Puparazzi [Wulfen, Open]

[Lola Marks]

Lola stretched her legs from sitting at the bar in the lounge. Oswald had been busy tonight, some kind official business, but she knew she was welcomed at the lounge any time she wanted. The place always did make her feel special and right at home. Ever since she had been spending time with Oswald the people that worked at the lounge had been treating her different, basically at her beck and call. It was adorable how they could just jump to attention like that, almost as if they were afraid of Oswald. But people were often afraid of people that had money, with money came social power.

When she had first showed up she was dressed in a grizzly fur from her shoulders all the way down to her heels, but the man at the door had taken it and now she was in a short white dress with ruffles on the shoulders and ends, just above her knees. She knew she looked great tonight and had already gotten plenty of attention because of it. But she shunned most of the hungry bachelors that walked into the lounge, shrugged them off like they were nothing. None of them were anything compared to Oswald, they were sitting on his seats, they were eating his food, with his silverware, they were drinking his liquor and then were taking up space in his atmosphere. She didn’t have time for them.

This made her so bored tonight, even among the social elite. Without Oswald there was just the same old faces that came to the lounge and had their drinks, some would talk to her and others would just go about their business. Because of this she began to walk from the bar and people watch. It wasn’t until a flash caught her eye that her body stopped and turned toward the familiar sensation. A camera? Was flash photography even allowed in such a prestigious place? She doubted it highly. That could only mean one thing, it was some type of media, probably paparazzi or the press and she didn’t want to miss a moment of that camera flash.

Lola fixed her dress and her hair and then made her way to the other side of the lounge where the flashes were coming from. There was only one man there taking pictures, maybe he was from a certain paper in Gotham? Regardless she wanted a picture. He couldn’t come here and not take one of her, which would have just been rude. She deserved the limelight and she always had. She came up to the man and stood near him, she extended her hand to get his attention and introduced herself. “Hello, My name is Lola Marks, are you from the press?” She asked and smiled sweetly looking him over.

He was shorter than she first thought now that she came up to him. But there were very few people that didn’t seem short to her in her stilettos. It was odd; he looked young, possibly in his mid-twenties? But he had grey hair. Maybe being in the press was a very stressful job, and she could see that. Having to chase after people that were more important than you must have been a very stressful job. He was far too undressed for this place, and that was one thing that put her off to him. Why would he wear that in here? Unless…He didn’t make very much money at all. Poor dear. Oh well.

[Deleted]

Victor was wearing his usual outfit. He had a pair of jeans as well as his usual sneakers. His shirt was a button down shirt that he had ironed. Instead of his usual trench coat that he wore on cold nights. Or at least on nights he felt were cold. He was instead wearing a suit jacket. After all he would at least try not to look like a bum when he was going to have to spend time around all the rich folk. He had reluctantly let the man at the door take his fedora.

If it weren't for the fact that he had been hired by the Gotham Gazette he wouldn't be here. After all it was just a party for the rich to show up and flaunt their wealth. Now that didn't mean they were all like this. Its just that Victor hadn't met a single one who didn't seem to flaunt their wealth or thought that they were superior. He had his camera at the ready and would occasionally taking a picture of a individual or couple that wanted their picture taken. Or some object that he figured the Gazette would like to have a picture of.

Victor looked at all the people around and hid the scowl he had. There wasn't a reason to show the fact that he didn't want to be here. He glanced at his watch for what must have been the hundredth time in the past half hour. He only needed to be here for just a little while longer but he already wanted to be gone. He had been here for a full two hours already. And he still couldn't find a reason that these people would need to have any more photos taken of themselves. Its not like they hadn't had enough pictures taken of them in the past. He took another picture of a couple who just had to have their picture taken. When they walked off Victor began to try and covertly inch his way to the door.

Victor managed to keep the annoyance off of his face when a young woman came up and extended her hand. Victor looked at her for a few seconds. She was a rater pretty woman. And if he was also in her class group he would quite possibly have flirted with her. But he hadn't ever seen a rich person that he really liked. He looked at her hand for a second and then smiled at her in greeting. "You can say I'm with the press." He said conversationally. "I'm freelance and I was hired to get photos here." He added before he realized he hadn't introduced himself. There was a part of him that didn't want to. He didn't want this rich girl to get to know who he was. But it would have been rude not to. "I'm Victor Grant." He nodded in greeting as he thought about how he could possibly get himself out of this situation. He figured that he might as well just go with it. "Would you like you're picture taken?" If he just went ahead and got this over with then he could quite possibly get out of here that much sooner.

[Lola Marks]

Lola couldn’t get enough of this type of atmosphere. Everyone in the building and everyone that worked in the building just reminded her so much of home, in a good way. The way that home was always meant to stay but at the end seemed to destroy itself. It wouldn’t happen this time, this time she was out on her own, meeting new people. Moving to Gotham was a healthy thing for her to do and now that she found this place…and possibly a new beau of hers she wouldn’t have it any other way.

She held her hand there, limp toward him and even fanned her fingers forward for a minute to see if maybe he was just awestruck or slow to respond. But no, he just stood there and responded with a smile. He left her there, hanging with her arm out and made a fool of her! The nerve of this guy, what was his problem? When she put her hand back down she began to instantly judge the man in her mind harsher than she already had. How could anyone be that rude?

She didn’t find it plausible that he wouldn’t know how to take a ladies hand unless he was some backwater town in the deep south, then again, looking at his attire that wasn’t completely unbelievable. A blue button down? In Fall? At least it was being half covered by a nice jacket but then the blue jeans…and sneakers. Where did this guy think he was? Why he was even let in the door like this? It wasn’t a wonder he attracted so much attention, she was embarrassed sitting here talking to him. The one guy from the press had to be completely rude and terrible dresser….Just her luck.

She wanted to pout at the sudden rudeness, moving her hand back to herself and crossing her arms. She only did so for a moment though to show her instant dislike of him before she dropped in and returned the smile. It would have been improper to do anything else but be completely polite in return, and she was a lady. So he was from the press…Almost. The word freelance was always something to be wary about unless it had something to do with being an artist. A freelance photographer was one thing but taking pictures in a place like this meant you were hired for something specific, it must have been a newspaper.

Because of this her mood elevated and she nodded the moment her offered to take her picture. “Of course!” She exclaimed excitedly and went in front of the camera near a wall. She made sure that everyone else was out of the picture but herself, and the bar that sat in the background with possibly a few lingerers, but no one you could make out. The picture was supposed to be about her….and the lounge. “It’s just a shame Oswald is busy tonight and you can’t get a picture of him as well..” She smiled sweetly for the camera, flashing her importance in every inch of it.

[Deleted]

At this point in time all Victor wanted to do was to leave. These people just weren't the type of people he wanted to be seen with. Of course his views on the rich may have been tinted. He had never met one that was........ human..... Or at least that wasn't full of himself. Also he had been raised by his Texas Ranger uncle. And was thought to work or what you would like to get. And most of these people were probably born into money.

He wasn't sure what she was wanting him to do. She just kept holding her hand out at him. Was it some form of greeting? Was he supposed to do the same thing? Before he could ask she pulled her hand back and crossed her arms he knew he had done something wrong. But he didn't really care overmuch about it. He'd have to ask someone later on about what he was supposed to have done.

When she moved over to pose for her picture Victor took extra care to make sure it was a good picture. After all he may not have liked these people but that didn't mean he was going to hold back when it came to doing his job. And he had become a skilled photographer over time. Even though he was showing that he was enjoying what he was doing his mind wasn't in it.

Just look at this girl. She probably grew up in some fairy tale castle with servants at there beck and call. And she probably had more money then he ever had or ever will see. He focused on the camera and snapped the picture. When he finished he moved over to her and showed her the picture on the screen. "Is this good? If not I'll take another one." He said keeping himself appearing to be enjoying himself at this moment. "And you mean Mr. Cobblepot right?" He asked looking at her with a somewhat questioning look. He didn't pay close attention to what was going on with the upper class unless it would somehow have an impact on history. And in his mind all of the people here were on the list of people who he didn't care much for. But he was still being polite and not showing his dislike for being here. Even though he really wanted to. But then that would possibly cost him his photographer job and that was a good source of income on the side.

[Lola Marks]

Lola was sure that some places in her family she had backwater relatives. But they were written out a long time ago and no one ever talked to them, she certainly wouldn’t if they came up to her. Why would she want anything to do with a poorly raised, ill-mannered and savage class of her own blood? She wouldn’t. But if anyone was to be found out and approached her she would certainly deny it in public, especially in front of Oswald, unless he already knew. He was a much kinder man than she had originally expected. Her heart fluttered some at the thought but she tried to calm it down and pull herself together. What was she thinking? Really? Daydreams?

She could get passed the disgusting clothing and the offense shoes that he was wearing in such a high class place but to leave her standing like that was nearly unforgivable! Until the camera flashed. When the camera flashed everything changed and she suddenly felt right at home again. She turned and gave him a few posh poses before he asked her to check them. Surely he could take a good picture, they really didn’t send some amateur to such a prestigious place did they?...Well his clothing was bad enough to say he hadn’t been doing this long.

She smiled at the mention of Oswald. How she wished he was here tonight to take pictures with her. That would have just looked stunning on the front page of every newspaper in Gotham! “Yes, My Oswald is the owner and proprietor of this establishment.” She spoke rather distracted as she made her way back to him to see the picture from his side. She moved close to him and grabbed the camera, not satisfied with the picture. She didn’t fully remove it from his hands but instead let him take control of it again “No I think we should do a few more just to make sure.” She went back to where she was standing and gave more posh poses for him.

The more she stared at him the more she got this eerie feeling in her stomach like something wasn’t right. It was the same kind of feeling that she felt like something was watching her, and he was, but it wasn’t the same. She stopped posing for a moment and tilted her head to squint her eyes at him. “I’m sorry, but have we met before?” She asked him while taking another few steps forward. Suddenly the aspirations of being on the front page were tossed for a moment just to find out how the man was. God he looked familiar. Something in his face. It was something she used to stare up at before. Of course it was impossible that they could have been related, look at his class.

[Deleted]

As Victor took the pictures his mind was going over every thing about this place and these people that seemed wrong. At least to him. They probably didn't know anyone else who wasn't as well of as they were. Or they probably didn't know anyone who had ever fallen on hard times. They would never talk to him if there wasn't something in it for them. They probably still had they're parents too. Victor's mind went on and on about it. If he was related to any of them in anyway he wouldn't be going to them for help. He didn't see a reason. Which is why he was glad that there was not a single rich person in his family. Though as far as he knew there was no one left in his family well aside from him that is.

When she smiled Victor found himself smiling slightly. He didn't know why but he just did. There was just something about the smile it seemed like he had seen it before. He pushed those thoughts out of his head when she brought up Mr. Cobblepot. That was the short one right? He thought to himself but out loud he said something else. "I wouldn't mind having taken his picture too." He said as she looked at the photos. When she said that she would have liked more he nodded. That was fair enough. After all it was his job...... Even if he didn't want to be doing it at the moment.

He noticed a change in her expression while he was taking the next set of pictures. At first he thought she was going to say that he was doing something wrong. And he was about to speak up until she asked if they had met before. Where would he have been for them to have met? He wouldn't go anywhere that her type of people would hang out. He opened his mouth to flat out deny it but then stopped and furrowed his brow. There was something about her smile though. He had seen it before some where. "No we haven't.... At least I don't think so." He thought some more then squinted his right eye in thought. "Though now that you mention it there is something oddly familiar about you." He started to think back to everywhere he would have gone and felt out of place. Maybe he had seen here there?

[Lola Marks]

Of course he wanted a picture with Oswald, everyone did. He was the most important person here after all and maybe if he stayed around long enough he would be able to get one. But right now? The last thing he was to do was stay around this place wearing that. If he was going to stay around long enough for a picture with Oswald she was going to have to ask someone about a change of wardrobe at least. But what would she do that for this random stranger? There was more than one photographer for the paper and Oswald probably had more than enough fame in them already. She didn’t mind the attention though.

Once he was done snapping the camera and he commented upon her familiarity she couldn’t deny it anymore. There was something oddly familiar about this man she just couldn’t put her finger on it. There was no way she had seen him before but he just looked like someone she had met before and knew very well. Perhaps he was a friend of her families at some point? A distant…Distant friend. His clothes were just far too much of a give-away for that. None of her family would have seen dead with this guy for any reason. Unless…

Her mind shook away the thought and she stepped up to him. Her distance remained respectful but at least this way she could get a good look at his face. “Have you always lived in Gotham?” She tried to change the subject politely, but still kept it on the same track. Maybe if she knew where he grew up it would explain more things, or maybe open more questions. Maybe she would ask Oswald if he knew anything about this man. Perhaps he was a friend of Max’s and that’s how she knew him? But she barely knew her half-brother to begin with. The thought of that coming to her mind only furthered her short thought from before….but she didn’t want to think about that possibility. Her family was already ruined enough.

“Maybe you just have a familiar face.” She commented, not meaning to be rude but she wasn’t going to say that about herself. “I haven’t been in Gotham for too long but if you have been trying to get here with the paper for a while you may have seen me with Oswald. Perfectly sound explanations.” There were many people in the city; there could have been thousands of explanations. Besides, it wasn’t that odd for other people to say that someone looked familiar.

[Deleted]

He couldn't shake the feeling that there was someplace he had seen this woman before. He lowered the camera and looked at her trying to figure it out. Ok now it was getting creepy. She had clearly seen him before and he had clearly seen her before. He shook his head slightly when she asked if he had always been in Gotham. "No I haven't I'm originally from Texas." He explained and looked at her as an idea came to mind. "You've never been to Seattle have you?" He asked. Maybe she was in Seattle when he was going to college there? That would explain it.

When she brought up that maybe he just had one of those faces he nodded and relaxed abit. "Yeah that's probably it." He said feeling his want to leave rising back up. Now that he wasn't looking at someone he knew he didn't have to worry much about it. "Yeah I probably saw you're picture somewhere before with Mr. Cobblepot." He said nodding as he felt his mind still trying to figure it out. "That's probably it."

[Lola Marks]

Well, it seemed that they were both wet behind the ears when it came to living in Gotham. She hadn’t been here for more than a week as it was. It was a beautiful city and she enjoyed its lights as much as she enjoyed its class, and the shopping she couldn’t turn down any day, no matter how little money she actually had left. But that never stopped her from getting what she wanted, and a rich man was always willing to give her what she wanted somewhere. But she deserved it, not a flicker of guilt on her. “I’m new to Gotham too..” She commented after he mentioned where he was from. “But I am from New York.” She made sure she threw in her place of birth which was obviously far better. At least much higher class than….down there, it certainly explained the clothing.

“No I’ve never been to Seattle. I never had any reason to; New York had all the accommodations my family would have ever needed.” She answered but tried not to say too much about her personal life, while maintaining her status. They both came to an agreement on the familiar face, which seemed to me a sound argument, and yes he could have very well seen her picture with her Oswald. The paper was always swarming over this place for a picture, it was the reason he was here was it not?

“Perhaps you took pictures for my father Andrew Marks at one time. He was quite a famous investor and traveled to many places, though I’m not sure how many he actually traveled to” She noted aloud on the subject one last time. The moment had become awkward, for her at least trying to find out who the other was or if they were just have a familiar dejavu moment. Without letting the moment linger for too much longer she decided to close their conversation quickly, without giving him a chance to think. “Good luck with your pictures for the paper.” Maybe if she wished him well he would be on his way and ready to go to the next hot spot in Gotham, but there was nothing quite like the glory of the Iceberg Lounge.

[Deleted]

Victor smiled slightly when she said that she was new to Gotham. "I've never been to New York. The only cities I've been to are Houston, Dallas, and Austin, and Seattle. Or at least the big cities. And I'm not counting Gotham." He said without really thinking about it. He was simply talking now. But there was still a small part of him that wanted to know why she was sure she had seen him before.

When she said she had never been to Seattle Victor gave one slow nod of his head. "Ok I went to college there." He said as he thought back to his time there. So there was no way they could have crossed paths in Seattle. No way they could have crossed paths in Texas or New York. How could she know him. And why did she seem oddly familiar?

"I don't know an Andrew Marks. Sorry." He said squinting his right eye as he thought to make sure he had never met a man by that name before. He nodded in thanks for her wishing him luck he opened his mouth to voice his thanks came to mind. "Wait......... Andrew Marks?" He asked frowning slightly. "Come to think of it my mom used to know an investor by that name." He said thinking slightly. He might have met the man before when he was younger. Much younger.

[Lola Marks]

The out of place, unkempt, Victor? Was it? Was beginning to bore her as he drolled on with the several places her had lived. It didn’t interest her in the slightest considering most of the cities were either way too southern for her. Different morals, different values. The whole concept bored her, and it showed when she began to idly look at the way that her finger nails were trimmed before she placed them back at her sides.

The more she started at him though the more she felt like she knew him, it was an awkward feeling. Knowing that she had seen him before somewhere but really not wanting to be seen with him long. She walked a little closer to him with that thought, just trying to get this over with and send him on his way as quickly as possible, but she stopped in her track when her father’s name was mentioned twice by him.

So maybe he did know her father? Or at least his mother did. The thought made her colder inside, painful memories that she buried deep down from the past were resurfacing. But instead she perked up her head and tossed her hair back, giving him a sweet and satisfactory smile. It was just a fluke. “Well he was famous, she could have known him from anywhere.” She said with some forced politeness in her voice. She was becoming extremely uncomfortable with the situation as it moved on. Just the thought of knowing that her father might have had an affair with another woman….Wait that wasn’t established anywhere.

Lola was getting ahead of herself. He was an investor; he went around to many places and did many things for many people. It wasn’t unusual for him to meet any member of the opposite or same sex on a business trip and discuss just that, business. But Lola new the darker truth in that and the thought made her cross her arms and turn on her foot slightly in front of him. He was also a liar.

[Deleted]

When Victor noticed her starting to look off to the side and was clearly starting to loose interest it just showed yet another reason that Victor didn't care much for the rich. He looked around and decided that he might as well get going. After all he might as well get out of there now he could get out of there. When Lola started to step towards him he found himself wondering what she was up to it had nothing to do with her being rich or anything like that. It was simply his reaction when a woman walked up to him suddenly during a conversation.

When she commented that her father was famous and that must be why his mother knew him he nodded. "That might be it. I never actually know my parents so I heard this from my uncle. So that's why I don't really remember anything about an Andrew Marks." He said letting his camera hang around his neck. "Well I won't hold you any longer Ms. Marks." He said with a slight nod not quite sure if there was something special that he was supposed to do in a situation like this so he just went with his nod.