Ene (impotentwaffle) wrote in politico,
@ 2010-01-04 13:12:00

Entry tags:

To Callaway, Backdated
"Are you sure I can't talk to him?" Parker said, clutching his manuscript to his chest. The publishing company had sent it back with a rejection letter and this was the last one Parker was going to take sitting down. He hadn't ever thought of getting an agent to do this sort of thing. All he knew about the writing industry was that he wanted in and damn if these people didn't tell him why his work wasn't good enough to get published when things like Twilight were being printed.

"No, Mr. Reigh. Mr. Sanders is in a meeting right now and even if he wasn't, it isn't likely that he would be able to take your request. He's very busy. Please, resubmit your manuscript at a later time." The woman was used to dealing with desperate writers who had been recently rejected by the company. Parker grit his teeth together and could hardly keep from slamming the stack of papers and the deceptively blithe manila envelope in which they'd sent his rejection down on the desk. He stood there, refusing to leave and the receptionist looked up at him blankly, stubbornly as their stand off began.

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impotentwaffle
2010-01-05 10:34 pm UTC (link)

"I'll bet you have more pull than you realize. I mean, you're a successful author, probably one of the best selling at that particular publisher." Parker had done his research and that's why he was getting so frustrated. Even though he felt as if he'd worked his ass off, he still wasn't cutting any breaks, or at least the kinds of breaks he wasn't too proud to take. Maybe he should rethink his strategy.

Dropping the envelope to his hand, Parker looked down at it. "It's about a king from a dying world being sent to ours to protect the lineage. He's reborn and lives a normal human life until strange things start to happen to him and he's called back to make a last stand for his home kingdom." It was a fantasy novel, but mostly it was about growing up feeling displaced somehow. When he talked about it, it was clear that it was personal.

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halloweenish
2010-01-05 11:11 pm UTC (link)

"Trust me, that doesn't mean he wants my imput on anything, he just wants this brain and these fingers to keep on typing," Callaway said. He was such an honest person that he hadn't even thought of threatening to leave if he didn't get his way about something, and he didn't realize that Sanders would probably do anything to keep him around.

Listening to Parker's summary, Callaway couldn't help but be even more intrigued. He'd had an inkling that the kid was talented, though he couldn't quite put his finger on way. Maybe it was something in the eyes, there was so much emotion in them that Callaway found it difficult to ignore. But hearing about the story, well, now he definitely wanted to read it.

"I'd very much like to read it, if you'd let me," he said softly, and earnestly.

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impotentwaffle
2010-01-06 05:52 am UTC (link)

He didn't know why he was hesitating so much. He wanted it published, right? That meant he wanted perfect strangers to read it, but something about the idea of this man in front of him reading it made him feel very exposed. His cheeks were taking on a rosy hue as he tried to imagine Callaway with his manuscript open on his lap, reading it. The man probably had a great flat, and a comfortable reading chair. He could picture him with knees bent, angular and drawn up to his chest as he flipped through the pages. It made him shiver a little. What if he didn't like it?

He still didn't answer the question, not quite ready to allow it. When they got inside the cafe, Parker sat down and wished he'd brought his messenger bag. Instead, he just had to sit the big old envelope on the table next to him and it stuck out like a sore thumb. "I've read all of your stuff," he commented as he looked at the menu.

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	halloweenish 2010-01-06 06:14 am UTC (link)
	Callaway settled down with ease, and even though his limbs were long, he was anything but awkward. He flipped open the menu and looked it over as he swept some of his hair away from his eyes. At Parker's words, he looked up and over at him, and he smiled warmly. "Dare I ask if you liked them?" he said as he arched a brow curiously. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

impotentwaffle
2010-01-06 06:27 am UTC (link)

"The last one felt a little rushed," he said honestly. "But even with that it was really good. All of your stuff is really good. It's not the normal mindless mystery novel stuff. I never really liked mysteries before but a nurse recommended it to me and I didn't have a lot else to do, so I read it and I was kind of hooked." Parker didn't pull any punches and could always be counted on not to sugar coat anything. He ordered a sandwich and a cup of coffee.

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halloweenish
2010-01-06 06:30 am UTC (link)

"Well, thank you very much," Callaway replied. He found Parker's honesty to be a breath of fresh air, and he liked it very much. He glanced up at the waitress after she'd taken Parker's order, and he asked for a BLT and a cup of tea. His attention quickly returned to Parker as he handed off the menu, and he folded his hands in front of himself on the table once they were free. "There's another I've been working on. No one's seen it yet. Maybe I can bargain it for yours, I let you read mine, you let me read yours."

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	impotentwaffle 2010-01-06 06:55 am UTC (link)
	"I'll leak it on the internet," he said flatly but after a couple beats, he smiled and it lit up his face with impish satisfaction. He was only teasing. The offer was extremely tempting. After a moment, he nodded and slid the envelope across the table, leaving his hand on top of it even though it was on Callaway's side. "Do you wear reading glasses?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

halloweenish
2010-01-06 07:02 am UTC (link)

The joke was the first real soft side of Parker that Callaway had seen, and he couldn't help but smile. He liked that there were layers about the boy in front of him, and that he couldn't just figure him out in one meeting.

"I do," he answered as he reached out to let his hand settle ontop of the enevelope, just beside Parker's hand. "That's an odd question to ask."

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impotentwaffle
2010-01-06 07:20 am UTC (link)

Parker retracted his hand as soon as Callaway's got too close, though he did stretch out his pinky as he pulled away just so that it would brush down the side of the man's hand. "I wanted a mental picture of you reading it," he said. His expression was sheepish, but he tried his damnedest to keep his tone wry.

"I don't suppose you're carrying a copy of your work around with you?"

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halloweenish
2010-01-06 07:30 am UTC (link)

Callaway liked the feel of Parker's pinky finger grazing against the side of his hand, and he had to resist the urge to turn his hand to the side and grasp a hold of the younger man's fingers.

"I have one in my car, it's just down the way," he replied. He liked to carry a copy around with him so that he could look it over and revise on the spot if he felt inspired. Usually he had a messenger bag he toted around, but he hadn't been expecting to run off to lunch with an attractive young man, so he'd left it in his car.

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impotentwaffle
2010-01-06 07:53 am UTC (link)

"I suppose this means I'll be getting your number," he laughed a little, his mood improving exponentially by the second. He just tried not to think about the personal stuff that was in his book. He didn't know how sharp Callaway would be in noting how autobiographical the book was. There was even a whole section of the book where the little king is put in a mental institution for his vehement adherence to his delusions about his real home. Parker had spent some time there due to his lack of feeling like he had a real home, or that his real home was painfully intangible to him. He felt alien so much of the time. Not human. Not a part of society.

When his sandwich came, he was thankful for the distraction and he dug in with both hands. "Why do you want to read my book?" he asked quietly.

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halloweenish
2010-01-06 07:58 am UTC (link)

"Yes, and I suppose I'll be gettin yours as well," Callaway smiled, finding that he adored Parker's laugh just as much as he did the boy's smile. There was something fragile and beautiful about him, and Callaway felt himself being drawn in more and more.

"I'd like to read your book because there's something about you that tells me it'll be very good, and honestly I'm just very curious about you," he replied in answer to Parker's question as he picked up his own sandwich. "I'd like to get to know you. And I'd like to get to know your writing."

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impotentwaffle
2010-01-06 08:05 am UTC (link)

"Well aren't you dreamy," Parker quipped. He may have been making a snide comment, but it struck him how much it was true. He felt himself get light, warm, drawn to how relaxed and confident Callaway was. The man felt really safe and that wasn't something Parker thought about a lot of people. "And if you hate it do you think you'll still want to get to know me? I think that if I hated your writing, I wouldn't be nearly so interested in you. I think our writing is our personality. You can't put something shitty down on paper and expect people to still want to know you."

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halloweenish
2010-01-06 08:16 am UTC (link)

"I highly doubt it'll be shitty," Callaway said smoothly as he reached for the sugar to mix some in with his tea. "And I suppose you're right, we are what we write in a lot of ways. I mean, we're leaving a part of us behind for the rest of ... however long the earth is meant to be here. I think that maybe that makes whatever someone writes important in some way, even if it is shitty."

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impotentwaffle
2010-01-06 08:39 am UTC (link)

Parker quirked a brow. "Now how am I supposed to take your critique seriously if you go all zen on me?" But the sentiment was sweet and Parker rather liked it. Most of the stuff going on inside of Parker wasn't apparent on the outside, so he came across as terribly bitter and dry, but in reality, he was deeply affected by things. He kind of wanted to show that to Callaway, but he wasn't certain how to go about it.

Instead, he ate some more of his sandwich and drank his coffee quietly.

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halloweenish
2010-01-06 08:43 am UTC (link)

"Well, I don't write about vampires that sparkle, I think that at least warrents me some seriousness," Callaway replied happily. "I think that Twilight might be one thing that is just shitty, plain and simple, and it's a bit sad to think it's gotten so huge. There's nothing worse than going to the grocery store and seeinga middle aged woman in a Team Edward shirt."

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impotentwaffle
2010-01-06 08:59 am UTC (link)

"Especially since Jacob is clearly the hotter of the two," he laughed and nudged Callaway's foot under the table playfully. "I don't wear reading glasses, by the way. And I read on the floor. You know, just in case you wanted to imagine me reading your book." It felt almost like he was describing something dirty and he felt his heartbeat quicken. That just made him laugh some more though. Oh how naughty it was to read, how close it made them.

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halloweenish
2010-01-06 09:08 am UTC (link)

"Good to know," Callaway said with a flirtatious grin.

This was fun. It had been such a long time since he'd met someone that he was genuinely intrigued about, and attracted to. And so young. Parker was obviously much younger than him, but here he was, having lunch and flirting with the boy.

"I'd like to take you out to dinner," he said after a moment. He was taking a chance. Maybe Parker was just being friendly, maybe he wasn't flirting at all. Maybe he wasn't even interested in Callaway beyond his writing.

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impotentwaffle
2010-01-06 09:24 am UTC (link)

Parker looked down at the table, chewing on the inside of his cheek. "Honestly? You wouldn't even have to take me out to dinner," he said shyly, implying that Callaway might already be right where he wanted to be for something more than just reading each other's manuscripts. Parker really liked the man and he wasn't the type to go much farther past like before hopping into bed with someone. Granted, he was impulsive and self-destructive so he didn't have the best judgement. He was completely offering himself up, but not in a very deep way.

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halloweenish
2010-01-06 09:29 am UTC (link)

That hadn't been the response that Callaway was expecting, and he arched a brow in slight surprise before his expression softened. He let his hand reach across the table with ease, and he took a hold of Parker's, letting the tips of his fingers brush against the inside of the younger man's palm.

"I want to take you to dinner," he said again. "And more than that, yes, but dinner first. I'd like to know all of your smiles first. Or most of them, at the very least."

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impotentwaffle
2010-01-06 06:51 pm UTC (link)

People usually just took him up on the offer and when Callaway didn't, he looked very perplexed. Parker didn't go farther than a hookup, friends with benefits or acquaintances with benefits to be more precise. The way Callaway touched his hand made warmth crawl up his neck. Easily, his hand opened up, like the other had hit some release button and his fingers relaxed, allowing the touch to continue instead of pulling away like he might normally do.

"Oh," he said with mixed emotion. "Well, what about all of my frowns?"

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	halloweenish 2010-01-07 12:33 am UTC (link)
	Callaway let Parker draw his hand away, and he smiled softly as he met the younger man's eyes. He liked the question, he found it honest and sweet. "Those, too," he replied quietly, and he picked up his cup of tea to have a sip. He wet his lips once he'd swallowed the warm, soothing liquid. "So can I? Take you to dinner?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

impotentwaffle
2010-01-07 05:52 am UTC (link)

He was having a hard time not staring at Callaway's mouth as his tongue swept across his lips. "Hm?" he sounded as if he'd suddenly been far away and was just coming back to reality. "Oh. Right. Yes. Dinner sounds nice." He nodded firmly. Even if he was nervous about opening up to someone, letting someone in, dinner wasn't exactly a commitment, right? He could stay safe, stay as closed off as possible. And it certainly wouldn't be awful spending time with this guy.

"I'll probably have quite a bit of your book done by then too." He figured four or five hours would give him a good start on it, and he was always eager to share his opinions.

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did liam ever tell reagan much about his and chancellor's relationship and would you wanna do a

halloweenish
2010-01-07 06:04 am UTC (link)

backstory thread on that mayhaps?]

Callaway's expression brightened considerably at Parker's answer, and he set his cup down so that his fingertips could graze against the edge of the envelope that held Parker's manuscript.

"I'll probably be finished with most of this too," he agreed, "That'll give us plenty to talk about. Maybe I should cook you dinner instead, I hate the noise of restaurants when I'm trying to discuss writing. Too much distraction, you know?"

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He probably told Reagan everything; they seem to have that type of 'ship. And yeah let's play that!

impotentwaffle
2010-01-07 06:38 am UTC (link)

Parker finished his sandwich and then wrapped both of his hands around the warm cup of coffee and leaned back in his chair. "At your place?" he smiled and quirked a brow as if he'd caught on to some grand scheme to get him to Callaway's home. That was certainly fine by him.

"I think that sounds good. We can really talk. I'd better get reading actually. I'll walk you to your car so you can give me your book?" He dug in his pocket to pull out cash enough for the whole check. He'd said he was taking Callaway out to lunch and he planned on making good on that.

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I'll start it :] -

halloweenish, 2010-01-07 06:49 am UTC

Woo! -

impotentwaffle, 2010-01-07 06:57 am UTC