reaching for the stars

christabel summers. assistant at valence studios.

[austcre]

kassielles:

“ alright, ” she laughed, “ but you have to promise to tell me what you get. ” kass nodded to her suggestion and began walking towards the shop. she knew the location by heart, she visited it frequently when she began working in at valence. “ so, how was you day today? ” she queried, beginning some small talk.

“ pinky promise, ” christabel nodded with a smile. truth be told, she was now pretty curious as to what her results would be. she exhaled at kass’ question, a cross between a sigh and a laugh. “ busy, as always. things don’t seem to have calmed down yet. ” but then, it was the hecticness that was part of why it appealed to her. “ how was your’s? ”

[austcre]

bittvrness:

      he can feel the pulsating vibrations ,  echoing against his skin so DEAFENINGLY that he swears the music had somehow found its own way to the blood coursing through his system. the reverberating bass of the nightclub only seemed to fuel the smirk spreading across his expression  ;  the energy ,  the childlike excitement and vibe of the dark yet expansive venue only dadlingly in his body ,  remaining like the smell of sweat lingering after a marathon. he’s not thinking at all ,  and perhaps that’s why he finds closed knuckles knocking instructively against the door ,  surrounded by the scent of expensive liquor and cheap cigarettes.  ❛  little pig ,  little pig ,  let me come IN  !  ❜  he calls out loud ,  knowing very well that come morning he’ll surely forget about everything that he was saying at that exact moment ,  resting his body against the door before hearing the sound of it opening.

she really should start going to bed earlier, but she knew she couldn’t rest easy thinking about some of the work she had left. granted, they weren’t as urgent as working at this hour made them seem, but christabel like to be prepared. knocking at the door interrupts her, startles her. she wasn’t expecting anyone, especially at this hour. before she even reaches the door she recognizes that voice how can she not? the fact that he’s even here would probably mean he was intoxicated again. there really wasn’t any other situation that led to him turning up at her door. she takes a second to compose herself, exhales a breath. she’s long mastered the art of keeping her feelings from showing, most of the time, at least. “ did you just call me a pig? ” she says in a decidedly teasing tone as she swings the door open, not realizing he was leaning on it.

[austcre]

innervisicn:

*                CHRISTABEL SUMMERS  .               /               closed starter               !

          “   we could’ve gone out for dinner, but i have already taken off my bra and i swear there’s at least three or four photographers outside that swear yves is here with ari. i have unanimously decided that we’d just order in,   ”   were the words of the brunette, a bit muttered under her breath as her bare feet sprinted across the ice cold bedroom floor before her seat was taken on the mattrass of the bed. her toes were slipped beneath the duvet that had been previously shoved aside, shielding her bare legs slightly from the cold, before her hand had patted on the leftover space on the bed. it had been another one of those evenings where each others’ company felt natural, where they craved the ease of their conversations   —   in between the picked up pace of life ever since the start of filming for season two, and the ludicrous mess cindy had created for herself, it felt like a breather. her mind had always been restless, yet nowadays it sometimes felt impossible to escape. christabel’s company was something that raised her spirits, and perhaps were able to naturally, effortlessly, make the corners of her mouth twitch into something that resembled a smile. an action that usually proved to be more difficult.

          “   i’ll order us some food. anything you’re craving   ?   ”   delicate fingertips reached out to the side of the bed where her phone had been, swiping to the side to reveal a food delivery app.   “   maybe you can look up a movie on netflix we can watch. perhaps that one you like   —   breakfast at tiffany’s, the hot neighbour trope is growing on me, i have to admit. although do not tell anyone.   ”  @austcre.

at cindy’s apartment for a long overdue get together, she placed her bag on a chair before smiling at the other girl. “ don’t worry, I’m not exactly in the mood to brave the paparazzi either, ” she’s long learned not to show any outward signs of discomfort whenever someone mentions his name  — it’s a word that’s uttered pretty frequently at the studio, after all  — but she can’t help that slight pang in her heart whenever it reaches her ears. christabel made her way over to join cindy on the bed, her feet automatically seeking the warmth of the blanket. the past week had been especially hectic, and getting to unwind was a blessing. 

“ maybe it’s the weather, but I’m craving something spicy. is thai okay with you? ” she responds almost immediately, the craving having been there since late morning. settling back on the pillows, she picks up the remote and starts flicking through the options available on the site. “ what? what is this? have I converted someone to the masterpiece that is breakfast at tiffany’s? ” teasing cindy was a good start to clear the dark thoughts that had been beginning to invade her mind again.

[austcre]

mvgnanimcus:

         “i sure hope so, i do not believe this specific trend is very healthy for anyone,” aspen told christabel with a shake of her head before smiling back at the other female. “yeah and it is better they want it to remain a secret, i know that if i had any clue on those secret locations i might have not been able to keep it a secret for long,” the actress informed her as a chuckle followed her words. “anyways, other than making cookies what else are you planning today ?”

“well, no one has died yet so I guess it isn’t a very big concern,” she shrugged, only half joking. “we have to keep some element of surprise for the fans, right? and don’t worry, excitement about your job is honestly a good thing. leaks? not so much.” christabel grinned, a little teasing in her tone. “not much,” she shook her head. “ I’ve been wanting to catch the new thriller that’s been showing, though. how about you?”

[austcre]

mcndacious:

❞ i’ll learn to cherish it.” he laughs softly, simply shaking his head at her. ❞ i haven’t had sushi in quite some time, too long if you ask me. ❞ he glances over her shoulder at her phone, examining some of the names brought up. ❞ honestly, not really. i just go wherever is most convenient. you’re free to choose, if you’d like. ❞

she nods in satisfaction, before returning her attention to the list on her phone. a quick scan of the basic information and reviews, and she’s made her choice. she selected it and held it up for his approval. “this one? four stars on yelp and it’s about a five minute walk, unless you prefer to drive.” 

[austcre]

dcrelict:

jesse polished his apple on his shirt and took a bite, remembering that he himself needed to sneak in an extra work out if he wanted a helping for lunch. “hey, it’s worth it. there’s nothing else like this. sometimes i take the leftovers home,” he turned to face christabel, a pitiful expression spread across his features. “i can’t actually cook, so it’s easy to pop in the microwave,” his eyes had followed her hands, observing her every gesture with scrutiny. the way she quickly corrected herself, it was quite strange. he’d never say anything, no, but he did manage to give her a skeptical look. jesse wasn’t one to pry, but he could be incredibly observant. “oh come on. what do you want? a pay raise?” he retorted, sinking his teeth in the apple once more.

“I think you might have a problem, too much of a good thing is bad, you know?” sure, the food was good, but she couldn’t bring herself to overindulge in it. variety was the spice of life, they said, although if she actually thought about it she was the one who had more set routines in her daily life. “are you trying to gain sympathy points?” she laughed at the expression on his face. “it’s a basic life skill, jesse. I can’t believe you.” the smile was still on her face as she shook her head. “takeaway and/or eating out all the time isn’t very healthy. you know what? I’ll bring you homemade stuff sometime, and if we’re ever free how about some rudimentary cooking lessons?” it really was a healthier option, as you could control how much oil or salt etc that you put into the food, and it was a lot cheaper than eating out. she’d learned that quickly enough the year she’d had to transfer. “oh, you caught me. I totally need that.” she deadpanned, raising an eyebrow. “how about it, boss?”

[austcre]

mvgnanimcus:

        aspen smiled amusingly as christabel waved her hands in denial in front of her, biting down her bottom lip to contain the smile whilst nodding at christabel’s explantion. “oh, good, i was worried because it doesn’t taste nearly as good as when you accomplish making your own dough. but i do not think it’s good to sale unbaked cookie dough and just– eat it like that, i don’t thinks it’s healthy,” aspen replied, a concerned frown on her face at the end. “oh, good, i’m glad i am not keeping you from anything important,” she told the other female, “aw, but i am part of the cast, why can’t i know ? although– maybe it’s better if i don’t know, you’re right.”

christabel nodded in agreement to aspen’s opinion. she particularly remembered an instance where one of her mother’s friends had attempted to pass off store bought cookies as homemade ones. one bite in and the difference was obvious. “it’s probably one of those trends that would die down after a while,” she shrugged. trends seemed to come and go more quickly these days. one moment it was unicorn food, the next charcoal ice cream. she sent a reassuring smile aspen’s way, but rolled her eyes playfully. “I agree. all I do is take orders from the higher ups with no questions, unless I see a more efficient way.”

[austcre]

kassielles:

she sent the quiz to charli with a simple movement of her thumb, “ sent! you should definitely take it now so i know what you get. ” kass had a feeling charli would get the same result as herself. “ honestly, that’ll probably get picked up, ” she confirmed with a solid nod, “ i’m pretty sure his fans are wild enough to watch every episode. ” kass hummed, contemplating on whether or not she wanted pizza or classic ramen. “ how about a ramen place? it’s a little chilly out. ”

a ‘ding’ confirmed that the link had been received. “shouldn’t the food be our priority, though?” even thinking about onions was enough for her stomach to remind her it was time to heat. “I’ll take it later, maybe after we order.” she reassured the other girl. the countenance fans really were on another level, she thought at her next words. even she, a part of the crew, was being followed by thousands of them. “that sounds great! shall we go to the one a few blocks down?”

[austcre]

mcndacious:

❝ of course, no room for error. ❞ he smiles. ❝ oh – am i going to be making all the decisions tonight ?? ❞ he can’t help but tease. of course, he didn’t mind. ❝ i’m in the mood for raw, i think but i’m sure we can find a place that offers all options. ❞ he had a tendency to prefer choices that could satisfy both parties.

“maybe. you should enjoy it while it lasts, you know how much I hate to give up control.” she smirked in return.  “raw it is then! I’m kind of craving sushi, but most of those places have tempura as well.” she was already pulling up a few restaurants in their vicinity on her phone. “do you have a go-to? if not we could try out a new place.”

[austcre]

dvceptives:

     she purses her lips  ,  chuckling a little.  her  diet  is specially designed for both her modelling career  &  acting career  ,  a  pattern that she’s followed for years with the odd small treat in between.  ❛  i can’t  EAT  much oily or fatty things  ;  my dietitian would kill me.  ❜  not that her eating habits have anything to do with her diet  ;  however they are helpful.  being a vegetarian runs much deeper than that  ,  something that she’s  developed  over the years after aspiring to be like her parents.  ❛  oh  ?  perfect.  i think there’s a script i need to pick up  ,  anyway.  apparently one of the scenes was  edited  last minute.  ❜  not that it’s much of an issue  —  being an actress means that her memory needs to be impeccable.  ❛  we could give it a  try  ,  yeah.  ❜

“times like these are exactly why I’m glad I never got a job in front of a camera.” not that she had ever wanted one. following directions or giving them was her forte. expressing emotions? not so much. “hmm? the rewrites seem to have been increasing the past week,” she noted as they reached the door of the writers’ room. “great, I’m starving. should I call a car or are you okay with walking?” 

[austcre]

mvgnanimcus:

           “oh no ! you can’t just buy prepared cookie dough though, it takes out the fun out of baking. you have to make it yourself, maybe you just need a friend to watch over and make sure you don’t eat the raw cookie dough.” she informed the female, trying not to sound too outraged at the thought of anyone skipping steps or not making anything on their own the correct way. “oh good, that’s exciting ! and i am so glad i am not pulling you away from your work, i’d hate to inturrept you in any way. can you hint me about locations ?”

“oh, no no.” christabel holds out her hands in front of her, shaking them in denial ( she’s not exactly sure why she chooses such a gesture ) “I meant they sell it for people to eat. like, right there. buying cookie dough to bake is practically sacrilegious.” bought stuff never seemed to taste as good as when they were homemade, not that she had done either recently. “don’t worry,” she laughed. “if you were I’d probably have excused myself already. but as for hints, well, sorry, but I have to make sure my job stays intact, and that means no leaks.”

[austcre]

mcndacious:

❝ i would never. ❞ he can’t help but grin. such an absurd statement. ❝ well, one can never be too sure. ❞ his shoulders lift into a small shrug. friendship, to him, seemed like such an odd concept. he always expected ulterior motives from people. ❝ hm, i suppose sea food would be nice. ❞

“mhmmm ...” she hums in a way that not quite signifies agreement. “ah, that’s right. one of life’s mottos: check, double check and triple check. and in that vein, what sort or seafood did you have in mind? fried, grilled, steamed, raw?” la had quite a big variety of choice in restaurants, and those specializing in seafood were no exception.

[austcre]

mvgnanimcus:

             “oh that is a wonderful way to spend your day, baking and tasting what ever you are making,” aspen responded, a giant grin on her face as she picked up a cookie for herself. “exactly, it keeps you busy and you don’t have to focus on the bad stuff happening in the world, you have something to distract you can focus only on the good. oh, don’t you worry, i have a while, at least half an hour or so. i just hope i’m not keeping you for your job.”

“I do remember ingesting a fair bit of unbaked cookie dough the last time I tried that though, and someone told me it was dangerous but there’s apparently a shop that specializes in selling it now?” it was apparently the in thing now, but she usually wasn’t one to buy into the trends. she nodded in agreement, although she wasn’t sure about the ‘happening in the world’ part of that statement. she was having enough trouble with the problems in her own life to be able to devote much time to those. “oh, don’t worry,” smiling to reassure the other girl. “I’m still kind of working. I’m waiting for confirmation to use some outside locations so I can slot it into the schedules.”

[austcre]

dvceptives:

     thinking over christabel’s offer  ,  adriana  BOBS  her head into a nod.  she hasn’t eaten since breakfast  &  between filming  &  various fittings  ,  she hasn’t had the  time.  ❛  sure  ,  did you have some place in  mind  ?  preferably somewhere that serves vegetarian options because some places tend to forget that we exist.  ❜  she reaches for her bag  ,  MORE  than ready to get out  &  go somewhere else..  don’t give her  wrong  ,  she loves her job but sometimes it can get hard to  breathe.  turning to the female with a raised eyebrow.  ❛  are you  ready  to go or do you need to pick anything up  ?  ❜

hearing an answer for the affirmative, christabel shoots a message letting the staff know she’s taking her lunch break before glancing back up. “not exactly, I was aiming for something less oily? I finished two jumbo bars of chocolate this morning and I’m pretty sure my skin’s going to hate me.” her love of sweet things would most definitely have resulted in an outcropping of pimples if not for her current skincare routine. “I’ve gotta swing by the writers’ room for my purse, but we’ll be good to go after that,” she responded. “we could go to that new poke bowl place? they have vegetarian stuff on the menu there.”

[austcre]

mcndacious:

❝ nothing urgent, i promise. ❞ he reassures her with a soft smile. even nick, a workaholic, knew when it was time to finally take a break. he rarely ever did, anyways. besides, he actually found a sense of peace being around the other. she somehow lessened his constant stress. ❝ hm, sounds a good plan. ❞ he nods his head in agreement. “i would love to keep you company, if you don’t mind.”

“that had better not be a lie, nico.”  she joked, quirking an eyebrow. either way, now that he’d agreed she wouldn’t be allowing any takebacks. “why thank you, and no I definitely don’t mind. I asked, remember?” he was one of the best company to have to work next to, she’d found in past months. “any particular food you’re craving?”

[austcre]

mvgnanimcus:

             “oh, thank you ! i am so glad that you like it, i’ll for sure give you the recipe but the secret is– you gotta add a bit more cocoa powder than you are supposed to and to just relax and power your love to it,” she responded, a grateful smile on her face as pink colored her cheeks at the compliment about her cookies. “oh i get that, you might be tired because you work hard but you also know that by working hard you earn great things and aren’t wasting your time, right ? at least that’s what it’s like for me.”

delicious cookies were a blessing for christabel’s sweet tooth, and she couldn’t help smiling. “well I guess I know what my plans are after work now.” she hadn’t attempted baking since moving to la, and it suddenly occurred to her that she didn’t even know if her oven worked. “yes! you get me! it also helps to have something to focus on throughout the day. speaking of which, when is your next scene? I don’t want to keep  you too long.”

[austcre]

bittvrness:

      he knows he should go ,  watching the pain in her usually delicate expressions ,  soft toned voice suddenly turned into anger. he knows he should go ,  she’d always been a weakness to him and surely ,  he’d fall back into the never ending cycle with her. her words however ,  are met with a dark chuckle ,  over toned with manic if he’s honest though he himself isn’t particularly sure if it was genuine or whether a FACADE to conceal the pain across his chest.  ❛  you know what  ? no.  ❜  tensed jawline as his eyes remain focused on her ,  expression to extreme pain he’d been carrying for what felt like eternity ,  ❛  … no i WILL phrase it however i like ,  and you shouldn’t feel hurt just because it doesn’t fit into your selfish narrative. you’re selfish ,  you know  ?  perhaps that’s why ,  you’ll actually try to twist this into something that only you’re able to feel pain about ,  you think that you’re the only one who loved him ,  but that’s not true. you knew what i wanted ,  and you ultimately chose against it and you can’t try to diminish it in any way. you don’t get to twist this ,  ‘bel ,  not anymore.   ❜

it rubs her the wrong way, that word. selfish. as if she hadn’t been looking out for the best interests of everyone involved. selfish? to be selfish would be to let herself buy into the fantasy of a family with him, to let him continue treating her like a princess and pretend that he loved her. to throw caution to the wind and not bother that they could all end up for the worse if she let that happen. they probably wouldn’t have even talked after that night if it weren’t for the baby, for crying out loud. “selfish. of course you would think that.” murmured words mostly to herself. she had let him, after all. it would have been easier to let him blame it on her. for as much as she hated the idea of him hating her, she’d still want what was best for him. “I’m well aware of how much you said you loved him. you think the arguments we have are that easy to forget?” the chain feels as though it will leave permanent imprints in her palm, she tries to tell herself to relax it but right now it feels like a lifeline that’s stopping her from snapping. it doesn’t work. flashes of her childhood, her father’s journals.“oh, what you wanted. maybe at that point. but would happen if you decide that’s not what you wanted anymore? resentment, neglect, hate?” this is what stops her in her tracks. she’s already said too much, she’s never meant to tell him anything close to this, and she turns away. she refuses to cry in front of him.