Thread: Inside Power Exchange [GypsyRose & Dane Stalling]

Matt's irreverence struck a ready chord with Regan, who preferred to approach even the career she was so passionate about with a sense of humor. It would be, she hoped, the thing that kept her from burnout or escapism. Alcohol, drugs, and sex - the actor's bane, and though she was a long way from Hollywood, the problem wasn't relegated to one location. Regan didn't ever want to take pills or shoot up to feel the excitement, and then drink or take more pills to unwind. Laughter, and hopefully a bit of good sense, was her armor against that. Well, you could look heroic, I suppose, with the black eye ... but given the subject matter, it'd probably push away the people who are working up the courage to give things a try rather than draw them in. She shrugged, and smiled broadly, her face a study in pure innocence for a moment before it was spoiled with a laugh. Always make friends with the crew, she offered, in the tone of one who'd heard it a million times. She had, actually, from the very first community theater director she'd worked with, while she was still in high school. Once he'd found that she was really serious about pursuing an acting career and not a rebellious phase, he'd loaded her down with a good bit of advice, and since he'd worked on some large productions before retreating into semi-retirement, she'd taken note. You never know who they're related to, and a bad reputation is only an asset when you're already rich and famous. Besides, it was a job. So long as they were seeing her put her best into a role, she shouldn't care what that role was, right? They're getting paid just like we are. And I don't know how to set up the lighting to get just the right mood. From the way they were talking, I think they do. It was all very professional, I thought -- though maybe porn sets are run very professionally, too. That thought made her think of the bits in her contract about simulated sex. She'd read about how it was done in the movies, but even that seemed quite intimate to her. There was that one episode of NCIS where Tony and Ziva had pretended to be a couple, simulating sex in a hotel room as part of their cover ... Regan stifled another giggle, blushing just a bit as she imagined them tangled together in the sheets, Matt's hips moving against hers. The temperature of the room seemed to rise a bit, and she had to resist the urge to fan herself, instead taking another drink of the warming diet soda. Even pretense could be pretty ... steamy ... particularly when there was attraction, though, of course, she had no way of knowing whether the actors actually felt anything for each other or not in the show. Given that she was attracted to Matt, and he seemed, at least, NOT not interested, it was hard to imagine how it wouldn't be steamy on some level, even with cameras, lights, and a director critiquing and choreographing their every move. Great. Sounds like a good way to make things more comfortable ... or at least less awkward for tomorrow. She smiled brilliantly, half hoping that Matt would pick up on the reason for her heightened color and half hoping that he wouldn't. Matt mentioned a shower, and again Regan smiled at his admission that it'd be a cold one rather than a warm one. When he asked about her plans, in a round about way, she wasn't truly sure whether it was a subtle come-on or just polite interest ... or even which she was hoping for. It was all too easy to let her imagination run rampant ... A shower sounds good ... Her smile flashed again, as she took note of his expression, seeking more cues, but then she applied a little cold water to her own imagination and amped it down. Sexual tension between the two of them could make for some great sparks, and lead to more roles down the way. Rushing into something and finding that they matched about as well as Charlie Sheen and Selma Blair. Yeah, I'm good. I'll meet you at Spike's at 700? Did that qualify as making it more than just a casual meeting of co-stars? And what was she going to wear? And why was her mind more on what would be under her clothes than what everyone would be seeing? All valid questions, to which Regan had to reluctantly admit she had the answer to ... and while her motives might not be pure as the driven snow, she wasn't particularly ashamed of them, either.