Rosa glanced at her brother as they followed the Pokéstar Studios official through the streets of Virbank City. His hair was more of a flyaway mess than usual, indicating that he had been brushing a hand through it, as he did when he was nervous. Due to this, his visor was askew, and hung over his eyes to obstruct his view of his surroundings. She elbowed him in the gut.

"Ow!" he grunted, but didn't otherwise respond.

Rosa elbowed him again, this time with more force.

Nate batted her arm away with a mumbled, "Stoppit." He ran fingers through his hair again, and, noticing Rosa's regard, quickly stuffed his hands into his pant pockets and hurried after the agent.

"Is little brother nervous?" Rosa wondered sweetly, batting her eyelashes at the boy as she came alongside him again.

Nate attempted to brush her off again. "We're the same age, Rosa. I'm only three minutes younger than you."

Rosa smiled her best arch grin. "Well, you know how much three minutes can matter in this day and age," she observed. "But that's beside the point. What's the big deal with Pokéstar Studios that's got you worked up?"

Nate frowned at the big blond agent's back. He had ignored the conversation so far, as he was probably obliged to by contract. "It seems way too convenient that he happened to be scouting for trainers while two poor, nobody trainers from Aspertia City were in town. There are plenty of stars working for the studio already; why are they looking for new talent when they have a steady stream of people going in for auditions?"

Rosa had to think to answer that one. She hadn't even considered the possibility, too caught up in dreams of fame and fortune. "Well, this way they catch talent that would otherwise never go to the studio," she reasoned. "With our badges from Roxy, we would already be on the boat for Castelia if it weren't for this guy." She gestured to the agent ahead of them. "So that's probably why they hunt for talent, rather than just waiting for i- ooooooooh."

She had been cut off as the agent led the two young trainers through the huge gates to the Pokéstar Studios campus. Behind them, in the downtown of Virbank City, there was smog, and discoloured buildings, everything coated in a layer of sooty grey. Here, in the theme park that was the centre of cinema in the Unova Region, everything was painted with bright colours, and the buildings flashed with neon signs. Spotlights lit the sky, and people in elaborate costumes wandered back and forth along the concourse they had just entered on, also called the Main Mall.

Ahead of them, the agent turned on to one of the side streets, towards a squat building covered in posters. Through a door and up a set of stairs the two were led, and finally into a bright, opulent room where a pair of couches faced each other over a low coffee table. An older man with a shock of bright yellow hair around is massive bald spot was pouring himself a cup of tea at the table.

The agent bowed slightly before the man. "Mr. Deeoh, these are the kids I found in Roxy's place."

The man looked up to turn an excitable gaze upon the two trainers. "Ah, welcome!" he gushed. "Do sit down. Would you like some tea? Coffee? Cookie, either of you? Oh, please don't be shy, we like to be sure our interviews are as casual as possible."

Nate and Rosa shared a glance. "You want us to act for you?" asked Rosa, keeping her expression as friendly as she could.

"Oh my, yes," said Mr. Deeoh. "We always want new talent here. Our agent here told us that you had a wonderful presence while you battled Roxy in her Gym.

"That's what we really look for, you know," he confided, leaning far forward. "Everything else can be taught: lines, costuming, scriptwriting, that's all secondary. What an actor really needs is a good presence on the screen, and the intuitive knowledge of Pokémon that has allowed the two of you to earn Gym Badges so far."

Both young trainers preened a bit at the excessive compliments. It was Nate who spoke next. "So, if you're so sure about us, why have an interview? Was it just to get us here in the campus?"

Mr. Deeoh clutched theatrically at his chest. "Ah, you've got me, darling. This isn't so much an interview as it is a chance to explain how things work here on the Studio. You know who I am, I assume?"

Nate and Rosa both looked blank. "We… don't watch many movies?" offered Rosa apologetically.

The man threw himself across the cushions on his couch melodramatically, laying the back of a hand across his forehead for effect. "Ah, you wound me, darlings!" he gasped. "I am the inestimable Stu Deeoh, founder of the Studio. I was the star of the Unova film round for years uncounted, and I pioneered the three-short film system right here on the campus."

Nate and Rosa shared another long, confused glance. "So, uh, Mr. Deeoh," Rosa began, raising a hand tentatively. "If we're going to try this business, what are you talking about?"

"Well, darling," the man told her, regaining his seated position. "I won't reveal trade secrets if you're unsure whether you'll be joining our family here at the Studio." He smiled, so wide and enthusiastic that it looked like he was splitting his face.

Rosa turned a hopeful glance to Nate, who groaned. "One film," he grunted at Mr. Deeoh. "We'll start with one, and see where things go."

"Perfect!" Somehow, Mr. Deeoh managed to expose even more blindingly white teeth. "Now, allow me to explain.

"When we make a film, there are three phases to the shooting. In the first, actors follow the script and the director's guidance. The second shoot gives actors a chance to play with their characters on the set, and there are no limitations upon what they do before the cameras. The third and final shoot is where we allow actors to stretch their writing muscles and create their own script based on their director's. You see," he said, now looking even smugger than he already had, "our goal is to train actors in writing, to produce the next generation of screenwriters. It also gives audiences a chance to see what their favourite actors can produce on their own."

Nate and Rosa each raised a single eyebrow in confusion, and stared at Deeoh. He sighed. "Let's just get things started without delay. Monroe," he snapped his fingers at the agent standing behind his seat, "get me Brycen on the phone. I have costars for that new script he accepted last week.

"Well, darlings," he said to Nate and Rosa, "I'll see you at the Premier of your first film next week!" He rose from the seat with a flourish and sauntered out the door.

"Did he just say-"

"Brycen?"

Nate and Rosa's jaws both dropped in unison. "We get to be in a film with Brycen?"

And we're off with this monstrosity of a writing exercise. Be warned that updates will be sporadic at best, unless I've spontaneously become more organised and driven than I have been my entire life.

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