#manhattan.task02

“  have  you  ever  called  someone  when  you’re  drunk  and  alone  ?  ”

barks  a  laugh  ,  head  dipping  and  eyes  closing  briefly  as  if  he  can  see  it  all  play  out  again  .  “ many  times  .  ”  not  even  embarrassed  to  admit  it  .  “ that's  the  truth  .  ”

“  not  surprising coming  from  you  max  .  how  about  this  ...  do  you  sing  in  the  shower  ?  if  so  ,  do  you  think  you’re  better  than  certain  singers  ?  ”

question  earns  a  sharper  laugh  ,  free  hand  smacking  the  table  once  ,  twice  ...  he's  been  caught  .  fingers  then  thread  through  styled  tresses  ,  fidgeting  .  “  ah,  shit  .  yeah  ,  i  do  .  but  let’s  be  clear  …  ”  max  leans  forward  ,  deflecting  ,  blue  hues  locking  on  the  camera  and  hand  hooked  to  wires  painting  in  the  air  .  “  there  should  be  no  shame  in  singing  in  the  shower  .  this  is  a  safe  space  .  be  celine  dion,  whitney  houston,  isabel  dela  rosa  …  ”

“  he's  …  telling  the  truth  ?  i  think  we  just  discovered  the next  superstar  .  what  about  something  a  little  bolder  ?  have  you  ever  gone  skinny  dipping  ?  ”

tongue  clicks  against  the  roof  of  his  mouth  ,  a  half  shrug  following  as  if  it’s  hardly  worth  the  question  .  “  yeah  ...  ”

“  clearly  telling  truth  with  that  one  .  care  to  share  with  the  class  ?  —  nope  .  that's  obviously  that  on  that  .  let's  switch  it  up  .  are  you  happy  with  your  career  ?  ”

question  lands  heavier  than  max  expects,  like  a  cannonball  tossed  into  a  calm  pond  ,  shock  waves  he  can’t  quite  outrun  .  fingers  drum  lightly  against  the  table  ,  gaze  lost  in  reflection  .  “  …  it  depends  on  how  you  define  happy  .  ”  hues  flick  briefly  to  the  ceiling  as  if  scanning  storm  tossed  seas  .  “  i’ve  won  six  championships  ,  eighty  one  grand  prixs  ,  been  on  podiums  i  never  thought  i’d  touch  …  so  on  paper  ?  yeah  ,  that’s  a  dream  .  ”  soft  laughs  and  a  shake  of  his  head  ,  further  reflection  of  his  years  on  the  track  ...  and  off  .  “  but  between  pushing  too  far  ,  risking  too  much  ...  it  had  to  mean  more  than  racing  for  the  record  .  so  racing  for  the  love  of  it  in  those  last  few  years  ,  with  people  i  actually  liked  —  i  enjoyed  that  just  as  much  as  i  did  when  i  first  joined  ferrari  .  that  is  what  i'm  happy  about  .  that  ,  and  vita  —  she  ...  makes  it  all  matter  .  "

“  oh  so  he's  a  sap  and  honest  .  you've  had  a  very  full  and  successful  career  .  what’s  something  you’re  currently  working  on  ?  ”

“  right  now  ?  staying  out  of  trouble  …  mostly  ,  but  also  keeping  busy  .  working  with  a  couple  of  teams  ,  trying  not  to  break  the  house  while  i  tinker  with  whatever  new  obsession  i’ve  picked  up  ,  and  …  enjoying  the  time  i  have  with  vi  when  she's  home  .  that's  all  i'm  giving  away  .  ”

“  ...  we’re picking  up  some  deception here  .  hmm  ...  do  you  wish  robin  hood  would  pay  more  attention  to  you  ?  ”

“  absolutely  not  .  ”  flat  ,  final  .  no  elaboration  .  “  he's  telling  the  truth.  ”

“  alright  max  ,  thanks  for  your  ..  honesty  today  .  one  more  before  we  have  a  rapid  fire  round  .  is  there  someone  in  your  suite  at  bar  manhattan  you’d  kick  out  ?  ”

he  doesn’t  even  blink  .  features  dare  move  as  the  name  slips  his  lips  dryly  ,  as  though  he  truly  means  it  .  “  monty  .  ”  silence  …  then  a  shake  of  the  head  ,  laughter  breaking  his  character  .  “  absolute  dickhead  .  thinks  he  owns  the  place  .  tries  to  steal  my  chair  ,  my  drink  …  my  spotlight  .  i'd  let  him  stay  ...  only  for  my  entertainment  .  ”

this or that , rapid fire.

ooc  information:

who:  your  muses  get  their  very  own  vanity  fair  lie  detector  test  -  it's  just  them  and  the  the  person  handling  the  polygraph  ,and  bar  manhattan's  staff.

how:  we'll  be  offering  you  a  psd  +  template  to  start  off  the  interview  +  suggested  phrases  for  the  person  running  the  test.  then  you  get  to  pick  questions  to  answer  &  finish  it  off  by  a  rapid  fire  this  or  that.  

note:  in  the  scenario  that  you're  muse  is  lying,  please  communicate  ooc  that  it  is  a  lie.  whether  that  is  the  polygraph  person  outing  them  immediately  or  their  inner  thoughts,  etc.

bonus: this counts as activity, also known as equals one thread for your muse.

tags:  manhattan.task02  for  finished  interviews.

templates,

let’s  begin.  what  is  your  first  name  and  what  bar  are  we  in ?

great,  thank  you.  and  what  is  today’s  date?

just  one  more:  what  is  the  name  of  the  gossip  column  currently  trending  in  manhattan?

good  enough.  let’s  jump  right  into  it.

suggested  phrases  to  use  from  the  person  running  the  test:  we’re  picking  up  some  deception  here,  questionable,  that’s  a  lie,  that’s  true,  they’re  telling  the  truth,  it’s  indeterminate,  let’s  try  that  one  again.

questions,

         personal  life:  choose  at  least  one

have  you  ever  called  someone  when  you’re  drunk  and  alone?

we’ve  heard  you  ‘insert  guilty  pleasure’.  is  it  true?

have  you  ever  canceled  important  plans  because  you  couldn’t  find  the  right  outfit?

do  you  sing  in  the  shower?  if  so,  do  you  think  you’re  better  than  certain  singers?

have  you  ever  lied  to  a  friend  about  something  important?

what’s  your  guilty  pleasure  movie?  we  all  have  one.

what’s  the  most  awkward  thing  you’ve  been  caught  doing?

what  is  something  popular  -  a  brand,  a  show,  or  a  movie  -  that  you  actually  hate?

do  you  have  a  secret  social  media  account?

have  you  ever  started  a  rumor  about  someone?  what  was  it?

what’s  the  biggest  lie  you’ve  ever  told?

have  you  ever  gone  skinny  dipping?

          robin  hood:  choose  at  least  one

have  you  ever  leaked  drama  to  robin  hood  to  get  them  off  your  back?  would  you?

have  you  ever  anonymously  leaked  a  story  about  yourself  to  get  attention?

do  you  sometimes  scroll  through  robinhood.com?  

do  you  care  what  the  public  thinks  of  you?

thoughts  on  the  latest  robin  hood  post  about  you?

do  you  wish  robin  hood  would  pay  more  attention  to  you?

what’s  the  weirdest  headline  you’ve  read  about  yourself?

          dating  life:  choose  at  least  one

have  you  ever  used  raya,  and  if  not  -  would  you?

have  you  ever  slid  into  someone’s  dms?

is  there  an  ex  you  wish  you  could  get  back  with?

what’s  the  weirdest  place  you’ve  kissed/hooked  up  with  someone?

have  you  ever  given  someone  a  fake  number?  

have  you  ever  kissed  more  than  one  person  in  the  same  evening?  more  than  two?

what  is  the  worst  date  you’ve  ever  been  on?

who  has  been  your  best  kiss  to  date?

have  you  ever  gone  skinny  dipping?

would  you  enjoy  living  with  your  partner?

do  you  prefer  to  keep  your  relationships  private?

do  you  kiss  on  the  first  date?

do  you  usually  make  the  first  move?

what  would  it  take  for  you  to  tell  your  crush  you  like  them?

have  you  ever  sent  a  risky  test  or  an  “oops”  snap?

have  you  ever  been  someone’s  secret?

          career:  choose  at  least  one

have  you  ever  worked  with  someone  you  couldn’t  stand?

are  you  happy  with  your  career?

are  you  worried  your  career  is  reaching  a  plateau?

what’s  something  you’re  currently  working  on?

what  was  your  biggest  career  fumble?

do  you  get  along  with  your  teammates?

       general  /  miscellaneous:    choose  at  least  one

could  you  see  yourself  in  manhattan  for  the  rest  of  your  life?

what’s  your  favorite  place  in  new  york  city?

what’s  your  favorite  hobby?

if  you  were  stranded  on  an  island,  who  would  you  want  to  be  stranded  with?  who  would  you  not  want  there?    

is  there  someone  in  your  suite  at  bar  manhattan  you’d  kick  out?

is  there  another  guest  list  you’d  love  an  invite  into?

do  you  ever  get  concerned  about  being  kicked  off  the  SUITE  NAME's  guest  list  and  being  sent  back  to  the  main  bar?

this or that, rapid fire: mandatory, bold what applies,

questions,

“ what’s  your  guilty  pleasure  movie?  we  all  have  one. ”

melis   shifts   in   her   seat,   feeling   the   cattle   prod   of   forced   vulnerability   already.   ❛   i   don't.   ❜   that's   a   lie.

“ come  on  melis,  we're  not  letting  you  move  on  until  you  tell  us… ”

❛   i,   tonya.   ❜   she   answers   dryly.   indeterminate.

“ you're  joking,  but  there's  some  truth  in  it.  spill. ”

silence,   for   longer   than   is   necessary,   then…   ❛   ice   princess.   ❜

“ great  choice!  speaking  of  ice  princesses,  what's  the  weirdest  headline  that  you've  read  about  yourself? ”

❛   how   much   time   do   you   have?   peformance   enhancing   drugs   made   from   my   own   plasma,   only   wearing   red   underwear   on   competition   days,   being   created   in   a   lab   to   dominate    american   ice   skating…   take   your   pick.   ❜

“ have  you  ever  given  someone  a  fake  number? ”

❛   yes.   ❜   that's   true.   ❛   i   don't   think   i've   ever   given   anyone   my   real   number.   ❜   we're  picking  something  up  there.

“ not  even  to  matthieu?  do  you  not  get  along  with  your  teammate? ”

brow   quirks,   and   melis   can   spot   the   very   subtle   smirk   on   the   interviewer's   face.   ❛   obviously   matty   has   my   number.   it'd   be   impossible   to   communicate,   otherwise.   i   don't   think   you   have   a   choice   in   figure   skating,   if   you   don't   get   along,   it   affects   your   performance.   there   needs   to   be   trust   and   communication.   it   helps   to   be   friends.   ❜   she's   telling  the   truth.

“ just  friends? ”

the   silence   that   follows   is   incredibly,   incredibly   uncomfortable.   a   rumour   swirls   after   the   interview's   release   that   melis   had   to   be   convinced   to   continue   filming.

“ thank  you   for  your  time  today,  melis,  we  know  you're  busy.  one  final  question  –  is  there  someone  in  your  suite  at  bar  manhattan  you'd  kick  out? ”

❛   lucas.   ❜

“ that  was  a  speedy  response!  are  you  sure  abo– ”

❛   yes.   ❜

this  or  that,  rapid  fire:  mandatory,  bold  what  applies,

❝ have you ever called someone when you’re drunk and alone? ❞

❝ i thought you said we were getting started. ❞   another laugh. risa relaxed in her seat — maybe this wouldn't be so bad.  ❝ i'm pretty sure everyone has, and it's not really a secret how i am after a few drinks. ❞   thoughtless. reckless. foolish. pick your favorite word. a drunk call was a minor bad decision in the grand scheme of her past antics.  ❝ so yeah, i have. ❞   the operator gave a thumbs up.

❝ care to share who? ❞

❝ um . . . friends mostly. dominic a few times. ❞

❝ when you two weren't together? ❞

risa shifted in her seat.  ❝ i can't remember. i was drunk when it happened. ❞   she really hoped not. out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the operator, only releasing a soft breath when he said, " inconclusive ". better than nothing.

❝ well, let's move on then. do you sometimes scroll through robinhood.com? ❞

❝ yeah. it's kind of hard to avoid with how often it shows up on my feed, and some of the stuff they post is amusing. ❞   " that's true ".

❝ amusing? you have to tell us what’s the weirdest headline you’ve read about yourself. ❞

sitting up a little straighter, risa rested her elbows on the table.  ❝ someone once claimed i was trying to host a hobby horse competition at bar manhattan. don't get me wrong, it would've been a hilarious sight, especially if we served alcohol, but i don't need to play pretend when my job is horseback riding. ❞

❝ you might've given the bar a new idea. i bet it'd explode on social media. speaking of having fun, have you ever kissed more than one person in the same evening? more than two? ❞

❝ yes to both. ❞   the operator confirmed it as true. silence lingered in the space another question should've gone. brow furrowed until risa remembered that rumor. before the interviewer could ask,  ❝ when i was single, ❞   was added. " she's telling the truth ".

❝ of course, of course. next, are you happy with your career? ❞

❝ i wouldn't want to do anything else with my life. ❞   lips curved upwards, carrying her smile up to her eyes. she didn't even pay any attention to the operator — knew her words were true.

❝ but it hasn't all been sunshine and rainbows, right? sports are all about the ups and the down. what was your biggest career fumble? ❞

smile dimmed as quickly as it'd appeared. the look in the interviewer's eyes made it clear exactly what period of her career the question was designed to poke at.  ❝ is it really a fumble if i still ended up at the olympics ? ❞   " that's a lie ". narisa crossed her arms.

❝ the competition you pulled out of was a big one and— ❞

❝ yes, it was. i'm not saying it was a good look, but i recovered. it's not a misstep i'm going to repeat. ❞   this time, she did listen for the operator's voice. " inconclusive ", he said, and narisa shifted in her seat.

❝ we're getting close to the end so how about something light? if you were stranded on an island, who would you want to be stranded with? who would you not want there? ❞

❝ dominic, without a doubt. i'd miss him too much. plus he'd probably devise the best survival or escape plan. melis would probably be the most capable out of my friends ❞   lips pursed.  ❝ i adore monty but i'm not sure how useful he'd be. he can lead the search party for us in the city. ❞   " we're ending with the truth ".

❝ before we conclude, we're going to do a rapid fire round of this or that questions. super quick and fun. ready? okay. ❞

' first question: are you happy in your career ? '

" absolutely. it's such a privilege to serve in this role and to work on behalf of the people our office represents every day and not to mention, working alongside my father has been incredible. i've got to witness firsthand his commitment to public service and i am so grateful for that. "

operator provides a thumbs up. ' do you worry about your career reaching a plateau ? '

" no, i'm too entirely focused on the work in front of me. "

' that's questionable. '

" i think what i mean is that this work doesn't really feel static. i care deeply about making an impact and i don't see that as something with a ceiling but if one day that means stepping into a role where i can serve more directly, i'd be open to it. " pearly whites on full display, lithe shoulders inching forward to whisper: " who knows ? madam president stratton does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it ? "

' it sure does. and if you were stranded on an island, who would you  want  to  be  stranded  with ? '

" oh, that's an easy one. i'd want my brother there with me, no question. he's the smartest person i know. he'd make a phone out of a coconut or something and get us off the island. "

examiner glances up: ' and your sister ? '

" sorry, my who ? "

' your sister. your father's — '

" i'm kidding — my brain just went straight to my brother. that's usually how it goes with hypothetical survival questions. "

' so you wouldn't want her there ? '

" no — "

' that's true. '

" you didn't let me finish. i mean, she'd be fine. she's — she's very capable. just in a different way. "

' she's telling the truth. okay, we're switching gears a little here. do you keep relationships private ? '

" that's a great question. i think when you grow up in the public eye, you learn pretty quickly that not everything needs to be public to be meaningful. so yes, i do tend to keep my relationships private, not out of secrecy but out of respect. "

' so have you ever been someone's secret ? '

" no. "

' we're picking up some deception. want to elaborate ? '

an almost amused exhale leaves glossed brims. " it's a question of definitions. again, not everything is public facing and not everything is labeled or announced. that doesn't make it a secret, it just makes it private. furthermore, i don't categorize my personal relationships in a way that invites that kind of simplification. people can call things whatever they want from the outside. it doesn't make it accurate. "

another thumbs up. ' do you wish robin hood would pay more attention to you ? '

" no. "

' that's a lie. '

" right. okay. " cue a pause. not flustered. perfected wires just recalibrating. " it's not attention in the way you're implying. "

operator gives a half - way thumbs up.

" for example, two months ago i led a public information campaign that actually got people to town halls who'd never engaged before so yes — if you're asking whether i'd like that kind of stuff to be acknowledged instead of ignored or mischaracterized, the answer is obviously yes but that's not the same thing as wanting an uncredible gossip blog to ' pay attention ' to me. "

' fair enough. the media has speculated a lot about your social circle and personal life. did any of that ever surprise you ? '

" yes. feels like i'm learning new things about myself everyday. "

' looking back, were there moments where people assumed you were thinking about more ? settling down ? marriage — even if you weren't ? '

" people tend to project their expectations. if they assumed i was thinking about settling down or marriage, that was their interpretation and not my reality. " raises hand as if to search for diamond & then presents it to camera. bare, save for vintage rings stacked & adorning digits but no wedding band.

' that's true. have you   ever  kissed  more  than   one  person  in  the  same evening ? '  

" i — no. " usually composed cadence now slightly offbeat. " no. i haven't. "

' she's not telling the truth. '

" i think we may be getting a little far afield here. " forces an airy laugh before continuation: " but i will say — i've had a very normal, very human social life at different points. nothing i'd consider out of the ordinary. "

' what about more than two ? '

darkened lashes blink once. twice. " no. "

' that's not consistent. '

petals uphold but thinner now. " again, i've had a normal dating life. i've had fun, i've been social like anyone else. but i'm also not going to sit here and dissect personal moments in a way that's .. performative. i think most people can relate to having experiences that are a little less scripted than others. " offers an affirmative nod. " next question. " but gears turn & middle stratton seldom one to hold back: " actually, i have a question for you. will you be asking your male victims these questions too ? or do i just get this pleasure because i'm a woman ? " in the corner, longtime family aide steps forward just enough. a quick shake of their head. stop. not a threat. a reminder. a signal. heiress catches it immediately & forces an innocent laugh. " just curious but please, let's continue. "

' everyone gets the same questions, ms. stratton, i have list here but yes, let's continue. what's the   weirdest  place   you've   kissed/hooked   up  with  someone ? '

cannot stifle groan but uses grin to disguise it as something jocular. " i'm noticing a theme here. i'm happy to be open and engaging but i do think there's a line between getting to know someone and focusing a little too narrowly on their personal life especially when that's not really what i'm here to speak about so respectfully i'll pass on that one but i do appreciate the creativity of the question. "

' got it. can you at least tell us who has  been  your  best  kiss  to  date ? '

optics dart to aide once more as spine straightens in chair. " alright. i think i've been more than open today. " lower limbs force figure to stand fluidly. " i appreciate your time and i do hope the rest of your sessions go well. "

' wait — before you go .. we were thinking of doing a rapid fire round. just a few more questions. it'll be quick. promise. '

" about ? "

' this or that. things you like. nothing too heavy. '

glances toward exit then back at the editor. " fine. rapid fire it is. "

' perfect. let's start. '

alright, for sure ... okay,  let's  jump  right  into  it. keeping on theme; what's the biggest lie you've ever told ?

brows  lift  a  little  at  the  question,  "  oh,  that's…  that's  a  big  one.  "  shoulders  hunching  slightly  while  she  thinks,  gaze  drifting  up  toward  the  ceiling  for  a  second.  "  um …  i  once  told  a  director, i'll never say who, that  i  had  read  a  book  he  was  adapting.  "  she  winces  faintly,  already  half - smiling  at  herself, trying to ignore the machine operator shaking their head.  "  like, i was  fully  committed  to  it.  said  i  loved  the  themes,  talked  about  the  characters,  the  whole  thing.  "  her  hands  lift  in  a  helpless  little  gesture.  "  i  absolutely  had  not  read  the  book.  at  all.  i  skimmed  the  wikipedia  page  in  the  bathroom  about  five  minutes  later  and  hoped  for  the  best.  "

looks like that might not be true. care to elaborate ?

"  right,  okay…  fair.  " tone  still  warm  despite  the  mild  fluster,  "  i  suppose  that  might  not  technically  qualify  as  the  biggest  one  i've  ever  told.  "  she  tilts  her  head  a  little,  clearly  choosing  her  words  carefully  now.  "  the  actual  biggest  one  is  probably…  something  i'd  prefer  to  keep  between  me  and  my  therapist.  "  the  corner  of  her  mouth  tugs  upward  in  a  self - aware  smile,  " but  that  one  felt  like  a  safe  runner - up  that  wouldn't  ruin  anyone's  day.  "  a  quick  glance  toward  the  operator  again,  brows  lifting  apologetically.  "  i  promise  i'm  not  trying  to  cheat  the  system.  just…  strategically  editing.  "

okay, let's pivot. what's the weirdest headline you've read about yourself ?

the  tension  from  the  previous  question  easing  a  bit  as  she  lets  out  a  soft  breath  through  her  nose.  "  oh  god.  there  are…  a  few  contenders.  "  an awkward  laugh  escapes  her  as  she  shifts  in  the  seat.  "  um…  one  of  them  said  i  was  secretly  preparing  to  go  into  competitive  fencing.  " she's  still  clearly  baffled  by  the  idea.  "  which,  to  be  clear,  came  from  a  single  photo  of  me  holding  a  prop  sword  on  a  film  set.  "  she  gestures  vaguely  with  one  hand,  like  she's  still  trying  to  understand  the  logic.  "  but  the  article  had  a  whole  theory.  training  schedules,  olympic  aspirations,  the  works.  —  honestly  i  almost  admired  the  level  of  imagination.  it  was…  very  thorough.  just,  wildly  incorrect.  " her answer is confirmed true as a shared laugh rings through the room.

speaking of, people have been speculating that you might not really be as into acting as you once were. so, straight from the source, logan, are you happy with your career ?

"  oh,  "  a  small  exhale  slips  out,  more  thoughtful  than  nervous  this  time.  she  tilts  her  head,  buying  herself  a  second  to  figure  out  how  honest  she's  willing  to  be.  "  um…  yes.  "  the  smile  that  follows  is  a  little  softer  than  the  ones  before.  "  i  mean,  acting  is  still  the  thing  i  love  the  most.  that  part  hasn’t  really  changed.  movies  are  my  world.  "  she  glances  off  to  the  side  for  a  moment,  choosing  her  words  deliberately.  "  i  think  sometimes  the  circus  around  it  gets…  louder  than  the  work  itself.  interviews,  press  cycles,  people  speculating  about  what  you're  thinking  or  feeling  on  any  given  day.  "  a  tiny  self - aware  smile  tugs  at  her  mouth  as  she  looks  back  toward  the  interviewer.  "  so  i  guess  the  answer  is  yes.  i'm  still  happy  with  the  job.  i'm  just…  occasionally  less  enthusiastic  about  the  rest  of  the  package  deal,  if  -  if  that  makes  sense.  "  indeterminate.  fuck.

anyways, ... as a queer icon in the acting world, i think the fans need to know. have you ever used raya, and if not — would you ?

the  phrase  queer  icon  clearly  catches  her  off  guard  before  she  lets  out  another  nervous  chuckle.  "  oh,  wow.  okay,  first  off,  i'm  no  icon,  "  she  says,  flustered but grateful.  "  but  no,  i've  never  used  raya.  "  her  nose  scrunches  faintly  as  if  she’s  trying  to  imagine  it.  "  i  actually  had  never  heard  of  it  until,  like  last  week.  "  a  shrug,  " i  think  i  prefer  meeting  people  in  real  life,  i  guess?  something  about  dating  apps  just  feels  too…  shallow,  y'know? "

that appears true. good for you. ending on a light note; what's your favorite place in new york city ?

shoulders  loosen  a  bit,  grateful  she  wasn't  asked  another  existential  question.  "  oh,  easy.  metrograph.  "  fingers  briefly  tapping  against  the  arm  of  the  chair  before  she  remembers  the  wires  again  and  stills  them.  "  it's  this  little  theater  on  the  lower  east  side  that  shows  a  lot  of  older  films  and  indie  ones  that  don't  really  play  anywhere  else.  it's  absolutely  lovely. "  big  brown  eyes  glance  hopefully  toward  the  operator  with  a  laugh.  "  i'm  guessing  that  one’s  safe ?  "

you bet. absolutely true. okay, interview's almost over. we're gonna do a quick rapid - fire this or that. ready ??

❝   great,  thank  you.  and  what  is  today’s  date?   ❞

❝   the  ides  of  march.   ❞

❝   uh .... okay.  i  guess  that  is  technically  true.  just  one  more:  what  is  the  name  of  the  gossip  column  currently  #trending  in  manhattan?   ❞

❝   robin  hood.   ❞

❝   not  a  man  of  many  words  are  you?  but  good  enough.  let’s  jump  right  into  it.   the fans want to know - do  you  have  a  secret  social  media  account?   ❞

❝   no.   ❞  he's  short  in  his  answer,  eyes  rolling  as  operater  shakes  their  head  with  an  'indeterminate'.  ❝   i  don't  have a secret  social  media,  exactly.  but  i  do  have  an  account  my  wife  made  me  just  to  send  me  things.   ❞  there's  no  argument  from  the  machine  this  time.

❝   do  you  care  what  the  public  thinks  of  you?   ❞

he  scoffs,  a  quick  ❝   no   ❞  spilling  out,  only  to  be  met  with  the  polygraph  calling  him  a  liar. he's  quiet  for  a  moment  as  he  considers  the  question  once  more,  considers  the  lie.  ❝   i  suppose.... i  do  hope  the  public  enjoy  my  work,  but... my  private  life  i  don't  care  what  they  think  of. it's  not  their  business.   ❞

❝   that's  a  pretty  valid  answer.  going  with  that  then,  have  you  ever  given  someone  a  fake  number?  maybe  to  keep  your  private  life  private?   ❞

❝   a  number  of  my  own  creation,  no.  but  my  assistant's  number,  or  some  other  pa's  instead  of  mine?  yes.  if  you  don't  already  have  my  number,  you  don't  need  it.   ❞

❝   you  really  cut  through  the  bullshit,  don't  you ?  alright,  well  that  leads  me  to  ask  have  you  ever  worked  with  someone  you  couldn’t  stand?   ❞

❝   the  film  industry  is  full  of  all  different  personalities.   ❞ the  operater  shrugs,  no  sign  of  deception  on  the  screen  in  the  half  answer,  but  does  not  ask  him  to  continue.

❝   that's  not  exactly  an  answer,  but  okay.  moving  on,  could  you  see  yourself  in  manhattan  for  the  rest  of  your  life?   ❞

❝   i  don't  think  so. but  we  have  enough  homes  across  the  world  that that  will  never  be  necessary.   ❞

❝   i  guess  that's  fair  enough.  just  one  last  series  of  questions  and  we're  done.  we'll  do  these  rapid  fire.  ready?  start !   ❞

do you have a secret social media account?

denial blooms and dies on her tongue, hyper-aware that any lie she's caught out in could end up blasted across tabloid headlines, spun out of control and exaggerated beyond belief—so she takes a breath.　shifts a little in her seat.　crosses her legs, and then crosses them the opposite way.　　"i don't know if it's secret, per se, but i have a private account, one that just my friends are following."

no chance of us getting that handle, then?　worth a shot.　alright, changing direction here a little bit: we've heard you're a mobile game connoisseur.　is it true?

"it's not untrue."　　aren't you meant to be a politician's daughter, arabella?　　"i like block blast, and royal match, and, uh ... homescapes."　　cheeks take on a reddish tint as operator confirms it, spying their up-turned thumb out of the corner of her eye, and wondering (yet again) why she agreed to this.

do you care what the public think of you?

"i try not to,"　　she volleys off immediately, only to be met with an obvious pocket of silence that's followed with a murmured we're picking up some deception here.　jesus, that's embarrassing.　　"it's difficult, of course.　my mom may be the elected official of the family, but we're all in the public eye, and it's important that we all hold ourselves to the same standards that she holds herself to."　　talk about a non-answer.　interviewer looks imploringly at her, and it's with a wearied sigh that arabella acquiesces further.　　"i care about what people think of me more than i would like to, the public especially."　　is it a little sad that she's striving to get a good grade on the vanity fair polygraph test?　maybe so, but she's trying not to think too long or hard on it.

do you wish that robin hood would pay more attention to you?

"god no."　　quick and precise, the little upper-body shudder she gives emphasising just how strongly she feels.　she's telling the truth, pipes up the deep voice off to the side, and arabella has to fight against the urge to smile.

okay, okay, moving onto a juicier field now.　have you ever slid into someone's dms?

she pretends to wrack her brain a little, acting as though she needs to think about it—she's done it more than once, in reality, but only when she was pretty certain that it would work in her favour.　it helps when your mom was the favoured mayoral candidate of most nyc celebs, after all.　　"yeah,　i have.　my last relationship came out of it, actually."

would that have been with a certain veteran theater actor and activist, by any chance?　yes?　do you prefer to keep your relationships private?

"ordinarily, i do."　　pointedly does she answer that one,　already envisioning the comments that are going to arise from her confirmation of a relationship that was no more than rumour before, but there's no doubt in denying it when she's hooked up to a polygraph.　　"i may be used to the scrutiny and attention, but not everybody that i date is."

have you ever worked with someone you couldn't stand?

quick, someone call the papers: it's the first time this whole interview that arabella has laughed!　　"that's basically a given in the hospitality industry."　　maybe it's to be expected, that she only perks up when line of questioning turns professional in nature.　　"i've been working since i was fifteen, so that's ample time to have worked with an asshole chef or two.　it's just the name of the game, really."

what are you currently working on?

"for the time being, i'm really just focusing on the restaurant.　i want to make sure it's stable and capable of running itself before i start working on anything else."　　it is the truth, and she is so affirmed (albeit vaguely), but it's not the whole truth.　it's too early in the negotiation process to even dream of mentioning six-part tv series brainchild, though, so any mention of a potential presenter role in the future goes unvoiced.

there's light at the end of the tunnel—we're almost finished, i promise!　could you see yourself in manhattan for the rest of your life?

she hems and haws for a moment, wondering what sentiment would be the best received by her mom's current staff and her future campaign staff; but when the voice of reason stirs from beside her (let's try that one again) she decides with a heave of a sigh that there is no point in trying to be coy or overtly diplomatic.　　"i like manhattan, and i think as long as my family are here i'll keep coming back to it.　but i spent a lot of my childhood in brooklyn, and there's something special about it.　it's more peaceful, i think.　and i'd like to live abroad for a time, properly.　paris, definitely, and maybe tripoli."

to finish up, we have a little rapid fire round of this or that.　sound good?　okay, let's go!