Ive Always Loved The Idea Of Not Being What People Expect Me To Be.

“I’ve always loved the idea of not being what people expect me to be.”

— Dita Von Teese

Something Frankie noticed about Landon was the fact that he backtracked on things he said if it seemed like it could be taken a different way than he intended. Always so careful with his words. Given his current reputation, she couldn't blame him. But, she was always cordial enough with him whenever they were able to speak that she thought he would let down that guard just a little, just enough to be able to relax.

"Don't apologize," she said it with a slight laugh, the corner of her mouth curling a bit more with the smile, "In a sense you're right, however, I'm sure you know I'm not like all agents. I'd rather not hear about my 'children's' bedroom fantasies." Frankie let the joke hang between them, hoping it would lighten his social load a little.

The question about her being at the party made her pause, giving him a slightly weird look. Maybe it was because no one really asked that before, but she also figured it should be pretty obvious to anyone. "Why? Because I'm not the type to fling a newborn child into a hornets nest. Even though the child in question has wandered off to do who knows what - hopefully not damaging his fragile reputation," Frankie shakes her head, standing up straight to take her phone from her purse to check her messages, "I take no thrill being around these people. It's just work to me. Keeping my clients safe and making sure they are introduced to the right people."

Seeing no new messages, she tucked the phone back away and returned her gaze to his face, "But you are right. Things were better when it wasn't about who you know. When it was about actual talent instead of what publicity you can bring to a name. I saw that trying to make my own way up, but it clearly didn't work. And it's been all downhill since. Good looks get you anything."

@wynterlanding || xxx

(c)

"One day at a time..." Marius hummed as he repeated the words back to him, staring ahead as he considered these words. Maybe he was right. Maybe all Marius needed to do was move on and stop letting what he did hold him back, even if it did still ache. Or... maybe Acelin was just being nice and telling Marius what he needed to hear. That's what friends do, right? Good ones, anyway.

"Maybe. Maybe not," he lifted one shoulder in a tiny shrug, "It just feels like that's not for me to decide. And that's fine, I wouldn't any more." Except maybe a phone call... Just one phone call.

"You know what? It doesn't even matter," Marius looked up again to Acelin beside him, flashing a wide smile again, "Thank you, Ace, truly. But, this is just something I have to live with. Doesn't matter anyway, I don't think anyone would want to settle for the likes of me for more than a few rounds anyway," he chuckled to his own self deprecation, lifting his glass to drink down the remainder of what he had.

@inechoingsilence || xxx