The Greatest Showman #1536 - Midnight Stroll

The sea breeze rustled, and the night thickened.

Standing on the Plaza of the Movie Palace, Renly looked out over the rippling sea. The water reflected the hazy lights of the city, shimmering like stars. There was a quiet tranquility in the interplay of light and shadow, but also an undeniable vibrancy. On Lido Island, the sounds of singing and dancing filled the air, and the bright lights turned the sky a deep navy blue. The crowd gathered on the Plaza, reluctant to leave, their energy still palpable.

"Master! Young Master! You look so handsome!"

"Just heard the movie's a success again! I can't wait to see it!"

"How long will you be in Venice this time? Can you stay a few more days?"

"Master, will you come back next year? Please, please, please!"

"Ah! Young master, you're the most attractive man in the world!"

"I love you!"

"Renly Sebastian Hall, marry me!"

As Renly stepped onto the Plaza, he was immediately surrounded by a throng of fans. From a distance, it resembled a massive beehive, with countless worker bees swarming around their queen. It was enough to make anyone with claustrophobia want to flee.

By now, it was well into the night, but the crowd in front of the Movie Palace remained large, as if they were still caught in the buzz of the Venice Film Festival's 70th anniversary celebration. The energy was electric, like a carnival, with people cheering, singing, and dancing in the warm night air.

Amidst the bustling crowd, Renly managed to slip away with some difficulty, finally spotting Rooney standing nearby, watching the scene with a smile on her face, clearly amused. Renly couldn't help but laugh. "Are you just going to watch this from the sidelines?"

Rooney didn't answer right away. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, offering a playful grin. That mischievous look was all the answer Renly needed.

Renly mock-growled, "Next time this happens, I'm leaving you behind."

Rooney, unfazed, smirked. "I'm so scared."

Clearly, Rooney wasn't worried. Between the two of them, the screams and the frenzy of the crowd were Renly's to handle. If anyone were to rival his popularity, it would probably be a Marvel superhero.

Unbothered by her teasing, Renly strolled over to her, lowering his voice as he leaned in, "What if I yelled, 'I love you, Rooney-Mr. La!' What would you do?"

Rooney froze. The thought of a public confession in front of such a crowd was almost terrifying—her life would be overtaken by paparazzi for months. The idea alone made her shudder.

Renly, however, dropped the bombshell with ease, then continued walking as if nothing had happened, his carefree demeanor leaving Rooney momentarily speechless.

She stared after his retreating back, her thoughts whirling. Wasn't it just typical that Renly—beneath the polished exterior of a gentleman—had such a mischievous, childish side? But then again, hadn't she always known that about him?

With a resigned sigh, Rooney touched her nose and walked in the direction Renly had gone, quietly following behind him.

The two didn't try to hide their actions or walk in tandem, hand in hand. They weren't making a statement; they were simply heading to their next destination. After all, there was no need for secrecy. Trying too hard to conceal things often led to media speculation, making them appear guilty of something when they were doing nothing more than walking together.

Renly's pace was slow, considerate of Rooney's. Despite his longer stride, he made sure to wait for her, always adjusting just enough so they were moving together, albeit with a little space between them. By the time they reached the end of the Plaza, they had left the bright lights behind, the noise of the crowd growing distant.

The beach at Lido Island lay ahead, bathed in the soft glow of the moon. The vast ocean stretched out before them, its depths blurred by the fading light. The city's brilliance, its loudness, seemed a world away, leaving only the gentle lapping of the waves and the peaceful hum of the night.

The quiet between them was soothing. Neither felt the need to speak. They were both content in the simple rhythm of walking side by side, feeling a shared understanding that didn't need words.

Rooney smiled to herself. The last time she'd shared a walk like this with Renly, in Telluride, had felt just as surreal. So much had changed since then, yet everything still felt the same.

Renly, breaking the silence, casually asked, "How's the filming going? How about Stephen Dedley? I've heard of him in London. His style is so different from real life."

Rooney grinned. "Oh, you've heard the rumors? Stephen's usually serious on screen, but on set, he's always joking around."

Renly raised an eyebrow. "What? The same Stephen Dedley who directed Out of My World, All the Time, and The Reader?"

Rooney smirked. "Yes, him. Stephen's a serious director, but on set, he's always cracking jokes. You wouldn't guess it, would you? I mean, he couldn't even go to a formal academy because of his family, so he worked odd jobs in a troupe. That's how he ended up under the tutelage of Elder Milleti."

Renly's expression softened in realization. Elder Milleti. The name was well-known across Europe, especially in the theater world. The Italian master clown had left his mark on many artists.

Rooney's mention of Milleti's influence made Renly reflect. While Dedley's films were known for their weighty subjects, his background in the theater made sense when one considered the timing and control he brought to his scenes. There was a playful side to Dedley that, it seemed, many didn't know about.

"Wow, so he's really into humor?" Renly asked, genuinely intrigued.

"Yes," Rooney laughed. "The objects of our current film are mostly children from Rio de Janeiro, and Stephen has a natural talent for connecting with them. He's really good at making them laugh. You wouldn't believe the stuff he gets up to."

As they walked, the conversation drifted seamlessly, flowing from one topic to the next: the process of working with children, the challenges of performance, and the theater world that both of them held dear. Time passed without either of them realizing it, until the edge of the island slowly unfolded before them.

The sea stretched endlessly into the horizon, its waves catching the faint light of the stars above. The sky and ocean blended together into a rich navy blue, the scene peaceful and untouched by the city's hustle.

The lighthouse on a small island across the way stood quietly in the moonlight, unmoving and solitary, a calm presence amidst the rhythm of the waves. Here, away from the lights and distractions of Venice, the world felt distant, allowing them both to breathe easy and simply enjoy the night.

Renly and Rooney walked on in comfortable silence, their steps in sync, neither in a hurry to reach their destination. There was nothing more they needed—just the soft, steady rhythm of the world around them and each other's quiet company.