Disclaimer: Don't own the characters. Beck doesn't look great in this one. Just a thought.
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Beck sighed as he looked out his window. 'How did I wind up… THIS?!' Disgust colored his thoughts as he stood in his condominium apartment, overlooking New York, just to the east of the major Broadway Theaters. He'd originally chosen it both because he could afford it's outraged price, situated in the theater Districts of Manhattan, but lived there as much for the convenience. It was close, withing a couple of miles, of most of the Broadway theaters he'd play at in his career. Yes, he made the right contacts, shed a burden that was holding him down, and wound up a successful actor at a relatively young age. Only, along the way, he'd forgotten who he used to be.
'When did I turn into this user?' He asked again in his 4200 square foot condo. Three bedrooms and a few other amenities, including it's location in a high rise in Manhattan made it more than worth the money. However, he felt like sometimes, the way he seemed to prey on the youth and innocence of some of the background players in the plays he starred in, it felt like instead of heading to work, he was heading down to fifth and 51st to troll the Lego store. 'Or Saint Patrick's Cathedral, just across the street.' He thought, but the joke fell flat. No, he'd become a user, luring background players who had decent looks, but no shot at more than just being a dancer in the background, to his large condo and seducing them.
Beck hadn't always been that guy, at least not to his mind. He'd been the guy with no secrets. Only, as with so much of his life, in the end that had been more a ploy, to seem deep and mature, than the actual truth. He had a clear locker, and gave the image of a man with no secrets. Only, he dated Jade West, his so called anchor, back in high school. 'How can the man with no secrets date the girl full of them?' He again wondered, even as he heard the door click, letting him know last nights conquests had vacated his home.
He'd been quite rude when he told them they had to go. Spelled out what the previous night had been, and made it very clear he had no intentions of any romantic entanglements. His old excuse had always been Jade, in one way or another. Either he loved her, didn't want to hurt her, but had been driven to other woman's arms by her constant demands. Later, after he shed her, how he'd complain about damaged he'd become by her actions. Now it was simply that she turned out to be gay, and it hurt his male ego. Regardless, it was bunk. He did love Jade, that much was true. He'd just never been able to be more than her friend with benefits, at least not in his heart.
'Just glad she's with Tori now…' He thought, though again for the wrong reasons. 'Funny, I should be happy she found love, when what I'm happy about is that Tori, for all her flaws, never had a reason to hold a grudge against me. Tori being my friend means Jade uses me, reliable Beck, to anchor some of her theatrical works, and I have yet another new play, tested and ready for Broadway, that just needs a lead who can draw. Won me two Tony's that way. And Jade, she gets to be one of the most sought after writers and creators in the entertainment industry. Really Glad Tori leaves running the New York branch of their production empire to her charity case of a sister. Speaking of, I'd check and see how she did at last nights party. Betting she pulled, and knowing her taste in men, she probably needs me to come over and eject her mistake.'
It was a short walk, as the last reason the not so nice Beck got this place was he'd found it had a neighbor, only two flights up, that Tori could buy for her sister. It turned out to be the last part of the bribe that got Trina to change careers and manage the New York branch of "Two Witches", their production company. Trina had a good ear for music, a good eye for talent, and turned out to be very good at getting these plays made, once Jade had finished writing them. Success and money and the same lack of belief in herself that Beck now used to his advantage made her the perfect extra friend to have in this city. 'I should just marry her, except I still wanna play the field. Trina, you're an okay friend, but honestly, as good as you are at this job, you should never have gotten in. On paper, there are so many better choices. But Tori thinks the money is in movies, and so does Jade, and they feel, after that last profit bomb, they can just give Trina this as a charity case. Betting the don't even realize I make them money…'
No, Beck had been a monster for a lot longer than he'd ever be willing to admit, having started dating Jade for her ability to keep him out of other entanglements. 'Too bad I had to dump her, but Tori saved us both, cause with Tori by her side, and admittedly, some early advice from Trina, Jade turned it around. In the time it took me to ascend the ranks on Broadway, to win the top spot, she turned it around and became a success.'
In his dressing gown, with his key in his pocket, he stood outside Trina's door, and using the spare key she'd given him, entered, seeking out what disaster she'd slept with. It was time to earn his next favor, by making sure his contact, his friend with contacts, was okay. Beck may have become a user, but he knew, in his heart, that he had to maintain that relationship, and that meant baling Trina out of her own mistake.
Trina was laying in bed, in no hurry to get up. 'Of course, I've already been up, did my hot yoga and everything. The advantage of this place, the so called tiny apparent, barely 3100 square feet, is I have a room just for Yoga, up until I decide I need it for something else.'
Trina had an odd problem, she just couldn't sleep past six in the morning, a holdover from her time at Hollywood Arts. Not that she was depriving herself of sleep, given how late her life often had to be. No, the girl had mastered the art of the nap, and often slipped back in bed once she got in her morning workout, and probably a quick cleanup. 'Last nights playmate is still here...'
She didn't bother to remember his name, because it didn't mater. Justin something or other, from the evening news, background. Man may someday make it to being more than the occasional reporter, local, but not if he just jumped in bed with the first girl who seemed to respond to his lines. 'Truth is, you're hot, almost Beck level, and I could easily pretend your fame made you desirable. If only you were a keeper, or at least decent in bed….'
The Latina wasn't crazy about the lifestyle, but had basically given up. 'I'm casting a play, have two in rotation, both of which are making money, and yet my sister, my own sister still thinks of me as a charity case. Sometimes I'm tempted to move out of this place and find my own. Wouldn't be hard, I earn enough. Only, there are perks to living here…' Her mind drifted to her one time obsession, and still friend Beck, who lived in a larger unit only two stories down. 'Maybe I should think about trading up, as in the twenty fifth floor, where they have some of the larger Condo's…' Again, the one time status obsessed girl thought better. 'Still need Jade feeding me those plays, her so called rejects from her movie career, that I can use to make them soooo much money… I swear, jade has no idea how talented she really is. Just, had to get Rob on retainer, cause the boy, not the best at lyrics, but fuck, I'm not bad, and as long as I rein him in, the music he produces for those plays I deem would work better as musicals fit. I've got a musical, a Jade West original, with score and lyrics by Robbie Shapiro, Jade West, and I'm sure we have another person, and I can't remember when there was two open seats next to each other. All but sold out in every performance. Yea, I did good, and deserve this…' Her brown eyes took in the still sleeping form of 'I wanna say Jaxson...'
The sound of jigging in the front door lock told her it was time for the next act. 'Beck isn't doing well on his own. This fucked up New York lifestyle, the same on that hides behind family friendly Hollywood, it's jenked up in so many ways. So much sex, just there, and it takes a lot, and I mean a LOT, of will not to indulge. Me, at first, it was candy, up until it wasn't. I think I needed more, and you, Beck, you give it to me. Fuck, I'm not even playing around, trying to shock you any more. No, when I bring someone home to screw, not it's for the fun I can get from them, for that one day…'
Her brown eyes took I the form of Beck as he walked in, ready to "Save her" again from her own mistakes. 'Only, how are you saving me, when I'm not the one who has to be rude to get rid of my one night stands. Most people I sleep with have no idea how much control, money, or power I have. My sister, my terrifying sister-in-law, those two provide me more cover then I know what to do with. Only downside, it's SO much easier to draw if I let my freak flag fly, which is why there's a better than even chance that the one laying next to me is a girl, looking for some fun, but not expecting much more than the sex. No, for whatever reason, and I still can't figure out why, I'm more likely to have some guy get attached, like you are…'
"So, last nights plaything?" Beck asked.
"I wanna say Jayyyyyyy...Son?" Trina let out, smirking at the look on the boys face. 'Beck's starting to feel how hollow this lifestyle can be. Boy, I'm there, and still enjoying it, because I have you. You, you'll keep playing, up until we're ready to stop. I know my way out of this hole is with you by my side. However, until you're ready, I'm gonna have my fun. Not that desperate wanna be any more. I know who and what I am, and I can make or break a play. Give me Jade's rejects, I'll mine out the best, and put those on stage. Me and Rob, and you. You, Beck my some day husband, for when you're ready to try and find the Beck you used to be. God, how do I explain that this is, in one degree, who you've always been? Know what, lets table that till later, cause right now…'
Beck had walked into her bedroom to rouse the man there, and after a brief discussion was escorting the guy out. "I'm just saying, when she doesn't know your name, it's not a good sign." The actor was explaining. "But hay, she remembered the first letter, and that's something…"
"She's that flaky?" Justin asked.
"No, you were that forgettable." Beck clammed the mans ego. "Trina has no problem finding guys to sleep with, and I think the best thing I CAN say about you is she chose you over her second string choices, which as the girls willing to sleep with anyone famous adjacent. You do know who her sister is…" Beck pushed the man out the door, and turned to Trina. "So, Breakfast?"
"Was I even close?" Trina asked.
"Justin, from action news Eleven." Beck filled her in. "Should have gone for Connie. Co-anchor, late twenties, kinda hot…"
"If it'll make you happy." Trina droned, but they were friends, and for now, she'd let him indulge in his fantasies. 'After all, I'm playing the long game…'
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Just a story using Beck and Trina, and I kinda like it. So, review and let me know what you think.
