immortalised in film ; carly & axel { retro }

<sup>| meet me at the hollywood sign |

➴</sup>  carly volkov  _➶

That small town in Nebraska feels so far away now. Those ghost stories she would tell by the campfire to distract her peers. That class of '48 she deserved to be the valedictorian of, only for a stupid boy to get the edge simply because his Daddy had the entire community folded up into his leather wallet. She doesn't think about all the young men who tried to woo her at the local diner, the proposals she refused, the taste of strawberry milkshakes still lingering on her tongue. Her Mama told her back then, not too long ago, that her ambition might just be the end of her. "There's only so much a woman can do in this world."

She doesn't think about any of these things.

Of course she doesn't, not when she's moments away from presenting the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. That's the thing about Carly Volkov: when she has her sights set on something, it doesn't matter how long it takes, eventually she'll catch up to it. All her babysitting wages bought her the ticket to come to Hollywood, but her determination and adaptability are what has put her name on the shortlist of upcoming talent. Maybe she's not in the list of nominees this year, but being seen by the whole of America will change all that. It comes down to patience, planting seeds. Why grow roses when you can grow an orchard of fruit bearing trees?

Hair curled and perfumed, ostrich feathers tickling her shoulders, she's standing behind the deep red of the curtain when he finally comes into view. Her co-presenter, a fellow rising talent in the industry who this time next year will be waiting in the audience, listening for his name to be called for Best Actor in a Leading Role. It's always easier for the men. And yet... he does catch the light surprisingly well. Blonde hair combed to the side, blue eyes sparkling.

"Axel Morrisen," she starts with a crisp tone, her jaw raised high and her stare piercing. No matter how handsome a man is, how tall he stands, Carly will not hesitate to stretch herself taller. "It would seem you're my date for the evening, hm?" She closes the distance between them, damning chaste expectations, fixing his loose bowtie with nimble fingers. "Here's how this is going to go: you'll read the names, and I'll call out the winner."