Jane Actually

Melody, happy for the moment with the more primitive terminal her agent wore.
    “How was it Jane? What was it like to have an avatar?”
    “Beyond anything I could imagine, but I find myself somewhat fatigued. Perhaps I could watch you take lunch.”
    A look at the clock on the terminal confirmed it was near 2 pm. She knew Melody would be hungry.
    Melody looked at her watch and agreed. “Sure, we’ve got some time before the next interview, but I’m not going to eat clotted cream again just to please you. I could feel my arteries harden while I ate.”

Differing opinions
Jane and Melody clash on choice of avatar
    “I really think your avatar should have read one of your books,” Melody said. Or at least that’s what Jane believed her agent had said, although it was difficult to follow Melody’s words as she bounced up and down on the elliptical trainer.
    “I don’t see what difference that makes,” Jane said in response. “The avatar is merely my mouthpiece.”
    “Really Jane, ‘mouthpiece?’ Who are you, Philip Marlowe? 1 And just yesterday you were saying your avatar had to do more than just parrot your words.”
    Jane could not contradict Melody, for she had said something similar while defending Mary as her choice. So she decided to change tactics.
    “Then who do you suggest?” Jane asked.
    “Well isn’t it obvious? Miranda did a great job with you on the interview.”
    “Who? Oh, the stammerer.” Jane immediately felt guilty for adopting this ploy of pretend ignorance and disparagement. Ms Prentiss certainly had impressed with her skills. Mary Crawford, with her inexperience, had not.
    “Oh Jane, that is beneath you. You know Miranda Prentiss was by far the best in the mock interview. She was perfect.”
    This surprised Jane, for she thought Melody more partial to Ms Holland, but her friend had apparently changed camps after Ms Prentiss’s perfect performance.
    But of course that was Jane’s principal objection to Ms Prentiss. She was perfect and loudly praised and admired by everyone, even Jane. She had to admit that Ms Prentiss’ skill at conveying her words so effortlessly was an amazing experience, whereas Melody said Mary Crawford looked like someone “hearing a who.” 2 Jane wasn’t sure what that meant, but assumed she meant Mary gave the impression she was merely reciting Jane’s words transmitted through the earbuds.
    Jane had to admit that her interaction with Mary was not perfect, or good or even acceptable, but by the end of the interview, they had improved. Part of Jane’s preference for Mary was influenced by the fact that Mary wasn’t familiar with her novels. She most enjoyed interacting with people new to her work.
    “… the fact her name is Mary Crawford. You think it’s some sort of sign,” Melody said. Jane realized she had drifted away from Melody’s terminal and had just drifted back, catching the tail end of Melody’s argument.
    “Nonsense, I realize it’s just coincidence,” Jane replied. “I know it cannot be an uncommon name.”
    “And it’s a little too … well it’s a little too weird.”
    Jane detected a possibility.
    “Is that why you dismiss Mary?” Jane asked. She knew Melody had a distaste for anything that smacked of the supernatural. She had an almost superstitious distaste of it.
    “What? No, I just thought maybe she’d given a false name to …” she trailed off without completing her theory.
    “Is it likely the avatar agency would have allowed such an imposture?”
    “No, it’s not. I double-checked. It really is her name.”
    “I really think, Melody, that it should be enough that I enjoy Miss Crawford’s company and that I think I might work well with her.”
    “She’s too young for one thing,” Melody said, desperate for another argument against Mary.
    “And yet you and Mr Pembroke had earlier suggested a younger avatar would make me accessible to younger readers.”
    Melody was ready to object to this until she remembered her private conversation with Mr Pembroke where the subject of a younger avatar had been discussed.
    “I think Ms Prentiss, while very capable, might be perceived as too much of a pedant.” Jane added. “She might appeal to Janeites, but I thought our intent was to attract a new audience to my novels.”
    “But do you think you can improve her … Mary’s … skills enough that she won’t look like she’s hearing voices?”
    “I think that possible, yes. But in all honesty, I think at