๐ข๐ต, ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ณ๐๐ฐ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ด๐๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ.
A thought though fleeting nearly as fast as it had occurred. Observing how disgusted ๐๐. ๐ป๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ก seemed from their shared handshake. ๐๐๐๐๐ seldom anything went past the upcoming television +
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๐ด๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ โฆ
A courteous incline of his head offered in the wake of the producerโs departure, blissful reprieve from such incessant chatter. Intoxicated and babbling, the radio star found little substance to his continued company. At the very least, nothing of which to further his ๐๐๐๐๐ฬ๐๐-๐๐๐๐ ๐ฬ๐ beyond excess motivation. ๐ก๐จ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐ข๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ would die. Not tonight, but in due time. Until such an opportunity presented itself, ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ would play the humble role of radio host.
Grip relinquished, a glimmer of ๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง simmered behind gilded spectacles. ๐ถโ๐๐๐๐๐ โ though it may be, he did so relish the initiation to retreat on ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ง๐ญโ๐ฌ part. An inconsequential win, but a win nonetheless. Digits gave a subtle, though deliberate brush against his pant leg โ a means to expel whatever industrialized ๐ ๐๐๐๐ the man seemed to emanate. A brow arched, amused snort slipping free at the implications made by the media personality. It was evident the man understood little of the fine art of ๐ป๐๐๐ข๐จ.
โ Why, is that what your ๐ ๐-๐๐๐๐๐๐ studios are like.แฃ Tripping hazards and ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ abound.แฃ Duly noted. Rest assured, ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ poses no such risks, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก in the simplicity of its design. โ
Verbal sparring, a ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ pastime of the radio host. Most in ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ knew better than to challenge the quick-witted young star. Those foolish enough to attempt oft resorted to distasteful slurs, inevitably ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐, pulling at straws. Yet this merger posed a new crowd, unfamiliar with the sharp tongue he possessed. Refreshing, a renewed opportunity to watch men ๐๐๐๐๐๐ beneath the whip of his words. And ๐ฆ๐๐ก โฆ This ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ก๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง did not appear so eager to bend. Curious, gaze peered down that slender nose in careful observation as the man worked the room. All blinding smiles and compulsory charisma to a crowd too idiotic to recognize a blatant ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐๐. The late night host could very well ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ the room while grinning and not a guest would be the wiser. Dare he say, it was almost impressive. ๐ด๐๐๐๐ ๐ก.
๐โ, โ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ โฆ
A roll of umber hues, ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ near-failed to contain a bark of amusement as ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ง๐ญ claimed the spotlight. Pitiable in his insatiable ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๐๐๐๐๐ for attention, a craving the radio host did not share. True, to be acknowledged for his skills, to be ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ was a most pleasurable position to hold. Yet he would not flaunt himself like a peacock in desperation. ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ would not allow such unseemly behavior. Priorities begged his energy be diverted elsewhere. This evening was intended neither for merriment nor camaraderie, but rather assessing the ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐. Determining potential risks and loose ends to be tied before his career unraveled in their wake. Shmoozing and frivolity were distractions ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ could not afford.
Naturally, one could not simply meld into the ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ฌ and flee this sham of a celebration either. Thus when approached once more, ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ensured that dashing smile was expertly maintained. Precise and ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, the gentleman before him โ some critic in the industry โ folded as quick as a newspaper. Pliable and easily impressed, merely a fraction of the hostโs attention was mandated to maintain the conversation, ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ though it may be.
โ Quite right.แ The untapped potential between radio and television is monumental, to say the least. Itโs quite the ๐ก๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ซ to be included in this historic union. โ
๐ณ๐๐๐, all of it โ a drip of sweet ๐๐๐๐๐๐ from plush lips which the idiot drank deeply nonetheless. ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ, there was hardly entertainment to be found amongst such mindless prey, unlike his prior amusement. As if on cue, ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ sensed a shift just behind. Grin curling upward to brush something more ๐ ๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ข๐ง๐, senses prickling to the ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐๐๐ of a man humming at his side. Leisurely, the radio star rolled his gaze to clash once more with those mismatched eyes.
โ ๐๐ซ. ๐ฆ๐ก๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง โฆ How ๐๐๐๐๐โ๐ก๐๐ข๐ for you to grace us with your presence again. Had your fill of idle chitchat.แฃ โ
Tone a pleasant ๐๐ข๐๐, alluding nothing to the ๐ฏ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฆ beneath. While not the forefront of the threat this unification posed, ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ง๐ญ was certainly not spared blame. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ bled from his person like a smog, evident down to his very posture. The man carried himself as one might in a valiant march to battle, and while the target may not solely be upon ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ค, who was to say when.แฃ Inevitably, two figureheads in their art surely could not coexist peacefully. A future mark, perhaps.แฃ One to monitor at the very least โ see what made the man tick behind the mask of ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ.
Lips cupped crystal to drain the last dregs of champagne, tongue dragging ๐ ๐๐๐ค to savor the flavor. ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ dismissed the critic with a wave of his hand and well-placed ๐๐๐๐๐; blunt, though not entirely rude. Turning fully to ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ง๐ญ, he pressed upon the manโs personal bubble with a ๐๐๐๐๐๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๐๐ grin. Close enough to exchange a muted word, yet far from improper.
โ What say ๐๐จ๐ฎ to some fresh air.แฃ Iโd imagine the southern humidity is rather ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ to your ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ northern constitution in such a crammed little hall. โ
แ
slightly parted lips. Now came the ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐; where had he placed his lighter .แฃ This night was gradually worsening by the minute.
โ Would you happen to have a light.. .แฃ โ
to stand at the chatting man's side. Best keep close to this one.. There was something about him that didn't sit right with Vincent. Another sip of champagne like a tragedy to be by Alastor's side once more.
Vibrating with tremendous laughter, ๐ด๐. ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ was eating the compliments out of ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฌ๐ฏ'๐ฐ hand. Basking in the admiration as false as it may have been. The company's CEO could no longer tell the difference. +
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๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ promises, dolled up with audacity only afforded to the rich and powerful. Words of little worth and even less appeal to the radio host. In one ear, out the other โ better drowned beneath the cacophony of surrounding revelry, were it not for his raucous tone. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ to a fault, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ understood the system which worked against him, loathsome though it may be. A mechanism so thoroughly integrated into society to keep down sedulous souls such as his. Prejudice and ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ the priority to raw talent. The better part of his youth, dedicated to disarming those defenses with ๐๐๐๐๐ and pure skill in the face of opposition. Sweat, tears and ๏น๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๏น of ๐๐๐๐๐ were shed to claw his way behind that microphone. He would be damned before some frivolous merger stole that achievement away.
Secured beneath the ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ curl of his lips, bloodlust simmered. Each pleasant placation spewed forth from ๐๐ซ. ๐ข๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ only served fuel to the fire. Unbeknownst, the fool scribed his very ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐. No matter the time, no matter the cost, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ would see to his demise firsthand.
โ ๐๐ซ. ๐ข๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ซ๐, you are a ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, truly.แ โ
Glass raised in feigned admiration, rim glinting in the warm glow of chandeliers.
โ Were ๐ to have but a ๐๐๐๐๐ of a mind such as yours ... Your foresight knows no peer, I imagine your rivals are already quivering in ๐๐๐๐ซ at the prospects of this unification. โ
Honeyed praise, enough to preen an overblown ego and lower a guard or two. Play ๐๐๐๐ now to lay groundwork for the ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ fun to begin. For beneath the facade of courtesy, keen eyes pinned upon the two men as one might ๐๐๐๐๐ on a chessboard. ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, the both of them. A poorly staged comedy act, one which within ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ found little humor. Illusions of grandeur and vainglory aside, it was the concept behind the charade which posed a ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐๐๐ญ. The barest hint, the ๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ก๐๐ ๐ก chance that he may lose even a momentโs progress made or be pried away from his beloved microphone was real. False promises and camaraderie could not obscure the grim truth: his hard-won career was on the line, ๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐.
โ ๐ดโ.แ ๐๐๐ฌ, that's the one.แ Rather a ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ fellow, was he not.แฃ โ
A slow trail of auburn hues along that overpriced ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ข๐๐ which adorned the television star. Finely made, to be sure, but perhaps a bit ๐ก๐๐ ostentatious and questionable for the southern climate. Eyecatching and ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ, very ๐๐๐๐๐๐๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ for the picture box.
โ Well, Iโm sure youโll fill those shoes ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ. Presuming the set does not try to ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ก you in them, ๐โ๐ โ๐.แ โ
Digits cinched a ๐ก๐๐ข๐โ tighter, rich bronze pressed within porcelain. A shake of hands toeing the line of socially acceptable length, yet the host did not draw back. Was that a ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐.แฃ Whispered between words, the barest glint in that contrasting gaze to something ๐๐๐๐. Tone bearing a bit more ๐๐๐๐ than anticipated from the northern big shot. ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐, but welcome amusement amongst this otherwise tedious reception.
โ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐๐ก๐, indeed. But you are correct, ๐ป๐๐๐ข๐จ is far too ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ for such oversights to occur. ๐๐ก๐๐จ๐ฌ is simply at the command of the voice behind the microphone, not the whims of precarious production equipment. One can paint a ๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ๐ฅ๐ฒ scene in words alone, no ๐๐๐ ๐ required.แ โ
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leave towards ๐ด๐. ๐บ๐๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐ once more.
๐๐ฉ, ๐ณ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต.. ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ'๐ด ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ญ๐ญ ๐๐๐.
An abrupt stop. Turning his head back to see Alastor being spoken to by the gentlemen from earlier. Navigating through the crowd and back +