It's a Cutthroat World [Open]

[Yume]

On the streets of Red Oak District, a pleasant walking distance away from Ichiraku's Ramen, stood a three storey building. The logo of FiRE Entertainment & Music shone above the front entrance in a soft neon red glow, even in the early hours of this morning. Some employees were already entering the building, yawning as their workdays kicked off to a start. To the side of the building, a cosy FiRE owned café establishment was already busy with orders of coffees, teas and breakfast items for the hustling entertainment employees.

On the first floor, one would be greeted with a receptionist desk. The two ladies on duty that day were pleasant to the eye, as per company's rather shallow requirements and held a professional smile for every client and superior that walked through those doors. They acted like it was eleven in the morning, rather than five.

"Good morning," one greeted, hiding her surprise to see an unfamiliar face walk in. Was this a new starlet in training?

"How may I help you?"

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

" what did I get myself into". Megumi would lament on her past apology. Looking up at the neon and peering into the high class café. This was not her scene. She is used to dealing with a more masculine crowd, men don't care about the pea and cues or where and how the beans and cakes were imported from a far off country. No the crowd she is used to just wants the basics. All they want is a quick and to the point response and their bombs or walls built as soon as possible. They don't want to know that the wood was imported, or that it was handcrafted by some underpaid worker that they'll never see.

Sighing as she entered the café, she wore what she usually wore, It was comfortable and it held all of her gear. Looking around at baristas, working on the orders for the people starting their day or serving the suits that sat around and talked about what their plans were, or to kiss up to each other and bow smoke up each others ass. She obviously stood out and acquired a few looks from the patrons as to them she looked like some street rabble. Not paying attention to the looks as she did not care, she has done more than any of those bigshots that sit around and get others to do their work for them.

Leaving the café and making her way to the office above. Megumi left the sicken sweet smell of overpriced sweets and cooked beans behind. Entering the office and setting her tool bag down, as she approached the receptionist desk. A look of surprised form across the women's face, it may of been surprise out meeting someone new or the fact that she just appears as some broken thug to the prim and tidy glorified answering machine. Paying the part I smiled and spoke in a tone that would be accepted in this gilded industry. " Yes I was told to be here at this time to assist as Yume-san and her manager".

 

[Yume]

"Assist… Yume-san and Watanabe-san?" the same receptionist echoed. The women exchanged glances at each other before facing back to Megumi. The one that originally spoke to her continued, "May we have your name?"

Under the assumptions that Megumi responded with her name, the other receptionist would bring her hand to her ear. With a soft click, she contacted the manager on the other line. "Ah, Boss? There is a Tanigawa Megumi here who says that… Eh? Yes, that is her appearance... Alright, I will do that. Yes, Boss. You're welcome."

With another click of the headset, the receptionist hung up and glanced back at the girl with a smile. "He was expecting you. You'll be helping out today as a PA."

The other receptionist almost made a noise. They knew the code. PA. As in personal assistant. As in thankless errand girl. Briefly they wondered if such a young girl, who obviously was not part of the entertainment industry, could handle such a role.

She must have ticked the manager off somehow… The smiles from both women now looked like it was ones out of pity. One rummaged under the receptionist desk and pulled out a keycard with the company logo on it. She handed it over to Megumi.

"Before you go see them, please grab some coffee from the café. Yume-chan likes the double espresso, white chocolate mochas. I think the Boss drinks caffe lattes? Two sugars, soy milk… I think… As for the personal trainer… Um, perhaps water will do." The later half didn't sound very affirmative. The receptionist chuckled sheepishly.

"Please get yourself something too," the other said. Because it was going to be a long, long day.

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

The receptionist looked confused by Megumi’s response, maybe that stuff up tuna roll did not expect her to show up. They would ask her for her name to which told them her full name with a polite tone to throw some mud into whatever the idol’s servant might of said about her as a descriptor. However the most interesting thing to come out of this exchange was the penguin’s name.

Now that they knew who she was they would give her the demeaning tasks that the idol’s handler would no doubt have set up for her. The receptionist would tell Megumi that she will be assisting as a PA. Megumi was not stupid, she would simply be a gofer, aka the manager’s bitch for the day. She had the mind to leave and forgo the apology as she did not feel that sorry for her action. However she said that she would do it, so she will suck it up for today. Looking at the fake smiles and their disbelief in her ability to handle such a simple job, she would prove the two messenger birds wrong. Taking the pass card and listening to the request for drinks, she was a little sceptical of the last part of the order, as they themselves did not seem to such about what their boss and fellow co workers preferences were which said a lot about their job performance. Thanking them for the card and the info, she would quickly make her way to the cafe.

Walking through the smell of ego and affectatious sesquipedalianism to sum up what could be said in one to two words, or in other cases lose the entire topic or question in the verbosity. Making her way to the underpaid and overworked barista that was subjected to this word salad daily. Ordering the double espresso, with white chocolate mochas for the princess. Though before she would ask for the other two items on the list she would ask if the employee knew what Watanabe-san and the Star Idol’s personal trainer would usually get. If they were unsure she would go with the carrier pigeon's words.

Making the orders and bring them to the door that the group she would have to put up with for the day were behind. Megumi would lightly tab on the door, and wait for a response. When she heard one she would announce herself in a actual polite manner this time. “Yume-san, Watanabe-san and Yume-san trainer, i’m sorry i don’t know your name. It’s Tanigawa i have your libations”.

 

[Yume]

NPC
U<3ME Manager​

At first, nothing happened. Some scuffles were heard from the other side of the door, along with some grunts, yells and heavy panting. Eventually, the door to the gym room slid open. Keen, crisp golden brown eyes peered down at Megumi silently, as the manager widened the door to let her in. He smiled, as radiant as the sun.

"Good morning, Miss Tanigawa."

At the sound of his voice, the scuffling stopped. The personal trainer lowered the padded shield and glanced over to the newcomer. Yume, looking vastly different than her perfect idol appearance, had her long red hair messily tied into a bun and was wearing workout clothing. She wiped her forehead with her arm to do away some of the sweat. Not that would help her any, it appeared that she was working out rather hard. Pulling off the boxing gloves off from her hands, she waved to Megumi with a friendly grin.

"Good morning! I'm glad you're helping us out, even though Oppa made it happen."

Her eyes trailed to the tray of drinks Megumi held and, like a switch, her eyes practically sparkled with delight. "Is that white choc mocha for me?!" she exclaimed, starting for a beeline towards her. Before Yume could even grab the drink, it was swiped away seamlessly by the older male.

"Ah!"

"Don't you still have a workout to do?" he asked with a raised brow. His other hand held his own coffee with no complaints, while the personal trainer in the background took his water with polite gratitude. Yume darted her eyes from the trainer, to Megumi, to the manager and finally on her precious mocha. Puffing her cheeks like an angry sparrow, she stomped back to where she first stood and shoved her hands back into the boxing gloves. She swung her arms about haphazardly, waiting for the personal trainer to finish with his own drink... and protein bar? What?!

"Miss Tanigawa." The manager placed the mocha drink carefully on the flat surface of a bench press. "Perhaps it'd be beneficial for both yourself and Yume to workout together, or even spar."

"E-Eh, what did you say, Oppa?" Yume looked over to the pair with a concerned frown. Wasn't she just a child? That's like child abuse right there. Her wary expression still hadn't left her visage, clearly showing her hesitation in sparring with a young girl. Like come on, let's be real here.

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

The sounds that came out from the gymnasium door would make one blush if it was taken out of context. After the “hot and heavy sounds”, died down the peacock opened the door with a smile that complement the previous sounds perfectly. No doubt he was more than happy with Megumi’s temporary internship as he greeted her with his prim and proper tone. Looking at him with a similar expression as she had to adopt the when in Rome term of thinking. “ Good morning to you as well Watanabe-san”.

Looking over she would see a giant man in a tracksuit holding a focus matt. Next to the adonis was the much more realistic strawberry haired idol known as Yume. She traded in her frilly dresses and make for comfort and sweat. Megumi would much rather be around the nonfiction than fiction. As she took a break and looked over to Megumi the idol waved to her and smiled. Holding her composure Megumi would wonder why the girl would be happy to see someone who insulted her. Adding onto the confusion she would state that she was glad that she was helping out due to their poor first impression. This girl was too much, Megumi could not make heads or tail of her, was she an idiot or an amazing actress? This was the first time she could not read someone.

The idol gave her no time to try and adapt to her loonisy. She would see the beverage and almost pounce on it like she was a predator chasing its prey. Luckily the personal trainer would swipe the drink away, before she was mauled by the Idoless. Looking at the idol throwing a fit and acting like a child, she still could not understand this women at all.

The phantom of the stage suggested that she should train and or spar with the airhead idol. Before she could answer the only child in the room announced her disapproval. Looking at the two men with a look of concern or was it pity. Megumi would keep her mask on tight and not let it show that being unvalued or even treated as a cripple by the idol made her see red. Smiling to the group as she placed the empty tray and her tool bag off to the side. “ I will be more than happy to train, i will not get a chance to put aside time to train today and this kills two birds with one stone”. Megumi would take off her vest and fold it, the sounds of an assortment of weapons click as she places it on the floor next to the bag. Unclipping her other holsters and ridding herself of the rest of her weapons, turning her spot into a weapons cache. Taking a tool out of her bag she would loosen the fasten on her fake arm and remove it. Placing it with the other items, she would hop up and down to get a feel of her new weight.

Taking a right handed glove she would tie it on herself with her mouth. Throwing a few punches she would make her way back over to the group and wait for the training to being. Looking at the idol she would be more than happy to show up a so called perfect women up.

 

[Yume]

Yume eyed the array of shinobi gear dropped onto the floor, but what surprised her the most was the prosthetic arm she detached from herself. The idol raised a brow at the action, watching the girl give out a couple of test punches before approaching.

"Is there a reason why you had to take off your arm, Megumi-chan?" she asked, more or less without curiosity about the arm itself in the first place. Was that arm unusable in hand to hand combat? That didn't sound right. She was moving it just before, wasn't she? Ah, Yume couldn't remember - she was distracted with her lack of caffeine.

Regardless of her answer, or whether Megumi decided to put the arm back on, Yume exhaled heavily and shifted into her stance. "Very well. Dodge as best you can, okay?" Yume smiled. "Bonus if you can hit me too."

It wasn't a taunt or anything in the slightest, nor was it the tone of defeat and concession. It was a gentle form of encouragement, before Yume threw her first punch. The strikes were fierce, though she was focused on just barely missing Megumi. Still even with a wrong move can result in a hefty hit.

You have two possible results you can RP. Pick one to write.

Option A: If Yume did happen to hit Megumi by accident, she would pause in her strikes, apologise profusely and ask if Megumi is alright.
Option B: If Megumi does not get hit, they will continue on until stopped by the personal trainer.

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Looking at the idol as she asked why she purposely disarmed and put herself at a disadvantage. Curiosity and a mix of concern made up the idol’s face, at least she was starting to act more like someone of her age. “ Because it’s a weapon, and were sparring. If i hit you or block with it out of a reflex, you could get seriously injured. I’m not explaining to your fan base that she will be unable to perform because i hit her with basically a metal club”. Keeping her polite tone, but she gave a small smile at the end to keep the conversation light.

Yume would shift into a stance that seemed out of place for a idol. By the look in the women’s eye and her breathing, she was not just some soft little idol. Shiting into a stance that would work with her current disadvantage. Standing sideways facing the combat proficient idol with her glove up ready to block a well timed punch. Taijutsu was not her strong point, and she has to stop putting herself in the positions where she is head to head with her opponents. Thinking back to the idol’s reactions, she was clearly concerned and did not want to fight with a younger girl. She could use this to her advantage, by taking a hit and playing possum she could take her by surprise.

Hearing Yume tell her to dodge as best she can, and that she will get a bonus if she lands a blow on her. Tabbing the idol’s glove before they began Megumi would create some space from the super fighting idol. “ It better be a amazing bonus as i’m going to have to go into hiding if i hit you”. With the talking done Megumi would shift into a serious expression, by the looks of the idol she most likely is far superior in hand to hand fighting.

Megumi would ready herself for the idol’s first move. Keeping herself moving and on the balls of her feet as she hoped to use her small frame and speed to close in and lock, or to take a fall and get the drop on the idol. With surprising speed and ferocity the idol closed the distance fast and throw her first punch. It was so fast.. Faster than Megumi could respond, luckily she was not aiming for he as Megumi stood still frozen in shock. Trying to process what had happened, it’s not possible she is just an idol what and who is this women.

 

[Yume]

One missed punch in and Yume immediately noticed something was off. The punch zipped past Megumi's head, barely missing her ear and leaving the two females stuck in position. Yume blinked once and then frowned in worry. Pulling back her arm, Yume bent down to Megumi's height.

"Are you okay, Megumi-chan?" she asked, with a ghost of an embarrassed smile. "I'm sorry about that. My personal trainer is chuunin level in taijutsu, so..."

Yume looked to the side and scratched her cheek - or she would have if the gloves were off. There wasn't really a reason or excuse she could make that didn't sound belittling, unintentional or not. Straightening up, the idol grinned and punched the her boxing gloves against each other. "So, we can just skip. Working out is such a bore anyways!"

Her head turned to near the entrance of the gym to look at both the manager and personal trainer, who was talking business on the headset and reading a novel respectively. Yume hopped up and down and called at them to get their attention.

"Ah, Oppa! It's okay to call it, right?"

The manager paused, muttering into his headset to hold for a second and turned to look at the girls. He then glanced over to the trainer, who seemed to be pretty content with the session at hand. What time was it? It was barely past five thirty.

"What do you think, Chingu? It's only half past."

"Ah..." The trainer shut his novel and headed over to the pair, picking up the kickboxing shield and punch mitts along the way. "We'll do three rounds of drills for fifteen minutes--both of you will--cool down and then we'll call it. Watch Yume-chan carefully, Tanigawa."

"Aww..." Yume pouted, the confidence that she could get away with leaving workout early dashed. "Okayyy..."

Conceding again, she hopped into her stance and started the drills. They consisted of a rotation of various punches, a short thirty second drink break and equipment change, then kicks. The other rounds had the same formula, but with different patterns of punching and kicking.

Fifteen minutes later, the idol sprawled out onto the floor while her personal trainer nodded in Megumi for her turn. Fifteen minutes would be a short workout for her, but at least it was something for the day. She could complete the rest of her daily training quota later on. Yume could go off first to take a shower and change, but she decided to wait for Megumi to finish.

Meanwhile, the manager was leaning by the wall, frowning in exasperation as he continued his business call.

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Seeing the idol’s face change to a look of worry as pulled back her arm and bent down to her level. Being asked if she was okay from the person she was facing was embarrassing. Looking away from the older girl the cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the idols smile and attempt to lessen the blow to Megumi’s pride. She was training to become a full fledged leaf ninja, being completely outclassed by an entertainer even one that was trained by a chuunin was no excuse.

The two girls would stand front in of each other, one trying not to hurt the other’s feeling while the younger one was trying to not show her disappointment in herself. Yume would tap her gloves together and speak with the trainer and manager to cut the drills short. Megumi wanted to speak up and ask for them to continue. She had gotten a gauge of Yume’s ability, and underestimating Yume was why she had been caught off guard by her hidden talents. However Megumi remained silent and shyly looked at Yume while she spoke to the others.

Hearing the trainer’s book slap close and his ultimatum. Megumi nodded as he told her to watch closely. She would watch Yume closely, from her stance to her punches, and kicks. By watching her Megumi could definitely tell that she did not just decide to take up the martial art for just exercise. There was definitely more to Yume then she let on, maybe her childish personality was just an act to cover up her real personality. Or perhaps this entire idol business was hiding her secret identity, as hiding in plain sight often is better than sticking to the shadows.

After Yume was finished and flopped onto the floor. With a look of determination, Megumi would put her all into the training to regain some of her lost pride. Throwing a flurry of punches with breaks of weaves and dodges to set up her next volley. Megumi would hit the mat as if she was trying to punch through it. Showing the same vigor with the kick portion, she would kick then move in with a knee then out with a full kick. Doing everything from an axe kick to and handstand helicopter kick. Pushing herself on the last portion, she would barrage the mat with flurries of punches, due to a lack of her another arms her attacks would be mostly kicks as she bounced around the room keeping the trainer on his toes.

As the fifteen minutes felt like eons to Megumi. When the trainer called it, she did everything in her power to keep herself up, and keep her breathing normal. Sweat would pour down her face as she looked over to Yume who was waiting for her before they hit the showers. Curious as to why she wanted to wait for her. It suited Megumi just fine as she wanted to speak with Yume alone, as she had a few things that she wished to get off her chest. The only thing that brother her was that she did not bring a change of clothes.


Going back over to her arm, she would reattach it, and pick up her vest. Restring her arm and moving it around she was glad to have two arms again, she never liked to take off her prosthetic arm, it reminded her of her failures and the past. Making her way over to Yume she would follow her lead as she did not know where the shower were in this building.

 

[Yume]

On the other side of the training room was a door that led to a bathroom with a couple of shower cubicles. Yume finished stretching and approached the manager who had her change of clothes. Taking the gym bag from him, she began trotting off towards the bathroom. "Oppa! I'll be ready in ten minutes. C'mon Megumi-chan, let's wash up and refresh ourselves - I feel gross."

Yume was pretty quick in undressing and hopping into a cubicle and turning the shower on. "Omo! Ack, too cold!" she yelped. Once she had readjusted the temperature, it was easy breezy relaxation time. For five minutes anyhow. She had already begun humming a jaunty tune as she was washing her hair and body. If Megumi was here in another cubicle, that didn't matter. Conversation was not needed to enjoy a shower. Though if Megumi wanted to talk, Yume had no problem obliging. But if she asked whether she was a shinobi or anything along those lines, Yume would giggle and praise the shinobi who did a good job training her.

As promised, Yume emerged from the bathroom in a little under ten minutes - clean, refreshed and changed into a loose fitting and plain dress. She stopped herself midway through the door. Oh no, she didn't consider whether was okay for Megumi to work out as well. She wouldn't be bringing a change of clothes for working as an assistant, would she? Yume turned towards the general direction of where Megumi was, she called in, "Megumi-chan! I'm not sure if you brought clothes - I don't think you would for a PA job, so I left my bag in here. Clean clothes are on the left side zip!"

Wait, Yume's clothes would be way too loose on Megumi. Oops. Uhh... Well, she could probably use the shirt as a dress for time being, until her manager has organised a proper change of clothes.

While waiting for the other to finish, or regrouping with all of them, Yume rocked on her heels innocently, along with a smile of a similar tone. "What's up next, Oppa? Photo shoot for Teen Leaf magazine, right?"

"It's only twenty past six. We're a bit early, so you can go have a fuller breakfast," he replied monotonously as he wrote in his little black planner. It shut with a sharp snap, and the manager's eyes were closed in irritation. "Though the photo shoot might have to be postponed or cancelled, since your partner for the shoot literally broke a leg."

"Oh no! Poor Ai-chan, hope she'll be okay. Can we find a replacement?"

"Trying, but doesn't look like the others are available. Plus, it's rather difficult to get a working model in the size that Ai is."

"Ahh..." Yume crossed her arms, rolling her head from side to side in thought. "Well, let just grab some breakfast first, then we can think about what to do. Let's go! Lead the way, Megumi-chan!"

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Catching her breath, Megumi would hear Yume who told her to come wash up. Nodding as she followed the totting idol to the showers, the fact that she did not bring a change of clothes still ringing in her head as she did not expect to be working out.

Entering the showers, she saw Yume hopping into one of the showers. Getting undressed and entering one of the cubicle next to hers. Hearing the water start on Yume’s end followed by a few yelps as the cold start got to the idol. Turning on the water Megumi would flinch back from the cold water even though she knew it was coming. Trying to out box the shower as she finally got it to a reasonable temperature, Megumi could hear Yume on the other end humming a jaunty tune. This was as good a time as any, and it might be the only time their alone. Speaking with a newfound respect for Yume and slightly timid as she was interrupting her humming. “ Yume-san sorry of interrupting your song i just wanted to say something between the two of us. I’m sorry for the things i said about you, and ruining your sighing, and i’m sorry that i’m not being very helpful even though i offered to help”. Pausing as she rinsed her hair. “ Also i have to ask, are a shinobi, i know your trainer is one, but you seem to be more skilled than someone who does it simply for exercise”. Yume would cast aside Megumi’s claims with a giggle and praising her trainer’s ability. Accepting the answer, as a half truth, perhaps she was just a natural and a good student.

Finishing up the rest of the shower in silence as she had should what she wanted to say. Dying herself off she was going to just wear her dirty clothes as she had not expected to be exercising as a pa. Hearing Yume as she looked over to her putting the towel in front of herself as she was taken by surprise. Thanking Yume for letting her use her clothes, she went over to see what was available. None of the clothes were really her style, but their was a baby blue shirt that was really cute. With her hair parted and her face not hiding by her face, she doubted that anyone would recognize her.

Dying and putting on the shirt as a make shift dress. Megumi would do her best to fix her hair, but she could not get it the way she likes it. Exiting out of the changing room liking like an entirely different person. She would overhear that they were talking about a photo shoot and breakfast. However the other model that was suppose to shoot with Yume, had suffered an injury. Apparently they were having trouble finding a replacement for the other model.

Being the beacon of positivity Yume would not let everyone get too stressed over the shoot. Looking to Megumi and cheering her on to lead the charge on breakfast. Feeling a little nervous as the responsibility of breakfast was trusted upon her. She did not know what everyone liked, but she knew a few places close by that she thought they might enjoy. “ There's a nice home made restaurant run by a nice elderly couple. I helped repair a few things for them awhile back, and they made me a nice meal in return”. Her mind would drift onto the flavorful food that they made for her, luckily she held in her desire to drool at the thought of it. “ It’s nearby and it’s the only place i go if i am going to eat out”.

If they were in agreement Megumi would lead the way. While they walked to the restaurant, she thought about the injured girl and how it’s hard to find a girl of her size. That could mean she either extremely small or big, but most likely the first one as she was a model. She wanted to help Yume who has been much too kind toward someone who has not shown any kindness back. “ I don't mean to interfere with your work, but may i ask what Ai’s size is. You don’t have to answer, but i just wanted to see if i might be able to help in some way. I might know someone who could fit for the shoot”. Megumi was being much more timid than she usually is. She was trying not to be rude, and she felt like she was in the way and dragging everyone down.

 

[Yume]

Yume was easygoing with the food choice. The workout was hard was enough to get her starving for anything. They said their goodbyes to the personal trainer and set off, the manager in tow behind the two girls on watch for any funny business on the outside.

"What a homely restaurant!" Yume commented with a clap of her hands. They had reached the restaurant and sat down at a booth, with Yume and Gumi sharing one side and the manager on the other. The teenage girl only managed to take one brief look at the menu before her stomach started growling.

"Give me your recommendation, Gumi-chan!" she grinned, turning to the other girl. A flash of realisation struck across her face as Yume laughed sheepishly. "Can I call you Gumi-chan? You can totally call me Yun! Some of the girls I work with call me that."

How can she be so hungry, yet bubbly at the same time? The world may never know.

"Ah, Ai-chan's size...?" Yume echoed after swallowing a mouthful of food. Dabbing her mouth with a napkin, she looked towards the manager. "Oppa?"

"Four eleven, twenty-seven, twenty, twenty-nine, dress size four, shoe size five," he replied nonchalantly as he picked up a piece of radish with his chopsticks.

Yume blinked at him a few times; a dumb sounding "ohhh..." coming from her. The idol looked towards Gumi with a smile. "I guess she's about your size, Gumi... chan..." Her voice trailed off, staring intently at Megumi's face for a bout of silence. Only about fifteen seconds in, or when Megumi spoke up her confusion or discomfort (whichever came first), did Yume finally speak up.

"Your skin looks good, Gumi-chan," she remarked, moving her head this way and that to get a good look at every angle. "You're rather pretty too, now that I can see your face. And you are the right sizes..."

Her head whipped back to the manager. With metaphorically starry eyes and her hands clasped together in a plea, Yume asked, "Oppa, can we use-?"

"No," came the immediate answer.

"Ehhh?!"

"Miss Tanigawa is not a trained model. I don't believe the photographer would be willing to support her NGs."

Yume frowned. His reasoning was not far from the realm of possibility, but honestly... Who else is there that was available and fit the criteria? Megumi even had black hair! She would totally fit the outfit and everything!

"I'll support her," Yume declared. "Besides, is there anyone from the agency that can fill in and fit the criteria?"

The manager fell silent, except for the one long sigh. He continued to eat. That probably meant an okay, right? Yume turned back to Megumi with a pleading gaze. "Please, please, please Gumi-chan! It's not in your job description today, but can I pretty please ask this favour?"

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Reaching the restaurant, they sat down at one of the booths. Yume and herself would be facing each other while her manager was on Yume’s side next to her. The old women that owned the restaurant would come by and hand them out menus and would bring water and some cut pickled vegetables for them to curb their appetite. Thanking the lady luckily she did not notice her and only complimented them on their appearance.

Hearing the bubbly idol’s stomach growl and her outwardly question to her with a nickname that everyone was so easy to refer to her as. Yume would let out a sheepish laugh as she caught herself. Megumi could not get in a word edgewise to give her some of the recommendations, as the idol continued and offered a nickname for Megumi to refer to her as well. Yume would eagerly wait for Megumi’s response. “ You may call me Gumi if you wish, most of my friends do. However i will stick with Yume”. Looking at the menu, she would think back to what she had. “ The okonomiyaki, was what i had when i first came here and was the reason i come back. I don’t know if you’re allowed to eat rich foods, however they make a good soba, or curry”.

They would order and Megumi would use the time waiting for the food to ask about Ai size. Yume would turn to her manager how easily recounted her measurements as if they were his own, it was kinda creepy. She would think about the people she knew, and none of them fit those measurements at all. Yume would affrime that she had understood the message and would turn towards Megumi with a smile, and say that she was about the same size. Megumi would think about, and was not untrue she was around that size a bit smaller, but roughly the same.

Yume would look at her for an uncomfortably long time, changing all the angle as she was examining her like a piece of art. Looking back at her with discomfort. “ Ah Yume-san what are you doing”? Yume would complement her complexion and her appearance and state once again that she was the right size. Megumi caught on to what she was getting at, but before she could say anything Yume asked her manager in a way the made her feel like she was a tool.

Thankfully the manager quickly shot the idol’s idea down, but not in the way that she would of thought. While it was true that she did not have any experience as a model, she was training to become a leaf shinobi and was taught traditional dance along with the other annoying traditions she had to learn. She was confident that she could handle posing for pictures just fine.

While it was only due to how she looked, but she did appreciate Yume supporting her. The manager had no ground to stand on and did not have any other options, so i was up to her if she wanted to go through with it. Yume would look pleadingly at her as if she were a wounded animal. While she was not really big on the idea of posing for pictures and everyone seeing her on the cover of a magazine that did not really speak to her. She did want to help Yume, and she wanted to make up for her mistake. “ You don’t have to look at me like that Yume-san, technically i am assisting you in your work so it does not break the job title to much, and i would going back on my words if i refused”. Giving Yume a smile, “ I will try my best Yun”.

Looking at the manager as the food arrived. “ Don’t worry, i may not look like it but i come from a very traditional family. I was taught dance music and all of the other things young ladies are suppose to know. So don't worry too much it won’t be a complete disaster”. As she took a bite of her food and covered her mouth out of habit from her training, she put down her chopsticks and asked some questions to get an idea of what the job will entail. “ What is the theme, and what are we trying to appear as”?

 

[Yume]

Her eyes lit up and refrained from busting out into a hug, opting for a giddy smile instead. "You're the best, Gumi-chan!" Yume chirped, sipping on her water. The manager hummed, having already finished his food quickly and was flipping through his little planner.

"It does save us quite a bit, thank you." He was more proper in his thanks. "We're counting on you then, Miss Tanigawa. Eat quickly, both of you. We're needed on site at eight."

Yume ate her meal, along with small chatter of conversation in between. "Ah, the photo shoot..." she paused to think about it carefully. "I believe it's an ad for a new weaponry shop that's opening up. Or was it a clothing store? I can't remember."

"It's both," the manager corrected.

"Ah, right right!"

Yume was probably the last to finish her food. If there was time to be spared for food, she'd savour it until the very last possible minute. The method to her madness always irritated her manager, who had given up and called for transport for pick up.

"Ah! That was good!" Yume sighed in bliss. It was a good thing it was still relatively early morning, the number of people who saw the girl nom on food would be minimal. The manager already went to pay for all their meals.

"Let's go," he said upon his return. "The carriage is waiting."

"Alriiight...!" Yume sang, sliding out of her seat. With a bow and verbal thanks for the meal to the chef, she practically skipped out to the horse carriage that stood waiting outside. She called over shoulder as she hopped into the carriage. "C'mon, Oppa! Gumi-chan! You said we needed to be there by eight!"

Once they were all in the carriage and on the way to the shoot location, Yume took the time to give Megumi some forewarning advice. "The photographer we're working with today can be kind of... intense. Don't worry if you don't get the pose first go, we actually have plenty of time. Don't take anything the 'tog says personally, okay?"

The moment they had arrived on site--a quiet little forest by the outskirts of the village, the carriage door slid open and immediately, both Yume and Megumi would be whisked away into a dedicated section for wardrobe, then makeup, then hair. It would take a bit of time to complete, giving a window of opportunity for the stylists and artists to chat both with Yume and Megumi - see how they're doing, what they've been up to over the weekend, and for Megumi in particular: if she was a newly signed model.

After about forty minutes of all that, they were done.

Yume turned to finally look at Megumi's makeover. "You look... AWESOME!"

Checking herself out in the mirror that the team brought along with them, Yume silently approved just as she unsheathed the umbrella from the holster in the back. "Is this umbrella part of the season's range?" she wondered out loud, holding the thing up to the sky to examine.

"A-Ah, Yun-chan!" one of the photography assistants called from a distance. "Don't play with that, it's dangerous!"

The girl hummed to herself, before obediently sheathing it and headed towards where the photography team was almost done setting up. Glancing over to Megumi, Yume boldly reached out to pat her shoulder.

"How are you feeling?" she asked. Reaching the grassy centre stage of light stands, boxes and cameras, Yume bowed to everyone in respect. "I'm in your hands."

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Megumi would brace herself, as it look as though Yume was going to tackle her as her eyes lit up. Thankfully she held herself under control and simply gave her a wider grin than usual. Hear Yume praise her would make her feel happy, but she had to not let it get to her head. “ Save it for when we actually do a good job”. Even the manager was in good spirits even if he was more controlled. Finishing up her food as they would talk about the photo shoot.

Hearing about it being a weapon shop made her think about the shop that she worked at, and who she will never live this down if Toshi found out. While she doubted this new shop could hold a candle to her and Toshi’s work adding more competition meant a loss in sales for the start of the new stores opening, time would only tell if they went all flash. Hearing that it was also a clothing store as well lessen her fears of the new store even being in the same league. “ Weapons i know about, i’m around them all day, building or fixing them.. Though clothing i am not as confident in in my skills as i am with weapons”. I was not as if she was unskilled in her seamstress skills as she had to cloth her puppets, it was just that she had more practise with the weapon part of her art form.

With everyone finished with their meal, Yume and herself would slid out of their seats and bow thanking the chef for the meal. Hearing that the carriage was here for them, Megumi would catch up as Yume would call out to the her and the manager. As she was leaving the old couple would call out to her. “ Megumi-chan you look beautiful today it’s nice to see you not hide yourself away, but don’t let us keep you and don’t worry we won’t tell anyone about you helping out as a model”. Megumi face would flush with embarrassment as she was so easily picked out. There was no doubt in her mind that people would catch on and see her on the cover of the magazine. However she said she would, help so she will have to deal with the comment and teasing from her boss and more aged acquaintances.

While they were on the carriage Yume would offer some friendly advice to help her out. Apparently the photographer was very dedicated and was not a very extroverted person. “ Don’t worry Yume-san i’m one of those intense people as well, it’s a artist thing i guess, don’t worry i’m much more reserved when i’m working”. Megumi would feel more comfortable with Yume and the manager now to at least joke and relax a little around them.

As they reached their destination, it was a nice little patch of light forest mostly on the outskirts of the village. As soon as they exited Yume and herself were rushed into wardrobe, where they were fitted with their outfit and the makeup crew began to work there magic. Megumi was not used to this kind of treatment, having her hair and everything done for her. She was getting more attention from the staff as they asked questions about her and if she was a newly sighed agent. Megumi could not nod as she had to stay still, but she stated that she was only helping out Yume-san. She would talk about her interest and the little issues she was having with the equipment and weapons at her work. By the look on the stylist faces the did not suspect her to talk about weapons and were completely lost on the subject.

The whole endeavor to transform the two girls into what the stylist vision of a fashionable weapon masters looked like left Megumi confused by their vision. Yume would tell her that she look great, however when she looked to Yume she could not pick out who was the more reasonable outfit. “ I don’t understand how they think this is battle ready, we look like two manga heroines”. Megumi would lean and twist side to side looking at her odd outfit. “ Who fights in heels”? Yume would open and play with a senbon parasol thinking out loud what it was for. Before Megumi could answer one of the staff would tell her to becare with it as it was dangerous. Looking at the staff member confused and slightly annoyed, then back to Yume. “ It’s a battle parasol, there spring loaded with sabon. Though others have upgraded them with a flamethrower, a hidden blade or even ninja wire and bombs”. Looking back to the staff as she was angry that the props were actually live weapons. “ Why would you not disarm, or use safe props? These are not toys they are meant to kill”. Megumi was getting upset, this kind of complete and total disregard for safety, had her fuming.

Luckily Yume would pat Megumi on the sholder and save the poor staff worker that had nothing to do with the props from the wrath of the small weapon maker. Asking how she was feeling, Megumi calmed down and turned to Yume. “ A bit mad that they are using live weapons with no safety precautions. Let me disarm the parasol before the shoot starts just to be safe”. She had completely rid herself of her worries as she was focused on the misuse of the weaponry.

As they reached the grassy stage, Megumi safely set the ammo from the parasol off to the side out of the stages view if Yume let her take the precautions. Megumi would bow with Yume and wait for the intense photographer to give her direction.

 

[Yume]

"It's all the rage these days," Yume replied, playing with her goggles as Megumi disarmed the senbon umbrella. "Look good while kicking butt!"

She took back the umbrella gratefully and sheathed it. The photographer looked up from setting from one of his cameras and suddenly pointed his camera at the pair, snapping a picture without even warning them. He checked the preview. It was an early prototype of what one would soon call the modern digital camera. It was insanely expensive for now with only a handful of people owning the device, and the quality was poor... but it was good enough for one thing.

"Tch!" the photographer clicked his tongue. "Lighting is off. Both of you, move to the right a bit more. Someone bump down the brightness on that light box there."

Yume scooted a tad to the right. The photographer snapped another picture.

"... Okay, better. We'll start a quick round of runway shots - Yume first, then Shorty, then both. We'll do the main on location shots after..." He paused, glancing at the assistants. "The set should have been up five minutes ago! Get to it!"

The assistants scrambled around the two girls, grabbing a huge, plain white backdrop behind them. Yume hopped around, as they rolled the sheet onto the grass under her and Megumi's feet in a short runway. While this was happening, Yume took the time to brief Megumi on what to do.

"His works are a little more... How you say, avant garde. So for this section, you'll walk up to that marking on the backdrop there..." She pointed to the x that marked the spot and then demonstrated her turns. "Hit right, hit left, turn to your left to walk back. Walk up straight, like a string is tugging you up from the top of your head. Then back here, he'll probably want to run through some poses. Go with what you think is natural - he'll shout out some cues from time to time."

Of course, Yume was going first anyways, so if she was confused with anything, Megumi could just watch her.

"Ready, Yume?" the photographer asked, waving a hand to shoo Megumi to get out of the shot. Yume pulled up a victory sign with her fingers to show that she was all good to go. Despite being in heels on an unstable sheet on top of a soft grassy dirt ground, she walked confidently, hit the right angles and turned back.

"Yes, brilliant! Confident!" the photographer praised. He had swapped his digital for a more reliable film camera, snapping away like the finite supply of film was of no consequence. Yume looked she was having fun, even taking the disarmed umbrella to enhance her poses.

"Good, good! Are you picking a fight with me? Talk to the umbrella! Oh, no. It's raining now. It reminds you of your long lost lov-"

"Hey, hey, hey wait a minute! What's love got to do with selling ninja clothes and weapons?!" Yume exclaimed with a blush.

The photographer brought a hand to wave her off dismissively. "Just go with me here, Yume."

She puffed her cheeks in silent protest, soon after melting her expression away to a natural look of yearning under umbrella. The rest of the poses went without a hitch until Yume was done with her solo section. Even she walked off the backdrop confidently, with a flourish of her cape in case that was good enough for another shot.

The girl turned to Megumi who was up next. With a grin and victory sign to say good luck, Yume was very interested in seeing how she would perform.

You may take control of the photographer for your post

 

[Megumi Tanigawa]

Standing next to Yume,, she heard a click and followed by a flash of light. Looking over to the direction of the light Megumi saw an odd form of a camera. It was not nearly as big as the ones she was used to seeing and it looked as though it could shoot multiple pictures at once. She wanted to investigate the camera further, but the intense photographer told the two girls to move to the right.

Getting into position and getting the all seeing eye of of tog gave his approval. Telling Yume and herself how the shoot would work and annoyingly refer to Megumi as shorty. She had no doubt that this was going to be a long day. His attention would turn to the staff as her roared about the stage not being set.

Yume took the time to give Megumi some hints on how to do the job correctly. Megumi would listen and repeat Yume’s exact words back to her. The runway was not the issue as the form was the same as Noh Mai, it’s stiff on posture, but free flowing on the limbs. The part she was most concerned about was the posing. She would have no idea what that eccentric photographer would want from her. Luckily Yume would be up first.

Being shooed off the stage by Tog, she already did not like him. Watching as Yume walked up confidently and with sass.The way that she moved and posed fit how she appeared, playful and sexy, but deadly. She did not understand how longing for someone or seeing a lost love would entail to sell weapons, but i guess they knew what they were doing. Though from the look of her attire she looked to be a more reserved, calm and deadly character. Like a butterfly on a moonlit lake.

Yume would end her solo shoot with a flourish of her cape. Flashing Megumi with a grin and a v for victory, it would be Megumi’s turn on the runway. Taking in a deep breath and exhaling slowly Megumi entered the runway. Walking up straight, as if a string was tugging her and giving of the same confidence as Yume as if she owned the runway.

Tog would look with disappointment and stop the shoot. “ No, no , no shorty! This is not you this is Yume. Your nott playful your cold and deadly like a fog creeping in on a town, got it now show me a deady ronin”!

Walking back and turning her back on the stage, she would exhale and relax. Making her eye more focused and cold using the photographer as her target to kill. Taking out the katana, Megumi would turn and slowly approach the runway towards the x. Her piercing blue eye focused on the camera as if she would going to end it’s life. She would remember how the samurai that tried to kill her when she was younger moved, as if she was splitting the air as she cut through the distance.

Tog’s eyes would lit up and he looked as if he shivered with excitement. “ Good, that’s perfect maybe a bit to perfect your scaring us Megumi-chan”!

Megumi was in the zone flicking the katana to the side facing up as she turned keeping her deadly glare on the camera as if it was her prey. Slowly gliding around and walking back cleaning and sheathing her blade as if her kill was complete.

Megumi met the poses with the same amount of effort and character. She would go from and reading her sword as if she was surrounded by an army. To performing a various amount of stances, with the katana or even with the sheath as she flowed through the motions.

The photographer continued to shoot photo after photo taking in the realism and art form of Megumi’s deadly dance. “ This is unexpected, look i’m just snapping photos i don’t even have to say anything! I don’t think she can even hear us right now she’s in a battle for her lord and country right now! It’s deadly it’s sexy the way she mixes death and sex it’s so avant garde”!! Cog would keep snapping photos as megumi would continue, even cutting up the grass and slicing through it almost making the grass dance around her.

Her piece to resistance would be her tossing her blade up in the air, then catching it with a backflip in between her heel and cutting vertically and catching the sword back in the sheath while she stood back up. Making her why back to Yume, Megumi went out of her character and smiled at Yume while taking a deep breath. “ So how did i do, i think i got a little carried away, but i wanted to do my character justice”.

 

[Gushiken Yama]

[OOC: Not here for any type of mission rewards. Yume asked me to join the topic!]
The young boy was walking in a tiny outdoorsy area that lay nestled on the outskirts of the village. It was roughly nine thirty in the morning and ever since his spar with Sora he had been taking time out of his day to walk around and relish in the sun. Developing a new sense of thinking ever since he had started meeting people in a sudden whirlwind of his life. He barely even had time to be a xenophobic anymore (even though a nap sounded awesome.) he instead found himself outside more trying to make the most out of all the things he had been learning. Yama was a part of a growing number of students that were excelling must faster than some of their peers. The other people in particular were Megumi, and Sora, as well as a girl with a name unfamiliar to Yama that had been part of a class that involved a giant earthen wall that Yama had heard about. All four of them were the talk of the academy. It wouldn't be too long until they would join the rest of the village as full fledged ninja.

Yama's body was still covered in bruises and cuts from his spar and his hair was an absolute mess on that particular day. Tan shorts and a white t-shirt. He definitely didn't fit the role of a "stunner" today but he was doing his best given the circumstances. As he continued to walk he basked in the fact that it was a particularly warm morning. Konoha was perfect in the sense that you could always expect it to be warm, even in the colder months of the year it was bearable. However, suddenly Yama's peaceful walk was disrupted by the sudden sounds of some type of commotion happening a little bit off the beaten path.

Veering to the left he crawled through the bushes, managing to get all kinds of leaves and sticks in his messy hair and a few extra cuts from some of the brambles. When he burst through the clearing he came upon a very odd scene. However before he could really take it all in he tripped over a rock and exclaimed out as he face planted into the ground. Being a Nara his memory was beyond the average bears and based off of his few seconds of glimpsing he had noticed that the girl he had met Yume was with Megumi and they both looked absolutely stunning.

Laying on the ground he probably looked like some kind of leaf monster ready to eat the unsuspecting people.

What a hassle today was...

 

[Yume]

She surprised Yume. The girl watched as the younger one stumbled just a little at first, but fell into character easily. Or maybe it was actually her character. Who knows! Her manager stood beside her, peering at Megumi past his planner book before returning to jotting whatever notes down in it.

"I like her," Yume said, rocking on her heels as the photographer snapped pictures away of Megumi with glee. "She'd be a good partner, Oppa. I think you were being too harsh on her. She apologised to me in the showers, you know?"

"... Hn."

When Megumi approached her and asked how she did in her solo shoot, Yume could only manage a victory sign before a yell not far from them caught her attention. Yama fell flat on his face, knocking into one of the light stands and causing it to tumble over. Another yell echoed through the forest, this time, the photographer was in a mixture of despair and fury.

"You broke my lights!"

The manager went over to where Yama laid in a couple of long, quick strides. He only briefly looked down at him, unimpressed, before picking the boy up by the scruff of his shirt. A few leaves fluttered off him and onto the ground, revealing his face to the world. Well, just the crew and the girls. Yume scratched her cheek with her head tilted to the side in amused confusion.

"What's this? You're the little cutie boy from the Death Forest."

The photographer was still fussing over his lights, while the assistants quickly packed up the backdrop and things for the on location shoot. The show must go on, after all. But while that mess happened, Yume snuck out a box of Pocky to snack on. Sneaky, sneaky.