#* 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑎 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑢𝑛𝑔 : colloquy ↷ gemma james .

[delicatlueur]

                    thea’s   grin   could   light   up   a   room   ,   and   it   certainly   does   now   as   gemma   agrees   to   a   few   rounds   of   her   game   .       “   you   sure   ?       okay   ,   yeah   !       i’d   love   that   .       my   audience   would   love   that   !       and   you   can   absolutely   pick   the   next   game   .   ”       her   tone   is   all   fun   and   games   ,   but   there’s   a   hint   of   a   master   strategist   at   work   here   .       (   and   don’t   let   the   playful   exterior   fool   you   ;   thea   cheung   always   knows   what   she’s   doing   !   )   .       she   nudges   gemma’s   ribs   ,   a   teasing   spark   in   her   eye   .       “   and   hey   ,   i’ve   seen   some   of   the   thirsty   tweets   about   you   —   twitter’s   practically   a   desert   with   all   that   thirst   !   ”       she   chuckles   ,   her   ability   to   blend   humor   and   sincerity   a   testament   to   why   her   show   is   a   hit   .       “   promise   ,   only   a   minimum   of   paige - lyndon - related   questions   .       but   !       i   will   ask   you   to   rank   your   top   favorite   tv   talk   hosts   —   hoping   to   be   at   the   top   if   you   answer   ,   of   course   .       i   live   for   that   constant   validation   ,   you   know   ?   ”       (   because   ,   who   doesn’t   ?       a   little   ego   boost   never   hurt   anyone   ,   especially   when   it’s   all   in   good   fun   )   .

gemma chuckled, noting the look of mischief in thea's eyes. the host was nothing if not persistent and charming, she'd give her that. there was no denying the game was funny and entertaining to watch when other people played. surely, being the one in the hot seat would be slightly different. in part because she knew the questions about paige would be inevitable. she couldn't hide from it. despite gemma trying to move on from that fake relationship, people were still talking about it every now and then. she gave a slow nod of her head, considering the request once again. "alright, how 'bout if i come play spill your guts or fill your guts and risk my stomach before the year ends... then next time i get to pick the game. deal?" she offered, raised brow and a grin on her face. might as well just get it over with, she decided. gemma had a feeling that this wouldn't be the last time hearing about it until there were plans for it to happen. so, what the hell. she'd rather do it with someone she was comfortable with like thea, rather than other hosts and interviewers she didn't like as much. | @delicatlueur

[delicatlueur]

                    thea   grins   broadly   ,   eyes   glinting   with   playful   mischief   .       “   ah   ,   playing   it   safe   with   carpool   karaoke   and   thirst   tweets   ,   huh   ?       i   can’t   blame   you   ,   gem   .       those   segments   are   definitely   less   …       ‘   intestine - testing   ’   than   spill   your   guts   or   fill   your   guts   ,   ”       she   quips   ,   air - quoting   with   a   chuckle   .       “   but   you   know   ,   in   spill   your   guts   or   fill   your   guts   …       the   real   game   isn’t   eating   the   gross   stuff   .       it’s   about   how   creatively   you   dodge   the   questions   while   keeping   your   stomach   intact   .       but   !       i   hear   you   ,   no   gross   stuff   .       after   all   ,   we   can’t   have   you   missing   out   on   those   tropical   sunsets   because   you’re   too   busy   recovering   from   my   show   ,   right   ?   ”       she   winks   playfully   ,   tone   light   yet   teasing   .       “   and   hey   ,   even   without   a   new   project   ,   we’d   love   to   have   you   .       our   audience   adores   you   ,   and   i   bet   they’d   love   to   hear   about   your   vacation   in   st.   lucia   .   ”       //       @gemmajcmes

"coming back to real life and readjusting to the daily routine again is for sure the hardest part every time." gemma chuckled, knowing the feeling all too well. but the trips were worth it. "of course, nothin' really beats a tropical sunset on the beach with a drink in hand." her st. lucia memories would have to hold her over until the next time. probably not for a while. she also felt refreshed and ready to tackle work. gemma smiled, not at all surprised by thea's not so subtle request to get info on her personal life. particularly as it related to paige. the one topic she didn't like to discuss in depth outside of her closely trusted circle, let alone on television. despite always having a good time whenever going on thea's talk show over the years, the musician was a pro at dealing with media and dodging certain questions. but she could already see a game of spill your guts or fill your guts not going in her favor. "hmm, not sure. i don't have anything new to promote at the minute. though i think carpool karaoke or thirst tweets would be more fun and a lot less gross."

[delicatlueur]

                    thea   laughs   ,   eyes   sparkling   with   amusement   .       “   oh   ,   gem   ,   i   totally   get   it   !       i   mean   ,   who   wouldn’t   swap   out   city   traffic   and   annoying   paparazzi   for   some   sweet   beach   action   ,   like   ,   in   a   heartbeat   ?       st .   lucia   sounds   like   a   dream   ,   but   coming   back   to   reality   ,   that’s   the   hard   part   ,   right   ?       i   mean   ,   sure   ,   crashing   in   your   own   bed   again   is   sweet   and   all   ,   but   you’ve   gotta   be   missing   those   tropical   cocktails   and   killer   sunsets   .       plus   ,   jetlag   ?       it’s   like   the   universe’s   way   of   saying   ,   ‘   welcome   back   ,   now   struggle   ’   .       and   speaking   of   struggle   ,   when   are   you   going   to   drop   by   my   show   for   an   interview   ?       we   can   play   a   few   rounds   of   spill   your   guts   or   fill   your   guts   ,   you   know   ?       it’ll   be   the   perfect   chance   for   me   to   sneak   in   some   juicy   questions   about   what   really   happened   between   you   and   paige   yoon   .   ”       //       @gemmajcmes

open starter ( @nepofmstarters )

"I'm like a migrating bird when it starts getting colder. Catch me hopping on a flight to a sunny beach destination." Gemma stated with a chuckle. "St. Lucia is amazing, one of my favorite places. I'm missing it already even though I just got back after a few weeks of relaxing in paradise." She had yet to even fully unpack her bags since she'd returned to the city. "But I definitely missed my bed and the jetlag is so real."