[D2, LM] Building brand buzz (Lil D, open)

[Bee Haw]

Bea's eyes widened to hear that the task was making a video to promote Elite Chai Cafe.

Was being a spokesman and brand ambassador actually an Elite's biggest responsibility? That didn't sit quite right with her. But it did seem to be true that you either had a sponsor, or you didn't. You could hero full-time if you had a sponsor.

But ... Elite Chai. Probably there was no universe in which a chai/coffee company would pick a woman who did not drink caffeine for religious reasons as their spokesperson. She could only drink the veggie smoothies. She was already wrestling with working there though she felt comfortable that other people could drink caffeine. She knew they didn't share her beliefs. They didn't have to.

So, she just had to get through this. She glanced over at Lil D. He'd know what to do. This was the stuff he knew really well. Thank goodness they'd met at the airport, and he'd been so kind and vulnerable!

She went to look for him after the announcement. (This was a conversation that would begin between the two of them, but this was a shared house. Others could listen or join at any point if they wanted.)

"LD," she said, finding him in the kitchen. "Hey! What are you thinking for today's contest?"

[Lil Disaster]

He was pouring milk into a bowl and then filling it with a sugary cereal, Paragon-Os. He looked up and said, “Baddie Bea, shit girl what’s cracking? This contest? It’s gonna be lit, I already got it all worked out. I’m gonna make a viral dance and song.”

“I already got a hot model to come, paid outta pocket but they say she a baddie for real.”

[Bee Haw]

"Oh wow. You are on it! A viral dance and song. Lots of clicks and conversation about Elite Chai. That will make them happy. Maybe they will pick you as their spokesperson and you'll have a sponsor. Do you already have a sponsor?" He had mentioned making a lot of money already on-line.

"I'm ... hmmm ... not real sure what to do. What makes a video viral?"

"Have you thought about what about Elite Chai you are going to emphasize? Is the hotness of the model because you are going to highlight that they have hot drinks?"

[Lil Disaster]

“Oh I got an energy drink, it’s doing pretty well, I got sponsored by Gamer Grub, it’s a sweet meal plan, or something. Some shitty online Chinese games, the usual,” he responded.

“The model is cause she’s hot, bad bitches get clicks, put her in the thumbnail and you gonna get mad people wanting to know what’s going on. Sex sells, Baddie Bea, always has,” he admitted.

[Bee Haw]

Oh gosh.

She did not want to sell sex or caffeine.

"I think my best bet is to focus on promoting the veggie smoothies and snacks. No caffeine in them. Do you think that could work? Focusing on just one part of what they sell? In a modest outfit?"

"Does one person in a modest outfit ruin the vibe for the super sexy one?"

[Lil Disaster]

“Nah. Not at all, we probably need someone to run the show behind the camera to keep this whole thing on point,” he said honestly.

“You want in, Baddie Bea?”

[Bee Haw]

"Oh! Helping behind the scenes might be good. Thank you. That's really kind of you to offer."

"A chance to help others shine, and get the customer what they want. But I don't want to mess it up for you! I have no experience with camera stuff. If you could use help with dancing stuff, I have some experience there. Or if you just need someone to run around and be kind and supportive and teamwork encouraging and persuading everyone to stay focused, maybe I could help that way."

[Lil Disaster]

“Shit, you’ll find the best spot, I trust yah Baddie Bea,” he said honestly as he ate cereal. “We gonna blow this out the water.”

[Bee Haw]

She looked relieved.

"I'll do my best! Thanks."

"I'm going into work this afternoon. Do you need anything from the cafe? Their branded cups, straws? I can buy some smoothies and keep them refrigerated until when you want to film. The colors are bright, so that's good. Maybe it will help to have video of your very pretty model drinking different colors and flavors while she is dancing. Or one particularly yummy looking one."

[Lil Disaster]

She looked relieved.

"I'll do my best! Thanks."

"I'm going into work this afternoon. Do you need anything from the cafe? Their branded cups, straws? I can buy some smoothies and keep them refrigerated until when you want to film. The colors are bright, so that's good. Maybe it will help to have video of your very pretty model drinking different colors and flavors while she is dancing. Or one particularly yummy looking one."

"Yeah all of that," he said liking the ideas. "See this is why I need yah."

[Bee Haw]

She smiled. He liked her ideas! She could do this.

"Okay, text me if you think of anything else we need. And the location, once you have that set. Oh! And if anyone else wants to help!"

[Lil Disaster]

“I ain’t beggin’ no one, it’s an Honor to work with the D. It’s gonna be lit,” he said between mouthfuls. His mobile pinged with a sensual woman’s voice, “Oh Daddy Disaster.”

“Oh nice the model is in, they sent me a pic, she’s fire yo.” He held it up for her to see.

Image on Phone with the name Ynez Garsiya

Ynez-casual.jpg (44.8 KiB) Viewed 753 times

[Bee Haw]

"Oh she's super pretty! I am sure she will be a hit. And that's what a model wants most, I figure. To be in a video that goes viral!"

[Lil Disaster]

“Yeah gonna make that thumb fire, for real. She gets her face everywhere and we get that contract, win-fucking-win.”

“So how you, like doing? Saw a tiktok, heard you out there fightin’, nice.”

[Bee Haw]

"Last night, yeah. I'm glad I was nearby. Close enough to help. Just out for a walk. There were two gangs fighting. And a woman working with one of the gangs named Steel Mosha. A villian. She'd planted a bomb in a nearby apartment building. She exploded it, so she could escape in the confusion. Thank God we were able to save everyone, but we couldn't save the building. So people lost their belongings. Their homes. It's a terrible thing. But at least everyone was safe."

"There was a little baby." She looked down into the crook of her arm like she could still see the baby held there. "They're okay. Reunited with their parents. Calm and safe."

[Lil Disaster]

“Damn, did you get any on camera? That would slap for sure,” he responded.

[Bee Haw]

"I hadn't thought about that, but probably. It was after the contest began, so we all had camera people or remote cameras following us. I don't know. I was just focused on helping people."

"The bad woman, Steel Mosha, got away. But I checked that the gang members apprehended - all but two who fled - didn't know of any other bombs. They didn't. So that was good."

"But I guess there was an explosion down on the waterfront? I hope it wasn't anything related."

[Lil Disaster]

“Yeah, folks are callin’ it a Pantheon attack, but ain’t their thing, for real. Media always be quick to make them the bad guys, gotta get them UNJE monies,” he said with a shrug.

“Lot of peeps died though, that’s rough.”

[Bee Haw]

"Well, no one died at the incident that I was at. That was something else at the waterfront. But, yeah, super sad. I plan to go to the vigil. Hopefully it will be a comfort, however small, to see folks come out in support."

"The thing I was involved in didn't seem to be anything to do with Pantheon. It was related to a crime syndicate and two gangs. Steel Mosha wasn't part of either game, but works for a group called the Brass Orchid. That's the crime syndicate. Steel was helping them in their gang fight since they push drugs and run security for this larger crime syndicate."

[Lil Disaster]

“No shit, the Brass Orchid? Count me out, don’t fuck wit no Brass Orchid, they will murder you and just pay the cops to get away with it,” he countered.

“Fuck that.”