Daniel's eyes stung from the blinding light shining upon the stage. He blinked to try to alleviate the pain.

After enacting a cringe wake-up-and-looking-into-mirror scene, they'd come to the part of the scene where Prince Ramon's true identity was revealed.

"Is this the house of Ramon Ortega?" the author asked. As Daniel couldn't see anything in front of the stage, on account of the bright light, he didn't know exactly where they were. He probably could have jumped off the stage, in search of escape. After all, he was a fit guy, so there was a possibility that he could overman his capturer and run for freedom. But since didn't know what awaited him below, that seemed like a risky option. So his current plan was to follow the author's command and hopefully be freed without risking injury, or worse.

Captain Universe, and the promise of fame, awaited at the end of the tunnel. He couldn't gamble away that opportunity.

He couldn't gamble the chance to see his sister and niece again. Because when he closed his eyes, to escape the blinding lights, it wasn't purple tights he saw, it was the carrot-colored braids of his niece as she climbed the old treehouse he used to play in as a child. He'd helped Willa spruce it up during his last visit home, as his sister still resided in their family home.

"That's me," Daniel replied in a despondent tone because while he had decided to follow command no one could force him to feign enthusiasm. "I am the humble farmer Ramon Ortega." He let the R-s roll in a lilting Scottish cadence.

A sigh echoed from the space before him. "Can't you just talk normally? Like you did on Blood Diaries?"

"I am fucking talking normally!" Daniel replied, in a not totally collected manner. He really was the worst person for this kind of high-pressure situation. "I'm from Scotland, this is how I talk! I've already colored my hair, do I need to change my accent as well?"

"Well, could you?"

Daniel let out an exasperated sigh. Of course, he could. He was an actor, after all, and a pretty darn good one, if he said so himself. He'd even featured in an Emmy-nominated HBO drama once, even if he did just play a barista who uttered two lines and served coffee to the tortured private eye lead character.

"So how should I talk then?" he snapped, brandishing the manuscript in his hand toward the voice in the distance.

"Just talk normally," was the unhelpful reply. "You sound like you're starring in Outlander. This isn't fucking Outlander, Daniel!"

While Daniel couldn't really disagree with the sentiment about Outlander--which brought shame to the moors of his homelands--he felt compelled to tell the author that he came from a completely different part of Scotland than Jamie Fraser. And they also lived in completely different eras. So really, they shouldn't sound that alike. But given the current situation, he decided to refrain from such retorts.

"I told you I am talking normally," Daniel mumbled, before clearing his throat in an attempt to erase the tones of the Scottish highlands. "But I guess I can mellow the accent a bit."

He spoke out the last words in his usual acting voice, which he'd used when playing the part of Björn the Bearslayer--who really was Scandinavian so he shouldn't speak English at all. It held more of a neutral tone but also sung faintly British--because British equaled posh in the acting world. For American roles, he usually adapted a lazier schwang, reminiscent of a Californian surfer boy--because that was the kind of role given to a young man with lush curls and skin than freckled in the sun.

"Let's do the last line again," the author commanded, apparently pleased with the "normal" voice. "And let's try it with more feeling this time. I want to feel that you actually are Prince Ramon!"

Daniel grunt-nodded in reply. Thankfully, this was the end of the scene. If he could only get through this part then they would be done and they could move on to the next scene. And after a string of scenes--probably each of them less inspired than the last--he would be free. Easy peasy!

"Is this the house of Ramon Ortega?"

"That's me," Daniel replied, being careful to not sound like fucking Jamie Frazier. Instead, he let an expression of confusion fall over his face, because that seemed like the emotion Ramon was supposed to harbor at that moment--although he did wonder how the hell Ramon had never suspected he was the king's son. "I am the humble farmer Ramon Ortega."

As he said the last words, Daniel fell on his knees to display Ramon's humility. He hoped that the author would appreciate some physical acting, to feel that he "actually was Prince Ramon". It seemed over-playing the scene was the easiest way to do that. His teachers at acting college would have laughed at him, but for a layman, this probably seemed like good acting.

"My Prince," came from the audience in reply to Daniel's dramatic postulating. "I've come to help you claim what is rightfully yours. I've come to help you claim the throne."

Daniel let out a gasp and clasped his hands to his chest. Because he guessed that was how Ramon Ortega would react to such news--really, Daniel would have killed for some stage directions for these parts.

The light around him went out abruptly. Everything fell black. For a moment, Daniel pondered if he should try to roll off the stage in the cover of darkness. But before he could enact such rash behavior, a smaller light lit in the hallway behind, where he'd walked onto the stage.

A light smattering from hands erupted from the audience. A one-person applause granted to a one-person performance.

"End scene," the author declared. "Your script for the next scene will be delivered to your room shortly."

One scene down. But who knew how many remained?

"You can do this," Daniel whispered to himself as he walked out from the stage, massaging his temples to alleviate a burgeoning ridiculousness-induced headache. "Easy peasy... At least you're not starring in fucking Outlander."

Author's Note: I apologize to any fans of Outlander. I've actually watched several seasons of it myself. But Daniel apparently isn't a fan! (I can't control what media my characters favor!)