Chapter 17

The next morning, though Joe and Connie could have used two swimming lanes, they decided to share the one again. She like it when he lapped her, swimming beneath her. She didn’t care about competing with him, which would be nonsense with his endless arms and his broad shoulders and his championship past, and he was the sort that didn’t think about that, trying to not to make her feel bad or some such nonsense. He was like her, a realist. But it made her want to touch him somehow, him in his sexy speedos, confident enough to wear them, and why shouldn’t he be? He had nothing to be ashamed of, especially what he packed in his speedos.

When they paused, Joe figuring she would want to move onto the bicycle or whatever, and she did her thing where she pressed herself against him while they rested beside the wall, making him more shy about wearing speedos, she told him, “The swimming has really helped loosen things up so to speak, but I don’t really think sitting would be a great idea.”

“You could do the stair climber thing.”

“I’m thinking you’d probably rather keep swimming laps.”

“I would.”

“And I could just have a leisurely thing. But Joe, when you pass under me? I keep thinking I’d like to touch you, but it would probably throw me off.”

“You could swim under me. You could do the backstroke underwater?”

“Sure.”

“Okay.”

They laughed. He took off with his usual speed, and she swam a casual breast stroke, and when he approached she ducked under and tried brushing her hand across his speedo, but it threw her off too much.

The next time he did something crazy. He pulled her into him, somehow managing to pull her legs around him and then her arms while he kept swimming a butterfly, carrying her with him! It could only last a moment because of her suddenly panicking, but they kept trying, her taking more of a breath, and that powerful stroke with her pussy right there against his speedos barely retaining his excited cock, it felt like she could almost cum.

It did tucker him out. “I think I’m good,” he chuckled.

Holding herself against him as she liked to do, she whispered, “I want to fuck you right here.”

“Me too, but water isn’t the best lubricant.”

“I know, but...”

“is there a unisex bathroom?”

“Not with the locker rooms.”

“Then we best get out of here.” He pulled himself out of the water, his erection obvious, and helped her out.

“You’re showing,” she giggled.

“Not popping out is it?”

“Almost but no.”

“It’s natural, isn’t it? You’re a beautiful woman and I’m a normal guy.”

“You’re anything but normal.”

They put on their cover ups and headed out quickly. If anyone watched they didn’t care.

“They have cameras in here?” Joe asked while they took the elevator. It ended up stopping at the main floor.”

“Yes,” she giggled while a couple obviously gay men entered the elevator, both checking out Joe.

When they got to her floor, she tittered, “You know he’s got speedos under those shorts,” and rushed out, followed by a shrugging Joe.

Inside the apartment she wanted to tear off his clothes. “Either get the lube or lay on the table.”

She chose the latter, and Joe removed the obstacles to get to her pussy, her helping with the swimsuit and he went to town with lips and tongue, hands free to remove his obstacles. Once she was properly lubed naturally, he spat in his hand and applied the spit to his cock and rammed it in.

“Fuck Joe yes!” she exclaimed, grabbing his arms to pull him in harder. His hands went to her tits, mauling her nipples. He knew it needed to be a quickie, not worrying about time but more how much friction her pussy had been through the night before. When she came, he let himself feel all the pleasure her pussy and the rest of her gave him and he managed to cum a few strokes later.

“You okay?” he asked, pulling out with his cock still ejaculating, letting it sit and shoot resting atop her mons.

“Not the best idea after last night, but it’s really the other hole that’s letting me know it got something big and hard and deep inside it and honestly the swimming did help, so yeah, I’m much better than okay.”

“Glad to hear,” Joe grinned. “Let’s get us showered. Hop on?”

She straddled his waist with her legs, her hands around his neck while his took hold of her ass and carried her to the bathroom. She did the door opening, and once he settled her onto his lap on the commode, she leaned over and turned on the shower.

“I think I can manage from here,” she suggested.

He thought about carrying her in, but the image of slipping on slippery bath surfaces deciding him against it, so he nodded and followed her in.

Eight was early for Henry to meet, but Susan’s delays had fucked up his timing somewhat. He needed to meet with the set designer to approve or change his designs, and the two would be meeting up with the DP at the studio building to get a sense of its space, and he wanted them together for ideas of camera placement in relationship to the set and even color ideas. And there was the new scene, the new bar set that he needed to let them know about. It would be a long day, but not unexpected for the hard work he would put in on his first Hollywood picture.

His smartphone woke him a little after seven and he felt the heavy head of overindulgence from the night before, his hair of the dog a couple snorts of cocaine. Looking into Holly’s room, he saw Lindy spooning his roommate and said her name tentatively but it was enough to wake her.

“Want to come with me to meet with Connie?” he asked her.

She grunted a yes, suffering much more than him.

“I’ll get you aspirin and a big drink of water,” said an awakened Holly.

“Thanks.”

Both wore long t shirts, Holly’s sleeping outfit, as they climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom. Holly grabbed the aspirin bottle from there and closed the door behind her. Tapping a couple pills into a shot glass, she poured a large glass full of water and returned to the toilet. Henry brewed up some coffee, and Holly again returned to the kitchen going into full breakfast mode. Henry sat and watched this domestic scene, the woman he sort of rented continuing to do housewife things for him.

She stopped her preparations to use the toilet when Lindy emerged. “You want me to help with breakfast?” Lindy asked, seeing the eggs out.

“Thanks, but I’ll take care of it,” Holly replied before shutting the door.

Henry and Lindy cleaned out the mugs they used the night before and used them for the coffee. Lindy put out three glasses and poured grapefruit juice into them. The two sat back and watched Holly make them eggs to order, all of them deciding on over easy. She tossed toast into the toaster oven and nuked some bacon. “No potatoes, sorry,” she said.

“No problem,” Henry chuckled.

Food done, including Holly buttering the toast with some whipped butter she’d put out first thing with the fetching of water, Holly putting some honey on hers, the rest of them just sticking with butter, they settled into enjoying breakfast.

Once done eating, Henry had a quick shower, “Want to join me?” he asked Lindy and she answered, “I’m good.”

While he showered, Lindy collected her stuff in her daybag and headed down to her apartment.

“Hey,” she said, surprised to see Joe.

“Nice outfit,” Joe chuckled.

“It’s Holly’s. Didn’t you stay at Connie’s?”

“She’s in her car. I thought I’d grab the drawing I’ve been working on of the bar. It’s not done, but the idea is there.”

“I just need to change. Wait for me?”

“Sure.”

“I should let Henry know.”

“I’ll call him.”

“Okay, thanks.”

While calling Henry, Joe added some details to his drawing.

“Joe?”

“Hey Henry. I bumped into Lindy in our apartment.”

“Okay. I guess I’ll see you there.”

“Yep.”

They hung up. Joe worked some more on the large drawing.

“Ready,” said Lindy, dressed comfortably in shorts and a casual short sleeved shirt.

“You okay?” Joe asked, grabbing the large drawing pad.

“Yeah. I got pretty fucked up last night, but it was better this time.”

“Good I guess.”

She came up to him and gave him a kiss. “I’m sorry about Henry. I very much prefer being with you.”

“Me being with Connie...”

“I know, but I don’t see it that way. It’s like I have to be wasted to be with him, and aside from his freakish cock, there’s absolutely nothing else about him I really like.”

“You’ll be working with him.”

“That’s the competent director Henry, an altogether different animal as you know.”

“True.”

“Me and Connie, we’re like equal in your affections. I might have been ahead, but with my time with Henry I’ve probably lost the lead. We both want more time with you, so maybe I’ll invite myself over some times for some threesomes.”

“I guess that will be up to Connie.”

“She’ll be cool with it. I’m not sure how much she likes me, and maybe I’m a bit the same about her, but I know she likes my body.”

“I like being with both of you, and we’re figuring out sharing my time, but I think she’ll probably like me not being around her all the time probably more than you would.”

“Probably.”

They had been heading out during the conversation. Outside, at the car, the ladies nodded at each other civilly, Lindy slipping into the back while Joe opened the trunk to stash the big pad. He climbed into the driver’s seat.

“Look who I bumped into,” he smiled at Connie.

“I can see,” Connie smiled back less fully. “I’m glad you’re joining us Lindy.”

“Oh?”

“It’s possible Henry will agree with what I’m thinking, and you’ll want to be there.”

“Okay.”

The two cars arrived at about the same time at the office building. Since everyone but Lindy had weighty bags, Connie handed off the keys to the building to Lindy and she opened doors and pushed buttons for the elevator.

Once in the conference room, Henry asked Joe, “Is that what I think it is?”

“The bar scene? Yes. It’s not complete, mostly lacking color really.”

“That’s fine. Gives the set and costume and camera people more imagination to play with.”

“I haven’t really written anything.”

Henry looked at the large drawing and nodded. “Great stuff. It’s actually cool you haven’t written the scene. I’m actually looking for some cast for it. Connie?”

She’d hooked up her laptop to the camera. Each actor had a time code for when he or she appeared on the recording and she fast forwarded to the first actor on the list of bar characters. “Bartender,” she said, and so forth. Joe jotted down their appearance, just some key words. “So you think Mel (Lindy’s character) would be sitting with a bunch of fans.”

“Friends of Ariel’s,” Henry nodded. “And I think this henchman would be the one who spots Mel,” he pointed to a character associated with the main bad guy and Connie found his audition.

“Okay.” More notes. “Yeah.”

“So did Connie mention I’d maybe like to see more of Johnny?”

“Yeah. I was thinking the scene when Mel and Ariel first meet she could be peripheral, like hanging out with Ariel and coming into the scene at the end. And maybe when Ariel comes up to Mel’s place, she’d be with her and be kind of suspicious of Mel’s friend.”

“Sounds good. A couple things. What are we talking about as far location shooting, Connie?”

“I was thinking about shooting those after you’ve got the scenes on the sets shot, and then Montreal? We could get some talent up there.”

“Like second unit? I’ll want to be there to direct.”

“But just you and the actors, the rest could be local.”

“So Montreal standing in for New York. Joe?”

“I was thinking an Eastern city, something industrial and decrepit with like row houses, but smaller than New York and kind of gray. Maybe Rochester New York?”

“Rochester’s doable,” Connie nodded. “But we’ll need to scout it. Montreal’s...”

“Been done a thousand times so we’d know where to shoot. I’m not worried about the cliché, but I agree. Rochester would be cool. I’d like my DP to check it out with me.”

“When?” Connie asked.

“While they’re building the set?”

“What about the reading?”

“We can do that before. I’ll need a bigger place than this.”

“We have the keys to Hollywood High,” Joe grinned.

“The show’s like in a couple weeks?” Henry pointed out.

“I have a feeling we could use it whenever,” Joe smirked and Connie laughed. “When would you like?”

“Maybe early next week? How about Wednesday and I’d have a week to scout before the show there. Maybe look at Albany too with it being political with the state house there.”

“So Thursday to Wednesday with you and your DP,” Connie noted.

“And one more.”

“Holly? Be serious Henry. We can’t expense it for the film.”

“She’s an expense. She’s Lindy’s double. We can place her in the location.”

“Fine,” Connie shook her head.

“And make it a red eye coming home. I don’t want to miss the show, and I’ll need to set up.”

“Back by Wednesday evening.”

“I’ll have Brit talk to slimeball,” Joe smirked and Connie laughed again.

“Slimeball?” Henry asked.

“Long story,” said Joe. He left a message with Brit since it was her last day of school and she’d probably get out early. She’d text back later that it was approved (of course) but would be after six, which Joe forwarded to Henry.

“So you’re not thinking about scouting for the bar scene?” Joe asked once he’d texted Brit.

“No, because it won’t need to be all that big. Like it’s cramped, people squeezed into this little basement bar. Kind of closed in. It’ll be easier to shoot and light. We’ll just have to be careful about the ceiling. I’m thinking just over the stage and the stairs going down and above Mel’s table. The middle will be open.”

“Sounds cool,” Joe nodded. “I’ll write up the scene and maybe look for adding Johnny more.”

“No, those would be enough I think. And speaking of that scene with Mel’s love interest, and don’t worry about chiming in, Connie if you think I’m off base?”

“I think I’ll be fine with it,” she hoped.

“I’m having a hard time casting the Joey character (Joe liked to insert himself into his graphic novels, a secondary character, sort of the only normal person supporting the hero/heroine, and using a derivation of his name, like Joey or Joel or José or Yusef). I mean the guy I picked was a last resort. He’d be good, but I don’t think the chemistry would be right, and I don’t usually give a shit about chemistry, but Mel’s boyfriend ... I mean I think you’re beautiful Lindy and I’m sure Joe does too.”

“I do,” said Joe.

“But someone handsome like I got or even odd looking just ... it’s not working. It doesn’t work with your unique look, Lindy.”

“I know I’m no beauty,” Lindy waved it off.

“Classic beauty and that’s the problem, the contrast. Or the wrong encouragement if he’s like an odd looking character. So what if he’s not photogenic? I know the camera loves you, so ... And if I know he can act and can work off you like a pro...”

“You mean... ?” Lindy grinned at Joe and the others gazed too.

“What?” Joe asked.

“You even have the same name, Joey,” Lindy hinted.

“You want me...”

“To play Joey, Joe,” Henry finished. “I mean you wrote yourself into the damn thing.”

“But I didn’t ... Uhm ... if you’re sure.”

“It’s more I don’t have a choice,” Henry chuckled.

“Sure. Thanks.”

“You want to look at the rest of the cast?”

“It’s your movie.”

“But you drew them first.”

“I’d like that.”

“If you think...”

“I’ll let you know.”

“Cool.”

Joe was fine with Henry’s choices, and especially pleased with the choice of the bent cop. “I worried the cold reading threw you off,” Joe commented.

“Me too,” Connie agreed.

“Yeah but his audition piece was perfect. You didn’t happen to bring him in and clue him in on the role, Connie?”

“Maybe.”

“So why the fuck didn’t you just make yourself casting director,” Henry asked, confused, not angry.

“Honestly I didn’t want to presume. Mostly I was filling the roles not taking them myself I guess.”

“Well next time, you’re my casting director.”

“I have no problem with that, although you’ll have to afford me.”

They laughed.

“Double duty then, advisor and casting director.”

“I can live with that.”

“Are you being billed?” Joe asked. “Director’s assistant?”

“Sounds like assistant director,” Henry pointed out.

“I don’t care about being listed in the credits. I’ve always been a behind the scenes gal. People in the business know me.”

Joe decided not to let out a piercing comment but Lindy didn’t hold back, “By reputation.”

“Yes Lindy. Sorry Joe.”

“Hey, you screwed me, I screwed you,” he shrugged.

Everyone except Joe laughed, even Lindy, Joe playing it out like a good comedian would.

Joe continued looking through the cast until his phone rang.

“Can we meet?” Grace the lawyer asked.

“Yes, about other things, maybe this afternoon?”

“How about you meet me at my office at four thirty and maybe have a bite after?”

“Sounds good. What do you have?”

“Sure. Okay. Everything’s copascetic. I don’t know why they made that deal, but... ?”

“I think a combination of first timers and wanting me to do the animation for the new network without pissing me off. And they’re publishing the graphic novel.”

“Maybe I can have you own the characters.”

“For sequels or...”

“That and retroactively.”

“Can you do that?”

“No one’s actually bought the characters. They’ve essentially bought the manuscripts but there’s nothing about owning the actual characters.”

“So I own them for my own work, like for the animations. I’m actually okay with what they’re offering me,” he glanced at Connie, “up to a point. But I’d like to control them in the future, like do the sequels or whatever, and be able to prevent others taking them for themselves.”

“That would be the least litigious choice at this point.”

“I don’t want to be that guy that likes to sue. But if someone steals from me, then yes, I’ll sue the fuckers.”

“Okay.”

“And I’d like to do that with my other graphic novels. Do you have a pen?”

“Go ahead.”

He gave her his website and the password which would enable her to look at them without having to pay.

“You want me to have you own those characters too?”

“Yep.”

“Maybe we’ll wait to meet.”

“There’s other things.”

“Go ahead.”

“There’s a friend of mine who I helped get published by the same publisher. I want you to check his contract to see how much they own.”

“Give me his name and number. He’ll have to give me permission.”

“I actually have a copy of the contract.”

“That’ll work. What else?”

“You talked about incorporating? I’d like to incorporate my partnership with the guys I do the games with and who will be working with me on the animation. Both things would be part of our corporation.”

“Do you guys have a name?”

“We call ourselves Pancreas.”

“Sounds painful,” she chuckled.

“You ever see Warhol’s Frankenstein? It’s kind of...”

“I get it,” she laughed fully. “Something about fucking life in the pancreas.”

“Actually the gallbladder, and I made that mistake too, but gallbladder definitely didn’t work. It’s a take off of the whole French symbolist thing about the spleen.”

“And its on the package.”

“Just a stamp, a logo I designed, kind of like those animated logos at the beginning of movies of all the production companies.”

“Is it in the games?”

“You mean part of the animation? Kind of hidden but there,” Joe chuckled.

“I’ll look up if its owned. Speaking of which, Conspiracy?”

“I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

“The logo?”

“That too.”

“You’re getting your money’s worth.”

“Let me know when I go over.”

“Want me to stop?”

“No. I’m thinking this will be worth whatever. Just don’t make me destitute.”

“I’ve seen your contracts. Your fine.”

“For now,”

They laughed.

“I’ll come over with Doug’s contract and maybe my partners? Stuart should be done with his class by then.”

“Sure. I’ll throw something together for the LLC.”

“Limited Liability Corporation.”

“Yep.”

“See you then.”

“See you.”

Ending the call, Joe finished looking through the cast.

“Looks good, Henry,” he said at the end.

“Cool. I should get going. Busy day.”

“Meeting with your DP,” Connie nodded.

“Just the two of us,” Henry insisted.

“Of course.”

“But you can meet up with us at the studio?”

“When do you think?”

“Maybe around three? I’ll let you know if that changes.”

“Sounds good. You want to group your actors before the read-through?”

“I’m not worried about that. The only chemistry I worried about was Joey and Mel, and that’s now a known thing. The others ... I’m not looking for a Rockette’s line. I know there’ll some interesting diversity, especially with the height challenged Mitch...”

“I wouldn’t point that out.”

“It’s part of his charm whether he likes it or not,” Henry chuckled. “Yeah, I’m looking forward to the diversity of the bad guys. And with more Johnny ... Yeah the dynamics are going to be interesting.”

“You want me to start contacting the talent?”

“Wait until the meet today. It should give me a better sense of the shooting schedule. What about Mitch?”

“He’s good for the month and a half of the shoot, but probably not much longer.”

“That should work. I don’t see him outdoors on this.”

“You don’t wish to just get the actors for entirety of the studio shooting?”

“I’m not the type of director who wants people sitting around. A lot of them are specific to certain sets. We’ll probably end up shooting the bar scene last since it will be the biggest set, but like I said, I need to meet with my guys.”

“You having the costume designer there this afternoon?”

“I hadn’t but maybe I should.”

“I can call her.”

“Sure.”

“I’ll put the actors you chose on a flash drive. Sounds like we won’t be needing this room anymore.”

“I guess not. Thanks. I’d like to film the read through but I’m not sure how. Maybe a fish eye lens?”

“Or you could group them there,” Joe suggested, “with maybe a couple more cameras?”

“And do a quick edit. Or better yet four panels on a monitor, the fourth could be the fisheye.”

“I imagine I could get someone to set that up,” said Connie.

“I bet Stuart could handle it,” Joe suggested.

“The ultimate AV nerd,” Henry chuckled.

“At least he’s not an asshole,” Joe thought.

“So tomorrow you’ll have a schedule?” Connie asked.

“Hopefully. Okay, we need to get them on board.”

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

“If it’s not set, just let them know we’ll be having the read through Wednesday...”

“Evening would be better,” Joe suggested.

“Wednesday evening and they should be available for the month and a half after I get back.”

“Tomorrow, whatever happens, I let them know.”

“Yep.”

“Good. Can I borrow the drawing Joe?”

“I’d prefer if you copied it.”

“Give me a sec,” said Connie. “You’re meeting Greg at his place?” Gregory Papas, a Greek American was the DP.

“Yeah.”

“Okay. There’s a copy place with wide format along the way. I can go with you, Henry, and Joe can follow.”

“I thought you were working on the audition copy,” Lindy pointed out.

“You’re right. I’ll text you the address, Lindy.”

“Just give me the name of the copy place.”

“Right. Sorry.”

“No problem.”

“Joe?” Connie said.

“I think I’m going to work on the script at the loft before I meet with Grace.”

“I can let the guys know about that,” Lindy suggested.

“Good idea. I’ll see you early tomorrow, Connie.”

“Okay,” she half smiled.

He knelt beside her chair and gave her a soft kiss. “Don’t be getting selfish.”

“We do have our swims,” she grinned.

“Yep,” he chuckled.

Henry ended up giving Joe a ride to his car, not all that far out of the way, though it might as well have been with Henry’s attitude.

When Henry stopped by Joe’s car, Joe asked him, “Are you even running late?”

“He expects me sometime before noon with some lunch, but the more time we have the better.”

“Whatever.”

When Joe got out, Lindy started going with him.

“Hey,” Henry exclaimed.

She leaned into the open passenger door. “You can follow us or you can be nice,” she said.

“I’ll be nice.”

She got in his car. “I’m sending you the address of the copy place Joe in case Henry tries to lose you.”

“Thanks,” Joe chuckled.

While Lindy google mapped the store, Henry pulled out a joint. “Greg like’s his pot,” he explained.

“Only if you got any extra for Joe and me, or I swear I’ll toss it out the window.”

“I thought you said be nice,” Henry muttered, pulling out another joint and handing it to her.

“Being grumpy is infectious,” Lindy explained, putting the joint in her purse and grabbing the other one out of Henry’s mouth. “You’ll want to get on Hollywood Boulevard and go right,” she said, lighting the joint.

In Joe’s car on the way back from getting his drawing copied, Lindy decided, “I think I’m going to hang out with Mary.” They’d been smoking the potent joint.

“Stoned?” Joe chuckled.

“She doesn’t get high and she’s used to me being in a state.” After her last drag she called. “Hey Mary, mind if I pop by?”

She dropped Joe at their apartment. “See you at three thirty?”

Joe nodded. “Just to be safe.”

Even stoned, Joe managed to work on the bar scene, blank moments he filled by finishing up the drawing. It might have gone different than other scenes from his different state of mind, but he could always go back. Or it could be part of the scene, a stony moment watching a stony band. He decided to put that into the scene, actually another scene where Ariel and Mel get high with the band outside the club, beside a stairway to the basement, creating another scene with Johnny. He even had his character included, reluctantly since the guy didn’t get out much, but it would be a weird bonding adventure, having him being snuck in the back way. Henry could always lose it, being probably another location shoot, but what the heck. Writing it got him more into the rest of the scene.

“Hey Joe,” said Lindy. Joe barely, almost subconsciously, noticed her arrival.

“Already?” Joe responded.

“Cool drawing,” said Mary.

“How’s the animation thing going?” Joe asked Stuart.

“Great.”

“Dave’s meeting us downtown,” said Lindy. “I guess he’s meeting with someone about an apartment.”

“Got sick of the couch?” Joe chuckled.

“He’s... , “ Mary started. “He got Beth to come here.”

“What, did he Skype on hands and knees?”

“Maybe,” said Stuart. “He was in our office for hours talking to her.”

“How was he after?”

“Happy?” Stuart shrugged.

“Like a giant weight left his shoulders,” Mary confirmed.

“We’re getting the band back together,” Lindy grinned.

Everyone chuckled.

Joe’s car being larger, they all piled in. “Uhm, does Dave know where we’re going?” Joe asked while starting the drive.

“I told him where the sandwich shop was,” Lindy told him. “I figure we can meet him there.”

“Okay. If he’s not there, I’ll text him her office address and floor.”

Dave showed up just as Joe started texting him when they arrived at the meeting place. “Hey,” he said with the half smile he used when nervous.

“Maybe you guys should go up,” Lindy offered.

“There’s seating at reception I’m sure,” said Joe. “Besides, it sounds like she wanted to go out for some food after.”

While Mary and Lindy entertained each other and the receptionist, Grace went through the LLC registration. Pancreas Video Game and Animation was a mouth full, but without Video, they’d be the PGA and that didn’t work, while PVGA did, or Pancreas VGA, LLC. Although Grace thought the pancreatic thing might be too negative, the partners still got a kick out of the weirdness and the esoterica (even if mistaken), and, juvenile, the phallic shape of the inner organ font lettering. Triply great, Joe liked to think.

Joe had handed her Doug’s contract right away and she looked it over while the partners looked over the registration. “It’s fairly generous,” Grace concluded, “basically buying his creations up front, but also getting him five percent of gross.”

“Five percent is generous for writers,” Joe nodded.

“Yeah, they gave that to you too, while also being a lot more generous purchasing yours. But they only bought your comics.”