truthfully, malika is a little bit out of it. it could be the proximity of the very obviously handsome, charming man standing next to her or just the fact that the evening is approaching that moment in time where all she wants is to be back home, wrapped up in fluffy blankets while sipping on some chamomile tea; or maybe a mix of both. " i wouldn't really know, i didn't know her personally... " she adds after a few seconds of silence, it had been a career goal to work with her, that's for sure but... other than that she knew as little as the general media. " hmmm, maybe NOT mentioning her death would be a good thing. focusing on her achievements, the usual. "
isaac is always surprised to hear when people didn't know kathy . he doesn't know why . maybe because he knew her quite well , saw her almost every week , that he can't consider the notion of NOT KNOWING HER . he blinks , looks over at the woman , in the well-fitted , beautiful dress . everyone looks spectacular at these events , but there's some people you meet and see that remind you how HOLLYWOOD works . you either have it , or you don't . and the woman before isaac definitely has it . " why does everyone think i'm gonna mention that she's dead ? " he asks , flatly , before a small shadow of a laugh escapes him . " i hardly enter a courtroom and say : ' your honour , i know my client's guilty , but is it really so bad ? ' " sarcasm , bad jokes . . . it's the closest sign to nerves that isaac will get . he doesn't feel right being the one to talk about kathy . while he liked her , their relationship was transactional . he helped her , she paid him to do it . he exhales , tugs at his tie , which suddenly feels like it's choking him . " these events drive me insane , and the cameras aren't even pointing at me . i don't know how the rest of you do it . "
private starter for cindy henley { h1deaways }
kathy mendez’s charity gala
“tell your mother to stop leaving threatening voicemails.” is the first thing mateos says when he greets his ex step daughter with a hug. a hug that says he’s still active in her life despite all signs pointing to the fact that he didn’t give a damn about her. “i’ve already told her i’d help you get your foot through the door in the acting industry. does she want me to get my lawyer involved?” this was how his ex wife and mateos always communicated, putting the responsibility all on cindy. letting her play telephone with their words. it was probably an awful situation for a young adult to navigate. that didn’t bother him or her mother. mateos composes himself as the photographers surround them. the media loved a good daughter, father duo. he puts his hand on cindy’s shoulder, smile. flash. smile again. flash. smile one last time. flash. he’s done his part of a doting father now.
“let’s excuse ourselves and grab a bite to eat.” he’s shooing off the paparazzi before cindy can even respond and guiding her to his table. on the way there—he’s pointing out the most influential directors, producers, and casting agents he wants to introduce her to when the time is right. believe it or not, mateos does stick to his words. when there’s a lunatic behind the scenes. threatening to expose his facade if he doesn’t make cindy a leading lady. “we’ll have the mediterranean salad for two, light dressing and no feta.” mateos insists to a waiter, snatching a couple glasses of champagne from the flute they’re parading as they leave. one for him, one for cindy. he pulls out a chair for her with a smile that says he definitely doesn’t want to be anywhere else. “have you been going to acting your classes, cindy? i can only help you so much, you know.” he indulges in a taste of the champagne and gets comfortable in his chair, “with your mother threatening to take me down if you don’t succeed, i’d hate to see you go down with me.”
the iciness of mateo's voice never fails to surprise cindy . it's almost on par with the way her mother's voice can cut through even the loudest environments . there are certain voices that demand to be heard . cindy goes into autopilot mode , because she always does . because it's what she's good at . she smiles big , despite mateo's words , and reaches in for a hug after they've posed dutifully . holds it . two . three . four . she can smell his expensive cologne . that's enough time . she pulls away , then puts her hands on mateo's shoulders , as if admiring him in his suit . SHE KNOWS CAMERAS WILL CAPTURE IT . the perfect candid photo of communication between the beaming step daughter and adoring step father . the two that can never be torn apart despite the messy breakup between him and her mother .
she doesn't get a chance to speak , not that cindy really says much anyways . the proverbial cat got her tongue , but it's more than that. what's bigger than a cat ? a bear ? a lion ? whatever it is , she blinks and the moment for replying is gone . TELL YOUR MOTHER . . . well you can tell that snake , mateo . . . she can hear her mother's voice bounce back in retaliation . she smiles , reflexively , as mateo orders for both of them , then sits on the extended chair . at the mention of acting classes , cindy tries not to let her smile falter . " i've been going to them . " she says , voice unsure . the last class she went to , the coach yelled at her for not feeling enough . she left it in tears and said she'd never return . " i don't think it's the right class for me . " cindy says instead . she watches as he sips the champagne , her own untouched. " what if you didn't help me ? " cindy asks , suddenly , hopeful . " i could talk to my mum , and we could just let it go . " it's a useless attempt . nothing will ever stop her mother . she's like a dog with a bone . what's worse than a dog with a bone . . . ? " i appreciate all you've done for me. " a lie . " but i'm hardly going to be the next . . you. "
alike a downpour on a warm summer's day , evie melted into it . she probably shouldn't and she knew nothing better of it , if truth was to be on the line . at the end of the day , falling into the known comfort isaac bestowed upon her was the easiest thing she would do . a smile , to mimick what was given - kind and almost like a hand extended in connection to be warped into their faded bond . “ just . . . don't make a fool of yourself ” without harm and attached around a clipped giggle . something that came to her so effortlessly . especially when around the man only a reach away . “ I'm kidding , I'm kidding . don't look at me like that . you'll do fine . strike that , amazing . absolute show stopper ” gestures that went along with her words flew by . “ no , really . I mean it , I know you got this down to a t "
isaac isn't a nervous public speaker - it's basically his entire job sometimes . he's not unaccustomed to microphones and being asked ' how do you think this will turn out , mr jones ? ' HE KNOWS THE ANSWERS TO GIVE . but there's a specific calmness that evie's presence demands . she feels like a radiator , humming , on a cool night . the sound of early birds cooing from trees . there is something so familiar and homely about her that isaac smiles , a quiet laugh leaving him on par with her giggle . high pitched meets low bass . " i'm not looking at you like nothing , woman . " isaac teases and shakes his head , grinning , as if pulling himself out of a trance . " ah . great advice . i should ask you more often before i do trials . don't make a fool of myself . maybe i should change the M&E tagline to that . " isaac sneaks a glance at her , quick , willing his eyes not to linger. " thanks , ev . " he chews his bottom lip for a moment . " you enjoying yourself tonight ? " he pauses . dares to say it , under the guise of professionalism . " you look beautiful . i guess that's hardly new , though . "
☆ 𝗘𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗘 𝗡𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗜𝗥 𝗘𝗬𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗧 𝗛𝗜𝗠, not necessarily out of anything — trying to read him? even she's not entirely sure. but his confidence is so unwavering that she doesn't know if it's real. fake it or make it, right? “ i don't know. i barely knew her, ” effie answers with a shrug. “ she was alive, and now she's not. boohoo. don't leave before doling out a few benjis, have fun. ” they offer monotonously. “ that any good? ”
" yeah . perfect . " isaac says , the ghost of a grin threatening to snap up the corners of his mouth . " maybe we should get you working at funeral services and stuff , effie . you're really good . super compassionate and empathetic . " one of his eyebrows lurches up , as if questioning their intense response about it . " y'know , you didn't have to attend this if you didn't want to . right ? "
daphne looks just beyond isaac’s shoulder, her eyes unfocused as they skim across the scene behind him, not quite taking in the polished floors or the glimmering chandeliers overhead. her gaze is distant, the kind that comes when you’re trying to see past the world. “ just don’t make it some weird eulogy thing. ” she shifts, just enough to break whatever trance she was in, her fingers brushing the material of her dress as she tilts her head slightly. “ you’ll do her a disservice if you talk ʻbout how she was cut down before her time or whatever. ”
" why would i make it a eulogy ? " isaac comments aloud , bemused by the very notion . " damn . do i give off cheesy vibes or something ? " he asks , hands sliding over his suit , as if being able to physically feel out for any cliches he may be holding about himself. " mentioning being cut down doesn't seem in good faith , either . " his eyes wash over daphne , brow furrowing . " you good ? "
" stella asked me to speak at this . " isaac mentions aloud , as if talking to himself . he smoothes his hands over his perfectly ironed 3- piece suit . his hands don't shake , nor tremble . instead , he stares right ahead , as if ready to talk to the press outside a court room . " y'know . . say a few things about kathy . " he doesn't know why he mentions this . there's no reason or rhyme . instead , he flashes a quick smile . there it is . charm , grace , warmth . TRUST EXUDES OFF HIM . " got anything special i should add before i go up there ? " and potentially make an idiot of myself , isaac silently adds .
santos' charm didn't come from subtlety . it didn't even come from effort . the most charming thing about him , it seemed , was being unapologetically oblivious to a point that it became endearing . a feat that found him without trying as he stood in the buffet line amongst caviar coated dishes , truffle pasta names that felt like cotton in his and a variety of wines that had been fermenting for longer than he'd been alive , asking if maybe ( just maybe ) they had some doritos . he walked away with a pity pack of fritos ( plain ) in one palm and a champagne glass in the other . his worn leather jacket contrasting against deep purple button down and dress pants made him recognizable through the crowd he walked through . taking an empty seat beside the face he's sure he's scene in a magazine somewhere , he holds out his small bag of fritos in an offering . “ the only real food i could find , so we'll have to ration . ” he sighed . “ i now know what morrissey felt when he wrote heaven knows i'm miserable now . ” he took one sip of his champagne and let the bubbly liquid spill right back into the glass, setting it down and pushing it away . “ don't drink that by the way . ”
cindy is glad to see santos in a way that she can't quite describe . she always flounders by herself , but there's a security , safety , and warmth from santos that draws her in . she knows it's something to dissect , but instead she wraps her arm around his , linking the pair together . cindy wrinkles her nose at the frito's offered , already hearing the way her mother , agent and everyone else would cuss her out for such a snack . " they smell like dog paws apparently . " she hums out , then shakes her head , in decline . she watches santos , as she always does , as if for instruction . when he raises her glass , she goes to do the same , but immediately stops . " why not ? " cindy asks , perturbed . confused . her eyes watch the bubbles fizz and pop at the surface . " i thought you , of all people , would have something snuck in , you know . "
mateos politely waves and nods as various photographers approach him. waving them off with a charm he’s mastered over the years the moment he enters the dining area. dressed in a navy blue suit & loafers—specially designed for him by karl lagerfeld, he feels on top of the world. albeit, the gloomy atmosphere after the loss of kathy mendez. mateos couldn’t care less about that though. a charity gala was his favorite kind of event, he loved the silent auctions that occurred and any kind of donation certainly boosted his image. no amount of deaths would tamper with his night. afterall, mateos had played his part already. offering his condolences to stella mendez, he’d given her his best impression of a sad puppy and deemed himself officially off the hook for the night. “waiter!” he taps the shoulder of the person he’s assumed is simply just a worker at the gala, “could you be a doll and show me my sea- oh! you’re not a waiter. you should really learn how to differentiate yourself from the help.” a mischievous smile dances across his face, a hint of judgement laced throughout his tone, “wouldn’t want to see you getting stuck on bus boy duty.”
despite his best wishes , isaac couldn't NOT attend this event . from the shadows , lurking ( as he does best ) he watches the big hollywood elite shine smiles and wave their hellos . isaac looks at his custom manufactured watch and counts down the minutes until he can leave. he's never been good at these type of events . THE AGGRESSIVE TAPPING ON HIS SHOULDER CAN ONLY BELONG TO ONE PERSON . isaac hates that he can recognise the man by touch alone . he turns and eyes mateo up and down . unfortunately , mateo looks well dressed and spectacular as he always does . it doesn't make disliking him very easy . although when he speaks , isaac doubts it - him - yet again . he can never quite understand the man . morgan adored mateo , for reasons isaac can never quite grasp . but for reasons important enough to never fracture the relationship . " not the help . " he agrees , smoothly , eyes flicking around them , hoping nobody's heard such a dismal comment . " i could have almost fooled you for a waiter myself . everyone seems dressed to the nines tonight . " isaac covers , quick and fast , like the politician he was potentially born to be . " i appreciate your concern , mateo . i know i started as assistant to morgan , but i thought we were well past that now . " i need you as much as you need me , he silently adds , his jaw gritting , imperceptible . " funny . . . kathy never mentioned you . " isaac adds , belatedly . it's a harmless enough comment , but they both know the weight that lies between it .
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗔 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗕𝗔𝗕𝗬 ! introducing . . . cindy henley . a study in : mummy issues, people pleasing , child fame , pruning and preening , beauty , aging , performing , growing rhubarbs ( “ forcing ” ) .
age: 26
gender: cis female
pronouns : she / her
sexuality : says she's bisexual but likely lesbian
relationship status : tbd but a prolific PR dater
education level : dropped out of high school
family : diana henley nee smith ( mother , alive ) , kurt henley ( father , ?? ) . no siblings or other immediate family .
people may say she's similar to : lucy gray baird ( hunger games ), jackie taylor ( yellowjackets ) , pearl douglas ( pearl ) , marianne sheridan ( normal people )
current job : a model . trying to be : an actress .
known as : the malleable . the meek . the mild tempered . the pushover . the eager to please .
reputation : used to be good when she was just known as a model , but bad now that she's trying her hand at being an actress .
love language : words of affirmation
likes : braiding people's hair , walking the catwalk or red carpet , cutting her own hair , inky pens and parchment paper , hard covered novels , a large array of pillows and cushions , matching silver and gold jewellery , running on the treadmill , the way people knock on doors , going to the cinemas , jazz bars , those conversations you have with someone right before you both fall asleep .
dislikes : red flavoured lollies , greasy burgers , being touched without permission or prior consent , interviews and most interviewers , bad photographs / photography , the feeling of being rushed , being spoken over , dry lips and dry hands , flavoured water and sparkling water
star sign : taurus
moment when she knew she ' made it ' : walking in the victoria secret fashion show of '93
favourite food : breakfast savoury food
favourite holiday : new years
favourite colour : purple mauve or deep red like red carpets
favourite item : her dad's vintage button up shirt from the 50s
𝙰𝙱𝙾𝚄𝚃 .
i . cindy has been in the spotlight since she's been a child . she's been the face of your favourite cereal . the girl in advertisements telling you to eat your daily fibre . the baby who crawled over baby toilet paper and perfectly said ' goo goo gaa gaa ' .
ii . if you know cindy , then it's verrryyy likely you know her mum-ager , diana . and you've likely been yelled at by her , cussed out by her , begged for attention by her , shrieked at to ' just her one more chance ! ' or vaguely stalked by her . diana has never stopped at anything to ensure that cindy will be a star .
iii . cindy found success in modelling . she started as a child , but kept a steady incline in her career . men , especially , loved her . she found a home in their opinions of her . her and diana would always be fed , relevant , and popular , if the men of the world loved cindy henley .
iv . while you may have heard and seen diana stomping around sets , hissing at people - cindy is the meek one who lingers behind and avoids eye contact . when people got a chance with cindy by herself , they realised pretty quickly that she was a bit pathetic . she had nothing to say , no real social cues , and she was always looking over her shoulder , paranoid her mother may appear and tell her off for doing the wrong things . women especially were often seen as her enemy and competition .
v . as cindy grew older , she began to be more comfortable with hollywood , bright lights , herself , modelling . she got more comfortable saying no . although she very rarely exercises that right . she's still very scared of doing the wrong thing by anyone , but its now helped her in the in-verse in which she can make friends in the industry because she's very eager to please . she'll say yes to the party , if she's invited . she'll have a drink with you . yes yes yes , she'll say it all day . please like me , is what she's begging for .
vi . in her early 20s especially , cindy soared in modelling . she was the face of many campaigns , ads , high fashion brands . she walked the red carpet , she glowed during modelling shoots . she found herself , but more than that : she was good at her job . and she enjoyed it .
vii . according to diana , cindy is getting old . she's 26 , has peaked in her modelling career , and now both diana and cindy are terrified that her career will fall to the wayside and she'll become . . shock . . horror . . . IRRELEVANT ! this can not happen . ever .
viii . it's diana who said that cindy is moving away from modelling and into acting . and the backlash was immediate . she went from being the darling model , to the spoiled brat . her fans were outraged by this decision . they thought she was betraying them , and getting too big for her boots . what model thinks she could possibly act ?
ix . cindy didn't get a say in the career change , just as she never really gets a say in anything . but secretly . . she's terrified . she is not confident in her acting skills . she doesn't know her way around a film set . she's terrified people can see her as a fraud , just a pretty face . she's scared she's going to let down everyone and sink any project she lands . she knows other people feel the same .
x . cindy hops onto any pr campaign she can . she is not good at interviews because she's never quite perfected them . she can smile in front of a camera and offer a smile , but without exact coaching . . she flounders uselessly in any situation . so any pr = good pr . this means she's dated the darling boy band member . she's kissed her cute co - star . she's held hands with the It Boy of the minute . but in all honesty . . . cindy very rarely feels anything for these men . she insists she's bisexual , but she knows deep down that that isn't correct . cindy loves women . a lot . she loves being with them . she loves admiring them . she loves everything about them . she's dated a few women , secretly , and it's been a rush . it's been the only few times she's truly felt like herself .
𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗣 𝗜𝗡 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗜'𝗠 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗗 . introducing . . . isaac jones . a study in : ambiguous morality , unwavering loyalty , family first , karma , chekhovs gun , flying close to the sun .
age: 32
gender: cis male
pronouns : he / him
sexuality : heterosexual
relationship status : single
education level : double bachelor with honors majoring in entertainment law and criminology
family : marsha jones nee duvall ( mother , alive ) , kwame jones ( father , deceased ) . two younger siblings , tbd .
people may say he's similar to : matt murdock ( daredevil ), tom wambsgans ( succession ) , sam wilson ( captain america ) , don draper ( mad men ) , haymtich abernathy ( the hunger games ) .
current job : entertainment lawyer
known as : the gun. the cut throat . the dependable . the trustworthy .
reputation : ehhh . good because he's good at his job but it's a begrudging positive rep .
love language : quality time .
likes : ice baths , whiskey , people knowing his name before he knows theirs , the feeling before you enter court or a negotiation you know you're going to win , winning , warm lighting , his family , ma and pop shops , basketball courts , sense of community , sandy beaches , sunrises , cassette tapes and vinyl records .
dislikes : overly cocky people , selfishness , corruption , writing emails and sending faxes , liars , people who can't communicate well , bicyclists , bitten fingernails .
star sign : aries
moment when he knew he ' made it ' : taking the top floor office of M&E's agency , after his predecessor , morgan ( of morgan & ernest aka M&E fame ) , passed away .
favourite food : seafood broil
favourite holiday : thanksgiving
favourite colour : forrest green
favourite item : a polaroid of his family in his wallet .
𝙰𝙱𝙾𝚄𝚃 .
i . as the eldest sibling in a family of a single working mum , isaac has always taken on the role with pride . he's their protector , their big brother , the one they can depend on for anything . isaac's father , kwame , died when isaac was 14 due to some faulty equipment at work . it left his mother , marsha , as the sole income earner for a few years . however they did receive somewhat of a decent chunk of money, as payout for his death .
ii . as soon as isaac was old enough , he went to work . he helped his mum around the house , he babysat his siblings , he got them to school , he helped them study for their tests . isaac was well known around his neighbourhood and community . he was helpful . he was the kind of guy who'd help you carry our groceries from your car , or change your flat tyre . he never complained .
iii . things took a slight change when isaac entered university . he was a smart kid , but he had no idea what he wanted to do , and he knew university was a luxury he couldn't afford to mess with . his mother insisted he attend , and with the help of some scholarship money and what was left of his dad's payout . . isaac was able to attend . by boredom and chance he stumbled into the lecture hall where one morgan dujour was talking about his work in entertainment law and what a sustainable workforce it was . it piqued isaac's interest , and isaac piqued morgan's interest .
iv . morgan showed isaac a world he had never seen before . isaac didn't grow up dirt poor , but he wasn't a man of luxury . morgan had his own driver , his own butler . he was known around town in a different way that isaac was : he was revered and respected . he could afford to give money to the single mums . he held hands with the Father's of churches , laughed with business men over thousand dollar dinners . he showed isaac what his future could look like .
v . under morgan's guidance , isaac soared at entertainment law and criminology . maybe it was because isaac was the only other black student in the class that morgan was struck with him and saw him akin to a son . . . whatever it was , it didn't matter . morgan saw isaac as his own flesh and blood . isaac's mother , marsha , watched from the sideline , quietly unhappy with the arrangement , but never speaking on it .
vi . isaac quickly worked his way through morgan's business M&E ( morgan & ernest entertainment law firm ) . morgan kept him in suits , taught him to tie a tie , and connected him to the mayor of any town within close distance . in return he asked only one thing of isaac : to be good at his job , to keep their reputation afloat as the no 1 trusted lawyers for the entertainment industry . isaac swore he would .
vii . morgan himself did not have the greatest reputation . people equally feared and revered him . there were stories of him dangling people out of sky high balconies , refusing to release them until they signed documents . there were rumours of him bribing the police force news reporters and paparazzi to look the other way . there were talks that if you had a problem with someone , and enough money , M&E could make that problem go away . forever . isaac saw firsthand that none of these were rumours . they were all true . and it was isaac's legacy to carry on .
viii . morgan passed away a few years ago of liver failure . he left a large chunk of M&E to isaac , to nobody's surprise . his funeral was star-studded . it shocked people to have such an important man of the town suddenly die . isaac grieved quietly and politely , then went straight back to work , just as morgan would have wanted him to .
ix . isaac is a top performing lawyer . he's less good at the managing of things and has an assistant for almost everything . he hates admin work . he likes the nitty gritty stuff . he likes something meaty he can put his hands on . the dirtier it is , the better .
x . isaac's morals are a sliding scale . he will do anything to protect his clients . he'll do it all with a smile on his face . he will threaten people . he will hit them with 1000 cease and desist's . he will say you had ' an accident ' . he is rich with power , money and influence . there are not many people in town who do not know isaac's name . to work with him is a quiet luxury in itself , because he will take care of anything for you , if you can afford it . his morals very rarely come with a price tag .
xi . despite his ambiguous actions to get shit done and protect those around him , isaac believes in giving back to the community . he donates to charities regularly . holds galas and balls to provide money back to single mums or school kids of lower socio-economic backgrounds . he always has enough money for his mum , and his siblings . he very rarely says no . he loves being able to provide for his people .