Bwob Games

It’s a little scary, seeing so many well dressed people. Proper adults.

She’s a bit early, so she can map the building before doing anything, and although she has the essentials down (emergency exit, normal exit, bathrooms) she still can’t find the place she’s supposed to be in.

The fashion world seems almost as busy as the teaching world, anywhere she looks someones is concentrating on something, quickly walking somewhere, talking on the phone or just, working. Huh, if this is the normal cortisol level, perhaps she’ll fit right in!

But this also means she has no one she can politely ask for directions.

As she keeps exploring the place, trying to stay out of anyone’s way, she finally finds a group of young girls, seemingly relaxing.

Turns out, these girls are her fellow colleagues! University students who also do modeling, hopefully paid.

“I have to go with, um, Mr. Neisseria in about 20 minutes, do you know where he is? Or where should I be waiting for him?”

She notices a grimace passing by everyone’s faces.

“You’ll be before me, I can take you there.”

They walk to yet another busy hallway.

She uses her position as the new girl to try and get more information.

“Is he nice? Is there something that, um, he could be easily bothered for or…?”

“You just… be nice to him. And polite. Follow whatever instruction he gives you and you should be fine.”

The girl doesn’t seem comfortable, better not to continue.

“Do they have any snacks on set?”

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They don’t have any snacks on set. Turns out a lot of models aren’t really allowed any sweets at all. The pay better be good.

There’s a small group of people managing cameras and computers, it feels a bit glamorous!

“Alright, I’ll go back to the lounge, wanna get together for lunch?”

“I’d love to!”

Nina secretly plans to buy them snacks. Even if it’s those no-sugar gummy ones. They deserve a sweet treat!

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She politely greets the staff and looks around the room.

And then a man with a camera comes in.

“Sophia! Sophia! Where’s my beautiful girl?”

Sophia is the name of the model that she’s replacing, did no one tell him?

“Excuse me, My name is Nina. I’ll be the one replacing Sophia for this, um, project…”

She trails off at seeing the barely hidden disgust in the man’s face.

“And they sent you?”

“...Yes.”

He huffs and pinches the space between his eyebrows.

“What are they thinking sending me hags…”

She heard that.

He sighs and looks at the team.

“Alright everyone, settle up. We’ll do some tests first.”

“Um, do I…?”

“Get changed, quick.”

He even does a hand movement, shooing her away. Not even looking at her.

...She supposes that if you suddenly got a total newbie at your highly demanding job, you would also be a little irritated.

...He’s not very nice about it though. He can hear him complaining to the staff about her height, her age, her weight?

She quickly changes into the clothes given. It’s probably the first time she ever felt something made 100% of cotton.

“Hurry up, woman!”

She goes on set and. Stands there. How does one model? Should she put a hand on her hip? The peace sign?

“Um, is there a specific pose that-?”

“Ugh, whatever! Just do whatever.”

He grumbles under his breath.

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She tries to imitate what she has seen in clothes adverts.

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And after a few loud “Change pose” from Mr. Neisseria, it’s over. Quicker than expected.

She hears the staff looking at the pictures, talking about edits to her waist and legs.

As she leaves, Mr. Neisseria exclaims something to her.

“Loose some weight for the next shot or you’re getting kicked out!”

In front of the whole staff.

Her face quickly heats up and she rushes out.

She changed her mind, being a teacher is the best thing ever. The pay is fine actually. The crammed classrooms are perfect, really.

Everything is better than dealing with these… people.

Eugene always told her to distrust men in power, at least until he became one himself.

She wishes he was here. He would find a way to make that man be nicer to her. He might get violent, even.

No, this is not a mere playground bully, he would know better than that. She knows better than that.

At some point, he comes across Alicia, the girl who lead her here.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah, yeah, it’s just… Mr. Neisseria’s attitude is a bit…”

“Did he try anything?”

“Huh? No? He was just… Really mean…”

“Why. What did you say to him.”

“Nothing! He was looking for the old model and I told him I was his replacement and he really didn’t like that…”

“Oh. Yeah, that makes sense…”

“Don’t let it get to you, he’s an asshole anyways. We all secretly hate him. We still up for lunch?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there.”

“Alright, tell everyone to wait for me!”

And so, Alicia walks into the lion’s den.

She’s embarrassed, to have such a young girl have to comfort her… She’s supposed to be the old one here.

In a curiosity filled impulse, she tries to hear the inside of the set once Alicia gets in.

“Hello Alicia, sweetheart. Where’s my kiss?”

….Huh.

“Go get changed so we can start, okay? And let me see you first.”

It’s… certainly something. But she shouldn’t make accusations based on her own assumptions of character.

(Even if her assumptions of character end up being right most of the time)

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It’s lunch time and she gives the girls snacks. A mere banana and yogurt cannot be a proper meal!

She doesn’t buy a snack for herself.

“I don’t know how you do it, I love my little brother but he drives me insane sometimes. I couldn’t deal with 20 children everyday.”

“They can be pretty funny, and it’s not like I give them everything they want either, they need someone that’s firm as well.”

“Woah, scary…”

“I’m back.”

Alicia gets to their table, looking tired. She brightens up once offered the chocolate treat.

“You’re the besttt, why do you have to leave after this?”

“We need a mama too, wehh.”

“What about your parents?”

“No, no. A work mama.”

It’s nice seeing them hang around and being silly in such a stress-driven environment.

“Dude, Neisseria was extra nasty today.”

Her ears perk up

“He was getting all handsy trying to instruct me for a pose or whatever. Calling me princess and shit. Who else has him today?”

“Fuckkkk I do. Thanks for the head up.”

Wait, what?!

“Wait, is he… harassing you all?”

“Yeah, it’s fucked”

“We gotta tell someone! We can accuse him to the higher ups and-”

“Don’t bother, it’s not gonna do anything.”

“We know what good saying something did to Sophia.”

“But…”

“It’s fine! We won’t be interns here forever, once we pass this we’ll never see any of these people again!”

“It’s not like it’s a secret or anything.”

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone knows that guy is a pig. But they won’t kick him out for nepotism or whatever.”

“In fact, trying to kick him out will get you kicked out! And we kinda need this so…”

“Maybe it’s better that Sophia got out. She probably won’t be able to model anywhere but maybe it’s for the best.”

“We can’t really do anything about it.”

They change topics, but her mind stays the same.

These girls are mere workers, they are right in being powerless.

But if Eugene taught her something is to exploit every bit of social connection you have.

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Once she’s back home, after a surprisingly short day of work, she gets on the phone.

“Who is this”

“Mom”

“Who?”

“Oh, right. It’s your first day, yeah? What of it? Did you like it?”

“I’m Nina, um, I’m calling about the modeling gig.”

“Um, It’s really pretty! But I should have more experience I think. Um, I need to tell you about someone…”

“Uh huh?”

“Mr. Neisseria, the photographer. He’s… well… He’s a complete sex pest! He’s a total creep to the girls! The model before me left because of that!”

“Uh huh, okay. So?”

“What do you mean ‘So?’ ?! you have influence, right? You can get him kicked out!”

She hears a sigh on the line.

“He is one of the most renowned names in the industry, sweetie. The prestige of the company comes with him. We can’t just kick out talent like that.”

“Wh- There must be a hundred people in the country with his talent!”

“Yes, darling, but they’re not from good families, understand?”

“You-?!”

“You shouldn’t get this worked up over nothing, you’ll get wrinkles.”

“It’s fine, he just has his way of working, it’s not like the girls are underage or anything.”

“Besides, he’s your cousin or something, some nephew of your dad’s. You like family and all that don’t you?”

“You said he might not even be my dad.”

“Haha, right, I remember now. But anyways, just do the rest of the shots, yeah? Just ignore if he bothers you.”

“How can you say that?! Even when you know what he’s doing?!”

“How’s your brother, darling?”

She pauses.

Eugene is out of jail, but she has no idea where he is.

“...This is not about him.”

“Is it not? Isn’t him the whole reason you are doing this?”

…

“If you want, I can find him.”

“I can bring him here.”

“That’s not-!”

Gene cannot know she’s doing this. Gene cannot get trapped like this.

She just got him free, he cannot be caged by them!

“That’s not… necessary.”

“Good! So I’ll be looking forward to see you on the magazine. Bye sweetie! Have a good day at work!”

And she hangs up.

She once heard Mari say that no matter how old they get, she’ll always see her kids as little children.

She wasn’t aware that it would work backwards as well.

She feels disgusting, she feels nauseous, she’s guilty, stupid, awful, gross, an accomplice to…!

She might throw up.

How can she do this and call herself a good person. How can she do this and claim she cares for children. How can she be anything more than a hypocrite? A gross, disgusting, enabling part of the blind mob that sits to the side while watching others suffer?

How can she live with herself?

She wishes Gene was here.

He would find a way to fix it, He could- he knows how to manage the social systems, he could get him kicked out without mom getting mad and- he could-!

He could save himself, unlike her.

To think those girls called her mama too. She’s nothing more than a fraud.

Will there ever be a day where she stops betraying those she love?

She cries.

She refuses to eat dinner.

She leaves a voicemail to Gene.

She considers calling Mari, but refuses last second.

She sleeps.

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If only Marigold was here.

Hopefully, she’s sitting still, she’s looking in the eyes, she’s not bouncing her leg, she’s not sweating, and all of those lessons Gene taught her for approaching people of higher power.

The phone call was a bit difficult. Apparently just going by “Nina” is not enough to get remembered, so she had to add the “Coli” in there. Not the most common surname, but not quite unique either, right?

Well, even if the secretary she contacted suspects anything, these high powers will keep her quiet.

She know how these things work.

Her order hasn’t arrived yet. The whole menu was in Italian for some reason, so she couldn’t get any reassurance pastry.

The place is almost empty, she wonders if it was bought.

No, no, if she knows anything about her parents is that they hate spending money for no reason.

And clearly, her and Gene are not a strong reason.

Their orders arrive, she has no other excuse to keep the apparent amicable silence.

It’s been years.

She almost can’t believe it, that in front of her stands…

Her mother.

“So?”

She didn’t remember her voice.

What a strange feeling to have, to find alien something she’s supposed to miss.

It’s too late to get a mother, anyways.

“Is… Is Mr. Coli coming as well?”

“Ugh, God I hope not.”

“Huh?”

“We divorced a while ago, I have no idea what he’s up to but hopefully he’s dying in a ditch somewhere”

She doesn’t remember her parents being particularly romantic. She should ask Gene after this.

He doesn’t like telling her about them, but she’s a grown woman now. She needs to know.

“Never trust men, girl, they’re a bunch of parasites.”

“I don’t have any interest in… um… marrying.”

“Good.”

She takes the opportunity to refresh her dry throat with the overly-sweet coffee.

“I… I need your help.”

“Money, you mean.”

“...Yes.”

It’s painful. It’s humiliating and horrible. She can tell why Gene would rather loose sleep than to beg to them.

But where Gene lacks, she can step in.

“Why, of course. I guess if I don’t comply you’ll go running around telling everyone we’re related?”

“No.”

She raises a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

“I know that… Even if I try you have the power to suppress it all. And- And even if you don’t… I doubt it would make a dent in you or da- Mr. Coli’s career.”

“You’re right. Then what?”

“I… I don’t know if you have seen the news but… Eugene is…”

“In jail, yes. Incredibly funny performance. Completely lost his mind.”

“...Right.”

“I… I need to pay the bail.”

“I’m not asking for everything, I have some savings around so it’s really just a small amount, but I can’t really ask the banks because I’m not eligible for- Um. That’s it.”

The only other people who could have that money is Marigold and Eva, but there’s no way they’ll give her money if they knew what it was for.

She could lie to them, but they’d find out. The betrayal in their faces… No, this is the better choice.

By doing this, only she has to suffer.

“I see. You might be a little out of your mind as well, but fine. What do I get out of this?”

And like signing her soul to the devil, she seals her destiny.

“Anything.”

Actually, that is a bit too desperate. Gene would get so much second hand embarrassment if he saw her.

“Um, like, any job…? Just, something that can cover the money. Then I’ll be out of your hair forever. Again”

It’s a tricky situation, if she offers to lend the money, the interest might chain her for life. If she offers materials, they could strip her of everything.

She waits for the cards to turn.

She tries not to squirm as her mothe- benefactor eyes her up and down.

“You look like me.”

Not something she wants to hear.

“...I suppose so…”

“I never really found the appeal of children, but it is interesting to see”

“A little person who has my own eyes”

Somewhere inside her. Something prickly and ugly rears it’s head.

“I like kids. I teach them.”

“Oh my god, you’re so brave for that. I could never.”

“I just don’t get the appeal. Dirty little gremlins that don’t know reason! Always crying and shitting and making a mess anywhere they go. You can’t even leave them alone for two seconds or they’ll do who knows what!”

“And god forbid if you want to do anything else! No no, its all the kid, the kid, the kid, gotta watch the kid, gotta clean up, gotta hold it, gotta feed it, you become a nanny in your own home!”

The prickly, disgusting, ever so growing darkness in her possessed her mouth for a moment.

“Then why did you have kids.”

“Ugh, that bastard. Ooh his heir, his heir, he needs an heir! He needs it right now! And then it’s not enough! He needs another one! He needs 7 sons and 7 daughters like some priest told him or whatever.”

She huffs, then digs in her purse and takes out a fancy-looking cigar.

“What a drag. And don’t even get me started on the stretch marks, ugh! I could never take pictures of myself again!”

Something terrible is happening inside her. Alongside the prickly kiki, there is a softer bouba.

A pure white light, blinding, piercing, painful.

She feels sympathy.

What an awful thing.

Her mother shouldn’t have… gone through that (She’s awful she abandoned them she did this to them), she feels bad for her (One single nanny robs you and you never hire another?)

If she was just another woman, she would offer help.

But she’s not just any woman.

This woman has her eyes.

And at the same time, this woman is a stranger.

She’s not sure on what she should feel right now.

But if she wants that money, she knows what to say.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was so difficult for you. You should’ve been given more agency.”

Even if she’s reading from a script, even if everything is true, the words still burn acid into her tongue.

Sometimes she wishes hurt people didn’t hurt people.

(Sometimes she wishes she wasn’t angry at those hurt people)

“But, um…”

With the new information of Coli Senior in her mind, she thinks...

“Was he really satisfied with two children?”

Did they get divorced right when they left? Did he have more children? Does she have half-siblings?

“Haha, you’re smart. Of course not. But he changed his mind when he saw you”

“Me?”

“He saw how you looked and immediately told me, ‘This is not mine’”

She looks in the distance, with a satisfied look in her face.

“One of my great uncle’s had darker skin, so I told him that. Genes and such.”

“I’m… I’m not actually…?”

“Maybe. He was too prideful to do a parenting test. He could be your father! Or that beautiful model I found one night. Who’s to say.”

What?! Her dad might not even be her dad?! She could already be a half-sibling?!

...Should she tell Gene?

“But that was enough for him to not get anything out of me anymore. And even if he had other women, he wouldn’t recognize a child out of marriage.”

“And I doubt he can even get hard at this age to try now”

She laughs darkly.

“I see.”

“But that aside, you bloomed beautifully. Smart, pretty, good figure and at your what, 30’s?

“40’s”

“You’ve kept yourself well, that’s my inheritance.”

She gets closer and looks… warmly?

“It doesn’t really matter who your actual father is, because one thing will always be true”

“You are my daughter”

She feels… like crying a bit. Although she’s not sure why.

Is this what she wanted?

“And I know exactly where to use you”

She gets the money that same day.

And while Eugene walks free, she enters a prison of her own.

Also known as the modeling world.