#co!stagehand

[spotlightstudios]

Mermay Sketch Concepts!

Neon mentioned smth about maybe figuring out a mermay chapter for Constant Orbit, and tasked me w/ redesigning my boys Exo and Nova while she figured out Sun and Moon! (Then I kept going with all my side-cast kids, while she designed Light and Iris!)

Nova and Exo are Goldfish (the invasive species sort), Stanley is a Clownfish, Stagehand is a Cuttlefish, and Static is an Anglerfish!

Also, horrifying (affectionately) rendition of if I'd drawn Stanley w/ fish eyes instead of his normal ones made by Neon my beloved.

[spotlightstudios]

Reblogging this w/ the doodles I dropped in here now that I'm all doodled-out hehe. Had a great time!

Weeeewooooweeewooo

[ejsuperstar]

Wip of the birthday boy, will finish tomorrow cos im so tired lmao

[mononijikayu]

is it new years yet? — nanami kento.

"Apparently, we're #RelationshipGoals now." "Some of them really think I write poetry about you during my lunch breaks, too. Not inaccurate, of course. But the thoughts I have of you are different." “My darling, behave.” “No <3” ".......In any case, my darling…..this one says I’m lucky to have you. Can’t argue with that."

GENRE: alternate universe - no curses au!;

WARNING/S: afab! reader, secret coworker romance, co-workers to lovers, romance, fluff, nsfw, rated 18 and above, explicit content, kissing, making out, rough sex, fingering, creampie, p to v sex, stairwell sex, orgasm, humor, profanity, pet names (my darling, babe, etc), possessiveness, jealousy, characters speaking in sexual innuendo, mention of sexual euphemisms, depiction of explicit sexual content, actor! nanami kento, actor! reader;

WORD COUNT: 6k words.

NOTE: hello everyone, this is the first fic of 2025!!! this was specifically written because of a conversation between me and @midnight-138 on the afternoon of december 31st 2024. i started progress while on a bus on the way to my grandma's house and for a bit on the 1st. i still wanted to write more for it, but i had to stop because i caught a cold. i still have a cold. and i need a massage cause i feel my body hurt real bad, cause its working hard to save my life from this cold TT TT

but that being said, i shouldn't complain too much. good things have been happening to me despite my problems. i hope that good things continue to come!!! anyway, enough yapping, i hope you enjoy this little fic. happy 2025!!! may good things, good health and happiness come your way always this year!!!

masterlist

if you want to, tip! <3

IT WAS ALWAYS LIKE THIS WHEN YOU AND KENTO GET TOGETHER. But it was to be expected, since you graced the screens since you were a child. Nanami Kento was like that too. Of course, it wasn’t something of a brag at all. It was just your normal.

You were lucky, you were favored like that. Kento was favored just like that. Both of you were so beloved. And especially so, in a way that they end up hoping that you both were together. 

Ever since you worked with him on Jujutsu Kaisen all those years ago, it was just too strong — the chemistry between the two of you. It pulls people in for more. They wanted a story, they wanted something that could ease their days from the mundane boredom that it was to the fun, exhilarating excitement that comes with the tea in both of your private lives.

You didn’t mind, your company didn’t mind either. Neither did Kento or his side of the aisle. It helped that you were both good friends. You had met even before landing your roles on Jujutsu Kaisen, after all. So, the ‘will they, won’t they’ between the two of you really did help your careers.

But of course, just like in Gege–sensei’s scripts, some parts are sentences with too many blank pages. And the wholeness of your relationship with Nanami Kento truly only belonged to you and him. And you were not willing to expose it to the world. Not just yet.

Yet — this does not stop them from trying to do something about that.

The studio buzzed with activity as you adjusted the earpiece in your ear, stealing a quick glance at the veteran actor, singer, producer, writer and entertainment personality that is Nanami Kento.

He stood near the stage, his posture relaxed yet impossibly refined. Dressed in a tailored charcoal suit, his tie a subtle but elegant shade of deep blue,everything about him just exuded a quiet confidence that made it hard for anyone to look away. 

You, however, knew better than to let your gaze linger too long. You knew too well that those are reserved for just him and you to interpret and to see. No one else should. You were as possessive about your private moments as he was. But you would never say that outloud and neither will he.

“Can you believe these two again?” a stagehand whispered slowly, behind you. It was still, of course, loud enough for you to hear. “It’s like they were made for this. If they don’t end up together after tonight, I’ll lose faith in love. Really!”

You bit back a laugh, focusing on your notes. No one knew the truth, after all. That you and Kento were already together had been for a while now. Not even your publicists or managers — hell, not even your entertainment companies, knew that this was for genuine actuality, a real thing now. But you and him liked it that way.

You had let your fans go wild with their theories over the years of course. Every post, every comment, every little interaction, every collaboration, every press tour — almost everything seemed to spark a new wave of speculation and fan shipping. 

For years now, the internet was rife with hashtags like #OurSecretLovers and #MrAndMrsNanami with fans pouring over every detail like it's an investigatory report they were doing, a documentary study. You had to admit, it was amusing at times, watching people try to connect dots they couldn’t see. 

Nanami Kento had a reputation for being rather serious, because he gets roles in that league often. But he was a silly little man, well your silly little man. And he often had the knack for finding the most random, yet oddly endearing, posts about the two of you on Twitter. During your five-minute breaks between shoots, when you were in separate rooms or on different sets, his messages would pop up on your phone, accompanied by a link and a deadpan caption.

"Apparently, we're #RelationshipGoals now."

"Some of them really think I write poetry about you during my lunch breaks, too. Not inaccurate, of course. But the thoughts I have of you are different."

“My darling, behave.”

“No <3”

".......In any case, my darling…..this one says I’m lucky to have you. Can’t argue with that."

You’d giggle to yourself, your shoulders shaking as you tried not to draw attention. It didn’t matter how serious the production you were working on either. He had a way of making you laugh even from miles away. And that relaxes you a lot.

When it was your turn, you’d send him TikToks. Fancam edits of the two of you together had exploded in popularity as of late, especially since you both played a married couple who were spies deceiving each other recently. People thought he looked so good, especially when he had his shirt off. You loved teasing him about it. After all, he was really pretty hot in those scenes. And if you were being honest, they did in fact rile you up.

"Look at us, babe." you texted once, attaching a video with dramatic lighting, a love song playing over clips of you two stolen from interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. "We’re icons."

His reply came almost immediately: "Icons, sure. But I’m just a guy who got lucky enough to be yours, you know?"

Those words made your heart swell every time. He’d always been effortlessly humble, never letting fame or admiration inflate his ego, even as his star rose. After all, you were the senpai here—the darling of the Japanese screen since childhood. 

You’d grown up in the industry, your name synonymous with household stardom. He, on the other hand, had been a late bloomer, starting as a teenager and building his career with quiet determination.

He never let the difference in your status get in the way, though. If anything, it only made him more in awe of you. He’d often remind you how much he admired your grace, how you’d navigated the pressures of fame with a poise that still left him speechless.

“You’ve been dazzling audiences since you were a kid.” he’d say, his voice warm with pride. “I’m just lucky to share the screen with you now and your life.”

And you’d roll your eyes playfully, nudging him with a smile. “Don’t sell yourself short, Kento. You’re a fan favorite for a reason.”

“Maybe.” he replied with a soft smirk. “But you’re my favorite. And that’s what matters.”

No matter how busy your schedules got, those small exchanges, be it a funny link or a sentimental text, every bit of this kept you connected. It reminded you both that beneath the glitz and glamour, what truly mattered was the quiet, enduring love you shared.

You were out of your bubble soon enough when Kento suddenly caught your eye from across the room, offering a small, reassuring smile and then a small gentle nod. You felt your cheeks turn red but lowered your head immediately before anyone was to notice. He was too good at making you feel like this. And certainly so, he was hiding his smirk under his cue cards.

“Alright, places, everyone!” the director called.

You finally stood up from your chair, taking a deep breath and calmed down. You gave yourself one more look in the mirror, trying to make sure that your cheeks were natural now. When you felt like it was, you smiled at your manager who handed you the mic and swiftly thanked them. You went to your position. Kento soon approached, his footsteps purposeful but unhurried. 

“Ready?” he asked, his voice low and calm.

“Ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.” you replied, flashing him a smile.

You were grateful for the reassurance. Even if you were already such a big name, you still did get nervous. And even more so, with such a big show like this — the New Year Countdown, of course you could feel yourself slipping.

The two of you took your positions on stage as the lights dimmed and the opening music swelled. His fingers brushed against yours briefly as he fixed himself up, your pinkies touching. Even briefly, you could feel the warmth. He did that on purpose. You could see it in his caramel eyes. 

You let a brief smile echo on your lips. You gathered yourself as the lift came up slowly. When you both were in the sight of the gathered audiences and the cameras started to broadcast it all live, you both slipped effortlessly into your roles. After all, you both were professionals.

“Good evening, everyone, and welcome to this year’s New Year’s Eve Countdown!” you began, your voice bright and enthusiastic.

“Thank you for joining us as we bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new.” Kento added, his tone smooth and polished.

Your banter flowed naturally, as always. That well beloved chemistry between you is still ever so undeniable. It was easy to fall into a rhythm with him; he was your partner in every sense of the word. And that made your job tonight a little bit easier.

But of course, the real challenge was hiding the little moments that threatened to give you away that bit you kept so dear to you. You just can't help it when it comes to him. He has such a powerful pull on you and he knows it.

There were those little lingering glances, watching and feeling the way his fingers brushed yours when you handed him a card, the subtle softness in his smile when he looked at you. After all, this is the longest you could be together in your very busy schedules this year.

Still, you kept yourself in that cage. And so did he, despite his lack of patience when it comes to you and everything about you. As the night progressed, the energy in the studio grew electric.

Various music performances lit up the stage, and interviews with special guests kept the crowd engaged. Throughout it all, you and Kento remained the perfect duo—professional, poised, and completely in sync.

After nearly a few hours of composure, it came almost all too suddenly. In just a few moments, the final countdown approached, and the excitement was palpable. The two of you stood at the center of the stage, along with the other participants for this year’s event. In front of you, the crowd behind you cheering wildly, waiting excitedly for the new year.

“Here we go!” you said, your voice barely audible over the noise.

Kento leaned in slightly, his voice low enough for only you to hear. “You’re doing great, darling..”

Your heart fluttered, but you kept your composure. “Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself, babe.”

The countdown soon began.

You took a breath, looking at the screen.

You held your cue cards tightly to you.

“Ten! Nine! Eight!”

The lights soon dimmed, and the giant screen behind you displayed the numbers as they ticked down. The crowd’s voices grew louder with each second. The emotions coming through you were indescribable. Another year had gone by. But he was still by your side, like this. And all you could pray for as the time passed into a new age — that you would always be together.

“Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!”

Confetti soon rained down, and the studio erupted in cheers. You turned toward Kento, and for a fleeting moment, the world around you disappeared. The look in his caramel eyes was unmistakable—warm, tender, and filled with a quiet pride that made your chest tighten.

But just as quickly, the moment passed, and you both turned back to the crowd, waving and smiling as the cameras captured every angle. People of course started to pay less attention to you both and the stage and more onto the fireworks now blurring the sky with its bright hues. You and Kento made a steady exit off the stage. 

“Another successful project, isn’t it?” you said, breaking the silence as you leaned against the wall.

Kento smirked faintly, unbuttoning the top of his shirt to loosen his tie. “They’ll be talking about this for weeks, you know?”

“And shipping us even harder, hm.” you added with a laugh.

“They’ll never know, though.” he said, his voice soft but steady.

You stepped closer, your hand finding his. His fingers intertwined with yours, the simple gesture grounding you in a way nothing else could. “They don’t need to, babe.” you whispered, meeting his gaze. “This is ours.”

Kento’s lips curved into the faintest smile as he brought your hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to your knuckles. “Happy New Year, my darling.”

“Happy New Year.” you replied, your voice barely above a whisper.

You had thought it would end there, sweet and innocent. You had thought you both were safe for one more year. But when you two are together after a long time…..it was a whole new animal. And nothing can stop such a wave in high tide from occupying something whole. 

The next tithing you know is that the internet exploded the moment the photos dropped. Headlines blared across every platform, hashtags like #FINALLYOMG and #NewYearNewScandal trending within minutes after they were taken.

The pictures were pretty damning. They were blurry but unmistakably you, disheveled and wrapped in Nanami’s coat, your hair a mess. And him? A rare sight indeed.

It was none other than Nanami Kento, usually the epitome of composure, looking uncharacteristically undone. His tie was loose, his shirt wrinkled, and the telltale bruises blooming on his neck left little to the imagination.

You groaned, tossing your phone onto the coffee table as you buried your face in your hands. Beside you, Kento sat unbothered, calmly sipping his tea like the world wasn’t on fire—or at least your career’s PR team.

“I told you we should’ve been more careful, babe.” you muttered, your voice muffled by your palms.

He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his lips quivering into a teasing smile. “You were the one who couldn’t wait with it, y'know?” he replied smoothly, setting his cup down with an elegant clink.

His tone was infuriatingly calm, but the glint in his eyes betrayed his amusement. “Who was it again, begging me to fill you up? By round two, you were going—‘Kento, I need you. Right here. Right now.’ and I was happy to heed the request like always.”

Your scarlet blush was immediate, your head snapping up to glare at him. “Kento!” you hissed, glancing around the living room as if someone could overhear, even though it was just the two of you. “Not helping!”

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs with the air of a man thoroughly enjoying himself. “I’m just stating the facts about, I'm the same.” he said with a shrug, his smirk widening as you shot him another flustered look. "That's not a bad thing."

Your phone buzzed again on the table, your manager’s name flashing on the screen. You sighed, picking it up only to immediately huff and toss it back down. “This is really…” you trailed off, searching for the right word but settling on a frustrated groan instead.

“Chaotic? Consequential? Hilarious?” Kento offered, his voice laced with mock innocence.

You shot him a glare that was far more affectionate than threatening. “Horrible. That’s the word. This is horrible.”

He chuckled, reaching over to rest a comforting hand on your knee. “Darling, it’s not the end of the world. Scandal or not, we’ll deal with it.”

“Easy for you to say.” you grumbled, crossing your arms. “Your team probably thinks this is great publicity for your brooding, mysterious heartthrob image. Meanwhile, I’m the one getting texts about how unprofessional it looks for ‘Japan’s sweetheart’ to be caught sneaking around with hickeys and wearing her boyfriend’s coat.”

“Unprofessional?” he repeated, his tone incredulous. “It’s not like we committed a crime. We’re adults in a committed relationship. And in any case my darling....….” he added, his voice dropping to a playful murmur. “You look adorable in my coat.”

Despite yourself, you couldn’t help but crack a small smile. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet, you love me. Very much." he quipped, leaning over to steal a quick kiss from your lips.

You rolled your eyes but didn’t protest, instead letting your head fall onto his shoulder with a sigh. “Next time, though….really.....” you muttered. “We’re finding a stairwell without photographer cameras.”

He chuckled, pressing a kiss to your temple. “Noted.”

As you leaned against your lover, the memory hit you both like a freight train, vivid and unrelenting. It had started innocently enough—or as innocently as it could between the two of you. The countdown show had gone off without a hitch, and the studio was still buzzing with post-show chaos. 

You both talked for a bit, had a cute moment and then went back to your professional mode when everyone started to surround you both again. It was like a switch, and it was easy. No one suspected a thing.

You went ahead into the dressing room, you talked with everyone. You’d been polite and professional, thanking the crew and chatting with some of the guests. But the moment Nanami Kento had caught your eye as you left the green room, something in his caramel gaze had made your pulse quicken.

You hadn’t seen him in weeks. Between his packed schedule and yours, the countdown project had been the only excuse to be in the same room together. The public facade you maintained only added to the frustration. Every fleeting touch, every shared look—it all built up, an unbearable tension neither of you could ignore.

So, when he’d quietly grabbed your hand and guided you down a quiet, rarely-used stairwell in the building when no one was looking, you hadn’t protested. You were excited, happy even. This was the chance to feel him again this close to you. 

And you were glad for that opportunity. You could feel his touch be so genuine and warm despite the heavy chill in the air, and the firm grip of his fingers around yours sent a shiver of anticipation down your spine.

“Darling, I missed you, really.” he murmured as soon as you were alone.

His voice low and rough, filled with a longing that made your knees weak. His hands cupped your face with a reverence that always left you breathless, his thumb brushing softly against your cheek as he leaned in. The kiss was searing, his lips melding with yours as though it had been an eternity since your last stolen moment together.

The cold winter air bit at your exposed skin, but his touch set you alight. His coat had slipped from his shoulders in a quiet, unspoken gesture, draped over yours as his lips moved to your neck. The kisses were hot, open-mouthed, and deliberate, his tongue tracing the sensitive skin before his teeth grazed your pulse.

“Kento, babe….” you gasped, your voice trembling from a mix of the frigid air and the heat of his attention. Your fingers clutched the lapels of his suit, trying to ground yourself against the onslaught of sensations.

“Shh, just enjoy it......” he whispered, his breath warm against your skin. 

His hands slid down your sides, firm but gentle as they gripped your thighs. Without hesitation, he lifted you effortlessly, pressing your back against the wall. The rough texture scraped against your coat, but you barely noticed, too focused on the way his body pressed into yours.

His strength always caught you off guard, even after all this time together. Your eager legs wrapped instinctively around his waist, your heels digging into his lower back. His hands gripped your thighs, spreading you open as he stepped between them, his body fitting against yours like a missing piece.

“Babe!” you breathed again, the sound barely audible over the pounding of your heart.

He kissed you like a man starved, his lips leaving your neck to reclaim your mouth. The intensity of it stole the air from your lungs, leaving you dizzy and clinging to him. He was hungry, perhaps even more than you were. But you had expected that. He has a habit of yearning to touch you a lot.

“I hate not being able to touch you, with all the schedules we fucking had.” he muttered against your skin, the words tinged with frustration and longing. “Hated every fucking minute of it……”

You tangled your fingers in his hair, the silky strands slipping through your fingers as you tugged him closer. “Then don’t stop, babe.” you whispered, the plea soft but desperate. “Cause….I need you badly too. I need you so bad in me—”

He growled softly, the sound rumbling against your throat as his touch shifted. One hand remained steady on your thigh, holding you firmly in place, while the other slid beneath the hem of your dress. His fingers were deliberate, pushing aside the delicate lace of your panties with practiced ease.

When his fingers slipped through your slick folds, a gasp escaped your lips, your head falling back against the wall. He groaned softly, the sound low and satisfied as he gathered your arousal, his touch teasing and unhurried.

“You’re already so ready for me, aren’t you, my darling?” he murmured, his lips brushing against the shell of your ear as his fingers moved with precision, finding the spot that made you arch into him.

The cold air around you was a stark contrast to the heat building between you, the quiet of the stairwell broken only by your uneven breaths and his whispered praises. It was reckless, indulgent, and utterly intoxicating—just like him.

“Kento, babe….oh!” you whimpered, your voice trembling as his fingers continued their unrelenting rhythm. Your hands clutched at his shoulders, nails digging into the fabric of his shirt as waves of pleasure began to build within you.

“Shh, darling.” he murmured, his lips brushing against your ear before trailing back to your neck. His voice was low and soothing, laced with a quiet intensity that only made your pulse race faster. “You’ll have to keep quiet for me. Can you do that?”

You nodded frantically, biting your lip to stifle the moan threatening to escape as he added a second finger. The stretch was delicious, his movements slow and deliberate, coaxing you higher with every stroke. His thumb brushed over your sensitive bud, and your thighs instinctively clenched around his waist.

He chuckled softly, his breath warm against your skin. “That’s my good little lover, hm? My only beloved darling.” he murmured, his praise sending a fresh wave of heat coursing through you. “So perfect for me.”

Your fingers slid up into his messy blond hair, tugging gently as your body arched against him. The rough texture of the wall behind you was a sharp contrast to the soft warmth of his touch, grounding you as he pushed you closer to the edge.

“Kento, please, b–babe….oh!” you breathed, the words barely audible as your head tilted back, exposing more of your neck to his eager lips. “M–more…..more!”

He hummed in response, the sound vibrating against your skin. “So impatient, aren’t you? Greedy too.” he teased, though his fingers quickened their pace, curling just right to hit the spot that made your breath hitch. “I missed seeing you like this, so needy for me.”

The heat pooling in your core intensified, your body trembling as the pleasure built to an unbearable peak. “I’m—” you began, but the words dissolved into a strangled gasp as he pressed his thumb harder against your sensitive nub.

“That’s it, pretty for me, so fucking pretty." He says, coaxing you like a pied piper. His voice was low and intoxicating. Everything about it just burns you as much as his touch did. "I’ve got you. Always.”

With one final stroke, the beautiful echo, that blossoming coil inside you just snapped, pleasure crashing over you like a tidal wave. Your body tensed, your thighs tightening around his waist as you buried your face in his shoulder to muffle the cry that escaped your lips.

He held you through it, his fingers slowing their movements as your body shook with aftershocks. His other hand slid up to cradle the back of your head, his lips pressing soothing kisses against your temple.

When you finally relaxed, your breaths coming in shallow gasps, he pulled back just enough to look at you. His eyes were soft, his gaze filled with a mixture of adoration and satisfaction that made your chest tighten.

“Better?” he asked, his tone light but tinged with affection.

You nodded, still too dazed to form words. He chuckled, adjusting his hold on you as he gently set you back on your feet. Your legs wobbled like jello against him, and he immediately steadied you, his hands firm but gentle on your waist.

“Careful, darling.” he murmured, his brow furrowing in concern. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, babe.” you managed, your voice breathless but steady. “More than fine.”

His lips quivered into a soft smile, and he leaned down to press a lingering kiss to your forehead. “Good.”

As the reality of your surroundings sank back in, you couldn’t help but glance around, the abandoned stairwell suddenly feeling far less private. “We should… probably get back, babe.” you said, your cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “It’s getting pretty late.”

He followed your gaze, his expression calm and unbothered. “Let them wonder where we went.” he said simply, shrugging off the concern as he adjusted his coat around your shoulders. "It's none of their business."

You opened your mouth to protest, but the mischievous glint in his eyes stopped you cold. He leaned closer, his breath warm against your ear as he whispered, “After all… I’m not done with you yet.”

Your breath hitched, and before you could respond, he was guiding you gently back against the wall. His lips found yours again, this time slower, deeper, igniting the fire he’d only begun to stoke. His hands trailed down your sides, their warmth chasing away the chill of the stairwell as he pressed his body firmly against yours.

“Kento, babe.” you murmured, a weak attempt to regain your composure, but he silenced you with a kiss that left no room for argument. 

“I missed you, a damn whole lot.” he said, his voice low and filled with longing as his hands slid to your thighs, lifting you effortlessly once more. "Like I always do."

Your legs wrapped around his waist instinctively, your heart pounding as the desire you’d both tried to suppress flared back to life. He pressed against you, the hardness of his arousal undeniable even through the fabric of his pants. The teasing grind of his hips against yours drew a gasp from your lips, and he smirked, his composure slipping just enough to show his need.

"Really....." Kento effortlessly whispered to you, his voice vibrating onto you like a wave crashing onto you at sea. "We shouldn't schedule much this New Year, hm? So we can be together."

"Hm.....Kento." You echo back to him, intoxicated by his touch. "'ake time....for me, okay? I'll.....I'll do the same."

“That's the plan already, you know?" he murmured, his lips brushing against your ear as he shifted, his hands tugging at the barriers between you. “Let me take care of you, like I always do.”

Soon after that, you could feel the wet, thick head of his member pressed against your entrance, the heat and pressure stealing the breath from your lungs. You gasped as he began to push in slowly, his movements deliberate, almost reverent.

It was too good, too damn easy to fall into a high to. You could feel the stretch inside of you, it made you so full. Everything about it was intoxicating, your body yielding to him as he filled you inch by inch, your walls clinging to every part of him like he was made to fit. 

It was like he was trying to make a home inside of it. Inside of you. And it just made you feel so good. A deep, guttural groan rumbled in his chest, his forehead dropping to rest against yours as he buried himself deeper.

“Darling.” he muttered, his voice strained and low. “You feel so perfect.”

You whimpered, your hands clutching at his shoulders for support as your body adjusted to the delicious fullness. The sensation was overwhelming, the slight ache quickly giving way to a heat that spread through your entire body.

“Kento.” you breathed, the sound a mix of plea and surrender.

His large hands gripped your hips, holding you steady as he pulled back slightly before thrusting forward again, the motion slow but unyielding. Each movement sent a jolt of pleasure coursing through you, and the friction only made you crave more.

“God, this is so…..you feel so good.” he groaned, his voice rough and filled with need. “You’re so tight. I don’t know how I’m supposed to go slow like this with you.”

“Don’t, babe.” you gasped, your fingers digging into his shoulders. “Don’t hold back.”

His carmel eyes darkened almost instantly at your words, a flicker of something primal overtaking his usual control. With a growl, he began to move in earnest, each thrust deeper and harder than the last. The sound of your bodies meeting echoed in the stairwell, a symphony of shared desire that neither of you could hold back.

The rough texture of the wall behind you only heightened the sensation, grounding you as he took you apart piece by piece. You could feel your back burn against the concrete wall as you throw your head back against it. His lips found yours in a searing kiss, his tongue claiming your mouth as thoroughly as his body claimed yours.

“Darling, my pretty baby darling.” he murmured against your lips, his voice ragged and desperate. “You’re mine. Always mine.”

“Yes, babe. Yours….O–oh…only! Only yours!” you managed to gasp, your head tilting back as he kissed along your throat, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin. 

The coil in your core once more tightens with every spark you feel as he pushes deeper over and over in a fast pace. Everything about the pleasure you feel keeps building to an almost unbearable peak. It just felt too good. He felt too good.

His pace quickened, his breaths coming in harsh pants as his control began to slip. One hand slid between your bodies, his thumb finding your sensitive nub and rubbing it in quick, precise circles.

You cried out, your body arching into him as the tension finally snapped. Pleasure crashed over you in waves, your walls clenching tightly around him as your release tore through you.

“Fuck, fuck. I’m close!” he groaned, his movements becoming erratic as he chased his own release. With one final, deep thrust, he shuddered against you, his body going taut as he spilled himself inside you.

For a moment, the only sound was your shared, labored breathing, the intimacy of the moment wrapping around you like a cocoon. His forehead rested against yours, his hands gentle as they smoothed over your thighs and waist, grounding you both.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly, his voice filled with concern despite the lingering haze of pleasure in his eyes.

You nodded, a small smile tugging at your lips. “More than okay.”

He chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to your temple before gently setting you back on your feet. His hands remained steady on your waist, holding you as your legs wobbled beneath you. You leaned into him, your breath uneven, your body still humming from the intensity of what had just transpired.

But that wasn’t the end of it, of course. 

The hunger in his eyes hadn’t faded, and neither had yours. The raw desire that simmered between you was far from sated, and you both knew it. Kento’s hands lingered, his thumbs brushing soft, teasing circles against your hips as he studied your flushed face. 

“I just think that I…..” he murmured, his voice a low rumble. “I still want more.”

You barely had time to process his words before your lover’s lips were on yours again, roughly consuming you in a kiss that was as demanding as it was all encompassing. Your hands quickly found their way to his shoulders, pulling him closer to you. Your body instinctively responds to the magnetic pull of his, over and over.

“We shouldn’t…” you whispered between kisses, though your voice lacked conviction. “It’s going to make people suspicious.”

“Probably not.” he agreed, his smirk returning as his hands slipped under the hem of your dress, trailing up your thighs. “But repercussions are damned when we’re hungry. I can’t stop. I know you won’t too..”

The wall pressed against your back once more as he claimed you all over again, the cool stairwell air doing nothing to cool the fire that raged between you. It was reckless, but neither of you cared. Not here, not now. Hunger demanded to be fed, and with Nanami Kento, you were always insatiable.

After a while, you were both removed from the plane of normalcy and you were both panting with joyous weariness. He presses a kiss against your jaw as you keep a steady bite on his neck. He grumbles against you as he gathers himself from seeing stars. You follow him soon after. You released his neck and started kissing his lips once more. 

When you both found yourself satisfied, you both started to make yourselves as presentable as possible. Well, at least what remains presentable and salvageable for both of you. Kento ripped too much of your outfit as much as you did. Still, you both did not care. 

“We should get you cleaned up.” he murmured, his tone tender as he placed his coat on your shoulders and adjusted it tenderly on you, to keep you warm. “I’ll call my car and then we’ll just hop in there. We’ll go to my hotel, okay?”

You nodded again, your cheeks flushing as the reality of your surroundings began to sink in. But as he laced his fingers with yours and led you back toward the main building, you couldn’t help but feel a warm glow of contentment.

Of course, things too did not go the way you both wanted once again. You didn’t know that there were many SNS photographers  and gossip journalists waiting to catch some other celebrity in that area where Kento’s car was going to be. And that’s just how you were caught, not thinking about the logistics of it all. 

But how could you? It was New Years. 

You just got mindlessly blown with really, really, really good sex.

And you were together once again with your lover.

How could you think about anything else after all that? 

Now, back in the present, the two of you sat in the quiet of your shared apartment. Nanami Kento’s calm demeanor was a stark contrast to your frazzled nerves. You sighed, looking up to your lover who presses a kiss on your forehead.

“You know this is going to be everywhere, babe.” you said, gesturing toward your phone.

He set his tea down and leaned back, regarding you with a look of quiet amusement. “Let them talk, darling. It was bound to happen eventually.”

You groaned. “Eventually I didn't need to include hickeys and a ruined coat. And oh god….. was I leaking your cum?” 

You took your phone once again to inspect, but your lover took your phone with his free hand and put it away. You looked at him, almost sulky as one would look as a child. He laughs. He presses another kiss on your hair. Kento couldn’t help but smirk. Both acts had made your heart skip a beat. 

“You look good in my coat though. I could hardly care if my cum was dripping out, darling.” he said simply. “I’m pretty sure I look just as ridiculous. You mauled my neck so happily after that first round.”

“You  do look like you’ve been ravaged.” you shot back, though your cheeks burned at the memory. “I mean, it made sense at the time….I was hungry.”

“Hm, I don’t blame you.”

You sighed. “We’ll contact our PR and everyone later, okay?”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind your ear. “Hm.”  he said softly, his voice filled with the steady reassurance you’d always loved about him. “We’ll be fine, okay? I don’t care as long as I am with you.”

You sighed, leaning into his warm touch. “I guess the secret’s out, huh?”

He nodded, his gaze warm. “I don’t mind. As long as we're happy together, I say let them say whatever they want.”

You blinked at him. “You think so?”

“Hm.” He smiles at you. “Because no one will truly know who you are to me. That’s only mine. They’ll have a headline, but I’ll have the whole spreadsheet.”

You feel like your heart is melting with his tenderness. “I love you. So so much.”

“I love you too.” He kisses your lips, smiling wider at you.

And just like that, the storm outside felt a little less overwhelming.

[iamyourdailydoseofbi]

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, MUST BE FUNNY IN A RICH MAN'S WORLD. ( HOTD X READER )

AUTHOR NOTE! Thanks for all the love. <3 pairing: Aegon Targaryen x Stagehand! Reader prompt : Aegon falls in love with the stagehand of a jazz club. word count: 1, 000+ words

Aegon had a silver spoon up his ass from birth. He got the best cars, the best drugs, the best clothing, the best food. He didn't understand that not everyone had trust funds or billions in their bank account. He never knew struggle, nor would be thanks to his family name. He was a Targaryen, a god amongst the 'common folk'. But, in the small jazz club on the edge of Flea Bottom, he was just another man.

The bartender's didn't care about him, forcing him to pay full price for drinks. The dancers, more than once, backhanded slapped him for trying to catch a feel. All because of you, the stagehand, and brains behind the club. You preferred the shadows, keeping things smooth behind the scenes, saving you from embarrassment should you fail in public. You keep your co-worker's safe, and they did the same for you.

It was honorable. He could not fault you for ordering them to stand up for themselves. Even in the more sinful way of life, they still deserved basic respect. It also didn't help that you looked stunning when cursing him out. The way your eyes hardened. The way you would rip him apart with words. The color insults.

'The cumshot his Mother should have swallowed..'

'The inbred brat..'

'The depressing little wet rat..'

'The guy named Egg'

There was something about you. He didn't know what exactly. It could been the way you cussed him out. Or it could have been the way your eyes light up when you controlled the jazz club. But, there was a part of you that made him want to kick his feet up and twirl his hair like a giddy school girl.

Letting out a tipsy giggle as you snatch the glass of whiskey out of his hand, he leans against the bar table, a dopey grin on his face. He was not even close to being drunk, he’d barely even taken a sip of his whiskey. But, the look on your face was enough to make him feel drunk. You were so pretty. Your eyebrows furrowed, nose softly scrunched up, teeth gritted together, cheeks a flushed pink from anger.  Resting his chin on the palm of his hand, you were so pretty like this, all red faced and eyes full of hatred. He’d twirl his hair if it was long enough. Leaning a little closer on the bar table, he was practically standing on his tippy toes, eager to be close to you. 

“You come into my club, drunk, and think you can demand more to drink? There is no way that I am going to allow you to put my club at risk.” You snap back, shoving a water bottle into his hand. 

“You’re really pretty. Did you know that?” He giggles, “You’d even be prettier if you were to wear something designer, like some Chanel or some Vivienne Westwood. You should let me buy you some, sometime.”

“You're drunk.”  You scoff, shaking your head. 

“Pff! I am not drunk, well, drunk enough to not recognize that you're pretty when you're cursing me out. You’re, like, really pretty when you do it. But, I do think you’d be prettier if you did in something vintage.” He rambles on, the dopey grin on his face growing. 

“You’re drunk.” You state bluntly, rolling your eyes. 

"Again, with assuming that I am drunk."

Sitting back in his seat, he watches you pour out his whiskey into the sink, filling the cup with water. Unable to resist, he rolls his eyes hard a the sight of your routine. This happened almost every time, like clock work. He'd make a ass of himself, you'd assume he was drunk, pour out his drink and serve him water. It was oddly comforting. You cared, or at least it felt like you had cared for him. Even though a tiny part of him knew that you only cared for your club and the lawsuit that could happen. Still, he choose to believe that you cared for him.

"Let me..Let me take you out, just one date? We don't even need to kiss or hold hands." He attempts to negotiate, "I'll take you to the movies we can watch a nice film and just talk."

"I do not think that this is in your vocabulary." You scoff, placing the glass in front of him.

"And you know my vocabulary, now?" He scoffs back, mimicking your face playfully.

"I know people like you, your not that special or hard to read." You argues, "You pretend to be perfect just to get me to let you in my bed."

"One movie, that's it. No funny business."

"I do not like movies." You shake your head, making him scowl.

"Then we can go to the park and talk, there's a farmer's market." He tries again, "Get something to eat."

Watching you shake your head with a bitter chuckle, he cracks a smile, fingers drumming against the bar top. You may have been mocking him. Or maybe he was just high off the smell of cigarettes and cheap cologne that was thick in the club. But, just for a moment it all felt real. Like you cared, like you would consider it and accept.

"You're not giving up, are you?" You ask, lifting your gaze up to him.

"I will, if you ask me too."

"And..And if I want you to take me on a million dollar shopping spree?" You ask, the curiosity in your voice clear.

"I'd take you on a ten million one." He states without hesitation.

Watching you chew on your bottom lip, he waits, not daring to say another thing. He'd fear that if he say anything else it would made you rethink everything. That you'd call for security. Drumming his fingers on the bar top, you roll your eyes hard, making his heart sink. Cowering in his seat, he loose his confidence, his shoulders shagging. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he tries to shrug it off, scoffing. He didn't care? Why would he? It wasn't that big of a deal.

"I get off in an hour, stay and wait or don't." You mumble walking away, "I don't care."

---

[curioscurio]

Markiplier Werewolf Adventure Part 3

You manage to shove your shirt over your head just in time to hide your identity from the crowd of rabid accordion enthusiasts. No one can know that your transform into Markiplier once a month; ESPECIALLY not all these souls who only came to see the unexpected savant they call The Accordion Wizard. You realize that the shirt mask actually helped muffle the wall of screaming adorations a little, and decide that this was obviously the best choice. Finally, you can shred on your expandable keyboard thing like you’ve never shredded before. Accord like no one else before.

Around halfway through the concert, you pass out due to lack of oxygen from the cotton shirt obstructing your air-thirsty mouth hole.

You groggily wake up to the sight of a relieved looking stage medic, and known accordion enthusiast and tri-co-host of hit Spotify podcast Distractible, Wade Lordminion777. The world is still spinning, but you know that you’re fucked. Wade is one of Markipliers closest friends.

One of Marks most trusted advisors has now seen your dark secret, and will surely hand you over to the authorities for identity fraud. You have definitely committed identity fraud a good amount of times over the past few months.

“Mark!” Wade cries out in relief. “You’re okay!”

You nod, still too stunned to speak, and wonder how on earth this man got backstage.

“What are you doing here?” You gasp out. The medic is asking for your autograph, but you shove him away and tell him you saw some clarinet players doing ecstasy and chewing eucalyptus leaves over by the lemonade tent.

“What do you mean, Mark? You’re the one who gave me the tickets to this concert… Are you sure you’re not having a stroke? Eleven straight hours of nonstop accordion playing may be unhealthy for your delicate body.” Wade asks.

Everything comes rushing back to you. You didn’t just play for half an hour and then pass out. You played for three hours, took some ecstasy, chewed on some eucalyptus leaves, had some kind of reaction, smoked from 3 different bongs that all felt like something other than weed, and proceeded to play accordion for another 8 hours.

In the back of your stupid head, you feel an inappropriate sense of pride over the fact that you managed to keep your face covered the entire time. What a great fucking night you had.

But Wade is still here. He must have been a true fan of the anonymous Accordion Wizard to have stayed this long by your side.

“Why didn’t you tell me that YOU were The Wizard? We could have turned this into a sponsored event.” Wade asks with a pout.

“Funny story…” You begin to think of something really clever to get you out of the situation, but the voice that just left your mouth wasn’t the sultry, low-frequency baritone of one Mark Fishbach. That was your original voice.

The pain hits again, this time beginning from your abused thrussy as it begins to rearrange every atom in your body. You try to scramble away, pathetically cover your gurgling skin with your tattered shirt, but it’s useless. You have to run. You can’t let this man see who you really are. You scramble up and lurch towards the exit.

Unfortunately, you trip over your own accordion, and fall into a pile of mic stands.

One by one, the mic stands begin to fall like dominoes on top of your bruised and abused body. You’re trying to block some of them, but the pain is so intense that you have no choice but to lay on the ground and let this happen. It looks really pathetic, and sad accordion noises putter out with every thwack.

As the transformation ends, you come back to yourself. Wade is staring at you. He just saw your body transform from Markiplier into a random stranger. What do you say?

[crk-stagehand-au]

✧.* - Pinned Post - *.✧

"What is it this time...?"

"Now now, can't I simply come and pay my little Stagehand a visit? We are expecting guests, after all!!"

".....Guests?"

[ Asks CLOSED ]

(we're just catching up on doodles, hold on)

✧.* - Info - *.✧

This blog isn't "canon" to the AU, more canon-adjacent! Shadow Milk's shadowy form usually isn't visible by cookies other than Prune, so all we really did is make him visible to make talking to him possible. He still can only touch/interact with Prune unless he's possessing something.

We're both pretty slow and easily unmotivated artists! Be patient if we take a while to get around to your ask, and if making doodle answers proves too much for us we may switch to sprites.

Blog and AU co-owned by

@anonwithanaccount (Writes/draws for Prune Juice, OOC comments use 🐐)

and @mythicalteatree (Writes/draws for Shadow Milk, OOC comments use🦊)

Heavily encouraging asks as OCS, AUs, or canon characters (exceptions below) :D go nuts!

Please don't send asks from Kouign, Capsaicin or the other Beasts unless they're from an AU! We have headcanons we would like to keep to :)

[herbgerblin]

ipre theater thots

loosely based off of this poll. sorry, this got away from me. i was a theater kid for years (i still am, i literally made a bunch of friends larp as wizards two weeks ago)

Davenport: Producer and Stage Manager. Personally more experienced in opera than musicals, but answers the call when the need for a manager arises. Keeps everyone focused and on schedule. Has final word on what choices the art department gets to make. Sometimes does solo performances on his own time.

Merle: Choreographer and Director. Leads the ensemble into meditation every rehearsal before warming up. Talks with each member of the cast one-on-one. Sometimes leaves the script open to interpretation. His artistic vision sounds bonkers in concept, but illuminating in execution. Why are there so many plants? Don't worry about it.

Magnus: Lead Actor and Set Builder. He brings the energy every single night. He doesn't need to be micc'ed up because his natural voice projects well enough. It takes a bit of time for him to memorize the script, but he devotes his heart and soul to it. He claps loudly for the ensemble when he's in the wings. He cries at the emotional numbers. Built all the sets by hand.

Lucretia: Co-stage Manager and Supporting Actor (not for lack of chops, only because she spreads herself very thin.) Knows the script like a second language. Mainly reserves her Director Voice for backstage when things get chaotic. Enjoys performing the musical numbers because no one knows she can belt, until she does. Standing ovation girlie, but bashful about it.

Lup: Co-lead Lead Actor and Costumer. Only willing to do the role if Davenport lets her include cold sparks and fog machines in the set budget (he finds a way.) No one knows when she took measurements for the costumes, but they're ready by dress rehearsal and they fit perfectly. Helps the other actors figure out their groove. Great at engaging the audience.

Angus (special edition): Child lead and stagehand. The sweetest little singing voice you ever did hear. Everyone is going to rue the day his voice starts cracking. A heartbreaker of a performer and a speedy backstage assistant.

Taako: A MYSTERY. He's wearing a fancy scarf and roaming all over the place. He's talking about the Art of the Theatre. He's listed on the billing of lead actors and NO ONE knows what his role is. He remembers all the little things that everyone forgets: clothes pins, a hot glue gun, and electrolytes. He's got a walkie-talkie. Only the managers and tech are supposed to have walkie-talkies. Hello, this is Taako speaking, over.

Barry: Usually Tech. He's got a beautifully choreographed queue of lighting designs and stage effects. He's got an immaculately labeled pad controller and a ready-to-go Excel spreadsheet. But on opening night, Lucretia informs him he's in the orchestra pit.

Barry: ...But I'm lighting tonight.

Lucretia (via walkie-talkie): And our percussionist twisted his ankle tripping over a stage light. You're in the orchestra now, compadre.

Barry: (with increasing emphasis, decreasing conviction) But. I'm. Light. Tech.

Taako: E N T E R T H E P I T B A R O L D

Davenport: Taako, get off this line.

During intermission, Magnus asks him to help lift the ensemble dancers onto the set scaffolding, and hold it steady. Barry agrees, thinking he's in the clear after that. But the second the music number ends, Merle tells him that one of the support roles had to leave, so now he's the understudy.

Barry (longsuffering): I am just. the light guy.

Merle (gesturing to Taako in the balcony, having a ballgame playing with the lightboard): well, in two minutes you're the showstopper guy, so you need to go out there and stop the show

Lup (emerging from nowhere, slapping a red, hooded robe on Barold's shoulders): Knock 'em dead!

Barry: D:

[whiskeythefishski]

i LOVED ur fic and i am DYING to know the cast list for the show in the au!

@soupy-girl oooooooh I’m so glad you liked it!! (And might I say I adored everything you put out for spommy week!!)

So the show is Nerdy Prudes Must Die (the starkid show, ‘cause I’m being self indulgent!) here’s the cast and crew

The cast:

Peter Spankoffski: Trevor Evarts

Stephanie Lauter: Arasha Lalani

Grace Chasity: Angela Giarratana

Max Jägerman: Damien Haas

Richie Lipschitz/Wiggly: Chanse McCrary

Ruth Fleming/Blinky: Olivia Sui

Mayor Lauter/Jason/Pokey: Keith Leak Jr.

Officer Bailey/Kyle/Tinky: Shayne Topp

Ms. Mulberry/Ms. Tessburger/Nibbly: Courtney Miller

Officer Shapiro: Jackie Uweh

The crew:

Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla as co-directors

Amanda Lehan-Canto as choreographer

Spencer Agnew and Tommy Bowe as co-stage managers

Kimmy Jimenez as lighting director

Kiana Parker as sound director

Sarah Whittle as costume designer

Erin Dougal, Alex Tran, and Heidi Ha as stagehands

And finally, not technically crew, but Syd and Olivia as correspondents for the student newspaper!

Let me know what you think! I’m stupid excited about this. I can tell you everyone’s years/roommates/etc. too if you’re curious, since it is a college au!! :)

[mariipun]

Adventures of Wally & The Gang (plus their Caretaker)

Adventures of Wally and the Gang (plus their Caretaker)

Associates Meeting (one-shot)

Warnings: None. Just fluff and funsies honestly; silly antics some of the cast members get themselves into. By no means are my interpretations in relation to Clown’s work, and therefore, not canonically based. Consider this an introduction to the whimsical one-shots to come with our dear Caretaker and the gang.

Word Count: 1,970

Brief Description: Set in the modern world, the Welcome Home cast is alive and aware, living alongside humans. And you have been contracted to be their Caretaker. [you are referred to by the puppets as “Caretaker” or “Care” for short.]

Dedication: @nonomives @kandavers

 *blows kiss* Wanted to give you both this as my debut. 

[I am open to constructive criticism, feedback and ideas! Please inbox me if you have any! I’m a bit rusty with writing, so I appreciate any insight]

In a world much like the Muppets, puppets co-exist with humans. Although the colorful ensemble of characters from the beloved children’s TV show portrays themselves as sweet, educational, fun-loving personas-- when they aren’t on the air, they happen to get themselves into quite a lot of mischief. And you, the lucky individual that you are, have been contracted as their Caretaker to ensure these chaotic puppet actors stay on schedule and don’t put themselves in situations that could cause bad publicity.

You walked off set after speaking to one of the producers as the show had wrapped up earlier than expected. This made it easier to schedule the upcoming appointments you had meticulously organized around the otherwise busy puppet’s schedules. With clipboard in hand, you made your way over to the break area, where most of the cast members were chatting with stagehands, makeup artists, or lounging in their deck chairs.

“All right everyone!” You clapped your hands together to garner the attention of the cast, all eyes turning to you except for Barnaby standing over the spread table, hungrily grabbing at the box of doughnuts one of the interns had placed out. You deadpan at him before shouting his name, earning an audible hmph?! as the blue mass turned to look at you, a sprinkled doughnut hanging from his mouth, with two others in hand.

“Okaaaay—now that I have everyone’s attention, we have an early flight to catch tomorrow for our meeting with our studio associates, which will take place later in the afternoon once we’ve arrived.” You scan the break area to ensure they’re still listening, amused by Julie and Sally as they respond with shared squeals, already chatting about plans to sightsee the area and meet their adoring fans. Their bubbly response caused you to grin momentarily, before turning serious.

“That means! You all need to be awake, packed, and ready to go at 6 A.M. sharp.” You say sternly, now earning loud groans from a few of the puppets.

“Okay, okay.” You waved your hand dismissively to the choir of complaints. You didn’t know why they were complaining, considering they usually wake up this early in the morning to start the show. Rolling your eyes, you let out a breath, mentally preparing for whatever shenanigans these puppets will pull on you later. “You guys have the rest of the day to relax since it’s only 2 P.M. right now. Just remember, we need to stick to the schedule. I don’t want to have to explain myself to the Manager if things derail.”

With a resounding “All right” from everyone, you went your parting ways and continued to work out the schedule’s details. “Also! Julie, you better pack light! We are only staying for two days, so don’t bring your whole wardrobe with you—again…” You called after her, ignoring her refusal to do so.

[Next Day: 5:41 A.M.]

You grabbed your duffle bag, slinging it over your shoulder before grabbing the briefcase on your way out of your small apartment. Before descending the stairs of the apartment building, you turn back in to grab your coffee, yawning in the process. “Ugh, gonna be a long day.” You murmur to yourself, the lingering drowsiness from slumber not yet leaving your body. You check the time on your phone as you take a gentle sip. You only lived a 7-minute walk away from the set, which you were grateful for since (1) You didn’t own a car and (2) The Studio provided you with lodging once you agreed to be the cast’s Caretaker. The pay was all right considering the added bonuses of what the Studio provided for you, although, it’s probably due in part to the various applicants that had been hired and then immediately quit due to their lack of ability to actually wrangle the cast from committing any sort of war crimes. (Guess the Studio needed to give some sort of incentive for someone to fill the role). Taking on the task was daunting at first since you quickly learned how eager the members were to push boundaries. You didn’t necessarily blame them for being curious since there was still so much of the world they wanted to learn about. Of course, this made your job more difficult to handle at times.

[5:53 A.M.]

You walked through the studio’s hallways, quietly greeting good mornings to other studio employees as you passed. The meeting location for everyone was in room 2A, usually reserved for auditions, but opened for you to ensure everyone came on time. Arriving at the room, you saw that most of the members had already arrived. Poppy, sitting comically large on one of the chairs and leaning against the wall as she continued to sleep. Barnaby and Wally both lazily tapping on their phones; Frank and Eddie who were both reading; Howdy who had just strolled in with a loud yawn, and…. Julie and Sally? Who weren’t even here yet. Of course, knowing them Sally would come in ‘dramatically’ late, as per usual, and Julie would usually stroll along. You greet those who were already there good morning, earning a few mumbled good mornings in return and a quiet snore from Poppy. You leaned against the wall next to the entrance, taking out your schedule:

6 A.M. - morning roll call

6:10 A.M.- arrive to cars

6:30 A.M. - board private jet

8:30 A.M. (projected arrival time)

9:00 A.M. – early check-in

-

-

-

1:30 P.M. – production meeting

-

-

-

5:30 P.M. – dinner reservation (for self)

-

-

You nod, everything was still on track for the most part… Sally would soon come in beaming and entered the room with a loud, sing-songy “I’m here!”, followed by the same response as the heaving Julie dragged an absurdly stuffed suitcase in tow. The sudden intrusion caused Poppy to jolt awake, everyone else looking over as the pair came in. You glanced at the time, 6:12 A.M.

“You’re late…and I told you to pack light--” You comment, shaking your head gently as the two tried to begin explaining. Raising a hand to stop them, you turned to everyone with a small smile, went over the plans for travel, and ushered them all to the awaiting cars outside.

[8:32 A.M. Landing]

As the jet landed, everyone deplaned and entered the cars that would transport them to the hotel. Once you have all arrived at the hotel, you check everyone in, soon giving them each their own room keys on the same floor. You gave them all a nod of approval as you all entered the elevator and went up to the 14th floor. You all agreed to meet in the lobby after freshening up to discuss any further plans. As you waved to them, you entered your room and took in the welcoming atmosphere. Plush pillows, clean sheets, a stocked mini fridge, a desk, a great window view, and a bathroom full of high-quality amenities you would surely take back home. (No one’s going to miss a few small bottles of shampoo and conditioner anyway). You place your briefcase on the desk, plop the duffle bag on the chair, and throw yourself onto the inviting bed. With arms spread wide, you inhale sharply as you stretch, sighing in contentment for a moment. The temporary silence gave your much-needed overworked mind some peace, before going into the bathroom to get ready. You would soon greet everyone with a much chippier attitude as they had all been waiting for you in the lobby area. You took notice as more guests began to enter the hotel, some with young children excitedly pointing out Wally and the others, pleading to meet them as their tired parents tried to calm their resounding squeaks. It was times like these when you got a break, witnessing the excitement and wonder of fans felt endearing. You were with a group of celebrities after all. Trying to keep a low profile was, unfortunately, not an option in your field of work.

“So, what do you guys want to do?” Eddie inquires. Everyone began throwing out ideas, Julie insisting they go shopping; Frank, who commented on a museum exhibit; Sally wanting to check out the old (presumably haunted) theaters; Howdy and Poppy bouncing ideas about taking a tour downtown; and Barnaby mentioning an all-you-can-eat buffet. The overwhelming chatter droned out your thoughts as everyone turned to you, arguing that they “Should do this!”, “No, this—“, “Care, I want to—“. You tried hushing everyone as their voices became increasingly loud in volume, garnering more attention from the hotel guests as their rambunctious natures were disturbing the ease of the lobby.

“Hold on, hold on. We only really have three more hours before we go to the meeting, so we might not be able to do everything today—” You try to console everyone, your response not satisfying the puppets as they began bickering amongst themselves. You heard a few complaints that you were being too ‘strict’, too ‘uptight’, ‘just relax a bit will ya, we’ve got time’. You huff, knowing you needed them all together since they’d do ‘who knows what’ when apart from you. Maybe you should just ask to be promoted from Caretaker to Glorified Babysitter at this point, the title is more suitable. You attempted to hush them again, only to be met with more insistence that they do “this idea, or that”. You could barely put a word in as your eyes slowly fell on Wally, who in his usual laid-back manner, said nothing. Simply observing the conversations and locking eyes on you.

You could tell by his demeanor, mischievous grin on his face, he was brewing up a plan. Your eyes narrow, squinting at him as you both engaged in a stare-down. “Don’t—” You emphasized, everyone else taking notice and silently watching. “Wally. Do not—”

“Scatter.”

“I said-- Ah!--?!” Before you could protest, you were encased in oversized blue arms, Barnaby coming up to give you a hug from behind, his chuckles booming loudly in your ears. He picked you up slightly, your legs kicking as you tried yelling for them all to “Get back here!”. Both Sally and Julie bolted for the entrance, waving hello and goodbye to those they passed by; Howdy and Poppy scuttled away, continuing to chat; Frank and Eddie looked at each other before heading to the museum, as Wally sneakily exited stage left. You went limp in Barnaby’s arms, cheeks red with frustration as you slowly descended back onto your feet. He chuckled, patting your shoulder (insult to injury).

“You know kid, you should just take it easy. We finally have some downtime, just let ‘em go and have some fun. Same with you, see you in a bit.” He chimed, walking off to the hotel’s restaurant.

You stood there in defeat, running your hands up and down your face before pinching the bridge of your nose. As expected, it was gonna be a long day indeed.

[2:03 P.M. Associates Meeting]

“Shouldn’t they have been here already?”

“Yeah, I tried calling Care, but they hadn’t respo—”

You burst into the meeting room, hair disheveled, breathing heavy with Wally and Julie tucked under your arms while the rest of the members stood behind you with smiles and greetings. You stomped in, some of the associates just staring as you plopped the two in their seats as the others strolled in before settling down themselves. You said nothing, cheeks hot and nostrils flared before clearing your throat and smoothing your hair. You move off to the side, taking refuge in the seat placed against the wall. You finally slump, head tilted back and resting on the wall as the meeting began.

Yeah, you needed a promotion… and a raise.

[pickledpascal]

Hold Me Like Water

Chapter Two: Try On A New Dress

Warnings: sexual innuendo, alcohol consumption, super meta

Word Count: 5.5k

Hold Me Like Water Masterlist

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May 2014, 

It was the first time Maya would ever be on a talk show. To be fair, she had done quite a few press junkets at this point and even a few mock-interviews as media training but nothing was quite like getting prepared to walk onto the Graham Norton Show. 

She was nervous. Her heart was racing and she was pacing around in her backstage dressing room while Sakari watched. She was getting nervous too from all that pacing around. 

“Take a few deep breaths, hm?” Sakari suggested. She did a breathing motion so that Maya could follow. “There ya go.”

Maya couldn't believe her life. She was getting new offers left and right to be in new films and Days of Future Past wasn't even officially out yet. No longer was she the locally known actress from Nunavut. She had been practically thrust into the spotlight all over the world. It was scary. And exciting. 

Her. A Native American Inuit transgender woman was suddenly a superstar. It was unheard of. Maya just hoped more people like her were going to be brought into the limelight. She wasn't the only talented actor who was a Native or transgender or a woman or all three. She was sure there were more even if she hadn't met them yet. 

Maya stepped out of the dressing room when an assistant told her it was almost time for her to walk out with the rest of the cast. Sakari gave her two thumbs up as she left. 

God, Maya felt like she needed to pee. But there wasn't enough time for that. 

She met up with her co-stars who were lined up. She was pushed between Hugh and Michael. She briefly wondered if the stagehands knew they were lined up in size order. 

“Y’alright?” Hugh asked, lifting a hand to rest on her lower back. 

Over the entirety of shooting and even after, Hugh made it his mission to become friends with her. That was a year ago. He always talked with her, gave her all the time she needed, especially now that the film was coming out and she hadn't had any training for interviews before. 

Maya breathed in deeply to try and calm her ever-beating heart. “I will be.” She could faintly hear Graham's opening monologue just a wall away.

“You'll do great,” James chimed in, “Just be your charming self and everyone will love you.” He encouraged.

She wasn't sure if she would classify herself as charming, per se. But she could act charming. Being an actress certainly helped in that aspect.

Michael smiled and shook his head. “You can also let us do the talking. Just sit there in that beautiful dress and look pretty.” He nudged her with his arm. 

Maya chuckled softly. Her heart swelled at the way they were treating her as if they've all known each other forever. Hugh pulled her closer to give her a side hug in order to soothe her as well as he could in the moment.

All the boys wore black suits and so she chose to try and match them with a black dress. It was a simple, small dress that went down to her knees and a straight neckline. 

Soon, Graham introduced all of them so they came out one by one. James was first, then Michael, then Maya, and finally Hugh. 

Maya waved as she walked up the stairs, plastering a smile on her face as she stood next to Michael. The whole audience was cheering very loudly. They got even louder when Hugh came out next. She had a feeling something like that would happen seeing as he was the biggest star there. 

“Sit! Sit!” Graham urged as he sat on his own chair, grabbing his cards from a nearby table. 

They did all sit on the red couch, drinks in front of them. James was the first to take a sip. There were some lingering cheers and screams. Maya couldn't help but laugh slightly. This honestly felt like a dream, sandwiched between three amazing actors with huge careers… she was feeling it more than she ever did on set. Probably because of all the fans in the audience. On set, she felt like they were children at school to a certain degree. 

“Thank you for the fruit!” Hugh motioned to the bowl on the table filled with fake fruits. He grabbed the pineapple. “Pineapple anyone?” He offered it to the others on the couch.

“I'm good, thanks.” Maya chuckled, lifting a hand to push it away from her.

James grabbed his glass and shook his head as Hugh put the pineapple back. “This is deja vu.” 

“The fruit?” Graham asked, eyebrows furrowed.

“No, talking about pineapple for twenty minutes last time I was on your show.” James answered.

“Oh, yes, yes!” Graham nodded in recognition.

James continued with a breath. “Apparently it improves the flavor of your sperm.”

“Oh.” Maya's eyebrows furrowed as she let out an almost concerned laugh. She was not expecting to talk about that not even a minute into being there. 

Michael and Hugh giggled beside her while Graham had an exasperated look on his face. “We've been on the air for a second!” James took a sip from his beer, trying not to look guilty.

“Apparently celery increases it,” Micheal added. Hugh looked over at him, intrigued with a sly smile on his face. “Increases the count.”

Graham adjusted his cards for a moment. “I feel like I should be writing some of this down.” 

“I think you'll be fine, Graham.” Maya joked, crossing her legs over one another as she leaned back against the couch. That earned her a laugh from the audience.

Graham chuckled, trying to steer the conversation back to where it was supposed to be. “Alright, so, all the X-Men together. And, this is an odd thing, but you know, usually, music goes in after a movie. But, on set, is it true you would play music when you got on set?” 

There was silence for a moment. Hugh began, “Yeah, well,” He looked over at Michael as did Maya and James. “I don't know if you know this about Michael—” Hugh cut himself off with his own fit of giggles. 

Maya continued instead. “Michael is one of those actors you really have to coax out of his trailer. He'll stay in there for hours.” She motioned with her hands, even nudging Michael a bit.

“This is true.” He nodded, rubbing his hand against his chin. 

“Very, very difficult on set.” Hugh commented. 

Maya laughed softly. She clasped her hands together, fiddling with her thumbs absentmindedly. “So to get him out of his trailer we'd play really only one song that could get him out.”

“I actually got the sound guy to play it really loudly over the studio just so he could get in the right mood,” Hugh explained as he looked at Graham. He looked around the studio and rubbed his thighs. “Actually, it was Blurred Lines, I wonder—I don't know what it was about that song that got Michael going.”

Michael and James whispered to each other beside Maya while she lifted a hand to her head. She remembered all those days on set. It wasn't every day Michael was needed on set but there were plenty. 

“Do you wanna come back out to Blurred Lines?” Graham offered. 

“Let's do it, let's do it.” Michael shrugged, getting up from the couch. The crowd cheered as he went back down the stairs. 

Hugh, Maya, and James stood as well to go back down. 

Hugh explained how a ‘normal’ day on set would work. “So we'd come out like ‘C’mon Michael, Michael, Michael, c'mon,’” The music began playing. Maya tried not to focus on how fast her heart was beating. “We've gotta shoot!” He turned back to the stairs, looking at Michael. “Michael, listen!”

James was already getting into the song, bobbing his head to the music while the audience started clapping along. After a few seconds, Michael did come back out but he was dancing along. 

Which then coaxed all of them to start dancing along as well. Maya started laughing, grabbing onto Hugh's arm as she did. 

Then they made their way back to their seats, giggling during that as well.

“It did the trick every time,” Hugh commented with a large smile. “How much better do you feel now?” He asked Michael.

“Pretty good, yeah!” He grabbed his drink and smiled before he took a sip. 

Graham laughed softly then looked over at the audience. “So here's the thing, the three gentlemen on my couch,” He motioned over to them. “A few weeks ago, they were at the Empire Film Awards. You all got a prize, didn't you?” 

“We all got a prize.” Hugh repeated, a laugh escaping him.

“We did.” Michael nodded. 

Graham hummed. “But here's the exciting thing. All three of the men also appeared on,” He looked back down at his cards, “Empire's Sexiest Man of the Year poll.” 

There was a scream from the crowd while Maya took a sip from her drink. It was fruity. Not exactly her taste but she could choke it down. Well, it wasn't repulsive, that's for sure. 

“We're literally sitting on the poll.” James added dryly. 

Maya looked at him with a sly smile. “You'd like that, wouldn't you?” Michael snorted. 

“But where on the poll?” Graham continued. “Who was at the top of the poll?”

Hugh put his hands up. “Hang on. I'm forty-five, which year are we talking here?” 

“Well, it's the most recent one.” Graham answered with a shrug.

Maya looked at Hugh with furrowed eyebrows. He may have been older now but she wouldn't think that would stop people from finding him attractive. Especially the masses. 

“Oh, yeah, then I'm down. I'm way down.” Hugh sighed, leaning back against the couch next to Maya. 

“Maya,” She perked up a little. “I want you to rank them and then I'll reveal where they are on the poll.” Graham offered with a mischievous glint in his eyes. 

The three men looked at her expectantly. “Oh, god.” Maya pushed her hands against her face. “How many people were even on the poll?” She asked. 

“It's out of one hundred.” He responded. 

Maya let out a breath, rubbing a hand against the side of her face. The men were all smirking at her and it was making her deeply embarrassed. James and Hugh were married men! And Michael was a dear friend now. To be fair, Hugh and James were also good friends. 

“Well,” She breathed, “None of them can be number one seeing as they'd probably know.” 

“No, no, no, I'm not asking where you think they are ranked, I'm asking where you’d rank them.” Graham clarified with a smirk.

Maya pursed her lips. Her eyes roamed from Hugh to Michael and then Michael to James. “For the record, this is mean!” She complained half-heartedly, causing the crowd to laugh. She thought about it for a few moments. “James is going to be uber friend-zoned at twenty-five because he's married and my sister has a crush on him.” 

“Thank you very much.” James said, almost defensive but clearly still joking. 

“I don't know, I guess I'll put Hugh at twenty and Michael at ten.” She shrugged, trying to be nonchalant about it. 

She would rank Hugh higher but no one needed to know that. Least of all him. She quite liked their friendship as it was and didn't feel like possibly ruining it. 

“Amazing vote of confidence, dear.” Hugh teased, poking at her side. “I thought you liked me.”

“Only not at all.” Maya said dramatically. 

Graham chuckled. “Alright, alright! I'll tell you now.” He read off the cards while some people yelled out their own guesses. “Hugh is ninth, Michael is eighth, and James—so sorry—is sixteenth.” 

“That's basically what I said.” Maya shrugged, getting a laugh out of the crowd. 

“I must say, the whole poll is a bit of a mockery because Benedict Cumberbatch is first.” On cue, a picture of him appeared on the monitor behind Graham. 

There was a swell of noises of disapproval at what Graham said from beside Maya while she stayed quiet. She lifted a hand to her mouth to try and suppress her giggle. 

“I'm sorry but look at this couch!” Graham pointed to them. “Benedict Cumberbatch, he's a very nice man, he's a very good actor but… no.” 

Maya nodded while Hugh brushed his shoulder against hers, a laugh escaping him. The picture left the monitor.

“Now, you all are here for X-Men: Days of Future Past. This is the second prequel, it opens on the 22nd of May. Before we talk a bit about the film, here's a taste of the action!” Graham introduced a small clip from the movie. 

Maya watched as the clip played. It was fun actually seeing herself on screen like this. Seeing a part of the finished product. It was so surreal. 

Hugh leaned closer to Maya, whispering in her ear as he rubbed up and down her back. “You're doing great. They're loving you. Just breathe.” 

He must've been able to tell she was still very nervous. She hoped she wasn't shaking and, if she was, that it was being passed as laughing jitters or something instead. 

Maya smiled at Hugh when he pulled away. She wasn't sure what she'd do without him. He was so kind and took it upon himself to mentor her, in a way. She didn't need help with acting, she was already great at it. He even said so. Multiple times. But everything else? Yeah, she needed some help with that. 

As the clip ended, the crowd erupted into applause. 

“Okay, so, obviously you had a lot of fun making the film,” Graham smiled at the people on the couch. “But getting ready for this thing sounds quite grueling. Particularly for you, Hugh.”

“Please call me Wolverine.” Hugh joked with a large smile on his face. 

“It is easier.” Graham chuckled. Hugh nodded in agreement. “So,” He pointed to the monitor, mentioning the clip. “How hard is it to become like that?” 

Hugh scratched at his beard. “It's minimum six months and I luckily had The Wolverine, the movie, which I had about six months before so I've been on for about a year and a half.” He chuckled when he remembered something. “Stupidly, on X-Men one, I thought it was about 3 weeks. So when you go back and watch it, you'll understand now why I looked pretty crap.” 

Maya furrowed her eyebrows. She remembered X-Men one—after rewatching it for the role—and she thought he looked pretty good. Obviously, it's not as carved or whatever but it wasn’t like his body looked horrible if that’s what he thought. 

“But we would train together too.” Hugh motioned to the rest of the couch. 

“Yeah, but the discipline is just—” Michael looked at Graham then at Maya. “Maya was the only one who could keep up.”

Graham looked at her, intrigued. “Right, because you look like this all the time?” He motioned to her body. 

Maya flushed a little under the attention to her physicality. Not only was she as tall as Hugh but she had quite a bit of muscle year-round. 

“Yes, well—”

She was cut off by James reaching over to squeeze her arm. “I mean, look at that.”

Maya shooed his hand away. “To be fair, where I'm from, there's not too much to do there. I'm from Nunavut which is a province in Canada and most of it is just snow and ice.” The crowd laughed. “No, literally! Like I get that it's a stereotype or whatever but it's true.” 

“And so you work out to pass the time?” Graham asked, an impressed look on his face. “I can't imagine what that's like.” 

“Also with it being so cold, it makes me feel like I'm doing a lot more than I actually am so when I came down to Quebec, which was a more normal temperature, I was like ‘this is so easy, why are you complaining?’” Maya chuckled, glancing at Michael and James. 

Hugh chimed in, glancing from Maya to Graham with a bright look on his face. “I think she genuinely had to slow down for me so I didn't feel like an absolute failure.”

“Yes, but you have the signature claws, of course. And the boys, they've come up with their signature poses.” Graham looked from Hugh to James. “James, yours is the finger.” He did the pose. He put his finger on his temple to replicate it. 

James nodded, “Fingering my brain.” That elicited a giggle from the rest of the couch. 

“Was there much discussion about that?” Graham chuckled. “Or were you just kinda like ‘I’ll just do this.’”

James looked off in the distance as he thought. “No, I just thought Patrick never did it.” He looked back at Graham. “He's missed a beat,” Another laugh from the crowd. “And, y'know, when he uses his power there's a lot of close-ups of him going—” He did a straight face, staring right into the camera. 

“Woah, warn us next time.” Maya covered her mouth, a concerned expression on her face. 

James laughed, shaking his head. “Anyway, I thought that's not dynamic.” 

Graham then talked about Michael's pose for a little while. The ‘jazz hands’ that he did when using his power. Maya laughed when Michael described it as a suitable level of constipation. She agreed that was what it looked like, especially when they brought up a picture of it. 

“Now, Sedna, the way you did her powers, Maya, was based on something that's very real.” Graham said, looking at his cards for a moment.

Maya breathed, a light laugh escaping her. “Yeah.” Hugh looked at her, very interested in listening to her talk. “Well, I kind of stole it from another project I worked on. I did voice work for it but there's water bending in that show as well, which is my character's power, but the movements are based on Tai Chi because they're very flowy.” She did a small movement with her hand. 

“You did amazing work on that.” Hugh complimented. “I mean, I told her constantly, I was like ‘are you sure you can't actually move water with your hands?’” He nudged her shoulder. 

“We do actually have a clip from that show! Um, The Legend of Korra where you play a cosmic entity, Raava.” Graham added. 

Maya pressed a hand against her face which made the men on the couch laugh as the clip played. It was sort of embarrassing for her to hear her voice again. She knew she'd have to get used to it, she did choose to be on the show. 

The clip was spliced so that there were only her voice lines. 

“We will be together throughout all of your lifetimes.”

“He cannot destroy light any more than I can destroy darkness.” 

“Do not give in to ten thousand years of darkness. You are the Avatar.”

“You have such a mature, deep voice for someone so young.” Graham commented.

Maya smiled bashfully as she raised an eyebrow. “I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not but I'll take it.” She leaned back against the couch. “You can also blame it on the fact that I'm trans.” 

James chuckled. He then pursed his lips. “I wonder if you do audiobooks. I’d love to fall asleep to your voice.”

“Me too. But then my wife might get jealous.” Hugh added teasingly. 

Maya laughed along with him, trying to ignore the way her heart fluttered. Or the thoughts that appeared in her head. 

Graham interjected. “I've read that you felt like you needed to keep up with the kids.” 

Maya watched as Hugh talked, head tilted as she listened. She always thought he was wonderful at telling stories since she'd known him. A part of her was incredibly jealous of the way he seemed to be very good at articulating things in such an engaging way. 

“Yeah, I did feel like the old man. These guys were running around the trailer park—we call it a trailer park because there were literally like a hundred little caravans,” Hugh explained. Maya noticed he was very expressive with his hands. They even got in her space a few times but she didn't mind. “Shooting each other with BB guns.” 

Maya scratched a little at her chin and smiled. She remembered those days. Sakari would shoot a few off too. Not at Maya, she would never do that, but Michael and James? Oh, they were fair game. 

“Awesome!” James exclaimed. “Amazin’!” 

“Until you shot one of the actors in the face and he started to bleed.” Hugh added as if he was a disappointed father. 

James grabbed his glass again, taking a long sip. “If you watch the film really carefully… There's an actor called Josh Helman who played Stryker—the young Stryker—and he was coming after me, he had it coming, man.” He tried to defend himself. The audience laughed. He then stood up and recreated the scene. “As I was runnin’ away, I flicked one off behind me—so to speak—and it struck him right there.” He pointed at his chin. “And it broke his skin and I got told off by his finacée.” He sucked his teeth. 

Graham's eyes widened at the story. Maya remembered this day very well. Her trailer was right across from James's. 

“I actually never told anybody this.” James bit his lip.

“Maybe not but I remember. I heard a bit of it, actually.” Maya admitted.

James shook his head. “She came ‘round to my trailer and was like ‘hey, how you doin’, I'm Josh’s fiancée and stuff and I heard that, like, you shot him in the face and things and, like, that's not cool’ and I was like ‘ah, yeah, it's just a bit of fun.’” He waved it off as he recounted the memory. “Then she was like ‘nah, really, man—’” 

The crowd gave another laugh. As that story came to an end, Hugh brought up the other game they played on set. He called it the “punching game.” Maya wasn't sure how Hugh came to know that game in the first place. He did have a fourteen year old son but she couldn't imagine him teaching it to his father. It was likely that he learned it from James before she ever set foot on set. 

“What is the punching game?” Graham asked, confused. 

“Should we illustrate?” James asked, purposefully only looking up at Michael's face as he leaned in closer. 

Michael had his hand out, fingers contorted into an ‘OK’ symbol. 

“I'm not looking!” Maya exclaimed. 

“Me neither.” James added. 

Hugh smirked, looking at Graham. “Would you like some of my drink?”

���No, cause it's one of those stupid games! You'll punch me!” Graham argued, also looking only above the waist. Or not at any of them at all. 

Hugh nudged Maya before they all relented. James and Hugh did a little demonstration for Graham and the crowd which ended with James getting a good punch on Hugh’s arm. 

“But it's just ow!” Graham looked exasperated, confused as to how any of the things they described could be fun.

It was likely the age gap. Even then, James and Michael were still older than Maya. Nick was her only friend on set who was her age.  

Graham then focused on James as if he just remembered something. “Do we have the picture of your bruise?”

“Yeah, I emailed it because I was so proud of this.” James nodded. 

Maya lifted a hand to her mouth when the picture appeared on screen. There was a large flowery, purple bruise on his arm. She felt a flare of guilt in her chest. It lasted for about a second.

“But I put too much with a punch on Maya. Because, y'know, we hit you hard but not too hard. Usually.” James explained, glancing at Maya. “And I thought, ‘oh, I'm gonna nail Maya and cause I'm much smaller than her that she wouldn't nail me back.’ But, um, she did nail me back.” 

Maya let out a nervous laugh, rubbing her hand against her mouth. “Look, me and my sister would punch each other all the time. Not so much anymore—”

“Another thing to do to pass the time up there?” Hugh joked.

“Yeah,” Maya laughed. “But, genuinely, it was a problem. So my mom had to put a stop to it. But,” She tried to stifle another laugh, “Being on set, it was like fair game to me.”

James put his hands in front of his body. “You think those muscles are just for show, no. She has a mean punch too.” 

“Okay, so, we've got another clip from X-Men,” Graham looked down at his cards to read them. “Days of Future Past. This is the professor and Magneto having a bit of an altercation on a plane.”

The clip played and Maya let out another breath. Hugh leaned closer to her again and gave her a reassuring smile. Michael and James did the same.

Maya had to admit that she was doing a lot more talking than she originally thought she was going to. She had a feeling Sakari was looking at the monitor in the dressing room with a large smile. That itself made Maya's chest warm. She wondered if her parents were able to get BBC on their TV set at home somehow. She hoped they did. 

When the clip ended, there was a cheer from the crowd. Graham then started talking with Michael about MacBeth and how he was finished with filming for the film. Which then segued into them talking about Hugh in The Boy From Oz. Particularly the part when he would interact with the audience. 

Maya was somewhat concerned that he let someone bite his ass. Even if he didn't think she would actually do it, Maya wondered what made him say yes beside the fact that he was supposed to be acting like Peter Allen. She could never. 

“Now, Maya, you were very unknown before this,” Graham started. Maya nodded in response. “But, locally, in Nunavut you were very well known.” 

Maya breathed, scratching at the side of her head. “Yes, I, uh, did a lot of horror movies. Small budget stuff.”

“I know but, look at that!” Graham exclaimed as a picture of her appeared on the monitor.

Apparently they were able to find a screenshot of her. It was a night scene and Maya was covered from head to toe in blood, some of it was even smeared against her skin. Her hair was mussed up and, at the time, she only had one of the lines of Kakiniit on her chin. 

“That looks very real,” Graham added. 

Maya chuckled. “You can blame my sister for that. She does my makeup for every film. She knows how to do everything.” She glanced at Hugh who seemed to be speechless for the first time that night. She wondered what that was about. 

“What was that for, if I may ask?” James looked at Maya, an intrigued expression on his face.

“Well, my character just watched their friend get mauled by a polar bear,” That got a laugh from the crowd. “And I’m about to be mauled by a polar bear.” 

James hummed, nodding. “As one does.” 

Graham then began to talk about Michael and James's relationship and how the fans have been responding to it. Moreso, the creative liberties they were taking with some of the things they've said in the press junkets for First Class. Maya saw those. She could see why the fans saw what they did. 

He began to list off the ship names. One of them was “Fassavoy.” 

“Oh, that sounds like the nickname this one,” James pointed to Maya, “Gave me.” 

Maya nodded, “Jacavoy. I honestly thought a lot of people called you that. Apparently not.” 

“I'm stealing that from now on.” Michael added, nudging James with his elbow. 

Graham then began to show some different pieces of fan art on the monitor. Maya was hit with a wave of second-hand embarrassment on behalf of the artists. They likely never expected their art to be plastered on national television and she knew they created it for themselves and other fans, not necessarily for the actors they stole their likeness from. 

However, Maya did laugh when James’ only gripe with the artwork was who was on top and who was on bottom. 

“But then what's even sweeter is they've got these various scenarios they dream up for you,” Graham smirked. “What you do is you go to these fanfiction websites…”

Maya's heart dropped in her chest. She knew where this was going. To be fair, she had never written fanfiction before but she's read plenty in her free time. 

Graham flipped through his cards. “What they do is summarize them,” Sure enough an AO3 screenshot appeared on the screen. “Here's one, ‘Michael Fassbender is a powerful man with powerful enemies. He asked the agency for the best they had. They sent him James McAvoy.’” There was a bit of cheering. 

“Maya,” he continued. “You're the youngest, you must know about this stuff.” 

Maya licked her lips, scratching at her head. The three men looked at her again, all with smirks on their faces. “I do,” There was a roar of hollers from the crowd. “But I have never read about any of my costars and… that's all I'm gonna say about that.” She flushed, embarrassed.

She was being honest. She wasn't interested in reading about her costars, even before tagging along to the project. Maya quite liked Supernatural fanfiction rather than anything else. Now she desperately hoped she'd never meet any of those stars in person. 

“Would you mind reading some of them out? Hugh? Maya?” Graham offered them each a card. 

They both grabbed one. “I'm trying to stay far away from this stuff but I'm happy to be involved,” Hugh said when he began to read over one. 

Maya felt another shiver of embarrassment go down her spine. Would Hugh think she was a creep now? James? Michael? Well, James and Michael didn't seem to mind much. 

Hugh breathed, eyebrows furrowed as a snort escaped him. “After finding out James is pregnant with twins,” The crowd erupted into laughter while James looked slightly offended. “James and Michael start to learn how to balance upcoming parenthood and their careers with help from friends and family.” 

“See, it's lovely,” Graham said sarcastically. “They're sweet. They're creepy but sweet.” He looked at Maya. “Your turn.” 

James nodded at the monitor. “You should read it in that voice.” She knew he meant her ‘Raava’ voice.

Maya glared at him for a second then looked down at her card, reading off what was on it. “James and Michael decide to knit scarves for each other. James is very good at it. But Michael ends up with something that is definitely not a scarf.” 

Michael stared at Maya, eyes narrowed as if he was trying to figure out what that could mean.

The rest of the interview went by in a blur. To be fair, all that was left was the musical guest and a bit of small talk with her on the couch as well but Maya must've blocked it out because she came back to consciousness when she was back in her dressing room. 

“You did so good out there!” Sakari yelled, shaking Maya by her shoulders. “I would have never guessed you never did a sit-down-and-talk-on-national-television-interview before.”

Maya sat down on the couch, letting out a breath. She needed to breathe properly again. She felt like she hadn't had fresh air for hours, which might've been true because she wasn't used to the London smog. 

“And Hugh! God, he was staring at you the whole time you talked. Did you notice that?” Sakari pointed at her, eyes narrowed. “Stared at you like you hung the stars.”

Maya scoffed at that, though her heart fluttered at the observation. “He's just the type to pay attention. He does that with everyone.” 

Sakari hummed, obviously not believing her. Maya believed it. But Sakari was sure something was up with Hugh. Yes, he did pay rapt attention to anyone who was speaking just like how he almost forced people to accept his compliments. But there was something about the way he did it with Maya that made her believe it was something else entirely.

If only she had taken photographic proof. Then maybe she'd convince Maya to agree with her. 

She pursed her lips. She wondered if their parents took pictures. They had to. They were very proud of Maya and took many, many, many pictures whenever she appeared on something. 

They had to have accidentally captured the look on Hugh's face. Sakari could remember it clearly—soft and gentle as if he was listening to her speak in the comfort of his home after a long day of work.

[berrypass-de-murdler]

81. The Murder at MysteryCon

This is my favorite cartoonverse s4 episode

Enough of my personal problems, I need to ask a genuine question.

Would you want to see the second book in cartoon form, or have I taken up too much space?

I would really appreciate an answer, if you're able to 🙏I really want to know if I should bother because I want to, but if no one is interested there's no point putting in all the effort.

And President Midnight is still made of smoke, but he has a humanoid shape.

This pretty much

Fletch said she's going to scribble a SLIGHTLY better official artwork, but there's not much here lol

DON'T READ THE EPISODES UNTIL YOU'VE FINISHED THE FIRST BOOK!!

CROWD: LO-GI-CO! LO-GI-CO! LOGICO: Are they cheering… for me?? Oh gracious, I better- MIDNIGHT: They don’t want the real Logico. They want the actor robot Logico.

An uncannily lifelike Logico robot wheels up to them.

LOGICO: UEHH! Why the fuck did you call me here if I’m not even going to be playing myself?! MIDNIGHT: Because you’re the star. LOGICO: YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T WANT TO GET AN ACTOR!

Logico goes to pee, and when he comes back, a stick of metal is sticking right through the robot! It’s having a seizure and wires are spilling out like organs.

LOGICO: Well, there’s my dreams for the next month.

The boy steps out onto the red carpet.

CROWD: LO-GI-CO! LO-GI-CO! LO-GI-oh.  LOGICO: Yes yes, the real me, VERY disappointing. But too bad, because the robot is down.

Silence. He rolls his eye.

LOGICO: Sorry. The ‘actor’ has been ‘murdered’.

Everyone goes nuts! A 'real' murder! A humanoid made of smoke approaches the tiny Logico.

PRESIDENT: And what are You doing here?

It’s President Midnight, Midnight III’s father! 

LOGICO: SIR! [takes a bow] PRESIDENT: My son is your boss. And I am even more superior. LOGICO: Yes sir, yes sir!

Silverton has come for a guest appearance, Dusty is a stagehand, and Pine is also there.

PINE: They might have fired me, but I am gonna make it on my own!

Logico leans into the Midnights.

LOGICO: Do I really have to find who killed the robot- MIDNIGHT/PRESIDENT: Yes. 

Silverton is gleefully tossing around a crowbar, already guilty.

SILVERTON: Let me tell you how it is, little Logic. LOGICO: NO ONE IN THE WORLD WILL CALL ME LITTLE LOGIC, NO MATTER HOW FAMOUS!  DUSTY: I would kill people for cold hard cash. LOGICO: I KNOW already. I’m trying to stalk that slug man because I’m 90% sure he did it.  PRESIDENT: As president, I can tell You Silverton the Legend was in the parking lot.

Did he have to say ‘as president’? Did this person, who Logico respects so deeply, just make a dialogue quip? Logico gulps and swallows his pride.

LOGICO: Y…YES, YOUR HIGHNESS! PRESIDENT: Your highness? LOGICO: I MEAN… PRESIDENT YOUR HIGHNESS!!

Pine is, however, docile.

PINE: I don’t wanna kill people anymore! I just wanna make a movie… and get RESPECT for it.

Logico pats her. What a nice cow. Even if she killed people a lot.

While stalking after Silverton, Logico sees some books on a table. It’s Murdle (not even the in-universe book, like the actual book featuring events that haven’t happened yet), but in hardcover… with a movie tie-in cover. Logi gags. Again and again. He throws up under the table.

LOGICO: They’re fucking up the entire STORYLINE!

Logico gets a text. Thank god, he needs some therapy from his bae after that encounter.

“I just scryed into a candle flame, and President Midnight was eating some food with a funny name. Well, it wasn’t that funny. But it was trying to be. And I LOVE THAT. Love you too <3”

Logi hugs the phone. He fucking loves that man. 

LOGICO: NO I DON’T!!! 

Silverton finally confesses. 

SILVERTON: Look, Logico. You’re the role of a lifetime. I could give you gravitas. I could make you famous. I could… make myself an A-list star again… instead of just a legend. 

The somber music plays. Is he trying to be sympathetic??

SILVERTON: All I had to do was whack a robot with a crowbar. You understand, right? LOGICO: I… guess. All right… I won’t tell the president. SILVERTON: YES!!! BLESS YOU, DEDUCTIVE LOGI- LOGICO: SHHH-SH-SH! Jesus. You can play me in the film. I guess, somehow.  SILVERTON: EEYAY!

President Midnight films a burger.

PRESIDENT: I found a better Logico.

The end!

Poor baby burrito gico

I eat Plushtino is expected by Saturday - YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Which one should I get as my third??

The power of Goat Lord compels you!

See you next time murdlers!

[lizzypuppet1711]

things about toronto’s production of the great comet at crow’s theatre/musical stage co that i need everyone to know about because i am obsessed with this show.

as of writing i have seen this show five times.

very long under the cut:

full cast listed here. at time of writing, donna garner replaces louise pitre as marya, tyler pearse replaces lawrence libor as dolokhov, and ben carlson replaces marcus nance as andrey/bolkonsky. currently i’ve seen the og cast four times and the replacements once.

the stage is set up with seats on three out of four sides, with front rows at tables, back of house left and right sides at barstools, and a small balcony with some seats on house right. there are balconies on either side, with a revolving platform in the middle of the stage (revolving by being pushed by cast members or stagehands). seats around 200 people or so.

the actors are EVERYWHERE. it is so incredibly immersive

the music is very punchy

during prologue, everyone is taking shots as they’re introduced, except dolokhov, who drinks straight from the bottle and sprays it into the air

i’m a dolokhov girlie through and through and once he nodded hello at me during the prologue and i legit swooned

mary is walking around holding a program showing off the family tree, actors will point to them on tables etc

once anatole pointed at his face on it, pointed to himself, all in a very flirty manner

he winked at me during prologue once and i’m still thinking about it

evan buliung is acting his ass off as pierre

he is definitely is more gruff and acting focused (think dave malloy over josh groban)

at “hours at my screen”, pierre takes an audience member’s phone (from one of the tables… or once out of someone’s hands LMAO) and mimes tapping, scrolling through it etc

two stagehands move things on and offstage (such as the sofa, church props etc) and they are also in little costumes. it’s very adorable

dolokhov’s little soldier walk thing??? during moscow????? i’m sure there’s a reason for it bc both of them do it but i have no clue why it’s there???? love it tho

heeyun park as mary is also acting her damn heart out

private and intimate life has a faster tempo and is SUCH a banger as a result

an audience member gets briefly pulled up on the platform to be the cheap french thing, he typically kisses up their arm, hugs them, and sometimes sits on their lap a bit

pierre is playing the tambourine in the background during natasha and bolkonskys and it is honestly kind of funny

hailey gillis plays natasha very emotional and headstrong. her no one else has a sense of urgency, desperation, and deep longing

the platform is spinning and people are walking around and she is singing like an angel…

basically i want to be hailey gillis when i grow up

actors are rotating the platform during no one else and it ends with andrey standing behind her and pierre standing in front of her. no one talk to me i’m losing it

as the run has continued, dolokhov’s adlibs during his intro in the opera have increased drastically

lawrence libor as dolokhov had such an air and presence (rizz?) about himself i cannot DESCRIBE. the comphet he gave me… i miss him v much. he was also very much giving toronto mans. and he made SO MUCH eye contact. he loves to look at you. i miss him. i need him. who said that

tumblr theatre girlies you would go insane over lawrence libor. if this show had ANY b roll footage i know i would be seeing edits all over the place

i am president of the lawrence libor fan club and everyone should join me

tyler pearse as dolokhov has heavy frat boy energy. he is also gayer, and somehow, sluttier. gives short king energy despite only being an inch shorter than lawrence (apparently)??? don’t ask bc i don’t know either he just does. anyway thank u tyler pearse for making dolokhov bisexual for real

either way dolokhov is doing SO MUCH in this production. he is wild he is a whirling dervish he is arrogant he is a bastard he is everything to me

“YEAH BABEY LETS GOOOOOOO” -lawrence libor as dolokhov, upon his entrance

in one performance he would go YEAH BABEY three separate times in act 1. yeahh

flirting with a girl in the balcony, dabbing up a guy in the balcony, generally being hilarious

and tyler pearse leaning over the balcony, rose in his mouth, wolf howling… i can’t.

basically i can’t with this production’s dolokhov. i’m obsessed

anatole’s entrance… he’s a whore. all i can say

rita dottor (ensemble) does the high soprano bravooooooo and she always sounds so fantastic. live laugh love rita dottor

george krissa, who plays anatole, is probably the most attractive man in ontario. like if you googled hot guy he would be the first result.

“where did they find this anatole. was he made in a lab or something. he was perfect” — my friend after seeing it

tumblr theatre girlies you would also be obsessed with george krissa. like jeremy jordan andrew rannells level obsessed. please love these toronto actors with me

i’d let him ruin my life ANY DAY. it is a fact that lesbians love george krissa. i hope he knows

the way he plays it… my friend described it like “lucas steele is like an alien david bowie, and george krissa is a bridgerton man. just a very charismatic, but normal, guy”

while i would say that lucas steele’s anatole believes he is truly in love with natasha, i would not say the same for george krissa’s. some of the manipulation happening here during the opera is. quite clear

when he is entering the box natasha struggles to open her fan, fans herself frantically, under the arms etc. then when he enters immediately shifts to fanning in a cool and collected manner. hailey gillis master of comedy

“we are speaking of most ordinary things” is especially like. this is a male manipulator if i’ve ever seen one

natasha lost was added back in!! fantastic obviously

anatole checking his hair in the mirror before waking pierre up. fucker

“look dolokhov’s coming around… and we’re off to the CLEURB”

brendan wall (ensemble) walking around during the club scene with a glowstick necklace on is peak comedy to me

i’ve said it but tyler’s dolokhov is an absolute slut at this scene. and for what AND FOR WHAT!!!!

also fun tidbit but all the glasses (other than shots) and any clear bottles have real liquid in them. i am very concerned something will spill one day

when dolokhov gets right up in the audience’s face during “known only to his intimates” i LOVE it idk

during the duel, marya and rita steal off to house left directly beside the barstools and chatter about how bad of an idea this is, they’re so drunk, etc

special shout out to divine’s “he will kill you STOOPID HUSBAND” so good

dolokhov’s adlibs during the duel… i need him. sorry

dolokhov gets shot in the side rather than his shoulder, and unceremoniously rolls off the platform as it’s moving. looks painful

hélène screams when dolokhov is shot but not pierre. so much to think about here

a life changing dust and ashes from evan. i can’t describe anything more just that he’s incredible. i’ve learned so much about acting just by watching him a few times

natasha’s face at “am i guilty…” breaks my heart she is so tormented

we are canadians we are going to pronounce our french correctly! no more charmantay

hélène has started adding some very fun runs into charming as the run has gone on. divine brown marry me

anatole is shirtless during charming. btw.

again i know he’s gay and i’m gay but.

the entirety of this rendition of the ball has been stuck in my head since december

his “don’t lower your eyes i love you” that whole section is delicious i want to eat his voice

plus “BEWITCHING AND I LOVE YOUUU” UGHHH such an ear worm but only when it’s their voices

the choreo going on here is very nice btw

i love the way he says natalie at this part idk. it’s not overly enunciated and the vowel is just right <— vocal nerd

the kiss feels like it lasts forever

music gets very very loud at the end and you can feel it in your skin

also fun fact the house music before and after the show is orchestral but during intermission it’s electronic. bc. anatole. gah details

when marcus was still in the cast you could really hear his voice during letters and it sounded sooooo.

dolokhov’s stupid little thumbs up to indicate he will be ok. pleaseee. i laughed i did

generally lawrence would grab at the place he was shot at a lot; while pushing the revolve etc. loved that detail. (tyler does too but less so)

sonya and natasha just sounds so great. like they just always sound fantastic i love that song

sonya alone. yes i am weeping. yes camille eanga-selenge is everything i want to be and more. she’s phenomenal

dolokhov sitting in a big fuckin chair at the beginning of preparations just absolutely clearly regretting every decision he’s made to facilitate this. is great.

i know i keep talking abt lawrence libor but the image of him at this part is just. really great. to me. sorry

very campy and exaggerated scowling and grimacing from anatole

dolokhov is so sick of anatole’s shit

“here feel how it beats” is NOT entertained he pushes him back immediately

lawrence dolokhov’s “dawdling” business was him tuning his guitar i miss musician dolokhov sooooo much gah

balaga truly does not sing any of his lines. he is basically yelling the entire time. i don’t know how he does it. it’s chaotic and hilarious and so fun

sonya and mary hand out the egg shakers on house right and left respectfully

near the end of balaga, four audience members are brought up to dance with the cast! (i got to dance with mary once!)

dolokhov writhing on the floor during anatole’s long held note thank u

during the goodbye section, anatole comes around to said audience members and interacts with them; dancing with them, booping them on the nose etc, and at “kiss me one last time”, invites a lucky audience member to kiss his cheek. (this once, was me. yup. still processing it.)

once he accidentally knocked someone’s egg shaker from their hand, dolokhov picked it up, laughed, gave it a shake, and handed it back, and yes i’m still thinking about it

when they sit down, balaga and dolokhov will sit on the house right stairs, though once there was an empty seat nearby so dolokhov wedged his way in between two people, guitar and all. so fucking good

anatole will squeeze himself between two audience members on house left, put an arm around each, and look around at everyone sitting in that area, out into the audience, etc. if one is going to make eye contact with him, it is now

once he threw his head back to look at the people behind him, and someone, at the speed of light, took their phone out and snapped a picture of his upside down head. i scream laughed

lawrence’s BETRAYED BETRAYEDDDD was sooooo good. so so so good

hailey gillis is an absolute powerhouse during in my house

usually when “natasha’s whole body shook” she falls to the ground silently but last time i went she YELLED and i gasped so loud

at “i have refused him” louise would go NO in shock and i FREAK OUT ABOUT IT.

and i loved her “what then? would that be alright???”

“NATASHA CRIED OUT! GO AWAY! GO AWAY YOU ALL HATE AND DESPISE ME” sounds SO FUCKING GOOD!!! I LOVE YOU HAILEY GILLIS

when the call to pierre music starts i always get goosebumps

the fight choreo when pierre grabs anatole by the collar is very good

if we’re comparing to broadway, it feels less like anatole’s life is in danger here but like i’m not upset about it

at this point anatole does not seem sad or upset to me more just. pissed off that it didn’t go his way. like annoyed

as anatole leaves during pierre and anatole the staging has him stepping around/over natasha as she is choking from the arsenic and it is such a. show of his shallowness

his petersburg note is fantastic obviously. live laugh love george krissa

marcus nance (andrey) has such a deep and beautiful legit singing voice. it’s sooo gorgeous. any word that raises against marcus nance will fall.

I MISS HIMMMM ok sorry.

i am more sympathetic to ben carlson’s andrey, however. marcus was Incredibly stoic ben has a bit more emotion to him i think

i could swear sometimes hailey is actually crying during pierre and natasha

her “pytor kirillovich” sounds so tiny and fragile ugh my heart breaks

and his “…pierre” is so assuring AUGHH

it’s such a beautiful scene obviously. i love the two of them so damn much i hope only good things happen to them forever

“it was clear and cold” also. chills EVERY TIME

“having traced its parabola” and “like an arrow piercing the earth” hit me so hard i cannot explain

genuinely evan buliung gives the most effective inspiring fantastic mind blowing performance i maybe have ever seen on stage. he is such an incredible actor and he inspires me beyond belief

the end when the lights get really really bright and then fade out. god. so simple and so fucking beautiful

now this post is very long. thank u for reading it all if you did! (will update after seeing it more times if there’s things to say!!)

if you’re anywhere near toronto i BEG of you to go see it!! it’s closing march 24th :(( so if you get the chance i deeply implore you. beg borrow or steal a ticket just get there! best comet production ever in my biased opinion :)

[ringmaster-midori]

Continued from x

Midori sat at her desk in her trailer, having a discussion with Professor Zarlian Kyosophus, co-founder of the Circus of Wayward Wonders and the real voice of experience behind the whole operation.

"You're right, Midori, there are a few areas where we could use some extra hands," the older, frail human gentleman agreed with the ringmaster. "The animal care team, for instance, has been stretched thin lately. And the stagehands too. And let's not forget the ticket booth. We’ve had some complaints about long lines."

Midori sighed, tapping her pencil against her chin. "Yeah, it's a lot. But I have found a few people who may be interested in helpin' out. One or two of 'em may drop by today."

Zarlian arched an eyebrow. "You found them at the tavern? Plied them with alcohol? Convinced them to join us against their better judgment?"

"Yeah," the kitsune replied, "I found 'em at the tavern. So what? An' I don't get 'em drunk to make deals. In fact, this one lady, Pari, well, she wasn't drinkin' anything boozy at the time."

Zarlian's eyes lit up with interest. "Pari, you say? A sober helper. That could be a stroke of luck. Do you know when she'll be arriving?"

Midori just shrugged. "Said she needed to get some decent rest first. If she comes by this afternoon…" She glanced at the angle of the sun outside. "…I'll introduce her to you. She's clearly smart. Capable. Lookin' for some back-of-the-house work."

The Professor raised both eyebrows. "What, is she trying to avoid attention? Is she in trouble around town? Will she be a liability?"

"Oh, no," Midori shook her head and waved her hands. "No trouble around here. Maybe someone from far, far away, but nobody who'll come around these parts!"

"Excellent," Zarlian rasped with a nod. "Let's make sure we give her a warm welcome. The Circus of Wayward Wonders is always in need of talented and dedicated people."

"Oh, I know that, Professor. That's why I always keep an eye out." Midori smiled with relief. "I'll make sure she's taken care of well. Thanks!"

The Professor stood up, giving Midori a reassuring pat on her shoulder, then left. "Your dedication keeps this circus running smoothly. If you vouch for Pari, I'm sure she'll fit in just fine." He left the trailer, closing the door behind himself.

Midori felt a renewed sense of hope. The circus was more than just a job to her―it was a family and her very reason for existing. Every new member brought something special to the circus and made it stronger.

@the-expatriate

[tickledpink31]

Have you ever thought of a Phantom of the Opera Au? I recently just watched it

Ah, Phantom of the Opera. I remember my first experience with being the 2005 movie and falling in love, then I fell in love even harder watching the 25th anniversary (Ramin Karimloo is still my number 1), finally a friend and I watched the show live with Chris Mann (he's hilarious btw he made a parody of Music of the Night).

Could you just imagine a Phantom reverse harem-type story. Christine's already busy with Erik and Raoul, why not add more into the mix with Minako? I can think of a few roles for the boys.

Minako is, of course, Christine Daae, the ingenue and rising prima donna. She's got a bit more gumption and assertiveness because, well, she's Minako. She's going to kick someone in the gut at some point with her heels. (Still adore Christine, though. She didn't deserve all that manipulation and torment.)

Malleus feels like he fits the role of Erik/Phantom the most—a lonely, tortured soul who has a talent for music (Malleus canonically plays string instruments. Also, his VA, Kato Kazuki, was in Phantom Black, Japan's own version of Phantom of the Opera)

Hear me out, I think it would be great if Leona was a grumpier version of Raoul. He himself isn't the one sponsoring the Opera house, it's his family and he's forced to attend the performances. I'd say he's closer to Hadley Fraser's Raoul, who is slightly more of an ass (sorry, Hadley. I love your performance, I swear). He only became invested when he was reunited with Minako, his childhood friend.

Riddle could also be a good Raoul too, but I don't see him getting involved in the arts much less fund an opera house. His involvement would probably go as far Trey and Cater taking him to a night at the opera then being enchanted by the new prima donna.

Kalim and Azul are Andre and Firmin respectively, the new managers of the opera house. It fits them so well, Azul being Firmin as the greedier businessman of the two while Kalim being Andre who genuinely loves the arts and is actually invested in how the theatre behind the scenes work.

Vil is either Madame Giry or Carlotta. I can see him being this hardass dance teacher, but him being the prima donna fits him so well too. He was miffed about how strange disasters kept happening as he performed (caused by Malleus) and felt insulted that he was replaced by Minako not even two minutes after he walked out of the performance. He did start seeing Minako in a new light when she offered to be co-leads of the opera house and discovered that they compliment one another based on their own strengths and weaknesses.

Idia is a much shyer Joseph Buquet, a stagehand, and has had many close encounters with the Phantom because of his position being behind the scenes often (don't worry, Malleus won't kill him). Unlike, Joseph though, he doesn't really talk about his Phantom sightings out of fear of being a victim to his punjab lasso... except to Ortho and later on, Minako.

Ace and Deuce are both Meg Giry as background dancers and good friends to Minako. Actually, all the first years could be Meg Giry too as either dancers or stagehands.

If I were to add the rest of Diasomnia to the mix, they would be a mix of Madame Giry and Nadir Khan. They know Malleus the best, but they are enablers at worst. They know how dangerous Malleus can be and tipped off Leona or Riddle on how to successfully beat him and rescue Minako once everything goes to shit.

[volterran-wine]

Ok imagine the Volturi family as circus workers! What would be the job of each member? (ex the juggler, the acrobat, the director, etc.) i'm so curious what you think about it!

• — 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢 𝐢𝐬 & 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑠

𝐀𝐫𝐨: The Ring Leader

𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐮𝐬: The Book-keeper (He is not performing for anyone)

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐬: The Co-Director

𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚: The Gymnast (Specifically Using Fabric Ropes)

𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐚: The Stagehand

𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐲𝐦𝐞: The Ring Leader's Assistent

—

𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢: The Juggler (He is mostly flirting with everyone and doing tricks) but also a Gymnast.

𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐱: The Strong Man

𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞: Child Acrobat Duo with Alec,

𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐜: Child Acrobat Duo with Jane,

𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐝𝐢: The Magician's Assistent

𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐚: Trapeze Artist

𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧: The One In Charge Of Food

𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐚: The Fortune Teller

𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐨𝐧: The Magician

𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐨: The Animal Tamer (He takes good care of them.)