Week 3-4 stands before you.
What’s the plan?
> META
>
> Idol Task: Kaiba Aoi (Energy 50)
> >1 - Have Kaiba work on her SKILL_HERE using the office’s in-house accommodations (50 energy)
> >2 - Have Kaiba train on her SKILL_HERE using an outside trainer / consultant (50 energy, Cost: $10,000, +10 modifier to the roll)
> >3 - Ask Matsui to find some work appropriate for Kaiba
> >4 - Write-in
>
> Winner
> >3 - Ask Matsui to find some work appropriate for Kaiba
Budget: $100,000
Date: January 15, 2015
Time flies and salaries are already due in two weeks.
You only have one idol on your payroll at the moment, but if you want that to ever change then you need the money to start rolling in.
You pick up the phone and call your assistant into your office.
Moments later, Matsui arrives with a clipboard in hand. Diligent as always.
“I think it’s time for Kaiba to work her first job,” you say, “Money isn’t an issue for now, but we do need her to start taking jobs so she can build a reputation, establish her brand, and get some experience under her belt.”
Matsui nods, “It’s never easy for a brand new idol to take on her first job, but it has to happen at some point,” she says, then clicks her pen and puts it to the clipboard, “Do you know what kind of jobs she favours?”
Kaiba has mentioned that she prefers modelling and voice-acting jobs and you tell Matsui as much.
“Very well,” says Matsui, “Modelling jobs should be easy to get if we make good use of the agency’s reputation, but voice-acting gigs are rare and competition is fierce. Idols are often required to audition for those. Except for maybe very famous voice-actors who get accepted on their reputation and name alone.”
“The good part about voice-acting work is that if you’re asked to voice a prominent, recurring character then you’ll probably get a great contract that provides you with a regular income,“ Matsui jots down some notes on her clipboard before she continues, “The worst part is that if you don’t make the cut, then you get nothing except for maybe a thank you and directions to the door.”
That’s definitely something to keep in mind.
“Try to look for modelling gigs for now,” you say, “But if there are open auditions then slip those in there, too.”
“I’ll see what I can find,” says Matsui, then leaves to perform the task at hand.
She returns a few hours later with a binder filled with options.[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/14c81817-9466-453d-84c7-0c1185c8cc20.png]
Hand-model for a new collection of rings (DC 60, Rank F Rank)
Sapphire Jewels is looking for a model to show off a new line of designer rings.
Model’s hands should be clean, young looking, and without scars.
Energy: 30
Payment: $2800
Skill: Looks
About:
Sapphire Jewels is known to be a company with good morals.
----------------------------------------
Kamota Vegetables Advertisement Campaign - (DC 120, Rank C Rank)
We here at Kamota Vegetables are rebranding and we need a model that is able to star in our brochures, advertisements, folders, flyers, and banners.
Energy: 50
Payment: $14.000
Skill: Looks
About:
Kamoto Vegetables is known to be a virtuous company.
----------------------------------------
Modelling a new line of designer swimwear - (DC 60, Rank F Rank)
Ichida Swimwear is launching a new line of swimwear that is meant to go on sale this summer.
Models are expected to be slim, young-looking, with a generous breast size.
Energy: 50
Payment: $6.300
Skill: Looks
About:
Ichida Swimwear is known to be a company with no morals.
----------------------------------------
Audition: Single-occurrence character - (DC 80, Rank E Rank)
Studio Bones Animation is looking for a voice-actor for a single-episode character.
You will audition alongside others VAs and we make our selection after the recordings are done.
Energy: 30
Payment: $4.200 if selected
Skill: Acting
About:
Studio Bones Animation is known to be a company with decent morals.
> META
>
> Winner
> >4 - Audition: Single-occurrence character (Studio Bones Animation)
> >Skill:Acting
>
> Need a 1d100+37 (Acting skill) roll.
> DC to beat is 80.
>
> Rolled 63 + 37 (1d100 + 37) = 100
After discussing it over with Matsui for a bit, you decided to send Kaiba to the audition for a minor role in a Studio Bones production.
“We did have her work on her appearance the last two weeks, but, according to the audition results, acting is still her strongest skill,” you say, handing back the folder, “Let’s send her to the audition for voice acting.”
“The audition is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 21st,” replies Matsui, “Will you be joining her there?”
You think for a moment, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind your ear.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Well, you weren’t gonna join Kaiba at first, but there’s no reason you can’t.
She could use the emotional support and you don’t have much else going on so you might as well micromanage Kaiba.
Perhaps you can even network a bit.
“Sure,” you say, “I think it’ll be a good idea to familiarize myself with the jobs my idols get themselves involved in.”
“Sounds good,” replies Matsui, “I’ll make sure to give Studio Bones a call to make sure they’re okay with Kaiba bringing her manager.”
“Thanks,” you say as Matsui walks out of the door.
----------------------------------------
The day arrives. Snow coats the ground around you.
An icy winds blows through the narrow street as you walk towards your destination.
Kaiba Aoi walks beside you and you can’t tell if she’s shivering because of the nerves or because of the cold.
You find yourself in front of a tall office building.
Apparently the auditions are happening at a recording studio and you can see a crowd of people inside as some girl that’s likely a competitor opens the door and then shuts it behind her.
You glance at Kaiba. “You ready?” you say.
She nods, but instead of walking beside you she follows closely behind.
It seems like Kaiba isn’t all that comfortable with crowds.
You report to the receptionist who steers you into the direction of a waiting room.
[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/4a646712-c3ee-4dd0-9e7d-49c9e8e0a0ce.png]
Studio Bones has been working on a new anime that is due to release early this year called “Blood Blockade Battlefront“.
The role is one for a woman called “Vivian“ which happens to appear in the first episode.
The significance of this was lost on you at first, but Matsui told you that people often stop watching an anime as the season drags on, but very few quit during the first episode.
This’ll mean guaranteed exposure for Kaiba and her acting skills if she can land the role.
There are one or two girls here who have brought their agent or manager, but most of them are here by themselves.
The part up for grabs is a minor role, but these are the exact kind of roles that attract aspiring voice actors.
It seems like you'll have to wait for a bit and before long the room is filled with the sounds of a dozen women practicing the same handful of lines over and over.
Eventually, a stern looking women with glasses appears in doorway, checks some kind of schedule, and calls out a name.
A woman replies with a tinge of panic in her voice, “That’s me,” she says, and is motioned to follow to the recording studio.
This happens a few more times.
Slowly, but surely the room empties.
Surprisingly, Kaiba seems to have pulled herself together now the room isn't as busy -- she almost seems confident.
Eventually, her turn arrives. You give Kaiba a thumbs-up and she replies with a shaky smile.
Maybe not that confident, then.
[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/0a135b9c-770e-4f36-af9e-f275f528519c.png]
There are others here, however, that seem to be breaking apart.
Across the room sits a girl who is clearly on the verge of tears, but is trying her darnest to hide it.
There's a man sitting a few seats beside you in the waiting room who is idling away the time using his phone.
Finally, there's a man who has just been sitting in the far corner of the room -- cross-armed and quietly observing
[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/2e44475e-438e-4b6c-9dc8-ecd4a6ab418c.jpg]
> META
>
> >1 - Walk over and reassure the girl (2d100, taking highest, adv on empathy rolls)
> >2 - Talk to one of the two others managers who seems to be busy with his phone
> >3 - Talk to a man who has been sitting over in the corner since the very beginning, quietly observing.
> >4 - Do nothing and wait for Kaiba to return.
>
> Winner
>
> >Walk over and reassure the girl (2d100, taking highest, adv on empathy rolls)
There are parts of you that understand the need to network and forge new business relations, but you wouldn’t be you if you didn’t at least try to help a lonely girl that’s clearly breaking down.
You approach the short girl and sit in the seat beside her, leaning in slightly and asking her if everything is okay and if there’s anything you can do to help.
She looks up as tears begin to well up in the corners of her eyes, “I ruined it,“ she says, in scratchy, broken voice, “I ruined it.”
You can tell that the girl has strained her voice in some way.
Perhaps she practiced too much or practiced in a pitch her voice is unaccustomed to.
The part was for an adult waitress after all and the girl sitting beside you can’t possibly be much older than fourteen.
She likely spend hours yesterday trying to make herself sound older.
The result is a voice that may have once been vibrant and cheery, but is now rough, gravel-ish, broken and in dire need of rest and some medicine.
> META
>
> Need a 2d100 roll, taking highest.
> There's no hard DC for this, just degrees of success and failure, but higher is better.
>
> 4chan is having issues. So, no roll result here just yet.
>
> Rolled 41 (1d100)
> Rolled 82 (1d100)
[https://assets.legendkeeper.com/bc1dcb60-c8cd-415f-8e70-9940f3076957.png]
Even though you are a complete stranger to her, it doesn’t take long before the girl is leaning into your shoulder and sobbing.
You simply hold her for a long moment, allowing her to get the tears out.
She probably wouldn’t even hear anything you say to her right now.
It’s an ugly cry. Just full on tears with the occasional 'hick' as her lungs struggle for air, but have to settle for short gasps.
“This was the first open audition I was accepted to in months,” she says in her raspy voice, drawing in a breath through clenched teeth, “My body let me down.”
You pat her on the shoulder a few times thinking she better get used to that feeling as it’ll start happening more often as she gets older, but you don’t say as much.
The other manager clicks his tongue, apparently annoyed by the noise or something he saw on his phone, and escapes to the hallway to make a call.
The man’s act forces the girl back to reality and aware of what she has been doing, she recoils and rubs her eyes, “I’m sorry,” she says.
“It’s okay,” you reply, giving her a soft smile, “Bad things happen sometimes, but even if they do you just have to keep trying. You have to to take care of yourself, especially in cold weather like this. Don’t be too hard on yourself, just be more careful.”
You can’t help but feel like you’re repeating things she probably already knows.
Perhaps this was one of those cases where she knew things like this could happen, but she didn’t expect them to be happen to her.
The girl makes a small sound of acknowledgement and nods.
A short moment later the stern women with the glasses is back, standing in the doorway as she glances over her papers, “Fujiwara Miki?” she says.
The girl gets up and uses the palms of her hands to wipe at her eyes one last time, “Yes,” she says.
She likely knows this is a failed effort, but she seems determined to see it through till the end.
Before she leaves, you reach into your coat pocket and pull out a business card, “If you ever need help,” you say, “Feel free to call.”
Fujiwara glances over the business card with a hint of surprise and her face lights up when she notices the profession listed on your new business cards: Talent Manager at Matsuno Inc. Idol Agency.
It honestly slipped your mind, having been in HR for years, and what should’ve just been a friendly offering of having somebody to talk to might’ve accidentally led her to getting her hopes up.
In a sudden surge of energy, she thanks you loudly, her voice cracking as he does so, and falls into a deep bow before hastily following the woman waiting in doorway.
All eyes of the handful of people still remaining in the waiting room are now on you and it’s honestly embarrassing.
You flash them a nervous smile and quickly reach for a random magazine lying around in the waiting room.
“There aren’t many people who would do such a thing,” says a faraway voice – the man in the corner.
At first you think he might’ve been referring to helping the girl out, but then he finishes his sentence.
“Handing out business cards for your agency during somebody else’s audition,” he continues.