@jcsher
While Anais was certainly an adult now - there could be no disputing that - the ability to make choices for herself - to make her own decisions - was still held firmly by her father. As her parent, her agent and her manager - everything needed to be run past him first.
And in some ways - hyperbolic as it might sound - it almost felt like the stars had aligned to allow her to be here. A post-movie-premiere-party was not exactly his scene and whereas the year before, he almost certainly would have refused to let her go alone - following the collapse caused by ‘exhaustion’ he was allowing her some limited freedom - a chance to have some fun, to blow off some steam. A little more carrot, a little less stick.
And the fact that the party was being held at the directors home didn’t hurt.
She can perceptibly feel whatever he’d given her to keep her sparkle going under the cameras starting to wear off (which is almost comforting - sitting still during the movie had been torturous) but the glass of champagne she’s snagged without his watchful eye to disapprove and the simple freedom of not being around him (even if, of course, she isn’t totally free range right now) is keeping her bubbly enough.
Winding her way through the people, careful to avoid one of her co-stars who had clearly had more than one glass of champagne and was currently holding court to a small crowd and would likely only impede her were she spotted - she headed upstairs - seeking the bathroom, emerging not long after.
It’s not exactly eerily quiet - the noise of the party is rising easily to fill the space above it - but the hallway, as she heads back does seem oddly empty - like everyone has grouped downstairs together for safety and she, a lone wanderer, is likely to get picked off by some wild beast, separated from the herd.