an introverted actor
a mansion
two people who hate each other have to cook a meal
“If all the kings had their kings on the throne, we would pop champagne and raise a toast. To all the queens who are fighting alone, baby you’re not dancing on your own.” Lydi sang along to the radio as she worked swifty around the kitchen, easily hip checking an open drawer and spinning around as it slid close with a gentle click. Delighting in her own little dance, it took her a moment to realize someone was watching her in the doorway. A pretty flush coated her cheeks, and she turned away, trying to hide her slight embarrassment by bending down and checking the oven. She couldn’t help the little squeak as a hand landed precariously close to her bottom, and rising to stand quickly, she peeked up at the man before her. Only to give a soft little sigh when his big hands cupped her cheek and he bent down to brush his lips over hers. Lydi held the pose for a long moment, only pulling away when the words, “Cut!” Hit her ears. Reaching to brush her crimson hair out of dark green eyes, Lydi offered her coworker a smile she knew was polite and cheerful, just on the edge of being polite while also mostly saying a general - fuck you.
The man was insufferable. Rude, arrogant, and yet somehow the producers loved him. Lydi knew she struggled with her ability to be loud, outgoing, mostly being introverted. But she had fallen in love with drama in high school and had clawed and scraped her way to where she was at now. Granted it was just a little six episode series that would only air on Netflix and probably no one would watch it but it was foot in the door dammit! And she’d earned it by herself. Not because of money like Mr. Perfect over here. Unable to help the gasp of outrage as Julian only tweaked her nose, his smile infuriating and condescending. Sputtering, Lydi opened her mouth, for once forgetting her timid nature and about to thoroughly rip him into verbal pieces. But he had only turned away, already turning away to his adoring fans, hair and makeup already fussing over him.
Not that he needed any help, the man was a literal sex god. Lydi hated his guts, but she had to admit to the fact he was pretty. Blonde, with golden highlights, hair that brushed against his collar and fell against his eyes fetchingly, against baby blue eyes that sparkled with a sort of amusement for everything in the world. Pity he hated her, and she well.. she wanted to hate him. She really did. Mostly because she had NO idea why he didn’t like her when he liked everyone. With shoulders that were broad enough to carry the world on them, muscles that rippled under his tight white tee, having shucked off the button up shirt he’d been wearing for his character, and an ass that you could bounce a quarter off of. She only knew this, she rationalized to herself, because her coworker had dared Lydi to try and well.. she’d refused, her coworker had done it and then promptly blamed it on Lydi. And she.. like a dumbass, had blurted out that she didn’t like him and wouldn’t waste her time doing such stupid things. Huh, maybe that’s why he hated her. Sometimes she hated her mouth. Anxiety always tended to get the best of her when she was put on the spot without a paper to memorize lines before hand.
That’s why she loved drama, loved acting. She didn’t have to be Lydia Harson, plain Jane with a too skinny body, no breasts, no ass, and no hips, just a beanpole with a shock of red curls that wouldn’t ever be tamed no matter how much products she tried. She could be anyone she wanted. And currently she was one Melissa Nole, beloved wife of one Jonathan Nole. The show was meant to be a little slice of life of two happy married couples and the silly domestic activities. In this time period of darkness, of quarantine and couples breaking up left and right after realizing that they really weren’t compatible after all, the producers had decided the American people needed a fluffy ~happy~ married couples making it work, loving and laughing and marriages surviving. Lydi had to admit it was brilliant.
“I will end you.” The words were muttered under her breath, once the camera had panned away to show the rest of the kitchen. Their set was supposed to be a mansion, although it was just an ordinary house, with lots of clever angles and rather beautifully decorated even if all the antiques and other beautiful items were just lovely looking fakes. God that smile, Lydi wasn’t sure she wanted to smack it or kiss it off. He was such an asshole, she thought bitterly to herself, resolutely ignoring as he taunted her again. Something about wondering if the bunnies ever were confused by her. Whatever. He was stupid. All that beauty, no wonder he had no brains. Lydi resolutely ignored the fact the man had often shown an intelligence in the conversations she’d overheard, and turned her attention back to the scene they were working on. The Nole couple were supposed to be cooking a dinner together, all happy domestic fluff and well, Lydi was certain she would nail the scene. No matter what it took.
And so when Julian Kent, now firmly in the role of Jonathan, adoring husband, strode towards her with that silly little smile.. well, Lydi embraced the flutter that the smile gave her, falling resolutely into the role of Melissa and tugging on one silken curl with a silly little laugh, talking as if they had been mid-conversation about cooking, teaching her husband how to make traditional Irish dishes from Melissa’s homeland. She could hate him again after the filming had ended.