Al and Robin were having a super serious talk. No, not about Ione, but about the first time he will give Robin a throne in the editing room.
She has talked about her "problem" with Ione, and he suggested better to take things slowly and wait until the right moment.
While they were having a break in one of the donuts stores, as usual, Robin's shirt was dirtied by creams and food stains, especially on the chest because hers worked as an umbrella. Maybe because her hand always loses grips when she ate, her body adapted to its circumstances, great theory by Professor Alphonse.
He tried to train her hand coordination but still fails, he suggested Robin go to the doctor to see the problem but she said she was okay.
By now, Robin let out all her frustration in the editing room here.
"Why it's so hard! For Pete's sake, they are just talking in one room, but the editing difficulty is much harder than the film you gave me to train for." Robin said while rubbing her head.
Al came behind her and started to massage her head, then a sensual moan came out from her mouth. Everyone who sat in the café felt horny after heard that, men and women without exception. While Robin herself was known for the master of subtle arts of not giving a fu*ck.
"Better?" He has done rubbing her head and back to his seat.
"Yepppp." She stretched her back and moan.
"Now let's go back, you are new in this. The experienced editor spends years to study it. Luckily you are talented and have me as your investor. Anyway, it's still an experimental film. It's okay if it's bad."
"So you are like a sugar daddy to me right?" He suddenly covered her mouth with jelly donuts and fed her with it.
She started to chew the food and said, "Also, I don't want my first film I edit gone bad, even with the help of yours. Anyway, I will also follow you to USC to join a TV and film production major, so you won't get rid of me easily in near future." She smirked.
"Okay, now finish the food on your mouth first then we can go." He said and left the restaurant, she then drinks all her coffee in one gulp with some drips of coffee fell again on her shirt and then chase after him.
The shooting was done in mid-February, and with post-production also completed by them in early March, only a few weeks of editing.
As usual, he appeared at Golden Globe Awards last January and of course he won the best short film awards.
And in the Academy Awards Nomination announcement in early February, Al was nominated for best short film category. Too bad he didn't produce any worthy film that could join other category competition of the Academy Awards.
The Academy Awards this year will be held on 25th March.
Jessica also told him a message from Ari that the Academy really wanted him to perform in these awards. So he decided to meet Ari this evening.
"Perform? What? juggling balls and riding unicycle." He joked.
"Please Al," He gave him a white eye, "Academy wants to see you singing . Everyone really loves it, you are in the top 10 Billboards chart, even almost on par with Madonna. Look, if you accept this you are 90% will win the awards. I know this sounds ass-licking but that's how awards work."
Al nodded in agreement, The old purpose of the Academy Awards was to give the film practitioners a gift for their achievements in the breakthrough in the film industry.
Now it's more like a political campaign to get commercial success from the awards. Look how good profit it was if a film got an Oscar nominee or a winner stamps in their resume.
That's why many production studios were using any means like discourage other films or boot-licking any jury of academy awards.
Al sigh and said, "Ok, you tell them I will perform. But tell them they need to prepare all of it. Look at me singing live alive, pun intended."
Ari just smiled wryly at Al's weird joke.
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Al also got another good bad news, The Game Market Crash that happened in 1983 finally reaching its peak.
Atari, the once biggest video game seller finally forced to sell some of their divisions and fire their employee to ensure their welfare.
Al who saw the opportunities bought Atari divisions of hardware and save at least 70ish workers from unemployment.
But unfortunately, this division was headless so he needs to find someone to manufacture his handled 16-bit console.
He planned to find 2 leaders for game hardware and software developer with Niflheim names, his soon to be the game company.
He will split this company into 2 parts, first for hardware development and consoles, he created Niflheim Entertainment.
For software and games development, he created Niflheim Interactive.
He got a name on his head, Jerry Lawson, the father of modern gaming for hardware divisions.
For software, he suddenly remembered 2 guys.
A duo of husband and wife who popularized the adventure type games. Ken and Roberta Williams. He heard they made a game company, although her game King's Quest was innovative and groundbreaking, unfortunately, the sales were so-so because limited the platform they chose.
Now he needs to find a way to poach them into his company.
Another good news for him is that the hardware division he brought bring him a surprise. He found out they had manufactured a 16 and 32-bit processor but the size is as big as a chunk.
So he will be focusing on shrinking the 16-bit processor and made the handled game so he could manufacture the Pokémon game series that he planned to release in 1986.
By that time, the video game market will recover and some pioneer gaming industries like Nintendo and SEGA will capture the North American market. He would also become the key person in-game market restorations.
"Jessie, could you collect information about Jerry Lawson and the Williams who founded Sierra On-Line also check if they sell it."
"Roger boss." She saluted him.
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In early March, other than preparing his performance at the Academy Awards, he just hanging out all day with his friends in the mall.
One day, they got surprising news from Ione.
"I got a part in an audition yesterday!" Ione said happily.
While they were eating, Ione told them the good news.
Al who wanted to devour his cheeseburger said, "What!? Congratulation Ione!"
Everyone also said congratulatory words to her but Robin had a sour face on her.
"You didn't tell me you were having an audition." She frowned.
"Um, sorry Robin but you were so busy editing the film with Al. I don't want to disturb you with this news."
Al felt something would lead to fighting if he is not stepping in, his best friend business is also his too.
"Robin, please don't be mad, Ione just worried about you." He said with a soft tone.
"But....." She said angrily.
Al also immediately interject her, "Yes, she should tell us first about it but you also heard her reasons right. She was afraid that will disturb us so give her some chance Robbie.... please."
She stared at Ione then let out a heavy sigh, "Fine, I'm sorry Ione, maybe I was just overreacted."
Al turned to Ione and said, "Ione, I know we are busy with our problems but at least you can tell us. All of us are your best friend too, not only me and Robin, Max, Anthony, River also have the right to know. I know you also have your own secrets but we won't go that far, we know we couldn't do much but at least we can help you with something no matter how busy we are." He tried to convince Ione and everyone else.
"I'm sorry Al, everyone, especially you Robin, we are best friends since we are little. Looks like I'm really selfish this time." She sighed.
Then she turned to everyone else, "I'm sorry also to you guys, we already a friend for months. It's my fault, it won't happen again." She said.
They made up and telling each other weird stories they had since the new year.
Then, Ione approach Al and said l, "Al can we talk alone? Guys I know I should open up, but I promise I'll tell you all soon. I need to consult with Al about something first."
They went to an empty table far away from everyone else.
Anthony whispered to Max, River, and Robin, "Hey, what happened to them? You know they act..... weird. I know Al is good damn looking, but I saw Ione sometimes blush when she was talking with him. Do you think they.... dating?"
Robin then told them the truth, "Oh, Ione confess and Al rejected her, simple."
""Spurt"" Max and River who drank their soda spurt all of it.
"No shi*t, you serious Robin?" Anthony tried to confirm it.
"You think I never?"
"T-this is a violation of friendship conduct. We must interrogate him, tie him in a chair, and check if he is nor a robot...(slap)"
Then he was hit by Max on his head, "Chill out buddy, Robin said Al rejected her. But why was he rejecting Ione? She's pretty, right? If I was confessed by her, I would definitely accept it (slap)." Robin then hit his head.
River smiled after he saw their funny acts and explained it to them, "The problem is not about Ione pretty or not. It's about us as friends, as I know the love between friends in a group always ends up in disaster. Broken friendship, embarrassed to see each other, and meet again in another 20 years with their spouse and kids..."
River stopped speaking after received weird stares from them.
"(cough) well the love between best friend sometimes doesn't end up well from what my mother said."
Then everyone nodded in agreement at his statement.
Back to Ione and Al, Ione was telling Al about what she has been troubled with.
"Al, please help me train to become a better actress, Drewie became so good with your help. I hope you can help me... pweaseee." She said with puppy eyes.
He looked away from her cuteness and said, "Okay okay Ione, but surely you are not only asking about it right?"
"Yes, yesterday when I was auditioning uhm..... someoneaskingmeout."
"What did you said? Speak slowly please, Ione."
"Someone asking me out for a date, he's tall and handsome but I'm not sure about coming or not, so I'm asking your opinion." She bit her lips.
"Why are you asking me, isn't there Rob.... forget it she's useless. Why are you asking me Ione, you don't have to get permission from me for dating."
"Wha... no! I'm not asking your permission, I-I'm just... yes opinion! I'm asking for your opinion."
He smiled and made Ione more irritated.
"Okay, okay Ione just accept his offer. You are an attractive girl and you don't need my permission for dating, just go get this guy. By the way, what's his name?"
"His name? His name is Kane something... Oh yeah Keanu, he said his name is Keanu Reeves."
Keanu Reeves!? If history was correct, he should be 20 years old this year... Oh no, sh*it Sherlock!!
"Ione...."
"Yes?"
"Did you tell him your age?"
"No, why?"
He slapped his front face with his hands. She's too naive, maybe this time he also needs to be overprotective to her.
Then he cupped her face with his two hands and said, "Don't worry Ione, big brother Al will protect you from pedo bear!"
"Ehfft? Pezzo fwhat?" She talked hardly because Al cupped her cheeks.
"Guyss, code red!! Battle station! We have pedophile here who wants to steal Ione from our group!!"
"WTF!?" They were confused about what Al said, but it seemed the situation was dire and it involved Ione.
Then Al told them about an old guy who was asking Ione out and he told them to prepare a rope, Chloroform, and taser for interrogation that stunned everyone else except Robin who asked him where to find it.
Yep, they never understand what their best friend was thinking.
To Be Continued....