Disclaimer: Don't own.
:}
Robbie was busy cleaning his new home, wondering if maybe this was the year he'd be able to convince his mother he was a success. He was half of one of the fastest rising comedy teams in the country, with two movies already under his belt. Not yet twenty three, he was getting rich, respect, and even had his own fan club. But his parents still thought he was a grown man who played with dolls.
They were right, but not in his act. He couldn't work with more then one doll. Rex dominated his whole life, never allowing him to work with anyone else, except HER. Rex respected her, even as he harassed her, made jokes about her, and otherwise treated her like he would any girl. But most girls wouldn't rip his arm off and beat him with it. That was the difference, and thats what allowed her to work with Robbie.
Rob's path towards riches started with what he called his deal with the devil. Jade was better then he was at magic, and he needed help in his comedy act. So he asked her if she'd be his assistant. By the third time they performed together, she'd already changed everything. They were co-magicians, and she was learning the art of comedy. As she managed to earn the respect of the club owners, they got more and more offers to perform.
Jade wasn't happy. She pitched an idea for a movie, a throwback tot he old Abbott and Costello movies with a bit of the road movies that Bob Hope and Bing Crosby made mixed in. To eliminate the problem of having the studio trying to add some kind of romance between the two, she added that they'd always play family of some sort. Either siblings, or cousins, or whatever. And by a mix of pure willpower and contacts in the industry, she got their fist movie green lighted. It had a joke of a budget, but they'd written, directed, and starred in the film.
That movie made them. Jade worked day and night with Rex, deciphering the mysteries of humor to come up with the right jokes. The film, about a brother and sister who travel to New York to gather an inheritance, and have ridiculous adventures along the way, was just sexy enough to draw an audience, and had enough old style jokes, modernized, to keep them laughing. The final joke, after the two managed to save the heiress and win themselves a reward, as well as Rob's character winning her heart, they arrived to find the inheritance was only enough to pay for the trip home.
The movie made them rich. Not from the box office, which was respectable, but nothing to brag about. However, after the film was released, the comedy clubs suddenly knew them. They were in demand, moving towards playing bigger and bigger venues. Robbie started looking for a place, wanting to move out from his parents home so he could escape their constant complaints that he wasn't going to school. "You need your education. What will you do without a collage degree."
Jade also insisted on getting an education, but on line, around their growing schedule. Every step of the way, she was pushing them both. And every step of the way, he saw her getting funnier and funnier. Their second movie was another comedy about them going on a trip. But where the first was full of modernized jokes from classic films, this one took more risks. Jade had decided to follow the advice of George Carlin, and dove deep into her own psych for material for the act. Robbie had been dragged along for the ride.
Later he discovered why she didn't just abandon him there, when her act was starting to become more personal, while he was still doing the old observational humor Rex would rib him for. Jade needed a safety net. Robbie was more then just her partner, he was a safe person who'd catch her if she went too far. He kept her away from drugs, late night parties, and anything else that could derail her new career.
Their second film was a monster hit. Taking advantage of their shared love of science fiction, it was road picture and a brilliant parody of the Galaxy Wars franchise, with Robbie cast as the nerdy hero, and Jade as his sister slash apprentice slash the dangerous girl who did all the real fighting until he final confrontation where she couldn't help him and he manned up. Along the way they poked fun at the various fake prop or memorabilia sales that were always around, including a joke on how their fighter pods were different and thus "Not Official Galaxy wars props." Jade even gave a pop to her growing understanding of her own sexuality, having her conflict be her falling for the same girl as her brother. In a shot at the films of the eighties, neither of them got the girl. Instead, Beck made a cameo and won her heart in less then a minute.
Robbie wasn't too upset that he didn't get the girl in the end. That was just a movie. A movie with a huge budget, that he was listed as a producer for, thus getting decent royalties when it started making money. The cult following grew into a real following, as he and Jade making appearances at Scifi conventions as they toured the country with their comedy act. But the venues kept getting bigger, less homey, and he was beginning to feel a distance from his audience.
It was one of the few contributions he made to their success, when he insisted they still do small clubs, gorilla performances and the like. That choice gave them the feedback he felt they needed to continue making it big in comedy. It also allowed him to follow in her footsteps and abandon his "Safe" material and take risks. He became much funnier on his own, inserting a lot if improve into her carefully planned act, to the point where she gave him a number of openings to just throw anything he had into the story if the mood hit him. It allowed him to grow as a comedian, which in turn brought them even more into demand, making him into even more of a success.
Only his parents never saw it that way. It was something he had in common with Jade, that their parents just didn't understand their need to be on stage. Their shared need for the spotlight, to feel loved and appreciated, drove them forward in the entertainment industry.
"So, this is your new place, huh?" The goth asked. "The web show's paying off, right?"
The nerdy boy groaned. "I still don't see why I need an independent project?"
"Cause I'm producing a few horror films, including a reboot of the Scissoring franchise." She said while rolling her eyes. "I'll find you rolls, but honestly, you need something outside the team. I'm not abandoning you. We'll still do comedy together. It's become my life line, the place where I can be honest with myself. I need you, I need you to hold me down to earth, so I don't get lost in the clouds. But we both need projects to differentiate us. And Robbie's Beauty Tips is yours."
"A show about a guy who studied beauty, then does a web show with his little sister isn't that funny." He tried.
"But it was when you gave yourself the makeover for the slap." She countered. "And when he finds himself with a large following, and still needs the money to get his company off the ground, I think it's appropriate that he starts staring in the show himself. Or the show withing the show. Anyways, the culture clash as he becomes more and more open about his life, including finding out he's a lot more butch then he thought he was, is funny. We just have to sell it."
"Yea, but my mom isn't going to watch that show." He wined. "And this house was bought with movie money."
"There will be more movies." The blue eyed girl assured him. "Lots more. But like the great teams that came before us, we need to have our own things. It's important to me that your a success, that people don't just assume I'm dragging you along on my coattails. I need them to see you as a success." Her grip on his arm was tight, leaving an impression that would turn into a bruise.
"Owe, my arm." He squealed. The girl let go. "What I don't get is why it's so important to you. I mean, it wasn't like you liked me that much back in school." His anger at his parents was finding a new target in the girl who'd helped him find success.
"It's just..." She took a deep breath. "You were there for me, as a friend, when my world collapsed. You helped me learn comedy, how being funny could be therapeutic. You made ma a part of your act when by all rights you should have distanced yourself, like everyone else did."
"They didn't mean too..." He started, looking for anything that could avoid this discussion.
"I know, Cat had her music, and it took so much of her time. Then there's Tori, who used her pop princess fame to ease her way into movies. Beck took off for the theater, with surprisingly high payoffs for the top players. I like to think our using him for a bit part helped improve his standing in New York. Andre writes and produces music, making money without having anyone know who he is. Even Sinjin's a success. It-it wasn't enough for me to outshine them all, I needed to prove that you were as talented as any of them. That you could be as popular, as loved, as they are. And we're doing it. I figure, in a couple of years, we do separate comedy show, but then release a CD of a joint show mixing our two acts with some new, joint materials. But to do that, we need to both be established as successful people in our own right."
"Tell you what." The Jewish boy started. "Convince my parents, and I'll buy into this plan. As long as there's at least one joint project per year, and you don't stick me with such a ridiculous idea as a guy giving makeup tips to guys, I'm in. I'll play along with your little fantasy, be the success you want me to be. I still don't get it, but I'll do it."
Jade smiled, but her voice took on an overly sarcastic tone when she said "I'm glad you were willing to make the sacrifice."
Ignoring her, he continued. "My parents will be here soon, but I think we have time for me to propose one more deal."
"Go on." The dark haired girl said, her eyes shifting, trying to see what trick he had up his sleeve.
"I'll ask Cat to the opening of your latest film, if you ask Tori." He smiled, knowing he had her now. "Or are you still unwilling to admit your fascination with lesbians, playing them, looking into their lifestyle, has nothing to do with her."
"You're not so famous that you couldn't disappear." The goth threatened.
"But you still need me." He reminded her. "And I'm just looking out for the girl who's made her career looking out for me."
"She's straight." Jade spat.
"You don't know that." He countered. "And the only way you will is if you ask her. Look, I managed to make time with Cat, given her growing success, but the competitions grown fierce. She's got the best of the best vying for her hand. Yet I'm going to take the risk, try, cause I want my happy ending. And if it's not with her, I won't know unless I try. You try with Tori, and if it doesn't happen, then your free to let go and try again. Deal?"
"Deal." Jade agreed. "Your parents are easy. Mine, they'd insist that I was wasting my time, and nothing I achieved was anything more then luck. You're parents. Just let them know the web show's getting good reviews, and leave it at that. They'll be proud of you. Remember the story of Paul San Marco, from 'A Chorus Line'? I think your dad will be as supportive as his was. Just, let him know you're still trying to win Cat's affections. I think you'll get more friction for wanting a shiksa then dressing in drag."
"You really think so?" He asked, hope now lacing through his voice.
"Yea, your dad's predictable." She assured him. "Just relax, and lets get through this evening. I promise you, if they don't respect you by the time it's over, I'll force Rex to eat a bug."
"Well, when you put it that...WHAT!" The boy was now hyperventilating.
"Still don't like him." She commented. "Oh look, your parents. They found the place. Lets hope they don't mind the stairs. You found a good place, Rob. Big lot, six bedrooms if you count the guest house, and a view of the Hollywood Sign. Almost makes me want to get my own place."
"You'd better." He shot back as he walked to the front door. "Or I'm telling everyone how you just moved into my guest house."
"We're a team, Rob." She called to him as he opened the door.
"Mom, Dad, Rachel! Good to see you all." He greeted them as he showed them the way into the living room. "Like my new house?"
"Is that gothing terror living with you?" His sister asked.
"Quiet, she's pretty." His mother snapped. "So, you more then just working together?"
"She's a lesbian." His father snapped. "We accept her lifestyle choices, and be grateful she decided to work with our boy here. Now he has this big house. It is yours, right? I mean, she lives here too."
"It's my place." Rob said with a sigh. "Bought with my money. Jade just hasn't taken the time to find the house of her dreams. It'd have to be big, with a lot of space, screaming wealth, and she'd need it to be in a gated community with professional security. The kind of place where no one got in unless invited. Kinda like the place Big Time Rush had, briefly, in Bell Air. Only bigger."
"That is nice." His father said. "I see why she's waiting. That kind of place can't come along too often. And she's probably shopping in the same price range as you are."
"I got this place for just under three million." Robbie informed his dad. "It's a nice place with a pool, a pool house, a guest house, and even some green space for kids to play in, should I ever have kids."
"I'm sure you will." His mother assured him. "Maybe not the shiksa of your dreams, but there are a lot of lovely ladies who go plots for a big house like this. I'll talk to your grandmother, see about setting you up with a nice girl."
Robbie settled in for the long dinner with his parents, glad he at least had won their approval of his success. But the sound of Jade's laughter still haunted him into the evening.
:}
Had no idea I'd written this, it'd been hiding so long. So, enjoy.
Edited because I found out there are guys in the beauty vlogger industry.