It had to be face to face. Alfie had insisted. Couldn't possibly do it over the phone. No, not skype either. Cafas had been cut off from his next suggestion. There was just no getting around it. It was important that he actually meet Maya. Cafas didn't get why, but if Alfie said it was necessary, who was he to claim to know better?

Maya took less convincing than Cafas had. A few assurances that between Jude and the Mansion, Rowan would be fine. A couple more than New York wouldn't spontaneously combust over a weekend. A little shuffling of the on call roster later, something he knew Sam would probably take issue with, they were free for a weekend.

"Okay, minimum two outfits per day; It's LA, the papparazzi are everywhere, and they seem to have an issue with wearing the same outfit in the day as the evening." He had learned that the hard way, much to Alfie's chagrin. Apparently he'd told Cafas before that. He'd listened a lot harder after that point. They had torn him apart for it.

The flight was excellent, as flights went. Though, he supposed that's what the first class price was about. Six and a half hours of exceptional service. Cafas had't had his every need catered to like that since he'd gotten back from the publicity and premiers tour. He tried not to get used to it, but that was a lost cause. Years of filming and touring had really taken a lot of the magical excitement out of the experience.

They'd landed without incident, collected their bags, and hopped in a car sent by the hotel. Cafas was not a fan of LA traffic, so the extra expense was worth it not to have to drive. Arrival and check in preceded going out to find food. Not that the in flight meal hadn't been excellent, but Cafas was a big lad, and needed to eat like one. The weather, by comparison to New York, was heavenly.

Dinner, wandering around taking in the sights, a short two hour gym session, shower, bed. Comfy bed. Cafas needed one just like it. Perhaps that was just the long day talking. It felt so soft. Like a cloud...

Their meeting with Alfie was at noon the following day. Cafas knew he was going to have to budget at least an hour for travelling, thanks to the traffic. He dressed with a little girlfriend help... Okay, a lot, and he was fairly certain Alfie would like the outfit. Telling him Maya had helped him put it together would almost certainly help to get him on side.

Everything went smoothly enough, from room service breakfast to hitting the road. Maya only got into a panic and called every single person in New York City after they were in the car and moving. Cafas was more than a little worried himself, but no where near Maya's level.

They arrived outside the agency with maybe ten minutes to spare. Cafas could already see a camera or two, unsurprising sights around a talent agency that handled stars. Sunglasses went on, movie star smile affixed. He turned to Maya, who was just getting done leaving a voice message for a... first aid trainer? asking her to look out for the boys. "There are about to be more photos of you taken in the walk to that door than any normal person has taken of them in their lifetime. Smile, ignore them, don't trip, and you might want to get out of the car as conscious of your wardrobe as possible, because they WILL publish photos of your underwear if they can get them."

Which is a disturbing thing to have to say to someone.

Cafas braced himself and opened the car door with a thank you to the driver. He waited for Maya, waved to the paparazzos, and made for the door at as fast a pace he could without seeming like he was trying. He just wanted to reach the ferny sanctuary of the low rise's lobby.

A simple statement like "minimum two outfits per day" had sent Maya into a small fit of despair. She didn't have two outfits per day. Not ones that were LA weather, picture-ready, and that fit. Her phone said it was 85 degrees in LA today while it was barely in the 50's in New York. On top of that there was the consideration of formal, casual, or does this look like I'm trying too hard?

"Let me dote on you." He'd complained, after catching her rummaging through the hall closet for leftover donations. But most effective was the "Leave those for people who don't have someone willing to spend money on them" argument.

That's also how she ended up with new luggage. Because nothing she had could contain the slew of clothes they'd managed to wrack up once they went out shopping together. She was actually kind of embarrassed about that, but at least now she and Cafas were well prepared for to run the media gauntlet.

The doting continued to embarrass her through first class and right on into a hotel that probably would have been more appropriate for royalty.

In the cab, Maya worried at her phone, but eventually put it away to focus on Cafas as he explained the rules.

> "...because they WILL publish photos of your underwear if they can get them."

She gasped, a slightly suspect picture of abject horror. "I was supposed to wear underwear!?" Her playful nose wrinkle afterward transformed Cafas' media smile into actual laughing, which had been her aim. She was nervous. He had to be nervous too.

He turned and waited for her. She had a moment where she considered just ghosting for it, but that wouldn't do them any favors.

Maya led with her legs. Little white strappy shoes echoed the white of her shirt and her hair that she'd left loose. She accepted his hand and showed no jewelry. She'd drawn the line there when he was buying her things. Her skirt was, true to Maya, short and made of flowy material. She was careful not to flash what was underneath the decorated delicate rose and bramble pattern that showed as a pretty pattern of pink and red and green across a gentle background of taupe. She'd belted that with a skinny leather belt and topped it all off with a kelly green cardigan pushed up to her elbows. Kelly green like the Full Circle awnings. It made her happy to be in green again.

She couldn't help but share a quick shy smile with Cafas before they were off. She felt sorry for him in his jacket and the heat. The moisture in the air hit her like a wall. Jeans and a suit jacket were nowhere as accommodating to the heat as a chiffon skirt. She liked the tee shirt and jacket look, though.

Almost as jarring as stepping into the heat, was stepping into the hyper-dry indistrial air conditioned building.

"Well, nobody tripped at least." Though, Maya couldn't now vouch for what expression she'd had on her face.

"I was supposed to wear underwear!?"

Cafas tried not to think about that too much as Maya stood out of the car. The all too familiar sound of paparazzi camera shutters seemed to grow all the faster and more frantic as she did. Cafas chose to believe they just needed more photos of how beautiful she was.

The walk was blissfully short. Cafas wasn't sure how long he could keep up with the midday heat. He'd have had to take the jacket off if they'd been going far. The automatic doors closed behind them as Cafas led Maya to the receptionist's station. The lobby looked exactly as Cafas remembered it, with its ferns in every corner, its couches, and head-shots of all the 'talent' on the walls.

Tackiest feature of this whole place...

"Well, nobody tripped at least."

"It's a start, that's for sure."

The metal manipulator kissed the side of his girlfriend's head and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. She was coping better than he had the first time he'd run the same gauntlet.

The receptionist was new. She looked up from her keyboard, and took a moment to register what she was seeing. Her business expression relaxed slightly as she realised who he was. Cafas was used to the initial frosty look. The receptionists spent all day fielding paparazzi's questions and having to ask them to leave. Paparazzi were famously non-compliant with the leaving.

"Hello, Mr. Johnson, and Ms. Csendes I presume. Here to see Karen? I think she may have just gone out to lunch..."

"Alfie, actually. Alfonso Drago"

Her smile told him she'd known who he meant. She'd also called Karen "Karen" not Ms. Mayes. Clearly she'd been there a few months. Her fingers blazed over her keyboard as she barely looked away from them. Her smile gently grew a fraction warmer as her eyes flicked back to the pair of them.

"Just on time. I'll let him know you're coming up. I trust you know where to find his office?"

"Yes, thank you."

Cafas offered his own smile and turned to Maya. "Seems a waste to take the elevator for the sake of two floors." He motioned with his eyes to the stairs, a stylish affair, all wood, metal, and windows. It was perhaps not the most private staircase in the word, but seeing as nobody tended to use it, it was rarely a problem. As they left earshot of the receptionist, who already had her phone to her ear, Cafas gave Maya a wide smile and a small kiss.

"Nervous? Don't be. Alfie is great. Very Hollywood, but in the good way." The brightly and naturally lit stairs were, true to form, totally empty. Cafas looked out as they climbed, at the cars rolling past, and gave a wave to one of the photographers that spotted them. It was so different to the crowded streets of New York. For one, there were palm trees, and you could see for any sort of distance.

Maybe I'll move if the X-men stop needing me

"Karen though... Well given how much bad press you've gotten, I'm not sure if it'd be a good thing for her to come back from lunch while we're here." Karen could be quite the unflattering person to people that cast the wrong image upon her 'talent'. The woman didn't like people messing with her money.

Maya didn't bother to correct the receptionist about how to say her name. For one thing, no one got it right the first time unless they were Eastern European. For another, well, it was Sebastian's name. She was starting to regret changing her name even if she still agreed with the ideal of why Sebastian chose it. Csendes (CHEN-desh) was Hungarian for peaceful, quiet, or still... apparently. Sebastian could have been lying about that too.

And then they were headed toward the stairs. Visible to windows full of photographers up-viewing stairs.

She needed that encouragement kiss.

Luckily, Maya had been trained for this very moment by attending high school in Japan. She knew just how to cross her legs as she stepped up the stairs to keep her skirt from bouncing up with her raised legs and a gentle tuck of her hand behind her kept the back of her short skirt firmly in place. She was confident that any photos taken would not see one way or the other about how she had been joking about leaving her underwear behind.

> "...Very Hollywood, but in the good way."

"I don't even know what that means." But she did feel like she was at least treading water. "Just, promise me that you won't leave me alone if you can help it." People were guaranteed to be nicer when the man who was making them money was around. That was a sad reality, but one she was ungraciously ready to believe.

> "Karen though..."

"Noted." She was double scared of the agent lady now. She could feel herself pulling up her hyper courteous defenses already. "I've had good press too, but it doesn't come out a wash, does it?" She was pretty sure that was a naive question, but one she had to ask.

Cafas brushed Maya with a look that foretold somewhat uncomfortable honesty. "Unfortunately, not even close. That dating me has set you up for so much crap from these gossip magazines is the only part of our relationship I regret." His expression shifted to apologetic as he was speaking. They made the landing atop the second flight of stairs shortly after.

"I won't leave you if I can avoid it though. Hell, I try to spend as little time without you as possible already." Because she was pretty much his favorite person ever. Cafas strolled up the main corridor through the floor. He couldn't resist a peek as they passed the conference room. Looked like one of the other agents was having a meeting with some studio people, though he couldn't quite make out who for.

I swear I've seen Chris Hemsworth's photo up in the lobby...

Alfonso's office door was open, the man himself sitting behind his desk looking very serious. He did a good job of it, his northern Italian features lent themselves to the expression. For a moment Cafas thought they might actually be in trouble, but within instants the man was on his feet, a wide grin cracking his previously icy demeanor.

"Cafas! Good to see you! Come in, come in!" The fashionably dressed man didn't even clear Maya's height, his build only a fraction wider. Still, he commanded a presence, a natural charisma ringing in his LA accent. He strode forward to meet them and wrapped Cafas in an exaggerated hug, air kisses either side of his face. "Hey Alfie, it's been too long." The man brushed off Cafas' comment with feigned bashfulness.

He never changes.

"Ah, and this must be Maya, truly the pictures do not do you justice. Though I guess that's why you're here!" The same hug and air kisses were extended to Maya. Alfie had always treated Cafas like they'd known each other for years, which now, Cafas supposed, he had. It was nice to see Maya was getting the same treatment, though he'd had no real reason to expect otherwise.

"Oh, yeah. Maya, this is Alfonso Draco, my friend and publicist. Alfie, Maya, my beautiful girlfriend and fellow X-man."

"Please Maya, call me Alfie. At the very least not Alfonso, that's what my mother called me when I was in trouble! Naturally, she had never called me Alfie in my life!" The Los Angelian laughed at his joke as he motioned them into the room. "Really, come in, make yourself at home! Can I get you a green tea? Black tea?? Coffee? We have espresso!" He swung his office door shut as he listed off beverages.

> "That dating me has set you up for so much crap from these gossip magazines is the only part of our relationship I regret."

"Nah. I can take it. You won't have to worry too much longer and then you can settle down with someone less interesting." She smiled on the surface, knowing full well that she wasn't being fair to play that card. She could have let him date Ashley. It would have been better for their public faces, but she was having less and less to care about on that front. Besides. Maya squeezed Cafas' hand as they rounded the last landing. She liked to think that they were good for each other, even if they weren't good for each other's public relations.

Alfie was not at all what Maya had been expecting. His long nose and sharp features had her feeling shy at the door even after he thawed and started freely passing out air kisses. He just seemed a bit... much.

Her "Hi." and the curl of her fingers in the semblance of a wave were not acceptable. The little man grabbed her shoulders and had air kisses for her too. By the end of the whole ordeal, Maya's spine was ramrod straight and her hands folded in front of her legs so that she would not fidget.

"Tea would be lovely, thank you Mister Alfie." Maya found a modern looking chair that was more for style than function and took a seat. With the way Alfie's hair was bobbing, Maya had no doubt that they had espresso.

"Tea would be lovely, thank you Mister Alfie."

"Mister Alfie! Ha!" The man jovially waved off the formality, "Please, please, just Alfie." He made his way back behind his desk and found his seat once more, looking to Cafas for an order.

"Cappuccino for me, thanks Alfie." The publicist smiled and nodded, hitting a button on his desk phone. "Sussie, could I get a tea, a cappuccino and an espresso to my office please? Thank you." He hung off the last word for a second before releasing the button. Cafas arched an eyebrow. "Since when do you have a PA?"

"Oh, I don't, but Susan is a sweetheart. We get lunch most days, it has its perks."

Cafas took a seat, the nearest to Maya, though there was hardly a huge range available. He was still trying to adjust into Hollywood mode. It really wasn't his natural habitat. He normally met with Alfie in the adjustment period for some reason, and though jarring it forced him to acclimate faster. Judging from the sudden formality and timidity from Maya, it was jarring to her too. Cafas knew that feeling, he'd had no Hollywood mode to fall into at first either.

It really is a whole other country out here...

"Alright, Maya dear, first things first, I'm thinking either sweetheart, of bad-ass." He held out a hand as he gave the options, talking with his hands as much as his mouth. "We need a media personality to foster for you. I thought maybe we'd go a sexy angle, but it just plays into their hands with this seductress thing they have going on." The exaggerated look of distaste made his opinion on that matter clear. At least the opinion he was going to voice. "Now, sweetheart works with goofy heart-throb," He indicated to Cafas, who remembered how hard Alfie had pushed him to take the tough guy approach, "but it's not every day I get an X-man heroine to work the bad-ass angle for. What are your thoughts?"

Oh. Well, uh. They were just going to get right to it then.

"I don't think bad-" Maya cleared her throat and tried again. "I'm not much of an actress, I'm told, so being a badass isn't really in the cards Mis... Alfie. Even if that feels like two steps back for women's lib, I don't think I can be that scary." Could she? Maya chewed her lower lip at glanced at Cafas.

"Even if Jiri would argue that point. Or Bert." She flushed, embarrassed as a slippery memory of trying to erase her Jiri mistake with alcohol came bubbling up to mind. Bert had been scared and she hadn't even been trying. Part of that surely had to be the company Ghost had been keeping at the time.

There was a twinkle in Alfie's eye that made it clear that he was not laughing, but he could be. He wanted to be. Maya frowned at him.

"I dunno. You're all soft and sweet, sure. We can go that angle, baby, but I'd like for you to try to scare me." There was a challenge in his voice, an edge of... something. "You're an X-man, honey. That's a position of power and you both got it in spades. Don't think we don't get the news out here."

Maya frowned harder.

Susan interrupted by knocking on the door then, but Maya didn't trust Alfie enough to throw him. She kept her eyes squarely on the publicist.

Scary. Hmm.

"Thank you." Maya accepted the cup without looking, spatial vision for the win. Alfie's grin grew an infinitesimal amount.

Once the door was shut again Maya increased the pressure in Alfie's office. One moment, breathable air. The next, pressure like a foreign planetary atmosphere. Maya sipped her tea.

"Good, goo-" Maya strangled him out by increasing the pressure on him directly, she squeezed him like an anaconda with the air around him. With that kind of density, she could have lifted him out of his seat and tossed him bodily across the room.

Beads of sweat sprung to life on Alfie's face as his face changed from pink to red. He probably couldn't breathe.

"I think the ways that I'm scary aren't well suited for a camera." One last flex and she let Alfie, and the room, go. Maya kept her eyes squarely on the the cup in her hands in her lap as a lazy churn of air spun around the room. It wasn't Maya's power, just the air conditioning, finally free to blast through the vents.

Maya's glance at Cafas was met with a look of uncertainty. Maybe she didn't possess the most obvious of powers, but knowing what she could do made an angry Maya incredibly intimidating. Maybe that was just him though. Still, she was looking to him for his opinion, he would give it to her in glance form.

"I dunno. You're all soft and sweet, sure..."

Maya's frown summed up Cafas' thoughts on that matter too. Making Maya scary might interfere with her X-man image a little too. They could afford many types of bad-assery in their public image, but scary wasn't high among them. Plus he had a bit of a problem with Alfie pushing the issue.

Susan interrupted any thought of intervening that might have entered Cafas' mind with coffee. His frown was replaced by a smile for Susan, because she was the bringer of coffee.

Once coffee had been distributed and Susan had left, the metal manipulator turned to speak, but the air pressure made the words catch in his throat. Oh, okay. She was going to actually do it. Cafas sat back and let his girlfriend work.

Alfie tried to speak, but was quickly stopped by something. He seemed like he couldn't breathe. He was certainly sweating. Well, that's what he got for messing with an X-man, really. Cafas began reaching out to stop Maya going any further, but as it turned out, she knew exactly what she was doing.

"I think the ways that I'm scary aren't well suited for a camera."

The room relaxed back to an earthly pressure and the AC kicked back in. Cafas laughed. "Careful what you wish for Alfie." His hand retracted back to his coffee as he took a sip. He couldn't imagine that being on the receiving end of Maya's power was much fun.

If Alfie was rattled (which he was) he hid it well. He smiled, a smile that just touched his eyes, in a trained way. "Nothing I can't handle." He brushed his shirt as if he could smooth it. His attention went back to Maya. "That was amazing darling, but I agree, not for the cameras. Sweetheart it is then! Excellent! Well, that makes the relationship easy enough to sell, but we need a spin. You fight crime together, that's good, but people need something they can relate to."

He laughed. Oh god, why did he laugh? A deep wash of shame rolled through her and Maya watched her cup in her hands without really seeing it. That wasn't even her scariest ability.

> "... Sweetheart it is then! Excellent!..."

Maya found she no longer wanted to be here. They couldn't keep her here. But that was the hard part about being a grown up. Sometimes you had to choose to do things you didn't want to do. This was part of what she'd agreed to. They'd talked it over and decided it ws neccessary. This was part of who Cafas was. She wanted to be there for him.

"I... we've been on the same team for years. We went our separate ways, made our separate mistakes, and when we reunited that was maybe the first time in forever that I didn't feel lonely." That was terribly lame. Maya ran her fingers through her hair, no doubt messing up all the progress she'd made in trying to smooth it down before.

She glanced at Cafas for help. "I don't want to mess this up, Mister Alfie. He's kind of my favorite person." So if they needed her to be mean or whatever, she might try it, but hopefully just being herself was enough.

"I... we've been on the same team for years. We went our separate ways, made our separate mistakes, and when we reunited that was maybe the first time in forever that I didn't feel lonely. I don't want to mess this up, Mister Alfie. He's kind of my favorite person."

Cafas felt the silly smile on his face. It refused to be contained, no matter how tooth rottingly sweet it was. He maybe shouldn't have been smiling, maybe it was an inappropriate facial expression when Maya was looking for help. At least, he thought that's what the look had been.

"N'aaw. You're my favorite person too." Alfie's eyes said he may well just be sick, even if the smile never flinched. "She definitely pulled me out of a steep dive. Don't know about relate-able stuff though. I mean, who hasn't been lonely right?"

Alfie seemed to already be working on something though. He waited for Cafas to take a breath before interjecting. "Finding love that's been right under your nose the whole time, it's a classic, people love it! We can work from that. I can sell the sweetheart and goofball relationship, people love a good finding love where you'd never thought to look story."

Cafas blinked. He'd forgotten how rapidly the man could speak when he got going.

"Alright, we need interviews. I'm thinking Colbert, that'll be an easy one for New York first though, gotta get some good smaller ones. TMZ, Maybe OK! or Rolling Stone. I think I can swing Rolling Stone. We need some good exposure too. What are you doing today? Doesn't matter, I need you to be visiting sick children in hospital now, get some cameras on you. I'll tip of some camera crews, get lots of photos. People love it when celebrities visit sick kids. Oh, speaking of photo ops, that reminds me, which one of you thought of Coney Island? That was great, even the altercation of sorts worked, people loved you defending her! You looked like a proper American."

It just kept coming. Cafas took his turn to look to Maya for help. His face said "Maybe strangle him again." in an apologetically half kidding sort of way.

Maya decided that she didn't like Alfie. But, just like so many other people, she didn't have to like him to respect his expertise.

Cafas’ steep dive comment got him a hand to hold. She hadn't been on a steep dive, per se, but they'd been in such a similar place that they'd hit it off immediately when previously neither had even hit the other's radar. That's why the hand. They had both pulled the other up.

Alfie’s assessment and plan were fine by Maya’s reckoning. Really anything that put their story out there instead of rude conjecture had to be better. ”The hospital is a great idea. I don't want to go into an interview blind, though, so any coaching or preparation that can be—“ Alfie was nodding so vigorously that Maya didn't feel the need to go on, but returned control of the conversation to Alfie.

“Ooh no-no, honey. I saw your little AMA fiasco as part of our research homework. Actually, I’ve seen them all.” He leveled a look at Cafas that stated that he had more to say, but it wasn't the focus of his incoming advice. “Put a pin in that. No. No more impromptu speaking for you, doll. In fact we can write up your hospital remarks too.”

”That shouldn't be-”

“Ooh, but it is. You don't want to further damage what you got? Then take my advice. You have a great sweetheart face, but deep inside you got violence. We have to wash that away in a flood of good will and photo ops. It's not enough to be pretend policepeople and fly under the radar when you get a win. Nope. You kids are going to the hospital today. Give me your mobile number and we'll text you approved repartee. What about an X-woman lecture circuit or maybe modeling? You open to that? You got the proportions even if you're short for it.“

The agent had his phone out, ready for… oh. Her number. Maya felt a bit like she'd just gotten hit by a train, but she still shared her number. People in New York spoke fast. Alfie spoke so quickly it just took a moment for it all to filter down into making sense. ”Hey. Whoah. Slow down. No lecture circuit. No extra stuff. I mean, the hospital is fine, that's a good cause, but we're just people.”

“No." He smirked. "You're not. You are literally superhuman. And inspiring women and mutants across the country isn't a good cause? Don't say no, let's just table that for now. Think on it ‘cause I smell a book deal.”

Maya's smile while somewhat strained remained in place. Unbelievable. 

”I think maybe we should go get ready, find a hospital, and that kind of thing.”

“Remarks are on their way.” Alfie's thumbs seemed to move as fast as his mouth. “I'll get you an address and a ward full of sick kids. Go. Enjoy lunch or something. There's a cafe within walking distance that's got a killer portobello burger.” His continued smirk made Maya remember the cameras outside. Of course. Even their meals were somehow interesting in California.

Done was one way of putting how Cafas felt by the time Alfie dismissed them. How had he managed to forget how much Hollywood sucked? Or missed the fact he was only treated well because he was talent? Tinsel town was more political than Washington, and no less likely to bump you off if you got in their way. At least, that was what Cafas had been told, and was starting to realise for himself. Who could say which overdose was accidental and which was murder when everyone and their mother was on some cocktail or other.

Wonder how he would have treated her if I wasn't here... I thought you were one of the good guys Alfie.

He hadn't flexed acting muscles so hard in some time. Certainly not with Maya present. Hollywood mode took it out of him. He really needed to go agency hunting if he got another role under his belt, find one that wasn't quite so scummy. It was amazingly easy to convince people to take you on when your face is on billboards. "Thanks Alfie, we really need to do that lunch we keep talking about." No they didn't and neither of them were actually under that delusion any more. If they'd needed to do lunch, they would have.

"Next time darling, next time! Now go show off those legs."

Cafas couldn't be sure, but he had a feeling Alfie had not been talking about his legs. The metal manipulator stood and flashed a toothy grin to Alfie "Alright, next time, I'll hold you to it." He wouldn't. Cafas, still holding Maya's hand from the earlier dive comment, helped his girlfriend to her feet and out of the office. The door clicked closed behind them and his face fell into the agitated frown it so dearly wanted to take on.

His voice dropped to a level he was reasonably confident only Maya would hear as they walked. "I am so, so sorry. I swear he's never that pushy with me..." He sighed, disappointed in himself for not seeing through the 'Talent face' as he was sure they called it. "I guess I just didn't think hard enough about it to realise it was only the money making him treat me well."

Hopefully I can learn from that one.

The treatment, while brusque, didn't seem too far beyond what Maya had been imagining.

"Doesn't mean that he's not right on some levels. Besides. If I had to guess, Alfie is just throwing everything at the wall in the hopes that something sticks." Maya muddled out a real smile as they descended the stairs. She hoped Cafas wasn't going all over-protective just because someone said some words. Alfie should know that if he was too mean to Maya, he'd lose Cafas... Though, if he didn't believe in people and love and all the things Maya would like to stand for, then he probably wouldn't worry too much about offending her. Cafas would just find another, better candidate.

"I'm not a talent. I don't have to do what he says. You don't control me. And beyond all that, he doesn't know that I genuinely want to help. I'm... not sure he knows what genuine is any more." She felt her phone start to buzz in a near continuous stream. Alfie was just trying to help Cafas like she was, but in his own way.

"That was ungracious." She found her Maya smile again, stiff but camera-ready. "I don't want to be ungracious."

The height difference wasn't enough to make walking together hand-in-hand awkward. Even stairs hadn't made it weird. At this point, not walking hand-in-hand might be weird.

"If I did everything he said, it might be over the top. Or it might work. What do you think? Is it worth a try?" A portobello burger sounded mighty fine right about now.

"Doesn't mean that he's not right on some levels. Besides. If I had to guess, Alfie is just throwing everything at the wall in the hopes that something sticks."

The smile was a relief. He hadn't quite known what to expect. He didn't exactly think Maya would blame him for putting her there, but the idea had fluttered nearer his mind than was fair to his generally fair girlfriend. He returned one of his own. The cameramen outside didn't seem to notice them descending.

"I'm not a talent. I don't have to do what he says."

Cafas wasn't even certain he had to do what Alfie said, but while he did his publicity had been pretty exclusively positive. The odd thing here or there had been less than kind, but it was to be expected really.

"You don't control me."

Cafas wasn't sure the same was true in reverse. They hadn't really come across too many situations that tested the theory. He could think of far worse people to be controlled by, though.

"And beyond all that, he doesn't know that I genuinely want to help."

Extra publicity certainly could help with that, as could a publicist that could score opportunities you couldn't for yourself. It could all be equally disastrous if it went wrong, but Cafas trusted in Maya's innate goodness to stop that from happening.

"I'm... not sure he knows what genuine is any more."

Cafas had been thinking the same thing in not so many words. He nodded his agreement even as Maya protested her own words.

"That was ungracious. I don't want to be ungracious."

Amazing how often the truth is ungracious.

"If I did everything he said, it might be over the top. Or it might work. What do you think? Is it worth a try?"

"I'd advise against the speaking tour, unless you're really fond of sleeping in cars." Or planes. Cafas' experience of touring was that he on occasion got an hour in the vicinity of a bed between travel, rehearsals, and actual events. It was often a race against time to actually get a shower in. Cafas had been late to something more than once, and he was not even slightly sorry.

"Honestly, do what makes you happy. Model, do interviews, write a book, eat burgers made out of mushrooms. He'll make it happen if you agree to it. No promises it'll be as fun as it seems from the outside." Cafas' face adopted its typical smile for the cameras as the doors slid open and the humid warmth rolled over them.

He had an inkling about which cafe Alfie had been referring to, and so swung that way, leaving the paparazzi to decide whether they wanted to follow the couple or keep camping the agency. At least half gathered up their equipment and headed after the couple. They at least kept a polite distance. Likely they were hoping to snap a candid moment that would sell much better than any statement the pair could make.

Just far enough back you kind of forget they're there. Is everyone around here good at manipulating people?

"I don't think this will be forever either. Once my initial image was set up, maintenance was just a matter of making sure I look presentable and don't colossally mess up." Like, for instance, destroying brand new, cutting edge police technology while incredibly drunk. Luckily someone had been there to prevent the damning part of that leaking.

"Hopefully not more than a few months of this. Until then, caricature of sweet Maya for the cameras, whinge to me about how much it sucks after." He punctuated the last part with a squeeze of Maya's hand, a gentle elbow nudge, and a grin. He was already feeling more himself, out of the agency.