Red X Charity Event Backstage: Cecilia, Lorna, Clarice, Angel, Marius, Yvette and Hope

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The lucky singles prepare for their turn on the auction block.

Cecilia should have realized that long before now. Long before she was standing at a mirror in the makeshift backstage of a black tie event, wearing a black dress she hadn't been totally comfortable buying, contemplating the prospect of being sold to a man.

Actually, it wasn't that last bit that bothered her, because she lived with a few people who were sitting out in the audience who had more money then God and would make sure she wasn't totally embarrassed when someone read her name and she got met with crickets.

Cecilia tried to push the anxiety away, but the reflection staring back at her made that difficult. "Anyone have a set of tweezers?" She called out. "And maybe a Valium?"

A set of tweezers appeared in front of Cecilia with Lorna holding them. "I have tweezers but I left the Valium back at home. You look very nice, Doc."

"Oh, thanks." Cecilia just rolled her eyes, grabbing the tweezers out of Lorna's hands. "Figured I'd look my best, because, you know." She started to pluck the hairs that were bothering her. "Charity."

She passed the grooming tool back to Lorna, then turned to smile at the other woman. They hadn't seen much of each other since Cecilia returned, which was really a shame.

"I think I like these sorts of things better in theory than in practice."

"It could be worse. But I agree. Better in theory than in practice." Lorna smiled back but added in a serious tone. "Just think that they are all naked or something."

"Indeed, and try not to ask oneself if the audience is engaged in a similar exercise," came a cheerful voice. A tuxedo'ed Marius strode by, followed by one of the mansion's abundant redheads.

That, of course, earned him a light bop to the back of the head. "Dude, totally not helping," Angel scolded jokingly. "Don't listen to him Dr. Reyes, there's a reason we don't let him out to play with people."

Cecilia snorted. "Is it because it makes people want to set him on fire?" She lifted an eyebrow, studying Marius for a moment before looking back at Angel. "Have you tried setting him on fire? You should maybe consider that."

Marius grinned. "She absolutely has, and it absolutely failed. No worries, I must now take my leave; I'm due on the auction block shortly." The Australian disappeared behind the curtain before calling back, "Fabulous dress, by the way!"

"Yes we all fondly remember the time I tried to set Marius on fire. It was memorialized in my trainee name." Angel smirked, looking back at Cecilia. "He of few manners is right though. You look fantastic. Whoever gets you is gonna be damn lucky for it. Just breathe."

"I can't exhale in this dress," Cecilia deadpanned. She glanced down at the black number Clarice had made her buy weeks earlier, one she'd insisted she'd never find an occasion to wear. It did show off her assets nicely — and no mistake, tonight they were assets. For charity.

"Spanx, Cece," Clarice replied, her dress pulled up as she adjusted her own pair while she walked. No one truly had the body of models, including models. They had tricks to help though, like Spanx. "These'll give you a better line," she added, handing Cecelia a nude pair and pulling her dress back down. "And you'll be able to exhale more easily. But I'm pretty sure those are nerves causing your problems."

"I'm not nervous," Cecilia said, glancing at the Spanx before tossing them back to Clarice. Not that she was arrogant or anything, but she didn't think she needed the help. It wasn't like she expected to meet her dream man at this thing. "I'm just vaguely uncomfortable with the idea of having a monetary value assigned to myself. As is well within my right." She shrugged. "Plus, I can't decide if it's worse if nobody but Wade bids on me, or if it's probably the best thing."

"There is nothing worse than Wade bidding on anyone. I am actually hoping that I get bidded on someone outside of our monster house. And don't think of it as a monetary value...This is for charity. Have fun and drink a lot of wine afterwards." Lorna fixed a stray of green hair.

"Just you wait, that room's gonna go crazy when you step out there," Angel assured Cecilia with a grin. "Now I'm gonna go watch Marius get sold off because I need a picture of the look on the person's face when they realize what they've done." She was laughing as she made her way around to the front.

"Personally, I want Wade to bid on me," Clarice countered, "He'll do something insane, but he won't be malicious. Some of those yahoos....ew," not that they could force anyone to do something illegal or against their will, but Clarice just wanted Wade to drive the price up for her since she was pretty sure it was going to be lower than most others. "It's not what you're worth though. It's what you're raising for charity."

Cecilia made a noise in agreement, then turned to look back at the mirror. At least she was having a good hair day. "Sure," she said, fiddling idly with her dress. "For charity. I'll try to remember that when a room full of people is staring at me with dollar signs in their eyes." She spun back around, trying to shake the feeling that she'd worn the wrong dress. "You know, when you see this on TV, it usually looks pretty great. But that's probably because it's the women bidding, and you feel like you've won a victory for female agency or something."

"How is everyone going?" It was Yvette, bustling backstage to check on how things were going. True, this was Hope's event (in conjunction with the official committee), but Yvette was an inveterate helper when it came to Red X. "You all look lovely." For herself, she was wearing a simple black long-sleeved dress that hid her bodysuit nicely, with a band of metallic silver flowers keeping her hair back and out of her face. "Thank you again, for doing this for us."

"Just waiting for our turn." Lorna turned to look at Yvette, "I like the metallic silver flowers. Nice touch."

"Just enjoying our last meal before facing the firing squad." Cecilia grinned, nodding at Lorna's compliment to Yvette. "You look great. How's the crowd?"

"Very happy," Yvette replied, pleased at both the compliments and the fact things were going so well. "Everyone is having the good time, which means they are happy to be spending the money."

On cue, they were interrupted by an amplified scuffling from the front of the house. A voice that was clearly that of the auctioneer said, "Sir, what are you--?"

Another voice, clearly that of the auctionee, responded into the microphone.

"Pardon me, my good man, but I could not remain silent for another moment. Though I appreciate the generosity -- and more, obvious good taste -- evidenced by these lovely ladies, I feel the amounts suggested are criminally short of what both cause and prize demand. As such, I wish to place my own bid -- ah, but it is crass to discuss one's philanthropic contributions in public." There was another odd noise, as of a hang being placed over a microphone, and then a moment of silence. The hand was withdrawn in time for the audience to hear Marius say, "Acceptable?"

There was no intelligible response from the unseen auctioneer, though there was a noise that sounded like it was trying to decide between a guffaw and a choke. The X-Man clearly took this as consent.

"Sold, to the unconventionally attractive man on the auction block! My sincerest thanks to you all for your interest, and I encourage you to bid generously and often on the remainder of our contestants. I now bid you adieu; I'm off to arrange a night on the town I will never forget."

There was a loud thump. Marius had literally dropped the mic and left the stage.

It was quiet backstage. Cecilia opened her mouth, stood silently for a minute and then shut it. Her eyes darted toward the stage, where she swore she heard Angel laughing maniacally, before looking back at the women in front of her. "I don't -- what?"

Clarice snort-giggled. That was a VERY Marius thing. If only she had the funds to do something similar. "I fear for our audience," she giggled.

"That will be a tough act to follow." Lorna said still staring at the stage. "Who is after Marius?"

Yvette was still peering behind the curtain to the stage, trying to figure out what just happened. And trying not to giggle too much. At Lorna's question, she turned to look over her shoulder at Cecilia. "That would be the good Doctor Reyes, yes?"

"Well, that can't be right." Cecilia thought she'd scheduled in some time to bark at someone to bring her a drink before she stood in front of a crowd of people with entirely-too-deep pockets. "Actually," she raised a finger, "I guess going after the guy who bought himself will make me look pretty damn great as long as someone bids on me. If it were my turn. Which it's not my turn."

A quick rap on the door sounded and Hope popped around the corner, still shaking her head at Marius' actions, but with a big smile on her face. "Is everything going okay back here? The people are quite enthusiastic upfront. Oh and Dr. Reyes, you are up..."

"Knock 'em dead." Lorna said to Cecilia as she gave the good Doctor a little push.

"Oh sure," Cecilia rolled her eyes, resisting the urge to dig her heels in. "That's me. The festival's grand prize."