eden had been inside long enough to remind herself why she hated these kinds of gatherings—too much forced small talk, too many industry types pretending they weren’t secretly ranking each other in their heads. it wasn’t that she hated people, per se, but after an hour of conversations about who’s attached to what project and who’s gunning for an oscar this season, she needed air.
so when she slipped onto the balcony, heels clicking lightly against the stone, she wasn’t expecting company. but there he was—che, the architect of tonight’s chaos—leaning against the railing, cigarette between his fingers, looking every bit like a man who’d built the storm and then needed a moment away from it.
her lips twitched slightly at his greeting, her own gaze flicking to the city sprawled out below them, the skyline a beautiful, glittering lie. “it’s alright,” she murmured, taking a slow sip from her glass. “i mean, i’ve seen better, but i guess i’m just spoiled.”
the tease was light, easy, the kind of thing she said when she didn’t feel like diving into anything too deep just yet. she leaned against the railing, resting her elbows on the cool metal. “needed a break from the madness too?” she asked, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. “not that i don’t love a room full of slightly drunk actors pretending to be best friends, but sometimes you just gotta step outside before someone starts crying about method acting.”
she tilted her head slightly. “or, i don’t know, maybe you’re out here because you actually enjoy the view. in which case, sorry for crashing your little brooding leading man moment.”
“bragging ain't much of a virtue, darlin’,” che murmered with an exhale of smoke, the hint of a grin curling at the corners of brims. “my granddaddy used to say that the louder somebody talks, the less they’ve got to show for it.” he was certain that didn't apply to eden, but fuck it, he's never been the one to hold back his words.
his eyes cut back to the skyline, filter dangling loose between his fingers. then when she made her crack about actors and method tears, the laugh that followed was quick and genuine, slipping out before he had the chance to smother it. “hell,” he said, shaking his head. “you’re funny - i’ll give you that.”
he tapped ash over the balcony’s edge, watching it scatter before turning his back to the city, looking over at the other. “ain’t crashin’ anything, sweetheart. i reckon some company’s better than sitting out here pretending i’m contemplative or some shit… you’ll make me look less weird.”
eden smirked, taking another slow sip from her glass, letting the warmth of the wine settle as she watched che through half-lidded eyes. bragging ain’t much of a virtue, darlin’. the way he said it, all slow-drawled and effortless, made her bite back a laugh.
“oh, don’t worry,” she murmured, swirling the wine in her glass, letting the deep red catch the light. “i only brag when i’ve got something worth bragging about.” a tease, but the confidence in her voice wasn’t feigned. she’d earned that much. besides, she didn’t talk loud—she just let the world do the talking for her.
she glanced back toward the skyline, the city stretching out like some grand, glittering illusion. his laugh had come quick, unfiltered, and that was interesting. hollywood was full of people who curated every reaction, who measured their laughs, their words, their selves—but that little crack in the cool exterior? she caught it.
“funny and good company? damn, i’m really stacking up the virtues tonight,” she mused, shifting her weight against the railing, jacket slipping slightly off one shoulder.
she tilted her head toward him, eyes flicking over his face, reading him the way she read scripts—looking for the subtext, the unsaid. “but hey, if you wanna lean into the whole brooding director thing, i won’t stop you. could make for a good look. real tortured genius vibes.” she grinned, sharp and easy. “but yeah, i’ll stick around. hate to leave you out here, all contemplative and mysterious by yourself.”
she raised her glass slightly, as if toasting to his misfortune. “guess you’re stuck with me now, cowboy.” she gestured to the cigarette he was smoking. “got another one of those?”
