Manchester with ds_rockgod

[have_no_mercy]

Over the years, Tess has travelled quite a bit. Most of it was for research in the warm climates of the Caribbean or South America, and the rest was pure pleasure - scuba diving. England never made it to her list. Or Europe in general, to tell the truth

Comments

[ds_rockgod]

He raises his eyebrows at her, another amused smile touching his lips. "So you're wealthy, you own your own companies, and you run a national newspaper? And yet you still give me the time of day. You have to be the nicest posh person in existence, mate." He reaches into his glove compartment to retrieve a large selection of CD's as he speaks, sifting through them in search of the right one to play.

[have_no_mercy]

She shrugs slightly and makes sure to move out of his way. "Well, I've been told I work too much. Besides, my life wasn't always this."

[ds_rockgod]

He nods thoughtfully as he leans back and places the pile of CD's on his lap, continuing to examine it carefully. "Right. I know what you mean. My life used to be very different, too."

[have_no_mercy]

"I'd imagine being a rockstar would be different, yes." She might be teasing, just a little.

[ds_rockgod]

He gives her another smile at that. "Oh, it was." He pauses, his expression becoming slightly more serious, before continuing. "But that's not all I was talking about. Things used to be...very different. Not that long ago, really." A hint of his smile returns, and he adds, "But that's one of those long stories I mentioned. Perhaps we should save it for later, yeah?"

[have_no_mercy]

Tess glances at him curiously. She shouldn't be surprised there are long stories. Everyone seems to have at least one.

"If you'd prefer. I may even tell a few of my own."

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie nods, looking up at her with curiosity. "Think I'd like that," he replies with a small smile.

"Now," he adds after a short pause, pulling a CD from the stack and moving to replace the rest of them in the glove compartment. "We'll consider this lesson number one. Of many." He starts the car as he speaks, sliding the CD into the player and grinning at her. "This is one British band that basically everyone likes, so it seems a good place to start with you."

[have_no_mercy]

"Do I seem that difficult to please?" Tess asks with amusement. She knows she is. Or that's her reputation, anyway. But Charlie doesn't know that, which is part of why she does give him the time of day. It's been a very long time since someone genuinely seemed to want to spend time with her, just because.

[ds_rockgod]

He glances at her as he pulls out onto the street, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of the first track as it begins to play.

"Not particularly, no. I wouldn't call you an especially difficult person in general, compared to some people I've met," he says sincerely, turning briefly to smile at her again. "But I don't want to risk messing up the project before we've even started, yeah? Best to ease you into it. No sense dropping all the acquired taste stuff on you immediately."

[have_no_mercy]

He has a point.

"That makes sense. And, well, you'd know." Tess glances out her window before adding, "Just nothing loud with screaming. I put up with enough of that to know I don't like it."

[ds_rockgod]

Charlie nods and gives her an approving glance, obviously pleased by that statement. "Then you're in luck, Tess. True Brit rock has never been about loudness or screaming or any of that rubbish. Heavy metal conveys all this anger and hate, yeah? Well, our music is basically the opposite of that. Just spreadin' the love, mate."

[have_no_mercy]

She laughs lightly. "I haven't magically been transported to the swinging sixties, have I?" Sadly, Autin Powers is one pop culture reference she actually knows.

"I think it'll be fine. I like Oasis, the more mellower songs, so anything not too abrasive should be worth a try."

[ds_rockgod]

He lets out a small breath of laughter in return. "Unfortunately, no. Then I could take you to see The Beatles."

Her latter comments gain her another approving glance. "Seems like this project won't be so difficult after all, then."

[have_no_mercy]

"At least it will look good on a resume: 'American business Mogul now supporting British arts because of me.'" She msiles at him.

[ds_rockgod]

"I suppose," he agrees with a shrug. "Though, to be honest, I've never really been one for resumes and all that." He smiles, focusing his attention on the road again. "Once a rock star, always a rock star, yeah?"

[have_no_mercy]

"I'll have to take your word for it, but if it's what you love to do, then I suppose it would be difficult to be anything else in your soul."

Tess falls silent for a few moments, enjoying the scenery outside her window. "I think I've only ever needed a resume once in my life."