Chapter 0 - Prologue: The Pitch

"This is the moment when you decide if you truly want to be a star."

She had practiced this speech many, many times.

"If you're willing to pay the price, I will make you rich and famous."

Most times it worked, and when it didn't, well, you can't win them all.

"But you have to understand that this is a two-way street. Talented as you are, there are many more out there who want what you want, what you could have."

Flattery and temptation tempered by a little deprecation to introduce enough doubt in their own ability to make them willing to go along.

"You know I play fair. You have talked to your friends and they have all told you the same thing: I'm a woman of my word. Once we sign this contract, everything you want will be yours."

Show them the prize, convince them that they can have it.

"But you will have to hold up your end too. If you cross me, if you fail to fulfill your duties..." She snapped her fingers. "It all goes away again."

Honesty was the key, really.

"Before we go any further, I want to make sure you realize what that means."

For this part she had several variants tailored to the type of girl she was talking to. This one got the cartoon treatment.

"I will give you three examples. Do you know Princess Eilonwy? I see you've heard of her. She was consistently late to her appointments and generally tried to avoid doing her part in our exchange. She was once one of the most famous princesses and now... Well, she realized her mistake and she's working very hard to redeem herself."

Of course she knew that everyone that wanted to be a princess had heard of Eilonwy. Asking was just another way to make them feel like they were already on the inside.

"Then how about Princess Plucky? No? Well, there's a reason for that."

That wouldn't work on anyone who was truly skeptical, but those who were truly skeptical wouldn't come to her in the first place.

"As for Dumbo, let's just say he didn't always use to be an elephant. Or a 'he' at all."

The princess-wannabes usually couldn't imagine anything worse than not being a pretty girl.

"I'm sure your friends have also told you the kind of service I require from my clients. I charge a very fair rate according to the customs of whatever realm you inhabit, but I also want certain favors."

If they blushed at this point she knew she had them. That meant they knew what she was talking about and had decided they were going to do it. If they didn't... Well, there were still ways to convince them.

"What they may not have told you is that this will be an ongoing relationship. When I call, you will come. That is the deal."

A few would balk at this, but she had found it was much better to be frank and upfront about what they were getting themselves into than to spend time and effort on coralling contrary clients.

"As you know I have many other clients so I probably won't call on you more than a few times a year, at least not if you do well. Some girls think I will pass them over if they don't please me well enough. That is a mistake."

She would pause to let that sink in.

"So that is the deal. Wealth and fame in exchange for a bit of service, or we shake hands and say goodbye and you go back home."

That usually cinched it. To go back home was what they wanted least of all. The few who walked out at this point wouldn't have made for good clients anyway, and those who stayed were willing to do whatever it took.

"Still here? Then sign here, here, and here. Good."

"Now strip."