Company Profiles
THE VONGOLA & ASSOCIATES
THINGS KAE!MOD AND CHRISSIE HAVE DISCUSSED SO FAR:
- Board of Directors no longer exists in its traditional form (NPA ojisans etc. etc.). Replaced by the dudes in major positions.
- Inner circle + Tsuna for brainstorming and such. General assembly = everyone else.
- EXTREMELY DEMOCRATIC. For major decisions, all heads of the different divisions are included in the decision-making process.
- WE STILL NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE NINTH.
Description: The Old, Well-established Company
Specialization: Children’s and young adult fiction; textbooks and educational material aimed at the youth market
Size: Medium. They’ve recently suffered from a downgrade, and not entirely by choice.
Thrust: “Be fair, be good, and make a hell lot of cash while you’re at it.”
History
There’s a reason why “Vongola” is a household name both in and beyond Namimori: this old and proud agency was among the first companies who landed in Japan in the 15th Century, and were instrumental in making reasonably priced and beautifully rendered copies of children’s classics and fairy tales available to the general public. They are an Italian company, founded by a man named Giotto, and the position of Company President has been passed down from father to son since they started-
At least, that’s how it’s supposed to go. The current heir, Sawada Tsuyanoshi, is a break in the familial tradition. Some people weren’t too happy about that, but hey, no one from the other side of the counter needs to know these things, right? They’re just here to buy books.
General Company Profile
By all definitions, Vongola & Associates is a pretty traditional company: they’re not conservative to the point of ridicule, but they’re not exactly the most forward-thinking, edgy and adventurous group around either. They tend to stick to their guns and operate within the realm of what they know rather than branch out to do other things, although they can be pretty sharp when it comes to them feeling out what each new generation of young readers is looking for. Now, whether it manages to pass through that group of old fogeys up in the Board of Directors is another issue altogether.
The Vongola are, essentially, operates like any other Japanese company does, although their more liberal, European streak comes out in small but significant ways. Gender equality, for one, is strictly observed, with the demographic of employees being neatly divided between the sexes (and we’re not just talking about the Adam & Eve version of sexuality here). Wine is also the staple drink in all the departments, and is sometimes more readily available than water or coffee. All employees are also required to be fluent in three languages: English, Italian and Japanese.
The Vongola’s an old school company, so in actuality, a lot of the mechanical processes involved in the production of books - typesetting, artwork and proofing, printing, and cutting & binding - are done by specialized companies whom the Vongola have had long-lasting ties with.
Please note that players can opt to be representatives (or even owners) of these specialized companies. Do remember, however, that we encourage you to be as close to the canon as possible. Hence, if your character is already an ally of the Vongola in-canon, this may be a good option; if not, please make sure to justify it.
Company Hierarchy + How Are Things Run
We’re not sure about how it was in the past, but these days, the position of Company President is more of a symbolic thing than anything else in the Vongola: the Board of Directors (typically made up of a bunch Really Old, Mostly Grumpy, VERY CONSERVATIVE men and women) pretty much controls the way things are run, for the most part. There are, however, rumors of a Counter Board somewhere within the company that follows a dictum left behind by the very first president of the Vongola - they are said to come out and assert their authority whenever demands from the Board of Directors prove to be unreasonable or damaging to the company, in order to protect the Company President as “the real head” of the company.
After the Company President, you’ve got his Executive Secretary, followed by the respective heads of each department, and so on, so forth.
On a side note, recall how the Vongola’s old school, and therefore a lot of the stuff in the production process are handled by companies outside of the actual publishing house. This is important to remember because the heads of these “sister companies” are treated with as much respect as in-house department heads are, and do have a hand in policy making, or can at least influence any decision made by the Board of Directors.
Things an Employee Should Know About
The Vongola treat their employees really well.
Let me repeat that.
The Vongola treat their employees really well.
Even though the basic requirements to work at this company are steeper than the usual, and the kind of quality and service that the Vongola demands is usually along the lines of WTF IS THAT SORT OF PERFECTION ATTAINABLE AT ALL?, once you’re hired and once you’ve been through a couple of hundred trials by fire, you’re pretty much made for life. They also make sure to take care of your kids, and your kid’s kids, and you’re kid’s kid’s kids, and… well, you get the picture.
Things a Freelancer Should Know About
Given the fact that the Vongola’s pretty much established on the market AND they’ve already got complete faith in their own employees, the need for freelancers isn’t very big with them. They are not, however, outright hostile if work needs to be done, and they’re quite fair with their contract and their payment once the job’s done. The only problem you’ve got is actually getting contracted by the Vongola in the first place. The recent downgrade, however, may have made the Vongola more receptive to outsiders, as they may be looking for new people to hire the ones they’ve lost.
THE VARIA
Description: The Struggling Upstart
Specialization: Magazines and erotica
Size: Small. They just started out.
Thrust: “BLOW THOSE VONGOLA BASTARDS OUT OF THE WATER - BUT FIRST! …We have to convince everybody that we’re not just about the porn.”
History
No one knows the full story behind it and there are a hell lot of wild rumors on the subject, but the only thing that we CAN be sure about is this: there was a downgrade over on the Vongola side of things, caused by a mass walk out led by Xanxus, the guy who was supposed to take over the company in his father’s stead. Xanxus, together with his close associates and whoever he managed to scare turn over to his cause, has started up his own publishing company in Namimori with one goal in mind: completely routing the Vongola.
Please note that this the history of the Varia has been kept vague on purpose: the mods want to give the player who will be handling Xanxus as much creative freedom as possible, especially with regard to why the Varia split from the Vongola. Feel free to go wild! \o/
General Company Profile
The Varia is just starting out, so they’re not really sure what works for them just yet… Xanxus and his group used to handle magazines for the Vongola, so they do, at least, know what they’re doing when it comes to actually getting their products out. Their problem now is finding long-term strategies that will sustain them and ultimately expand the company.
On that note, since the company is still very new, it’s mostly a case of Anything Goes down at the Varia, for so long as the deadlines are met and the titles under their name get out on the market. This is sometimes their biggest challenge, as the Varia are as fond of wine (and a few other alcoholic substances) as their arch rivals down the Vongola are.
While the Vongola have their contracted companies and the Millefore handle all aspects of printing and publication on their own, the Varia is still canvassing for reliable groups to handle the mechanical production side of publication: that is, printing and cutting & binding. Typsetting and the artwork and proofing are done in the house, at least for the moment.
Any semi-decent bloke out on the lookout for a job in this industry is bound to have second thoughts about applying for the Varia, and really, it’s hard to blame them: if the look of their office isn’t enough of a turn off, a potential employee may be extremely intimidated by the, uh, very colorful lot that works there at present. There’s also the fact that the Varia is always associated with porn, and unless you’re really desperate for a job, this company might not exactly be the place to go to. The last and perhaps most important thing to consider is that this company has only recently broken into the market… there’s no telling whether they’ll make it in the long run or not.
Company Hierarchy + How Are Things Run:
As with most small or fresh companies, the Varia is more like a family than they are a business: just about everyone knows everybody, and they’re a close-knit bunch in spite of individual differences and idiosyncrasies. Since they have no Board of Directors, their company president - Xanxus - is the be-all, end-all figure of authority, followed by his inner circle, then the employees who were part of the original resistance, then the employees they hired on after their split from the Vongola. Company hierarchy is generally fluid, and the Varia believe that everyone should get to have a hand in decision-making and determining what direction the company ought to go in next.
Due to the fact that the Varia specializes in magazines, much of what gets printed is effected by their principal sponsors among the advertising companies based in Namimori. Their representatives are, for the Varia, what the heads of sub-contracted companies are for the Vongola: figures of respect who occasionally have a say in company policies.
Things an Employee Should Know About:
There’s a strong sense of fraternity down at the Varia, and while there will be times where the closeness will grate on you, an employee can be certain of one thing: people in this company will stick by you through thick and thin, especially if it has something to do with furthering your goals and undermining the Vongola.
If you’ve just signed up with this company, expect to be tested, ridiculed and, on occasion, nearly killed (although they weren’t actually trying to kill you whenever that happens. Really.). If you survive all of that, though, you’re bound to get the group’s Stamp of Approval, and you’ve effectively earned your right to be a part of a company who gives a whole new meaning to protecting one’s own.
…Of course, people down here aren’t exactly, uh, sane, so the first thing one should do is be prepared to deal with all sorts and levels of Strange.
Things a Freelancer Should Know About
Unless they really, desperately need it, the Varia will never contract people from the outside. You’re best off applying if you want to work for this bunch.
MILLEFIORE & COMPANY
Description: The Really Scary Megalomaniac New Guys
Specialization: Although they originally specialized in novels, Millefiore & Co. has successfully branched out in every other direction beyond textbooks. They’re well-known for always being the first in the market to release award-winning and best-selling titles to the general public. It’s also important to note that they’ve pretty much monopolized the cyber-market with their eBooks.
Size: GINORMOUS Big.
Thrust: “Monopolize, annihilate, take no prisoners. Rinse, repeat.”
History
People who aren’t familiar with the industry will probably be surprised to discover that Millefiore & Co. are quite new… in fact, the Millefiore were not originally one, but two companies: Gesso & Sons, under Byakuran, and Giglionero Inc., under Uni. For reasons undisclosed, Byakuran’s smaller and newer company merged with Uni’s (a company that clearly would not benefit from such an alliance, given the fact that they could hold out well enough on their own), and the new company was called Millefiore & Company in order to “start on a new page”, to quote some of the leading figures in the group.
…Of course, the people who give that explanation are former members of Gesso & Sons. Difficult to say what one ought to make out of that.
We deliberately left the reasons for the merger and the circumstances behind it vague, as another bid to give the players handling the characters in question (in this case, Byakuran and Uni) as much creative freedom as possible. Good luck, guys~
General Company Profile
Don’t let their “sterling record” with the government and regulatory boards fool you: this company plays the publishing game in the hardest and nastiest way possible. Most companies have learned that it’s usually best to stay out of the Millefore’s way… once they have their teeth sunk into something, they seriously don’t let go. And they’ll make sure to sic their other, similarly vicious comrades at you while they’re at it.
It’s also important to note that while these guys are brutal, it’s hard to deny the fact that the ones running their show are very innovative, attuned to the current trends and willing to do whatever it takes to adjust to their milieu and constantly emerge on top of things. They are as far from the meaning of “conservative” as one can get.
Unfortunately, the Millefore tends to treat their employers the same way they do their rivals. You can check the sections following this one for details.
Company Hierarchy + How Are Things Run
Rumor has it that the Board of Directors, which is supposed to fairly represent the interests of both Gesso & Sons and Giglionero Inc., doesn’t actually exist - and, if they do, they are completely under Byakuran’s thumb. In addition to this, it is noted on paper that Byakuran is, in fact, the CEO of the company: Uni is merely the co-owner, with Byakuran owning 51% of the stocks and Uni owning 49%, leaving Uni virtually no say in company operations without Byakuran's consent. The fact that roughly 90% of all the personnel in positions of high authority and great power were formally a part of Gesso & Sons is telling also.
One of the big things that the Millefore has over the other major names in Namimori is that all aspects of printing and publication are done in-house, including the mechanical production side of things. They don’t have to cater to the whimsies of the market; nor do they have to consider the interests of sub-contracted companies offering typesetting, printing, cutting & binding and artwork & proofing services. While this is quite expensive in the short term, it ups their production speed while minimizing their need for coordination and the occasional bargain under the table.
Things an Employee Should Know About
You’re a slave to the machine. You have no rights and no voice. You are nothing but the hands that cut the paper or type on the keyboard, or the mouths that report how and where something went wrong.
The Millefiore have no real concept of employee’s rights beyond the bare minimum that will allow one to survive, and talk from the inside says that even those rights are occasionally waived, especially if it stands in the way of a project that is of particular interest to the higher-ups. Still, the Millefiore name is a big thing on the resume… you’ll just have to survive your stay there, that’s all.
Things a Freelancer Should Know About
Millefiore & Company pay their freelancers remarkably well, but they’re, uh, not the most considerate bunch around. Also: make sure to read the fine print. All the fucking time. Thrice. Because this company’s lawyers have a way of milking you for all you’re worth without much in return, and doing it in a perfectly legal fashion.
KOKUYO BOOKSTORE
Description: The Local Specialty Bookstore, Stocking Everything Under the Sun
Size: Medium-sized
Thrust: “Enjoy killing each other, publishing d00ds. All ur books r belong to us.”
History & General Profile
Kokuyo has been in Namimori for as long as Vongola & Associates have: they’re old, well-established, and reputed to be the only bookstore where any person working for them (from the owners down to the janitors who sweep up their hallways) knows books better than the backs of their own hands. They’re amazingly well-stocked, but that might come out of the fact that they’re surrounded by the two big publishing houses in the city, and one very loud and very ambitious newbie in the industry.
Kokuyo is the equivalent of places like Kinokuniya, Barnes & Noble, Borders and Fully Booked for this game: they usually have everything you need when it comes to books and book-related merchandise, and if there’s a title they don’t have, they have the means of procuring it. Quickly.
…Try not to get too freaked out by the place or the people running it though. The owners of the Starbucks across the street are particularly vexed by the fact that all of the reps they’ve sent to inquire upon whether the Kokuyo’s interested in selling them their lot are yet to return.
Since the Kokuyo is NOT a publishing house and is actually the recipient of whatever the houses put out, there isn’t a need to really go into the way things are run, the structure of power and other things. Players on this end of the game are given free reign beyond whatever’s listed in the rules and the FAQ.
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