Home Sweet Home [TAG: Bennett]

[Amelia Evans]

She snuck quietly into her boss' apartment with a bundled bunch of lowers in her arms. All different colors. A light jacket draped over her protecting her from the slight chill in the air that came as winter turned into spring. Lots of bright colors that she was sure would cheer her boss right up. He had been giving her quite the run for her money (which she didn't have much have) since day one and she had replaced her best friend Annabelle in the personal assistant role. Annabelle was everything Amelia was not. Poised, social butterfly, friendly, gorgeous, and blonde. Practically a model. Amelia was awkward, quirky, nervous at times, not very coordinated. She was a duckling and Annabelle was the swan. Yet they had been best friends since birth and despite their different social circles (Amelia's was sorely lacking) they still looked out for one another. So when Annabelle's boyfriend had received a large chunk of money as the result of a promotion the two had decided to do some travelling across the country. Two months worth which left her employer, actor Bennett Ansel without an assistant and one that he apparently needed. And so Amelia was given the position even though she clumsily argued up and down she was the wrong person for it... However she needed the work so here she was.

That's not to say she didn't feel incredibly lucky to have the position that her friend had vacated. Bennett had been in a few films when he was younger and they were ones she had seen. Amelia had never met an actual celebrity before so even though it was her third week she was still pretty shell shocked by the whole experience. She was also fairly certain, despite her social cues lacking, that he probably hated her guts since her very first day. Maybe even before she stepped into his apartment. It would be a long two months if that was the case so she was determined to at least change that. After all she didn't want Annabelle to return only to lose her job. That was no good.

Moving about the kitchen, she assumed Bennett was probably in the bedroom or out, she began to dig around somewhat loudly in the cabinets top and bottom searching for a vase. "Hm... Where could one be?" She thought out loud to herself as she crawled across the tiles to another cabinet sticking her head inside her behind sticking out along with her pokadot rain boots that she had forgotten to take off in her one track mind to add some brightness to the room. "There isn't a vase in this whole effing apartment?" She exclaimed in disbelief with major frustration as she sat up on her knees hitting her head on the top of the cabinet. "Ow!" She winced, her right hand rubbing the top of her head as she turned around still kneeling just in time to see Bennett standing in the kitchen looking at her seriously.

"Oh... Shoot." She frowned, worry etched all over her face she awkwardly rose to stand her face turning red. "I was just looking for something to uh... Put these in." She gestured to the flowers resting on the kitchen cabinet embarrassed and she didn't even know why. "I thought this place could use some c.. color." There were those nerves starting to hit as her brown eyes darted nervously around semi avoiding his. She was holding together remarkably well though. "D... Do you have something I can use?" Answer or not she pushed forward. "How was your day?" She added weakly trying desperately not to muck this up.

[Bennett Ansel]

The night before had been a good night. At least he thought it had been. He couldn't remember too much of the later parts, but that usually meant it had been a good night. It was a good thing he didn't have anything that day. He could just relax, sleep in, and not do anything too strenuous. Of course his agent would probably want him to do something productive. He knew the guy hated his late night outs, but as long as Ben was still getting roles, there wasn't anything he would do. Even if the roles had often been guest roles recently. The right part just hadn't come around for a longer role. But that didn't mean he wasn't still living comfortable. The several movies he had been as a child and teenager had helped with that. Of course at some point he'd likely need to find something more stable. But today was not that day.

He was resting comfortable in his bed when he heard some noises in what he assumed was the kitchen. He hadn't heard anyone come in, but he assumed it was his new assistant. He had just gotten used to having Annabelle around and now she was off traveling the country or something. He wasn't very fond of change. So having this Amelia girl around was a little uncomfortable. She wasn't quite as easy to be sociable with, at least not right now. He didn't even know where to start. If they really didn't get along it would just be temporary right? Annabelle was only going to be gone a couple of months right? Although it was quite difficult to see the good in someone when they sounded as though they were crashing through his kitchen. Of course he didn't know if she was really being loud, or if it was just this headache.

Ben hoped the noise would die down as she completed what she wanted, and he could just slip into a nap, but that didn't seen to happen. So he sighed and rolled out of bed. He pulled on a pair of sweatpants, and then headed towards the noise, rubbing his eyes. What time was it anyway? Then he heard exclaim something about a vase. Why on earth was she looking for a vase? And why did she think she would find one here? Of course who knew if he had one or not. That was something he was on top of. That had been Annabelle's role. Plus it wasn't like he used most of the stuff in the kitchen either. Maybe the microwave. He came up to the kitchen just in time to see her sitting up and hitting her head on the cabinet. He leaned against a counter and just watched her.

It wasn't very long at all until she had noticed him there. She got up awkwardly and looked embarrassed. Then she explained what she was doing. "So that's what all the noise was." So she had been making a lot of noise. Guess the headache wasn't too bad after all. But why flowers? What need was there to have flowers around? He didn't quite get it. Ah color. "Interesting reason." he said with a shrug. Sure his apartment was kind of bland, but he liked it well enough. "I'm not sure I have anything. I wouldn't even know where to look to be honest." he said moving over towards the fridge to grab a beer. That would help with this 'early' wake up right?

[Amelia Evans]

"Yeah..." She admitted as an embarrassed blush that she couldn't avoid rose in her cheeks. Whether it was from being confronted or because he was standing there in sweatpants without a shirt was up for debate. One that she wasn't keen on having and so she just diverted her eyes trying to look anywhere but directly at him. "I saw these at the bodega on the way and I thought that they might brighten the place up a bit. That you might like them." Which would probably be in vain. He didn't like much of anything and if he did he certainly didn't let her onto it. Maybe he found it fun or amusing. She didn't have the slightest clue but she would try to appeal to him never the less if only to make their few months together while Annabelle was away more bearable.

No vase? She wrinkled her brow up in thought and then bent down grabbing a metal pot from the cabinet and turning the faucet handle filling it with water. Nodding in affirmation she stuck the flowers inside and set them on the kitchen island. "There." She announced proudly, standing upright. It would have to do. They could not have been more different. While Bennett had been out partying the night away Amelia had spent it inside curled up on her couch reading World War Z. She liked zombies, at least the idea of an apocalypse. A world where the end was near and she could be one of the few scientific minds who would know what to do and how to help. A world where she could be semi useful and where looks didn't really matter.

Now she noticed him reaching into the fridge for an amber bottle. "It's early for that." She couldn't help but blurt out with a frown. In catching her own error she was quick to add something to soften the blow that she no doubt caused. "Isn't it?... I mean..." Then again what did she know? She didn't drink all that often majorly because she was a light weight and couldn't handle it. "Never mind." It was probably best not to say anything. She really ought to learn to keep her mouth shut though it's not like that ever worked before. Best to change the subject.

"See? Look. It really does cheer things up a bit!" She encouraged gesturing to the flowers in the pot a big smile on her face.

[Bennett Ansel]

"Well in the future, make less noise." He wasn't completely dismissing the idea she had had, but less noise would be great. Especially on his days off when he wanted to sleep off a good night of partying. It was something she would have to learn if this was going to work out. "Well they'll brighten it up until they inevitably die." Sure they would look nice, but he didn't have a green thumb, and flowers from a store would die after a few days. Sure he appreciated the effort, but the exact route she had taken to brighten the place up wasn't something that would last, unless she planned on buying flowers every few days to replace them. He really needed to adjust to this new girl's thoughts it seemed.

Of course his not understanding the point of flowers, or knowing where anything was, led to not knowing if there was a vase in the apartment. But it seemed she was more resourceful. Well he supposed that was good. "That works" he said with a slight nod. It wasn't like he was going to use that pot anyway. It wasn't microwavable. He knew that much. They could stay there. Plus, what harm could they really do? As long as they didn't make a big mess, he was fine with it. Hopefully it wouldn't mess with any girls coming over to his place. Flowers were a more feminine touch after all. Then again, he wasn't actually looking to date anyone he brought home.

When she questioned his movement to get a beer, he just had to raise an eyebrow at her. Her job wasn't to question him like this. If he wanted a drink, he'd get a drink. "It's my day off, it's never too early." It wasn't like he was off at a bar pounding shots at this time. No. He was grabbing a beer. It would likely last him a while, and it would make the day a little more enjoyable right? He hoped so. He didn't even know what he planned on doing. Probably take a shower to start with anyway. "Anyway it's 5 o'clock somewhere right?" he asked, almost lightheartedly. He wanted to move away from it.

"Suppose they do." He gave her a small smile while opening up the beer. He took a sip of it before saying. "So what else are you doing today?"

[Amelia Evans]

"Well in the future, make less noise."

Her big smile faded all at once. Frowning, hurt and also embarrassed that she had been so noisy and had caused such a reaction. Gosh, why was she always mucking things up? Just what she needed to do. Piss her new-ish boss off so much that she got Annabelle in trouble for even recommending her for the position. No. That just wouldn't do. She would have to make up for it somehow. "I.. I'm sorry. I'll tr.. try." Clenching her fists slightly against her sweater clad sighs she took in an inhale trying to prevent herself from getting too nervous and reacting in a way that there would be no coming back from or getting on Bennett's good graces with which she so badly needed.

Die? Gosh he really was focused on the darker and sadder things in life wasn't he? She'd have to change that. She was determined to. Pluck up, Evans! She lifted her head a newfound brightness in her eyes. "They have a shorter shelf life maybe but if you take care of them they'll last long enough and in here someone can appreciate them. Like you!" She said cheerfully even though she full realized that this would be an uphill battle with him. "Besides, you don't have to take care of them. I will. So you have nothing to worry about." She proclaimed arriving at the other side of the kitchen island and gesturing to the pot with the flowers in them with a wide smile that would have been contagious to anyone except maybe the man across from her.

The interaction between the two of them could have become combative if it had been anyone opposite him other than the very nervous and quirky young brunette. Instead she could only gape at him wide eyed trying to formulate a response that wouldn't ruffle any feathers. "It's just that... Uh... In the morning most folks have like an orange juice or a chocolate milk or something..." She said helplessly. Some would say a chocolate milk was childish but it was how she started every morning. She wasn't much of a coffee drinker. "Say! Maybe that would be good. Lets get you some juice." She practically skipped over to the fridge only to open it and find it majorly empty except for some alcohol and condiments. No food, no real drinks, not much of anything. "Oh dear..." She said to herself and yet aloud. "You don't have anything in here." She stated the obvious turning around to face him with another frown that she didn't like hosting on her mug.

"I guess today I'm going to go to the market to get you some food. There's a farmer's one a few blocks over. I saw it on the way over here." Did she dare? "Do you want to go? They had all sorts of stuff. Since you're in the mood to drink they do sell all sorts of local brews you know." Her face brightened again even despite her boldness. He probably wasn't too keen on it but she had her ways. "If you're worried about being recognized or something you can wear a disguise or something. Here!" She reached into her bag and handed him her sunglasses and then plucked her beanie hat right off her head giving that to him as well. "Come on. You can't stay holed up in here all day." Well he could. That seemed to be his MO most days. Not on her watch. She had to at least try.

[Bennett Ansel]

She probably hadn't been overly loud, but he wasn't used to getting woken up like this on his days off. He was used to just sleeping until he woke up and then eventually rolling out of bed to likely sit on the couch recovering from the night prior. That was his normal routine. He loved to go out and party, but then there were the days he enjoyed relaxing and doing a whole lot of nothing at home. There were a lot of things he had to get used to with this change, but he wasn't about to go though yet another change. "It's okay, you can't change it at this point."

Ben had never gotten the point of flowers. They had always had them around the house growing up, but that was something his mother liked to have around. "I can't exactly keep a plant in dirt alive, keeping one outside of dirt perky doesn't seem to be something very possible." He had once been given a potted plant. It hadn't lasted long. He didn't even know if he had remembered to water it once. All he knew is that one day he checked on it and it was very dead. "Well it can stay as long as I don't have to take care of it." If she brought it in, she could take care of it. That would be the condition of allowing the flowers in the apartment to stay. Especially as he probably would forget they were there and they would end up in the trash within a week.

"People also enjoy Bloody Mary's and mimosas, both of which I can assure you have alcohol in them." He said in response to her saying people mostly had milk or juice. He usually grabbed coffee at a shop on the way to set when he had to be in to work along with a bagel or similar. He didn't generally have milk or juice, but not because he didn't like them, but because usually he was focused on trying to wake up. He went back to resting on the counter, sipping his beer as she skipped over to his fridge on a quest to get him juice, which he already knew wasn't there. "No juice or milk here." He didn't keep much in his apartment, as he ate out or grabbed quick meals most of the time. "I'm not usually here for meals, so I don't keep stuff here." he said with a shrug.

She started going on about how she was going to get him food. Why would she do that? He didn't cook. He just ate things. "And what am I going to do with the food?" Having been a child actor who had had a lot done for him throughout the year, cooking hadn't been something he had learned to do. And so far as an adult he hadn't needed the cooking. He had enough money to not necessarily worry about that. The local brews were interesting, but he had just spend the entire night prior drinking. He probably should take it relatively easy on the alcohol. "I really shouldn't drink too much today." he said, right before he took a sip of his beer. "I'm not worried about being recognized." he said shaking his head as she offered her glasses and beanie. Even with those things he'd be recognized and he wasn't about to be seen wearing her things. He had sunglasses and hats of his own if he really wanted to. "I actually can stay holed up in here if I really wanted to." He said. He hadn't actually given much thought to what he would do. "It's not like I spend every day just here at home."

[Amelia Evans]

"Well, it's lucky that I'm here almost every day so I can help." She offered with a slight tilt of the head still trying to hang on to her eternal optimism when it came to other people. "It doesn't take too much really. A little water, a little sunlight, a little care-" She stopped short. Care that Bennett didn't seem to have for anyone or anything else. He seemed to be more of an 'in the moment' guy. He cared about himself for whatever reason and that was perfectly fine. Amelia was careful not to judge people. It just wasn't in her. No matter how negative they were, or tried, to appear. When he decided the plant could stay Amelia's posture noticably straightened and her face brightened. "You've got yourself a deal." She chimed up all too eagerly sticking out her hand for a handshake only to kick herself for her own boldness and shove her hand back into her coat pockets. Foolish to even think he would give her the time of day. She should know better.

"I wouldn't know." Bloody Marys and Mimosas? Those sounded like names not drinks. Then again Amelia wasn't much of a drinker. The only time something would pass her lips was if it was extremely sweet and not a lot of bars specialized in that sort of thing. Plus it wasn't like Amelia ever found herself in a bar unless Anabelle or someone else managed to drag her that way. She didn't do so well with lots of people packed into a small space: Not so convenient since she lived in one of the busiest cities in the world.

So the fridge was empty. If she didn't just see it with her own eyes Bennett's admission would have been enough. "Well, we'll just have to fix that won't we? Come on." She encouraged beckoning with her arm trying to get him to follow toward the door. "What do you have to lose?" She asked, her brow raising in genuine curiosity. He might not know her super well just yet and while she was awkward she wasn't one to back down so easily as long as the panic attacks stayed at bay. "The sun is shining. The weather is nice. Might as well make use of the day. No point in staying in here. It's not like it's going anywhere." That much was true. Apartments couldn't get up and walk away. Not even NYC ones with super high rents. "If you come now I'll never ask you again." She offered as a bargaining tool. That wasn't true, she couldn't help herself, but Bennett didn't necessarily know that even if she was the worst liar known to man.