Hitting It Off

"So, have you continued free solo climbing since then?" Paul asked, sitting down beside Renly. Vin sat next to Andy.

The booth was semicircular, placing Vin diagonally across from Renly. Neil took a seat last, choosing the spot to Paul's right, directly across from Andy.

"No, I haven't since then. However, three days after our encounter, I did another free solo climb and successfully reached the summit," Renly replied amicably. He noticed the anticipation in Paul's eyes, needing no words to understand Paul was eagerly awaiting more details. Renly could empathize with the curiosity about what climbers see and feel upon reaching the summit of Everest. "The entire world unfolds beneath your feet—valleys, cliffs, forests, plains, mountains... The fierce wind blows through, making you feel as though you could spread your arms and soar."

Simple words couldn't capture even a fraction of the emotions experienced at that moment. They could only dryly convey the vibrant imagery, leaving the listeners to imagine the soul-stirring grandeur through Renly's descriptions.

"My God, I must see that for myself!" Paul exclaimed. Noticing Renly's kind smile, he scratched his head, "Someone once asked me to describe surfing, and I realized no matter how I tried, I couldn't convey the feeling of riding the waves. Since then, I knew that only firsthand experience can truly capture the majesty of nature!"

Renly chuckled, nodding slightly, "The ocean always draws people in, doesn't it? I'm planning a trip to Hawaii next week. Although it's not the best season for surfing, for a beginner like me, tackling the smaller waves on the west coast will be more than enough."

"Everyone knows about the massive waves on the North Shore, but few realize the west coast waves are just as impressive," Paul said, then regretfully patted the table. "I have to dive into filming soon, so the earliest I can go is November, maybe even December if there's a delay."

"That's too bad," Renly shook his head slightly, expressing his regret.

"Paul, you can go surfing with Renly after the filming wraps up," Andy chimed in naturally. "Renly's schedule isn't fixed yet." The implication was clear—the outcome of today's audition would determine Renly's availability.

Neil smiled, "Can you two discuss something we understand? Climbing and surfing aren't exactly our specialties. How about you, Vin?"

"Oh, no, no," Vin shook his head repeatedly. "I'm more of a fitness guy. How about we talk about biceps?" As he spoke, his shoulder muscles tensed, making his arm look even more massive, with prominent biceps. His boastful stance subtly exuded overwhelming physical prowess.

In the small booth, he looked like the Hulk.

Renly pressed his lips together, nodding slightly, "That's an enticing proposal. But I thought we were supposed to talk about acting." A pause, half a second, silence, stillness, stiffness, awkwardness, and tension followed. Then, his smile gently warmed the atmosphere, melting the ice instantly. "Or should we start with ordering food?" Renly lifted his head, gave a nod to the waiter standing nearby, who promptly brought over the menu.

In high-end or traditionally excellent restaurants, waitstaff are well-trained to interpret guests' gestures almost instantaneously. Of course, only those familiar with high-end dining and experienced servers would exhibit such appropriate manners.

Neil took the menu from the waiter, noticing Vin's somewhat awkward expression from the corner of his eye. This was too amusing. Vin had clearly been asserting his dominance and superiority, but Renly had effortlessly regained control of the situation with just a few words.

"It seems you're quite used to such settings," Neil remarked, intrigued by Renly's underlying grace. Regardless of Renly's background, it was evident he didn't exhibit the usual naivety of a twenty-year-old.

"Working long hours leads to understanding," Renly's explanation wasn't exactly a lie; he had worked extensively at Pioneer Village.

Neil raised his eyebrows, forming numerous wrinkles on his smooth forehead, giving him a thoughtful expression. It was hard to tell if he believed Renly or if there were other emotions at play.

"Acting? Anyone would think we're holding a symposium with Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro," Vin's sarcastic tone finally broke through. He raised his chin high, leaning back against the booth's backrest, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Talking so posh, sounds like a New Yorker," Vin looked around for agreement, chuckling dismissively. He leaned forward, placing his hands on the table, closing the distance between him and Renly. His eyes, as big as saucers, locked onto Renly's, "In our crew, we don't act; we live the shoot. Every frame, every scene, every shot is adrenaline burning! This isn't a sissy Broadway stage; it's a real man's hell!"

The tension in the booth skyrocketed. Neil watched with detached interest, curious about the unfolding situation. Andy stayed silent, unsure if this confrontation was part of the audition, given the role Renly was auditioning for was tough. From his past encounters with Renly, he knew Renly wasn't easily intimidated. But how would he handle someone like Vin, who had a significant physical advantage?

Only Paul seemed genuinely concerned, knowing Vin's impulsive nature and blunt speech. He didn't want the atmosphere to sour so early in the meeting. "Vin!" he called out reflexively, trying to reign in his friend.

Vin shot Paul a defiant look, saying nothing but making his stance clear.

"I thought those compliments were reserved for the stunt doubles," Renly replied, unfazed by Vin's aggressive demeanor. He remained calm, his serene smile in stark contrast to Vin's imposing presence.

Neil wasn't sure if he was imagining it, but Renly's demeanor seemed to shift subtly. Was this acting, or was it his true nature? Unfamiliar with Renly, Neil had no baseline for comparison but sensed a powerful confidence emerging from Renly, not aggressive but resolute and strong.

This reminded Neil of Colonel Hans Landa from "Inglourious Basterds." But wait, weren't they casting for an FBI agent, a hero, not a villain? Neil felt a twinge of regret for not sitting closer to Vin, where he could better observe Renly.

"Of course, stunt doubles are incredible. Without their hard work, action films wouldn't be the same," Renly continued, his tone unchanging, radiating an inner strength. "But I didn't realize the crew's situation was different. I always thought an actor's job was to act, regardless of the project."

He paused, gazing intently at Vin, as if inviting him to share his thoughts.

Vin felt a lump of frustration rising in his throat. Due to his appearance, he hated being dismissed as anything other than an actor, much like Dwayne Johnson. Many assumed he was a former wrestler, but he wasn't—he had always been an actor. Even if action stars weren't valued by critics or awards, they were still actors, a step above mere eye candy, in Vin's view.

Looking at Renly's calm expression, Vin felt an overwhelming urge to smash that seemingly placid smile with a punch.

Unexpectedly, Renly turned his attention to Paul, "So, what do you call yourselves on set if not actors? Stars?"

Renly's words, though laced with sarcasm, carried a light, curious tone, making them humorous. The media often labeled Hollywood actors as "stars," but no actor would self-identify that way.

Paul burst into laughter, slapping Renly's shoulder, "You're quite the comedian. If I'm not mistaken, you're British, right? I always admire British humor."

Paul's hearty laughter quickly thawed the tense atmosphere, with Neil and Andy joining in, dispelling the earlier hostility.

Vin, who had initiated the confrontation and now found himself ignored, felt increasingly uncomfortable.

Watching Renly engage in light-hearted banter, Vin ground his teeth in frustration. He didn't like this kid. Despite knowing Renly hadn't offended him and everything was just social humor, he couldn't help his dislike. That seemingly insincere smile made him feel nauseous, and he just wanted to punch it off his face.

(A/N: Ah, I seemed to have heard about this before… something about someone named Chris Hemsworth wanting to punch… lol)