Chapter Text
Ryland Grace was something of an enigma. This is at least what you would hear from anyone who had the pleasure, or displeasure depending on who you ask, of working with him. He wore sweaters in the boiling heat and t-shirts in winter. He liked his coffee black and his tea saccarine. He disliked crowds, but his old college friends would shiver if you mentioned him and parties in the same sentence. Ryland Grace was by all meanings of the word, strange. And this fact alone had landed him in many a confusing situation.
It was summer, giving him a couple of months to sit down and think, as opposed to being in the classroom. And during this time, despite his enjoyment of staying home, his brother had convinced him to fly out to Los Angeles to join him on the set of his most recent film.
Ryland Grace didn't yet know it, but his life was about to veer off plan, for better or for worse is yet to be decided.
"And this here—" Colt was buzzing as he gave the set tour to his twin, "is my trailer. It's not as shiny as the actors but hey, lead stuntman can't complain." Ryland nodded along, eyes darting around the scene before him. The set was big, with people in little clusters all around it. There were film crews and extras and random junk left on the ground.
"I've got a fight scene today, should be fun for you to watch." Ryland was about to speak. "Low risk, I promise. It's just hand to hand stuff." Colt added when he saw the hint of hesitance on his brothers face.
"Sounds good. Is there somewhere in particular I should wait?" He followed along after Colt, doing his best to take in the slightly overwhelming surroundings.
Colt weaved around cameras, making his way to a clearing with a few people in elaborate costumes. "You're good anywhere behind the cameras. I'll introduce you to Jody after if you want. You'll love her, yknow she wants to be a producer one day and her artistic eye is just—"
"Seavers! It's too early in the morning for me to be seeing double." A hand landed on Colts shoulder and a slightly shorter man stepped next to him. Colt tensed for a moment and rolled his eyes.
"Hi Tom. Rylands visiting for the summer. He's going to be watching my scene which you aren't a part of, so if you'd like to go back to whatever it is you do between shoots be my guest." Colt sounded exhausted already. Ryland was familiar with the face of course. Tom Ryder. He had heard enough from Colt to already have an idea of the man.
"Is he your twin? He's much prettier than you if that's the case. Maybe its the glasses." Colt looked about ready to punch him, but was called off to prepare, leaving Ryland alone with… Tom.
"I'm not really interested in talking to you." He did his best to sound blunt.
For a moment the actors eyes flickered with something new. Surprise maybe? Or curiosity? "Seavers been filling your head with ideas of me huh? He's probably not wrong. Breaks get boring as, and hes fun to piss off. " He spoke so casually, with such ease.
Ryland didn't dignify him with a response. This strategy did not work to shut him up, Tom taking it instead as an invite to keep speaking. "This ones going to be a hit yknow, I can feel it. The whole vision is exactly what the world is waiting for." The film was Aperture, a sci-fi action that was most likely littered with scientific inaccuracies.
"Do you like it?" Rylands not sure why he chose to respond, but something about Toms shift had interested him. He relaxed ever so slightly when he spoke about the film.
The answer surprised him. "No. It's my brand sure, but I've never been one for actions."
Ryland cocked his head, now fully ignoring his brother taking a fist to the jaw just in front of him. "And what is it that you do enjoy then?"
"Something with more art. This is a great film, sure, great cast and a huge budget, but the passion behind it is lacking. I like when you can tell what the writers were thinking, when it has a soul." The actor was surprisingly insightful given the brief interactions Ryland had been told about previously.
His slow change of opinion on the man was stopped dead in its tracks when Tom picked up his ego again. "So, you want an autograph or something? Or my number?" He was grinning like an idiot and Ryland was thoroughly confused. Nothing said previously hinted towards flirting right?
"I don't give my number to people I just met, and I haven't actually seen your films." That was a lie, he had seen all the ones since Colt took over and Tom Ryder's main stunt double, though he couldn't say he'd given much thought to Tom's actual acting. Tom stood slightly baffled in from of him.
"Oh— Alright." He regained himself fast, Ryland had to give him credit for that. "Well I hope to see you around sweetheart," Ryland scowled at the pet name. "Hopefully I can get you to change your mind on me. Trust, your brother's opinion is biased." With that, he turned and walked off. Ryland decided he would try and forget about this interaction entirely, not wanting to risk the wrath from Colt if he knew that Tom had tried to hit on his twin.
The rest of the day went without issue. Ryland trailed behind Colt and was introduced to the rest of the stunt team. Towards the end of the day Colt zipped off to find Jody, leaving Ryland alone. He didn't doubt that Colt would take longer than promised.
"Seavers twin!" Oh for goodness sakes. Ryland turned to find none other than Tom Ryder. "How's your first day on set been?"
There was something sincere to the question, enticing Ryland to respond. "It's been alright. Not as hectic as I thought. I guess I'm used to a bit of chaos though."
Tom shot him an inquisitive look. "Yeah? What in your daily life is chaotic then? Your dear brother has told me quite literally nothing about you."
Ryland had to admit he was charming, he supposed he had to be to make it as an actor. "I'm a teacher. Middle school, specifically."
"Pretty and good with kids, you're the whole package huh?" Oh great, asshole Tom was back. "You got a wife? Girlfriend?"
Ryland scoffed. "I'm not in need of a relationship right now." Straightforward, that was always the best way to be when this topic came up.
"Can't be tied down yeah? Trust me I get it." Tom most certainly did not get where Ryland was coming from, but he wasn't about to delve into his romantic past or orientation with a complete stranger. "Look, I know you said you don't give your number out.. but, I thought you should take mine anyways. Plenty of people would die for that, sweetheart."
"What did I just tell you, Tom." It came out slightly reprimanding, a habit from his career.
Tom stepped back. "Just friends, promise. In case you need someone to show you 'round, kay? Promise it's nothing more than that. You don't even need to use it if you don't want."
Despite his possible future regret, Ryland Grace accepted the slip of paper. Something about the actor had spiked his curiosity, the way his voice softened when he spoke outside of himself. Ryland wanted to dig his fingers in and pull apart the seams of Tom Ryder. What could he say? He was a scientist, and he had a theory.