Aaron sat at the head of a long, ornate table in what could only be described as the Nostorian version of a boardroom. Instead of sleek, modern furniture, there were heavy wooden chairs with backs so tall they looked like they were compensating for something. Candles flickered dramatically along the walls, casting shadows that made the room feel more like a villain's lair than a place for a business meeting.
"This is it," Aaron muttered to himself, tapping his fingers on the table. "The beginning of my rise to stardom. Or, more likely, the start of a really embarrassing failure that will be talked about for decades."
Across from him sat Tobias, who, of course, was the mastermind behind this latest endeavor. He'd insisted that Aaron meet with some of Nostoria's most "influential" figures in the entertainment industry to discuss his meteoric rise to fame. Aaron, on the other hand, wasn't so sure about the word "meteoric." He felt more like a guy who had tripped and landed face-first in front of a crowd that decided to cheer out of sheer awkwardness.
"I really hope these guys aren't expecting me to have an actual plan," Aaron muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Because if they are, this meeting is about to go down faster than the last Fast & Furious movie."
The large wooden doors at the end of the room creaked open, and three men strode in, each one dressed in what Aaron could only assume were the Nostorian equivalents of business suits. One of them wore a tunic so brightly colored, Aaron had to squint to look at it. The other two looked like they were attending the world's fanciest jousting competition.
They sat down across from him, their expressions a mix of skepticism and curiosity. Aaron took a deep breath and gave them his best "I totally know what I'm doing" smile, which, judging by their reactions, probably came off more like "I might set something on fire any second."
Tobias, ever the enthusiastic cheerleader, clapped his hands together. "Gentlemen! May I present to you the future of Nostorian entertainment—Aaron!"
The three men looked at Aaron expectantly. Aaron looked back at them, wondering if anyone would notice if he just dove out the nearest window. It wasn't like it was that far to the ground.
"Uh, hi," Aaron said finally, raising a hand in what he hoped was a casual, cool-guy wave. "So… entertainment. Yeah. That's… my thing now, apparently."
The man in the bright tunic—who Aaron immediately nicknamed Rainbow McBusiness in his head—cleared his throat. "We've heard… rumors about your last performance. It was, how shall I put this, unorthodox?"
Aaron's smile tightened. Unorthodox. Right. That's one way to describe a stage collapsing in the middle of a show.
"Yeah," Aaron said, leaning back in his chair, trying to seem nonchalant. "Well, you know, I like to keep things fresh. Who wants to see the same old boring stuff, right? Sometimes, you've gotta shake things up. Or, y'know, have the ceiling shake itself down on top of you."
The man to Rainbow McBusiness's left—Sir Stoic Face—narrowed his eyes. "Are you suggesting that chaos is the key to good entertainment?"
Aaron shrugged. "Worked for Hollywood. Ever seen an action movie? Half the time it's just stuff blowing up for no reason, and people love that."
Stoic Face looked unconvinced. The third man, Lord Grey Beard, tapped his fingers on the table thoughtfully. "You seem to have an… unconventional approach, Aaron. But we're here to discuss the future. Specifically, your future in this industry."
Aaron resisted the urge to sigh. His future? He could barely figure out what he was having for dinner, and now they wanted him to plan his entire career?
"I mean, sure," Aaron said, trying to stall. "The future. Yeah, that's, uh, definitely something I think about all the time."
Lord Grey Beard raised an eyebrow. "Then tell us—what's your next move? What do you envision for the future of entertainment here in Nostoria?"
Aaron blinked. He didn't have a next move. He barely had a first move. What do I envision? He envisioned himself not dying in a freak accident at the next performance, but somehow he doubted that's what they wanted to hear.
"Well," Aaron began, grasping at straws, "I think we need to start thinking outside the box. You know, get creative. Like, uh… reality shows! People love reality shows. We could do something like… I dunno, Real Housewives of Nostoria. Or maybe something with dragons. Everyone loves dragons."
Tobias clapped his hands in delight. "Brilliant! A reality show! Yes, yes, I can see it now: Survivor, Nostoria Edition!"
Aaron's face lit up with mock enthusiasm. "Exactly! We throw a bunch of people onto a deserted island and make them battle it out for… whatever. Fame. Fortune. A decent meal that doesn't involve medieval bread."
Rainbow McBusiness looked intrigued, but Stoic Face frowned, clearly not impressed. "That seems… frivolous. We're looking for something with more gravitas."
Aaron snorted before he could stop himself. "Gravitas? Dude, have you seen the state of your 'industry'? You've got guys stumbling around on stage like they're in a high school play, and you're worried about gravitas?"
The room went silent. Aaron immediately regretted the outburst, but hey—he had a point. And besides, what was the worst that could happen? They fire him? That would be like getting fired from delivering pizzas. Oh wait. That had already happened.
Stoic Face's frown deepened, but before he could say anything, Lord Grey Beard chuckled. "He has a point. Perhaps we've been too focused on maintaining tradition. Maybe it is time for a change."
Tobias nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! Change! That's what Aaron is here for. He's the spark we need to ignite a revolution in entertainment!"
Aaron forced a grin. "Yeah, a spark. Or an explosion. Same difference, right?"
Rainbow McBusiness looked thoughtful. "What would you propose then, Aaron? Something that combines both excitement and… sophistication?"
Aaron resisted the urge to bang his head on the table. Sophistication? That wasn't exactly his strong suit. But he was never one to back down from a challenge, even if it was a stupid one.
"Well," Aaron began, improvising as he went along, "we could do something like… a talent competition. People love competitions. You've got the drama, the tension, the whole 'will-they-won't-they-make-it' vibe. And we can throw in some real stakes. Like… I dunno, the winner gets a big contract. Or… doesn't get eaten by a dragon. Whatever works."
Lord Grey Beard nodded slowly. "A competition. That could work. Something that brings out the best talent in Nostoria."
Aaron smiled, relieved that they were buying into this ridiculous plan. "Exactly. We'll make it a big event. Get the whole town involved. It'll be like… American Idol, but with more swords. And less autotune."
Stoic Face didn't look convinced, but Rainbow McBusiness seemed on board. "Very well," he said, standing up. "We'll consider your proposal. But know this, Aaron—you're walking a fine line here. If this next venture of yours ends in disaster, there won't be a third chance."
Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Second chance? I thought I was still on my first."
Lord Grey Beard gave him a knowing smile. "Let's just say your 'first' has been… extended."
Aaron's smile faltered. "Right. No pressure then."
As the three men stood and left the room, Tobias clapped Aaron on the shoulder, grinning from ear to ear. "You did it! They're interested! This is your moment!"
Aaron gave him a flat look. "Yeah, well, I'm still not convinced this isn't going to end with me being thrown to the metaphorical wolves. Or actual wolves, knowing my luck."
Tobias laughed, clearly oblivious to Aaron's sarcastic tone. "Nonsense! This is the start of something great!"
Aaron sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Sure. Just wake me up when I'm the Nostorian Simon Cowell. I'll even wear the tight t-shirts."
The next day, Aaron found himself standing in the middle of Nostoria's main square, a hastily constructed stage behind him and a group of people who looked more confused than excited. Posters had been slapped up all over the city, advertising the first-ever Nostorian Talent Competition. Aaron had spent the morning dodging questions like, "What's a talent competition?" and "Why are there no dragons involved?"
He stood in front of the growing crowd, trying to muster up some enthusiasm. "Alright, everyone! Welcome to Nostoria's first talent competition! If you've got a skill—any skill—now's your chance to show it off. Think you can sing? Dance? Juggle flaming swords? Whatever it is, bring it on!"
The crowd stared at him, dead silent. Aaron's smile wavered. Wow. Tough crowd.
He cleared his throat. "Look, guys, this is your chance to be a star. I'm talking fame, fortune… all that good stuff. You could be Nostoria's next big thing. You want to be the medieval Beyoncé? Now's your chance!"
Still nothing. Aaron ran a hand through his hair, muttering under his breath. "Geez, even medieval peasants don't get pop culture references. Tough gig."
Just as he was about to give up, Lina stepped up onto the stage next to him, taking the mic (well, the Nostorian equivalent of a mic) and flashing the crowd a warm smile.
"Come on, everyone," she said. "This is a chance to show what you're made of. Whether you're a singer, a storyteller, or even a fire-breather, we want to see it. Let's make this the biggest event Nostoria has ever seen!"
The crowd started to stir, some people nodding, others whispering to each other. Aaron shot Lina an appreciative look. Of course, she knows how to talk to people. I'm just the guy who insults them.
Slowly but surely, the first contestants began to approach the stage, and Aaron's sarcastic façade faded just a little. Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn't be a complete disaster after all.
But knowing his luck… it probably would.