testdog65 (testdog65) wrote in qaf_bunnies, @ 2006-08-02 06:16:00 |
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Current location: | bedroom, on the wireless |
Current mood: | awake |
Current music: | Come Together - The Beatles |
Entry tags: | fic response, fics |
Vanishing Act: Chapter 10/?
Original poster: netlagd
From a plot bunny suggested by happier_bunny at qaf_bunnies
Title: Vanishing Act: Chapter 10
Characters: Brian/Justin, Daphne Chanders, Emmett Honeycutt, Cynthia, other Canon Characters
Rating: Story - NC-17 (language, sexual situations)
Warning: AU
Disclaimer: All characters and situations from Queer As Folk are the property of Russell T. Davies, CowLip Productions, Tony Jonas Productions, Showtime Networks Inc. and others. Vanished is the property of 20th Century Fox TV. No copyright infringement is intended.
Story Summary: Brian Kinney lands the leading role in a new dramatic investigation television series. Filming on location in Atlanta he meets artist Justin Taylor.
A story index and earlier chapters can be found here
Vanishing Act: Chapter 10
Daphne halted in her tracks as she was walking from her cottage to the driveway. Brian was leaning against the rental car that he’d been provided by the studio, watching her intently. When she started to walk again, she crossed away from him and headed down the driveway.
“Not so fast, Daphne. You’re just the girl I wanted to talk to.”
A shiver of trepidation ran up her spine. “Maybe tonight? I have to catch the bus or I’ll be late for work.”
“Well, we wouldn’t want that. Why don’t I give you a lift?”
“Uh, no thanks. I wouldn’t want to make you late or anything.”
“I’m not due at the Studio until ten. I insist.”
Daphne swallowed visibly. She couldn’t think of how she could get out of this, so she got in the car.
Brian waited until they were on the Interstate that would take them downtown before saying anything. “He knows doesn’t he? You told him.”
“Uh... I didn’t mean to... but he’s been my best friend since grade school... besides, it’s not like you’re serious or anything.”
“What makes you think I’m not serious?”
“Well, Justin... he says the last time you guys saw each other -- in Pittsburgh -- you were very clear about not wanting anything more than a fuck. He thinks that now that you guys have... ah... um... uh...”
“Fucked?” Brian supplied.
“Uh, yeah, um... fucked. Now that you’ve fucked you’ll get bored and leave sooner or later. He figures you’ll be out of here by the end of the week.”
“If that’s the case, why is he letting me stay?”
“He thinks it will run it’s course. That, and that the sex is totally hot.”
Well, at least Justin wasn’t denying their attraction to one another.
Brian dropped Daphne off and headed for the studio.
Cynthia met up with him as he parked his car. He looked at her quizzically. “What’s up?”
“Change of plans. There’s a problem with today’s shooting schedule. The studio was going to cancel, but it seems that word has gotten out about Friday night’s daring escape from your apartment. The entertainment news shows want some sound bites -- you’re taping with them at 11, 11:30 and 12:30. You’re scheduled at CNN at 2pm to tape for Showbiz Tonight. This is really important. If all goes well, they’re going to have the entire cast on Larry King next week for an interview -- the studio’s depending upon you. Oh, yeah, and the local Fox affiliate is going to do a week-long series of pieces on Vanished -- they’re being filmed here in Atlanta, and you and the other lead characters all will have interviews. Your interview tapes tomorrow morning and will air tomorrow night.”
“That all seems rather quick.” He was more used to press junkets for the films he’d worked on. Those were all scheduled way in advance.
“In television it’s all a ratings game. If they can keep Vanished in the spotlight and keep the buzz going, by the time the pilot airs we’ll be signing a contract for season two. Your fan woes go a long way to stirring up interest.”
“I guess.” Brian looked at his watch, nearly 10:00. He switched subjects. “I need you to do me a favor.”
“Sure thing - what do you need?”
Brian took two keys off of his key ring and handed them to Cynthia who looked questioningly at Brian. “This,” he pointed to the silver key with three notched holes, “is for my apartment. This,” he pointed to the gold key, “is for Justin’s house. While I’m off making nice with the tabloid press, I need you to go to my apartment, pack everything up, and and haul it over to Justin’s.”
“You mean our harebrained scheme worked?” Cynthia was stunned, she didn’t think Justin was stupid.
“Not exactly as planned, but the end result was the same.”
“I never thought about it before, but how much shit do you have at your place?”
“Not much, clothes mostly -- the place came furnished. Most of my stuff is in the bedroom and the bathroom. However, there are two art pieces I need you to wrap carefully and pack.”
“Art? You bring your own art on a shoot?”
Brian gave her a quelling look.
“Never mind, what do you want me to do with the ‘art’?”
“There’s a framed, nude sketch of me in the bedroom.”
Cynthia raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”
“Yes, really,” Brian replied disgustedly. “You can ogle it all you like, just make sure it’s wrapped securely -- get some of that bubble shit. The other piece is a large canvas - about four feet square...”
“The one in the living room? I always thought that it was way too nice to come with a furnished apartment.”
“Yeah, well... I need you to wrap it carefully too.”
“So how am I supposed to get all your shit into Justin’s place? I’ll need the gate codes along with the key.”
“Right, its 120300.” Brian stilled.
“What was that, again? Wait, I’m going to have to write this down.” Cynthia was scrambling in her purse for a pen and paper -- she didn’t notice the change in Brian’s demeanor.
“12-03-00,” Brian repeated. Gus’s birthday -- the night we met.
“Got it that time.” Cynthia folded the piece of paper and put it and the pen back in her purse. She looked up at Brian. “Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah... Where am I supposed to be for the first interview again?”
“In conference room A -- here at the studio. They’re doing a video conference, but they’ll probably just quote you or use a sound bite with a studio publicity shot. Someone from Fox is supposed to drive you over to CNN. I suppose you could drive yourself -- but parking’s a hassle. If you decide to drive yourself, it’s downtown on Forsyth Street near the Georgia Dome -- you can’t miss it.”
Brian nodded and headed into the building for his interview.
The interviews for Entertainment Tonight, The Insider, and Access Hollywood were about what he’d imagine they’d be. He’d chatted briefly about Vanished and answered the perfunctory questions about crazed fans.
He’d ended up taking a cab to CNN and was escorted into a studio to where he did a remote interview with A.J. Hammer in New York.
Brian went through the motions, answering the same questions he had already answered three times that morning. Even though the host of Showbiz Tonight was hot, it wasn’t enough to combat the boredom Brian felt answering the same tedious and unimaginative questions. But he was a professional, so he kept his expression studiously genial and acted interested as A.J. droned on about Vanished, the challenges of filming on location, and life away from home.
“So Brian, where is home for you?”
“I’m from Pittsburgh originally. When I’m not working on a project or on location, I generally head back there to visit with friends and family.”
“Family?
“Yes, my son lives in Pittsburgh with his mother.”
“Son? Rumor has it that you’re gay.”
The other interviews were too short to hit this land mine. Brian could just imagine the studio execs cringing as A.J. went for what Brian was sure he thought was the jugular. He smiled, but if A.J. had been paying attention, he would have noticed that the smile didn’t quite reach Brian’s eyes.
“I am, but that doesn’t exclude me from having children. My son is a very important part of my life. I make every effort to spend time with him when I’m able to.”
“Is there anyone else special back in Pittsburgh?”
Christ! Could he be any more lame?
Brian poked his cheek with his tongue. “In Pittsburgh...? No.”
A.J. knew an opening when he heard one. “So no one special in Pittsburgh... Perhaps there’s someone special somewhere else? Maybe even in Atlanta?”
Brian decided to throw him a bone. In the back of his mind a wicked thought flickered and took hold. “I recently became reacquainted with someone... from my past. You might say he’d Vanished only to be discovered in another city. It’s too soon to tell, but I’m hopeful...”
Even through the monitor, Brian could see A.J.’s eyes gleam. The guy knew he had the story. Brian had just served him up a scoop on a silver platter. Brian could tell that A.J. wanted to pursue this line of questioning, but the production assistant, who he could see in one of the monitors, was circling her hand indicating it was time wrap things up. Brian was sure that A.J. was grinding his teeth.
“Well, Brian, that’s all the time we have here today. I want to thank you for joining us. Good luck with your new series. I’m A.J. Hammer in New York, with Brian Kinney, at our CNN studios in Atlanta. Brian stars in the new Fox series Vanished which airs on Monday nights at 9 p.m.”
“And we’re out...” a voice called from across the room. The local production assistant came by, divested Brian of his microphone, and thanked him for his time. In ten minutes, Brian was in a cab and headed back to the studio.