Bonding

"Didn't you say you are my fan? This is how your favorite author works, and produces all those books you love." Carter had a slightly proud edge on his voice, as he spoke up. "Writing it allows me to think more vividly and visualize things better."

"Guess people do have their own unique style." Jasmine gave up on arguing or trying to find logic, it was futile to come to a reason with a person like him. And maybe, a bit of wrong as well, as she should be the best person to know that writers need to be most comfortable and undisturbed to produce good work. Realizing that, she spoke up in a low voice. "My bad, it was wrong of me. You should be knowing the best what works for you." With that saying, she showed a little bow as a sign of being apologetic.

"Oh? Ya know how to apologize? Mezurashi ne," he muttered, loud enough for her to listen. 

"What was that?" 

"Nah, I said that was one helluva rare thing. After all, I totally took you for someone who never put their feet on the ground since birth." It was indeed a rare opportunity for him to pull her legs, after all those nagging he had to endure the last two days. He surely wouldn't miss out on the chance.

And realizing that she brought this upon herself, she decided not to drag this out any longer. She already has talked way more than she should, and dreadfully, it was nothing about the work she ought to do, which was entirely out of her ethics. "Shall we get back to the task at hand then?" 

He nodded his head, and walked into his bedroom once again, only to come back with a stack of papers in his hands. "I suppose this is what you need."

Jasmine took the file and gave a glance at it. "Yep, that's it. The interview questions. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Klein." 

"As for the new story idea I talked about yesterday," he handed her another piece of paper, before finishing his words. The only difference was, unlike the previous ones he handed her, it was strangely empty, and the clear white page was staring brightly at her. "I would be needing your help a lot for this."

She took the paper, and glanced over it. "It's empty?"

"Yeah. I can't... get out anything."

Jasmine was left shocked. "Is this why... there haven't been any new stories for a while now?"

"Yeah." Carter sighed dejectedly. "It has been like this for a while, around a year ago. Miss Suki tried to cheer me up, but maybe instead of working on my slump, she worked hard on something else." 

"Ugh, that girl." Jasmine felt quite embarrassed, as Suki was someone who she considered to be her best student. "Well, yes, helping an author out on their slump isn't really her forte. So that's understandable."

"Are you trying to defend her unprofessionalism?" Carter arched his brow, a clear dissatisfaction in his voice which made it clear how upset he was with his previous editor. 

"C'mon, cut me and her some slack already. She is gone, and she is my student, of course, I'd have a little bit of soft corner for her." Jasmine swatted her hand at him. "But yeah, no, I am not trying to defend her. She isn't someone who can help out artists from a slump. There're people for that."

And this is why Samuel insisted that it has to be her. Jasmine is especially known to be best for helping out authors who reach a slump but are willing to get out of it instead of giving up. The 'workaholic and serious to her job' Jasmine is someone who would go to any extent to bring out the best of the work, and help out as much as she can. Samuel knows that, and this is why she is here, dealing with him. "He could've at least let me know that instead of letting me be the one to find it out, gosh," She sighed, thinking about that dramatic first meet with her favorite author. "Mr. Klein, don't mind me pointing it out, but have you tried a different setting? Like, maybe an adult setting? Young love is all blooming and fulfilling, but having a love story started at the age where people end up getting married to random people can be quite heartwarming, if you ask me so."

"I don't really know how an adult date works." Carter shrugged his shoulders, looking a bit helpless. "I was able to bring out a school life romance, or a young romance cause I was familiar with the pure, innocent heart of young people. But adults... seem a bit..." he ended up not finishing his sentence anymore, and dazed out somewhere, while his eyes looked like he was searching for something faraway, knowing clearly that he wouldn't find it no matter how hard he tried.

"And that's where you need my help," Jasmine responded, completing his words for him, and earning a nod back. "Okay, how about we meet up in the evening? The editor from 'Soul Talk' already urged me to submit this by today." She waved the file she just received from Carter. "I'll let you know when I'm done."

"Works by me. I'll be home anyways." He curtly responded. "Then we will leave it at that." He walked into his bedroom, leaving her alone in the living room.

"You should at least hold the door as a basic courtesy, Jesus fcking Christ!" She sighed, frustrated by this oddly weird and antisocial guy. "I wonder at what part Suki fell for this guy to the point she was removed from her job? I should contact her sometimes to get all the tea."

– – – – – –

"Why are we here?"

"To drink, of course. I don't think bars have any uses other than having a drink. Well, if you are not looking for a hookup, at least." Jasmine replied to a perplexed Carter, who was busy shrinking himself to the point of converting into a tiny little insect. "Don't tell me, you are actually awkward with socializing? Hell no."

"So what if I am? Going out and interacting with a bunch of stupid people with boring lifestyles is fruitless anyway." Carter grumpily responded, hiding his face even more behind that big menu card that was sitting on top of the table in front of them. 

"Wow, it's interesting."

"What is, Miss Riley?"

"Looking at your idol acting like a kid." Jasmine laughed out, looking at the perplexed Carter. "What are you, a teenager? Gosh."