opvline

“ it just annoys me to no end that a lot of marketing strategies now have to revolve around tiktok. so, anyway, that's why i want this campaign to be a short film, huge production really, and needed to hear your opinion on it. ” ― @opvline

" i don't think the problem necessarily tiktok... " she takes a second to collect her thoughts. " i think the problem is when brands build themselves around 20-second trends or audio clips and they lose focus on any sort of brand identity. " legs cross, a manicured fingernail tapping idly against her thigh. " but i think a big cinematic launch would work really well for you. your demographic already associate you with a certain level of glamour. you just need to be realistic about attention spans now. give them the big spectacle, then give them the smaller pieces they can circulate afterwards. "

" at least your daughter is in a relationship. i may have not liked the croy girl, but she was much better suited for my jelani over his short-term flings. at least she had status! " much higher than a runway model at least. " genevieve! " imani gasps, her feet halt, a hand against her chest and the other grasping onto her friends wrist. " that boy did not! " she shakes her head disapprovingly as she let's go, proceeding with their walk. " i was always so worried about him as a child, i did not think i'd have to worry about him as an adult! does his mother know? "

" after that morning, i've decided that mothers know far less than we flatter ourselves into believing, " genevieve responds dryly, brow arching slowly. " honestly, imani, the modern aristocracy simply has no sense of occasion. we suffered for elegance and etiquette in our youth. these children won't even suffer for a mere introduction ! do you know what offended me the most ? it was not even the boxers... " summers in thailand, brazil, spain... she has seen young men parading themselves in far less. " it was the sheer confidence with which he stood in my kitchen demanding for orange juice. " she presses her fingers to her temples, rubbing small circles to temper her frustrations. " still... araya adores him. you truly can tell when a girl is gone. she starts defending behaviour that would have otherwise mortified her. "

“ you know what they say: all one needs is a parental death to flourish. ” literally no one ever said that, and it was probably a highly problematic sentence too. oh, well. “ i was just forewarning you about my presence. ” she shrugged. “ that's fucking huge, this kid must be great. okay, so no nips if the whole thing's for a child. probably no sideboob too ... i'm gonna have to go shopping. who else we know will be there ? ”

" okay, relax– he's not a child, " although, at the big age of twenty, he's barely an adult either. " he's just green. he didn't come up with all this... " he gestures vaguely at her, then himself, " y'know. " malik, as well as the other kids involved with the foundation, grew up with less than favourable circumstances – it was all the more cause for a celebration ! " i've kept it tight. the inuku crew, okeyo, a few filmmakers and producers, the serious kind, tems might do a little something, black coffee is djing. " a short pause ensures he has her attention before continuing. " and criterion's coming through for a feature so i need you on your best behaviour. you can bring a plus one if you swear you won't go rogue. "

“ i really appreciate your preference, and will be happy to have our team attend an make a feature on the event, maybe have yours or his interview on video in our website, the other on the magazine. i'll take a look at which editors we have available for the date and send you the names for you to put on the list, as well as the contract. do you have anything you'd prefer not to be spoken or asked about ? you know, journalists can be a bit invasive at times, so i like to set limits early on and avoid animosity. ”

" great ! it's good to know we're aligned. " a criterion feature is exactly the kind of publicity that will circulate malik's name and boost inuku's credibility. he leans back in his seat, index tapping the armrest before it stills. " nothing overly restrictive, but i'd like to keep the focus on the foundation and malik – his work, his process, what this opportunity means for him. i'd prefer we steer clear of anything too personal – family, past relationships, internal politics. it's not the night for that, " a casual shrug. " and no angles that frame this as a vanity project. it's not. " there's a hefty pause, allowing his words to hold and settle. " beyond that, i trust your team's judgement. send me the names, we'll get them cleared and i'll make sure they have something worth writing about. "

“ whichever one of you drinks this sewage water needs serious therapy, this can only be considered a form of self-torture. ” that he had no issues seeing in the fridge and drinking as if it was his, but only for a very fair reason: “ we're all out of diet coke. ” ― @opvline & @sirenoire

" babe, how many times do we need to go over this ? the top shelf– " conveniently, the one with the least space, " –is yours. please stick to your diet of microwave meals and diet coke– which, fyi, has carcinogenic sweeteners– and leave my kombucha on my shelf. hell ! help yourself to lilah's shelf if you desperately need to ! she makes more money than you and me combined. " @sirenoire

" i sat in glam for five hours today! and like! i really can't cry right now! it's okay, ines. you can be truthful! i know you never liked him! "

" i do not not like him ! i just think he... " she shakes the uncoming ramble out of her head. " unimportant. you look far too pretty to have mascara smudged under your eyes. how about a dinner date ? drinks ? katone will be in bed soon. i can arrange for solana to watch him tonight. "

    “ half of europe, and maybe a third of any other continent too. ” she answered, plainly . “ say what you want about privilege, but not having to do coffee runs while the other interns do does bring me a fuck ton of joy. ” granted, most of the other interns were in their early 20s, not 30s, but it really was about her title. “ i didn't even get an invitation and you expect me to be happy to see you. read the room. what's the dress code ? ”

" and when have you ever needed an invitation to show up somewhere, eh ? your big girl job has made you go soft, " he prods, nudging her with his elbow. " one of the inuku kids, malik diarra, got selected for la cinef. a proper selection ! not just nepotism-networking fluff. so i'm around for that. we're hosting a celebratory dinner, " party, " after the screening. la guérite. small, intimate. dress nice. tasteful, nothing too flashy. "

" beyond selfish! do they ever stop to think of how this may affect us? " she shakes her head in disappointment. " no! i was beginning to think you'd never meet him. "

" we are getting old ! i should very much like to carry my grandchildren before my bones begin to ache. " after all, her own mother was granted such a luxury when she'd had araya ! " oh, i shudder to think back on it, " and she does ! the memory causes her head to shake. " i had returned early from a trip. i thought i'd enjoy my morning coffee in my own home when araya and the boy come galloping into my kitchen and— darling, " she pauses, bracing imani for what's to follow. " he is completely naked bar a skimpy pair of boxers that leave very little to the imagination ! in. my. own. home. imani ! after months and years of begging for a proper introduction, that is what my only child had decided would be fit for me. i sure hope your children know better. "

" ines! i need tissues! "

" oh, no, no, no, no–" she burrows into her baby bag, plucking half a dozen tissues before pressing them into araya's hand. " it's aurel. he's always been a little bit... " clueless. she tosses her hand in the air for lack of a less insulting word. " you know... "

" i don't know what to do with my children! i am at my absolute limit! i would have had more children if i knew either asali or jelani were going to get married! " ( @opvline )

" you are preaching to the choir, darling. this new generation is simply so selfish ! they don't care for their mothers. have i told you about how i met araya's boyfriend ? "

" i shouldn't have to speak about it to him! like! if i have to tell him when to propose, why am i with him! "

" –no you're right ! of course you're right, " she backtracks a little. " i only mean that... well, you know how men are ! if i hadn't expressed what i wanted, " intimacy, " then i wouldn't have katone ! sometimes they just need a little nudge. "

    “ listen, i'm not complaining, i would've never gotten this job if not for nepotism, i just didn't wanna have to move to paris. but whatever, it's better than being kris' assistant. anyway, why are you here ? is it fashion week again already ? ” ― @opvline

" naw, c'mon silje, there are far worse places to intern ! who wouldn't want to start each day staring at arnauld's handsome face plastered at every news stand ? " he smirks. " how's it been at esa anyway ? i thought you'd be excited to see me. i'll be over in cannes next month with the foundation. thought i'd make a trip out of it. "

" how many more years do you think i have left until i start looking pathetic... like — you already have kids and i don't even have a ring. " ( @opvline )

" i have one kid and i promise you, it's not the same ! levi and i did it all backwards. it took years before we had any semblance of a relationship. you and aurel already have that going for you ! have you spoken about it with him ? "