cooper adjusted the earpiece, fingers brushing it like he might tune the noise out along with the voices coming through it. he should’ve walked and left it alone and gone back to his post. instead, he circled back to her, settling into place with his hands folded neatly in front of him — posture clean, composed, the picture of something official. “ma’am,” he greeted, tone clipped and proper. “just doin’ a standard sweep. makin’ sure everyone’s where they’re meant to be.”
a half-smile tugged at his mouth, brief and almost apologetic as his eyes flicked to the drink in her hand, then back to her face. he reached up, muting his earpiece with a practiced tap. “i really shouldn’t,” he admitted, voice dropping a notch, less guard dog and more man for a second. his hand slipped into the inner breast pocket of his jacket, pulling out a pen and a small, slightly bent notepad — nothing fancy, just something he kept on him.
“but—” he huffed, almost embarrassed now, “my sister’s a fan. loves your movies.” he held it out, pen already uncapped, gaze steady but softer than before. “mind signin’ somethin’ for her?”
theo is no stranger to security systems, human or technology. like with most things, human is always better and not just because she trusts a living, breathing thing to protect faster than a computer. even after her fame really blossomed, theo was always striking up conversations with bodyguards and security details, pulling them into conversations when they should have been doing their jobs. she didn't grow up in hollywood like a lot of her counterparts, so maybe it was just her always craving some sense of normality, a connection to people that weren't blinded by daily glitz and glamour. she feels that familiar tug now, perceiving some form of kindness behind the professionalism.
"weddings must be a lot of work for you. i get it, emotions tend to run high at these things," she muses, referencing her own emotions as much as those closer to the bride and groom. "and i don't mean to question the expert here, but shouldn't you be a little more worried about the bathrooms and bedrooms upstairs than this little corner? i'd bet quite an affair could be had if somebody wanted to sneak away. not that i'm implying anyone here capable of such scandal." she grins, ignoring his attempt to focus on the job even before the notebook comes out.
she looks down at the pen and pad, lifts the glass back to her lips, studying him over the rim for a few seconds. "i'll make you a deal," she says at last. "you take a little break to keep me company, and your sister gets my autograph. deal?" and then, because she can't help herself, "even pose for a selfie if you're up for it."
⋆ 𓂃 𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 people doesn't ordinarily strike anyone as a trait that elias embodies , but this much social interaction would drive just about any extrovert to the point of madness . finding a space to breathe became a hassle in and of itself - enough that he's allowed himself this one last conversation before he says his polite goodbyes .
“ sounds like you're living your own personal hell here , too , ” he sighs , leaning against the balcony . an invitation accepted , but not quite sure how friendly . “ got anyone grilling you about marriage ? ” doesn't realize the weight his question brings , brushing it off as sarcasm .
theo realizes she has little reason to complain, surrounded by beautiful people (some of them even talented too) in a beautiful house, but if life has taught her anything, it's that beauty rarely lasts. wishing the newly betrothed couple happiness is one thing. believing it could actually happen? another entirely. the actress mulls over those thoughts longer than the question asked, eyes refocusing as she comes back to the present, the moment with this person in front of her now. "not yet, but the night is young," she replies, aiming for a joke herself. "let's just say i've tried on a wedding dress or two," or fourteen. "what has you feeling hellish about tonight?"
when: the reception
where: magnolia noire
with: currently open
hiding in a corner is theodora gable, a truly uncharacteristic sight. the corner is actually a spot in front of glass french doors that open out onto a balcony, but she stays tucked inside for now, staring at the little bit of spanish moss she can see on the exterior from here. expression is more forlorn than even she realizes, but the movie star is too busy reminiscing on a different time in her life. several different times. if any of her failed engagements had succeeded, a wedding like this could have been hers. catches a glimpse of what looks like someone turning to flee and cuts her gaze to them, speaking up to stop them. "hey, don't go running off just because of me. i'm not usually this damn melodramatic at weddings," she fibs about the last bit. theo is nothing if not melodramatic sometimes. "i wouldn't mind the company if you don't mind staying, promise."
the champagne is warm. she doesn’t stop drinking it. she leans against the table like it’s the only thing holding her up, glass loose in her hand, thumb dragging slowly along the stem. her gaze moves without urgency, passing over faces, catching on nothing. she feels it, though. the looking. “ if you’re going to stare, ” she sighs, “ at least be honest about it. ” a sip. her eyes lift just enough to meet someone’s, detached, void. “ or pick something else. ”
"sorry," comes the response, and it sounds as genuine as he means it. he doesn't, not even a little bit. ro has been to at least a dozen weddings similar to this one. a southern castle, a southern hill, a southern man gaining access to a love he does not deserve through legalities of one kind or the other. the familiarity of it all would have him staring at still flies on a solid white wall. at least she's more engaging on the eyes. "i was just admiring how thrilled you look to be here," he comments, offering a smile to see if she will at least return it.
⎯⎯ feels like this is the first time today she's found herself at a standstill in all sense of the word . to the naked eye , she looks pristine , not a wrinkle on her dress or a hair out of place despite the fact that today has bore such a harsh weight on her shoulders . everything had to be perfect , the silverware , the linens , each menu item thoughtfully curated to reflect the kind of indisputable prestige the quill name carried ⸺ an unmistakable image she had been entrusted to uphold on one of their most special of days . " sorry , i'll be back in just a second . . . i was just stepping out for some air , " assumes the steps behind her are those of one of her staff , whom she'd asked to bring any issues to her attention discreetly , and to take care of them just the same . tightness in her chest just barely loosens its grip when she turns to find that the person behind her wasn't the bearer of bad news she'd been awaiting ever since she woke this morning . " oh , thank god . . . " relief in her voice is audible , shoulders dropping just as features soften . " i think by the end of the tonight i'll have sprouted enough grey hairs to qualify for an early bird special at the diner , " teases , though sure her mirror will show it's rooted in truth . " did you just come from inside ? do the happy couple seem . . . happy ? " ( accepting )
though not a fan of the groom himself, roshan's parents are enmeshed in the same social circle as silas quill, particularly his father, anthony daniels, a bastard in his own right. something different about this party is the bride. for a while, forever visited his parents' house more than ro ever did. to clean it, obviously. no one that understated would go the daniels property on anything but business. then again, nobody expected the understated forever lockhart to marry richie rich himself. but more important than any of that? ro never misses a chance to drink and be merry.
roshan laughs at the question. "happy with each other? shit, i'll bet the old guy is plenty happy. he's punchin' up, isn't he? as for the new and improved mrs. quill, i wouldn't call that happiness. more like security." he makes no effort to hide the amusement he finds in all of this. the alcohol he's consumed definitely helps. never having to question his own security, that helps more. "why don't you take a break? a real one. put your feet up, have a drink. you'd be surprised what a little bit of whiskey can do for the stress." this isn't advice he would ever give for his own professional life, but things are always different in briar bend, where he can pretend not to fight for perfection on the ice.
spotted drifting through briar bend lately is theodora “theo” gable, the forty two year old virgo. they're kind of the type that tends to linger a little too long in conversations at the magnolia room. if you ask around town, someone will tell you they always order their french 75, wear their cartier baignoire watch, and carry themselves like the regretful romantic — though whether that confidence is earned or carefully rehearsed depends entirely on who you ask. their friends insist they’re more devoted than intense, but critics around briar bend have a different story, usually involving opening her door to lost causes. of course, in a town where family names are older than most of the buildings and everyone knows exactly which gates lead to which estate, people tend to keep their secrets tucked away where no one can find them. unfortunately for theodora, the whispers circling their name lately seem to suggest she has a reputation for starting fights on set and can't seem to book a new role — and when the thorn starts circling, it usually means those whispers are about to get a lot louder.
basics:
full name: theodora grace gable
nicknames: theo
gender: cis woman
pronouns: she/her
sexuality: bisexual
aesthetics: a candle burning at both ends, torn love letters, a balcony overlooking city lights, empty rooms and an empty bed, roses wilting in a vase, crushed velvet slipping through your fingertips, smudged eyeliner at midnight, cameras flashing, the bottom of a silk dress grazing bare feet, hands always grasping for more
age: 42
date of birth: august 30
zodiac sign: virgo
residence: a three - story house on the edge of town, custom built for her
occupation: film actress
appearance:
faceclaim: madchen amick
height: 5'7
eyes: blue
hair: naturally brown, dyed black
piercings: multiple piercings in each earlobe, a single helix in her right ear, a small gold hoop in the nostril she only wears sometimes
tattoos: a constellation tattoo on her inner wrist, a crescent moon tucked behind her left ear and often hidden by her hair, the faded initial of an ex-lover on her ring finger
other distinguishing features: a lean and wiry frame, expressive eyes that almost always look on the verge of tears, a distinguishably husky voice
personality:
traits: passionate, devoted, charismatic, volatile under stress, introspective, defensive
character inspo: daisy buchanan (the great gatsby), betty draper (mad men), elise elliot (the first wives club), deborah vance (hacks), nina sayers (black swan), holly golightly (breakfast at tiffany's)
mental health: anxiety disorder
physical health: chronic migraines
fears: abandonment, heights, being blacklisted in the industry, negative public perception, her own intensity driving others away
hobbies: antiquing, practicing accents and dialects, watching old films, swimming, jogging
quirks: has a different perfume to mark different "eras" of life, memorizes lines for scene partners, collects old postcards, sleeps with the television or radio on
pet peeves: dishonesty, unprofessionalism, being left without explanation, repetition, lazy writing in scripts, interruptions when she's upset about something
family:
mother: patricia gable, deceased
father: adam gable, deceased
siblings: none
faves:
ice cream flavour: pistachio
time of the day / night: early morning
weather: sweater weather
breakfast food: black coffee
dinner food: sushi
colors: yellow
songs: liability by lorde, the night we met by lord huron, wuthering heights by kate bush, it's not right but it's okay by whitney houston, somebody else by the 1975
more info:
theo is originally from santa barbara, california. the only child of two artists, she began acting at a young age and eventually rose to prominence in the early 2000s, labeled an "it" girl in hollywood with several big roles to support that fact — think julia roberts, winona ryder, or michelle pfeiffer in their respective primes. passion for the projects made her a compelling actress while simultaneously highlighting her own tendency for theatrics. critics were quick to point out her striking features and magnetism on the big screen, and she gained a reputation for being brilliant but "difficult" at times, often struggling to hide her emotional turbulence on set.
her intensity is even more noticeable in personal relationships. throughout her career, theo was in numerous high profile relationships and had no less than three failed engagements before ever hitting her forties. some of these relationships included co-stars, which led to many blind items and tmz articles speculating about the extent of how damaging said relationships were on the sets of her projects. her most infamous breakup was also the most recent: a whirlwind romance with the director on her last project that ended very publicly in a restaurant in hollywood after theo accused him of cheating on her. it made the cover of every tabloid magazine and became quite the scandal itself, pushing theo out of california for the first time in her life.
as a means to escape the chaos created by her own questionable choices, she moved to briar bend a little over two years ago, into a custom built home. rumors continue to circulate about her personal and professional life, and every hollywood blogger makes weekly inquests about when theo gable will make her return.
wanted connections:
the one that got away: a romance that occurred early on in theo's career, the one that would have actually worked had life or careers not gotten in the way, or maybe something else. open to different interpretations of this but would need to be someone who also lived in or at least frequented california around that time.
the new addiction: a push-pull, cat and mouse dynamic, deeply drawn to each other but repeating the same cycle theo has experienced in her other relationships with passionate, almost addictive fights followed by reconciliation.
fan turned friend: pretty self explanatory! more than one muse could fill this.
the friend that brought her here: during the height of theo's problems in hollywood, this person convinced her that briar bend could provide a calmer environment. whether or not that was accurate remains to be seen...
her mirror: someone with similar intensity and volatility to theo, they understand each other but trigger each other easily, likely a sore spot or difficult relationship because seeing yourself in another isn't always good for the psyche.
a friendship she betrayed: theo means well but undoubtedly has let her moral compass get in the way of following boundaries.
the annoying neighbor: she swooped in and built her own house in briar bend, so i think it would be funny if she had a neighbor who was super pissed off about her doing that. they could have petty little moments and fights.
a quiet love: chaotic love is the only thing theo has really known until this person came along and softened things for her. this could be a platonic soulmate or a friends to lovers situation, depending on what we settle on.
other ideas: friends, one night stands, flings, people who want her out of briar bend, found family, other people she knows from her time in hollywood.
spotted drifting through briar bend lately is roshan daniels, the twenty nine year old capricorn. they're kind of the type that tends to linger a little too long in conversations at the old quarry. if you ask around town, someone will tell you they always order their iced americano, wear their old leather jacket with the broken zipper, and carry themselves like the facade — though whether that confidence is earned or carefully rehearsed depends entirely on who you ask. friends insist they’re more easygoing than stoic, but critics around briar bend have a different story, usually involving ignoring calls as much as he does his own promises. of course, in a town where family names are older than most of the buildings and everyone knows exactly which gates lead to which estate, people tend to keep their secrets tucked away where no one can find them. unfortunately for ro, the whispers circling their name lately seem to suggest he found out his father was having an affair and used it as leverage to stop his parents from disinheriting him — and when the thorn starts circling, it usually means those whispers are about to get a lot louder.
basics:
full name: roshan anthony daniels
nicknames: ro
gender: cis man
pronouns: he/him
sexuality: pansexual
aesthetics: bruised knuckles, a torn jersey long discarded, unread messages, something starting to decay, smiling with blood in your mouth, controlled chaos, being trapped in an unlocked cage, a neon exit sign flickering, absence disguised as mercy, a chandelier missing its crystal
age: 29
date of birth: january 1
zodiac sign: capricorn
residence: a newly renovated condo owned by his parents
occupation: professional hockey player for the seattle kraken
appearance:
faceclaim: josh heuston
height: 5'11
eyes: green
hair: curly, dark brown
piercings: single piercing in his left ear
tattoos: a small family crest on his shoulder blade (ironic, considering his feelings toward family)
other distinguishing features: a sharp jawline, piercing eyes, an athletic build, calloused hands from years of playing hockey
character inspo: dean winchester (supernatural), roy kent (ted lasso), eric northman (true blood), blair waldorf (gossip girl), logan huntzberger (gossip girl), gregory eddie (abbott elementary)
mental health: nothing diagnosed
physical health: no diagnoses
fears: natural disasters, commitments, lack of autonomy, emotional vulnerability with people he doesn't know very well
hobbies: hockey, traveling, cooking for close friends, fishing, currently learning to play the guitar
quirks: tapping objects when nervous (pens, hockey stick, etc), writes down his thoughts and mistakes from games in a notebook
pet peeves: being micromanaged, small talk, people who compare him to his parents or make assumptions about him because of his family's wealth
family:
mother: amaya daniels, alive, strained
father: anthony daniels, alive, strained
siblings: two younger sisters
faves:
ice cream flavour: dark chocolate
time of the day / night: late night
weather: warm with clear skies
breakfast food: poached eggs on toast
dinner food: burgers and a lot of onion rings
colors: navy
songs: dreams by fleetwood mac, the less i know the better by tame impala, american pie by don mclean, pale blue eyes by the velvet underground, one of these nights by eagles
more info:
the daniels family is one of the oldest and most prominent in briar bend, namely because roshan's great grandfather had huge successes in real estate when other community members were just struggling to get by. their wealth is built on a foundation of fraud, but that's something a well-known secret now. roshan's father, anthony, has only continued to build on that success, the family name attached to most businesses in nearby towns, and a few in briar bend.
roshan's parents have an exceptionally tumultuous relationship, and it has been that way for as long as he can remember. both are guilty of things like manipulation and infidelity, often forcing their own children to bear witness to the dysfunction. despite that chaos, they did provide the best of the best for roshan and his sisters, at least in terms of monetary value. his parents had expectations that roshan would take on the family business of real estate, or go on to college for something "worthy" of the family name, like medicine or law. they were always adamantly opposed to his interest in sports, and when roshan signed on as an official player in the national hockey league six years ago, they went without speaking to him for almost a full year. despite often complaining about his parents, roshan is a classic example of resenting his family's wealth while continuing to benefit from it.
he has a complicated relationship with personal connection and often fails to follow through on casual commitments. his independence sometimes reads as detachment, and the stoicism he shows the world hides very deep emotions. he struggles with feeling comfortable enough to be vulnerable, but when he allows himself to care about others, he cares deeply and is very loyal in the right circumstances.
wanted connections:
an old flame: high school or college sweetheart that thought they would be getting married, but roshan chose his career in the nhl instead, possibly blindsiding them. it brings up a lot of nostalgia and unresolved feelings for both of them.
childhood best friends: could be 2-3 muses here, but these would be the friends that have stuck by him during his family's insanity and before roshan's own fame, likely the only people he really trusts.
the protégé: a younger athlete or someone just starting out in professional sports that roshan feels protective over, almost parental despite struggling with his own upbringing and what he had for role models growing up.
keeping him grounded: someone from a more modest background, a challenge to roshan's sense of entitlement that forces him to really look at the toxicity in his family. could start with friction and grow into something supportive. taken by: amara
the betrayal: while roshan considers himself a loyal person, he is definitely flawed and had poor role models. this was likely a betrayal that occurred in a friendship when he was younger and still constantly exposed to his parents.
secret crush: could be mutual, could be unrequited but picturing an attraction roshan has that is problematic for some reason... (maybe an ex of his friend or teammate?)
other ideas: high school friends, rivals, old teammates, current teammates, family friends, found family, exes, flings, hockey fans, etc.
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