Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā THEREāS A FRAMED PHOTO OF him and paloma that his mother just loves to bring up at dinner parties, at events hosted at their family mansion outside los angeles, a place that paloma is no stranger to. it features her and harvey, depicted when they were four, maybe five years old, holding hands as they skip down the santa monica pier, eyes glistening as the both of them drool after cotton candy and other colorful things. how naive he was then, desiring only the most SHALLOW and short-lived goods, not worrying about if paparazzi would catch him at a compromising moment. he doesnāt quite remember how they even got along, given that every conversation with her these days feels like a verbalĀ sparring match.Ā ā well, maybe instead of focusing on FORCING us to get along, they could redirect their efforts into producing a better show, ā he responds snidely. honestly ā he doesnāt believe his parents even encouraged him to date her: it goes to show how LITTLE they knew about their son, how he hadnāt had a civil conversation with paloma since they were twelve.Ā ā sounds about right ā if you do get around to getting that printed on a greeting card, mind sending one to my parents ? they still canāt get it fucking ENGRAINED in their brains that we donāt hang out, let alone have potential to DATE. jesus, the way my mother talks about you makes it sound like you were born in fucking holy waterĀ or something. ā he rolls his eyes.Ā ā might i remind you, paloma, that YOUĀ wereĀ the one who dragged ME into that interview, okay ? iāll mind my business if you donāt drag me into yours, how does that sound ? āĀ
upbeat. just another thing that harvey kieran strathmore isnāt.Ā ā yeah, ā he admits with a nod.Ā ā a goddamned ray of sunshine, i donāt know how he does it. ā but boy ā would he like to know. if he had the energy and PATIENCE, he would try and be nicer: but unfortunately, there have been a few more people who have taken advantage of harveyās name, fame, wealth ā you name it, for authenticity and kindness to be his default configuration.Ā ā yeah, like heās GUILTING her into it, but he thinks sheāll have a good time, too. kind of feel bad for her ā harper, i mean. mattiās fucking clueless, but i guess it is only like, the second episode. gotta be some tension there, huh ? ā he says, scribbling notes in his script, hopping up from his chair, adding physicality to his next attempt.Ā ā youāll come, right ? ā cue a flirtatious, slightly scheming smile.Ā ā i really donāt want to show up alone. ā a feigned sense of light desperation, an expertly placed exhale, an anguished gulp. all tiny TICKS that each and every one of his critics hammered into his mind.Ā ā better ? ā he scratches his head.Ā ā you um ā¦ can you read harperās lines ? ā heās not particularly used to ASKING people for things, especially paloma.
Ā Ā Ā the laughter the two used to share is close enough for paloma to retain strong , vividĀ memories of it. with the number of shared imaginary friends , inside jokes and common experiences the two shared at a young age , it was impossible for anyone to foresee how FRACTURED their relationship would become. paloma can still feelĀ the whiplash of going from inseparable childhood friends , to each otherās emotional kryptonite.Ā ā maybe instead of telling meĀ , you should talk to the producers directly. or ā i donāt know ā write them a strongly worded email , if you think your natural dramatics might be off-puttingĀ ,Ā ā she sighs , already feeling herself grow tiredĀ of harveyās cynicism , a trait that undoubtedly pushed her further away as they forged individual paths. as the HAPPY-GO-LUCKY boy faded away ( through his parentsā actions ) , less and less of their friendship seemed remotely salvageable. a fact neither of their families ever seemed to notice , or allow themselves to internalize and understand. though , palomaās family has always been less pushyĀ about the two of them getting along. ā when that cardās printed and ready to be sent out , iāll be sure use my bestĀ calligraphy to let them know that usually , my typeās a little less HARRY BINGHAMĀ and a little more grizz visser. or , in terms they can understand , a little less harvey strathmore , and a little more matti james. at the end of the day , the constantĀ ā woe is me ā act really doesnāt do it for me ,Ā ā she quips , unable to hold back yet another another sigh ,Ā ā as for the interview , trust meĀ ,Ā i much rather wouldāve called over anyone elseĀ to help save me from another set of HYPER-PERSONALĀ questions , but sadlyĀ you were the only one close enough for me to grab. itās a mistake i wonāt be making again anytime soon.Ā ā
Ā Ā Ā she throws a final eye roll harveyās way , before both settle back into their assignment , their professionalism taking the reins. her head nods ( absent-mindedly )Ā as harvey runs through his characterization of harvey , trying to get her own hold on HARPER HAYES. as with valentina , paloma finds herself underlining , circling , scribbling in the margins and empty blank spaces of her script , every instinct and thought inspired by the writersā own words jotted down before she can forget. this is her process , an intimate routine she almost feels harvey is an INTRUDER to , his presence made more obvious as he gets up from his chair. with a final look at her notes , she mirrors his actions , getting up and standing as close as two friendly co-workers would ( which is farĀ closer than she and harvey have , at least since they were twelve ).Ā ā itās not really my scene ,Ā ā she shrugs , feigned disinterest coloring her words , taking on harperās character with an ease even sheās impressed by , ā plus , i wasnāt exactly invited.Ā ā the push and pull of her motivations is all too clear : on one hand , thereās the large crowd of potentially intoxicated strangers but , on the other , thereās her cute co-worker , with whom sheās been DYING to spend time with outside of work. the tension is bizarrely well-suited for the current situation. on one hand , harvey and paloma can barely seem to achieve civilityĀ , but , on the other , the characters they take on in the blink of an eye and their COMPLICITYĀ take paloma back to something nostalgically familiar.
