EPISODE 5: DATE WITH REQUIEM
Em had actually shoved the camera crew out of her bathroom so that she could get ready. Being from Canada, she enjoyed rather hot showers, so when she stepped out of the bathroom, it was accompanied by a billowed cloud of steam. Wrapped in a towel, hair dripping onto her shoulders, she flips a rock gesture at the camera crew, then disappeared into her room to dress. A loud whir of a hair dryer could be heard and then she'd emerge in her black dress, accented with teal lace. She figured she should get fancied up, since it was supposed to be a date. As she rode in the limo to where ever she was being taken, her toes tapped nervously. As much as she'd been here just to promote her business, she really hadn't been on a date since she came to this town, and she didn't know what to expect.
James had arrived to the boardwalk in a separate limo not long ago. Camera crew, sound guy, and clip board guy were all standing about but were at just enough distance to give James some breathing room. This reality show stuff was not easy. All of that was pushed aside though as he awaited with some excitement for Em to appear. She had stood out in the first meeting and he was looking forward to seeing her again. And of course it didn't matter where they were... he would always wear a suit.
The limo pulled up beside the board walk and let Em out. She'd emerge from the door with her colorful hair pulled back into a pony tail and her heels clicking on the wooden planks. Em offers a smile to her date when she came out. "Good evening, James." She greets politely as she steps up to him.
James smiled as he saw the limo approaching. He wasn't a smiling man, life had made his rough and tough and... gruff. But as Em approached him he found himself lightening his expression towards her. A gentlemanly hand extended towards her as she greeted him and if she allowed it, a kiss would be placed a top it. "Evening Em. You look lovely. How have you been?" he inquired as was the nice thing to do, and he genuinely did care.
James had arrived to the boardwalk in a separate limo not long ago. Camera crew, sound guy, and clip board guy were all standing about but were at just enough distance to give James some breathing room. This reality show stuff was not easy. All of that was pushed aside though as he awaited with some excitement for Em to appear. She had stood out in the first meeting and he was looking forward to seeing her again. And of course it didn't matter where they were... he would always wear a suit.
The limo pulled up beside the board walk and let Em out. She'd emerge from the door with her colorful hair pulled back into a pony tail and her heels clicking on the wooden planks. Em offers a smile to her date when she came out. "Good evening, James." She greets politely as she steps up to him.
James smiled as he saw the limo approaching. He wasn't a smiling man, life had made his rough and tough and... gruff. But as Em approached him he found himself lightening his expression towards her. A gentlemanly hand extended towards her as she greeted him and if she allowed it, a kiss would be placed a top it. "Evening Em. You look lovely. How have you been?" he inquired as was the nice thing to do, and he genuinely did care.
Em placed her hand in his as she drew nearer, more accustomed to the handshake greeting, but she should have seen the hand kiss coming. A little color rises in her cheeks. Em wasn't so good at taking compliments or being the center of attention. "Thank you," she answers, smoothing out her dress a bit as if it were flipped in places. "Doing well, feeling a little restless, not being able to work. I hardly know what to do with myself throughout the days in the Mansion. I've mostly been reading out on the little beach, under a beach umbrella the crew has been kind enough to provide for me."
James nodded as she answered his question, the pink in her cheeks was hard to miss and it caused him to sport just the faintest of smiles, the kind that you see more in the eyes than on the lips. "Well that certainly is nice of them." Looking around he was grateful that the boardwalk wasn't particularly crowded today. Was surprised as well because it was a lovely Saturday evening. His eyes rested on the ferris wheel and he looked back to her. "Well Em... I have a very important question of course. Are you a ferris wheel person?" his way of asking her if she was up for joining him for a ride... on the ferris wheel of course.
Em had tried to ask the crew where she was going, but since they hadn't been forthcoming, she'd thought it would be dinner or something like that. Instead, she was shoved out into the sunlight without her parasol. Luckily, it was the evening, and not particularly brutal in the sun at this hour. She looks from James and his tiny smirk and over to the ferris wheel, then back again. "Of course! Who doesn't do ferris wheels?" She asked.
James nodded in a determined fashion "Great then." as he gestured with his free hand so as to say 'after you' in silent fashion, leading her up to the ferris wheel ticket booth where the NPC ticket person was dealing with the small group of kids ahead of them. Once approaching the booth James asked for a ticket, it looked really fake. Truth was production already had bought their tickets and funny enough all they showed was him asking, and the tickets handed to him, but no payment exchanged. How real! As one of the compartments stopped in front of them he held out a hand to help her in, the other gripped his cane, and only after she settled in would he take a seat himself. Once settled he would ask "So Em... someone as accomplished as you... what do you see in someone that helps you to conclude whether they are the one for you or not?"
Em followed James over to the ticket booth and waited while the tickets were exchanged. She'd fold her hands in the small of her back while she waits, looking up at the wheel, then down to the kids that were ahead of them. Em actually rather liked children, for the most part. Em would accept the hand up to get into the gondola and then sit down before he joined her. The camera crew set up a remote camera and moved into the next gondola to control it. "Accomplished? I wouldn't say I'm accomplished. I'm still learning, really. The one... it's sort of a myth that there's a set ideal of what that could be. I used to think that 'my type' was blond and blue eyed, but I don't think I've ever actually dated a blond. Life and love happen, regardless of any sort of pre-conception."
James nodded as she answered his question, the pink in her cheeks was hard to miss and it caused him to sport just the faintest of smiles, the kind that you see more in the eyes than on the lips. "Well that certainly is nice of them." Looking around he was grateful that the boardwalk wasn't particularly crowded today. Was surprised as well because it was a lovely Saturday evening. His eyes rested on the ferris wheel and he looked back to her. "Well Em... I have a very important question of course. Are you a ferris wheel person?" his way of asking her if she was up for joining him for a ride... on the ferris wheel of course.
Em had tried to ask the crew where she was going, but since they hadn't been forthcoming, she'd thought it would be dinner or something like that. Instead, she was shoved out into the sunlight without her parasol. Luckily, it was the evening, and not particularly brutal in the sun at this hour. She looks from James and his tiny smirk and over to the ferris wheel, then back again. "Of course! Who doesn't do ferris wheels?" She asked.
James nodded in a determined fashion "Great then." as he gestured with his free hand so as to say 'after you' in silent fashion, leading her up to the ferris wheel ticket booth where the NPC ticket person was dealing with the small group of kids ahead of them. Once approaching the booth James asked for a ticket, it looked really fake. Truth was production already had bought their tickets and funny enough all they showed was him asking, and the tickets handed to him, but no payment exchanged. How real! As one of the compartments stopped in front of them he held out a hand to help her in, the other gripped his cane, and only after she settled in would he take a seat himself. Once settled he would ask "So Em... someone as accomplished as you... what do you see in someone that helps you to conclude whether they are the one for you or not?"
Em followed James over to the ticket booth and waited while the tickets were exchanged. She'd fold her hands in the small of her back while she waits, looking up at the wheel, then down to the kids that were ahead of them. Em actually rather liked children, for the most part. Em would accept the hand up to get into the gondola and then sit down before he joined her. The camera crew set up a remote camera and moved into the next gondola to control it. "Accomplished? I wouldn't say I'm accomplished. I'm still learning, really. The one... it's sort of a myth that there's a set ideal of what that could be. I used to think that 'my type' was blond and blue eyed, but I don't think I've ever actually dated a blond. Life and love happen, regardless of any sort of pre-conception."
James listened as she spoke, doing his best to not pay attention to the crew that was not that far from them "Well I don't think there is anything like a type. I think though that we naturally look for qualities that resonate with us and those qualities will motivate us to explore further. I look for intelligence, but not the obvious kind." he looked to her as if asking silently 'what about you?'. As the wheel began to move he retained a firm grip on his cane with one hand while holding on to his seat with the other.
Em shifted and used her hands to smooth the skirt of her dress over her lap as the ride shifted into gear and they began to rise up. She rests her hands in her lap afterward, not really bothered by the height, and in fact she closed her eyes and lifted her face toward the sun briefly as they rose and the wind picked up, blowing her hair off her shoulders. After a moment, she'd look back to James. "I suppose the key traits that would attract me would be intelligence and a good sense of humor."
James turned his head to where she did, more as a reaction to her movement. As she began to answer, he turned back to face her and nodded sagely to her response. "Definitely qualities that are important in any lasting relationship... even in a friendship I would say." He paused for a moment, a dramatic moment, at least that's how the editors were going to make it look on TV "What do you really hope to get out of this Em... in the end of it all?" He had seen the initial interview and he wondered about her motives a little.
Em looks over to James as they sat at the top of the wheel. She was doing a pretty good job of ignoring the camera. She certainly wasn't looking into it like she was monologuing. When he asked what she expected, she'd nod her head. "To tell you the truth, I came into this without any sort of expectation. The idea that I might have a strategy or tactics to try and trick someone into falling in love with me just seems so fake and forced and not something I would want to be a part of. If someone is going to love me, they're going to love me for me, so tactics and strategies are pointless. I can't expect anything, because raised expectations leads to disappointment. But if all I hope to get out of this is some exposure and a unique experience, then I will be happy with whatever happens. If something more than that happens, then it's all just an added bonus from there."
James admired the view from up top. it was easy to, as they towered over the city and could see far and wide. His attention returned to her soon enough as she was giving her side of things. "I am a man that has lived life... and I'm certainly not oblivious to the fact that some people have interests in this show other than me. But your honesty is wonderfully refreshing Em. Thank you. And I agree... that if more happens than just the experience it would be an added bonus. You seem to have a great head on your shoulders at such a young age." he smiled. As the ride started to proceed to pull them downwards he continued to enjoy the view.
Em shifted and used her hands to smooth the skirt of her dress over her lap as the ride shifted into gear and they began to rise up. She rests her hands in her lap afterward, not really bothered by the height, and in fact she closed her eyes and lifted her face toward the sun briefly as they rose and the wind picked up, blowing her hair off her shoulders. After a moment, she'd look back to James. "I suppose the key traits that would attract me would be intelligence and a good sense of humor."
James turned his head to where she did, more as a reaction to her movement. As she began to answer, he turned back to face her and nodded sagely to her response. "Definitely qualities that are important in any lasting relationship... even in a friendship I would say." He paused for a moment, a dramatic moment, at least that's how the editors were going to make it look on TV "What do you really hope to get out of this Em... in the end of it all?" He had seen the initial interview and he wondered about her motives a little.
Em looks over to James as they sat at the top of the wheel. She was doing a pretty good job of ignoring the camera. She certainly wasn't looking into it like she was monologuing. When he asked what she expected, she'd nod her head. "To tell you the truth, I came into this without any sort of expectation. The idea that I might have a strategy or tactics to try and trick someone into falling in love with me just seems so fake and forced and not something I would want to be a part of. If someone is going to love me, they're going to love me for me, so tactics and strategies are pointless. I can't expect anything, because raised expectations leads to disappointment. But if all I hope to get out of this is some exposure and a unique experience, then I will be happy with whatever happens. If something more than that happens, then it's all just an added bonus from there."
James admired the view from up top. it was easy to, as they towered over the city and could see far and wide. His attention returned to her soon enough as she was giving her side of things. "I am a man that has lived life... and I'm certainly not oblivious to the fact that some people have interests in this show other than me. But your honesty is wonderfully refreshing Em. Thank you. And I agree... that if more happens than just the experience it would be an added bonus. You seem to have a great head on your shoulders at such a young age." he smiled. As the ride started to proceed to pull them downwards he continued to enjoy the view.
Em looks back to James and smiles, nodding her head once at him. "You're welcome. There's really no point in being something or someone I'm not. Even if it's for a camera," she says motioning toward the camera on the stand. "Because, eventually, the truth would come out anyway." She leans back on the edge of the gondola and smiles again. "Have you been enjoying the experience of multiple women vying for your attention?"
James would nod with understanding. "Well... its not too different from the life I've always lived to be very honest. Its not surprising that successful and established men in this town get their fare share of attention. What I will say though is I am certainly enjoying the experience of meeting lovely and interesting women that I otherwise would not have the pleasure of knowing. That is the unique part of the experience for me." The gondola arrives at its starting point and James moves to get out, putting out his hand again, the gentleman he was, to assist her if she took it.
Em smiles warmly at the answer she was provided and she took his hand to get out of the gondola when they reached the bottom again. "Thank you for that little ride. The breeze up there is lovely. The conversation was delightful also. I rather enjoy some intelligent conversation."
James nodded in agreement "Couldn't agree more." when his eye caught the PA signalling that they were to wrap it up. A quick nod to the young man as he started to slowly walk with Em to where the limos were parked and waiting. "Well Em, I do hope we have more intelligent conversations in our future. It was lovely spending this time with you and... I suppose we meet again soon at the mansion. I hope you have a wonderful evening." a respectful bow of his head before ending their date.
Later in the limo James would admit "Em.. certainly seems to be a lot like the kind of woman I would look for. She's intelligent and serious and accomplished so much already. She is very young but, has a good head on her shoulders." Camera cuts out and cuts back in "Very beautiful as well. But it does concern me that she has ulterior motives, though its hard to say that the others don't. I have some thinking to do." The Limo drives James off to his house.
James would nod with understanding. "Well... its not too different from the life I've always lived to be very honest. Its not surprising that successful and established men in this town get their fare share of attention. What I will say though is I am certainly enjoying the experience of meeting lovely and interesting women that I otherwise would not have the pleasure of knowing. That is the unique part of the experience for me." The gondola arrives at its starting point and James moves to get out, putting out his hand again, the gentleman he was, to assist her if she took it.
Em smiles warmly at the answer she was provided and she took his hand to get out of the gondola when they reached the bottom again. "Thank you for that little ride. The breeze up there is lovely. The conversation was delightful also. I rather enjoy some intelligent conversation."
James nodded in agreement "Couldn't agree more." when his eye caught the PA signalling that they were to wrap it up. A quick nod to the young man as he started to slowly walk with Em to where the limos were parked and waiting. "Well Em, I do hope we have more intelligent conversations in our future. It was lovely spending this time with you and... I suppose we meet again soon at the mansion. I hope you have a wonderful evening." a respectful bow of his head before ending their date.
Later in the limo James would admit "Em.. certainly seems to be a lot like the kind of woman I would look for. She's intelligent and serious and accomplished so much already. She is very young but, has a good head on her shoulders." Camera cuts out and cuts back in "Very beautiful as well. But it does concern me that she has ulterior motives, though its hard to say that the others don't. I have some thinking to do." The Limo drives James off to his house.