Chapter 115: Niall-mania

The days following the release of [Rink] could be summarized into one ’singular’ term fans of Niall had coined.

Niall-mania.

Niall himself had been equal parts concerned yet amused by it.

Afterall, for as funny as it was, it almost gave off the impression that he was making a little cult.

Thankfully, the general consensus on things was that it was more of a playful jab at how much of an impact he’d had in just the span of a couple months since his breakout role as an artist.

From releasing the most streamed song and highest grossing domestic movie, just last year, to topping it off with arguably the best song of the current year with [Aperture], and now his role in [Rink] which was met with such positive reception, it really was a mania of sorts.

Probably what contributed to this scenario the most in recent time, was the reveal that he’d actually performed all of his own programs in [Rink] without a stunt double.

Hollywood, naturally, as well as the general public, loved hearing and seeing that kind of stuff.

Afterall, for those up in Tinseltown, it gave off the impression that Niall Parker was the type to dedicate his all to his roles without compromise. A bankable actor, so to speak.

That, coupled with his clean image thus far, made him not just a candidate, but the candidate for several roles these directors, producers and studios were looking to fill.

As for the general public, their conversations were more inclined towards the man himself, which was to be expected when you had an actor, whom was turning out to be more and more of a renaissance day-in, day-out.

It was also why, there was yet again another tweet that had gone ballistic, its impressions well over 10M+, 132K+ likes, a retweet count of 70K+, with comments numbering in the lower ten thousand.

With two clips from the behind the scenes attached to said post--the fall and the backflip respectively--it was captioned;

The next time I hear anyone tell me sum shit like ’Niall Parker’ is overrated, I will pull up these receipts ’cause what the fuck is this?!

You’re telling me this man didn’t even stop to consider that he could potentially ruin his career just ’cause he wanted to give his best performances to a supporting role in a movie?!

[Rink] being a Murray Goldberg movie be damned, it still is a wild shit to do, I tell you!

-

Kick Buttowski: Haha! Niall probably has 99+ missed calls from Red Bison!

AMV Lover: Mind you, an interview with Murray just dropped where he talks about how he didn’t want Niall to do it, but ultimately agreed when he lost a bet to him that if he could successfully pull off the moves off in a month’s time, he’d allow it. I repeat, a month’s time!

Straight Hands: @AMV Lover; Dude put him up to on an impossible task and bro was like; ’Aight, bet.’. Blasted right through it like no man’s business too.

Roly Poly Katamari: Bro is in this craft for the love of the game, I tell you! Everything’s probably some sort of amusement park to him and I refuse to believe otherwise.

Samurai Champoo: Yep. Niall-mania isn’t even an over-exaggeration at this point ’cause damn! Bro be moving differently. Can’t even remember the last time I’ve heard an actor do something this unhinged.

Cuh: I swear this man is just speedrunning Hollywood at this point ’cause what in tarnation is he smoking! I’mma need some of that blunt!

Evel Knievel: It’s almost comically amazing how every new thing I hear about this guy, just sounds more and more impressive than the last. He just might end up being one of a kind at this rate, even in Hollywood.

Danny Boi: ’Might end up,’ is already doing him a disservice @Evel Knievel. He is, one of a kind.

-

All this attention coming Niall’s way, both from the general public, and Hollywood in and of itself, made it such that the young man had once again found himself at the center of attention.

Added to that, he had quickly become one of the most-in-demand actors in Hollywood.

Before Victor knew what was happening, he was suddenly swamped with work.

Several scripts, ranging from movies, to series, and even a few animated givings, were sent his way, all of them requesting for his talent.

If that had been the only thing, it would’ve been quite manageable for the agent.

However, when several brand products began pushing offers in addition to what was already on his table, Victor couldn’t help but hope that Niall was taking his advice to get a manager seriously.

Afterall, there was only so much he could attend to, especially since he had two other talents under him.

Safe to say though, with the general consensus of things, Niall-mania was a pretty valid term from his fans.

Luckily for Victor though, Niall had in fact taken his advice seriously.

It was also why, he happened to be in a rather tush restaurant upstate, as he sat across from one Paul Goodman.

Tyler’s former manager.

Having already exchanged pleasantries though, Niall then asked, his tone relaxed yet curious;

"Humor me, Mr. Goodman, why exactly are you pivoting now?"

For a moment, Paul remained quiet, his pomade dark-brown hair slicked backwards in a gentlemanly fashion all the way down to the nape of his neck.

He was already in his late-thirties, yet he quite looked like he was in his early thirties instead.

He was also a pretty easy on the eyes, though there was an almost tangible crispness to his features that was further sharpened by his steel-blue irises.

Much like Niall himself usually would, he had repurposed the question in his head to what it actually meant;

You no longer intend to work with problematic artists?

Clearly, his now prospective employer had done a thorough research on him... though most of that credit actually had to go to Victor.

Still, Niall had ensured to search up his portfolio to get a good sense of whom he was dealing with nonetheless.

In any case, the man then replied, his tone just as relaxed;

"Because I’ve realized my forbearance for malarkey isn’t as boundless as I’d assumed it to be."

"And if I intend to keep my wits about me and remain grounded, I can’t just go jumping into the next den of trouble just because the pay’s good." he added, his expression calm.

’Translation; I’m tired of working with assholes and the pay isn’t worth the hassle anymore.’ Niall reinterpreted the man’s fancy words, his head bobbing slightly.

Then, leaning back into his seat, the young star then asked, his gaze knowing as a thinly-veiled smile touched his lips;

"So, how do I know I can trust you, given what happened to your last employer?"

Paul wasn’t particularly surprised to hear that.

Though there was not a single proof that he’d had a hand in what happened to Tyler as he’d covered all his tracks and had been meticulous since the day he began working with the popstar, Niall seemed to be aware that he was in fact the mastermind behind all the wave of allegations that had hit him.

Sure, Niall himself didn’t have any proof of it, the coincidence was too uncanny for people not be suspicious of him.

But then again, if there was no evidence that he was involved, they would just be laying false allegations.

Clearly, no one wanted to deal with that, hence why they’d simply carried their gazes away from it.

That said, Paul knew his response here could essentially decide if he got the job or not... a job he really needed if he was going to be able to sponsor his siblings and pay off the rest of his debts.

Mulling it over carefully in his mind for a while, he then replied;

"My last employer’s track record alluded to his propensity for trouble, hence why he crashed and burned. Yours doesn’t seem to come remotely close to anything of such."

’Simply put; Tyler was an asshole. You, so far so good, are not.’ Niall smiled to himself, the underlying meaning to Paul’s words crystal.

It was almost as if he was also saying, that as long as Niall’s possible bullshit never touched on the heights of Tyler’s, he could be certain he’d never stab him in the back the way he did the popstar.

Afterall, Paul had worked with several other problematic artists over the years before Tyler came into the picture, none of whom he’d done anything of such to.

Considering Niall himself was more than assured of the kind of man he was too, he saw no reason not to sign the most competent amongst all the profiles Victor had sent his way on-board to manage his career.

To that effect, he extended an arm over the table to the man;

"Well, Paul, I look forward to working with you."

With a relieved sigh, one that was hidden behind his cordial smile, he received the hand, their shakes firm as he replied;

"As do I, Niall."

As that event played out though, Murray was ’deliberating’ over whom amongst his supporting characters in his recent movie he would be submitting for the Emmie Award Nominations.