And, Cut!

Regulus Black was famous. He was born into fame, with no way to escape. He hated acting, but what actor didn’t? It was a pain.

The roles he got were barely anything anymore. His new shows barely hit and he was criticised online.

But, he knew that booking this role would make him great again. He dreamed about this role his whole life.

****

”Regulus!,” Dorcas screamed out with much more excitement than she usually had.

“What happened?” Regulus was slightly curious as to why his manager was so eager all of a sudden.

Then he thought, with the slimmer of hope he had, he booked the role. And he was right.

“You got it! You got the role, Regulus! I’m so happy for you!”

Excitement brewed up in Regulus and he couldn’t suppress it.
“You’re joking, I can’t believe I actually got the role!” He knew he was probably screaming like a little girl, but who cared? Not him, not now at least.

“Don’t say that, I knew you could do it! Be a little more optimistic next time.” Dorcas chastised.

“You never know. When do we start?”

“We start filming next month, but we need to go for a chemistry check tomorrow.” Regulus hadn’t known that he needed to do that, but who cared he booked the role!

“Wait, what is a chemistry read?” Regulus asked, suddenly curious.

“To see how you and your co-star get along!”

“He was already cast? Who is it?”

The sudden change in atmosphere scared Regulus. Why would he be unhappy with his partner? Why would he care?

“Who is it, Dorcas?” Regulus felt frustrated that he was being kept out of something like his co-star’s identity.

“Will you just sign the contract before I tell you? Please?”

“What’s with the urgency? Why can’t you tell me who he is?”

“I just want to make sure you’re set with this movie!” Dorcas was making it painfully obvious that she knew Regulus would dislike him.

“I’ve been dreaming about this since forever, I’m obviously committed. Why won’t you tell me who my co-star is.” His tone dripped with anger as he could no longer wait to know.

“You can’t be mad, promise?”

“Dorcas, who is it?”

“It’s Potter. James Potter.”

And then nothing was fine. Suddenly Regulus didn’t want the role. Not with his partner being James Potter. It’s crazy how he could do a whole three-sixty with just one name. But how could he not? He despised him.

“You’ve got to be fucking with me. JAMES POTTER?”

“The script was written with him in mind, so the choice was pretty much already confirmed. I couldn’t do anything, I’m sorry.”

“You know I don’t like him.”

“I don’t know why though, I know you have a little bitch fit when he’s mentioned though. Why? He’s great at acting!”

“He was a great actor.” Regulus replied coldly.

“I’m positive he still is wonderful! Plus, he just got out of Rehab!”

“Dorcas, he’ll ruin my reputation!”
“No one has seen him in years. Also, he had all that public scandal shit.”
Regulus had already struggled with that in the past year, he didn’t need it to go further down hill.

“Oh please, I know you’re obsessed with your reputation, but you used to be obsessed with him” Dorcas was bringing out a dangerous card now. She should know to stay quiet.

“I was not obsessed with him.”

“The posters you had say otherwise. You’re obsessed, and isn’t he like your idol?” Dorcas raised an eyebrow.

“Again, was. He was my idol.” Regulus was being very enthusiastic with the past tense. He hates James Potter with all of his soul. Or maybe not all of his soul.

“Okay then why do you hate him?” Regulus was about to say his reputation, but Dorcas beat him to it.

“You can’t say the addiction and rehab shit.”

“Fine then. He’s an asshole. His whole ego consumes every fiber in his body.” Regulus could not be calm while talking about James Potter. He knew a person shouldn’t make him this mad, but he couldn’t help it.

He’s been hating James since the last time.

“Are you saying your ego isn’t as big?” Dorcas grinned knowingly.

Regulus scowled. He couldn’t say anything against that, he was self aware.

“Okay, okay. I know you don’t wanna work with him Reg, but come on. You’ve been working for this your entire life. You can’t let him ruin it for you-“

“Fuck off, I’m gonna do the movie. Okay?”

“Wait- huh? Really? You are?”

“Yes. I am going to do the movie. I won’t let him ruin it for me.”

Dorcas instantly lost all the tense in her. A smile appeared on her face.

“That’s great. I’ll call the casting directors. Congratulations, again.”

“Uh-huh. Thank you.” Dorcas turned to leave, but she reminded him,
“Also, change that attitude towards James, because the chemistry read is tomorrow. Bright and early! Bye!”

Gods. Regulus couldn’t believe this. First he had a bitch of a co-star, and now he has to deal with all that shit. Regulus wanted to gut himself. He couldn’t believe this happened.

8:01 A.M.

“Yay! We’ve arrived.” Dorcas looked like she was going to say something else, but she didn’t.
Then she did.
“..And Regulus. Just.. be kind, before we start? I know you were already cast but still. First impressions matter.”

“I know, Dorcas.” Regulus said with a sigh. But, why did it have to be a bratty bitch? Why not anyone else? “Oh, I know.” He bites out. He can’t help being bitchy, it’s a Black thing.

Dorcas sighs. “Then. You can start by introducing yourself to Potter. He’s over there.”

“Do I have to?” Regulus whines until a man walks up next to him and Dorcas. Thank gods for him being Regulus’s hero because he was good looking.

“Dorcas! Lovely meeting you. I'm Remus.” Remus is hot. Anyone could see that. He’s got an edgy look that attracts Regulus.

“Lovely to be working with you, Remus! This is Regulus Black!” Dorcas says excitedly, obviously fond of Remus already. Insane due to how they just met. Dorcas doesn’t like people easily.

“Hi Regulus, I’m quite the fan. I’ve seen a lot of your work. Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.” Regulus replies

“James has escaped my clutches and I think he’s extremely excited to meet you, so.”

“Go.” Dorcas mouths to me.

“I’ll go to him.. right now..” Regulus almost has a look of disgust on his face. But he can’t, he must keep it professional. Disapprovingly, he sits next to James.

“hm.? Oh! Hi, are you Regulus?” James’ face lights up, but it didn’t last time.

“Yeah, I’m Regulus. You knew that though.” Regulus is making sure he sounds as mean as possible.

“Have we met before..?” James looks a bit hurt. Probably by Regulus’s tone.

“Yeah! We have! Two years ago at that premiere where you were really rude!” Regulus replied passive aggressively.

“I’m sorry.. I-I don’t really-”

“Remember? Of course you don’t.” A few seconds of silence pass before Regulus speaks,
“Don’t worry about it!” His tone was laced with passive aggressiveness again.

“Right.. uh, sorry.. uhm, I- I’m a big fan of your work!” James was faced with silence.

He began to speak again until Remus interrupted.
“They’re ready for you guys, let's go!”

Regulus was still silent in his seat. He didn’t feel like talking.

“Right.” James said.

“Welcome and congrats, James and Regulus. A pleasure to see you two again! Ahem, today will be very quick and easy, just need you to rehearse a few lines and see how you guys go with each other's energy! Simple as that!” Pandora takes a quick pause.
“Filming isn’t for a while, but we just want to see what we’re working with!”

“Sounds great! Will we have lines?” James replies enthusiastically. It irks Regulus.

“Yes! There's two packets for you two on the table.”

They both pick up the packets at the same time.

“A bit of context! Regulus, your character, Oliiver, got in a big fight with Jack, James’s character, because you think he isn’t putting any effort into your relationship. You think he cares about you less between other things.”

“And Jack,” James does a little dumb nod, “You need to prove to Oliver you still love and care for him, but it is complicated. Any questions?

“No.”

“Great! Whenever you’re ready.”

It’s no use, Jack. I won’t continue to go on like this.

“What do you mean?

“I’ve loved you ever since I’ve known you, Jack.”

“I love you-“

“No. Shut up. I will not be the one you settle for just because you can’t have her.”

“Oliver. I don’t care about anyone else!”

“No! You don’t get to act like you care. I feel us getting farther everyday. Don’t try to ignore it!

“There is no one else.”

“I know the way you look at her! Why won’t you just admit it!? I don’t want this anymore.”

“Oliver, you know that isn’t true.. I know I’ve been distant, I’ll try though. I’ll try harder!”

“You don’t have to..”

“Oliver, please…”

“We’re done, Jack. Go.”

“I- If you’re going to end this. End us, ruin all that we’ve faced together. You have to at least look me in the eye. Look at me!”
“Oliver.. look at me.” It’s barely a whisper.

Regulus, or Oliver, looks at him. And suddenly Regulus just acts on impulse. He pulls James into a kiss. Everything is buzzing in his ears, if someone is saying something he can’t hear it.

Suddenly a loud “cut!” pierces through his daze. He lets go of James, slightly embarrassed.

“How was that?” James asks with a little joy in his voice.

Regulus faces up to see Pandora, Remus and Dorcas.

“Fantastic! You two are exactly what we're looking for! Great job!” Pandora smiles so warmly, Regulus softens a bit, only to tense up again.

“Nice job.” James says.

“Mhm, you two. But, don't think this changes anything, okay.”

“Oh, no. Of course.. uh, do you guys need anything else?”

“Yes! We wanted to test one of the intimacy scenes!”

What a great day for Regulus. “Right, where do you want us?”

***

James smiles slightly, obviously fond of Regulus’s reaction to them testing the scene.

“Are you seeing this? Their tension is crazy.” Remus says.

“I am.”

Dorcas knew something was up. Regulus didn’t listen to the cut the first time like… he was enjoying it. Oh that’s funny, absolutely hilarious. They start to travel a bit.

With every scene they do, Regulus and James seem more and more real. The longing glances that, mind you, are not in the script, the brushing of hands and faint blush. Oh something is going on and Dorcas is going to find out what.

11:23 A.M.

“Jesus. Didn’t you say that it would only take an hour? It's been three.” James whines. They had just left the studio and were heading to their flat with their other friends.

“Oh please Prongs, don’t act like you didn’t enjoy spending time with Regulus. I saw how you were acting.” Remus smirks. Of course he suspects something. He always does.

“Wh-What do you mean? R-Regulus? The guy hates me!” Regulus’s strong dislike towards him was probably the only thing he noticed out of their interactions. Other than that kiss scene. And the intimacy scene when his pale skin gained some colour in his cheeks. And other scenes.

But mostly Regulus hated him for something that he couldn’t even remember! It didn’t matter anyway, James Potter’s only mission in life is to make people like him, so he will convince Regulus to.

“What are you up to now, James?” Remus says as the car stops. They’ve reached their flat.

“Nothing! Just got to convince Regulus I’m not all that bad.” James grins widely. His ADHD is probably showing a lot, but who cares.

Remus sighs defeatedly. He knows nothing will make James change his mind.

“Don’t scare him off.”

“Never would try to.” James winks at Remus who groans.

James Potter’s new mission: Convince a Regulus to have a relationship with him.