“Actually, I have a question,” Jules said, stopping Irene in her tracks. “I get the content stuff. I’ll do my videos as usual, and write blogs, but what do we do in between? Do we have to constantly talk to the viewers? Because that isn’t the relationship I have with my followers. I’m not like Nathan.”
Nathan smirked. “I’m a one-off, that’s for sure.”
“They want to see you live,” Irene said, ignoring Nathan. “They want to see us interact. Yes, we will have to talk to them and often do things they ask. If they want karaoke, we give them karaoke. If they want us to drink shots, we take shots.” She shrugged. “Fun tasks for us, entertainment for them, money for us.”
After Irene left the room, Nathan pointed at each of us and asked for our names. Then he left. Jules went to change before the launch, and I decided to do the same. Dan went to put in a HIIT session.
I hurried to my room, engulfed by the conviction that I didn’t belong here. Consumed by thoughts of what it would be like to be seen. To be viewed and used as entertainment. At least in my bedroom there were no cameras watching me. For a heartbeat, I closed my eyes and reminded myself why I was there, the challenge I’d set myself. How I’d wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and meet new people. Irene Jobert wanted to make me rich, and maybe I should stop worrying, and allow it to happen.
When I was alone, rather than put on a fancy outfit and do my hair, I opened my laptop and went to my reader’s group. There were messages about the next Akarthis story, asking when it would be, what it would include. Several of the readers had offered suggestions:
Maya and Reeve have a baby.
Oslaf and Margrave kink!
I flexed my fingers and typed:
Origin story for Maya? Or a new character?
Almost immediately, the replies flooded in.
Origin story! Maya, please.
New character for me. Hope you’re well, Cath.
I replied back to that one:
I’m good thanks. I’m in Transylvania right now, and the scenery is giving me inspiration.
The conversation went off on a tangent about Romanian folklore, but I felt better, less alone.
*
The promises made by my readers imbued me with the confidence I’d been lacking. They’d be there with me. Watching. But I still found that butterflies danced in my stomach. The day had been a strange one. I still hadn’t toured the entire building or found my bearings. We’d all eaten lunch at different times and spent most of the day in our rooms, unpacking or creating fresh content for the launch. I’d written a few hundred words for the origin story of Maya, my main character in the Akarthis world.
And now it all began. I’d agreed to come here, to share myself with the world, but at the same time, unease settled in my stomach.
Jules had put on a stripy top underneath black dungarees and had a glass of champagne in her hand. Her hair had been braided into two plaits piled onto her head, she wore no make-up and flashed me a relaxed smile. It helped to ease my discomfort, especially seeing someone else who didn’t wear make-up or dress fashionably. She came closer to me and clenched her teeth together in mock trepidation.
“Ready for our big moment?”
“As I’ll ever be.” I picked up an almond from the selection of snacks set up along a small table, and then sat on one of the beige sofas. The nut was about all I could stand to eat as the nerves found a greater hold on me.
“God, I half think this whole thing will be a disaster,” Jules said. “I’m impressed they’ve even got the internet working. Imagine if it went down.”
“I guess this Loup company have invested a lot of money in getting things running,” I said.
“Hmm,” Jules answered, her attention now faraway.
Dan came in next and ran his hand over the fabric of one of the sofas. “Pretty nice in here.” He unscrewed the cap of his water bottle, making a sskssk sound.
No number of beige sofas could detract from the overwhelming historical power of the room. There was a vaulted ceiling curving above us like a ribcage, while beneath our feet where uneven flagstones, worn down by ancient footsteps. Along the outer wall were three colourful windows above the sofas. I reached out and ran a finger along the lead moulding between glass panels. The pale face of a saint stared glumly back.
Dan saw me and said, “My room has a window depicting the crucifixion. When the light hits it just right it glows onto the opposite wall. It’s cool but a bit creepy.”
Irene bustled in with another bottle of champagne. “Ten minutes everyone. Where is Nathan?” Her large eyes moved around the room anxiously. She strode over to one of the cameras in the corner and nudged it slightly. “This has to be a good launch, or we’ll lose subscribers. We need energy, drinking, eating, chatting.” It could’ve been my imagination, but her eyes flashed towards me. The hint of a side-eye, the subtlety of judgement. With that I’d been deemed lacking. The plain girl who didn’t belong.
“Haven’t they paid for the month?” Jules asked.
“Yes,” Irene said. “But there’s a short period where people can cancel.” She shrugged. “Let’s not allow that to happen. Be big, loud. But not obnoxious.”
“Speaking of obnoxious,” Jules whispered as Nathan walked in.
“Evening all,” he said, snatching up a bottle of champagne from an ice bucket.
“Okay,” Irene said, “I’m starting the live feed. There’s no delay for now, so no one say anything they will regret.”
“Stay woke everyone,” Nathan added.
Jules sighed.
Irene began to count us down. “Five… four… three… two… one…”
Forkie: Naaathaaaaaaan. I love you from Norway.
Lu98: [heartemoji]
Reneeleanie: Irene! Beautiful. Say hello to me.
xXtoasterXx: [heartemoji]
OrIgInAlNeCkBeArD: Irene, will we see you naked?
TheTarg: When do the challenges begin?
Susu1376: OMG! #decorgoals #irenejobert #skingoals
Happyidiot: Irene, you’re my inspiration.
Flexgirl: Dan! Will you be doing yoga?
Momofsix: Hey Jules.
AliceAkarthis: Hi Cath! Oh my goodness, it’s so strange to hear your voice!
Notlyktheothergirls: [heartemoji]
69fart69: [angryfaceemoji]
Volk: If one of you kills the other and films it, I’ll pay you one million dollars.
Motherofcats: Come to France!
Cheezemonkeys: Nathan, why do you have beef with Syd?
Forkie: @Cheezemonkeys fuck off.
Cheezemonkeys: @Forkie actual Nazi.
Reneeisagoddess: Say hello to Brazil, Irene. We love you! [heartemoji]
Chapter Five
Hundreds of messages came in all at once, scrolling in a ticker alongside our faces on the screen. Heart emojis floated up, fading at the corners of the laptop. We said hello to Norway, Germany, France, Brazil, South Africa. Nathan yelled out his catchphrases at random fans: Never lick an onion. I didn’t understand any of them. I sat there with a plastic smile on my face completely overwhelmed, while Irene recounted her cancer survival story, Nathan thanked his fans and promised gaming content, Jules dished out advice on travel, and Dan answered fitness questions. Occasionally Irene said my name, but the messages disappeared so quickly there were times I missed what I was supposed to answer.