OTA

[prince_of_nymphs]

 The hardest part was keeping the lies straight.

"I thought you were only having one of your eyes done?"

"I did, the other I had done abroad- It was a spur of the moment choice..."

"Your so pale now..."

"The medication, it doesn't sit well with me."

"You're so thin!"

"No appetite. It'll get better though, I'm sure."

He'd anticipated that though. He'd known he'd need to lie and fib left and right, until people just accepted he could see again- And that perhaps he was still a touch unwell. What he hadn't anticipated, however, was the resentment that many of his old friends seemed to  suddenly feel towards him. It was one thing when Fin was a rising star- But pitiable because of his disability. Now, however... Now he was already receiving television and film offers left and right, and that... That apparently upset a few people.

He'd been leaving one of his favourite coffee shops when he nearly walked right into Phil. A man he'd worked with many times in small productions. A good actor, but older- Perhaps past his prime in the eyes of many.

"Oh! Phil, how brilliant to see you," Fin had smiled, offering his hand, and looking puzzled when it wasn't taken.

"Brilliant is it?" Phil replied, raising a brow and ignoring the offered hand. "So posh sounding these days, Fin. I don't remember you being posh- Not when you were sleeping on the streets, begging for parts. ...Wouldn't know you were dragged up in Manchester with that posh voice you put on."

Fin's smile faded slightly, and he forced an uncomfortable laugh. "Bad habit, I suppose," he said awkwardly.

"Not a habit," Phil assured him. "Just as fake as the rest of you, that's all."

Fin's smile faded completely then, aware that people were staring now. "Right," he said awkwardly. "Well, I should... I should be off."

Phil smiled then, a vicious smile. "I suppose so. That casting couch wont get warmed without you. ...Catch something, have you?" he added, looking Fin over with a sneer. "Should be a bit more cautious, Fin. ...Or is it Finlay now?"

Fin didn't answer that, he simply turned away trying to hide the embarrassment he felt as he started walking and brushed off a young woman who tried to stop him for a selfie.

Comments

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I don't have one," the young actor said honestly. "Most people just call me Fin though. It's my agent who wants me to start using Finlay. He thinks it's a bit more professional."

[sunsongs]

"No reason you can't be both." Javi'd hated being called Javier, as a couple of agents had learned when dealing with him. But Coby wasn't thinking about Javi these days. "You sure you're all right, Fin?"

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I'm brilliant," Fin lied. "You mustn't read the papers. I'm the blind actor who can see again. I've made headlines all week."

[sunsongs]

Coby didn't bother with the news most of the time, and he was okay with that. "I've spent most of my life in LA, dude. 'Blind star who can see again' and 'in the headlines all week' sounds to me like a recipe for not okay. But congrats on seeing, that's, uh, that's gotta be amazing."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"A miracle, some are saying," Fin said flatly- Perhaps a touch bitter for someone who'd been giving his sight back.

[sunsongs]

Coby shrugged one shoulder. "Miracles aren't always everything they're made out to be." He'd had a miracle of his own, after all, and look where it had gotten him.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"No, they really aren't," Fin agreed, his hand shaking a little as he took a long drag on his cigarette.

[sunsongs]

Coby took a pull from his cigarette. "I'm not keeping you from anything, am I?"

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin shook his head slightly, frail looking fingers raking through his long dark hair.

"No. I was- I was filming all morning. Was supposed to do a bit more, but there was an issue with the location and..."

He trailed off, realizing the other man probably wasn't that interested.

[sunsongs]

Coby wasn't not interested. Most people liked talking about themselves or what they did, and he liked getting to know people.

"I was thinking about getting some coffee."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin nodded, and it took him a beat to realize that was possibly meant as an invitation.

"Oh! Right. Coffee sounds lovely, actually. Or tea, I'm not that fussy to be honest."

[sunsongs]

Coby laughed lightly. "Pretty sure you can get tea anywhere they've got coffee around here." So he was stereotyping. Sue him.

"And whenever they work out the location issues, you'll lose the downtime you could've had. Take a break while you can."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin smiled, then laughed softly as he nodded. "That's very true, especially since the production is quite small. Don't have much time or a very large budget. ...Which way were you headed?" he asked, ready to follow wherever the other man led him. Fin was trusting that way, and a bit too eager to be liked and please others.

[sunsongs]

To the store originally, but Coby'd changed that plan when he invited Fin for coffee. Or tea. Fortunately, he could see a café on the next block, he'd been to once before.

"Just up there," he said, nodding up the street. "Unless you know a place you like better."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I'm not terribly picky," Fin assured him, finishing his cigarette, then stubbing it out. "Hopefully it's not crowded though."

He wasn't sure he could face a crowd right now.

[sunsongs]

"You have heard of to-go cups, right?" Coby teased. There was something about Fin, like he could use Coby's particular brand of easy. Or maybe Coby was bored and feeling out of place, and hanging out with some actor he'd never met was closer to home than he'd been in awhile. "If it's crowded. It's hard to chat when people are asking for autographs or to take a picture."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"That's true," Fin replied, pulling his coat tighter around himself as he nodded. "I'm still not used to that," he admitted. "I'm not used to being noticed."

[sunsongs]

He should get used to it, Coby thought. People were going to notice him. Good for an actor's career, but sometimes hell for the person underneath. "Maybe we'll luck out and have the place practically to ourselves," he said, resisting the impulse to sling an arm around Fin's shoulders as they started toward the café.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"That would be quite fortunate," Fin nodded, glancing over again. "What is it that you do for a living, Coby?" he asked curiously.

[sunsongs]

"Musician." Laughing a little at himself, he added, "It's corny as hell to say, but it's more doing it to live than for a living." He made enough to get by, and he knew how lucky he was to manage that much. But if it weren't for his music, Coby'd probably be dead by now, or locked in a padded room.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"My Will is a musician," Fin replied brightly. "Willy Silver, my lover. He's not famous or anything, but he plays all the time, all over the city. Perhaps you've met him? ...I don't think it's corny at all, Coby, to live for your craft. My Will is the same way- As am I, I suppose."

[sunsongs]

From what Coby could see, Fin was as different from Javi as two guys could get, but the memories he tried to keep shut away drew comparisons anyway. He ignored those thoughts, though, to think about who he'd met or heard of since coming to London. He shook his head. "Haven't met him yet, but I've only been here a couple of months. Still getting to know the scene around here." As if there was a music scene in London. But when Coby wasn't playing, he tried to hear as many other people as he could, so if Fin's Will was any good, their paths should cross eventually.

Coby grabbed the door when they got to the café, and nodded for Fin to go in. From what he could tell, it didn't look too busy inside, so that was something.

[prince_of_nymphs]

It wasn't busy at all, and Fin smiled as he headed inside, relieved to see a lack of crowds, and pleased to find they had the heating on.

"He plays at the Alpha twice a week," he smiled. "Tiny little bar- It's where we met, actually."

[sunsongs]

"Tiny little bars with regular acts are some of my favorite places to play, or hang." You got to know people in places like that. Regulars on stage, behind the bar, and coming in for a few drinks and the show. Maybe not a family exactly, but close.

"I'll have to check it out sometime." The Alpha. Coby'd remember that.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"You should. Perhaps you'll get a gig there. I'd love to see you play," Fin replied cheerfully, his words and smile both genuine.

Heading up to the counter, he studied the menu and ordered himself a chai.