Furry World/Male Dragon-Rabbit/Talk business with Barbara

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Revision as of 08:09, 17 March 2022

Barbara sits up and grabs a small sheaf of papers, tapping them against her desk. "So, I've got a little business to discuss with you. Obviously, I'd like to hire you as a member of our cast and crew here at Mariposa Studios. You had your interview with me out in the lobby, with Lily, Cheval, and your mother as witnesses, so I'm satisfied that you'll do just fine here. But we have to go through all the paperwork and orientation before you're officially my employee, so here's the boring part." She smiles and adds, "Don't worry, it's not too boring, and it won't take long." You smile excitedly.

Barbara continues. "Okay, first off, here's the formal offer. I think you'll like the terms, but take a moment to look over them, and if you like them, I'll just need you to sign the bottom." She hands you the top sheet from her stack and waits for you to read it.

Congratulations! Mariposa Studios would like to extend to you a formal offer of employment for the position of cast and crew member. Your starting salary will be 45,000 credits per year, and your proposed start date is immediate. You will also receive a signing bonus of 10,000 credits. Additionally, this position includes fully-paid benefits that will be described on another page.

For cast and crew positions, you will also receive a portion of the profits of any productions that you appear in or contribute to, commensurate with the relative importance of your role. This is in addition to your regular salary. . .

The page goes on from there to describe the studio, give more details about your job responsibilities, some disclaimers, and a bunch of other legalese that fills the paper. You start to read over that, but then something clicks in your head and you go back to the first number: 45000 credits. "Forty-five THOUSAND credits?!" you say out loud, your eyes wide.

Barbara grins. "Forty-five thousand. It's a generous salary, for sure, but we're a very successful business, and I believe in paying my employees well even if we have a slow spot." She leans forward and whispers, "It's also required by law that I pay you something regularly." She sits back and smiles. "So, like what you see?"

You nod enthusiastically and grab a nearby pen, then sign your name and put today's date at the bottom of the form. Barbara takes the sheet back from you and stands, offering her hand. "Excellent. Welcome to Mariposa, Ron." You shake her hand firmly, and she whistles and shakes it in the air a little bit. "You've got quite the grip there, boy. Take it easy." She smiles to let you know she's kidding.

"And since you're here, why don't I just give you that bonus right now? I do all the payroll here." She hands you a slip of paper from another part of her desk - a check already made out to you, sure enough for 10,000 credits. You just sit there, stunned.

"What's the matter, Ron?" Barbara's voice cuts in to your momentary stupor.

You gather your thoughts and look back up at your new boss. "I... It's just so sudden. I only told my mom last night that this was what I wanted to do. It was kinda embarrassing right at first, even though I already knew she was a star here. But I never thought I'd be getting a job TODAY. I'm..." You struggle to find the next word.

"Speechless?" Barbara says.

"Yeah, I'm speechless."

"That's quite all right, my boy. Things do move fast here. But trust me, all of us can tell when you're the right person for the part. And we jump on our future stars as soon as we can so they don't go to our competitors." She winks, then adds, "I know you just signed, but you have three days to tell me if you change your mind. Deal?"

You nod. "I don't think I'm going to change my mind. After getting a chance to--" you cut yourself off, thinking of Jill and Rebecca again. You mentally back up a bit and continue, "I think this is going to be my dream come true." There. You like that better.

Rebecca leans forward on her desk again, tenting her fingers under her chin and giving you the same gaze she did in the lobby. "Well, Ron, if this is a dream, I hope you don't wake up."

The two of you smile at each other for a moment, that reminder of the "interview" breaking the business ice again, making you feel much more comfortable. Then, you decide to ask, "By the way, why do some people here call you 'Mom'?"

Barbara leans back. "Probably because I try to treat everyone here like family. They're not just employees. They're my friends, my confidants, people I want to spend time with." She pauses, and adds with a wink, "Occasionally, people I want to sleep with." She continues, "But most of all, I want everyone to genuinely like each other. It makes our videos that much more genuine."

You nod. "Do you act, too?"

Barbara nods. "Not as much as I used to. I'm getting older, but there's still a market for stars like me." She laughs a little. "I suppose you could say I'm both a cougar AND a snow leopard!" When she sees your puzzled expression, she explains, "'Cougar' means an older woman picking up a younger guy. Who knows? Maybe you'll get to be that lucky guy with me on camera sometime."

You chuckle a little nervously. "I, um... is that okay? I mean, me having, uh, sex with my boss?"

Barbara says, "Only if you feel comfortable with it, honey. In that setting, I won't be your boss. I'll be your co-star, and we'll be on equal ground. I'm adamant about that." You nod, still unsure. "And let me say this right now: Under no circumstances will I EVER pay you more, or less, because of doing anything with me. I'm very strict about sexual harassment with everyone who works here, and that includes myself." She hands you the rest of the packet of papers that your offer came from. "Read this at your leisure, but if you don't believe me on that bit, take a look at page 4. I included a clause that specifically calls out my policy on myself, and a place to call if I ever break that rule. So it's in your contract."

You nod, giving off a relaxed sigh. "Thanks. I feel better about that now."

"Don't mention it," she says with a smile, then she stands up. "Well, now that that's over with, want to continue seeing the place?"

You stand up. "Sure!"

Barbara types something really quick on her computer, and a moment later, the phone on her desk buzzes. "That was asking everyone to come to the break room at four o'clock for a meeting. All of today's shoots will be done by then, so we can do introductions and go over the rules."

"I'm looking forward to it."

The two of you walk back out to the office hallway, business concluded.

• You continue your tour.