Fake It[Working Thread-Morning]

Athena always found modeling nice and interesting but if she wanted to climb higher she had to be as versatile as possible. Idols were supposed to do everything related to show business and even though her singing voice could use some practice Athena was confident that her ability to fake emotions could rival that of professional actors, however even people of her talent had to start from a small role and bloom eventually, after all it was contracts and not skills that mattered the most in show business.

Athena was cast for a small role in the TV drama "Bleeding Roots", she got the role of Mana, the daughter of a wealthy lord named Kenta, played by Tenri Kamida a well known and highly respected actor who simply made a cameo in the show, who marries Norio, one of the series antagonists, her husband was played by an actor ten years olden than her named Tetsuo Hasegawa, just like Tenri Tetsuo had also made a name for himself as an actor. Since the plot resolves around the protagonist and his family the antagonist gets little screen time and his wife even less, still Mana was a nice role for an aspiring actress, she had a few but very emotional speeches and was often dressed in impressive garments to underline the wealth and majesty of her character.

For that season Mana was going to appear in three out of the ten episodes and in one of them she only had a couple of lines. Thankfully Athena knew how to look impressive even without talking thanks to her modeling career. However, despite the few lines her character had in the episode Athena was excited for the upcoming scene they were going to film, where Mana and Norio have a conversation which reveals him as the antagonist and digs a bit deeper in Mana's personality as she warns her husband about the errors of his ways.

Even though Mana was a minor character Athena's clothes and make up were given a lot of attention. She wore a black wig to cover her peculiar hair and a red kimono, apparently the director imagined Mana rather red since she insisted of giving her red eyeliner and lipstick, since red was also Norio's primary color the director wanted to point out the connection of those two and how Mana was slowly turning into her husband, after all by the end of the third episode she would be persuaded that her husband's hate for the protagonist and his family was justified and would even swear to aid him in his vindictive quest though she would be turned down and ordered to remain in the mansion while Norio moved to the capital. After that Mana had no screentime and it was possible that she wouldn't appear in the next season.

The studio had rented the set for Norio's estate for a day and so all the scenes taking places there would have to be filmed in one day, meaning that Athena was going to be done with her obligations in far sooner than the other actors who also had shots on other locations. That wasn't something that pleased her since she didn't have enough time to get to know her co-starts but on the other hand she was going to need the extra time to perform her duties to the Queen.




Mana's first scene and introduction to the plot happened during a meeting where lord Norio talked with one of his guardsmen. Clothes with his trademark red kimono the lord smoked a pipe and replied to the guard without betraying any emotion. Even though Athena had seen Tetsuo perform during rehearsal she couldn't help but be in awe with the man's talent.


"I don't want to hear any more excuses. Lady Momiko's safety (the protagonist's wife) was entrusted to me by lord Shuji (the protagoist) and your reckless behavior almost put her life in danger. You're fortunate I'm not ordering you to take your own life so your blood can wash away the shame you've brought to MY house!

The guard's eyes opened wide out of fear, he was about to plea his lord for mercy but Norio raised his hand ordering him to remain quiet. "However, it would be a bad omen to spill blood when my wife is in such a delicate state, my son could be arriving at any moment, you will be given a second chance but beware for there will be a third one..." At that point Mana walked outside spotting her husband scolding the guard.

"My lord? Is everything in order?" For that particular scene Athena was told was told not to wear her red kimono, instead she was given a pink one, since Mana's family color was white the director wanted to symbolize how Mana was slowly abandoning her old family and was becoming a member of her husband's. A pillow was also placed inside of Athena's clothing to give the illusion of pregnancy. Norio simply nodded to the guard signaling him to walk away, in turn the man bowed first to his lord and later to his lady, he departed without saying anything leaving the couple alone. Once he made sure they were alone Norio's stern expression faded away and his frowned lips turned into a gentle smile, he approached Mana and placed his hand of her belly feeling the life growing inside her.


"Nothing you need to worry about my dearest. The only thing that should occupy your thoughts is your health and the well being of our son." He leaned even closer kissing the fabric clothing her belly. Norio felt his heir moving inside his wife kicking softly to the place he had kissed her, he removed his face out of reflex and surprised but a bright smile bloomed on his face when he understood what he had felt. He greeted me.... my son responded to me." the lord said as he embraced his wife.

Mana in turn placed her hands on her husband's head caressing his rich hair softly while staring down at him, her expression betrayed no other emotion but affection towards him, though in truth she was also proud for managing to give him what he wanted more than anything, a son to carry his legacy. "He wants to leave the comfort of my stomach and see his father. From the way he moves I can tell he will be a fighter, a strong warrior who will bring honor to your house..." Her words seemed to have offended Norio who loosened his embrace and met Mana's gaze, she was been taken aback from his sadden change. "It's OUR house now. You're my wife and you carry the legacy of my name inside you, your place is beside me and this estate is your home. You're still connected with the strong bonds of blood with your father and brother but affections of faces met only on occasion fades with the passing of years. Fret not, my beautiful wife, for the love you feel for your relatives you'll soon fell tenfold for each life beneath your breast.

Mana did not reply she closed her eyes and lowered her head, a sign of submissiveness to her husbands will to mask her true opinion about his words. Norio pleased with his wife's reaction rose up to his feet and kissed her forehead softly. "Go now, return inside and let yourself on your handmaidens' care. Make sure not to tire yourself and focus on our son's well being... I will take care of the rest."

When Tetsuo finished his line the director's voice pulled the two actors out of the zone. The scene had gone perfectly and as she was giving out instructions about the next one the assistants pulled Athena to the backroom in order to prepare her for her next appearance. They were slower than those she was used to work with though it made sense, back when she was making photo shots they would rent a place for a couple of hours whereas for the filming of the episodes the producer had rented the studio for an entire day, which was consider too little time for that kind of business to begin with.

In the next scene Mana was waiting for her husband to return home. Norio had left along with his guards and lady Momiko in order to relocate her to a secure location, in other words imprison her so he could use her to threaten her husband. Mana who had grown to like the other woman was upset because of Norio's cruelness and despite her handmaidens urging her to calm down for the shake of her child she was unmoved. When Norio finally returned he found her clad in a crimson red kimono in their dim lighted bedroom, just by looking at her one could realize she wasn't pleased.

"So this is how you envisioned the glorious future of our house? By soiling your honor and abandoning the oaths you have taken?" For the first time in her life Mana was making a stand for her beliefs, she was determinate not to remain passive and allow Norio's ambitions ruin him. Her husband on the other hand didn't see things the way she did. Once confronted he glared at his wife, who much to his surprise did not lowered her head. "Soiling our honor? How can you say that when the only thing I have done is to remind the rest of the noble houses that ours is the most ancient one. For too long those whose ancestors can be tracked down to three or four generations had the nerve to order us around. My ancestors build the great cities they govern, conquered the lands they claim as theirs. It's time to get back what is rightfully ours." Mana had never seen Norio speak in such passionate manner, he was always calm and careful with his words, for a moment she wondered if the man standing before her was not the same as the one she married.

"You took my fried away, imprisoned in one of your towers and for what? You wish to reclaim the land your family once owned but you forget the reason they lost it to begin with. My mother used me to tell the stories the poets have wrote about the great war. We have enough to get by and with time our fortune will only grown. With my family's wealth and your navy we'll surely-" Even though Mana was trying a more diplomatic approach her words didn't seem to reach him, instead they only made the fire in his eyes rage even more. "Oh my poor naive wife. How can you still have hopes of peace and prosperity when the other houses already ready their troops? You think I was the one to start this war, you think I would ever risk your life and that of my heir in pursue of glory and vanity? Norio took out a letter from his robe and gave it to his wife. "See for yourself. This is what your precious friend was doing while she was here, this is what the lesser nobles have in store for us."

Mana read the letter which was written by Momiko, it was to be sent to her husband informing him of various weaknesses Norio was having, it was clear that they intended to invade in order to avenge a crime her father-in-law had committed years ago though the details were unclear. As soon as she finished reading it Mana's expression changed from angry to sad. "How could see do this? I have held her dear to my heart as trust friend and she returns my love with betrayal... She didn't manage to finish her sentence as she felt the warm hands of her husband touching her, forcing to lift her chin and face him right in the eyes.


As he spoke those words an eerie smile bloomed on his lips. Mana knew that he was speaking the truth but even if he didn't she would be too afraid to object.

"You can't see it yet. I was like you once but that man is long gone now. Once I believed in honor and promises of friendships but those things belong to the past. Seal your heart wife, love only your family and no one else, for this is the only way you can survive among the vipers."

Mana was no longer listening to what he was saying, his voice had helped her sadness fade but now images of what her child's fate would have been had Momiko's plans succeeded filled her mind. It was a simple act and yet the betrayal caused the love she once felt for that woman to wither and die giving it's place to hate. Anyone who would dare to harm her child would face her wrath even if she called them friends once.

"You're right...." She finally said. "I don't want anyone to hurt you or our child and if in order to protect you I have to turn my heart to stone so be it, I wont waste sweet emotions on others.

"Finally!" Norio replied "My wife decides to cast out the girl and take the mantle of a the woman. It will not be easy, hearts as kind as yours are hard to harden but the fire that burns inside you will help you with that, and when you birth it into this world the entire nation will bow before us." He added before he leaned closer to her kissing her passionately on the lips.




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