP "Would you stop that! I'll hang up."

Click.

((Many thanks to Mataya and Koyliak's players for the above scene!))