preplay hex and q
Jan. 11th, 2025 08:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
just_hexHex had done a bit of shopping and his bags by his feet as he sat at the cafe. Scrolling his phone with one hand, he held a half a sandwich in the other. He wanted to text his agent, but he knew he wouldn't get a reply. All he wanted was a steady part. Walk on's and day play didn't pay the bills in this stupid country.
He wore defeat on his brow as an email came through thanking him for his time but they were going a different direction.
He sighed heavily.
He wore defeat on his brow as an email came through thanking him for his time but they were going a different direction.
He sighed heavily.
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Date: 2025-01-12 04:17 am (UTC)"Hex?" he said, looking visibly surprised to see the other man.
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Date: 2025-01-12 04:28 am (UTC)Hex looked up to the familiar voice calling his name. His disappointment and frustration melted away when he saw Q. Older, yes, they both were. Hex had been certain after uni there'd be no chance to ever see Q again...and yet here he was.
"Hah, fuck off, is it really you?" he asked as the phone and sandwich hit the table at the same time and he stood from his seat. "Oh my god..."
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Date: 2025-01-12 04:31 am (UTC)"It's good to see you, Hex," Q said, moving his tea to his other hand and adjusting the bag on his shoulder. "What brings you to LA?"
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Date: 2025-01-12 05:01 am (UTC)He looked down at his phone.
"Not work. Not today, anyway," he shrugged. "In America with a dream, yeah?"
When he look back up, he wore a boyish, hangdog smile that he had never outgrown.
"It's really good to see you," he said.
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Date: 2025-01-12 05:04 am (UTC)Q couldn't help but smile back. "Is it?" he asked.
Things hadn't exactly ended brilliantly after all. Relationships rarely did.
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Date: 2025-01-12 05:07 am (UTC)"A friendly face? Oh my god, yes," he nodded. "What are you doing here?"
The question was laced with hope. Even someone else's good news would help his own resolve.
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Date: 2025-01-12 05:10 am (UTC)"I, ah, I work in SFX now," Q explained. "I actually developed some of the software and technology used in a lot of current films and shows. Mostly CGI lately, that's what's most in demand."
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Date: 2025-01-12 05:22 am (UTC)"Of course you did," he smiled, the sentiment full of pride.
"I was on Mudlarking on Sky for years, and I'm trying to make the move to telly here..."
But. The way he trailed off, the But explained his heavy sigh.
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Date: 2025-01-12 05:37 pm (UTC)Q knew that look, that awkward trail off... He'd seen it thousands of times since coming to LA.
"Something will come up," he assured him. "You should start a podcast, that's what everyone else does. Or, you know, an only fans," he quipped.
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Date: 2025-01-12 06:25 pm (UTC)He chuckled at that and blushed. Hex had always been a terrible liar, so when he shrugged and said, "Maybe..."
He clearly had some way to pay for his enormous lunch.
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Date: 2025-01-12 06:29 pm (UTC)Q noted the expression, but let it be. He had no interest in embarrassing anyone, they all did what they had to to get by. Q hardly had clean hands after all, though his sins were of a different sort.
Corporate espionage paid rather well after all.
"How long have you been in town?" he asked instead.
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Date: 2025-01-12 07:26 pm (UTC)"Almost four months," he smiled. "I keep landing auditions, and I gave meself a year to try. Then I can go back with Hollywood experience and maybe get different roles, yeah? More serious."
He'd already given up trying to find a steady role.
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Date: 2025-01-12 07:59 pm (UTC)"You'll find something, sometimes you just have to meet the right people first," Q said. "So much of this industry is built on who knows who."
The way he said it made it clear he didn't really approve.
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Date: 2025-01-12 08:29 pm (UTC)"It's the same back home. Just..less?" he replied. "In London, I knew whose ass to kiss, yeah?"
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Date: 2025-01-12 08:51 pm (UTC)"Mmm," Q hummed in agreement. "You could always start a fitness channel on YouTube," he noted, looking Hex over a little.
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Date: 2025-01-13 12:25 am (UTC)"I could wait tables or work at the mall, too," he said. "I get by...but I didn't come to Hollywood to ask how you like your eggs."
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Date: 2025-01-13 12:39 am (UTC)"No shame in making a name online anymore, Hex. Big money in online content," Q said.
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Date: 2025-01-13 12:46 am (UTC)But he could do online content in his nan's basement. Hex wanted to be famous.
"You want to sit? We could catch up," he suggested.
It had been years, but he'd been a prat and he wouldn't hold it against Q if he was still hurt.
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Date: 2025-01-13 12:50 am (UTC)Q glanced at the time, then nodded as he moved to sit at Hex's table.
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Date: 2025-01-13 01:10 am (UTC)Hex left his phone face down but picked his sandwich up again.
"I haven't seen you since graduation. Where'd you go?" he asked with interest.
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Date: 2025-01-13 01:40 am (UTC)"Well, I worked for the BBC for a while, I was a researcher for some of their science and tech pieces. Then I was briefly with a video game studio- Before starting work on some SFX related tech. That's what got me to LA in the end. A few studios were eager to work with me," Q said. "What about you? Was it straight to the soaps or..."
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Date: 2025-01-13 02:24 am (UTC)"Almost, yeah. I did a couple commercials, then I landed Tom and we all sort of thought it'd last forever. But then David's evil twin Gerard accidentally dropped a sofa and killed him. On screen, even..." he explained.
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Date: 2025-01-13 02:29 am (UTC)"That's a hell of a way to go at least," Q said. "Surely you had other opportunities lined up though? Why come to America?"
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Date: 2025-01-13 02:37 am (UTC)"I aged out as Tom, but that's all the casting directors see. That role, but too old. I did a few indie films. I did a commercial in Japan, but I thought I wouldn't have the Mudlarking baggage here, yeah?" he explained.
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Date: 2025-01-13 02:39 am (UTC)"What sort of role do you think you'd like?" Q asked, sipping his tea.
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Date: 2025-01-13 02:42 am (UTC)I really want to do a medical drama or police procedural," he said, lighting up. "They're so popular here. Or? Or a Western. I'd love to play a cowboy."
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Date: 2025-01-13 02:45 am (UTC)"I don't think they're making a lot of westerns at the moment," Q laughed. "Do you have any auditions coming up?" he asked.
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Date: 2025-01-13 02:48 am (UTC)"I've got an audition for a one week role for a soap, option to extend," he smiled.
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Date: 2025-01-13 02:50 am (UTC)"That's brilliant," Q smiled, crossing his legs and settling into his seat a bit more. "I'll keep my fingers crossed for you."
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Date: 2025-01-13 03:23 am (UTC)"Tell me more about your invention," he said, then took a bite and watched Q for his answer.
It was unlikely he'd understand any of it, but he recalled how he'd loved to just listen to Q. He had such a wonderful voice...
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Date: 2025-01-13 03:29 am (UTC)Q gladly explained the new tracking software he'd developed, as well as some camera mounting devices that were coming into use at the studios.
"None of it is very exciting, but it's useful."
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Date: 2025-01-13 03:38 am (UTC)"No, no, it's really amazing," he assured Q. "You've got such a mind. I knew you'd wind up in something like this. Groundbreaking."
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Date: 2025-01-13 03:41 am (UTC)Q looked surprised, then genuinely touched.
"Thanks, Hex," he said. "That means a lot. Truly."
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Date: 2025-01-13 03:44 am (UTC)"Do you live nearby?" Hex asked, then gave him no time to answer.
"I thought London was big, but this city keeps going and going, yeah? Honestly, unless you live in Hollywood, I won't know," he chuckled.
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Date: 2025-01-13 03:47 am (UTC)"I have a place not far from the studio. I still don't drive, so being close to work makes the most sense," Q explained. "What about you?"
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Date: 2025-01-13 03:56 am (UTC)"I share a flat with a bloke I met online," he said. "Cheap rent, he's been there for ages. Smokes too much and drinks too much, but he's a good bloke," he smiled.
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Date: 2025-01-13 03:18 pm (UTC)"Sounds like an alright deal though- The rent in this city is ridiculous," he added.
Q did alright for himself, and even he struggled to afford more than a fairly basic flat.
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Date: 2025-01-17 01:02 am (UTC)"Too right," he nodded, then sighed.
"Food's good, though," he smiled. "Guy cooks sometimes.It's really good."
Sometimes was actually once and cooking was a generous description.
"You got mates here? Boyfriend?" he asked, having seen no ring.
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Date: 2025-01-18 02:54 am (UTC)"Oh, erm, well... I was seeing someone, but it ended," Q said awkwardly. "I mostly keep to myself at the moment. ...My focus is on work right now."
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Date: 2025-01-19 08:29 pm (UTC)"Me too," he nodded. "No trouble if I want to pull, but I don't have time for a person. Gotta focus, yeah?"
His words were eager and enthusiastic, and it was true, but it wasn't what his heart wanted so he wasn't convincing at all. Not to Q or to himself.
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Date: 2025-01-19 08:46 pm (UTC)Q wasn't sure he believed that, but he let it be.
"It gets lonely here though," he said. "Feels like all anyone wants to chat about is who you know and what their next project is. Sometimes I miss home- Things were a bit more grounded. The money I made here, I could probably live very comfortably on back home. Maybe not in London, but..."
He trailed off, looking at his paper cup of tea.
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Date: 2025-01-19 09:13 pm (UTC)"Yeah, not London," he agreed.
"I was thinking about making it big and getting a place in the countryside. Be nice to go home a success, yeah?" he said.
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Date: 2025-01-19 09:29 pm (UTC)"I'd be okay with fading into obscurity," Q said with a small smile and a little shrug. "Do you have many auditions this week?"
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Date: 2025-01-19 10:05 pm (UTC)"Three," he nodded. "A medical drama, a daytime soap, and a weekly criminal for a police procedural."
Hex paused to take a sip before continuing.
"The soap would be good, steady work," he decided.
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Date: 2025-01-19 10:10 pm (UTC)"Well, I hope you get it then," Q said sincerely. "I should really get back to work, but, erm- Oh, here, I'll give you my number. I dunno how much help I'd be landing you a role, but you know, if you just need someone to listen, I can do that much."
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Date: 2025-01-19 10:23 pm (UTC)"It'd be nice to have tea. Talk about anything but...this," he said, vaguely gesturing out the cafe window.
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Date: 2025-01-19 10:28 pm (UTC)Q scribbled his number down on a napkin and pushed it towards Hex.
"You know I'll never say no to tea," he smiled. "It was really nice seeing you, Hex. I hope to hear from you."
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Date: 2025-01-19 10:47 pm (UTC)Hex didn't leave it at that. He rose to his feet so he could give Q a tight hug.
"You can count on it," he assured him.
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Date: 2025-01-19 10:52 pm (UTC)Q made a surprised sound, not used to being embraced, then laughed a bit.
"Take care, Hex," he said, returning the hug before finally letting go.