My Way [Open]

[David Rossi]

The women at the front desk in the lobby and security had nearly caused their heads to come right off from how quickly they turned or jarred them to get a better look of David Rossi who was currently not wearing a suit as he walked into the lower level of the USBC building. As the studio owner, and one cocky mutha effa he always wore a suit. He was always dressed to the nines and honestly liked the attention he got. But it was Sunday which meant it was the weekend and met one heck of a Friday Night Live after party the night before. Plus it was before 10 AM and a somewhat hungover David didn't feel like dressing up just because he needed to swing by the office to check on a few things that he had left unfinished so he could go and party the night before... and the night before that... and the night before.. Well, you get the picture.

"Morning ladies. Lovely weather outside isn't it? You should have your lunch outside. The plaza is looking marvelous." He greeted loudly with a wave and a grin before turning around to face the outside of the elevator relishing in how their eyes were bugging out of their head trying to fathom the site before them of him in a baseball cut t-shirt (probably the cheapest thing he owned nowadays) and navy blue running shorts and adidas sneakers. "Bye ladies!" The elevator dinged and the doors closed only after which David shook his head and chuckled to himself. Too much fun.

By 9:26 AM he found himself in his office on the top floor the station's only soap opera playing on the tv without sound as he enjoyed the music coming from his stereo (today it was Bewitched) from the nineties (he loved that thing) walking around his spacious office with a folder open in his arm eyes scrolling the writing on the papers thoughtfully. He hummed along with the tune (which he obviously knew by heart) his door open as he noticed someone out in the hallway gaping at him. In typical David fashion he could only smirk and from where he stood locked eyes with the other person. "So I'm not the only one here on the weekend. Fabulous!" He smiled and nodded with his head toward the room. "Come on in and PLEASE tell me I'm paying you enough to be here on a Sunday."

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428 words notes: based on the whiskers r we snl skit bc i love kate with all my heart - thought this would be interesting JUNIER OF GS + ADOX

Another successful FNL in the books. Michelle had done some stupid stuff, but it was all in a day's work. She believed she had found a new favorite too, in a skit where she and another cast member ran a cat adoption agency and had some lesbian undertones. She had nearly broken character a couple times, but she held it together for the sake of the masterpiece of a skit. Perhaps it was a matter of opinion, perhaps she was a bit biased based on the fact that she got to hold and pet a bunch of kittens and cats, but she thought it went very well and Michelle hoped they could even make it a series. Compared to other skits the writers had put Michelle in in the past that just evoked cheap laughs, this was a skit that she could be proud of (wouldn't her parents be proud that this is what she did with her college degree?). With all these thoughts swirling in her mind, Michelle somehow found herself on her way to go see the man himself. Why she felt the need to tell Mr. Rossi himself how pleased she was with this skit, she had no idea. It sounded like a much better idea when she was on the subway over. Yet, here she was, stepping out of the elevator and towards his office, dressed in a black skirt and blue top covered in, appropriately, kittens. It was so unlikely that he would actually be there, especially after the party the night before. When she reached his door, it was open, and what she found shocked her to the core. There stood David Rossi, in shorts and a shirt. Michelle hadn't expected him to be there, let alone not be dressed in a suit. She didn't have much time to process before he noticed her and ushered her in. Michelle sighed over the fact that she was caught off-guard. Not a good impression to make. Nonetheless, she came inside and took a deep breath. "Today's my day off, actually," Michelle admitted sheepishly, scratching the back of her neck and adjusting the strap of her purse. She sat down in one of the chairs across from his desk, hoping that he would follow on the other side, even though this wasn't exactly how she pictured this going. "I just wanted you to know how happy I am with FNL and I think it's really improving - not that it was anywhere near bad before. I just... I feel so much better after this week." David Rossi

[David Rossi]

David caught the (was there any other word to describe it other than) stunned look on Michelle's face and he couldn't help but chuckle in amusement. "What? Us station owners have lives outside the studio you know." From the way she was eyeing his gym shorts and t-shirt she seemed to disagree or, at the very least, looked doubtful. "Not much of a life but still.. Something.." He continued to tease as friendly was his way no matter what he was wearing. 

"Day off? Then why the heck are you here? Go home. Have a glass of wine. Netflix and chill." He gasped though his smile was still prominent. "Because I own a percentage of Netflix's stock naturally." He then gestured to the chair in front of him. "Have a seat at least." Always the nice guy, even when firing someone (usually), he crossed his arms over her chest awaiting Michelle to follow his wishes. He was used to that sort of thing. He paid women, on his own time of course, for that sort of thing when he didn't want to leave his penthouse. And sit she did and immediately said how happy she was on the show. Good.

"Happy to hear it." Not that compliments could guarantee one's stay. That wasn't how the business worked. Still, it was nice to hear. "I caught last night's episode. Very funny." The Station Owner complimented with an award winning and so very charming smile. "Your Hillary Clinton is really coming along. Sometimes I can't even tell the difference and that's saying a lot.. She was a guest at my Bat Mitzvah." He joked with a wink sitting on the edge of his desk and crossing his legs casually as the music from the stereo continued to flood the room. "The writing has always been pretty good on the show but it's quite another thing entirely to find a good cast. One that fits with one another." He went on to explain moving around his desk and opening the mini bar pulling out a bottle of wine. It was a Sunday after all. "In some ways we're still looking." He didn't want anyone to think just because they visited and were friendly (or even slept with him) that guaranteed cast list safety. "Red or white?" Early as it was it was 5 o'clock somewhere and it wasn't like she could say no to the owner of USBC. No one really did.

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401 words notes: --- JUNIER OF GS + ADOX

Michelle wasn't really sure what she had gotten herself into when she walked into David Rossi's office. Somehow, she seemed to have forgotten how large his ego could get. She felt a grimace on its way but forced it down. Whether it was talking about his own-age of some of Netflix or his pride in general, Michelle found herself forcing a laugh on top of her smile. At least he was happy with what she had to say. It could have gone worse, perhaps. He could have taken it the wrong way somehow? Michelle tried to absorb his comments for what they were, and resisted the urge to correct him about it being a Bar Mitzvah rather than Bat Mitzvah. If she had corrected him, then it certainly wouldn't end well despite the well-wishes she had come with in the first place. Though Michelle loved her job, she didn't exactly feel safe in her job whenever she entered that particular room when the man in question was in it. "Thank you... sir. Means a lot," Michelle spoke carefully now, watching him sit on the edge of the desk. He continued to speak, however, about how the writing may be great but the relationship between the cast was always more important. The twinge in his words was meant to be uncomfortable, and Michelle was used to taking it with a grain of salt, but it was still a somewhat passive threat. The comedian took a deep breath: "Of course. I wouldn't expect any less." Obviously there was more to casting than just David Rossi's word, but it was still a large piece. And for Michelle to be suddenly let go would not happen quietly. She was one of the veteran cast members, and certainly at least a few people would be on her side. She was a fan favorite, after all. But it probably wouldn't come to that. These were the type of games the station owner liked to play. Michelle certainly wasn't a fan. "Red. Please," Michelle added with fervor, watching her tongue still. "I think the cast could be a little larger, even. If I could say so. People have their favorites, but I think we could expand just a little bit. Try and add a few more people to the group to mix it up, ya know?" Whether that was a good idea to speak, she wasn't quite sure. David Rossi

[David Rossi]

"I'm sure it does." He was about to take this young performer's words with a grain of salt. He saw enough talented folks day in and day out not to worry about an ensemble actor's opinions of him because at the end of the day, especially with a show like FNL, he made more in a month then all of those performers in a year COMBINED. Because of this he reckoned not many had any thoughts that were their own let alone ones they would express to him other than ones that involved overly complimenting him or buttering him up. Saying what they thought he wanted to hear. Like some prostitutes he paid on the rare occasion he didn't feel like going out and partying. Plus they were down for anything.. Usually so were desperate performers. Performers who when they started getting more screen time thought they were bigger than they were. In the day and age of the internet they thought they were indisposable. They were wrong. Crowds could always adapt. They would have no choice.

"Red it is then." He agreed picking the bottle and undoing the cork like a pro who had more than his fair share of alcohol. Filling the glass a quarter of the way he handed it to her. He would just have a cold Vitamin Water. "Cheers." He motioned the plastic bottle toward her not wanting to clink them together before taking a sip of his own purple liquid. "You can think that but you would be wrong." He saw no harm in being honest. It was all he knew how to be giving her a cheeky smile. "The brass, which I guess includes me, would rather cut then add than add then cut. Welcome to Hollywood.. Well.. New York." He corrected himself taking another drink before walking around his desk and plopping down in the seat leaning back and resting his feet on the table top. "I don't think you have to worry too much though as long as you keep doing what you did yesterday and not last year." How the heck had he managed to make the comment likable? Simple. He was David Rossi and he could ooze charm even when he was saying something sh**ty. "Feeling good about it?"

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407 words notes: --- JUNIER OF GS + ADOX

Somehow, Michelle had talked herself into coming to see David Rossi in the first place. Somehow, Michelle found herself feeling less safe in her job than she had when she walked in to praise the station owner. It was common behavior for the man, and yet Michelle was surprised for some reason. Just as Michelle was somehow surprised by her own lack of safety in her job, she was surprised by the fact that David poured her a glass of wine and then simply opened a Vitamin Water. Very David Rossi of him. Not that she could not drink it at this point. He had her wrapped around his finger, and not in an adoring way as the term was commonly used. "Cheers," she muttered in response, simply now trying to get through the conversation. The power had clearly shifted in a matter of seconds. And here he was to crash reality all around her. Michelle stiffened at his response, slowly nodding in fear of what would happen if she shook her head instead. "I can see... how that could be the case." How else was she supposed to respond to his statement? She couldn't disagree with him, even though she truly did. And yet, somehow, Michelle heard the first thing that was remotely close to a compliment from David Rossi's mouth for the first time in a while. It was all Michelle could do to not smirk at his comment. Sure, he had mentioned that she wasn't doing well last year, but for him, that was a major comment. Perhaps there were underlying motives in his praise, but she would take it. "Well, thank you sir. I hope to keep growing with Friday Night Live and progress with each show." He asked if she was feeling good about it. Until she had sat down in his office? She had felt great. The second he opened his mouth, not so much. Not that she would ever tell the man who signed her paychecks that. "Better and better every day, honestly. Like I said, I hope to continue growing through the show. It's really helping me stretch my wings." All of the above was true, but Michelle had always been comfortable with acting, improv, and sketch work. David Rossi just made her feel insecure and unsure. How had she forgotten how awful he generally made her feel when she was debating if she should pay him a visit? David Rossi

[David Rossi]

"Well I'm sure you'll be fine." The Station Owner hinted taking another sip of his Vitamin Water. David smiled to himself as Michelle took a sip of her wine. That was something that would never get old for the privileged man who grew up with money. Even when someone was uncomfortable and wasn't getting what they wanted (while he was) he could still get them to drink whether through his charms or power/status over someone else. With Michelle he was her boss, he was also a man, and he also outranked her in cash flow. If anyone insinuated that anyone else held the power here they would have been sorely mistaken. "Nothing to worry about. I'm certain." He added with a cheers gesture and slight raise of his brow.

"So what's the good word over on the stages of FNL?" He asked sitting down on the edge of his desk again in his shorts and t-shirt a passing by cleaning lady gaped at him from just outside never having seen him dressed so casually. "You good friends with Campbell?" He asked about one of the writers on FNL. Being a man David foolishly assumed, like any man, that all women were bestie getting together in bathrooms to gossip to their heart's content. That made sense, didn't it? "She doesn't have any plans for the immediate future that I don't know about, right?" He chuckled trying his best to appear casual when really he was the slightest bit worried. Replacing a writer was a tad more difficult than an actor. It required more work (in his opinion anyways) and he didn't want to go through any part of that again.

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515 words notes: --- JUNIER OF GS + ADOX

Michelle was a generally goofy person, but it seemed that if she were to not scale back her jokes, it would not bode well for her. The conversation, though meant to be casual, was nothing but. It was pure business. Though David stated that there was nothing to worry about, it was just that very same thing that sparked a little worry in Michelle's system. At this point, she should know his mannerisms and personality to not take it so personally, and yet every time she reacted the same way. Michelle was a woman in comedy, and she would like to consider herself one of the leaders of the field. She nodded all the same to David's remark, reluctantly tapping her glass to his Vitamin Water. Was it possible that she was the only member of the cast who really talked to David, let alone stood up to him? Though she wasn't sure that this could be called standing up. The next part of their conversation somehow felt a bit more relaxed. Michelle was still on edge, however, so she would not let her guard down regardless. The word on the stage? "Positive, for the most part. Everyone's just excited to see what's next based on the better ratings." She wasn't quite sure how to answer that, not that she could say that to her boss' face. But what he asked next was unexpected. Phoebe Campbell, one of the writers for Friday Night Live? They weren't really in the same circles, but clearly David assumed because they were females they were friends, which was just not how it worked. Women aren't some mythical creature that is completely different from the human man. Michelle often had a hard time holding her tongue in regards to David, but she did so in order to keep her job. David clearly thought she was easily replaceable, though Michelle would like to not think so. She was iconic in a way, and she had a decent sized devoted fanbase. Back to the matter at hand, how could she lightly tell David that Phoebe was not her best friend? "Nothing against her, of course, but she and I aren't that close. I do like her writing style a lot though, for me personally." As for her future plans, Michelle definitely wasn't close enough to her to know. They kept conversations merely on a work level. "As far as I know, she doesn't." Michelle wanted to say, 'why don't you just ask her?' but she thought better of doing so. Placing her glass for a moment delicately on the desk with a few sips left, Michelle put her hands in her lap. "As far as I know, there are no changes you should be aware of." Michelle didn't aim to be the teacher's pet, but she didn't mind appearing as one if it helped her in the long run. Michelle offered a light smile that was very open. "I would say that Friday Night Live is on track to have a very successful season with both a strong cast and writing team." David Rossi

[David Rossi]

"Better ratings would be great." He agreed with another nod taking a sip of his Vitamin Water. Mmm.. Berry. Ratings for the show, that had been on almost as long as he had been alive, were the lowest they had ever been but still more than enough in numbers to keep it on the air. Plus tradition. Even so David would love for it to be doing even better. As laid back as he could seem he still had an urge to succeed he just went about it differently than everyone else. "Not friends?" His brow rose in confusion as if the very idea, though true, was asinine. "Hm..." What else could he say as he furrowed his brow and rubbed the back of his neck clearing his throat. Women. Can't live with them.. Can probably live without them but then who would make him feel good sometimes?

"Don't you think if I thought it was the best course I'd ask her myself?" It was then that he caught himself. He was usually a charming very nice guy but sometimes he got into the producer mind set, the business man way of life that his father had and that he had sworn to himself as a boy that he would avoid. But here he was doing it.. On a Sunday no less! Maybe he was more like his father than he cared to admit. "Yikes... Ugh.. Sorry..." Michelle didn't need to hear about the cruelty of her profession from him. She probably dealt with it most days as a young woman and on top of that if she wanted to live in blissful ignorance who was he to stop her from doing so? He did the same when he sought the comfort in a random woman or the bottom of a bottle of whiskey that was more expensive than some folks' one month's worth rent. "I'm sorry to be such an ass today. Just had a long meeting with the backers after yesterday's show and they can prattle on and on about nothing for hours.." Or you know cancelling certain shows whose views they didn't agree with. He was trying to hide these sort of troubles from the shows' casts and crews (they didn't need to be bothered with losing their jobs) but it could take its toll. "I shouldn't take it out on you. It's a Sunday." He attempted to lighten the mood with a little shrug and small smile. Like the fact that it was Sunday removed all ills.

"So... You've worked here for a bit and I am ashamed to say I don't know a thing about you." He began trying to start over. When you were rich as all hell you had the luxury of doing that and not many would call you on it... Ever. He moved around his desk and opened a drawer digging through it but still making conversation. "Have any brothers, sisters, kids? What's your family like?" Casual conversation. His profession and wealth had allowed him to be better at it than most.