𝕙𝕚𝕘𝕙 𝕙𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤

“they’re so good,” destiny sighed dreamily, her mind on food. “there’s an amazing greek restaurant near where i live, but damn am i excited to try some authentic food.” she couldn’t help but laugh at the others dramatic sigh, but it quickly died when she realized just who she was talking to. “oh my god you were like, kinda famous back in the day.” she tilted her head, a teasing grin in place, “let me guess, you’re on this show to try and get back into the spotlight? and your manager…it’s a punishment because reality tv can be real trashy?”

“ha yea. key word is kinda,” harper snorted and blew a strand of hair out of her face. “i mean it’s my own fault. i could’ve been big like the olsens or li lo or anyone really. but i was not taught the d.a.r.e program at tv school so of course i failed and it ruined my life.” sure harper’s life was a bit of a train wreck but at least she owned up to it right? most people would probably be in denial over it but she knew her faults and she probably wasn’t going to do anything to fix them. “my manager is a royal bitch and honestly i need to get a new one. hey wanda if you’re watching, you’re fired,” the brunette said and waved at the nearest camera.

“Don’t even get me started. I can’t stand the damn things… seems like they’re becoming more and more frequent, too.” A beat. “LA isn’t as great as everyone chalks it up to be. The traffic, the… lack of weather… and let’s not forget about the smog.” Richard shifts his body to face her, offering that signature goofy grin of his. “I feel that. Let’s be honest with ourselves, here– I’m going home twenty pounds heavier… and probably single.”

“honestly i think la is a secret circle of hell sometimes. it’s only fun for those bright eyed, wanna make it big people who moved there on their last dime. then after about six months you become disillusioned to the whole thing.” sure she sounded bitter about where she lived, but was she going to do anything about it? hell no. “bro, it’s the first day. you can’t be thinking like that on the first day.”

Bottle poised to his lips, Richard takes a small sip– and his attention shifts from the waves of the shoreline. “Mm– I mean, if it’s gonna’ be like this every day then, uh… production security’s gonna’ have to escort me off the island by force by the end of it all.” He chuckles. 

“i say fuck it and just move here when shooting is over,” harper told him without missing a beat. “honestly i’m thinking about it right now. no more earthquakes, no world ending when it rains in la, and i can just stuff myself with gyros and stuffed grape leaves.”

the woman’s presence initially wasn’t known to ronni ruiz as he accepted a cocktail of some sort from one of the bartenders. he cocked a lazy glance at the drink followed by an appraising one at the bartender. oi, she was cute. he thought about asking her for something else, but stopped when he heard the ‘manager.’ 

he tossed her a look that said ‘look, repeat that again,’ but since it was accompanied by a swiftly raising brow, the whole ordeal was reminiscent of a bamboozled boy struck by the beauty of one with wealth. “manager? you’se got a manager or somethin’, babes? wha’ for?” he asked out of curiosity, but the latter part of her initial greeting struck a chord with the well-busted, beefed out, wonderfully beautiful man.

“yeah, well, i’m here, ain’t i? and you are, too. guess we’re all set for life, innit?” he said confidently as he tucked into his cocktail. hmm, a bit too fruity for his liking, bu tnot bad. “me? aw, i’m just here to crack on with a hot one – oh, and for the experience n’ alla’ tha’.” he took another sip, and upon further reflection, tossed a wink the girl’s way. “jus’ kiddin’, luv.” 

“first of all, where in the hell is that accent from? i feel like i need a translator here with me. and second yeah i’ve got a manager, or ‘somethin’,” she laughed with with her best imitation of his accent but it probably sounded better in her head. “kinda need one to get jobs as an actress, although she’s not doing me any favors right now but refusing to get me auditions to things until i ‘straighten myself out.’ whatever the hell that means.” taking a breath, she didn’t mean to vent her frustrations right then and there but that’s where her tangent took her. 

“i mean you do you boo,” harper told him, holding her drink up for a ‘cheers’ moment before taking a sip. “everyone has their own reasons for coming so i’m not one to judge since this is basically just a free vacation for me. i hope you get a hot one.” 

destiny was enjoying herself, a fact that was pretty surprising when she considered how she felt at the beginning of the night. but after a few conversations, a few drinks, and the fresh ocean breeze against her skin, it was almost impossible for her to stay in a crappy mood. “add some killer food and a few more comfortable seats, and this would legit be my version of heaven,” she answered the girl, her eyes moving to meet the others, “and if your manager thinks this is a punishment, they really need to get out more.” she paused briefly, her words registering, “…hold up, a manager?”

“greek food is literal heaven. have you ever had stuff grape leaves? i could literally live off them forever,” harper told the other, her mouth practically drooling at the thought of the food. the atmosphere here was already something she could get behind and if the people weren’t crazy she was in for a fun time. “yeah, manager,” the brunette sighed dramatically, taking a large sip of her drink, “harper davenport at your service. you might know me from your favorite childhood classics such as barney and all that i’m kind of a washed up child starlet? think like lindsey lohan but...less crazy. at least i’d like to think so.” 

“ it does feel a little bit like a college field trip, doesn’t it? “ césaire mused under his breath, speaking to no one in particular but those whose stop had also, of course, been the open bar. his fingers twisted the welcome card in his hand, eyes following one line in particular. “ i mean, ‘ feel free to room with whomever you like ‘..? “ it felt bold to assume sharing a room on the first night would go beyond that. “ not to be pessimistic– “ he was. “ –but if you leave together tonight? that’s not chemistry, that’s the first step to a cheaply produced teen horror-comedy — i will say, i haven’t seen the finale of last season, so maybe that is what happens. “

“if this was a college field trip maybe i would have actually stayed and graduated from the shithole,” harper mused with a smirk, cradling her whiskey coke while scanning her surroundings and closing in on the other at the bar. “i think they were going for more of a ‘you all are adults you can make your own decisions’ sort of thing. but i do agree, first night hookups are probably the most cliche thing in the world.” the girl took a sip of her drink and laughed at his last comment, it sounding like the story of her life “well, those are the kind of movies i’m best at making. maybe i can draw some inspiration.”