Welcome to Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday. Snippets of ten sentences or less are yours for the reading!
When last we met, Blade started a very public game with Bo over a drink. We pick back up with it as they both play out their roles of holofeature bad boy and his elegant and refined Kiara mistress under the unblinking eye of both his adoring public and the unforgiving media.
***
“People are watching. You have to play coy, or I won’t let you have it at all. Shake your head no if you understand.”
“I hate when you get in this mood,” she sighed. Perhaps it was better to humor him. She shook her head and turned slightly away from the drink.
“Oh that was a nice touch.”
She nodded towards the glass. “Is everything a game to you?”
“Pretty much,” he said.
***
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Gotta Name My Blog 
Very nice. Blade’s such a bad boy. *sigh*
Bad boys have their place.
Oh, and dreamy. Let’s not forget that.
😛
Great exchange. Really defines the layers of relationship between these two and the public and personal personas. Fun read.
Thank you. I really like peeling back the layers of complex relationships.
As much as I want to be a famous author when I grow up, the reality of fame, with everyone watching all the time and the toll it must take to get that “public perception” right every minute, must be exhausting.
This book explores the nature of fame and the toll living in the public eye can take.
After working in television for twelve years, I saw my share of celebrities make the shift between personas as the need arose.
The “old-timers” who’ve spend the most time in the public eye make it look easy as they shift between personality and professional. They insulate themselves behind invisible walls that are nearly impossible to get through.
No matter how relaxed they seem, they are very guarded and aware that their every word and gesture is being recorded somewhere by someone, even in supposedly relaxed social occasions at their own homes with close friends. You see some melting of it, but it only takes a word to send the walls back up to full-strength.
It’s very hard to call someone like that a friend. To me, they feel more like acquaintances because you will seldom ever see them completely unguarded.
What amazes me is that Blade’s so dang analysing. “Oh that was a nice touch.” Sheesh. I’d be rolling my eyes at him if I was Bo – and probably if the stakes weren’t so high.
The little secret is that Bo finds it (and him) exciting. The stakes *are* high and it’s a bit of a thrill for her to be so exposed. He knows exactly what he’s doing to her and the effect it’s having on her. The man is an adrenaline junkie after all.
I’m with Laurel. Not only does he manipulate and prod until she’s playing the game he wants, he then analyzes and compliments her performance. I know pretending in public is a game that everyone plays, and that celebrities do it more than most, but it’s a dangerous game to play. Can spiral into so many sticky situations. Really fun to read, JC.
The man does love his mind games. Thanks!
I love their battles: those with their private and public persona and those with each other.
Thanks! They’re a lot of fun to write.
For some reason, I found that interaction incredibly sexy. Bad boys seem to have that effect.
Especially that bad boy. I am unapologetically his biggest fan.
Somehow, I figure she’s going to get more than even with him when they eventually find themselves alone… 🙂
The next scene is a lot of fun, too. She does get her vengeance.
Sounds like she doesn’t find it as much fun as he apparently does. Hope she gets payback!
Don’t be deceived. She loves this. As for the payback — always!!
It’s all fun and games, until…
So who’s losing the eye? I hope Bo at least gets her drink in the end. It is creepy to know that they’re being watched, though, and can’t just…be.
You’ll just have to stick around to see about the drink. 😉