Practice, Practice, Practice [Emrys]

[Deleted]

January 15, 2026
@emrys

Emrys had an interview with Witch TV tomorrow and Charlotta's stomach churned at the thought. Emrys never interviewed well. Not because he couldn't be a charming boy. He could. But because he was a walking tabloid scandal and he never thought before he spoke. It was so bad that Charlotta booked all of Emrys' spare time in the days leading up to an interview to coach him. She went over literally every question and combination that might be asked, drilling appropriate answers into his he ad until he could naturally get them out with slipping up and saying something that would cause a paparrazi feeding frenzy. 

They'd taken a break for an hour, so that they could get some lunch and Charlotta could check in with her wife to see how everything at home was going and how Jayli was. Emrys wasn't back yet, but she was sure he would. While there was always the chance he might run away, Charlotta knew she could trust him today. He cooperated when she was serious. But that didn't make today any easier. She leaned back in the chair, phone pressed up to her ear and her other hand rubbing her eyes. "No, he's doing fine. Better then usual... No, thank god he didn't mention that strip club for his hobbies this time... Ugh, don't remind me, we've got the vampirism questions when he gets backs." She spoke, talking to her wife on the phone. "Yes, I saw his father's last interview... Oh, don't worry I've coaching him on that nonsense. I don't know why my brother told the press that.... No, my brother is just an idiot... Wait, what? The paparazzi caught him where?! Are you kidding me?" She groaned, rubbing her eyes harder. "Okay, thanks for letting me know... I'll cover it. Send me what you found. Love you," She pulled the phone away from her ear and hung up. 

The let out a long, exasperated sigh and leaned forward to rest her head in her hands. IT was at that moment the door opened. No doubt Emrys. "You and your father are going to be the death of me, you know that right?"

[Deleted]

Many celebrities enjoyed interviewing, television made it exciting. There was a level of improv that was required, as many weren't entirely sure what was coming their way. But for Emrys? Interviews were one of his least favorite things to do. He loved the attention, the lights, the cameras. The thing he hated was this. Before an interview, his aunt and manager ran him through every possible situation and question that they would ask. And they practiced. It was torturous. She didn't just tell him what he wasn't allowed to say, but they had to practice and run through every possible way a question could be worded. It was such a drag. The boy would enjoy interviews much more if he could be himself and say whatever came naturally. But no. She had to take all the fun out of it. On top of that, she booked him up, with no extra free time the enjoy himself. He liked his work, making music was what he loved. But This was the absolute worst. She called it "coaching" he called it torture.

She had given him an hour break, where he simply got a bite to eat and a quick enjoyment in a building closet with....someone. He made sure to drink blood and eat some food, knowing that she wouldn't give him much more time later. On his way back, he picked up a plate of dark chocolate cake with rich chocolate frosting. He could have left, but he knew she wasn't going to let up, and going off the grid now would only make matters worse later. Once the interview as over, he could do what he wanted again. He ate it as he neared room, hearing the tail end of her conversation. Apparently his father had done something bad. That wasn't a surprise. The apple doesn't fall far, and all that nonsense. He knew that his aunt blamed his brother for much of Emrys' behaviors.

He walked in, fork in mouth, letting the rich deep sweetness overtake his taste. He shrugged, pulling the fork from his mouth. "What the old man do this time?" He knew his antics could be bad, but no one did bad press quite like Radford Holopainen. He took another bite of cake, knowing that the next set of questions were not going to be enjoyable. His answers were all wrong, so he had to be sure to answer the questions right....and not truthfully.

[Deleted]

January 15, 2026
@emrys

Charlotta moved her hands and turned her head to eye her nephew. Nonchalant, without a care. Like always. Sometimes she wished she could strangle him. Though, thankfully today was not one of those days. But also... where did he find chocolate cake? Plus, why was he eating it now instead of during his lunch break? She let out a sigh and fully sat up in her chair. While she tried to always be "dignified" and business oriented in the office, she was always a bit more relaxed when it was just her and Emrys. While he was a musician at her label he was, and always would be, first and foremost her nephew. She'd watched him grow up and become the young man he was. Of course, it thoroughly pissed her off how his father had rubbed off on him.

Emrys took after his father, her brother, far too much. Charlotta blamed those tours. Radford was a big star back home, so he was always working. Whenever Emrys had gone to Finland to spend time with his father, his father had just brought him along. So, Emrys had been exposed to his father's more reckless actions early on. So, her brother being in another scandal really wasn't surprising. He was actually much worse then Emrys on that front.

"Let's just say he visited his Russian friend. Again." She was so frustrated with that situation. Her brother had slept with a Russian woman, who's husband was a very powerful muggle politician. It had caused a HUGE scandal. "Emrys, please promise me you'll never stoop to your father's level and sleep with a married person. Please." Because god forbid, his usual nonsense was enough drama. She wouldn't be able to handle Emrys getting swept up in a cheating scandal!

Just then, her phone pinged and she glanced at it. IT was a text from her wife, with a link to the news article. She opened it and frowned even deeper. Ugh. She'd deal with that political nightmare later... Now, she needed to focus on making sure Emrys didn't walk himself into one of his own scandals.

[Deleted]

Charlotta was tough on him. But she also seemed more relaxed when it was just the two of them. He was always comfortable, but being just with Charlotta it was a different level. She was his aunt, she had watched him from a young age. In many respects, she was a second mother to him. That was most likely why she was hard on him. He knew he took after his father. He had seen the world when he visited the man. His father didn't stop just because the boy was visiting, so Emrys saw exactly how the man was. He had learned, intentional or not, from the man. Hearing that his father had done something, didn't surprise him. That man could top everything Emrys had done. Everything.

It seemed as though his father had stirred up yet another scandal. The information was followed with a plea from the woman to near sleep with a married person. He shrugged, nodding. "If I know their married, I wont." He took a bite of the cake, followed with "But if I don't know..." he trailed off, following it with a shrug. He couldn't be held responsible if he had no idea that they were married. Charlotta took some time to look at her phone, the requested article, he supposed. And Emrys enjoyed his cake, savoring each bite.

@charlotta

[Deleted]

January 15, 2026
@emrys

Charlotta gave Emrys the most unamused looks as he responded, nonchalantly eating his cake and apparently unconcerned about the idea of causing his own marriage scandal. Well.... At least she was being better than his father in that regard. Radford didn't care about them being married. Charlotta liked to think that the morals Emrys did have he'd gotten from his mother and Charlotta. At least he knew there were some limits to his shenanigans. But that still didn't sit well that he had to immediately include the loop hole. While she couldn't blame him if he didn't know... "Just don't feign ignorance." she responded. There was a difference between honestly not knowing and intentionally ignoring facts. And to be honest? Emrys was more of the "ignore facts" type. Emrys was a smart young man, especially when it came to people. It was what made his stage presence so strong. He could read a crowd, and read people. So he couldn't use the honest not knowing card often.

Charlotta switched her phone's "do not disturb" feature on, turned her phone over and set it down on a table, out of sight and mind. Despite being a very busy woman, and the CEO of a successful record label, she was the sort that when she blocked out time for you, that time was yours. You didn't have to worry about anything disrupting that time except an absolute emergency. All her calls would forward to her wife and the receptionist (depending on the caller), and they would filter out any information.

She ran a hand through her hair, and shifted in her chair, sitting up straighter, and picking up the list of the questions Witch TV had sent over as potentials to be asked. He had basically everything down, thank god. Except the vampirism ones. "Emrys, I know you hate these, but please bear it. You live in the present, I don't. It's my job to make sure you can keep doing what you enjoy for as long as you want." She knew there was a chance her plea would fall on deaf ears, but at least he'd never accuse her of not caring. So, after a moment's pause, she added. "I called in an order of your favorite sweets. You get them tomorrow." While that might not seem like a big deal, he'd know what she meant. A very well known, expensive bakery. Custom orders required at least a month's notice. They also customized the recipes to Emrys' taste. Was she bribing him? 100%. Was she ashamed of that? Not at all. SOme people were motivated by money. Emrys was motivated by sweets.

[Deleted]

Charlotta had a number of unamused, displeased, upset, exasperated looks. Emrys knew them all. With these looks, she dealt with pains, unproductiveness and trouble makers. Many employees feared those looks. Emrys wasn't phased by them. Not after years of seeing them. So he kept his smug look and ate his cake. He was always sure to put as many loop holes in his promises as he could. Then he always had an out. The way he saw it, he couldn't get in trouble as long as he wasn't doing anything he said he wouldn't. "Just don't feign ignorance." he shallowed his cake and smiled at her. That adorable, almost innocent smile that he reserved mostly for her. "When have I ever done that?" He said half jokingly. He was mostly honest with his aunt, though he was also the "don't ask" kind of person too. Emrys had a talent for reading people, individuals and groups. That was one thing that helped him become so popular. Because of this, he figured that he would be able to tell if someone was married. Though, if they were hiding it well enough to get past him? Well, the boy just figured it was on them then.

The woman switched her phone into "do not disturb" mode, which meant that all her attention would be on the young vampire, and the task at hand. Something he wasn't exactly looking forward to. But it had to be done. She picked up a paper, one that he wasn't the biggest fan of. It compiled a list of potential questions that he was required to practice answering with the woman. Luckily, they only had one section left to go. The ones that always seemed to be asked, and the ones that he was not allowed to answer truthfully.

Charlotta addressed him, all business. Using the fork in hand, he started to scrape small bits of frosting off the cake, and licking them. He looked from the cake to the woman, only moving his eyes to her, and not has lowered head. The woman practically begged her to stick with her. He knew she meant mentally. While he was there physically, he had the tenancy to check out when he got board. She had a point, well, too points. He did live in the present. Rarely thinking of what was or what would be. But he also wanted to keep performing for as long as possible. Without a word, he took another bite of cake. Thinking over her near desperate plea. Rolling his eyes he mumbled a full mouth "fine"

After agreeing, then came the real trick. The woman reserved this bargaining chip for special occasions. She was serious about this interview thing. His favorite place was, well, the best word for it would be "Extra." It wasn't something that people ordered daily, though he would if he was allowed. They weren't cheap, and you had to order at least a month in advance. Was it worth it? Yes. He knew that she was bribing him. Would he stand for it? Would he let her win? Yes. This time. He pearked up, sitting a little straighter, but still eating cake.

@charlotta

[Deleted]

January 15, 2026
@emrys

Emrys just looked as smug and content as could be, completely carefree and disinterested in her frustration. No surprise. That was Emrys for you, and the definition of their business relationship. Him living in the moment and she making sure he could continue doing do. It often meant that she had to do all his "worrying" for him. He gave her an innocent look and she responded with her own scrutinizing one. He was far from innocent and they both knew it. "Just because you haven't done it doesn't mean you won't. You have a horrific knack for doing new things," she answered. He wasn't someone that was a repeat offender, that just did the same thing over and over again. No, while he sometimes did, he was also wildly unpredictable in the sense that he did whatever he wanted, whenever it felt right. It meant he was someone that always tried new things. So while it wasn't a "had done" yet, it didn't mean it wasn't a "will do some day". If anything it made if even more likely that he might.

Her nephew just focused on his cake while she'd spoken, giving her no mind until he'd deemed necessary. But even then he didn't speak. It took him a very, very long moment before he finally agreed. At least that was something. Despite the eye roll, and the fact that he was acting as if the cake was far more important then her, she was satisfied with the answer. Because despite his body language? The fact he'd answered at all meant he had heard her and understood what she was saying. The bribery was mostly just to really make him engage. Because it gave him a goal that he very much wanted. She didn't use this bargaining chip often, only when she really needed him to focus. Plus, it's scarcity made it more enjoyable for him when she did get it for him.

Satisfied that she had his attention (or at least most of it), she raised the paper to skim the questions. "Okay, Mordrain. What made you decide to become a Vampire?" She asked, switching to his stage name. It was her way of separating their family relationship, and their business relationship.

[Deleted]

Emrys worried about very little. He realized that Charlotta was key in his lifestyle. She took care of everything past and future, which allowed him to live in the present. Charlotta handled every incident and article, and every appointment, and schedule. Had she been anyone other than his aunt, their relationship would be less than symbiotic. He did what he wanted, and she took care of everything needing attention, it freed him from worrying, which was just the way he liked it. He knew that he was far from innocent, she knew it too, but counterfeit innocents was something he was good at. He shrugged as she mentioned the possibility of it happening, stating his knack for new things. He couldn't help but chuckle and smile. She got him there. He was always willing to try things, especially if they sounded fin.

Emrys kept focus on the chocolate cake in front of him, switching from small scrapes and bites to full mouthfuls. He wanted it to last, but knew it wouldn't. He knew that in time, it would be gone, and he would be left alone with the ruthless woman. He loved Charlotta, but he hated these "practice" interviews. Luckily he had a cake to keep some of his interest. But then she started. "What made you decide to become a Vampire?" He looked up, his face void of emotion. "Pretty sure that question has been banned. I won't answer that." His reason were his. No one knew. His mother, father, or even Charlotta. No one knew the whole reason why he did it. When asked, he had simply told them that he wanted to, so he did. It was clear that there was more to it, but he refused to talk about it.

@charlotta