Chapter Text
“Shit” Satsuki hissed.
She was running late because she had stayed up until 3am editing last week’s film because the lighting filter wasn’t just right, still wasn’t in fact, but she had sent it into the studios for production and distribution this morning anyway. Which is why she overslept her alarm and is currently cursing Los Angeles morning traffic. Not even The Shins softly coming through her car speakers could soothe her right now. Today was the first day of her new film, Scissor, and she was going to be late. Shit. Spotting a familiar flash of green out of the corner of her eye, she thought if she was going to be late, she might as well be caffeinated.
Striding purposefully up to the counter, Satsuki ripped her too-large wayfarers off her face onto her messy bun to glare down the barista.
“Trenta ice coffee, un sweetened, no room” she practically barked. “And a grande iced latte” she added as an afterthought. Mako had mentioned that a new actress would be working with them today, so might as well bring the girl a peace offering for showing up late to her own freaking shoot.
The small blonde man behind the counter lazily stared back up at her, calmly writing her order on the cup.
“That’ll be $4.50. Cool shirt by the way.”
Satsuki looked down, not having a clue to what shirt she had thrown on this morning in her rush to get out the door. It was amazing she hadn’t put on her formal pantsuit on accident. Turns out she was wearing a production t-shirt from her first film in college, a faux military uniformed was printed on the front with the title Jenketsu superimposed in what appeared to be blood. It was this project that Satsuki decided to go into this business as a career. She smiled fondly at the memory, until she realized she probably looked like deranged person smiling at her breasts.
“Uh thanks. Here.” She practically threw the cash at the barista, collected the drinks and rushed back to her car, already sucking down the iced coffee like it was her lifeblood.
Fifteen minutes later found Satsuki walking onto the set inside the crappy building of Covers Studios, carrying both drinks with her sunglasses still planted on her face. As she was scanning the measley crew for her second director Mako, her eyes fell on a pair of shoulders. A pair of shoulders she knew all too well from surreptiously taking pictures of said shoulders in high school when she was in photography and the owner of those shoulders was in journalism. Satsuki still had at least 2GB worth of pictures of those shoulders on her computer, never really having the heart nor inclination to delete them. Why were those shoulders on her set? She hadn’t seen the owner of those shoulders in years, back when all their friends would meet up during college breaks. Why were those shoulders here, of all places?
“Fifteen minutes late with two Starbucks? Couldn’t just be the cliche, had to best it, eh Satsuki-chan?” a bubbly voice broke through her reverie. She realized she had been standing with one foot off the ground, burning holes into a pair of shoulders that didn’t even have the decency to notice her yet.
“Tch, I was editing the piece from last week last night. And don’t call me ‘chan,’ we’re not in Japan, Nonon’’ she scoffed, trying to regain her usual stoic composure while pulling her sunglasses off.
Nonon just giggled. She enjoyed teasing Satsuki far too much. “Were you able to at least keep my hair pink or did you filter the lighting that I looked positively dismal?” the pink-hair girl pouted.
“If anything, it ended up more pink. It was called Bubblegum Love, for goodness sake. A stupid title really, but I suppose it would have to do. Maybe if we had had more time and I had gotten the actual lighting right during filming we might-”
“As much as I enjoy your artsy rants, Mako was looking for you. She’s over there by Ira setting up the cameras. You can complain to them.”
“Right. Thanks. Give this to the new girl.” As Nonon sashayed away, iced latte in hand, Satsuki’s eyes tried to find those shoulders again but couldn’t locate them. She sighed, relieved. Maybe it was just a trick of the lights. She went over to Mako and Ira to quickly go over today’s schedule before the real fun began.
It was only a few minutes later that Mako had left to rescue Nonon and the new girl from the costume manager, Iori. Left to his own devices, that boy would wrap whoever was closest to him in different fabrics all day long. Satsuki sighed and rubbed her temples, looking down at today’s schedule. It was going to be a long day as they wanted to get through the majority of the more mundane shots today. Looking down at the minimal dialogue between NJ and MR, Satsuki was left wondering who this MR was and if she liked ice lattes.
“Alright, since Director Satsuki was running a little late today,” Satsuki could hear Mako approaching, presumably talking to the two girls, “we’ll do a brief rundown of today’s schedule and get shooting!” Satsuki smiled, both at Mako’s insistence to call her ‘Director Satsuki’ and at her enthusiasm.
“Satsuki as in Satsuki Kiryuin?” a harsh voice asked.
Satsuki whipped her head up.
“Holy fucking shit.” Ryuko Matoi stood before her. Ryuko, the object of her mild high school obsession. Ryuko, who had moved away to San Francisco. Ryuko, who was standing in front of her in daisy dukes and a sports bra, holding an iced latte. Ryuko Matoi was her new actress.
“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK SATSUKI?” Ryuko roared. Satsuki flinched back slightly in her chair. “YOU’RE A FUCKING PORN DIRECTOR? YOUR FACEBOOK SAYS YOU’RE DOING FILMING AND PUTTING OUT INDIE FILMS. NOT FUCKING PORN.”
Getting over the initial shock of seeing Ryuko Matoi in daisy dukes, Satsuki calmly replied “You’re one to talk Ryuko. Your facebook says you’re working as an actress.”
“THIS IS ACTING.”
“Then this is film. Glad we got that sorted. Now today’s schedule consists of-”
“Now hold up, Frowny-Brows. Why the fuck are you shooting lesbian porn?” Satsuki frowned at that. She hated that nickname in high school. She also hated being cut off and only tolerated it when Nonon did it. The novelty of a nearly naked Ryuko was quickly wearing off into irritation.
“Number one, you will refer to me by my name as I am your superior. Number two, you will not interrupt me again because, again, I am your superior. Number three, I don’t have to answer your question because, guess what, I am your superior. Do I make myself clear?”
Ryuko had stepped back and folded her arms under her chest, looking contrite. Defeated Ryuko was a sight Satsuki could get used to. Something along the lines of “Yes ma’am” was heard coming from her mouth. A mouth Satsuki wanted to film doing dirty things.
“Change of plans. Ryuko, you’re bottoming.”