Fashion Victims Ep. 1.25

Kurt didn't know why he went to the office, but he did. He could have gone to a bar, gotten wasted. Made a real show of it, but for some reason that didn't seem like it would help. Instead he came to the place where everything started to fall apart.

He got out of his car, locking the door, and just stood there. His feet didn't want to move. His whole body seemed so drained of energy that he couldn't even muster up the power to walk.

He turned leaning against the car, and he felt the first quake of a sob in his chest. Then another, and then another. He found himself sitting on the cold cement of the parking garage, his knees pulled to his chest, his head buried in his hands, crying.

Everything was going to hell, and so quickly. He had Layla threatening to expose him. He had his brother who was sure to let his whole precinct know, and he had Gio. What the hell was he going to do with Gio?

He couldn't keep seeing him. Not now. To many people knew about their relationship. It would only be a matter of time before it got back to Barbi, and then...

His train of thought was interupted by the sound of footsteps moving towards the car.

He looked up and saw a figure, average height, wearing a long black robe with a hood that covered the person's face.

Kurt stood, moving away from whoever that was standing in front of him, but never taking his eyes off of them. He knew well enough that a creepy, hooded figure in a deserted location equaled one thing. Danger.

The second Kurt saw the knife emurge from the person's sleeve he knew he was in trouble.

He took off, running for the stairs as quickly as possible, the whole time reminding himself not to trip. If he tripped he would die, and if he had his way, he would not be dying tonight.

He reached the heavy metal door and pushed. It was locked. He pushed again. Still locked. He nearly pushed a third time, but decided to glance over his shoulder instead. The figure in the cloke was right behind him, knife raised, ready to strike.

He ducked, the knife slicing into his arm. He screamed in pain, but didn't stop moving, running back to his car. He held out his key, hitting the unlock button on the remote, and glanced behind him.

The figure was gone.

He slowed down, looking around the mostly empty garage. He was alone again. He would have thought it was all in his head if it wasn't far the large, bleeding cut on his right, upper arm.

He got into his car quickly, putting his foot on the brake and hitting the start button. He was about to put the car in gear when he glanced into the rearview mirror.

The hooded figure slowly rose from behind his seat. The figures hood was raised enough that Kurt could see that the person was smiling. The shadow was to dark though to tell if it was a man or woman, or what shade their skin was. He felt an intense pain in his back as the knife broke through the driver's side seat, and pierced his back.

Updates!

Hey, so there is a quick little video preview available. Head over to the Soap Sudz Links section on the sidebar and click on Soap Sudz Updates.

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It's nothing to fancy, but it's cute.

Soap Vets

So, this going to be a quick note, but I have to say, I'm glad to being seeing the All My Children vet characters getting some story and screen time. Erika, Adam and Tad have been given some major screen time as of late, and it's nice to see a show that understands the importance of using it's veteran actors. Now if only the same could be said about Jesse and Angie...

Still, it's better than on One Life to Live (which I still love) where you hardly see Vicki's face at all unless she's handing out advice in her kitchen. Maybe you'll get a quick scene of her and Charlie together, but other than that... nothing. It's finally time to give Vicki a good story. One that is about her.

I mean, Vicki is to One Life to Live as Erika Kane is to All My Children. So, why isn't Vicki getting the same respect as Erika? Why isn't Vicki getting the same screen time as Dorian? When did Dorian Lord become the patriarch of Llanview?

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.24

Rick didn't know why he was going to attempt the front stoop ambush again, but it was the only thing he could think of. Kurt refused to return his calls, and getting into the office was impossible. So, there he was again, sitting on the step that led into Barbi and Kurt's mansion, waiting for his brother.
The sun had set hours ago, and Rick was freezing. Apparently it was spring, but according the the weather man there was the threat of snow that night. One had to love Chicago weather.
The headlights of Kurt's car bobbed and weaved up the long curved drive, and Rick had to shield his eyes when they got close.
It was now or never. Rick took a deep breath, stood up, and started towards Kurt's car.
"Listen, we're talking no matter what." Rick didn't even give Kurt the chance to speak. "You're telling me your alibi, and I'm not leaving."
Kurt brushed past him. At least he didn't come out swinging this time.
"Were you with him?" Rick just blurted it out. Obviously there was no use in dancing around the issue. "Were you with Gio?"
Kurt stopped dead in his tracks. The muscles in his back went tense, but he didn't turn around.
"Why would I be with Gio?" Kurt glanced over his shoulder as he spoke, but the rest of his body remained rigid.
"I saw you two." Rick took a step towards his brother. "In the parking garage at Dollhouse. I saw you two... kissing." He was surprised the word 'kiss' was so hard for him to say.
Kurt turned, stomping towards him. Rick tensed up, ready for the blow. It never came. Instead Kurt stopped inches from his face, his breath coming out in strong, angry spurts.
"You were spying on me?" Kurt was yelling.
"You didn't leave me much choice!" Rick took a step back. He didn't know why he was scared. He was a cop, he could take Kurt if he had to, but the thing was, he didn't want to. "The chief was starting to snoop around, and I wanted to know the truth before he did. I had the right to know the truth before he did."
Now it was Rick's turn to start yelling.
Why couldn't have Kurt just told him? Was he scared that Rick would start talking, flapping his lips and letting the world know his little brother's big secret? Did Kurt really not trust him? Rick had one person to blame for this one, and it wasn't himself. It was Barbi, putting all that paparazzi crap in Kurt's head.
"Fine. Yes, I was. All night. You can ask Gio, his doorman, the Chinese delivery guy," Kurt turned and started towards the door. "You just couldn't leave well enough alone, could you Rick."
Rick took a breath. He had to calm Kurt down, because it was becoming very evident that if he didn't defuse the situation now, then Kurt would probably never talk to him again.
"It's not that big of a deal." The words tumbled out. "I mean, the cheating part is, but..."
Kurt was about to open the front door, but stopped. Rick could see that he was crying. Without speaking he rushed back to his car, slamming the driver's side door.
"Kurt." Rick started towards the car. "Kurt, where the hell do you think you're going."
Kurt pulled a U-turn and started down the driveway. Rick tried to run after him, but obviously he was no match for whatever flavor of sports car Kurt was driving that week.
"Damn it." Then Rick did the only thing he could do. He screamed.
All the anger, the frustration burst out of his mouth into one loud bellow that seemed to echo in the night air. He was probably going to be doing a lot of that in the future. That much was certain.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.23

Jade watched as Layla and Annabelle posed for Derrick. She actually felt the slightest tinge of jealousy. She hadn't always wanted to run an agency. No, she had actually wanted to be a model, but the fact that she wasn't a size 0 kind of made that impossible.

She wasn't fat. Far from it, but her curves made her hard to market in the world of high fashion, so instead she decided she would work behind the scenes.

She didn't have the talent to be photographer, but she had the business sense, so she found herself in the main offices of Dollhouse, working her way to the top. The problem was, at Dollhouse, once you reached where she was, there was no where else to go.

Unless you started your own agency.

That was her plan, but she couldn't do it alone. She needed the talent behind her to give her company the real push it needed.

Talent like Derrick Patterson.

She waited til the shoot was done, and the models had left to make her first move.

She had picked a low cut blouse, and form fitting pencil skirt for her outfit that day. It had worked so well in the past, and she was hoping that it would work now. Derrick was easy enough prey.

"You did good." She walked onto the half lit set, making sure that her walk had the right amount of sway. Seductive not street walker.

"Only good?" Derrick smiled, gave her a wink. "You know it was better than good."

She got close, but not to close. She crossed her arms under her chest, making sure to give her already ample cleavage that little extra 'pop'.

"You could do better. If you had better girls to work with." Her voice was deep, smooth. She smiled.

"I don't think there are many better." He gave her a quick nod, almost dismissive.

He was trying to get away from her. That wouldn't work.

She moved in, placing her hands on his shoulders, pressing her chest against his.

"Why stick with Barbi, Derrick? You know she's only holding you back." She pulled him closer, her face inches from his.

Derrick slipped out of her grip, and walked back towards the leather couch in the far right corner of the studio.

"What's your game Jade." His voice was flat, annoyed.

Jade was shocked. She was so sure that even if she didn't get him on her side, she would at least have gotten lucky.

"What do you think." She dropped the sexy act, switching into business mode. "I'm starting up, and I need you by my side to draw in the talent."

"And turn on Barbi? Are you asking for an early grave?" He laughed at her. "Good luck, but I like being alive."

He brushed past her, and walked right out of the studio, not even giving her a final once over.

"Son of a bitch." She stomped her foot on the hard cement floor, the right heel of her shoe snapping.

How could she have been so stupid? Now what if he ran his mouth to Kurt. Kurt would go to Barbi, and then she would be screwed. No, she had to do a little damage control. Make sure that everyone was to preoccupied to care what she had done.

She had to make sure that no one noticed that she was slowly stealing Barbi's empire right from under her.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.22

Barbi sat on the other side of the thick glass window trying to brush the lint off of her orange jump suit. She had no idea why she was so nervous. It was just Layla. Kurt had been there the day before, and she hadn't been that nervous, but something about her little sister seeing her like this made her heart race a mile a minute. It was probably the shame that was driving her nuts.

How could she have let this happen? Well, she hadn't, as far as she knew.

She could see the guard leading Layla to the seat on the other side of the window. The look in Layla's eyes broke her heart. Her sister refused to even look up, keeping her field of vision completely floor level.

Barbi slowly picked up the phone, and Layla followed.

"You didn't have to come." Barbi tried to keep her voice light.

"Of course I did." Layla still didn't look up. "I couldn't just leave you in here alone."

"I'm not alone." She paused. She didn't want to sound like she was pushing Layla away. She wasn't. She was honestly glad to see her sister. "Thank you."

"For what?" Layla finally did look up.

Even though her sister was a grown woman, at that moment she looked like the awkward teen that Barbi knew so well. That bit of confusion and fear in her eyes, the way her bangs feel in front of her face, made her looke sixteen, not twenty four.

"For coming to see me." Barbi leaned forward, whispering. "Not many people want to even admit I exist right now, let alone give me a visit."

"Has anyone been here to see you?" Layla's voice had the slightest hint of anger as she spoke.

"Of course. Kurt was here, and a few of the models stopped in. Gio and Annabelle. That was awkward. Derrick came. A few reporters of course." She smiled. "I've been sticking to the good old 'no comment' for them."

Layla faked a laugh. At least she was trying to go along with Barbi's false cheer.

"Jade didn't come?" Layla spoke softly, her eyes drifting back towards her shoes.

"No." Barbi smirked. "Kurt did tell me that you did a number on her though."

"You should have heard the things she said about you!" Layla's voice jumped up an octave, and she stood. She was in full defensive teenager mode.

"Calm down, calm down." Barbi made a motion with her hand, telling Layla to sit. "I'm not really in the position to yell at you, okay. Just... try to control your temper."

"I know, for the company." Layla's eyes gazed to the side, never at Barbi.

"No, for your own protection." Barbi's voice became dead serious. "A lot of people are going to try to make you slip up, do something stupid. They don't just want to ruin me Layla, they want to hurt you to. I don't want that, but I really can't do much from in here."

"I... I have to go." Layla got up, dropping the phone onto the small shelf in front of the glass, and darted off to the side.

Barbi sat back, trying to choke back the tears. Her own sister could stand to look her in the eyes for more than five seconds.

Barbi looked over at the guard, signaling that she was ready to go back to her cell. At least in there she didn't have a constant visual reminder of how much she had hurt everyone. The worst part was, she was so sure she hadn't, but even that was starting to falter.

What I'm Reading...

So, to take a little break from the usual soap talk, I'm going to let you all know what I'm reading right now!

So, I'm one of those types of readers who prefers a book that doesn't require constant re-reading to get through. I like my stories fun, quick and dramatic. I like excitment and mystery and all that fun stuff.

Since overly-descriptive, flowery prose tend to get on my nerves I find myself looking at young adult series. They give me the drama I want, but they move at a pace where I'm not stuck reading some thousand page tome for three weeks. (Nothing wrong with that, just not my style).

Let me put it this way, I'm more likely to re-read Valley of the Dolls than pick up Pride and Prejudice.

So, currently I am reading two series.

The first is the House of Night Series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, a mother and daughter team. I just completed the first book in the series, Marked and so far, am impressed. The writing is quick and easy to read. The characters, while not all that deep, are entertaining enough to make me care what happens to them. The story does feel a bit rushed, but once the main plot kicks in it keeps you wanting to find out what's going to happen next. That's all I really need with a book like this.

The main plot is that a young girl, Zoey Redbird, is "marked" to become a vampire. The thing is, vampires are common place in society in the world of the book. To be marked means that the outline of a crescent moon tattoo appears on your forehead, and as you begin to change into a vampire the tattoo fills in, and other tattoos appear on your body. All vampire fledlings are taken to the House of Night, a vampire boarding school, where they are trained and protected. The problem is, not everyone survives the change. Some say those who don't survive just die, but there is evidence that points to them becoming something monsterous and evil.

The quick and dirty of it is this. Imagine if True Blood and Harry Potter had a bastard child that liked to drop f-bombs every once in a while and talk about sex.

So far there are four books available in the series. The first is marked, followed by Betrayed, Chosen and Hunted.

The other book is one I haven't completed just yet, but I am really loving. Blue Bloods, the first in the Blue Blood series, is a smartly written, sexy, fun little book. While there are vampires in the stories, that isn't the focus. No, the focus is on the budding relationships between the characters, the sexual tension and the glitz and glamour of living the high life in New York. There is also a murder mystery, and ties to the original settlers on the Mayflower.

I'm loving this series. It is well written (unlike, say, Gossip Girl), and it shows that the author did her research.

So, I majorly recommend the House of Night and Blue Blood series. Don't let the YA label fool you. Both series are jam packed with soap twists and turns, hot romance, and fun plots.

If you want something more mature then pick up Jane Austin or D.H. Lawerence. I won't judge.

Giving a new show a shot: Young and the Restless

So, since I reported that Y&R was adding a gay character I decided to actually try to watch the show. Get a feel for it and all. I mean, it is the number one soap opera in a America, so it has to be pretty good.

Let me just say that in the past when I've attempted to watch Y&R I couldn't latch on to any of the stories. I was pretty lost most of the time, and of course that means I gave up. Not the case now.

The current story lines are interesting, fun, and easy to get into. Kevin in the insane asylum? Great, wacky stuff! The show is showing a good deal of creativity in that department. Kay finally reclaiming her identity? Very interesting, and a great way for me, as a newbie to get to know a good deal of the characters.

Then there is Amber. In the past I had caught a few scenes that she was in, and I wasn't impressed. She seemed like a softer Maxie from GH. Now though, after putting her in the Kevin storyline, I'm extremly impressed. It just shows that the right storyline can really make a character pop!

So, I'm going to continue to give Y&R a chance (I watch it while I write Fashion Victims now), I may also give another show a chance in the future. Try it out. Try watching a show you never thought of watching before. Give it a few episodes, maybe a week. Who knows, you may like it.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.21

Rick never thought he would find himself standing in the Dollhouse parking garage, spying on his brother's car, but he had no choice. Kurt hadn't given him an alibi, and now the police were starting to question if Barbi worked alone, and the top suspect on that list was his little brother.

He had been standing behind a cement pillar for the past hour, hidden away from the security cameras. He was cold, and his legs were starting to cramp. He would have gotten someone on the inside, one of the office workers or models, to help him, but none of them were talking. They were all still very much loyal to their boss, and the police were the ones keeping her locked away.

He heard the metal door that lead out of the stairs open and close. He was praying it wasn't another secretary heading home. The last one looked like hell. She had bruises, a bloody nose and a split lip. He had almost stopped her for questioning, but he wasn't ready to risk blowing his cover. Kurt's alibi was to important for that.

Luckily this time it was Kurt walking towards his car quickly. He was alone as far as Rick could tell, but he didn't have a clear view of his brother just yet.

He saw Kurt jump and turn.

"You scared the hell out of me." His brother laughed, then reached out, embracing whoever he was talking to.

Rick leaned forward, but couldn't get a good view of the other person.

He could see his brother lean in, kiss the other person.

"You look like hell." Kurt's voice was soft.

"I had a hard day." The other voice was distinctly male.

Rick nearly jumped in shock. Then he leaned out further, and got a good look at whoever his brother was playing kissy face with.

The other man, a model he had seen around town named Gio, was tall, muscular with olive skin and dark hair. Gio wrapped his arms around Kurt's waist, pulling him close.

Rick looked away, just as the two men were about to kiss.

That was not what he had been expecting. A mistress maybe, but that... guy?

He couldn't get out of the parking garage fast enough.

Walking down State Street, his mind spinning, it was all suddenly starting to become very clear why his brother refused to give an alibi. If he said where he was, then he would have to admit to Rick that he was cheating on his wife with another man.

Another man. He still couldn't wrap his head around that. Yeah, Kurt worked in the fashion industry, but he was surrounded by beautiful women all day. He was married to one of them for God's sake.

All Rick needed at that point was a stiff drink, but decided against it. The last thing he needed to do was cloud his judgement. Instead he slipped into Grind, grabbed himself a black coffee, and hid in the back, trying to figure out his next move.

Was he willing to out his brother to clear him, or would he keep his mouth shut and wait for Kurt to come clean. That last option wasn't to promising. It seemed like Kurt would rather fry than admit that he had been spending the night in someone else's bed, especially since that someone else had a thicker five o'clock shadow than he did.

Rick sipped his coffee.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.20

"What the hell were you thinking?" Kurt handed Layla the ice pack for her knucles.

"You said do what I had to do so you could fire her. Now fire her." Layla didn't even look at him as she spoke. She was still riding the rush after the fight.

"You just made it so that I can't fire her Layla. I fire her now and then she talks to the press, and the whole world hears that not only is Barbi Starr stabbing her models, but her little sister is beating up the staff." He sat down behind the desk, turning his chair so he was looking out at the Chicago skyline. "I ment catch her screwing up a letter or making copies of her butt on the machine or something. Not... that."

Kurt jumped as the ice pack smashed against the giant picture window. He half expected the plate glass to shatter. Luckily, it didn't.

"You know our deal Kurt." Layla was screaming.

He turned quickly in his chair, looking her dead in the eyes. His jaw was grinding, and his head was killing him.

"My responsibility is not to keep you happy sweetheart, it's to keep this company afloat." He stood slowly, placing both hands on the desk and leaning forward. "I will not let some personal little vendetta you have for Jade ruin this place."

"You know the consiquence of me not being happy, right?" Her voice was flat, low.

"I'll take my chances. Now get the hell out of here." He sat back down. "And keep icing that hand. You have a shoot tomorrow, and I don't want to be sending in one of our top girls looking like she just went three rounds with Mike Tyson."

He smiled and motioned towards the door.

She didn't move.

"Layla, I have a lot to..." He jumped when she slammed her hand down on the desk.

"You listen to me you closet case, you do what I want, or I will ruin you." She was growling now. "That's a promise."

On that note she turned and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her.

Kurt was shocked. Layla had always been such a sweet girl, but now... now she was turning into a true model. A bitch. He didn't know if he should be proud, or scared. At the moment he was a little of both.

He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. When had things gotten so crazy? Well, he obviously knew when, but he had never imagined that it would have escalated to this.

He didn't have time to think further. His phone started going off, and obviously Jade wasn't there to answer. He picked up, shook off the jitters, and went right back to playing boss.

A heads up!

So, I'm very happy with how Fashion Victims is going. Although the readership is small, and I'm sure most of you are friends of mine, I'm still going to go forward and complete the current arc, and work on a second season. Currently Fashion Victims is on week 4, and the season will end at week 13. There will be a two week break between seasons while I get the second season ready.

Don't worry though. Soap Sudz won't go dark for those two weeks!

I am a glutton for punishment, and am starting to develop a new series, which if all goes as planned will debut during that two week break. I'll start releasing more information as I get closer to publishing. Unlike Fashion Victims though, this series will be shorter, with only three posts per week, but the season will last a full thirteen weeks. At least, for the first season. If I'm happy with the results then the new series may see a second season.

This blog is an experiment, and so I'm going to test my limits. While the format is working for now, it may change in the future, with a shift in the amount of posts, or the size of the episodes. I hope you few readers who have stuck with me will continue to read, and hopefully I can gain more readers over time.

Also, I want to hear from you the readers, so if you have any questions, comments, or even tips, just shoot me an email at rstringini@gmail.com

Lessons I learned from AMC: How to ruin a character... and how to improve one.

All My Children is going through a bit of a transition period. Not long ago the show changed head writers, a change which I actually feel was for the better. Still, as with everything in life, the change has not been perfect. The story pace has picked up considerably, and therefor some of the depth that could have been mined has been lost. Also, some characters have had complete personality transplants, or at least started leaning more towards their dark sides.

This is where this note comes in. All My Children has shown me, as a novice writer, how to ruin a character, as well as how to bring new life to one.

Which character did they ruin? Ryan Lavery. Ryan was always a romantic who jumped head first into relationships, sometimes while still in one with someone else, and he was quick to declare his undying love. He was a fool, but still someone worth watching. Lately though, since the death of his most rescent "one true love" Ryan has turned into something resembling a monster.

He is willing to rip families apart and cheat. He has done everything in his power to hurt his ex-wife Annie, who he had driven crazy, and he has set out to destroy Zach Slater, the man he blames for Greenlee's death.

Ryan is a character with blinders on. He blames everyone else, but never blames himself for the role he played in Greenlee's death. He jumped to a conclusion that wasn't true, started running his mouth, and was responsible for his wife to be, being on the road the night she was killed.

Ryan, of course, denies this, and instead managed to ruin not one, but two marriages. Then he goes and sleeps with Greenlee's best friend, who is married with children!

We're supposed to cheer for this character? Luckily the writers aren't idiots, and they have decided to side with the audience, and portray Ryan has the sudden monster he is. Still, Ryan's character was one of the more heroic, romantic men on the show. Now he's a cruel, vindictive mess who is so unhappy with his life that he terrorizes everyone else.

At the same time, one of his victims, Annie, has become a very interesting character! When I started watching the show Annie was pretty darn dull. She was for the most part saintly, a good mother, and a devoted wife. When Ryan left her is when the fun begins.

Annie went insane. In her insanity she murdered two people, one of them her brother, kidnapped her daughter, stabbed Erica Kane, and had a completely mental breakdown in the middle of a nightclub while wearing a bloodstained wedding dress. Saintly no more!

Annie has become a character with depth, layers, and a very interesting and dark past. Her new romance with Aidan has become almost exciting to watch, since there are so many forces working against them.

Before the writer's switch it seemed as if Annie would be written off the show. After the switch Annie was given a good deal of plot and material to work with, and with her insanity her character grew.

Now I know fans would disagree on my opinion on both of these characters, and that's fine. This is my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.19

Layla rushed up to Kurt just as he was about to slip into the break room. She grabbed his arm and pulled him aside.
"You remember our little deal?" She was whispering in his ear.
"Yes." He pulled away from her. "How can I forget getting blackmailed?"
"Hey, if you weren't sneaking around, then I wouldn't be able to blackmail you." She crossed her arms and leaned back, looing him dead in the eyes. "Listen, I need you to do something for me."
"What?" He was obviously starting to get annoyed. "You're keeping me from my coffee."
"I want you to fire Jade." She spoke softly, but slowly.
"I can't." He pushed open the door to the break room.
She yanked him back into the hallway.
"Do you want your little secret to get out?" She realized she was squeezing his arm.
"Do you want the company to get slapped with a lawsuit?" He sighed. "You give me a reason to fire her, no matter how small, and I'll do it."
She smiled. This was going to be fun.
She turned and headed towards Barbi's office. Jade's desk sat right out front. With each step she took she tried to build up her confidence. She wasn't used to having all this power, and it was a rush to know that with one little nudge she could get rid of Jade.
"Where do you think you're going?" Jade stood up from behind her desk, blocking the entrance into Barbi's office.
"Kurt told me to grab a file for him." She tried to push past Jade, but got a hard pressed palm to her sternum. "Excuse me."
"What file? I'll get it." Jade pushed a little harder, trying to knock Layla off balance.
"The only thing you're going to get, Jade, is out of my way." Layla pushed past her, and reached out to grab the door handle. Before she could turn the knob Jade yanked her back.
"No one but Kurt is getting in that office, got it?" Jade was inches from her face now.
She was playing right into her plan.
"Don't you forget who I am bitch. Got it?" Layla pulled her arm free. Jade's grip was really tight. She was pretty sure there was going to be a bruise there later. Even better.
"Yeah, the little sister of a knife wielding psycho." Jade spoke softly so that only Layla could hear.
She couldn't respond. Had Jade really just said that about the woman she had claimed to idolize for the past year and a half? Obviously after the phone call Jade was up to something, but if they weren't going off before, the bells were going off now.
"Now, tell me what file, and I'll get it for..." Jade didn't get the chance to finish her sentence.
A loud crack filled the office as Layla's hand collided with Jade's cheek.
Neither woman spoke, but then Jade dove at Layla, sending them both onto the floor. It was a mad flurry of fists, palms and yanked out weaves.
Layla finally got on top, grabbing Jade's head, making sure they were looking eye to eye.
"Never talk about my sister that way again." She was about to slam Jade's head onto the hard wood floor when Kurt yanked her off of her sparing partner.
"My office. Now." He didn't look at her, but instead opened the door and pushed her inside. "Jade, get some ice for that eye, then go home. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
Layla watched through the open door as Jade got up, straightened her skirt, and wiped the blood from her nose.
Their eyes met for a moment, and Layla smiled. Then she mouthed the words "Watch your ass" just as Kurt slammed the office door shut.

Two of my favorite shows...

So, I've talked a lot about Guiding Light, As the World Turns and Young and the Restless, but honestly, those aren't actually shows I follow all that closely.

No, my two favorite shows are One Life to Live and All My Children. Both shows, as of late, have been kind of lost in the landscape of daytime TV, and that saddens me, because that means people are missing out on two great shows.

Now, that isn't to say that both shows are perfect. They aren't.

One Life to Live, as of late, has become very dark, with very little light, fun stories or romance. Still, the storytelling on that show is strong, and shows great direction. There is focus, with very few plots just kind of floating around, waiting to pick up steam. Everything on the screen has a reason, and a purpose.

The current serial killer storyline is interesting, suspensful and well written. It shows focus that many other shows lack.

One of the more interesting storylines involves a younger character being injured in a car crash and finding himself paralyzed from the waist down. Now, this is soap land, so eventually Matthew Buchannan will regain the use of his legs, but for the time being it's nice to see a story where a character in a horrible position is being told to be hopeful. It's done with the right amount of heart, humor and intelligence. Now, the real risk with this story would be to keep Matthew in his wheelchair. Allow a character on a major television show to be disabled, and tell his story. Will OLTL do it? They might.

All My Children has introduced way to many characters, and has left a lot of them on the back burner without much forward motion to allow the audiences to catch on to. Still, the show has created a nice balance between light and romantice, dark and dangerous and serious but still sexy stories. They have also taken a lot of risks. The biggest one, and the one that paid off the most, at least in my eyes, is the character of Brot.

Now, I must confess, I am a total bleeding heart liberal, but I also understand that our troops were given a job, and they are going to do it to the best of their abilities. They do it with pride, and rightfully so. They are doing their damndest to protect us, and sometimes at the cost of their own lives. I may not agree with the war, but I'll be damned if I'll turn my back on those who have promised to serve and protect this me, my family, my friends, and most importantly, this country.

The character of Brot is played by an actual war vet. One who was wounded in battle and nearly burned to death. The actor, JR Martinez sustained burns to a good portion of his body, including his face. He now is a motivational speaker for vets in similar situations.

All My Children has used the character of Brot to bring one of those vets into our homes, into our lives, and both the show and Mr. Martinez have done a wonderful job giving Americans a face, a voice and a heart to those veterans some would rather forget.

Now if only they would use him more. When the character does get screen time I can't help but be rivited. His story is sweet, romantic and at the same time sad.

Any show that takes the time to tell a story like Brot's is worth my time.

Sorry those eps are late!

Hey guys, sorry Monday and Tuesday's episodes are late. I got held up in Indiana for an extra day. But they are up and ready to go! Enjoy!

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.17 and 1.18

Barbi was walking down a gravel path, her bare feet were surprisingly pain free as the pebbles crunched beneath her. She was wearing a long, white nightgown. She was struck by how beautiful it looked blowing behind her. The whole scene seemed to glow in the moonlight.
Yet there was something that kept her from enjoying the serenity of the whole scene. There was this feeling, this growing sense of fear inside of her.
She came to a clearing. The gravel seemed to be swallowed up by the overgrown grass. She stepped foward, and the ground suddenly started to give. It was swallowing her whole, yanking her down.
She tried to scream, but her throat couldn't produce any sound. She clawed at the path, trying to pull herself to freedom, but she couldn't. She was sinking to fast.
The she felt it, a hand on her shoulder, then around her neck. She dreaded looking behind her, but she knew she had no choice. She turned her head, and looked her assailant dead in the eyes.
Eve smiled, her flesh rotting, her eyes missing. Barbi screamed, this time producing a sound, and then Eve yanked her down, under the ground, into what was to become Barbi's grave.
Barbi sat up quickly.
She was still in her cell. The smell of stale urine reminding her that, yes, she was in jail, safe from any ghoulish apparitions of slain models.
She was sweating. Her body felt like it was on fire. She tried to stand, but her legs couldn't hold her, and she hit the hard cement floor with a loud thud.
Quickly a guard came running, checking to see what was wrong.
The last thing she remembered was the guard shaking her, trying to keep her concious. Obviously the guard failed, because Barbi slipped into dark, dreamless state.



Mia leaned against the side of the elevator. Even though the doctors said she was well enough to go home, she didn't feel that much better.
"You okay?" Gio's hand went to his sister's shoulder, supporting her in case she passed out.
"I'm fine." She was lying. She was short of breath from standing. That wasn't fine. That was far from fine.
"We're almost to your apartment. Then you can lay down while I make dinner, okay?" He was talking to her like she was three.
"You don't have to do that." She snapped at him.
Instantly she felt bad for getting bitchy, but she couldn't help it. She hated being treated like a baby. It made her feel helpless, and in her current condition, that was not a good thing.
The elevator doors opened, and standing there, hands in his pockets, looking down at his feet, was Derrick.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Gio looked ready to rip Derrick's head off.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing." Derrick looked at Mia, ignoring her angry brother.
"I'm fine." Her voice was soft. She was to tired to muster anger, and she wasn't even sure if she was angry. If she was, it wasn't at Derrick.
She had been the one to leave him. The second she had found out she had cancer she dumped him. There was to much that she didn't want Derrick to deal with, and to many personal issues she didn't want to involve him in. So, she had dumped him. It was probably a mistake not to tell him that she was sick, but she did what she had to do. He would have started asking questions, and that was something she wasn't ready for.
"Gio, calm down. Go take my bag into the apartment. I'll be over in a minute." She handed Gio her keys, and motioned towards the front door of her place.
Her brother grabbed the keys and stomped off like an insolant child.
"I wish you would have called me. I would have helped you two out." Derrick took a step forward. Not to close though. He knew that this wasn't exactly the most comfortable visit.
"Gio's got everything under control." She sighed. "I told you I didn't want this. I didn't want you to come over here anymore."
"Why?" His voice was getting louder. "After everything we had been through I deserve to know why you would just kick me to the curb."
She grabbed his arm, yanking him closer. She didn't need Gio to hear this. She glanced towards her apartment and could see her brother peeking his head out of the doorway, watching them.
"I have my reasons. Please respect them." She took a second. The whole situation was wearing her out quickly. Then, and she didn't even know why she did it, she kissed him on the cheek. "Just let go Derrick. Okay?"
"No." He was whispering now. Tears were threatening to spill down his cheeks. "I don't want to just get a call one day and find out from some stranger that you're dead. Or worse, not know until I read it in the paper. I want to be here with you."
"Please." She was holding back her tears. "Just go."
She let his arm go and headed towards her apartment, not looking back. She could hear Derrick sobbing. It was difficult but she forced herself to block him out. She couldn't drag him through all of this. It was bad enough Gio had to suffer, and she sure as hell wasn't going to do that to Derrick as well.
She couldn't help herself. Before entering her apartment she glanced back to get one last look at Derrick, but he had already left.
"It's for the best," she whispered to herself.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.16

Layla heard Kurt storming through the front foyer, towards the living room. She ran from the kitchen, blocking his path.
"We need to talk." Layla spoke quickly, and braced herself. It looked like Kurt was about to run right into her.
"Not now." He stepped to the side and continued on his way.
"I know about you and Gio." She hoped he was listening.
He froze. She had him.
Slowly he turned. She started to wonder if blackmailing him was such a good idea. He was so angry he looked like he was about to tackle her.
"I... I saw you two at the office." She swallowed. "I'm not going to tell Barbi."
"But?" It suddenly looked as if all the life had been sucked out of his body. He slumped against the wall.
"I need you to help me." She walked towrads him slowly, keeping her tone soft. She didn't want to set him off again. "You have control of Dollhouse while Barbi is in jail, and it looks like she might be there for a while, and..."
"Get to the damn point." He looked up at her, his eyes wide. He was starting to get annoyed.
"Give me a little power. A few things here and there, and Barbi will never have to know." She spit out the last sentence quickly.
Kurt looked at her, and she waited for him to start screaming. Instead he smiled and laughed. She wasn't exactly expecting that.
"That's it?" He stood up straight and looked Layla dead in the eyes. "This is going to sound real sad, but this is the best thing that's happened to me today. That's sad, right?"
"Yeah, kind of." She gave him a weak smile. "I took a straight girl out on a date. I mean, it's not as bad, but..."
"You have yourself a deal Layla." He turned, continuing on his path to the living room. "Watch out for the straight ones. They'll break your heart."
She let out a loud sigh. That had gone better than she had expected. It definitly went better than her "date" with Annabelle. The girl spent the entire time talking about her ex-boyfriend back home. If it wasn't for the fact that the girl was gorgeous, Layla would have probably ran screaming from Grind.
Things were looking up, at least for her. Her sister was a different story, but now she didn't have to worry, because Layla would make sure Jade was kept in check.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.15

Rick knew that ambushing his brother at home was a bad idea, but he had no choice. Now everyone was saying that Barbi had an accomplice, and suspect number one on that list was none other than her husband, and his little brother. Now he just had to get Kurt to spill his alibi, and clear his name. Easy, right?
Rick sat down on the front stoop of the large McMansion that Kurt and Barbi called a home. He had been there for about an hour when Kurt's Lexus snaked up the long driveway towards the front door. It still felt like he didn't have enough time.
The sound of the car door slamming prepaired Rick for what was about to come next.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Kurt was storming towards him. "Get the hell off my property."
"We need to talk." Rick held up his hands, trying to signal to his brother that he wasn't there for a fight. "I just need to know where you were when Eve was killed. That's all."
Kurt decided to answer by slugging Rick in the face.
Rick landed hard on his ass.
"Why? You want to throw me in jail with her?" Kurt stood over his brother, his face beat red. "I have nothing to say to you."
Kurt stepped past his brother and headed to the front door.
"You can tell me, or I can drag you in and charge you with assaulting an officer. Your choice." Rick stood up slowly. The landing had hurt more than the punch, and his back was already a mess. Tomorrow morning was not going to be fun.
"Try it." Kurt didn't even look back. He just started unlocking his front door. "You're the cop. Do a little digging. I'm sure you'll come up with something to implicate me in the murder."
"Kurt, that's not what I'm..." Before Rick could finish Kurt had entered the house and slammed the door.
This was not good. Kurt really was under investigation, and if he had told Rick anything it could have stayed private, quiet. Now, if anything came out it was sure to be plastered all over the news.
Rick could feel a warm trickle of blood dripping from his lip.
When had Kurt learned to hit like that?

A Quick Heads Up!

Hey guys, quick heads up. I will be out of town on monday, and i won't be able to post. So you'll be getting double episodes on tuesday.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.14

Gio set his stuff down in the small lounge area of the studio. He still hadn't fully recovered after seeing Mia. She was going, and fast. Even the doctors had told him to prepair for the worst.
Those were not words he wanted to hear.
He stretched his arms over his head and arched his back. He hadn't slept well the night before. Probably because Kurt had been so caught up in the circus that was Barbi that he had forgot that he and Gio had made plans.
It was just a night in, but it was something that he had been looking forward to, especially after his last visit with his sister.
Now he was stuck in a studio, about to get half naked and covered in oil and he was not only depressed, but sexually frustrated.
"You look like hell." Derrick entered the studio, glancing at his camera instead of his model.
"That's what make-up is for." Gio took off his shirt, and headed towards the white back drop so Derrick chould check the lighting.
"How is she?" Derrick looked up, genuine worry in his eyes.
Gio cringed. How could that bastard really care what Mia was going through? He had thrown her to the side just like he had every other model. She was just another piece of ass to Derrick.
"Fine. Let's get this done." Gio didn't look at Derrick when he spoke. He just brushed past him and found his mark.
"You're a really bad liar, you know that. Most models are. You use your body to express emotion. You can't hide it." Derrick's voice was soft. "So, how is she?"
"Why do you care Derrick?" Gio snapped. He was surprised it took so little to set him off.
"That bad?" His voice was barely a whisper. "I wish she would let me see her."
Gio couldn't take it anymore. He stormed over to the his stuff, grabbed his shirt, grabbed his bag, and started towards the door.
Derrick's hand on Gio's shoulder stopped him. It was so gentle.
"You don't know the whole story." He looked Gio right in the eyes when he spoke.
"I know enough." And at that Gio stormed out of the studio, not even bothering to put his shirt back on.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.13

Layla paced the length of the fitting room over and over again. She finally had a moment alone after they took Annabelle for a few tests shots.
Jade was up to something, and obviously it wasn't anything good, and it was up to Layla to stop her. How? Easy, get the girl fired. Well, that wasn't all that easy. She didn't control the company, Kurt did.
She knew what she had to do. She had everything she needed to blackmail Kurt. She had seen him in his office, his arms wrapped around Gio. The press would eat up the story, but Barbi would be humiliated in the process.
It was a risk she had to take.
If Barbi were in her place she would do the same thing. She would use the leverage she had over the people she needed something from. That person just so happened to be Barbi's husband.
It didn't matter. Jade had to go, and if she couldn't get Kurt to do what she wanted, then... she'd have to go to more extreme measures. She didn't want to do that.
The door to the fitting room opened, and Annabelle entered. She looked ready to drop.
"You okay?" Layla grabbed a bottle of water off one of the tables and handed it to Annabelle.
"Fine. Just tired." Annabelle began to undress.
Layla couldn't help but notice how nice Annabelle's body was. All those years in the country had served her well. She was toned, but curvy, with long brown hair, and stunning features. She was as close to perfect as one could imagine, and she carried that simple innocence.
"How about, after I'm done, you and me go grab a cup of coffee over at Grind." Layla leaned against the table, folding her arms over her chest. She didn't want to come off flirty. That would probably scare Annabelle off so fast that Layla would be left spinning.
"Sounds like a plan." Annabelle smiled and collapsed into a giant black chair. She was still in only her underwear.
Kurt wouldn't be in the office until tomorrow, and Layla doubted that Jade could do any major damage in such a short period of time, so she figured a night to herself wouldn't hurt.

Rumors!

So, according to After Elton, Lifetime may be interested in picking up Guiding Light in some form. Will it still be a five day a week soap? Who knows, but if it does happen, then there is some hope for ATWT, which was renewed for what many believe is it's final year.

Now, I'm hopeful, but lets all remember how quickly Passions died when it was moved to DirectTV. So...

So, this begs to question, can soap operas survive on cable? The medium has changed over the years, starting out on radio, then moving to fifteen minute episodes, then half hours, then hour longs.

Also in the rumor mill is that Young and the Restless plans to add a gay character to their ranks. Well, kind of. It will be revealed that a male character currently on the show is in fact, gay. Will this be like Otalia over on GL? Let's hope, cuz that storyline is prime soapy goodness.

Save the Soaps!

So, with the cancelation of GL (Guiding Light), the axe is hanging over several popular daytime shows. As The World Turns and Days of Our Lives are at risk of cancelation. The ABC shows are getting hit hard, and who knows... there are rumors that All My Children may be getting the axe in the near future (that, my dear readers, is just a rumor).

So, as a soap fan, I beg of you, plead even, for you to check out a soap. Check your local listings, or online, and give a show a gander. Trust me, there is something out there that you'll like. People joke about how bad soaps are, but to be honest, they are VERY entertaining.

So, pick up a show, and possibly save a soap.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.12

Kurt stormed out of the courtroom. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. The judge had actually denied Barbi bail. He could feel the rage building up inside.
Yes, he didn't love Barbi, at least not the way people thought, but he cared about her, and he cared about the company they both owned. Without her Dollhouse was in big trouble. He felt like he was about to scream. Then he saw the perfect target for his rage.
"Rick, you bastard." He grabbed his brother's arm, dragging him out of public view. "You're railroading my wife."
Rick pulled his arm free.
"Why?" He got in Kurt's face. "Why would I risk my career?"
Kurt couldn't help but laugh. Rick knew exactly why. He hated Barbi. He hated her from the day she stepped into Kurt's life, and saved him from the mediocrity that was the Hart family.
"You know she didn't do this. You know that." Spit flew from Kurt's lip as he spoke.
"No, I don't know that. She was there Kurt. She was in the office when Eve was murdered."
Kurt had seen the video, read the text. He knew all the evidence, but it still didn't add up. Barbi wouldn't do this. If not for moral reasons, which was something Barbi lacked, then for business reasons. Eve was bringing her nothing but money. Why would she bump off one of her top models? It didn't make any sense.
"Do you have prints? Proof? So she was there. It's her office." Kurt was stumbling as he spoke. Even he knew how stupid he sounded.
Rick just shook his head, and began to rub his temples. His face was beat red. Obviously Kurt wasn't the first person to go off on him today. The fashion world was probably ready to put a hit out on him.
"Listen, she's in custody, but that doesn't mean that the investigation is over. If she really didn't do it, then we'll find out who did." Obviously Rick was trying to calm his little brother down.
It wasn't working.
"Right. The Chicago cops will really go all out to make sure the right person is arrested." Kurt laughed. "She may be my wife big brother, but now you're the one screwing her."
Without another word Kurt pushed past Rick and headed back towards the swarm of paparazzi outside on State Street.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.11

Layla stood outside the frosted glass doors that led into the main lobby of of Dollhouse. She took a moment, a breath, and put on her best bitch face. Barbi was in lock up, Kurt was no where to be found, and unless she stepped in and did something, Jade was going to be running the place.
That was not a good thing.
Just before she pushed open the doors she paused. She could hear someone's voice inside.
"Look, the plan is working better than I even expected. We need to make our next move fast." Jade's voice was nothing more than a hushed whisper.
Layla leaned in closer.
"No, you listen. I've done all the heavy lifting so far. Now it's your turn." Jade was starting to get upset.
Layla strained to hear more, but the feeling of someone's hand on her shoulder made her scream.
She turned, and looking back at her was Annabelle.
The glass doors flew open. Jade stood there, eyes wide, almost foaming at the mouth.
"What the hell is going on out here?" She was screaming.
"Well, hello to you." Layla played it cool. "I was just checking in." She smiled, showing off her recently bleached teeth.
"Checking in?" Jade's hands went to her hips, and her head shifted to the side. Now she wasn't just pissed. She was insulted. "There's no need to worry Layla. I've got everything under control."
Layla pushed past Jade, walking into the lobby. She glanced back to make sure Annabelle was following her.
She was. The terrified girl mouthed a quick I'm sorry, then kept her head down.
"Then why Jade, is my sister still in jail?" Layla turned, making sure to toss her hair slightly. Right now she was scared out of her mind, and all she had left was the false confidence she put on when the camera was on her. "Did you even bother to call the lawyers?"
"You're sister is in jail?" Annabelle sounded shocked.
"I've got it under control. Don't you worry that pretty, empty little head of yours, alright?" Jade spoke through gritted teeth.
"Really? Have you talked to Kurt? You might want to notify your current boss of your plans." Layla watched Jade cringe at the sound of Kurt's name. "Or did you forget the chain of command around here? If he can't handle the job, then it goes to... who? Oh, right, me." Layla got really close to Jade, and whispered her next words softly. "I'd be careful sweetie, or you could kiss your job goodbye."
She was surprised how well she could channel her sister. Normally Layla would just be standing to the side, letting things fall apart, but right now she had no choice. This company ment way to much to Barbi to let it go to hell because no one bothered to keep her power hungry assistant in check.
Jade was speechless. That was a first.
Around Barbi, Jade was all demure and sweet, but when it came to the models she was a barking nightmare. So, Layla took extreme pleasure in giving the bitch's ego a nice one-two punch.
"Come on Annabelle, we're late for our fitting." Without another word Layla walked back towards the studio, her head held high, and a very confused model right behind her.
Once they were out of Jade's eye sight Layla took a breath.
"Are you okay?" Annabelle spoke softly, her voice tinged with fear.
"Yeah. Wow. I've never done that before." Layla started to laugh. "I think I'm going to pass out." Who knew mimicing her sister would take so much out of a person.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.10

"I didn't send that!" Barbi slammed her fists down on to Rick's desk.
"The proof says otherwise." Rick held up a smell evidence bag with Eve's phone in it. "Can't deny the proof."
Her mind was racing. How could that text have gotten there? Had she sent it while she was blacked out? Then something hit her.
"Someone cloned my cellphone." She stood up straight and crossed her arms over her chest, confident that she had just blown Rick's proof. "It happens all the time."
Rick sighed, rubbing his temples. She almost felt bad for him. He had thought that he was so close to closing this case, and in record time, but then she had to go on and dash his hopes and dreams.
"We did think of that. Then..." He pulled a disk out of the top drawer of his desk. "We saw this."
He popped the disk into the computer. The image that came up was the lobby of the Dollhouse offices. It was empty at first, and then someone walked through the front door.
Barbi's jaw hit the floor. She was there that night? Obviously she was more mobile during her black outs than she thought. If only Kurt had been home. He would have stopped her. He would have told her to go back to bed something. No, he had to pick that night to go out and get wasted.
"Kurt, I didn't do this. That can't be me." Barbi could hear how shakey her voice had become. "I'm a bitch, sure, but I'm not a killer."
"You'd be surprised who's capable of murder Barbi." He leaned forward. "You're in a high pressure job. You get to watch younger women get famous while you're stuck behind a desk. Maybe you just snapped, and took it all out on poor Eve." His voice was soft, almost mocking.
Not only did he just accuse her of murder, he also called her old and washed up. The rage was building, and quickly. Rick had it out for her ever since she married his little brother. She was the big bad bitch who stole Kurt away from his family. At least, that's how Rick saw her. Now Rick had the chance to punish her, make her pay.
"Listen here you washed up, balding, sorry excuse for a cop. I did not kill Eve. I wasn't even at the office that night, and I know what your 'proof' says, but that isn't me." She jammed her finger towards the paused image on the computer screen.
"I would say prove it, but you're going to have hard time doing that." He stood up, a huge smile on his face.
"What the hell do you mean by that." Then she saw the handcuffs in his right hand.
She got up, looked him right in the eyes, and spat in his face. Then she held out her wrists, and waited for the metal to click.
"I always knew you were poison Barbi." He leaned in close, whispering into her ear.
"And I always knew you were a dumb ass." She didn't bother whispering.
"Barbi Starr, I am placing you under arrest." He turned her around towards the door of the office. "Have fun in lock up."
"With my lawyers? I'll be out before they can close the door." She laughed as he walked her towards the holding cells.
Even with her whole world crashing around her Barbi could not let anyone see how terrified she was. She was innocent, and she was going to have to find a way to prove it.

Yay for plugs!

So guys, if you want even more soapy goodness then check out Hensenville over at Eternally Mused. It's definitely good, and since I know the author I already know what happens, and it is going to be mucho entertaining.

So go check it out over at:

http://eternallymused.blogspot.com/

The posting schedule isn't set in stone just yet, but I'll let ya'll know when that gets figured out, and when the next chapter (same as an episode) is up. There are four now, and more to come in the future.


Support the Blog Soaps!

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.9

Gio stood just outside of Mia's room, a bouquet of flowers in his shaking hands, and his feet glued to the floor.
He peaked in and saw that she was asleep, a telenovella on mute on the TV. Her once beautiful olive skin had now faded to a sickly grey, and her long, silken black hair had fallen out months ago. Physically she was just a shadow of who she once was.
He could feel his jaw clench, and his eyes water.
He was about to turn, to run, when she turned, her eyes half open. She smiled.
"Hi stranger." She held out her arms, waiting for him to embrace her.
He took her in his arms so softly, gently. He was so afraid of hurting her. She was always thing, but now she seemed to way as much as a feather.
"You look better." He blinked back the tears. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I look. Hell." She laughed and began to adjust herself so that she could sit up.
Gio reached out to help her, but she held out her hand. Even now, in this state, she was still stubborn. That was the one thing he had left to hold on to. The fact that she would never let anyone else help her. He had forced himself into her life to get her to this point. If he hadn't stepped in she would have probably already been dead.
"What's wrong?" Her eyes still shimmered when she looked at him. The chemo and the radiation hadn't taken that away... yet.
"So much. I don't really want to talk about it." He paused and took a breath. "I met someone."
He couldn't lie to her anymore. Yes, he and Kurt had said that they would keep it quiet, but he couldn't not tell his sister. Still, he felt ashamed that he had allowed himself to become the "other" in a relationship.
"Do I know him?" She turned off the TV, giving her brother her full attention.
"Yes." He swallowed. His throat had gone dry.
"Is he a model?"
"No." He bit his lower lip. "Mia... I really do love him."
"I don't doubt that." She gave a little laugh. "Come on! Spit out his name already."
"Kurt Hart." He flinched, waiting for her to smack him upside the head.
She did. Even after all the medication and everything, when that hand hit the back of his head, it hurt.
"Do you have a death wish?" She was half screaming, half laughing. "If Barbi Starr ever found out she'd rip your head off!"
"I don't care." He was looking at his feet. Even though they were twins, Mia was always the more mature one. Gio always lead with his heart, and that always seemed to get him in trouble. "He's worth it."
Mia crossed her arms over her chest. He could hear that tsk tsk sound their mother use to make. It drove him crazy.
"Gio, I hope you know what you're getting yourself into." Her voice was soft, but stern.
All he could do was nod.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.8

Barbi let herself into Derrick's apartment with the spare key he hid above the door. She wondered how many times he had been robbed because of that key.
"Derrick, you decent?" She threw her purse down on the couch. "Are you ever?" She mubled that last part under her breath.
As if to respond a half naked woman, one of her models, stepped out of Derrick's bedroom.
Annabelle Reeves, the newest addition to Dollhouse's line-up, stood before her in a cute, pink bra and pantie set. The get up didn't surprise Barbi in the least. Annabelle was a small country girl with big city looks. She was the type of girl who still retained that small town sweetness, and if she didn't loose it fast, the real world would eat her up inside.
"Miss Starr! I... um..." The poor girl's face had turned so red it looked as if her head might pop.
"Helping Derrick grieve?" Barbi couldn't help but laugh. "Don't worry about it sweetheart. You aren't the first, and you won't be the last."
With a hurt look and a nod, Annabelle slipped back into the bedroom as Derrick slid past her.
"Barbi, behave." He said those words with a half smile.
Derrick was wearing only a pair of jeans, unbuttoned of course. His hair and body were still damp from a recent shower. One would have to wonder, seeing him in that state, what he was doing behind the camera, not in front of it.
If the moment wasn't so inappropriate Barbi probably would have jumped him right then and there, but with the death and all it didn't seem right.
"So, what do I owe the pleasure of your company." He spoke with a slight British accent. It made most girls, and a few guys, swoon at the sound of his voice. He could be telling them to go to hell, and most people would just stare and smile.
"Breaking her in before her first shoot?" She turned, looking out the window at the skyline. "I need the pictures from Eve's last shoot."
"The aren't developed yet." He walked behind her, getting just close enough where she could feel the heat of his body. "I'll drop them off at your office tomorrow."
He pressed against her, his arms wrapping around her waist. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck. A shiver went down her spine.
Derrick was scum, yes, but he knew how to make you forget that very quickly.
He kissed her neck. Her eyes closed, and she could feel his fingers making small circles on her belly.
The sound of Barbi's cell going off broke the move, and right in the nick of time.
She broke the embrace and walked over to the couch to grab her purse. Her legs were still shaking.
She checked the screen. It was Rick. That wasn't a good sign.
"What's up?" She pressed the phone between her head and her shoulder blade, using both hands to fish through her purse.
"If you're going to lie about your alibi don't leave evidence on the victim's cell phone." Rick was pissed.
"What are you talking about?" She was honestly confused.
"Come down to the station. Now." He hung up.
Barbi didn't even say goodbye. She just grabbed her things and rushed out of the apartment. She was suddenly driven by a very unfamiliar force. Fear.

Fashion Victimes Ep. 1.7

Kurt had slipped out of the board room quietly after Barbi's speech. He couldn't stand to be around her anymore. Her very pressence was starting to annoy him.
She kept acting like she cared, but it was so obvious that all she was doing was trying to protect Dollhouse. He got the same vibe from most of the people in that room. He hadn't known Eve long, but he knew that she was a good person, which was a rare thing when looking for a young model. He had been the one to sign her. She was his find, and now...
He couldn't help but blame himself. If he had let her go, told her that she didn't have the right look or something, she would still be alive.
Kurt's office was empty, the blinds drawn. He sat behind the desk, closed his eyes, and leaned back. He took a breath.
"Do you want to be alone?" Gio's soft, deep voice seemed to echo in the large office.
"No." Kurt opened his eyes. "Is everyone gone?"
"Mostly." Gio closed the door gently.
"Is Barbi?"
Gio just nodded. He stood in front of Kurt, his large hands gently brushing Kurt's still pink cheek.
"She hit you hard."
"I'll live."
There was silence, followed by a soft kiss.
It took only moments until both men were pulling at each other's clothes.
The moment was spontaneous, and dangerous. That was part of the thrill. He and Gio had never done this before. It had always been in the privacy of Gio's apartment, behind locked doors where the world couldn't pry.
The sound of a door hinge creaking broke the moment of passion. Kurt's eyes shot to the door. It was cracked open, and he could hear the sound of someone running down the hallway.
"What is it?" Gio was breathless, his hands still wandering.
"We may have just been caught." Kurt walked over to the door, looked down the hall. He didn't see anyone, but he knew someone had seen him, and he was surprised to find that he just didn't care all that much anymore.
He knew he would care when Barbi found out, but he would deal with that when he got to it. At the moment he had a half naked male model sitting on his desk waiting for him, and you never keep a man like that waiting.

Soap Operas and the Importance of Change

Obviously every soap fan knows that Guiding Light has been canceled, and that the rest of daytime TV is isn't in such good shape. Ratings, although now holding somewhat steady, with shows usually holding a 1.8 to a 1.9 ratings share, are down, and ad prices are getting cut. So, what does that mean for us the viewers? It means daytime soap operas may soon be extinct. It sounds far fetched, but it is a very real reality.

Soap Operas are expensive to produce. Generally shows have large casts, the majority of which are on contract, require multiple sets, and shoot a large number of episodes a year. If the shows aren't pulling in the ad revenue, especially for their target audience (married women with families), then the shows are going to start vanishing.

Days of Our Lives is already close to being canceled, and all the other shows aren't far behind.

So, how do us, as viewers and fans, save the shows we love? And how do networks bring in new viewers?

Well, as fans, we need to start getting our friends to watch the shows. Just get them to try them out for a week. Spread the word, because most of these shows don't have the money to advertise. Start blogs, Facebook groups, whatever to try and bring in new fans. Most people stopped watching soaps because they think they are all the same. While the shows all have similarities, they are also all very different in tone and style.

Also, as a viewer, maybe try out a new show. Don't be afraid to venture outside of what you've been watching. You'd be surprised at how good some shows are right now. One Life to Live and All My Children are both telling some interesting stories, and Guiding Light has developed a very nice, unique sense of humor, and a very relaxed but interesting storytelling style. Bold and the Beautiful is campier than ever, and As the World Turns is taking pretty big risks with all the stories that are being told.

What do networks need to do to bring in audiences? They need to try bringing in some fresh series. I know that when I was younger I kind of resisted watching soaps because I prefered to watch a story from the very begining, and they really weren't creating any new shows at the time. New shows bring in new viewers who may never have thought to watch a soap opera. Then, since the TV is already on, they may stick around and watch some of the other shows already on. Take risks with the types of stories being told, and try something new. Or old... Now, in the age of remakes, is the time resurect a few series from the past. Shows like Santa Barabara, Dark Shadows, Ryan's Hope, Loving, Another World could all be updated and sold either in the daytime format, or the primetime format. It would also give new audiences a chance to see a series from the begining, and old fans to see their old shows revived.

They should also consider getting some new blood in the writing room. This one is directed specifically at General Hospital. The ratings are falling fast, and it is for one very big reason. The storytelling is sloppy. Stuff makes no sense, there is no sense of direction and characters are introduced and then pushed to the background. The characters are either stuck in a rut or acting very out of character (even if they are suffering from PPD). Getting a new head writer in there, maybe a woman to give the show a more feminine touch, could make the world of difference.

Also, a good way to cut costs is to cut the shows length down. Not every show has enough story to sustain an hours length. They should consider cutting down to half hour episodes again for some of the series. Why? Well, you are shooting the same amount of episodes for half the cost.

The biggest one is ways the networks make the shows available. CBS is the only network that has every single one of it's daytime series available online. The internet is a great way to get the shows out there to younger audiences. The networks just have to find a way to track the amount of views, and work with selling ads either shown during the episode, or shown on the page. SoapNet is a good idea and all, but it isn't available to the same amount of people that have the internet.

The changing world of network telivision doesn't mean that soaps have to become extinct. It just means that the networks have to step in and show some creativity as to how they create and distribute their product.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.6

Kurt stood at Barbi's side at the large glass doors that lead into the lobby of Dollhouse Modeling, his head down, his hands shaking. She wouldn't even look at him. She hadn't said two words since he had shown up at the office. He took a deep breath, and the second the door opened, and the camera flashes hit them, he felt her grab his hand.
"Play nice for the press honey." She spoke through gritted teeth.
He kept his head low, turned to the cameras and gave a weak, mournful smile. No teeth. You never showed teeth when someone was dead. He didn't want to seem like he was glad that Eve was now resting in the City of Chicago Morgue.
Once they had made it through the lobby and into the main offices Barbi ripped her hand away from Kurt.
"Where were you last night?" She smacked him across the face.
Kurt stumbled back, his hand over his stinging cheek. He looked at her, shocked at how cruel she was acting. He understood she was upset, and that she was normally a frigid bitch, but this was a new level of mean.
"I was drunk." He stood up straight, using his hands to wipe away the tears that had started to spill from his eyes. "You hate when I'm drunk, so I crashed at a friend's place."
"Right." She seemed to spit the word at him. "I told your brother we were at home, together. If he starts grilling you play along. Dollhouse is going to take a hit in the press, and I don't want any of this to hurt us even more."
"Hurt us?" He could feel his voice raising. "Someone is dead Barbi. I think it's time we stopped worrying about our company image, and start worrying about the safety of our employees. About your safety."
He caught himself. He was yelling. He was pretty sure that the plague of reporters outside had caught a few choice words he spit at her.
He could tell that she was considering if she should smack him again, but at the last moment she decided against it. She ran her fingers through her long, wavy blonde hair, adjusted her blouse, and turned to the confrence room doors.
"We'll deal with this later." She was growling now.
Kurt wanted to run away. Everything in his mind was telling him to flee, and yet, the stupid part of him, the greedy part of him, followed his wife into the confrence room, and smile on his lips, and a bright red hand print on his cheek.

Fashion Victims Poster

Just for fun (and to post around the internet to try and get more readers...) I made a little poster for Fashion Victims. It's very cheap looking, but... Oh well.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.5

Jade hung up her phone. She had never heard Derrick upset until that moment. Who knew that snake had emotions. She felt the paramedic brush past her. She jumped out of the way as they wheeled the black body bag through the lobby and out to the ambulance waiting on the street.
She could hear Barbi's heels clacking on the tile floor behind her.
"Who could have done this?" Jade turned towards Barbi. " She had such potential."
"You're kidding me, right?" Barbi walked past Jade, her eyes focused on the closing ambulance doors. " You hated her."
Barbi's face was puffy, her eyes red from crying. Jade had never seen her boss like this. She had never seen her so weak.
"Are you alright Miss Starr?" Jade slid her cellphone back into her purse.
"I'm fine." Barbi's voice seemed to slowly regain that good old bitchy charm. " I just saw one of my models wheeled out of here in a black bag. My office is covered in blood, and the press are already swarming like buzzards around the building." She spun on Jade, her eyes intense. "I'm peachy."
She stormed past Jade, down the hall that led to the executive offices. Jade followed quickly, that familiar tingle of fear and excitment running up and down her spine. This feeling was the reason she loved working at Dollhouse. It was like a thrill, a death defying rush. Every day she didn't get fired was a day she could say she was that much stronger.
"Take notes." Barbi glanced back at her.
"Yes, ma'am." Jade pulled a pad and pen from her purse.
"Obviously I can't use my office, so ask the police if you can move some of my files to the confrence room. Also, contact everyone and let them know there will be a mandatory meeting at three." Barbi never seemed out of breath, and never broke her stride. "Did you get all that?"
"Yes."Jade, on the other hand, was finding herself huffing and puffing. The rush that day was a bit much.
"Good, start making the calls. I have to clean myself up." Barbi sped up, leaving Jade in her dust.
"Wow, she is heartless." Jade spoke softly, under her breath.
Even though Barbi was halfway down the hall by now, she spun on her heels, looked Jade right in the eye and smiled.
"A heart is a liability in this business." Then she turned, flung open the confrence room doors, and vanished behind the fogged glass.
Jade stood there, stunned. She wanted to be Barbi so bad, but she knew, deep down, it would take nothing short of selling her soul to achieve that. At this point she was willing to do anything.

Guiding Light is no more...

This is not a good sign. The longest running soap opera, and one of the longest running TV series ever, has officially been canceled. Guiding Light will end mid-September.

Those who would say that daytime, and to some degree, network TV is dying are not to far off. Networks are not getting the viewers that they had in the past. Daytime is paying the price. Who knows what show will be next...

I will say that CBS gave it a good try to keep the show on the air. They were creative with how they cut costs, and they took risks with the stories being told. Obviously it wasn't reflecting in the ratings.

It is a sad day for soap fans. A classic is being laid to rest.

A Note about Fashion Victims

This week isn't really going to give any of you guys a full idea of how Fashion Victims is going to work.

This week there will be six posts, basically introducing all of the characters. Starting next week the storylines will kick in, and there will only be five posts.

I'm still figuring out all the logistics of how this is going to work, but I'll let you all know if there are going to be any changes.

Fashion Victims Ep. 1.4

Layla Starr sat in the front of the Grind, her well manicured nails clicking on the hard wood of the table. She was already jittery, and she hadn't even finished her coffee yet.
Her cellphone lay in front of her, seeming to mock her with its silence.
Eve hadn't come home last night. That wasn't to odd. She had a date with that jackass Derrick. No, what bothered Layla was that she hadn't even called. They had set up a system. If you were going home with someone you let the other roommate know. It was one of the "just in case" things.
She was ready to leave, coffee in hand, when she saw him, Derrick Patterson, walking through the front door of the coffee shop. He was alone. No Eve in sight.
Layla nearly jumped out of her chair.
"Hey, is Eve with you? In the car? She didn't come home last night, and..." Layla was shocked at how fast she was talking. The panic was obvious.
"No. Got stood up." His smug smile and Australian accent almost made him attractive. Almost.
Layla knew better.
"Damn. She let you know why?" She was hopping from foot to foot.
"Didn't even call." He crossed his arms over his chest, annoyed that she was blocking his path to his morning coffee. "Why? She stand you up to?"
Layla wanted to smack him. Derrick was the kind of guy who didn't have to play nice to get the girl. Even though he treated every model like crap, they still fell at his feet. Her sister, Barbi, had warned her before Laya's first shoot with him. She was young, and stupid, but not stupid enough to hop into bed with him. It looked like Eve had gotten smart at the last minute as well.
"Well, tell your friend she blew it." Derrick pushed past her. "No one stands me up and gets a second chance."
She was about to stop him when her cellphone went off. She pulled it out of the giant bag she had flung over her shoulder. She was hoping to see Eve's name on the screen, but instead was greated with Barbi's.
Derrick's phone went off a moment later.
They both answered.
"Barbi I'll be in later." Layla pressed the phone against her shoulder, reaching out to stop Derrick from walking away.
Then she saw it. The look on Derrick's face. The shock. Suddenly she was dreading what her sister was about to say.
"Layla," Barbi's voice was soft, a very bad sign. "I have something to tell you. It's about Eve."
Suddenly the whole coffee shop went quiet. The phone fell from her ear, and then she screamed.