Astaroth is really just Astarte. (astarte) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2014-01-06 00:20:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, bela talbot, seth balmore |
Who: Bela and Seth.
What: Randomly meeting!
When: Saturday, 1/4.
Where: Lingerie store in Irvine.
Rating: PG-13 for language.
Status: Complete!
Bela was shopping at one of her favorite lingerie stores, now that it was safe to be out in a retail shop again. She’d gotten a nice Christmas bonus, and now she was spending it. Of course, she hadn’t had a date in almost a year, but if she couldn’t buy sexy underwear for herself, who could she buy it for.
Seth figured she may as well go get a few things. She and Ariel certainly weren’t anywhere to the point where he’d be seeing her undies, but it would give her a bit of confidence on her dates with him. Normally she could get it for free from her employers, but that always made her feel like a jerk. So she was humming a little to herself as she fished through racks, looking for a size 32D.
Bela was looking for a 32C, and as she pawed the racks, her hand ran into another woman’s. “Oh, sorry. Wait, I know you.” Well. Not know. But she was very familiar with Seth Balmore. “It’s nice to meet you, miss.” She didn’t say her name, in case any weird fans were nearby.
Blinking, Seth cocked her head to the side. “Have we - oh, right. Heh, hi.” Seth didn’t think she’d ever get used to being recognized, and she reached out to shake the woman’s hand.
“I’m sorry. I work in journalism; I know your face.” Bela smiled a little. “My name’s Bela.” She didn’t think she’d written anything too scandalous about Seth Balmore - a few little fluff pieces about male models, but nothing that might get her slapped.
“Hi, Bela. It’s nice to meet you too. What’re you looking for? Special occasion, or just because you’re awesome?” Seth believed firmly more people needed just because they were awesome panties.
“For now, just because. I haven’t had a date in a year, but I’ve decided not to give a damn.” Bela shrugged. “I would assume you would get this stuff for free, though.”
“I do, but I don’t take it. I already get paid way too much to prance around in it, I feel like taking it for free would just be rude.” Seth chuckled, looking down. “I already feel like a jerk half the time.”
“Why? You’re lovely, and you can make money being lovely. I have to write “news” about people.” Bela just hoped Seth didn’t have some friend she’d slandered. She didn’t think she’d slandered anyone lately.
That made Seth laugh. “Everyone’s lovely, though. I just make money by standing there and being bored. It feels cheap sometimes. But I do like the exposure it gets my charities.” Seth figured it was a double edged sword.
“Oh, I’m not lovely. And why shouldn’t you make money off other people’s willingness to let you stand there and be bored?” Bela shrugged. “Especially if you support charities. Which ones?”
“Oh, yes you are. And I don’t know, it just seems like a useless job. Maybe I’ll quit and become a teacher, do something that matters.” Seth wondered if this woman knew which charities she sponsored, and instead of answering right away, she handed Bela a business card. She was a founding member of the Pacific Ocean Conservation Group, and it said so in raised letters. “Mostly this one, some Greenpeace stuff.”
“Now this is the stuff we should be reporting on you, instead of which brainless male model you’ve managed to temporarily enrapture.” Bela sighed. “I hadn’t any idea that you were affiliated with that group.”
“What, you mean there’s a smart male model out there, and I haven’t met him?” Seth pretended to look shocked. “I mean, I’m sure there is, but I don’t know of any. I love my charity work. That stuff actually feels like work.”
Somehow, Bela found herself being honest. “I write for a gossip website. I wish I was doing real news. It’s a bit demeaning, having to write about other people’s one-night stands and all.” Some of it was hilarious, sure, but it wasn’t real news. “So I understand about the feeling like work bit.”
“I’m so sorry. Isn’t celebrity worship gross though?” Seth figured if anyone could sympathize, it’d be this lady.
“I don’t like it at all.” Bela shrugged. “I thought it was brilliant for a while, but it’s demeaning to someone with an actual journalism degree. I’m sorry, I’m sure you don’t give a toss.”
“I do, really, it’s nice to talk to someone who’s basically in my position. I have a degree in environmental agriculture, so not so much ... made for modelling, you know?” Seth laughed, shaking her head. “I only started to get my mom to shut up.”
“Your mum would rather you model than work in a real field?” Bela raised an eyebrow. She’d heard rumors about the Balmore family, but nothing even she would dignify with publishing.
“Of course she would. My mom’s an idiot.” Seth felt no qualms saying so, either.
She had to laugh. “Honest.” Bela grinned. “And purely off the record, don’t worry.”
“Oh, you could put it on, I don’t care. She knows what I think of her,” Seth winced.
“Some people get lucky with their families.” Bela finally said diplomatically. She got along with her mother, and her father was one of her best friends. “You don’t have any siblings, do you?” She rather hoped Seth did; that way a terrible parent wouldn’t have focused entirely on her.
“Nope,” Seth shrugged. “I was kind of a one off deal. They probably just needed more press.”
Bela blinked. “It can’t have been that bad?” Even as she said it, she realized how stupid it sounded, but having parents who just weren’t interested sounded almost ... well, awful.
Seth chuckled. “Yeah, it was. It was why the whole coke thing started.”
“That would do it. I’m sorry, you must think I’m a twat.” Bela looked away. “I promise, if I write about you anytime soon, I’ll make note of how amazingly patient you are.”
“Why would I think you’re a twat? You haven’t grabbed my ass once. Photographers, they’re twats. Come on, I’ll buy you a girlie coffee milkshake to make up for it.” Seth grinned, nodding at the bras Bela had picked out. “Those’ll be cute on you.”
“Oh, you don’t have to.” Bela was actually feeling a bit embarrassed now. “But thank you. And I refuse to give up the nice underwear just because I’ve got no boyfriend. So thank you for that.”
“You shouldn’t dress for guys anyway,” Seth grinned. “But seriously, let me buy you a drink. Friendly gesture.”
“All right.” She didn’t think she’d have to tell the office about it or something; it wasn’t a conflict of interest. “It’s nice of you to offer. I may talk to famous people, but you’d never know it. I trip on my tongue at times.”
“Oh, god, me too. I met George Clooney once and I think I just stared with my jaw hanging down.” Seth mimicked the gesture, giggling.
“Well, assuming you fancy blokes, why not?” Bela sighed. “Really urbane, charming men are absolutely gay, at least the ones you meet here. Jury’s still out on Mister Clooney, I think.”
“Oh, I do.” Seth grinned. “I think he’s probably omnisexual. I think he sleeps with whatever he wants that’ll have him, that he fancies.” She shrugged a shoulder and ambled toward the cash wrap.
“Wouldn’t shock me. Not like he couldn’t have half the galaxy anyway.” Bela followed, purchases in tow. “I wish I could have half the galaxy.”
“Would you want the whole half? I’d settle for wanting someone who wants me that I’m compatible with.” Ariel was a good start, and Seth knew it.
“Well, yes, but beggars can’t be choosers. Not that I’m a beggar. I don’t know, it’s after the holidays and my mum was bothering me about a boyfriend, and it got me thinking. And moping. My mum is a good mum, but she drives me mad. I’m sorry, you have no interest, I’m sure.” Bela sighed. That annoying English part of her was coming out.
“All moms do that, I know.” Seth chuckled. “I told mine I had to work, which was a big fat lie, I spent it with friends and then at home with some brandy and a book.” It had been utter bliss.
“Wish I’d been able to. I’m their only child, and not coming is not acceptable. If I had a boyfriend, they’d have demanded I bring him.” Bela’s sigh was fond but irritated.
“I’m an only kid too, but I think Mom and Dad’s careers were sort of their first born, if that makes sense. I feel more like a step kid half the time.” But she understood the passion to follow a dream; she wanted to help save so much of the world that she didn’t think she’d be a good mom in that moment either.
Bela had to remind herself not to put any of this on the record ever. Not with who she worked for. Maybe she could do a profile for a real magazine. With Seth’s consent, of course. Out loud she said, “Mum’s a housewife, and she always has been. I think it’s why she leaned on me so much. And if you want, there’s an indie shop just down the block for really good coffee.”
“Oooh, let’s do that. I bet they have baked goods too, I’m starving.” Seth smiled as she fished around in her not-expensive-looking-but-totally-expens
“From the bakery down the block. Nothing mass produced.” Bela grinned. Hopefully the owners wouldn’t recognize her new acquaintance.
“Bless them,” Seth beamed. She waited to the side for Bela to pay, then took her new friend’s arm. “But I insist on paying, and if you don’t let me, I’ll arm wrestle you.”
“Oh, fine.” Bela even felt good enough to make a joke about it. “Now that would be an exclusive.”
“Only if I lose,” Seth joked, flexing her arm to show off her muscles.
Bela laughed. “I dreamt once that I was a champion thumb wrestler. Isn’t that insane? I’ve no idea where it came from.” She’d heard talk about dreams on that valarnet bulletin board, and she was curious where it might have come from. It wasn’t outright manipulation, as the story about her mad dream was actually true.
“Do you have any of the weirdly realistic ones?” Seth wondered if she and her BFF Velma were the only ones.
“I haven’t yet.” Bela was so curious, though. “I just wonder. Everyone I know seems to have them and I can’t fathom why. I’ve lived here my entire life and never had any issue.”
“Well, that’s the weird thing. I grew up here, nothing. I leave for a while and come back, bam. My best friend and her fiancé have them too, it’s the damndest thing.” Seth shrugged and smiled. “They’re weird, but kind of neat, but scary.”
“I’ve only ever heard the bad.” Bela bit her lip. “I wanted to do a story on them, but was told by one of my boss’s boss’s bosses not to do it. Can’t argue, I daresay.” She didn’t even know the name that had been on the memo. Still, she needed money, so she had to keep the job.
“Yeah, it’d be kind of a National Enquirer bit. I dream I’m an immortal pirate. Not so much a sellable article for most.” Seth sighed a little to herself. “But a lot of fun to dream about the pirating parts.”
“An immortal pirate?” Bela echoed, holding the door for her as they headed down the block. “That sounds brilliant, actually. Do you get all the exciting bits?”
“I do, actually! All the swordfighting a geek could ask for.” She left out the part where her memories got erased from time to time so she could fight in wars. That part was a bummer.
“Sounds like fun.” Bela smiled. “I’m glad you at least get some good moments. I’ve heard terrible ones. Someone on the computer network was talking about werewolves, and ... yeah.”
“Yeah... some people’s are awful. Mine aren’t great, but I know they could be way, way worse. I hope yours, if you get them, are like ... something cute. With shopping. Singing too. Oh, man, I wish I had a musical.” Seth would’ve liked something from Broadway that wasn’t about orphans or anything too terrible. (Well, that ruled out 99% of them.)
“A musical might be good, or it might wind up like Les Miserables.” Bela wrinkled her nose. “Let’s not. I’d settle for a grand island adventure with some shirtless dark-skinned bloke. And suntan oil.”
“Okay, I hope that works out for you.” Seth smirked. “That sounds fantastic too. Hell, that reminds me a little bit of the reason why I went to Milan to begin with.” She’d wanted a change of scenery, and that had sounded warm.
“That’s right, you were over there for that lingerie campaign?” Bela racked her brain. “I’ve never seen Italy, unfortunately. I’d love to travel when I have the money.”
“Yeah, it was gorgeous. But I missed my friends, so I figured it was better to be here.” Seth smiled at Bela; she seemed like good people.
“Are you from around here? I seem to recall you were born in state. I’m sorry, that sounds creepy. I just have a good memory for press kits.” She was feeling less embarrassed, but she still wanted to be polite.
“I am, yeah, born and raised. It’s not creepy since your job. Or you could just have terrible taste in magazines.” Hey, Seth wouldn’t judge. Sometimes people got stuck at the doctor’s office.
“Probably both.” Bela smiled a bit. “Well, perhaps we can get some pastries while we’re here, to celebrate your homecoming.” And hopefully the fact that she’d made a friend. Seth seemed like a good person to know - and not just professionally.