July 5.
The English Patient had a solid month iers, grossing an average of 198 million at the box office. Offers poured in for Winona with such force that she felt like aable award winner in the making. It was the sweetness of her youth and the sultry ses that ted her status as Hollywood’s great beauty. Fully aware of her success, she knew she had to capitalize on it. But first, she would take a mueeded vacation to ease the back pain from her relentless workload.
-I don’t want any more work. Just give me a break. I o breathe, and I have itments with Alien, which, holy, I’m not too thrilled about. I’m in France, Louis, but I his well-deserved break. - said Winona, sipping a rich coffee at Rabbit Beach, Lampedusa, where the turquoise waters pped gently. The yacht they had was anchored nearby as the group of four beautiful women basked in the sun and were photographed from every ahey were soaking in the sereails of their surroundings, eager for rest.
-I heard you’re dating some rookie actor who’s gottey deep into the film industry. - Winona remarked with a soft sigh after finishing her call.
-Shut up. We’ve crossed paths in several films. I first met him on Batman and then again on Gattaca, a sce fi film. Oh, and Billy was there too. What I say? He’s smart, funny, and has this bohemian charm that makes you want to listen to him debate a thousand things you don’t fully uand all night long. - Uma responded, still mulling over her retionships. She didn’t see dating the guy as anything serious, certainly not something that could evolve into a true itment.
Uma was striking, with her long blonde hair, almond-shaped eyes, generous figure, and shapely curves. She was every bit the embodiment of a woman made for love.
-Oh, Billy has done so many films since I met him. I think he’s worked on two, maybe three, just this year, but that big produ he’s part of has been ing most of his time. - Monica added. - Well, Anne usually knows more about what he’s up to. -
Lounging on a beach chair, Monica wore no bra, exuding natural allure in a bikini that barely covered her sun-kissed skin. Her dark hair was tied back, her angur features atuated.
-Even I don’t always know. Sometimes he just disappears for a while and es back with a new projeew tasks, things I still don’t fully uand but know are important. - Anne chimed in, dressed in a white beach cover-up over a simple be-piece. Unlike her panions, she wasn’t as proportioned, preferring to fooderatioheir regimented diets, exercise, and stant work.
-He’s filming. - murmured Winona.
-Girls’ trip pns? - Monica responded with a pyful tone.
-What was that movie they wanted you for? -
-G.I. Jahey called me for that. Around the same time, I got offers for two love stories and two dramas. It’s poetic. - Winona smiled. - But I don’t want more films right now. I’ve had enough. -
That sounds like a pn. - Monica murmured, closing her eyes as the warmth of the sun caressed her skin with fort a.
-Yes, let’s just rex for a bit. I’m exhausted. - Anne agreed, setting her book aside aing the shade of her umbrel and the sun on her feet lull her into a deeper state of calm.
***
Billy was exhausted from the half-day of work already behind him. They were deep into the produ of Titanid time seemed to crawl with the mounting challenges. Days passed, and the actors watched from the sidelines as the produ team struggled with the logistics—moving the ship, sinking it, lifting it, capturing the fall. None of it was simple.
Billy sketched from his station, fog on shots that required a real sense of time and precision. His work on Bleach reflected influences remi of Evangelion, and the Titanic book had already bee out. The editors were juggling three different book series: Mistborn, Altero, and Mortal Engines. Now, with a fourth—Titanic—it was a bor-intensive, rewarding writing project.
Billy worked on illustrations for covers and character profiles, preparing an illustrated edition. For now, he was advang on the Hellsing series, aiming to plete up to chapter 90 before transitioning to Eyeshield 21, a football anime series.
-What are you w on? - Kate asked, walking up to him with a cheerful smile. She was thrilled to see Billy’s drawings, as there wasn’t much to do until a few more ses were pleted with the partially flooded ship.
I justfinishedg some ses for Hellsing. - Billy replied, fog oricate design of a pair of pistols featured in a dramatic close-up. The series, by his estimates, would span 110 chapters; he was already on chapter 72.
-I don’t have that one. - Kate admitted. She had been engrossed in Game of Thrones books, finding them both magnifit and rich with fan e.
-I have so many series. It’s funny—I don’t mind, but sometimes some of them just get overlooked, g the fandom to keep them alive. That leads to their market dee. For now, I publish the series I like without w about losing printed copies sitting on shelves. A sed ce will e, especially once I make an animated series or film. - Billy expined fidently. Most of his series had long-term potential. For example, One Piece—a mid-tier project—erhaps one of his most beloved IPs.
Despite modest sales—printing no more than 60,000 copies, just enough to break even—it was suffit for Billy. He had anticipated this and stored 100 copies of the first editions in a specially refrigerated warehouse. Every series had its p rge, well-anized shelves.
-So, even if you lose now, you’re banking on them succeeding ter when you turn them into a series? - Kate asked, taking a seat. She had grown a bit gy after their on-s love ses, though things had cooled off iable ways.
-Of course. If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, even in failure, what’s the point of doing it? - Billy answered, adding fiails to his sketches. By evening, he would finalize all the drawings at his special desk, leaving the bd-white work for his colorists to handle.
As he worked, a team member approached to discuss the day’s project, ironing out every detail, including the dialogue. It was a long process, made more manageable by a capable team.
....