RolePlay onLine RPoL Logo

, welcome to Swallows Light

13:53, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Beauty Is...Quiet on the Set.

Posted by Bad CodeFor group 0
Bad Code
GM, 635 posts
Thu 20 May 2021
at 19:37
  • msg #8

Nero

Because the Imperium is so large, fame is sort of localized.  Someone who's an A-Lister in the Marches is probably a "who?" in the Solomani Rim.  There are only a handful of True A-listers...that is people known across the Imperium.

Nobody on board is a True A lister.

In terms of just for the Marches:

Calliope is a former A lister who is now a middle ground B lister.  Sort of like Rob Lowe.  Famous in the 80s.  Still out there and working now.  But not so newsworthy these days.

Wisco has always been a B lister.  You probably recognize him as 'he was that guy in that movie...you know.  The one who got killed with the cheese knife."

Ergan is low end B list but rising quickly.  You all know him from some commercials he was in for Blue Sun Energy drinks...Blue Sun!  Lots of fuel without a lotta gas!

Everyone else is crew or behind the scenes.  Relen is a new director.  Hasn't made a name for herself yet.


Calliope is in the lounge, absent mindedly stirring a cup of hot tea while frowning at the video screen.  The screen is showing an old tennis match from last year.  She's looking at it, but you aren't really sure she's watching it.

She doesn't seem aware of your presence yet.
Nerotes Madigan
player, 64 posts
Noble
Bored Heir
Fri 21 May 2021
at 20:12
  • msg #9

Nero

Just go up and talk to her. Just go up and talk to her. Just go up and talk to her.

Taking a couple deep breaths he used his phone to try on a few different smiles and tussled his bangs around trying to look the most attractive and yet the most uninterested. In his mind he channeled all the greats. Aaron "The Ace" Paige, Tonson McFinn, Vaxis the Unstable. All the holo stars he idolized as being the coolest smoothest guys this side of the galaxy.

Walking into the lounge he began looking around the cabinets as if he was just here to grab a bite. Looking over he noticed Calliope and tried his best nonchalant "hey" he could muster up. As if bumping into her was just a crazy random happenstance and not a carefully calculated maneuver.
Gary 'Rig' Rigan
player, 167 posts
Mechanic
Chief Engineer
Fri 21 May 2021
at 20:15
  • msg #10

Rig

Before Rig could even process it words started spilling out of his mouth.

"No, it's not you. It's me. It's...it's fucking me. I'm...in the way."

His brain caught up and attempted a recovery but all systems were flahsing red. Navigation was down and his reactor was threatening to blow. In his mind he could hear the radiation alarms blaring which distracted his brain from realizing what his mouth and subconscious were doingg.

"I'm...I'm sorry. Look I'm a mess, you don't want to get involved with a guy like me. I'm not exactly marriage material, you know?"

His eyes cast downward and to the side as he stepped fully aside to let her pass.
Ledo Typhin
player, 352 posts
Naval Captain
Captain of the Tia
Fri 21 May 2021
at 20:16
  • msg #11

Ledo

Ledo gave a sigh and then hit 'accept'. It was a risk but he would rather deal with lawyers and creditors than pirates. Feeling like he had just signed his life away he flipped through the digital paperwork and began snooping on Ullie's comms.
Bad Code
GM, 637 posts
Sat 22 May 2021
at 04:10
  • msg #12

Ledo

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 11):

Ulie's two messages:

The first one seems to be an unsigned contract.  The legalese is as dense as dark matter, but it seems like a sales contract for the rights to a movie called "The Moons Are New".  Ledo, you recall that is the name of the movie she is shooting on Noctol.

The second message is to Black Sun's audit department.

Reviewed your estimates.  Disagree.  We are not grossly overbudget.  And this is not a small film.

The whole Wyltz situation put us in a bind.  The additional transportation charges were necessary and allowable.  If you had authorized my request for a yacht to be dispatched, we wouldn't be on a podunk steamer in the middle of a war zone.  But that's sure to add authenticity to the finished project.

As far as the other expenditures, that's an error your end.  I did not authorize installation of any additional hardware into our androids.  And if I did, I wouldn't go with a LX0-30.  Those are outdated.

Please approve my expense vouchers.  Copying the production office.


The message from Calliope is to her manager.

Hey Cyrdol.

Reconsidering that new project.  Can you review the contract and see if we can break it?  Not feeling a political drama at the moment.

Thanks.


You have no idea what an LX0-30 is.  It's not any kind of armament designation or model you're aware of.

Let me know if there are questions on that.  Otherwise, feel free to move back to Ulie's statement when you are ready.  Thanks
Bad Code
GM, 638 posts
Sat 22 May 2021
at 04:13
  • msg #13

Nero

In reply to Nerotes Madigan (msg # 9):

Calliope comes out of her reverie when you start opening cabinet doors Nero.

She is blinking at you, as if you've somehow surprised her just by being born.  She shakes her head and fishes the teabag out of her cup.

"Oh.  Hi.  Nero, right?"  She lifts the cup up to her lips. "What have you been up to?"
Bad Code
GM, 639 posts
Sat 22 May 2021
at 04:26
  • msg #14

Rig

In reply to Gary 'Rig' Rigan (msg # 10):

Maribel doesn't move.  After a moment Rig, you hear what sounds like a giggle.

She is staring at you, a hand over her mouth.  And she's giggling.

She shakes her head.  "Sorry.  Sorry," she says from behind her hand.  "But it's just...I thought people only said "It's not you, it's me" in like...movies or novels."

She takes her hand down.  She's got a smile.  A big grin.  A big, real flapjacks and actual pork sausage for breakfast with fresh ground coffee kind of grin.

She marches over and thumps her forehead into your chest.  "You big, damn bushy bearded dummy.  You were already thinking about marriage?"

She looks up at you.  "Will you stop worrying about what you aren't or what may or may not happen?  One of those pirates could sneak up and blow us away a minute from now, right?  So why not enjoy the minute we got?"

She steps away, backing up with her hands behind her back, giving you a bit of a coy look. She keeps backing into the med bay door.  "And even if we'll end up regretting it...well.  Might as well make sure it's worth regretting when we look back at it, right?"

She stops in the doorway a moment.  "I may not be able to find that aspirin.  If you know where it is, why don't you come in and help me find it?"
Nerotes Madigan
player, 65 posts
Noble
Bored Heir
Mon 24 May 2021
at 15:21
  • msg #15

Nero

Nero gave a nod of acknowledgement. Play it cool, Nero. Play it cool...

He pulled out his phone, briefly looked at it all too quickly and then let out an audible sigh.

"Ugh. The entire family is coming together to do a big celebration for my grandmother's birthday. Everyone is blowing up my messages asking if I will be there, who I will be bringing. It's like 'guys, I'm traveling in pirate territory not speed dating.

I should show them. The next podunk little mining base we stop at I should find some nobody and bring them along. Imagine some asteroid miner getting to hobknob with all the nobles. 'Duchess Wichtia of Tenelphi, this is...Ruby of Asteroid X34-A.'


He gave a little chuckle attempting to appear casual but keeping a close eye on Calliope to see her reaction. He was hoping she would take the bait and play along.
Ledo Typhin
player, 353 posts
Naval Captain
Captain of the Tia
Mon 24 May 2021
at 15:24
  • msg #16

Nero

Ledo frowned at Ullie's description of their ship.

Podunk steamer? Really?

Ledo sighed and then approved the messages for transmission, fighting the urge to make a selective edit or two to Ullie's communique.




Ledo nodded at Ullie and leaned up against the wall.

"Yep, let's hear what you need and I can get the crew in order. We may not be a luxury yacht or anything but we are here to serve."

Ledo couldn't help but take a quick jab at Ullie from her comment. The Tia was a much a part of his family as anyone else and he didn't take kindly to disparaging remarks about his ship. It might not look like much but so far it had saved them half a dozen times and even Ullie should show her appreciation to the combat abilities of the ship.
Gary 'Rig' Rigan
player, 168 posts
Mechanic
Chief Engineer
Mon 24 May 2021
at 15:51
  • msg #17

Rig

Rig's face went beat red. Maribel had his number in more ways than one. He tried to talk but his mouth just gaped open but no words came out. He tried again and nothing.

"I...uh...."

He was caught like a bear in a trap, a deer in the headlights. Logic and maturity slamming into him like a 15-ton truck. He had been a fool, he had been overthinking things. He did what he always did and got into his own head, sabotaging his happiness with fears and visions of the future that might not happen for a long time, if they even happen at all.
Bad Code
GM, 640 posts
Mon 24 May 2021
at 21:33
  • msg #18

Nero

In reply to Nerotes Madigan (msg # 15):

Calliope picks up her cup and slowly sips it.  She is listening, or at least making eye contact. But doesn't say anything right off the bat.

"Yeah.  Family.  They can be a pain.  Huh?"

She puts her cup down.  "But would that be fair to Ruby?  You don't want to bring a girl who's going to get her feelings hurt when the Duchess looks at her like gutter slime.

"Cos she will look at her like gutter slime.  Won't she?"


Calliope has an odd expression on her face.  Not angry.  Not hostile.  Kind of...too neutral.
Bad Code
GM, 641 posts
Mon 24 May 2021
at 21:50
  • msg #19

Nero

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 16):

Ulie doesn't even flinch at the comment.  She strikes you as the type, if there were a dead body in between her and the bathroom, to just step over the dead body.  And then call the lobby to have someone come up and take out trash.

"So I don't expect there to be many problems.  But then again, I wasn't expecting pirate attacks either.  Yes, I know that wasn't something that was in your control.  Just stating a fact.

"We're going to be doing three shoots on the surface."


She taps on her hand-comm and a holo map appears in the air above it.  It's a topographical close up of a valley on the Noctol surface.

There are three areas marked.  One is within a small town, the only settlement on the map.  The other two are areas outside town, further down the valley.

"This is the Clover valley.  Don't know why they named it that.  The weather year round is arctic.  Nothing grows on the surface.  The town is Wilhelm's Bust.

"There are a total of seven scenes we have to film outside of town.  Two in town.  There's no elaborate staging.  We're relying on the natural scenery and the town itself.  So once we get the cameras and a couple of tents set up, we can start filming.

"My goal is to handle the seven scenes outside of town in no more than three days.  The two in town I'd like to handle in one day, but I've planned for two.  We're going to be freezing our nuts off.  So hopefully that will motivate my actors to get their takes on the first or second try.

"Where you come in.  First, you'll need to make sure none of the locals harass us.  I'll be responsible for making sure my crew doesn't poke any of them.  You'll be in charge of making sure they don't get too close."


She waves a hand.  "We do do some PR when we're shooting local like this.  So Calliope or Wisk might stop to talk to a fan or sign an autograph.  But sometimes fans get grabby.  You can imagine.

"What I want is at least one guard on my actors and one helping me keep an eye on my crew.  My people have done this rodeo before.  They should all behave. And the actors know not to make things difficult for their bodyguards.  Outside of a gropey fan, I don't think that will be a problem.

"The second part...security on the shoot...may be.  We'll have gawkers.  People coming out to watch us.  That can't be helped.  We can't forbid them.  It's their planet.  But we have to make sure they don't interfere with the shoot.  And we have to make sure they don't pirate any of the footage.

"So I'll need someone to watch over the shoot.  Make sure locals stay out of camera range and stay quiet.  I will also need someone to keep an eye out for hand cams.  I have a jamming gun I'll loan you.  If you see a hand cam, aim the gun.  It will fry out the cam lens.  If anyone bitches, tell them I'll pay for the repairs.  But absolutely no one can walk away with unauthorized copies of our filming.

"Questions?"

Bad Code
GM, 642 posts
Mon 24 May 2021
at 21:51
  • msg #20

Rig

In reply to Gary 'Rig' Rigan (msg # 17):

Maribel laughs and rolls her eyes in an exaggerated manner.

"You coming in here or not?"

She chuckles and reaches out a hand, grabbing you by the shirt Rig"Never mind.  If I wait on you, we'll be here a while."

She tugs.

And unless Rig is going to resist her, let's end that there.  For now.
Nerotes Madigan
player, 66 posts
Noble
Bored Heir
Tue 25 May 2021
at 20:09
  • msg #21

Nero

A plan hatches in Nero's mind. It might not be what he had originally intended but it might be better than nothing. He nods at Calliope and skews his face up in disgust.

"They would, wouldn't they. It's why I wanted to get away from it all. It's all bullshit, right? Oh ten thousand years ago some random guy planted a flag in a random patch of dirt and now his great-great-great-blah-blah grandkids get to parade around like they're better than everyone. You're right, I couldn't bring poor Ruby. It'd be feeding a lamb to the wolves. No, what I need is someone to get back at them. Tweak their noses about how stupid and pretentious it all is. Someone playing the part of a scummy rockhopper but is secretly skilled enough to throw their insults right back at them."

He grinned a devilish grin at her as his mind played out the scene.

"Do you know how amazing it would be if poor little rockhopper Ruby was able to not just verbally spar with the Duchess but even humiliate her in front of everyone. What I need is a sleeper agent. Looks like a lamb but is secretly the biggest, baddest, meanest wolf on the planet. Give them all a taste of their own medicine."

His smile turned wistful and he gave a sigh.

"But what are the chances of finding someone like that between here and there? Oh well. I guess I just have to listen to them all evening making snide comments about the lack of royalty on my arm and have my mother try to set me up with the second third cousin of count Butterface. Or maybe I just go super political and get kicked out of the party. Problem is that is what they are expecting you know? I'm the black sheep so nothing I do phases them."

He slammed a cupboard shut a little too hard.

"Once a fuckup, always a fuckup, right? Unless I land a Duchess or trillionaire and then I have value to my family again."
Ledo Typhin
player, 354 posts
Naval Captain
Captain of the Tia
Tue 25 May 2021
at 20:16
  • msg #22

Nero

Ledo gave a nod, leaning in to put a plan into action.

"Understood. I will help keep an eye on your crew and I will put Tepha and Silver in charge of the locals. You've met Silver, she will kick anyone's teeth in without a second thought and Tepha will be there to smooth things over afterwards. As for your crew I'm used to handling rowdy subordinates, as I'm sure you can tell. Let me also suggest you offer our other guest, Nero, a VIP pass to the shooting. He's a camera freak so you'll have to make sure he doesn't film anything he's not supposed to but if he is around, his bodyguard will be and she is top notch. Because of him, I had her shooting terrorists left and right as we made our escape from the dome. She's ex-marine, well equipped and where Nero goes, she goes so as long as you can put up with him, you've got top rate protection. As for Nero, I dunno, he does some kind of podcast or video stream or something. Give him 5 minutes with one of your cast and you would be golden.

Sound good? Send me the details and I'll check the maps just in case there's something to be concerned about."


Once Ledo had the details he would go back and work with Fritz to try and pull any news or signs of trouble. Forewarned is to be forearmed or something like that.
Gary 'Rig' Rigan
player, 169 posts
Mechanic
Chief Engineer
Tue 25 May 2021
at 20:17
  • msg #23

Rig

There is no force in the universe that would have held Rig back. Like putty in her hands...
Bad Code
GM, 644 posts
Tue 25 May 2021
at 21:30
  • msg #24

Nero

Women.  The cause of, and solution to, all a man's problems.  Yeah, I cribbed that from the Simpsons.  But I have found what is true for beer is true for women as well.

Calliope picks up her cup and blows on her tea to cool it.

"Well.  Good luck with that."

Before you can say anything Nero, the lounge doors open.  That mean looking business woman...Uvone?  Ulie?...comes in.  She is staring at you and in fact stares at you for a short period of time in silence.  When you glance at Calliope, she shrugs.  Calliope doesn't know what's going on either.

Ulie frowns and then shrugs.  "Nero, right?

"So here's the deal.  We're going to film for the next few days on surface side when we land on Noctol.

"No, you cannot film us filming.  But..."
  She leaves that 'but' hanging out there for a bit.

</red>"I'll let you and your bodyguard on set.  I'll let you interview each of my actors.  And, if you do a good job with the posting of them on your site, we can talk about cutting you into Black Sun's PR pipeline.  You'd have access to interview actors.  We can feed you behind the scenes and pre-screen info.  You could really get some solid stuff for the gossip type crowd."</red>

You do know other bloggers who have similar kind  of arrangements with studios and recording companies.  You'd get hand fed PR Department approved gossip.  But it can pay off.  Most of those bloggers with the arrangements have good sized audiences.

"Oh.  And I need you and your bodyguard to help secure the sets during the shoots.  We gotta deal?"
Bad Code
GM, 645 posts
Tue 25 May 2021
at 21:35
  • msg #25

Nero

In reply to Ledo Typhin (msg # 22):

Ulie forwards you what info she has on the sites Nero

Site one is about 14 clicks outside of town, at an old mining camp.  Camp is supposed to be deserted.  Apparently the scene being shot there involves a mock gun fight.

Site two is seven clicks outside town, but up in the mountains.  There are a couple of locations in this locale, both outside.  Security wise, these should be fairly easy.  There's no where to hide from what you can see.

Site three includes three locations in town.  They are all on the same street, about four doors down from each other.  There are some scenes in an alleyway, a couple in a hotel room, and one in a bar that is being rented for the afternoon.  The plan is to use locals as extras for the bar scene and maybe for the alley scene.  The hotel scene is just the actors.

Ulie went down to talk to Nero
Nerotes Madigan
player, 67 posts
Noble
Bored Heir
Wed 26 May 2021
at 20:00
  • msg #26

Nero

Nero can't keep his composure. Getting looped into the movie industry could really make him legit.

"Yeah! Of course! No problem! Whatever you need!"

He starts to rush out but then stops to consider Ullie again.

"So do the interviews start now or what?"
BB Nova
player, 67 posts
Star Marine
Badass Bitch
Wed 26 May 2021
at 20:15
  • msg #27

Nero

Sometime later...

"You what? You signed us up for what?"

Nero was already shaking his head and hands at her trying to use magical gestures to keep her calm and compliant.

"No you don't understand. I'm the one who is getting behind the scenes scoops. You just have to protect me...and I'll just happen to be standing right next to their crew. See how this works? Like on Wyltz. You were protecting me by shooting a bunch of terrorists, right?"

"We almost died on Wyltz. And I recall you springing bonus money to cover me going above and beyond. Hazard pay and all that."

Nero was about to say anything goes but he had checked his bank account and it was getting slim. If he didn't start earning serious cash from something his trip to G'mas birthday would also be his final destination.

"Look...uh...well. Wait! You know you aren't going to be my bodyguard forever, right? Maybe this is your way into the movie scene. Do you want to be a stuntman? Woman? Stuntwoman?"

"No..."

"What about guarding actors and junk? That's profitable, right?"

BB reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose. The little shit was already giving her a headache and she could just picture how this was going to go down. He would keep begging until she gave in so her options were to either give in or quit now. It was only a few more weeks. All she had to do was get him to his family shindig and that was that.

"Fine! Fine! Fine...just stop talking. I can't stop you from going where you're going and I have to bring you back in one piece so fine. But if shit goes sideways I am knocking your ass out and going to cover. I'm not being paid to protect anyone else, got it?"

Nero nodded his head so hard his lips flapped.

"Of course! Of course! And let's be serious here, it's a movie set not a bank vault. What could possibly go..."


BB's eyes went red with anger and she punched a finger into his chest...hard.

"Don't. You. Fucking. Dare. Finish. That. Thought. It's' my ass on the line when the shooting starts. I don't have anyone looking out for me so fuck you for putting me into danger, you got it? I don't intend to die on this assignment and if that means your ass gets toasted then that is that."

Nero just nodded. He wasn't really registering what she was saying, just that it sounded like she was agreeing!
Bad Code
GM, 647 posts
Sat 29 May 2021
at 06:39
  • msg #28

General

Noctol isn't the kind of place you want to raise your kids.

They terraformed it enough so you can breath...with a decent respirator.  Couldn't do anything about the temperature.  The towns can keep a farily balmy 20 degrees F.  But outside town, it's freeze your nuts off.  Why they would want to film here, who can say?

Ulie is on the com as soon as you are in range.  She's contacting contacts, making sure permits are set, etc.  Nothing in her chatter that sounds code for I'm bringing the suckers.  Let's kill 'em all.

But who knows.

The actors and film crew that are thawed are all showering, stretching, and voiding their bowels.  The typical I-just-woke-up bit.

One of the crew, the director Relen, is examining the androids.  "Hey.  Did...uh...somethin' happen to our 'droids?"
Tepha Pezal
player, 136 posts
Artist
Tue 1 Jun 2021
at 20:38
  • msg #29

General

Silver and Tepha glance at one another but then Tepha gives a nod and takes over.

"Yes, one of the androids woke up midflight and we had to put it back. Why, is something damaged?"

Her voice was even and pleasant. She was there to serve after all. No need to tell everyone how close to death they had almost gotten. Repeatedly.
Bad Code
GM, 649 posts
Wed 2 Jun 2021
at 01:31
  • msg #30

General

In reply to Tepha Pezal (msg # 29):

Relen studies the android's head and then shakes hers.  "No.  Thanks."




Touch down on Noctol is one of those dicey affairs.  Lots of cross winds.  Lots of snow and ice.

Tia sets down in a low port near the town.  Certainly not a four star port.  It's designed for mostly commercial traffic.

As Control takes your manifest and crew/passenger list prior to issuing an all clear for you to disembark, Ulie gathers her cast and crew by the lock door.  They're all bundled in sensible parkas.  Ulie's issuing orders and then turns to the nearest crew member.

"Go ahead and introduce your security detail please.  I want 'em all to know who they should be looking towards if trouble happens.  Nero,"  She waves at you Nero"Introduce yourself..and your associate there...too."
Nerotes Madigan
player, 68 posts
Noble
Bored Heir
Wed 2 Jun 2021
at 20:03
  • msg #31

General

It was Nero's time to play it cool, so of course he didn't.

"What's up!!! I'm Nerotes but you can call me Nero or better yet Nero Knight. Yeah. That's my stream channel so that's what you should call me. Oh yeah this is BB. That stands for Badass Bitch!"

He grinned at BB standing next to him who just gave a quick shake of the head. Even if it was a joke she had made before, this was not the time or place for it.

"So yeah we're pretty kickass as a team. I bring the fame and she brings the guns. Show them your guns, they're so cool."

BB just shook her head again. Nero tried to recover.

"Cool. Yeah. Play it cool. Right. That's an order, hah!"

Nero turned back and grinned at the cast. This was going just so well.
Ledo Typhin
player, 355 posts
Naval Captain
Captain of the Tia
Wed 2 Jun 2021
at 20:06
  • msg #32

General

Ledo was trying hard not to cringe from embarrassment from Nero's display. The word "child" did not do the spoiled brat justice. Still he had his uses. He cleared his throat to take attention away from Nero flailing about.

"Right. I'll be your main point of security. Silver and Tepha will be making sure the locals stay where they are supposed to but just keep in mind we're at the ass end of the galaxy but that doesn't mean there aren't rules. I know it's been a long flight and a rough thawing but let's not do anything stupid, right? Plenty of time to do that after this trip is over, right? Let's not make this harder then it has to be."
Sign In