Private Stars of the World: Nicole Fairbanks

[Pandora*]

Stars of the World: Nicole Fairbanks

Atlanta

Too skinny.
Too fat.
Too mid.
Too goofy.
Too edgy.
Too…
…is that a bald spot?

Dark eyes flicked across a laptop screen, scanning hundreds of images. A teenage girl sat alone at a café table, twirling a strand of black hair between her fingers as she scrolled. Each picture showed young women, some with headbands, others in baseball caps, or elaborate cosplay costumes. Heck, one of them took a selfie with a gun to their own head with a huge grin... really?

None of them were right.

They just… weren't her.

"Just goes to show how special you are…"

She whispered under her breath, almost lovingly.

A familiar chime interrupted her thoughts.

Yooo! Did you hear the debut of Dissonance?! They go so hard!

She rolled her eyes, cheeks flushing slightly. She typed a reply just as a shadow fell over her table.

"Would you like a refill?"

She glared up at the server as if he had pissed directly onto her birthday cake.

"Nein."

Her attention snapped away the moment she spotted movement , a stocky figure moving past the café's patio railing. That sweat… that hair… that energy...

Yesssss…

In an instant she was on her feet, snatching up her laptop and unlocking her phone camera with the speed of a professional paparazzi. She darted past the stunned server toward the street.

"Leave it on my tab."

"We don't keep tabs!"

But she was already gone, weaving between patio chairs and pedestrians, eyes locked on her target through her phone screen. A duffle bag swinging wildly at her hip.

"Ja, ja, ja… Stop! Bitte!"

She had no choice she had to catch this perfect person at all costs!

 

[Harper]

"Huff, huff, huff…"

Sweat ran down her brow as the ashen-haired girl made her way down the path, her extensive, free-flowing twintails trailing her movement softly with each step. Today’s slightly chilly climate called for something a bit more warm than a sports top and shorts, with long sleeves and pants alongside a trustworthy pair of running shoes being Nicole’s pick of outfit for today’s run.

The goal this time was not so much speed as it was endurance; In fact, she had been going only a modest bit faster than a regular jog by this point. But what she had managed to do thus far was to maintain this pace for close to an a hour without any sort of rest, and though she was starting to feel the burn of muscle strain on her legs, Nicole was more than willing to push herself into going for another hour.

Of course, effort without objective was a plainly inefficient use of one’s time. What was sought today was a improvement in endurance, as while Nicole rated her explosive bursts of energy very highly, drawn-out bouts have punished her in the past. And although it wouldn’t be a 1-to-1 conversion of effort to improvement, as running and Judo simply spent one’s stamina in very different ways, this was something she could do outside of the timeslots of her gym’s classes, thus it was still a good addition to her regimen.

Huff, huff, huff…

---

Feeling her mouth dry up, she started to look for a place to buy herself a bottle of water, and thus her eyes stumbled onto a very familiar cafe shop. And oh how she wished she was blind right now...

Imagery of pastries and sweet beverages flooded her mind. Shortcake, hot cocoa, cheesecake… Nicole couldn’t help but almost drool as she daydreamed about the cravings of her sweet tooth, a lazy smile in her face before the sound of a car horn snapped her out of it. She couldn’t indulge, she had a tournament in a month! And god knows she didn’t want to go through a last-minute weight cut like last time ever again.

Those brownies on sale were so worth it though…

Shaking her head to pscyh herself out of it, she decided to not risk temptation and go shop for her water somewhere else. Just as she was passing by, however, a loud voice exclaimed from behind her for her to stop.

And something about a bite…? She wished she could take a bit from anything that wasn’t a salad lately...

Nicole turned towards the stranger's voice, still keeping a standing run in place to not let herself cool down. In front of her was a young girl with a very fancy butterfly hair accessory, holding up a phone towards her. Huh.

Even with her good results in local and interstate competitions, she was far from a Atlanta star, so this was definitely not a situation she was used to. A part of her wanted to tell her off for seemingly recording her without her consent, but the girl's visible enthusiasm persuaded Nicole to let her off the hook for that.

Besides, she couldn't deny that the possibility of being interviewed on her Judo career made her giddy, as unlikely as that might be. Though she embarked on this journey for her own fulfillment, some recognition always made her day.

“ ‘Eya there, what can I help ya with?"

Nicole gave her admirer a smirk, stopping her stationary run to perform a few vertical leaps in place to show-off her athleticism, getting some impressive height on them for someone not currently at 100% energy. And though her outfit covered most of it, her toned stomach still revealed the well-built nature of her body to an observer.

"Gotta say, -hup-, real pretty hairpin you got there! Is it a DIY thing or did you get it somewhere? -hup-"

@Pandora*

 

[Pandora*]

Stars of the World: Nicole Fairbanks

Atlanta

" 'Eya there, what can I help ya with?"

"Na endlich!"

The butterfly adorned girl exclaimed, as she now too broke into a sweat. She lowered her phone and rubbed her chin. Her gold locket swaying as it caught the sun. Her speech continued to break into German as she studied Nicole as if she was some prized portrait.

"You... you..."

The girl didn't respond to Nicole's comments, instead choosing to circle her and replace her phone with a larger movie camera. Holding it to her eye she continued to try and get different angles. Her legwarmer's bouncing as her loafers tip tapped around the jogger..

"Gotta say, -hup-, real pretty hairpin you got there! Is it a DIY thing or did you get it somewhere? -hup-"

""Ohhhh... hmmmm... eh? Ahhhh.... mmmhmmm... ja....."

Finally she lowered the camera and putting it away she spoke as she shuffled around in her oversized duffle bag.

"Miss, this may sound difficult to believe, but! "

She kept her eyes on her bag and then nodded before looking directly into Nicole's eyes. She suddenly became eerily serious....

"Name?! What is your name? I'm Ingrid."

A pause before Ingrid dramatically thrust a flyer at her with one hand to her hip. Her eyes dazzled as bright as her locket if only in her enthusiasm.

Sailor Dune? Nein!
Pretty Pure? Nein!
Mega Rangers? Neiiiiiin!!!
Kamer Flier! Ich sage NEIN, AGAIN!

This is not your ordinary magical girl show.
This is not your ordinary hero squad.

THIS… is the DAWN of a NEW, BLOOMING fighting force that will bring PEAK HEROISM straight to your screens… and maybe, even to your HEART!

Mahou Shoujo:
Flowers of Dawn
(Working Title)

Ultimate Heroines that stand against the evil Cyberton Army with only their faith in each other and pure HEROSIM lay everything on the line for the ULTIMATE VICTORY!

We are IGNITING the start of a REVOLUTION!
We are bringing the HYPE of a NUCLEAR STAR to the web!


From Indie Visionary Ingrid Schwartz.


PREPARE YOURSELF FOR...
ABSOLUTE CINEMA!​

---

CASTING NOW!
We are seeking passionate actors for multiple roles!
Contact Ingrid Schwartz to claim your destiny and help us bring this epic, blooming saga to life!​

"How would you like to be a MOVIE STAR?!!!"

She pushed it into Nicole's hand bobbing up and down to keep up with the bathetic motions. Then backed up and coughed with her fist over her mouth.

"This needs to work ... I need this role filled...."

Smiling again with her hands clasped together in front of her skirt Ingrid tilted her head and continued.

"My freundinnen and I are planning to create a new live action web series! I even have a sponsor! We just need a couple more people and you... are just perfekt!"

Another fake cough as she mumbled to herself out loud.

"It's not like I couldn't just use what I took and get her likeness but authenticity is still besten......"

"So tell me Miss. Can you make a scary face. flex those sweaty muscles some? Bitte? What's the most weight you can lift? Can you scream? Let's hear it! I need your height and weight and...."

Was Nicole really ready for the big time?
Or did she have stage fright?

 

[Harper]

Well. That girl was inside her own reality right now. Nicole would have a better chance of suddenly combusting than getting anything through to Ingrid right now. So, she decided to settle down, placing her hands behind her head as she calmly watched the young girl do her thing.

The switch from phone to fancy camera, however, raised a eyebrow. Clearly this wasn't just some awestruck teen, that camera would have a few zeroes too many on its price tag for that. Was she some sort of influencer? Did she just find herself in the middle of a viral prank?

One thing was certain: She was given a name. At the very least, she should give her own back.

"Righto! My name is Nicole. Nicole Fairbanks. So, how can I hel-Bwuh?!"

Her train of thought was extinguished by the sudden flyer on her face, Nicole being stunned for a moment before slowly taking the flyer from Ingrid's hands.


And with each line read, everything became really clear.

---

The last thing Nicole would call herself is a anime fan, but she knew the odd term here and there from her colleagues. Mahou Shoujo, or Magical Girls here in the states, was a bit away from her usual tastes, the Atlanta native's tastes being less Sailor Mars and Medoka and more towards your John-Claudio Von Demme's and Op Man's.

Still, the synopsis did sound a bit more action-packed than the usual magi-girl stuff she pictured in her mind, and Ingrid's excitement was palpable... Alongside her desperation. She must really been struggling to get actors if random good-lookers on the street were on her radar.


Well, Nicole couldn't deny she felt flattered, at the very least.

Her university duties were taken care of for the moment, and there weren't any competitions immediately in sight. And mother always said to get as many baskets for your eggs as possible... And more importantly?

It sounded fun.

"Imma keep it real with you: Last time I acted anything, I was 7 and didn't want to go to school. No acting chops here, but if that's fine with you..."

One of her hands grabbed one of Ingrid's wrists, placing the recruiter's hand on her abs as Nicole got a good bit closer to her face. You could grind meat on those!

Nicole wasn't sure she could pull off a scary face, but her master always said she got really intense when grappling. And intensity could be scary, after all, so let's go with that!

A face of pure focus and single-mindness towards victory. Eyes laser-focused on the target. No unnecessary movement or breathing as to not give away intent. That's the face Nicole could offer Ingrid. And with a razor-straight, almost cold tone, she started to give Ingrid the answers she sought.

Ingrid's hand was moved to one of Nicole's deltoids."...162 on bench press." Then, to the side of one of her thighs."232 on the squat."Lastly, Ingrid's hand went to the base of Nicole's back. Every area had well-toned and solid muscles, felt even through the fabric. "And 268 on the deadlift. 5'1", 138 pounds, though I cut to 126 when competing."

She kept the gaze on Ingrid lingering a little while longer... Before letting go of her hand with a chuckle, the ice-cold focus being gone for the time being as she let her back visibly relax on a nearby street post as she leaned on it, before going back to answer Ingrid's questions.

"Dunno about any scream, but I can do a mighty battle roar. Don't think I can pull it off the middle of busy Atlanta though, sorry."She shrugged her shoulders with a meek shake of her head. "People at campus already think I'm a nutcase as it is without giving them fresh slander like that, you get me?"

She clapped her hands together, rubbing them with a big smile as she awaited Ingrid's feedback.

"Either I just convinced you of how awesome I am, or you want to run away to the police now. Feel free to let this judoka know either way!"

@Pandora*

 

[Pandora*]

Stars of the World: Nicole Fairbanks

Atlanta

"Imma keep it real with you: Last time I acted anything, I was 7 and didn't want to go to school. No acting chops here, but if that's fine with you..."

"Nein. You don't need that great of acting for your role! I promise! You are a natural! I have an eye for these things ja!"

Before Ingrid could continue, her eyes widened as her hand was grabbed and...

"Wie jetzt???!"

."...162 on bench press."

As her hand was moved along she almost dropped her camera.

"232 on the squat."

It was indeed something.. B-But they were in the middle of Atlanta in broad daylight! What would people think of such a sight? What would...

"And 268 on the deadlift. 5'1"

"Ja... I see..."

"38 pounds, though I cut to 126 when competing."

After staring for a bit more, Ingrid felt the grip lighten and release. She pocketed her camera as an act of hiding her lost composure. That was not exactly how she expected this person to audition...

But.

"Either I just convinced you of how awesome I am, or you want to run away to the police now. Feel free to let this judoka know either way!"

Ingrid entered such a deep state of thought as she closed her eyes. She took a deep breath. Saying nothing for a moment until...

"WUNDERBAR!!!!!!!!!!!"

If no one was paying attention to them that certainly could change now. A dog howled in the distance in response.

"The intensity! The borderline creepy behavior! The ROCK HARD abs!"

Pulling out her phone again she immediately started typing.

"Nicole Fairbanks.... give me your phone number, email, everything! I need to be able to send you tickets and understand costs. My sponsor can pay for your flights, hotel rooms, hummus, whatever. Grosse schwester will be happy to pay! I just need some more goons that can fit in the suits... The World Tour can almost begin! Once I'm absolutely sure on locations."

"You will make the perfect punching bag! ...I mean MOVIE STAR!!!!!!"

A single piece of paper was again shoved at the fighter. A contract....