California Dreaming

[Benjamin Jefferson]

It had been a good day for the most part, Benjamin was finishing up the recording of a interview spot while enjoying a joint and nodding along to 'Lord' Myron Wagtail going on about how much the world had changed since he'd started The Weird Sisters. Meg was doing the short interviews set to fit in between the hot countdown, one of many interviews no doubt lined up back to back.. Bjay was for the most part 'chillin' he didn't like watching Meg working because it reminded him of the other 'work' she had done behind his back. You'd think that given the offer to head interstate to cover Coachella would have been a hell-no the moment Meg was mentioned but lately Benjamin was looking for any excuse to get out of New York and away from having to deal with the constant attention of Dunena's campaign. In a word Benjamin was pissed, he wasn't in any part interested in politics or drama, it was why he'd been given the job to work with Dunena in the first place.. because nobody had really thought the guy would do all that much when he'd first come in to work for WWBN.

Now he'd had his mug splashed over the magazines and people shoving quick quote quills in his face and Benjamin was not at all pleased with that one bit! It didn't help that he was petrified of opening his mouth in case he said something wrong, knowing that Dunena had all but got smashed out on drugs not that long ago did not help his feeling that having his boss run for Minister for Magic was a bad idea. C.A was a monster he knew well enough and so as the interview finished Bjay nodded a 'okay' for Meg to head off before Myron sauntered over, breathing fumes he patted Benjamin on the shoulder "You..you're alright for a...a.. squid youknow that Bjay?"
Benjamin coughed, whatever the guy was on it had to be strong "Yeah.. I know man.." he said as he slipped out of the guys reach and escaped. "Hey don't forget to swing by when you drop that solo project right?!" Benjamin called back jogged off in the opposite direction towards the drinks tent only to catch sight of a very familiar head (or should we say tower) of hair. "Hey Cherry!?" Benjamin called out, he'd seen her around a few times ducking in and out of the production tent but glancing back over his shoulder at the figures of Meg and 'Lord' Myron well.. lets just say he was in need of a drink and there was nobody around he could better think to spend it with then the forever classy Cherry Clinger. "How about we blow this joint and grab some drinks? I hear L.A is pumpin'" Benjamin hadn't been impressed with the cut of much of the new bands coming out, it was all too much nostalgia and downright boring so he wouldn't mind at all skipping out on the rest of the nights performances. The Weird Sisters was going to be pretty hard to beat regardless of who else took to the stage.

[GuestGuest]

"You what? I don't think so!" Cherry told the 'up and coming' or at least 'wanted to be coming' roadie for one of the lesser known bands playing at the festival. That was the problem with doing live location shows. Everyone wanted a piece of the action, or in this guy's case, a piece of someone. Not in a million years was she going to help that dream come true! Even that brassy dude from Silencio stood a better chance (not that he stood much of any chance but that showed how bad the roadie dude's chances were) than this young punk. Whatever made the guy think that being a roadie for a never heard of before band called the Whipped Cream Gurls would give him a chance with the one and only Cherry Clinger was beyond her imagination.

She made her way to the drinks tent doing her best to keep the heels of her newest in fashion boots from sinking in the dirt as she walked. Sure, it would have been simpler to just wear flats but we're talking Cherry Clinger here. No one is sure Cherry ever heard of such a creature as a 'flat shoe'. Once inside, she waited in the short line for a nice cold drink, wishing they had something stronger than Heineken when a familiar voice range out. "BJay!!!" she squealed. "Finally, someone else with class. Can you believe some of these people? Hipster city!" At his suggestion, she quickly left her place in the line and said "Let's go!" before heading out of the tent to find a spot she could side along apparate them to someplace BJay would suggest.

[Benjamin Jefferson]

Benjamin's mood had been pretty down for the last few months, ever since he'd had to see his boss off to rehab thing had generally gotten pretty crap about and even the show had been suffering. Benjamin was starting to feel concerned that his boss didn't have his mind on the job in the same way as before but what could he say? The ratings where still well above everything else in the bracket and nobody much cared for the opinions of producers anyway. Well okay so that was a bit unfair, he'd got lucky in a sense with WWBN which was why he was glad to be out in the back stage area enjoying the vibe and looking for something to take his mind off the fact that his ex had wandered off with the biggest name in Wizard rock.. who was also a a-grade douchbag in Benjamin's eyes. He'd still be staring if it wasn't for the fact that it was too dark to see that far off and anyway he was in California.. home of girls, a grade shit and many a good time. It was just a pity he'd come on the bad luck to wind up alone... or at least until he caught sight of Cherry.



Most folks probably assumed he was just into Cherry for her looks.. hell he'd got a serious chewing out from Meg accusing him of all kinds of shit that he hadn't done after the Halloween do last year, Like many a guy he appreciated Cherrys assets but in truth he needed someone to hang with who was 'in' with the shit that was going on and wasn't about to get him down. Cherry knew how to have fun and with his kids on the other side of the country it was hard not to feel a bit dour as night fell on the desert and the main act and work for the day was done and over with. Then of course there was the other problem.. Benjamin had noticed it within ten seconds of arriving and so he let out a loud laugh at Cherry's comment, Hipster City indeed! "I think they've gone and imported the entire lot of them from New York.. never seen so many in one place!" It wasn't work that had led to Benjamin sticking by the backstage area almost exclusively, outside was a sea of white faces, rich kids in ironic prints and fashionably torn jeans.. they weren't his kind of people and just seeing how many there where made him feel old in a way nothing else could.



Offering his arm to Cherry he followed her to a safe spot before checking his watch Damn, Low End Theory wouldn't be open tonight so that just left them at the mercy of whatever clubs still remained from when he'd last visited. L.A was a ever changing cityscape and so Benjamin described the end of Hollywood Boulevard that would get them within walking distance to Vanguard.. one he knew wouldn't have disappeared anytime soon.. Clubbing in any city was a fine art of knowing what was hot and what was very much not. Not in the mood to call around to see if they could get on the door list for Greystone Manor (as if) or find out what place was hopping tonight Benjamin figured that with Cherry on his arm the bouncers would have to look a bit kinder upon himself when it came to the almighty in or out. "So how's the old show going?" Benjamin asked once he'd got his footing and felt less prone to throw up in the street. Sometimes he was glad he wasn't a wizard, being side-alonged when you'd had a rather strong joint was liable to give a guy some serious trouble when it came to coming back down to earth.

[GuestGuest]

Hollywood and Vine, or at least it was once they got their bearings back and stepped out of the hidden to Muggles alley right by the intersection that Cherry had apparated them into. Forgetting she was no longer walking in a field but on sidewalks, it took Cherry a couple of seconds to not wobble in her heels. But eventually, they were walking toward the club BJay had picked out as people and traffic went by them. "It's going," she said, though not with a great amount of enthusiasm. "Seems like everyone wants to complain about everyone else when they come on. If that poor excuse for an executive producer of mine doesn't get his arse moving and get me some decent interviews on the show, they'll be surgically removing my heels from him," she added. "One more guest who's going for the world record in the use of permanent glamour spells and I'll glamour them!" Not that she'd really harm the guy or the guests but Old Man Catalucci seemed to be booking nothing but the Wizarding equivalents of reality "stars", with stars being a very loosely used term when it came to them. It felt like the show was becoming "Keeping up with the Cardassians" rather than "The Cherry Clinger Show", lately. "How's things with your work?" she asked.

[Benjamin Jefferson]

"Well it is the Cherry Clinger show annit?" Benjamin pointed out as Cherry spoke of the complaining, there was more then enough drinking games set around many times someone would rush a wand or swing a chair at their formally special someone. He could understand Cherry's frustration easily enough.. the few times he'd had a chance to see Cherry's show had been rather cringe-worthy affairs of late. "Heard on the grapevine that you've got Dunena booked..?" Benjamin asked, while he arched a eyebrow in question in truth he wasn't impressed that the whole thing had seemingly been organized without him ever being told. He was feeling more and more cut out of things of late and Dunena reading in the trash pages about Dunena going into secret meetings or popping up in Australia for what to him seemed no reason at all was starting to fry his nerves a bit. It was no longer Weird Weird World it was the Dunena Reid show and while yes, his own career had risen on the back of it Benjamin couldn't help but feel resentful that so much of the stuff he'd liked about the show... the crazy conspiracy stories about the sky falling.. enjoying a spliff with the boss.. where now things of the past. Daniel had dropped by a thick book of what where the rules and regulations on what could and couldn't be said on air during a election campaign, Benjamin had never had to worry about that stuff but now it seemed all Dunena cared about was politics and his crusade or whatever it was with Frump....well that and women, Benjamin thought back over the most recent shows.. he was convinced that Dunena had been drunk during that recording and Benjamin had no idea if he was on or off the wagon.. such things built up and lead to him being snappy with Meg and the kids which was why hitting the town with Cherry tonight had all the hallmarks of just what he needed. There was a expression that you had to be In Showbiz to understand it and Benjamin figured it was true enough, he didn't really know all that many folks from outside of the industry and even his Mom didn't really understand what he did for a living.

Benjamin was about to ask about The French Bint Fifi.. whatever and that Muggle Marty and why she didn't interview them.. but then far as he knew nothing had been heard of them for ages.. 'Old News' he guessed. "I bet 'Lord' Myron Wagtail would love to do your show.. hell the guy talks about himself so much he'd probably go on and interview himself to boot" Benjamin snorted a laugh, while it was true that the guy was the biggest rockstar the Wizarding World had ever seen it was also true that people only paid attention to him these days because every time he opened his mouth it lead to pure gold in the way only the off the wall, completely unhinged superstars could be.

Joining the queue to get in Benjamin felt pretty damn good even as the bouncers eyed him like he was liable to pull a knife any moment. He knew he wasn't going to get in without pulling the magic card. It was a bit of a unspoken agreement around the place that Wizards went where they wanted and long as they kept to themselves everyone would get on just fine. There was a lot of old blood families around the districts after all. "Okay so.. when we get to the front.. flash your wand and the guy's shouldn't give us any problems okay?" he spoke quietly, just enough to be heard because the last thing he wanted was to give folks the impression that Cherry was not a genuine lady at all. While he might have flirted on occasion deep down Benjamin respected Cherry and more then a few times had wondered why she'd never had a guy to keep as far as he'd known. Maybe one day he'd get drunk enough to be brave and ask why, after all she was young (well okay.. so he'd been around long enough to know that young and young where not quite the same thing), hot as hell and yet no kids and no family apart from WWBN of course, the studio became your family in a way and stepping to the front of the queue as a pair of generic-blond-twenty-somethings where let in Benjamin flashed his biggest smile.. he probably only had a few seconds before the guys..big guys in ugly black shirts with next to no neck barred the door and gave him the 'hit the road sonny before we make you hit it, look'.

[GuestGuest]

"Yes, it is," she agreed with him, going on to add, "Which means there's supposed to be outbreaks of 'you stole my girlfriend after telling my wife about her' moments along with chair flying and unplanned dueling. Lately, all I get is these wannabe designers who can't even design a wizarding robe to save their lives so they've redid someone else's expensive line as a cheaper version of their own," she told BJay, trying hard not to sound like she was whining. "Oh and next week, I have some bimbo who's apparently big talent is icing gourmet cupcakes by shooting whipped cream from her bra. Whoopee," Cherry finished, spinning her index finger in three circles slowly, the international sarcasm sign for 'not so thrilled'. Sighing, she reached her arm around BJay's shoulder for a quick side hug as they continued walking. "Sorry, I don't mean to be a downer tonight. No more complaining."

Now that would have been a great promise, were it not for BJay's next bit of information. "Huh?" she asked, completely surprised by the news. "Nice of them to tell me this. Any idea when he's appearing?" she asked, definitely blindsided by the news. Of course, she would later find out that apparently Daniel Davenport had been blindsided as well since Dunena's new campaign manager when through Dunena's partner to arrange a rather nice list of bookings on her show and Rincy's as well. "Fun, means I'll have to have Frump on too, now." Yes, Daniel had supplied her with a copy of the nice thick book as well, apologizing for it and admitting he would be very happy when the *insert wizarding expletive and additional Muggle expletive here* campaign would be over, himself.

Fortunately, BJay's suggestion of a possible guest was one that brought up a rather hilarious memory for Cherry, though dear Lord' Myron Wagtail may not remember it as that hilarious. "He was supposed to be last year," Cherry began, trying not to laugh outright as she talked and walked. "Only, I walked into the green room and he decided he wanted to 'inspect the goods' right there. He met my high heels quite suddenly. Oddly, he could only sing soprano for the next few hours, had to lip sync his song that day," she added, with a bit of a grin. "Next time you see him, tell him Cherry and her Manalos say hello," Cherry advised BJay, sure that it would cause a reaction from the dear Lord' Myron Wagtail.

In the queue, Cherry heard BJay's request and looked ahead at the pair of no-neck bouncers in front of the door. She was about to nod when something looked familiar about one of them. Cherry blinked and craned her neck to get a better look and then chuckled. Whispering back to BJay in his ear, so others wouldn't hear, she told him. "With that one on the right, we'd have better luck if you flashed your.. 'wand'." With that she waved her arm to attract the bouncer's attention. "Davey! Oh, Davey! Here I am," grabbing BJay by the arm, she pulled him to the front of the line. "Davey, meet BJay, executive producer of Mad Mad Mad World and may Friend," turning to BJay without stopping for breath, she continued the introduction, "BJay, Davey here was my first bouncer on my show when it was just a little one affliate broadcast. How's it going Davey?"

Davey was about to order the rushing pair to the end of the line when he recognized the hair, well and the assets too, but it was the hair that you couldn't mistake for anyone else. "Cherry! Man you look great! Hey BJay, great show you got there. Come on," he said, undoing the rope, "Go right in." Which Cherry promptly did pulling BJay along with her.

"Thanks, Davey! Hugs to Jimmy Joe!" Once inside and heading for the bar, she added, "Jimmy Joe's his life partner."

[Benjamin Jefferson]

"Sucks.." Benjamin replied, a single word to encompass everything that had changed over the last year, while he wasn't at all interested in Wizarding robes he did look more alert at the mention of breasts.. "California girls eh" he said with a knowing nod, he'd seen enough of them over the years to be wary of their fake tans, fake hair and probably fake boobs at that. It was the ease with which Cherry placed her arm around his sholder that reminded Benjamin of why he'd invited Cherry out in the first place, while they made a odd looking pair there was a ease that he knew if he talked she would listen.. and vice versa. "Nah.. it's cool, truth is the whole trips been a bit of a downer so far." Silent in his thoughts he wished for the millionth time that he'd been able to convince Meg to bring Krystal and Jackson with them, instead as usual Mom was taking up the slack and Benjamin couldn't help the guilt that any enjoyment tonight was wrong when he should have been back in New York with the kids.

It reminded him to check his phone, forgetting that it would be even later back at home then it was on the east coast. It seemed both of them needed a drink and both of them had been passed over with the news, Benjamin found his resentment evaporating when Cherry looked just as confused as he had been at first hearing of the Dunena Reid interview, so she hadn't been told either? "No clue sorry.. Jeff mentioned it at the production meeting", meetings Benjamin only showed up for because he liked the free coffee and food that tended to go with it. Benjamin didn't much care for politics in or out of the station and as long as folks left his shows alone well he was quite indifferent to the overall running of the station. "Frump's just gotta be hoping it won't go as bad as it did last time he was on your show" Benjamin joked, his teeth bright as he grinned. It had taken him a few days to actually see the footage himself of what had happened inside the Ministry while he and Dunena had been stuck outside but Cheery had been a class act talking down the Minister live on air.

Benjamin wished he'd have been so brave but then again he'd had a lot more to lose then his job, guys like him tended to get left hanging between the Muggle and the Wizarding system with both trying to palm him off to the other side. As they walked down the street his mood started to pick up thanks to Cherry's story, it did lead him to look at her quizzically, not knowing what a Manalos was before his grin returned "Damn! Better consider myself lucky that I haven't been on the end of your heel by now" he was joking of course, Benjamin might not be from the best part of the hood but his Mom had taught him his manners alright, while he was free and easy with his words Benjamin was a big believer in keeping your hands off unless the girl was into it as much as you where. As usual his thoughts settled on Meg and the fact that of all the women in the world she was the one he wanted most of all, which was a pity because the fact that she had gone behind his back on a night like this one had ruined everything with her, even if they remarried Benjamin wasn't sure if he could ever trust her again.. but yet at the same time he hadn't quite brought himself to be disloyal with someone new.

Not that Meg would believe that of course, even smiling at the bouncer he knew Meg would assume that he and Cherry would be spending the night together like the old Rolling Stone song. For a moment he wondered if Meg was right as he felt Cherry whisper in his ear but the words left him cold, shit.. he'd just smiled at that guy.. what if he thought he was a..? Before he knew it Cherry was dragging him to the front of the line and Benjamin was freaked at what he might be about to get into. Instead it turned out that at least one of the neckless bouncers had a name.. Benjamin just stared as Cherry talked and nodded "Yeahman thanks" there was something not quite right about all of this until the rope was undone and he was being tugged along by Cherry into the darkness and noise of the club. Following Cherry to the bar it was then she dropped the bobshell.. 'life partner'. Now Benjamin had heard all about the new laws in New York that let guys marry guys and all that but he most certainly wasn't one to support it, as his Mom said God had made Adam and Eve.. not Adam and Steve! Scared of glancing back and catching the eye of Davey lest it lead to questions about his own leanings Benjamin hurried to catch up with Cheery before ordering a Scotch and Soda. Something about the man on the door made him worried that the club had turned into one of those bars but a quick glance around the usual mix of blond girls and darker guys lurking around the shadows waiting to pick them off one by one was enough to relax him that all was how it should be. He wasn't brave enough to try ordering for Cherry, he'd learned the hard way not to guess a ladies drink after Meg had lectured him for getting the wrong kind of bottled water once when she'd been pregnant with Krystal. Safe to say he'd always made sure to get the very best of instructions after that load of screaming.

[GuestGuest]

Cherry gave a wry smile at BJay's comment. "I think you're preaching to the choir on that one, dear," she responded. "So much for fun in the California sun." Instead it had been run here, film, run there, film, run there no here no there and film again. All while looking cool and calm and not strangling the butt pinchers who thought they were cute and being just like those "romantic Italians". "Nothing to apologize for," she told her friend, "You're not the one who booked him on." Not that she minded interviewing Dunena, it was that tit for tat having to add Frump to the list now that she wasn't happy about.

Cherry threw her head back and laughed at BJay's worrying about being on the end of her high heels. "You? Never," she assured him. "Wish more dudes behaved like you. Your mama obviously taught you how to treat a woman. Good thing you listened." She sighed thinking Meg was one lucky lady and too bad the woman didn't see that. Sure BJay had problems but didn't everyone in their own way?

Once inside, Cherry found a spot at the bar for them and ordered a boilermaker for herself, then waited as BJay ordered his scotch and soda. Once they had their drinks, she looked at BJay to see if he wanted to stay there, head for a booth around the dance floor, or find a spot on the balcony. With her Coachella press pass still pinned on her dress, entry upstairs was not an issue.

[Benjamin Jefferson]

"Don't worry babe, day one is always a downer but you'll see.. come tomorrow night things will be heating up" Benjamin had a eye on the program and laughed "Least you've got that DJ Noiseworks you thought so much about" at least the worse he had to deal with was the drug sniffing pooches and their handlers, Benjamin liked festivals, they made the world seem more alive and exciting somehow like all the barriers that normally existed where broken down and folks normally in suits and ties would be hanging free and easy alongside the girls who would wear the hair out and flash themselves around like nobodies business. What made people act so differently when put into a mob mentality and away from civilization Benjamin didn't much know or care about but the vibe was the thing and who knew, maybe after a nice quiet night with a good friend he would be up for the celebrations to come, just being away from all the shit, Meg and WWBN, Dunena and his damn politics and campaigns.. Benjamin didn't get it, the guy had a nice as hell gig, left it to walk into WWBN and talk shit till he got to the top spot on the air (okay  with a bit of blood and sweat from himself at times) and now right when the shit was at it's peak he wanted to toss it all away for a go at the big job?

"If I'm gonna be honest Cherry I'm getting damn sick of the whole thing" Benjamin admitted for the first time, sure it had been playing on his mind that things where no longer the same and life hadn't exactly been a walk in the park since The Dunena Reid show went to number one. There was a unease to the whole thing which seemed to hover like a dark cloud over New York which was why he'd fled at first chance back east, back to the old school way of producing shows and not having to worry about being taken off air or upsetting the Ministry at every turn. Benjamin had never gotten into WWBN to cause a stir, hell he'd never even signed up to vote .. not that he could being a Squib and all. At least Cherry could still make him laugh about it all, his dark skin hiding the slight blush at Cherry's compliment "You're lucky you've never met me Momma.. fearsome is the word" Benjamin was too ashamed to admit that his mom described Cherry as a "Harlot" and her program was considered the lowest of the low in the Jefferson household. It was why Benjamin tended to miss so many episodes when he could only see it in the office lest he bring the wrath of his Mom upon him for being drawn in by Cherry and her 'shamefully exposed' manner of dress.

Sometimes Benjamin really did wonder how his Mom managed to survive the miniskirt revolution. Grabbing his drinks he followed Cherry upstairs flashing his Coachella pass as they moved though the heated crowd and though the doors to the balcony where L.A stretched out in a mess of jumbled buildings, lights and houses below. Best of all was the slight chill in the breeze that was just starting to hint towards a freezing night in the desert. The drink in his hand had seemed suitable enough at the bar but as he knocked half of it back by the time they had reached the balcony it was clear he'd chosen with common sense when what he really needed was something a whole lot stronger. "I really don't know what to do Cherry" Benjamin found himself saying before trying to bite back the words, he'd come out here to try and get away from the politics and drama but found himself stuck watching Meg hard at work punishing him for every supposed injustice he'd ever brought her way. "I mean I like Dunena..don't get me wrong it's just that all this politics and trying to shake things up.. I'm fed up man.,. seriously it's like sometimes we get these callers coming in saying how great it is that Dunena's doing all this shit and it's like.. why..?" Benjamin wasn't bothered that it was the 'Dunena Reid' show, but at the same time he missed working with the music scene and being out here just made the difference between what he loved and what he was doing all that more clear cut. Was it that what he was really looking for was a way out?

[GuestGuest]

Cherry raised an eyebrow as Benjamin promised her that 'tomorrow night things will be heating up'. "Yeah, I've seen the weather report for tomorrow," she quipped back. "Remind me to have air conditioned trailer written into my next contract," she finished, doing her best to hide her doubt that it really would 'heat up'. Though Cherry did have to smile when he reminded her that DJ Noiseworks would be there. "He's good. I admit that. Cute but quiet. Here he and that reporter from the Voice are seeing quite a bit of each other." Considering she had spotted Greta and Nathan earlier that day sitting in the shade having lunch, she was fairly sure they were an 'item'. Cherry had to give them credit. At least the pair were not practically getting it down right in the middle of the crowd like some celeb couples were wont to do at events like this. Cherry didn't mind PDA but there were limits as to what was viewable for all audiences.

It was as the pair found a spot on the balcony where they could 'view their kingdom below' as they drank and unwound from their day at the festival that the conversation became open and serious. Cherry was a bit surprised to find BJay was sick of the election campaign but yet not really. It seemed all Reid was focused on anymore was being Minister and at what cost? His show? His friendship with Bjay and anyone else at the station? "Have you met that guy that's his campaign manager?" she asked Bjay. "He creeps me out and not in the usual 'ogling my assets' type of way." About then a waitress walked by and Cherry caught her attention for another round for the two of them.

[Benjamin Jefferson]

"It's not that bad" Benjamin retorted with a laugh, honestly he was keen for all the warm weather they could get before returning to New York and another long and frosty winter. "They're holding their best acts till the end of the weekend, trust me on that" though Benjamin couldn't add a little extra "anyway.. warmer it is the more we'll get to see of your bootylicious self right?" he couldn't help a grin even as he was asking for a slap. Nodding in agreement with Cherry Benjamin couldn't help but think of the 'good old days' when it had been him and Meg doing it together between the ever pressing demand of shows and live feeds. He'd never been in it for the fame but that hadn't stopped Meg wanting more then he had to offer. More in the shape of Tod Ewwgent from Spellomatic.. the bass player! Benjamin would have hoped that she had a little more taste then that. For a moment Benjamin wondered where Meg was right now, the way she had walked off with 'Lord' Myron Wagtail had really gotten on his nerves, would she have slept with him? Fuck knows but Benjamin figured once you'd gone as low as a bass player there was no limits right? To think he'd been keeping himself ever since the breakup, not because he couldn't get any but more that he didn't want to end up in the same situation all over again.

It didn't help at all that he was still very much in love with Meg. Where he not he was convinced that what she did wouldn't have hurt him in such a way. Regardless he knew it was the past and his own personal problems where nothing when compared to the mess his professional life had gotten into the moment Dunena had walked into the studio and decided to turn what was a quirky and fun radio show into the start of his political career. Benjamin couldn't help but wonder if that had been the point all along? That WWBN was just a stepping stone to his campaign and he'd just been a chump going along with it all? For months the thoughts had just been knocking around his head, bubbling to the surface in unkind words to his Mom and Meg, he'd even yelled at the kids and that had been a wake up call that he couldn't keep going on like this much more. "Campaign manager?" Benjamin scoffed, "There's so many damn people that I don't even have a clue who's what these days" while his voice wasn't too much above normal he found that hes hands had balled into tight fists which he forced himself to relax as the waitress came by. Cherry was good enough to order another round but Benjamin added "Whiskey this time.. on the rocks" he was sick of doing the right thing, he needed a drink if he was going to sort all this shit out. When the drink arrived he knocked back a third in one hit, the cold immediately followed by the burn in his throat reminding him that he was still alive and needed to get this shit sorted out. "So what do you think Cherry? I mean Daniel would probably kill me for wanting to quit the show right?" He was half joking, but at the same time Cherry knew Daniel better then he did and Benjamin had always known it was smarter to follow the word of a woman's insight of wisdom rather then going it alone.

[GuestGuest]

"If you're wrong..." she began, trying to think of a suitable penalty, "You owe me a pizza and beers at Lombardi's," Cherry finished with a grin. If he was right, well, they'd probably head to Lombardi's her treat then. She was fair when it came to things like that. Plus it was always fun to go for pizza in the city with friends. She definitely counted Benjamin as a friend. Which is why she simply laughed at his comment about the benefits of warm weather. "Not if I can find an air conditioned camper to take over," she replied laughing. Yes, Cherry did like California and beach weather but if she wasn't at the pool or the beach, then she didn't like the heat.

As they placed second orders, one of the small tables was being vacated so Cherry headed for it and indicated to the waitress they'd be there when she returned. Settling down, the drinks came back quickly and Cherry was surprised to see Benjamin take down a third of his so fast though she realized she shouldn't be after his comments regarding the campaign manager. "Daniel wouldn't mind if you baled the show but he wouldn't want you to bale the network. He likes your work," Cherry blushed a bit and hesitated before going on, "Uhm.. Actually, I asked him if there was any chance he'd let you come to my show. Maggie, my producer, is due to drop any day now. Says she's going on leave but is talking more and more about how great it would be to be a stay at home mom. I think she's not coming back."

[Benjamin Jefferson]

For Benjamin it was hard not to like Cherry, she could always make him laugh and feel good no matter how bad things became. "That I can do.. " he was tempted to add that he'd 'make it a date' but things had always been pretty clear cut with Cherry that they where pals and that was what worked best. After all he was hardly the kind of guy she'd want to write home about, a squib with his own issues and all that. The fact that they could mess around and have a laugh about going out and doing things just for fun was enough for him, she'd been a rock when he'd first come to the network and though all the mess with Meg it was good to have someone who didn't get all up in arms about what he did or didn't do. Yes Cherry was a rare breed of woman. "Don't worry.. soon enough we'll be back in New York and you can hide away in your aircon all day" of course the climate control wasn't all a matter of electricity, Benjamin was pretty sure a few charms and whatnot went into the weather for the fact that the wizarding quarter always seemed to be less hemmed in with snow and the like each year. Alas Benjamin lived outside of that area and had to deal with the rigors of the Muggle world when it came to getting around most of the time.

Hitting down part of his drink Benjamin was a big guy but he was usually more of a social drinker keeping track of a single glass though the night or sharing a round with Dunena in the office on a good day. He knew that he had to keep on top of his habits for the kids sake and his Mom would have his head for him to roll home drunk like he had in his early days. He wasn't so young any more and had responsibility on top of responsibility which was why sometimes you just had to let things go a bit for one night, it wasn't often that he was away from home and not about to come home to his kids or Mom waiting on him. Tomorrow he'd have a hit of a hangover but as long as come Monday he was up and back to normal all would be well. "Hell Cherry, I hadn't even thought of that.. like anyone outside of WWBN would even hire a guy like me?" Benjamin knew where he belonged in the world, he'd worked hard to make a place at WWBN and anyway they where family. Something was at odds though as he saw a bit of redness in Cherry's face, Cherry who was never shocked by anything.. it must have been bad news, was he going to be fired? Had Daniel said something? Of all things Benjamin felt relief, a out of being in the constant shadow of the Dunena Reid show and all that came with it. Instead Benjamin found himself in a pickle.. or more that Cherry was in a pickle and touching her hand softly in support he had to shake his head. "Sorry Cherry.. television well it's a whole different world to radio and what you guys do with the Cherry Clinger Show well.. it's over my head" Benjamin was a sound man through and through, he didn't much care for how people looked and lighting was something that 'just happened' in his mind. "I bet you'll find someone though.. most folks would give their right leg to have a stint at the Cherry Clinger Show" it was just a pity that he wasn't one of them. Radio was where his heart would always be.

[GuestGuest]

"Promises, promises," she teased him, when he assured her she'd be back in her aircon/climate controlled apartment in the city soon enough. "Well, the latter shows better be worth it!" she commented as they settled in for the night to watch the dancers and listen to the music but mostly to forget about the stress of live remotes and festival interviews.

She wasn't surprised that he'd turn down coming to her show. One reason because she knew he really was a radio man at heart. Secondly, because most people didn't want to do the type of show she had become known for. She sighed and nodded, understandingly. "Yeah, figured. Daniel said you'd probably rather stay in the radio side of things." Daniel did know his employees and preferred to let them work with their strengths than force them to do something they didn't enjoy. Sure, they'd find a producer for her show eventually but she just hoped they were halfway decent. It wasn't that she was worried about Daniel not wanting to hire someone good. It was more that the talented people wouldn't want to work her show.

[Benjamin Jefferson]

For a day that hadn't been that great Benjamin was glad to be smiling again even if it was at the end of some ribbing from Cherry. While the club music wasn't great and it was more kids and thirty-something has beens taking the dancefloor Benjamin was partly glad that the Boilerroom was closed tonight, he wasn't in the mood for intense gripping beats nor the sweat and heat of two hundred people squeezed into a venue with more decibels then air conditioning. "Always" a wide bright grin against the shadows, Meg was usually one to complain that he was all promises but compared to most guys he figured he wasn't too bad and it was hardly his fault anyway if he was home late to meet the kids when his boss decided to overdose in the studio. Benjamin knew that it wasn't quitting The Dunena Reid Show and losing the prestige as it's producer that got to him.. it was having to tell Dunena Reid that he didn't want to do it anymore. Maybe he could have moved to do the Cherry Clinger Show and even not made a complete mess of it but he knew that Cherry deserved the best.. and that when it came to the complexities of television was most certainly not him. "There's always Stevie Spinbug" Benjamin suggested, he wasn't the most popular guy on set mostly due to his insistence towards alien conspiracy theories and a obsession with dramatic effects but he wasn't the best tv producer in the business for nothing. "I hear his ratings for Extreme Cow Abduction Stories are being beaten by the signal test on channel 42".

At least he felt better for knowing that he wasn't about to find himself out on his arse, jobs weren't exactly forthcoming and with the entertainment industry it was a million times more cut throat to get anywhere. "I just hope Dunena takes it alright.. dude isn't much used to not getting his way" the real question would be if anyone could stand working alongside Dunena, it had been a challenge alright though when it was good Benjamin figured he had the best job on earth. The only problem was that the good days where few and far between and honestly Benjamin had felt like the good times had soured the moment Dunena had given up drugs and taken up politics in a big arse way. Offering a toast in tribute to Cherry the whole thing felt more real somehow, something he could deal with now that he'd spoken of it and no longer feeling trapped by everything that had happened. "Thanks for coming out with me Cherry.. means a hell of a lot knowing that I'm not nuts for wanting out" now he just had the uphill battle of convincing his Mom (who thought Dunena Reid was wonderful), Meg and his kids alike that he was making the right choice. That was going to be the big one and no amount of sunshine and positive vibes was going to make it any easier.

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