TOPIC:  AU's R Us:  How do we keep 'em Jim and Blair when they're not?  Pick a fantasy location, historical setting, futuristic scenario, or something that strikes your fancy.  Setting and backstory are important... but keeping the characters canon is important too.  So, let your imagination

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Jim Ellison, bookholder of the Oval Theatre, looked over to the local playwrite, Blair Sanders.

The kid was good, constantly putting out plays that'd rivaled that William Shakespeare.  Blair was a student of human nature, and he showed that in his writings.

Jim walked over to John Thorton, the troupes leader.  Giving the dramatic actor a quick nod, his gaze never leaving Blair, "What do you have planned for next weekend's performance," suspecting that Thorton would want to introduce the new play Blair had just completed.

"I was thinking of doing 'Loving and Leaving,' but I don't think Owen will have the set ready by then, let alone the actors knowing their lines."

It was a common complaint of Thorton, that everyone else was not ready when they weren't given enough time in the first place.

"Since no one will be prepared," giving an exasperated swing of his arms to the yard they were in, and it's current inhabitants, "I suggest we do the old favorite, 'Labour of Love'."

Jim headed back to where he kept the scripts to pull it out, and have it ready for use.  He didn't know why he bothered.  The entire troupe knew the play inside out.  The sets were made.  Nothing new needed to be done.  Thorton was right - it was an old favorite that people kept coming back to, no matter how many times they did it.

As he opened the case, he heard a noise.  Turning his head, he could see that rope holding one of the weights was fraying, and at any moment, the weight would come done - right on top of  Robert Fireston, the troupe's comedic actor.  Jim ran, grabbing the chubby little actor seconds before the weight came crashing down.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, you big bully."  Fireston wriggled his way up so that he could actually glare down at Ellison.  "We should have you fired.  The mere impudence."

Blair came rushing over.  "Robert, Jim.  Are you two okay?  Man, that weight could have killed you.  How did you know it was gonna fall, Jim?  That was amazing."

Jim looked to the energetic man next to him, and shook his head.  "I don't know, Chief.  But I have work to get back too."
 

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