visings (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} visings) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} 20somethings,@ 2022-05-19 12:24:00 |
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| Entry tags: | c: coira montague, c: violet nott, d: 2028 05, ~ complete, Ω: rp |
RP: Professional discussions and tea.
Who: Coira + Vi
What: Coira has a Question
When: 5/19/2022
Where: Sweet Nothings
Warnings: Angst
Completion Status: Complete
Coira took out another cigarette and lit it. She’d been chain smoking outside of Sweet Nothings Cafe for the past hour. “This is so stupid.” She mumbled through her teeth. Ever since she mentioned that she wanted to record her own album she’d been spiraling down caught somewhere between sellout and indie artist. If she hit it big would she still be able to play the Howling Pint? She felt her independence slipping away with each unknown.
She needed to talk to someone who was in the biz. She truly loved Chet and he was her constant support, but she needed someone to talk to about everything. Looking up, Coira saw Violet Nott, one of her closest friends and the world’s newest music sensation. She’d hopefully have some good advice for her. She stamped what was left of her cigarette, into the ground, and embraced her friend.
“I hope this wasn’t too short notice.” Coira could only imagine how busy her schedule had gotten.
Vi gave her friend a smile, having to remind herself that Coira was actually two years older than her. Coira always seemed so frantic - excited and nervous and annoyed and angry and jittery - and Vi was so (generally) low-key herself that it felt like she were the elder. But that didn’t matter, she still had no clue what Coira wanted to discuss. Vi was in the studio these days, finishing up her second album, so luckily she was in London non-stop when Coira had texted.
“Not at all,” she brushed off the worry, and added, “You know I’m holed up in the studio all the time, it’s actually nice to have an excuse to get out,” she said with a chuckle.
She nodded her head toward the cafe and asked, “Shall we?”
“Of course you are.” The words came out jagged, almost jealous. It wasn’t the tone she’d been going for. “Sorry. Yes. Let’s.” She held the door open for Vi and followed in after letting in a few more patrons. She heard her father’s voice in her head and it drove her crazy. Maybe she should have contacted Maria first. Maria at least knew how little Graham actually wanted to know about her music and interests. She could be unbiased. But she didn’t have the music knowledge Vi had. “It’s on me.” Her words were forceful. “I invited you anyways and I pulled you away from your work.” That was it. Vi was a working artist.
Vi’s face did a small sort of flinch at Coira’s tone, but she didn’t take it to heart - she knew how her friend could be. Cynical, angry, Vi’s opposite in many ways. She entered the coffee shop and waited for Coira behind the other customers, and then joined her at the back of the line. “Oh, you don’t have to do that, I’m glad you reached out, it’s been too long.” Her voice was soft and lilting, genuine. “Honestly, I get too holed up,” she said with a frown, “I forget the world exists, so I should be thanking you for reminding me and saving me from myself,” she laughed, it was all true.
As they waited to put in their orders, Violet asked with a sparkle in her eye, “So what’s up? Juicy gossip about your hot, adventurous Cursebreaker?” She was clearly trying to turn Coira’s inexplicable mood around.
Coira could never understand how Vi managed to make her smile when she was in such a foul mood. “I may have sent him a picture over text the other day. He has been buried in work recently. I miss him a bit.” It was an understatement. She knew his work was important and time consuming but it had been months since they had been in the same room. She missed his face and was thinking more about his body. He was hot and she started feeling the itch to tear off his clothes whenever she saw him next.
“I actually wanted to ask you something.” The words caught in her throat. She didn’t want it to sound like a hand out. “I’m thinking of recording an album. Figured you were the best person to ask.” She could feel the heat rising in her face as the words left her lips. So stupid.
“Hmmm, pictures,” Vi said with a knowing, friendly smirk, then she laughed. Coira deserved good things, a good man, and Chet seemed to be one, though she did wonder how much was really behind ‘I miss him a bit.’
She paid more attention when Coira answered her real question, though. “Everything okay?” She got out before Coira continued - and then Violet lit up like the annual Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square at Coira’s real question. “Oh Em Gee!” She squealed, but kept her volume down, not wanting to catch too much attention out in public. “Are you serious?” She’d been wanting - and hinting for - Coira to make an album longer than she’d even known her as a fellow artist.
“That’s brilliant! But what do you need to ask me about it?” Her look turned from excitement to slight confusion as the thought occurred to her.
And then they were at the head of the queue and she ordered herself a honeysuckle tea and, despite Coira’s offer, paid for Coira’s order, too.
“He’s been working so hard. I just gave him something to look forward to when he finally comes out on the other side.” She smirked. She doubted he would act on anything, but she wanted to remind him that she was still his.
“Well, you’re the one that’s gone through the whole process.” Coira admitted. She knew how to mix sound when it was just her and the band live, but she had no idea the whole actual process.
“Really, I just don’t know where to start.” She had thousands of songs written in her book and the idea of narrowing it down gave her hives.
Violet nodded with a sly smile, “Honestly, I can’t imagine dating a Cursebreaker - I think I’d be worried non-stop about them, you know? Not that you should be!” The last part came out quickly when she realized what she’d said. Goodness, didn’t need to plant nervous ideas in Coira’s head.
Cocking her head thoughtfully, she lead Coira to grab their drinks at the other end of the coffee bar and then to a table, thinking the whole time.
“Well,” she started, “Do you have an agent?” That was her first step, though she wondered if Coira’s questions were more of the technical sort. She already had it in mind to introduce Coira to Mr. Stephens if she didn’t already have someone.
“It has its moments.” Coria let out a nervous laugh. She never truly worried about Chet when he was away on consignment. He knew how to handle himself in dangerous situations. “It's the time apart that gets to me. I mean he’ll be on assignment for months at a time and then when he gets back he’s holed up in the offices at Gringotts.” She felt like she was whining.
Chet was supportive and attentive when he wasn’t bogged down in work, but it felt unbalanced. Her choices weren’t exactly traditional and she knew that, but she couldn’t help but think sometimes that she was in this more than he was.
“I do not have an agent.” She felt her face redden, obviously she had more to learn about the industry. “I got a book and a half of songs, though.” As if that was an accomplishment, but she knew that Vi had more songs than what she had recorded as well.
Vi gave her a sympathetic look and brushed her hand against her friend’s. She hummed in understanding. Not that she could totally understand of course, she’d never had a boyfriend, but she could empathize all the same.
“And a devoted following!” Violet added, she wasn’t just propping up her friend’s ego - Coira really did have a ton of fans, even if she’d never put out an album.
“Don’t stress, I can already tell you’re stressed,” she said with a calm smile. She set her tea on the table and gave Coira a steady, strong look. “Listen, I’ve been singing your praises to Mr. Stephens for months, at least, and I’m positive he’ll sign you up the second you say you’re interested! And that’s honestly the hardest part - he does the hard things from here, as far as the business of making an album goes. You do the creative part - pairing down that book and a half, I’d say would be first.” Her voice was measured and she kept Coira’s gaze held with hers.
“I know that sounds impossible, but I can help, if you want?” She didn’t want to step on any toes, but she wanted to offer. She hoped she didn’t offend Coira.
“You have?” Coira felt the excess nervous energy fall away. “I had no idea.” They’d spoken about their creative process about their woes, but she had no idea Vi had been talking her up to her manager. “Thank you.” She squeaked out. “It seemed like such a big thing to ask of you.” Coira had forgotten that regardless of how big Vi got she was still her friend.
“Is there anything I need to do?”
“As if I wouldn’t? You may have noticed I’m one of your biggest fans. And not just of your talent and your music, but of you. And he’s wonderful - very, very grumpy, but to be quite honest, he’s the one who convinced me to put out an album myself. He’d been representing me as a song writer, and he got me working with The Weird Sisters, so I’ve been working with him pretty much since I got out of school.” She shrugged, it all seemed so... distant, to her now, though it’d only been a year since she’d released her debut.
“Is that a yes?” Violet’s enthusiasm was obvious. “Yes to me helping? Or yes to Mr. Stephens? Or both...?” She didn’t want to assume Coira would want help on the production side, or that she’d want Vi to see her private songbooks. Vi herself could be very private about such things.
“You and Chet.” Coira let herself laugh at her friend’s enthusiasm. Vi was the eternal optimist of them and Coira never told her enough how much she appreciated that, especially during a spiral. The prospect seemed so much more glamorous than Coira imagined coming from playing pubs and bars around London.
“He sounds a bit intimidating.” She voiced about Mr. Stephens. Was she ready for a publicist? She’d have to do some research on Mr. Stephens, but for now, Vi’s word was enough.
She took a deep breath. Was she really this close? “Yes! To both, I guess.”
She needed to talk to someone who was in the biz. She truly loved Chet and he was her constant support, but she needed someone to talk to about everything. Looking up, Coira saw Violet Nott, one of her closest friends and the world’s newest music sensation. She’d hopefully have some good advice for her. She stamped what was left of her cigarette, into the ground, and embraced her friend.
“I hope this wasn’t too short notice.” Coira could only imagine how busy her schedule had gotten.
Vi gave her friend a smile, having to remind herself that Coira was actually two years older than her. Coira always seemed so frantic - excited and nervous and annoyed and angry and jittery - and Vi was so (generally) low-key herself that it felt like she were the elder. But that didn’t matter, she still had no clue what Coira wanted to discuss. Vi was in the studio these days, finishing up her second album, so luckily she was in London non-stop when Coira had texted.
“Not at all,” she brushed off the worry, and added, “You know I’m holed up in the studio all the time, it’s actually nice to have an excuse to get out,” she said with a chuckle.
She nodded her head toward the cafe and asked, “Shall we?”
“Of course you are.” The words came out jagged, almost jealous. It wasn’t the tone she’d been going for. “Sorry. Yes. Let’s.” She held the door open for Vi and followed in after letting in a few more patrons. She heard her father’s voice in her head and it drove her crazy. Maybe she should have contacted Maria first. Maria at least knew how little Graham actually wanted to know about her music and interests. She could be unbiased. But she didn’t have the music knowledge Vi had. “It’s on me.” Her words were forceful. “I invited you anyways and I pulled you away from your work.” That was it. Vi was a working artist.
Vi’s face did a small sort of flinch at Coira’s tone, but she didn’t take it to heart - she knew how her friend could be. Cynical, angry, Vi’s opposite in many ways. She entered the coffee shop and waited for Coira behind the other customers, and then joined her at the back of the line. “Oh, you don’t have to do that, I’m glad you reached out, it’s been too long.” Her voice was soft and lilting, genuine. “Honestly, I get too holed up,” she said with a frown, “I forget the world exists, so I should be thanking you for reminding me and saving me from myself,” she laughed, it was all true.
As they waited to put in their orders, Violet asked with a sparkle in her eye, “So what’s up? Juicy gossip about your hot, adventurous Cursebreaker?” She was clearly trying to turn Coira’s inexplicable mood around.
Coira could never understand how Vi managed to make her smile when she was in such a foul mood. “I may have sent him a picture over text the other day. He has been buried in work recently. I miss him a bit.” It was an understatement. She knew his work was important and time consuming but it had been months since they had been in the same room. She missed his face and was thinking more about his body. He was hot and she started feeling the itch to tear off his clothes whenever she saw him next.
“I actually wanted to ask you something.” The words caught in her throat. She didn’t want it to sound like a hand out. “I’m thinking of recording an album. Figured you were the best person to ask.” She could feel the heat rising in her face as the words left her lips. So stupid.
“Hmmm, pictures,” Vi said with a knowing, friendly smirk, then she laughed. Coira deserved good things, a good man, and Chet seemed to be one, though she did wonder how much was really behind ‘I miss him a bit.’
She paid more attention when Coira answered her real question, though. “Everything okay?” She got out before Coira continued - and then Violet lit up like the annual Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square at Coira’s real question. “Oh Em Gee!” She squealed, but kept her volume down, not wanting to catch too much attention out in public. “Are you serious?” She’d been wanting - and hinting for - Coira to make an album longer than she’d even known her as a fellow artist.
“That’s brilliant! But what do you need to ask me about it?” Her look turned from excitement to slight confusion as the thought occurred to her.
And then they were at the head of the queue and she ordered herself a honeysuckle tea and, despite Coira’s offer, paid for Coira’s order, too.
“He’s been working so hard. I just gave him something to look forward to when he finally comes out on the other side.” She smirked. She doubted he would act on anything, but she wanted to remind him that she was still his.
“Well, you’re the one that’s gone through the whole process.” Coira admitted. She knew how to mix sound when it was just her and the band live, but she had no idea the whole actual process.
“Really, I just don’t know where to start.” She had thousands of songs written in her book and the idea of narrowing it down gave her hives.
Violet nodded with a sly smile, “Honestly, I can’t imagine dating a Cursebreaker - I think I’d be worried non-stop about them, you know? Not that you should be!” The last part came out quickly when she realized what she’d said. Goodness, didn’t need to plant nervous ideas in Coira’s head.
Cocking her head thoughtfully, she lead Coira to grab their drinks at the other end of the coffee bar and then to a table, thinking the whole time.
“Well,” she started, “Do you have an agent?” That was her first step, though she wondered if Coira’s questions were more of the technical sort. She already had it in mind to introduce Coira to Mr. Stephens if she didn’t already have someone.
“It has its moments.” Coria let out a nervous laugh. She never truly worried about Chet when he was away on consignment. He knew how to handle himself in dangerous situations. “It's the time apart that gets to me. I mean he’ll be on assignment for months at a time and then when he gets back he’s holed up in the offices at Gringotts.” She felt like she was whining.
Chet was supportive and attentive when he wasn’t bogged down in work, but it felt unbalanced. Her choices weren’t exactly traditional and she knew that, but she couldn’t help but think sometimes that she was in this more than he was.
“I do not have an agent.” She felt her face redden, obviously she had more to learn about the industry. “I got a book and a half of songs, though.” As if that was an accomplishment, but she knew that Vi had more songs than what she had recorded as well.
Vi gave her a sympathetic look and brushed her hand against her friend’s. She hummed in understanding. Not that she could totally understand of course, she’d never had a boyfriend, but she could empathize all the same.
“And a devoted following!” Violet added, she wasn’t just propping up her friend’s ego - Coira really did have a ton of fans, even if she’d never put out an album.
“Don’t stress, I can already tell you’re stressed,” she said with a calm smile. She set her tea on the table and gave Coira a steady, strong look. “Listen, I’ve been singing your praises to Mr. Stephens for months, at least, and I’m positive he’ll sign you up the second you say you’re interested! And that’s honestly the hardest part - he does the hard things from here, as far as the business of making an album goes. You do the creative part - pairing down that book and a half, I’d say would be first.” Her voice was measured and she kept Coira’s gaze held with hers.
“I know that sounds impossible, but I can help, if you want?” She didn’t want to step on any toes, but she wanted to offer. She hoped she didn’t offend Coira.
“You have?” Coira felt the excess nervous energy fall away. “I had no idea.” They’d spoken about their creative process about their woes, but she had no idea Vi had been talking her up to her manager. “Thank you.” She squeaked out. “It seemed like such a big thing to ask of you.” Coira had forgotten that regardless of how big Vi got she was still her friend.
“Is there anything I need to do?”
“As if I wouldn’t? You may have noticed I’m one of your biggest fans. And not just of your talent and your music, but of you. And he’s wonderful - very, very grumpy, but to be quite honest, he’s the one who convinced me to put out an album myself. He’d been representing me as a song writer, and he got me working with The Weird Sisters, so I’ve been working with him pretty much since I got out of school.” She shrugged, it all seemed so... distant, to her now, though it’d only been a year since she’d released her debut.
“Is that a yes?” Violet’s enthusiasm was obvious. “Yes to me helping? Or yes to Mr. Stephens? Or both...?” She didn’t want to assume Coira would want help on the production side, or that she’d want Vi to see her private songbooks. Vi herself could be very private about such things.
“You and Chet.” Coira let herself laugh at her friend’s enthusiasm. Vi was the eternal optimist of them and Coira never told her enough how much she appreciated that, especially during a spiral. The prospect seemed so much more glamorous than Coira imagined coming from playing pubs and bars around London.
“He sounds a bit intimidating.” She voiced about Mr. Stephens. Was she ready for a publicist? She’d have to do some research on Mr. Stephens, but for now, Vi’s word was enough.
She took a deep breath. Was she really this close? “Yes! To both, I guess.”