Grant the advertising Exec

*Something different then my usual stuff. The following was inspired by a conversation between me and Crazydorian. No sex here. Just a short ‘funny’ conversation that could occur in this free use world.*

Leo Grant looked out of his 14th-story window and sighed. The world had changed beyond recognition. Five years ago he was a rising star in one of the top advertising agencies in the country. Now he was… lost.

Of course, free use was amazing! It had brought economic growth and massive increases in life expectancy and global happiness. But it had also meant an entirely new challenge. Leo had been at the forefront of new ideas and techniques to appeal to consumers in the new free use era.

The problem was… how different each country, hell each state and sometimes even individual cities managed their free use! So many different laws and little subcultures… It was enough to drive anyone mad. But he’d managed, thrived even, until Oedipal Zones.

“Jenkins, come over here!” he bellowed, stopping the tape he’d been watching of their new campaign.

“Sir?” Jenkins was a young kid, barely out of college, that Leo had taken on as an intern. Leo knew talent when he saw it.

“Explain this new script to me. What happened to Father Christmas?”

“Well sir,” Jenkins fidgeted. “This is the script specifically for Oedipal Zones.”

Grants brow furrowed. “Edible Zone, that’s the one where all the undies are edible right?”

“No sir. It’s the one where sons, after turning 18, become in charge of the household.”

“Right… right. Strange to call it Edible Zone then. Never mind, so many zones it’s hard to keep track. So what, the father just retires or something?”

“Something like that. I hear they play a lot of golf.”

“Sounds good to me… maybe if we moved there, my son would finally cut the apron strings and stop being such a mama's boy!” Grant slapped Jenkins on the back laughing.

“Err…”

“So, this ad.”

“Right, so because fathers, while important, turn over control to their son when they turn 18 or 19, the key demographic here is adult sons. After their fathers turned over control to them, they’re not interested in buying anything off another father figure. So front and center we’ve got Mother Claus, a sexy MILF and stand-in for mothers and Alpha Claus, a sort of audience insert.”

“I see. And he’s shirtless and ripped because…”

“Alphas, that’s what they call these sons, are often in great shape due to a prevalence of inexpensive body mods in these zones. So in order to appeal to them…”

“They have to identify with the person, right, got it. He’s still got the white beard though.”

“Oh, you gotta have the beard. Alphas are very traditional about… well… traditions.”

“Right… and these actors. They’re uhm, very good looking but… look a lot alike?”

“Oh, yes sir. We cast a mother and son from one of the Oedipal Zones; very popular actors.”

“Oh, I see! Professional actors! That’s how you sell things, Jenkins. Popular people! Write that down! Any movie I might have seen them in?”

“Err... Probably not, sir. Very obscure, art house stuff.”

“Hmm, maybe I’ll take the missus to one of these art house flicks. Wait, obscure?”

“Well… obscure here. Very popular in Oedipal zones sir, because of how they portray uhm… traditional Oedipal Zone values.”

“Maybe I’ll get the wife and son some tickets to go together and he’ll see how they treat their mothers over there. Give him some ideas and stop being a layabout!”

“Err…”

“One more thing Jenkins… uhm," Grant hesitates for a moment. "It’s not that I’m a prude you know.”

“Of course not, sir.”

“But the extended make-out session between Fath… er… Alpha Claus and Mother. Claus…?”

“We’ll cut that in editing to reasonable length.”

“Right… yes… that's what I was about to say. Reasonable length. Thank you Jenkins.”

“Always happy to help, sir.”