Log In

Home
    - Create Journal
    - Update
    - Download

Scribbld
    - News
    - Paid Accounts
    - Invite
    - To-Do list
    - Contributors

Customize
    - Customize
    - Create Style
    - Edit Style

Find Users
    - Random!
    - By Region
    - By Interest
    - Search

Edit ...
    - User Info
    - Settings
    - Your Friends
    - Old Entries
    - Userpics
    - Password

Need Help?
    - Password?
    - FAQs
    - Support Area


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


Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:callaway, complete, history, parker

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.


(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]impotentwaffle
2010-01-08 06:35 am UTC (link)
Parker had expected to find something nefarious in Callaway's medicine cabinet. Something that would mean he wasn't as together as he seemed to be, but when he found nothing he wasn't sure if he was relieved or disappointed.

When he came back out, he plucked up the beer that was meant for him and took a good long swig before padding into the kitchen and looking over Callaway's shoulder. "I can't find anything wrong with your book. Whenever I read, I always read like an editor, but I can't find a single thing I'd change yet."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]halloweenish
2010-01-08 06:42 am UTC (link)
Hearing Parker's voice brought a smile to Callaway's face, and he turned to look over his shoulder at the younger man to meet his eyes before he offered him the wooden spoon. It had some sauce on it, and he used his free hand to hover beneath it so that none would drip on the floor.

"I was going to say the same thing about your book," he replied softly as he met Parker's eyes.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]impotentwaffle
2010-01-08 07:09 pm UTC (link)
Instinctively, Parker leaned forward to test some of the sauce and it was quite good. His eyes fluttered shut with enjoyment and he made a little sound in the back of his throat. But when Callaway complimented his work like that, his eyes flew open and his face burst into one of the brightest smiles anyone had ever seen on the somber boy.

"Really? You like it so far?"

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]halloweenish
2010-01-08 07:25 pm UTC (link)
Callaway was sure that nothing could be better than seeing that look of enjoyment flicker over Parker's face because of something he'd cooked, but then the boy's face lit up into that bright smile, and Callaway realized he'd been mistaken. Nothing could be better than that smile, he was sure of it.

"I think like isn't quite the word," he said with a little laugh as he turned to stir the sauce again. "I really love it so far. The story is full of sadness, but there's hope, and I think when you can write something in such a way that it makes the reader really feel things - real emotions like that - well, then it's something special."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]impotentwaffle
2010-01-09 06:04 am UTC (link)
Parker's smile settled into something far softer. The fact that Callaway had sifted through all of the muck of his life and found the hope made Parker's body tingle as if someone was brushing warm fingers up his spine. No one ever seemed to get that out of his writing even though it was definitely there. Everyone focused on how misplaced the little king felt, or how he never did quite find his proper place in either world. But there was freedom in that, and Parker tried to convey it. He was thankful that Callaway seemed to understand it.

He realized that he was staring somewhat dreamily at the other man and he blinked, taking a step back. "Sorry, I guess I was getting lost in your compliments." Really he was getting lost in the connection he felt, but he wasn't going to say anything about that. "So, Egypt. Great setting."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]halloweenish
2010-01-09 06:12 am UTC (link)
"It's an interesting an beautiful place, I went last winter," Callaway said as he got two plates down so that he could start getting their meal ready. "It's a little overwhelming to be staying in a place with so much history, I can't properly describe it. Cairo is amazing, I was meant to be on vacation but I just got inspired and spent so much time writing," he added with a laugh. "I have no idea what Sanders will think of it, it's different from the things I usually write."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]impotentwaffle
2010-01-09 06:28 am UTC (link)
"He'd be a total idiot not to love it." Parker had to wonder what it would be like to have an editor, a real publisher. He'd written lots of things, but this was his first real cohesive piece of work and it was getting ignored at every turn.

He took a few drinks of his beer and leaned against the counter, settled to watch Callaway serve up the spaghetti. "How did you get started in this? It feels like I'm never going to cut a break. I finished this book about 3 months after I got out and I've been trying to get someone to actually read it ever since."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]halloweenish
2010-01-09 06:36 am UTC (link)
There was a lot about Parker's writing that felt distinctively personal to Callaway, even though they were subtle and at times cleverly hidden. He'd easily picked up on the bits and pieces of Parker in the king, though at the moment it was all guess work.

"Got out?" he asked as he got two forks our and gathered up the plates so that he could carry them to the table. "Can you grab my beer? And god, it's been so long I can hardly remember. A lot of rejections, it was frustrating. But I just kept going. Eventually I met my mother's new boyfriend, he knew the man in Sander's position before Sanders. So he passed it along so it'd at least get read one time."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]impotentwaffle
2010-01-09 07:05 am UTC (link)
Parker tried not to skip a beat, but inside his stomach was clenching. The hospital had been such a part of his experience that sometimes he talked about it without thinking. "From Central State Hospital," he said casually, but averting his eyes so he didn't have to see Callaway's reaction. Central State was a fairly well known Virginia mental institution for both the civilly and criminally committed.

"I've always wanted to travel but I haven't had the chance yet. Um, how old are you if you don't mind my asking? I suppose I could always google it."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]halloweenish
2010-01-09 07:15 am UTC (link)
Callaway glanced over at Parker in slight surprise, but he didn't press the issue. He could tell that it was a sensitive subject, and if Parker didn't want to talk about it just yet, then it was understandable. Callaway wasn't the type to pry.

"33," he answered as he pulled a chair out for the younger man. "And what about you? If you don't mind me asking," he smiled.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]impotentwaffle
2010-01-09 07:20 am UTC (link)
Parker followed the man to the table, carrying his beer for him and setting it down on his side. He thought it best to sit across from him, even though he kind of felt like sitting right next to him. That would probably be weird though.

Holding up three fingers, Parker stared down at them, wiggling them back and forth as if trying to conceptualize that age in his head. He liked the number three. "I'm 19," he started out and then thought about how young that sounded. "And three quarters." As if that added so much worldliness to his age.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]halloweenish
2010-01-09 07:32 am UTC (link)
Callaway caught the little wiggle of Parker's three fingers, and he smiled as he got settled. The addition of three quarters to the 19 was absolutely adorable. He smiled warmly as he wound some spaghetti around his fork.

"Are you always this adorable and attractive?" he asked before he took a bite.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]impotentwaffle
2010-01-09 08:59 pm UTC (link)
Parker looked up somewhat starkly. He hadn't been expecting that, but he'd wanted it very much. Normally, he was very smooth and coy when it came to flirting with people but that was because he couldn't care less about the person. Now he cared a lot, wanting something to work out between them. Anything.

"To be honest, I'm definitely not adorable or attractive all the time. Much of the time I'm quite the opposite. Are you this calm and put together all the time?"

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]halloweenish
2010-01-10 01:33 am UTC (link)
"Most of the time I'm pretty mellow and laid back, yeah," Callaway said as he took a sip of his beer. He wet his lips and used his fork to cut a meatball in half as he lowered his gaze. "I suppose some people might think of me as terribly boring," he added with an amused smile that indicated that he wasn't bothered by that notion.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]impotentwaffle
2010-01-10 01:53 am UTC (link)
"I like boring. Not that you're boring but if you're boring then I like it." He frowned, not enjoying stumbling over his words. Instead he decided to focus in on his spaghetti. "You're an excellent cook," he noted as he speared a meatball and tried to ingest the entire thing in one bite. It didn't go so well and the meatball dropped back onto the plate.

"Mom's boyfriend? Me and my dad's girlfriends never got along so well. I guess that comes from growing up with my mom and hearing her talk about what horrendous sluts they must be if they were dating my dad."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]halloweenish
2010-01-10 02:19 am UTC (link)
Callaway could sense the feeling of insecurity that Parker was having, and he wanted nothing more than to make all of those insecurities go away. There was a compelling feeling within him to protect this young man, and to guide him, and it struck such a feeling with Callaway that it was a little unnerving.

"My Dad was sort of the same way," he noted, "I think he was upset because his drinking hindered him from pursuing a real relationship, something my Mom seemed to easily be able to do."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]impotentwaffle
2010-01-10 02:32 am UTC (link)
"So, divorced not dead?" He wasn't the most tactful person on the planet and when he decided to ask a question it just came out unfiltered. "Did you ever think it'd be easier if one of them had died instead? I remember going to my dad's place on the weekends and I hated every second of it. Did you get along with your parents? Probably, I can't imagine you not getting along with someone."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]halloweenish
2010-01-10 04:29 am UTC (link)
"No, I never really thought that," Callaway replied as he held his beer in one hand, swirling the liquid around lightly in the bottle with a faint flick of his wrist. "My father and I don't exactly communicate all that well. We only speak on holidays and birthdays, and those conversations are the most awkward five minutes of both of our lives, I'm sure."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]impotentwaffle
2010-01-10 06:20 am UTC (link)
"You? Awkward? I think I'd like to see that actually." Parker thought it might even the playing field a little. He felt ridiculous next to Callaway, ungraceful, without social skills. It was kind of exhilerating though.

He ate some more spaghetti, comfortable with momentary silence. He liked the clink of silverware on the plates. "Do you really think if they read my book that they'd publish it?"

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]halloweenish
2010-01-10 06:33 am UTC (link)
"It's a sad sight, really," Callaway replied with an amused grin as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. "I talk about the weather, and his old dog, and the weather some more."

He reached for his beer and took a swig, and like Parker, he found that he enjoyed the silence as well. It didn't at all feel awkward or strained, and that sort of comfort with a new person was rare.

"I do," he replied almost at once, and he turned his attention to the younger man's face. "It's very good, very well written. And I think it'd do quite well if they do publish it. I really think you should let me hand it off to Sanders so that he'll at least read it. So many good novels get overlooked, and I'd hate for that to happen to yours."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]impotentwaffle
2010-01-10 07:57 am UTC (link)
"If I let you do that, do you think it'll color the fact that I want to see you again? I mean, can you be sure I'm not just pretending to be completely interested in you because I think you won't give my book to Sanders unless I act like you have a chance?" There was something distantly playful about that. Anyone else might have taken it wrong, but Parker was starting to trust that Callaway wouldn't get too riled even if the things Parker said were sometimes harsh or stupid.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]halloweenish
2010-01-10 08:02 am UTC (link)
"Well, given the fact that you snatched it away from me and bolted out of the receptionist's office at the publishing company, no. You were obviously intent on finding your own way, but sometimes our own way are the oppurtunites that fall into our laps," Callaway replied with a warm smile. "And even if you were just acting like a chance, I'd let you just to spend more time with you."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]impotentwaffle
2010-01-10 09:02 am UTC (link)
"I don't think I've ever wanted to fuck someone as much as I want to fuck you." He watched Callaway's expression carefully. It wasn't exactly a seduction as it was the inability to keep himself from saying it. "So whatever that might mean, it probably doesn't mean I'm just using you to get a leg up in the publishing world. It'd be really great if you could give my book to Sanders."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]halloweenish
2010-01-10 09:10 am UTC (link)
Callaway was more than a little thrown by those words, but he was infinitely good at not letting surprise show when he didn't want it to. He wet his lips and took another drink of his beer before he set it down with a smile, and he got to his feet so that he could reach down and gently tug Parker up to his own.

"Then I will," he replied softly as he lifted a hand up to cup the side of Parker's face, and he allowed his thumb to graze along the edge of the boy's jaw before he dipped his head down to press a soft kiss to his mouth.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]impotentwaffle
2010-01-10 09:38 am UTC (link)
Parker leaned into the touch so easily. This wasn't the sort of random hookup he was used to. He wanted to convey to Callaway that this wasn't going to be meaningless to him. It only made sense. Parker always tried to let people know that he wasn't going to get attached; it stood to reason that he'd want to express it when he knew he was going to get hopelessly attached. Maybe he just wanted to warn the other. He was so entrenched in his own thoughts that he almost didn't kiss back. Fortunately, his body responded before his brain could catch up and he melted against the kiss.

After a couple of seconds, he pulled back just enough to mumble against Callaway's lips. "I think you're biting off more than you can chew."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]halloweenish, 2010-01-10 09:42 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]impotentwaffle, 2010-01-10 10:33 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]halloweenish, 2010-01-10 10:38 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]impotentwaffle, 2010-01-10 11:04 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]halloweenish, 2010-01-10 11:13 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]impotentwaffle, 2010-01-11 04:30 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]halloweenish, 2010-01-11 04:42 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]impotentwaffle, 2010-01-11 05:35 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]halloweenish, 2010-01-11 05:39 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]impotentwaffle, 2010-01-11 06:54 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]halloweenish, 2010-01-11 06:59 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]impotentwaffle, 2010-01-11 07:32 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]halloweenish, 2010-01-11 07:37 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]impotentwaffle, 2010-01-11 08:05 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]halloweenish, 2010-01-11 08:07 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]impotentwaffle, 2010-01-11 06:13 pm UTC
It's your go on the group thread! :) - [info]halloweenish, 2010-01-12 12:06 am UTC
Where did you say Reagan hid the wedding ring? - [info]impotentwaffle, 2010-01-12 12:47 am UTC
in the medicine cabinet in the guest bath - [info]halloweenish, 2010-01-12 03:55 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]impotentwaffle, 2010-01-12 04:41 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]halloweenish, 2010-01-12 04:49 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]impotentwaffle, 2010-01-12 05:32 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]halloweenish, 2010-01-12 05:44 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]impotentwaffle, 2010-01-12 05:48 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]halloweenish, 2010-01-12 05:55 am UTC

(Read comments) -



scribbld is part of the horse.13 network
Design by Jimmy B.
Logo created by hitsuzen.
Scribbld System Status