fic
Oh hi there RPF that won't leave my brain until i finish writing it. How you doing?
Title: Cannes This Time Of Year...
The Players: Michael Fassbender/Emily Browning
Summary: Michael "meets" Emily.
Word Count: 1708
Notes: Lets just pretend that Michael presented his movie at Cannes this year.
Back to the start | Previous Part
“Hello Michael.”
He looked up from where he had been attempting to read a newspaper through sheer force of will. His french really was terrible.
He saw the willowy figure making her way towards him through the maze of tables situated on the terrace of the cafe he had chosen for their lunch meeting.
“Hello darlin',” he jumped up from his seat to envelop the young women in a full-bodied hug. Her small frame against his instantly triggered a sense memory in his body and he welcomed it joyfully. He guessed that was what came from working with someone so intimately for so many months. And even the critics had agreed, he and Mia had had some rockin' chemistry, despite the age-difference.
He placed an affectionate kiss on her cheek and another on her forehead just 'cause.
She smiled her shy smile at him as she took the seat across from his. He saw it morph into a frown though as he went to pick his cigarette back up from where it was lying in the ashtray on the table.
Still the same Mia then. Although she hadn't done ballet in years she was still an athlete at heart, and she had never liked the fact that he had smoked, hinting at him to quit many times. Though her attempts had failed miserably because she was too polite and unobtrusive to actually say anything about it. It was all in the frown. Such an expressive face.
He respectfully stubbed the cigarette out and returned to grinning at her.
“How are you?” she said finally. “I've been hearing great things about your movie.”
“Fine, fine. Everything is going grand with me. Enjoying myself and all that. But jesus girlie, I didn't even know you were here, I wouldn't even be able to name the film you were in even if you held me down and tortured me.”
“Oh its okay. I--”
“Like hell its okay! Why didn't you call?! We could've gotten together sooner!” Michael waved his hands about to emphasise the “seriousness” of this situation. His flailing gestures had never failed in making Mia smile. She had a lovely smile. Like a summer painting. Michael liked being the cause of it like he currently was.
“I know you're busy” she said carefully through her smile. “What with all the press Shame is getting and all the awards its up for. I didn't want to distract you.”
“Darlin'...” Michael paused smiling. “With a face like that you can feel free to distract me any time you want.”
Her face cracked suddenly. Falling into a breathy laugh that was as rare as her smile. Michael grinned triumphantly.
“Well, when you put it that way...” the young woman giggled as her face returned to its normal state of thoughtfulness.
And so they fell into easy conversation. Talking about Cannes, about their respective films, about relationships that had ended since they had last seen each other, and everything else that had happened in their lives in-between.
The topic of Michael's alleyway companion only came up a good hour or so later as their forks duelled over a humongous piece of cheesecake on a single plate between them.
Michael had had a few beers with his lunch and was starting to feel the liquid courage coursing through his bloodstream.
“I met Emily Browning briefly the other night” it was technically a lie, since he hadn't really met her properly. But he assumed it would sound a little less creepy, if it seemed like they had had a proper, normal introduction.
“Oh yeah?” Mia licked the end of her fork, eyeing him steadily.
“You know her?” he decided for bluntness. He believed Mia would probably appreciate it. She may be a sweet girl, but she had a sixth sense for people who were bullshitting her and she would promptly not waste her time with them.
She cocked her head to the side. “I guess you could say so. Not very well... we're not like, friends or anything.”
This startled Michael. Perhaps he had missed something, Mia didn't seem too keen on the girl. Perhaps she was one of those aforementioned bullshitters.
“Oh yeah?” he mimicked Mia's earlier statement.
At this the girl back-pedalled quickly, suddenly finding great interest in dragging little lines into the delicacy they were sharing with her fork.
“Oh nothing against her. I've heard through heaps of mutual friends how lovely she is its just...”
Michael leaned a little closer. Mia looked up at him and quirked her lips slightly.
“It's just.... Australia is small place for actors. People of the same age are continually going up for the same roles. For years me and Emily were always being thrown into the casting race together. Sometimes I would get the part, sometimes she would. Like Sleeping Beauty, the film she is promoting in Cannes. Did you know I had originally gotten the lead in that? Although, if I had taken it I never would have had the fortune of meeting and working with your good self.”
Michael let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. “You gave up the role to do Jane Eyre?”
Mia nodded, finally securing a piece of cake with her fork and bringing it to her mouth. “So you see” she said as she chewed slowly, “Its not exactly easy to make friends with the competition. Maybe if we'd gotten to know each other before, or maybe if we did a movie together it would be different... but I've seen her around a lot, and met her a few times. She tends to keep rather to herself a lot though.”
Michael considered this for a moment. Maybe that's why he had found her smoking in an alleyway by herself. “What's she like?” he couldn't help himself. He felt compelled to know.
Most people would probably have found his probing for information strange, or funny. Mia however, simply leant her head to the side to give his question proper consideration. Michael had to admit he loved this girl sometimes.
“I think people might assume she is a bit uppity or cold sometimes, but I think its just a sort of shyness really. She's not an exhibitionist, but like most actors she's a bit nutty. Though she hides it well, as we all do. I've seen her at the fashion shows so I guess she has an interest in it. And likewise I've seen her at a few exclusive music gigs so you can assume she is into that as well I suppose.... other than that, as far as I can tell she's pretty normal... oh! She does have a thing for guys called Max though. You know her last three boyfriends were named Max?”
Michael raised his eyebrows. “And you know this how....?”
At this, Mia face looked a little mischievous and sheepish at the same time. “Like I said, we have a few mutual acquaintances, though come on, that is a little strange don't you think?
Michael didn't know what to think about that. It had all been sounding so interesting until he heard that little bit of information.
“And what about this movie?” he murmured, wishing to change the subject quickly.
Mia seemed to light up at this request.
“Sleeping Beauty? Now there's something I can give you factual information about. I'm sorry I had to miss out on that. It was a great part. Very challenging. Ya see its about a young girl who starts working as a waitress in a high-class brothel and then gets promoted to the Sleeping Beauty chamber. People pay money to spend the night with her while she is in a drugged sleep and will have no knowledge or recollection of what happens to her whilst she is unconscious.”
“Sounds sexy...” Michael rasped in response, quickly grabbing at his glass of water, his throat suddenly feeling very dry and his fingers itching for another smoke.
At this Mia made a face. “Absolutely not. I know it may sound like it. But really the script makes it abundantly clear that this is not a sexually gratifying film. I haven't seen it yet. I wonder how Emily went? Its a very challenging part. Very little dialogue. Barely a music score. Multiple full frontal nudity scenes. Precarious sexual situations, mostly with geriatric men. And for about half the movie you have to pretend to be unconscious.”
Michael was struck by the apparent parallels in this movie and his own. A very sexual movie that wasn't the least bit sexy. He realised he wanted to see it for himself. Desperately.
“I'm sure whatever Julia has done with it, it will be amazing. She's a genius, even though its her first time directing. You know... I know her quite well, I could probably get a copy of the movie for you if you wanted.”
Michael looked up from where he realised he had been staring quite vehemently out into the distance.
He wanted to say yes, but he decided it might be time to set himself some boundaries before Mia became suspicious that he might be stalking the girl. Which wasn't his intention, he was almost sure of it. He was just curious about her, that was all.
“Oh I don't think that will be necessary. But thank you darlin',” he said, attempting a smile of innocence.
Mia once again tilted her head to the side. Michael suddenly remembered how Emily had done the same thing that night he had met her. Maybe it was an australian thing.
“You sure?” she finally questioned. “I mean its obvious you've taken an interest in her. I assume you mean to get to know her better. I wonder have you learned any new flirting tactics since those early weeks on Jane Eyre.”
At this Michael laughed. “Oh I knew I never really had a chance with you darlin'. You were too good for me” he chuckled as he reached for the last scrap of cheesecake on the plate between them.
“And what if Emily is too good for you too?” her tone was of course light, good natured, well intentioned. Though she raised a valid point.
Michael felt his amusement flicker to a small smile. “Oh without doubt, she would be.”
----
Writing this part was almost enough to make me ship Fassy/Mia. I like writing Fassy this way. Its the way I imagine he is 95% of the time when he isn't being tongue-tied in the presence of Emily. All charm and laughs and easy camraderie. Its true about Mia and Sleeping Beauty by the way. She did originally get the role and have to give it up to do Jane Eyre.
Part 4
Title: Cannes This Time Of Year...
The Players: Michael Fassbender/Emily Browning
Summary: Michael "meets" Emily.
Word Count: 1708
Notes: Lets just pretend that Michael presented his movie at Cannes this year.
Back to the start | Previous Part
“Hello Michael.”
He looked up from where he had been attempting to read a newspaper through sheer force of will. His french really was terrible.
He saw the willowy figure making her way towards him through the maze of tables situated on the terrace of the cafe he had chosen for their lunch meeting.
“Hello darlin',” he jumped up from his seat to envelop the young women in a full-bodied hug. Her small frame against his instantly triggered a sense memory in his body and he welcomed it joyfully. He guessed that was what came from working with someone so intimately for so many months. And even the critics had agreed, he and Mia had had some rockin' chemistry, despite the age-difference.
He placed an affectionate kiss on her cheek and another on her forehead just 'cause.
She smiled her shy smile at him as she took the seat across from his. He saw it morph into a frown though as he went to pick his cigarette back up from where it was lying in the ashtray on the table.
Still the same Mia then. Although she hadn't done ballet in years she was still an athlete at heart, and she had never liked the fact that he had smoked, hinting at him to quit many times. Though her attempts had failed miserably because she was too polite and unobtrusive to actually say anything about it. It was all in the frown. Such an expressive face.
He respectfully stubbed the cigarette out and returned to grinning at her.
“How are you?” she said finally. “I've been hearing great things about your movie.”
“Fine, fine. Everything is going grand with me. Enjoying myself and all that. But jesus girlie, I didn't even know you were here, I wouldn't even be able to name the film you were in even if you held me down and tortured me.”
“Oh its okay. I--”
“Like hell its okay! Why didn't you call?! We could've gotten together sooner!” Michael waved his hands about to emphasise the “seriousness” of this situation. His flailing gestures had never failed in making Mia smile. She had a lovely smile. Like a summer painting. Michael liked being the cause of it like he currently was.
“I know you're busy” she said carefully through her smile. “What with all the press Shame is getting and all the awards its up for. I didn't want to distract you.”
“Darlin'...” Michael paused smiling. “With a face like that you can feel free to distract me any time you want.”
Her face cracked suddenly. Falling into a breathy laugh that was as rare as her smile. Michael grinned triumphantly.
“Well, when you put it that way...” the young woman giggled as her face returned to its normal state of thoughtfulness.
And so they fell into easy conversation. Talking about Cannes, about their respective films, about relationships that had ended since they had last seen each other, and everything else that had happened in their lives in-between.
The topic of Michael's alleyway companion only came up a good hour or so later as their forks duelled over a humongous piece of cheesecake on a single plate between them.
Michael had had a few beers with his lunch and was starting to feel the liquid courage coursing through his bloodstream.
“I met Emily Browning briefly the other night” it was technically a lie, since he hadn't really met her properly. But he assumed it would sound a little less creepy, if it seemed like they had had a proper, normal introduction.
“Oh yeah?” Mia licked the end of her fork, eyeing him steadily.
“You know her?” he decided for bluntness. He believed Mia would probably appreciate it. She may be a sweet girl, but she had a sixth sense for people who were bullshitting her and she would promptly not waste her time with them.
She cocked her head to the side. “I guess you could say so. Not very well... we're not like, friends or anything.”
This startled Michael. Perhaps he had missed something, Mia didn't seem too keen on the girl. Perhaps she was one of those aforementioned bullshitters.
“Oh yeah?” he mimicked Mia's earlier statement.
At this the girl back-pedalled quickly, suddenly finding great interest in dragging little lines into the delicacy they were sharing with her fork.
“Oh nothing against her. I've heard through heaps of mutual friends how lovely she is its just...”
Michael leaned a little closer. Mia looked up at him and quirked her lips slightly.
“It's just.... Australia is small place for actors. People of the same age are continually going up for the same roles. For years me and Emily were always being thrown into the casting race together. Sometimes I would get the part, sometimes she would. Like Sleeping Beauty, the film she is promoting in Cannes. Did you know I had originally gotten the lead in that? Although, if I had taken it I never would have had the fortune of meeting and working with your good self.”
Michael let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. “You gave up the role to do Jane Eyre?”
Mia nodded, finally securing a piece of cake with her fork and bringing it to her mouth. “So you see” she said as she chewed slowly, “Its not exactly easy to make friends with the competition. Maybe if we'd gotten to know each other before, or maybe if we did a movie together it would be different... but I've seen her around a lot, and met her a few times. She tends to keep rather to herself a lot though.”
Michael considered this for a moment. Maybe that's why he had found her smoking in an alleyway by herself. “What's she like?” he couldn't help himself. He felt compelled to know.
Most people would probably have found his probing for information strange, or funny. Mia however, simply leant her head to the side to give his question proper consideration. Michael had to admit he loved this girl sometimes.
“I think people might assume she is a bit uppity or cold sometimes, but I think its just a sort of shyness really. She's not an exhibitionist, but like most actors she's a bit nutty. Though she hides it well, as we all do. I've seen her at the fashion shows so I guess she has an interest in it. And likewise I've seen her at a few exclusive music gigs so you can assume she is into that as well I suppose.... other than that, as far as I can tell she's pretty normal... oh! She does have a thing for guys called Max though. You know her last three boyfriends were named Max?”
Michael raised his eyebrows. “And you know this how....?”
At this, Mia face looked a little mischievous and sheepish at the same time. “Like I said, we have a few mutual acquaintances, though come on, that is a little strange don't you think?
Michael didn't know what to think about that. It had all been sounding so interesting until he heard that little bit of information.
“And what about this movie?” he murmured, wishing to change the subject quickly.
Mia seemed to light up at this request.
“Sleeping Beauty? Now there's something I can give you factual information about. I'm sorry I had to miss out on that. It was a great part. Very challenging. Ya see its about a young girl who starts working as a waitress in a high-class brothel and then gets promoted to the Sleeping Beauty chamber. People pay money to spend the night with her while she is in a drugged sleep and will have no knowledge or recollection of what happens to her whilst she is unconscious.”
“Sounds sexy...” Michael rasped in response, quickly grabbing at his glass of water, his throat suddenly feeling very dry and his fingers itching for another smoke.
At this Mia made a face. “Absolutely not. I know it may sound like it. But really the script makes it abundantly clear that this is not a sexually gratifying film. I haven't seen it yet. I wonder how Emily went? Its a very challenging part. Very little dialogue. Barely a music score. Multiple full frontal nudity scenes. Precarious sexual situations, mostly with geriatric men. And for about half the movie you have to pretend to be unconscious.”
Michael was struck by the apparent parallels in this movie and his own. A very sexual movie that wasn't the least bit sexy. He realised he wanted to see it for himself. Desperately.
“I'm sure whatever Julia has done with it, it will be amazing. She's a genius, even though its her first time directing. You know... I know her quite well, I could probably get a copy of the movie for you if you wanted.”
Michael looked up from where he realised he had been staring quite vehemently out into the distance.
He wanted to say yes, but he decided it might be time to set himself some boundaries before Mia became suspicious that he might be stalking the girl. Which wasn't his intention, he was almost sure of it. He was just curious about her, that was all.
“Oh I don't think that will be necessary. But thank you darlin',” he said, attempting a smile of innocence.
Mia once again tilted her head to the side. Michael suddenly remembered how Emily had done the same thing that night he had met her. Maybe it was an australian thing.
“You sure?” she finally questioned. “I mean its obvious you've taken an interest in her. I assume you mean to get to know her better. I wonder have you learned any new flirting tactics since those early weeks on Jane Eyre.”
At this Michael laughed. “Oh I knew I never really had a chance with you darlin'. You were too good for me” he chuckled as he reached for the last scrap of cheesecake on the plate between them.
“And what if Emily is too good for you too?” her tone was of course light, good natured, well intentioned. Though she raised a valid point.
Michael felt his amusement flicker to a small smile. “Oh without doubt, she would be.”
----
Writing this part was almost enough to make me ship Fassy/Mia. I like writing Fassy this way. Its the way I imagine he is 95% of the time when he isn't being tongue-tied in the presence of Emily. All charm and laughs and easy camraderie. Its true about Mia and Sleeping Beauty by the way. She did originally get the role and have to give it up to do Jane Eyre.
Part 4