there are prizes all around you if you're wise enough to see

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[abad_influence]

[This part he's actually good at (16). He molds himself to the shadows, doing his best to blend in with the rest of the workers and keep himself from being noticed by looking out of the ordinary.]

[praevaricatio]

( unfortunately, there's a stressed personal assistant with eyes everywhere (19) who steps in front of him with a clipboard, and balancing an iPad ontop.

"I don't recognize you," he says, clocking his laniard. )

[abad_influence]

[Lucas flashes him a small smile, before holding up the lanyard so they can take a better look.]

Tom Baker. I'm new, but I'm on the list.

[It's probably the fact that it's true that carries most of the lie (19). This is the part that he is good at, hunters are always better when they're pretending to be someone else.]

[praevaricatio]

( the personal assistant is stressed but believing him, especially as he double checks the name on the crew sheet (15)

"You're on here," he says, triple checking the name again. "You were brought in because Sandra went into double OT," he says, making a note underneath on the iPad on the clipboard. "Thank you, Colleen. Did Colleen assign you to talent?" )

[abad_influence]

[Now he's going to just wing it and try and seize the opportunity while he has it:]

Yeah, she wanted me to see if Ms. Sanchez needed anything.

[That like has a balder face, but he still manages to pull it off well (16).]

[praevaricatio]

( (7) her personal assistant studies him, but his ease with lying does make it a credible ask. he goes blank for a second, as if he's supposed to be processing this.

"You've been hands on with talent before?" )

[abad_influence]

[He so has not. But he has heard some things about celebrities, so he assumes there's some crazy demands somewhere (14).]

Yeah, but I haven't gotten read in on her particular needs yet. Is there anything in her contract I should be worried about?

[praevaricatio]

( shuffling the iPad under her arm, this is what he was actually waiting for. he has such a long list on his plate! he rips a page and holds it out. )

Her trailer is the last one on the right, but she's in with the writers right now. Do me a favor and double - triple check her rider for me. She wants ramen, so I'll see you in - I don't even know - an hour? But, message me if you have any questions.

[abad_influence]

You got it.

[He does give it a cursory glance as he walks towards the door, to see if there's anything he can use, but ideally he wants to just post himself in her trailer and wait for her to finish the day. He reaches for his phone to send off a text.]

Found the trailer. When's the envoy showing up?

[praevaricatio]

( anything he can use? there are steps up to the door. there's a sign on the door that says Rosalyn Sanchez. it's a very open concept parking lot.

he could fit under the trailer, and he could climb ontop pretty easily with his skills. but why would he?

Ezra pivots over quickly to the twins, Rusty, Sierra, David, because that's the established conversation.

What's your ETA? )

[tearhiseyesout]

[He's not feeling like that much of a ninja, no.

Jaqueline leans forward to check out the driver's GPS.]

It says fifteen minutes, but we've been hitting literally every red light.

[Possibly intentionally on the twins part.]

[praevaricatio]

K

( to Lucas )

Fifteen minutes out, but that's until they get to the gate. I'd tack on fifteen more to drive through the studio lot.

So, nope, not too much he could do from outside. Best bet might be inside. )

[abad_influence]

[Tucking his phone away, he leans forward to listen to the door, seeing if the writers are still inside, or if "Ms. Sanchez" is currently alone (16).]

[praevaricatio]

( a conversation is ending, quite clearly, an accented 'Thank you,' follows as the door opens and a nebbishy writer comes face to face with -

"Oh, hey, sorry," he says, moving around "Tom," stepping down the steps.

"Harvey, one more -" Rosalyn says, coming to the doorway. "thing." She studies "Tom" for a second. "Harvey," he stops and turns. "Never mind, just send the pink pages to set," she asks, finally regarding Lucas.

"Come in, come in," she says, moving back into her trailer. She grabs a few nuts from a bowl, moving to the other side. She sweeps her robe's train out from under her so she can sit on the couch. "To what do I owe this pleasure? Tell me, what does Colleen need. I will help with anything, as long as it doesn't push into my scene."

[abad_influence]

I'm sure she wouldn't dream of it.

[He steps in, closing the door behind him and gently slipping the anti-magic hex bag over the doorknob as he flicks the lock, trying to do this subtly (12). There's not a lot of space in here for him to do so, but he doesn't think this will last that long anyway.]

Unfortunately, Collen isn't the one who sent me.

[praevaricatio]

( the drama and flourish, and vanity (1) catches Rosalyn in her own reflection, not hearing the lock or spotting the hex bag slipped over the handle.

"Tell me, what does Sandra want now?" she simply asks. )

[abad_influence]

Sandra didn't send me either.

[He wonders if he should just rush it. Could he just snap her neck and be done with it? She doesn't seem to be paying attention. He doesn't want this turning into a huge fight.

He can't just say it isn't personal, because it is. It's his life over hers. But he can't help but feel a little bad for the woman that she's inhabiting, the family she's leaving behind who may or may not know all the dirty little secrets.

Still, he shoves those thoughts down as he strides across to meet her, and attempt to get her into a chokehold to keep things quiet (11). No point in dragging things out.]

[praevaricatio]

( She knows what's happening. It was only a matter of time. Unlike others in the circle, she knows that with every jump, she's on borrowed time. She doesn't fight it, barely turns her head before his arm is around her neck. She had a whole speech repaired about the frailty and beauty of life. And how she finally fulfilled her long ago potential. The Roslyn Sanchez. Tell Eric I loved him. Because she had. But all of it goes unsaid.

She does sputter out. )

Good. Fight. For. Your... self.

( She doesn't tug at his arm, or even pull herself off the sofa or make any commotion. She surrenders to her fate.

She does keep her eyes on him the entire time. He should look her in the eye as he kills her, shouldn't he? )

[abad_influence]

[It's unnerving, the way she doesn't fight him, but he doesn't stop either. He holds the chokehold until she stops struggling, and then waits a bit longer until he's sure that she's stopped breathing. Until he's sure she's dead.

He wonders, briefly, if he should feel different now that the job is done. If he should feel better or worse. If he should frame this to look more like an accident, more intentional.

But in the end, he decides to just leave it. Her slumped over the makeup table, nothing else disturbed, and prepares to make his escape. He waits until the footsteps outside lessen, heads out back into the trailers and disappears off the set (20).

Like a ghost, he was never there.]

[praevaricatio]

( he slips out, no one the wiser. one assistant offsite, the bustle of the set easy to navigate back through craft services.

ezra sits in the car, reading something on his phone. )

[abad_influence]

[Lucas slides into the seat next to him when he finally arrives, not really sure what else to say beyond the obvious:]

It's done. Let's go.

[And honestly that's all he wants to say on the matter. His feelings are definitely not for these people.]

[praevaricatio]

( He cradles his phone, puts the car in drive and takes off. He gets a good few minutes away before he asks, )

You okay?

( Meanwhile, from Rusty's vantage point, gaffing cables over his shoulder, Lucas has slipped in and out.

The twins' vehicle makes its' way through the studio lot. )

[tearhiseyesout]

["I'll be fine," he replies, before texting Coop to make sure that Miranda and Grayson are still Miranda and Grayson.

Jaqueline stretches her legs as the town car pulls to a stop, stretching her legs before scanning for any sign of trouble (18).]

So far, so quiet.

[praevaricatio]

( They are not any different, but the familiar markings of a body chosen to be inhabited are gone.

Jaqueline sees no sign of trouble as another PA opens the door of the town car and takes her hand as he helps her out.

"You're with her management team," the blonde with curls asks, making sure he's meeting the right two people. )

[tearhiseyesout]

That we are.

[She flashes them a very fake smile, as management teams do.]

Is she waiting in her trailer?