Another Stupid Isekai

Since the shoot was quite early, we all gathered in the lobby just after the sunrise. I was rocking my black achkan and the white pants. Sudarshana came out in a hoodie with baggy pants, just like Tihana. Ki’rai on the other hand had her suit on.

– You are not dressed?

– We will dress up on the set, after they are done with our hair and makeup – explained my fake daughter.

– Oh…

– If everybody is ready, then let’s go. The drivers are waiting outside – said Vikram.

He was rocking his usual suit, although I smelled a bit more cologne on him than normally.

Just as he said, two black sedans were waiting for us in front of the hotel. There was also a bunch of paparazzi, blasting the flashes as they took pictures. We boarded the cars and drove straight to the studio.

I noticed a bunch of the reporters waiting for us in front of the premises, but fortunately, they couldn’t go past the gate. There was security there to ensure that.

Further, a bunch of interns was waiting for us, and they took us to the right places. Everybody had their own room, where they could wait and prepare for the shoot.

We had to get our hair done. There was not much work with mine, since I was fresh from the hair salon, but the girls took quite a while. Ki’rai on the other hand had to just wait since she didn’t have proper hair. Then we all went to get the makeup put on our faces. The whole process took around two hours.

During that time Mahinder Varma popped in. He was a tall, handsome fellow in his late thirties, with a single earring. He was shaved cleanly and was wearing a suit without a tie. The shirt was unbuttoned at the very top.

He just said, hi, asked how I was feeling, and left since he had other stuff to do.

[0)ᴠʟ Shortly after we all went to the set. Sudarshana had a long grey silk dress that exposing the natural curves of her body and heels. She also had some gold jewelry. The earrings were especially eye-catching. Her hair got curled a bit, and all moved on one side, showcasing her beautiful neck.

Tihana had a white loose shirt, a black skirt, and stockings. She also had military-looking boots and a wide-brimmed hat, also black. Her makeup was stronger with dark eyeshade and cherry lipstick.

Completely different to more subtle, worn by the linguist.

For Ki’rai they couldn’t do much, because of her alien physique, but they tried her best, so she didn’t look much different from her normal state. She was looking curiously around since everything was so new to her.

I noticed that my fake daughter was holding her hand, probably to reassure her.

The set was strange. It was looking like an entrance hall to some mansion with a mezzanine above, and two sets of stairs reaching there, on both sides. There was a chandelier above. Gold and crystals. Below they had a piano on a little elevation between the staircases. The front was taken by the table with a single, big couch and an armchair. Both walls were covered in small pieces of art. There were also windows, with fancy curtains. They even had some pictures put behind those, so it looked more natural. Everything was looking old and classy.

There were glasses and a glass bottle prepared with water on the table.

There was a live audience, obviously, sitting on stands, and observing everything. Between them and the set was a bunch of cameramen. Some are carrying the equipment on their shoulders, others had it placed in specific spots. There was also one camera boom for shoots from above, at an angle.

We were asked to climb our way behind the set, so we would descend down through the mezzanine, and stairs, as the host would call our names. He was already in the middle of the set, waiting for the start.

As soon as everything was in place the director started the countdown.

– And action – he shouted.

The music started playing, provided by a band, on the other side of the set, so I didn’t see it previously. They started with a shoot from above, slowly descending to the host, who was waiting with his hands put together in front of his chest.

When they finished playing he finally spoke.

– A stunning body, and an even more beautiful mind. She took over the internet like a storm with the incredible daily reports from her life in the other world attracting millions of readers around the world. Her compelling storied of fascinating alien cultures and the life among hunters hold the readers’ attention and won’t let go. Please welcome doctor Sudarshana Patel.

She entered the set from the door on the mezzanine, accompanied by the music and applause from the audience. She took her time to get down since it wasn’t that easy on heels. Then they both hugged very slightly and kissed each other’s cheek.

Mahinder politely pointed at the couch, and Sudarshana sat down, smiling.

– But she didn’t come alone today – the host continued. – She brought us a lovely group of very interesting guests. A hunter, whom we all know very well as he was the one to put the barriers around the gates, and filmed during the very first reports about the events happening near Dwarka. A representative of an alien race known as xuzards, and – he leaned forward like was going to bring the most stunning news – a teenager.

Audience laughed.

– Please welcome Peter, Ki’rai and Tihana! – he finished with a shout and started clapping, as he turned around to face us, making our way from the mezzanine to join them.

We greeted each other with a simple handshake. The same happened with Ki’rai and Tihana. And then we finally sat on the couch. My little lizard next to Sudarshana, then my fake daughter, and I was the last one.

Mahinder Varma was the last one, obviously to keep his manners.