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31_days2011-01-10 11:50 pm
swollenfoot.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2011-01-10 11:50 pm
[Jan 10][Skip Beat] I.C.E.
Title: I.C.E.
Day / Theme: January 10 / sadder than a train standing in the rain
Series: Skip Beat
Characters: Ren, Yashiro, OC
Rating: G
Word Count: 975
“As usual, Tsuruga-san, you more than live up to your reputation as the consummate professional.”
Ren smiled in response, merely satisfied to complete another assignment. It wasn’t so long ago, after all, when he was the one scraping after projects. Things were easier now, not in the sense that he had to put any less effort in his performances, but because he had more control over the pacing. His manager would be quick to point out that it didn’t mean the workhouse actor was getting the right amount of sleep or food in between, however.
“You’re only good enough in that arena, Ren,” Yashiro said, leveling him a baleful look. “When it comes to taking care of your body, you are me-di-o-cre.”
“Aw, he one of those people, you know?” drawled their lunch companion, the shoot’s photographer, who was renowned for both his eccentricity and his unique eye for drawing out emotions from his subjects in near-miasmic proportions. “He has a super-efficient body that compensates for whatever abuse he heaps on it.”
“That’s not true,” Ren protested mildly. “Good health is essential in an actor—”
“Like a grand tourer needing constant tinkering, I know,” his manger said darkly, still upset over the back-to-back flights and all-nighter the actor had pulled to fit three photo shoots, a couple of interviews, on top of his Dark Moon commitment and a pre-production meeting for an upcoming movie. “I ought to call Mogami-san; surely she’ll whip you to shape.”
Yashiro couldn’t, though. He had run out of latex gloves trying to locate his ward after the flight from Tokyo was delayed a good four hours. Ren had used the time to snatch some sleep, after another read through of a script he had been asked to consider. His manager was beside himself, and even though Ren had apologized several times, wasn’t feeling very forgiving at the moment.
“By Mogami, you’re referring to the kid playing that scarred girl in that drama remake, right? Your co-star?”
“Oh?” Yashiro was instantly all ears. “Ren talked to you about her, Hiram-san? Yes, yes, Mogami Kyoko plays Hongo Mio in Dark Moon.”
“Now, now, Yashiro-san. You should know Ren isn’t the type to kiss and tell,” the androgynous photographer said, picking at his bowl of ambrosia. “The House of Givenchy wants to release a series inspired by---who else?---Audrey Hepburn. The idea is hinting on more accessibility to the general audience without sacrificing that je ne sais quoi. So, we’re using young newcomers that I can coax out of their shells.”
The usually serious Yashiro, as he often became once Mogami Kyoko became part of the conversation, was giddy with excitement. “I can definitely see Kyoko-chan channeling Audrey Hepburn.” He snapped his fingers as his imagination ran with the concept. “White socks against a black body suit! That fierce red dress! The aquamarine blue of the silk cloak! Anna Karenina!”
“A fan, I see,” Hiram murmured. He really was a different creature when holding the camera, Ren thought, not for the first time. It was hard to imagine the same man, contorted and stalking like a predator in a jungle of photographic equipment, hissing, ‘Yes, yes, that’s it. Look at me!’ He was almost normal during the entire time they had been eating. “The president of your company, Tsuruga-san, volunteered his pet project. The Love Me group, was it? It’s a very interesting concept, an interesting parallel to the Jo Stockton character of the movie.”
“I’m sure it would be a worthy challenge to you, Hiram-san,” was all Ren said, ever the amiable neutral.
“How about giving Hiram-san some hints, Ren?” Yashiro said, implacable in his desire to squeeze all information about Ren and his unclear feelings on his kohai. “Share some of your insights on Kyoko.”
One thin blue eyebrow shot to a mauve hairline. “I wouldn’t consider a little background info cheating, Tsuruga-san,” the colorful photographer conceded. “We’re thinking of using her for that iconic train scene, updated of course. Trade the fog for icy rain. An heiress-turned-office lady boarding the shinkasen, torn between warring interests: stilted ambition, a dead-beat boyfriend, unresolved mother-daughter complex, perfection and reality… What do you think? Won’t that be the saddest thing?”
Ren cleared his throat, only realizing that he did so when he heard himself. “Ah,” he said, almost as if he was floundering on his words. But see, Tsuruga Ren did not flounder. “Ah. It might be safest to stay with the stifled heiress storyline.”
Yashiro looked at him oddly, not quite able to pinpoint what was wrong with Ren’s suggestion. Kyoko’s portrayal of the Mio as a tainted princess of sorts was magnificent, of course, but Ren… Never mind saying something that seemed to package the younger girl into a certain stereotype, the fact that Ren even said something relating to her that was not non-committal was very strange indeed.
If Hiram noticed Yashiro’s sudden silence, he did not say so. “Hmm…” he mused. “Actually, that might be more interesting for the other girl, the child actress, breaking out of an intangible cage. I think for Mogami Kyoko I want to explore that pedestrian pain of disillusioned love and the demands of a modern woman in the Japanese workforce, a quiet despair and a hidden, agonizing loneliness.”
“That is quite an interesting concept, Hiram-san,” Ren replied his usual smile. “I’m looking forward to the finished products.”
As Hiram became more engrossed with his imaginings, the actor turned his attention to his phone, studying his schedule for tomorrow. He could probably squeeze out 20 minutes between each of his engagements if need be…
Yashiro continued to look at his charge with undisguised suspicion. Ren had a lot of practice against such silent attacks and graciously continued to ignore him, only asking if his manager had brought the extra batteries he had requested.
-01102011 23:43
AN:// Not at all what I had in mind upon seeing the prompt. My immediate thought was, “Funny Face!” and Audrey Hepburn’s injured expression as Fred Astaire’s character barrels on for that shoot’s theme, (“Wet your lips.”) and Kyoko having to channel that of parting lovers. I imagine she’ll go up in flames, thinking about her Shotaro, but then again, at this point… maybe not? See, I’m not sure of how Kyoko will act if given such a role, so I didn’t dare write it. If anybody wants to do so, I’d love to read it. . .
Sorry, Ren. I had to butcher your character instead.
Day / Theme: January 10 / sadder than a train standing in the rain
Series: Skip Beat
Characters: Ren, Yashiro, OC
Rating: G
Word Count: 975
“As usual, Tsuruga-san, you more than live up to your reputation as the consummate professional.”
Ren smiled in response, merely satisfied to complete another assignment. It wasn’t so long ago, after all, when he was the one scraping after projects. Things were easier now, not in the sense that he had to put any less effort in his performances, but because he had more control over the pacing. His manager would be quick to point out that it didn’t mean the workhouse actor was getting the right amount of sleep or food in between, however.
“You’re only good enough in that arena, Ren,” Yashiro said, leveling him a baleful look. “When it comes to taking care of your body, you are me-di-o-cre.”
“Aw, he one of those people, you know?” drawled their lunch companion, the shoot’s photographer, who was renowned for both his eccentricity and his unique eye for drawing out emotions from his subjects in near-miasmic proportions. “He has a super-efficient body that compensates for whatever abuse he heaps on it.”
“That’s not true,” Ren protested mildly. “Good health is essential in an actor—”
“Like a grand tourer needing constant tinkering, I know,” his manger said darkly, still upset over the back-to-back flights and all-nighter the actor had pulled to fit three photo shoots, a couple of interviews, on top of his Dark Moon commitment and a pre-production meeting for an upcoming movie. “I ought to call Mogami-san; surely she’ll whip you to shape.”
Yashiro couldn’t, though. He had run out of latex gloves trying to locate his ward after the flight from Tokyo was delayed a good four hours. Ren had used the time to snatch some sleep, after another read through of a script he had been asked to consider. His manager was beside himself, and even though Ren had apologized several times, wasn’t feeling very forgiving at the moment.
“By Mogami, you’re referring to the kid playing that scarred girl in that drama remake, right? Your co-star?”
“Oh?” Yashiro was instantly all ears. “Ren talked to you about her, Hiram-san? Yes, yes, Mogami Kyoko plays Hongo Mio in Dark Moon.”
“Now, now, Yashiro-san. You should know Ren isn’t the type to kiss and tell,” the androgynous photographer said, picking at his bowl of ambrosia. “The House of Givenchy wants to release a series inspired by---who else?---Audrey Hepburn. The idea is hinting on more accessibility to the general audience without sacrificing that je ne sais quoi. So, we’re using young newcomers that I can coax out of their shells.”
The usually serious Yashiro, as he often became once Mogami Kyoko became part of the conversation, was giddy with excitement. “I can definitely see Kyoko-chan channeling Audrey Hepburn.” He snapped his fingers as his imagination ran with the concept. “White socks against a black body suit! That fierce red dress! The aquamarine blue of the silk cloak! Anna Karenina!”
“A fan, I see,” Hiram murmured. He really was a different creature when holding the camera, Ren thought, not for the first time. It was hard to imagine the same man, contorted and stalking like a predator in a jungle of photographic equipment, hissing, ‘Yes, yes, that’s it. Look at me!’ He was almost normal during the entire time they had been eating. “The president of your company, Tsuruga-san, volunteered his pet project. The Love Me group, was it? It’s a very interesting concept, an interesting parallel to the Jo Stockton character of the movie.”
“I’m sure it would be a worthy challenge to you, Hiram-san,” was all Ren said, ever the amiable neutral.
“How about giving Hiram-san some hints, Ren?” Yashiro said, implacable in his desire to squeeze all information about Ren and his unclear feelings on his kohai. “Share some of your insights on Kyoko.”
One thin blue eyebrow shot to a mauve hairline. “I wouldn’t consider a little background info cheating, Tsuruga-san,” the colorful photographer conceded. “We’re thinking of using her for that iconic train scene, updated of course. Trade the fog for icy rain. An heiress-turned-office lady boarding the shinkasen, torn between warring interests: stilted ambition, a dead-beat boyfriend, unresolved mother-daughter complex, perfection and reality… What do you think? Won’t that be the saddest thing?”
Ren cleared his throat, only realizing that he did so when he heard himself. “Ah,” he said, almost as if he was floundering on his words. But see, Tsuruga Ren did not flounder. “Ah. It might be safest to stay with the stifled heiress storyline.”
Yashiro looked at him oddly, not quite able to pinpoint what was wrong with Ren’s suggestion. Kyoko’s portrayal of the Mio as a tainted princess of sorts was magnificent, of course, but Ren… Never mind saying something that seemed to package the younger girl into a certain stereotype, the fact that Ren even said something relating to her that was not non-committal was very strange indeed.
If Hiram noticed Yashiro’s sudden silence, he did not say so. “Hmm…” he mused. “Actually, that might be more interesting for the other girl, the child actress, breaking out of an intangible cage. I think for Mogami Kyoko I want to explore that pedestrian pain of disillusioned love and the demands of a modern woman in the Japanese workforce, a quiet despair and a hidden, agonizing loneliness.”
“That is quite an interesting concept, Hiram-san,” Ren replied his usual smile. “I’m looking forward to the finished products.”
As Hiram became more engrossed with his imaginings, the actor turned his attention to his phone, studying his schedule for tomorrow. He could probably squeeze out 20 minutes between each of his engagements if need be…
Yashiro continued to look at his charge with undisguised suspicion. Ren had a lot of practice against such silent attacks and graciously continued to ignore him, only asking if his manager had brought the extra batteries he had requested.
-01102011 23:43
AN:// Not at all what I had in mind upon seeing the prompt. My immediate thought was, “Funny Face!” and Audrey Hepburn’s injured expression as Fred Astaire’s character barrels on for that shoot’s theme, (“Wet your lips.”) and Kyoko having to channel that of parting lovers. I imagine she’ll go up in flames, thinking about her Shotaro, but then again, at this point… maybe not? See, I’m not sure of how Kyoko will act if given such a role, so I didn’t dare write it. If anybody wants to do so, I’d love to read it. . .
Sorry, Ren. I had to butcher your character instead.