✦ - *⁎ Ft | Ricardo . - Blog Posts
" see, was that so hard to ask for an opinion? trust me? it didn't kill you after all. " this, spoken like a knife aimed towards ricardo's side. cool, level, exact. effie wouldn't admit it surprised her, however. there was a certain understanding that ricardo had to respect her ( and kennedy ) otherwise he'd carelessly toss them to the side and hire whoever the hell could entertain him and lick his boots. both kennedy and herself are irreplaceable, this she knows. fingers clasp over her now emptied glass, sigh escaping into the tension filled air. " alright. sure, what would i do? " what would effie do? make it into a fucking acronym. she takes in the entirety of his statement like this was an interview, elbows to the counter and eyes towards the ceiling. the more he explained the more ... idiotic it seemed. anonymous letter, unknown person in his office, a lack of honesty. constant red flags and reminders ricardo will do anything for attention. money. attention. ways to a man's heart ricardo's she's certain at least, aside from a bright red lip and tight black dress.
" for one i'd be trying to figure out who the hell was in my desert of an office. cameras, i know we have them. disturbances on my desk. missing papers, records. computer security. i know we aren't the goddamn pentagon, but we have some private information that shouldn't freely be given. " two fingers push the glass towards ricardo and that ridiculously expensive bottle. a silent request for another pour, eyes finally leveling on him. and when it comes down to it she doesn't like the rumors stirring. effie and what she knew of bronte ... doesn't seem to have the heart of a killer. a mastermind. she thinks bronte would sooner run than kill someone.
the bruises. she notices them. of course she does and her brows furrow. a fight? well, well, well. effie isn't going to ask, but like a postcard it gets filed away. " and then i'd hold off posting the photo. play their game. are they going to badger me? offer me money? threaten me? sure, we get anonymous tips at the register, but not on our fucking desks, ricardo. and if my gut said to post it i'd talk to bronte, get a proper interview on hand. tease for another tidbit that's even juicier to try the anon's hand. prove i'm not a walking fucking mouthpiece. " god this is so ... ridiculous. maybe if effie was a different person, she'd have put the bruises to ricardo's jaw. " give an inch, people take a fucking mile. you of all people should know that. with how far you take things. " she sighs. " with the way things are going right now ... a missing person, a murder. it's best to play chess and not checkers. i'm not saying we tuck our tails and hide, but we should be thinking: will they send more? preservation, ricardo. " a twinge of concern. maybe effie is concerned, just maybe, but she doesn't expand.
" so if you trust me and kennedy treat us like we're your damn team and not some pretty little assets. like expensive decorations. " this, with a twinge of anger. it isn't a maybe.
ricardo deflates slightly . he hates when people make sense - especially when it's effie , who famously ALWAYS makes sense and has the best way of delivering it to him . he leads the way to his larger-than-necessary kitchen , all marble and white tops , unused pans , plates . he looks like he lives in a model house from architectural digest , and that's because he does . he bought it as is , then hired the first person he could find with a good resume and the ability to work well with an EMPTY CHEQUE BOOK . he reaches for the bourbon in a tall diamond glass bottle . the liquid sloshes softly into a short glass , which he slides to effie . he pauses . " on the rocks or neat ? " there is something within him that will always try to impress effie . he can't quite define it . can't even explain it to himself . kennedy is fire : smart and vicious . but effie is smooth marble : cool , level , EXACT .
" okay . okay . " he relents , with another sigh . he pours himself two fingers of the bourbon then leans against his kitchen island , half turned to her . " maybe . . MAYBE . . posting it without consulting you was a mistake . " ricardo allows . he sweeps a look at her from the corner of his eye . then , he takes a large gulp of his expensive bourbon . it burns in a way that only money allows . " fine . what would you have done ? if you were in my position ? and i'm not saying it to be an asshole , i really mean it effie . you get an anonymous letter on your desk , signed to you and only you . nobody should know how to get into the register , let alone into my office . nobody even knows i'm IN my office half the time . not even me . so they leave it there , with the photos . yeah . fine . maybe they played me . maybe i fell right into their hands . " he shrugs , pulls his gaze away so he can stare ahead at his curtains billowing in the night air , from a small crack in one of his living room windows .
the air is quiet yet loaded between them . ricardo works his jaw for a moment , feeling the bruising and aching still there from his tussle with taylan . " i trust you . " he says , and wonders if he'll grow to regret that . liking people is impossible . but trust ? trust is a currency . and he's willing to hedge his bets on effie . " . . . i wanted to tell you . both of you . i really did . " ricardo admits . he stretches his legs out before him , then takes another sip of his drink . why did he do what he did ? he doesn't know . he doesn't know why he does ANYTHING , really .
" bourbon. " and with her outburst, effie tries her damndest to reign it in. end of the day : the register wasn't under her thumb and name. frankly, she wasn't sure if was something she'd ever thought of. sure, it would run better that way. thinks a paper boy off the street might have more tact than ricardo, but at the end of the day ... she'd probably reject it. pass it off to kennedy who, frankly, could benefit more than it. maybe they'd be able to communicate better together, too.
she does almost stomp to the kitchen, anger simmering from her voice and presenting only in her body. " look. your register, your choice. however ... " hands raise to run down her cheeks and rest against her own chin. " playing games doesn't get you anything but tangled into a nasty little web, ricardo. so, you don't even know who sent those to you? somebody and you. those are great fucking sources. forget about wikipedia. " and maybe that's what is bringing in the sting of betrayal. trusting an anonymous source with a pretty little photo than his own employees. she waits until she has her drink to continue and damn near downs it in one go.
" you couldn't even tell me? kennedy? dammit, think a little! it's nice to see you running your mouth on paper instead of just air, but ... the hell am i suppose to do with this? " vaguely gestures out into the air, leaning her elbows against the counter. maybe she's ... worried, in her own way. if ricardo believes this, real or not, what else is going to believe? will he go down a wild goosechase and not come back? trip over his own feet, post the wrong sort of hot gossip? " look. i'm just asking for a bit of trust, ricardo. i know damn well i won't get any more of your respect, but at least your trust. games aren't meant to be played alone. "
" oh for fucks sake - " he cuts himself off because this is really getting ridiculous now . is there anywhere he won't be accosted ? silently , he reminds himself to get himself a maid or something , so they can get yelled at in his place perhaps . as soon as ricardo sees effie , he knows its game over . kennedy and effie were two of the main people he was vaguely concerned about . he almost cares . he almost wishes he was better . ricardo is a puzzle filled with almosts .
EFFIE MOVES WITH MORE ANIMATION THAN HE'S SEEN BEFORE . she's usually calm and collected . the ice to kennedy's fire . it's a testament to how clearly she thinks he's fucked up . " the photo isn't fake . " he says . " as for sources . well . they're mainly me at the moment , and i trust me . " he shrugs , a purposeful picture of BLASÉ . " everyone's so fucking interested in the story . nobody seems to give a shit about the more important thing : somebody gave this to me . right on my desk . they WANTED it on the register , effie . you of all people should be seeing the bigger picture here . this is a game , and i'm playing the part handed to me . someone knows something and wants to let everyone else know it, too . ABOUT DANIELA . ABOUT BRONTE . " he folds his arms over his chest , eyeing her . he can't lie : she looks really hot . " do you want a wine or bourbon while you yell at me ? you can continue in the kitchen . "
FOR : ricardo! @inadeqcies . LOCATION : ricardo's rich boy home . TIMESTAMP : 7:35pm .
as if the register wasn't already its own personal shitshow, this might just be its final downfall. questions, questions, questions. plagued with questions. effie on the streets, her business line, her email. it didn't matter if the owner's email was listed anybody who was curious enough would bombard any reporter related to the post. maybe it wasn't the release of the information that pissed effie off, maybe it was just ricardo. no, no, more accurately it was the fact she was cut from the information. woke up the next morning to a post surrounding bronte and daniela and not a single inkling of ricardo's intentions. the release was haphazard at best, a clear indication of a rushed dump. if effie weren't so distressed, she might even be impressed with its half assed effort. it's better than anything she'd imagine ricardo capable of.
instead of the office effie tracks down his personal abode. wasn't hard to look at the records and figure out the address. this is personal, so she's going to make it personal in his own home. three continuous knocks against the door until it's opened. there's a complaint on ricardo's lips as he opens the door. it goes in one ear and right out the other as she shoves in, hands thrown up.
" i didn't know you had it in you! really, i didn't. " a certain passion ignites in her voice, " but what never fails to show is your absolute arrogance, ricardo. you know how many people are trying to get an insiders scoop from me? some extra juicy bits? giving me some bogus gossip column shit? i can't even say a word because ... oh, i don't know anything! care to lift the veil for me? such as where the hell this daytime drama incident came from? and if you even crosscheck your source? "
effie knows damn well ricardo wouldn't be anywhere on the suspect list. unless there's a fat chunk of cash and they're hiring someone else ... there's absolutely no way. she's laughing at her own thoughts while adjusting her bag to her shoulder. this walk isn't going to be dreadful, at least not for her. tons of people would probably take the nearest turn left and avoid being stuck with ricardo garcia ... but she's a woman of pride. though she'd never speak it, and would like to think he knows it, ricardo doesn't have skin in the game. to write was to pull at heartstrings, instill intrigue and captivate whoever reads it. money, in the end, was simply the bonus. so, that's what she's leading with.
another laugh sounds at his stop, feet carrying her to step in front of him and pause the little walk. effie looks up at him with a tilted head, smile resting against her face as if she's already won this mock - debate. " i'll take the good person comment as a compliment ... but seriously? let me rephrase. " she takes a drag off of her cigarette, turning away to blow the smoke away from his face. in an instant her gaze travels back to his face. determined in expression and soon in voice. " it is cruel, but cruelty doesn't sell. the register writes a false column only to be discredited by shitty police ... sure it'll sell. however, our reputation will also tank. and when that tanks, you know what else does? profit. " she spins the hand with the smolder around in a circle. " what i'm suggesting is, yes, have some tact, but mainly if we wait for a statement and then fill in the plot holes with our own what ifs and could bes ... we'll drive suspense. " there's a snort, " nonetheless won't become the fucking tmz of red creek only profiting off old ladies who can't use a smart phone. see what i mean, ric? "
HE ROLLS HIS EYES and feels a small almost - smile move his mouth . ricardo has worked hard to be known in certain ways . sometimes he forgets the feeling you can get from surprising people . from being remembered DIFFERENTLY . ricardo has never been a smoker , but he takes interest in the way the smoke billows around effie , effortlessly . his eyes linger for a second too long before he pulls them away . " well , who knows ? maybe i'm the murderer looking for a second kill tonight . " he says , tone with less bite than normal .
he waits for her as she collects her items , eyes scanning their surroundings . ricardo didn't know what to expect for his first halloween in this town . it's both surpassed and disappointed every expectation . back home , he'd be in a limousine by now , snorting white substances with random victoria secret models . REDCREEK IS LIKE A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD . he hums at effie's description of kennedy . it's an understatement . kennedy may be one of the smartest people that ricardo's ever met , but FAT CHANCE of revealing that . he falls into step with effie , hands tucking neatly into his dress - pant pockets . he looks over in surprise as she mentions holding off reporting in the register . if it was anyone else , he'd tell them to keep their shit opinions to themselves . he feels himself slowly break into a grin the more she talks . this is where effie and kennedy differ greatly . effie has a conscience . ricardo can't even remember what having one feels like . " breeding hysteria is in our job description . " he replies back , languidly . he turns to face effie properly , pausing in their footsteps. " i don't know if you realised yet , eff , but cruel and me kind of go hand in hand . " he resumes walking , with a small shrug of his shoulders . " i appreciate your opinion . " he always does , which is a DANGEROUS thing . " but i'm sure you can appreciate why i won't be taking it . " ricardo squints up ahead , trying to determine where they are . " hysteria , shitty police , bungling media ? that's how cases bring infamy . infamy brings money . we don't have to be good people , but we can at least be rich ones . "
" ooohh, ricardo, have you been drinking? this isn't like you. " it's a jest coupled with a puff of laughter filled with smoke. effie has worked beneath him long enough to know this wasn't up to status quo. known for his sharp tongue and blaise tenor, he'd never willingly offer that. and yet, here he is. offering. truthfully, effie has always been acutely aware of his slight shift with her. its never been drastic nor suspicious, but the sharp edge dulls just a bit. she hasn't questioned it before and wouldn't start now, but couldn't help but to tease it. " i'll take you up on that. "
effie goes to stand and reaches behind her for the bag. red strands of a wig stick out comically, the discarded piece to her costume. it'd started giving her a headache over an hour ago, but she'd just now decided to rip it off. effie floyd, committed to her own detriment. " kennedy ... she's always right on the mark, isn't she? " the cigarette returns to her mouth for another puff. the silence mingles with the dissipating smoke. she pretends to ponder with this, but she's already known how to handle her own work since the announcement. " if you want my honest opinion i think we should hold off on any columns. " she looks from the sidewalk up to ricardo, head tilting towards the side. " that includes kennedy. me. you. jump before the officials and it'll cause a mess. post too soon it could breed hysteria. nonetheless ... it'd be a bit cruel to give a tragedy a damn timestamp like six pm, don't you think? "
EFFIE INTRIGUED RICARDO , which was a rarity . she wasn't one to outrightly gossip , nor was she one to fall into the bitchiness and politics like the rest . she was a straight shooter and ricardo has always liked them straight and direct . " i'll walk with you , if you want . " he offers , even surprising himself . decency and ricardo's name don't usually belong in one sentence , but he supposes he can take an hour or two off from being the world's largest douche bag . plus , secretly he does think that if anyone should and could and had the RIGHT to own the register . . . . it was probably effie . unfortunately for her , his family , name and connections got HIM the job . " you've got your concentration face on . kennedy said they'd be writing up a piece - what's your angle ? you know print goes out at 6 . "
inadeqcies:
CLOSED * FT @lupus-infabula !!!
“ — and here i was thinking that if anybody wanted to find you , they’d have to try the west ham dump . “ ricardo calls out , easily , as soon as he sees the familiar build of EREN GRAY . ricardo’s entire body is automatically tensing , hands curling into delicate fists by his sides . there is a routine both males know , and ricardo knows better than to try and walk away , or pretend he hasn’t seen the other . every lousy corner he turns eventually , he always bumps into eren . and he often leaves it with a bloody nose , bloody knuckles , or BOTH ( mainly both ) . reflexively , his jaw locks . “ i already claimed this part of this shop . looks like you’re fresh out of luck , which shouldn’t be a new concept for you . losers always lose . “ he comments , glancing around at the auto-store where he knew eren would drag himself to at some point . maybe , just maybe , ricardo enjoys the goading . enjoys the anger , rage , boiling and brewing , before it spews out in the image of blood and purple bruises . some people ride fast cars , or jump out of airplanes - ricardo rolls up his expensive valentino button up , and launches his fists onto nearby faces . namely , eren’s .
it was hard to remember when trying to rearrange the features of ricardo’s face became a beloved pastime. the other male just had one of those looks. a look of stolen confidence and devilish yet crooked grins that warrant a punch or two. or maybe it was just a sadistic, animalistic nature that made him feel a rush of adrenaline from cutting his fist against ricardo’s sharp features. in truth, he could have went to a variety of different shops in the city, but stubbornness and the unprecedented amount of ‘ fuck you anyway ‘ that he felt towards ricardo persuaded him to go to the shop of his choosing. “ are you done ? “ he knew that ricardo was far from done. he turned and stared at ricardo’s furrowed brow blankly. he shook his head and repeated, “ i’m asking if you’re done talking because i’m done listening to you talk like you’re a bully from an after school special. so, if you are, you can come here, get your ass beat and i can go back to what i was doing. “ he knew that he could have walked away, but he scoffed at the very idea. it was not really an option anyway, not when ricardo would sooner take the opportunity to knock him out cold when he turned. though he could not help but snort at ricardo’s carefully plucked eyebrows and designer suits from brand names he could not pronounce, eren could admit that his punches were not as soft as his appearance. “ though, “ he paused to look his adversary over, scrunching his nose. “ you dressed so nice for me. maybe you’d prefer to dance. “