Some kids just make it early. From Motzart, famous across Europe by the time he was six; to Michael Jackson, even more famous at the same age; to Sarah O'Connor, who had her first number-one single, when she was a freshman in high scool - some kids get catapulted into the limelight, skyrocketing from obscurity to fame and riches.

You're one of the lucky ones. You're a GlitterKid - one of the media darlings of the Cyberpunk era. Sometimes it takes talent: song-writing skill, athletic ability, or an eye for dreampainting French-style. Other times it's an accident of birth; your parents are famous and you're along for the ride. You've got prestige, riches, and influence.

What You Look Like

As a GlitterKid you wear whatever you want, generally outfits so affected, so cutting-edge that to some people they look downright absurd. You wear fashions personally designed by Eji of Tokyo and have been know to buy the outfit off the back of another kid just because it clashed with your own. Mirrorshades are mandatory. But the most recognizable aspect of GlitterKid life is the small flock of followers that travels with you wherever you go.

Subculture

As a GlitterKid, you and your goboys are most often seen in downtown spots where you can be assured of plenty of exposure, notereity, photographs, autographs, and offers of sex. You love to surf this wave of popular acclaim, getting high from the attention and the approval and the admiration. When your fellow GlitterKids meet, mix and mingle, you exchange diplomatic forms of character assassination disguised as wit, scope each others' styles, and frantically keep track of whether you win, place, or show.

A GlitterKid yogang can also be a gang built around a GlitterKid, who is the centrepiece for hangers-on flocking around like moths drawn to a flame. A typical retinue is usually about four or so people, with regulars changing like clockwork. Those in your retinue come and go at your whim.

Belonging

One way to become a GlitterKid is to be born to a famous cultural star like Kerry Eurodyne or the late Jack Entropy. A second, only slightly easier approach is to manage to snare the public eye, either through art or sport or, occassionally, crime.

Most people who are part of the GlitterKid set, though, are only hangers-on, the assemblage of henchmen and yes-men which, each GlitterKid prefers to keep himself surrounded by. To be one of these chosen few, you must be stylish, attractive, and have some sort of gift.

Your Allies and Enemies

While GitterKids are at the top end of the social ladder like the GoldenKids, they rarely conflict; instead, each side uses the oter. Most GlitterKids you've met or heard about are musically oriented. Because of this, and because of your friend's blatant posing and attention getting tactics, you've earned the enmity of real rockerboys who consider you to be what Liberace was to the hard-rock set in the late 20th.

Slang

Boof: GoldenKid, someone with no real talent, has-been.

Frothers: really, really obnoxious fans.

Garnished: to be fired, kicked out; to be out of favor or style.

Jazz: a party or social event.

Mora: toady, hanger on.

Rim: real cool.

Simba: the establishment.

Watchdogs: obnoxious Media.

Yogang Skill: Celbrity (COOL)

Your face and your rep are your fortune. You've been on the cover of hundreds of screamsheets, right up there with Elvis and the alien who advises President Windham. If you aren't famous yourself, your parents are, and you've spent a lifetime learning how to use the connection. You can ask people on the street for favors, help or even protection, and they're so dazzled by the fact that you spoke to them that they'll probably do it. The one catch is that you will also often be recognized unless you take some pains to disguise your now well-known face. You'll need at least mirrorshades and inobvious clothes to keep the "frothers" from coming up to at dinner and begging you to sign their body parts.

If You're a GlitterKid

1) Tell me your name, age and sex.

2) Describe what you look like.

3) Tell me why you're famous and how famous you really are. For example, are you known for your talent, or just for your parents?

4) Besides your V-Trodes, pick four different things from the list below that you are currently carrying:

Mirrorshades

A smartcard bank account with $1000 currently on it (your allowance)

Cellular pocket phone.

Pesonal V-Term (computer/digital assistant).

Aerovector model CityScooter (a small electric motorbike).

Snoopbox (personal privacy monitor).

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